Rhodes wins major contract to refurbish metalforming press

Rhodes Interform, a UK manufacturer of hot and cold forming equipment for metals and composites, has won a major new order with Braime Pressings in Leeds, to fully refurbish one of its existing metalforming presses.

Braime Pressings is a specialist in deep drawing, multi-stage progression and transfer presswork with over 130 years of manufacturing experience.

The project, which is due to be completed this year, will involve Rhodes Interform fitting the press, which Braime Pressings bought from a Swedish manufacturer, with brand new electrics throughout, including control panel, operator station, human machine interface (HMI) and software.

The press will also be updated with several safety features, such as new light curtains, linear transducers, mechanical safety hold up devices and newly designed guarding to ensure the machine is brought up to the latest CE/UKCA marking standards.

Rhodes Interform will also install a new hydraulic power pack featuring the highest energy efficiency motors available on the market (IE4) which will offer significant savings in energy costs.

Senior engineer at Rhodes Interform, Ben Jennings, said: “This project allows us to both enhance and extend the life of a machine that is already nearly 40 years old. The investment by Braime Pressings remains a major saving against a new machine, and yet operationally the press will be significantly more efficient by incorporating the IE4 motors. Rhodes Interform is proud to be involved in such a project that has efficiency and sustainability at its core.”

Braime Pressings’ operations director, Alistair Barr, added: “Braime Pressings and Rhodes Interform have a long-standing relationship and we are pleased to be working together on this project. The major investment we have made demonstrates our commitment to significantly improving our offer to our stakeholders in terms of capacity, flexibility and competitiveness.”

Rhodes Interform offers fully certified refurbishment services on any make and model of metalforming and composite presses.

Rhodes Interform
www.grouprhodes.co.uk