Vertical Integration and Alloy Development:

Swiss Steel Group, an international manufacturer of specialty steels, continues to strengthen its position in the production of cold-drawn wires for critical spring applications. Through a fully integrated manufacturing process – from steel melting to the finished wire – the company meets the increasing technical demands of sectors such as aerospace, medical technology, pump systems, automotive engineering, and power generation.

Increasing Requirements for Spring Wire Characteristics

The market for stainless spring wire is evolving rapidly, driven by the need for higher mechanical performance, tighter tolerances, and improved corrosion and hydrogen resistance. Material solutions are expected to exhibit high purity, excellent surface quality, and reliability in high-speed forming operations.

Swiss Steel Group addresses these challenges through industrial process optimization and focused R&D at its Ugitech subsidiary, based in Ugine, France.

Applied Research: Surface Quality and Material Behavior

The research center of the Stainless Division in Ugine works closely with the customer technical support team to develop application-specific solutions. Key areas of focus include:

• Optimization of surface finish in drawn wires to minimize crack initiation under cyclic loading conditions.
• Hydrogen behavior analysis of high cold-worked grades such as UGI® 202N and UGI® 209 to mitigate embrittlement risks.
• Implementation of rigorous testing procedures throughout upstream and downstream production stages to ensure compliance with demanding applications, including high-frequency pump springs and solenoid valve components.

Full Vertical Integration as an Industrial Quality Driver

Swiss Steel Group applies complete vertical integration, from steel production in Ugine to wire drawing in specialized plants in Imphy (France) and San Vendemiano (Italy). This setup enables:

• Direct control of metallurgical parameters.
• Continuous monitoring of surface integrity across all stages.
• Tailored adjustment of production processes to match customer-specific requirements.

Each production lot is fully traceable.

Alloy Innovations for High-Stress Applications

Swiss Steel Group has developed several technical alloys to meet increasing requirements for mechanical strength, fatigue resistance, and corrosion durability:

• UGIPURE® 4568 and UGIPURE® 4462: remelted round and shaped wires offering high inclusion cleanliness for extended fatigue life.
• UGIS® 4462 (Duplex): engineered to comply with ISO 6931-1 for spring steels, providing an optimal balance of mechanical performance, corrosion resistance, and cost-efficiency.
• Wire diameters from 0.18 mm to 20 mm, available in round and profiled configurations for a wide range of industrial uses.

Sustainable Manufacturing: Green Steel as Standard

All spring wire products are produced under Swiss Steel Group’s Green Steel standards. This ensures significantly reduced CO₂ emissions while maintaining full technical performance and product integrity.

For more information: https://swisssteel-group.com/de/produkte

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