Smethwick-based Techniswage (
www.techniswage.co.uk) has invested £80,000 in a BLM AST100 CNC tube end-forming machine that can be used to form a wide range of components and end products. This acquisition was assisted by the University of Birmingham’s Green Shoots Fund, which gets money from the Regional Growth Fund.
Established in 2000, Techniswage will celebrate its 15th anniversary in October. Company director Paul Fellows says: “This investment plays a significant part in our efforts to remain at the forefront of cutting-edge technology, and it will enable us to meet the increasingly technical demands of our customers.
“The machine is capable of very high accuracy and concentricity; it is accurate to within 0.2mm, which is particularly important when end-forming parts such as prop-shaft components.”
Works manager Andy Durham, says: “The machine can be programmed to use either forming tools or cutting tools — or a combination of both on the same tubular component.
“This leads to a much higher efficiency of the working process, increases accuracy and consistency, eliminates intermediate loading and unloading, and reduces cycle times.
"Ultimately, these greater efficiencies are passed on to our customers in terms of greater quality and cost savings.”