TPT July 2016

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50 July 2016
T E CHNOLOG Y
Alltube backs growth
strategy with BLM
investment
ALLTUBE is a specialist supplier of
manipulated tube and pipe components
and assemblies. The company’s recent
growth, with increased sales and a more
diverse customer base, has led to the
decision to invest in new equipment,
including a major investment in the
latest tube manipulation system from
BLM Group.
The introduction of the BLM Elect 102
all-electric tube manipulation system has
enabled Alltube to increase its machine
capacity and improve manufacturing
efficiency.
Managing director Kevin Cope
commented, “We recognised where the
problems lay and set about rebuilding
relationships, delivering to customer
expectations with strict scheduling of
lead times. Adding value for customers
was also part of the strategy; this
involved manufacturing kits of parts for
customers, delivering to line-side storage
and taking over the
stock management
of all parts supplied
by Alltube to its
customers’ production
lines. Putting these
in place gave us the
confidence to then
look for new business
and increase the variety of industries that
we work with.”
Alltube now produces a range of
manipulated tube products including
hydraulic tubing, tubular welded
fabrications and hose assemblies for
customers in the commercial vehicle,
construction equipment, agricultural
machinery, mining and automotive after-
market parts sectors.
The BLM Elect 102 is a ten-axis
machine capable of bending tube up
to 102mm diameter with a 2mm wall
thickness. It is part of a family of seven
Elect machines, the largest of which can
handle tube up to 150mm diameter.
A key feature of the Elect 102 is its
ability to stack eight sets of tooling,
which assists in reducing set-up times at
Alltube. Paul Fuller, technical and devel-
opment director, who took responsibility
for the purchase and implementation of
the machine at Alltube, explained, “One
of the first jobs that we put onto the new
machine was a 50mm diameter stainless
steel tube that had five bends, with
differing bend angles and rotations. We
previously did this job on an old hydraulic
single axis machine. This has greatly
improved our efficiency. Changeover
with the tool stacking capability of the
machine is measured in minutes, with
most set-ups needing little more than a
change of mandrel. The productivity and
versatility of the BLM machine means
that we now have very few limitations
and the Elect 102 will certainly open up
new markets for us.”
The control system of the BLM Elect
102 manages the critical machine
setting parameters, such as clamping,
pressure die, mandrel and centreline
radius data. The Siemens control also
manages the all-electric activation
of the ten axes, with each position/
adjustment saved with the individual
part program. This means that when
a tool is changed there is no need to
perform adjustments, as these are done
automatically by the electric movement
of the axes.
BLM Group UK Ltd – UK
Fax: +44 1525 402 312
Email:
Website:
Due to the eight-stack tooling,
set-up can be as simple as
changing a mandrel
The BLM Elect 102 has ten
all-electric axes
The control on the BLM Elect 102 stores
operating parameters to simplify set-up