WCA November 2014

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32 Wire & Cable ASIA – November/December 2014
Technologynews
ATE Applicazioni TermoElettroniche
designs and manufactures induction
heating equipment including process
automation, control and supervisor
systems.
ATE has recently developed two
induction heating systems for treating
wires in parallel, with the names IMW
(independent control wire) and CMW
(common control wire).
Through the use of the most advanced
technologies in the field of power
electronics, these systems represent a
sophisticated and efficient solution for
the simultaneous heating of multiple
wires with the same or even with
different diameters.
The main characteristics of the two
systems are:
• IMW has the possibility of heating
multiple wires of different diameter
separately, wire by wire, with the
same or different temperatures and
speeds (upon request)
• CMW is able to heat wires of the
same diameter to the same
temperature or wires of slightly
different diameter to almost the
same temperature, taking account
of a suitable ‘Velocity x Diameter’
relation (DV)
Compared to other types of furnaces,
such as resistance, gas, fluid bed or
lead bath heaters, the IMW and CMW
multi-wire induction heating systems
have the following advantages:
• no environmental pollution
• more compact
• higher efficiency
• closed loop process control (optional)
Besides wires, the systems are also able
to treat metal strips or bands. In these
cases the systems are identified with the
codes IMS or CMS, instead of IMW or
CMW. In addition to ferrous materials,
the systems can also heat aluminium,
copper, brass, etc, with efficiency values
proportional to the type of material.
The compactness of the heating units
allows them to be installed easily in
limited space and, above all, in
existing lines in which overall
dimensions are binding. The frequency
converter, the heat exchanger and the
control panel which complete the
system can be positioned remotely in
available spaces, even at a certain
distance from the heating unit.
The IMW and CMW multi-wire
induction heating systems can be used
in various industrial processes, some
of which are:
• annealing (max temperature of
around 720°C)
• stress relieving (max temperature of
around 400°C)
• diffusion/brass coating of wires for
steel cord (max temperature
550-600°C)
• preheating for galvanising (around
500°C)
• preheating for painting or coating
(max 200-250°C)
• preheating before existing gas
furnaces in the case of increased
productivity of the system
The IMW/IMS and CMW/CMS systems
are completely modular and can heat a
variable number of wires, whilst the
configuration can be defined according
to the customer.
Applicazioni TermoElettroniche Srl
– Italy
Website:
ATE – treating wires
in parallel
❍ Two new systems introduced by ATE
Graphics bigstockphoto.com Artist Olechowski