WCA March 2009

news

Wire dies and in-house die shop machines Ajex & Turner specialises in the manufacture of wire drawing dies made in synthetic diamond (PCD), natural diamond and tungsten carbide; tooling for the cable industry and diamond products for the polishing of dies. The company’s wire dies are suitable for the manufacture of copper, stainless steel, medium and high carbon steel, brass, bronze, nickel, tungsten and aluminium pro- ducts. The company provides PCD and natural diamond dies in sizes ranging from 10micron to 30mm, and tungsten carbide dies in sizes from 0.1mm to 50mm. These dies are mounted in powder metallurgy for support on all sides, allowing the dies to be used in hot wire drawing. This process also allows the dies to withstand the drawing forces encountered, thereby reducing die breakage and improving die life. Ajex & Turner also manufactures in-house die repairing and reconditioning machines in different models for TC dies as well as PCD/ND dies, including the ultrasonic macines UPM–555 and SAU–250. Other tooling, such as diamond needle files, diamond angular pins, die checking pins, diamond paste, ceramic pulleys and tools, are also available. Ajex & Turner has recently entered into an agreement with Metalube (UK) and TKT (Italy) for the distribution of wire drawing lubricants for copper, aluminium and steel in India, Sri Lanka, Nepal and Bhutan. ❍ Wire dies from Ajex & Turner Major cost savings for FTTH delivery Draka Communications is believed to have attained a success rate in excess of 99% for its new automated air jet fibre delivery method for the final stage of FTTH installations. Its plug–and–play solution involves air blasting pre-ferruled cables (cables with pre-fabricated semi-finished connectors) through microducts with jets of air from a central point up to a kilometre away. Up to 50 homes can be completed in a single session. The technique has been extensively tried in pilot projects in Delfzijl, the Netherlands and Aneby, Sweden, where Draka has regularly achieved time and labour cost savings of up to 90%. Additional savings are incurred by reduced cable splicing, storage space and fewer home visits. “By precision engineering and miniaturising mechanical components we have automated a critical process in getting fibre efficiently to the customer,” explains Willem Giffioen, product manager at Draka and a pioneer of the compressed air technique. Draka Holding NV – The Netherlands Fax : +31 2056 89899 Email : info@draka.com Website : www.draka.com Ajex & Turner Wire Dies Co – India Fax : +91 11 23940226 Email : sales@ajexturner.in Website : www.ajexturner.com

38

Wire & Cable ASIA – March/April 2009