The drum twister is one of the preferred cable equipment for stranding large-length, large-cross-section power cables and Milliken conductors. With its high productivity (≥30 m/min), large cross section (take-up bobbin up to 4000 mm), and the unique advantage of flexible back-twist / non-back-twist switching, it has long been a mainstay for leading cable manufacturers. Against the backdrop of grid upgrades and the increasing ampacity demands of new energy equipment, conventional planetary stranding machines or tubular stranding machines are showing clear limitations in speed and bobbin diameter. The drum twister, however, remains a highly efficient and stable solution.
What can a drum twister do?
A drum twister is a multi-functional wire and cable machinery for large-cross-section conductor stranding, armoring, and shielding. It supports complex stranding configurations such as 3-core, 4+1-core, etc., and is also suitable for steel wire/steel tape armoring, copper wire/copper tape shielding. Unlike ordinary cage stranding machines, its take-up bobbin can reach up to 4000 mm, and its speed exceeds 30 m/min, making it especially suitable for heavy-duty, large-batch cable production. In simple terms: for extra-large cross-section, extra-long length cables that ordinary wire and cable equipment cannot handle, the drum twister gets the job done with ease.
How does the LINT TOP drum twister solve the back-twist problem?
The LINT TOP drum twister supports both back-twist and non-back-twist modes, and can be flexibly switched before production. The pay-off bobbin can either rotate synchronously with the take-up stand (achieving back-twist, avoiding torsional stress in the conductor) or be fixed in place (achieving non-back-twist, maintaining stable stranding lay length). This design is especially critical for Milliken conductors: because sector conductors require extremely high roundness accuracy, the back-twist mode effectively prevents individual wires from twisting and deforming, thus ensuring the electrical performance and bending life of the finished cable.
What specifications do you offer?
LINT TOP offer a range of specifications from 2000 mm to 3600 mm. Among these, models of 3150 mm and above already cover the production requirements for ultra-high-voltage large-cross-section sector conductors. This is nearly double the size of ordinary stranding equipment (typically ≤2500 mm), meaning fewer joints and higher installation reliability.
Is the drum twister easy to operate and maintain?
Very easy. Our equipment uses a separate-motor drive mode + touch screen + PLC control, with all parameters settable or modifiable online. The operator simply enters values such as lay length, rotational speed, and tension on the screen, and the PLC automatically calculates and maintains the optimal match. More importantly, when a fault occurs, the touch screen directly displays the fault type and likely location. Maintenance personnel no longer need to check point by point; typical fault handling time can be reduced by more than 50%.
Flexible configuration: from wrapping to armoring in one step
Different cable standards often require additional tape wrapping, filling, or armoring layers. Our drum twister can be equipped, according to customer requirements, with the following functional modules:
● Metal/non-metal wrapping devices (e.g., mica tape, polyester tape, water-blocking tape)
● Steel wire armoring device (suitable for mining cables, submarine cables)
● Filling and longitudinal taping devices (for round filling or aluminum-plastic composite tape longitudinal wrapping)
This modular design allows one machine to simultaneously complete stranding, wrapping, and armoring processes, reducing production line floor space and material handling, and improving capital efficiency.
Forward-looking prediction (development trends of drum twisters in the next 2–3 years)
1. Full-process intelligent integration: No longer just stand-alone PLC control, but integration with the factory MES system – automatically obtaining process work orders, real-time uploading of energy consumption and production data, predictive maintenance alerts. AI algorithms will automatically recommend optimal stranding parameters based on historical data.
2. More efficient energy-saving drives: Upgrading separate-motor drives to permanent-magnet synchronous motors + common DC bus technology, reducing overall energy consumption by another 15–20%, while lowering noise and heat generation.
3. Modular quick changeover: For small-batch, multi-variety orders, future drum twisters will support rapid replacement of wrapping heads, armoring heads, etc., reducing changeover time from several hours to less than 30 minutes.
Want to know which drum twister model suits your cable specifications? Please contact our engineering team directly with your core count, single wire diameter, finished stranding outer diameter, and target production capacity. We will provide a preliminary solution within 24 hours. On-site trial runs and customer factory visits can also be arranged.
Let stranding no longer be a production bottleneck – start with a high-precision, high-intelligence drum twister.