Furniture Journal November 2017

NOVEMBER 2017

ON THE COVER: Carlo Giobbi talks about Sicam 2017 Investment at Formica The new Weinig Expo UK Inside SCM Stefani Striebig: inside story

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NOVEMBER 2017

Contents 2

On the Cover Carlo Giobbi, founder of Sicam, talks about one of the most successful exhibitions for components and accessories.

Story: pages 16-17.

29 Clever Storage

One Year to go

With over 80% of exhibition space already sold, a whole host of new exhibitors signed up and a fresh new look to boot, Elements and the W Exhibition are back for 2018.

5

Formica invests

30 Magnetic Attraction

Laminate and décor specialist, Formica Group, is investing £40 million.The offices are already finished and the factory is undergoing a massive transformation.

8

On your Metal

With the latest metallic décors from David Clouting it’s possible to match furniture to appliances and retain hard wearing, fingerprint-free properties.

10 One World in 24 hours

Editor: Melvyn Earle email: Melvyn@FurnitureJournal.co.uk Direct Tel: 01502 733438 Assistant Editor: Olena Earle email: Olena@FurnitureJournal.co.uk Circulation: Marie Earle email: Circ@FurnitureJournal.co.uk www.furniturejournal.co.uk

Specialist surface materials distributor IDS now offers an extended choice of 146 ex-stock products from the Swiss Krono One World collection.

15 The Magic of Matt

Renolit adds four new muted greys to its suedette matt range.

Sicam is becoming more influential with each year that passes and its winning formula is one its founder, Carlo Giobbi, is very proud of.

Please note: points of view expressed in articles by contributing writers and in advertisements included in Furniture Journal do not necessarily represent those of the publishers. While every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of information contained in Furniture Journal, no legal responsibility will be accepted by the publishers for incidents arising from use of information published. All rights, including moral rights, reserved.

COPYRIGHT: No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means without the prior written consent of the publishers.

Copyright CPC Ltd, 2017.

ISSN 13653-8969 Readers should note that a charge may have been made by the publishers to cover the cost of reproducing some colour photographs in this publication.

The Turkish panel giant, Kastamonu Entegre, launches its Reflections Collection.

New metallic décors for profile

wrapping from Kröning are unveiled at Sicam.

22 Bright Ideas

Practical and stylish, these products will add value to your designs.

25 Style and Space

Make the most of drawer space – and add your own style with Grass.

26 Space-saving Systems Origination: CPC Ltd Printing: Barnwell Print Published by: Craftsman Publishing Company Ltd, Landings House, Lound Road, Blundeston, Suffolk, NR32 5AT, England. www.craftsmanpublishing.co.uk

32 Weinig Expo UK

With 21 machines plumbed in and ready to work,Weinig UK’s brand new showroom in Abingdon has been purpose designed to give you the full Weinig Group experience.

36 The Missing Link

A tour of the SCM Stefani factory shows there’s a lot more to the company and its technology than you might think.

40 Meet SOPHIA

SOPHIA’s vital statistics are impressive and she’s a dab hand at making sure your performance is Olympic Gold standard.

44 Inside Story

21 Aztec Gold

The Salice stand at Sicam bristled

with clever (but very practical) ideas that bring functionality and added value to cabinets.

The new Striebig ‘Standard S’ vertical panel saw.

47 Sepp Furrer talks Striebig

18 Something to reflect on

16 Sicam Review

Ninka’s Qanto® deserves the Sicam ‘Clever Storage Solution’ Award – and it’s a fitter’s dream.

Following the launch of the new Standard S model, we ask Sepp Furrer, International Sales Manager at Striebig, what users can expect from a Striebig vertical panel saw.

50 It’s Barbaric!

Investing in Barbaric handling has enabled Starbank to cut rejects, simplify handling of large panels and free up an operator for other tasks.

52 In-house Launch

Vauth-Sagel shows how to make the most of cabinet interiors with new space- saving solutions and a new, on-trend Lava Grey.

Felder UK will host its winter In-House on 24th and 25th November – and the new Tempora 60.06L edgebander will take centre stage.

55 10/10 for Dustraction

When Anglian Vehicle Linings moved to larger premises, MD David Byatt wanted to replace the internal two and three bag units with an external extraction system – and he chose Dustraction to design and make it.

2 furniture journal | NOVEMBER 2017 - BUSINESS NEWS

One Year to go With over 80% of exhibition space already sold, a whole host of new exhibitors signed up and a fresh new look to boot, Elements and the W Exhibition are back for 2018.

F

ollowing last year’s record breaking show, which saw more than 8,800 people attend the UK’s only woodworking and machinery event, the W Exhibition and dedicated components show, Elements, will once again open its doors at the NEC from the 30th September to 3rd October 2018.

With only 12 months to go, event organisers, Montgomery, are continuing to strengthen partnerships and develop the W Exhibition and Elements further by exploring new avenues in a bid to represent the whole industry and emulate the success of 2016.

Lisa Campagnola, Event Director of the W Exhibition and Elements says, “We’ve listened to what the industry want and in return, stand numbers have increased for

2018. Elements has seen the biggest number of new exhibitors sign up following its debut last year, with the likes of Alpi, Quick Sharp, Pro Box Systems and Awuko Abrasives confirming their attendance. The W Exhibition has also seen an influx of new companies take stands, reasoning the dedicated components show running alongside it and widening visitor pool, as major factors for exhibiting next year.”

The focus will also remain on the importance of apprenticeships and education within the furniture manufacturing industry, with the W Challenge making a return for 2018.

For more information please visit www. wexhibition.co.uk or follow @W_Exhibition and @Elements_Expo on Twitter.

NOVEMBER 2017 | furniture journal 5 The West site, showing the picking and collation area still under construction.

Formica invests Laminate and décor specialist, Formica Group, is investing £40 million.The offices are already finished and the factory is undergoing a massive transformation.

W

hat could you do with £40 million? Retire, maybe? Find that little place you’ve always promised yourself in the sun? Or perhaps like the North Shields-based laminate and décor specialist Formica Group, you’d invest it in new equipment and an extension to your factory, refurbish your offices, double your sales force, and increase your head count to provide a faster production turnaround and a speedier service for your customers.

The Formica Group site is vast – just finding the right entrance can be a challenge – but the investment isn’t so much about making it larger as making better use of what’s there already; it’s about streamlining and modernising a manufacturing operation that over half a century has grown just a little unwieldy. Formica Group’s Manufacturing Manager, Peter Martin, is under no illusion about what the investment will mean to a company that, much like Hoover, has become a household name for its product, laminate:

“We currently have two factories, an East site and West site, and until now we’ve had to move products from one to the other during the manufacturing process,” Peter told Furniture Journal. “The machinery investment and extension are to the West factory. It will mean for the first time everything will be in this part of the site. We’ll take delivery of Kraft and décor materials that feed the surface treaters and the core treaters at one end of the factory and they will follow a logical progression through production instead of having to be moved from one part of the factory to another. The material will be unwound through the treating machines and impregnated with resin. We have a surface treater that impregnates with melamine resin and a core treater that impregnates with phenolic resin. They make the core and the surface of the board when they’re combined.

The material coming off the surface impregnator will be going into our new décor collation area so it’s ready to be picked when

Peter Martin

6 furniture journal | NOVEMBER 2017

Surface treaters and core treaters are being sited at one end of the factory.

Formica Group invested in a software package to adjust the Giben line so it cuts 300+ boards per shift instead of 150.

Formica Group’s décor warehouse is vast.

South facing and full of light and character, Formica Group’s offices have already benefitted from refurbishment.

it’s needed for pressing. The material coming off the core collation machine will be rolled and stored ready for collating. Once we identify what’s going to press, we pick from both areas and collate. The materials ready for going to press will then go to one of the presses depending on the size and finish required. They’ll be pressed, then go to the finishing area to be trimmed. In the case of Compact Laminate and HPL, they’ll be trimmed and sanded on the back ready to be stuck to a substrate.”

Formica Group papers.

So vast is the project that even though the West site was running and much of the existing machinery was in place when we visited in autumn 2017, Peter is not expecting the work to be fully complete until the back end of 2018. “It’s a huge task,” he says. “We’re locating everything bar two presses in the West site, which will give us a better work flow.

“We’ve put the new offices in and refurbished them already. The head office is on site now. We’ve put new roofs on the buildings and re-clad them and we’re building an extension to the West site that will house the collation area for décor papers. We’re investing in a new picking, packing and racking system that will give us a lot more storage area with high racking and pickers on rails that run between them. It will give us 2,000 locations.”

Much of the machinery in the West site is already relatively new: “The newest pieces of kit are a surface treater and a saw that cuts Compact material. We’ve purchased another extra-large surface treater and we have two

core treaters that will come into this building later. We have a new laminate press and we are looking at re-reelers and autocollating ready for the presses. We’re going to replace our two current HPL trimming lines with one new trimming line.”

When complete, the West site will be able to produce everything in Formica Group’s range from 0.5mm thick, single-sided laminate up to 20mm thick compact double-sided laminate in sheet sizes from 7’ x 3’ up to 12’ x 5’. “We supply pure laminate from here,” adds Peter, “But we have a facility in Newton Aycliffe that makes the worktops.”

Concludes Peter, “With a collection of over 1500 décors and skins that take that into thousands, we need to be efficient. It’s always the plan to keep innovating and launching new products but the investment will allow us to deliver a better service for our customers and offer a faster delivery time.”

To find your nearest Formica Group distributor, or see more information on Formica Group products, visit www.formica.com or call 0191 259 3912.

Typical STARlite application.

We found that when customers specified thicker profiled panels, the end product was often heavy to manoeuvre and cumbersome to build on site.

Starbank developed the solution: The STARlite® Composite Lightweight Panel. Our unique composite core eliminates significant weight from the panel, without any loss of capabilities compared to standard cores on the market. We offer STARlite panels in thicknesses of 36-60mm with all commercial laminates available to use for the decorative face as well as PURedge® edgebanding as standard. For other thicknesses please talk to our sales team.

Bringing Value To The Surface®

The weight per m² is on average 40% less than traditional methods.

For more details please visit our website or call and speak to our sales team.

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8 furniture journal | NOVEMBER 2017

The softer brushed stainless steel effect is one of two embosses that will be available soon.

Four colours are available including a warm tone that works beautifully with strong woodgrains.

On your

Metal With the latest metallic décors from David Clouting it’s possible to match furniture to appliances and retain hard wearing, fingerprint-free properties.

T

he rise of metallic décors in the furniture sector has been relentless over the last few years. With every exhibition, we’re seeing more and more options ranging from metallic effects in fantasy designs and shimmer effects in woodgrains to brilliant coppers, golds and stainless steels. The Korean company, LG, is one of the largest manufacturers of steel lamination grade décors for use on household appliances, so it was almost inevitable that sooner or later LG Hausys would introduce the same quality of finish

you’ll find on refrigerators and freezers to the furniture manufacturing sector. And in September 2017 two new metal finished décors arrived in the UK. Through David Clouting Ltd, you will soon be able to buy flat lamination grade metallic décor foils that have been specially adapted for application to MDF and match those used on appliances from the market leaders. And if you’re quick, your company could be among the first to pioneer the logical development of a trend that’s still gathering pace.

NOVEMBER 2017 | furniture journal 9

Along with matching edgebands, David Clouting Ltd has introduced two embosses in four colours. The embosses are exceptionally realistic brushed stainless steel effects, one with stratified brushing that is perfect for emphasising the vertical or horizontal lines in your furniture designs, and a second with shorter, more random brush strokes. “Both décors are 0.3mm and are quite rigid because of the metal that’s in them,” explained Mike Clouting, Managing Director of David Clouting Ltd. “They have a Hard Coat finish that makes them exceptionally hard wearing

and, unlike real stainless steel, the Hard Coat makes them resistant to fingerprints. Both of these décors can be processed on a standard lamination line.”

Cool steel is complemented by warmer tones that will enliven strong woodgrains when used in combination and, although perfect for use in kitchen furniture designs, they will also work well in bathrooms and as accents in living room furniture. Both versions (in all four colours) will be in stock early 2018. For further information contact David Clouting Ltd on 01376 518037.

10 furniture journal | NOVEMBER 2017 D4826 SX Concrete reflects the urban trend with its warm hues and textured matt surface mirroring the aesthetics of real concrete

One World in 24 hours Specialist surface materials distributor IDS now offers an extended choice of 146 ex-stock products from the Swiss Krono One World collection.

M

aking life easy for customers is a business ethos at IDS and what lies behind the company’s new UK Stock Collection of Swiss Krono products. In 2016, the Swiss wood panels giant rolled out its comprehensive One World Collection of 253 décors, offering a depth and breadth of choice in design, surface textures, melamines, laminate, edging and substrates, all available from IDS in five working days from order and with no minimum order quantity. At that time, IDS also decided to stock a selection of around 40 popular décors for delivery to a customer’s door in just 24-48 hours. Now the company has gone a significant step further by increasing the offering and holding 146 of the 253 décors for immediate ex-stock delivery from any of its 13 branches nationwide.

Dave Huggins, Business Development Director at IDS, explains, “One World has gone from strength to strength since its launch and the Stock Collection gives customers the benefits of wider choice, more

flexibility and faster delivery. They can call off products as and when they need them to suit their Just-In-Time manufacturing process and there is no minimum order quantity.”

The IDS UK Stock Collection comprises 146 décors in 18mm MFC manufactured with Swiss Krono’s signature virgin core board. Matching ABS is available for all décors too. The range includes the most up to date natural colours, woodgrains and surface structures selected to answer the design and commercial needs of their customer base. Deciding what was in and what was out fell to IDS’s team of in-house panel specialists Les Murray, Regional Sales Manager for the North, Sophie Hyam, Regional Sales Manager for the South, David Bagshaw, Key Accounts Manager and Dave Huggins himself. The four collectively have over 100 years of experience in the panel products sector.

Explains Dave Huggins, “We wanted the Stock Collection to cover all the bases so we

NOVEMBER 2017 | furniture journal 11 David Bagshaw, Key Accounts Manager, evaluating décors at Interzum for the final selection.

Swiss Krono stand at Interzum.

Swiss Krono colours.

consulted extensively with customers across the UK to understand their needs. The feedback from the KBB furniture and shopfitting manufacturers, large and small, was that they wanted a range with unique design advantages over what is currently available in the UK, so they could differentiate. Taking this on board, we considered market trends, both current and emerging, and we visited the Interzum exhibition to further research the market, as well as spend time on the Swiss Krono stand assessing décors and having dialogue. The plain colour collection is much broader than we expected with 51 décors being chosen. 37 of these will have the industry standard PE (Pearl) structure, but customer feedback informed our decision to offer two décors with an SM (Smooth) structure, two décors with SE (Woodgrain) structure as well as ten décors with the VL (Super matt) structure.”

There are 14 designs which include metallics, abstract and concrete décors

combined with leading edge surface structures that bring out the best in these designs for both aesthetics and performance.

The Swiss have long been leaders in the very best inline embossed woodgrain surface structures, and the Stock Collection includes a significant increase in the choice of woodgrains to 81 overall. There are 33 double sided embossed woodgrains, five décors with NP - natural pore deep matt woodgrain - and 43 woodgrains in five different surface textures.

“Our goal is to give customers the best décor collection available ex-stock in the UK that will help them drive their business,” says Dave Huggins. “It had a fantastic reaction on the Swiss Krono Showbus tour in July and September, which took in ten of our branches across the UK and hundreds of customers.”

For more information, contact IDS on 0845 023 0376, email solutions@idsurfaces.co.uk or visit www.idsurfaces.co.uk

Dave Huggins

NOVEMBER 2017 | furniture journal 15

The Magic of Matt Y

ou’re probably already familiar with Renolit’s Suedette Matt, a range of décors that offers super fine texture and a low gloss aesthetic. Renolit has just extended the range by adding four new muted greys, taking its Suedette Matt offer to 19 colours.

As matt surface finishes continue to increase in popularity, greys now occupy a dominant position. Within the grey colour zone the four new colours include both light and dark shades to complement the existing range of commercially attractive colours. All 19 Suedette Matt colours have matching Egger MFC boards and offer both on-trend colours and a high performing superior matt surface finish. Tested by FIRA, the surface offers high scratch, mar and stain resistance and satisfies the requirements for use as domestic kitchen worktops, doors and other panel elements as specified in BS6222 part 3 1999.

The new Clay Grey Suedette Matt (47021) is a sophisticated muted tone that works well with White Craft Oak 1, or add sparkle and contrast with décors like High

Gloss Anthracite Metallic. It matches Egger’s U201 ST9 Pebble Grey.

If you’re looking for something a little more sultry, the darker Renolit Alkoren Onyx Grey Suedette Matt (47022) might be what you’re after. Add rich tones with Dried Date Suedette Matt, add urban chic with Chicago Concrete 1 or add a modern design element and depth with Fleetwood Lava. The match is with Egger’s U960 ST9 Onyx Grey.

Pearl Grey Suedette Matt (47025) is a modern light grey. For a trendy fresh look, combine with Peak Yellow Supermatt or mix with Silver Liberty Elm 19 to add an imaginative style statement. Renolit’s Pearl Grey Suedette Matt matches Egger’s U763 ST9 Pearl Grey.

If it’s just a hint of grey you need, take a look at Renolit Alkoren White Grey Suedette Matt (47024). To create a fresh and bright interior mix with Fern or combine with the latest EIR (emboss in register) designs such as ENDgrain Delight or ENDgrain White. The match is with Egger’s U775 ST9 White Grey.

For further information contact Renolit on 01670 718222 or visit www.renolit.com/design

Renolit adds four new muted greys to its suedette matt range.

Main image: White Grey Suedette Matt.

Inset: Pearl Grey Suedette Matt.

Above top: Clay Grey Suedette Matt.

Above bottom: Onyx Grey Suedette Matt.

16 furniture journal | NOVEMBER 2017

Sicam Review

Sicam is becoming more influential with each year that passes and its winning formula is one its founder, Carlo Giobbi, is very proud of.

I

Carlo Giobbi

n an age where change and fashion have become so much a part of everyday life, sometimes it’s good to know there’s an anchor point providing stability in the annual calendar. For me, although it’s only been running for nine years, the annual Sicam exhibition is that anchor point in the furniture components and accessories calendar. It’s a compact show – an easy show to navigate – and the winning format is one its founder, Carlo Giobbi, sees little point in changing just because “it’s the fashion to change things”.

“I don’t think an exhibition must change every year,” Carlo told Furniture Journal.

“Many fairs introduce new things all the time, and we have certainly made some changes over the years - like more parking zones and different catering arrangements to make space inside the halls - but the most important thing is that an exhibition must be a meeting point between visitors and exhibitors. It must provide this service and do it well. Companies from all over the world

come to Pordenone. We have a very good quality of exhibitors and visitors and we make it easy for them to find what they want here.

We don’t have closed booths, everything is open and accessible. The exhibitors are very happy – 90% had already rebooked for next year by the start of the fair – and the exhibition is very successful. On the first day of the show alone we welcomed visitors from more than 90 countries.”

The facts speak for themselves: over the four days of the exhibition, visitors from almost 8,000 different enterprises travelled from more than 100 different countries to see the 583 exhibiting companies who, together, occupied over 15,000 square metres of stand space.

Over 28% of the companies exhibiting at the trade fair were from outside Italy.

So, what do visitors gain from visiting Sicam? Every other year we see the very latest ideas presented at that giant of European furniture component and accessories exhibitions, Interzum, but it’s

NOVEMBER 2017 | furniture journal 17

Below Left: One of several brand new décors from Saviola with strikingly different textures.

Below: Ostermann’s Concrete edgeband – a perfect match.

Bottom: Digital printing on a large scale. This is Schattdecor’s Carnival from Digital Visions.

often at Sicam where we learn which have found favour with furniture manufacturers and made it beyond prototyping and into production. That’s not always the case, however. More and more, Sicam is being used as an international launch pad in its own right. This year, for example, there was plenty to see from hardware components manufacturers, who showcased some brilliantly engineered and very stylish new products. You’ll find some of the best in the pages that follow from companies like Salice, Vauth-Sagel, Grass, Hawa and Ninka.

Although Sicam tends not to be so much a magnet for décor producers (yet), there were also some exciting new décor products making their debuts on the stands of Saviola and Surteco Group member, Kröning – and they were not the only ones.

Compact Sicam may be but it’s not without influence, and if you thought it was an Italian show for the Italian market, nothing could be further from the truth. Several visitors from some of Britain’s most influential northern and Irish manufacturing companies were in attendance this year, along with others from well-known giants of European furniture production, and they were definitely not there just for the Prosecco. If you haven’t yet added the dates to your 2018 calendar, I’d strongly recommend a visit. Sicam 2018 will be held from 16th until 19th October.

18 furniture journal | NOVEMBER 2017

Something to reflect on

REVIEW

Rivoli

Cosmos

Carraara

The Turkish panel giant, Kastamonu Entegre, launches its Reflections Collection.

I

Top to bottom: Lagün, Iris, Sunset and Loft.

nspired by the wonderful colours and textures in nature and the interplay of light on natural surfaces, the Turkish décor giant, Kastamonu Entegre, has just launched a brand new collection of stunning décor panels that will take your breath way.

The Reflections Collection includes 65 different décors ranging from beautifully printed woodgrains that fit perfectly with the current trends through to stone and marble décors, fantasy designs that reflect the detail in nature and complementary unicolours. Five different surface structures are available ranging from a veneer finish with a natural feel, a stone finish and a paint finish to more artistic reflections on a theme of nature with “Golf” and “Geometric”. All are supplied as Melamine Faced Chipboard in thicknesses of 8mm,

18mm or 25mm on 2100 x 2800mm sheets, and if you need matching edges, leading tape producers can supply them.

“Art is a reflection of nature,” Kastamonu’s Senior Sales Executive with responsibility for the UK, Taha Özdemir, told Furniture Journal. “The Reflection Collection takes its inspiration from the positive energy and endless designs in nature and combines this with the most accurately printed décors and surface finishes. Kastamonu Entegre has been producing environmentally friendly, high quality, aesthetically pleasing products since the company was founded. With its many alternative structures inspired by nature, the new Reflections Collection is not only environmentally friendly, it draws inspiration from the environment and makes the most of the colours and woodgrains in the current décor trends.”

To find out more call +90 216 554 3127, fax +090 216 474 0064, visit us online at www.keas.com.tr or email info@keas.com.tr

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NOVEMBER 2017 | furniture journal 21

REVIEW

Aztec Gold T

aking his inspiration from a trip to Latin America, the German Interior Architect and Furniture Designer, Hans Bösel, has developed a pair of exclusive hybrid thermoplastic décors for Surteco Group member, Kröning, that were presented for the first time at Sicam 2017.

The Oro Asteca décor series was launched with two designs in a super-matt surface with anti-fingerprint properties.

Matrix and Mesh Optics are both based on golds, and both designs have been included in Kröning’s standard collection that’s available in quantities of 500 m² or more. “I was inspired on a trip to Latin America by the graphic motifs and the wickerwork in an exhibition on the history of the Aztec art and culture,” says Hans Bösel, whose experience includes more than 40 years in the furniture industry, 25 of which he spent as a designer at the kitchen furniture

manufacturer, Nobilia. Matrix is the ideal environment décor for distinctive, dark wood reproductions, where Oro Asteca Mesh Optics works well with white surfaces in high gloss or dull matte.

The new Oro Asteca foils are printed on thermoplastic polyester. The thickness is 0.08mm and the width is 650mm, making both suitable for wrapping profiles for living room, bedroom and bathroom furniture, elements for caravan interiors, mirrors, or picture frames. Kröning recommends lamination using PUR. The two décors are available from the company’s stock programme with direct delivery to UK customers and are added to a new family of metallic décors, launched at ZOW, that includes Bronze, Copper, Stainless Steel, Brass, Titanium and Champagne.

For further details call 0049 5744 93 100 or visit www.kroening-gmbh.depainting

New metallic décors for profile wrapping from Kröning are unveiled at Sicam.

Hans Bösel

22 furniture journal | NOVEMBER 2017

REVIEW

Bright Ideas Far Left: Forget nasty smells in the rubbish bin, Peka’s lidded, easy carry FreezyBoy is a bin that can be easily incorporated into your kitchen furniture designs and quite literally ’cools down’ kitchen odours so they don’t become an issue. For more information call LDL Components Ltd on 0845 123 2288.

Left: Have you seen the light? Wave a foot under the sensor on Hailo’s hands-free opening drawer and even with full hands you can open and close it. The system requires one slot to be routed into the base of the cabinet to accommodate the mechanism for any drawer size from 300mm wide up to 1200mm. Hailo also has an app that enables the power of the retraction to be adjusted to suit different weights and the intensity of the light to be toned down or increased. More information from Häfele UK on 01788 542020.

Right: Hot desking has been taken to an altogether new level with Kesseböhmer’s SmartOffice. With an app tailored to each individual company, employees can book desk time, and add in name, age, height and sex to personalise desk and chair height on arrival at their workplace and control how much time they spend sitting down, standing and leaning. The app adjusts the light to provide energy for the morning and warmer light as home time approaches.

SmartOfice will launch in the UK in early 2018. More information from PAR Engineering on 01908 510822.

Far Right: Engineered with all the precision of a Swiss watch, Hawa’s Concepta sliding system has been modified with new larger rollers on the double version to provide an even smoother opening and sliding action. With ServoSoft opening, simply open the door 90 degrees, leave it and it parks itself. The new version will be available early 2018 and will also be offered in black anodised aluminium. For more information contact Häfele UK on 01788 542020.

Left: Vionaro ID isn’t new but with every show Grass seems to come up with more ideas to inspire designers who want to add style and differentiation to their fitted furniture. Very clever clip-on sides enable combinations of wood and metal in a sleek-sided contemporary drawer line that simply exudes class. Create your own design and Grass will produce it for you. For more details call Grass in the UK on 0121 500 5824.

TAVINEA SORTO INTERIOR ACCESSORY SYSTEM

The ideal partner.

Focused on its purpose.

Simple. Attractive. Tidy.

Function, form and colour make the perfect match. Dimensional stability in steel: two frame units with slender 6 mm sections and one length divider create a structure that harmonises with Nova Pro Scala in material, form and colour.

Tavinea Sorto provides the systematic finishing touch to the new drawer generation Nova Pro Scala. No matter whether it’s in the kitchen, bathroom or living room, Tavinea Sorto organises every drawer with graphic elegance.

A small number of elements are all it takes for Tavinea Sorto to offer maximum variability. Easy to insert and hygienically ideal to clean. Aesthetic design becomes a functional eye-catcher.

www.grass.eu

NOVEMBER 2017 | furniture journal 25

REVIEW

Kinvaro D.

Tavinea Optima for pot drawers.

Style and Space

Make the most of drawer space – and add your own style with Grass.

Grass was always known for making the most of space inside drawers,” Manuel Kössler, Head of Sales for the Austrian movement specialist, Grass, told Furniture Journal from a packed stand at Sicam. “Our drawer systems have straight-sided walls that can give up to 30% more space and especially with the 13mm thin drawer sides of our Vionaro, on an average size kitchen that could mean a storage space increase of as much as one full drawer.”

Shown in conjunction with Vionaro were the latest versions of Tavinea 91, a modular internal organisation system for drawers (KBB or office) first seen around four years ago.

Tavinea 91 adapts perfectly to all conventional Grass drawer systems - Nova Pro, DWD XP, Vionaro, or a classic wooden drawer – and the structure elements can be selected to match the frame colour of the Grass movement systems. New for Sicam was Tavinea Sorto, a pre-mounted, powder coated frame system with anti-slip material on the bottom that fits perfectly into the drawer, keeps everything in its place but provides plenty of flexibility to accommodate changing storage needs. Also

shown was Tavineo Optima, a retro-fittable dividing system for pot drawers with the same square section as Vionaro and stepless movement of dividers. Installation is tool-free.

Also new at Sicam was Kinvaro D, a novel flap system with a cable stay that comes in two models for different flap sizes and weights.

Combined with the Tiomos flap hinge, Kinvaro D ensures that the open flap, which can be from 14-28mm in thickness and up to 12kg in weight, is flush with the base panel, improving the aesthetics. An integrated damping system ensures the opening action of the flap is gently damped over the last few centimetres of travel.

Kinvaro D can be mounted horizontally or vertically, left or right, fitted on both sides of the cabinet and even turned by 90 degrees to save space.The variable flap system can be used on cabinets with depths from just 82 mm and it is available in white, Night and Smoke.

Kinvaro D integrates especially well with furniture that incorporates drinks compartment flaps.

For more information on the latest Grass products call 0121 500 5824, visit www.grass.at, or buy from Häfele on 01788 542020.

Manuel Kössler

26 furniture journal | NOVEMBER 2017

REVIEW

Christofer Thöne demonstrates the newly redesigned VS TAL Gate with almost invisible upper runner mountings.

VS COR with Planero 2d shelves in Lava Grey.

Space-saving Systems Vauth-Sagel shows how to make the most of cabinet interiors with new spacesaving solutions and a new, on-trend Lava Grey.

A new brand presence at Sicam.

I

f you’ve been following Vauth-Sagel’s introductions in Furniture Journal, you’ll already know about the space-saving Cornerstone Maxx, an innovative system that brings the contents of two tray-like shelves fully in front of a corner unit without obstructing adjacent units.The soft open and close engineering is everything you’d expect from a German company and the design – both for the user and the fitter – represents the ultimate in convenience. Now sporting a new corporate logo to match its new brand strategy,Vauth-Sagel’s Lava grey and cyan blue Sicam stand included several new and very stylish additions to a range that seems to grow with every exhibition – and the new colour for Sicam 2017 was, of course, Lava Grey.

Shown prominently was a range of VS SUB base cabinet units and VS COR corner solutions. Intelligent, versatile and flexible,VS SUB offers easy, tool-free fitting with full 3d adjustment from the front of the unit and

integrated soft-closing and self-closing. Brand new were the VS SUB Slim and VS SUB Side with filigree Planero design shelves in the ontrend colour Lava Grey.

With its VS COR,Vauth-Sagel has made the corner a focal point at the very heart of the kitchen. Ideal for installation behind modern handle-less doors, the new VS COR Fold is a push-to-open system that makes the most of hidden corner space, while VS COR Flex is Vauth-Sagel’s classic flexible design with the new tray-style Planero ‘two dimensional’ shelves instead of baskets.

Vauth-Sagel’s Power Assisted Movement mechanism has been added to the VS TAL pull-out larder system and the VS TAL Gate has also been cleverly redesigned so the upper runner mountings are all but invisible.

For further information contact Häfele UK on 01788 542020 or visit www.vauth-sagel.de/en/, where you’ll find Vauth-Sagel’s new digital catalogue.

Available at

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NOVEMBER 2017 | furniture journal 29 Qanto® is available in two and three tray options.

REVIEW

Clever Storage Ninka’s Qanto® deserves the Sicam ‘Clever Storage Solution’ Award – and it’s a fitter’s dream.

I

f you went to Interzum back in May, you’ll probably recall dozens of ideas aimed squarely at providing increased storage space in awkward, or inaccessible places. As with any exhibition, some are presented as prototypes and many don’t ever make it to market, at least not in the format you might expect. But one that has is Ninka’s Qanto®, an ingenious and very stylish corner solution available from Häfele UK that rises at the touch of a button from the worksurface, making condiments, bottles, jars, even heavyweight items such as coffee machines and food mixers accessible to the user. Qanto® definitely deserves the Sicam ’Clever Storage Solution’ Award (if only there was one!).

Perfect for use in corners, or inaccessible peninsular ends where sensible space-using storage solutions are few and far between, it’s the kind of device that adds real consumer appeal – and profit in the form of added value – to a kitchen layout. I could also see it used in offices to get rid of unsightly trays or hide files,

or maybe even bedroom furniture if Ninka brought out a makeup tray/mirror combination at some point.

Qanto® provides three vertically rising trays on a linear-driven lifting mechanism, the top one being on a level with the worksurface when the others are hidden.

Operation is electric but if anything overhangs the edge, or obstructs the movement of the unit (even a hand) Qanto® stops moving immediately. The crystal glass effect of the tray rim conveys a quality look to the product, harmonising easily with modern worksurfaces and fascia styles.

And the icing on the cake? It’s a fitter’s dream: the Qanto® corner cabinet is supplied pre-assembled for easy integration. It has its own feet, so there’s no need to make special cabinets or get involved with complicated fitting of supports. Just leave a gap, site the Qanto® unit and plug it in. Job done!

For further details contact Häfele UK on 01788 542020.

The Qanto® corner cabinet is supplied pre-assembled for easy fitting.

30 furniture journal | NOVEMBER 2017

REVIEW

Pin Knife, shown with Mover Flat raising/lowering concealing panel.

Salice’s new Wind slimline flap door system.

Pin Shelf and Pin Wine.

Magnetic Attraction The Salice stand at Sicam bristled with clever (but very practical) ideas that bring functionality and added value to cabinets.

H

ave you noticed how the best ideas are invariably the simplest? With the new linear magnetic damper on its ‘Slider’ sliding door system, pictured above, Salice has leapfrogged mechanical systems like only Salice could and the result is one of those moments of genius that make you wonder why nobody has come up with the idea before. Slowly, smoothly, silently and without hint of judder when you slide the door, the over-mounted ‘Slider’ system uses a simple magnet to create the ultimate soft close in a new sliding door system with

genuine magnetic attraction. The range starts with the standard S10 and S20 two-door coplanar systems for left or right mounting of wall cabinet doors and progresses through various options to accommodate a full height three-door system that’s as ideal for hiding complete kitchens in up-market compact flats as it is for tall wardrobes.

Launched at Sicam, ‘Slider’ is also available in a motorised version.

Another very neat idea from Salice shown at Sicam was ‘Pin’, a concealed storage system that can be used for shelves, knives or wine bottles and is sure to have consumer appeal. Recessed behind a panel, the supporting rack is invisible; only narrow slots in the panel can be seen and it’s through these that different pins can be attached. The Sicam display included both Pin Wine (with pin-like wine bottle supports)

and Pin Knife, with special knife holders for cook’s knives - and for extra security the latter had been mounted at the back of the worksurface with a sliding panel in front of it that could be lifted to conceal the knives when not in use. There’s also a Pin Shelf version for wood-look or glass shelves that can be either concealed or mounted on free-standing bars.

And finally, completing a trilogy of imaginative new products at Sicam 2017, was a new flap lift that’s perfect for long or short flap doors. Its compactness and slimline design allow for more room inside the cabinet and because everything is concealed within the unit, there’s nothing to interfere with the contents of the cupboard on closing.

For more information on all Salice’s latest products call 01480 413831 or visit www.saliceuk.co.uk

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32 furniture journal | NOVEMBER 2017

Four edgebanders from Holz-Her: the Uno to the Acura 1556.

Weinig Expo UK Fully operational with 21 machines plumbed in and ready to work, Weinig UK’s brand new showroom in Abingdon has been purpose designed to give you the full Weinig Group experience.

W

einig’s newly opened showroom and offices have been purpose designed to provide visitors with the full Weinig Group experience. If you haven’t already made an appointment to see it, I’d highly recommend a visit - you won’t be disappointed!

Weinig UK now has over 16,000 square feet of showroom, offices, workshop and parts storage all under one roof. The company is finally able to demonstrate every process offered by the Weinig Group from moulding to edgebanding right here in the UK. “What it means for Weinig UK customers is massively improved

demonstration facilities as well as a state of the art training centre,” explains Managing Director, Malcolm Cuthbertson. “Before we had to make numerous visits to showrooms in Germany, but now with 21 machines here in Expo UK we have a wider range of equipment than they have at Weinig’s headquarters. However, if one of our customers is considering a top of the range, high speed Powermat 2400 moulder with a handling system, we still have the opportunity to use the resources in Germany.”

The machines here at Expo UK have been specifically selected to show the applications available from the whole Group.

NOVEMBER 2017 | furniture journal 33

Two Weinig Powermat moulders: the 700 and the 1500.

Above: The Pro-Master 5XL from Holz-Her. Right: The automatic tool-cutting equipment in Abingdon includes a CNC Rondamat and the ICP3020.

Expo UK has been carefully arranged to showcase both the Weinig Group’s ‘green side’ for solid wood processing, as well as the ‘orange side’ for panel processing. On the solid wood side for planning and profiling sits a Cube Plus, a Powermat 700 entry level moulder with Memory Plus and a Powermat 1500 fully equipped with PowerCom, Powerlock and 12,000rpm spindle speeds, which are supported by a fully equipped tool room. Machines for timber conversion include a Raimann Variorip 310 multi-rip saw with moving blade technology, RipAssist optimising software and an Opticut S50 automatic cross cut

saw with optimising, defecting and label printing technology.

The panel processing machinery from Holz-Her is represented by four edgebanders starting with the entry level Uno, graduating to the Streamer and the Sprint and going right up the range to the Accura. The demonstration machines have been carefully selected so virtually every possible combination of aggregate can be explained, including the patented GluJet and Near Infra Red laser systems for invisible glue lines. CNC technology is covered with the Evolution 7405 – a compact, space saving vertical machining centre with Clamex package. A Nextec nesting

CNC cell for three step furniture production is also on show complete with the impressive, easy to use Holz-Her software Weinig UK also have machines from the classical machinery producer Hofmann, who they represent exclusively in the UK. These high quality spindle moulders, planers and thicknessers complement the Weinig portfolio and mean every level of the industry is catered for.

The new facility is equipped with some of the most advanced multi-media equipment and allows Weinig UK to provide the best possible technical advice and support to the industry. With every machine in Expo UK

34 furniture journal | NOVEMBER 2017

A Cube Plus sits aside a Pro-Master 7222.

The Hofmann TFS and Hofmann AD.

The Opticut C50 with EasyStop.

The Opticut S50.

Weinig UK’s new 16,000 sq.ft. showroom and offices in Abingdon.

being fully operational, the range of demonstrations available is extensive. One of the most impressive demonstrations is the preparation of tools for the range of moulders: starting from a CAD drawing, the team can show you how to automatically produce a profile tool ground to perfection on the new R1000 CNC profile grinder. The powerful software package, Moulder Master, leads you through the process from start to finish whether it is a two-knife HSK tool or a multi-knife hydro block that is required.

It is refreshing to see the development of Expo UK has not meant investment in after sales support has reduced. In fact, it has further strengthened with an expanded after sales and engineering team. As Malcolm explains, “After sales service remains a very important part of our business and, with the new facility, we now have a dedicated training room equipped with the best technology available. Furthermore, we have expanded our spare parts area and doubled the size of our workshop. This now allows

us to be more active in the used machine sector with high quality rebuilt Weinig and Holz-Her machines.”

Aside from demonstrations, in the coming months the Weinig UK team will be using the facility to host a number of events with partner companies from the fields of tooling and software through to specialist materials suppliers. To find out more about activities planned, or to book a one-to-one demonstration contact Weinig on 01235 557600 or www.weinig.co.uk

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36 furniture journal | NOVEMBER 2017

The

Missing Link A tour of the SCM Stefani factory shows there’s a lot more to the company and its technology than you might think.

Main Image: An SCM Stefani edgebander nears the end of production in the Stefani factory.

Above: The core of a Stefani chain is thermally treated, tested, pre-stretched then tested again in order to arrive at a specific length.

T

he decision to buy a new machine is a major one that needs careful thought and investigation. But how many times have you heard of people buying one machine when in reality they should have bought a different one? Most of us will have been there at some point or other: we’ve set a budget, bought a machine that would do the job and lived to regret it when it either didn’t live up to expectations, wasn’t as reliable as it should have been, didn’t provide the capacity to grow with the business and ended up sitting in a corner gathering dust, or all of the aforementioned.

Luca Cuman, SCM’s Process Manager for Furniture, has seen it all before – many

times: “When we go to a customer’s factory, we often find the customer knows he needs a particular machine but buys something else because of price. It’s dangerous,” he says. “You create problems that way. What we try to do at SCM is to increase the knowledge of our customers and eradicate such problems long before the machine goes into production. In the long run it saves our customer both time and money.”

Stefani is the edgebanding centre of SCM. Acquired by SCM in 1992, Stefani, which is the largest of SCM’s production sites outside Rimini and employs 300 people, takes on most of the development work in the edgebanding sector. Back in the 1952,

NOVEMBER 2017 | furniture journal 37

Stefani produced its first edgebanding table and in the early 1960s, was reputed to be the first in the world to produce a continuous running edgebanding machine. The expertise it has amassed since on cutting edge industrial machines has flowed down to the smaller machines, enabling key features like electronic positioning to be included on smaller machines like the K560.

“Working on developments for industrial machines means we can more easily see what customers need and incorporate key features we’ve developed for industrial needs on smaller machines so they do the job the customer needs,” says Luca. “One of the key features of all industrial machines is reliability.

When we talk high end, reliability is nonnegotiable. A machine needs to be capable of running two or three shifts a day, 365 days a year – and for many years - because when you are an industrial producer you can’t outsource so easily if a machine stops working.

With an edgebander, reliability starts with the chain and the frame. Our frames are monoblock construction and our chains have been developed and proven over many years.

“The chain in a Stefani is very special. It’s a rolling chain on bearings. The whole structure is special because the core is thermally treated and we test it metre by metre, prestretching then testing again in order to arrive at a specific length. We work to very

Luca Cuman

38 furniture journal | NOVEMBER 2017

Above Left: Machining part of a monoblock Stefani frame.

Left: Every machine undergoes rigorous testing in the Stefani factory before dispatch.

Above: The SCM Stefani md model.

Right and Far Right: J-shaped handles produced on a Stefani.

tight tolerances. The squareness of the panel and the smoothness of the application depend on this, especially if you are processing at high speeds of 35-60 metres per minute. If a panel isn’t square it becomes difficult to drill and assemble. The chain is unique to Stefani, though others have tried to emulate it.”

Hand in hand with reliability comes functionality. Here, materials and end use have a strong influence over the different groups included in an edgebander and Stefani offers a wide choice for working with different glue types and edgebanding materials. “There are many different groups we can include on an edgebander,” continues Luca, outlining the various options Stefani offers for EVA, PUR and laser or hot air application. “It really depends on what the customer needs to achieve.”

Among the latest developments to be introduced are AirFusion, PuBox L, the SGP

fast changeover gluepot and SlimLine.

AirFusion, which relies on hot air to create an invisible glueline akin to that of laser application, can be integrated with traditional gluing technologies for maximum flexibility and is available on the complete range of edgebanders from the Olimpic K560 up.

The new PU BOX L pre-melter for polyurethane glue is a novel idea that guarantees the performance of the PUR glue and optimises consumption by melting the glue only when it’s needed. The exclusive CFS cooling device prevents any undesirable increase in viscosity and, consequentially, the progressive ageing of any glue left in the melting chamber. The specific design of the melting chamber, together with a direct hermetic coupling on the glue tank, ensure maximum protection against humidity without the need for nitrogen gas, even when the unit isn’t in use for several days. Very clever.

Equally clever is SGP (Smart Glue Pot), a patented design that provides smart dosage management regardless of panel thickness or type, fast glue changeover, and easy cleaning of all parts. SGP has been designed to minimise recirculation of melted glue in order to prevent the qualitative decay. The Smart Glue Pot facilitates extremely flexible and lean production, working with both EVA and PU glue. It can be loaded either manually or with automatic pre-melters depending on the required productivity, and glues are easily interchanged using an automatic cycle of glue exchange and cleaning with discharge via a removable collection box.

In traditional edgebanding, glue is applied to the panel. With the new SlimLine system, glue is distributed on the edge through a slot device. The glue pot, and consequently all the maintenance associated with it, are eliminated.

Luca is adamant that with SlimLine, far less glue

NOVEMBER 2017 | furniture journal 39

is used compared with traditional edgebanding and the thickness of the glue layer is visibly reduced, improving the aesthetic of the panel.

There are also other benefits in terms of reduced energy consumption and reduced downtime resulting from the absence of a traditional gluing system.

“Edgebanding technology develops with the producers of the tape,” says Luca. “It’s fashion-led and lamination is a constantly evolving process. Stefani was at the forefront of J-pull technology with a post and softforming machine for application of tapes to special profiles. It’s an area we have a lot of experience in. We have been involved in many unusual areas, such as the application of aluminium and high gloss tapes, wavy, or porous tapes. We have specific groups for machining all of these and we are working closely with edgebanding tape producers. We have internal testing rooms where customers

can test their own materials and tapes, and working with larger customers on specific and very demanding projects enables us to advantage smaller customers.”

One of the greatest challenges to any manufacturer of edgebanding machines is the very different ways in which manufacturers work. “There are customers who want 5,000 or 10,000 pieces; there are others who want every panel to be different. That’s a challenge,” says Luca. “We have developed a full, new range of machines that offer fast set-up times. We moved to the Beckhoff system to manage and control data better. It’s been a huge challenge to develop this new platform, but at the same time we’ve also developed a new and vastly superior Line Supervisor that enables us to customise everything in a full production plant from sizing and edgebanding to drilling. A lot of Group development flows down in this way, just like many of the developments for high

end machines can be found on smaller edgebanders. It’s one of the major benefits working with Stefani can bring to the table.”

The result for Stefani has been a rise in demand for its products – and an accompanying rise in turnover. Spurred on by SCM’s management team, over the last few years Stefani has developed and automated, grown to accommodate large scale customers’ needs even better and increased its service levels and spares stock. It’s definitely a company to keep an eye on – and if you’re interested in high performance edgebanders, you’ll find the experience and technical knowledge the Stefani team has to offer and the advice and help that’s at your disposal invaluable. For sure it could save you buying one machine when in reality you need a different one.

For further details, call SCM GB on 0115 977 0044, or visit www.scmgroup-uk.com

40 furniture journal | NOVEMBER 2017

Meet

SOPHIA SOPHIA’s vital statistics are impressive and she’s a dab hand at making sure your performance is Olympic Gold standard.

W

ouldn’t it be great if machines never broke down? Sadly, they do. Machines are machines, they have moving parts that wear and components that have finite lifespans. Sooner or later – probably when you could most do without it – they’ll quit, your production will be screwed up and you’ll be left explaining to your customer why he can’t have his order on time. For many years, machinery manufacturers have been able to provide remote diagnostics, which in many cases will get you back up and running again with limited inconvenience, but what if the problem is more serious? What if a critical component has burned out? And worse, what if the component your machine can’t run without is out of stock? That’s when you might begin to wish you’d met SOPHIA.

NOVEMBER 2017 | furniture journal 41

SOPHIA is a very clever ‘girl’ indeed. She’s got her finger on the pulse 24/7, she’s totally dedicated to you, and her sole purpose in life is to keep you - or more accurately your machines – up and running at absolute peak.

She’ll also help you avoid the breakdowns she knows bring you such deep joy.

Although the acronym means nothing comprehensible to any native English speaker, SOPHIA - the brainchild of Italian machinery specialist, Biesse - is a supremely efficient Cloud-based app that operates in real time.

When combined with Biesse’s Total Care programme, SOPHIA represents a massive leap forward in machine monitoring, problempredicting and downtime prevention. And in our industry (where the culture of maintenance so often lags behind most other

sectors that employ CNC technology), it’s hard to escape the benefits of being informed of impending problems before they strike.

Knowing there’s a system monitoring all your Biesse machines in the background (even your older models) that will ensure the part you are about to need is already in stock and waiting for you, and having the luxury of choosing downtime that suits your production schedule in which to organise the service call, will give you peace of mind and reduced stress. That can only be further reduced by the knowledge that SOPHIA will help send the right engineer with the right experience (and the right part) to do the job.

“SOPHIA is the evolution of the Industry 4.0,” explained Biesse UK’s Robbie O’Neill.

“It’s about connectivity of machines. We can

Robbie O’Neill

42 furniture journal | NOVEMBER 2017

be in contact with any machine in the world and understand its condition. We can monitor the life of an electro spindle, for example, and if it’s going to fail, we can give the customer the heads up, then send out an engineer who has the installation specialty to do the job most efficiently. Most engineers are usually either mechanically or electrically biased, so understanding the problem means we can send the right engineer.

“The software that controls the machine enables the monitoring, so it’s already in every Biesse machine and it has been for years. In 2014 we started making components with built-in diagnostics. The systems are now in place so we can see the condition of drives, electro spindles, drill boxes – many parts – and if you’re on our Total Care programme, all the parts are under warranty.”

But there’s a lot more to SOPHIA than ensuring you don’t suffer breakdowns. She can also help you get the most out of your machines, even tell you if you’re not using the machine in the right way, or if you’re operating outside the design parameters.

“SOPHIA will also help calculate Overall

Equipment Efficiency,” continues Robbie.

“We know when the machine is switched on, when it’s switched off, who’s operating it, when the program has started and when it’s finished, when a breakdown has occurred and for how long, when the changeover occurred and how long it took. We can tell the customer the true efficiency of the machine and even what the difference is between one operator and another. SOPHIA makes more use of the data that’s always been available inside Biesse machines. You just need the know-how to extract the information. There’s a text file generated inside every machine, even older machines.

To make use of the information and benefit from the OWE calculations, you just need to collect the data through third party software, or make an excel spreadsheet.

SOPHIA can be applied to any machine from 2014 on – and it’s retro-fittable.”

Another advantage for Biesse users is that by monitoring machines from all around the world, Biesse is amassing a data bank that can be utilised for predictive manufacture of machine components – and

that’s valuable information designers can also make good use of. Collecting statistics and data on spare parts usage, the parameters of key components can be monitored and if there are regular orders outside the set parameters, Biesse engineers know they have an issue that designers need to eradicate in the component. There’s been substantial investment in a new spare parts system to support SOPHIA and a new website is being developed that will enable Biesse customers to identify and order parts on line if they wish.

“With SOPHIA, we’re allowing customers to become leaner,” adds Robbie. “Lean advantages are a big thing for customers. What I’m seeing is a higher degree of production engineering being applied. The market is maturing and these tools are essential to make it happen. It’s taken a while to get the infrastructure in place and the internet had to evolve and provide faster broadband speeds, but we’ve finally got there.”

To find more out about SOPHIA call Biesse UK on 01327 300366 or visit www.biesse.co.uk

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44 furniture journal | NOVEMBER 2017

Inside Story The VSA scoring saw unit is a must for larger production runs, especially where lower quality panel, or coated panel products are used. It can save you time, money and tools.

17 rollers and brake pedals. The Standard S is equipped with three brake pedals for the roller support as standard. The Comfort versions have pneumatic brakes.

The new Striebig ‘Standard S’ vertical panel saw.

A

vailable exclusively in the UK from woodworking machinery supplier, TM Machinery, Striebig, the world’s leading vertical panel saw manufacturer, has launched its brand new saw, the ‘Standard S’.

Based on the original Standard model, the new design is available in two distinctive models – the Standard S TRK1 and TRK2 – which can be differentiated by either an aluminium or wooden support. The new optional Comfort package greatly enhances the machine’s ease of use.

Offering a new dimension to hand guided sawing, the new line-up features an impressive range of built-in features as standard and over 20 additional options and accessories that have been designed to offer you the high levels of accuracy and precision the industry has come to expect from the Swiss vertical panel saw manufacturer.

But don’t just take our word for it. Take a closer look at some of the key features you can expect on the brand new Striebig Comfort S model.

The Standard S can be equipped with a digital vertical measuring system, which now offers fine adjustment to the Y-axis at the touch of the button, as well as a handy paper holder.

NOVEMBER 2017 | furniture journal 45 For more information, or to request a brochure, visit www.tmmachinery.co.uk or call 0116 271 7155. For the latest news, follow TM Machinery on Twitter: @TM_Machinery.

The WSG angle cutting unit, which is an optional extra on this model, is used on the left and right hand side, next to any vertical cutting point. It can be used on panels up to 42 mm thick and exact angles and mitres of 0° to 46°.

The optional digital measuring system for the X-axis offers a display accuracy of 0.1mm on every cut.

A strip cutting gauge is integrated as standard for problem-free repeat cuts.

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NOVEMBER 2017 | furniture journal 47

The new Striebig Standard S was launched at Ligna.

Sepp Furrer talks Striebig Our brand is synonymous with quality, precision and longevity. For over 55 years we have specialised in the production of vertical panel saws and our in-house development team, which works out of our Swiss headquarters in Lucerne, creates built to order machines that can be made to meet your exact specifications. One member of our team works meticulously on just one machine at a time, ensuring every part of the manufacturing process can be tracked, checked and cross-checked. Raw materials are quality checked before use and each part of the machine is rigorously tested before being moved to the next production stage.

“Furthermore, because we only manufacture vertical panel saws, we have honed our skills, resources and research into the design and production of these machines. We are very confident in our knowledge and understanding of our machines, our customers and the marketplace. It also allows us to focus our

product development and push the boundaries in our field. This is a big advantage to us.”

FJ: Is innovation key to Striebig’s success?

“Innovation is paramount to our success.

We pride ourselves on offering the best efficiencies and we continue to invest heavily in technology. From Striebig’s first wooden framed vertical panel saw that was launched in the 1960’s to our most advanced automatic 4D with optimisation software and intelligent technology, we are committed to creating a range of cutting-edge saws that reflect the most recent trends. Swiss made, we are very proud of our manual and automatic machines portfolio and our continual advancements in our field that help us to grow our worldwide share.”

FJ: How does the long-standing history of the company reflect on today’s machinery portfolio?

“Founded in 1958, Striebig’s heritage plays a big part in how the company is run and the machines that are produced. Our founder,

Following the launch of the new Standard S model, we ask Sepp Furrer, International Sales Manager at Striebig, what users can expect from a Striebig vertical panel saw.

Sepp Furrer

48 furniture journal | NOVEMBER 2017

“With its new Comfort Package, the saw can feature automatic brake rollers and a scoring unit.”

Mr Striebig, wanted to build vertical panel saws that would benefit his customers – whatever their size – and help them to grow.

This is still our mission. We work closely with our customers to create vertical panel saws that have the ability to improve accuracy, quality and performance and help our customers succeed.”

FJ: How important is the UK market to Striebig?

“The UK market has always been a buoyant marketplace for us. It’s important for our customers further afield to see our commitment to other markets and for us, having UK manufacturers use our vertical panel saws signals the high standards and quality we pride ourselves on.

“We’ve been distributing our saws in the UK through TM Machinery for over 30 years and we’re proud to have such a dedicated sales force behind us. The partnership has been so successful because TM Machinery has a mutual passion and understanding for the Striebig range. They know each machine inside out and their reputation in the marketplace is second to none. For us, this shows strength and commitment, which is

exactly why we want to continue to focus on the UK market.”

FJ:Why did you choose Ligna to exhibit the new Standard S vertical panel saw?

“Ligna is a great platform to showcase our latest innovations to the world. We started working on the new machine several months prior to the show and its launch gave us a great opportunity to demonstrate the machine’s new features to our worldwide dealers and customers. It was also a great talking point with new customers and gave us an opportunity to demonstrate the 1/10mm accuracy the machine offers with every cut.”

FJ:What feedback did you get from the show?

“The new concept took into account a number of ideas dealers and customers had come to us with. We listened to our customers and in return, our development team created the Standard S vertical panel saw. Because of this, feedback at the show was positive, with people seeing how the new features – including an optional digital measuring system,VSA scoring unit and brake pedals - could improve the efficiency of the machine and positively impact their business.

“We began building the new machine in our Swiss factory during the summer and September saw the delivery of our first Standard S. Production will be increasing in the coming months, with more orders confirmed for Germany, France and Italy.”

FJ:What are the key features of the new Standard S? “Our competitors never stand still, so we need to be continually moving forward. We push ourselves to be the best in the world and thanks to our good resources, knowledge of our machines and a solid understanding of our marketplace, this is possible. The Standard S was the next logical step in our development and has been designed to improve efficiency and increase productivity and sustainability – all areas our customers have stressed to us. We’re continually working on modifications and further developments, even so soon after Ligna. This drive and determination will see us continue to be a long-standing fixture in the vertical panel saw market and continue to launch new innovations for years to come.”

“The Standard S has been designed using the same principle as its predecessor, the Standard, but with its new Comfort Package, the saw can feature automatic brake rollers and a scoring unit. It also includes an optional digital measuring system for the X and Y axis.

“Unique to other manual machines, the scoring unit was brought to our attention by customers and dealers during the design process because of its ability to save time and money. It was clear very early on that this needed to be included on the new machine. A number of other additional options and accessories can also be included, offering users unparalleled flexibility during the build process.”

FJ: How does the new Striebig Standard S compare with other vertical panel saws on the market?

“You can’t compare the Striebig Standard S. In general, all vertical panel saws do the same thing but the way we’ve created this machine is very different to other manufacturers. We’ve listened to our customers and the industry and designed a machine that reflects their ideas. This is what sets the Standard S apart from the rest. We will continue on this path to create machines that are needed in the industry and respond to the growing demands of the market.”

For more information on the new Striebig Standard S contact TM Machinery on 0116 271 7155, visit www.tmmachinery.co.uk or follow TM Machinery on Twitter: @TM_Machinery.

Giving you the advantEdge AdvantEdge aggregate Optical zero-joint

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With the patented “advantEdge aggregate” you can bring invisible joints to your workshop as well as the smartouch intuitive control unit ensuring maximum operating convenience and productivity.

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50 furniture journal | NOVEMBER 2017 Barbaric lifts: they’re as quick as manual handling but a lot simpler.

A Lift from Schelling Investing in Barbaric handling has enabled Starbank to cut rejects, simplify handling of large panels and free up an operator for other tasks.

A

re your employees still moving heavy panels by hand from one machine to another, or from a machine to a stack? Do your products have to be flipped over for processing on both sides? No doubt you’ll have thought about the health and safety issues, but have you totted up the cost of damaged panels recently? It doesn’t really matter how carefully panels are handled, sooner or later one of your products will experience a heavy landing and come to grief on an edge or a corner costing you time and money to replace it. And the more handling that’s involved, the more likely it is to happen.

Starbank’s operators were well accustomed to manoeuvring big, heavy fire doors with a

value of several hundred pounds but, despite their experience, John McCaffrey still found himself counting the cost of products that had been rejected for quality reasons before they could be packaged for delivery. “Accidents happen.You can’t avoid them. But you don’t need too many damaged products of that value before you start to wonder if there’s a better way of moving them,” he told Furniture Journal. “We’ve invested a lot in the factory and in manufacturing. Most of it was planned investment to take our product offer to the next level. Handling wasn’t something we’d really considered and when we started talking about it, the operators were concerned a handling system might slow the process down.

NOVEMBER 2017 | furniture journal 51

Turning a board through 180° is easy.

“With two hands on a bicycle-style handlebar, everything can be thumb controlled. You lift with one hand and operate the suction with the other.”

“We’d already invested in beam saws and last June we took delivery of a Votecs shredder from Schelling UK. It was with our fully encapsulated fire doors in mind that we started talking to Schelling about the Barbaric lifting devices they offered.We’d already talked to some of their competitors, but some of the machines we saw needed to be kept running all the time. A Barbaric lifter will hold a panel when it’s been picked up without running continually, so it’s better on energy consumption, and as the prices were similar and we already knew the service we could expect from Schelling, we went with Barbaric.”

Starbank took delivery of five Barbaric lifting devices. Four are on a pillar jib and the

The Barbaric SSY Light Crane System.

fifth is on a gantry system for added versatility. “They haven’t slowed down the process at all,” added John, who’s already noted a significant reduction in rejects, “But they have changed the way we work. Using a Barbaric is different to handling manually: the facility to turn the board through 180° means there’s no need to pick up from the other side. Once processed, it needs to be turned over and processed again. With a Barbaric we can do that without fear of quality issues.

“They are very simple to operate,” he continues. “With two hands on a bicycle-style handlebar, everything can be thumb controlled.You lift with one hand and operate the suction with the other. The ergonomics

are great for operators and the Barbarics will operate safely with a load of up to about 150 kilos. The guys were concerned the whole process would be slowed down but that’s not been the case at all. Once you get used to working with them, they’re as quick as manual handling but a lot simpler, and where once we’d have needed two guys to move the panels, now we only need one.”

Through Schelling UK, Barbaric supplies not only simple vacuum loaders, but also return systems and chaotic or clean board management systems. For further information on all the lifting and handling solutions available from Barbaric contact Schelling UK on +44 (0) 1937 586340.

52 furniture journal | NOVEMBER 2017

In-house Launch Felder UK will host its winter In-House on 24th and 25th November – and the new Tempora 60.06L edgebander will take centre stage.

T

he brand new Felder Format-4 Tempora 60.06L edgebander will make its UK debut during Felder UK’s winter In-House show on 24th and 25th November – and it’s set to create a bit of a stir.

Optimised edge processing aggregates and a flexible machine body ensure the Tempora 60.06L provides stability and reliability, even at high processing speeds, while user-friendly control options like X-Motion Plus and M-Motion ensure absolute repeatability. With the Tempora 60.06L, individually configurable operating programs enable quick manual change of the aggregates as well as control via the 10.4” or 16” touch screen of the SmarTouch control panel.

The Tempora 60.06L is available with a single or dual motor corner rounding unit (for workpieces of up to 60mm in height) and there are three free spaces for your choice of

finishing units. Felder’s patented AdvantEdge aggregate makes easy work of “invisible joints”.

Felder offers tailor-made equipment options as well as two packages, numerous accessories and various U-Motion return systems.

Visitors to Felder Group UK’s showroom will have the opportunity to have one-on-one time with the technical sales team, product managers and service technicians. As well as the new edgebander, live demonstrations will be performed on a variety of machines including CNC machining centres, other edgebanders from the Felder ranges and wide belt sanders.

A large range of standard machines will also be on display and experts from both Leitz and Felder will be on hand to discuss your needs and answer any questions you may have.

Note the date in your diary – 24th and 25th November - and give Felder a call to discuss a personal presentation on 01908 635000.

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NOVEMBER 2017 | furniture journal 55

Anglian Vehicle Linings has made custom fit-outs of commercial vehicles a speciality since 1998.

10/10

for Dustraction

A

nglian Vehicle Linings is a dream come true for any white van man.

Since 1998, the company has been creating custom-designed and built interiors for small and large vans and over the years, business has grown to an impressive 60-70 vehicle fit-outs per day. “Mainly we supply and fit ply lining kits to commercial vehicles,” Managing Director, David Byatt, told Furniture Journal. “Alongside that we build a lot of plywood racking systems for vans and we fit all the accessories that go with it – tow bars, alarms, roof racks, metal racking, all the accessories people want these days.”

When David took the plunge and decided to move his growing business to a larger factory in Landermere, he was understandably reticent about adding the cost of a sophisticated dust extraction system to his already increased overheads.

Who wouldn’t be? But now he has an efficient system, and it’s outside the building where he wanted it, the convenience - not to mention the figures - have turned what he once viewed as a major decision into a no-brainer. “Before we’d had internal two

and three bag units,” David explained.

“We wanted to get the extraction system outside the building. I spoke to two or three companies but we do work for a company that already uses Dustraction, so I phoned Steve Matuska at Dustraction about a system.”

With two Multicam routers, an older AXYZ machine, a panel saw, a crosscut bench and various other machines working constantly, getting the flow rates right was crucial. “I explained to Steve what we did and which machines would be on the system,” David continued. “He asked me for flow rates that we’d need at the cutter head on the CNCs. I had no idea, so he dealt with Multicam and came back with a layout and specification for a system. Steve did all the groundwork. Dustraction even piped up the chipper unit and the biomass. Dustraction and Wood Waste Technology jointly put everything together for us.”

Based on a plan drawing of the factory showing positions for each of the machines, and equipped with information on each that he’d procured from the manufacturers,

When Anglian Vehicle Linings moved to larger premises, MD David Byatt wanted to replace the internal two and three bag units with an external extraction system – and he chose Dustraction to design and make it.

MD, David Byatt: “I’d give ten out of ten for the service from Dustraction.”

56 furniture journal | NOVEMBER 2017 The extraction system is outside the building where David wanted it.

Below Left: The Dustrax 33PB direct driven fan set is specifically designed for handling wood waste and has a 15kW TEFC motor.

Below Right: The Dustrax 27 provides 81 square metres of effective cloth filter area with a filtration velocity of 1.55mpm.

All ductwork was made, supplied and fitted by Dustraction.

Steve calculated the system would need to provide a total air volume of 7,560m³ per hour – a volume easily handled by Dustraction’s tubular sock-type Dustrax 27 series filter system. The Dustrax 27 provides 81 square metres of effective cloth filter area with a filtration velocity of 1.55mpm and comes with the added benefit of automatic shaker cleaning that operates when the system is shut down – and explosion panels to ATEX requirements. The system includes waste transfer into the end of the hopper section via the main floormounted extraction fan set, and discharge through a heavy duty rotary valve air seal.

The rotary valve, which is driven by its own 1.1kW geared motor, is specifically designed

to handle wood waste and has rubber tipped blades to prevent blockage and blade degradation. Steve Matuska’s proposal included mounting of the filter plant on a support structure that raised the rotary valve outlet so it was at a suitable height to discharge the waste into a 1.5m³ bulker bag or a skip. Also included was a WWT storage silo that David reckons should be sufficient for four to five days of burning when the boiler is running at full tilt, and a fully sequenced control panel that ensures smooth operation of the filter plant. He also opted for a Gross Gaz chipper, fitted with a bullet catcher, that makes short work of the 5.5mm, 9mm and 12mm ply and birch offcuts Anglian Vehicle Linings previously sent to

landfill at a cost of around £45,000 a year.

The chipper is wired so if the extraction system isn’t on, or if the silo is full, it is isolated, and the whole system has been provided with flexibility to cope with additional machines later, if required.

“It was probably two-and-a-half months from first phone call to installation,” recalled David, admitting that he’d added to the timeframe by making a few changes. “I’d give ten out of ten for the service from Dustraction. Nothing has been too much trouble for them.”

To find out what Dustraction could do for you call 0116 271 3212 or visit www.dustraction.co.uk. For Anglian Vehicle Linings call 01255 672772.

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