Candor Sweden AB: adapting surface treatment to rising defense and core wire plating demands

Candor Sweden AB, based in Norrköping and part of the Lotorp AB group, has supplied chemical processes and equipment for surface treatment since 1946. With ISO 9001 and 14001 certifications, the company delivers plating lines, specialty chemicals, and water treatment systems to customers in Europe, Asia, and North America.

Adam Högqvist, sales and marketing director, highlights steady growth in two key areas: defense-driven demand for batch phosphating and electroless nickel, and the company’s established core business in continuous wire plating equipment.

Core business: wire plating equipment

A cornerstone of Candor’s operations is the design and supply of continuous plating lines for high-performance wire. These systems produce tin-, nickel-, and silver-plated copper wire for specialty cable applications in telecommunications, automotive, and renewable energy systems. The uniform coatings ensure low contact resistance, high conductivity, and long-term corrosion protection under mechanical stress.

The company also manufactures lines for copper-coated steel wire used in MIG and TIG welding consumables. Precise control of copper thickness (typically 0.5–2 µm) optimizes arc stability and feedability while meeting EN ISO 544 and AWS A5.18 standards. These lines run at speeds up to 1,200 m/min with integrated cleaning, plating, and drying stages.

Defense sector growth

Defense spending has increased demand for batch treatment phosphating and electroless nickel. Phosphating provides a crystalline base layer on steel for paint adhesion and rust prevention in vehicle and weapon components. Electroless nickel delivers uniform, high-phosphorus deposits on complex parts such as turbine blades and hydraulic fittings, compliant with AMS 2404 and MIL-DTL-32119.

Medical wire note

Candor is also developing concept machines for continuous gold plating of fine medical wire (copper/stainless steel/Nitinol) used in guidewires and implantable sensors. The systems apply micron-thin deposits meeting ISO 13485 standards.

Operational adjustments and outlook

In-house chemistry labs and closed-loop water recycling systems recover up to 90 % of process water, helping control costs and meet environmental requirements across all product lines. Högqvist expects defense demand to remain strong while wire plating for cables and welding consumables continues as the company’s primary revenue driver. Engineering resources will support both segments in parallel.

Candor will also attend wire Düsseldorf 2026, where the team will be available to discuss new investments in surface treatment machinery.

For more information or to discuss your next surface treatment project, contact Candor Sweden AB.