TPT January 2012

52 / 132

50 January 2012 ›
Technology Update
ADDISONMCKEE of Lancashire, UK,
designs, manufactures and supplies tube
bending and endforming technologies, and
has manufactured a new eB 80 ES RB
model machine for supply to Dinex in China.
The new machine represents a significant
alternative to the existing world renowned
DB 75 machine.
A key to reducing the cost of the new
machine lay in removing the ball screw
providing the boost and allowing the
gearbox and motor instead to provide the
force required for boosting. Hence the new
machine enables freeform bending for the full
length of the bed.
Given the cost of floorspace at any facility,
the new machine’s modular design also has
significant benefits if bed length flexibility is
important. The standard machine itself is
two metres long but offers the capability to
increase in length by bolting two sections
together to extend the bed when required,
converting the machine easily and cheaply to
a three/four metre model.
Back in 1984 the company introduced its
Mark 1 control system incorporating the very
first touch screen. And today the new Mark 7
system takes convenience and flexibility one
step further than ever before by enabling a
single control system to operate with both
hydraulic and electric machines.
In response to overwhelming demand from
its European customers, AddisonMckee has
restored the manufacturing facility at its HQ
at Bamber Bridge in the UK, a move which
underscores the company’s commitment
to its European partners, not least by
significantly reducing costs.
With two manufacturing facilities in the
US and the UK, AddisonMckee can offer
something its erstwhile competitors are
unable to: namely, an eminently flexible
supply chain to market.
The company now has no less than
55 engineers committed to research and
development with service personnel on
hand in every continent. While the new
owners themselves come with the benefit
of a wealth of business and industry
experience, not least in the key emerging
markets of the Far East.
While it is true that many things have
changed at AddisonMckee, many things
have also remained the same.
For example,AddisonMckee’s commitment
to its core values of quality, durability,
timeliness, price, integrity and flexibility
has never wavered. Nor has its passion for
providing its customers with unique solutions
for highly complex tubeforming problems
whether it be in muffler assembly and sub-
assembly machinery, catalytic converter
making solutions, hydraulic presses,
inspection systems, cell automation solutions,
production cell integration or lubricants.
Many of the core people at the company’s
Bamber Bridge facility have been with
AddisonMckee not just throughout the recent
twists and turns of the recession, but for
many, many years.
As AddisonMckee CEO Alastair Tedford
remarks: “The company has emerged
stronger than ever with an extremely healthy
order book. As a management team, we
believe this is due both to the restoration of
our manufacturing facility here in the UK but
also to building on the company’s core values
to offer customers a better service than ever
before. What this means in practical terms
is continuing to pursue a programme of
innovation in new product development but
coupled with a major initiative to drive down
costs for our customers.”
AddisonMckee – UK
Email:
Website:
AddisonMckee cuts costs not corners
REIKA GmbH & Co KG is currently
experiencing a large demand in machines
for value added process, particularly in the
automotive sector.
“The Compact machine generation has
celebrated great success,” said Reika
managing director Hans-Jörg Braun.
“For example, our lines for short lengths
and precision cuts used in the production of
blanks for fittings are extremely popular. It is
mainly low maintenance and operation costs
the customers appreciate,” said Mr Braun.
The compact series is setting new standards:
tool lifetime of the roller blades is approx
150,000 cuts before regrinding. Another
advantage of the compact series: “Pipe
surfaces are not damaged by our machines
or sticky saw chips,” says Hans-Jörg Braun.
“In addition, they guarantee extremely good
tolerances.”
Reliability of the Reika machines is also
pionieering. Modern quality components
are combined with years of proven Reika-
standard modules. A central machine bed,
a fully encapsulated production cell and the
absence of a hydraulic system are other
features of this machine series.
Customers benefit from this rigorous
and practical implementation of Reika’s
experience and know-how as well as
process-safe control of user needs. The
output of the compact machine generation
is up to 1,900 pieces/hour – depending on
material and application. These values are
reached by short cycle and changeover
times and the cutting technique. Last but not
least, customers receive a defined handling
of material with optimum quality assurance.
Reika GmbH & Co KG – Germany
Website:
Reika compact machine generation
Reika has experienced
great demand from the
automotive sector