News And Updates

Workholding specialist Leader Chuck Systems recently signed a contract with the Polish workholding manufacturer, Bison-Bial. Under this new agreement the Tamworth-based company will become a distributor for the sale of Bison’s extensive cost-effective product range, which includes pre-sales technical support, stocks of popular items and spare parts being held by Leader.

Founded in 1948, Bison is Poland’s largest manufacturer of machine tool ancillary products. From inception the company manufactured both bench and machine vices and, in 1950, started to produce lathe chucks. Offering cost-effective solutions, Bison products are sold in more than 50 countries around the world and are renowned for high-quality, durability, precision and value-for-money.

Today, the ISO 9001 accredited company employs around 600 people and produces a wide range of standard manual chucks, many of which are available with cast iron or steel bodies. With diameters ranging from 80 – 1250mm the standard manual chucks are available with 2-, 3-, 4- and 6-jaws, and various internal/external hard and soft jaw configurations are offered. Geared scroll self-centring, independent and combination models provide robust fixturing for the turning of raw material or parts.

Mark Jones, Leader Chuck Systems’ managing director, says: “The quality and range of the Bison’s manual chucks is exceptional. Offering a cost-effective workholding solution the products are extremely well engineered, accurate and robust. And, while the economic climate is improving manufacturing companies still have to consider each investment decision carefully. So the introduction of the Bison range - some of which is already known in the UK as it was previously sold under the Toolmex TMX brand name – will provide an ideal cost-based alternative.”

Industry-specific products developed by Bison provide focused workholding solutions, such as the ‘oil country’ chucks which highlight how the company listens to its customers and develops robust and efficient answers to the manufacturing problems they face. These chucks feature a large through bore compared to the diameter of the chuck body which is ideal for pipe machining. For example, the 800mm diameter chuck has a 463.5mm bore. They can be used individually or as pairs either side of the lathe spindle to support very long workpieces.

Bison board member, Dr Thomas Bach, states: “For more than 60 years we have taken great pride in the fact that the Bison logo has been a symbol of excellence and is well known for its superior quality in every continent of the world. As we continue to grow through respected and focused companies such as Leader, we will ensure that Bison products remain globally recognised as first-class. We will also keep listening to our customers and partners to ensure that we meet their needs.”