Unison Becomes Official Tube Bending Partner of the AFRC

Unison Ltd, a UK-based manufacturer of tube and pipe bending machines and inventor of precision all-electric tube manipulation, has joined the University of Strathclyde’s Advanced Forming Research Centre (AFRC). 

A specialist centre within the National Manufacturing Institute Scotland (NMIS), the AFRC provides member organisations with access to advanced equipment and technical expertise covering manufacturing, material behaviour and processing. 

As the only tube bending machinery manufacturer within the AFRC, Unison will provide specialist consultancy and technical support across tube manipulation processes, while contributing to collaborative research projects. 

“We’re delighted to have been invited to join the AFRC,” comments Unison joint managing director Alan Pickering. “Our tier-two membership will enable us to support even more of the world’s leading companies with their tube manipulation, wire and end-forming challenges. At the same time, we look forward to utilising the AFRC’s technical forming and modelling expertise to assist in developing several new tube forming technologies currently in the pipeline, particularly for the aerospace sector.” 

AFRC director Brad Wynne adds: “As the UK’s leading manufacturer of ultra-precise tube-bending machinery, Unison will work with us to extend our research into rotary draw tube bending. We envisage that initial projects will explore areas such as tooling, process modelling, physical trials and material analysis, helping unlock rotary draw bending for higher-integrity applications across defence, aerospace, energy and other advanced manufacturing sectors.” 

Tracy McCarroll, head of membership and strategic relations at NMIS, says the partnership will also provide opportunities to combine Unison’s expertise and equipment with the capabilities of other AFRC members: “We look forward to involving Unison in suitable R&D proposals that would benefit from their considerable knowledge and input.” 

More information www.unisonltd.com 

Sielaff Continues Investing with Another RAS Multibend-Center

The coffee machine in the office, the snack vending machine at the train station or the bottle reverse vending system at the supermarket: Sielaff machines form part of everyday life more often than many people realise. 

Since 1886, Sielaff has been developing and manufacturing vending machines that have become an integral part of daily living. For the production of its precise enclosures, the company has relied on RAS machines for many years. With another RAS Multibend-Center, this successful partnership continues. 

Final acceptance of the latest Multibend-Center took place at the RAS facility in Sindelfingen. Together with the Sielaff team, demonstration parts were inspected and the machine was thoroughly tested. 

During final acceptance procedures at RAS, all important functions and processes are carefully checked. The aim is not only to ensure that the machine operates reliably. It is equally important that the manufactured components meet customer standards and can be safely integrated into existing production processes. 

This was not the first joint acceptance for Sielaff and RAS. The long-standing partnership between the two manufacturing companies stands for mutual trust, technical expertise and a shared commitment to quality. 

For RAS, final acceptance is more than a formality. It is an important part of the company’s commitment to quality. After all, when high-quality vending machines are built for everyday use, every detail matters. 

RAS thanks Sielaff for its long-standing trust and successful collaboration. The company now looks forward to the next projects involving Sielaff. 

More information www.ras-online.de/en

Clad4orm Builds on Quality and Uptime with SafanDarley

For Clad4orm, production reliability is not a luxury; it is the foundation of the business. Based near Chester, the company designs and manufactures roof and wall cladding products, supplying the roofing, cladding and wider construction sectors nationwide. 

As production has grown, so has the need for reliable machinery and consistent output. Today, Clad4orm operates six SafanDarley machines across four production lines: two E-Brake 3 m/100 T press brakes and four M-Shear M310-6 guillotine shears. Each line combines a shear with a press brake, creating a structured workflow that helps minimise bottlenecks and maintain predictable output. 

Uptime is particularly important because delays in production can have a direct impact on installation schedules. For Clad4orm, the durability and consistent performance of the SafanDarley machines provide the reliability needed to keep production moving. 

The original investment was driven by machine quality, but the relationship has developed through more than machinery alone. Proven durability, high service levels, fast support and a relationship built on trust have all contributed to SafanDarley remaining Clad4orm’s preferred supplier. 

This factor is particularly important for the company’s bespoke flashing and fabrication work, where precision and repeatability are essential. E-Brake press brakes provide the control and consistency required to produce high-quality custom components. 

With further projects and innovations planned, Clad4orm is also preparing for increased production capacity. Additional investment with SafanDarley is already being considered, reinforcing the long-term partnership between the two companies. 

For Clad4orm, the approach is straightforward: maintain the same standards and reliability while scaling production to meet future demand. When uptime matters, investing in machinery that simply keeps working makes sound business sense. 

More information www.safandarley.com 

Claas Mmbraces Bending Automation in Agricultural Machinery

Claas is using automation not only in its state-of-the-art forage harvesters, but also in manufacturing, where two Trumpf bending machines are helping the company improve flexibility, ergonomics and productivity. 

At its Bad Saulgau site, Claas produces components for harvesting machinery and forage-harvester attachments in lot sizes of 50 to 200. Parts range from simple bends to complex components with up to 13 bends, often requiring tolerances of just ±0.25°. 

“Automation should not be an end in itself,” says Marco Schwab, head of sheet metal Processing at Claas in Bad Saulgau. “It has to be a good fit for our components, our lot sizes and, above all, our employees.” 

The company replaced an older press brake with a Trumpf TruBend 5000 featuring the ToolMaster automatic tool changer. This technology eliminates the physical strain associated with repeatedly handling tools up to 3 m long, while also removing a previous production bottleneck. Claas can now manufacture large components in parallel on two machines, improving planning flexibility. 

The bigger step towards automation came with a TruBend 7050 equipped with Trumpf’s FlexCell. The flexible, retrofittable system can be connected or disconnected in just a few steps, allowing the machine to operate as either an automated bending cell or manual press brake. 

This flexibility enables Claas to process larger batches automatically, including unattended production during off-peak and night shifts, while retaining manual operation for complex parts or short-notice capacity requirements. 

The investment has also delivered financial benefits. With the TruBend 5000, Claas has reduced production from three shifts to two. Further automation projects are already being evaluated, demonstrating the company’s pragmatic approach to adopting technology where it improves productivity, quality and working conditions. 

More information www.trumpf.com 

Double-Sheet Sensors Bring Protection to Metal Forming 

In metal forming, feeding two sheets into a press instead of one can cause severe tool damage and costly downtime. Historically, double-sheet detection has often been associated with complex and expensive systems designed for high-volume automotive production. Contrinex is changing that with its smart double-sheet sensors, combining affordability with the flexibility required by modern manufacturing. 

Based on the company’s smart measurement technology, the sensors can be reconfigured to detect different metal types and sheet thicknesses, enabling manufacturers to process materials ranging from steel to aluminium without changing sensors. 

Configuration is equally flexible. Using the PocketCodr configurator and dedicated mobile app, technicians can enter the sheet material and thickness and set switching points within minutes, without programming. This approach is suitable where production involves consistent materials and rapid set up is necessary. 

Alternatively, the latest sensor version can be configured directly via any IO-Link Master. This allows detection parameters to be adjusted from the production system when changing between different materials, making the sensors particularly suitable for automated lines and mixed production. 

Contrinex has also designed the sensors to withstand the harsh conditions associated with stamping and forming. Its ‘Full-Inox’ technology uses a one-piece V2A (AISI 304) stainless-steel housing, providing resistance to chemical cleaning and physical impact. For particularly demanding applications, ActivStone-coated versions feature a rugged ceramic shield for additional protection against wear. 

By combining non-contact detection with flexible configuration, robust construction and multi-channel monitoring, Contrinex smart double-sheet sensors provide an economical way to protect valuable tooling and reduce unplanned downtime. 

PLUS Automation holds more than 2000 sensors in UK stock, supporting engineers with factory automation, process automation and machine safety solutions from Contrinex, Satron Instruments and ReeR Safety. 

More information www.plusautomation.co.uk