Drawing and processing of non-ferrous metals wires

Topic of the month - March 2015

Fig. 1) Parts of the dismantled MMH 101 multiwire drawing machine © Niehoff-Gruppe

For the manufacture of non-ferrous metal wires and the further processing into automotive wires, data cables and special cables different kinds of machines and lines are needed. New machinery which corresponds to the latest state-of-the art give users the best possibilities to manufacture flexibly, efficiently and economically. High-quality machines which have been used for a longer period, however, are worth to be professionally modernized in order to achieve an up-to-date level of performance.

Modernization of drawing machines

For drawing machines 83,000 operating hours do not have to be necessarily the end of their usage time. The prerequisite, however, is that they are of solid design and the modernizer knows what he has to do.

For Niehoff both factors apply. Some lines are after a modernization even more productive than at the time when they were new. With special measures it is even possible to increase their original level of productivity.

Line optimization for decades

The Niehoff Original+ After Sales has been optimizing machines and lines for Niehoff customers for decades now. One of the latest examples is the full reconditioning of a multiwire drawing line.

This line, an MMH 101 multiwire drawing machine with integrated RM 140 continuous annealer and an S 631 spooler, was supplied by Niehoff in 1996.

Designed for the simultaneous drawing of 24 copper wires, the line already had 83,000 hours of operation behind it and is to be used in one of the user’s non- European plants after reconditioning.

Fig. 2) MMH 101 multiwire drawing machine with 83,000 hours of operation behind it © Niehoff-Gruppe

The first measure taken before every machine is reconditioned is an inspection of the line by a Niehoff engineer on site. After this the Niehoff specialists discuss with the user all the reconditioning
work which is necessary and possible, and draw up a quotation for the work. In this case the drawing line was transported to the company’s headquarters in Schwabach, Germany, completely dismantled, cleaned and stripped of its paint (Figs. 1 and 2).

After each of the assemblies had been checked, the bearings and sealing flanges were completely replaced, then the machine was repainted. In addition, the annealer was fitted with new bearings and the line’s electrical components were adapted to the power network of the country in which it is to be used in future.

Given the hot climate where the line is to be used in future, an additional cooling system was installed in the control cabinet. Following assembly, a test run and an acceptance inspection by the user, the line was delivered to its new point of use, where it is to be installed and put into operation by Niehoff engineers (Fig. 3).

Fig. 3) The same MMH 101 after reconditioning © Niehoff-Gruppe

Original documents and OEM quality

Only Niehoff specialists are able to recondition Niehoff machines and lines with maximum expertise and put them back into tip-top condition. Because Niehoff designs and produces the machines, only specialists of the company have access to a well-maintained documentation and all machine data.

All of the specialists who are involved in a project are fully familiar with the underlying machine technology. Most of the spare parts required for each reconditioning job are produced in house on cutting-edge machining centers to OEM quality. Where components are bought in, Niehoff makes sure that they all meet the high Niehoff quality standards.

Niehoff service specialists have been looking after Niehoff machines around the world for decades. They therefore have an incredible amount of experience, know-how and practice – and all users of Niehoff benefit from it. Niehoff Original+ stands for the reliable supply of spare parts which comply with Niehoff quality standards and professional and fast customer service.

High wire quality

The wires drawn on MMH multiwire drawing machines are characterized by very homogeneous physical properties along their whole length within a very narrow tolerance band. This is particularly important when the wires are to be further processed into high-quality bunches and strands. For these processes the bunching and stranding machines from Niehoff are ideally suited.

Fig. 4) The lay length of the type DSI 1001 double-twist stranding machine can be freely adjusted at 20 mm to 400 mm. The maximum number of twists is 3200 twists/min. © Niehoff-Gruppe

Systems plus process know-how plus service - Increasing demands on stranding machines

Cables for cars, IT systems and the energy sector must meet ever more demanding tasks. In order to comply with these requirements, cable manufacturers need up-to-date equipment which can be used to produce complex cable designs and work with a high degree of energy, raw materials and cost efficiency. Moreover, the machines must be adaptable to changing requirements. Data and special cable stranding machines developed and built by Niehoff meet all these requirements.

The D and DSI serices

Niehoff has decades of experience in the planning, installation and automatisation of complete lines. One result of the continuous and close cooperation with cable manufacturers are the further developed double-twist bunching machines of the D series.

Among the features there are the one-bow design and the contactless machine data transfer system. Due to this design energy consumption, noise emission and maintenance requirements of the machines are significantly reduced compared to conventional bunching machines.

The experiences made with the machines of the D series and the demands of leading cable manufacturers were the basis for the development of the double-twist stranding machines of the DSI series ten years ago.

Since then the machines have been permanently further developed and can, completed by a comprehensive range of accessories, produce all kinds of data and special cables such as sensor, signal, bus, instrumentation and LAN cables of all categories with highest precision (Figs. 4 and 5).

Fig. 5) Data cable stranding line consisting of a an ARD 630 double-twist backtwist pay-off, an ALB longitudinal tape pay-off and a type DSI 631 double-twist stranding machine © Niehoff-Gruppe

Niehoff agency for France and North Africa

Since January Maschinenfabrik Niehoff has been collaborating with a new representation for France, Tunisia, Algeria, and Morocco. The French industrial representative Sequem has taken over the support in the mentioned Niehoff sales areas from Sifem, a company with which Niehoff had worked together for more than 40 years.

Sequem, based at Lezennes at the outskirts of Lille, has been representing Niehoff in Belgium and Luxembourg for ten years. The family-run business cooperates with 30 manufacturers of machinery for the wire, cable, wire processing and other sectors of the metal working industries.