OS-UZ wire

KANAGAWA, Japan, March 9, 2010 - OKI Electric Cable (TSE:5815) today announced the launch of OS-UZ Wire, a zinc-plated wire for Wire-type EDM(*1). Sales and shipment of OS-UZ Wire starts in April.

Featuring a unique four-layer structure for high-cutting speed and smooth cut surface, the new OS-UZ Wire was developed to meet the needs of the metal parts industries and die & mold industries. OS-UZ Wire will improve manufacturing productivity, reduce wire consumption, and cut machine operation costs.

Conventionally, heat diffusion wires(*2) are used to improve the cutting speed of Wire-type EDM. However, the complex structure of heat diffusion wires makes them more costly than brass wires. To address this cost issue, Oki Electric Cable uses a brass core covered with a zinc-rich brass layer, to which it applies a zinc layer and a thin special coating layer, forming a four-layer structure. This unique structure and innovative manufacturing methods allow Oki Electric Cable to offer the OS-UZ Wire at prices lower than that of conventional heat diffusion wires.

OS-UZ Wire improves rough-cut speed by around 30% over conventional brass wires. At the same time, it offers improved positioning accuracy(*3) and smooth cut surface of work-pieces. The special coating helps protect against corrosion and improves its shelf-life, while an innovative newly-developed wire drawing technique results in less metal powder adhesion problem(*4) compared to conventional brass wires.

"We are excited with the development of OS-UZ Wire, this new wire allows the user not just to increase productivity, but to reduce wire consumption," said Takashi Hattori, President of Oki Electric Cable. "The faster processing achieved with the OS-UZ Wire also cuts EDM operation costs, including electricity, operation time dependent consumables and material cost."
Oki Electric Cable plans to market the OS-UZ Wire from April 2010 primarily in the US, where demand for high-speed metal parts processing is high, and in China, where the die & mold industry, in which cost-cutting is needed, is rapidly expanding. In October 2010, the company will introduce the OS-UZ Wire to markets around the world. The shipping target for fiscal 2010 is 150 tons. The company eventually plans to increase the volume to 500 tons / year .

Oki Electric Cable will continue to develop and supply high-value-added wire for EDM to meet the need for higher productivity and shorter delivery periods of customers in the metal parts industries and die & mold industries.

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Glossary

• *1:Wire-type Electrical Discharge Machine (EDM)

  Non-contact cutting machine that uses wire which most often made of brass alloy contains 65% of copper and 35% of zinc, with diameters as thin as human hair. Machine uses electrical discharge (much like lightning) to cut metal.

• *2:Heat diffusion wire

  Copper-zinc alloy wire with a multilayer structure formed with heat diffusion treatment process to a zinc-plated copper or copper alloy.

• *3:Positioning accuracy

  Accuracy of the positions identified for the processed work-piece and wire.

• *4:Metal powder adhesion problem

  Phenomenon whereby the metal powder from the running wire adheres to guides and other parts, causing malfunctions of machine and other issues.

About Oki Electric Cable Co., Ltd.

Established in 1936, Oki Electric Cable Co., Ltd. provides various advanced communications cables, optical cables, and related electronic parts and equipment to the worldwide market. As a member of the OKI Group, Oki Electric Cable Co., Ltd. plays a major role in the group. The company's website is located at http://www.okidensen.co.jp/english/e_home.htm

• * Names of companies and products are the trademarks or registered trademarks of the respective companies and organizations.

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