Siemens VAI Metals Technologies has received an order from the Southwire Company, Carrollton, Georgia, USA, to supply a copper rod rolling mill and the associated coil handling system. The end customer is Taihan Electric Wire Co. Ltd. of Seoul, Korea.
The new mill will replace the existing 30-year-old system in Anyang, originally built by Morgan Construction Company, a Siemens VAI business, as a subcontractor to Southwire. The new mill will be delivered by the end of 2010.
A copper rod mill
In 1955, the Taihan Electric Wire Co. became the first wire and cable manufacturer to be established in Korea. Taihan is the leading domestic cable manufacturer and a major supplier of power transmission cables to the Asian market. Southwire Company is constructing a completely new production line for Taihan Electric, including melting and casting plants with a production output of 40 tonnes of copper rod per hour, in diameters ranging from 8 mm to 25 mm.
Siemens VAI is responsible for the engineering, manufacturing and commissioning of all the equipment for the rolling mill. This includes a roughing mill with one 18-inch, one 16-inch and two 12-inch stands, as well as a finishing mill comprising eight 8-inch stands. The rolling mill is completed by a pickling line, two pinch rolls, a rollerized downturn, coiler and conveyor.
The rolling mill portion of the project will be implemented by Morgan Construction Co., a Siemens VAI business. Southwire has worked together with Morgan for more than 30 years. During that time, Morgan has built more than 60 non-ferrous mills for Southwire customers, in addition to completing nearly 30 upgrades.