Ridgway Machines, a leading manufacturer of precision taping and winding machines today announced it is expanding its design department to drive the business forward by providing innovative solutions for customers. This will help meet demand for their technically advanced machines designed for a range of industries such as aerospace, aviation, automotive, energy, nuclear and subsea.
This technical focus is part of a recent reorganisation that sees Andy Glanville become the new Managing Director. Andy said “Today’s announcement makes it clear that Ridgway has shown a commitment to continue to grow. Investing in highly skilled people is great news for us and will help Ridgway thrive and confirm us as the leader in our fields”. In a strategic business move Tony Hart has taken up the position of Operations Director focusing on even better support for customers in the delivery of projects, goods and services.
Increased demand also means Ridgway have invested in new engineers to help manufacture machines like the innovative new HTM – High frequency taping machine, designed to accurately apply a variety of tape materials to cables and flat conductors. It can apply a variety of high performance materials to wire and cable including PTFE, Aluminium, Mylar and Kapton®. Hi- Resolution cameras are installed for high speed image capture and data logging with 80 images captured per second and a precise tape application with head speeds of 2500rpm.
Ridgway Sales Director Andy Clarke said “We are very proud of our new machine range and the work our team of engineers has done to design and manufacture our most advanced taping machines to date. It is particularly exciting due the innovative camera and product measurement systems that enhance the machine through data capture and benefit organisations who manufacture high performance cables, keeping them ahead of their competition”.
Ridgway Machines will be attending to highlight their expertise in the design and manufacturing of taping machinery and in particular their work for the ITER Tokamak Project and CERN Large Hadron Collider Project.
Ridgway applied extensive conductor taping knowledge by supplying tape wrapping head systems for the demanding applications of the Central Solenoid, Poloidal Field and Toroidal Field coil projects for the ITER Tokomak.
Ridgway worked in close collaboration with the Engineering Team at CERN to ensure the bespoke machine design accommodated the special taping requirements and product handling needs of large superconducting bus bars for magnet connections for the Large Hadron Collider. Ridgway most recently supplied a High Speed, energy efficient Horizontal Compact Taping machine too enhance and integrate seamlessly into the CERN production line for special tapered cables, commonly referred to as Rutherford Cables, for accelerator magnets for the Large Hadron Collider.
During these prestigious projects Ridgway Machines worked with world leading organisations from across the globe such as General Atomics, Elytt Energy, Sea-Alp Engineering and CERN. The 3 day event will serve as a great platform to meet colleagues from all these organisations and others, who will be attending and exhibiting at the event.