Technology, environment care, knowledge: let’s meet Druids, the wire processing specialist

expometals.net is pleased to welcome Druids and introduce the Spain-based company to all the specialists in the wire processing field. We seized the opportunity to talk with Carlos Bittner, Director of Sales and Business Development, who told us about the company's history and the roadmap for future steps. The watchwords are technology, environmental care, and knowledge.

Let’s start from the roots, how have Druids entered the wire processing field?

Druids entered the wire processing field as a natural evolution of a decades-long presence and expertise in the industry, originating from our roots in Automat, which was established back in 1987. While our connection to Automat is a noteworthy part of our history, our primary focus today is on Druids and our continuous innovation in the steel wire industry.

Our approach to the industry has always been firmly anchored in scientific research and analysis as we examine every aspect of the wire production process, from metallurgical and material science to the implications of our developments in society. We pride ourselves on challenging the status quo, never accepting any process or technique as a final solution, and relentlessly seeking better ways to serve the industry.

As we strive for perfection in our developments, we turn to academia for advice and collaboration. By engaging with experts in various fields, we ensure that our technologies remain at the cutting edge of the industry. Throughout our history, we have been motivated by the pursuit of sustainability, worker safety and comfort, reduced energy consumption, minimized environmental impact, and social responsibility. These driving factors have long been integral to Druids' identity, and as the industry becomes more conscious of these values, our commitment to them only grows stronger.

What are the characteristics of Druids' galvanizing lines? What makes them different from the competition?

Druids' DRU-Gal hot-dip galvanizing lines distinguish themselves through their reduced environmental impact, as they require no hazardous chemicals and generate no fumes or microparticle contamination while employing emissions-free technology. Our focus on operator comfort and safety is evident through the process definition using recipes and oversight by the central control system. Additionally, Druids' galvanizing lines require fewer resources, necessitating less coating metal inventory and offering direct zinc or zinc-alu coating options, as well as immediate equipment readiness. Unparalleled production flexibility is achieved with independent and individual process parameterisation for each wire. These key areas set DRU-Gal apart, providing a sustainable, efficient, and flexible solution for the steel wire industry.

Furthermore, the process costs are significantly lower.

What are the main advantages of choosing Druids-made roll drawing cassettes?

DRUIDS’ roll drawing cassettes offer several key advantages, aligning with our core values of sustainability, operational comfort and safety, and product quality. Our cassettes enable lower energy consumption, increased productivity, and clean wire production, which is essential for effective galvanizing. Additionally, they reduce dust and micro-particle presence and allow for greater wire rod quality tolerance. With a closed oil-circuit cooling system, grease on the wire is eliminated. Our cassettes provide an environmentally friendly and energy-efficient solution with superior product quality.

You have extensive experience in end-of-the-line solutions for wire coils. What are their features?

Indeed, our extensive experience in end-of-the-line solutions for wire coils dates back to the days of Automat, where this has been a field of exclusive expertise, development, and pioneering efforts, as well as systematizing and standardizing solutions to produce and package coils of wires. Our aim has always been to achieve automation and produce consistent and professional packages that help our customers protect and distinguish their products in their markets.

In addition to coil compactors for large bulk coils of galvanized wires, we offer standard solutions for producing small coils ranging from 1 to 75 kg, coil splitting lines to produce catch-weight coils between 25 and 50 kg of exact weight, automatic rewinding lines for fencing and vineyard wires and strands, as well as tailored solutions that cater to our customers’ specific requirements.

Where do your customers come from (geographically and in terms of specific industry)?

Our customers span all five continents, representing various industries and business sizes. We cater to small and medium-sized customers producing wires for regional markets, companies that manufacture wire as a raw material for their own diverse products, as well as global players in the wire production market.

Having a global reach enables us to understand better and adapt to various market requirements, ensuring our products and services meet diverse customer needs. This broad perspective also helps us stay ahead in terms of environmentally friendly solutions. As more markets enforce restrictions on environmentally questionable or hazardous technologies, our commitment to sustainable innovation ensures our customers are well-equipped to navigate these changing regulations and maintain a competitive edge in their respective markets. We strive to anticipate the issues our customers may face in the future, which could jeopardise their ongoing business operations.

Sustainability and environmental issues. Putting your ethical choices aside for a moment, what is the demand from the market? How many customers (also percentage-wise) ask for environmental-friendly machinery?

Increasingly, customers are prioritizing sustainability and environmental considerations in their requirements specifications. At DRUIDS, all our customers –100% of them– receive sustainable and environmentally friendly machinery, as we offer no alternatives. We have always believed that development and innovation must focus on making sustainability and ecological practices profitable.

Our approach, which is an integral part of our technology, processes, and machinery, means that our products eliminate the need for ethical decision-making. We do not develop anything that does not simultaneously meet the criteria of being economically, socially, and environmentally sustainable without compromises, as this would endanger both our future and that of our customers. Our clients understand that their environmental efforts yield financial rewards, and there is no need to choose between economic feasibility and environmental responsibility.

We noticed that it has been easier to adopt our sustainable solutions in emerging markets, which are certainly very big wire consumers, than in more advanced markets, where adoption is now gaining momentum. We believe that it is more difficult for companies in these advanced markets to recognise that, even with sustainable production, operating costs can be significantly lower. This is partly because they must fundamentally change their approach to cost reduction, embracing newer technologies and methods with the faith that they will lead to greater savings in the long term.

For these companies, we invite them to visit our pilot production plant located in Barcelona, where they can process, measure, and witness the reality of our sustainable solutions first-hand.

What about the Druids Academy project? How did this idea come about?

DRUIDS Academy emerged in mid-2022 as a visionary initiative designed to bridge the gap between the most advanced and sustainable production methods, equipment, workforce, and performance targets. Through its high-quality courses, training sessions, and conferences, DRUIDS Academy covers a wide range of topics, from sustainable wire production and processing to successful management and leadership in a wire-producing company.

In today's fast-paced business environment, it is crucial to keep staff knowledgeable and competent, whether they are preparing for the integration of a new production line or training new recruits. With DRUIDS Academy, we support our customers and users of our technology in their learning, growth, and pursuit of excellence, ensuring they remain at the forefront of their industry.

Trade shows: what is your attitude towards fairs, and which are the ones that Druids usually attend as an exhibitor?

We highly value participating in trade shows, as they offer excellent opportunities to engage with customers and showcase our innovative solutions. Over the years, we have traditionally exhibited at the Wire shows in Düsseldorf and China, and we plan to intensify our presence at these events moving forward.

International trade shows provide numerous benefits, such as fostering networking and collaboration, gaining valuable insights into market trends, and showcasing our latest innovations to a global audience. These events demonstrate our commitment to advancing the wire industry and maintaining a strong presence within it.

This year, we are excited to attend the Wire show in Istanbul in May, the newly created Wire show in Egypt in early September, and the already well-established Wire Southeast Asia in Bangkok later that same month. Next year, we eagerly anticipate our participation in Wire Düsseldorf, where we hope to replicate the success we enjoyed in 2022, further solidifying our status as a leader in the wire industry.

What do you expect from the year 2023?

As we move into 2023, we are delighted to share our ambitious plans for the future. We have recently acquired a plot of land near Barcelona, close to our current location, where we will construct our new company headquarters and a cutting-edge factory in the next months.

Our new headquarters will embody our dedication to sustainability and responsible production with an eco-friendly, energy-efficient design incorporating the latest technology and materials to minimise our carbon footprint. Alongside it, we are also investing in a state-of-the-art factory to address the growing demand for our pioneering, eco-conscious wire production and processing lines.

Equipped with the most advanced technology and machinery, our new factory will enable us to continue innovating and delivering exceptional products and services to our customers. This substantial investment reflects our unwavering commitment to both our clients and the provision of sustainable, responsible solutions.

We are enthusiastic about what the future holds and eagerly anticipate further growth and innovation in the future.

Feel free to in-depth the knowledge of Druids’ company and its range of solutions for wire processing at its online stand >>