A British-built Unison Breeze all-electric tube bending machine will soon be assisting Milltek Sport Ltd, a manufacturer of performance exhaust systems, in exhaust prototyping and development work at Germany’s world-famous Nürburgring racetrack.

Derbyshire-based Milltek invested in its first Unison Breeze machine, a 76 mm (maximum tube diameter) capability single-stack model, almost 10 years ago. A second Unison Breeze machine, an 80 mm multi-stack tube bender, followed in 2017.

The latest Unison Breeze machine to be purchased by Milltek – an 80 mm single-stack model – will be located at Milltek Sport GmbH, the company’s recently opened €1.5m development and testing centre in Nürburg. It will be used for exhaust system research and development, small production runs for some of the world’s leading high-performance cars, and custom tube manipulation work for several race teams.

As Milltek uses only highly robust T304L stainless steel for its exhaust products, the all-electric Breeze’s ability to successfully complete tight bends in thin-wall tube down to 1D radius, as required for many of today’s high-performance exhaust systems, was a key factor in the purchase decision.

“Investing in this 80 mm Unison Breeze machine will allow us to further expand the capabilities we have on site in Germany, as well as better cater to the growing demand for 80 mm diameter performance exhaust products,” says Milltek Sport’s managing director, Steve Pound. “Whereas, up to now, we’ve sent CAD designs from our German facility to our HQ in Derbyshire for prototyping, we’ll soon be able to design, prototype, trial and then complete batch and small production runs on site at the Nürburgring.”

For further information
www.unisonltd.com

Glenrothes-based precision sheet metalwork manufacturer, Fife Fabrications, has invested a significant six figure sum in new technology as part of its ongoing growth plans. This investment in its fifth E-Brake press brake, the SafanDarley E-Brake 130-3100 Ultra, will further build its capabilities and services to facilitate future growth.

Installed in March 2021, the machine features lifting aids as a safety feature for managing larger panels and a bigger opening height to form taller flanges or parts. Like all E-Brakes, the Ultra will be fully integrated into the company’s ERP system.

Fife Fabrications’ managing director John Penman is pleased to be investing in new equipment to enhance and supplement its precision metalwork technology offering with the addition of the E-brake Ultra.

“Fife Fabrications has always been focused on continual investment in lean technology, people and ordering processes, which means we can provide the lowest possible overall cost to customers,” he says. “The timing of this investment will facilitate many learning opportunities for staff, trainees and apprentices at Fife Fabrications, offering clear benefits to our team, as well as to customers.

“The aim is to further build our capabilities and expertise, and continue providing customer service that is a cut above,” continues Penman. “It also supports our investment in developing young talent to further support the upskilling of young people in Fife. This helps to address the skills gap in our industry and in Fife more generally, as well as creating a pipeline of young talent for our business. Our investment in state-of-the-art technology from SafanDarley, with tooling from Wilson Tool, will ensure our services can move to the next level and increase our capability to design and deliver the highest quality products for customers.”

For further information
www.safandarley.com

The new Morgan Rushworth EXR multi-beam folding machine is now installed in the Bison Machinery showroom for demonstrations and product trials. The EXR is said to be an extremely versatile folding machine fitted with a rotating top beam to allow both straight and box and pan folding, even within the same part.

The Morgan Rushworth EXR range of CNC folders features a rotating upper beam with one straight rail and one set of high divided tools that can both be utilised in the same folding program without any manual tool change. Such a versatile design enables high accuracy, high consistency and high productivity as there is only one initial tool set up to carry out. This configuration is suitable for many folding operations, including rectangular panel work with return edges to the four sides. The operator sets the program, folds the two long lengths with the straight rail, before the upper beam rotates automatically and the two ends are folded with the high divided tools.

The back gauge is integral to the rear support table, which is suitable for the folding of large sheets as the weight of the material is supported, resulting in a single operator performing traditional two-operator jobs. The standard 2D touchscreen CNC controls all upper beam clamping and rotating, folding beam and back-gauge movements, with an optional 3D touchscreen available to further assist the operator. Both controllers provide a view of the folded part, calculating whether the job is possible or not, the developed length and the bending sequence – including whether to turn material over or around.

Features of the EXR folding machine include: bending angle from 0-150°; 20° 1 mm sharp nose clamping beam rail with 25 mm clearance; 10 and 25 mm wide folding beam rails; and fast 1 m powered back gauge.

For further information
www.bisonmachinery.co.uk

Trumpf has launched a new generation of its TruBend Cell 5000 automated bending cell. Programmed using TecZone Bend software, it takes just seconds to create bending programs, making it more affordable than ever to process small batch sizes.

The TecZone Bend programming software that comes with Trumpf’s manual bending machines is included with the TruBend Cell 5000. In most cases no manual intervention is necessary, and the software can even process multiple parts simultaneously when required. The software provides fully automated calculations of the optimum bending sequence, tooling combination and robot path. In addition, TecZone Bend ensures there are no collisions during the bending process. The programming system even generates suggestions on the optimum way to pick up blanks and stack finished parts, though users can manually adjust the suggested settings at any time.

Rapid programming is one of the keys to making automated fabrication affordable for even the smallest batch sizes. Smart automated functions free-up programmers from tedious and repetitive tasks, giving an added boost to quality.

Trumpf’s new TruBend Cell 5000 is available with bending machines from the current TruBend Series 5000. The cell comes with a dynamic and precise drive that also offers quiet and energy-efficient operation. Compared with a conventional hydraulic drive, the drive in the TruBend Cell 5000 consumes up to 50% less energy, while simultaneously increasing cell productivity.
A back-gauge system ensures blanks are in exactly the right position during the bending process. Furthermore, an angle-measuring system uses a laser to automatically check the bending angle.

For further information
www.trumpf.com

Addison Forming Technologies and Innovative Engineered Solutions Inc (iES) are forming a strategic partnership whereby the former will exclusively distribute and support iES’s product range in Europe and non-exclusively in other regions globally outside of North and South America.

Addison Forming, located in Preston, is a global solutions provider of machinery, tooling, automation, robotics and process support for a wide range of tube-bending and forming applications in the automotive, aerospace and nuclear industries. The company provides a range of all-electric CNC benders with double bending head intended for the 3D bending and curling of tubes and profiles, as well as a range of electric hybrid tube benders. Furthermore, Addison Forming supplies complete turnkey packages and modular cells for high-integrity, volume production.

iES, based in Ohio, USA is a rapidly expanding manufacturer of end-forming machines and tooling for tube-end expanding, reducing, sizing, notching, trimming and perforating. The company is also a supplier of hydraulic and all-electric servo-presses. iES prides itself on its commitment to quality, responsiveness, on-time delivery and complete customer satisfaction.

The new agreement between Addison Forming and iES represents a synergistic partnership for the two companies, whose combined experience in tube forming globally is vast.

Addison Forming Technologies is a part of the Machine Technology Group of Belgrave & Powell, a specialist engineering investment group located in the UK.

For further information
www.addisonforming.co.uk