Smooth wire rod — also referred to as wire rod steel, plain wire rod, hot rolled wire rod or wire rod coil — is a continuously hot rolled semi-finished steel product supplied in coils, characterised by its circular cross-section and smooth (non-ribbed) surface. As the primary feedstock for the entire wire and wire products industry, wire rod is one of the most widely consumed steel product forms globally. ULAMEX supplies smooth wire rod manufactured to EN 10017 in diameters from 5.5 mm to 16 mm, produced from low carbon structural steel grade S235JR (1.0038) per EN 10025-2. Wire rod is delivered in coils weighing 1,000 to 2,500 kg, available for dispatch from our European warehouse for industrial-scale processing operations.
Material Grades and Standards
Our wire rod is manufactured from low carbon steel conforming to EN 10025-2, the European standard for non-alloy structural steels. The standard grade supplied is:
- S235JR (material number 1.0038) — minimum yield strength of 235 MPa, tensile strength 360–510 MPa, and guaranteed Charpy V-notch impact energy of 27 J at +20°C. The low carbon content (maximum 0.20% C) of S235JR makes it particularly suitable for wire rod applications, as it provides the ductility and cold formability essential for wire drawing, cold heading and other downstream forming processes. Formerly designated St37-2 (DIN 17100) and broadly equivalent to ASTM A510 Grade 1018/1020 for wire rod applications.
The low carbon equivalent (CEV) of S235JR ensures excellent cold deformability — a critical property for wire rod that undergoes significant cross-sectional reduction during drawing. The material’s combination of moderate strength and high elongation (≥26%) provides the ideal balance for cold working operations where the wire must pass through multiple drawing dies without fracture or surface defects.
All wire rod is produced in compliance with EN 10017 (Steel rod for drawing and/or cold rolling — dimensions and tolerances), which defines the product form, dimensional tolerances on diameter, ovality and coil dimensions. The manufacturing norm references EN 10025-2 for mechanical properties and chemical composition. For wire rod intended for specific downstream applications such as spring wire, cold heading wire or welding wire, dedicated wire rod grades per EN 10016 are available on request.
Dimensions and Specifications
ULAMEX stocks smooth wire rod in the following standard diameters per EN 10017:
- 5.5 mm — approx. 0.187 kg/m — the most widely used wire rod diameter globally, serving as feedstock for the production of fine wire, nails, staples and light-gauge fencing wire
- 6.0 mm — approx. 0.222 kg/m
- 6.5 mm — approx. 0.260 kg/m
- 7.0 mm — approx. 0.302 kg/m
- 8.0 mm — approx. 0.395 kg/m — commonly used for nail production, mesh manufacturing and medium-gauge wire drawing
- 9.0 mm — approx. 0.499 kg/m
- 10.0 mm — approx. 0.617 kg/m — a standard feedstock diameter for bolt and screw cold heading, barbed wire and agricultural fencing
- 11.0 mm — approx. 0.746 kg/m
- 12.0 mm — approx. 0.888 kg/m
- 13.0 mm — approx. 1.042 kg/m
- 14.0 mm — approx. 1.208 kg/m
- 16.0 mm — approx. 1.578 kg/m — used for heavy-duty fastener manufacturing, chain production and thick-gauge spring wire
Mass-per-metre values are calculated based on a steel density of 7,850 kg/m³ and nominal diameter. Wire rod is supplied in coils (rings) with a typical coil weight of 1,000 to 2,500 kg, depending on diameter and production lot. Coil inner diameter is typically 850–900 mm, outer diameter approximately 1,100–1,250 mm. Dimensional tolerances on diameter and ovality conform to EN 10017 requirements. The smooth, non-ribbed surface profile distinguishes this product from reinforcing steel wire rod (ribbed rebar coil), which is a separate product category.
Applications of Smooth Wire Rod
Wire rod serves as the universal starting material for one of the largest and most diverse downstream product chains in the steel industry. The smooth surface and controlled chemical composition of low carbon wire rod enable a vast range of cold forming, drawing and manufacturing processes:
- Wire drawing — the primary application of smooth wire rod. In the wire drawing process, rod is pulled through a series of progressively smaller tungsten carbide or diamond dies to reduce diameter and increase tensile strength through work hardening. Starting from wire rod in 5.5–16 mm diameter, drawn wire can be produced in gauges from 0.15 mm to 12 mm, serving industries from electronics to heavy construction. Multi-pass drawing with intermediate annealing allows area reductions exceeding 90%.
- Fastener manufacturing (cold heading) — wire rod in the 8–16 mm range is the primary feedstock for cold heading production of bolts, screws, nuts, rivets and specialised fasteners. The low carbon content of S235JR provides the ductility required for the severe cold upsetting deformations involved in heading operations. Wire rod is typically drawn to the final shank diameter before heading.
- Nail and staple production — wire rod in 5.5–8 mm diameter is drawn, pointed and headed to produce construction nails, roofing nails, concrete nails, wire staples and brads. The smooth surface of the rod ensures consistent feeding through high-speed nail-making machines.
- Fencing wire and barbed wire — smooth wire rod serves as feedstock for the production of plain fencing wire, barbed wire, chain-link mesh fabric and agricultural fencing systems. After drawing to the required gauge (typically 2.0–4.0 mm), the wire is galvanised (zinc-coated) for outdoor corrosion protection.
- Welded mesh and reinforcing fabric — wire rod is drawn and then resistance-welded into mesh panels and reinforcing fabric for concrete applications in construction. Standard mesh panels use drawn wire in 4–12 mm diameter in both longitudinal and transverse directions.
- Spring wire production — low carbon wire rod provides the starting material for the manufacture of low-stress springs, form springs, mattress springs, upholstery springs and industrial vibration isolators. After drawing and heat treatment (patenting and tempering), spring wire achieves the specific tensile strength and fatigue resistance required for cyclic loading applications.
- Chain and link production — wire rod in 8–16 mm diameter is formed into chain links for industrial chains, lifting chains (after upgrade to higher-grade feedstock), decorative chains and snow chains. The ductility of S235JR wire rod permits the tight bend radii required in chain link forming without cracking.
- Wire rope and strand — drawn wire from smooth rod is stranded and closed into wire ropes for lifting, rigging, suspension bridges, cable barriers and architectural cable applications. Wire rope manufacturing requires consistent wire rod quality with controlled surface condition and uniform mechanical properties along the entire coil length.
Technical Properties
Hot rolled smooth wire rod in grade S235JR offers the combination of moderate strength, high ductility and excellent cold formability that makes it the universal feedstock for the wire industry. The hot rolling process produces a thin mill scale layer that is typically removed during the pickling (acid descaling) step before wire drawing or cold heading.
Key mechanical properties of wire rod in as-rolled condition:
- Tensile strength: 360–510 MPa (as-rolled); increases to 500–1,200 MPa after cold drawing, depending on area reduction
- Yield strength: ≥235 MPa (as-rolled)
- Elongation: ≥26% (as-rolled); decreases with increasing cold work
- Reduction of area: typically 55–65% (as-rolled), indicating excellent cold drawability
The low carbon chemistry (C ≤0.20%, Mn ≤1.40%) ensures that wire rod can tolerate high degrees of cold deformation without intermediate annealing in many applications. For severe drawing reductions (area reduction >70% in a single drawing sequence), intermediate stress-relief annealing at 550–650°C is recommended to restore ductility and prevent drawing breaks.
Wire rod surface condition is critical for downstream processing. Our wire rod is supplied with a uniform, thin mill scale suitable for mechanical descaling or acid pickling. Surface defects such as laps, seams, slivers and rolled-in scale are controlled through mill quality systems to ensure trouble-free drawing performance. Physical properties: density 7,850 kg/m³, modulus of elasticity 210,000 MPa, thermal expansion coefficient approximately 12 × 10⁻⁶ /K.
Quality and Certification
As an EN 1090 certified steel distributor with ISO 3834-2 quality management, ULAMEX ensures full compliance with European product standards for wire rod. Every coil delivery can be accompanied by a mill test certificate 3.1 per EN 10204, documenting chemical composition (C, Mn, Si, P, S content), mechanical test results, heat number and coil identification — essential documentation for wire rod processors maintaining quality traceability through their own production chain.
Our quality assurance covers incoming goods inspection including visual surface assessment, proper undercover storage to prevent moisture damage and oxidation, and complete lot traceability from steel mill to customer delivery. Consistent wire rod quality from established European mills ensures reliable downstream processing performance in high-speed drawing and cold heading operations.
Ordering and Delivery
ULAMEX maintains warehouse stock of smooth wire rod in all standard diameters from 5.5 mm to 16 mm in grade S235JR. Wire rod is supplied exclusively in coils with typical weights of 1,000–2,500 kg per coil. Minimum order quantities typically correspond to full coils or multiples thereof, reflecting the industrial-scale nature of wire rod consumption.
As a steel bar and wire rod wholesale supplier with over 35 years of experience in the European steel market, we offer competitive wholesale pricing for regular supply contracts, annual volume agreements and spot purchases. Delivery is available across Europe, with particularly fast transit times to the DACH region (Germany, Austria, Switzerland), United Kingdom, Scandinavia, and Benelux countries. Coils can be transported on standard flatbed trucks, with strapping and dunnage to prevent transit damage.
Whether you need a trial quantity for a new drawing line commissioning or a continuous monthly supply for large-scale fastener production, ULAMEX provides reliable wire rod supply with consistent quality and complete documentation.
Browse our full steel rods and bars catalogue including round bars, flat bars, square bars and hexagonal bars, or contact our sales team for a tailored quotation on smooth wire rod for your processing operations.