EuroWire November 2017

Technologynews

Reliability built on almost 50 years ▲ ▲ Upcast technology at work

been successfully produced and further processed into very thin wires suitable for automotive industry. With the cast diameter of Ø8mm the process into the finished product is shorter and thus also more cost effective. ZnAL alloy is used in the arc and flame spraying process for corrosion protection. The very fine ZnAl wire is led into the spraying gun where it melts and is then sprayed onto steel surface, forming a film which protects the steel from corrosion. The technology for casting ZnAl mix into cast rod is new with remarkable benefits. Compared to the traditional production method of this alloy the investment cost is less. In the future, the focus of the R&D is on the alloys, however, not forgetting the further development of the OF and DHP products. Upcast OY – Finland Website : www.upcast.com

With the consistent and systematic research and development in the company’s own modern Pilot Plant, the casting speed has increased and the capacity of the lines has become bigger and the production more cost effective, more rod diameter sizes are possible and the lines operate safely and reliably for years. The most important alloys under testing are currently CuMg0.5, ZnAl15 and various brass alloys. CuMg has excellent strength and conductivity characteristics, which create several possibilities for its applications, such as contact wires for high-speed trains and harnesses for the automotive industry. Upcast has already cast the largest diameters of CuMg0.5 and the rod has been processed and the finished wire fulfils the requirements of the EN 50149 standard.

THE Upcast® upward casting concept of copper rod was invented in 1968 at Outokumpu’s plant in Pori, Finland. Since then many new developments have taken place and systematically the technology has been further developed to always meet the current requirements of the customers and markets. Today´s Upcast process is simple and reliable with easy operation through an advanced control system resulting a low lifecycle cost. The majority of delivered Upcast lines are for Cu-OF rod and mainly with most common cast rod diameter of 8mm. Rods with larger diameters are used for manufacturing a variety of finished products, eg bus-bars, shaped profiles, trolley wires, electroplating anodes, etc. Cu-OF rod, with its formability, is well suited for all electrical applications. There are customers all over the world casting with this technology the Cu-OF 8mm rod, which can be further processed to the finest diameters of wires.

In addition, Ø8mm CuMg0.5 cast rod has

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EuroWire – January 2012

November 2017