Sandvik Materials Technology has invested in and has now commissioned a new rolling mill for the production of stainless steel flat wire – a Sandvik speciality produced as an alternative to narrow strip. Installed at a cost of SEK 14 million, the new mill is needed, primarily, to meet a growing demand for stainless steel flat wire, but at the same time will contribute to an even higher material quality. While stainless steel, cold rolled strip and flat rolled wire have comparable strength and corrosion properties, flat wire offers advantages in several applications in, for example, the automotive, white goods, electronic and medical industries. The key product benefits are round edges for better fatigue strength, a smaller bending radius for sharp bends and, in particular, flexibility concerning dimensions, delivery forms, tolerances and strength properties, tailored to the end user. Available in widths from 0.5 – 7.0mm and thicknesses from 0.05 – 4.0mm and in a range of stainless and duplex stainless steel grades, flat wire is produced in a variety of product forms. In particular, it can be supplied on spools in long continuous lengths, to give higher productivity in automated production processes.
