The production of wire, cores and strands always starts with the drawing of wire rod, no matter if for LAN cables, power cables, circuit board electronics or flexible cables. Wire drawing is an ancient craft. But the processes used in industrial wire manufacturing in the digital age are, of course, worlds apart from the “Schockenzug” and “Leirenzug” drawing irons of the Middle Ages. Today it is ever smaller diameters, high tensile strength and flexibility that dictate requirements in terms of precision and quality – and therefore the requirements to be met by the drawing machines.