Preston-based Addition Manufacturing Technologies (AMT), which specialises in tube-bending and end-forming technology, has expanded its production capabilities by adding a manufacturing cell for ‘consumable’ bending tools.

Nicolas Dunand, general manager (European sales and service), said: “It is important that we grow with the constantly evolving needs of our customers.

They have requested local manufacturing and stocking of ‘consumable’ tooling used in the bending process, and we have delivered on our commitment to meet their needs.

"By installing a tooling production cell at our Preston facility, we will reduce logistics costs and time in transit for our European customers.”

AMT’s (www.additionmt.com) investment at Preston includes Haas and Mazak machines that are making the tooling components, such as wiper inserts and mandrel balls and noses that are ‘consumed’ more rapidly during the bending process than hard tools.

The production cell is capable of machining parts of both the common materials for these tools — aluminium bronze and tool steel with chrome.

With manufacturing facilities in the USA, Canada, Mexico, France and China, as well as the UK, the company currently employs 250 people.

In time, the additional production capability at Preston is expected to increase its UK workforce.

AMT offers a full range of tooling for CNC bending machines, for tube diameters from 0.25 to 10in and single-stack or multi-stack multi-radius bend dies.

In addition to the wiper and mandrel components now manufactured in the UK, the company offers bend dies, bend die insert and clamp dies, pressure dies, collets, mandrel assemblies (ball-segment and cable style), wiper dies and wiper die holders as individual components or complete sets — from its tooling factory in Lebanon, Ohio.