Hydroformed Appliance Handles are Gaining Popularity
Fort Wayne, IN—There’s a new trend associated with upscale appliances: hydroformed handles. Todd Ellinger, Vice President of Sales and Marketing for American Hydrofomers, Inc. (AHI), explains, “Hydroformed appliance handles have great aesthetic appeal because of their sleek, stylish and custom look. Many high end manufacturers are incorporating hydroformed handles on new ovens and refrigerators.”
In the process of hydrofoming appliance handles, stainless steel tube is typically used to create a curved grip with flares at the connection point. Hand finger grips can be molded in and shapes can be contoured to designer’s requirements.
As the benefits and advantages of hydroforming and fabricating become better understood, more metal fabricating applications arise. AHI offers superior solutions for many pressure forming challenges. AHI’s unique metal forming, metal fabrication, tube bending, tube hydroforming and pressure forming capabilities enable the company to offer turnkey solutions -- from the time the raw material arrives to when the final hydroformed part is delivered.
A simplified overview of the hydroform process is as follows: Raw tube is loaded into hydroforming dies and the hydroforming press closes. The sealing rods engage the part, seal the ends and fill it with water, increasing pressure inside the part. The sealing rods push the tube into the die (end feed) and the internal pressure is ramped to its maximum value. The hydroformed part takes on the shape of the die. Then, the final hydroformed part is removed.
| American Hydroformers specializes in the hydroform tube forming process. American Hydroformers processes start with raw tube and progresses through tube bending, tube pre-forming, tube forming, tube hydroforming, laser cutting and trimming. Originally founded in 2003, American Hydroformers, Inc. was formed to create a larger portfolio of fabrication offerings for the Tippmann Affiliated Group, who manages companies across a broad scope of industries. The addition of hydroforming was a great fit to expand the product offerings from Summit Manufacturing and Zemco Manufacturing. For more information, call (260) 428-2660, visit www.americanhydroformers.com or e-mail info@americanhydroformers.com. AHI Headquarters is located at 2320 Meyer Road, Fort Wayne, IN 46803. |
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Edward M.Stevens, APR,
Stevens Strategic Communications
440-617-0100 ext. 201
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