Wire cold forming: all roads lead to Invimec

The wire destined to the industry and the goldsmith sector is always manufactured from a piece of molten metal (or alloy), which is later solidified through casting and extrusion.

The final product of these processes, though, is not ready to be sold on the market just yet and requires further processing. The starting wire diameter can vary (based on the technique and the equipment used), but we can say that most of the wire is cold formed starting from Ø25 mm down to diameters of 0.5 mm after rolling and profiling.

There are multiple ways to achieve this result, and it is ultimately up to the manufacturer to find the one that best suits their needs. Continuing with the metaphor, it's like saying that all roads lead to Rome. This is true but, to reach our destination, we can take several paths (the quickest, the easiest, the least expensive, and so on). The same applies to cold wire reduction: based on the material and its final application, the customer will have different priorities or goals each time.

Most common examples of manufacturing needs:

- moderate cost (it is important to carry out the wire reduction as quickly as possible);
- metallurgical properties related to workability or ductility (that is, the degree to which a material can sustain plastic deformation under tensile stress before failure);
- peculiar thermal and electrical properties (thermal expansion, heat capacity, conductivity, etc.);
- shape and dimensions with specific tolerances for special applications;
- aesthetic characteristics such as surface polish and wear resistance;
- mechanical properties related to reliability and durability (tensile strength or breaking load).

Depending on the material and the final application, one way will be preferable rather than another, but choosing the right path is easier said than done. Many companies, both in the industrial and goldsmith field, do not have an in-house R&D department, others are limited by obsolete machinery, others have just stepped into the scene and do not possess the necessary experience.

For this reason, Invimec has decided to make all its expertise available to its customers, so that each producer can find the right way for their wires.
Specifically, the company offers the possibility to test six different models of rolling lines, carry out technical tests on materials (even those that are not particularly suitable for drawing, such as zinc and tin), simulate the production process, and verify the result through metallurgical and dimensional analysis.

What are you waiting for? Find the most suitable solutions to your needs, contact Invimec through the references on the side.