Electroplating vs Hot Dip onto Cu wire

Hello all,
My company (which performs copper wire-drawing) currently buys tin-plated copper wire, but is now considering tinning our wire ourselves (tinning at sizes AWG38 and finer).
I am trying to do some preliminary research on the pros/cons of electroplating vs hot-dip, but am having a hard time finding information.
If anyone has some advice or links that would assist my research, I would be very grateful.

Thanks.

Hello there,

It is my personal opinion that STEULER Anlagenbau GmbH & Co. KG is by far the best wire plating machine company in the world.

You might want to talk with them in Germany, www.steuler.de/sab/html/en-elektrolytische_drahtverede.html I imagine they will be able to answer all of your questions and provide you with the pertinent information.

STEULER Anlagenbau GmbH & Co. KG
Georg - Steuler - Strasse 1
56203 Hoehr-Grenzhausen
GERMANY

Contact for the Equipment-Engineering Section:
Fon: +49 2624 13-302
Fax: +49 2624 13-300
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Moreover please note this quotation from Eurowire Magazine: www.read-eurowire.com/niehoff3.cfm (Some spelling Americanized.)

"In 2003, Maschinenfabrik Niehoff GmbH, one of the world’s leading manufacturers of machinery for the wire and cable industry, and Steuler Anlagenbau, a company specialized in the galvanic refinement of wire surfaces, signed an exclusive co-operation agreement. Subject of the co-operation is to optimize, further develop and manufacture lines for the galvanic plating of non-ferrous metal wires."

It may be worth giving them a call as well.

Niehoff Endex North America Inc.
1 Mallard Court,
Swedesboro, NJ
08085 U.S.A.

Phone: (856) 803-1800
Fax: (856) 467-4884
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I understand that Mr. Donald Neville This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. recently joined this organization.

Kindest regards,
Peter J. Stewart-Hay
Principal
Stewart-Hay Associates
www.Stewart-Hay.com

Thank you very much for your help!
Regards.

Peter, drblinky,
I don't know a whole lot about electro plating but an eon ago Robert Akin II and Ed Harris and a third person whose name I don't remember developed electro plating equipment for Hudson Wire. This was in the early 50's.

It is my understanding that most electro plating occurs at about 18 awg and then the wire is drawn to the desired size. If I remember right, a couple of years ago the newer electro plating equipment operated at about 1,000 feet/min. Obviously at this speed you can produce more 18 awg per hour than 38 awg. It might be possible to electro plate 38 awg at higher speeds, but I don't think you would every reach a speed wit 38 awg that would make a big machine cost effective.

Updated 10/5: I think the company I was talking about was called ACME. Engineers at Hudson and owner of ACME worked together to develop the electroplating machine that was used for years at Hudson in Ossining to electroplate a variety of materials onto copper wire.

richard

AWG 38 is not suitable electroplating, You can choose any brand of machine. Process conditions is too important in electroplating process. My last machine, I build "1985 model Henrich" (in 2006). We have rebuilded, updated mechanic and electronic system. It had some advantages from new machine, because we have redesign some parts.

Brand may be important, your demands must be defined clearly. If you need an japan car, don't buy a mercedes. Your wire drawing machines and other conditions must be analysed.

I can help you about it without fee. if you want.

Nazim ALTINAY
Turkey

Hello Nazým,

Your post is interesting and I see that you bought a "21 year old used BMW" instead of a "Mercedes" and then rebuilt and modified it yourselves to what you believed was better, at least for you. There is certainly nothing wrong with this approach. By the way, HENRICH Maschinenfabrik GmbH ( www.henrich.net/eng/products.html ) no longer manufacturers electroplating equipment so it is likely, I imagine, that all or many of your replacement parts will be fabricated locally from now on.

What drblinky was looking for was information and we gave him what we believed to be the appropriate contact information. Moreover I still strongly stand by my opinion that STEULER Anlagenbau GmbH & Co. KG builds the best tin plating equipment in the World for wire applications. I have had my hands on three different machines, including a Steuler line, and watched a number of others in operation in wire plants around the World. This included discussions with the plant engineering people, department foremen, supervisors and the machine operators themselves.

Moreover, here in North America, full pollution control is indeed a fundamental requirement for electroplating machines and therefore a completely closed system is needed. This means backward cascading of the rinse water tanks, then concentrating and disposing of same if and when necessary so that the whole system is completely closed. (That means no drains from the machine and no floor drains in the vicinity of the machine) Stueler can provide closed system tehnology on their machines.

Kindest regards,
Peter J. Stewart-Hay
Principal
Stewart-Hay Associates
www.Stewart-Hay.com