Nickel Silver Wire Manufacturer from Germany

As spring material for electrical contacts, switches, relays, plugs, measuring instruments, watches, writing instruments and other precision parts.

As a decorative material for cutlery, crockery, lamps, furniture fittings and other household items.

As a jewellery material for necklaces, rings, earrings, brooches and other jewellery items.

Another delivery form for nickel silver wire is rings. This form offers several advantages, such as easy handling, neat storage and less tangling of the wire. The rings are available in various sizes and diameters and are additionally packed in suitable containers or boxes for extra protection and convenient storage.

To ensure convenient handling and storage, the wire is wound onto coils made of either plastic or metal. The size and weight of the coils vary depending on the amount of wire required.

An alternative possibility is to wind the wire without a conventional spool. This is used especially for larger quantities where a spool is not practical. The wire is tightly bundled and provided with a protective layer.

For safe transport and protection from damage, the nickel silver wire is also packed in robust containers made of cardboard or paperboard, the cardboard drums. The drums are available in different sizes and capacities – depending on the quantity of nickel silver wire.

For specific applications where wire in the form of rods is required, we offer nickel silver wire rods. These are usually supplied in precise lengths to suit your individual requirements.

Supplied as Acropak on a pallet.

Nickel silver wire is produced through a process consisting of several steps.

1. Alloy composition: First, three different metals (copper as the base, nickel and zinc) are mixed in the right proportions.
2. Melting: The components are heated and liquefied in a melting furnace.
3. Casting: By using the continuous casting process, casting produces wire pieces with no gaps and no welds. This is done by simultaneously forming eight strands on our modern equipment. The strands are then reduced to square wire on rollers with several stands.
4. Cold rolling: The wire is then further processed in a cold rolling mill to reduce the thickness even further while increasing the tensile strength and hardness of the wire. This step can be repeated several times to achieve the desired mechanical properties.
5. Annealing: After cold rolling, the wire is heated in an annealing furnace to remove the stresses created and refine the grain structure.
6. Tensile strength and hardness testing: The finished wire is subjected to tensile strength and hardness testing to ensure that it meets the required technical specifications.
7. Further processing: The wire is subjected to further processes such as cutting, bending, tinning or other surface treatments, depending on its intended use.

Yes, nickel silver wire can change in this way under certain circumstances. Cloudiness refers to a change in the metallic surface where a cloudy, dull or darker layer forms. This can occur due to oxidation of the metal. If nickel silver wire is exposed to environmental conditions containing oxygen or other chemical substances in combination with moisture, this can lead to oxidation of the wire and to clouding. To prevent or minimise such a change, there are various protective coatings or surface treatments.

Nickel silver is suitable for various industrial applications due to its unique properties. Some of the most common uses for nickel silver are:

Jewellery making: due to its high resistance to corrosion and tarnishing and its silver-like colour, nickel silver is often used in the jewellery industry. It is used to make rings, necklaces, earrings, bangles and other jewellery.

Production of musical instruments: Nickel silver is also used in the production of musical instruments such as trumpets, saxophones and flutes. It is used to make mouthpieces, valves and other parts because it offers a good combination of durability, corrosion resistance and sound quality.

Electronics: Nickel silver is used in the electronics industry because of its electrical conductivity. It is used to make circuit boards, plugs, contacts, switches and other electrical connectors.

Production of cutlery and crockery: Nickel silver is also used in the production of cutlery, crockery and cutlery parts. Due to its corrosion resistance and durability, it is often used for silverware and other decorative elements in the catering industry.

Watchmaking: Nickel silver is often used for watch and jewellery cases due to its silver-like appearance. The material offers a cost-effective alternative to real silver while being robust and durable.

Optical and medical instrument manufacturing: Nickel silver is also used in the manufacture of optical instruments such as binoculars and telescopes, as well as medical or surgical instruments and braces. It offers a good combination of durability, corrosion resistance and suitability for close tolerances.

These are just a few examples and the list is of course not exhaustive. Nickel silver is also used in other industries (for example: automotive, aerospace, electromechanical systems and many more).