Don’t for one minute let anyone tell you that British manufacturing is anything but the best in the world. Take Scarborough-based Unison Ltd, for example. Ever since the business was established more than 50 years ago, it has led the way in the design and build of the world’s most advanced tube and pipe bending machines. Today, by continually listening to the needs of its customers and keeping its product range highly relevant, Unison has achieved export orders than run well into seven figures.
“Believing there was a better, more precise way of tube bending than the hydraulic machines of the day, back in the late 1980s we set about inventing all-electric tube bending,” says Unison Ltd’s joint managing director, Alan Pickering. “Creating something new was a challenge I admit, but we got there and, in 1994, launched the world’s first all-electric tube bending machine. Our big breakthrough came, however, when Airbus ordered their first all-electric Unison tube bending machine for manufacturing aircraft hydraulic components. The machine paid for itself in reduced scrap in fewer than 16 weeks!”
One thing led to another and, over the years, Unison launched a whole range of ultra-precise, all-electric tube bending machines for sectors as wide ranging as aerospace, autosport, architecture, furniture-making, general manufacturing and shipbuilding. With customers right across the United States, Unison also opened a division in Virginia.
“We’ve always aimed to build the best tube bending machines that money can buy,” adds Alan Pickering. “We listen carefully to each customer’s specific needs and, if we don’t offer a machine to suit, we will typically build one to meet their requirements. We also make all our own bend tooling, just to make sure everything performs perfectly. At Unison, the customer really is king or queen. We go out of our way to provide the highest levels of aftersales service. Plus we’ve developed our own software and seamless control systems for every Unison machine.”
Going from strength to strength
Apart from the quality of its products and customer service, listening to its customers is perhaps the
key reason why Unison is enjoying incredible success at a time when many manufacturers are struggling. “Our customers told us they would also be interested in laser cutting technologies,” continues Alan Pickering, “so we went out of our way to find what we believe are the highest quality, affordable fibre laser machines. The result was a partnership in 2021 with leading European laser cutting machinery maker, Nukon, and the creation of Nukon Lasers UK Ltd. Listening further to our customers and looking for market opportunities, we recently purchased wire and small tube bending machinery business, Pneuform Machines Ltd.”
Only as good as our people
Of course, it takes more than industry-leading machines, outstanding customer service and an unrivalled understanding of the market to be successful. “I can’t tell you just how much we value our people,” adds Alan Pickering. “The majority of our team members have been with us for many years, which says a huge amount about how we recognise, nurture and reward talent. Others joined us as apprentices, fresh from Scarborough’s University Technical College. We were founder members of the Scarborough UTC and are passionate about encouraging local young people to gain the skills that lead to rewarding careers. We listen to our people. We listen to how and when they want to work and what they want from their careers. We’re also always open to their ideas.”
Achieving a work-life balance
Believing that everyone should be able to enjoy a great work-life balance, Unison has recently begun trialling a four-day working week for those staff members who appreciate a longer weekend – and with North Yorkshire’s beautiful coastline only a pebble’s throw away from the company’s Eastfield manufacturing centre in Scarborough, who can blame them? Equally, while some team members prefer a shorter working week, others like the opportunity of overtime – something that’s regularly available.
Worthwhile careers, with excellent benefits
“Unison Ltd really is going places,” Alan Pickering concludes. “So to anyone looking for a worthwhile career, with excellent benefits and even the opportunity to travel overseas: please take a look at our current vacancies. If you’re an experienced electrical, mechanical, service, software or controls engineer, a first-rate CNC milling machinist, CNC centre lathe turner, or a field service technician, you could be just the person we’re looking for.”
