Continuus Copper Rod Production from 100% Scrap Further steps in Copper Scrap by O. Guixà & M. Garcia

A new revolution in the nonferrous metals industry was pioneered by Continuus-Properzi in the early 1960's when Ilario Properzi made available industrial Continuously Cast and Rolled (CCR) copper rod for the first time (1963).

At present, some thirty Properzi CCR copper rod lines are in operation around the world. It is estimated that during the past ten years, approximately 33% of all copper rod produced worldwide at new production facilities came from Properzi CCR lines.

Leader from 1960 to present in Copper Rod

Continuus-Properzi plays a crucial role in today's world of electrical power and telecommunications.

From the time when Ilario Properzi produced his first experimental CCR rod, Properzi copper rod has experienced a rapid growth in applications and has been well accepted by a wide spectrum of customers. Meaningful applications include:
• Low voltage copper conductors
• PVC, PE and XLPE insulated cables
• PVC sheathed, steel taped or steel wire armored cables
• Overhead power transmission line
• Control cables
• Telephone and building wires
• Flexible cables
• Medium tension cables
• Appliance wire and coaxial cables
From the shining skyscrapers in the Venezuelan night sky to the electrical motors driving irrigation pumps in the rice fields of Malaysia, contribution of Properzi copper rod is evident everywhere. Whether it is an electric train bringing commuters to their destination or an electrical appliance being used at home, copper rod produced on a Properzi CCR line is enriching and contributing to the progress of our daily lives around the world.

Properzi Copper CCR lines are tailored to meet requirements of small, medium and large producers. It is always backed by our technical assistance and transfer of know-how to customer’s operating personnel. Production capacities ranges from 5 tons/hour (and lower) to 35 tons/hour and more for ETP copper rod from 8 to 24 mm diameter.

Continuus Copper Rod Production from 100% Scrap Further steps in Copper Scrap by O. Guixà & M. Garcia

In the 1980’s Continuus-Properzi and La Farga Lacambra (Spain) introduced a new batch process technology in which 100% copper scrap was the basic raw material for CCR lines. The product: FRHC rod is rolled and coiled in one single operation, starting from fire refined copper scrap and it surpasses all ASTM specifications. Such rod can be used for at least 95% of all copper wire required by current markets and is normally drawn with multi-wires machines down to 0.20 mm. Raw material used for this cycle is mainly second and third quality scrap. In 2003 a continuous scrap refining process was introduced with the name COSMELT for first quality scrap. Some dozen of FRHC copper rod line are already in production in Europe, Asia and North America. Production of these CCR line may range from 8.000 to 100.000 tons/year

The first and only supplier to directly make high quality copper rod from 100% scrap

After refining, casting and rolling, the finished product is fire refined high conductivity (FRHC) copper rod at very competitive costs. This new, cost saving method is now well accepted despite the initial doubts expressed by the metal drawing industry about its "novelty." The FRHC rod produced by this state of the art process is indistinguishable from cathode based electrolytic rods.

Continuus-Properzi was a true pioneer in this application too, because as early as 1963, our first copper line operation was designed and engineered to be fed with cathodes and copper scrap (then a first quality Bell system scrap.)

Profitability of a unique project
The following table shows typical scrap qualities and quantities charges using the La Farga Lacambra/Continuus-Properzi technology into the reverberatory refining furnace:

as can be seen above, rod produced from scrap can be used for at least 80 percent of all copper wire required by the market. Such rod is made even more "attractive" to both users and buyers as sale price can be significantly less than the rod produced from cathode.
A guaranteed drawability of down to 0.2 mm (28 GA.) means that the number of wire breaks per ton until reaching this diameter will be comparable in all respects to the best copper rod available on the market by making minor adjustments during the annealing process. Rod produced from scrap is therefore not only a profitable consideration for the manufacturer but is also an economically wise and feasible alternative for majority of wire rod users.