New partnership agreement with Dr. Hochstrate Maschinenbau
Group Rhodes, through its Rhodes Interform business, has announced a new working partnership with the German manufacturer Dr. Hochstrate Maschinenbau.
The partnership will involve Rhodes Interform acting as distributor for Dr. Hochstrate Maschinenbau in the UK and Ireland for its range of Hydraulic Folding Machines and Guillotines.
Dr. Hochstrate Maschinenbau, based in the Ennepe-Rhur area of Germany, near Dortmund, has over the past 40 years become renowned for its high-quality Folding Machines manufactured for the sheet metal processing industries.
Steve Jackson, Technical Sales Manager for Rhodes Interform, said: “We’re delighted with the new distributor agreement with Dr. Hochstrate Maschinenbau, which will enable us to extend our range and develop new business opportunities within the sheet metal processing industries. These machines are renowned for being easy to operate, extremely versatile, as well as efficient and reliable and we are looking forward to demonstrating their benefits to companies across the UK and Ireland.”
Dr. Hochstrate Maschinenbau has invested in continuous research and development alongside some of Germany’s best universities to optimise the precision and range of functions of its Folding Machines, enabling it to set new industry standards.
Hoschstrate machines are known for offering the best possible transmission of forces during the bending process, offering maximum benefits to customers.
Rhodes Interform will be a distributor of 160 machines from the range, which can be equipped with 20 special features, to enable each to be tailored to suit individual customer demands. In addition, extras are available with every machine including a Patented Hydraulic Camber device ensuring perfect bends irrespective of the thickness or length of bend, Front and rear gauges, automatic sheet thickness detection, touch screen CNC control and automatic tool clamping for upper and lower beams. Each machine is manufactured and tested in Germany to the highest quality standards.
The Hydraulic Folding Machines can be supplied in lengths from 500 – 8000mm and sheet thicknesses from 1 – 25mm in mild, stainless and special steels, aluminium and other nonferrous materials and engineering plastics.
Standard machines include Siemens PLC Control, electronic positioning, upper beam face angle of 45 degrees, electric footswitch for manual and automatic operation and upper beam safety stop. All machines fully comply with CE Certification and are supplied with a 12 month manufacturer’s warranty.
The advantages of a Folding machine over Press Brakes are numerous, most forms can be produced without expensive tooling, operator fatigue is less as the material is horizontal, so less handling is needed. The Hoschstrate Folder offers accurate repeatability with no variations in bend angle due to differing thicknesses of material.
Round bending up to 180 degrees or 270 degrees without tool changing can be achieved with an option for conical bending.
Under current CE Guarding legislation ‘Light Guards’ are not required, offering further cost savings.
oup Rhodes is a global manufacturer and service provider of hot and cold forming equipment for metals and composites. The company is a specialist in Superplastic Forming & Diffusion Bonding for both the aerospace and automotive industries.
For further details email mach2018@grouprhodes.co.uk or visit the website www.grouprhodes.co.uk.