Abstract: A contacting head for making a wire connection, particularly an aluminum or gold wire connection on an integrated circuit by ultrasonic or thermocompression bonding, in which a contacting arm is provided with a concave contacting tool or a capillary, and supplies ultrasonic or heat energy. The concave contacting tool has a gripper, or the capillary has a wire clamping device for effecting a feed or clamping of the wire during movement of the contacting arm. A driving unit provides for threading the wire through a wire guiding device which is entirely enclosed, and through the concave contacting tool or the capillary. The driving unit also provides for controlling the wire tension and produces a gas stream in the enclosed wire guiding device. A magnetic arrangement with a permanent magnet and a non-ferrous core provides for electrodynamic contact pressure control of the contacting arm and for control of the gripper.