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Manufacturing Synergy in Coventry as Wickman Welcomes Tangi-Flow to the Fold

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The enthusiasm of the directors of Wickman has breathed new life into a world-famous but recently-ailing Coventry precision engineering company. The renowned Tangi-Flow range of tooling products will resume production and continue to service the global market of high quality tooling products.

When Chris Barrett and Owen Coyne learned that L & T I Brock, manufacturers of Tangi-flow products had been put into administration, their first reaction was regret that the company that had supplied Wickman for many years was in trouble. Their second thought was that there was an opportunity to continue the supply of a high-quality product to an established market.

The "Eureka" moment came when they realised the potential synergy of taking on production of the Tangi-flow range. It includes auto-retract rollerboxes, tapping heads, floating reamer, knurl tool and recess tool holders, as well as broaching heads.

Negotiations with the administrators began, and Chris and Owen examined every aspect of the Falklands Close, Canley, operation. The company's trademark, intellectual property rights (IPR), stock and remaining assets have been bought, and will operate independently as Tangi-flow Products Ltd.

"We believe we are taking on production and sales of an excellent product, which bolts on to the Wickman range," says director Owen Coyne. "With Wickman's energy, expertise and good business practice, we will bring Tangi-flow production into the 21st century".

First step in the transfer to the Wickman Group, has been the appointment of Wickman's Mick Lynskey as managing director of Tangi-flow. Mick has worked for Wickman for 18 years as a key member of the management team. Two former employees of L & TI Brock will transfer to Wickman's Discovery Way factory and over the next couple of months, some machines, such as grinders, will be brought to Wickman. The remainder will be sold. "It makes economic sense to bring the sales and manufacturing processes to our premises," Owen explains.

Tangi-flow Products will be contacting customers to explain the new set up. Many customers are also already long-term buyers of Wickman.

"At Wickman, we have done everything possible to weather the recession. At the beginning of 2009, we were forced to shed staff, reduce hours, take wage cuts. Today, the workforce is back to full-time operation, and everyone is excited at the acquisition of a product that has so much in common with Wickman," says Owen Coyne.

Wickman continue to manufacture multi spindle lathes at its works in Coventry & Zlin, Czech Republic, and has established a full service and sales group with facilities in India, Brazil, USA, France, Spain & Poland.

TO ADD: FIRST CHANCE FOR THE INDUSTRY TO SEE THE OUTCOME OF WICKMAN'S ENTERPRISE IN SAVING THE TANGI-FLOW PRODUCT RANGE AND DEVELOPING IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL WILL BE AT THE FRENCH SIMODEC EXHIBITION IN MARCH 2010.

For more information, please contact: Tangi-Flow Products Ltd on:

Phone: 02476 421 200; Fax: 02476 421 459;
Mick Lynskey (07958 763671 - )
Chris Barrett (07785 306978 - )
Owen Coyne (07766 202338 - )
www.tangi-flow.com