Download One of the world`s leading manufacturers of clamps

COVER STORY
One of the world’s leading
4.D140
manufacturers of clamps,
connectors and fluid systems
Not a claim to be made lightly but one that NORMA UK Ltd is justifiably proud to make, being the UK arm
of the NORMA Group – one of the biggest manufacturers and suppliers of connecting products worldwide.
N
ORMA UK Ltd has been established in the UK
for over 30 years now and since 2006 has been
providing its market leading range of engineered
joining technology solutions from its Greenham
Business Park headquarters in Newbury.
As a key member of NORMA Group, the company acts
as both a strategic manufacturing centre – specialising in the
design and production of the NORMACONNECT® V range of
precision engineered profile clamps that are predominantly
used in the automotive industry – as well as a national
distribution centre for more than 35,000 products that are
also produced
within the
Group.
The hose
clamps, pipe
connections,
retaining
products, quick
connectors,
fluid systems
and plastic
connectors of
NORMA Group
are accredited
to all leading
European and
international
quality
standards and
are vital parts
of for instance
vehicles,
aircraft,
trains, ships, water pipelines, and of applications for the
pharmaceutical and biotechnology industry. This combination
of experience and market leading product portfolio, has enabled
NORMA UK to maintain its position as a primary supplier to
businesses ranging from large-scale multinationals through
to local independent resellers.
A technological focus on automotive solutions
With its many years’ experience of manufacturing and
developing a comprehensive range of engineering joining
technologies in the clamp, connect and fluid sectors,
8 Fastener + Fixing Te chnology • Issue 16 Jan – Mar 2015
the automotive industry is a key market for NORMA. As such,
providing solutions that integrate stringent emission regulations,
rapid installation times, consistent performance at temperature
extremes and ever tightening space envelopes, is a discipline in
which NORMA Group combines its expertise in both metal and
plastic materials. One such product manufactured by NORMA
that encompasses all these criteria is the VPP profile clamp.
VPP (V-Pressed Profile) clamps have been produced at the
NORMA UK facility since 2005 and through their innovative
design, consistently high performance, and engineering
development, have now become a product of choice for many
leading vehicle manufacturers, with demand for these clamps
rising significantly to many millions of parts per year.
To satisfy both current and future production requirements,
2014 saw NORMA UK take delivery and commission its latest
technology to this business – two Aida 250 tonne ‘C’ frame
presses with integrated transfer mechanism. Key to the success
of the VPP production process is the transfer mechanism that
is integrated into the new press machinery. This mechanism
enables parts in the VPP manufacturing flow to be moved from
one step to the next, in a sequential and automated process, until
the finished forming has been achieved. This not only achieves
the high volume production runs required, but crucially allows
tool changing time to be drastically reduced, thus keeping down
time to an absolute minimum. The Aida 250 tonne transfer
presses, weighing approximately 29 tonnes and with an overall
size of nearly 90 cubic metres each, represent a significant
investment and milestone for NORMA UK. Commenting on the
success of the new manufacturing capabilities, Mark Burnett,
managing director at NORMA UK, said: “With this facility now
in place, NORMA UK has considerably increased its competitive
advantage. Through the efforts of many departments and
people here, we now have a significantly enhanced ability
to surpass the exacting specification, quality, deadline and
volume requirements that our customers demand.”
Innovation is the key
Innovation is also a vital element in all the solutions that
NORMA provides, an aspect that is very well illustrated by
the BREEZE Constant Torque hose clamps that the Group
manufactures. Constant Torque clamps or CT clamps, as they are
often referred to, are used throughout the automotive, general
industrial and marine industries and include a Belleville spring
mechanism fitted to the clamp that enables it to maintain a
constant seal, even when subjected to fluctuations in temperature.
These Belleville
springs are specially
shaped components
that whilst resembling a
washer, feature a spring
characteristic, and
when a series or stack
of these are fitted to
the clamp, it is allowed
to thermally expand or
contract without adversely affecting sealing performance. This
unique design means that BREEZE Constant Torque clamps
eliminate the problems of ‘cold flow’ and through their dynamic
action, are ideal for applications involving a thermal cycle.
The marine industry is also one of the many environments,
where another well established NORMA connecting solution
can be found, namely the FGR pipe coupling. The DIN 86128
accredited FGR range – thus called as it combines the FLEX,
GRIP and REPAIR clamp solutions – offers a compact,
economical and reliable means for connecting plain-ended
pipes. The different combinations of anchoring ring, protection
ring and seal material that is integrated into each clamp, means
that FGR couplings are ideal for joining both plastic and metal
pipes, especially stainless steel, throughout the mechanical
engineering, construction, shipbuilding and hydro-technology
industries. Key to the technical superiority of FGR pipe
couplings however, is its patented double lip sealing system.
Firstly, the seal of each clamp – which could be either an EPDM
or NBR rubber material – features a design that enables two
sealing lips to be in contact with the pipe application at the
same time. This double safety feature means that a highly
reliable seal is delivered for each application, be it low pressure,
vacuum or extreme load. Secondly, sealing performance is
further enhanced by the profiled shape of the rubber material.
This profile means that when internal pipe pressure increases,
the double lip seal is compressed even further onto the pipe
surface, thus delivering an even stronger sealing force.
Investments securing the future
Significant investment in service levels and product
development, such as the examples previously mentioned, have
led to many large-scale, long-term contract wins for NORMA UK.
These successes in the manufacturing and distribution industries,
plus an on-going commitment to providing the very best in
engineered joining technology solutions, are the key steps in
satisfying the product demands forecasted for 2015 and beyond.
“2013 and 2014 have seen major developments and
investment in the future of NORMA UK,” commented Mark
Burnett. “We have expanded again with the opening of a new
1,850m2 building alongside the current 5,000m2 premises,
which has enabled further manufacturing, warehousing and
distribution amenities for the company. Our workforce has
grown to the largest it has ever been – over 250 people are now
directly employed by the company – and a highly successful
apprenticeship scheme to accommodate future demand has
also been implemented.”
Mark continued: “Annual sales, workforce numbers, product
ranges and production capabilities have all seen significant
increases this year, and everyone within NORMA UK has
contributed to the success and growth of the company. However,
the opportunities ahead of us are even greater. 2015 will see a
major roll out of the Nagara manufacturing principles we have
already implemented, along with several other benchmark projects
that will support our growth. We’re incredibly proud of our
achievements and we plan a great many more of them in 2015.”
www.normagroup.com
“The DIN 86128
accredited FGR
range – thus called
as it combines the
FLEX, GRIP and REPAIR
clamp solutions –
offers a compact,
economical and
reliable means
for connecting
plain-ended pipes.”
www.fastfixtechnology.com
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