Technology News
N
ovember
2014
63
Induction bending equipment
from the UK
GREGSON Induction Benders Ltd (GIB)
is a UK-based family business with thirty
years’ experience in the design and
manufacture of CE-certified induction
bending equipment with quality control
to ISO9002 standard.
The company is managed by
Nigel Gregson, a senior engineer/
manager with proven experience in the
management of engineering projects
and production teams, with hands-on
experience from design to manufacture
and installation. Nigel is supported by
Gary Gregson, a senior technologist
with key strengths in strategic analysis,
vision creation, proposal development,
partner liaison, research and full lifecycle
development.
The company designs and manu-
factures a full range of induction bending
machines that can bend from 2" (50mm)
to 48" (1,219mm) diameter pipe with
wall thickness from 0.197" (5mm) to 4"
(100mm). All machines are free standing
and offer both spool bending and
weld elbow bending capabilities. The
machines are also capable of bending
structural shapes and processing a wide
range of materials.
GIB continues to undertake research
with technology partners to provide new
control systems for existing machines
and advanced controls systems,
telemetry and quality assurance
technologies for future machines. It
can also provide consultancy packages
tailored to the customer’s requirements
with regards to installation of the
machinery and development upgrades
on equipment.
GIB designs machines around its
customers’ specifications and over the
years has developed various packages
to suit customer budgets and cash flow
requirements.
For all GIB machines, the bending
moments are contained within the
machine chassis enabling the machines
to be free standing. Therefore,
foundation requirements are reduced
to a few simple trenches for drainage
and services (and optionally elbow
formation). Consequently, installation
costs and time are greatly reduced.
GIB can offer both electro-hydraulic and
electro-mechanical machines to suit the
customer’s preference and budget.
Electro-hydraulic: this drive system
comprises an induction motor driving
the pumps to the hydraulic cylinders,
which in turn move the rear carriage
of the machine. Accurate feed speed
is achieved via an electronic invertor,
which controls the AC frequency of the
induction motor current. The machine
provides both low speed drive during
the bending cycle and high speeds for
positioning of the rear carriage during
bend set up.
This system is superior to a traditional
hydraulic cylinder drive, providing
smoother control throughout the
bending speed range.
Electro-mechanical: this drive system
comprises an induction motor gearbox
assembly driving two lead screws,
which in turn move the rear carriage
of the machine. Accurate feed speed
is achieved via an electronic inverter
which controls the AC frequency of the
induction motor current. The machines’
gearbox provides two ratios: one for low
speed drive during the bending cycle
and the other for high speed positioning
of the rear carriage during bend set up.
Overload protection limits the inverter
drive maximum output current to ensure
the system never exceeds the design
parameters of the drive mechanism.
This system is superior to a hydraulic
cylinder drive at lower speeds, providing
smoother control throughout the low
bending speed range and eliminating
“stick slip” (judder). The system is
compact and, whilst more expensive,
reduces the cost of operational spares
and the overall footprint of the machine.
GIB can supply machines in a timely
manner, typically within five months
from order for machine sizes up to 16"
and ten months for machines over 16".
Gregson Induction Benders
– UK
Website:
Tubes with a diameter of up to up to 48" can be bent
