Press refurbishment contract
PRODUCT REVIEWS
Rhodes Interform , a UK manufacturer of hot and cold forming equipment for metals and composites , has won a major new order with Braime Pressings in Leeds ( UK ) to fully refurbish one of its existing metalforming presses . Braime Pressings is a specialist in deep drawing , multi-stage progression and transfer presswork with over 130 years of manufacturing experience .
The project , which is due to be completed in Summer 2023 , will involve Rhodes Interform fitting the press ( which Braime Pressings bought from a Swedish manufacturer ) with new electrics throughout including control panel , operator station , human machine interface ( HMI ) and software .
The press will also be updated with several safety features such as new light curtains , linear transducers , mechanical safety holdup devices and newly designed guarding to ensure that the machine is brought up to the latest CE / UKCA marking standards . Rhodes Interform will also install a new hydraulic power pack featuring high energy-efficiency motors ( IE4 ) which are designed to offer significant savings in energy costs .
Senior engineer at Rhodes Interform , Ben Jennings , commented : “ This project allows us to both enhance and extend the life of a machine that is already nearly 40 years old . The investment by Braime Pressings remains a major saving against a new machine , and yet operationally the press will be significantly more efficient by incorporating the IE4 motors . Rhodes Interform is proud to be involved in such a project that has efficiency and sustainability at its core .”
Braime Pressings ’ operations director , Alistair Barr , added : “ Braime Pressings and Rhodes Interform have a long-standing relationship and we are pleased to be working together on this project . The major investment that we have made demonstrates our commitment to significantly improving our offer to our stakeholders in terms of capacity , flexibility and competitiveness .”
Rhodes Interform offers fully certified refurbishment services on “ any make and model of metalforming and composite presses .” The company offers a wide range of hot and cold forming technologies for specialist metalforming applications across several industrial sectors . It also reconditions and upgrades its range of existing machines , as well as undertaking refurbishment work on equipment of other makes . The company can also offer full PLC or CNC control system upgrades with software designed to meet
The press before strip down .
the individual requirements of each customer . Rhodes Interform ’ s machinery is supported by an aftermarket spares and service team .
Parent company , Group Rhodes , boasts a 200-year metalforming machinery history . In addition , the group operates divisions in the heavy ceramics and material handling sectors and has won Queen ’ s Awards for both ‘ Innovation ’ and ‘ International Trade ’ in recent years . n
www . grouprhodes . co . uk
Yaskawa at Automatica
The current Cobot EcoSystem as well as robots for handling , welding , palletising and other applications ( including robots made in Europe ) will be the key focus of Yaskawa ’ s stand at Automatica 2023 ( Hall B6 , Stand 502 ) in Munich , Germany , from 27-30 June 2023 .
The plug & play Cobot Series HC DTP enables rapid set-up of cobot installations particularly for palletising , component handling and welding . With its EcoSystem , Yaskawa offers appropriate accessories from leading automation partners .
“ Several cells with the MOTOMAN GP Series of six-axis handling robots will be representative of our extensive portfolio of classical industrial robots . With different combinations of payload ranges , these robots handle diverse automated tasks ( such as handling and manufacturing processes or machine loading ),” Yaskawa told ISMR .
Many of the robots to be displayed are manufactured and partly developed at the Yaskawa plant in Kočevje , Slovenia . With a high level of precision , they are designed to ensure short transport routes , a small CO₂ footprint and short delivery times .
The MOTOMAN PL series is the company ’ s current generation of palletising robots . Examples of applications include classical end-of-line packaging and , to an increasing extent , distribution logistics . Welding robots in the MOTOMAN AR and MOTOMAN SP series handle demanding tasks in arc welding and cutting or spot welding . The ArcWorld family offers ready-touse and compact standard welding cells with MOTOMAN robots and safety accessories . The complete robot cell can be moved , if required , and immediately put back into operation .
In addition , Yaskawa offers a technical solution for the feedback of robot braking energy to the power circuit ( as a standard feature and without additional hardware ). All larger MOTOMAN robots of the series ,
from a payload of approx . 50kg with the latest YRC1000 robot controller , can convert kinetic energy from downward and lateral movements directly into 400V alternating current at 50Hz and feed it back into the grid . Depending upon the movement pattern , this significantly reduces the robot ’ s energy demands .
At Automatica 2023 , Yaskawa will also promote its competence as a supplier of drive and servo technology ( i . e . the current Sigma-7 generation of servo drives used in MOTOMAN robots ). However , the main focus of Yaskawa ’ s Automatica stand will be its extensive MOTOMAN portfolio of classical industrial robots in the payload range from 0.5 up to 800kg . n
www . yaskawa . eu . com
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