BWE Ltd.
Machines for electric cables and optical fibers
Company Overview and Heritage
BWE Ltd, formerly Babcock Wire Equipment, is a British engineering company established in 1969 in Ashford, Kent, England. The company specializes in the design, manufacture, and supply of continuous rotary extrusion (CRE) machines for non-ferrous metals and cold pressure welding machines. Alongside its American associate Koldweld LLC and subsidiary BWE Shanghai Ltd, BWE is a world's longest established manufacturer of cold pressure welding equipment. Since acquiring the first license for Conform™ CRE machines in 1976 from the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority, BWE has maintained a commitment to innovation, efficiency, reliability, and sustainability.
Continuous Rotary Extrusion Solutions
BWE offers three primary product ranges utilizing its continuous rotary extrusion technology. The Conform™ range provides machinery for extruding various non-ferrous metals like aluminium, copper, zinc, and magnesium, into products such as thin-walled aluminium tubes and solid aluminium conductors. The Conklad™ machinery, developed in the 1980s, is designed for cladding or sheathing wires and cables with aluminium, serving applications like OPGW, CATV, and power cables. The patented SheathEx™ technology, introduced in 2005, creates 'seamless' aluminium sheaths around High Voltage (HV) and Extra High Voltage (EHV) cables using two aluminium rods (ø12.0mm or ø9.5mm), forming both corrugated and smooth sheaths, offering a reliable and economical alternative.
Cold Pressure Welding Technology
The Coldweld™ product line comprises machines for joining non-ferrous metals and their alloys without heat, fillers, or fluxes. This technology produces welds generally stronger than the parent material, maintaining identical electrical characteristics. BWE's machines use a multiple upset technique to remove contaminants, eliminating the need for special pre-weld preparation. A wide array of models are available for diverse applications, from fine wire (down to 0.08mm) to rod (up to 6.35mm). These machines are often wheeled for mobility and feature quick weld cycles, typically under one minute. BWE also offers custom dies and test welding services for customer materials.
Global Reach and Support
BWE provides comprehensive service to its customers, encompassing application development, pilot production, training, installation, commissioning, and after-sales support. The company's technologies are deployed globally, with recent installations in Brazil, China, Taiwan, South Korea, and across Europe, demonstrating its international presence and expertise. BWE continues to invest in research and development, exploring new applications for its extrusion process, including the extrusion of titanium and silver powder into wire.
