Investment increases capacity for flat rolled wire
Investment increases capacity for flat rolled wire
Sandvik Materials Technology has invested in and has now commissioned a new rolling mill for the production of stainless steel flat wire – a Sandvik speciality produced as an alternative to narrow strip.
Installed at a cost of 14 M SEK ($1.5 million), the new mill is needed,primarily, to meet a growing demand for stainless steel flat wire, but at the same time will contribute to an even higher material quality.
Whilst stainless steel, cold rolled strip and flat rolled wire have comparable strength and corrosion properties, flat wire offers advantages in several applications in, for example, the automotive, white goods, electronic and medical industries.
The key product benefits are round edges for better fatigue strength, a smaller bending radius for sharp bends and, in particular, flexibility concerning dimensions, delivery forms, tolerances and strength properties,tailored to the end-user. Available in widths from 0.5 to 7.0 mm and thicknesses from 0.05 to 4.0 mm and in a range of stainless and duplex stainless steel grades, flat wire is produced in a variety of product forms. In particular, it can be supplied on spools in long continuous lengths, to give higher productivity in automated production processes.
Berndt Stenlund, Product Manager for flat rolled products, says "Our extensive research and process development of flat rolled wire has created a niche product for which there is a growing demand. The investment in the new mill enables us to satisfy the market volumes and also provides the platform for developing the product further to meet ever increasing demands for improved material properties and product reliability. We believe that this gives us a strong competitive advantage."
