Strand Annealer (S.S. Wire Annealing Furnace)

Therm process Engineering Pvt. Ltd. designs and manufactures strand annealers, which are continuous annealing furnaces for stainless steel and copper wire, rod, strand, strip and tube. Multiple strands run in parallel through a heated furnace and are annealed on the move. This gives every metre of wire the same thermal cycle. Therm process strand annealers operate at 850-1050 °C, gas-fired or electrically heated. Capacities range from 14-60 kg/hr for fine wire to 500-1000 kg/hr for heavy wire. Share your wire material, diameter range and output to get a design proposal.

What Is a Strand Annealer?

A strand annealer is a continuous annealing furnace for wire and other long, thin products. Instead of annealing coils in batches, the wire is paid off, pulled through the furnace as a strand, and taken up again on the other side. Several strands usually run side by side.

Inside the furnace, the wire is heated to annealing temperature, held briefly and then cooled. Because each strand is thin, it reaches temperature quickly, and anneal time is set by line speed and heated length. Annealing is typically done under a protective atmosphere, so the wire leaves bright.

Strand annealing suits stainless steel wire, which is usually annealed at high temperature and must be cooled without sensitisation. It also suits copper, copper alloys, nickel and similar metals that need consistent softness along their full length. Compared with batch coil annealing, strand annealing gives more uniform properties from end to end and integrates with drawing lines.

Therm process Strand Annealers

Therm process strand annealers are designed for SS and copper wire, rod, strand, strip and tube. They suit copper, copper alloys, nickel, nickel chrome, titanium, stainless steel and refractory metals.

Construction: Heavy-duty build with an energy-saving combination of ceramic fibre and brick insulation. The design gives precise temperature control and needs minimal maintenance.

Gas-fired version: A number of small Therm process burners are distributed along the furnace to achieve excellent temperature uniformity.

Electric version: Heating elements are provided in circular form or in grooved refractory. Therm process uses low watt density elements, since element design is vital for long, trouble-free life.

Fine wire: For stainless steel fine wire, see the dedicated SS Fine Wire Strand Annealer, with multi-strand configurations and cracked ammonia atmosphere.

Technical Specifications

Key Features

• Continuous, multi-strand operation.
• Heavy, medium and fine wire capacity ranges.
• Gas or electric heating.
• Distributed small burners for uniform temperature in gas-fired designs.
• Low watt density elements for longer element life.
• Fibre-and-brick insulation to reduce heat loss.
• Precise temperature control.
• Minimal maintenance design.

How a Strand Annealer Works

• Pay-off. Wire coils are mounted on pay-off stands, one per strand.
• Entry. Strands are guided into the furnace side by side.
• Heating. Burners or elements bring the wire to 850-1050°C as it travels.
• Soaking. Heated length and line speed set the time at temperature.
• Protected cooling. The wire cools under protective atmosphere to stay bright.
• Take-up. Annealed wire is re-coiled on take-up units.
• Checking. Tensile strength, elongation and surface are verified.

Applications

• Annealing of stainless steel wire for springs, fasteners, mesh, welding wire and cold heading.
• Annealing of copper and copper alloy wire for electrical and industrial uses.
• Intermediate annealing between drawing passes.
• Annealing of nickel, nickel chrome and titanium wire.
• Continuous annealing of small tubes and strip.

Industries Served

• Stainless steel wire drawing
• Copper and electrical wire
• Welding consumables
• Fastener and spring wire
• Resistance wire (nickel chrome)

Benefits

• Uniform properties along the full wire length.
• Bright surface with protective atmosphere.
• Continuous production integrated with drawing.
• Lower handling than batch coil annealing.
• Long element life with low watt density design.

Custom Strand Annealer Solutions

• Wire material and grade
• Diameter range
• Required output in kg/hr
• Number of strands
• Annealing temperature and final properties
• Heating preference (gas or electric)
• Atmosphere requirement
• Pay-off and take-up arrangement
• Available line length

Why Choose Thermprocess?

• Since 1997, Mumbai.
• Wire annealing range strand annealers, SS fine wire annealers, binding wire and bright annealing furnaces.
• In-house burners and element design.
• ISO 9001 & ISO 14001 certified, as stated by the company.

Related Therm process Products

• SS Fine Wire Strand Annealer
• Solution Annealing Furnace
• Bright Annealing Furnace
• Binding Wire Annealing Furnace
• Roller Hearth Annealing Furnace
• Industrial Burners

Frequently Asked Questions