Lord Lieutenant visits our factory to see high technology manufacturing
We were proud to host her majesty’s Lord Lieutenant for West Yorkshire, Mr Ed Anderson, and the Mayor and Mayoress of Wakefield, Cllr Stuart Heptinstall and Miss Charlotte Hepinstall, on Weds 15th May to showcase our investment in high technology manufacturing.
The guests visited as part of the Lord Lieutenant’s official visit to the Wakefield District. They were welcomed by Mark Ridgway OBE DL, Chief Executive of Group Rhodes, who organised an in-depth factory tour. He also gave a presentation about the business, its history and its relocation to its premises on Calder Vale 18 months ago, which has put the company in a strong position for future growth. Mark Ridgway explained how the company is innovating, for which it has won numerous awards and how it currently has a patent pending for a revolutionary new device to enhance the processing of lightweight alloys at high temperatures.
The Group Rhodes factory tour included an overview of the manufacturing plants for its companies; Craven Fawcett, Hallamshire Engineering and Rhodes Interform, plus a visit to the Machine Shop and introduction to the Quality Heath & Safety department by QHSE Manager Graham Howard.
Following the visit, Mark Ridgway explains: “It was great to have the opportunity to showcase our new factory to the Lord Lieutenant and the Mayor and Mayoress of Wakefield and to discuss our latest innovations. We have invested heavily in refurbishing and re-equipping this facility over the past 12 months and created a number of new jobs. We continue to focus on innovation and new product development, with new technologies being explored and patents developed. This has reinforced our position as a market leader in our sector.”
On moving to the new premises, Group Rhodes invested over £800,000 in its facility, equipment and its infrastructure, including new heating and extraction systems, office equipment, new electrics and IT systems, mezzanine floors and production machinery.
Lord Lieutenant for West Yorkshire, Mr Ed Anderson, said: “Group Rhodes is an excellent example of advanced manufacturing here in Wakefield. It is fantastic to see the investment that has been made here and how the facility is geared up to serve the UK and international markets across all areas of its operations.”
Within Group Rhodes there are a number of businesses which manufacture capital equipment and provide aftermarket services for different markets including Rhodes Interform, Hallamshire Engineering Services and Craven Fawcett. Rhodes Interform manufactures hot and cold forming equipment for metals and composites and is internationally recognised as a specialist in Superplastic Forming and Diffusion Bonding for both the aerospace and automotive industries. Craven Fawcett is a manufacturer of clay preparation machinery including Box Feeders, Grinding Mills, Mixers and Extruders sold globally for quarrying and mining and ceramics. Hallamshire Engineering Services is a manufacturer of materials handling equipment, including pulleys, rollers and conveyors, sold globally to mining, quarrying, agriculture and recycling industries.
For further details visit the website: www.grouprhodes.co.uk.