FOCUS ON TUBEFORMING
REACHING NEW HEIGHTS
Platinum Stairlifts has more than doubled its production capacity and is now using a second all-electric 90mm tube-bending machine from Unison .
Unison Breeze tube-bending equipment for Platinum Stairlifts .
Platinum Stairlifts of Keighley , West Yorkshire ( UK ), has taken delivery of a second , precise , all-electric 90mm ( maximum tube diameter ) Unison Breeze tube-bending machine . The purchase of the machine corresponds with Platinum ’ s move to a new multi-million-pound , purpose-built manufacturing facility in the town .
Committed to helping people regain independence in their own homes , Platinum Stairlifts has been manufacturing in the north of England since 1996 . The company employs over 200 staff and distributes over 10,000 stairlifts per year to more than 40 countries including France ; Germany ; Spain ; the Netherlands and the USA , through an approved partner network .
Its range of products consists of three models : The Ultimate single-tube curved stairlift ; The Curve twin-tube curved stairlift and The Horizon straight stairlift . Each one is custom-made to suit the needs and homes of the individual user . The company has experienced rapid growth and is now consolidating its existing three manufacturing sites into one new , custom-built facility . This significant investment will more than double its production capacity and form the basis for further growth .
Navigating complex bends
Stairlift company , Platinum , invested in its first all-electric Breeze tube bender from Scarborough-based Unison Ltd in 2015 , the same year that it launched its flagship ‘ Ultimate ’ stairlift ; an elegant , ‘ single-tube ’ design capable of navigating steep and narrow curved staircases .
“ We fully appreciated that , to create an industry-leading , single-tube stairlift , we would need to invest in advanced , all-electric tubebending machinery ,” commented Platinum Stairlifts ’ production engineer , Matthew Turton .
“ At that time , we were using a hydraulic tube-bending machine which , although fine for forming the rails for our twin-tube stairlifts , lacked the capability to bend the highly complex angles required for a premium single-tube model . Having considered the tube-bending machines and levels of support offered by various manufacturers , we went ahead and ordered our first Unison Breeze machine ,” he continued .
“ A 90mm multi-stack model , the all-electric Breeze quickly demonstrated its ability to accurately bend tube for even the most challenging of designs , such as complex spiral and multi-flight staircases . In fact , through a combination of twist and draw bending with Unison-supplied precision tubing , I have yet to see a staircase angle that the Breeze machine has been unable to achieve ,” he added .
“ The machinery bends tube for challenging designs , such as complex spiral and multi-flight staircases , and now features rollforming capability .”
Foundry Park in Keighley , West Yorkshire .