WCA May 2013

❍ ❍ Specialising in non-ferrous wire drawing lines

Sictra helping keep you on track

• Dedicated process software manages the speed synchronisation of the four capstans via encoders controlling the amount of slip. All the motors are AC utilising the most modern Siemens Sinamics Inverters with “Drive CLiQ” automatic interface parameterisation Copper magnesium is the preferred alloyed-copper for high speed rail applications in many countries, as it provides good electrical conductivity and high tensile strength and good creep resistance. Additionally copper magnesium is an environmentally benign material with no toxicity hazard. From the manufacturing point of view, there isn’t such a big difference in the drawing process, but the main difficulty of making trolley wire with copper magnesium alloy is to be identified in the production of the rod for the following reasons: • The light and volatile nature of magnesium • Magnesium’s propensity to form slag when molten • The need to maintain a very precise alloy composition in the wire rod Copper magnesium trolley wire is now widely used in western Europe, including on the high-speed TGV line from Brussels to France, Netherlands, Germany and Spain. Continuous innovation of products to fulfil specific customer needs, combined with over 40 years of field experience, enables Sictra to offer practical solutions consistent with the high quality standards in the non-ferrous wire industry. Cortinovis Machinery America Inc – USA Website : www.cortinovisamerica.com

With the increasing requirement for high speed railways, the demands being placed on the technical features of the shaped trolley wire are also becoming more stringent. For example; the high tensile copper alloys such as copper silver and copper magnesium which are used to extend the life of the line and to withstand the higher friction due to the increased train speed. Sictra, a division of Cortinovis Machinery specialising in drawing lines for non-ferrous wire for many years, manufactures a dedicated drawing line to draw shaped wire for trolley lines. This proven Sictra technology continuously evolves to match the increased cross sections of the inlet rod as well as the higher tensile strength requirements of the finished product. A typical line configuration to produce 150mm 2 trolley wire consists of the following: • Copper rod pay off stand, rotating type, for up to 6 metric ton coils • Heavy duty adjustable wire straightener • Four capstan drawing sections with up to 1,200mm capstan diameter • Capstans are internally water cooled and with further spray emulsion outer cooling • Transmission with heavy duty helical gears • Die holders with guiding die (Sictra unique design) and separate drawing oil cooling system • High precision portal take up with self traversing movement

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Wire & Cable ASIA – May/June 2013