TPT January 2023

I NDUS T RY

Unison recruits key tube bending exper ts from Addison Forming Technologies

UNISON, a leading manufacturer of tube bending machines and the inventor of all-electric tube manipulation, has recruited several former employees from Addison Forming Technologies (formerly known as Addison McKee), which has now ceased trading. “With new Unison tube bending technologies and software in the pipeline, new markets to break into, and long-term strategic plans, we decided to recruit as many of the former Addison team members as we could justify and, in doing so, keep their considerable skills in the UK,” said Alan Pickering, Unison’s joint managing director. “Between them, the guys from Addison Forming Technologies offer many decades of irreplaceable tube bending knowledge,” added Mr Pickering. “Therefore, when we heard that the business had ceased trading back in July, we simply couldn’t sit back, do nothing and allow such fantastic talent to be wasted or enticed overseas. As you can imagine, this is a significant investment for us. But we are convinced it will reap rewards and enable us to offer even higher levels of service to our global customer base.” Already working at Unison are former Addison Forming Technologies international sales manager Andy Worthington, proposals engineer Luke Gibson, software engineer Bill Watson and machine tools designer Dan Gallagher. Further new starters are expected in the coming weeks.

(From left to right) Andy Worthington, Alan Pickering and Luke Gibson

bending and control technologies to North American customers.” Luke Gibson, who joins Unison as a tooling sales specialist, added: “The quality of the bend tool solutions on offer at Unison is exceptional. The company has clearly invested regularly in its bend tooling offering over the years, and it shows. In fact, tit is about to purchase a new CNC machine specifically for its tooling division. Unison can support virtually any make of bender with a precise tooling solution and will even adapt tooling to fit specific machines.” Unison is a manufacturer of tube and pipe bending machines. It manufactured the world’s first all-electric tube bender in 1994, followed by the world’s first all electric multi-stack tube bender, then the world’s largest all-electric tube bender for the shipbuilding industry.

Commenting on joining Unison as international sales manager, Andy Worthington said: “I’ve known the Unison team for almost all of the 28 years I worked at the Walton Summit site. As you’d expect, there was always friendly rivalry between the two companies. Whereas Addison’s Databend machines were largely focused on the automotive exhaust sector, Unison’s tube bending technologies have a much wider reach – with all-electric Breeze and hybrid Synergy machines, and associated tooling, for sectors including shipbuilding, aerospace, oil & gas, architecture, motorsport and general manufacturing. “As international sales manager, I am looking forward to exploring new markets and introducing Unison’s technologies to contacts old and new. I have recently visited FABTECH in Atlanta in early November, where Unison showcased its latest tube

Unison Ltd www.unisonltd.com

ESAB to begin producing aluminium MIG welding wires at its Czech Republic operation

for the new production line will be sourced regionally in Europe, further reducing the environmental impact through decreased transportation-related fuel use. For more than 100 years ESAB has offered workflow solutions from more than 40 trusted brands in the welding and cutting industry.

will undergo ESAB’s stringent quality assurance and agency certification procedures to ensure the highest level of quality, and product performance will be identical to the current standards for ESAB aluminium weld wires. Internal material specifications for wire chemistry, cleanliness, feedability and weld quality remain consistent with the company’s previous wires produced at their other global production facilities. Rawmaterials

TO create shorter lead times, improve on-time delivery, and reduce supply chain environmental impact, ESAB has announced that it will begin the production of aluminium MIG welding wires at its operations in Vamberk, Czech Republic. The production will ramp up in the coming months, establishing a centre of service for European customers. Aluminium wire production in Vamberk

ESAB www.esab.com

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JANUARY 2023