EoW September 2009

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EuroWire – September 2009 51
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.
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: Website:
Steel wire coated using the Medek & Schörner process ▲ ▲