Rhodes Interform, part of Group Rhodes, has won a contract to carry out a major refurbishment on a high-temperature Superplastic Forming Press (SPF) in the aerospace industry. The press, one of a pair manufactured by Rhodes Interform for a major customer in the northwest of England, operates continuously at 1000°C to form highly complex titanium aerostructures. This is the first major refit of the machine since its installation 10 years ago and is one of the largest projects of its type conducted in the UK in recent years.

The refurbishment by Rhodes Interform will focus on the replacement of all high-temperature components, including press platens, platen fixings, supporting insulations and heatshield trims.

Rhodes Interform’s technical director Peter Anderton says: “This is a large project which involves careful project management to ensure it can be completed on time, so the customer can return to a full production in a planned, controlled manner. We have a highly experienced team of service engineers who have expertise in running contracts which reduce plant downtime and maximise operational efficiency through planned maintenance schedules.”

To help minimise downtime, Rhodes Interform’s team of specialist service engineers will provide a seven day per week service for a period of six weeks.

Rhodes Interform provides a complete one-stop refurbishment service, from arranging for machine transportation, through to retrofitting new components and re-commissioning on site. Parent company Group Rhodes, based in West Yorkshire, boasts a 200-year metalforming history, and has been manufacturing presses to form composite materials from as early as the 1930s.

For further information
www.grouprhodes.co.uk