Rhodes Interform gets a lift with new contract

Picture cortesy of Rhodes Interform

Wakefield-based Rhodes Interform, a UK manufacturer of hot and cold forming equipment for metals and composites, has secured a new contract with Cascade (UK) Ltd, part of Cascade Corporation, a leading manufacturer of material-handling products, to install a bespoke twin press facility for forging forklift truck forks.

Rhodes Interform will manufacture the complete robotic handling line including a horizontal hot forge upset press, a horizontal bending press and integrated conveying system and install it at Cascades facility in Openshaw, Manchester. The facility will use the latest robotics technology to provide a fully automated solution, replacing an existing manually operated line.

The bespoke project involves Rhodes Interform designing a manufacturing cell to fit within a relatively confined floorspace in Cascade’s factory yet still retaining the ability to manipulate and position the product between the two presses. The new fork line will be fully programmable with memory recall to forge Cascade’s small- to medium-size product range, resulting in maximum throughput with minimum inventory.

Peter Anderton, Rhodes Interform technical director, said: “We are delighted to be able to supply Cascade with a fully automated process for forging forklift truck arms. The solution we have designed offers accuracy, repeatability and programmable flexibility, with the added feature of process memory recall. Manufacturing automated solutions is a major part of our business, generating major time and labour-saving benefits for our blue-chip customer base.”

Jed Shaw, Cascade’s plant manager and welding coordinator, said: “We are making a major investment in our plant to upgrade from a manual to a fully automated process and we chose to work with Rhodes Interform as the company has the skills and experience to be able to provide a bespoke solution, full turnkey package, technical support and installation capability.”

Rhodes Interform also offers fully certified refurbishment services on any make and model of metalforming and composite press. For further information visit the website here.