Conticon, a steel-wire manufacturer, is expanding production capabilities at its North American plant by installing a CONTIROD® CR3700 line to address the growing demand for high-quality copper rod for the automotive and telecommunications industries. The line, which includes a furnace plant, casting machine, rolling plant, and cooling line, is a fully integrated casting and rolling process that turns copper cathodes and clean copper scrap into material for conductors, boosts the capacity of the existing plant.
The company, a joint venture between Grupo Condumex and Xignux, a manufacturer of electrolytic tough pitch (ETP) copper rod, commissioned SMS group to provide and complete the installation of the CONTIROD® line at its plant in Celaya-Villagrán, Mexico, boosting the current line, which has an annual capacity of approximately 230,000 tons. With an additional 320,000 tons from the new line, the total theoretical capacity is approximately 550,000 tons per year. The line is the only manufacturing process for cast wire rod that utilizes a Hazelett twin-belt casting machine, which physically precludes porosity in the casting bar’s core.
SMS, which has a long-standing relationship Condumex, Inc, dating back to the installation of the first line in 1984, is providing the company with a complete CONTIROD® line, encompassing both process and electrical equipment to enhance production at the Conticon facility. The new line covers every stage of production, including the charging device, furnace plant, casting machine, rolling plant, and cooling line, as well as the coil forming and handling systems. This comprehensive solution not only increases productivity thanks to its ease of maintenance and operation but also enhances process control and operator safety. The new CONTIROD® CR3700 line has a capacity of 48 tons per hour.
The new line offers sustainability benefits, including reductions of 55 percent for electrical energy consumption and 30 percent for natural gas. These efficiencies are achieved through advanced design and process integration and optimized thermal heat utilization, thus minimizing energy waste and enhancing the system’s overall efficiency. The technology package also features process control systems that ensure precise operation, further contributing to energy savings.
Press release is available in its original form here.
