Development of Aluminum-clad Steel (AS) Wire
Conex Cable, LLC, under the original name of Conex, started production of Aluminum-clad Steel wire (AS wire) in 1988. In 1990 Hitachi Cable Ltd., a worldwide wire and cable manufacturer, became a joint venture partner and inaugurated a new era of growth and development. Then in 2004, Conex became an independent, 100% U.S. owned company and moved its manufacturing facilities from Dublin, California to DeKalb, Illinois.
Aluminum-clad steel wire was originally developed by Hitachi Cable, Ltd in 1956 based on a new technology of the time known as the continuous extrusion method. Even though AS wire has since achieved worldwide acceptance, engineering continues in an effort to improve and refine the process and product.
Conex Cable, LLC has utilized the vast knowledge of Hitachi Cable in many areas including technology, engineering, and production, in the efforts to become a leading manufacturer of electrical wire and cable.
Applications, Products, and Manufacturing Process
Using this technology, Conex Cable, LLC supplies high quality aluminum-clad steel wire and cable products to electric utilities, cable manufacturers, and accessory manufacturers. Conex Cable, LLC manufactures overhead transmission line ground wire; guy wire; guy grip wire; AS wire for optical ground wire (OPGW) applications; and Aluminum-clad Steel (AS) core wire for various overhead conductors.
Our AS wire is manufactured by the continuous extrusion method which bonds high purity aluminum to high strength steel wire. The thick aluminum cladding provides AS wire with superior corrosion resistance as well as high conductivity. AS wire incorporates the capability to vary the aluminum thickness as required for the higher conductivity described in the latest ASTM and IEC standards.
