TPT September 2008

190 / 204

September 2008 188 ›
Tube B ending & E ndforming T echnology
There is currently an increasing drive
for greater manufacturing accuracy
and enhanced materials efficiency
in the global automotive industry.
AddisonMckee, USA, has been
showing increasing numbers of vehicle
manufacturers and exhaust OEMs how
cost reductions can be made by investing
in the latest tube bending and end-
forming technologies.
The company provides enhanced production
capability to complex truck exhaust tube
bending and manipulation requirements by
using pioneering design and state-of-the-art
manufacturing capabilities.
“We have made it our
focus to provide an
impressive suite of tube
manipulation solutions
for the truck exhaust
industry, all built around
proven designs and utilising
the latest technology,” comments
director of global marketing, Mr
Christian Rogiers.
“Where appropriate, we also offer customers
the opportunity to benefit from technology
upgrades, in order to fully maximise the
life-potential of their existing AddisonMckee
machinery. Solutions range from large
diameter tube bending and end-finishing
machines and associated tooling to fully
automated and integrated production cells,
muffler and catalytic assembly machinery.”
AddisonMckee recently demonstrated
to a leading exhaust manufacturer how
component production could be accelerated
by 30 per cent. In this example, to assist
the truck exhaust manufacturer in justifying
its planned switch to AddisonMckee
machinery, the tube bending specialist
set up like-for-like manufacturing trials.
These trials also provided an opportunity
to demonstrate the technology’s accuracy,
reliability and repeatability.
Added Mr Rogiers, “At a time when every
minute shaved off production duration
impacts on business viability, capability and
profitability, we were particularly pleased to
demonstrate our DataBend™ range.”
AddisonMckee also worked directly with the
customer to assist in the re-development
of some of its exhaust components. This
enabled the reduction of various cutting
and welding procedures in favour of the
greater use of single piece tubing, in order
to offer significantly less resistance to
exhaust gas airflow.
The manufacturer subsequently purchased
a DataBend™ DB150 ESRB tube bender
for the manufacture of numerous short-run,
large diameter exhaust components.
In addition, the company purchased a
smaller DataBend™ DB20 ESRD – a dual
capability model that will be used for the
creation of smaller components, including
brake lines and air-conditioning tubing.
This model enables both left and right-
hand tubular components to be bent using
the same bending head.
AddisonMckee – USA
Fax: +1 513 228 7226
Email:
Website:
Increasing efficiency in truck exhaust
component manufacture
 The DB150 ESRB tube bender