TPi September 2016

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28 Tube Products International September 2016
products & developments
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 systemhas
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 development 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.
The Elect 102 also makes use of BLM’s
VGP3D programming software, which
guides the operator through the process,
highlighting any possible collision
points, and optimises operations to
generate the most efficient cycle time.
BLM Group UK Ltd – UK
Alltube Engineering Ltd – UK
The control on the BLM Elect 102 stores operating
parameters to simplify set-up
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