Wakefield-based Rhodes Interform Ltd, part of Group Rhodes, has embarked on a new working partnership with Dr Hochstrate Maschinenbau GmbH to act as the UK and Ireland distributor for the German manufacturer’s range of guillotine shears (this is in addition to the hydraulic folding machines that it already distributes) (www.grouprhodes.co.uk).

The range of plate shears, which can be selected to cut material from 1 to 25mm thick with cutting lengths from 1,000 to 8,000mm, can shear a variety of materials, including mild steels, stainless steels, copper, polycarbonate, molybdenum, magnesium, aluminium and plastics.

These shears have been continuously improved via collaboration with local universities and colleges; and to ensure that they are easy to operate, they are equipped as standard with an intuitive touch-screen control.

This ensures that there is a shorter training period for operators, which in turn leads to fewer errors when setting the machines.

A full-length hold-down facility prevents marking and protects the surface of the sheets when cutting, while modern LED lighting technology aids shadow-line cutting and clear polycarbonate finger guards maximise visibility.

To the rear of the machine, operators are protected by a light guard. These shears — which are fully CE-compliant and conform to all current PUWER legislation — are supplied as standard with a 1,000mm squaring arm, simple sheet supports and a ‘roving’ foot switch.

Options include a 1,250mm motorised back-gauge, hydraulic sheet-support systems, motorised blade-gap adjustment (with integral thickness detector), and conveyors with a sheet-stacking function.

When cutting thicker plate, associated material-handling equipment can be supplied.