Tube forming machinery aids vehicle exhaust design

Addison-McKee - a world leader in the manufacture and design of tube forming machinery - has developed technology for overcoming all the difficulties of automotive exhaust design.

Addison-McKee is a world leader in the manufacture and design of tube forming machinery for the manufacture of car and truck exhaust systems.

Since 1982, when it was known as Addison Tube Forming the company has grown to employ 200 people, supplying blue chip clients from purpose-designed UK headquarters at Walton Summit, Lancashire, UK.

During its 20-year history the company has developed highly advanced technology capable of overcoming all the difficulties of exhaust design, especially those associated with the 'Hot End' requiring multiple and tight radius compound bends in thin wall, exotic materials.

Innovative, tailor-made solutions In the early 1980's Addison set the pace for innovation with its ground-breaking fully automatic CNC pipe-bending machine, the Powerbend PB 63X - the first dedicated UK designed and manufactured 'empty' draw bender designed for the automotive exhaust pipe manufacturer.

Today, the company continues to create systems that are tailor-made to the needs of the modern exhaust pipe manufacturer with a portfolio that includes equipment to manufacture everything from hanger brackets to tubular manifolds and air-gap downpipes.

It also designs and manufactures equipment for tube sizing, expanding, reducing, flaring and slotting.

* Advanced control technology - advanced control technology, a key feature of the company's approach, is exemplified in the Addison-McKee Databend Control System, now used in thousands of installations worldwide.

Its advanced software is interfaced with the unique Addata Plus 3D Tube Measuring and Inspection Centre featuring a unique and highly sophisticated non-contact sensing system.

The company also manufactures Addison Bending Cells, known as (ABCs).

The equipment, which incorporates automatic loading to Databend CNC tube bending machines with off-loading devices and transfer to end-forming and/or sizing machines enables manufacturers to maximise the efficiency of their production lines.

AddisonMcKee's commitment to finding cost-cutting environmental solutions for the industry is further illustrated by the advanced 'green' design of the new Electra range.

* World-class design - Addison-McKee's skilled workforce is capable of manufacturing CNC tube bending and tooling to suit virtually any application.

The site is equipped with a large variety of modern CNC machine tools, supported by computer aided manufacturing and up to 30 design engineers working within integrated management TQM procedures.

Addison-McKee systems are also used for tube bending and forming applications in the shipbuilding, aerospace, furniture, sports and hospital equipment industries.

At its UK plant, Addison McKee produces a range of over 50 basic hydraulic and electric CNC machines that can bend from 4mm pipes used in the automotive and aerospace industries to 273mm tubes used in shipbuilding.

The company manufactures about 150 end-forming machines a year from its plant in the USA.

Addison-McKee machines are supported by a fast response round-the-clock spare parts and on-site assistance service manned by a team of skilled service engineers.

With over 3,000 of its machines installed worldwide, Addison-Mckee enjoys a global reputation for meeting and servicing its customers' needs.

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