We guarantee maximum consistency of mechanical properties, metallurgical structure, geometry and surface quality by bringing the entire value-added chain from our steel through rolled wire to drawn wire under one roof. That focus on quality supported by digital tools enables us to achieve maximum cost efficiency for our customers. Certification to ISO 9001, 14001, 18001, 50001 and IATF 16949 demonstrates our commitment to Performance in Quality.
We offer the widest product range in the sector from a single source and have a reputation for high-quality subsequent processing and proven quality.
We supply billets, drawing stock, drawn wire, ultra fine wire, profiled section wire, braided wire and cords made from more than 400 steel alloys in the unalloyed, low-alloy and medium-alloy ranges. Our product portfolio not only covers many ISO standard grades but also a large number of individual custom alloys and materials based on other international standards such as ASTM, JIS, etc.
The chemical composition of our steels does not define all of a product's properties. In many cases, the products require extensive subsequent processing stages to optimise their characteristics either for use or processing. In that connection we are guided by your wishes and requirements.
In the rolling process we utilise the following methods:
In the drawing shops we have a large number of other processes available according to diameter, which are performed open to air or under inert gases:
We are constantly developing new solutions for surface treatments. Our ambition is to produce carbon-neutral coatings for all application scenarios. To that end we maintain close development partnerships with private and public-sector research establishments.
For drawing stock we offer the following options for best-possible surface qualities:
To ensure the quality of the drawing stock surface, we maintain a fully automated high-rise racking warehouse. In that way we can reduce the risk of mechanical damage, corrosion spots, securing and simplifying transport logistics.
The range of drawn wires is diverse and follows the requirements of subsequent wire use:
In addition, we hold many other specific individual certificates (for particular products or countries), e.g. GL, DNV, etc.
Our quality is planned rather than tested. It involves a far-reaching process because, taking the product features as the starting point, we analyse the essential production parameters at every stage of manufacture for their suitability for achieving the desired quality level.
The outcome is a set of process instructions that are constantly on trial by process engineering and research. Statistical process monitoring provides us with the necessary feedback to enable intervention by staff in case of process deviations and also to identify the potential for continuous improvement.
A stable process is not always sufficient for the documentation of product quality. In some cases we need analytical methods to demonstrate the quality standard achieved to our customers and ourselves. The testing equipment we have in place provides us with a broad span of possibilities for the purpose:
In this particular area we rely on the use of optical testing methods and artificial intelligence. It starts right from the rolling of the billets, continues with the precise measurement of the billet geometry in the hot-rolling mill, the documentation of the surface condition and the optical testing along the production line. At critical points, the system is supported by thermography or eddy current testing.
Methods employed along the value-added chain include:
Internal flaw tests are carried out on billets to verify core density and absence of cracking.
For dimension checks we rely on laser and optical spectrometry. The testing parameters applied are diameter, ovality, angular offset in the case of rectangular cross-sections, and evenness in the case of surface-textured products.
To be able to offer the highest standards of laboratory testing, we have established centralised, accredited (EN ISO/IEC 17025) laboratories which are available both for production approvals and stress-proof test results in research programmes.
The list of laboratory tests covers a wide range:
The operational optimum is constantly sought by round robin testing for all testing equipment. Comparative testing with the nearby universities provides a juxtapose with other state-of-the-art technologies.
