WCA January 2009

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Multipass dry drawing Team Meccanica manufactures equipment for the production of steel wires with a wide range of finished diameters, from very thin wires with a diameter of 0.2mm up to 20mm diameter. Low-carbon steel, high-carbon steel, stainless steel and special alloy wires can be manufactured with Team Meccanica’s drawing machine range using both technologies of reduction by die and the newly developed reduction by cold-rolling.

Dies and die maintenance

Balloffet is a French manufacturer with subsidiaries in the UK, USA and Germany and a worldwide network of agents. The Balloffet product range includes: natural diamond dies from 6µ to • 3mm synthetic mono-crystalline dies • from 6µ to 1mm poly-crystalline (PCD) dies from • 50µ to 30mm compacting, stranding and • special-shaped dies enamelling guides • extrusion tooling (guides and • dies) special tooling with diamond • inserts re-polishing machines and • equipment Balloffet helps ensure the surface condition, diameter accuracy and technical characteristics of wires and cables. The scope of service includes die re-polishing, training of operators and technicians (either at the customer’s own plant or at the Balloffet showroom and training centre) and control and technical reporting of customers’ dies. Balloffet – France Fax : +33 474 357901 Email : balloffet@balloffetdie.com Website : www.balloffetdie.com

Capstan sizes range from 160mm for thinner wires up to 1,270mm for the thicker ones, individually driven by AC motors fed at a variable frequency by vector inverters or DC motors fed by digital converters. The rated power ranges from 5 to 175kW. Machine configura- tion is of the straight-through type with tilted blocks and sensing-arms for speed control.

The production speed reaches 50m/s, due to the robust construction, efficient wire cooling and a precise electronic control system. Many optional accessories are available, such as overhead pay-off on the first block, stripper capstan or double deck capstan with accumulation (Barco type) at the last block; ecological casing with dust extraction, laser gauge for control of finished wire diameter, production control through the video-keyboard and centralised control through a remote computer. Team Meccanica uses only forged-steel blocks, induction hardened with eventual ceramic or hard metal coating. All major components are certified ISO 9001 and are internationally available. Dry process wire drawing with Team Meccanica ❍ ❍

All process management is by microprocessor AC drive inverters and communication is possible by PROFIBUS or similar network system.

Team Meccanica SpA – Italy Email : sales.office@teammeccanica.it

Fax : +39 035 0779 728

Website : www.teammeccanica.it

Straightening units for drawing As a part of wire production the drawing process is indispensable. In each drawing machine, straightening units and systems are essential components. Witels-Albert GmbH, a leading supplier of straighteners and guides, has recently developed new roller straighteners for wire dry drawing applications. Minimised deformation under load, high precision and a reliable quick response locking mechanism (suitable in particular for high-strength wires) are features of the new RS straightening units. Roll adjustment mechanisms are located on one side of the straightener. The roll diameter and the distance between straightening rolls have been optimised in order to straighten process materials with a wide range of diameters. The straightening rolls can be re-greased and are prepared for resisting high speeds and high loads. As an option, alternative roll materials or specific coatings can be realised. Straighteners in the RS series are available in five sizes for straightening wires between 1.5mm and 9mm diameter.

Witels-Albert believes that the RS series roll straighteners overcome the disadvantages of using the drawing die for wire straightening, such as non-uniform distribution of tension and variations in material structure across the diameter. Using the drawing die for straightening can result in a finished product quality that makes handling difficult in downstream processes. Witels-Albert GmbH – Germany Fax : +49 30 723 988 88 Email : info@witels-albert.com Website : www.witels-albert.com

RS series precision straighteners ❍ ❍

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Wire & Cable ASIA – January/February 2009