Key Highlights:
- Tolomatic introduces a Drive Integration Tool to streamline actuator commissioning.
- Unison Ltd. invests £750,000 in new tooling equipment to meet global demand.
- FIPA expands with a new UK subsidiary to enhance market presence and customer support.
- Thomson Industries upgrades its lead screw configurator for miniature precision solutions.
- A&R Bulk-Pak achieves Operation Clean Sweep (OCS) verification for plastic pellet loss prevention.
Business Talk is a recurring round-up where each installment tracks the latest manufacturing business developments and strategic moves within the industry.
A&R Bulk-Pak Earns First OCS Verification to Combat Plastic Pellet Loss
A&R Bulk-Pak, a contract packaging and logistics services for petrochemical producers across North America, has become one of the first in the U.S.—and the first on the East Coast—to achieve Operation Clean Sweep (OCS) Logistics Verification at its Moncks Corner, SC facility.
OCS is a program designed to eliminate plastic resin loss throughout packaging, storage, and transport operations. Managed by the Plastics Industry Association and the American Chemistry Council, the program sets a rigorous framework for facilities to commit to zero resin loss through procedural upgrades, employee training, and routine audits.
A&R's Moncks Corner site, equipped with high-speed packaging lines and extensive warehousing capabilities, now operates under these best practices to ensure every pellet is accounted for.
Heliospace Wins NASA Contracts to Develop New Spacecraft Technologies
Heliospace, a subsidiary of Helio Corporation, has secured two Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) awards from NASA to develop a new mechanical release mechanism and a deployable boom for CubeSat and small spacecraft applications. The awards fund an initial six-month development phase, with the potential for expanded Phase II funding based on feasibility and commercialization success.
"The development of these new technologies is an important step in our path to vertical integration while providing new options and capabilities for our customers," said Heliospace CEO and co-founder Greg Delory.
Tolomatic Launches Drive Integration Tool for Faster Servo Actuator Commissioning
Tolomatic, Inc. has introduced a new online Drive Integration Tool designed to simplify and accelerate the commissioning of servo linear actuators. By combining motor, drive, feedback, and connector data across a wide range of manufacturers with Tolomatic's actuator specs, the tool helps engineers ensure system compatibility and reduce setup time.
The tool provides a simple three-step process to generate connection diagrams, motor data, and downloadable resources such as a pin connection readout graphic and data sheet—PDF or Excel file—to streamline actuator integration into automation systems.
The drive tool is available at tolomatic.com/drive-integration.
FIPA Opens UK Subsidiary to Strengthen Local Support and Growth
FIPA, a specialist in vacuum and gripping technologies, has founded FIPA UK Ltd. to strengthen its presence in the UK market and enhance service to customers and resellers.
Located in Birmingham, the new office supports FIPA's growth strategy by offering faster response times, improved technical support, and closer alignment with market needs. Industry experts Steven Higgins and Neil Steeden lead the UK team, bringing decades of experience in vacuum technology and ergonomic handling.
"Our dedicated team is now on-site to support our customers quickly and, above all, personally," said UK Sales Director Steven Higgins. The expansion is expected to improve operational efficiency and help drive innovation tailored to the UK market.
Unison Invests Further to Meet Rising Global Demand for Bend Tooling
Unison Ltd, a leading UK manufacturer of tube and pipe bending machinery, has invested an additional £750,000 in new specialist tool-making equipment at its Scarborough headquarters. This follows the 2023 launch of a £1 million bend tooling center aimed at expanding the company's consumable and precision tooling offerings.
The investment boosts Unison's capacity to produce hundreds of tooling items daily, enabling faster response times and stock availability for customers worldwide. Driving the move is strong global demand for Unison's tooling, including consumables like mandrel balls and wiper dies, supported by tailored stock agreements and next-day delivery services.
"Since commencing the new tooling service, uptake has been phenomenal," comments Unison's Sales Applications Engineer, Luke Gibson.
Thomson Enhances Online Configurator for Miniature Precision Lead Screws
Thomson Industries has upgraded its online lead screw configurator to offer enhanced configuration capabilities for its miniature lead screws, available in diameters of 2, 3, and 4 mm. Designed for applications in medical, robotics, and automation markets, the new tool allows users to easily tailor machining and end support options, including integrated motor couplers for rapid prototyping and oversized journals compatible with standard bearings.
The upgraded tool simplifies the process by enabling users to configure, visualize, price, and purchase custom lead screw assemblies directly online. This enhancement supports industries requiring compact, precise motion and aligns with Thomson’s commitment to improving the prototype cycle. The company plans to expand similar configurability features to other product lines in the future.
You can access the configurator here: thomsonlinear.com/lead-screws