New high-performance lubricant for wire drawing

With Multiroll CU LF Special, Zeller+Gmelin optimises the lubrication and cooling process in the wire drawing machine for maximum process stability. Photo: Zeller+Gmelin

With the new Multiroll CU LF Special, Zeller+Gmelin is expanding its Multiroll product range with an innovative high-performance lubricant for the wire industry. This new development is specifically aimed at manufacturers of cast wire rod who place particular emphasis on process stability, low maintenance requirements, and excellent surface quality.

The production of copper wire rod requires precisely coordinated processes — especially when it comes to lubricating and cooling the rolling units. With Multiroll CU LF Special (Item no. 2650), Zeller+Gmelin is introducing a fully synthetic, water-miscible solution that precisely meets the specific requirements of this application.

Dr Dilahan Aydin-Cantürk (pictured right), product manager at Zeller+Gmelin, explained: “Our customers in the wire industry are under high quality and cost pressure. With Multiroll CU LF Special, we offer them a cooling lubricant that improves both efficiency and product quality — and does so with minimal maintenance.”

According to the manufacturer, the unique formulation ensures a stable, low-foam emulsion with an exceptionally long service life. This not only reduces operating costs but also enables longer production cycles with high process reliability — even at maximum rolling speeds.

Multiroll CU LF Special was specially developed for rolling processes at temperatures between 40 and 47°C. In this range, the emulsion remains stable and maintains its optimal cooling and lubricating properties over a long period of time. A particular advantage is its high pH stability (pH 8.3 at a 3% solution), which allows long-term use without frequent readjustment. At the same time, the emulsion effectively protects the rolling mill against corrosion and wear — even under continuously high loads.

Amine-free formulation
Another performance feature is the excellent surface quality of the produced wire. The drawing agent ensures a long-lasting, bright, shiny wire surface that meets the highest requirements both visually and functionally. The amine-free formulation also reduces copper absorption and oxide content — meaning less residue, less machine stress, and no staining of the final product.

This material protection also has a positive effect on the service life of the rolls: the high level of wear protection can significantly extend service life — a further advantage in terms of sustainability and cost-effectiveness.

Dr Aydin-Cantürk continued: “The combination of these properties makes our new cooling lubricant particularly interesting for companies that rely on reliable, standardised copper wire production with consistently high quality.”

With this new addition to the Multiroll series, Zeller+Gmelin has once again demonstrated how application experience and development expertise can be combined to create practical solutions for the metalworking industry. As an experienced manufacturer of industrial lubricants, the company is known for practical solutions developed in close coordination with the requirements of the respective industries.

Dr Aydin-Cantürk, concluded: “In developing Multiroll CU LF Special, we specifically focused on feedback from practical applications. The requirements of copper casting and rolling processes are complex — making a lubricant that is reliable, economical, and easy to handle all the more important. This is precisely what our new product delivers.”