From Braided Brake Lines to Global Braking Powerhouse: HEL Performance’s Automation Success

Last week, Tom, Chris, and Elliott visited HEL Performance, a brand that started with a simple mission—produce the highest quality braided brake hoses for motorcycles. Today, HEL is recognised worldwide as a leader in high-performance braking systems, shipping to 89 countries and pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in precision engineering.

We were welcomed by Andy from HEL, who gave us an exclusive look into the company’s incredible manufacturing journey. What began with basic 3-axis machines and sliding head lathes has evolved into a cutting-edge setup featuring 5-axis machining and, more recently, full automation using LANG Technik UK Ltd.’s RoboTrex system.

RoboTrex has transformed HEL’s production process, delivering:

• ✅ Flexible clamping for a wide variety of components
• ✅ No pneumatics to the table, keeping maintenance simple
• ✅ Setup in under an hour, reducing downtime dramatically
• ✅ No prior automation experience required, making it easy to implement

Andy shared how the addition of automation has enabled HEL to scale production without sacrificing performance or reliability, meeting rising global demand while maintaining the high standards they are known for.

We were also joined by Danny Brook from LANG Technik UK, who explained how their RoboTrex automation system is helping companies like HEL increase output, improve efficiency, and embrace innovation confidently—without the traditional barriers many manufacturers face when moving towards automation.

Of course, no trip to HEL Performance would be complete without Brian the dog, who made sure Chris stayed on his best behaviour 😁.

This is more than just a manufacturing story—it’s a testament to British engineering excellence, relentless innovation, and how the right technology can help businesses grow globally without compromise.

🎥 The full video from our visit is coming soon on the MTDCNC YouTube channel — stay tuned!