Humankind has been relying on copper for quite a long time. Early evidence of copper usage for creating tools and ornaments dates back to 9000 BC. Nowadays, it’s one of the most required metals, be it for grid modernization or AI data centers, which explains why its price has become so volatile.
Copper can’t be simply replaced overnight, which means that procurement teams of some of the biggest companies worldwide still do their best to ensure their supply for the foreseeable future. Here’s what you need to know about the most modern wire and cable production machinery for aluminum.
Why Aluminum Changes The Rules On The Extrusion Line
Aluminum behaves differently from copper in many situations. For instance, it has a considerably higher specific heat capacity, and its oxidation works as an effective corrosion barrier. It can also be tricky, though, as oxidation occurs almost immediately upon exposure to the air, slashing its conductivity properties.
However, plants attempting the shift without upgrading process control see scrap and variability climb. After all, drawing and stranding also behave differently with aluminum, requiring a range of specialized machinery
The Business Case Beyond Commodity Pricing
Copper is one of the most sought-after commodities today. Its supply is fiercely disputed by hyperscale data centers, IIJA-era grid investments, RePowerEU, PV, and battery storage projects. All these industries have emerged quite recently, greatly increasing the demand for copper supply.
Unsurprisingly, more companies are investing in aluminum capability as portfolio diversification and commodity-cycle hedging. Aluminum is considerably cheaper than many of the industrial metals, even though its demand has been increasing. Investment specialists consider it a much safer investment than gold, for instance.
What Separates Plants That Capture The Opportunity
It’s already clear that it’s not enough for plants to simply shift to aluminum. The production line must be updated (and upgraded) to be able to handle the “new” material. The most successful ones managed to achieve stable extrusion with precise temperature/pressure control, and in-line diameter and eccentricity measurement. Above all, they rely on data-driven process monitoring, ensuring the high quality of each product.
Besides, insulation compounds such as HFFR and LSHO are increasingly in demand these days. Extruding them consistently can be extremely complicated, and it’s usually where leading manufacturers have their edge on the competition. That’s why companies intending to extrude both aluminum and copper partner with MFL Group, benefiting from its versatile portfolio of high-performance extrusion equipment.
MFL Group’s particular strength lies in HFFR/LSHO insulation materials that have strong commercial traction on drawing and stranding lines for aluminum applications. With the assistance of its IoT application, MFL X / Acumen and Eagle, using AI-powered data analytics, companies can efficiently handle the tighter tolerances that aluminum demands. After all, aluminum extrusion is much more than a niche conversation, is a vital margin defense strategy amid market price surges.