Recently there have been other notable landmark events in the company’s history as well: The continuous casting plants in Avellino, Italy, and Emmerich am Rhein, Germany, celebrated their 50th anniversary last year, while the continuous casting plant in Olen, Belgium, is reaching this milestone this year too.

Since their commissioning, these casting plants have seen a number of technological developments and made continuous advancements. They exemplify the shifts in the industry — from standardized products to high-performance, tailored solutions for the demands of modern industry.

Customizing a commodity

The importance of copper rod has risen monumentally in the past few decades. Global megatrends like electrification and digitalization drive demand. Quality, performance and sustainability requirements are increasing at the same time. The industry needs customized solutions. For manufacturers, this means regularly reviewing what quality and performance parameters specific applications require.

Innovation through partnership

Aurubis strives to anticipate technical developments early on, so we cooperate closely with system suppliers. In a pilot project with SHWire, Wafios and Gehring, the company has investigated which copper materials are best suited to hairpins. Hairpins are flat copper wires shaped, as the name suggests, like hairpins, which are welded into electric motors. The objective of the test series was to find a material that completely fulfills the technical requirements while enabling scalable, cost-efficient production at the same time. The outcome: Both oxygen-free “Cu-OFE” and the more readily available “Cu-ETP1” lead to excellent bending and welding results with high electrical conductivity.

The right solutions for new demands

Aurubis developed new low-oxygen rod products based on the project. With the innovative “LimOx” and “LimOx+” rod grades, Aurubis meets the high standards of the automotive industry while delivering advantages such as higher productivity in rod production, cost savings potential, high availability, and an outstanding fit for the enameling process.

Where the rod industry and sustainability converge

Though it was barely on the agenda 75 years ago, sustainable copper sourcing and production are crucial today. The focus is on the best available environmental techniques, low carbon emissions, circularity and taking active responsibility in the supply chain. Aurubis’ holistic approach encompasses all of these aspects – Aurubis calls this sustainability promise Tomorrow Metals.

Take carbon, for example: Refined copper from Aurubis has one of the lowest carbon footprints today, with less than 65% of the global average CO2 emissions. Aurubis is open to a variety of technologies and is also testing the use of hydrogen as an energy carrier in rod fabrication to further decarbonize production processes. Furthermore, by combining primary and recycling sources, Aurubis ensures that industry remains supplied with sustainable copper into the future.

Supply security in the spotlight

The process innovations over the past few decades have changed rod manufacturing as well. Technological developments such as the shift to continuous casting, which Aurubis utilizes with the “South Wire” and “Conti Rod” production processes, have led to significant volume and quality improvements. Today, the company produces just under 1 million tons of continuous cast wire rod at four European sites each year – ensuring the highest delivery reliability.

Rod: Always changing — and more in demand than ever before

The rod industry has made huge progress in the past several decades. From decarbonization and electric vehicles to new technologies and processes – the industry is always changing and adapting to new challenges.

In the future, too, Aurubis will continue reliably supplying its customers with strategically important metals and rod – for a sustainable, robust and crisis-proof industry of tomorrow.

Tanja Winter photo & statement:

“Happy 75th anniversary! WIRE has been a valued partner for many years, supporting our industry with expertise and foresight. Thank you for this meaningful partnership. Here’s to WIRE’s continued success as a strong voice of the industry.”

Tanja Winter, Head of Sales Rod

Aurubis AG

Brooktorkai 18

20457 Hamburg/Germany

Tel.: +49 40 7883-2285

rod@aurubis.com

www.aurubis.com