EXHIBIT 23.1

                   CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANT



As independent public accountants, we hereby consent to the incorporation by
reference in this Form 10-K of our reports dated September 11, 1996, included in
Cable Design Technologies Corporation and Subsidiaries' annual report for the
year ended July 31, 1996, and of our reports, included or incorporated by
reference in this Form 10-K, into the Company's previously filed Form S-8
Registration Statements File No. 33-78418, File No. 33-73272, File No. 333-2450,
and File No. 333-06743, and Form S-3 Registration Statement File No. 333-00554.



                           ARTHUR ANDERSEN LLP



Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
 October 28, 1996