Unison Ltd

Apprenticeships: Why the sky is the limit for manufacturers developing diverse talent

Unison Ltd — 05/02/2024

At Made in Group, we’re continuing to support our members as they tackle the well-documented shortages in the manufacturing sector head-on. To drive this forward, we’ve continued to expand access to our employer branding resources, where members sign up to a five-point Made Equal Employer Pledge, committing to adopt an inclusive approach to recruiting and retaining diverse talent.

One of the most recent Made in Group members to sign up to the Made Equal Employer Pledge is Scarborough-based Unison Ltd.

Unison Ltd is the UK’s leading manufacturer of tube and pipe bending machines and continually innovates the tube and pipe bending marketplace. Unison machines are delivered to more than 20 countries globally and their tube bending software is recognised as the most user-friendly control system for tube bending machines. The software is written and supported by Unison, ensuring complete control of its evolution, with no need for third-party support.

Growing a pipeline of future talent

Director, Alan Pickering, decided to sign up for the pledge to reinforce the company’s proactive approach to attracting new talent. Unison was inspired by the outreach work of the AMRC [Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre] in Sheffield so they set up Scarborough Science and Engineering Week in 2010 to encourage more children to consider STEM as a career, as they had previously found themselves struggling with their recruitment due to Scarborough’s remote position on the North Yorkshire coast. They now get around 3,000 children taking part each year and contributing to their pipeline of future talent. Following this, Unison also became one of the local businesses that backed the bid to set up Scarborough’s UTC [University Technical College], which opened in 2016, and they have continued to support it ever since.

Sparking an interest in electrical mechatronics

To enable an exciting new phase of international growth, Unison has continued to take a proactive approach to developing its employer brand and attracting diverse talent. One such team member is electrical engineer, Micha Hannaby. Micha has made a name for herself at Unison as a leading light in electrical mechatronics, having changed her career path after her school offered her limited career options. With no engineering classes, Micha chose hairdressing and cookery.

She soon realised she had an aptitude for all things electrical when her dad moved house. Micha decided to offer her support with the renovation work and DIY in the new property. On the list of jobs were upgrading the domestic electrics, which sparked her interest. Upon leaving school, Micha embarked on a two-year programme of college study. At this point, she decided to search for an apprenticeship to further her knowledge and she found an advert for an electrical apprenticeship at Unison. As part of the interview, Micha took a tour of the factory and she became fascinated with Unison’s signature pipe bending machines.

From Scarborough to Malaysia

Fast-forward to the present day and Micha is a pivotal member of the Unison team and a proud NVQ Level 3-qualified electrical mechatronics technician. She wires new machines from start to finish, having recently returned from working on a project to carry out a recontrol and upgrade equipment for a key client in Malaysia.

Micha shares some of her favourite parts of the role:

“It’s rewarding seeing the machine being built from nothing to a fully working tube bending machine. Even though most machines are similar they always produce different bent tubes so I enjoy that I’m able to continue learning and developing my knowledge by solving issues by doing recontrols. I also like the fact I can see the world while I’m working.”

She goes on to explain why diversity of thought is so vital as Unison continues to grow and expand:

“Having a diverse range of knowledge can help when tackling problems as we all think differently. Bringing new ideas can help solve problems by making suggestions to improve future procedures. We are all part of the same team and it is rewarding to be able to express your opinions and ideas, giving you and your colleagues a better understanding of the task by looking from a different perspective.”

Cracking and gutsy: The sky is the limit

Unison’s director, Alan Pickering, is a committed champion of diverse talent in the organisation:

“Micha joined us at 16 as an electrical apprentice, and she has worked on many tasks within Unison. Now at 24, she’s a fully-fledged electrical engineer, having recently returned from a complicated recontrol of a client’s machine in Malaysia. She is a cracking and gusty young lady. Team members like Micha prove the apprenticeship route works. With 17% of our workforce apprentices or ex-apprentices, if you find one with the right attitude, the sky is the limit.”

UNISON LTD APPOINTS UK SALES MANAGER

Unison Ltd — 05/09/2025

Unison Ltd, the UK-based inventor of ultra-precise, all-electric tube manipulation, has promoted Luke Gibson to the position of UK Sales Manager.

Previously Unison’s Sales Applications Engineer, Mr Gibson joined the business in August 2022, along with several other former employees of Preston-based Addison Forming Technologies Ltd following its closure.

Initially responsible for expanding Unison’s sales of precision and consumable bend tooling and running its advanced bend tooling service, more recently he has been involved in supporting the sales of Unison’s all-electric and hybrid-electric tube bending machines, wire bending machines and tube simulation technologies.

“Since joining Unison, I have been given incredible opportunities for progression, enabling me to make the smooth transition from bend tooling to managing machine tool sales,” says Luke Gibson. “As such, I now look forward to helping organisations across the UK select the most appropriate British-built tube and wire bending machines for their specific applications and manufacturing requirements.”

“We are delighted to promote Luke to the role of UK Sales Manager,” says Unison Ltd’s Sales Director, Steve Chambers. “In the three years since he joined our business, he has more than proved himself, initially applying his considerable skills to developing our tooling division and more recently becoming involved in machine sales. With the ability to guide customers in machine tool purchase and also assist them in choosing the most appropriate and cost-effective tooling, he is a real asset to the business and its future growth.”

Brand New Website Launched for Unison

Unison Ltd — 28/05/2024

Unison Ltd, the UK’s leading manufacturer of tube bending machines and the inventor of ultra-precise all-electric tube manipulation, has launched a brand-new website that has been specially created to better reflect its considerable product offering.

The website, www.unisonltd.com, is home to machine tools from Unison Ltd, as well as those from sister companies Nukon Lasers UK and wire manipulation machinery specialist, Pneuform Machines Ltd. It is also the place to discover Unison’s considerable software, machine tool service, support and consumable tooling offerings.

“In line with our aim of always offering our customers the best possible solutions to their manufacturing challenges, a good deal has been happening at Unison over the last few years,” says joint managing director, Alan Pickering.

“In 2021, for example, we launched an all-new range of hybrid tube benders to complement our globally renowned all-electric tube bending machines. Later that year, to enable us to offer high-quality, highly accessible laser cutting technologies, we became the official UK and Ireland distributor for Nukon’s range of European fibre laser cutting machines and loading & unloading solutions. In 2022, we launched Nukon Lasers UK. Then, in 2023, we acquired UK-based wire manipulation machinery maker Pneuform.”

Unison has also launched a free-to-download tube bending application app, developed its own suite of ‘design for manufacture’ tube simulation software and introduced a new consumable tooling service for its global customer base.

“With so much to offer manufacturers, subcontractors and fabricators alongside our well-established range of British-built, all-electric tube bending machines, we decided it was high time for a fresh online presence,” adds Alan Pickering. “Offering a vastly improved user experience, and available in English, French, German, Portuguese and Spanish, our new website does just that, making it simple and straightforward for customers old and new to see everything that the Unison family of companies has to offer.

www.unisonltd.com

BRINGING NUKON’S PRECISION LASER CUTTING TECHNOLOGIES TO MACH 2022

Unison Ltd — 02/02/2022

Hall 6 Stand 723 4 – 8 April NEC, Birmingham

Ingenium Integration Ltd, the sister company of UK-based tube bending machinery specialists Unison Ltd, will be showcasing the Nukon range of precision fibre laser cutting systems at MACH 2022.

Visitors to Stand 723, Hall 6, will be able to see a Nukon Eco Speed Pro Line 315 4kW 2D fibre laser machine in action and discover why Ingenium Integration believes Nukon machines are the ideal choice for first-time laser users, businesses adding value to in-house manufactured products, and subcontractors requiring high-performance machines for the most demanding of laser-cutting applications.

“For such premium quality machines, Nukon fibre lasers are incredibly accessible,” comments Ingenium Integration sales manager, Steve Haddrell. “Several models also have an extremely compact footprint, making them well-suited to production environments where floorspace is at a premium. Additionally, companies buying a Nukon fibre laser cutting system from Ingenium Integration can expect to receive the same uncompromising levels of service and support as enjoyed by users of Unison tube bending machines.”

High spec standard features

The Nukon fibre laser range includes 2D, 3D (5-axis) and laser tube cutting machines. High spec standard features include: nLIGHT fibre lasers with adaptive beam optimisation, and Lantek Expert software – one of the most advanced CAD/CAM nesting software packages on the market today. Available in a range of power options and sheet sizes, Nukon’s 2D fibre laser machines combine high performance with high efficiency. The Nukon range of 3D, 5-axis machines has been developed for the most challenging of applications, such as precision-cutting tubes, pipes and intricate profiles in a wide variety of materials, as well as R&D work. While Nukon laser tube cutting machines include pipe and profile cutting models, as well as ‘Vento Flex’, a highly versatile machine able to cut tubes, pipes, profiles and flat metal sheet. To assist customers in maximising the productivity and efficiency of their laser-cutting operations, Ingenium Integration also offers Nukon’s range of fully automated loading and unloading solutions.

Before being appointed as Nukon’s exclusive UK and Ireland distributor in 2021, Ingenium Integration spent time searching the market for a range of high-quality, accessible laser-cutting technologies that would be of significant interest to manufacturers. “Short of building our own laser- cutting machines in-house, our challenge was to find an established product range that mirrored the uncompromising levels of accuracy, reliability, build quality and support that are synonymous with the Unison name,” adds Steve Haddrell. “We believe we have found such a product range in Nukon.”

www.ingeniumintegration.com

Unison Blog – Apprenticeship plan a huge success

Unison Ltd — 17/01/2022

Since 1973, we have been home-growing our team through a very successful apprenticeship programme.

Currently, we have 17% of our staff learning as they work, and this spans across the company, including apprentices in data collection, design, mechanics and electrics.

This helps us as a company to plug the ‘Skills Gap’, a term often used to describe the difference between the skills that employers want, and those that are available from workers looking for a job.

And it has reaped rewards, with success stories like Chris Bond, who started as an apprentice in February 2007, and he has gone on to run the Service and Support team. He is also doing his degree alongside other ex-apprentices.

Chris is backed by James Harrison and Phil Gorforth in that department, with both also starting through the apprenticeship scheme.

Chris Bond

Elliot Lumsden has also worked up through the rankings and now runs our CNC shop.

We continue to inspire young engineers across the North Yorkshire area by founding and promoting the Scarborough Engineering Week, which takes place in the town every year.

STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Maths) is so important for the future of engineering in the UK.

It teaches critical thinking skills and instils passion for innovation that will continue to push engineering forward.

Beyond the benefit of learning science, technology, engineering, and maths, STEM assists in the problem-solving and exploratory learning that fuel success across a variety of tasks and disciplines

It is over a decade ago since Unison embarked on a very special journey, which saw us collaborate with other local businesses to plan and open an engineering academy.

In 2016, the Scarborough UTC was born.

We now work closely with the UTC to offer hands-on work experience to students through projects and site visits.

One of our design experts Mike Lawson is key in the ongoing relationship, offering weekly CAD courses.

Thanks to our link, we have enjoyed a conveyor belt of keen young engineers onto our apprenticeship scheme, many of whom have flourished into key members of our team.

As well as learning from our hugely experienced team, our new apprentices also benefit from excellent tutoring at Derwent Training Association and they are employed from day one.

They are also given the opportunity to develop and push on in a forward-thinking company, offering a variety of jobs in an area of Yorkshire where progressive employment isn’t easy to find.

And our apprentices don’t have to stop there.

As Chris Bond and other members of our team have shown, we also invest in further development, allowing our team to stretch themselves further in higher education.

For more about our apprenticeship scheme email sales@unisonltd.com

Find out more about the CNC tube bending machines that our apprentices help to create.

TWO NEW UNISON BREEZE MACHINES TAKE STAUFF’S TOTAL TO FIFTEEN

Unison Ltd — 11/11/2021

STAUFF, the global manufacturer and supplier of precision fluid power products for a wide range of industries, has purchased two new Unison Breeze 35 mm (maximum pipe diameter) left- and right-hand pipe bending machines. One machine has been installed at STAUFF’s manufacturing site in Sheffield, UK. The other has been installed at STAUFF’s production facility in Sydney, New South Wales.

This latest purchase of Unison Breeze machines by STAUFF follows on from the organisation’s recently signed five-year strategic partnership with Unison Ltd, an agreement providing all STAUFF operations around the world with dedicated in-country support, assistance with product development and other benefits. Once both new Breeze models are operational, there will be no fewer than 15 Unison tube and pipe bending machines at STAUFF’s manufacturing centres around the globe.

“It has been an honour to supply STAUFF with so many of our all-electric tube and pipe bending machines over recent years,” comments Unison Ltd’s Global Account Manager for STAUFF, Steve Chambers. “STAUFF’s latest purchase of two 35 mm Breeze CNC machines, however, is particularly significant. Not only does it further underpin STAUFF’s appreciation of the uncompromising levels of accuracy and repeatability that our clean, all-electric tube and pipe manipulation technologies provide, but it also marks the purchase of the first new Unison machines by STAUFF under the strategic partnership agreement.”

“We have worked with Unison Ltd for more than ten years,” adds Ken Cleal, Head of Production at STAUFF UK and STAUFF Global Production Manager for tube and tube manipulation. “Throughout that time, we have received nothing short of the highest levels of service and support from them, whether that be assistance with product development, operator training, or machine tool maintenance. Unison machines consistently provide the uncompromising levels of accuracy and repeatably that are essential to our operations. Additionally, Unison’s Unibend operating system is exceptionally intuitive and user-friendly, making it extremely popular with our teams.”

STAUFF’s new 35 mm Unison Breeze left- and right-hand machines will be used for the manufacture of small run complex components, such as hydraulic lines for braking systems. Materials bent will include aluminium, corrosion-resistant steel and exotic alloys. With the ability to bend in both clockwise and anticlockwise directions, the machines are ideal for parts of complex geometry and will provide STAUFF with exceptional flexibility. Equipped with Opt2Sim, Unison’s sophisticated ‘Design for Manufacture’ CAD tube bending simulation software, both machines will also streamline the production of complex, high-value components.

Other Unison tube and pipe bending machines in use by STAUFF include 50 mm and 100 mm multi-stack Breeze machines, 16 mm and 35 mm left- and right-hand pipe bending machines, 50 mm ‘pinball style’ pipe bending machines and Unison EV Bend 1000 16 mm OD manual CNC benders. Applications include components and systems for construction, agriculture, arboriculture, oil and gas extraction and processing, food and chemical processing, mining, marine and the rail industry.

All Unison Breeze machines offer rapid setup, fast tooling changes, exceptional power, rigid mechanical design and all-electric control for right-first-time repeat sub-contract work, or immediately after producing a single trial part. These are attributes that Unison Ltd believes make its Breeze models the ultimate tube manipulation machines for businesses specialising in small batch production runs. Unison’s recently upgraded Unibend software has equipped its Breeze machines with cycle time speed improvements in the region of 25% compared to earlier versions. Available as a retrofit option for Unison Breeze machines that are equipped with the company’s latest Unibend control system, the software also incorporates new teach routine and simulation features.

Unison presented with Manufacturing Hero Award

Unison Ltd — 17/01/2022

At Unison, we are excited to announce that we have been named ‘Manufacturing Hero’ by the distinguished Made in Group.

The Manufacturing Heroes recognition is a campaign set up by Made in Group, to celebrate manufacturers within the membership group who have demonstrated strength in a time of crisis.

Trade associated Made in Group began this to highlight the achievements of UK manufacturers who worked tirelessly throughout the pandemic, which was started with those who participated in the UK Ventilator Challenge to help save lives.

Made in Group have voiced their view that government procurement for the NHS had failed over a preference to source from overseas suppliers and overlooked the quality manufacturing talent domestically.

All of the ‘Manufacturing Heroes’ have been presented with a specially commissioned badge manufactured in the world-renowned Midlands Jewellery Qtr by Thomas Fattorini Ltd, a company based in Birmingham and who were granted a Royal Warrant of Appointment to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II in 2008.

Many of these recognition ceremonies have taken place in 2021, with Made in Group planning to continue the recognition ceremony into 2022 with more companies to be announced in the near future.

To find out more about the 70+ companies who have already received this recognition, please read this article: https://madeingroup.madeinthemidlands.com/news/70-uk-manufacturers-recognised-as-heroes-with-more-to-be-announced-in-2022

Find out more about what we create at Unison, here.

Unison’s Steve Haddrell becomes Sales Director of Nukon Lasers UK

Unison Ltd — 27/03/2023

Steve Haddrell, Key Account Manager at Unison Ltd - the inventors of all-electric tube manipulation - has been appointed as Sales Director of sister company, Nukon Lasers UK. In addition to fulfilling his new role, Steve will continue to support Unison’s tube bending machinery customers in the Midlands and South. Nukon Lasers UK became the exclusive UK and Ireland distributor for Nukon’s European-made fibre laser flat sheet metal and tube cutting machines in autumn 2021.

Beginning his career in laser as Supervisor with Nuneaton-based Subcon Laser Cutting Ltd in the late 1980s, Steve moved to 600 Group’s laser division in 1998, where he worked in machine tool sales & applications. He joined Yamazaki Mazak UK’s optonics division as General Manager in 2004 and moved to Unison Ltd as Key Account Manager in 2009.

“It’s probably fair to say that I’ve accrued more than my fair share of laser-cutting expertise over the years,” he says. “I remember seeing laser-cut parts from some of the first commercial fibre laser machines in the late 1980s, when I was a foreman-fabricator in Birmingham. I was awestruck by what those machines could achieve. Obviously, since then, laser cutting has advanced in leaps and bounds, with developments such as high-power fibre laser technology – like the 20 kW nLIGHT model we showcased at EuroBLECH 2022.”

Talking about Unison’s desire to expand into laser cutting technologies, Steve Haddrell adds: “For quite some time we had been looking to extend the Unison product range to include high quality fibre lasers, as we believed they would be a natural fit with our all-electric Unison Breeze tube bending machines. Short of building our own fibre laser machines in-house, however, the challenge was to find an established fibre laser product range that matched the uncompromising levels of reliability and build quality that Unison tube benders are renowned for.

“That wasn’t easy,” he continues. “But after considerable research and frequent reservations about machine quality or support, we finally met with European fibre laser manufacturer, Nukon. Quite apart from offering exceptionally well-made and price-accessible fibre laser machines - and having a fantastic manufacturing facility - the thing that impressed us most about the people at Nukon was their attitude to business. Just like Unison, they’re committed to building superb machines that exceed customer expectations, and to providing outstanding levels of service and support. Since partnering with Nukon, we’ve sold their fibre laser machines to manufacturing companies across the UK. The quality of the Nukon product is exceptional and customers have the added reassurance of support from our own Nukon-trained service teams. What more can I say? Apart from: if you’re one of my Unison tube bending customers, don’t worry – I’m still here to support you.”

About Nukon Lasers UK

Nukon Lasers UK is the exclusive UK and Ireland distributor of Nukon’s European-built 2D, 3D and tube fibre laser cutting machines and loading & unloading solutions. Equipped with American-made nLIGHT fibre lasers and advanced Lantek CAD/CAM nesting software, Nukon fibre lasers combine high speed and high precision with exceptional value and build quality, as well as incredibly low running costs. The Nukon Lasers UK team offers first-class machine tool service, training, maintenance and technical support, in addition to service contracts and service level agreements that can be tailored to specific requirements.

www.nukonlasers.co.uk

MACH-NIFICENT! MACH 2026 – a resounding success for Unison and Nukon Lasers UK

Unison Ltd — 14/05/2026

MACH 2026 was a major success for Unison Ltd, the UK-based inventor of all-electric tube manipulation, and for its sister company, Nukon Lasers UK – the exclusive UK and Ireland distributor of European-built Nukon fibre laser cutting machines.

During the five-day event at Birmingham’s NEC, no fewer than 250 delegates registered their interest in either Unison’s or Nukon’s machine tool technologies. A hugely powerful Nukon Cross 420 (4 m x 2 m bed size) 20 kW flat sheet metal fibre laser cutting machine was sold during the week, as was a Unison Breeze 38 mm (maximum tube diameter) Twinhead all-electric ‘symmetrical shapes’ tube bending machine.

Demonstrations of a Unison Breeze 50 mm (maximum tube diameter) all-electric, multi-stack tube bending machine proved hugely popular among visitors to the Unison and Nukon stand (no. 20-550), as did the Nukon Cross fibre laser machine, which is a recent addition to the Nukon range.

Other machine tool technologies on display on Unison’s stand included one of the company’s manually operated and CNC-controlled EvBend 1000 precision tube bending machines, and a Pneuform 3D rotary head wire bending machine. Demonstrations of Unison’s advanced Opt2Sim Scan tube measurement system also took place throughout the event.

50 mm Unison Breeze – the versatile choice in tube bending

Developed especially for companies that require maximum flexibility and ease of programming in tube bending, the 50 mm Breeze machine showcased on the Unison stand is a favoured choice among aerospace and automotive component manufacturers, furniture and handrail makers, HVAC systems specialists and general fabricators who require the highest levels of reliability, repeatability and accuracy. Just like the majority of machines in Unison’s all-electric Breeze range, the 50 mm model is available in both single- and multi-stack versions. While multi-radius capability, generous clearance under the bend head and substantial carriage-push and mandrel pull force are additional features that ensure there are very few tasks it can’t handle.

Nukon Cross – making high-performance metal cutting more accessible

Already renowned for its high quality, intelligently priced European-built fibre laser cutting machines and press brakes, Nukon Lasers UK used MACH 2026 to officially launch its new Cross series range of fibre laser machines. Massively re-engineered to make high-performance metal cutting even more accessible, Nukon Cross machines have been designed with a strong focus on productivity. They offer powerful 2D flat sheet metal cutting capability and can be specified with bed sizes of 3 m x 1.5 m, 4 m x 2 m, or 6 m x 2 m. Power options range from as little as 2 kW, right up to 30 kW for the most challenging of laser-cutting applications.

“Attending MACH once again proved invaluable to us,” commented Unison Ltd’s UK sales manager, Luke Gibson. “Not only did we benefit from a huge amount of interest in our machine tool technologies and simulation software, but sales were also confirmed and we gained a large number of high-quality leads. As always, the show also provided a wonderful opportunity to catch up with customers old and new. MACH is always a key date on our calendar and we’re looking forward to attending the show again in 2028.”

Unison Ltd: intelligent tube technology

Unison Ltd is the UK’s leading manufacturer of tube and pipe bending machines and continually innovates the tube and pipe bending marketplace. The company manufactured the world’s first all-electric tube bender in 1994, followed by the world’s first all-electric multi-stack tube bender, then the world’s largest all-electric tube bender for the shipbuilding industry. Available in single-stack, multi-stack and right/left varieties, Unison machines are delivered to more than 20 countries globally. Unison’s tube bending software is recognised as the most user-friendly control system for tube bending machines. The software is written and supported by Unison, ensuring complete control of its evolution, with no need for third party support.

UNISON MANDREL TUBE BENDER BRINGS SIGNIFICANT PERFORMANCE IMPROVEMENTS TO NEW PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT AT KLARIUS

Unison Ltd — 15/09/2025

A new hybrid-electric mandrel tube bending machine from Unison Ltd is assisting Klarius, the UK’s largest manufacturer of aftermarket emissions control products, to develop the increasingly complex exhaust systems that are used in today’s petrol, diesel and hybrid vehicles.

Installed in the new product development area at Klarius’ 5.6-hectare manufacturing site in Cheadle, Stoke-on-Trent, the machine - an 80 mm maximum tube diameter Unison Synergy model - is already reducing new product prototyping and development times by 30% to 50% depending upon complexity. Delivering uncompromising levels of accuracy and repeatability, it is typically used to bend mild steel tube ranging from 32 mm to 70 mm in diameter, and for tight radius bends of up to 1.5x diameter (1.5D).

“Klarius is renowned for producing the highest quality, type-approved aftermarket vehicle exhaust products,” says the company’s Head of Product Development, Doug Bentley. “We offer more than 11,000 different parts and provide replacement emissions control solutions for more than 24 million vehicles in the UK and some 152 million vehicles in Europe.”

Leading the way in aftermarket emissions control products, however, means staying ahead of the game. That’s why, in 2024, Klarius took the decision to invest in a new mandrel tube bending machine to assist in new product development. “The ongoing drive for more energy efficient vehicles, with greater gas-flow through larger diameter tubing - and all within the constraints of more tightly packed engine bays - means tighter bends and increasingly complex aftermarket products,” adds Doug Bentley. “By investing in the latest mandrel tube bending capability today, we are future-proofing our design capability, and reducing the time it takes to develop first-class components.

“Having made the decision to purchase a mandrel tube bender for NPD, we considered a number of machines,” he continues. “Ultimately, however, we selected the Synergy hybrid-electric model from Unison Ltd based on its quality and performance. The fact that Unison is a UK manufacturer gave us a great deal of confidence in terms of future support. A visit to Unison’s Scarborough HQ for a product demonstration also confirmed their understanding of our needs.”

Following a factory acceptance test, the Unison Synergy tube bender was installed at the Klarius manufacturing site in autumn 2024. “The installation process was trouble-free and included two days of operator training to ensure we were up and running very quickly,” adds Doug Bentley. “Since commissioning, the machine has consistently produced good quality parts that are ready for scaling up for mass production. On the handful of times that we have needed support, typically when we were getting to know the machine, Unison’s support staff were quick to respond, either visiting us on site or dialling in. To enable us to use our existing bend tooling, Unison also supplied us with adapter blocks. They are currently assisting us in the development of bespoke tooling for new exhaust products.

“One of the big advantages of working with Unison,” he concludes, “is that just like Klarius, they are a UK company. They talk our language, understand our business, appreciate the importance of rapid support and have an excellent understanding of our goals and objectives. When we first began our search for a new tube bender, we did consider a machine from a manufacturer in the Far East, however the levels of support offered appeared vague.”

“It was an absolute pleasure to equip Klarius with a new Unison Synergy hybrid-electric tube bending machine,” comments Unison’s International Sales Manager, Andy Worthington. “Doug and his team have been hugely appreciative of the work we put into ensuring the Synergy machine met their needs and we are particularly pleased to hear of the considerable time savings it is already bringing to their new product development initiatives.”

Unison Synergy hybrid-electric tube bending machines

Unison’s range of hybrid-electric Synergy tube benders combine precise electric control with advanced, near-silent hydraulic operation. Developed for manufacturers and subcontractors who carry out both individual and repetitive tube bending tasks, Synergy machines are available in 50 mm and 80 mm (maximum tube diameter) versions. Standard features include Unison’s user-friendly Unibend touchscreen control, leading motors and drives, exceptional power and rigid mechanical design. Synergy mandrel tube benders offer functionality and user-friendly features similar to Unison’s industry leading, all-electric Breeze range of tube bending machines, but at a more accessible price.

Key features

Electric control with advanced, near-silent hydraulic operation
50 mm or 80 mm collet capacity
Exceptional power and rigid mechanical design
Dual-stack bending – for combined bending and roll-forming applications
User-friendly Unibend touchscreen control system
Choice of industry leading motors and drives
3D component simulation and measuring machine interfaces
Renowned Unison quality and reliability
Designed for individual and repetitive tube manipulation tasks
Servo-driven bend arm, carriage, plane of bend and carriage side shift

NUKON APPOINTS INGENIUM INTEGRATION AS EXCLUSIVE UK AND IRELAND DISTRIBUTOR FOR ITS ADVANCED FIBRE LASER CUTTING SYSTEMS

Unison Ltd — 15/09/2021

Ingenium Integration Ltd, the sister company of UK-based tube bending machinery specialists Unison Ltd, has been appointed as the exclusive UK and Ireland distributor for Nukon’s 2D fibre laser, 3D fibre laser and fibre laser tube cutting machines.

“For quite some time we have been looking at extending our product range to include high quality laser cutting technologies, particularly as we believe they would be of significant interest to owners of tube bending machines from Unison Ltd and other manufacturers,” comments Ingenium Integration sales manager, Steve Haddrell. “Short of building our own laser cutting machines in-house, our challenge was to find an established product range that mirrored the uncompromising levels of accuracy, reliability, build quality and support that are synonymous with the Unison name.

“Having researched the marketplace extensively,” he adds, “we believe we have found such a product range from Nukon. Companies buying a Nukon fibre laser cutting system from Ingenium Integration will receive the same high standards of service and aftersales support as if they had bought a British-built Unison tube bending machine. We are also available to assist any UK or Irish businesses that already own Nukon laser machines.”

The Nukon fibre laser range includes 2D, 3D and laser tube cutting machines. High-spec standard features include: nLIGHT fibre lasers with adaptive beam optimisation and Lantek Expert software, which is one of the most advanced CAD/CAM nesting software packages on the market today. Nukon’s 2D fibre laser machines include models designed for first-time laser users and businesses adding value to in-house manufactured products, as well as high-performance machines for demanding flat-bed laser metal cutting requirements in subcontract environments.

The Nukon range of 3D, 5-axis machines has been developed for the most challenging of applications, such as precision-cutting tubes, pipes and intricate profiles in a wide variety of materials, as well as R&D work. While Nukon laser tube cutting machines include pipe and profile cutting models, as well as ‘Vento Flex’, a highly versatile machine able to cut tubes, pipes, profiles and flat metal sheet.

To assist customers in maximising the productivity and efficiency of their laser-cutting operations, Ingenium Integration also offers Nukon’s range of fully automated loading and unloading solutions. These include highly space-efficient compact lift solutions with vacuum loading and ‘finger-lift’ unloading, ‘Expert’ models that are able to feed multiple laser cutting machines simultaneously, and easily extended modular tower systems with the added benefit of component storage.

The appointment of Ingenium Integration as the exclusive UK and Ireland distributor for Nukon’s fibre laser machines follows on from the recent launch of a brand-new range of hybrid tube bending machines from tube bending machinery specialists, Unison Ltd. Called Synergy HBM (hybrid, multi-stack), these new machines are available in 50 mm and 80 mm (maximum tube diameter) versions and have been developed to provide a lower cost entry point for businesses with tube bending requirements that do not typically demand the high levels of flexibility and rapid setup associated with Unison’s industry-leading all-electric ‘Breeze’ tube bending machines.

www.ingeniumintegration.com

www.unisonltd.com

UNISON TUBE ENJOYS A FABULOUS FABTECH 2022 EXHIBITION

Unison Ltd — 18/11/2022

FABTECH 2022 Atlanta was a resounding success for Unison Tube LLC, the North American arm of UK-based Unison Ltd – the inventors of all-electric tube manipulation

Unison machines on show at FABTECH included an all-electric Unison Breeze Twin Head tube bender and one of the company’s all-new ‘Synergy’ hybrid multi-stack models. The Synergy machine on display - a 2” (50 mm) collet, multi-stack model - was quickly snapped up by full-service precision tube bending specialists, Accurate Tube Bending Inc. of Newark, California. The Breeze Twin Head bender, a machine developed for the high-speed manufacture of symmetrical tubular shapes, such as those typically found in automotive, agricultural and furniture applications, was purchased by a leading street furniture specialist.

In addition to showcasing several of its CNC machine tool technologies at FABTECH, Unison also used the event to launch Opt2Sim Tube, the latest addition to its industry leading Opt2Sim tube simulation software suite, with delegates being invited to enter a draw to win one of several Opt2Sim Tube software licenses. With the opportunity to benefit from speed enhancements of up to 25 percent, depending on the component being bent, Unison’s recently upgraded Unibend CNC also caught the attention of delegates.

“FABTECH 2022 was a great event for us,” comments Unison Tube LLC’s Vice President, Stuart Singleton. “Quite apart from selling two of our display machines on the first day of the show, we gained an exceptional number of high-quality leads from manufacturers and subcontractors – industry professionals, who clearly know their tube and were looking for first-class tube manipulation technologies.

“Our newly-released Opt2Sim Tube simulation software attracted considerable interest thanks to its ability to make it easier than ever to create virtual parts, ready for precise bending data to be uploaded to the bending machine,” he continued. “We met friends, customers and colleagues old and new; we sold our display machines – and we came away with some excellent leads. All in all, it was fantastic to be back at FABTECH for the first time since the Covid pandemic. In fact, it’ll be no surprise to hear that, after such a great exhibition, we’re already thinking about what we’ll show at FABTECH 2023 in Chicago.”

New Opt2Sim tube simulation software – a complete end-to-end solution

Continuous innovation has ensured that Unison’s Opt2Sim suite of 3D simulation software programs remains a firm favorite among users of Unison and other brands of tube bending machinery. Perfected for ‘Design to Manufacture’ production strategies, Opt2Sim tube bending simulation software uses machine and component data to provide a precise, virtual insight into the tube bending process before a single part is bent. In new Opt2Sim Tube, Unison gives users the ability to drag and drop STEP files into the software program and extract tube data instantly. Parts can also be drawn by simply entering XYZ or YBC coordinates and viewed in 3D. Bend data is quickly converted into printable reports and individual tube data can be extracted.

About Unison Tube LLC

Unison Tube LLC is the North American division of Unison Ltd, the UK’s leading manufacturer of tube and pipe bending machines, offering the largest range of all-electric benders for diameters from 5/32” (4 mm) to 10” (275 mm) schedule pipe. With a reputation for building highly powerful, highly robust machines that deliver uncompromising levels of accuracy and repeatability, Unison Ltd continually innovates the tube and pipe bending marketplace. The company manufactured the world’s first all-electric tube bender in 1994, followed by the world’s first all-electric multi-stack tube bender, then the world’s largest all-electric tube bender for the shipbuilding industry. Available in single-stack, multi-stack and right/left varieties, Unison machines are delivered to more than 20 countries globally. Unison’s tube bending software is recognized as the most user-friendly control system for tube bending machines. The software is written and supported by Unison, ensuring complete control of its evolution, with no need for third party support.

www.unisonltd.com

UNISON BRINGS DRAMATICALLY REDUCED LEAD TIMES TO SAFRAN LANDING SYSTEMS

Unison Ltd — 19/10/2021

Gloucester-based Safran Landing Systems OE (Original Equipment), part of the global Safran group, has taken delivery of two new all-electric ‘Breeze’ CNC tube bending machines from leading tube bending machinery specialists, UK-based Unison Ltd.

The Unison Breeze machines (16 mm and 30 mm maximum tube diameter models) will be used to precision bend thin-wall section titanium tube for the manufacture of 3/8-inch (9.53 mm) to 3/4-inch (19 mm) diameter hydraulic brake and actuator pipes for commercial aircraft undercarriage systems, including those used on Airbus A320, A330 and A340 models. They replace two hydraulically operated tube bending machines that have been in use at Safran for a number of years.

“Realising it was time to renew our tube bending capabilities, as part of our ongoing risk analysis activities - and necessitated by significantly increased manufacturing requirements - we approached a number of tube bending machinery manufacturers to discuss the various options available to us,” comments Safran Assembly Flow Line Manager, Jonathan Crewe.

“Absolute non-negotiables were uncompromising repeatability and reliability, as well as the ability to produce right-first-time parts. Additionally, as a key manufacturer of aerospace components and operating within a ‘just in time’ supply chain, it was essential for us to know that should it ever be needed, on-site machine tool support would never be more than a few hours’ drive away.”

Existing customer visit

To enable the Safran team to experience first-hand the capabilities of its all-electric range of Breeze tube bending machines, Unison Ltd arranged for them to visit an existing customer’s facility at Farnborough and observe titanium tube being bent. On the strength of the visit and the testimony provided by that customer, trial parts were produced at Unison’s UK-based manufacturing centre, the order was subsequently placed, and master pipe samples were supplied to Unison Ltd in readiness for machine setup and sign off.

Excellent support

“We benefited from excellent support and advice at every stage of the process,” adds Jonathan Crewe. “We were particularly impressed by the effort Unison put into training, ensuring that our operators were fully familiar with the Unibend operating system and could confidently bend thin-wall titanium components, all with precisely controlled levels of spring-back to compensate for the material’s high yield strength. Unison were also exceptionally flexible in working around our incredibly demanding production schedules. We have produced right-first-time components since day one with our new Unison Breeze machines, which our operators rate highly. Unison also fully understood our need for prompt support in the unlikely event of a breakdown – an essential requirement of our risk analysis strategy and a clear benefit of us buying from a UK-based company.

“On a personal note, I am really impressed with the performance of our two new machines,” he continues, “and, in particular, the opportunities the technology opens up for us to streamline our workflow from Design Engineering through to Production, with electronic translation of a CAD model into a bending program. This both dramatically reduces the lead time of new product development from around eight months to just three days and improves the accuracy of the finished pipe to the initial design intent. I am also grateful to the team at Unison for their timely and professional assistance through the industrialisation phase of the project.”

Intelligent tube manipulation

Unison Breeze machines offer rapid setup, fast tooling changes, exceptional power, rigid mechanical design, and all-electric control for right-first-time repeatability. The Unison Breeze all-electric 16 mm and 30 mm tube bending machines purchased by Safran are well suited to manipulating exotic alloys such as titanium and Inconel, as used in the aviation industry and provide high-quality thin-wall bending. Multi-stack tooling allows the most complex of parts to be formed in one uninterrupted manufacturing cycle, while Unison’s bar code scanning system ensures that only the correct tooling is used. Unison’s standard-fit rise and fall pressure die can result in significant savings in tooling costs and allows tools of very different radii to be used on a part within a cycle. Each tube bender can be programmed manually or from CAD data using industry-standard IGES or STEP files.

“At Unison, we are often invited to advise customers across the aerospace industry on particularly challenging tube bending projects,” concludes Steve Haddrell. “That’s partly because of the immense capabilities offered by our all-electric Breeze tube bending machines. It was an honour to be chosen to supply Safran with two machines – and to be recognised for the exceptional levels of service that are associated with the Unison name.”

Unison Ltd: intelligent tube technology

Established in 1973, Unison Ltd is the UK’s leading manufacturer of tube and pipe bending machines, offering the largest range of all-electric benders for diameters from 4 mm (5/32”) to 275 mm (10” schedule pipe). With a reputation for building highly powerful, highly robust machines that deliver uncompromising levels of accuracy and repeatability, Unison Ltd continually innovates the tube and pipe bending marketplace. The company manufactured the world’s first all-electric tube bender in 1994, followed by the world’s first all-electric multi-stack tube bender, then the world’s largest all-electric tube bender for the shipbuilding industry. Available in single-stack, multi-stack and right/left varieties, Unison machines are delivered to more than 20 countries globally. Unison’s tube bending software is recognised as the most user-friendly control system for tube bending machines. The software is written and supported by Unison, ensuring complete control of its evolution, with no need for third party support.

www.unisonltd.com

Eighth Unison Breeze machine for leading North American tube and pipe forming company

Unison Ltd — 27/05/2021

Sharpe Products, one of North America’s leading specialists in custom tube and pipe bending, has purchased its eighth Unison Breeze all-electric CNC tube bender. The machine, an 80 mm (3”) single-stack model, will be installed at Sharpe Products’ Wisconsin-based manufacturing centre, where it will be used to further expand the company’s production capability for its increasingly diverse customer base.

Sharpe Products and UK-based Unison Ltd have a long and proud history of working together. Sharpe’s President and CEO, Paul Krickeberg, bought into the concept of all-electric tube bending many years ago, when it was still a relatively new technology. “Our new Unison Breeze tube bending machine will help further support our capacity to offer short lead times and consistent accuracy – attributes that are essential to our customers,” says Paul Krickeberg. “We’ve been pleased with the work that we can produce on our Unison machines. Unison Ltd is one of our vendors of choice for our tube bending equipment. We’ve worked with Unison Ltd for nearly 20 years and appreciate the quality of their products along with their service and support.”

“We’re delighted that Sharpe Products has chosen to invest in yet another Unison Breeze tube bending machine,” comments Unison Ltd’s Managing Director, Alan Pickering. “Sharpe Products is one of our longest-standing customers. Following the purchase of this latest Unison Breeze model, Sharpe Products will have one of the most comprehensive line ups of Unison’s infinitely controllable all-electric machines in North America. Paul Krickeberg’s insight regarding the value of all-electric tube bending, has helped make Sharpe Products one of the leading specialists in custom pipe and tube bending in the US today. All-electric tube bending technology, with all the advantages of automatic setup, has equipped Sharpe Products with the ability to take on all manner of tube manipulation challenges, including projects involving traditionally difficult to bend alloys.”

The 80 mm single-stack Unison Breeze machine was chosen by Sharpe Products for its ability to deliver the accuracy and reliability necessary to meet the strict tolerances required by the company’s customers in industries such as aerospace, automotive and medical device. It is equipped with Unison’s recently upgraded Unibend software, which offers cycle time speed improvements in the region of 25% compared to earlier versions and incorporates new teach routine and simulation features.

Like all Unison Breeze tube bending machines, the 80 mm (maximum tube diameter) Breeze offers rapid setup, fast tooling changes, exceptional power, rigid mechanical design, and all-electric control for right-first-time repeat sub-contract work, or immediately after producing a single trial part. These are all attributes that Unison Ltd believes make its Breeze models the ultimate tube manipulation machines for businesses specialising in small batch production runs. Other Unison Breeze machines operated by Sharpe Products include a 50 mm (2”) Unison Breeze-Revolution tube bender – a machine equipped with a novel rotating head, enabling it to make left-hand and right-hand bends in one continuous manufacturing cycle. Sharpe also has 76 mm (3”), 80 mm (3”) and 130 mm (5”) multi-stack Breeze machines - machines able to accommodate several tools for rapid changeover in between bending cycles - and a 100 mm (4”) single-stack model.

Unison Ltd: intelligent tube technology

UNISON LAUNCHES NEW RANGE OF TUBE BENDING MACHINES, TO MAKE ITS QUALITY AND RELIABILITY EVEN MORE ACCESSIBLE

Unison Ltd — 06/08/2021

Unison Ltd, the leading name in all-electric tube bending machines, has launched a brand-new range of hybrid models to make its uncompromising levels of quality, reliability and support available to an even wider range of companies involved in tube manipulation.

Called Synergy HBM (hybrid, multi-stack), the new machines will be available in 50 mm and 80 mm (maximum tube diameter) versions initially and will feature the company’s latest Unibend Lite control system.

“In developing the Synergy HBM range, our objective was simple: to offer all the values associated with the Unison brand to a greater number of tube manipulation businesses,” comments Unison Ltd managing director, Alan Pickering. “The new Unison Synergy HBM range is the result of an extensive development programme and will provide a lower cost entry point for businesses that do not require the extensive capabilities of our all-electric premium range of Unison Breeze machines.”

Since the introduction of its infinitely controllable Unison Breeze range in 1994, Unison Ltd has become the brand of choice for numerous organisations and specialist subcontractors involved in small production runs of ultra-precise tubular components for shipbuilding, aerospace, performance automotive and other sectors.

“Our new Synergy HBM range is the direct result of enquiries from prospective customers whose tube bending requirements wouldn’t typically demand the high levels of flexibility and rapid setup times associated with our industry-leading Breeze models,” adds Alan Pickering. “They have been in touch because they are crying out for the quality, reliability and global support that is standard with Unison Breeze tube benders, but in a machine designed for less complex, repeat applications.

“All too frequently, lower cost tube bending machines seem to be equipped with less sophisticated, less intuitive levels of control,” adds Alan Pickering. “That, however, isn’t something that can be said about the new Unison Synergy HBM range. In line with our core values, Synergy buyers will benefit from exceptional levels of control, with functionality and user-friendly features as close as possible to those enjoyed by users of Unison Breeze machines. Synergy HBM tube benders may be lower priced, but that’s not at the expense of quality. They are the perfect solution for companies that aspire to own a Unison Breeze machine.”

As hybrid machines, Unison’s new Synergy HBM range combines electric and hydraulic operation. Just like Unison Breeze machines, each model benefits from exceptional power and rigid mechanical design. As with Breeze models, bend arm, carriage, plane of bend and carriage side shift are servo driven, while mandrel, pressure die and clamping system are hydraulically controlled. This makes Synergy HBM machines well suited to high volume, repetitive tube manipulation operations that don’t necessitate the rapid setup times and all-electric control provided by Unison Breeze machines for right-first-time repeat sub-contract work.

“Although our new Synergy HBM range has a lower price point than our all-electric Breeze machines, that certainly isn’t reflected in the build specification,” continues Alan Pickering. “Each Synergy HBM machine is equipped with our user-friendly Unibend Lite control system, with touch screen, 3D component simulation and measuring machine interfaces. “We have used Eaton hydraulics, Yaskawa motors and drives and our own, tried and tested, Unison tooling mounts. Additionally, the Bendpro CNC control system can be specified as an optional extra by customers in the USA. Thanks to the extremely high residual values associated with previously owned Unison Breeze machines, we also anticipate that purchasing a Synergy HBM tube bender will prove a sound investment, with exceptionally good, retained value for any customer wishing to upgrade to an all-electric Breeze model at a later date.”

LEADING PERFORMANCE EXHAUST MANUFACTURER SELECTS UNISON TUBE BENDER FOR THE NÜRBURGRING

Unison Ltd — 15/04/2021

A British-built Unison Breeze all-electric tube bending machine will soon be assisting Milltek Sport Ltd, one of the leading manufacturers 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 ten years ago in order to achieve the superior accuracy, repeatability, control and reliability that Unison’s all-electric CNC machines are renowned for. A second Unison Breeze machine, an 80 mm multi-stack tube bender, then followed in 2017.

This 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 €1.5 million development and testing centre in Nürburg. It will be used for exhaust system research & development, small production runs for some of the world’s leading high-performance cars, and custom tube manipulation work for several race teams.

With its roots embedded in the demands of the aerospace sector, the 80 mm Breeze offers rapid setup, fast tooling changes, exceptional power, rigid mechanical design, and all-electric control for right-first-time repeatability. These are all attributes that Unison Ltd believes make the 80 mm Breeze the ultimate tube-manipulation machine for businesses specialising in small batch production runs. As Milltek only uses 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 also a key factor in the decision to purchase.

“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,” comments Milltek Sport Ltd’s Managing Director, Steve Pound. “Whereas, up to now, we have sent CAD designs from our German facility to our HQ in Derbyshire for prototyping, we will soon be able to design, prototype, trial and then complete batch and small production runs on site at the Nürburgring. This will not only help us to be even more responsive, but also will help free-up capacity at our UK HQ for our domestic and worldwide customer base. Going forward, having the ability to prototype on site in Germany will further underpin our status as manufacturers of one of the widest ranges of EC-approved performance exhaust systems on the market.

“We looked at a number of competitor machines before placing the order with Unison Ltd,” adds Steve Pound. “However, it was a fairly straightforward decision. Our existing Unison machines have more than proved themselves since they were installed, in terms of reliability, accuracy, repeatability and capability. Added to that, Unison’s Unibend tube manipulation software is both exceptionally user-friendly and also well-understood by our team in the UK. That alone will prove a real advantage when helping ensure our people in Germany are able to quickly achieve the very most from their new machine. The level of support we have received from Unison over the years has been outstanding. It’s also reassuring to know that Unison has a Europe-wide service and support infrastructure in place, should we need to call on them for support, guidance or advice.”

“We are delighted that Milltek Sport Ltd has decided to purchase a third Unison Breeze tube bending machine,” comments Unison Key Account Manager, Steve Haddrell. “With exceptional power, rapid tooling changes and all-electric control for accurate, effortless repeatability, we are convinced that Milltek’s latest Unison Breeze machine will quickly assist both their R&D work and manufacturing strategies.”

Unison Ltd: intelligent tube technology

Established in 1973, Unison Ltd is the UK’s leading manufacturer of tube and pipe bending machines, offering the largest range of all-electric benders for diameters from 4 mm (5/32”) to 275 mm (10” schedule pipe). With a reputation for building highly powerful, highly robust machines that deliver uncompromising levels of accuracy and repeatability, Unison Ltd continually innovates the tube and pipe bending marketplace. The company manufactured the world’s first all-electric tube bender in 1994, followed by the world’s first all-electric multi-stack tube bender, then the world’s largest all-electric tube bender for the shipbuilding industry. Available in single-stack, multi-stack and right/left varieties, Unison machines are delivered to over 21 countries globally. Unison’s tube bending software is recognised as the most user-friendly control system for tube bending machines. The software is written and supported by Unison, ensuring complete control of its evolution, with no need for third party support.

Milltek Sport Ltd: the leading performance exhaust manufacturer

Founded in 1983, Milltek Sport Ltd has grown to become one of the leading manufacturers of performance exhaust systems. With headquarters in the UK and a development & testing centre at the iconic Nürburgring, Germany, Milltek designs, develops and tests its range of exhaust systems in-house using state-of-the-art equipment, such as the latest all-electric CNC mandrel tube benders and 3D laser scanners. These capabilities, combined with one of the most experienced teams of engineers and production staff in the performance exhaust industry, allow Milltek to continue to be the first to deliver market products and innovative designs. ISO9001:2015-accredited, Milltek offers one of the widest ranges of EC-approved performance exhaust systems on the market, all tested and approved by TUV in Germany. This, combined with a comprehensive dealer network, delivering to more than 95 countries, makes Milltek Sport Ltd one of the most accessible brands in the performance aftermarket industry.

www.unisonltd.com

GETTING FIT FOR FUTURE PRODUCTION: EXIGO-UK INVESTS IN NUKON FIBRE LASER DISPLAY MACHINE AT MACH 2022

Unison Ltd — 14/04/2022

Rochdale-based Exigo-UK is all set for high-performance in-house laser cutting, after purchasing the Nukon 2D fibre laser machine that was displayed on the Ingenium Integration stand at MACH 2022.

Makers of the globally acclaimed Exigo range of commercial gym equipment, the team at Exigo-UK was becoming increasing tired of relying upon external suppliers for the laser cutting of mild steel components for use in the manufacture of several of its products. Having decided to invest in its own fibre laser flat sheet metal cutting equipment, however, the company was faced with finding a machine that would fit into a limited workspace, offer high levels of performance, be economical to run and be accessibly priced.

“We decided that a trip to the MACH 2022 machine tools exhibition at the NEC would make good sense, as it would allow us to compare a number of fibre laser machines at the same time,” comments Exigo-UK managing director, Darren Golden. “Although it wasn’t our intention to buy during the visit, it became clear that choosing the Nukon 2D machine from Ingenium Integration would be a good business decision. It offered high levels of performance, an exceptionally compact footprint and was affordable. The Ingenium Integration team was exceptionally helpful in demonstrating how the Nukon machine would meet our needs. It was also pleasing to see that with 4kW power, the laser would be frugal to run and only require access to mains electricity. We anticipate the machine paying for itself over the next 12 months.”

The Nukon Eco 315 4kW fibre laser machine

The Nukon 2D fibre laser machine purchased by Exigo-UK during MACH 2022, and soon to be installed at their Rochdale manufacturing centre, is one of Nukon’s Eco 315 4kW models. Specially developed for first-time laser users, organisations wishing to add value to in-house manufactured products, and subcontractors either starting out in 2D laser cutting or with demanding flat-bed laser metal cutting requirements, Eco machines offer high-spec features that are standard across the wider Nukon range. These include advanced Lantek Expert CAD/CAM nesting software and American-made nLIGHT fibre lasers.

The machine bought by Exigo-UK is also equipped with optional adaptive beam optimisation and optional cut-line beam-shaping technology – a capability that provides improved cut-edge finish and easy, rapid cutting of different sheet thicknesses and metals. Nukon Eco models have a compact 7 metre x 7 metre footprint and can accept sheet metal of up to 3 metres x 1.5 metres. They are available in power options from 1kW to 4kW.

“It was a pleasure to meet the team from Exigo-UK at MACH 2022, get to fully understand their cutting requirements and assist in their decision to purchase the Nukon Eco 315 4kW fibre laser,” comments Steve Haddrell, sales manager at Ingenium Integration, the official UK and Ireland distributors of Nukon’s laser machines. “For such premium quality machines, Nukon fibre lasers are incredibly accessible. The extremely compact footprint of several models also makes them well-suited to production environments where floorspace is limited. While their low power consumption is a significant advantage in these times of record energy bills. As soon as Exigo-UK’s new Nukon machine has been installed, comprehensive user training and support will be provided to help ensure they get the very most from their investment.”

High performance and high efficiency

The Nukon fibre laser range includes 2D, 3D (5-axis) and laser tube cutting machines, all of which combine high performance with high efficiency. Nukon 3D, 5-axis machines have been developed for the most challenging of applications, such as precision-cutting tubes, pipes and intricate profiles in a wide variety of materials, as well as for R&D work. Nukon laser tube cutting machines include pipe and profile cutting models, as well as ‘Vento Flex’, a highly versatile machine able to cut tubes, pipes, profiles and flat sheet metal. To assist customers in maximising the productivity and efficiency of their laser cutting operations, Ingenium Integration also offers Nukon’s range of fully automated loading and unloading solutions. Additionally, companies buying a Nukon fibre laser cutting system from Ingenium Integration can also expect to receive uncompromising levels of service and support.

Ingenium Integration is the sister company of Unison Ltd, the inventor of all-electric tube manipulation and a business renowned for providing the highest levels of aftersales care and support. Before being appointed as Nukon’s exclusive UK and Ireland distributor in 2021, Ingenium Integration spent time searching the market for a range of high quality, accessible laser cutting technologies that would be of significant interest to manufacturers. “Short of building our own laser cutting machines in-house, our challenge was to find an established product range that mirrored the uncompromising levels of accuracy, reliability, build quality and support that are synonymous with the Unison name,” concludes Steve Haddrell. “We believe we have found such a product range in Nukon.”

www.ingeniumintegration.com

New partnership sprouts from member networking event

Unison Ltd — 20/01/2024

It’s always rewarding to hear when Made In Group members collaborate for the benefit of their businesses. In fact, that’s exactly what happened when Made In Yorkshire member and tube bending machinery manufacturer Unison Ltd, met up with Cradley Heath spring machinery business Transworld Engineering in May 2023.

The occasion was Unison’s combined 50th anniversary and Made In Group event, where just short of 100 Unison customers and Made In members met at Unison’s Scarborough HQ for technology talks, machine tool demonstrations… and a big birthday bash afterwards.

“During the event I got talking to Stuart Pilley, MD at Transworld Engineering and Made In The Midlands member,” says Unison Ltd’s joint managing director, Alan Pickering,” and it became pretty obvious there was a good deal of common ground between us. At the time, Unison was in the process of bringing Dorking-based wire bending machine tool maker, Pneuform, into the Unison family, and my conversation with Stuart led me to believe there may well be grounds for a promising joint venture.”

The leading name in tube and wire bending machines

Unison invented all-electric tube manipulation and is the UK’s leading manufacturer of tube bending machinery. Through the acquisition of Pneuform, the company’s objective is to become the leading name for both tube and wire bending machine tool technologies. “With the addition of our advanced controls to the current Pneuform machine tool line-up and plans to develop a new generation of wire bending machines, we’ve set our sights on helping Pneuform enjoy an even bigger share of the considerable UK and European wire-bending market,” continues Alan Pickering. “As a well-established spring and wire processing machinery specialist, with a considerable customer base across Europe, we believe Transworld Engineering is the perfect partner to assist us in reaching out to a wide range of manufacturers – across Germany and Italy in particular.”

Perfect fit with existing products

Commenting on his company’s newly formed partnership with Unison Ltd, which commenced properly in October 2023, Transworld Engineering’s Stuart Pilley, added: “After meeting Alan, it was clear that Unison’s commitment to engineering excellence and software development, combined with our experience of the spring and wire bending market, will result in great new products. We look forward to introducing the Pneuform range to our extensive UK and European customer base.”

www.unisonltd.com

www.transworldengineering.co.uk

Unison Ltd, the inventors of all-electric tube manipulation, celebrate 50 years

Unison Ltd — 10/03/2023

Unison Ltd, the UK-based inventors of all-electric tube manipulation, celebrate their 50th anniversary on 3rd April 2023.

Unison Ltd Managing Directors Alan Pickering, left, and Julian Kidger

To mark reaching a half century, the business is planning a special birthday party at its Scarborough HQ on 24th May 2023, when several of its latest tube bending technologies will be on display, alongside fibre laser metal cutting machines from its sister company, Nukon Lasers UK.

Customers, colleagues, friends and neighbours of Unison Ltd will all be invited to the event, as will members of Made in Yorkshire, a trade group of which Unison Ltd is a council member.

For an invitation to the 50th party, email: sales@unisonltd.com.

Unison Ltd was established in 1973 as a control systems specialist and provided its expertise to a number of tube bending machinery firms, including Addison Machine Tools.

Convinced there was a better way of bending tube than by noisy, messy hydraulic operation, where accuracy and repeatability were often affected by fluctuating oil temperature, Unison Ltd set out to create the world’s first all-electric tube bending machine. Prototypes were built, a patent was taken out and, in 1994, the company unveiled the world’s first all-electric 3-axis tube bender.

Operated by electronic linear actuators and, therefore, unaffected by changing hydraulic oil temperature, this pioneering machine redefined the world of tube manipulation.

By 1998, Unison Ltd had launched the first all-electric robot benders. Twin-head, multi-stack and 5-axis machines followed, along with the world’s largest all-electric tube bender for the shipbuilding industry.

Bringing a crazy idea to life

Reflecting on those early days when the world’s first all-electric tube bending machine was in development, Unison’s joint managing director, Alan Pickering says: “I remember my dad giving me the challenge of bringing his crazy idea to life! We were pushing the servo technology of the day to the limits. But we succeeded, and right-first-time tube bending was born.

“It took a number of forward-thinking customers to put their faith in our technology,” adds Alan Pickering. “However, the big breakthrough came when Airbus ordered their first all-electric tube bender from us. The machine paid for itself in 16 weeks, in reduced scrap alone. Competition from the bigger players was inevitable, but we kept our heads down and kept on pushing forward.”

Today, Unison Ltd is the UK’s leading manufacturer of tube bending machines, has facilities in the UK and USA, and offers the world’s largest range of ultra-precise, all-electric tube and pipe bending technologies for diameters ranging from 4 mm to 275 mm.

Available in single-stack, multi-stack and right/left versions, Unison ‘Breeze’ machines are delivered to more than 20 countries globally, and to sectors as wide-ranging as motorsport, marine, oil & gas, aerospace and architecture. The Unison family of companies includes automation specialists, Ingenium Integration Ltd and Nukon Lasers UK.

Precise, repeatable and robust

“From the outset, our goal was clear: to make achieving accurate, repeatable tube bending simple and straightforward, all supported by outstanding levels of customer care,” continues Alan Pickering.

“That’s why every Unison Breeze machine offers fast, intuitive setup, rapid tooling changes, exceptional power, rigid mechanical design, and all-electric control for right-first-time results, or immediately after bending a trial part – and why we are renowned for the quality of our aftersales support.”

That same ethos is also why all Unison Breeze machines are equipped with the company’s own dedicated Unibend CNC control, and why Unison continually invests in developing leading-edge support software – such as its Opt2Sim tube bending simulation suite and its recently updated, free-to-use tube bending application app.

Available for desktop, tablet or mobile, the app is so sophisticated it will even show users the tooling type, mandrel style, size and material, as well as bend torque and machine size required for a particular bend or a series of bends.

“All in all, it’s been an incredible journey,” adds Alan Pickering. “One made possible by having fantastic people on our team, and amazing customers around the world who, every day, put their trust in our uncompromising technologies. Moreover, having invented all-electric tube bending, we intend to stay at the top of our game. This is why, each year, we recruit and nurture a number of technical apprentices, and why we offer extensive development opportunities for our employees – all to ensure they’re the best they can be. Here’s to the next 50 years!”

www.unisonltd.com

Unison tube bender makes light work of SST’s life-saving Halo system

Unison Ltd — 28/01/2021

Investing in a Unison Breeze all-electric CNC tube bending machine has not only assisted Oxfordshire-based SST Technology in becoming the only British-based precision fabricator authorised to produce the life-saving Halo titanium driver protection system, as used in Formula 1. It has also equipped the business to complete numerous complex structural projects involving titanium tube – including roll-cage structures for military vehicles and aerospace components.

The machine, a Unison Breeze 130 mm ‘large diameter’ multi-stack tube bender, was purchased to help SST produce high-performance optimal-flow exhaust systems for Formula 1, IndyCar and other motorsport sectors. With a pedigree in motorsport components and a powerful new tube bending machine to hand, however, SST’s thoughts quickly turned to driver safety.

The exceptionally tight material control, production parameters and dimensional tolerances provided by the all-electric Unison Breeze tube bender, combined with SST’s considerable experience in the development and manufacture of ultra-precise fabrications, led to the company’s Halo design securing FIA conformity for use in Formula 1, Formula 2 and Formula E motorsport and being adopted by several race teams. SST’s Halo design requires the precise bending of titanium tube of 4 mm wall thickness.

Titanium, however, is notoriously difficult to bend. With low uniform elongation typically requiring much greater bend radii than other metals, titanium doesn’t readily lend itself to being formed – a characteristic that makes creating tubular structures for aerospace and motorsport applications particularly challenging.

For successful tube forming, the material must be compressed on the inside of the bend and stretched on the outside, while wall thinning and ovality of the tube have to be kept to very tight tolerances. Traditionally, ‘hot bending’ - a process involving the use of super-heated tooling - has been used to overcome the challenges of bending titanium. However, the very process of hot bending presents a number of issues. For example, the use of super-heated tooling requires considerable care and can present a hazard to operators; complex modifications must be made to bending machinery, and tooling heat-up times are lengthy. By contrast, Unison’s infinitely controllable and robust all-electric machines enable the safe, precise cold bending of titanium. With advice and application support from the technical team at Unison Ltd, SST were therefore able to develop a cold-bending process for their Halo design that allowed for the low elongation of the metal and delivered precise results.

“To successfully cold-bend titanium, factors such as material quality, tooling configuration, machine design and flexibility of control need to be considered,” comments Unison Key Account Manager, Steve Haddrell.

“This is because any variation in material quality, any lack of rigidity in the mechanics of the bending machine and any failure to achieve repeatability time after time will invariably lead to failure. With exceptional power, optimal rigidity, precise mechanical motion and all-electric control for accurate, effortless repeatability, we knew the 130 mm Breeze was the ideal machine for precision-bending SST’s Halo design. With material quality assured, it really came down to working with SST to establish the correct tooling configuration and programming of the Unison Unibend machine operating system.”

“Investing in the 130 mm Unison Breeze machine has clearly paid dividends,” says SST Technology’s Group Business Development Director, Daniel Chilcott.

“Tool changes are rapid, programming is incredibly user friendly, while the automatic setup ensures uncompromising levels of accuracy and repeatability. Sufficiently impressed with the capabilities of our 130 mm machine, we have also purchased a smaller 65 mm Breeze model for the production of more intricate pipework and parts for aerospace and gas turbine applications. Combining this capability with our AS9100REVD accreditation means we are perfectly set up to support leading aerospace propulsion, fluid and air system OEMs.”

The Unison Breeze 130 mm tube bender purchased by SST is well suited to manipulating exotic alloys such as titanium and Inconel, as well as Super-Duplex stainless steels and provides high-quality thin wall bending. Multi-stack tooling allows the most complex of parts to be formed in one uninterrupted manufacturing cycle, while Unison’s bar code scanning system ensures that only the correct tooling is installed. The standard-fit rise and fall pressure die can result in significant savings in tooling costs and allows tools of very different radii to be used on a part within a cycle. The tube bender can be programmed manually or from CAD data using industry-standard IGES or STEP files.

“At Unison, we are often invited to advise customers on particularly challenging tube bending projects,” concludes Steve Haddrell. “That’s partly because of the immense capabilities offered by our tube bending machines. Assisting SST on establishing the optimal tooling configuration of their Unison Breeze machine for the production of the life-saving Halo device, however, is one of the most rewarding projects we have been involved in.”

www.unisonltd.com

You can always count on Unison to go the extra mile

Unison Ltd — 03/03/2021

“This is the level of service which sets you aside from others and should never be underestimated.”

At Unison Ltd, we always go the extra mile to help, advise and support our customers regarding their tube bending requirements. That’s why we were so very pleased to read the above comment in a recent email from a customer. Regardless of your industry sector and tube manipulation requirements, you can count on us for honest advice, unrivalled expertise and world-class tube manipulation machinery.

See what just a few more customers say about working with us. Then why not get in touch and discover our high levels of service for yourself?

“Did a fantastic job”

“…the installation of our second machine went very well this week and Liam did a fantastic job of introducing our operators to the equipment.”

UK-based customer

“Excellent in looking after us”

“We are all very much looking forward to its arrival [their new Unison Breeze machine] and the additional training and support that will go with it. Steve has been excellent in looking after us… and the same goes to the rest of your support team. We appreciate everyone’s efforts especially in these difficult and challenging times. It’s also been good to see the Unison family growing and the countries/applications they are being used for via “Linked-in”. Makes you feel part of an extended team/family.”

Australian-based customer

“Advice within an hour”

“… can I just say a big thank you to all three of you. As I said to Steve H, unfortunately our paths have not crossed that often in recent times. Therefore, having sent out a request for help and advice out of the blue, all three of you either took the time to phone or email good advice within an hour. This is the level of service which sets you aside from the others and should never be underestimated. Irrespective of how this current challenge ends up, I really do appreciate all the help and assistance you have offered to date.”

UK-based customer

Unison Ltd Exhibits at Groundbreaking Virtual Careers Fair

Unison Ltd — 23/03/2021

Organized by the Made in Group, the Made Futures virtual careers week (22nd-26th March) is aimed at jobseekers, graduates and students looking for opportunities in manufacturing. At the forefront of innovation, the exhibition will showcase virtual 3D stands with a series of touchpoints for a ‘life like’ experience and Unison Ltd will be part of the groundbreaking experience.

We are just one of many companies exhibiting at the Made Futures Virtual Careers week. Adapting to the times and getting up to speed with the digital era, our stand encapsulates everything you would expect from a physical exhibition. The multiple touchpoints will take visitors to different information available on the stand from ‘about us’, to product/ service brochures and jobs available.

Exhibitors at the interactive virtual exhibition highlight the manufacturing sector’s dedication to overcoming current and ongoing sector challenges. With millions of UK residents losing their jobs, coupled with the existing skills gap in UK manufacturing, we will be available at the Made Futures exhibition to offer our support to jobseekers and find our next employees.

There’s still time, attend the exhibition to visit our stand and to talk directly with a member of our team:

Made Futures Careers Week

Unison Ltd Blog – Changing the face of tube bending

Unison Ltd — 27/07/2021

This blog demonstrates how Unison have changed the face of tube bending since our inception in 1973.

At Unison, we pride ourselves on the great steps we have taken to further what our customers can achieve with our equipment.

It gives us great pride to look back on what our company has achieved in the past, and we look forward to an equally innovative future.

During the 70s and 80s, Unison developed the control systems for many tube bending companies including Addison and Langbow

1993

In 1993/4 Unison completed a feasibility research study into the possibility of removing the ‘Black Art’ of tube bending, by designing a fully automated tube bending machine. This method of control was revolutionary and enabled all positions and forces necessary to bend a tube to be stored and recalled by computer. This method of control was patented in both the UK and Germany.

And so arrived the world’s first all-electric 3-axis tube bender.

1995

Unison developed the first three all-electric tube bending machines with; 20mm, 40mm and 65mm tube capacity. The very first machine went into service in 1996 and is still in production.

To find out about our current stock tube bending machines, click here.

1999

Unison followed up their previous innovation by developing the world’s first all-electric 5 stack tube bender, allowing users to load five different sets of tooling, meaning tube could be bent at different radii. This eliminated the need to change tooling while processing a part, reducing time wasted during the change and preventing any human error.

Find out about our tooling, click here.

2001-2009

In the years following the development of the 5-stack tube bender, Unison pushed the envelope of what all-electric tube benders could achieve, starting with designing and manufacturing a 76mm multi-stack machine in 2001, moving up to 115mm in 2004, 150mm in 2007 and finishing with the 180mm multi-stack in 2009. These machines had much better accuracy than their hydraulic counterparts making them the definite machines to process high quality parts.

2014

Unison worked closely with customer Huntington Ingalls to developed the world’s first all-electric 220mm tube bender that could exert a huge 350,000Nm of servo-controlled bend torque. Using Unison’s patented drive share technology, allowed them to bend the largest shipyard pipework with precision and repeatability not previously experienced.

2015

Continuing with its philosophy of continuous development Unison developed a new machine capable of bending tubes up to 273mm for Westcon Shipyard. Generating 660,000Nm of continuous bend torque, our Unison 273mm still remains the world’s largest all-electric tube bender, exceeding the accuracy of its hydraulic counterparts while remaining more power efficient, ensuring our customers get the most out of their machines.

BRINGING NEW LEVELS OF TUBE BENDING INNOVATION TO FABTECH 2022

Unison Ltd — 26/07/2022

Unison Tube LLC of Danville, VA, will present a number of innovative tube manipulation technologies at FABTECH – North America’s largest metal forming, fabricating, welding, and finishing event.

Unison machines on show at Booth C10217 will include an all-electric Breeze Twin Head tube bending machine and one of the company’s all-new Synergy hybrid, multi-stack tube benders.

Unison will also use FABTECH to launch the most advanced version ever of its industry leading Opt2Sim tube bending simulation software, with several free software licenses up for grabs.

Unison all-electric Twin Head machine

Equipped with Unison’s recently upgraded Unibend control – an operating system offering speed enhancements of up to 25% – all-electric Unison Twin Head 1 ½” (maximum tube diameter) machines will precision bend two ends of a tube simultaneously. This capability makes them well suited to the high-speed manufacture of symmetrical tubular shapes typically found in automotive, agricultural and furniture applications.

New Unison Synergy hybrid machine

Officially launched at the UK’s MACH machine tool show earlier this year, Unison’s new Synergy machines combine electric and hydraulic operation with exceptional levels of control. Developed for organizations that aspire to Unison quality but carry out repetitive tube bending tasks, Synergy models provide a highly accessible entry point into the Unison range. Available in 2” (50 mm) and 3” (80 mm) versions, Synergy machines feature a servo-driven bend arm, carriage, plane of bend and carriage side shift, with a hydraulically controlled mandrel, pressure die and clamping system. This is a combination that Unison believes make its Synergy range perfect for high volume, repetitive tube manipulation operations.

New Opt2Sim tube manipulation software – a complete end-to-end solution

Continuous innovation has ensured that Unison Opt2Sim remains a favorite tube manipulation software program among users of Unison and other brands of tube bending machines. In this latest iteration of Opt2Sim, Unison makes it easier than ever to import and extract tube data and includes software versions that take simulating the bending process, creating batch files and scanning tube coordinates to the next level. Opt2Sim provides users with a complete end-to-end solution, from taking 3D STEP files to bending tube within a single software suite. Delegates visiting Unison’s FABTECH booth will have the chance to win one of several Opt2Sim software licenses.

“We are delighted to be returning to FABTECH with such inspiring tube bending technologies,” comments Unison Tube’s Vice President, Stuart Singleton. “As industry returns to pre-pandemic levels, our aim is to help as many manufacturers and subcontractors as possible accelerate their efficiency, ingenuity and productivity. We are particularly excited to be unveiling our latest Opt2Sim software, as this really will revolutionize tube bending simulation for organizations of all sizes.”

About Unison Tube LLC

www.unisonltd.com

UNISON BECOMES TUBE BENDING PARTNER OF THE ADVANCED FORMING RESEARCH CENTRE

Unison Ltd — 08/06/2026

Unison Ltd, the UK’s leading manufacturer of tube and pipe bending machines, and the 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 of all sizes with access to cutting-edge equipment and technical capabilities to help push the boundaries of advanced manufacturing, material behaviour, and material processing.

As the only tube bending machinery manufacturer within the AFRC, Unison is uniquely positioned to provide consultancy across tube manipulation processes. This includes delivering industry-leading expertise, insight and technical support to projects undertaken by the AFRC, as well as assisting with collaborative research projects.

“We are delighted to have been invited to join the AFRC,” comments Unison’s 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 considerable technical forming and modelling expertise to assist in the development of several new tube forming technologies we have in the pipeline – particularly in relation to the aerospace sector.

“At Unison,” he continues, “we are committed to championing businesses to Buy British – especially as Britain produces some of the finest technologies and machine tools in the world. Our AFRC membership will also help us to fly the flag for British manufacturing!”

“It is a pleasure to welcome Unison Ltd to the AFRC,” adds Director of the Advanced Forming Research Centre, Brad Wynne. “As the UK’s leading manufacturer of ultra-precise tube-bending machinery, Unison will work with us to extend our research in the area of rotary draw tube bending. We envisage that initial projects will explore areas such as novel tooling, process modelling, physical trials, and material analysis – all helping unlock rotary draw bending for higher-integrity applications across defence, aerospace, energy, and other advanced manufacturing sectors.”

“For our part, we look forward to working with Unison to utilise their expertise, capabilities and equipment in various collaborative projects and, where appropriate, with many of the global organisations that are part of our membership,” adds Tracy McCarroll, Head of Membership and Strategic Relations at NMIS. “We also look forward to involving Unison in suitable R&D proposals which would benefit from their considerable knowledge and input.”

Unison Ltd: intelligent tube technology

Unison Ltd is the UK’s leading manufacturer of tube and pipe bending machines and continually innovates the tube and pipe bending marketplace. The company manufactured the world’s first all-electric tube bender in 1994, followed by the world’s first all-electric multi-stack tube bender, then the world’s largest all-electric tube bender for the shipbuilding industry. Available in single-stack, multi-stack and right/left varieties, Unison machines are delivered to more than 20 countries globally. Unison’s tube bending software is recognised as the most user-friendly control system for tube bending machines. The software is written and supported by Unison, ensuring complete control of its evolution, with no need for third party support.

www.unisonltd.com

About the National Manufacturing Institute Scotland

The National Manufacturing Institute Scotland (NMIS) is a group of industry-led manufacturing R&D, innovation and skills facilities supported by a network of Partners across Scotland, all working together to transform the future of manufacturing. It is where industry, academia and the public sector work together on ground-breaking manufacturing research to transform productivity levels, make companies more competitive and boost the skills of our current and future workforce.

The NMIS Group includes the University of Strathclyde’s Advanced Forming Research Centre (AFRC), Lightweight Manufacturing Centre, Digital Process Manufacturing Centre and researchers working with companies across the manufacturing community in Scotland, the wider UK and beyond – from aerospace giants to renewable energy disruptors, first-time inventors to household automotive names. It also includes the Manufacturing Skills Academy, which is transforming the manufacturing workforce of today and tomorrow.

NMIS is operated by the University of Strathclyde. It is supported by the Scottish Government, Scottish Enterprise, Highlands and Island Enterprise, South of Scotland Enterprise, Skills Development Scotland, Renfrewshire Council and the Scottish Funding Council. It is part of the UK’s High Value Manufacturing Catapult. The flagship NMIS building is at the heart of the Advanced Manufacturing Innovation District Scotland in Renfrewshire.

www.nmis.scot

T&T Tubecraft invests in Unison’s ultimate CNC tube bending machine for subcontractors

Unison Ltd — 12/11/2020

Tube manipulation and pipe bending subcontract business, T&T Tubecraft, has taken delivery of a new all- electric 130 mm diameter multi-stack CNC tube bending machine from leading tube manipulation technology specialists, Unison Ltd.

This is the third Unison tube bender to be purchased by T&T Tubecraft since 2014. It joins a 50 mm Unison Breeze machine and a 100 mm Unison Breeze multi-stack model that are in daily use at T&T Tubecraft’s Woking-based facility. Offering exceptional power and immense levels of flexibility, the 130 mm machine has been described by Unison as ‘the ultimate tube bending machine for subcontractors’.

Increasing subcontracting capability

“Of all our tube benders, our 100 mm Unison machine is easily the busiest,” comments T&T Tubecraft managing director, Ross Turner. “This is largely down to its user-friendly programming, fast tool changes, automatic setup and uncompromising levels of accuracy and repeatability. Ironically, when we purchased the 100 mm Unison machine back in 2015, we didn’t have a vast amount of work for it. This quickly changed, however, as we gained the ability to take on new projects. The new 130 mm machine will increase our capability even further, both in terms of capacity and the ability to tender for an even greater range of projects. We expect it to be of particular interest to customers in the aerospace sector.”

Hitch-feed for bending tubes of up to 8.7 metres in length

The bigger brother of the Unison 100 mm multi-stack machine, the Unison 130 mm tube bender purchased by T&T Tubecraft is particularly suited to bending exotic alloys such as titanium and Inconel, as well as Super- Duplex stainless steels. Able to push bend tubes of up to 6.2 metres in length when in standard mode, it also features a hitch-feed facility, whereby the machine carriage retracts by the length of the next feed, enabling mandrel bending of tubes of up to 8.7 metres long. As a result of this capability, T&T Tubecraft believes that, out of all UK tube manipulation subcontractors, it may provide the longest bending range.

Intelligent manufacturing

Multi-stack tool holding allows the most complex of parts to be formed in one uninterrupted manufacturing cycle, while Unison’s bar code scanning system ensures that only the correct tools are installed while also configuring the machine automatically. A further feature which attracted T&T Tubecraft to the Unison 130 mm machine is the standard-fit rise and fall pressure die. This can result in significant savings in tooling costs and allows tools of very different radii to be used on a part within a cycle. Like all Unison machines, T&T Tubecraft’s new 130 mm machine is also highly powerful. “This is a significant advantage for us, as it provides the reassurance to achieve high quality thin wall bending, even on high yield-strength alloys such as Inconel,” adds Ross Turner.

The 130 mm machine has been networked to T&T Tubecraft’s CAD facilities and a coordinate measuring machine (CMM) for verifying bend accuracy and design conformity. The tube bender can be programmed manually or from CAD data using industry-standard IGES or STEP files, while data obtained by the CMM from the first manufactured part can be used to make automatic adjustments to the machine prior to commencing a manufacturing cycle.

Right-first-time approach

“The all-electric architecture and automated Unibend software-controlled setup of our Unison machines offers major advantages over hydraulic machines,” continues Ross Turner. "Bending accuracy and repeatability are dramatically improved. We achieve right-first-time manufacturing for repeat sub-contract work and typically expect even the first bent trial component at the start of a project to be very close to what we are looking to achieve. Machine configuration is also rapid, typically only taking 15 to 20 minutes. As a subcontract tube manipulation company, we also quickly get to hear how well new machines are viewed by our teams. Unison machines are very well received by our workforce. Unison’s Unibend operating software is exceptionally intuitive, meaning much faster programming and accelerated training for new staff members. Our operators consider the Unibend control system to be exceptionally user friendly.”

“It is always satisfying to receive repeat orders, especially when they are from such a well-respected company as T&T Tubecraft,” adds Unison Key Account Manager, Steve Haddrell. “What was particularly rewarding in this instance, however, was the opportunity to work closely with the customer to deliver an already exceptionally capable, powerful and robust multi-radius – multi-stack machine with the additional component length to give them a real edge in the subcontractor marketplace.”

Unison Ltd: intelligent tube technology

Established in 1973, Unison Ltd is the UK’s leading manufacturer of tube and pipe bending machines, offering the largest range of all-electric benders for diameters from 4 mm (5/32”) to 275 mm (10 53/64”). With a reputation for building, highly powerful, highly robust machines that deliver uncompromising levels of accuracy and repeatability, Unison Ltd continually innovates the tube and pipe bending marketplace. The company manufactured the world’s first all-electric tube bender in 1994, followed by the world’s first all- electric multi-stack tube bender, then the world’s largest all-electric tube bender for the shipbuilding industry. Available in single-stack, multi-stack and right/left varieties, Unison machines are delivered to over 21 countries globally. Unison’s tube bending software is recognised as the most user-friendly control system for tube bending machines. The software is written and supported by Unison, ensuring complete control of its evolution, with no need for third party support.

T&T Tubecraft: specialists in tube manipulation

Established in Woking in 1949, T&T Tubecraft takes pride in offering the largest and finest tube bending services in the South of England. Constantly pushing technical boundaries, the business specialises in providing precision bending services for a wide variety of sections including: tube, pipe, aluminium extrusions and brass & copper. Thanks to its innovative, flexible team, T&T Tubecraft’s customers benefit from direct contact with specialist engineers in the bending field and quick decision-making on solutions for their projects. Industries served include: aerospace, architectural, construction, dairy & food processing, defence, marine, motorsport, oil & gas, pharmaceuticals, pneumatic conveying, power generation, scientific and subsea.

www.unisonltd.com

Unison introduces new levels of service to support tube bending customers through pandemic and beyond

Unison Ltd — 18/01/2021

UK-based tube manipulation machinery specialist, Unison Ltd, has further enhanced its service and support programme, to ensure its global customer base is well placed to maximise opportunities throughout the Coronavirus pandemic and as the green shoots of recovery begin to appear. Renamed ‘Unison UltimateCare’, the programme takes the company’s machine tool support services to even higher levels and is the result of close dialogue with customers to better understand their needs and new ways of working.

“Unison is renowned for providing uncompromising levels of machine tool service and support – quite possibly the finest across the tube bending industry,” comments managing director, Alan Pickering. “In creating Unison UltimateCare, our objective was simple: to better equip our customers to respond to the opportunities they encounter during these peculiar times, by assisting them with superior, highly agile and rapid support services, which can also include guidance in component prototyping and tooling. While significant emphasis has been placed on providing greater levels of online support, wherever face-to-face support is concerned - just as from the start of the Coronavirus pandemic - we operate safe working practices to protect our customers and teams.”

Unison UltimateCare has been designed to make it even easier for customers to select the precise maintenance solutions they require to ensure their Unison machines provide long and reliable service. It can also include services such as CAD modelling, component prototyping and process optimisation to enable manufacturing strategies and capabilities to quickly adjust to new orders and opportunities. Services can be selected on an ad-hoc basis or combined into one competitively-priced agreement, tailored to need and designed to assist budgeting by spreading the cost of machine care.

Commenting on the level of service provided by Unison, Jonathan Thacker, operations director of The Walsall Wheelbarrow Company says: “Unison are so much more than manufacturers of high-quality machine tools. They have assisted us in product development and helped keep our production costs down – something that’s essential for a low-margin, high-volume business such as ours. A major point of difference with Unison is that they gain an in-depth understanding of each customer’s business to ensure the advice they give is relevant and tailored. When we bought our Unison tube-bending machines, there were cheaper options on the market – but I wasn’t prepared to gamble on quality, capability or level of support. If you want a long-term partner, one that will deliver the highest levels of service, I believe you will struggle to beat Unison. Our annual service contract has proved invaluable, with services scheduled for planned downtime, telephone support, online diagnostics and discounted spare parts.”

Unison UltimateCare at a glance:

- Online ticketing system with guaranteed next day response
- Online machine support to resolve production issues
- Ad-hoc service and repairs
- Unison-trained mechanical, electrical and software engineers located globally
- Service level agreements – with PPM programmes tailored to individual customer needs
- Discounted OEM spare parts with service level agreements
- Machine inspection and condition reports
- Control upgrades and process optimisation
- Servo drive axis and full upgrades
- Commitment to safe, socially-distanced working practices

Unison Ltd: intelligent tube technology

Established in 1973, Unison Ltd is the UK’s leading manufacturer of tube and pipe bending machines, offering the largest range of all-electric benders for diameters from 4 mm (5/32”) to 275 mm (10 53/64”). With a reputation for building, highly powerful, highly robust machines that deliver uncompromising levels of accuracy and repeatability, Unison Ltd continually innovates the tube and pipe bending marketplace. The company manufactured the world’s first all-electric tube bender in 1994, followed by the world’s first all-electric multi-stack tube bender, then the world’s largest all-electric tube bender for the shipbuilding industry. Available in single-stack, multi-stack and right/left varieties, Unison machines are delivered to over 21 countries globally. Unison’s tube bending software is recognised as the most user-friendly control system for tube bending machines. The software is written and supported by Unison, ensuring complete control of its evolution, with no need for third party support.

The Walsall Wheelbarrow Company

The Walsall Wheelbarrow Company is the only UK-based manufacturer of wheelbarrows that uses predominantly British-made parts, with many made in-house. The company installed its first Unison automated production cell in 2012. This comprised an all-electric 38 mm twin-head bending machine with automatic hopper loading, seam detection, hole punching and robot offload, and replaced two hydraulic tube benders and a manual hole punching station. The result was rapidly streamlined operations, with multiple processes performed simultaneously. A further Unison production cell, comprising of an all-electric Breeze 30 mm bending machine with automatic hopper loading and robot offload was then added in 2016. This took production to 2,800 barrows per day, with the capacity to upscale to 3,500 barrows per day depending upon demand.

'Refurbish and Re-control' service launches at Unison

Unison Ltd — 09/05/2024

Unison Ltd, the UK’s leading manufacturer of tube bending machines and the inventor of all-electric tube manipulation, has introduced a ‘refurbish and re-control’ service specifically for Addison tube bending machines.

The service has been designed to provide owners of Addison tube benders with a cost-effective, quality assured means of upgrading their older machines with the latest operating technologies, for enhanced levels of control, productivity and performance.

It involves the use of Unison’s latest servo-drive platform, new control & drive chassis plates, a replacement machine controller, an updated safety PLC, and a new Windows 11 PC running the latest version of Unison’s advanced Unibend CNC. All replacement parts are covered by a comprehensive warranty, and a full machine inspection and condition report is included. A detailed quotation is provided prior to work commencing and additional operations can be included if required.

Back in autumn 2022, Unison Ltd recruited a number of former key employees from the recently defunct Preston-based Addison Forming Technologies Ltd (previously known as Addison McKee).

“With new Unison technologies in the pipeline and exciting long-term strategic plans,” comments Unison’s joint managing director, Alan Pickering, “our aim at the time was to employ as many of the former Addison team members as we could justify, in order to keep their considerable skills in the UK. It was a move that helped grow our consumable tooling offering in particular, as well as expand our reach both at home and overseas.

“However, talking to users of Addison tube bending machines over the last 12 months led us to realise that a very real need also existed for a refurbish and re-control service tailored to Addison tube benders. After all, many of these machines have been in operation for a good number of years. Additionally, not all owners have the desire or the budget to purchase a new tube bending machine. With these points in mind, we set about creating a refurbishment and re-control offer specifically for owners of Addison models.”

Re-controlled Addison tube bending machines benefit from Unison’s proprietary Unibend CNC. This Windows-based system allows for ease of setup and network integration of various coordinate measuring machines, while existing tube bending templates can be easily modified to adapt to new part requirements. By using TeamViewer connectivity software in conjunction with their Unibend CNC, Unison can also remotely access both machine and data, to help resolve issues and assist with new application requirements – often eliminating the need for a site visit.

Recently launched consumable tooling service

Unison’s new refurbishment and re-control offering for Addison bending machines follows on from its recently launched consumable tooling service – the result of a £750,000 investment. At the heart of the service is a new consumable tooling manufacturing centre at Unison’s Scarborough HQ. From here, fully tailored tooling agreements are prepared and around £100,000 worth of tooling, including mandrel balls and wiper dies, is held in stock for on-demand, scheduled and next-day delivery.

“Through our new re-control opportunity for Addison machine owners, and our new tooling service for owners of Unison and other makes of tube bending machine,” concludes Alan Pickering, “our objective is to help as many organisations as possible that are involved in tube manipulation to improve accuracy and efficiency, and to also save time and money.”

Unison’s ‘refurbish and re-control’ package for Addison machines includes:

Unison’s latest servo drive platform
Machine inspection & condition report
New control & drive chassis plates
Replacement machine controller
Updated safety PLC – complying with latest machinery standards
New Windows 11 PC and latest version of Unibend software

www.unisonltd.com

PRESENTING THE ULTIMATE IN TUBE SIMULATION SOFTWARE AT FABTECH

Unison Ltd — 27/09/2022

Visitors to FABTECH Booth C10217 will be able to discover so much more than the latest all-electric and hybrid tube bending machines from Unison Ltd., the inventors of all-electric tube manipulation. That’s because Unison, a company renowned globally for its user-friendly control systems and advanced tube simulation software, will use the event to launch Opt2Sim Tube – the latest addition to its Opt2Sim software suite. Delegates visiting Unison’s FABTECH booth will also have the chance to win one of several Opt2Sim Tube software licenses.

“In developing Opt2Sim Tube, our goal was to offer a tube simulation product that would make it simpler and more straightforward than ever before to create virtual parts ready for bending data to be uploaded to the bending machine,” comments Unison Ltd.’s joint managing director, Alan Pickering. “In Opt2Sim Tube, we give users the ability to drag and drop STEP files into the software program and extract tube data instantly. Parts can also be drawn by simply entering XYZ or YBC coordinates and viewed in 3D. Bend data is quickly converted into printable reports and individual tube data can also be extracted. An exceptional piece of tube simulation software, Opt2Sim Tube is incredibly intuitive.”

Unison’s new Opt2Sim Tube software sits within the company’s wider Opt2Sim suite of 3D simulation software programs. Perfected for ‘Design to Manufacture’ production strategies, Opt2Sim tube bending simulation software uses machine and component data to provide a precise, virtual insight into the tube bending process before a single part is bent.

Enhanced collision detection

Products within the Opt2Sim software suite include a version where both CAD modelling capability and control engine are used to not only provide accurate simulation, but also enhanced collision detection. Believed to provide unique capabilities for enhanced batch processing, simulated bending takes place on an exact CAD representation of the Unison Breeze or Synergy machine that will be used. Additional options include:

Advanced Artificial Intelligence

Selecting Opt2Sim AI provides advanced Artificial Intelligence that will always aim to find a solution to even the most complex tube geometry, or whenever a potential collision between tube and machine is simulated. The AI feature is particularly useful with right/left machines and when assisting in the development of highly complex parts, such as those used in the oil & gas industry.

Processing multiple files

Opt2Sim WPS (Work Processing System) allows multiple users to batch process multiple parts at once. Widely used in the aviation and shipbuilding sectors, Opt2Sim WPS offers rapid ROI, by enabling many hundreds of different tube profiles to be processed in a matter of hours.

Rapid scanning of tube geometry

Finally, there is Opt2Sim Tube Scan. Possibly the most advanced tube measurement tool on the market, Opt2Sim Tube Scan provides rapid scanning of physical tube geometry and extraction of tube data, and incorporates ‘Compare to Master’ and intuitive functions in the event corrections are required.

“We are confident we now offer the most comprehensive suite of tube simulation software available,” adds Alan Pickering. “Unison Opt2Sim makes importing and extracting tube data easy and offers stepped software enhancements that take simulating the bending process, creating batch files and scanning tube coordinates to the next level. Opt2Sim provides users with a complete end-to-end solution, from taking 3D STEP files to bending tube within a single software suite. Opt2Sim Tube Scan takes the functionality of measurement software further than ever before – and is competitively priced when compared to scanning arm technologies.”

Unison Ltd: intelligent tube technology

Unison Ltd is the UK’s leading manufacturer of tube and pipe bending machines and continually innovates the tube and pipe bending marketplace. The company manufactured the world’s first all-electric tube bender in 1994, followed by the world’s first all-electric multi-stack tube bender, then the world’s largest all-electric tube bender for the shipbuilding industry. Available in single-stack, multi-stack and right/left varieties, Unison machines are delivered to more than 20 countries globally. Unison’s tube bending software is recognized as the most user-friendly control system for tube bending machines. The software is written and supported by Unison, ensuring complete control of its evolution, with no need for third party support. In North America, Unison’s tube bending technologies are sold and supported by Unison Tube LLC.

www.unisonltd.com

SECOND NUKON FIBRE LASER FOR LEADING NORTH-WEST SUBCONTRACTOR

Unison Ltd — 19/02/2024

Greater Manchester-based AD Laser Cutting Ltd has taken delivery of a second Nukon fibre laser.

Whereas AD Laser Cutting’s first fibre laser was a Nukon ECO 315 4kW model, its new machine is from the European laser machine manufacturer’s REX model range. Just like Nukon’s ECO machines, the Nukon REX is able to accommodate flat sheet metal sizes of up to 3 metres x 1.5 metres. Chosen primarily for its side-mounted loading table, to better fit with the available floorspace at AD Laser Cutting’s brand-new subcontract manufacturing facility - a move driven by the company’s growing order book - the Nukon REX also has a more powerful 6kW laser. This additional power will enable AD to precision-cut stainless steel of up to 25 mm in thickness.

“We really couldn’t have imagined just how much precision laser-cutting work our first machine from Nukon Lasers UK would enable us to complete,” comments AD Laser Cutting Ltd’s managing director, Darren Golden. “Projects undertaken have ranged from precision cutting stainless steel components for the utilities sector, to manufacturing furniture components, extraction panels, and even stillages for a number of leading vehicle manufacturers. In fact, only a short while after installation, the Nukon ECO 315 machine was running at near full capacity. It is extremely intuitive to program, easy to use, and has been trouble-free since it was installed. Moreover, the quality of cut has more than met the high standards demanded by our customers. Therefore, when it was time to grow the business and invest in a second fibre laser machine, it seemed pretty obvious that it should also come from Nukon Lasers UK. Also, from a purely commercial perspective, choosing Nukon again meant our guys could hit the ground running from day one.”

With powerful 2D flat sheet metal cutting capability and optional pipe and tube cutting and marking features, Nukon REX machines have been purposefully designed for subcontractors and organisations cutting small batches of varying shapes and sizes. Nukon REX fibre lasers offer high-spec features that are standard across the wider Nukon range. These include advanced Lantek Expert CAD/CAM nesting software and American-made nLIGHT fibre lasers.

Installed in September 2023, the Nukon REX machine bought by AD Laser Cutting Ltd is also equipped with CutLine adaptive beam-shaping technology – an option that provides improved cut-edge finish and easy, rapid cutting of different sheet thicknesses and metals. Nukon REX models have a compact footprint, while power options range from 2 kW to 8 kW. The more powerful 6kW model selected by AD Laser Cutting Ltd provides considerable capability and performance for cutting thicker metal sheet.

“The service and support we receive from the Nukon Lasers UK team and their sales director, Steve Haddrell, is nothing short of exceptional,” adds Darren Golden. “The training provided with both machines was excellent and Nukon are always quick to respond if we ever have any questions or need advice. With two Nukon fibre lasers now in daily operation at our Littleborough premises in Greater Manchester, we have also taken the opportunity to offer a range of additional services. These include metal folding, welding and powder coating.”

“It has been incredibly rewarding to work with Darren and the team at AD Laser Cutting Ltd – and even more rewarding to see the huge success they have made of the business,” says Steve Haddrell of Nukon Lasers UK. “For such premium quality machines, Nukon fibre lasers are incredibly price-accessible. The extremely compact footprint of several models, such as the REX, also makes them well-suited to production environments where floorspace is limited. At the same time, the low power consumption of every Nukon fibre laser is a significant advantage in these times of higher energy bills. I wish Darren and his team every success for the future and look forward to continuing to provide the highest levels of support.”

UNISON LAUNCHES ADVANCED TUBE BENDING APPLICATION APP

Unison Ltd — 06/12/2022

Unison Ltd, the UK’s premier manufacturer of tube and pipe bending machines, has launched an all-new version of its industry leading, free-to-use Tube Bending Application app.

With intuitive new features, it is believed to be the most advanced app of its kind for users of tube bending machinery.

The app makes it simple and straightforward for tube bending machinery operators to establish the required tooling type, mandrel style, size and material, as well as bend torque and machine size.

As an additional benefit, a clear, simple indication of ‘application difficulty’ – the difficulty of bending virtually any metal, wall thickness and diameter – is also provided.

Where customers are looking to bend new components or start new projects, but do not have the correct tooling or machinery, the app provides a valuable feasibility/viability check, detailing essential data regarding the equipment they will need to use.

New user-friendly features

In creating their all-new Tube Bending Application app, Unison’s in-house software design team introduced a whole range of user-friendly, intelligent new features.

These include a new project-specific filing system and a new dashboard for instant access to tube data, project notes, tooling setup, mandrel setup and machine power.

There is an updated conversion tool for transforming XYZ coordinates into YBC bending data.

As in previous versions of the app, units of measurement can be displayed as either metric or imperial, while reports can be downloaded in PDF format for desktop filing, sharing, review and consideration.

First introduced in 2012 for iPhone, and regularly updated, Unison’s Tube Bending Application app quickly became an essential tool for application engineers and tooling designers.

As the app grew in popularity, and requests for android and desktop operating systems were received, in 2018 it became fully web-based, with a mobile-friendly look and feel.

Revolutionising the way bend data is calculated

“Since it was first launched some ten years ago, our free Tube Bending Application app has revolutionised the way customers calculate bending criteria, providing them with a rapid insight into the necessary tooling setup, machine type and torque required to successfully complete even the most complex of bends,” comments Unison Ltd’s joint managing director, Alan Pickering.

“Never content to rest on our laurels, in our latest app, we have made significant improvements to usability and navigation, as well as enabling users to organise files into a folder structure that can be accessed across all their devices.

“We will soon also be linking the data created by the app to our comprehensive bend tool quoting and manufacturing offer. This will provide users with a seamless, rapid means of costing and ordering any tooling they require.

“Before creating our all-new app,” he continues, “we took the time to consult with a number of customers – all to ensure that it would bring even greater value to their tube and pipe bending processes.

“The new app does precisely that and is a further reflection of our commitment to not only build world-leading tube bending machines, but also provide the finest software and support systems to maximise their usage. We are incredibly proud that around the world, Unison software is considered to be the most user-friendly for tube manipulation tasks.”

How to access Unison’s new Tube Bending Application app:

Companies wishing to register to use Unison’s new app simply need to go here.
Existing users will be able to enjoy all the new features of the app when they next log in.

Unison Ltd: intelligent tube technology

Unison Ltd is the UK’s leading manufacturer of tube and pipe bending machines and continually innovates the tube and pipe bending marketplace.

The company manufactured the world’s first all-electric tube bender in 1994, followed by the world’s first all-electric multi-stack tube bender, then the world’s largest all-electric tube bender for the shipbuilding industry.

Available in single-stack, multi-stack and right/left varieties, Unison machines are delivered to more than 20 countries globally.

Unison’s tube bending software is recognised as the most user-friendly control system for tube bending machines. The software is written and supported by Unison, ensuring complete control of its evolution, with no need for third party support.

www.unisonltd.com

REIMAGINING THE PROCESS OF FLAT BAR FORMING

Unison Ltd — 24/03/2025

A newly launched flat bar forming machine from Unison Ltd, the inventor of ultra-precise, all-electric tube manipulation, is redefining the way stairlift railings, complex fabrications, street furniture, architectural fixtures and other applications that use flat bar materials are produced.

Called the Unison FLEX Flat Bar Former, the machine offers the seamless production of flat bar, toothed and pocketed flat bar profiles as well as tubular shapes. It can precision-form the most complex of flat bar designs, including freeform and sculptured shapes in minutes. Additionally, when teamed with Unison’s advanced Opt2Sim Suite of tube simulation software, design for manufacturing production strategies become straightforward and simple.

“Typically, the flat bar shapes that are used in stairlifts, architecture and other applications are manually fabricated – a process that is particularly labour intensive for all but the simplest of straight rail installations,” comments Unison Ltd’s joint managing director, Alan Pickering. “Our new FLEX model, however, changes all that. In effect, we have created an all-electric machine and software package that can take a CAD model of a continuously changing 3D shape with a reference surface, then decode it so the shape can be faithfully recreated by continuous 3D roll-forming.”

Unison’s purpose-developed software allows flat bar shapes to be calibrated for bend and twist, enabling the production of right-first-time parts within the typical constraints of metal tolerance and behaviour. The 3D file import system contained in Unison’s Opt2Sim tube simulation software suite, enables users to drag and drop STEP files into the software application and access bending data instantly. Alternatively, parts can be drawn by entering XYZ coordinates or YBC data then viewed in 3D.

The Unison FLEX Flat Bar Former.

Opt2Sim Scan for precise, portable 3D measuring

For the precise creation of the calibration files necessary for accurately reproducing - and verifying - the various bends and twists of even the most complex of flat bar components, Unison’s advanced Opt2Sim Scan portable tube and bar geometry scanning solution can also be specified with the new FLEX Flat Bar Former. Possibly the most advanced hand-held tube measurement system on the market, Opt2Sim Scan incorporates a Creaform3D handheld scanner for precise, portable 3D scanning of the component the user wishes to replicate or measure. With considerable scan points, the system’s constant reference geometry ensures accurate results without need of a skilled operator. Scanned dimensions are easily compared to master file data, with corrections sent directly to the bar bending machine.

The complex, made simple

“We really have done everything possible to make creating complex flat bar metal shapes incredibly straightforward,” adds Alan Pickering, “even to the degree of allowing for real-world material dimensions and calibrating around such characteristics. Our new Unison FLEX Flat Bar Former really is bringing new levels of control, precision and time-saving to the manipulation of flat bar materials and is already generating considerable interest and orders from stairlift manufacturers in particular.”

Unison Ltd: intelligent tube technology

Unison Ltd is the UK’s leading manufacturer of tube and pipe bending machines and continually innovates the tube and pipe bending marketplace. The company manufactured the world’s first all-electric tube bender in 1994, followed by the world’s first all-electric multi-stack tube bender, then the world’s largest all-electric tube bender for the shipbuilding industry. Available in single-stack, multi-stack and right/left varieties, Unison machines are delivered to more than 20 countries globally. Unison’s tube bending software is recognised as the most user-friendly control system for tube bending machines. The software is written and supported by Unison, ensuring complete control of its evolution, with no need for third party support.

See the Unison FLEX Flat Bar Former in action: https://youtu.be/_RKzf3jUHTk?si=aajOc_gQbY87Oq36

For more product information, please contact: Alan Pickering – joint managing director, Unison Ltd

T: +44(0) 1723 582 868

E: sales@unisonltd.com

For more press information, please contact: Peter Bailey

E: news@unisonltd.com

UNISON AND NUKON LASERS HELP ACCESS EQUIPMENT MAKER, REDHILL, REACH NEW HEIGHTS AFTER FACTORY FIRE

Unison Ltd — 07/02/2023

Redditch-based access equipment maker, Redhill Manufacturing, has purchased two British-built all-electric tube bending machines from Unison Ltd, and two fibre laser cutting machines from Unison’s sister company, Nukon Lasers UK.

The new machines will be used by Redhill to meet increased demand for its products, with one of the tube benders replacing a machine that was lost in a factory fire in May 2022.

The first of the new fibre lasers, a Nukon ECO 315 4kW flat sheet metal machine, was installed at Redhill’s newly acquired facility in December 2022.

The second laser, a Nukon NKT-125 2kW 3D tube cutting model, and the two Unison tube bending machines – both 30 mm tube diameter single stack models – will be installed later in 2023. Combined, the value of the four machines is in excess of £1 million.

Following the fire at its original manufacturing site, Redhill wasn’t simply faced with finding new premises. The Redditch business also needed quality CNC machine tools to maintain its standing as the only UK manufacturer of ‘kitemarked’ British Standard mobile safety steps.

“Incredibly, we were up and running again in just three weeks following the fire,” comments Redhill’s managing director, Andy Colley.

“With temporary accommodation secured until we could move into our new manufacturing facility in winter 2022, and the insurance settled, we basically needed to source new tube bending machinery – and quickly. This was because only one of our existing benders had survived the fire. It also seemed appropriate to end our reliance on outsourced laser-cut parts by investing in our own flat sheet and laser tube cutting capability.”

Free loan of tube bending machine

“I’d read good things about Unison’s range of all-electric ‘Breeze’ tube bending machines, so got in touch with them with a view to ordering two machines; one to replace the machine we’d lost and a second for additional capacity,” adds Andy Colley.

“As it would be several months before the new bending machines were ready, Unison kindly offered to lend us one of their showroom models. This was just what we needed to tide us over until the new tube benders were built.”

It was during a meeting with Unison’s key account manager, Steve Haddrell, to discuss the specification of Redhill Manufacturing’s two new all-electric Breeze tube benders, that the conversation turned to laser cutting.

“I obviously had a requirement for two fibre laser machines but wasn’t aware that Unison’s sister company had recently become the UK and Ireland distributor for the Nukon laser range,” says Andy Colley.

“As I didn’t really know the Nukon brand, Steve Haddrell arranged to take me to a company in Sheffield that had been using a Nukon flat sheet metal laser for around a year – all so I could see the machine in action and chat to the operators about their experience of using it.”

“If it’s good enough for Unison…”

Hearing glowing reports of how the Nukon flat sheet metal laser had streamlined the process of cutting complex precision components at the Sheffield business, Andy Colley then travelled to Nukon’s European manufacturing facility to see a Nukon tube laser machine in action.

“The tube laser machine was just as impressive as the machine I’d seen in Sheffield,” comments Andy Colley.

“The build quality was very good. Both machines were competitively priced, and the features included nLIGHT fibre lasers with adaptive beam optimisation and Lantek Expert nesting software. What really gave me the confidence to place an order, however, was my belief that if Unison was happy to be associated with Nukon, there was absolutely no need for me to be concerned about machine quality or aftersales support. They were a given.”

Redhill Manufacturing chose the Nukon ECO 315 4kW (3050 mm x 1530 mm) flat sheet metal fibre laser for its ability to cut complex shapes and pieces with speed and precision – supported by fast, easy programming, an essential requirement for a business dealing with small batch runs.

Similarly, the Nukon NKT-125 2kW 3D tube laser machine was selected for its speed, easy programming and exceptional versatility whether cutting pipe of round, oval, square or rectangular profile. The machine will also be supplied with a fully automatic Nukon 8 m loading and unloading system.

Redhill’s two new 30 mm Unison Breeze single stack tube bending machines will be used in the manufacture of its British Standard (BS EN 131-7) kitemarked steps; mobile steps, portable steps and other access equipment. All Unison Breeze machines offer rapid setup, fast tooling changes, exceptional power, rigid mechanical design and all-electric control for right-first-time repeat sub-contract work, or immediately after producing a single trial part.

“The installation of our Nukon ECO flat sheet metal laser was smooth and straightforward,” adds Andy Colley.

“While thanks to the machine’s easy setup and the thorough training provided by the Nukon Lasers UK team, we were successfully cutting components almost immediately – a benefit that gave us excellent quality control and allowed us to stop outsourcing laser cutting.

“We’re now looking forward to the arrival of our second Nukon laser and the Unison tube benders in the next few months.”

“It was a pleasure to assist Redhill Manufacturing in upscaling its manufacturing capability and replacing the equipment lost in the fire,” comments Unison’s Steve Haddrell. “When we heard how the business had lost one of its tube benders, we simply had to help out with a loan machine.”

www.unisonltd.com

www.nukonlasers.co.uk

www.redhillmanufacturing.co.uk

UNISON MARKS 30 YEARS SINCE IT LAUNCHED THE WORLD’S FIRST ALL-ELECTRIC TUBE BENDING MACHINE

Unison Ltd — 29/07/2024

Unison Ltd, the UK’s leading manufacturer of tube bending technologies, is celebrating 30 years since it invented all-electric tube manipulation and launched the world’s first all-electric tube bending machine in 1994. It’s an invention that has changed the way tube is bent by precision industries around the globe.

Convinced there was a better, more precise way of bending tube than by using the hydraulically operated machines of the day, in the late 1980s Unison’s founder, Terry Pickering, along with his son, Alan (who is now the company’s joint managing director), set about reinventing the process of tube manipulation.

“It was no great secret that the accuracy of hydraulic tube bending machines could be affected by changing oil temperature,” says Alan Pickering. “In other words, a machine with cold hydraulic oil at the start of a shift might well perform differently later in the day when its oil was hot. The greater viscosity of the cold oil, compared to that of hot oil, would typically result in the machine operator having to make temperature-related adjustments during the day to ensure satisfactory levels of repeatability. With all those manual adjustments to make - particularly on the clamp and pressure die - each operator would keep a black book of how they managed to get a good part out of their tube bending machines.”

Unison’s ultimate goal was to take the black art out of tube bending as much as possible, by letting a CNC capture all the correct machine axis settings – in order to repeat them on future bends and get to a point where ‘right first time’ results were possible. During the R&D process, it also became clear that to achieve this, it was important to not only control axis position, but also the force of each axis.

Following a 1991 Brite Euram feasibility study into automatic setup tube bending, in 1992 Unison secured a SMART award to develop three all-electric tube bending machines. “At that point we were already well on the way to understanding what we would need to do to create the world’s first-ever all-electric tube bender,” adds Alan Pickering. “The easy axis to do was the bend arm; the challenge was all the other axes. It took a few years to achieve what we wanted, but by pushing the servo actuators of the day to their limits, we developed a process where low-friction-slide adjusting mechanisms powered by an electric motor with torque control, brought absolute pressure control to bending machine components such as the clamping die, pressure die, mandrel and powered follower. All-electric tube manipulation had been invented – with the assurance of accuracy and repeatability at the tightest of bending parameters for large and small production runs, and with no concern over hydraulic oil or even external temperatures.”

Called the Unison Breeze, due to the speed and ease it brought to achieving repeatable tube manipulation, the world’s first all-electric three-axis tube bending machine was launched by Unison in 1994. UK and German patents were registered, and right-first-time tube bending was born.

Over the following years, Unison developed and launched the world’s first all-electric five-stack tube bending machine, followed by the world’s first 76 mm, 115 mm, 150 mm and 180 mm multi-stack machines, as well as robotised benders and twin-head tube benders for producing symmetrical, simultaneous bends. Today, with facilities in the UK and USA, Unison offers the world’s largest range of ultra-precise, all-electric tube and pipe bending machines for diameters ranging from 4 mm to 275 mm, in single-stack, multi-stack and right/left versions. For more straightforward, repetitive applications, it has also recently introduced a range of high-accuracy hybrid machines.

“All-electric tube bending was a difficult sell for us at first,” says Alan Pickering. “In fact it took a number of forward-thinking customers to put their faith in our technology before others would make the switch. However, our big breakthrough came when Airbus ordered their first all-electric tube bender from us – a machine that paid for itself in 16 weeks, in reduced scrap alone. As all-electric tube manipulation caught on, competition from the bigger players was inevitable, but we kept our heads down and kept on pushing forward.

“Today, of course, all-electric tube bending machines are commonplace offerings from manufacturers from around the world. But I am proud to say that we remain the preferred choice of countless organisations from all manner of industry sectors. Whether it’s aerospace, performance automotive, marine, oil & gas, energy or general manufacturing, we take pride in building powerful, highly energy efficient machines that meet the challenges faced by our customers head on. Thanks to our build quality, uncompromising customer support and user-friendly control systems - not to mention our tube bending simulation software and innovative tube bending application app - I truly believe that 30 years on from the first Unison Breeze machine, we still have, and always will have, the edge. You could say we’re the original and best.”

www.unisonltd.com

A SECOND UNISON BREEZE TUBE BENDER IS THE PREMIER CHOICE FOR PLATINUM’S ULTIMATE STAIRLIFT

Unison Ltd — 24/06/2022

Platinum Stairlifts of Keighley, West Yorkshire, has taken delivery of a second, ultra-precise, all-electric 90 mm (maximum tube diameter) Unison Breeze tube bending machine.

The purchase of the machine corresponds with Platinum’s move to a new multi-million-pound purpose-built manufacturing facility in the town, and underpins its faith in the quality, reliability and repeatability of Unison Ltd’s British-built tube manipulation technologies.

Stairlift company Platinum invested in its first all-electric Breeze tube bender from Scarborough-based Unison Ltd in 2015 – the same year as it launched its flagship ‘Ultimate’ stairlift; an elegant, ‘single tube’ design capable of navigating steep and narrow curved staircases.

“We fully appreciated that in order to create an industry leading single tube stairlift we would need to invest in advanced, all-electric tube bending machinery,” comments Platinum Stairlifts’ Production Engineer, Matthew Turton.

“At that time, we were using a hydraulic tube bending machine which, although absolutely fine for forming the rails for our twin tube stairlifts, lacked the capability to bend the highly complex angles required for a premium single tube model.

“Having considered the tube bending machines and levels of support offered by a number of manufacturers, we went ahead and ordered our first Unison Breeze machine,” he continues.

“A 90 mm multi-stack model, the all-electric Breeze quickly demonstrated its ability to accurately bend tube for even the most challenging of designs, such as complex spiral and multi-flight staircases. In fact, through a combination of twist and draw bending, using Unison-supplied precision tubing, I have yet to see a staircase angle that the Breeze machine has been unable to achieve.”

Installed earlier this month, Platinum’s second 90 mm all-electric Unison Breeze machine will further enhance the company’s ability to produce its Ultimate single tube stairlift in greater volumes. While thanks to a simple switch of tooling, both Breeze machines can quickly shift production to Platinum’s twin tube ‘Curve’ stairlift whenever order numbers dictate.

“The immense capabilities of our first Unison Breeze machine, combined with the high levels of service and support we receive from the company, gave us the confidence to choose Unison for our second all-electric tube bender,” adds Matthew Turton.

“Unison’s clear understanding of our manufacturing requirements and its ability to incorporate roll forming into the new machine’s design, also mean we no longer need to use our older hydraulic machine for production, freeing it up for training purposes. Never more than a phone call away, the Unison team is very approachable and helpful. Our operators also find Unison’s Unibend control system to be intuitive and extremely simple to use.”

Unison’s Steve Chambers

“We are delighted that Platinum Stairlifts chose to invest in yet another Unison Breeze tube bending machine,” comments Unison Ltd Sales Project Manager, Steve Chambers. “It was especially rewarding to assist Platinum in further streamlining its production processes by incorporating roll forming capability into the new machine’s design.”

Platinum Stairlifts’ two Unison Breeze 90 mm multi-stack tube bending machines were chosen for their ease of use and ability to deliver the accuracy and reliability necessary to meet the company’s strict manufacturing tolerances.

Just like all Unison Breeze machines, 90 mm Breeze models offer rapid setup, fast tooling changes, exceptional power, rigid mechanical design, and all-electric control for right-first-time repeat sub-contract work, or immediately after producing a single trial part.

These are attributes that Unison Ltd believes make its Breeze machines well suited to businesses specialising in small batch production runs.

About Platinum Stairlifts

Committed to helping people regain independence in their own homes, Platinum Stairlifts has been manufacturing in the North of England since 1996.

The company employs over 200 staff and distributes over 10,000 stairlifts a year to more than 40 countries worldwide, including France, Germany, Spain, the Netherlands, and the USA, through an approved partner network.

The range of products consists of three expertly crafted models, The Ultimate, single tube curved stairlift, The Curve, twin tube curved stairlift, and The Horizon straight stairlift. Each one is custom-made to suit the needs and homes of the individual user.

The company has experienced rapid growth and is now consolidating the existing three manufacturing sites into one brand new, custom-built facility. This significant investment will more than double production capacity and form the basis for further growth.

www.platinumstairlifts.com

Unison Ltd: intelligent tube technology

Unison Ltd is the UK’s leading manufacturer of tube and pipe bending machines and continually innovates the tube and pipe bending marketplace.

Available in single-stack, multi-stack and right/left varieties, Unison machines are delivered to more than 20 countries globally.

Unison’s tube bending software is recognised as the most user-friendly control system for tube bending machines. The software is written and supported by Unison, ensuring complete control of its evolution, with no need for third party support.

www.unisonltd.com

PRESENTING TOTAL TUBE TECHNOLOGY AND FIBRE LASER CUTTING AT MACH 2026

Unison Ltd — 01/02/2026

MACH 2026 is particularly exciting for Unison Ltd, the UK-based inventor of ultra-precise, all-electric tube manipulation. That’s because, at this year’s event, Unison will not only present advanced machine tool and simulation technologies – including those from its wider family of companies – but will also demonstrate the biggest, most powerful all-electric tube bending machine it has ever taken to a MACH show.

That machine is an 80 mm (maximum tube diameter) tube bender from Unison’s globally acclaimed and British-built Breeze range. Quite possibly the most widely used all-electric tube bending machine on the market for automotive and aerospace component manufacturers, as well as subcontractors and general fabricators, the 80 mm Breeze is available in both single- and multi-stack configurations. Alongside the 80 mm Breeze will be a smaller 50 mm model – a machine that has become a firm favourite among subcontractors, fabricators, furniture, bus, train and handrailing manufacturers.

Other machine tool technologies on display on Unison’s stand, no. 20-550, will include one of the company’s manually operated and CNC-controlled EvBend 1000 precision tube bending machines, a Pneuform 3D rotary head wire bending machine, and a Cross Series flat sheet metal fibre laser cutting machine from Unison’s sister company, Nukon Lasers UK. Demonstrations of Unison’s advanced Opt2Sim Scan tube measurement system will also take place throughout the event.

Unison Breeze – British-built, ultra-precise, all-electric tube bending

Like all Unison Breeze tube bending machines, the 80 mm and 50 mm models that will be on display at MACH offer rapid setup, fast tooling changes, exceptional power, rigid mechanical design, and all-electric control for right-first-time repeat sub-contract work, or immediately after producing trial parts of even the most complex of geometry. These are attributes that Unison Ltd believes make its Breeze models the ultimate tube manipulation machines for businesses specialising in high-precision bending as well as small batch production runs.

Unison EvBend – high accuracy, CNC-controlled manual tube bending

Unison EvBend models are used widely across aerospace and MRO, Formula 1 and the oil & gas industry. Highly affordable and designed for low volume, high-accuracy prototyping and production, they provide 3-axis mandrel, multi-plane tube and pipe bending at a fraction of the cost of fully automated machines. In addition to the EvBend 1000, which is designed for bending tube of up to 16 mm in diameter (22 mm in copper), a larger machine, the EvBend 2000, is also available. Built to bend tube of up to 50 mm in diameter, its bending function is servo-assisted. Both EvBend machines feature a 15-inch PC-based touchscreen controlled by a CNC that is capable of processing up to 100 bends per component, storing infinite parts and connecting to CAD and most tube measuring systems.

Unison EvBend 1000 CNC-controlled manual tube bending machine

Pneuform wire bending machines

Pneuform wire and small-diameter tube bending machines are widely seen as setting the industry standard by manufacturers of beer coolers, drink dispensers, HVAC equipment, and small-diameter automotive parts. Pneuform’s range of 3D rotary head bending machines includes models capable of precision-bending mild steel wire of 3 mm to 16 mm in diameter, and tube of up to 20 mm in diameter. As standard, all Pneuform machines are equipped with Yaskawa drives and Unison’s user-friendly software for easy programming, operation and control. Other machines in the Pneuform range include twin-head wire & tube bending machines, rotating wire 3D bending machines, enamelled wire stripping & bending machines, and copper & aluminium busbar bending machines. Optional heading machines and press stations are also available for secondary operations.

Opt2Sim Scan – for rapid, precise and consistent results

Unison’s advanced Opt2Sim Scan handheld tube measurement system combines rapid scanning of tube geometry with easy extraction of tube data. Teamed with a Creaform handheld 3D scanner to measure the tube or component they wish to replicate or measure, operators need only enter its bending data into Opt2Sim Scan, then compare measured tube dimensions to master file data and send any corrections directly to the bending machine. Offering considerable scan points without compromising speed, the constant reference geometry provided by Opt2Sim Scan ensures supremely accurate results, with ‘compare to master’ and feedback to the bending machine being quick and seamless.

High performance, highly accessible fibre laser cutting machines from Nukon

Already renowned for its high quality, intelligently priced European-built fibre laser cutting machines and press brakes, Nukon Lasers UK has launched a new, massively re-engineered range of laser machines to make high-performance metal cutting even more accessible. Branded the Nukon Cross Series, the new machines have been designed with a strong focus on productivity. They offer powerful 2D flat sheet metal cutting capability and can be specified with bed sizes of 3 m x 1.5 m, 4 m x 2 m, or 6 m x 2 m. Power options range from as little as 2 kW, right up to 30 kW for the most challenging of laser-cutting applications.

Nukon Cross fibre laser metal-cutting machine

Showcasing latest innovations

“Without a shadow of doubt, MACH is the most important event on our UK exhibition calendar,” says Unison Ltd’s joint managing director, Alan Pickering. “Not only does it provide us with an incredible opportunity to showcase our latest innovations from the wider Unison family – machine tools, simulation tools and software to make manufacturing faster, better and more cost-effective – but it also provides the perfect venue to catch up with customers old and new.”

MIY Expo Exhibitor Spotlight: Unison - Inventors and Innovators of All-Electric Tube Bending

Unison Ltd — 03/10/2025

At Unison, we’re recognised as the UK’s leading manufacturer of CNC tube, pipe and wire bending machines, with a track record of firsts including inventing ultra-precise, all-electric tube bending back in 1994. With over 50 years of engineering expertise, we’ve built a reputation for simplifying even the most complex bending challenges.

Proudly based in Scarborough, our roots run deep in Yorkshire manufacturing, and our technologies now serve customers across more than 20 countries worldwide.

We’ll be exhibiting at the Made in Yorkshire Expo on Thursday 16th October 2025 at the Accu Stadium, Huddersfield.

As part of Made in Yorkshire’s Exhibitor Spotlight series, we caught up with the team to hear about Unison’s journey, recent milestones, and what’s next on the horizon.

1) In one sentence – what does Unison do best?

We are the UK’s leading manufacturer of CNC tube, pipe and wire bending machines, and the inventors of ultra-precise, all-electric tube and pipe manipulation.

2) What’s the driving mission or purpose behind Unison right now?

With a world-class range of machine tool technologies and innovative software solutions, all backed by unrivalled levels of aftersales support, our mission is to provide a true one-stop solution for manufacturers and subcontractors involved in precision tube, pipe and wire bending.

Today, the Unison family of companies also includes Nukon Lasers UK – the exclusive UK and Ireland distributor of Nukon’s European-built fibre laser cutting machines – and Pneuform, the renowned British manufacturer of CNC wire and small-diameter tube bending machines. Together, we’re committed to offering the most comprehensive choice of technologies to customers.

3) What’s been the biggest change or milestone for Unison in the last 12 months?

The last year has been one of significant growth and investment. Internationally, we’ve entered into a definitive agreement to acquire California-based PHI Hydraulics, a long-established tube bending and end forming machine tool maker. This acquisition will further strengthen our offering across North America and beyond.

Here in the UK, we’ve invested more than £750,000 in specialist bend tooling machinery, giving us the capability to produce hundreds of individual tooling items every day. With tailored tooling agreements for customers and around £200,000 worth of consumable tooling stocked for immediate dispatch, this investment has transformed the speed, quality, and reliability of our precision tooling service.

4) Any exciting new developments on the horizon?

Innovation continues to drive everything we do. Our latest launch is the Opt2Sim Suite – advanced subscription-based tube simulation software that gives manufacturers precise virtual insights into the components they want to produce before a single part is bent.

Alongside this, Opt2Sim Scan brings portable, hand-held 3D tube measurement capability to the market – offering one of the most advanced systems of its kind. And for accessibility, a free-to-use tube bending app can now be downloaded directly from our website, putting powerful tools into the hands of more manufacturers than ever.

5) Tell us one surprising or little-known fact about Unison.

Although it’s mentioned at the very beginning, it’s a fact worth highlighting again: Unison invented all-electric tube manipulation. Before that breakthrough in 1994, manufacturers had to rely on hydraulic machines that were slower to set up and less consistent, with accuracy often impacted by oil temperature and operator skill.

Our Joint Managing Director, Alan Pickering, was part of the original team behind that world-first innovation – a legacy we’re proud to continue building on today.

Come and meet us at the Made in Yorkshire Expo 2025

We’ll be on stand MIY143 at the Made in Yorkshire Expo, Thursday 16th October 2025.

Whether you’re an OEM, subcontractor or innovator in your own niche, we’d love to hear about your challenges. From Scarborough to Silicon Valley, our growth has always been driven by close collaboration with customers – and the Expo is the perfect place to start that conversation.

If you haven't already, make sure you register for the MIY Expo today.

See you there!

Nukon fibre laser is clear choice for Steel & Glass Solutions

Unison Ltd — 20/12/2022

Dunstable-based Steel & Glass Solutions has taken delivery of a new Nukon Rex 315 6 kW 2D fibre laser cutting machine from Nukon Lasers UK, sister company of Unison Ltd.

The machine was ordered at the UK’s MACH 2022 machine tool exhibition, with installation postponed until Steel & Glass Solutions moved into purpose-built new premises.

Steel & Glass Solutions is renowned for producing incredible architectural metalwork for some of the UK’s most iconic building projects – an accolade which means there is never room for compromise on specification or product quality.

Earlier this year, with a growing order book, the business decided it was time to invest in its own flat sheet metal laser cutting capability.

“Traditionally, we have relied on outsourcing the laser cutting of the high-end polished steel fabrications and steel cladding panels used in our designs,” comments production director, Warren Few.

“However, these would sometimes arrive with imperfections, meaning they would have to be sent back. Additionally, outsourcing laser cutting meant we couldn’t always react quite as quickly as we would like to customer needs.

“We were also aware that having our own fibre laser cutting capability on site would help us to remain as competitive as possible in these times of high energy prices.”

With MACH 2022 fast approaching, the Steel & Glass Solutions team decided that visiting the show would be the best way of comparing the various fibre laser technologies on offer.

Knowing they would need a fairly powerful 2D flat sheet metal model, they drew up a shortlist of laser machines they would like to take a closer look at.

“Before going to MACH, we had only given a cursory glance to Nukon’s fibre laser machines as, although built in Europe, the brand wasn’t one that was on our radar,” adds Warren Few.

“However, at the show, we couldn’t ignore the quality, speed and value they offered – or the exceptionally low running costs. Perhaps the thing that really convinced us to order the Nukon Rex machine was meeting Alan Pickering from tube bending machinery manufacturer, Unison Ltd., on the Nukon stand.

“Alan explained how for quite some time Unison had been looking to complement its British-built tube bending machines with high-quality laser cutting technologies and how, after researching the market, established Nukon Lasers UK as the official Nukon dealer for the UK and Ireland.

“Having owned and operated an all-electric Unison Breeze tube bending machine at a previous company,” continues Warren Few, “I was well aware that Unison would only offer and support a product they had complete confidence in. It was a pleasure to deal with like-minded people.”

Steel & Glass Solutions chose the Nukon Rex 2D fibre laser machine for its ability to cut intricate shapes and pieces with speed and precision, supported by fast, easy programming – essential for a business dealing with short product runs and complex, different projects.

A Nukon 315 Series machine, the Rex is able to accommodate sheet dimensions of 3050 mm x 1530 mm and is equipped with a powerful 6 kW nLIGHT fibre laser, with advanced cutline beam shaping technology for a superior edge finish. The machine also features the innovative Nukon NLCH cutting head that is fully field serviceable, further reducing running costs and downtime.

“Installation was quick and straightforward, and the training provided by Nukon Lasers UK’s Steve Haddrell was excellent,” says Warren Few. “In fact, considering no one at Steel & Glass Solutions had ever used a laser cutting machine before, it’s hard to believe that we were successfully cutting customer orders in 1.5 mm to 10 mm stainless steel within two days.

“We appreciate that the Nukon Rex is a very fast machine. But for us, the real benefit has been the quality of the parts produced and the ease of programming. The Nukon Lasers UK team helped immeasurably in getting our laser cutting capability up and running.

“Perhaps what’s most impressive is that if they don’t have an immediate answer to a cutting challenge, they don’t blag it, they solve it. For example, a nesting issue for a particularly complex design was resolved with a quick call to Lantek, who linked up with our PC in under 15 seconds.”

Nukon’s range of 2D fibre laser machines includes models designed for first-time laser users and businesses adding value to in-house manufactured products, as well as high-performance machines for demanding flat-bed laser metal cutting requirements in subcontract environments.

About Nukon Lasers UK

Nukon Lasers UK is the official UK and Ireland distributor of Nukon’s European-built 2D, 3D and tube fibre laser cutting machines and loading & unloading solutions.

Equipped with American-made nLIGHT fibre lasers and advanced Lantek CAD/CAM nesting software, Nukon fibre lasers combine high speed and high precision with exceptional value and build quality, as well as incredibly low running costs.

The Nukon Lasers UK team offers first-class machine tool service, training, maintenance and technical support, in addition to service contracts and service level agreements that can be tailored to specific requirements.

www.nukonlasers.co.uk

About Steel & Glass Solutions

With over 20 years’ experience in architectural metalwork, the Steel & Glass Solutions team takes great pride in delivering the highest quality solution to every brief.

Projects include the design and manufacture of complex, intricate metalwork for the Whitechapel and Bond Street Crossrail stations, as well as exquisite balustrades, framework and metalwork for many high-end, bespoke residences and office buildings in London and the South of the UK.

www.steelandglasssolutions.com

Unison Brings Ultra-Precise Bending to Morse Hydraulics

Unison Ltd — 30/05/2022

Unison Tube LLC of Danville, VA has assisted Morse Hydraulics, a leading US-based provider of high-pressure hydraulic hoses and fittings, in removing its reliance on external suppliers for the bending of specialist pipe fittings and, in doing so, also reducing the volume of bent components it holds in stock.

With a mission to ‘Always provide the right solutions with world-class products’, Morse Hydraulics required a pipe bending machine that would offer uncompromising levels of accuracy and repeatability, yet would be well suited to a manufacturing environment specialising in both one-off and small batch runs

“Our goal was two-fold,” says Richie Damian, owner at Morse Hydraulics. “First and foremost, we wanted to carry out pipe bending in house, to enable us to respond even more quickly to the varied needs of our customers. Secondly, as a knock-on benefit, we also wanted to reduce the significant levels of bent pipe fittings that outsourced production meant we were having to hold in stock.

“Until we met with the team at Unison Tube, our search for the right pipe bending machine was proving challenging,” he continues. “Many of the lower-priced machines we saw simply didn’t offer the levels of accuracy we were looking for, whereas other fully automated CNC machines were either prohibitively expensive or offered capabilities we would never use.”

Listening to Morse Hydraulics’ pipe bending requirements prompted Stuart Singleton, VP at Unison Tube LLC to recommend one of Unison’s EvBend 2000 power-assisted CNC machines. Recently introduced by Unison to assist precision manufacturing companies that require low-volume, high- accuracy tube and pipe production and prototyping, EvBend machines are CNC-controlled, manually operated 3-axis models that offer precise multi-plane bending at much lower cost than many fully automated CNC benders.

“Since the Unison EvBend 2000 was installed at our facility in Portland, Oregon, we have completely removed our reliance on outsourced pipe bending and have been able to significantly reduce our stockholding,” adds Richie Damian. “With bending on site, we are better placed to deliver the high-quality hydraulic tube fittings our customers demand, as well as custom bend even the most hard-to-find fittings and connectors. Unison’s thorough training ensured we were producing saleable bent components from day one, plus they are never more than a phone call away should we need them for guidance.”

As an indication of the levels of accuracy they offer, Unison EvBend machines are widely used across aerospace, Formula One and the oil & gas industry. The EvBend 1000 machine will precision bend tube and pipe of up to 16 mm OD, while the bigger EvBend 2000 machine, as purchased by Morse Hydraulics, will precision bend tube and pipe of up to 50 mm OD.

“It was a pleasure to assist Richie and the team at Morse Hydraulics in finding the right CNC pipe bending machine to meet their needs,” comments Stuart Singleton, of Unison Tube LLC. “Although Unison is perhaps best known for all-electric tube and pipe bending technologies, assisting Morse Hydraulics provided the perfect opportunity to showcase our range of ultra-precise manual machines, which are well suited to organisations bending small numbers of highly specialised parts.”

www.unisonltd.com

Unison Keeps Decades of Tube Bending Expertise in Britain with Latest Recruits

Unison Ltd — 26/10/2022

Unison Ltd, the UK’s leading manufacturer of tube bending machines and the inventor of all-electric tube manipulation, has recruited several former employees of now-defunct Preston-based Addison Forming Technologies Ltd (formerly known as Addison McKee).

“With new Unison tube bending technologies and software solutions in the pipeline, new markets to break into, and exciting long-term strategic plans,” comments Unison’s joint managing director, Alan Pickering, “we took the decision to recruit as many of the former Addison team members as we could justify and, in doing so, keep their considerable skills in the UK.

“Between them, the guys from Addison Forming Technologies offer many decades of irreplaceable tube bending knowledge,” adds Alan Pickering. “Therefore, when we heard that the business had ceased trading back in July, we simply couldn’t sit back, do nothing and allow such fantastic talent to be wasted or enticed overseas. As you can imagine, this is a significant investment for us. But we are convinced it will reap rewards and enable us to offer even higher levels of service to our global customer base.”

Already working at Unison are former Addison Forming Technologies international sales manager Andy Worthington, proposals engineer Luke Gibson, software engineer Bill Watson and machine tools designer Dan Gallagher. Further new starters are expected in the coming weeks.

A much wider product offering

Commenting on joining Unison as international sales manager, Andy Worthington says: “I’ve known the Unison team for almost all of the 28 years I worked at the Walton Summit site. After all, as you’d expect, there was always friendly rivalry between the two companies. Whereas Addison’s Databend machines were largely focused on the automotive exhaust sector however, Unison’s tube bending technologies have a much wider reach – with all-electric Breeze and hybrid Synergy machines, and associated tooling, for sectors including shipbuilding, aerospace, oil & gas, architecture, motorsport and general manufacturing. As international sales manager, I am looking forward to exploring new markets and introducing Unison’s market-leading technologies to contacts old and new. Before that, however, I’ll be heading to the FABTECH expo in Atlanta in early November, where Unison will be showcasing its latest tube bending and control technologies to North American customers.”

Ongoing investment in tooling shows

Luke Gibson, who joins Unison as a tooling sales specialist adds: “The sheer breadth and quality of the bend tool solutions on offer at Unison is exceptional. They have clearly invested regularly in their bend tooling offering over the years, and it shows. In fact, they’re about to purchase a new CNC machine specifically for their tooling division. Unison can support virtually any make of bender with a precise tooling solution and will even adapt tooling to fit specific machines. As you can imagine, I am looking forward to getting fully up to speed with things.”

Unison Ltd Blog - Introducing ourselves

Unison Ltd — 29/06/2021

Welcome to our first Unison Ltd Blog

To those of you who have worked alongside us for nearly 50 years, we hope these blogs add to your knowledge.

For those of you who don’t know us, we hope they inspire you to call us and find out more!

Unison has been providing tube bending solutions for over 40 years working closely with our customers to design and build some of the most cutting-edge tube bending technology available in the global marketplace today.

Unison Ltd HQ in Scarborough, UK

We were the first to design and manufacture all-electric tube bending machinery back in 1994.

Since then, we have continued to lead the market through product enhancements and by providing innovative solutions to challenging production problems.

For more on our history, click here

By clicking through our website you may be surprised at the depth and breadth of our customer base and the interesting solutions we deploy.

Innovation and problem solving is at the heart of what we do and collaborating with our customers has provided the catalyst to innovation; our Research & Development team relishes the challenge especially when other manufacturers say it can’t be done!

Our desire to innovate, and not merely copy others, has rewarded us with a global reputation for solving the most challenging customer problems.

We live in very interesting times commercially, particularly in the world of engineering where the landscape is changing rapidly.

‘Industry 4.0,’ process automation and the ‘Internet of Things’ are the flagships of change that are driving the next industrial revolution.

Skills shortages add another layer of complexity with political unrest framing these challenges worldwide.

Read more about our innovation by clicking here

So what have Unison done to ensure we are ready for the next 10 years?

Unison has opened a sales and service office in Coventry to enhance our team in the UK.

Our facility in Danville, VA, houses our dedicated sales and service team, which continues to grow, and our training school where we are aiming to help solve some of our client’s skills shortages for the long term.

Ingenium Integration, our process automation business, in Manchester continues to grow its portfolio of skills including 3D Scanning and Printing.

As a team we continue to innovate and bring new exciting products to marketing to help our customers to be the best in their sector.

Scarborough UTC

Our CSR programme is very important to us. We are welcoming the beginning of a flow of apprentices from Scarborough UTC (University Technical College – an advanced manufacturing academy for 14 – 18 year olds).

As founders, we are very proud of what has been accomplished since it opened in 2016, built on the back of our program to inspire kids to consider STEM subjects through Scarborough Science and Engineering Week, which is now in its 12^th Year.

We aim to work as closely with Danville Community College, RCATT faculty (Regional Centre for Advanced Technology and Training) and the Gene Haas Center for Integrated Machining with the same long term goals – bridging the skills gap!

Employer engagement with education is a key driver to success, and Unison are proud to play their part. So lots of great news.

We live in a tough commercial world today so we would like to thank all our customers for their business, old and new, as we look forward to a great future working in partnership that delivers success.

ANOTHER FABULOUS FABTECH FOR UNISON LTD AND UNISON TUBE LLC

Unison Ltd — 25/09/2025

FABTECH 2025 proved to be a resounding success for Unison Ltd, the UK-based inventor of all-electric tube manipulation, and its North American division, Unison Tube LLC. Occupying a 2,000 sq. ft. booth in order to showcase a wider selection of its tube, pipe and wire forming technologies at the Chicago event, the company achieved just short of 300 high quality leads.

“FABTECH is always a key fixture on our annual exhibition calendar,” says Stuart Singleton, VP and North American Sales Manager of Danville VA-based Unison Tube LLC. “In part, that’s why we chose to exhibit on a much larger scale this year – a decision that proved more than worthwhile.”

Visitors to Unison’s booth – #D42137 – were able to discover the capabilities of one of the firm’s 25 mm (maximum tube diameter) bi-directional left-hand/right-hand all-electric Breeze tube bending machines. A Unison EvBend 1000 manually operated, CNC-controlled tube bending machine was also on display. As was one of the company’s hybrid-electric, dual-stack Synergy 50 mm tube bending machines.

An all-electric Unison Twinhead machine caught the attention of delegates looking to achieve high-speed manufacturing of symmetrical shapes, while a small-bore tube bending machine from Unison’s sister company, Pneuform Machines Ltd, appealed to businesses involved in small-diameter tube bending. During the event, significant advances in tube simulation software were also presented, including Unison’s Opt2Sim Scan tube scanning software, which utilises a Creaform handheld 3D scanner.

“The EvBend 1000 manual machine received a great deal of interest, particularly from aerospace and performance automotive companies looking to produce small volumes of high-precision parts,” explains Stuart Singleton. “Our Twinhead machine was of considerable interest to several organisations looking to manufacture symmetrical components, while orders were placed for our hybrid-electric and wire bending machines.”

Demonstrations of Unison’s advanced Opt2Sim Suite of tube simulation software and its Opt2Sim Scan portable 3D tube scanning and measurement system also proved highly popular.

Comprising a range of advanced, subscription-based tube simulation software products, Opt2Sim Suite offers manufacturers a precise, virtual insight into the components they wish to make before a single part is bent. While for precise, portable 3D tube scanning, Opt2Sim Scan is possibly the most advanced hand-held tube measurement system on the market.

“FABTECH 2025 was a fantastic event for us,” concludes Stuart Singleton. “We’re busy processing enquiries and looking forward to meeting friends old and new in Las Vegas for FABTECH 2026.”

IT’S A BREEZE: UNISON CONTROL SYSTEM UPGRADE DELIVERS FASTER TUBE MANIPULATION

Unison Ltd — 09/03/2021

A software upgrade by Unison Ltd, the UK’s leading manufacturer of all-electric CNC tube and pipe bending machines, is set to bring performance enhancements in the region of 25% to tube manipulation cycle times on the company’s Breeze range of models.

Although the upgrade will be of greatest benefit to Unison customers who are involved in high-volume tube manipulation activities, Unison believes that all customers who choose to upgrade will benefit. The software upgrade will be available as an additional cost option to all users of Unison Breeze machines that are equipped with the company’s latest Unibend control system. It will also be included as standard on all new Unison Breeze machines going forward.

“At Unison, we are renowned for providing our customers with the highest levels of performance, reliability, bend quality and repeatability,” comments Unison’s managing director, Alan Pickering. “Additionally, our Unibend software is recognised as the most user-friendly control system for tube bending applications. With a commitment to constant improvement, and as part of our most recent review into machine performance, we took the decision to investigate how we could make the bending cycles on our Breeze range of tube manipulation machines even faster – all without compromising any of the attributes that Unison Breeze machines are renowned for.

“By painstakingly scrutinising virtually every aspect of the Unibend control system, we have been able to incorporate significant speed improvements, reduce the pause time between process movements and incorporate a number of other time-saving features. Although real-world speed enhancements will obviously depend on materials being bent, the number of and complexity of bends and individual manufacturing strategies, on average we expect Unison customers to achieve time savings in the region of 25% when bending at full power.”

In trials using the latest version of Unison’s Unibend software, Unison Breeze machines ranging from 16 mm to 80 mm tube diameter capability achieved speed enhancements of 21.04% when operating at 50% speed and 25.70% at 100% speed.

“For customers bending significant quantities of tube, particularly customers in the automotive sector, these time savings will be of considerable benefit,” adds Alan Pickering. “Just consider the advantages of 25% faster bend cycles, say, over a 12-month period – not simply in terms of faster production times, but in reduced energy usage and fewer operator hours.”

Unison Ltd: intelligent tube technology

Established in 1973, Unison Ltd is the UK’s leading manufacturer of tube and pipe bending machines, offering the largest range of all-electric benders for diameters from 4 mm (5/32”) to 275 mm (10 53/64”). With a reputation for building highly powerful, highly robust machines that deliver uncompromising levels of accuracy and repeatability, Unison Ltd continually innovates the tube and pipe bending marketplace. The company manufactured the world’s first all-electric tube bender in 1994, followed by the world’s first all-electric multi-stack tube bender, then the world’s largest all-electric tube bender for the shipbuilding industry. Available in single-stack, multi-stack and right/left varieties, Unison machines are delivered to over 21 countries globally. Unison’s tube bending software is recognised as the most user-friendly control system for tube bending machines. The software is written and supported by Unison, ensuring complete control of its evolution, with no need for third party support.

www.unisonltd.com

For more information, please contact:

Steve Chambers – Unison Key Account Manager

T: +44(0) 1723 582 868

E: sales@unisonltd.com

UNISON FURTHER INVESTS IN BEND TOOLING MANUFACTURING CAPABILITY TO MEET GROWING GLOBAL DEMAND

Unison Ltd — 20/01/2025

A little over 12 months since launching its new bend tooling service, Unison Ltd, the UK’s leading manufacturer of tube and pipe bending machinery, has invested further to meet the increasing demand for its consumable and high-precision bend tools from customers around the world.

Introduced in 2023, following the creation of a £1 million bend tooling centre at the company’s Scarborough HQ, the aim of the service was to extend Unison’s already comprehensive tooling offering. Equipped with the latest manufacturing technologies, it has brought greater convenience to Unison customers, while also giving users of other makes of tube bending machines rapid access to Unison’s high-quality consumable and long-life products.

Additional £750,000 invested in tool-making machines

“Since commencing the new tooling service, uptake has been phenomenal,” comments Unison’s Sales Applications Engineer, Luke Gibson. “So much so, we have just invested a further £750,000 in specialist bend tooling machinery to further increase our manufacturing capability. At full capacity, we can produce hundreds of individual tooling items each day, all ready for shipping. Fully tailored tooling agreements are prepared for customers to ensure the tooling they require is always available, while some £200,000 worth of tooling, including mandrel balls and wiper dies, is held in stock for immediate dispatch.

Consumable tooling agreements for a faster response

By holding pre-agreed stocks of consumable tooling on behalf of its customers, Unison ensures much faster delivery times than for tooling that is made to order. Unison’s consumable tooling agreements enable customers to minimise the volume of tooling they would typically keep on site and benefit from the associated cost savings. On-demand, next day and scheduled deliveries eliminate the risk of a tooling shortage stopping production and provide the opportunity to standardise tooling across different manufacturing sites. As part of the service, Unison also offers volume discounts and the convenience of easy budgeting through regular payment plans.

“Regardless of a customer’s consumable bend tool requirements, be it wiper dies, mandrel balls or other goods, we’ll create an agreement that meets their needs perfectly,” adds Luke Gibson. “No matter where a customer is based, we’ll hold ample stocks of the bend tools they frequently require at one of our UK, USA or partner facilities around the world, for dispatch as and when they’re needed.”

Long-life tooling for challenging applications

As well as aluminium bronze consumable bend tooling, Unison also produces long-life precision tooling for the most challenging of tool manipulation applications. “Choosing Unison tooling means de-risking your processes, as we ensure every tool fits perfectly and makes parts accurately,” continues Luke Gibson. “We can also customise tool mounts so that new tooling can be used with existing machines, while our quick-change collets and mandrels, and bar-coded tooling further streamline the tube manipulation process and help businesses save time and money.”

Unison Ltd: intelligent tube technology

Unison Ltd is the UK’s leading manufacturer of tube and pipe bending machines and continually innovates the tube and pipe bending marketplace. The company manufactured the world’s first all-electric tube bender in 1994, followed by the world’s first all-electric multi-stack tube bender, then the world’s largest all-electric tube bender for the shipbuilding industry. Available in single-stack, multi-stack and right/left varieties, Unison machines are delivered to more than 20 countries globally. Unison’s tube bending software is recognised as the most user-friendly control system for tube bending machines. The software is written and supported by Unison, ensuring complete control of its evolution, with no need for third party support.

www.unisonltd.com

For more product information, please contact:
Alan Pickering – joint managing director, Unison Ltd
T: +44(0) 1723 582 868
E: sales@unisonltd.com

For more press information, please contact: Peter Bailey
E: news@unisonltd.com

STAUFF GROUP SIGNS GLOBAL STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP WITH UNISON LTD

Unison Ltd — 15/07/2021

STAUFF, the global manufacturer and supplier of precision fluid power products for mechanical, industrial and plant engineering, has signed a five-year strategic partnership with UK-based Unison Ltd, the leading name in all-electric tube bending machinery.

Unison Ltd has supplied STAUFF’s global facilities with Unison Breeze all-electric tube manipulation machines for more than ten years. The strategic partnership takes the relationship between the two businesses to a new level and reflects the high degree of service and support that Unison has provided to STAUFF over that period.

Based around a specially created global machine tool strategy, the strategic partnership will enable all STAUFF group companies worldwide to benefit from dedicated in-country support, assistance with product development and technical capability. It will also provide STAUFF with enhanced machine tool warranties, an outstanding global service with guaranteed response times, planned preventive maintenance (PPM) and on-site training for users of Unison machines.

“We were delighted to be invited to put together a strategic partnership agreement for consideration by STAUFF, and for our proposals to be accepted,” comments Unison Ltd’s Global Account Manager for STAUFF, Steve Chambers. “STAUFF is a major customer of ours and it has been a pleasure to support their tube manipulation requirements with tailored solutions over the years.”

Ken Cleal, Head of Production at STAUFF UK and STAUFF Global Production Manager for tube and tube manipulation added: “We are pleased to have signed this significant agreement with Unison Ltd. Not only does it provide us with ongoing certainty regarding tube bending machine tool supply, service and support, but it also helps fulfil our ambitious green agenda. With dedicated Unison support and spares in each country in which we operate, our global carbon footprint will significantly reduce. Additionally, by using Unison’s all-electric, energy efficient tube bending machines, we also remain committed to embracing clean manufacturing technologies. We have always received the highest standards of service and support from Unison Ltd and look forward to further strengthening our relationship with them as we move forward.”

STAUFF currently has no fewer than thirteen Unison machines in daily use across its UK-based and overseas operations. These include 50 mm and 100 mm (maximum tube diameter) multi-stack Breeze machines, 16 mm and 35 mm left- and right-hand pipe bending machines, 50 mm ‘pinball style’ pipe bending machines and Unison EV Bend 1000 16 mm OD manual CNC benders. Applications include components and systems for construction, agriculture, arboriculture, oil and gas extraction and processing, food and chemical processing, mining, marine and the rail industry.

All Unison Breeze tube bending machines offer rapid setup, fast tooling changes, exceptional power, rigid mechanical design, and all-electric control for right-first-time repeat sub-contract work, or immediately after producing a single trial part. These are attributes that Unison Ltd believes make its Breeze models the ultimate tube manipulation machines for businesses specialising in small batch production runs. Unison’s recently upgraded Unibend software has equipped its Breeze machines with cycle time speed improvements in the region of 25% compared to earlier versions. Available as a retrofit option for Unison Breeze machines that are equipped with the company’s latest Unibend control system, the software also incorporates new teach routine and simulation features.

www.unisonltd.com

UNISON TO SHOWCASE SIGNIFICANT SPEED ENHANCEMENTS AND NEW ENTRY LEVEL TUBE BENDING MACHINES AT MACH 2022

Unison Ltd — 07/02/2022

Hall 6 Stand 630 4 – 8 April NEC, Birmingham

Unison Ltd, the inventors of ultra-precise, all-electric CNC tube bending machines, will be presenting a number of new technologies at MACH 2022 to help manufacturers and subcontractors accelerate their efficiency and productivity as demand returns to pre-pandemic levels.

On show and operational on Stand 630, Hall 6, will be an all-electric Unison Breeze 16 mm (maximum tube diameter) multi-stack tube bending machine, equipped with the company’s newly upgraded Unibend control – an operating system providing speed enhancements in the region of 25% when bending at full power. There will also be a Unison EvBend 1000, a high-precision machine developed to reduce the entry cost to precision rotary draw tube bending by combining manually- operated feed, tube rotation and bending force, with CNC-controlled braking on the carriage feed, rotation and bend arm axes. Ideal for prototypes and one offs, the EvBend 1000 is widely used in the Formula One and aerospace industries.

Additionally, for organisations that do not typically require the high levels of versatility and rapid setup times offered by Unison’s industry-leading Breeze range, but aspire to owning a Unison tube bending machine, there will be the opportunity to get the lowdown on Unison’s newly launched range of Synergy HBM (hybrid, multi-stack) range of machines.

Models from 4 mm up to 275 mm tube diameter

Unison Ltd offers more than 30 advanced, all-electric tube and pipe bending machines for diameters ranging from 4 mm (5/32”) to 275 mm (10” schedule pipe), with each model delivering rapid setup, fast tool changes, exceptional power, rigid mechanical design, and all-electric control for right-first-time repeat sub-contract work, or immediately after producing a single trial part. These are all attributes that Unison Ltd believes make its Breeze models the ultimate tube manipulation machines for businesses specialising in small batch production runs.

Available in 50 mm and 80 mm versions from launch, Unison’s new Synergy hybrid range combines electric and hydraulic operation. Just like Unison Breeze machines, each model benefits from exceptional power and rigid mechanical design. As with Breeze models, bend arm, carriage, plane of bend and carriage side shift are servo driven, while mandrel, pressure die and clamping system are hydraulically controlled. This makes Synergy machines well-suited to high volume, repetitive tube manipulation operations that don’t require the rapid setup times and all-electric control provided by Breeze machines.

“We know from speaking to our UK customer base that confidence is back in manufacturing,” comments Unison Ltd joint managing director, Alan Pickering. “Through significant control system upgrades to our all-electric Breeze models, and our new lower-priced Synergy range of hybrid tube bending machines, we are offering manufacturers, whatever their tube bending requirements, the most comprehensive range of high-quality options.”

www.unisonltd.com