WCA May 2022

Industry News

Contirod plants produce copper wire rod in a fully integrated casting and rolling process

SMS commissioned to supply 11 copper wire rod plants to China

The overhauled cooling section features two separate media circuits and provides the basis for the wire rod surface quality. In the first phase, the wire rod is deoxidised by treating it with a water alcohol mixture. It is then cooled down further with water. A large number of sensors and control elements work in conjunction with specially developed software to ensure process reliability and reproducible quality. Commissioning of the new facilities is scheduled for 2022 to 2024. SMS group GmbH www.sms-group.com

since 2009. The new orders underline the customer’s confidence in the technology. With an additional 11 Contirod plants, Amer expects to be well positioned in a growth market. Contirod (a registered trademark of Aurubis Belgium) is a manufacturing process for cast wire rod that utilises a Hazelett twin-belt casting machine. The near-horizontal casting method can physically preclude porosity in the casting bar’s core. The Contirod rolling mill with individual drives shapes the casting bar into fine grained copper wire rod.

The Amer International Group, based in Shenzhen, China, has placed an order with SMS group for 11 Contirod® copper wire rod plants. The new plants will produce 8mm copper wire rod to be used in the production of a range of different electrical conductors – particularly required in the Chinese market for the expansion of wind power and energy networks. By expanding its production capacities, Amer Group aims to meet the increase in demand for high-quality copper wire rod. Four Contirod plants have already been put into operation by the Amer Group

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May 2022