The SMS Group announced that it has received an order from Conticon—a joint venture between Grupo Condumex and Xignux, a manufacturer of electrolytic tough pitch (ETP) copper rod—for a state-of-the-art CONTIROD® line (pictured) in North America.

A press release said that the order from Conticon calls for the SMS Group to supply and commission the CONTIROD line at its plant in Celaya-Villagrán, Mexico. The new line will expand capacity there by up to 320 thousand tons of ETP copper rod per year. The line is designed to reduce electrical energy consumption by 55% and natural gas by 30%. The project is expected to be completed by the fourth quarter of 2026.

“This strategic investment in the combined CONTIROD casting and rolling process addresses the growing demand for high-quality copper rod for the automotive and telecommunications industries in the region,” the release said. The new line will boost the capacity of the existing SMS Group CONTIROD plant originally installed in 1984.

SMS will provide a complete CONTIROD line that will cover every stage of production, including the charging device, furnace plant, casting machine, rolling plant, and cooling line, as well as the coil forming and handling systems. The CONTIROD CR3700 line has a capacity of 48 tons per hour, and the increased production capacity will enable Condumex to better serve its own group, investment partners, and the export market, effectively addressing the increasing demand for copper wire rod.

SMS and Grupo Condumex share a long-standing relationship, dating back to the installation of the first line in 1984. Over the years, SMS has provided spare parts and implemented upgrades, ensuring the plant’s continued operation and efficiency. The new line is also equipped with SMS-Metrics, a digitalization tool designed for real-time recording, storage, and evaluation of machine data, thereby improving operational efficiency.