Technology and Development



Continuous research and development have always been part of ITALFIL S.p.A.’s DNA, with ongoing investments aimed at further enhancing the already excellent quality of its products while simultaneously developing new products for the global market. This approach enables the company to meet the evolving demands of a steadily growing customer base.
The investments, over the years, have involved the company in a transversal manner.
Over the years, these investments have been applied across the company in a comprehensive manner. The most significant technological innovations of recent years concern the chemical pickling system for wire rod, the annealing heat treatment furnaces, and the galvanic copper plating plant.

Specifically, chemical pickling is a process in which sulfuric acid at high temperature is used to dissolve iron oxide residues on the surface of the wire rod, effectively removing surface scales. Afterwards, a specific layer is applied to the surface to enhance corrosion resistance and improve lubrication during the subsequent dry drawing phase.

ITALFIL S.p.A. applies this treatment to all types of wire produced, including unalloyed products such as SG1, SG2, and SG3. Compared to traditional mechanical descaling methods using brushes or other abrasive tools, chemical pickling provides a more precise and uniform cleaning. This results in significant advantages, positively impacting material processing, the final surface quality of the wire, and, importantly, its weldability.

The annealing furnaces, on the other hand, are used to perform heat treatment on wire rods and semi-finished products, necessary to relieve internal stresses in the steel and facilitate the subsequent drawing process.
ITALFIL S.p.A. operates advanced bell annealing furnaces, consisting of a double shell in which combustion takes place. The heat is then radiated to the inner bell containing the wire to be treated. The atmosphere inside the inner bell, which is oxygen-free and rich in nitrogen, prevents surface decarburization of the steel.

Finally, the galvanic copper plating plant, conceptually unique in its kind, allows to copper plate low alloy and high alloy steel wires which, for their chemical composition, may not be suitable to receive a copper plating of a chemical nature.
In this case the copper is then deposited onto the wire surface by means of an electrolytic process.

The combination of these advanced production lines with ITALFIL S.p.A.’s extensive experience and business know-how has enabled the company to expand its traditional range of welding and hard-facing/tool steel wires with an exclusive series of RC9-type wires, which are rare and difficult to find on the global market.