Truck Exhaust Component Manufacturing Gets Exhaustive Refresh from AddisonMckee
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Of all the components in the automotive industry, few have come in for more scrutiny in recent years than exhaust system components.
These days, the whole world wants lightweight exhaust systems to help make vehicles more fuel efficient and environmentally friendly.
But this is easier said than done.
Which is where the expertise and experience of world-leading tube bending and end-forming technology specialist AddisonMckee of Bamber Bridge, Lancs., have proved invaluable.
Because bending tubes with thinner walls and tighter radiuses using challenging materials has become something of an AddisonMckee speciality.
Not only that but, as higher quality expectations and the relentless pursuit to decrease production costs cause companies to look more closely at their current manufacturing processes, exhaust component manufacturers are demanding. more robust and accurate machines, greater flexibility and faster than ever tool/part changeovers Driving costs down
In response to the demand for increased accuracy and materials efficiency, AddisonMckee has been at the forefront of the drive to demonstrate to both vehicle manufacturers and OEMs how innovative tube bending and end-forming technologies can help them achieve significant cost savings.
The key to achieving such efficiencies and consequent cost savings is the company's single-minded focus on working closely with each customer to turn the customer's vision and practical needs, even for the most complex and challenging truck exhaust tube bending and manipulation requirements, into a uniquely efficient solution embracing pioneering design features, state-of-the-art manufacturing capabilities and a rapid delivery to market.
To achieve further cost savings, AddisonMckee also offers customers the opportunity to benefit from technology upgrades to fully maximize the potential lifespan of their existing AddisonMcKee machinery.
A case in point
A prime example of AddisonMckee's ability to help to achieve significant production efficiencies was recently demonstrated to a leading truck exhaust manufacturer by showing how component manufacture could be speeded up by a remarkable 30% through investment in models from its DataBend range.
A series of like-for-like manufacturing trials also amply demonstrated the remarkable levels of accuracy, reliability and repeatability that investment in AddisonMckee technology can bring.
Ensuring a smoother ride for its customers
The fortunes of AddisonMckee itself have certainly taken a turn for the better in recent months too as the market climbs out of recession.
New ownership has galvanized the company by introducing a number of measures to ensure a smoother ride for all its customers, in, amongst others, the automotive, aviation, truck and shipbuilding industries.
First and foremost, while the company remains a truly global concern with partners all over the world, in response to overwhelming demand from its European customers, AddisonMckee has restored the manufacturing facility at its HQ at Bamber Bridge in the UK, a move which underscores the company's commitment to its European partners not least by significantly reducing costs.
Superior tube, more flexible chain
Not only that but, with two manufacturing facilities in the US and the UK, AddisonMckee can offer something its erstwhile competitors are unable to: namely an eminently flexible supply chain to market.
The company now has no less than 55 engineers committed to research and development with service personnel on hand in every continent.
While the new owners themselves come with the benefit of a wealth of business and industry experience, not least in the key emerging markets of the Far East.
A commitment to change. And continuity
However, while many things may have changed at AddisonMckee, many things have also remained the same.
For example, AddisonMckee's commitment to its core values of quality, durability, timeliness, price, integrity and flexibility has never wavered. Nor has its passion for providing its customers with unique solutions for highly complex tube forming problems whether it be in muffler assembly and sub-assembly machinery, catalytic converter making solutions, hydraulic presses, inspection systems, cell automation solutions, production cell integration or lubricants.
Alongside these capabilities, AddisonMckee also offers a whole range of tooling and accessory options, comprehensive maintenance and service contracts, training and education programmes and financial services. Where applicable, AddisonMckee is also able to offer machine rebuilds, refurbishment, upgrades and trade-ins.
Core values, core people
Many of the core people at the company's Bamber Bridge facility have been with AddisonMckee, not just throughout the recent twists and turns of the recession but for many, many years.
As AddisonMckee CEO Alastair Tedford remarks: "The company has emerged stronger than ever with an extremely healthy order book. As a management team, we believe this is due both to the restoration of our manufacturing facility here in the UK and also to building on the company's core values to offer customers a better service than ever before. What this means in practical terms is continuing to pursue a programme of innovation in new product development but coupled with a major initiative to drive down costs for our customers".
For more information about AddisonMckee and its products and services, please contact:
Phillip Aspinall - General Manager
Tel: 01772 334511
Email: paspinall@addisonmckee.com
Website: www.addisonmckee.com
