Galvanised wire is a type of baling wire used largely across various industries in our days. Read our article to find out how the highest quality galvanised wire is manufactured and used today.

1. All You Need to Know About
Galvanised Wire and Its Uses
Image Courtesy of D R Baling Wire Manufacturers
Wire, it is so ubiquitous to our lives that we barely notice it any longer. And, unless you
work in an industry that requires the use of wire on a daily basis, then it is unlikely that
you have considered all the different types of wire on the market, and the benefits of
each.
Different Types of Wire
Wire is not just wire, even in its most basic form. There are so many different
variations, from tensile strength to diameter. This, of course, leads to varying demands
for certain types of wire within certain industries.


Cold Wire – This is what you may call your basic wire. It is steel stretched, or
drawn, into the long thin shape we recognise as wire. This type of wire does not
typically undergo any further chemical changes, which limits its uses. Very
often, cold wire is coated with plastic for commercial use in items such as
shopping trolleys and clothing hangers.
Black Annealed Wire – As wire is drawn, it loses a certain amount of its
ductility in the process. This, very desirable, wire trait is returned to it during
annealing. This process involves heating wire to a certain temperature, for a
specified period of time. Not only does this return some of the wire’s initial
properties to it, but it also provides it with a black colour. The colour is often
polished away, though it still forms part of this wire’s name.

2. 
Galvanised Wire
Another way to
imbue wire with
its
initial,
or
additional
properties, is to
bond
it
with
another
metal.
There is a small
variety of metals
which are used
for this process,
although typically
zinc,
or
zinc
oxide, is used.
Galvanised Wire / Image Courtesy of D R Baling Wire Manufacturers
The Benefits of Galvanised Wire
Steel wire is still steel and, therefore, carries the same properties as the metal in other
forms. Steel is largely comprised of iron, which reacts quickly to oxygen and moisture.
It is known for its strength, but it is also highly susceptible to corrosion and rusting,
especially if it is exposed to the elements. Without any additional protection, the
resilience of steel requires additional layers of protection. This is precisely why it is
bonded with other metals.
Zinc is primarily used as a sort of coating as it resists corrosion from the
elements. When it forms the surface of metal and metal wire, it prevents the inner
metals from wearing down and corroding as a result of weather. This delay is often
necessary for many of the primary processes wire is asked to play in different
industries – not to mention that zinc is also famously scratch resistant.
The Galvanising Process
The galvanising process is more than a simple coating of one metal with
another. Although this can be useful for certain purposes (such as the plastic coating
around the wire of your shopping trolley), this does not provide steel wire with the
properties demanded for most industries.
Galvanising is rather a way of bonding two different metals to each other at elevated
temperatures. In this way, the only way to separate the two metals is to heat it back
to that point. To galvanise any piece of steel, whether it is wire, or a large building
sheet, it is submerged in a molten bath of zinc, or zinc oxide. As the metal is
submerged it does not just become coated, but rather the zinc actually forms a part of
the wire itself.
Interestingly, black annealed wire is commonly used in this “hot-dip” process as it can
be produced with precision, to ensure that it does not interfere with the galvanisation
process itself.

3. Industries That Use Galvanised Wire
Different industries use different wire. Although there is some overlap between
industries and preferred wires, there are a few norms. Galvanised wire is a favoured
choice of the waste management and recycling industries. One of the primary reasons
that galvanised wire would be chosen over black annealed wire within these industries
is the number of times a bale of waste products would need to be loaded and offloaded
between its first stop and its final ones. Galvanised wire is also preferred for bales that
are often stored outside, or for a long period, before moving to their final destination.
Another industry where galvanised wire is often selected over black annealed wire is
in places where hygiene is of the utmost importance. As uncoated metals are more
prone to carrying airborne diseases and also towards corrosion, galvanised wire is
usually selected for the baling and transport within the medical and healthcare
industries.
Different Forms of Galvanised Wire
Wire, whether it is black annealed or galvanised, is sold in different forms. The key
difference between these forms is the way the wire is bundled, or packaged, for sale,
rather than any inherent difference in the wire itself. Indeed, manufacturers are able
to supply most forms of wire with any tensile strength and a range of diameters. When
it comes to the sale of galvanised wire, there are two primary forms for sale.
Galvanised
Formers
These are rather large
coils of galvanised wire,
which are soldwith their
own stand. Formers are
designed for industrial
baling machines, so
precision is key. Without
it, baling machines could
malfunction, leading to a
loss of productivity at
best,
and
serious
concerns for health and
safety on top of that.
Galvanised Formers / Image Courtesy of D R Baling Wire Manufacturers
Cut and Looped Lengths – Pre-cut lengths of wire are sold as cut and looped lengths.
These are used for manual typing of bales. Sold as bundles, this form of galvanised
wire has one end, which is typically pre-looped to make it easier to tie and secure
without the use of a baling machine. However, these can also be sold as straight
lengths should a customer require it.
Galvanised wire has such a variety of uses. Its strength and resilience to corrosion is
so valuable within a number of different industries. However, the manufacture of
galvanised wire requires exceptionally specialised conditions, and not all wire
manufactures are able to complete the entire process themselves. With the amount of

4. precision demanded from wire, it is best to look for a manufacturer that handles it all
in-house. After all, the uses for wire may be varied, but the level of quality should not
be.
D R Baling Wire Manufacturers manufacture the highest quality
galvanised wire in the UK market, both in galvanised formers and in
cut and looped lengths form. All our baling wire products can be
tailored to your needs and delivered to your place within 24 hours.
So, why don’t you give us a call today on 01226 766775 or visit our
web page with our galvanised wire products to find out more about
us? www.drbalingwire.co.uk/galvanised-wire