Patent attributes
A forming apparatus (20) and method are provided for forming an item (10). The item includes an end part (12), a body part (14) and a tip (16), the body part extending from the end part, the tip being located at an end of the body part remote from the end part. The invention is characterized in that the apparatus includes a tip holder (22) for holding the tip and an end die (26) for clamping the end part; a rotator (42) for inducing relative rotation between the end die and the tip holder which, in a twisting step, induces a twist in the body part in use; and a body die (32), the body die including one or more formation surfaces (34), the body die being arranged in use in a conformation step to conform one or more surfaces (50) of the twisted body part to the or each formation surface.
