WCA May 2022

Exhibitors at wire 2022

and access to equipment. The Ixon Cloud 2 provides fast PLC access over a secure network. Options include cloud data logging and alarm notifications to mobile devices. The remote access capability allows troubleshooting from anywhere in the world. The software includes status screens that indicate all inputs and outputs, to simplify maintenance and operations. All temperatures and pressures are graphed for easy visualisation of the process trends. Alarms are logged along with the time and date of the incident. This data is critical for product quality assurance and standards compliance such as ISO 9001. QED AutoCoat TM , an upgrade to existing high-speed zinc and Galfan process lines, uses independent measurement and fine-tune control to achieve consistent and uniform coating weight application with a precision of ±10g/m 2 . The measurement of galvanised coatings on steel wire is achieved via robustly designed sensors that communicate with a Siemens PLC control panel in real time. The sensors relay current coat weight data that is instantly compared to a user set target. The system then regulates a closed PID loop, controlling output pressure to individual nitrogen nozzles. The addition of pulse-firing technology to QED’s muffle tube austinitising furnace improves the thermal efficiency and increases temperature uniformity, owing to the higher average flame velocity and superior convective heat-transfer. Pulse firing also offers a higher turn-down ratio, lower NOx emissions and more flexibility in burner and zone control. QED’s latest wire-cleaning equipment is a dual-stage pre-cleaner with ultrasonic transducers. The precision laser-cut stainless-steel tank incorporates new temperature and level control features. Wires exit the cleaning section into a triple water rinse with four-stage suction wiping.

The larger P1500 machine is also energy efficient: it is driven by three hydraulic pumps and only requires electrical power for the 11kW pump motor. PWM’s range also includes lightweight handheld manual machines for fine wire from 0.1 to 1.2mm (0.0039" to 0.047"), and manual and powered models for wire from 0.3 to 6.5mm (0.0118" to 0.256") that can be used on a workbench or supplied with a trolley.

Continuous casting from Rautomead

The graphite furnace technology will produce low oxygen CuOFE (<5ppm) copper rod, which is suitable for most oxygen-free wire applications. However, technical requirements from the automotive industry are driving demands for even lower oxygen content copper rod, eg for use in the manufacture of high-efficiency bar-wound electric motors. The enhanced graphite crucible electric resistance furnace design of the RS 3000SX, combined with modified tooling and production techniques, improves the oxygen reduction capability of the graphite technology system to produce extra-low oxygen content copper rod. Rautomead will also be promoting its RSL sealed lid continuous casting technology, designed for processing progressive alloy rods such as copper chrome zirconium, together with its conventional open furnace models for producing high purity oxygen-free copper wire rods and conductor alloy rods such as CuMg, CuAg and CuSn. This continuous cast rod material benefits manufacturers of bar wound motors, enamelled wires, superfine wires, LAN cables, wiring harnesses, railway wires, shaped, contact wires, CTC and transformer strips. Equipment is available for the production of 1,000 to 12,000 mt per year for prod ucts from 8 to 30mm in diameter. Sample coils can be manufactured to order and produced on the continuous casting equipment installed at the Rautomead facility in Dundee, UK. Rautomead Ltd www.rautomead.com company’s standard

EP500 electro-pneumatic, free-standing rod welder

The company’s products are designed and made in-house and tested to ensure accuracy. PWM manufactures industry standard cold welding dies and can also produce custom-made dies for specific applications. PWM Ltd www.pwmltd.co.uk 12 A50 QED specialises in equipment for in-line heat-treating, cleaning and coating of steel wire. Its furnaces are custom built for multi strand annealing, stress relieving, patent ing and tempering processes. With patented flow technology, the fluid systems integrate cleaning efficiency with high wire speeds. QED’s rugged liquid metal furnaces apply heavy and commercial coatings of zinc, aluminium and Galfan ® . QED is supplying new process lines with remote monitoring and control of the equipment’s key functions. Networked control panels are enhanced with soft ware and hardware for communicating directly with the internal network. Siemens-based PLCs work in unison with an Ixon router for seamless LAN integration. The equipment package includes a cloud-based command centre that offers solutions that include live production dashboards, real-time messaging alerts QED Wire Lines Inc

QED Wire Lines Inc www.qedwire.com Rautomead Ltd

10 B56 Rautomead will be presenting its new model RS 3000SX continuous casting machine for the manufacture of extra low oxygen content CuOF rod.

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May 2022