Wire descaling: green solutions by MFL Group

Rods need to be first descaled in order to be drawn. There are two main processes to address this need depending on the type of wire rod to be treated: mechanical descaling or acid pickling. The second method tends to be the most popular among wire producers, but it of course has a significant ecological impact, in particular where poor wastewater treatment plants are installed.

Starting from Europe and USA, where attention to ecology issues began earlier than the rest of the world, MFL has developed an ecologic descaling solution suitable for any kind of wire. The firm now offers an electrolytic phosphating process to improve wire drawability, preparing the wire for drawing operations, as well as leaving a surface coating to protect the wire itself from corrosion and immediate oxidation.
According to space availability, this particular process can feature either an in-line or an off-line setup. Due to wire elongation during the drawing phase, the in-line option is slower, with shorter processing units. The off-line one can be faster, but requires additional handling procedures such as rod transportation from the descaling and phosphating line to the drawing machine.

Some of the main advantages of MFL Group’s electro-phosphating lines:

- no heating during manufacturing operations, resulting in less power demand;
- no cleaning costs of heating equipment;
- short treatment times, leading to a higher throughput;
- shorter phosphating times.

The line can process any kind of high carbon and low carbon wire rod from ø5.5 mm to ø18 mm.

For further information, please visit the corporate website on the left.