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Wire Forms Manufacturers and Companies

IQS Directory provides a comprehensive list of wire form manufacturers and suppliers. Use our website to review and source top wire form manufacturers with roll over ads and detailed product descriptions. Find wire form companies that can design, engineer, and manufacture wire forms to your companies specifications. Then contact the wire form companies through our quick and easy request for quote form. Website links, company profile, locations, phone, product videos and product information is provided for each company. Access customer reviews and keep up to date with product new articles. Whether you are looking for manufacturers of custom wire forms, round wire forms, or customized wire forms of every type, this is the resource for you.

  • Mystic, CT

    Acme Wire Products provides close tolerance wire fabrications using steel and stainless steel. Customized applications include a wide range of wire forms for many different applications. Acme works with wire from .050 to .500 diameter. Whether your application is simple or sophisticated, the team at Acme Wire Products can provide you with a part that meets your needs. Contact them today!

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  • McKees Rocks, PA

    CUSTOM "Spring & Wire Form Specialists" - Ace Wire Spring & Form incorporates the latest CNC equipment technology to manufacture compression, extension, torsion springs, complex wire forms, and spring assemblies. We offer consistent quality, lower costs, on-time deliveries, and Design Engineering Assistance. Range from prototypes to long production runs - Family owned & operated since 1939. Let ACE be your problem solver. ISO 9001 Certified, and ITAR Registered.

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  • Grand Rapids, MI

    Apex Spring & Stamping is a certified minority owned company that manufacturers springs, stampings, wire forms, clips, and fasteners. Our core industries include automotive, office furniture, medical, recreational, consumer goods, and appliances. We also specialize in value added assembly and prototyping. Our engineering team will ensure your part is both functional and cost-effective. IATF 16949 Certified.

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  • Onley, IL

    Illini Wire Works, Inc. stands as a distinguished leader in the realm of wire fabrication, providing unparalleled expertise in crafting custom wire forms and industrial fan guards. With a heritage of precision and innovation, we have become a trusted partner for clients seeking high-quality wire solutions tailored to their unique specifications. Illini Wire Works excels in the art of custom wire forms, turning raw wire into intricate shapes that precisely match design requirements.

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  • Geneva, IL

    Smith & Richardson, Inc. is a leading provider of precision machining services, offering an extensive range of capabilities including CNC Swiss machining, Wire EDM machining, vertical and horizontal machining, CNC milling, CNC turning, assembly services, and more. With a strong commitment to quality and innovation, we serve the medical, aerospace, casting, and automotive industries, delivering custom-engineered solutions that meet the highest standards of excellence.

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  • Franklin Park, IL

    At C & J Metal Products, we take pride in our expertise in the intricate world of wire forms. Our commitment is to transform high-quality wire materials into versatile, precision-engineered solutions that meet the diverse needs of our clients. From the initial design concept to the final product, we employ advanced manufacturing techniques to ensure every piece meets stringent standards of durability and performance.

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  • Canby, OR

    Here at Anderson Quality Spring Manufacturing, Inc., we take great pride in our position as a leading provider of wire forms, offering a comprehensive range of products, services, and capabilities to meet the diverse needs of our valued clientele. With our unwavering commitment to excellence and extensive expertise in wire forming technology, we stand ready to deliver innovative solutions that excel in quality, precision, and performance across various industries and applications.

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  • Xenia, OH

    Timac Spring Manufacturing is dedicated to customers’ needs for quality springs. On the latest CNC spring & wire forming machines, we handle prototypes or small orders to large runs of compression, extension, torsion & spiral torsion springs and more. Call us for your next spring or wire forming project.

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Wire Forms Industry Information

Wire Forms

Wire forms consist of various shapes and parts that have been fabricated through the manipulation of wire; wire forming techniques include anything that alters the shape of the wire, such as wire cutting, bending, or heat treating. Wire forming is used to create wire products of all shapes, sizes and dimensions, including both 2D and 3D.

Quick Links to Wire Form Information

Wire Form Products

Wire Displays
Can refer to many different wire forms, including wire grids, wire racks, wire shelves, and wire baskets. Wire grids, also known as wire grid panels, are frameworks of crisscrossed horizontal and vertical wires. Wire grids are very similar to both metal gratings and wire mesh, however, they work on a much larger scale than wire mesh. Also, unlike metal grating, which is usually made from metal bars, they are formed from wire. Wire racks and wire shelves are very similar to one another; they both protrude from the wall in order to create a flat wire surface used for storage.
Wire Basket
Wire cages that are useful for both display purposes as well as storage and protective devices.
Wire Hardware
Can refer to any number of wire forms that qualify as equipment, accessories, or tools. Most often though, this term refers to wire hooks and wire screens.
Wire Hooks
Simple constructions of bent wire that can be shaped as s-hooks, c-hooks, j-hooks, and more.
Wire Screens
More complex wire screens consist of thin metal wires woven in a crisscrossed horizontal and vertical pattern that form open yet protective barriers that allow limited material flow as filters or protective barriers.
Wire Guards
Also used for protection, wire guards are a class of their own and are used for two main purposes: to protect the operator of potentially dangerous equipment and to protect fragile equipment from hazardous conditions. Wire guards can include fan guards, finger guards, window or flooring guards, face guards, fixture guards and more.

Wire Form Applications

Vital to numerous applications, wire forms serve an extensive range of industries such as commercial and retail, medicine and healthcare, energy storage, maintenance, industrial washing, lighting, automotive, aerospace, construction, hardware, and storage. Below are brief descriptions of some wire form applications.

Automotive
An extensively used wire form in the automotive industry is the wire spring, which can be found in virtually any machine you come across. In vehicles, heavy springs, like the compression coil spring and volute spring, are widely used for suspension applications. More delicate springs, like torsion springs and tension springs, serve numerous purposes. A more specialized spring, a conical spring, has applications in the production of battery contacts.
Healthcare
In healthcare, stringent washing and sterilization procedures and standards are followed, and to comply with these standards, specialized equipment is employed. One piece of washing equipment is an ultrasonic washer; this comes with a metal basket (made from wire form). For proper functioning and longevity of washers, a basket is necessary as it holds the parts and keeps them away from transducers. In healthcare, wire forms are also used for gauged trays and hand-held pliers.
Household
Household items, such as music players, mouse traps, and hangers, use wire forms.
Electronics
Wire forms can be found in a range of electrical fittings. Antennas are wire forms. Similarly, spring mechanisms that facilitate opening and closing in many electrical appliances are wire forms.
Commercial and Retail
In commercial and retail industries, wire forms are used for product display. Point-of-purchase displays are the perfect example of this type of wire product. Similarly, wire racks and shelves are used for storing retail items and goods. Additionally, retail workers use wire guards to protect some equipment.
Construction and Hardware
Examples of wire form products used in construction and hardware include clips, wire hooks, springs and pins, wire hooks, and wire screens.

Wire Form History

The use of wire and wire forms spans centuries. Originally, people manually manipulated wire to create their wire products. The most common wire product of antiquity was jewelry, and while this tradition is carried on today by some artisans, it is only ever done on a small-scale.

In the second half of the 17th century, wire forming boosted with the introduction of the first wire mill in Great Britain. Once this mill was built, others were quickly constructed. In this time period, manufacturing processes continued to evolve, with more and more methods of fabricating wire forms.

A more recent development in wire forming processes is the use of computer numeric control (CNC) machines. CNC machines are able to program wire forming machines to perform operations automatically. Once programmed, automated wire forming machines are capable of continuously fabricating wire parts or complete wire forms, depending on the complexity of the wire form design. CNC machines ensure a higher level of precision, as manually operated machinery allows for a higher level of error and contamination.

Wire Form Materials

Manufacturers can fabricate wire forms from a wide variety of materials, including steel, stainless steel, brass, copper, aluminum, and countless alloys. The most common material used in wire forming is steel.

Steel
An alloy, made up primarily of iron and carbon. It is fairly inexpensive and known for its high tensile strength. Sometimes, it’s known as carbon steel.
Stainless Steel
A steel alloy. It is strong, lightweight, corrosion resistant, rust resistant, and antibacterial; it’s available in 15 different grades.
Brass
Considered to be an aesthetic alloy; it has a gold-like shine. It is relatively resistant to tarnishing, and it is a good thermal conductor.
Copper
A naturally occurring element with a reddish tint. It works well in a variety of temperatures and resists rust when exposed to water. It’s also an excellent conductor of heat and electricity.
Aluminum
Has good corrosion resistance, rust resistance, heat resistance, strength, and durability.

Wire Form Fabrication

Wire Selection
First, the type of wire best for the application must be selected.
Wire Straightening
Typically, wire forming starts with straightening wire; the output is in the form of a coil weighing anywhere from 5 pounds to 5,000 pounds.
In the straightening stage, stress disfigurations that are accumulated in the wire are removed. There are essentially two types of stress; one is avoidable and the other is unavoidable. For high-quality wire forms, most avoidable stresses do not occur within processing. However, wire manufacturers can do very little to mitigate unavoidable stresses. The most common method of stress avoidance is machine rolling, where rolls are adjusted either by an operator or by machines. Sometimes, manufacturers employ a rotary arbor to straighten the wires.
The wire straightening stage is very important, as any aberrations left at this stage will lead to faulty products. Therefore, only high-quality mill products should be selected and identified. The helix and camber of the wire should be consistent and are considered critical.
Application of Force
To produce wire forms, varying degrees of force (either manual or machine-made) is applied to wire, which changes the shape of the wire. The wire, depending on its intended application, can be hexagonal, triangular, round, oval, square, flat and even elliptical and D-shaped.
The simplest method for shaping wire involves a hand-held lever and spindle. Other methods involve use of mechanized machines, such as hydraulic presses and benders with dies as well as air benders.
For-high volume production, alternatives include four-slide machines and the modern computer numerical control (CNC) benders. CNC wire forming allows manufacturers to easily fabricate pre-programmed parts in three dimensions.
Finishing/Secondary Operations
To ensure the finished product is free from burrs or sharp edges, manufacturers finish wire forming with an array of secondary operations, such as cutting, stamping, forming, heading, and coining.

Wire Form Design

When deciding upon wire form design and fabrication method, manufacturers consider several factors:

  • Volume Required (Large or Small)
  • Tolerance Value Required
  • Mechanical and Chemical Characteristics
  • Configuration of the Design
  • Intended Application

In selecting a desired wire form, these factors should be considered for both the end-product and the application of the product.

Two other things that manufacturers think about during design are wire form ends and wire form interior geometries. Machines make both wire form ends and interior geometries according to their intended use. The following are some of the most common ends and interior geometries that manufacturers choose.

Machine Cut End
This is a simple straight cut made by a machine die, such as a guillotine knife. The burrs in the cut are miniscule (0.13mm) and cannot be observed by the naked eye. Therefore, they are acceptable for most manufacturing applications.
Chamfered End
When burrs created during machine cuts are unacceptable for safety purposes, the end is deburred by grinding the edges off. With this cut, the wire is contoured marginally, just enough to remove sharp edges, using a machine such as a lathe.
Winging
This geometrical shape is also called swaging. To achieve a wing-type shape on a wire, a die is pressed on the wire and carves the wire by displacing the metal.
Pierced Swaging
Pierced swaging is a two-step process. First, the wire is pressed to give it a swaging shape, then a hole is pierced through the metal at the center.
Custom-Shaped Hole
This process is the same as pierced swaging, however, a custom hole is made at the end. First, the end is pressed by a die to carve and displace the material. In the second step, a custom die punctures the material to form a custom hole.
Chisel Point and Turned End
To get this shape, a die removes metal in a punch operation. The approach is considered coarse but is quite an effective method. Similarly, a turned end can be made. Diagonals are removed as the punch is made in a jagged manner.
Ball End
The ball end cannot be achieved with the use of a die. Instead, a lathe is typically employed. The process makes the end smooth with no edges.
Groove
A lathe is utilized for a groove. A groove in the wire is used for holding a retaining ring.
Cold Heading
This process involves a couple of gripping dies. The first die grips the wire tightly, so the wire can withstand the next fairly rigorous die action. As the first die holds the wire, the die smashes the gripped wire, which results in either a flat or round head. The button heading, carriage heading, and collar heading are made using this method.
Manufacturers can make custom wire forms that reflect any and all of your requirements. They can, for example, add a powder coating to protect your wire form or enhance it aesthetically. They can also create custom assemblies with different shapes, sizes and dimensions. They can work with virtually any wire diameter. In order to create the perfect custom wire fabrications, manufacturers turn to a variety of secondary services, such as nickel plating, painting, anodizing, and powder coating.

Machinery Used in Wire Form Fabrication

Manual Lever
Use of a hand-held lever and spindle is the oldest and most common method of wire form fabrication. Using this method, a professional manually bends wire around a past and an anvil—a solid iron block with concave sides and a flat top.
Machine with Preset Pins
Some wire forming equipment comes with preset pins for various bending operations. Machines such as these reflect some of the earliest attempts at semi-automated forming techniques. Technically, however, machines with preset pins still require manual bending. So, while this machine is more efficient than manual production, it still results in a variety of inconsistencies.
Hydraulic Systems
Another common method for wire form development involves a press and dies with a hopper. In this method, a resource manually loads material onto the die by moving wire from a straightening machine. The rest of the work is done by the hydraulic press under supervision of an operator. The straightening of the wire is a critical step wherein stresses that accumulated during the wiring process are removed. This step ensures the wire is consistent in its properties. With the development of technology, the hydraulic method has become an alternative to manual feeding. Pick-and-place robots are installed to eliminate the need for manually moving wires from the straightening machine.
Fourslide Machines
As an alternative to hydraulic presses, manufacturers utilize fourslide machines. These highly versatile machines, which also make stampings, work on a single work piece from four sides. This increases the production speed. Close to 3,500 simple wire forms can be made per hour. Modern fourslide machines come with multi purpose dies, so the production turnaround can be improved even further.
CNC Wire Bending Machines
The most advanced method of wire bending includes computer numerically controlled (CNC) machines, which have two-dimensional or three-dimensional bending abilities. The versatility of CNC wire forming is unparalleled, as in less than an hour, these machines can change from one project to another. These machines are especially useful in producing custom wire forms, as design, configuration and dimension can be pre-programmed easily in comparison to other methods.

Wire Forming Processes

To reach the variety of wire forms available, there are numerous wire forming processes; the most common of which include coil making, roll forming, metal stamping, and welding.

Coil Making
Also referred to as spring making or coil winding, is the process of winding wires around mandrels, or metal blanks, in order to create coils.
Roll Forming
As a less part-specific process, roll forming is used to produce flat, round, and shaped wire parts. A continuous process, roll forming uses calendars and die punches to shape the wire.
Metal Stamping
Another major wire forming process is metal stamping. Wire is precisely shaped into various forms through the use of a stamping press. A couple different methods of metal stamping are used for wire forms, including fourslide stamping and deep drawn stamping. During fourslide stamping, also referred to as multislide stamping, manufacturers use a metal stamp press with four horizontal forming slides to allow for forming in multiple directions. Deep drawing, on the other hand, gives a deeper depth to the wire form than is possible with other wire forming processes.
Welding
Can refer to various spot or seam welding processes, such as electric resistance welding (ERW), metal inert gas (MIG) welding, or tungsten inert gas (TIG) welding. ERW utilizes an electric current and the application of mechanical pressure to weld wire. As types of ERW, MIG and TIG also utilize inert gases to reduce any contamination; while TIG welding is the most accurate type, it is much more complex and requires a very skilled operator as well as longer production times, so MIG welding is often used instead. Weaving may also be used in order to create wire forms such as screens, grids or guards.

Things to Consider When Purchasing Wire Form

When you’re considering a wire form purchase, we recommend that you seek out a custom manufacturer. This is because custom wire form manufacturers can offer you the most in-depth and specialized options. However, it’s important that you look not only at a company’s capabilities, but also its customer service record. The most skilled manufacturing company is of no use to you if its staff does not work well with customers.

In addition, if you have a particularly complicated request, ask for prototype work. This way, you and your manufacturer can ensure you’re on the same page before you make a large investment.

To find the right manufacturer, check out the companies we have listed above. Every manufacturer we work with creates high quality work. Reach out to one or more to find out what they can do for you!

Wire Form Images, Diagrams and Visual Concepts

Wire Bending Products
Wire bending process, wire can be shaped into unlimited configurations to fit any application.
Wire Basket
Wire baskets are made from a series of wires woven together or welded to form a shape of a basket.
Wire Rack
Wire racks are made from the wire forming process of acquiring a wire, from either a blank length or spooled coil, and bending it into definite forms.
Wire Bending
Wire bending produces a wide array of shapes and configurations and creates no scrap or waste sicne the wire is bent before cutting..
CNC Wire Bender
CNC bending is an abbreviation for “computer numerical controlled” bending are extremely accurate.
Manual Wire Bending Machine
Hand machines, which features a spindle and hand lever may be rotary die or drawn and have gears that increase the facilitated bending pressure.
Spring Coil Winding
Coil wire forming, involves winding wire around a metal blank which takes different forms depending on the final product.

Wire Form Types

Coil
Wire wound into rings or spirals.
Flat Springs
Flat or curved pieces of steel shaped into a coil; flat springs have a nearly constant force.
Medical Wire Forms
Used primarily in orthopedic and prosthetic devices, and they provide a positive closure.
S Hooks
Wire hooks used to connect or hang components.
Spring Washers
Springs that store the energy used to tighten the nut or bolt they are under.
Springs
Coiled material that deflect when load is applied. Removing the load will cause the spring to return to its previous position.
Wire Baskets
Used in various industries to store and display products.
Wire Displays
Often used to display books, food, clothing, and other products. Wire displays can be custom designed for manufacturer needs and desires.
Wire Fabrications
Include various forms of wire that can meet a wide range of needs.
Wire Forming
Refers to numerous processes that manipulate wire into various shapes, referred to as wire forms.
Wire Grids
Also referred to as wire grid panels, are frameworks of crisscrossed horizontal and vertical wires.
Wire Guards
Protective equipment used to shield various parts and machinery from damage.
Wire Hooks
Curved pieces of metal used to hold things.
Wire Parts
Commonly referred to as wire forms, are formed from wire that has been manipulated into a specific shape or design.
Wire Products
Consist of a wide variety of shapes and items composed of wire.
Wire Racks
Available in various materials and are used in many retail situations, including those dealing with food and clothing.
Wire Screens
Thin metal wires woven in a crisscrossed horizontal and vertical pattern to form open yet protective barriers.
Wire Shelves
Produced for both industrial and consumer use because they are versatile and sturdy with a variety of load strengths and wire densities.

Wire Form Terms

Active Coils
Coils that freely deflect when under a load.
Closed Ends
The ends of the coils touch because the pitch end is reduced on a compression spring.
CNC (Computer Numerical Control)
Machines with a computer memory, often used in manufacturing and production of wire forms.
Deflection
The motion of the spring arms or ends during the application or removal of the burden.
Elastic Limit
The strain and manipulation a material can endure without a lasting effect.
Fine Blanking
A technique of precision blanking in which the material is cut smoothly and accurately without the need for secondary operations.
Free Angle
The slope between the torsion spring arms at the unloaded position for the spring wire form.
Gauge
The measurement of the thickness of a wire used in wire forms.
Helix
In open or closed forms, the spiral shape of the spring.
Hooks
The open ends of extension springs.
Hysteresis
Lost mechanical energy during a spring's cyclic loading and unloading.
Hysteresis is relative to the space among the loading and unloading deflection curves.
Load
Applied force that causes deflection with a spring.
Multislide Stamping
Stamping or forming from multiple directions in pieces and segments.
Pitch
In the wire of active coils, the measure of the distance from the center of one adjacent active coil to another.
Rate (R)
The modification in load for each unit deflection, typically expressed in pounds per inch (N/mm).
Rod Bending
A broad term that applies to forming machine tools that assemble bends on any workpiece. Rod bending tools range from small, handheld devices to automated machines.
Set
Permanent deformation that happens from the stressing of a spring past the material's elastic limit.
Spring Index
The ratio of mean coil diameter to wire diameter.
Stress Relief
Exposing a spring to a treatment of low heat, which results in the reduction of residual stresses.
Torque
Equation measurement of torsion spring's twisting action relative to the distance from the axis of the spring body.
Wire Forming
The forming of wire forms.
Wire
A single, flexible, cylindrical rod or strand of metal created via the metalworking process known as drawing. It can be made in a variety of materials and thicknesses; wire is highly useful and is used to create countless parts and products.


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ARTICLES AND PRESS RELEASES

U.S. Senator Murphy Visits Mystic Manufacturer

On March 18, 2014, US Senator Chris Murphy visited Acme Wire Products in Mystic, CT to discuss his Manufacturing Compact with SECT manufacturers, technical educators and economic development committee members.  The meeting was coordinated by EAMA, the Eastern Advanced Manufacturing Alliance.  Senator Murphy has been meeting manufacturers throughout Connecticut to review proposals he is presenting to Congress and to solicit feedback and also to learn about the concerns and needs of manufacturers in each district.  Acme Wire Products hosted the meeting for the eastern CT manufacturers. Senator Murphy views... Read More About This