The Corby-based company ceased new RAS machine enquiries and sales as of 1 November; spares and service were transferred at the beginning of January 2015. The two UK dealers have had a close working relationship for many years, and John Murray director Bill Cullinan will act as a consultant to Press & Shear to ensure a smooth transition. John Murray engineer Allen Brodie moved to Press & Shear in January to continue working on the installation and service of RAS machines.
Cullinan of John Murray said: "This change is down to reduced energy as I approach retirement and recognition that RAS is developing increasingly sophisticated, high-tech machines that our small, specialist agency will struggle to handle."
RAS, located near Stuttgart, recently celebrated its 75th anniversary. The company offers a number of solutions for bending components. Forming products manufactured by RAS includes swaging machines, forming and flanging machines, seamers and duct zippers. The firm also offers shearing machines for material up to 6.3 mm thick.
John Murray is now focusing on selling bending rolls from Nosstec (Luna) and Prinzing, as well as the latter's range of swagers, pipe flangers and other special machines. Tube end formers from Wecotech and Forstner's decoiling lines will also continue to be sold.
Other Press & Shear sheet metalworking agency lines remain unchanged. They are Adira, a manufacturer of press brakes and shears; Sino-Japanese joint venture company, Yawei-Nisshinbo, which produces servo-electric turret punch presses; Boschert, Germany, which makes punching, punch/laser combination, corner notching and automated copper punching machines; and Swiss manufacturer Stierli-Bieger, which produces a range of horizontal bending and forming machines.
