Soon after Canada's first smelter was started in Shawinigan, Quebec, a wire and cable plant was built and Alcan Cable was born. This 1902 mill was the first wire and cable fabricating facility of any consequence in Canada and the first cable produced was to transmit power to the Montreal market 140 kilometers (86 miles) away.

Alcan Cable's presence in the U.S. began in 1939 with the Central Cable Corporation, a one plant operation in Jersey Shore, Pennsylvania. In 1963, Alcan purchased Central Cable, thus becoming the first Alcan fabricating operation in the United States. Beginning with the production of overhead service cable in the 1950s, the company saw growth in product range and the construction and acquisition of several other plants.

Today, after 100 years of operation, Alcan Cable is comprised of five cable plants supported by two rod mills and a Technology Center.

Alcan Cable's core products manufactured are aluminum utility transmission and distribution bare conductors, 600 Volt aluminum overhead and underground insulated conductors, and STABILOY® and NUAL® building wire. Alcan Cable also manufactures a full range of electrical and mechanical rod products and flat aluminum strip used for armored cable, spiral fin heat exchangers, and other mechanical applications.

Alcan Cable now manufactures MODEX™ modular wiring systems to complement it's STABILOY® building wire products.  The MODEX™ product line consists of complete, custom wiring assemblies that provide total installed cost savings.  All MODEX™ products are manufactured at the Chatsworth, California plant.