Unison Ltd, a UK manufacturer of tube and pipe bending machines and the inventor of all-electric tube manipulation, recently completed its acquisition of California-based production machinery and tooling specialist, PHI Hydraulics, the company stated in a release.
For Unison Ltd and its North American division, Danville, Virginia-based Unison Tube LLC, the acquisition is reported to further enhance their product portfolio and reinforce their position as one-stop providers of total tube technology.
“Most importantly, it will help accelerate the growth of Unison Tube LLC in the United States,” the release stated.
According to Unison, the purchase of PHI will introduce additional end-forming technologies and tooling for tube and pipe flaring, flanging, beading, and squaring and deburring to the Unison product range—with end-forming machines in the PHI range covering tube and pipe diameters from as little as 0.125 inch (3.175mm) to 8 inches (20 cm).
“Thanks to PHI’s other products, Unison will also enjoy greater product diversification,” the release stated. “These include manual and hydraulic tube and pipe bending machines and tooling, as well as manual and motorized hydraulic presses.”
For PHI and its customers, the acquisition by Unison brings the promise of faster response times, shorter product lead times, new product innovations, advanced levels of automation, and the benefit of Unison’s customer support. PHI’s extensive customer base is also expected to also benefit from a more direct route to Unison’s ultra-precise, all-electric tube bending machines, its controls, software, tube scanning, and bend simulation technologies.
“We decided that the best way to ensure the future success of the PHI name, its products, and brand reputation, was to seek acquisition,” said PHI President Anthony D. Morrow, in the release. “After considering various potential purchasers, we accepted the offer from Unison Ltd. It was clear from the outset that the Unison team does everything we do and more—and is passionate about understanding and exceeding the needs of its customers. As a result, I am confident the future of PHI and the tube manipulation requirements of its customers could not be in better hands.”
“We are delighted to welcome PHI into the Unison family of companies,” adds Unison Ltd Joint Managing Director Alan Pickering, in the release. “PHI’s product range and customer base will not only enhance our product portfolio and market position, but will also help affirm Unison Tube LLC as a key provider of tube forming technologies in the United States.
“Acquiring PHI and its key personnel is significant for us. The assets we have obtained are a perfect fit for our long-term growth strategy. They bring critical market reach and proven products that, along with our own technologies, will enable us to better serve our existing customer base, PHI’s customers, and new customers globally. We are particularly excited to embrace the talent, expertise, and time-proven designs that have helped make PHI the machine tool manufacturer of choice for many of the world’s leading companies.”
Established 85 years ago, PHI has a long history of supporting the tube bending and end-forming machine tool needs of numerous U.S. and internationally based organizations, especially across the aerospace sector. This history includes the company’s predecessor brands, Leonard Precision Products and Conrac Machine Tool.
“Whichever PHI brands or machines you rely upon, rest assured, as a member of the Unison family, PHI will be even better placed to meet your long-term tube forming needs,” concluded Anthony D. Morrow. “Under Unison’s expert care, market insight, and leadership, the PHI name and everything it stands for will last long into the future.”
Unison Ltd manufactured what it described as “the world’s first all-electric tube bender in 1994, followed by the world’s first all-electric multi-stack tube bender, then the world’s largest all-electric tube bender for the shipbuilding industry.”
Available in single-stack, multi-stack, and right/left varieties, Unison machines are delivered to more than 20 countries globally. The company’s tube bending software is also recognized as a user-friendly control system for tube bending machines.
“The software is written and supported by Unison, ensuring complete control of its evolution, with no need for third party support,” the company said in the release.
PHI (PHI Hydraulics) is a diversified production machinery manufacturer. Founded in 1941 as Preco Incorporated of Los Angeles, the company initially specialized in bench-type molding presses used for laminating documents and ID cards. Later, it was renamed Pasadena Hydraulics Inc. (PHI), and for a time, PHI-Tulip, as it expanded its product lines and capabilities.
PHI’s equipment is used by an extensive roster of major global companies such as: NASA, SpaceX, Tesla, Boeing, GE, Honeywell, Lockheed Martin, Dow, and DuPont. The company serves a wide range of industries, including aerospace and aviation; automotive; electronics and semiconductors; medical equipment; military and defense; plastics, rubber, and composites; power generation and nuclear; shipbuilding; and steel fabrication.