Unison Ltd, the inventor of all-electric tube manipulation and the UK’s leading manufacturer of tube and pipe bending machines, has completed its acquisition of California, USA-based production machinery and tooling specialist, PHI Hydraulics.

For Unison Ltd and its North American division, Danville VA-based Unison Tube LLC, the acquisition further enhances their already extensive product portfolio and reinforces 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 purchase of PHI will introduce additional end-forming technologies and tooling for tube and pipe flaring, flanging, beading, and squaring & 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 inches (3.175 mm) to 8 inches (20 cm). Thanks to PHI’s other products, Unison will also enjoy greater product diversification. These include manual and hydraulic tube and pipe bending machines and tooling, as well as manual and motorized hydraulic presses.

Enhanced service and support for PHI customers

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 industry leading customer support. PHI’s extensive customer base will 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,” says PHI President, Anthony D. Morrow. “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.”

Perfect fit for long-term growth

“We are delighted to welcome PHI into the Unison family of companies,” adds Unison Ltd’s Joint Managing Director, Alan Pickering. “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, proud history of supporting the tube bending and end-forming machine tool needs of countless US 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,” concludes 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.”