Wakefield-based Rhodes Interform Ltd has announced a new working partnership with Dr Hochstrate Maschinenbau GmbH; it is now the UK and Ireland distributor for the German manufacturer’s range of hydraulic folding machines and guillotines (
www.grouprhodes.co.uk).
Steve Jackson, technical sales manager, said: “We’re delighted with the new distributor agreement with Dr Hochstrate Maschinenbau, which will enable us to extend our range and develop new business opportunities in the sheet-metal-processing industries.
"Rhodes Interform will be a distributor of 160 machines from the range, which can be equipped with special features to tailor them to suit individual customer demands.”
The hydraulic folding machines can be supplied to accommodate lengths from 500 to 8,000mm and sheet thicknesses from 1 to 25mm in mild steel, stainless steel and special steels, as well as aluminium and other non-ferrous materials — and engineering plastics.
Mr Jackson says there are a number of advantages of folding machines over press brakes, including that most forms can be produced without costly tooling, and that operator fatigue is reduced, as the material is horizontal, so less handling is needed.