A specialist in bespoke composite and metal-forming machinery, Rhodes Interform, will be showcasing its expertise in superplastic forming and diffusion bonding at the Advanced Engineering Show (Birmingham NEC, 30-31 October), where the company will be found on stand L50 in hall 3A.

Rhodes Interform designs, manufactures and installs titanium and aluminium forming cells for aerospace and automotive manufacturers worldwide. This capability recently included designing and manufacturing a composite forming facility at the University of Sheffield’s Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (ARMC). The composite forming press is being used as part of a facility to help UK companies stay at the leading edge of composite development.
Composite machinery from Rhodes Interform is used to manufacture structural components for production road cars, as well as flight-critical components for a variety of aircraft. The company also offers a range of cold-forming technologies for specialist metal-forming applications across a number of sectors.
“The Advanced Engineering show is a platform for us to demonstrate our composite and metal-forming capabilities,” says Mark Ridgway OBE, CEO of Group Rhodes. “Our team will be discussing how they can help manufacturers to meet their equipment requirements, using our expertise gained from almost 200 years in the metal-forming industry. We’ll also be explaining about the servicing packages we offer to minimise downtime, and maximise the longevity and performance of the equipment.”
All Rhodes Interform’s machinery is supported worldwide by an aftermarket spares and service team.
For further information www.grouprhodes.co.uk

Prima Power has signed an agreement with Gasparini for the distribution of products in the latter’s range with Prima Power branding and colours.

Thanks to the collaboration, Prima Power expands the range of its press brakes, combining the models of the servo-electric eP series, produced in the Prima Power plant at Cologna Veneta, with the new family of hP hydraulic press brakes.
The hP range comprises 10 medium-large format models covering a range from 270 to 650 tonnes. At the base of the agreement there is a real industrial project, valid at a global level, whereby hP press brakes are not only marketed but also assisted by the Prima Power network.
Hydraulic press brakes are suitable for the agricultural and earthmoving sectors, as characterised by high-thickness components. The adaptive crowning and reflex system is also said to make this press brake the most accurate machine in its category. As a result, it is possible to compensate for any deflections of the frame, which are inevitable during the bending process, thanks to sensors and control systems that guarantee the repeatability of the angle, whatever the material and thickness.
The DSP laser safety system protects the operator from the danger of being crushed between the upper and lower tool. What’s more, hP series machines can be connected in tandem, or integrated into automated lines or robotic cells.
Available options include front supports, a bending follower for large sized or very heavy sheet metal, a wireless digital gauge for automatic correction of the bending parameters, a flattening table for increased productivity and simplified operations, and the Laser Check bend angle measurement and correction system.
For further information www.primapower.com

Horizontal bending presses are suitable for many operations, including straightening, punching, shearing and bending.

These machines might not see as much use as a corner notcher or press brake, but for the angle bending of cleats, bracketry and small parts, a horizontal press can handle thicker materials and deliver genuine production line efficiency, reports Selmach Machinery.
The Selmach range is built around two different presses. Firstly there is the Morgan Rushworth HBM range, which is both capable and adaptable with seven different capacities. The range extends from the HBM 10/150, featuring a maximum pressure of 10 tonnes and a tooling height of 150 mm, up to the HMB 100/300, a machine that offers 100 tonnes maximum pressure, a 10 kW motor and, like all the models in the range, a 10 mm/sec working and return speed.
Selmach also offers the SIMASV hydraulic range. These top of the line machines combine power with ease of use, thanks to hydraulic cylinders located below the table, giving a spacious working area that lets users perform enclosed bends without colliding with the machine’s frame. The four models in the SIMASV range offer capacities from 22 to 100 tonnes, with rapid-change tool pins, a large range of specialised tooling and quiet operation.
The company has found over time that the most popular bending presses tend to fall in the 10-40 tonne capacity range.
For further information https://selmach.com/