Abstract: An annealing apparatus for annealing metallic billets, particularly for use in annealing aluminum-containing billets, comprising at least two contact elements or contact discs made of electrically conducting material, the contact elements being connected to a voltage source so as to provide electric current flow through the billet as it passes between the two contact elements. The material of the contact elements is a light metal, normally aluminum or an aluminum-containing alloy, such that the contact element material is matched to the material of the billet and diffusion of the billet material into the contact element is substantially avoided.

Abstract: A process and device are disclosed for positioning the wire while the drum packs of a drum pack winding device are exchanged. Storage fingers are provided for retaining the wire windings around a winding core while the drum packs are exchanged. In order to avoid the falling of the collected windings into the empty drum pack from being obstructed due to the connection between said windings and the filled drum pack, a wire positioning device brings the hanging wire into a position located below the storage fingers, which position is well-suited for the changing of the drum packs. The wire is held in this position until the new drum pack is in the winding position. The wire positioning device is then brought back to its initial position and the wire can fall into the empty drum pack without any obstructions.