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Pennine Industrial opens Len Hobbs test facility

Pennine Industrial has opened a new test facility, named after its founder.

The new purpose-built facility will provide it with a dedicated building to run continuous long life trials under load, and with additional heat where required to simulate conditions that chains will experience when operating under hot glass.

The building (pictured) has been named after Pennine lndustrial's founder, Len Hobbs, who started the company in 1968. Sadly Len passed away in 1989 but his philosophy and forward thinking still carries on three generations later as the company heads towards its 50th year of trading.

The new building was recently opened and is in use.

A separate test rig within the new building allows high speed testing of general conveyor chains and power transmission.

The new facility will also house equipment to test individual components that can be subject to high impact load testing and, when required, Pennine can offer a pre-stretching service if a customer needs pre-stretched chains for more demanding applications.

The opening of the new building also co-insides with the launch of Pennine lndustrial's new 2 Pin Laser Welded HYPERDRIVE Conveyor chain.

The chain was developed exclusively for high speed conveyors when products need to be transported stably in difficult conditions, which includes the glass handling industry.

The new conveyor chains are now available to customers throughout the world either directly from Pennine in the UK or through its network of 22 agents and partners.

Contact sales@pennine.org for additional information 


The machinery consists of DESERT production machines for high-efficiency DESERT solar modules built specifically for extreme hot climate, such as can be seen in deserts or in tropical areas. Made solely in Germany and built using the latest in DESERT and TROPIC module production, the systems inlcudes all cutting-edge technology.

Certified DESERT solar modules, DESERT containers, DESERT power plants and DESERT manufacturing machinery built using pioneering DESERT and TROPICS technology are now fully set up, and ready to perform. But powering on the machinery has been a long time coming. Up until recently, this advanced piece of equipment had been waiting for clearance at a port in Brazil. Now that the formalities have been dealt with, both J.v.G. Thoma and its customer in Brazil can get production under way.

J.v.G. Thoma GmbH is a company whose vision has always been to harness the infinite power of the sun and convert it into an inexhaustible supply of energy. But a vision such as this requires global reach, and this project has opened new doors. Brazil is not only a gateway to South American cooperation, but also the launchpad to international reach and expansion.

Following the delivery of this initial order, J.v.G. Thoma GmbH will be looking forward to an ongoing collaboration with the Brazilian company. From setup and initial training to setting the scene for a ramp up, J.v.G. Thoma will be there to provide expertise and assistance. Moreover, the company will be jointly responsible, along with the client, for the successful integration of the DESERT solar module factory.

In the future, bigger DESERT power plants will be set up on Brazilian soil, and together with existing turnkey production systems, they intend to take up a large share of the products and assets this sector will possess locally. J.v.G. Thoma plans to build up a local network of sales agents that can extend a premium offering to neighbouring countries in South America. Eventually, the company hopes to be able to expand its customer base to clients in North America.

Hans Thoma, general manager from the Thoma-group, is eager to acquire a substantial market share in Brazil, a growing country with tremendous potential for solar energy output. Having complied with local official procedures (Inmetro, TÜV, Fraunhofer CSP) and cleared the way for future business collaboration, he expresses his hope that the solar industry will henceforth expand quickly.

”Being able to introduce Brazil to the infinite opportunities of a solar industry is a privilege for J.v.G. Thoma GmbH, and one that we are extremely grateful for. At the same time, this placed the ball squarely in our court, and the pressure to get the ball rolling quickly was high. Now that the lengthy initial formalities are out of the way, we can focus on making this project a success.“

The first DESERT solar module production in BRAZIL! Let
Source: Glass International
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