CABLE DESIGN TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
                                 EXHIBIT 23.1



                   CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS


As independent public accountants, we hereby consent to the incorporation by
reference in this Form 10-K of our report dated September 11, 1998, included in
Cable Design Technologies Corporation and Subsidiaries' annual report for the
year ended July 31, 1998. It should be noted that we have not audited any
financial statements of the Company subsequent to July 31, 1998 or performed any
audit procedures subsequent to the date of our report. We also consent to the
incorporation 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. 333-02450, File No. 333-06743, and
File No. 333-17443 and Form S-3 Registration Statement File No. 333-00554.



                              ARTHUR ANDERSEN LLP



Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
 October 26, 1998