Group Rhodes, the advanced engineering company that is parent company to manufacturer of materials handling equipment Hallamshire Engineering Services, is celebrating relocating to new premises in Wakefield, investing in refurbishing and re-equipping its new manufacturing facility and creating 21 new jobs. The new site is only half a mile from where the business was founded in 1824.
The company, which designs, manufactures and services machinery for the clay preparation, metalworking and materials handling industries, has invested £800,000 in its new premises, equipment and its infrastructure, including new heating and extraction systems, office equipment, new electrics and IT systems, mezzanine floors and production machinery.
In addition, Group Rhodes successfully secured a Leeds City Region LEP (Local Enterprise Partnership) grant of £70,000, which helped to create the new roles. The roles include CNC machine operators, service engineers, production support personnel, design engineers, sales engineers and a Quality Health and Safety and Environmental (QHSE) Manager. Over the past 12 months, the company has also invested in its service fleet, with eight new commercial vehicles acquired, taking the total investment in the business over the last 12 months to over £1m.
Roger Marsh OBE, chair of Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership (LEP), officially opened the new Calder Vale site for Group Rhodes on 4th July, he said: “This is an exciting time for Group Rhodes as the business relocates onto one site, right in the heart of Wakefield. The grant has enabled the company to grow even further, creating several new employment opportunities in the area. The new factory gives a fantastic view of modern manufacturing and we wish Group Rhodes all the best for the future.”
To celebrate the move, Group Rhodes held an Open Day, which consisted of a factory tour for around 200 customers, suppliers and other stakeholders, followed by a presentation by Mark Ridgway, CEO of Group Rhodes and the official opening. Speakers at the event included Richard Halstead, EEF membership engagement director, North, who spoke about the importance of manufacturing to the UK, and Roger Marsh discussed the regional economy before unveiling a plaque to officially open the site. Mark Ridgway, CEO of Group Rhodes, in his address to guests, spoke about the importance of innovation in an increasingly fragmented global marketplace. The Open Day gave delegates the opportunity to learn more about Group Rhodes’ products and recent installations. They were also able to take advantage of 3D visualisation technology to gain an insight into Group Rhodes’ future designs and there were video presentations on British manufacturing.
Group Rhodes CEO Mark Ridgway said: “The Open Day marks an important milestone in our company’s history and demonstrates our investment in the company’s future. By operating from these purpose-equipped premises and with access to the latest technology and equipment, we can now collaborate even better as a business and extend our growth into new UK and international markets, creating further prosperity in this region. We are very excited about what the future holds for all our staff and our business.”
The relocation and investment has significantly improved the operational environment for both office and production staff at Group Rhodes. The factory environment is much lighter and more modern and the office layout allows the different commercial divisions of the company to work more closely together. The new layout should have benefits for customers too, allowing Group Rhodes to offer improved cover for technical enquiries, telephone support and service provision, with engineers regularly supporting other divisions, as necessary. The group’s new IT systems also provide better communication between factory and offices, with the intention of real time mapping of production flows.
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 recognized 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 & extruders sold globally for quarrying, mining & ceramics and Hallamshire Engineering Services is a manufacturer of materials handling equipment, including pulleys, rollers & conveyors, sold globally to mining, quarrying, agriculture & recycling industries.
