Tag Archives: Press

Match made in tooling leads to press investment at MACH 2024

A specialist supplier to F1, automotive and aerospace sectors is looking to increase its tool try-out capacity by purchasing its first Bruderer press at MACH 2024.

Alan Spargo Ltd, which celebrates 50 years in business in 2025, has invested in a BSTA 40-tonne machine to help it provide its growing list of customers with the option to test tooling solutions at high speed before they go into production.

The technology can offer up to 1000 strokes per minute at precision accuracy and will support the High Wycombe firm’s desire to increase sales past the £3m mark this year.

It builds on a long-term tooling relationship between the company and Bruderer UK, which has culminated in the development of a turnkey production line for MACH 24 this week, the country’s largest industrial show.

Specialist tooling from Alan Spargo has been developed in just six weeks to run on the Telford-based company’s BSTL 350-88 high speed press, the first time it has ever been run in the UK.

Located on Stand 6-482 at the NEC, the machine comes into its own for precision and continuity and uses up to 30% less energy when compared to older machine models.

Adrian Haller, Managing Director of Bruderer UK, commented: “Alan Spargo works with some of the most demanding customers in the world, thanks to its ability to manufacture precision components and complex tooling.

“The latest investment in a 40-tonne high speed press reinforces this position and gives it additional capacity to try-out new tools at its Buckinghamshire facility, ensuring that the client can tweak stroke speeds and have complete confidence that – when it takes receipt of the tooling – it is going to run at high speed and with absolute accuracy.”

He continued: “This is the natural next step in the relationship, as we have worked together on several projects to build bespoke tooling that can be used on a number of our presses situated in some of the best engineering houses in the UK.”

Alan Spargo is very much a family affair, with the original founder’s sons Michael and Peter now running the business, with the latter’s son Sam Spargo recently joining the business.

Together the company supplies engineering solutions for customers involved in electronics, electric vehicles, solar panels, medical, defence and construction from its Coronation Road facility in High Wycombe.

Peter Spargo, Director, picked up the story: “Our customers are continually pushing the boundaries when it comes to tool performance, and we must respond. One of the ways we can do this is by giving them access to even more tool try-out capabilities and that’s why we’ve pressed the button on our first investment in Bruderer technology.

“This complements our other presses and, importantly, gives us a press that can deliver high-speed performance, testing the tool to its maximum. We’ve already got several existing and new customers who can take advantage of this.

“The last twelve months have been very good for us, and we’ve extended the workforce to 22, with the opportunity to recruit more staff, including new apprentices.”

Bruderer’s production line at MACH will leave Birmingham at the end of the show and make its way to the company’s £multi-million facility that is currently being built at Hortonwood in Telford.

It will form part of a demonstration facility that will be able to prove out machine tools, as well as being used as a potential training ground for future apprentices.

“The BSTL 350-88 high speed press, along with servo-feeder, de-coiler and Alan Spargo tooling represents a £500,000 investment and highlights how committed we are to creating a world class facility in the heart of Shropshire,” added Adrian Haller.

He concluded: “Construction work is progressing well, and we should be open for business in October, with up to six jobs set to be created across service, engineering and finance.”

For further information, please visit www.bruderer.com or www.alanspargoltd.com

Batten & Allen announce latest £400,000 Bruderer UK investment at MACH 2022

A specialist in stamping, plating and the assembly of high precision parts is celebrating its 50th birthday in style after announcing a new £400,000 investment.

Batten & Allen, which employs 120 people at its state-of-the-art factory in Cirencester, has signed a deal at MACH 2022 today to purchase a new Bruderer high speed press that can produce six million components every day.

The company signalled its intentions to use the 28-tonne BSTA 280-75B2 to stamp precision parts for use in electrical applications across automotive, aerospace and consumer goods.

Fitted with a high precision mechanical feeder, the machine offers a 750mm bed to accommodate complex press tools and comes with the latest control technology to provide benefits, such as Automatic Ram Shut height adjustment at micro adjustments while the press is under acceleration and decelerated loads.

This guarantees process stability and pinpoint reliability of the bottom dead centre (BCD) position even at 1500 strokes per minute.

“Bruderer presses are known throughout industry for their precise control and repeatable accuracy, two of the reasons why this machine will be our 30th from them,” explained Ian Mackinnon, who joined Batten & Allen as CEO four years ago.

“The components we make are extremely precise, often to a few microns. This means we require a machine that could deliver that level of precision, time and time again – in fact, volumes can run into millions of parts every day.”

He continued: “The BSTA 280-75B2 is a superb press and has been specified to our exact requirements, giving us the flexibility to be able to run pretty much every tool we own on it.”

Established in 1972, Batten & Allen’s stamping capability means it can offer small close pitch components with material thicknesses in the range of 10 microns thick to more heavy-duty single piece stampings up to 2mm.

It exports 85% of its turnover to customers across the automotive, aerospace, electronics and consumer goods sectors and, following a major surge in orders, is expecting sales to hit a record-breaking £20m at the end of this year.

Adrian Haller, Managing Director of Bruderer UK, was delighted that the strategic partnership has been extended even further.

“Batten & Allen’s production facility is built on the power of our presses, dating back nearly 50 years, and involving the installation of more than 30 machines, ranging from 20 tonnes to 50 tonnes.

“The latest BSTA 280-75B2 can operate up to 1500 strokes per minute and the large press tool bed means it is extremely flexible and supports quick changeovers. It is also equipped with Ram Guidance exclusively at strip level, which helps eliminate displacement between the punch and lower die.

“The press will run continuously across three shifts and 24-hours per day – now that is what I call reliable performance.”

Bruderer UK has taken its largest ever presence at MACH 2022 as it aims to build on a record-breaking start to the year.

The company, with bases in Luton and the Black Country, has seen demand for its presses grow rapidly from the automotive, aerospace, construction and electrification sectors and is hoping to cement its position as the leading authority in its field by showcasing its latest technology.

Headlining the firm’s 100sq metre stand (20-602) in the MMMA’s Metalworking Village will be the latest BSTA 510-150 B2, which will be fitted with a state-of-the-art 300mm wide precision high-speed servo feeder.

The machine bed will be an impressive 1.5metres wide, allowing for big press tools to be loaded with ease, highlighting the unique capability to achieve 1050 stroke per minutes on complex material of all shapes and sizes.

To provide the most comprehensive display, material decoiling and rewinding systems have been fitted to deliver a fully operational line – ideal for bringing demonstrations to life during the eagerly awaited exhibition.