An in-line annealing system for aluminum wire by FRIGECO

Copper is becoming more expensive by the day, and cable manufacturers around the world are being pressured into switching to aluminum as an alternative. This is especially true in the automotive sector and in the building wire industry, where copper products rule the roost.

What was the reason behind copper’s takeover? Copper rods can be manufactured with consistent and repetitive electrical characteristics: this is what makes this material particularly suited for conductor production. Aluminum, instead, is more prone to inconsistency, as its resistivity varies significantly from one batch to another. After extensive research, cable manufacturers have determined that heat treating the aluminum, as in annealing, allows obtaining finished products with predictable electrical properties.

FRIGECO was the first to introduce a production capable in-line annealing system for aluminum wire, slightly different from the ones used for copper. The wire path has been specifically designed to minimize the friction, using a special anti-spark alloy, while the annealer shafts are AC-motor driven. A special cleaning system is responsible for the removal of any metallic residue.

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