EuroWire July 2022

New DST10 Sparktester

Small in size and cost effective. Aimed at coiling, rewinding, packaging and space restricted applications.

Zumbach is a global leader in the industry, family owned since 1957. Driven by innovation and experience. We are here for you and ready to build the future together. www.zumbach.com • sales@zumbach.ch

QUALITY IS EVERYTHING

We at UPCAST OY have had the honour of being the role model for continuous upcasting technology. Our consistent R&D work keeps us one step ahead and ensures the highest quality of our customers´ end products.

Upward casting since 1968

Bangkok THAILAND October 5–7 2022

®

UPCAST OY , PORI, FINLAND www.upcast.com

Visit us at

C30

FOCUSED ON CONTINUOUS EXTRUSION FOR 20 YEARS

PROFESSIONAL MANUFACTURER 50+COUNTRIES 1000+EQUIPMENT Successful Cases of Service

CONTINUOUS EXTRUSION SERIES Machine type Cross section Max Width / Diameter MFCCE300 MFCCE350 MFCCE400 MFCCE450 MFCCE550 MFCCE700 5-200mm² 20-1000mm² 100-2400mm² 100-3000mm² 400-6400mm² 600-9000mm² ≤ 50mm / Φ 25mm ≤ 100mm / Φ 40mm ≤ 170mm / Φ 80mm ≤ 210mm / Φ 90mm ≤ 325mm / Φ 130mm ≤ 425mm / Φ 140mm

for producing copper bus bar, copper strip billet, round bar and various sections MFCCE550 / MFCCE700

HYDRAULIC DRAWING SERIES

Hydraulic Drawing Drawing force 50T/100T Efficient drawing length ≤12m Product width 30-350mm Product thickness 3-30mm

Hydraulic drawing & straightening Drawing force 50T/100T Straightening tension 100T/150T Efficient drawing length ≤12m Product width 30-350mm Product thickness 3-30mm

Scroll Automatic Drawing Product width 10-120mm Product thickness 1-6mm Drawing speed 5-18m/min Coil inner diameter Φ500mm Max coil weight Φ1200mm

Shanghai Yajue Machinery Manufacturing Co.,Ltd.

No.1 Maojia Road, Shanghai, China. Tel: +86-21-56195258 / 56198658 www.shyjdg.com

Director: Mr Xiao Chun, Qu Cell: +86 137 0162 4291 E-mail: director@shyjdg.com

Sales Manager: Mr Raymond Cell: +86 139 0175 4334 E-mail: sales@shyjdg.com

Wonderful wire 2022 As the clock struck 9am on the first day, there was almost an audible collective sigh of relief as the first visitors filtered through the turnstiles at wire 2022 in Düsseldorf, Germany. For the first time since 2018, the largest exhibition in our industry welcomed visitors from far and wide, all eager to discuss business in person with old acquaintances, discover new technologies andmake new contacts following the postponement in 2020. Differences there were, but watching old friends – often separated by many thousands of miles – greeting each other with fist bumps, elbow nudging, handshakes and hugs reminded everyone what has been lacking since Covid took a stranglehold on the world. Since 2019, some physical fairs have been held around the world, but this – with the staging of the largest of them all – seemed that our industry, at least, was eventually returning to pre-Covid days. Speakingwithmany exhibitors andvisitors alike, businesswas brisk. Enquiries were forthcoming from day one, and continued heavily throughout the week. There was a genuine feeling that this was much needed. Talk invariably moved from Covid to material supplies, rising costs and the economic uncertainty they bring, and Ukraine, then switched to family and friends. There was a clearly evident warmth as people spoke to each other face to face, many for the first time in years. It clearly could not have come a day too soon. A review of wire 2022 can be found on page 8. wire was staged hot on the heels of Wire Expo in Dallas, Texas, USA, at the start of June. Registrants from 39 states and 14 different countries headed for the first staging of the biennial event since 2018.

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

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

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

Advertising/Marketing ........................................ Jason Smith UK, Italy, ROW, USA & Canada Linda Li 中国 James Woodburn Worldwide Telesales

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

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

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

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

Europe

Advertising/Marketing & Editorial Intras Ltd PO Box 6828

Warwick, CV34 9SP, UK 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.

The exhibition included a full complement of products and supplies from the 130 companies taking part in the Wire Association International organised event. WAI president James York summed up the experience: “Under these challenging times, networking and sharing is even more important. Wire Expo was just what we needed.” Further details can be found on page 21. David Bell Editor

Front cover courtesy of Güney Çelik For more details: wire@guneycelik.com.tr www.guneycelik.com.tr

All rights reserved © 2022 Intras Ltd ISSN 1463-2438

www.read-eurowire.com

4

July 2022

Contents July 2022

8

37

Corporate News

EuroFasteners

ISSN: 2633-9714 online

ISSN: 2633-9706 print

EF 3/39

Corporate News

25

Technology News

EF 8/44

Products

www.read-eurofasteners.com

36 People

Photo by Katherine McCormack, Unsplash

Technical Article 47

The future of Estane non-halogenated flame-retardant thermoplastic polyurethane By Nico Rems, Lubrizol Engineered Polymers

35

52

Editorial Index

52

Advertising Index

25

26

29

20-22 September 2022 Guangzhou Trade exhibition Guangzhou, China Organisers: Guangzhou Julang Exhibition Design Co Ltd www.julang.com Diary dates

Next issue

■ wire China ■ IWCS

■ wire Southeast Asia ■ wire South America ■ Getting technical

26-29 September 2022 wire China Trade exhibition Shanghai, China Organisers: Shanghai Electric Cable Research Institute Co Ltd Messe Düsseldorf Shanghai Co Ltd www.wirechina.net

Inspection and measurement system provides total in line solution for critical wire and cable products

5-7 October 2022 wire Southeast Asia Trade exhibition Bangkok, Thailand Organisers: Messe Düsseldorf Asia www.wire-southeastasia.com 10-13 October 2022 IWCS Technical symposium Providence, Rhode Island, USA Organisers: IWCS www.iwcs.org Trade exhibition São Paulo, Brazil Organisers: Messe Düsseldorf GmbH www.wire-south-america.com 25-28 October 2022 EuroBLECH Trade exhibition Hanover, Germany Organisers: Mack-Brooks Exhibitions www.euroblech.com 23-25 November 2022 wire India Trade exhibition Mumbai, India Organisers: Messe Düsseldorf GmbH www.wire-india.com 25-27 October 2022 wire South America

34

Subscribe today!

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

As with all shows, and with the continuing coronavirus pandemic, please check to ensure the event is going ahead

Corporate News

photo: Messe Düsseldorf/ctillmann

wire Düsseldorf is back!

energy transition, new requirements made on machines and equipment – and all of this considering sustainability aspects – the need for discussion among exhibitors and visitors in the exhibition halls was enormous.” Alongside machines and plant facilities in action were numerous trade fair launches, as well as technical conferences and expert meetings. Reflecting the transformation of energy intensive industries towards more sustainability, the guided ecoMetals tours demonstrated how exhibitors are increasingly producing in resource saving ways. Opportunities for green transformation were discussed at the wire and Tube Expert Meeting in Hall 3. wire 2022 presented 1,057 exhibitors from 51 countries on around 53,000m 2 of exhibition space, showcasing wire making and wire processing machines, wire, cable, wire products and manufacturing technology, fasteners and spring making technology, including finished products and grid-welding machinery. Innovations from measuring, control technology and test engineering were also on display.

Strongly represented at wire and Tube were exhibitors from Italy, Turkey, Spain, Belgium, France, Austria, the Netherlands, Switzerland, the UK, Sweden, Poland, the Czech Republic and Germany. From further afield, companies from the USA, Canada, South Korea, Taiwan, India and Japan travelled to Düsseldorf. Around 70 per cent of visitors were from abroad, travelling to Düsseldorf from more than 140 countries. There was also an increase in first-time visitors. wire visitors were primarily wire and cable manufacturers from the iron, steel and non-ferrous metal industry or from the vehicle and upstream supplier industry. They were interested in wire and wire products, machinery and equipment for the production and processing of rods, wire and strip, as well as test engineering, sensor technology and quality assurance for the wire and cable industry. 2024 will see wire and Tube again held concurrently, from 15 to 19 April.

The industry’s need for personal encounters and expert conversations, combined with economically challenging times and geopolitical crises were mixed together to form the backdrop for the wire and Tube trade fairs, which closed their doors after five successful days in Düsseldorf, Germany. 1,822 exhibitors from more than 50 countries visited Düsseldorf from 20 to 24 June, to present technology highlights from their industries in 93,000m 2 of exhibition space. “Düsseldorf is and will remain the place to be for theseweighty industries,”saidBernd Jablonowski, executive director at event organiser Messe Düsseldorf. “Especially in times of sustainable change, it is more important than ever to be represented here in Düsseldorf and in direct exchange with the players in these industries.” He added that most companies plan to return for the next event in 2024. Daniel Ryfisch, project director of wire/ tube and flow technologies, commented on the successful re-start of the trade fairs: “In-depth conversations about the current challenges associated with the global

Messe Düsseldorf GmbH www.messe-duesseldorf.de www.wire.de

8

www.read-eurowire.com

July 2022

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.

IIOT screen

Supermac has expertise providing on line commissioning from remote. Post commissioning customer service support is provided

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 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.

High speed building wire line

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

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

www.supermacindia.com

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

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

Corporate News

AWI promises “security of supply”

Security of supply, lead times, technical expertise and a potential new alloy were among the major talking points for Alloy Wire International (AWI) at wire 2022 in June. Speaking ahead of the event, AWI managing director Mark Venables said, “With all the uncertainty caused by the pandemic, our customers are really looking for security of supply and that involves knowing there is the right volume and variety of material available and that we can still deliver within our expected short lead times. “Every decision we made during Covid-19 was taken to ensure we continued to give the same level of manufacturing quality and reliable delivery, and this has paid off with the start of this year turning out to be our busiest yet.” Inconel 617®, a nickel-chromium-cobalt-molybdenum-alumin- ium alloy, is the latest addition to AWI’s 60+ range of alloys. It delivers a combination of increased strength and stability at elevated temperatures (up to 1,100°C/2,012°F), while retaining the high temperature resistance of Inconel alloy 601. The company’s R&D programme has also started testing and production trials of Inconel alloy 686, ahead of a potential launch at the end of 2022. Following requests by design engineers and customers, AWI is looking to make this wire available as part of its standard range,

AWI technicians ensure the accuracy of the company’s fine wire

and expects it to be of interest to petrochemical customers and clients involved in chemical processing, pollution control, waste processing and paper manufacture. The alloy is said to offer outstanding corrosion resistance to both reducing and oxidising acids and to mixed acid solutions. Andrew Du Plessis, technical director at AWI, explained, “The molybdenum and tungsten elements in the alloy aid resistance to localised corrosion, such as pitting, with resistance to crevice corrosion being enhanced by the combined alloying of Cr+Mo+W. Its qualities place it in the same arena as corrosion resistant alloys such as C276, C22 and Inconel alloy 625.” AlloyWire International www.alloywire.com

10

www.read-eurowire.com

July 2022

Corporate News

Focusing on eco-friendly production Guney Celik Inc is focused on environ mental and sustainable production in its 30 th year.

The company views its production and investments, such as Civida branded nail and screw production facilities, as being at the infrastructure stage. Therefore it focuses not only on sales volume or turnover targets but also on systems that can be developed in production, marketing and sales, and how these systems can be made sustainable. The company has integrated artificial intelligence technologies into its pro duction models while developing prod ucts and methods with high corrosion resistance. Mr Menemencioglu highlighted that the company regularly increases its ranking in the list of Turkey’s Top 1,000 Exporters, and in the Istanbul Chamber of Industry’s “Turkey’s Top 500 Industrial Enterprises”. Guney Celik Inc www.guneycelik.com.tr

Mr Menemencioglu emphasised that Guney Celik has been exporting not only iron and steel but also quality and reliability, to six continents – mainly Europe, Asia and America – since its establishment. He noted that by developing new production technologies in the wire industry, with the first R&D centre approved by Turkey’s Ministry of Industry and Technology, the company presented customers with innovative and higher quality products. “We are Turkey’s largest producer and exporter, with seven galvanised wire production lines that delay corrosion and extend the life of steel,” said Mr Menemencioglu. “At the same time, we are the first and main producer of Arzincal brandwires with high corrosion resistance in Turkey. Our production lines are not limited to galvanising processes. We have the largest production capacity in Turkey for pre-stressed concrete strand and pre stressed concrete wire.”

Tenova, a developer and provider of sus tainable solutions for the green transition of the metals industry, has been awarded two contracts by Tenaris for its mill in Dalmine, Italy. Both contracts are related to the steelmaker’s new investment in special steel production. The two compa nies belong to the Techint Group. The Dalmine project is divided into three phases, two of which will be supplied by Tenova. The first phase consists of a melt shop ladle furnace that will be used for secondary metallurgical treatment of the liquid steel. The second project phase will consist of a Tenova-designed and -supplied heat treatment furnace for special steel bars. The movable hood-type furnace is specifically designed to charge very large bars with a length of 12m, and is equipped with 34 hydrogen-ready self-recuperative burners that will be capable of using up to 100 per cent hydrogen as a fuel source. Tenova self-recuperative burners provide energy savings compared to traditional preheated air burners, playing a role in re ducing CO 2 emission levels in steelmaking plants. In addition to fuel savings, Tenova burners’ flameless technology produces a low NOx emission level. The main fea tures of Tenova regenerative burners are The company, which is part of the Arsan Group, provides services to many sectors, especially construction, wire, cable, security, energy, transportation and agri- culture, with the production of coated wire, uncoatedwire, pre-stressed concrete strand, pre-stressed concrete wire and qualified nails. It has exported over 50 per cent of the production carried out in its facilities to more than 70 countries. Guney Celik general manager Hamza Menemencioglu stated that the company has added value to metal by investing in the future over its 30 years of production, and said, “Since 1992, we export qual ity and trust from Adana and Gebze [in Turkey] to the world by constantly de veloping with an understanding that prioritises nature and human resources and new production technologies.”

Contracts for steelmaker’s investment in special steel production

the opportunity of this project to make a step forward. Working with Tenova’s engineering and R&D, we designed a plant ready to start the substitution of natural gas with hydrogen as fuel for our industrial furnaces.” With this investment, the Dalmine mill will produce high-grade special steel resistant to corrosion in carbon dioxide and hydrogen sulphide environments. The special steel product will also be used for renewable energy technologies such as geothermal wells. Tenova www.tenova.com

optimal thermal uniformity, extended combustion stability, advanced control technology, low maintenance and contin uous product evolution. Flexibility in fuel combustion is another advantage, as the burners are already designed and manu factured to be hydrogen-ready. “The installation of a new 100 per cent H 2 -ready furnace is part of Tenaris’s commitment to reducing the environmental impact of its activity, embracing innovation and technological change,” commented Giuseppe Pandini, Tenaris senior project manager. “Beside selecting the best energy saving technology for the burners, we took

Tenaris’s mill in Dalmine

11

www.read-eurowire.com

July 2022

Corporate News

Greenfield high-performance project for steel mill

take the mill up to the rated maximum speed. The entire mill is automatically controlled by an Industry-4.0-compliant automation system – RACS – engineered and supplied by AIC India (Bangalore), ensuring full process control and minimising manual intervention. The first material in the cooling bed was tested at the end of 2021, and early activities were focused on stabilising the slow line. AIC is a system integrator that designs, manufactures and commissions turnkey plants worldwide, providing advanced and tailored automation and mechatron ics solutions for the steel industry, with the aim of improving the efficiency, com petitiveness and safety of the production processes. With more than 45 years of history, the company has experience in both green field and revamping projects, especially in meltshops and long-product rolling mills. Automazioni Industriali Capitanio www.aicnet.it

of 28m/s, applying single-slit rolling. The mill is equipped with quenching and tempering systems, and discharges with high-speed twin channel systems. AIC has rolled all of the sections successfully, and trials are underway to

AIC has commissioned a greenfield 350,000 tpa rolling mill for Suryadev Alloys and Power Ltd (SAP), one of the largest steel manufacturers based in India. The new high-speed mill will produce 8 to 40mm rebar at a maximum rated speed

The main control area for full process control

HIGH-PERFORMANCE RUBBER AND PLASTIC COMPOUND SOLUTIONS

WE PROVIDE: EPR & Polyolefin Compounds

Moisture Crosslinkable Peroxide Crosslinkable Irradiation Crosslinkable Halogen Free, Flame Retardant

Bedding/Filler Thermoplastic Custom Compounding

Customized Functional Masterbatches Formulation Design & Development

108 RADO DRIVE NAUGATUCK, CT 06770 USA / +1 203-723-2590 / WWW.ELECTRICCABLECOMPOUNDS.COM

12

www.read-eurowire.com

July 2022

Bringing cable packaging into the stratosphere.

Innovative design We removed everything that wasn’t needed from the payout tube, and improved everything else.

Smaller boxes Less shelf space, easier to carry. Reduce box width by more than 20%.

or

Backward compatible Swap out REELEX II tubes with REELEX AIR and drop into your exsiting boxes. Or, take it a step further and reduce box sizes for maximumbenefit.

Shipping efficiency Up to 40%more boxes per pallet means huge improvements to shipping efficiency andmuch less cost per box.

Lessmaterial, lower cost 40% less material. Less plastic means less cost, while being better for the environment. 40% less material

(Even) better payout Rounded entry provides

smoother pulls, while I-beam design promotes even better payout performance.

A new package from the leaders in packaging innovation.

REELEX P A C K A G I N G S O L U T I O N S I N C.

www.REELEX.com

Patterson, NY USA

Corporate News

Sikora among Germany’s innovation leaders Sikora AG has been honoured in the “Ger many’s innovation leader 2022” awards

other inventions and how often a patent cites another patent family. The less often this is the case, the more innovative the patent is perceived. Sikora received the award in the “measuring, testing” category. Each year, Sikora invests around ten per cent of its turnover in research and development of new measuring and control technology, as well as inspection, analysis and sorting systems for quality control during the production of wires and cables, hoses, tubes, pipes and sheets, optical fibres and plastics. Sikora AG www.sikora.net

by the FAZ-Institut. The worldwide pat ent applications of companies operating in Germany were analysed for the study. As a leading company for measur ing and control technology, Sikora was among the winners. The survey evaluated patents from more than 500 technology and knowledge areas, looking at not only the number of patents filed in the last ten years, but also their relevance. In this way, index points were given for the companies analysed, taking into account whether the invention influenced

Sikora’s X-Ray 6000 Pro measurement system

Maximising asset productivity in wire and cable manufacturing

“It was a natural evolution to broaden our product portfolio over the last few years to become a trusted source for everything in your harness. The WireMasters approach to service has led to an exponential increase in demand for value-add connectors over the past twelve months. Adding Aero-Electric to our list of connector component suppliers for QPL-approved assembly is just one of many ways that we’re excited to meet the increased demand and to provide our customers with more options and shorter lead times for mil-spec connectors.” WireMasters, Inc www.wiremasters.net The paper, which can be downloaded via the company’s website, examines the impacts of planning, maintenance, process engineering, production man agement, supervisors and operators on OEE; effective ways to measure and re cord OEE; setting OEE targets; and how technology can help improve OEE in wire and cable manufacturing. It also includes a 14-point “conclusion and takeaways” section. Cimteq Ltd www.cimteq.com reaching the levels predicted when the assets were initially specified.”

engineering, maintenance, planning and production management. A spokesperson from Cimteq said, “The asset value of the machines that make up a typical wire and cable plant can be in the tens of millions of dollars/euros. “These assets can operate for many years and are often repurposed as designs change, and the manufacturing mix evolves. “When issues that affect overall equip ment effectiveness remain unaddressed, and standards slip, productivity has a habit of drifting lower, or never fully

The latest in Cimteq’s series of white pa pers explores maximising asset produc tivity in wire and cable manufacturing through the use of overall equipment effectiveness (OEE). Cimteq, a software provider to the wire and cable manufacturing industry, helps manufacturers consider best practices for the entire lifecycle of an asset from specification to retirement. The white paper describes the use of OEE as the measure of productivity for assets. It describes the impact that supporting functions can have on an asset’s productivity, technical, process

WireMasters connects with Conesys WireMasters has announced a global partnership with a California, USA-based connector manufacturer, Aero-Electric Connector – a division of Conesys (Aero Electric). WireMasters can now assemble Aero-Electric mil-spec connectors in its value-add connector facility in Mexicali, Mexico. As a category-C distributor for Aero Electric, WireMasters is QPL approved to value-add the connector product lines MIL-DTL-38999 Series I, II and III; MIL DTL-26482 Series 2; and MIL-DTL-83723.

With the addition of this partnership, WireMasters now maintains more than $10mn in component inventory, ready to be assembled into mil-circular connectors and quickly shipped. “WireMasters has built a strong reputa tion in the industry through service ex cellence for wire and cable,” said Clint Mendinsky, VP of supply chain at Wire Masters.

WireMasters is now approved to assemble Aero-Electric mil-spec connectors

14

www.read-eurowire.com

July 2022

Corporate News

Advanced wire grinding descalers EJP Wire Technology GmbH, EJP Italmec Sp zoo and WWM Technology Srl have joined under the umbrella of EJP Indus tries. The three companies spotlighted their latest innovations together at wire 2022 in Düsseldorf, Germany, with high lights being a new wire grinding descaler and the latest generation of cleaning and copper coating units for welding wire production.

grinding head. This arrangement allows us to guarantee a uniform and consistent wire surface quality, even though we are using two grinding belts. The complicated process of synchronising the belt speed with the wire speed has become a thing of the past.” WWM showed its latest cleaning and copper-coating units for welding wire production. With these new systems, based on the concept of chemical coppering, the process speed can be increased from 15 to 30m/sec while ensuring the same product quality. The coating units can be combined with dry and wet-drawing machines, such as the slip-free wet-drawing machine that WWM Technology presented at the previous edition of the wire trade show. EJP Italmec displayed its range of machines for the production of low-, medium- and high-carbon wire. EJPWire Technology GmbH www.ejpwire.com

Photo credit: EJP Wire Technology

The three companies specialise in machinery and systems for the production and processing of wire: • EJP Wire Technology (Schwerte, Germany) – wire pre-treatment systems • EJP Italmec (Katowice, Poland) – production equipment for low-, medium- and high-carbon wire • WWM Technology (Conselve, Italy) – production equipment for welding wire This set-up makes EJP one of only a few manufacturers able to serve the entire wire production chain with advanced systems, and its customers around the world with a global sales and service network.

At wire 2022, EJP Wire Technology showcased the latest, fully redesigned version of the SA-2 grinding descaler. In contrast to the previous design, the new machine operates with just one rotating head, which can accommodate two grinding belts with different types of abrasive grains – for rough and fine grinding, for example. The machine achieves the same performance as the previous double-head units, with a much simpler design. Lothar Köppen, managing partner of EJP Wire Technology, commented, “In the new machine we have just one rotating The new grinding descaler achieves the same grinding performance with a simpler design

EJP Italmec Sp zoo www.ejpitalmec.com

15

www.read-eurowire.com

July 2022

Corporate News

Harting ranked at forefront of German SMEs The magazine Focus Money , together with Deutschland Test and the Institute for Management and Economic Research (IMWF), has named Harting as Company of the Year 2022 in the electronic components category. trust (recommendations and reliability), service quality and sustainability in economic, ecological and social terms. Harting took the highest marks in each case. The survey included around 21,000 companies.

is at the same time an obligation to further consolidate these top positions and always convince our customers with quality.” Harting Technology Group provides industrial connection technology for data, signal and power applications, through 14 productionplants and 44 sales companies. The company also produces electro- magnetic actuators for automotive and industrial use, and hardware and software for applications in automation technology, mechanical and plant engineering, robotics and transportation engineering. Harting Stiftung & Co KG www.harting.com

The analysis by DDW on the importance and evaluation of the companies was based on 28 factors with different weightings. These included turnover and employee figures, the respective strength of patent activities, expenditure on research and development, employer offerings, industry cooperation activities, certifications and investment activities. Philip Harting, CEO of the Harting Tech- nology Group, commented on receiving the awards, “This makes us proud and

Having achieved the maximum score, Harting was also positioned among the top German SMEs. According to analysis by the DDW (Die Deutsche Wirtschaft) information network, the family business ranks third among the 10,000 most im portant German medium-sized compa nies. The ranking covers German-owned companies posting annual sales of up to €1bn. The Company of the Year award assessed the price-performance ratio, customer

R&M increases production of fibre optic cables

“Our own cable plant with more than 50 experienced specialists makes us independent and responsive,” said Mr Rüsseler. “Together with our fibre optic plants in Switzerland and abroad, any fibre optic assemblies, special assemblies or project-related complete packages for medium and large network rollouts can be offered from a single source.” In the future, the plant will operate in three shifts in order to further boost production capacity and meet increased demand. In addition to standard fibre optic cables, R&M supplies customer-specific designs with special cable structures, as well as entire data centre network infrastructures for cloud, colocation and edge applications. The company also supplies the telecom munications, mobile communications and 5G markets, metro networks and In ternet exchanges with fibre optic cables. Other sales markets include solutions for the access network, fibre to the home connections (FTTH), local data networks (LAN) and fibre-optic-based solutions for building automation.

R&M (Reichle & De-Massari), a developer of cabling systems for network infrastructures, based in Switzerland, is expanding production capacities at its cable plant in Děčín, Czech Republic. By the end of 2022, R&M will be investing several million Swiss francs in new production facilities for fibre optic cables. The plant has been working at maximum capacity since it was taken over by R&M in 2018. “As expected, the high demand for fibre optic cabling is continuing,” said Andreas Rüsseler, CMO at R&M. “This is why we are expanding and optimising our cable production.” Telecom, Internet and cloud industries are continuing to investmore in theexpansion of fibre optic networks. The 5G ecosystem is also growing, and its expansion requires tightly meshed fibre optic networks between antennas, core networks and edge data centres. Other growth markets that require new high-performance fibre optic networks include smart cities, smart buildings, smart mobility, health care and automated factories.

Andreas Rüsseler

The portfolio of pre-terminable products includes MPO trunk cables, breakout cables, harness cables and multi-fibre cables, patch cords and pigtails. In addition to standard 19" splice panels, R&M assembles compact distribution modules and optical main distribution systems (ODF) for telecom and data centre applications. Rodents that like to eat underground cables can be deterred by robust cable constructions. R&M offers cables with steel strip reinforcements, glass roving in several layers of thickness and protection with fibre-reinforced plastic rods. Another project is aimed at optimising the fire behaviour of cables. New long-term fire-resistant and low-emission cables that meet the increasing safety requirements of the market are also available from R&M. Reichle & De-Massari AG www.rdm.com

Assemblies are ready for installation are equipped with R&M con nectors, manufactured in house, and are delivered factory-tested. that

The R&M cable plant in the Czech Republic manufactures standard and special fibre optic cables

Photo credit: R&M

16

www.read-eurowire.com

July 2022

Corporate News

Certas Energy Lubricants reveals new division Strategically addressing the increasingly technical and commercial complexity of the lubricants sector, Certas Energy Lubricants is expanding with the launch of its industrial division. Initially focusing on the manufacturing and energy sectors, the new division will provide end-to-end lubrication product and service solutions for businesses across these key industrial sectors. in the industrial sector, the company’s expansion is the next step in an ambitious three-year growth plan that will also see it expand into Europe. Heading the new division, business unit director Mark Powell commented, “Partnering with world-renowned Certas Energy Lubricants is a Castrol ambassador distributor and a Shell Lubricants authorised distributor; the company also partners with Q8Oils in the UK, offering lubricating oils and greases, industrial cleaners and metal working fluids to the manufacturing and energy sectors.

lubricants brands means our customers benefit from a wide range of class-leading products all from one supplier and served from eight warehouse locations across the UK.”

The company has plans to develop its products and services, as director Steve Mayo explained: “Constantly monitoring trends and updates to legislation enables us to keep customers informed of changes that impact their operations. Certas Energy Lubricants are active members of the UK Lubricants Association Product Stewardship Group and strive to promote best practice and meet the evolving needs of industrial operations.” Up-coming services include complete fluid management to support the digital transformation of industrial manufacturing companies, and Certas Fluid Command – for fluid and oil analysis, providing greater control and insight for customers with a view to improving efficiency. Certas Energy Lubricants https://certasenergylubricants.com

Following of premium and specialist lubricants brands multiple acquisitions

Certas’s industrial division will provide lubrication product and service solutions to the manufacturing and energy sectors

Bringing energy all around

The energy you need to power global industries requires excellent performance materials with high quality consistency. Borealis and Borouge, the world’s global leading providers of innovative value-creating polyolefin solutions for the wire and cable industry, help build secure energy grids of the future. We are always a step ahead: Our Borcycle™ M and Borcycle™ C compounds based on mechanically and chemically recycled feedstock as well as the Bornewables™ compounds using

renewable-based feedstock meet a growing demand for high-sustainability cable polymers.

Bringing energy Ad_EuroWire_ohne_180x125_14_04_2022_high.indd 1

www.read-eurowire.com 19.04.22 14:12

18

July 2022

Corporate News

US acetylene-based conductive additives plant Chemical company Orion Engineered Carbons plans to build the only plant in the USA producing acetylene-based conductive additives – a critical link in the value chain for lithium-ion batteries, high-voltage cables and other products powering the global transition to electrification and renewable energy. acetylene supplied from a neighbouring site owned by Equistar Chemicals LP, a subsidiary of LyondellBasell. this material, so expanding capacity for it is one of our top investment priorities and a major milestone in our growth plans.” The company, which has a similar plant in France with locally supplied acetylene gas from LyondellBasell, is the sole producer of acetylene-based conductive additives in the European Union.

Acetylene is a colourless gas widely used as a chemical building block. Orion’s pro duction process turns acetylene into a powder, which is added to lithium-ion batteries to enhance electrical conductiv ity and extend lifetime. The material plays a similar role in high-voltage cables used for wind and solar farms. Orion will invest between $120mn and $14mn in the facility, which is expected to start up in the second half of 2024. The investment is forecast to increase the company’s conductive additives capacity by approximately 12 kilotons per year. “With this investment, we will quadruple our effective manufacturing capacity of acetylene-based conductive additives,” said Corning Painter, Orion’s CEO. “We are already experiencing high demand for

The planned facility in La Porte, Texas, will be backed by a long-term agreement for

Demand for battery additives is expected to grow rapidly with the global boom in the construction of “gigafactories”making lithium-ion batteries. “Batteries will continue to play an increasingly vital role in the world’s shift toward clean energy,” said Mr Painter. “By being a key supplier of materials to the battery industry, we’re living up to our mission of delivering solutions for a more sustainable future.” Orion Engineered Carbons www.orioncarbons.com

Orion’s plant in Berre-l’Etang, France

Expanded space for development, service workshop and seminars

is available for the solution of specific tasks and problems of national and international customers, and also for seminars and training courses. The first scheduled test run was for the start of the SumMet courses, in which Buehler will impart specialist knowledge on the preparation and evaluation of material samples. Buehler ITWTest &Measurement GmbH www.buehler.com

independent laboratory dealer that took over warehousing for the diverse systems, spare parts and consumables used in materialography and material analysis, as well as customer service, at the end of 2020. The laboratory is equipped with technology for the preparation of materialography samples, as well as the latest generation of hardness testers and corresponding testing software. It

Buehler ITW Test & Measurement has relocated its German headquarters, including development and service workshop, from Esslingen to Leinfelden Echterdingen. The new premises offer the company’s employees space on two floors for comfortable working in a friendly atmosphere. From the new site, Buehler also coordinates the cooperation with its Bremen-based partner Omnilab – an

Celsa France chooses Tenova digital platform Tenova Goodfellow Inc, a subsidiary of Tenova, has received an order from Celsa France for the supply of an iEAF® technology platform using the NextGen® system for its 150-ton scrap AC top charge furnace in Boucau, France. The order from Celsa France, an EAF steel producer specialised in the production of steel billets from steel scrap, represents the third NextGen system to be installed in Europe, and one of more than 15 systems installed worldwide. that is needed for achieving net energy and melting per cent control with iEAF technology. Also included will be optical temperature and velocity measurement, HMI for process data, and optimisation support. “We are pleased to continue our long standing relationship with Tenova,” said Nicolas Claveranne, production manager at Celsa France and project manager for this project. “The NextGen references, we are sure, will bring added value to the steel-making operations of our plant.”

Davide Masoero, area manager Europe electric arc and ladle furnace at Tenova, commented, “Since the beginning of this project, the cooperation with Celsa France has been fruitful, and we have worked together to fulfil its targets. As per our heritage, our support will continue during the implementation and the execution of this project to reach the expected results.” Tenova www.tenova.com

The scope of supply will include Tenova’s NextGen hardware for upstream off-gas measurement, which is the first critical step that enables all software solutions, including mass and energy balance

Celsa France will use the NextGen systemwith its 150-ton scrap AC top charge furnace

19

www.read-eurowire.com

July 2022

Wire & Cable 2022 Conference 25-27 July 2022 • London, England 16th

The definitive annual meeting for the global wire and cable supply chain

“

Don Neville, Managing Director, RichardsApex Europe Ltd. The scope of topics presented, the caliber of the speakers and the live Q&A sessions made the event a very worthwhile investment.

Eurowire readers can quoting EUROWIRE10 SAVE 10%

“

Industry experts leading the discussions: • Juan Mogollon, EVP Energy Division, Prysmian Group • Maurizio Bragagni, Chairman and CEO, Tratos Ltd • Axel Schlumberger, Senior Vice President R&D and Technology, Southwire Company • John Chamberlain, Director, Office of the CTO, CommScope • Alberto Lampasona, Director Public Affairs, Europacable • Tanja Winter, Head of Marketing & Sales Rod, Aurubis AG • Charlie Murrah, Executive Vice President, Chief Supply Chain Officer, Southwire • Rahul Puri, Vice President, Business Head - Europe, Sterlite Technologies Limited • Carlos Risopatron, Director of Economics and Environment, International Copper Study Group • Paul Keller, Business Growth Manager Low Voltage/ Flame Retardant, Borealis • Verónica Iliescu, CEO, Cables de Comunicaciones Zaragoza, S.L.

In-person event in London

16 YEARS The industry’s leading wire & cable meeting

C-SUITE

Attendance

Supporters

Wire and Cable News

For more information visit: www.wireandcableconference.com

Corporate News

Metalube ships to its 100 th country Industrial lubricant specialist Metalube has shipped a container of Alumol 195 aluminium wire drawing lubricant to Azerbaijan, making it the 100 th country on the company’s export list. Established in 1988, the lubricant producer has always been a sizable exporter, with more than 95 per cent of its production shipped globally each year. This year, however, the company is expanding its customer base, and is seeing opportunities with new customers in new territories. Commercial director Douglas Hunt said, “It is always exciting for us to supply a new market and we hope to expand our presence in the coming years in Azerbaijan. We pride ourselves on having a ‘can do’ attitude, which has been very beneficial this past year where exporters worldwide have experienced excessive challenges from Covid to Brexit, along with fluctuating markets and rising prices.

Metalube is expanding its customer base

“At Metalube we always find solutions and try wherever possible for the client experience to be seamless.” Metalube is part of the Bishopdale Group, a private holding company for a group of industrial lubricants brands that also include Molyslip and UOP. From its headquarters in Irlam, Manchester, UK, the company has a fully integrated lubricant manufacturing facility, including new laboratories. Metalube Ltd www.metalube.co.uk

WAI reunites wire industry in Dallas, USA The Wire Association International (WAI), Inc reported a positive staging of its Operation Summit &Wire Expo on in June, at the Hyatt Regency Dallas, Dallas, Texas, USA. Conference attendees represented 257 companies. On 8 June, Encore Wire – a manufacturer of copper and aluminium residential, commercial and industrial building wire – hosted Wire Expo guests on a sold-out tour of its expanding campus in McKinney, Texas.

the opportunities and challenges facing the supply chain in the wire and cable industry, in a presentation titled “The new normal in raw material procurement for the wire and cable industry”. Ty Garrison, senior vice president of operations at Commercial Metals Company, also gave a keynote address – “Leadership in a volatile world” – discussing how the last few years have emphasised the need for leadership in a period where there are more questions than answers. WAI’s Operations Summit &Wire Expo will next be held at the Mohegan Sun Resort, Connecticut, USA, in the spring of 2024. TheWire Association International, Inc www.wirenet.org

964 registrants from 39 states and 14 countries filled the exhibit hall and conference rooms for the anticipated show, which followed the theme “Rising to the challenges”. The event is typically biennial, but was last staged pre pandemic, in 2018. WAI’s Fundamentals of Wire Manufactur ing course preceded the activities, with 126 participants. The exhibition included a full comple- ment of products and supplies from 130 participating companies.

WAI 2022 president James York said, “The energy of the event was fantastic. It was clear the group was happy to be back together and to acknowledge those who navigated us through the pandemic. Under these challenging times, networking and sharing is even more important. Wire Expo was just what we needed.” Keynote speaker Brian Schulties, the chief procurement officer for Prysmian Group North America, shared his insights into

21

www.read-eurowire.com

July 2022