INDUSTRY NEWS
Automated fork bending line for Cascade UK
Rhodes Interform has completed the design, build, installation and commissioning of a bespoke hot-forging production line for bending forklift truck forks at Cascade’ s UK plant in Openshaw, Manchester( UK).
“ This solution replaced Cascade’ s manually operated bending equipment with a fully automated cell, which has standardised product quality, increased manufacturing capacity and exceeded health and safety requirements,” Rhodes Interform, a UK manufacturer of special-purpose hot- and coldforming equipment for metals and composites, explained.
Rhodes Interform supplied two hydraulic presses( a 100-tonne“ Upset” press that compresses a section of material in an axial direction and a main 400-tonne“ Bend-and- Squeeze” press that forms the finished part profile). Robotic part transfer between the two presses and automatic tool transfer deliver a fully automated process, while HMI control systems mounted on the exterior of the guarding give operators access to thousands of stored recipes and operations.
“ A key engineering challenge was fitting the cell within a confined area of Cascade’ s existing factory floor, while retaining full ability
Above: Robotic handling line for twin press facility at Cascade UK.
to safely manipulate and position the product between presses. Our teams consulted the client throughout to keep the solution aligned with its strategic objectives,” outlined Rhodes Interform.
The company carried out CE marking for the complete line, with commissioning, Site Acceptance Testing and operator training undertaken jointly with Cascade UK.
“ The new solution allows Cascade the flexibility to manufacture a wide variety of products without the need for frequent tool changes. This will significantly streamline its production process, reduce downtime between jobs and enable faster transitions between different product types. As a result, overall efficiency has been improved, and manufacturing capacity has been increased. The company now has greater flexibility to support smaller production runs and a greater mix of products, helping it to respond more effectively to changing customer demands, whilst maintaining consistent throughput and high levels of productivity,” commented Rhodes Interform.
Jed Shaw, fork operations manager for Cascade UK and Sweden, added:
“ UK manufacturing faces a challenging market, with growing competition from overseas manufacturers. In this environment, the ability to produce small-batch, high-variety products efficiently is critical. The new bending process supports this need by reducing tool changeovers while maintaining operational efficiency”. n
www
. cascorp. com / gb / en-gb
www. grouprhodes. co. uk
Don’ t miss UK Metals Expo in November
Free registration has now opened for UK Metals Expo 2026, which will return to the NEC Birmingham in the UK on 4-5 November 2026. ISMR is an international media partner of the event.
“ This year’ s event will be backed by Tata Steel, Hydro Aluminium UK Ltd and MEPS International, and will be co-located for the first time with Advanced Engineering and Lab Innovations— a move expected to broaden its reach across the wider UK manufacturing sector. Positioned as a dedicated UK event for the metals’ supplychain, UK Metals Expo brings together primary producers; stockholders; processors; fabricators; recyclers; surface finishers; technology providers and trade bodies, alongside a free conference programme focused on the major issues affecting the sector,” confirmed show organiser, Easyfairs.
“ The greatest change for 2026 is the event’ s co-location with Advanced Engineering and Lab Innovations. Together, the three events are expected to attract more than 15,000 attendees and over 750 exhibitors from across metals, engineering and manufacturing,” it added.
The 2026 edition comes at a time when the industry is facing mounting pressure around decarbonisation, trade policy, supplychain resilience, skills and investment. For visitors from the metals’ sector, the combined format is intended to create greater access to engineers, OEMs, manufacturers and technology suppliers, while giving the wider manufacturing audience a clearer view of developments across the metals’ supply chain.
“ Rather than focusing only on upstream materials production, the event will place metals within a broader industrial context, linking supply chain issues to end-user demand, innovation and policy. Support for the 2026 event comes from Tata Steel, Hydro Aluminium UK Ltd, Countrywide Metals Ltd and MEPS International. Their involvement reinforces the event’ s emphasis on practical industry discussion, rather than broad sector promotion,” continued Easyfairs.
The conference programme will focus on policy, supply chain and decarbonisation. The free conference will run across four theatres covering big issues, supply chain, trade and policy, sustainability and circular economy, and innovation and technology. Topics due to be addressed include decarbonisation strategies; the impact of the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism; changes in trade policy; UK supply-chain resilience; scrap and electric arc furnace developments; circular economy models; automation; process innovation and workforce challenges.
In 2025, the event attracted 7,000 + total attendees with 55 countries represented and over 320 exhibitors across the full value chain. The conference featured 148 speakers and 40 sessions across four theatres. n
www. ukmetalsexpo. com
26 | ismr. net | ISMR October 2026