Northern Cables
Northern Cables Inc. is a privately held Canadian manufacturer of low-voltage commercial and industrial power cables. Founded in 1996, the company operates three manufacturing facilities and six distribution centers across North America, producing armoured and Metal-Clad cables to CSA and UL standards for major cable distributors.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1996
- HeadquartersBrockville, Canada
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Northern Cables does
Northern Cables Inc. is a privately held Canadian manufacturer of low-voltage commercial and industrial power cables, founded in 1996 in Brockville, Ontario by six former Phillips Cables employees (Shelley Bacon, Richard Trapp, David Chartrand, Kevin Charlebois, Joe Brunner, and Todd Stafford) after Phillips Cables ceased local operations. The company operates three manufacturing facilities in Brockville and Prescott, Ontario, combined with six distribution centers across North America, producing approximately four million meters of armoured cable monthly on a 24/7 operating schedule with a workforce of roughly 180 employees.
The product portfolio centers on armoured cables certified to CSA standards (TECK 90, AC 90, ACWU, NMD90, NMWU, ACIC, ACIC-PCS, fire alarm) for the Canadian market and Metal-Clad cables certified to UL standards (MC THHN/THWN in copper and aluminum, MC-XHHW-2, AC-THH/BX, HCF, fire alarm) for the US market, supplemented by bare copper and specialty constructions. A core technical differentiator is in-house conductor drawing and stranding — enabling copper conductors up to 600 MCM and aluminum up to 750 MCM — a capability few North American cable manufacturers retain. The company also offers custom interlocking armouring on customer-supplied cores, custom compounding with cross-linked polyethylene, PVC and nylon, and jacketing services. The company holds CSA, UL, C-TPAT and RoHS certifications, qualifies finished goods for NAFTA designation, and sources raw materials in North America.
Northern Cables sells exclusively through major cable distributors in Canada and the United States, with no direct-to-end-user channel. Pricing is quote-based under multi-year contracts, and demand generation relies on distributor relationships, a multilingual website (English, French, Spanish), industry association memberships in Electro-Federation Canada and EEMAC, and a Customer Service Portal that enables distributors to view and reserve inventory in real time. Revenue is generated entirely from hardware sales of standard and custom cables.
Northern Cables firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Northern Cables
- Legal name
- Northern Cables Inc.
- Website
- https://northerncables.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1996
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Northern Cables Inc. is a privately held Canadian manufacturer of low-voltage commercial and industrial power cables. Founded in 1996, the company operates three manufacturing facilities and six distribution centers across North America, producing armoured and Metal-Clad cables to CSA and UL standards for major cable distributors.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Northern Cables industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Industrial Power Cables
- NAICS
- Communication and Energy Wire and Cable Manufacturing (33592), Other Communication and Energy Wire Manufacturing (335929)
- SIC
- Electronic & Other Electrical Equipment (No Computer Equip) (3600)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Power Cables & Conductors (LV/MV cables, flexible cables, bus wire, armored cable) (IMAGAEAC)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Industrial Power Cable (MV/HV) (IMADAMAB), Utility & Underground Distribution Cable (URD/Substation) (IMADAMAG), Hazardous-Location, Marine & Harsh-Environment Cable (IMADAMAO)
Keywords
Where Northern Cables is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Brockville
- HQ country
- Canada
- HQ region
- North America
Offices3 records
Markets served
Northern Cables business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Commercial and industrial power cable sales: Northern Cables manufactures and sells commercial and industrial power cables to major distributors across Canada and the United States. Revenue is generated through the sale of finished cable products, both standard and custom-built.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Quote-based pricing for standard and custom cables |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels5 records
Northern Cables product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Northern Cables manufactures and sells commercial and industrial low-voltage power cables, primarily armoured and metal-clad constructions, to major cable distributors across Canada and the United States. The company produces CSA-certified cables (TECK 90, AC 90, ACWU, NMWU, NMD90, ACIC, RW90/RWU90) and UL-listed cables (MC THHN/THWN, MC-XHHW-2, AC-THH/BX, HCF, Fire Alarm), and offers custom cable, armouring and jacketing services from its three Ontario manufacturing facilities.
Product overview
Northern Cables is a world class manufacturer of commercial and industrial power cables operating as a single unified product portfolio. The company produces copper and aluminum cables to CSA and UL Standards for the North American market, with raw materials sourced in North America and finished goods qualifying for NAFTA designation. The product portfolio consists primarily of armoured cables (TECK 90, AC 90, ACWU, ACIC, ACIC-PCS) and non-metallic sheathed cables (NMD90, NMWU) under CSA certification, alongside Metal-Clad (MC) cables (MC THHN/THWN Copper and Aluminum, MC-XHHW-2, AC-THH/BX, HCF) under UL certification. Supporting products include bare copper, aluminum conductors (RW90, RWU90), and fire alarm cables. The company operates three manufacturing facilities and six distribution centers in Canada and the United States. Custom services include specialty cables, custom armouring, and custom quotation for special export orders, with reel return locations available throughout North America.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- TECK 90 Armoured cable designed for petrochemical, pulp and paper, and other industrial applications. Rated for exposed or concealed wiring, direct burial, and hazardous locations. Available in 600V and 1000V constructions from #14 to 500 kcmil in copper, and 8 to 750 kcmil in aluminum.
- AC 90 Flexible interlocked armoured cable CSA-approved for exposed or concealed wiring in dry locations. Composed of two, three, or four copper conductors insulated with cross-linked polyethylene rated 600 volts from 14 AWG to 2 AWG. An economical alternative to wiring conduits.
- ACWU CSA-approved armoured cable suitable for use in wet locations and underground per the Canadian Electrical Code. Composed of two, three, or four 8000 series ACM aluminum conductors insulated with RW90 cross-linked polyethylene rated 600 volts from #8 AWG to 750 MCM.
- NMWU Non-metallic sheathed wet-use cable with cross-linked polyethylene insulation and FT1 PVC jacket. Suitable for underground or wet locations where not subject to mechanical damage. Available from #10 to #2 in two, three, or four copper conductors at 300 volts.
- NMD90 Non-metallic sheathed cable with cross-linked polyethylene insulation and FT1 PVC jacket for use in dry locations not subject to mechanical damage. Available from #8 to #2 in two, three, or four copper conductors at 300 volts.
- ACIC (Armoured Control Instrumentation Cable) Armoured control and instrumentation cable designed for petrochemical and pulp and paper industries. Suitable for exposed or concealed wiring, direct burial, and hazardous locations. Features cross-linked polyethylene insulated and twisted conductors with uninsulated ground wire.
- ACIC-PCS (Power Control System) Armoured cable designed for lighting applications, UL certified to CSA 239-17. Available with two, three, or four solid copper conductors insulated with PVC/nylon rated 600 volts from AWG #14 to #10. Approved for smart buildings, LED and fluorescent dimming, allowing controlled circuits to share cable with light or power circuits.
- Armoured Fire Alarm Cable Armoured fire alarm cable rated 300°C and 105°C, available in 3 to 5 conductors of 18 AWG to 12 AWG. Designed for life safety and protection systems wiring including speakers, strobes, fire alarm stations, smoke detectors, and heat detectors without requiring pre-installed metal conduit.
- RW90/RWU90 Aluminum Conductor Single insulated aluminum conductor with cross-linked polyethylene. RW90 ranges from #8 AWG to 750 kcmil for conduit, cable tray, and duct applications at 600V or 1000V. RWU90 has thicker insulation for direct burial in underground service entrance applications, rated 1000V only.
- Aluminum Feeder Cable Stranded assembly containing single RW90 conductors in 3 or 4 conductor configurations with or without insulated ground. For general wiring applications in conduit or open areas per Canadian Electrical Code. Rated 600V or 1000V.
- Bare Copper Soft-annealed bare copper manufactured to ASTM B3 and B8 standards. Available sizes from #8 to 500 kcmil. Left-hand concentric lay assemblies. Applications include electrical connections, bridges, and grounds in electrical construction.
- MC THHN/THWN Copper Conductor UL-listed flexible interlocked armoured cable for exposed or concealed wiring in dry locations at 90°C and wet locations at 75°C. Manufactured from 14 AWG to 4/0 AWG with two, three, or four copper conductors insulated with nylon-coated thermoplastic (THHN for heat/THWN for water resistance) and isolated or exposed ground.
- MC THHN/THWN Aluminum Conductor UL-listed flexible interlocked armoured aluminum cable for exposed or concealed wiring in dry locations at 90°C and wet locations at 75°C. Manufactured from 8 AWG to 750 kcmil with two, three, or four aluminum conductors insulated with nylon-coated thermoplastic and isolated or exposed ground.
- MC-XHHW-2 Aluminum Conductor UL-listed flexible interlocked armoured cable approved for exposed or concealed wiring in dry and wet locations at 90°C. Manufactured from 8 AWG to 750 kcmil with two, three, or four aluminum conductors insulated with cross-linked polyethylene resistant to high temperatures and water. An economical alternative to wiring conduits.
- AC-THH (BX) Copper Conductors UL-listed flexible interlocked armoured cable for branch circuit and feeder wiring in exposed or concealed applications per electrical code. Composed of 2, 3, or 4 THHN conductors with individual paper wrapping. May include isolated green ground wire. Available in 14 AWG to 1 AWG in steel or aluminum armour.
- HCF – Health Care Facility Copper Conductor UL-listed flexible interlocked armoured cable similar to ACTHH but with an isolated green ground wire specifically designed for healthcare facility installations per the Canadian Electrical Code. Rated 600 volts and 90°C.
- UL Fire Alarm Cable UL-listed fire alarm cable for life safety and protection systems wiring. Available configurations for various fire alarm system applications.
- Specialty Cables (Custom Manufacturing) Custom cable manufacturing service offering designs and constructions similar to standard product lines but tailored to customer requirements. Northern Cables offers custom interlocking armouring services on other manufacturer-provided cores using aluminum or galvanized steel with varying thickness and grade depending on end-user physical requirements.
- Custom Armouring Custom interlocking armouring service on customer-supplied cores using aluminum or galvanized steel. Material thickness and grade varies based on required physical properties. PVC jackets available in various colors with custom printing and length marking in meters and feet. PVC jackets are water and sunlight resistant, FT4 rated, low acid gas, rated to -40°C.
Quantifiable outcome
- Four million meters of armoured cable manufactured per month
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Northern Cables
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Northern Cables technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Northern Cables partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Electro-Federation Canada / EEMACminorNorthern Cables is a member of Electro-Federation Canada and the Electrical Equipment Manufacturers Association of Canada (EEMAC). These industry associations represent manufacturers of distribution equipment, industrial controls, lighting, motors and generators, wire and cable, transformers, and wiring supplies. Membership provides a voice on committees considering changes in product licensing standards.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Northern Cables competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Prysmian Group: Global cable leader following its acquisition of General Cable and Encore Wire, offering an extensive portfolio of power, industrial, and specialty cables that competes head-to-head with Northern Cables in North American distribution.
- Atkore: US-based manufacturer of electrical raceway, cable, and mechanical products serving construction and industrial markets; competes with Northern Cables in armoured cable and electrical distributor channels.
- Southwire Company: Largest North American manufacturer of wire and cable, producing building wire, armoured cable (TECK, MC), and industrial power cable directly overlapping Northern Cables' core product lines across both CSA and UL markets.
- Nexans: French-headquartered global cable manufacturer with substantial North American presence across power, utility, and industrial cable segments overlapping Northern Cables' commercial and industrial portfolio.
- Leoni AG: European-headquartered wire and cable manufacturer with North American industrial cable operations serving similar industrial automation, energy, and infrastructure end markets.
- Belden: US-based signal transmission and cable manufacturer with a portfolio that includes industrial and commercial cable lines, serving similar industrial and commercial end customers through distribution.
Direct peers
- Encore Wire: US-based manufacturer of copper and aluminum building wire, armoured, and feeder cable sold through electrical distributors; comparable business model and customer base, though at meaningfully larger scale.
- Service Wire Co. Privately held US manufacturer of copper and aluminum building wire, portable cord, and armoured cable sold through distributors; closest mid-market analogue to Northern Cables in product mix and channel.
Regional players
- Houston Wire & Cable: US-focused master distributor of electrical wire and cable serving industrial and utility customers; comparable channel position to Northern Cables and a relevant comparator for distributor-led GTM economics.
Emerging players
- Radix Wire: US-based specialty wire and cable manufacturer focused on high-temperature, harsh-environment, and industrial cable, addressing similar industrial end markets with application-specific products.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Northern Cables social profiles
Digital presenceNorthern Cables compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance5 records
Northern Cables financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Northern Cables leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles6 records
Northern Cables funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Northern Cables M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Northern Cables
What does Northern Cables do?
Northern Cables manufactures and sells commercial and industrial low-voltage power cables, primarily armoured and metal-clad constructions, to major cable distributors across Canada and the United States. The company produces CSA-certified cables (TECK 90, AC 90, ACWU, NMWU, NMD90, ACIC, RW90/RWU90) and UL-listed cables (MC THHN/THWN, MC-XHHW-2, AC-THH/BX, HCF, Fire Alarm), and offers custom cable, armouring and jacketing services from its three Ontario manufacturing facilities.
Is Northern Cables a public or private company?
Northern Cables is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Northern Cables founded?
Northern Cables was founded in 1996. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Northern Cables based?
Northern Cables is headquartered in Brockville, Canada, in the North America region.
How does Northern Cables make money?
One revenue line is on record: commercial and industrial power cable sales.
Who are Northern Cables's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Prysmian Group, Atkore, Southwire Company, Nexans, Leoni AG and Belden. Direct peers are Encore Wire and Service Wire Co.. Houston Wire & Cable is listed as a regional player. Radix Wire is listed as an emerging player.
Does Northern Cables have an API?
No public API is recorded for Northern Cables.
What industry is Northern Cables in?
Northern Cables's product category is Industrial Power Cables. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAGAEAC, Power Cables & Conductors (LV/MV cables, flexible cables, bus wire, armored cable), with a secondary code of IMADAMAB, Industrial Power Cable (MV/HV). Its NAICS code is 33592 and its SIC code is 3600.