Above: Precision end, angle and contour cutting support part sizing, trimming, joint preparation and assembly.
July, 2026- Nearly 60 percent of vehicle assemblies in the U.S. and millions of industrial, medical and aerospace components rely on custom tube and pipe bending. In particular, applications that use lightweight fluid routing and exhaust management, or which require structural integrity, need tight tolerances and accurate bend angles. In addition, the ability to shape complex geometries into a single, continuous piece helps reduce weight and achieve faster production cycles.
From prototypes to high-volume production, Sharpe Products maintains quick lead times.
Sharpe Products Sales Manager Randy Krickeberg outlines recent changes in the tube and pipe industry and how the company has preserved and improved its reputation for short lead times. “We’re comfortable in the short turnaround space,” he says. “We have always done an aggressive job of getting products to customers fast. And we’ve held true to quick lead times for custom projects [from prototypes to high-volume production] in spite of industry fluctuations.”
The small-diameter Nissin freeform bending machine creates complex, multi-radius tubing components.
The company started in 1990 as a fabricator of hand rails. An early adopter of all-electric CNC tube benders, Sharpe Products built its capacity with a total today of 13 machines. Two plants support full-scale production and feature custom tube bending in sizes up to 6-inch outside diameter, tube laser cutting, fiber-optic laser cutting for precise slots and holes, and end-forming such as beading and flaring.
The company can provide custom tube bending with tight or large radii, multi-radius bends and freeforming in materials that range from carbon and stainless steels, aluminum and special alloys.
With 20-plus years in the industry, Krickeberg started cutting pipe with saws using a cut cell. Components then underwent bending before being placed in a wash tank. “Growth and technology have changed the workflow. We now perform these processes in a single operation. We’ve grown leaner, quicker on throughput and diversified our product line.
“All-electric CNC equipment and an experienced team allow us to pursue tough jobs, projects that would represent higher risks for other companies,” he adds.
The multi-axis BLM LT-FREE fiber laser processes 3D robotic tube and pipe cutting, complex features and profiling.
INDUSTRY TRENDS
In addition to adapting to changes in technology, Sharpe Products’ raw material demands have shifted from standard carbon steel to specialty alloys and pre-polished metals. “We get more requests for Inconel and chromemoly,” Krickeberg explains. “These alloys used to be rare but are now becoming the standard. Steels are still in demand for fluid line applications. We have expanded our raw material network to keep pace with demand.”
The company sees more requests for seam- less tubing—pre-polished and polished inside and out. Demand for industry-specific mate- rials such as Grade 310 stainless steel for high-temperature applications is also expanding. “We didn’t use this material for almost 20 years,” he says. “Now we have two large projects specifying 310 stainless.”
Demand for basic parts has grown to include finished tubular parts with fittings and holes. Clients are also looking for sole-source sup- pliers. The evolution of customer requests prompted Sharpe Products to add a post-bending 5-axis laser with a robotic arm and three tube lasers for greater part consistency.
Most recently Sharpe Products added freeform bending with the capacity to bend tube and pipe up to 2 inches OD. The technology has opened a new growth niche for the company. It is providing custom tubing to the furniture market, among other applications. A 3D freeform tube bender allows Sharpe Products to cater components to the human body by putting radii in key locations.
Sharpe Products supplies custom tube, pipe bending, laser cutting and end-forming services to a diverse market base, including furniture.
FREEFORMING
“We had one interesting project that you wouldn’t think would be a fit for tube and pipe,” says Krickeberg. “We were asked to produce restraints with a coil-shaped profile to fit the human arm. It was to be used on patients coming out of anesthesia to prevent them from pulling the IVs out of their arms.”
“You don’t find many job shops in the U.S. with the capability to offer 3D freeforming,” he continues. “It puts us in a greater position or continued growth and helps to insulate us from volatile market trends.”
Sharpe Products is setting the stage to pursue high-volume projects. Its equipment lineup has outfitted the company with the technology to demonstrate to OEMs that it can handle big projects.
“We’ve primarily operated as a Tier 2 and Tier 3 supplier for the marketplace, but our skills and our ability to get projects out the door quickly have helped us gain status as a Tier 1 supplier,” Krickeberg says. “We can perform jobs that range from a 10-piece pro-totype to high-volume jobs without adding longer lead times and upfront costs associated with new tooling.
“We’ve reshaped our capabilities and services and we have the right team in place,” he continues. “We’re excited to talk with people face-to-face about the production problems they are having and how we can solve them.”
Sharpe Products, 262/754-0369, sharpeproducts.com.
