This article suggests how manufacturers can use copper wire drawing lubricants effectively to maximise production and reduce costs. Areas covered include understanding the technology behind the lubricant to manage it appropriately; testing; storage and correct mixing. It also stresses the importance of choosing a supplier who can offer technical advice, training and support.

The wire drawing lubricant may be the smallest cost item in the production process, but it is also one of the most important. This paper considers how an aluminium wire manufacturer can increase production. It looks at the options of using a neat oil – used in drawing more than 90% of the world’s alloys – or an emulsion, which offers substantial benefits.

‘Superfine’ and ‘ultrafine’ are commonly used to describe sizes of fine wire. But how do you describe it in your wire drawing application and how does wire size relate to what you can see? This article looks at how Q8Oils has developed full synthetic products capable of drawing the finest wire to meet the growing technical challenges that manufacturers face.