PRECISION ENGINEERING
mounting point data from the vehicle manufacturer . Once we have this , we have the criteria to design and manufacture a product . From here , we will design a specimen and run it through FEA at the intended loads to check that the product is capable of safely fulfilling its requirements .
“ When this has all been completed , we will fully check the manufacturing process through the Bystronic software . When we are happy that we can manufacture the part and that it will achieve its load requirements , we will then make a sample . We will get a vehicle to our facility and check the parameters ; we do this for every vehicle on the road . Once we have met all our stringent manufacturing criteria , we will put the system through its Type Approval phase . We have a single-axis test machine , which conducts two million cycles , and a CARLOS test machine that is a 93-hour test — safety is paramount ,” he outlined .
When all the parts have moved through the production cycle , they are then shot blasted , pre-treated and e-coated ( Electrophoretic coating ) with an e-coat finish offering a 1200-hour salt spray
Above : Tow-Trust corrosion performance . Upon
Towbars manufactures completion , the part is then passed and sells five different types of towbar . to the packing division .
“ We pass parts down our bespoke automated packing line where we weigh the product , band it and send it through a heat shrink tunnel . The parts are then transferred to our warehouse where more than 30,000 items are held in stock at any one time . We have commissioned our in-house warehouse management software to give us complete control of our stock management where we scan all inventory in and out from point-of-sale to goods in the lorry . We are in complete control ,” explained Tom Miller .
The Bystronic Xpert press brakes at Tow-Trust .
All Tow-Trust Products are designed in-house using 3D CAD software . The cmopany ’ s team designs every product before running them through Finite Element Analysis ( FEA ) to ensure they can withstand the loads intended .
Towbar welding .
In conclusion
“ The company has come a long way since 1991 when it was founded . My parents set the business up in a small workshop in Atherstone . With the continuous improvement and investment plans that we have put in place , we have become the UK ’ s largest towbar manufacturer . We are extremely proud of our family-run business ,” concluded Tom Miller . n
https :// tow-trust . co . uk
www . bystronic . com
About Bystronic
Bystronic is a sheet metal processing specialist , with a focus on automation of the complete material and data flow of the cutting and bending process chain . The intelligent connectivity of its laser cutting systems and press brakes with automation , software and service solutions contributes to the digitalisation of the sheet metal industry .
Its company headquarters are at
Niederönz , Switzerland . Additional development and production sites are at Sulgen ( Switzerland ); Gotha ( Germany ); Cazzago San Martino ( Italy ); Tianjin , Shanghai , and Shenzhen ( China ); and Hoffman Estates ( USA ). It is represented by its own sales and service subsidiaries in over 30 countries and by agents in various other countries . Bystronic has more than 3,500 employees worldwide at over 40 locations , and generated a net revenue of CHF 930 million in 2023 .
50 | ismr . net | ISMR March 2025