Exhibit 23.1 [Letterhead of Arthur Andersen LLP] Consent of Independent Public Accountants As independent public accountants, we hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement on Form S-8 of our report dated September 26, 2001, included in Cable Design Technologies Corporation and Subsidiaries' Form 10-K for the year ended July 31, 2001, and to all references to our Firm included in this Registration Statement. /s/ Arthur Andersen LLP Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, November 19, 2001