UKF/JPC stand out at top tube show

By JPC Perforators
schedule16th Apr 12

UKF Stainless, one of the UK’s largest suppliers of stainless steel tubing, and its specialist manufacturing arm, The Joint Perforating Company (JPC), have reported growing interest in their products and services after appearing at Tube 2012, the world’s leading trade fair for the tube industry.

 

UKF/JPC were among more than 1,000 companies exhibiting at the show, which is held in Düsseldorf every two years. Over five days, the exhibition this year was attended by more than 73,000 visitors from 111 countries, setting a new attendance record for the event.

 

“This trade fair is the biggest of its kind and we have been exhibiting there for the last 10 years,” said Russ Ingram, JPC’s sales and operations manager. “It’s a great opportunity to catch up with some of our key customers in Europe and discuss their future requirements and the general state of the market. Our stand attracted a lot of interest from potential customers operating in countries like Dubai, Israel and South Africa, too.

 

“The show is also a good way of making contact with suppliers and keeping up to date with new technology. We are looking at investing in a new perforation machine and so it was interesting for us to look at the latest models and pieces of kit while we were out there.”

 

Founded in 1992, UKF supplies welded stainless steel tube, stainless steel exhaust tube, stainless steel sheet, stainless steel bar and other stainless steel products to the automotive, decorative, dairy, water, marine, fabrication and petrochemical industries.

 

Product is generally stocked in the as-welded condition,along with a complete range of polished material and, for more difficult tube manipulation, a selection of fully annealed materials. As well as stainless steel tube, UKF also holds one of the UK’s most complete stocks of welded stainless steel pipe, manufactured to ASTM A312 specification. From its Bromsgrove base, with close access to the UK motorway network, UKF ensures fast distribution nationwide with its own specially designed HGV fleet, making a significant contribution to meeting JIT delivery requirements.

The company is not just a stockholder but also a processor of stainless steel, offering customer added-value operations – such as precision cutting, polishing and manipulation – and a variety of surface finishes.

 

JPC was established by UKF in 2001 to specialise in the manufacture of interrupted perforated tubes. Traditionally, the production of perforated tube has been a lengthy process, starting with a flat strip and then going through four separate stages. JPC, however, perforates pre-formed tube in one operation, saving time, costs and providing an end result that also visually enhances the product.

 

This innovation makes JPC-made tubes an ideal choice for car and motorbike exhaust systems and for other products in commercial and domestic markets. JPC provides effective perforating in a variety of materials including stainless steel, titanium, mild steel and aluminised zinc-coated steel, in outside diameters from 32mm to 101.6mm and in lengths up to 1000mm. Tube perforations can also be produced in a wide variety of patterns to suit customer requirements.

 

“Exhibiting at Tube 2012 has raised our profile among our target customers, namely the OEMs and tier one suppliers,” added Russ Ingram. “We were able to get the message across that we offer a superior product at an excellent price, and that we have good communication lines and available capacity.

 

“We are always looking to take on board new customers and one of these could be the German counterpart of one of our biggest UK customers, a leading player in Germany’s automotive supply industry. They were one of the visitors to our stand and they were very impressed by our range of products and services.”

 

Simon Greenhill, group managing director of UKF/JPC, commented: “We have always found the Tube international trade fair in Düsseldorf to be an ideal opportunity to establish new relationships with new customers and suppliers, as well as to build on existing relationships. The exhibition is a showcase for new technology in manufacturing and processing, and this is an area where it is important, for a business, to invest in the future.”