EoW September 2009

Steel wire, cable & rod

Steel wire coating and insulation with UV varnishes

Years of experience in coating optical fibres with UV curable inks and resins have enabled Medek & Schörner to develop a new line of products. For many years, copper wire has been insulated by applying layers of enamel. Many coats of the solvent-based varnishes used for this purpose are applied in several passes, and dried by evaporating the solvent. The new process involves replacing conventional solvent-based varnishes with varnishes cured by UV irradiation. This does not produce any solvent vapours, and the use of UV radiators reduces energy costs to far below the level previously required for thermal drying ovens at comparable levels of production.

Steel wire coated using the Medek & Schörner process ▲ ▲

The reduced environmental impact resulting from the elimination of solvent vapours, coupled with a considerable drop in energy costs, are said to offer a significant economic advantage for users. The UV curing station can be installed in existing wire enamelling lines and replace the conventional enamelling oven. The same UV coating system, with some detail modification, also allows the coating of fine steel wire in varying colours. The procedure can be employed in-line with the production line or as a stand-alone process. Medek & Schörner – Austria Fax : +43 1982 7296 Email : m+s@medek.at Website : www.medek.at

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EuroWire – September 2009