EuroWire January 2024

Featuring

wire 2024 Düsseldorf preview

® THE MAC EDGE

Visit us at Tube Düsseldorf 2024 Hall 7A, Booth F19

Minimac® II Digital ET Testing for Wire www.mac-ndt.com/minimac/

mac-ndt.com

RAYEX® D Dynamic X-Ray Measuring System

Benefits: Latest generation of measurement algorithm provides measurement readiness within one second

Micro-focused X-ray beam ensures highest measurement accuracy New generation of X-ray sources with extended lifetime

Direct access to the sensors via the web server

Simultaneous acquisition of all measured values from both measurement axes

Zumbach Electronic AG | Hauptstrasse 93 | 2552 Orpund | Schweiz Telefon: +41 (0)32 356 04 00 | Fax: +41 (0)32 356 04 30 | sales@zumbach.ch | www.zumbach.com

ENKOTEC Nail Solutions More than just machines. Boost efficiency and increase production capacity with the ENKOline - the world’s most autonomous in-line nail manufacturing system. Join the Fourth Industrial Revolution and reduce labour intensity with IIoT-enabled machinery featuring:

Advanced Sensor Technology Auto-Stop/Start Capabilities Interactive Touch-Screens Intuitive Digital Manuals Remote Support

Meet us at:

to keep your business ahead of the competition!

Hall 16 Booth D40

www.enkotec.com

Editor ....................................................................................... David Bell

wire 2024 and Düsseldorf awaits

Editorial Assistant .......................................... Christian Bradley

Design & Production ............................................... Lisa Wright

Advertising/Marketing ........................................ Jason Smith UK, Italy, USA, Canada, India & ROW Linda Li Asia 亚洲

Plans are already in place as companies prepare for the largest exhibition in the wire and cable calendar as wire 2024 in Düsseldorf, Germany, takes place in April.

Our countdown to the exhibition starts on page 49 with the listing of exhibitors and stand numbers. And spread throughout this issue are also highlights from exhibitors showing the latest innovations at the week-long fair, which runs from 15 to 19 April.

Advertisement Coordinator .............................. Liz Hughes

Accounts Manager ......................................... Louise Jennings

Our full show coverage will be in the March issue of EuroWire , and sister publication Wire & Cable ASIA.

Subscriptions .........................................Louise Jennings

Web Design/Developer .....................Andrew Barnes

One year on from a management buy out and Alloy Wire International (AWI) is already looking to break the £20mn turnover barrier.

Social Media Administrator .............Milly Harrison

Founder .......................................................................... John C Hogg

The UK manufacturer of round, flat and profile wire is on course to celebrate a record year following the buy out to protect the ‘unique values’ of the business.

Europe

Advertising/Marketing & Editorial Intras Ltd Unit 32, Tangent Business Hub, Shirebrook, Nottinghamshire NG20 8RX, UK

Demand from customers in 63 countries has seen sales increase by £3mn already and the firm’s commitment to extending the employee-ownership of the company will drive ongoing success. Managing director Tom Mander said: “Every member of our 33-strong team are owners of this business, and this translates into how ‘we do manufacturing differently’”. Turn to page 8 for the full story. Lubricant producer Metalube has achieved Gold Status from EcoVadis, a third-party sustainability-rating organisation, which places the Manchester, UK-based business among the top 5 per cent of companies committed to sustainable practices. EcoVadis evaluates companies based on four criteria: environmental impact, labour and human rights, ethics, and sustainable procurement. Metalube’s gold rating is a result of the efforts of its employees and management.

Tel: +44 1926 334137 Fax: +44 1926 314755 eurowire@intras.co.uk www.read-eurowire.com Intras USA – Doug Zirkle Danbury Corporate Center 107 Mill Plain Road Danbury, CT 06811, USA Tel : +1 203 794 0444 doug@intras.co.uk

USA

US copies only : EuroWire (ISSN 1463-2483, USPS No: 022-738) is published six times a year, January, March, May, July, September and November by Intras Ltd and distributed in the USA by Asendia USA, 701 Ashland Ave, Folcroft PA. Periodicals postage paid at Philadelphia, PA and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER : Send address changes to EuroWire, Intras Ltd, C/O 701 Ashland Ave, Folcroft PA 19032. This publication and its full contents of layout, text, images, and graphics is copyright protected. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical including photocopying, recording or any other storage or retrieval system without the publisher’s written permission. The publisher, owners, agents, printers, editors and contributors cannot be held responsible for and hereby exclude all liability whatsoever for errors, omissions or the accuracy and claims printed or inferred in the editorial or advertisements published in this, previous or subsequent editions or for any damages, costs or losses caused thereby. EuroWire reserves the right to edit, reword and subedit all editorial submissions in accordance with editorial policy. EuroWire expressed graphically or by text is a registered name and style trademark of Intras Ltd, UK. All matters relating to this Disclaimer are governed by the laws of England. EuroWire is published six times per year and incorporates the title and publishing rights only of the former series of publications known as ‘ Transfil Europe ’. EuroWire is circulated to engineers, managers and personnel in the wire, cable, fibre optic and wire product industries upon receipt of a completed subscription form. An annual subscription is available from Intras Ltd, UK, at Euros 140.00, £120.00, US$195.00.

Robert Brown, managing director, said: “Sustainability is key to Metalube. We are actively auditing every unit of the business to improve sustainable working practices.” Turn to page 13 for the details.

David Bell Editor

Front cover courtesy of

Maschinenfabrik Niehoff GmbH & Co KG showing a range of their machinery

For more details: Tel: +49 9122 977 0 Fax: +49 9122 977 155 service@niehoff.de www.niehoff.de

All rights reserved © 2024 Intras Ltd ISSN 1463-2438

www.read-eurowire.com

4

January 2024

Wire & Plastic Machinery is constantly adding high quality wire and cable equipment to our Inventory.

NEW YEAR INVENTORY HIGHLIGHTS

Henrich 13 Die Rod Breakdown Line

1.05m Bongard Drop Coiler (2)

600/630 Northampton Triple Twister (6)

WRD1123

BPK086/092

CBR1457.5

2.6m Skaltek U26T Portal Takeup (3)

Setic 630mm BT POs, Yr 2019 (2) CBR1435

1.3m Nokia Maillefer EKP-130 Dual TU TKU1456

TKU1641.2

CBR1458 – 610mm Kinrei Dual Backtwist Payoff, PV6D-L, Yr 2005 CBR1452 – 48” Ceeco DrumTwister, Open Fork, 30 HP AC CBR1448 – Tensor SZ Oscillator, OSC-1500-15 CBR1442 – 630mm Setic Dual Reel Backtwist PO, DVD630HV CBR1432 – 760mm Kinrei DT Bunchers, S/L PO, Yr 2007 CBR1371 – 16” Nextrom 36W Fiber Ribbon Strander CBR1369 – 630mm Northampton Double Twist Twinner, SLU630 CBR1279 – 630mm Krupp Rigid Stranding Line, 12+18 CBR1273 – 72” Ceeco/Nextrom Drum Twisting Line, Yr 2000 CBR1269 – 630mm Mali Bow Cabling Line, 1.25m Takeup CBR1171 – 500mm Rosendahl 12 pos Ribbon Strander, NEW (2) CBR1169 – 2.6m Brondel/MMC/Alind Drum Twister Line CBR1001 – 400mm Nokia Maillefer 12W Fiber Planetary Strander CBR1000 – 72” Caballe Drum Twist Line, 84” Rot PO, Rot Belt Cat CBR940 – 800mm Pourtier Single Twist Cabling Line, 12 Neutralizers CBR935 – 400mm Trafalgar 12+18 Planetary Stranding Line CBR929 – 450mm Pourtier Ribbon Strander, 18 Bobbin CBR612 – 560mm Northampton 24W Planetary Strander TBR190 – 560mm Krupp 12W Tubular Strander, Capstan, Payoff WRD1115 – Niehoff 16W Drawing Line, MMH101, Annealer, Spoolers WRD1105 – Niehoff M85 Rod Breakdown, Annealer Drop Coiler WRD1090 – Niehoff 14W Drawing Line, MMH120, Annealer, Spooler WRD934 – Eurodraw 16W Alloy Drawing Line, Annealing Furnace BIN238 – 400mm Roblon Taper/Binder, Model TBX400, Yr 2007 TPR448 – 400mm Queins Dual Eccentric Taper, AB PLC, AC Motor

EXPL407 – 65mm Loose Tube Jacket Line, PO/TU, Belt Cat EXPL406 – 120mm Maillefer Loose Tube Jacketing Line, PO/TU EXPL393 – 80/45/45mm Maillefer Extrusion Line , EKP-50 TU EXPL370 – 75mm Meltech/Boston Matthews Silicone Extrusion Line EXPL362 – 60mm Nokia/Niehoff Tandem Wire Insulating Line EXPL312 – 75/40mm Niehoff/D-S/Genca Tandem Wire Line EXPL246 – 45mm Boston Matthews Extrusion Line EXP1488 – 4½” Davis Standard Extruder, 24:1, 150 HP DC Motor EXP1326 – 150mm Rosendahl Extruder, 30:1, 300 HP DC Motor EXP1304 – 120 mm Nokia Maillefer 24:1 Water Cooled, 200 HP DC EXP1167 – 120mm Rosendahl Extruder, 30:1, 170kW Siemens Motor (2) EXP823 – 120mm Maillefer Extruder, 24:1, Air Cooled, Screw EXR200 – 3½” Davis Standard , 20:1 Rubber Extruder, Therm II TKU1707 – 2.5m Wuxi Sunan/Bartell Portal TU, A-B PLC, Yr 2013 (2) TKU1641.2 – 2.6m Skaltek U26T, Portal Floor Trav TU, 12,000 kg (3) TKU1178 – 500mm Nextrom Dual Reel Takeup, EKP-50 PAY2456 – 1250mm Roblon S/L Payoff, Model PA1250, Driven PAY2281 – MGS Dual Tape Payoff w/15’ Vert Accum, AB PLC PAY1344 – 500mm Rosendahl Shaft Type Fiber Payoff, 12 Pos RWD686 – 3m Queins Portal Rewind Line, Dancer, Counter CAP925 – 20” AWM Multipass (9X9) Capstan, 40’, LTM20-280, DC Motor CAP923 – 24” Davis Std. Multipass (8X8) Capstan, 30’ Long, DC Motor CAT649 – 1.2m Maillefer Belt Caterpuller, L-R, AC Drive, Yr 2011 MSC2488 – 50mm Nextrom/Ceeco BX Interlock Armoring Line CLR338 – Windak Dual Auto Packaging Line, SW18/SP18, AV75/600

See us at Wire Düsseldorf, April 15-19, 2024, Booth 9E20-3 We want to purchase your surplus equipment! We buy individual machines to complete plants for Cash or Credit.

Visit wireandplastic.com to view our complete inventory or contact us at info@wireandplastic.com TEL:+1.860.583.4646

Contents January 2024

People 57

8

Corporate News

59

32

EuroFasteners

Technology News

ISSN: 2633-9714 online

ISSN: 2633-9706 print

EF 3/61 Corporate News EF 5/63 Products

49

wire 2024 Preview

A look ahead to what’s on and who’s going to be at wire 2024 from 15 to 19 April in Düsseldorf, Germany

www.read-eurofasteners.com

Photo by: Roberto Shorin, Unsplash

Technical Article 65

Laser printing materials for wire and cable applications: a technology overview By Stacey A Saba, Paul J Brigandi and Mohamed Esseghir, The Dow Chemical Company

68

Editorial Index

68

Advertising Index

Photo: Messe Düsseldorf, Constanze Tillmann

42

8-11 January 2024 Steel Fab Trade exhibition Sharjah, UAE Organisers: Expo Centre Sharjah www.steelfabme.com Diary dates

Next issue

■ wire 2024 Düsseldorf

In-depth company profiles of exhibitors heading to wire 2024

■ Intras 40 th anniversary celebration issue ■ Getting technical Coding and marking in extrusion: five challenges and their solutions in a nutshell

5-7 March 2024 AMI Cables Trade exhibition Düsseldorf, Germany Organisers: AMI www.ami-events.com 25-28 March 2024 Global Industrie Trade exhibition Paris, France Organisers: Global Industrie www.global-industrie.com

39

15-19 April 2024 wire Düsseldorf Trade exhibition Düsseldorf, Germany Organisers: Messe Düsseldorf GmbH www.wire.de

15-19 April 2024 MACH 2024

Trade exhibition Birmingham, UK

Organisers: The Manufacturing Technologies Association (MTA) www.machexhibition.com

Subscribe today!

11-13 May 2024 China (Guangzhou) International Metal and Metallurgy Exhibition Trade exhibition Guangzhou, China Organisers: Guangzhou Julang Exhibition Design Co Ltd www.julang.com.cn

Visit us online at: www.read-eurowire.com

Shows correct at time of publication, please check to ensure the event is going ahead

Corporate News

(from left) Andrew Du Plessis, Adam Shaw, Tom Mander and Mark Venables

Succession planning leads AWI towards record year

proved an overwhelming success. Alloy Wire International is in very safe hands and, importantly, has a management team in place that has new ideas and new innovations that will continue to facilitate our growth, whilst also staying true to our ‘employee-owned’ culture that has governed the last 77 years.” Tom Mander, managing director of AWI, added, “The first 11 months have gone better than expected and we’ve put some exciting plans in place, including a £500,000 investment drive in new machinery that will boost our capacity and ability to continue to deliver three week lead times on our range of 62 high performance alloys. Every member of our 33-strong team are owners of this business, and this translates into how ‘we do manufacturing differently’.” Alloy Wire International www.alloywire.com Acorn Support Ltd https://acornsupport.co.uk

and the culture this brings with it – will drive the ongoing success. Two years ago, the management team took the decision to look for the future owners from within, with long-term staff members Tom Mander, Adam Shaw and Andrew Du Plessis leading the successful MBO. A complex process was made easier by advice from Acorn Support, which provided an external sounding board for the decision-making and put in place psychometric testing to identify key personalities, emotional behaviour traits and ability to work in a team. “We knew we had some very talented individuals in the business, and it was always our ‘gut feeling’ that the next owners would come from within,” said Mr Venables. “The work we did with Acorn gave us a clear insight into future roles and the confidence that Tom, Adam and Andrew had the necessary skills, personalities and characters to make it work. This accelerated succession planning and led to the MBO, which has

A UK manufacturer of round, flat and profile wire is on course to celebrate a record year, less than twelve months on from a management buy-out (MBO) designed to protect the ‘unique values’ of the business. Alloy Wire International (AWI) has seen sales increase by £3mn since the deal was completed in 2023, taking turnover to £18mn with the prospect of breaking £20mn in 2024. Demand from customers in more than 63 countries was behind the initial boost, but chairman Mark Venables is sure that the firm’s commitment to extending the employee-ownership of the company –

See us on stand 11E63

8

www.read-eurowire.com

January 2024

QUALITY IS EVERYTHING

The UPCAST ® continuous casting technology has been a jewel since its birth – a result of technical innovation and process know-how. The legacy continues: consistent high quality is still everything.

Upward casting since 1968

15 - 19 April 2024 Düsseldorf, Germany Visit us at 9C06

®

UPCAST OY , PORI, FINLAND www.upcast.com

Corporate News

Second US manufacturing plant for Madem-Moorecraft

“We will continue to strive towards excellence in our products and services.” Marcos Conde Ramalho, president of Madem-Moorecraft Reels USA, added, “Our most advanced industrial engineering project has just started materialising in Denton, Texas. This manufacturing system is made up with innovative machinery, and brings pride to the Madem-Moorecraft team and Madem Group worldwide. It all has been designed to deliver unparalleled wooden and plywood reel experience to the North American cable industry.” manufactures wooden and plywood reels, supplying more than 200 cable industries in over 45 countries, including 42 cable manufacturing plants in the USA. The group has manufacturing and distribution facilities in Brazil, Colombia, Mexico, USA, Spain and Bahrain. Madem Group www.mademreels.com The Madem Group

new Denton plant increases Madem Moorecraft’s total production capacity by 50 per cent (150 truck loads of kits/ month). The completion of phase two in 2024 will provide an additional 50 per cent capacity increase. The total investment will exceed $14mn, and more than 100 jobs will be created. “We are very happy with the growth of our production in the United States and we appreciate the partnership with our customers,” said Gino Francesco Mazzoccato, president of Madem Group.

Madem-Moorecraft has held the opening ceremony for its new facility in Denton, Texas, USA, where employees welcomed customers, suppliers and shareholders. Also in attendance were city officials including Mayor Gerard Hudspeth; Cole Frazier, from the local chamber of commerce; Joe Holland, Denton County district judge; Brian Beck, Denton City Council; and Jeff Coulter, representing Michael Burgess, with the US Congress.

The completed first phase of the

The opening ceremony for the new facility

10

www.read-eurowire.com

January 2024

Supermac – Global Solution Provider in Extrusion and Process Technology along with IIOT applications

Supermac Industries established in the year 1974 is a leader in manufacturing of high end systems and process technology for the wire & cable in Power and telecom sector and related Industries. The ISO 9001 and CE certified company specializes in offering customized and tailor made solutions to fulfil specific needs of the variety of customers all across the globe. With a highly skilled design team, with the best of manufacturing and highly talented commissioning team, trained experts in cable processes and technology, we offer design to process expertise to bring in the best product for you. Supermac Industries established in the year 1974 is a leader in manufacturing of high end systems and process technology for the wire & cable in Power and telecom sector and related Industries. The ISO 9001 and CE certified company specializes in offering customized and tailor made solutions to fulfil specific needs of the variety of customers all across the globe. With a highly skilled design team, with the best of manufacturing and highly talented commissioning team, trained experts in cable processes and technology, we offer design to process expertise to bring in the best product for you. Supermac has expertise providing on line commissioning from remote. Post commissioning customer service support is provided Supermac has expertise providing on line commissioning from remote. Post commissioning customer service support is provided

IIOT screen IIOT screen

from both on site as well as from remote. In our endeavour to conform to industry 4.0 norms, Supermac has taken strong strides forward in implementing several digital initiatives and can provide IIOT enabled extrusion lines supported by Siemens Mind sphere software from both on site as well as from remote. In our endeavour to conform to industry 4.0 norms, Supermac has taken strong strides forward in implementing several digital initiatives and can provide IIOT enabled extrusion lines supported by Siemens Mind sphere software The company has three established and running units near New Delhi and are adding another unit under our expansion program. The company has three established and running units near New Delhi and are adding another unit under our expansion program. The state-of-the art facilities are equipped with international and indigenous machinery to carry out the process of manufacturing as per the customer’s requirements. Supermac has strategic partnership with German Companies – M/S Scholz to cover CCV Lines, M/S Rubicon to cover Rubber extrusion Lines and Simpack USA for Coiling machines and Solutions. The state-of-the art facilities are equipped with international and indigenous machinery to carry out the process of manufacturing as per the customer’s requirements. Supermac has strategic partnership with German Company – M/S Scholz to cover CCV Lines, and Simpack USA for Coiling machines and Solutions.

High speed building wire line High speed building wire line

Supermac specializes in the following areas: • State of the art CCV Line with Supermac specializes in the following areas: • State of the art CCV Line with

• Rubber extruders for Insulation and sheathing materials • Silicone extrusion lines with infrared vulcanization system • Cat 5.6 and 7 Lines • FTTH drop cable lines • Fluoropolymer – FEP, PTFE /ETFE Lines • Loose tube/Secondary coating lines for fibre optics • Extruders for variety of applications – up to 175 mm • Cross-Head Single/Dual/Triple • Haul-Off Caterpillar • Capstan • Take-up and pay-off of all types and sizes and as per requirement above 4.5 meters and 40 MT • Rubber extruders for Insulation and sheathing materials • Silicone extrusion lines with infrared vulcanization system • Cat 5.6 and 7 Lines • FTTH drop cable lines • Fluoropolymer – FEP, PTFE /ETFE Lines • Loose tube/Secondary coating lines for fibre optics • Extruders for variety of applications – up to 175 mm • Cross-Head Single/Dual/Triple • Haul-Off Caterpillar • Capstan • Take-up and pay-off of all types and sizes and as per requirement above 4.5 meters and 40 MT

Scholz Vulcanization system for Power Cables up to 132 KV XLPE and 33 KV for Rubber • Specialized Medical Tubing extrusion lines • Proven Triple Extrusion Line for SIOPLAS (XLPE) cables • High speed Insulation Line and Sheathing Line for House Wiring & Control Cables and medical equipment sector. • High output and best in class Insulation Line and Sheathing Line for Power and Optical fiber Cables. • HCV insulation and sheathing line • Hybrid and composite CCV lines for both XLPE and Rubber. Scholz Vulcanization system for Power Cables up to 132 KV XLPE and 33 KV for Rubber • Specialized Medical Tubing extrusion lines • Proven Triple Extrusion Line for SIOPLAS (XLPE) cables • High speed Insulation Line and Sheathing Line for House Wiring & Control Cables and medical equipment sector. • High output and best in class Insulation Line and Sheathing Line for Power and Optical fiber Cables. • HCV insulation and sheathing line • Hybrid and composite CCV lines for both XLPE and Rubber.

Supermac CCV Line Supermac CCV Line

www.supermacindia.com www.supermacindia.com

SUPERMAC INDUSTRIES (INDIA) LIMITED SUPERMAC INDUSTRIES (INDIA) LIMITED

UNIT-I : Plot No-2, Sector-6, IMT Manesar, Gurgaon Haryana, INDIA Ph.: +91-0124-4690500 | Fax: +91-0124-4690501 E-mail: jasvinder@supermacindia.com, vkohli@supermacindia.com UNIT-I : Plot No-2, Sector-6, IMT Manesar, Gurgaon Haryana, INDIA Ph.: +91-0124-4690500 | Fax: +91-0124-4690501 E-mail: jasvinder@supermacindia.com, vkohli@supermacindia.com

OFFICE : A-28 & 29, NARAINA Industrial Area Phase-1, New Delhi-110028, INDIA Ph.: +91-11-45574317 E-mail: office@supermacindia.com OFFICE : A-28 & 29, NARAINA Industrial Area Phase-1, New Delhi-110028, INDIA Ph.: +91-11-45574317 E-mail: office@supermacindia.com

UNIT-II : Plot No. 18-19, Sector-2A, IMT Manesar, Gurgaon, Haryana, INDIA UNIT-II : Plot No. 18-19, Sector-2A, IMT Manesar, Gurgaon, Haryana, INDIA

SHAPE

ANY YOU WANT

Below are the dimensions of common shapes that we provide: RECTANGLE - starting from 0.05 mm to 11.0 mm SQUARE - starting from 0.08 mm to 15.0 mm HEXAGON - starting from 0.30 mm to 22.0 mm

HIGH-PERFORMANCE LONG-LASTING

Accomplishing a smooth die geometry and utilizing solid sintering techniques can result in a longer lifespan for the die.

Our superior inner surface polishing results in excellent wire quality and ensures stable production.

COMMON SHAPES WE PROVIDE

OUR PRODUCT LINE INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING OFFERINGS ND Dies MCD / SSCD Dies PCD Dies Shaped PCD Dies Stranding, Bunching, Compacting Dies Tinning Dies Extrusion Tools Nano / Diamond-coated Dies

  € ‚ƒ„ 

„   €†„ ‡ˆ ˆ ‰ ‚‡ Š  €†„ ‡ˆ ˆ ƒ  ˆ  ‹ŒˆŽ Œ ‘  ƒˆŽ ˆ Š‚ ƒ€Œ ˆ € ’  ˆ

Corporate News

Gold award for sustainable practices Lubricant producer Metalube™ has achieved Gold Status from EcoVadis, a third-party sustainability-rating gold rating is a result of the efforts of its employees and management, who collectively embarked on an ambitious sustainability project.

Rosendahl Nextrom GmbH Rosendahl Nextrom will showcase a portfolio of new and improved solutions for the market. Balancing quality, produc- tivity and sustainability is an ongoing challenge for cable and wire producers. Rosendahl Nextrom studies conventional manufacturing methods and explores possibilities for improvement. A small enhancement to a machine can have a significant impact. Rosendahl recently introduced a turnkey extrusion line for hair- pin insulation that makes a safe and reliable power supply at 800V or higher possible. Read the full story in the March issue Brown emphasised the role of sustainability at Metalube: “Sustainability is key to Metalube. We are actively auditing every unit of the business to improve sustainable working practices.” Metalube Group www.metalube.co.uk panels on buildings and the planting of thousands of trees. Managing director Robert

organisation. This designation places Metalube among the top 5 per cent of companies committed to sustainable practices. EcoVadis evaluates companies based on four criteria: environmental impact, labour and human rights, ethics, and sustainable procurement. Metalube’s Cersa-MCI Established in France in 1981, Cersa-MCI designs and manufactures measuring devices for fine wires, cables and optical fibres. It offers solutions to help customers enhance production quality. Advanced technologies such as interferometers and diffraction ensure high-speed measure- ments and accuracy. The company’s sensors can be used on- or off-line for non contact measurement applications. For extrusion processes, Cersa-MCI offers the LPS-3-H to monitor diameter and detect lumps and neckdowns in a single product. Read the full story in the March issue

As a carbon-neutral company, Metalube continues to invest in sustainability projects, with a daily focus on enhancing its environmental friendliness. Initiatives range from developing eco-friendly lubricant solutions for industry applications to the installation of solar Cabopol Polymer Compounds Cabopol Polymer Compounds, a company with more than 60 years of experience in the research, development and pro- duction of thermoplastic and crosslinked compounds, is unveiling its latest innovations for electric vehicle (EV) charging applications. For wire and cable applications, the company has created TPE, TPU and TPX compounds, engineered for flexibility, aesthetic appearance and to meet international standards including EN 50620, IEC 62893-1, TÜV 2PfG1908, UL 62 and GB-T 33594. Read the full story in the March issue

13

www.read-eurowire.com

January 2024

Corporate News

Swiss Steel divests Eastern European entities Swiss Steel Group, a producer of special long steel solutions, has announced the completion of the divestiture of several distribution entities in Eastern Europe. In February 2023, Swiss Steel Group signed an agreement with IMS group – a division of Jacquet Metals – for the sale of entities in the Czech Republic, Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Lithuania, Estonia and Latvia that generated a total net revenue of €158mn and an EBITDA of €12mn in 2022. term growth. The group reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining its existing mill-direct business in the respective countries.

This marks the second significant agreement between Swiss Steel Group and Jacquet Metals, following the sale of distribution entities in Germany, Austria, Belgium and the Netherlands in 2015. Swiss Steel Group https://swisssteelgroup.com ISEND SA ISEND produces solutions for rolling mills: non-destructive testing (NDT) with eddy current, machine vision and artificial intelligence; and mass flow control. EDDYeyes is an NDT solution for hot rolled and cold-processed long products, featuring defect detection by eddy current, real-time image capture, and automatic identification and classification of defects using machine learning and AI. The system facilitates 100 per cent production quality

The move towards a global distribution network that promotes and sells own mill products represents a milestone in the ongoing implementation of Swiss Steel Group’s vision for the future and the continuation of its SSG 2025 strategic programme. Magnetic Analysis Corp Magnetic Analysis Corp (MAC) will be featuring the Minimac® II at its stand. The Minimac II is the latest addition to MAC’s range of eddy current test instruments for detecting surface and sub-surface defects such as laps, slivers and cracks in non ferrous and ferrous wire and rod. It features an embedded processor host computer and can be supplied with one or two test channels. Its versatility allows it to be used in a wide range of applications in wire and rod mills during production. Read the full story in the March issue

The divestiture allows Swiss Steel Group to streamline its operations and focus on core strengths, positioning it for increased competitiveness and long

RichardsApex, Inc RichardsApex, a manufacturer of wet lubricants for the ferrous, non-ferrous and alloy wire and tube industries, will be displaying its latest technology. From wire drawing, tube drawing and hot-rolling applications, RichardsApex provides semi synthetic, fully synthetic and straight oil form compounds for wet drawing of non-ferrous and ferrous wire, as well as protective coatings, cleaners and corrosion inhibitors for all non-ferrous and ferrous alloys, for both wire and tube applications. Read the full story in the March issue

assurance and decision making. Read the full story in the March issue

Conform™ – Conklad™ Original Technology for Continuous Rotary Extrusion Applications Include: • Solid Aluminium Conductor (round or sector shape for MV and HV cables)

• Aluminium or Copper Conductor for Electric Vehicles • Copper or Aluminium Rectangular Wire & Bus Bar • Seamless Aluminium Sheathing of OPGW & Other Cores • Aluminium Cladding of Steel Wire (AS Wire, ACSR Wire) • Aluminium Refrigeration Tube • Precious Metals • Powder Extrusion for Additive Manufacturing

14

www.read-eurowire.com

January 2024

Corporate News

A year in review, and a look ahead

In be participating in more trade shows, com- mencing with wire Düsseldorf in April, followed by Wire Expo in May and wire China in September, and concluding the year with wire India in November. Lämneå Bruk AB www.lamnea.se 2024, the company will

The by interactions and meaningful engage- ments at various trade shows. Face to-face encounters with partners and industry peers allowed for inspiring conversations, fostering connections that go beyond business transactions. Lämneå Bruk says that these personal interactions are pivotal to its business, driving mutual growth and success. year was characterised

Lämneå Bruk has looked back on the successes and milestones of 2023. Responding to demand for its machines, the company embarked on a strategic expansion, with investments funnelled into enhancing operational infra- structure, and developing facilities to meet evolving customer needs. The company says that this expansion not only underscores its commitment to excellence but also signals a dedication to meeting the increasing demands of the market. A newly constructed office building provides additional space for the growing workforce, facilitating internal team building workshops for middle-level leaders, first aid training and company meetings. The company further invested in integrating automated machinery and equipment to become more efficient in its own production processes. This technological investment is set to augment operational capabilities.

Construction of Lämneå Bruk’s office building

MPD & EPD Revolutionary product

Wire surface = ND Dies 01/

02/ < 1.0mm shaped dies 03/

Dies life > PCD Dies

www.diamond-dies.com

15

www.read-eurowire.com

January 2024

Corporate News

Initiative to help manufacturers adopt latest technologies

Commenting on the initiative, James Selka DL, CEO of the MTA, said, “Although industrial robot installations in the UK were up three per cent last year, this was just a tenth of what is happening in Germany and also behind the likes of France, Spain and Italy. Our Knowledge Hubs at MACH 2024 aim to

The Manufacturing Technologies Association (MTA) will use its MACH 2024 event to launch a new initiative to help UK manufacturers become more competitive while improving efficiency and sustainability. A series of “Knowledge Hubs” will feature at the event, being held at the NEC, Birmingham, UK, from 15 to 19 April 2024, designed to encourage UK engineering-based manufacturers to adopt new technology and techniques to enable them to compete globally in a sustainable manner. The UK’s economic growth is currently one of the slowest of the G7, characterised by low productivity, low wages and poor investment. In many cases, global competitors have not just caught up with the UK but have overtaken it in terms of productivity and investment. Adoption of new technology and implementing the latest techniques in manufacturing processes is one way to boost the UK’s economic output. The MTA’s Knowledge Hubs at MACH 2024 will focus on educating users in when and how to adopt new technologies such as automation and robotics, data and artificial intelligence for manufacturing, sustainable manufacturing towards net zero and the use of additive manufacturing techniques. One of the Knowledge Hubs at MACH 2024 will aim to educate companies on how the technology can be used to automate many processes to improve productivity.

James Selka, CEO, MTA

reverse the decline and enable the UK to re-establish itself as a sovereign manufacturer. To do that, we have to recognise the importance of investing in the latest technologies for improving manufacturing efficiency and optimising productivity. Our role is to help UK manufacturers focus on the new technology and provide impartial advice and way-finding on when and how to adopt.” Another of the MTA’s Knowledge Hubs will focus on the adoption of data and artificial intelligence (AI) in manufacturing – the latest technology designed to help manufacturing achieve agility through improved production processes while reducing costs and streamlining the supply chain. Additive manufacturing is also a technology with potential to revolutionise the way parts and products are designed and manufactured. Manufacturing Technologies Association www.machexhibition.com

AUTOMATE YOUR WIRE PRODUCTION!

Discover a new era of productivity with Lämneå Bruk’s Fully Automatic Wire Machinery Solutions.

Our automated solutions optimize your production workflow, ensuring seamless operations. Boost Eiciency

Experience unparalleled accuracy with our state-of-the-art machinery. Redefine Precision

Join us at wire Düsseldorf, hall 9 booth A06, to learn more about our fully automatic machine portfolio! Don't just automate, Innovate with Lämneå Bruk!

Reduce man-hours eƒectively, allowing your team to focus on what matters most. Save Resources

sales@lamnea.se

www.lamnea.se

17

www.read-eurowire.com

January 2024

Corporate News

Wardwell acquires Cobra Braiding Machinery

wire and cable harnessing, and when this opportunity for acquisition arose, we knew it was a great fit for our company and our customers. I have the highest respect for the Cobra line of braiders and especially the company’s managing director, Neil Hyde.” Mr Hyde will remain active in the company as general manager for a period of time yet to be determined. Established in the UK in 1981, Cobra is a family-run company, now in its fourth generation. It manufactures and supplies braiding machines and equipment for a wide range of wiring harness markets, including heavy vehicles, agricultural equipment, construction and mining equipment, military and defence vehicles, marine engines and aerospace. It exports 95 per cent of the braiding machines it manufactures, to countries in Europe, and others including the USA, Mexico, China, Japan and Australia.

Wardwell has announced its acquisition of Cobra Braiding Machinery and its assets. The announcement was made by Wardwell vice president John Tomaz at the company’s headquarters in Rhode Island, USA. According to Mr Tomaz, “Wardwell and Cobra have been friendly competitors for many years on the global market in Futec Europe GmbH An optoelectronic online inspection system, designed for wire diameters from 0.5 to 60mm, from Japanese inspection equipment manufacturer Futec can be integrated into production lines without having to modify them. It captures small surface defects such as scratches, cracks, pores and notches, even if not visible to the human eye, as well as contamination. The system registers their size, shape, position and number, and displays the defects simultaneously on a screen. Read the full story in the March issue Braiding Company

Wardwell gives us the confidence that our customers will continue to receive the performance and support they are accustomed to getting from Cobra.” Wardwell is a member of the Wilms Group, which includes other equipment manufacturers such as Sket, Henrich and Spirka-Schnellflechter. The Wardwell braiding machine offerings will now include the entire Cobra line, highlighted by the Cobra 450. Wardwell Braiding Company www.wardwell.com Neil Hyde of Cobra (left) and John Tomaz of Wardwell celebrate the signing of the deal

Mr Hyde commented, “Teaming up with

ASMAG acquires Reika The family-owned company ASMAG, located in Scharnstein, Austria, is taking over Reika, a German manufacturer of turnkey tube processing systems. The acquisition represents a significant step in ASMAG’s expansion strategy. By integrating Reika’s products into the ASMAG Group’s existing portfolio, a broader range can be offered to shared customers. This will contribute to consolidating the market position, and aligns with the “everything from a single source” strategy. Johann Vielhaber, founder and owner of the ASMAG Group, commented, “The acquisition of Reika is a significant achievement for ASMAG. “We value the know-how that the company brings with its over 100 years of existence and are convinced that this will further strengthen our position as a leading company in the industry.”

CUSTOMIZED ENGINEERING

Visit us: Expo Manufactura in Mexico 30.01. – 01.02.24 WIRE 2024 in Germany 15.04. – 19.04.24

PAY-OFF | TAKE-UP AND EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN

The head quartered in Austria’s Almtal valley, is primarily engaged in mechanical and plant engineer- ing for the metal industry, with locations in Austria, Germany, Italy and the USA. ASMAG Group,

ASMAG GmbH www.asmag.at

OVER 40 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE

EXTRUSION AND SPECIAL MACHINES

YOUR EXPERT FOR CABLE + WIRE

Saterland – Germany

www.KURRE-SYSTEMS.de

Johann Vielhaber

18

www.read-eurowire.com

January 2024

mixercompounds.com

DIFFERENTLY BETTER TO BE DIFFERENT, DIFFERENT TO BE BETTER.

EKOgraft®: one-of-a-kind moisture curable compounds, the result of a cutting-edge engineering process completely reinvented according to an innovative vision. Mixer’s attitude, driven by commitment and specific know-how, allows to provide consistent solutions for the cable industry, including photovoltaic application.

Ready to be different?

Meet us in Düsseldorf 15 - 19 April 2024 Hall 12 - Booth E72

Corporate News

Cables 2024 AMI, a provider of market intelligence and events for the global plastics industry, has released the agenda for the 24 th edition of Cables, taking place from 5 to 7 March in Düsseldorf, Germany. The event is an annual meeting place for European cable manufacturers and their suppliers to catch up on new regula- tory developments, market demands and technological advancements for polymers in the wire and cable industry. The agenda reflects the latest industry trends and discusses innovations in compounds, masterbatches, additives and specific applications. The sessions start with a market overview, presented by an AMI consultant, which is tailored to the needs and interests of the targeted audience. This is followed by discussions on new materials and formulations to achieve better quality polymers in cables; new technologies and formulations with a focus on scientific discoveries; and regulatory and consumer demands. Presentations will explore issues in sustainability during a dedicated session titled Reducing Wire and Cable

• Chris Kent, technical services manager, AGC Chemicals Europe, UK • Thomas Dittmar, CTS specialist, Huber Advanced Materials – Martinswerk, Germany • Bryan Guichard, development engineer, MCPP France SAS, France • Outi Härkki, business development manager, energy, Premix Oy, Finland • Christian Lagreve, R&D materials manager, Acome, France • Franck Gyppaz, head of fire safety systems technoplatform, Nexans, representing Europacable, France Alongside this agenda, Cables offers more than 12 hours of networking, an evening reception, exclusive dinner and an exhibition space. AMI www.ami-events.com Tramev Srl Tramev is both a supplier of new standard or special accessories and a partner for the solution of technical problems for metal wire, wire rope and wire derivatives manufacturers. With light and portable tools from the company’s shears division, cutting, bending and straightening are easy operations. Read the full story in the March issue

Industry Carbon Footprint and Increasing Recyclability. Also discussed will be specific appli- cations that are showing the fastest growth, such as electromobility and electrification, and new solutions that the industry can provide. The organiser says that the highlight of the event will be discussions from cable manufacturers and suppliers on current market challenges and opportunities, giving attendees the chance to hear first-hand opinions from industry leaders about what the future holds for the industry. The event attracts 170+ cable manu- facturers and polymer suppliers, as well as compounders, additive providers, technology developers, scientists and end users. Speakers and panellists will include: • Michael Heinz, process development supervisor, Corning Optical Communications, Germany • Gi Joon Nam, director, LS Cable & System, Republic of Korea

•••• • AUTOMATIC • STRAIGHTENING • FORMING • WELDING •• • 2D Wire Forming & Welding Machines, suitable for POP Displays, Shelving, Household goods and many more • Automatic Lines for the production of shelving and air filter frames direct from coil • Automatic Ring Forming & Welding machines with TIG Welding • High Quality Burr-Free welds in mild and stainless steel • Medium frequency and TIG welding options available • Versions available for strip or profiled wire • Unrivalled service support • 2 year parts warranty WIRE FORMING & WELDING MACHINES ultimat

8OWLPDWH $XWRPDWLRQ /WG VDOHV#XOWLPDW FRP ZZZ XOWLPDW FRP

EUROPEAN HALF PAGE 20 2 3 no flash

28/11/2023

20

www.read-eurowire.com

January 2024

hairpin extrusion from A to Z

meet us in Düsseldorf 15 – 19 April, 2024 Hall 9 | booth A60

With the worldwide first industry-ready turnkey hairpin extrusion line, Rosendahl is introducing an insulation solution for the safe and efficient use of hairpins at 800V and above. From pay-off to take-up, every line compo nent has been carefully synchronized to meet the high demands of the rectangular hairpin wire: • firm adhesion of the insulation layer • superior electrical properties • high chemical & mechanical resistance

ROSENDAHL NEXTROM. tailor-made in europe

rosendahlnextrom.com rosendahlnextrom.com

Corporate News

Swiss competence cluster for global wire and cable industry

cable installation tools, SCC says it has the expertise to address most challenges. According to the association, “The use of a Swiss product represents an asset that allows users to optimise production costs, reduce waste and strengthen their brand image.”

Switzerland is a small country by size, but has significant technological knowledge and capacity for innovation, with many high performance and quality products being developed there. An association named the Swiss Competence Cluster (SCC) was formed in 2022 and is currently in a growth phase. For cable manufacturing, metrology or Wire & Plastic Machinery Corp Wire & Plastic Machinery was founded in 1981 as a dealer of pre-owned non-ferrous wire and cable machinery. The range of services offered includes reconditioning of machinery (including commissioning at the customer’s plant site), equipment brokering, plant liquidations, worldwide sales and support. The company has eight warehouses in the USA, with more than 30,000 items in inventory. In addition, the company has three complete reconditioning centres with modern machine shops. Read the full story in the March issue

SCC’s latest Swiss pavilion

companies specialising in technologies for the cable industry, and currently comprises AESA, Buss, Erocarb, FMS, Hivotec, Microdia, Sensoptic and Zumbach. All members have their own specialities but share the same core values, pro- viding cultural, commercial and technical synergies between the companies. The association allows the pooling of skills and the development of new channels of communication. Member companies will be present at various events this year, often grouped together. The association will have a Swiss pavilion at wire Mexico 2024, on booth 342B. Swiss Competence Cluster www.scc-wci.swiss

The SCC association gathers several Swiss

M+E Macchine+Engineering Srl

M+E specialises in the design and man- ufacture of payoffs and take-ups for steel and stainless steel wires in coils or on spools for annealing, patenting, galvanising, oil tempering and other in-line processes. It also manufactures wet drawing machines for steel and stainless steel wire, complete with horizontal or vertical axis spoolers. The range includes payoffs from stationary spools or carriers; rotating payoff turn- tables for spools or carriers; and horizontal or vertical spool payoff frames (option:

double accumulation capstan). Read the full story in the March issue

22

www.read-eurowire.com

January 2024

When the result matters…

Explore the benefits of Nano-Die® from Nano-Dies PL. Materials: aluminium & alloys, copper, brass, welding alloys, low carbon through to high carbon & stainless steel. Nano-Die® is a registered trademark. Product availability is exclusively via select distributorships – please see our website. Quality UP. Costs DOWN. Nano-die® Performs: • very low friction & extreme hardness, better Copper and Aluminium utilization/better surface • +0 tolerance for full die life • no die polishing/no re-cutting required Nano-Dies Pty Ltd (previously Nano-Diamond America Inc.) now located in Sydney, Australia e-mail sales@nano-die.com.au www.nano-die.com.au

Corporate News

Rohmann GmbH For the testing of the surfaces of long products, including wires, rods and pipes, Rohmann GmbH offers a modular concept for materials testing with eddy currents. When different testing techniques, such as rotors, encircling coils or yokes for magnetising and demagnetising the test piece, are used in the production line, one device is sufficient for displaying the results. Whether crack detection or material mix up, Elotest PL650 displays the test results of different testing stations. Read the full story in the March issue First machine arrives as AWI starts £500,000 investment drive Alloy Wire International (AWI), which supports more than 6,000 customers across 65 countries, has purchased a new wet drawing machine that will allow the company to significantly increase capacity. The new machine is the first in a £500,000 investment drive, which is in response to AWI’s growing order book. The AWI team worked with the manufacturer to ensure the machine will fit seamlessly into the production set up, with specific features to help reduce lead times. Capabilities of the £145,000 machine include pre-programming to allow for set spool weights or wire lengths, and flexibility to work with a wider range of both inlet and finish sizes. This in turn increases the range of mechanical properties that can be offered across all of its 62 grades. Tom Mander, managing director of AWI, said, “Our sales have risen by over £6mn Condoroil Chemical Srl In the metalworking sector, cold formed screws and bolts are used in a wide range of applications. In the automotive sector, for example, they are used by manufacturers in vehicle parts, motors, steering, suspension and other demanding applications. The classic production cycle for these components requires a preliminary conversion coating (based upon zinc phosphate) in order to create a layer that is able to absorb the lubricant (in most cases the lubrication is provided by soaps). Read the full story in the March issue

AWI is investing in new machinery to help expand capacity and capability

cent, placing the company on course for record turnover in its 77-year history. Investment in people and increasing stockholding of its 62 high-performance alloys, to more than 400 tonnes, has helped the company attract spring makers, fastener manufacturers and suppliers to the automotive, aerospace, oil and gas, nuclear and med-tech sectors. The company is further investing in a four-spindle annealing line spooler, a new multi-head drawing machine and two single-hole drawing machines. Alloy Wire International www.alloywire.com

in the last eighteen months and our pipeline of orders is looking extremely healthy – the time was right to push the button on upgrading our manufacturing capabilities.” Commenting on the new machine, he added that it has been “customised for our operations and will allow us to consider work we have previously turned down.” AWI, which has two UK sites in the West Midlands and Yorkshire, was purchased by directors Tom Mander, Andrew Du Plessis and Adam Shaw in January 2023. The new management team has overseen a significant growth in sales, with orders up nearly 40 per

WFL to strengthen UK and Ireland markets

Machining specialist WFL Millturn Technologies has sales offices and representatives around the world. The UK is an important market for WFL, particularly in the aerospace industry. Following years of successful cooperation with partners in the UK, the company has set up WFL Millturn Technologies Ltd UK.

Smart machining with the new M20 Millturn

WFL and Kyal Machine Tools have been working together for more than a decade, ensuring customers in the UK receive the best service. The combination of Kyal Machine Tools’ in-house expertise and WFL’s technical knowledge delivers production solutions and provides customers with service and support. The transfer encompasses Kyal employees, all welcomed to the WFL team. The strategic decision aligns with WFL’s global expansion strategy and fortifies its UK market presence. The transfer of the WFL business from Kyal to WFL UK became effective on 3 November 2023. WFL Millturn Technologies GmbH & Co KG WFL Millturn Technologies UK Ltd www.wfl.at

24

www.read-eurowire.com

January 2024