WCA September 2020

wire China 2020

anticipate more stringent upcoming regulations. Condat SA www.condat.fr

see the actual measurement of their samples directly online. The remote sessions are not only intended for new customers, as the company states that many Conoptica users may not be aware that its measurement systems can be used for a variety of items, and not just regular drawing dies. Shaped (non-round) dies, enamelling dies, tube drawing plugs and mandrels, grinding pins and needles, wire samples, and cut samples of wires, tubes or other profiles can be inspected. Conoptica AS https://conoptica.com Insulated copper wires are used in windings for electric motors, generators and transformers. The automotive industry’s entry into electric mobility has created new challenges for manufacturers of enamelled wire. While round wires are usually used, enamel-insulated rectangular wires are preferred in large transformers (eg in power stations) because they improve power density and efficiency. The enamel insulation is very thin, with a layer thickness of 50 to 150 μm. The lacquer is applied in ten to 20 layers, so an individual layer might be just 5 μm. As the bare wire passes a lacquer bath and a calibration nozzle, spare lacquer is stripped off. Due to the small layer thickness, the first calibration nozzle is only a few micrometres larger than the bare wire. If the wire does not have the correct dimensions, enamel coating might be either too thin or too thick, and insulation faults occur, which then lead to failure of the winding during operation. The production of high-precision rectangular copper wires for enamelling is more difficult than the production of round wire. If drawing dies are used, because of asymmetry a worse lubricating film of cooling fluid is formed. At speeds above 60m/min, the lubricant film begins to crack in the area of the edge radii. A failure of the drawing die is the consequence. Another reason not to use profile drawing dies is the low degree of standardisation in transformer Fuhr GmbH & Co KG Stand: W1F15

Securing working conditions by reducing dust in workshops is also a necessity. Dry lubricant used in the wire drawing industry has the potential to generate dust. The problem of dust in the workplace is well documented, whether it is the risk of fire due to ignition of a combustible dust cloud or increased exposure risk for operators. In addition to these hazards, lubricant dust in the workshop can be an indication of non-optimal lubrication. The lubricant needs to be in the die or on the wire surface to perform. Lubricant in the form of dust in the environment is therefore wasted. Use of a suitable dry drawing lubricant, determined according to the client’s specific application, will reduce the amount of dust generated in the workshop while also reducing overall wire drawing costs. Lubricant grain form, grain size, composition and thermal profile all have an impact on dust formation. Many of Condat’s calcium, sodium and mixed soaps are also available in the form of pellets; this form limits the release of fine particles during the filling of the soap box. Improving the adherence of the lubricant to the wire surface as the lubricant cools is also key to reducing the dust generated at the capstan. The use of lubricants with an unsuitable melting point or too high/too low fat content will generate residues at the die exit and at the capstan, which can result in dust generation. Fully understanding the requirements of the application, in function of the steel type, surface preparation, reductions, speed and cooling efficiency, enables Condat to recommend a lubricant with a chemistry suited to the demands of that application. Condat’s lubricants and surface treatment products have been developed to minimise hazardous components, to meet the latest environmental legislation and even ❍ Condat granule pellets reduce dust generation

Conoptica AS Stand: W1B05

The usual options to view and try a Conoptica drawing die measurement system are to visit the company’s stand at one of the major exhibitions; to go to Conoptica’s facility in Norway; or to have a demonstration system installed in your own factory. With the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, travel is limited and exhibitions are being postponed. Although wire China 2020 is scheduled to go ahead as planned, the possibility of visiting from abroad is still uncertain for many. Visitors to Conoptica’s stand will find the company’s newly appointed distributor, Shanghai Ruili, along with large video screens. In Norway, Conoptica’s engineers and sales personnel will have systems set up and ready to remotely demonstrate for customers visiting in Shanghai. Chinese- and English-speaking personnel will be available on the stand, and the remote demonstration can also be conducted in Chinese. Private discussions via separate screens will also be possible. Conoptica is also offering remote demonstrations for customers who will not be able to visit wire China this year. Demonstrations can be booked by sending an email to sales@conoptica.com with your request. Available languages are Norwegian, English, French, Portuguese and Chinese. Customers will be able to send sample dies, pins or other products to Conoptica, and then ❍ Conoptica has introduced remote sales demonstrations

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wire China 2020 – Shanghai New International Expo Centre 23 rd -26 th September

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