With the high value placed on copper for use in industrial applications and growing concerns about the theft of copper wires and strands, electrical products supplier ARB Electrical Wholesalers’ Copperweld range of bimetallic earth-wire and strands products are becoming increasingly popular, says sales representative Scott Williamson.

He tells Mining Weekly that ARB is the exclusive distributor of the Copperweld range in the Southern African Development Community region and notes that, currently, the product is mostly used by municipalities across Africa.

Williamson adds, however, that mining and petrochemicals companies have also expressed interest in the product range, owing to widespread copper cable theft at mines.

Meanwhile, he points out that the product is already in use in several African countries.

In South Africa, several local munici- palities are using the product, including the eThekwini municipality, in KwaZulu-Natal; the City of Johannesburg metropolitan municipality, in Gauteng; and the Cape Town metropolitan municipality, in the Western Cape.

Theft Deterrent
Copperweld comprises copper and steel materials that have been cladded together.

“The copper is, therefore, bonded to the steel on a molecular level to ensure the metals are bonded together and become inseparable,” explains ARB divisional manager Dave Muller.

He points out that the inability to separate the copper from the steel ensures that its scrap value is significantly reduced, as the copper cannot be extracted from the wire, which, therefore, significantly reduces the risk of cable theft.

“The scrap value for copper is about R70/kg, while the value of steel wire and mixed-metal wire scrap is about R2/kg,” says Muller.

He adds that, although steel is not as conductive as copper, the ratio of steel to copper in the Copperweld range ensures that it has the same levels of conductivity.

“The electrical integrity of the wires is not comprised through use of the steel,” he emphasises.

Muller also mentions that Copperweld complies with the local standard, 102:2014, of the National Rationalised Specifications, or NRS, for theft deterrent earthing materials.

“The materials recommended in this specification meet the technical requirements for earthing, yet essentially possess no scrap value and are intended to dramatically curb theft, thereby ensuring the safety of people and equipment, as well as network reliability,” he points out.