Rhodes Interform, part of Group Rhodes, has won a £1 million contract to refurbish a 3,000-ton Chester Superplastic forming press used to form major titanium aerofoil components at a factory in Lancashire.

The project forms part of a continual obsolescence programme by the plant and involves upgrades to control software, hydraulic systems, gas management system, platen heating controls and hard wiring replacement.

Rhodes Interform’s technical director Peter Anderton said: “We are delighted with this latest contract win, which is testament to the expertise of our team in technical repair, maintenance and upgrade of mechanical and hydraulic presses. We have seen a major upsurge in the last few months in contracts within the aerospace industry and we are excited about what this means for our business.”

Rhodes Interform’s machine refurbishments offer customers a cost-effective solution to significantly improve equipment life and increase productivity. The company provides a complete ‘one stop’ refurbishment service, from arranging where necessary for the machine to be transported to the company’s maintenance facility in Wakefield, through to retrofitting new components and re-commissioning on site.

Its parent company Group Rhodes boasts a 200-year metalforming history and has been manufacturing presses to form composite materials from as early as the 1930s. The company has won Queen’s Awards for both Innovation and International Trade in recent years, particularly for its work in the aerospace sector.