Group Rhodes Sponsor Industry Lifetime Achievement Award in honour of late Chairman, Ian Ridgway

Group Rhodes is delighted to have sponsored the Metalforming Machinery Makers' Association (MMMA) Gala Dinner which took place on Friday, October 20, 2023, at the Copthorne Hotel in Dudley.

The company was the official sponsor of the Ian Ridgway Lifetime Achievement Award, a presentation that honours the late Group Rhodes Chairman who played a key role in the development of the Association over his 60-year career.

Adrian Haller, Managing Director of Bruderer UK and the current MMMA Chair, presented the award to Pete Waterman OBE DL, accompanied by Sarah Lees of headline sponsor Compass Finance (pictured).

Speaking about the award, Ian's son and CEO of Group Rhodes, Mark Ridgway OBE DL said:

"My father was a passionate advocate of metalforming technologies, chairing both the Metalforming Machinery Makers' Association (MMMA) and its equivalent European body and helping to establish a European safety standard for metalforming machinery. He was honoured to be made Life President of the MMMA in 2011, and I know he would be very pleased that Pete Waterman OBE DL, a staunch supporter of our industry has been recognised in this manner".

Following his acceptance of the award, Pete Waterman delivered an inspired speech on engineering and teamwork.

Group Rhodes was one of the founding seven members of the MMMA, was established in 1949 to represent the interests of power press manufacturers in the UK. The MMMA remains the only trade association in the country that is exclusively focused on the sheet metal forming industry.

Almost 150 industry professionals from the sheet metal, metal forming, and fabrication sectors attended the gala dinner, where the new 2024 awards programme was unveiled to recognise and honour the individuals and industry achievements.

For more information about the event and The Metalforming Machinery Makers' Association please click here.

Group Rhodes actively manufactures and markets over 50 ranges of machinery from its facilities in Wakefield, which it sells to both the UK and global markets. The company has extensive capabilities including the design, development and manufacture of bespoke equipment and providing turnkey solutions.

Rhodes is celebrating its 200th anniversary in 2024 and is proud to nurture a dedicated workforce in a traditional yet dynamic manufacturing environment.

If you want to find out more information about Group Rhodes, please visit the website https://www.grouprhodes.co.uk/, call us at +44 (0) 1924 371161. Alternatively, follow the company on LinkedIn.