Kinghorn sheet metal machinery tooling and components

British engineering heritage and Kinghorn machine tool development

British machine tool manufacturer A. Kinghorn & Co. Ltd. engineered and manufactured heavy-duty metal forming and fabrication machinery starting in 1885.

Operating from its dedicated Stackhills Works in Todmorden, the enterprise brought together iron foundries, heavy machining halls, and press brake assembly bays.

The machinery earned an enduring international reputation across heavy engineering due to rigid alloy structures and dependable mechanical drivetrains.

At the foundation of Kinghorn equipment durability lies the deployment of massive iron frames treated with thermal stress relief to eliminate residual deformation during decades of severe duty.

Proven drive mechanisms featuring heavy flywheels and mechanical friction clutches deliver smooth non-shock stroke engagement and repeatable ram positioning during intricate sheet bending operations.

Mechanical and hydraulic press brake systems for industrial workshops

Kinghorn mechanical and electro-hydraulic press brakes are built for accurate bending of profiles and structural plate.

In mechanical models, motor torque transfers via multi-groove V-belt drives to a heavy balanced flywheel, before being converted into linear ram motion through a friction clutch and eccentric crankshaft. The balance of inertial masses preserves uniform bend depth along the entire bed span.

Hydraulic press brake variants such as the A-series and Steco models deliver infinitely variable stroke force and controllable approach speeds. Synchronized dual cylinders combined with mechanical depth stops ensure parallel bending lines during series production.

Maintenance routines include checking gib clearances, inspecting bronze connecting-rod bushings, and replacing hydraulic packings.

Industrial guillotine shears for straight sheet metal cutting

Kinghorn mechanical and hydraulic guillotine shears provide high-speed perpendicular cutting of carbon steels and stainless sheet. The rigid box-section blade beam travels within heavy vertical guideways, preventing lateral deflection under severe shearing forces.

Robust mechanical or hydraulic hold-down clamps grip the sheet firmly along the cutting edge before blade contact, preventing distortion.

Shear blade sets are produced from premium alloy tool steel with thorough heat treatment across all working faces, providing four usable cutting edges. When an edge dulls, the blade rotates to the next edge, reducing operating expenses.

Blade clearance adjustment operates via precision wedge mechanisms with micrometer settings matching sheet thickness and tensile strength.

Twin Ram hydraulic high-speed punching and blanking presses

Specialized Kinghorn Twin Ram up-stroke hydraulic presses are designed for rapid hole punching, slotting, and blanking operations.

The kinematic architecture utilizes two parallel hydraulic rams elevating the lower bed toward a stationary upper tool holder, eliminating tooling tilt under off-center loading conditions during progressive stamping.

The working stroke is intentionally restricted to a 10 to 15 mm range, enabling rapid stroke frequency while reducing hydraulic pump power consumption. The equipment is widely used in fabricating punched brackets, perforated strips, and structural hardware.

Regular servicing involves fluid filter changes and inspection of vertical guide columns.

Press brake tooling, bending punches, and multi-V die blocks

Finished part precision on Kinghorn press brakes depends directly on tooling quality. Available tooling includes straight, acute-angle, and radius punches made from 42CrMo4 alloy tool steel with deep induction hardening up to 56 to 58 HRC.

Precision grinding of tool tangs and contact radii ensures firm seating inside the upper ram clamps.

Multi-V groove die blocks with varied openings allow operators to bend different metal thicknesses without resetting bed mounts.

For operating modern modular tooling on classic Kinghorn machines, intermediate adapters of the Promecam pattern are provided, speeding up tool changes and improving shop floor flexibility.

Multi-disc metallic pump valves for reciprocating fluid machinery

The patented Kinghorn metallic disc valve represents an established fluid handling engineering solution for marine and industrial reciprocating pumps.

In contrast to flexible rubber that deteriorates under heat and aggressive media, the Kinghorn valve utilizes a stack of thin resilient discs crafted from spring-temper phosphor bronze moving along a central guide stud.

Concentric perforations across the discs create a thin fluid layer between plates, forming an effective hydrodynamic seal and dampening impact upon seating. The valves deliver extended operational life when pumping hot water, condensate, and slurries.

During maintenance overhauls, the disc stack disassembles readily for cleaning and plate replacement.