The tube bending machinery specialist Unison is helping the Angelic Bulldog Project – an attempt on the world motorcycle land speed record – by creating the roll cage for the streamliner bike. Unison’s work included the manufacture of custom tooling to accommodate the unique shape of the bike, together with the bending of various tube sections on a precision all-electric bending machine.
Former Manx GP racer Gabriel Uttley started the Angelic Bulldog Project in 1996. It has since grown to include a team of over 65 volunteers – many from prestigious engineering firms.
According to Gabriel Uttley, “We knew of Unison’s excellent reputation in metalworking machinery and initially approached the company’s MD, Alan Pickering, for advice about the fabrication of the roll cage for the streamliner, because some of the bends are very application specific and we lacked the necessary resources. After some discussion, during which it emerged that standard tooling wasn’t suitable, Alan decided that the simplest way was for Unison to make the necessary tools and bend the cage’s components on one of its all-electric tube benders.”
