Innovative metalworking machine builder is dubbed Yorkshire's 'Most Enterprising Company Of The Year'

The award - sponsored by Business Link - recognises Unison's work in helping metal fabricators to improve manufacturing techniques and know-how, by means of tours of advanced manufacturing facilities. Unison has just completed its second event in a series of these tours that allow manufacturers to see how other metalworking professionals approach the tube bending task, and exploit the capabilities of software-driven bending machinery.

Commenting on the award, Unison's Managing Director Alan Pickering said: Software-based control of tube bending process can be employed very flexibly, and the educationally-oriented relationships that we are developing with users is proving to be an excellent tool - allowing engineers to learn from colleagues in other metalworking sectors, while also giving Unison a unique insight into the challenges faced by its customers - to the extent that we are identifying improved machining techniques and concepts.

Unison has pioneered a new generation of 'all electric' machinery that uses computer-controlled motion to radically enhance the precision, flexibility and productivity of the tube bending operations that are fundamental to many industrial manufacturing sectors from aerospace to furniture. The machinery improves metalworking efficiency and quality compared with traditional hydraulically powered equipment.

Unison was also the runner-up in the 'Exporter of The Year' awards category sponsored by Leeds Business School, in recognition of its international outlook - which sees the company shipping typically more than 60% of its output.