Furniture Journal May 2017

MAY 2017

ON THE COVER: Daniele Merla Introduces the Trendcor Advantage Alejandro Rosales: the Man and his Work Inside SCM: the Untold Story Lambson’s Weinig Experience Interzum & Ligna preview features

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May 2017

Contents 2

Keeping it in the Family

The story of Grupo Alvic is as inspirational as its products - and the man behind its success and philosophy.

Partners in Design

8

On the Cover Daniele Merla with exclusive décors designed with product differentiation in mind.

Story: pages 8-11.

Access resources that will take even the best of furniture designs to the next level with Trendcor.

48 Growth through Flexibility

www.furniturejournal.co.uk

A closer look at Renolit’s Armouren.

Here’s a product that will keep your fascias looking fabulous.

A limitless number of surface finishes bonded to your preferred substrate.

Egger’s new online visualiser showcases countless worktop combinations.

22 Surteco shows its Strengths

Perfectly coordinated solutions at Interzum from Surteco Group members.

25 Building on Success

Döllken is to show leading edgebanding technology alongside Homag at Ligna.

26 Ostermann at Interzum

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.

Head over to Hall 10 at Interzum for a closer look at Ostermann.

29 Grass on Show

New offices, a new showroom and a substantial warehouse at Grass UK.

33 Towering Success

Blum’s Space Tower larder unit: a solution to storage problems.

34 LDL goes 3D

The latest drawer technology, fully assembled from LDL.

36 Components - Day or Night 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

Pfleiderer has teamed up with Kleiberit and will start production of panels finished with the HotCoating® process by early 2018.

14 Fingerprint-free Fascias

20 Visualise This

Circulation: Marie Earle email: Circ@FurnitureJournal.co.uk

42 Hot News

44 Pride & Prejudice

Assistant Editor: Olena Earle email: Olena@FurnitureJournal.co.uk

Godfrey Syrett, has increased its capacity by 70% with help from Lectra.

12 Décors with Armour

17 Without Limits

Editor: Melvyn Earle email: Melvyn@FurnitureJournal.co.uk Direct Tel: 01502 733438

41 Digital Transformation

Order bespoke components whenever it’s convenient to you.

38 Total Eclipse

Salice’s Eclipse system is perfect for use in studio apartments.

Features you thought only came out of Germany in machines made in Italy.

Investing in Weinig has brought major benefits for Lambson Laminates.

52 Five-Axis Made Easy

Biesse UK demystifies the art of five-axis machining.

54 The Striebig School

of Innovation

The versatility of Striebig’s Compact saw has made diverse projects possible at Southampton University.

59 Why buy Weinig?

Brooks Bros invests in Weinig – and with good reason.

63 Coping with Demand

Sheffield Kitchen Outlet invests in Selco and increases its output massively.

64 In Praise of Pre-Loved

There are advantages to buying a pre-used machine from Schelling UK.

67 When more costs less

A tool is just a tool - until you find out exactly how much it’s costing you.

71 Putting on a Show

There is always plenty to see on the Combilift stand at Ligna.

72 Felder’s In-House Success

More than 100 different companies attended Felder’s In-House show on 24th and 25th March.

2 furniture journal | MAY 2017

Keeping it in the Family The story of Grupo Alvic is as inspirational as the products it produces and the man behind its success and philosophy.

MAY 2017 | furniture journal 3

E

ntrepreneurs are not born as entrepreneurs. They are made. Shaped by circumstances that bring out their innate ability to see the potential in opportunities others miss, they focus, they plan to succeed and their pioneering spirit dares them to risk where others might falter.

It’s what sets them apart from every other breed of businessman.

Now in his 70s, Alejandro Rosales is a true entrepreneur. His business life can be charted in opportunities grasped, revolutionary ideas developed and an endless cycle of investment in the pursuit of excellence. He started with a few Pesetas from his Father, spotted a need in the market and worked hard to build a flourishing business empire. And along the route, his love of machinery, his blue sky approach to solving production problems and his willingness to invest in often revolutionary

ideas has inspired even established industry giants to take up the gauntlets he has thrown them and develop technologies in support of his visionary ideas.

Quiet, unassuming, modest, even a little camera shy, Alejandro Rosales does not easily fit the clichéd profile one might expect of the founder of an immensely successful group of companies.Yet that is his title at Grupo Alvic.

He has no need for an office to call his own, nor even the ubiquitous status-bestowing black leather chair of upper management.

After a lifetime in the driving seat, he is content to leave most day-to-day matters to his three sons - but his interest in the future of all the companies in the Alvic group remains as keen as his influence over their products and their direction. His ideas are as revered today, and as fundamental to the group’s success, as they always were.

The Alvic story begins more than 50 years ago. Alejandro’s first venture was a small cabinet-making business, which he established under the name of Madetres in the mid 1960s. His keen eye for an opportunity and his talent for creative thinking very quickly progressed the three-man partnership beyond one-off kitchens and set Madetres on a course that would see them pioneer the manufacture of some of the first modular kitchen units in Europe - and supply them in large quantities through major bricolage chains around the Continent.

As his son Carlos (Grupo Alvic’s Marketing Manager) recounts, Alejandro’s belief in the future of standardised kitchen designs - a concept not known or understood at that time by retailers - led to the development of further new and revolutionary ideas, one of which took him

4 furniture journal | MAY 2017

Metallo from the Luxe/Zenit collection

Mélange from the Luxe/Zenit collection

Evora from the Synchron collection

Murati from the Synchron collection

Carlos Rosales

to Homag’s door in search of a solution for large scale postforming. The result of their collaboration, Carlos says, resulted in the development of Homag’s now familiar fivestep laminate trimming, glue application, activation, bending and post-processing solution. And, of course, Alejandro was one of the first to take delivery. It was not long after that he bought a press to go with it and established a postforming business manufacturing worktops.

Over the years, the company and its reputation grew exponentially as Alejandro pursued his dream of producing the very best with relentless determination. When he couldn’t buy the quality of materials he needed, he’d buy the machinery, open a new factory and make them himself. When he needed PVC doors, he bought a battery of CNC routers and a press and went into production. Before long, the company - now a rapidly expanding group of companies - was producing its own cabinets, its own tops and doors and offering

postforming. But then fate dealt a cruel blow to Alejandro’s health and he had little choice but to heed the advice of his doctors and slow down. One can only imagine the inner turmoil he must have felt when, in 1997, he signed the papers to ratify the sale of the family business he’d built from the ground up. It must have been agonising to hand it over to the giant building supplies and home improvement company, Masco, and close the door on a lifetime’s work for the last time.

Carlos Rosales takes up the story: “But he could not leave the industry he knew. We all knew he would start again, but we were not allowed to have a factory within 100km of here. By 2002 we had opened Faro (Family Rosales) just over 100km away. We started with an impregnation line, drilling and pressing in a 20,000m² space with 25 people. It was Father’s dream and he’d achieved it. Now we could produce 200,000 doors a month. It was successful but after six years we decided the profit was not good. We had to change

MAY 2017 | furniture journal 5 Unicolours

Gris Nube

Lava

Magnolia

Rojo

Burdeos

Curry

Jeans One is one of several designs in Alvic’s Digital offer, primarily aimed at commercial and contract applications.

philosophy. We’d just switched to producing bathroom furniture when Masco announced they were having a change of direction and had decided to sell Alvic and various other companies. I phoned my brother as soon as I heard. We had to buy it back. We had to make an offer.”

The bid was successful and soon Alvic was back in the family - alongside Faro, Madetres and the office furniture manufacturer Ofitres, run by Carlos’ elder brother Xavier.True to form, it was not long before the group embarked once again on its quest for growth.

It was around 2007-8 that Grupo Alvic introduced another technological breakthrough with its double-sided, high gloss MDF Luxe panel. Luxe is a product that embraces and epitomises the very ethos Alejandro instilled in the company from its earliest days. It shows Alvic at its inventive best.

With Luxe, Alvic had taken an existing lacquering technique and developed it uncompromisingly with machinery and lacquer

Gris Plomo

suppliers, adding its own unique twist during processing to produce a product that set new benchmarks. The result was a panel that pushed the gloss level to 95, took scratch resistance beyond acrylic, PET, PVC, melamine and HPL and provided class-leading colour stability and chemical resistance. But still it wasn’t enough. Using the same printed paper décor, Alvic went on the develop a supermatt using a similar lacquering technique. The first examples achieved a gloss level of five to six.

A year later, after more development work and more investment, Zenit was down to a gloss level of just three. And Alejandro had another class leader to smile about.

One might have assumed the rising popularity of synchronised décors would hold some appeal for a company that’s always prided itself on being in the vanguard. And so it did. But with Synchron, Alvic chose its own way. Synchron provides real product differentiation with structures ranging from Oxid and Spatt (old metal and Venetian plaster)

to smooth Oriental marble, Leather and various effects from subtle to rustic in woodgrain. It may be Synchron by name but, quite intentionally, it isn’t always synchronised by nature. The very character of some of the more abstract décors comes from the apparent randomness of the emboss.

Alejandro smiles obligingly as his picture is taken. It’s difficult to imagine that the many tentacles of Grupo Alvic, its spirit of adventure, its desire to produce what has never before been attempted and its worldwide reputation have all been inspired by just one modest and unassuming gentleman. But they have.

Alejandro, who first established his business in Vic near Barcelona, has given more than just the name Al-Vic to his company. His three sons may run the business but at its heart is his spirit and that will always be their heritage.

To see Alvic’s latest décors, visit Interzum in Cologne from 16th-19th May 2 017, Hall 10.2 stand F020/GO29. It promises to be Alvic’s biggest stand yet.

8 furniture journal | MAY 2017

Partners in Design Furniture Journal visits Trendcor to discover how British manufacturers can access resources that will take even the best of furniture designs to the next level.

Y

ou have a successful company.You’ve developed some really great products - kitchens, bedrooms, bathrooms maybe - and you’ve had your fair share of successes. But in today’s market, you know better than anyone that standing still isn’t an option.You need more of what gave you that competitive edge to stay in the front line.You need to be continually developing something special; putting a little extra je ne sais quoi into your designs to make your customers swoon over a product they simply can’t get anywhere else. Of course, you can go back to your designers and push for more ideas but there comes a time when we all reach the limits of our creativity and need a little inspiration. What happens then?

More and more of Europe’s big name furniture brands are taking advantage of the experience and creative talent of an organisation that’s famed for partnering manufacturers and helping their in-house designers levitate products, which are already exceptionally successful, to an entirely new, more exciting and even more commercially successful level. That organisation is called Trendcor and at its head is the immensely talented industrial design guru, Daniele Merla.

Backed by the resources of Gruppo Mauro Saviola, Heusenstamm-based Trendcor provides manufacturers with a bolt-on pool of resourcefulness, imagination and knowledge that they can dip into as deeply as they feel is necessary. If all you need in order

MAY 2017 | furniture journal 9

Daniele Merla: transforming ideas into tangible product differentiation.

to provide that all-important product differentiation is an imaginative décor product, Trendcor will either adapt an existing design from the Saviola collection so it becomes unique to you, or they will create an entirely new décor and, through Saviola, provide you with a décor for your fascias, a faced chipboard panel for your carcasses, an edgebanding for your edges and a laminate for your worktops. However, if what you want is a completely new design for a kitchen or bedroom range that makes the most of a totally new décor to which no one else has access, dig a little deeper into Trendcor’s resources and your designers will find an ocean of ideas at their disposal to supplement and enhance their own.

When customers want something different, through Saviola, Trendcor will produce a paper print, then a fully finished décor for trials. Here, the panels sits on the print.

10 furniture journal | MAY 2017

Below: Laminate, edge and fascia - individually designed and produced, perfectly matched.

Below Right: It’s a woodgrain print but the concrete texture leaves you expecting dust on your fingers when you touch it.

“People come to us because they are missing something and need more,” says Daniele. “We fill the gap. We want to collaborate with your own designers, not just show the products in our portfolio. They are a starting point.Your designers can work with us from the beginning to create a whole new collection, using as much or as little of what we offer as they need.

“We start with natural materials,” explains Daniele, speaking primarily of the Saviola décors Trendcor has developed for prestigious clients like Nolte and others, who really want that allimportant product differentiation.“The first thing you notice when you go to buy furniture is the colour and the structure; the way it looks and the way it feels. Only printers care whether the emboss is in register. Consumers don’t.They either like it, or they don’t. We take materials like wood, stone, leather, or textile and we make something new from it. We reproduce the

colour and the feel of the material, interpreting it through structure and tone. We go deep into the detail to make it authentic - and then we create something new, exciting and original from it. We don’t look at what others do. We focus on what we think will be most successful for our client, using new materials, colours and textures.”

Daniele moves to the showroom and assembles a collection of sample boards, some of which are the ideas he’ll be showing for the first time at Interzum. “One of our larger clients wanted a deep structure on a woodgrain that was not in register,” he says, pulling out one particular sample and drawing attention to the texture, which owes much to the interplay of different matt varnishes. It’s a profoundly dark wood-look board. It looks and feels like an untreated veneer and immediately the fingers tell the brain that’s exactly what it is. “We developed Artwood for them. We’ve

also developed Artstone that has a nonsynchronised texture. But take a piece of wood and give it the structure of stone and it has an altogether different effect. Normally, visual sense is confirmed by touch. That’s what everyone expects. When it isn’t, it surprises and fascinates. We can play with texture and interpret it in different ways, adding value to a product with the surprise effect. It’s little things like this that make a real difference.

“Once we have a design in paper form that meets the brief, we can print it digitally and supply a small quantity of MFC for prototyping.

We adjust our production from volume-driven to consumer-driven.We offer a premium product but we don’t get into price wars over huge volumes. We will produce the quantity you need and we can complete the offer with doors, carcasses, laminates and edgebands, as necessary.

“What is important is we recognise the value of sharing,” says Daniele, returning to the

MAY 2017 | furniture journal 11

Real textures inspire the striking Trendcor décors

nucleus of Trendcor’s offer. “We want to share ideas, share knowledge and create a win-win situation by developing the right product for our clients. We can only do that together. If you want a décor product, we don’t offer a take-itor-leave-it collection, we décor manage. We present ideas, we discuss, we stimulate your creativity and we go back with even more ideas to work on. It’s an entirely new approach.”

If it’s an approach you think might benefit your company, give Trendcor a call on 0049 6104 669 4936 to find out more. Alternatively, you can talk to Panelco (01782 392100) about the décors they hold in stock, or catch up with Daniele at Interzum in the Kölnmesse, Hall 6 stand C19, from 16th-19th May. I guarantee you will find his blue sky approach and his passion for design as inspirational as you will find the latest design ideas on the Gruppo Mauro Saviola stand fascinating and captivating.

Artstone

12 furniture journal | MAY 2017

Décors

with Armour

Renolit’s Armouren is tough, it’s anti-bacterial and it’s designed for use in high traffic areas and contract applications.

I

f you’re in need of a décor that’s antibacterial and passes high ball, impact and dart resistance testing, maybe it’s time to take a closer look at Renolit’s Armouren.

Armouren is designed for use in areas of high traffic where antimicrobial properties are beneficial, such as healthcare, shopfitting, hotel and hospitality, or public buildings. Additives within the lacquer work to inhibit the growth of bacteria on the substrate and deliver a tangible reduction in antimicrobial activity. In

independent tests, Renolit Armouren was proven over a 24-hour period to reduce two of the most common bacteria, e-Coli and MRSA. It’s also incredibly durable and has been independently impact performance tested to BSI and NEMA accreditation standards. In the UK, the product was tested according to BS3962-6: Ball impact resistance - and in USA, according to NEMA LD3 –2005, Ball impact & Dart impact resistance.

A 0.7mm thick material, Armouren can be used for both flat lamination and thermoforming. It can be bonded to a wide range of substrate materials, including MDF and chipboard, using standard industry equipment. Renolit says anyone who is already working with its 3D global stock ranges (Renolit Covaren and Renolit Alkoren) can confidently use Armouren.

Available as a 12-item stock range that includes eight woodgrain prints and four contemporary solid colours, Renolit Armouren is available in small minimum order quantities and with short lead times, making it ideal for fast turnaround contract work. An additional selection of the current woodgrain or solid colour 3D stock range items is also available on a make-to-order basis. All designs and solid colours are available in Renolit’s standard 3D and 2D ranges, so different products within the same application can easily be matched. Coordinating melamine-faced chipboards are also available from other manufacturers.

To request further information, a Renolit Armouren pressed sample and a product range binder contact Renolit Cramlington Ltd at marketing.rcl@renolit.com, phone on 01670 718222, or visit www.renolit.com/design.

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14 furniture journal | MAY 2017

Fingerprint-free

Fascias T

he increasing popularity of the handle less fascia on kitchen, bedroom, bathroom and lounge furniture has given rise to a number of challenges for users, which manufacturers and their suppliers have sought to overcome. Beautifully sleek they may be, but without handles, any door or drawer will mark easily during normal everyday use - and nothing is more unsightly than finger marks on an otherwise pristine door. So what can be done about it?

Shortly after KBB last year, we brought you news of a brand new high gloss and supermatt décor product that had been developed specifically for use in areas that were prone to fingerprinting - LG Hausy’s Hard Coat PET technology, available from David Clouting Ltd. But when LG Hausy’s developed Hard Coat PET technology, they

went one step further and created a décor product that was not only hard to mark with fingers, it was hard to scratch when compared with regular lacquers - and it came in at a price point that made it a realistic, cost-effective alternative to similar products that were intended for flat lamination.

“We’ve been working with David Clouting for about 12 years now,” Tim Dillon, Sales Manager for O&S Doors told Furniture Journal. “When Ed Quant first showed us the product, we assessed it carefully. We were already using a lot of LG’s gloss décors for foil wrapped products but we hadn’t seen anything as good as this for durability. We needed a good matt product, so we decided to take six colours - White, Mussel, Light Grey, Cashmere, Ivory and Pale Cream - in matt. We’ve had a really good response to it

If you want to get into the handle less market, here’s a product that will keep your fascias looking fabulous.

from the market. We’re launching it officially for April but already we’ve had successes with a large bathroom company taking it and good uptake elsewhere.”

Colour matched to existing press grade foils, the Hard Coat PET range is available exstock from David Clouting. The collection includes White, Pale Cream, Alabaster, Oyster, Cashmere, Mussel, Light Grey and Dust Grey in both gloss and supermatt. The Hard Coat range is available in one roll quantities (400 linear metres x 1250mm) or made to order from 3,000 linear metres (that can be a mix of supermatt and gloss). David Clouting is stocking exact colour matched edging for all the Hard Coat products.

For more information on the Hard Coat PET range, contact David Clouting Ltd on 01376 518037, or visit www.davidclouting.co.uk

MAY 2017 | furniture journal 15

Schattdecor looks forward to seeing you at the Interzum Cologne, Booth C020/E029, Hall 6, between 16 and 19 May 2017. www.schattdecor.com

MAY 2017 | furniture journal 17

Without Limits dp-limitless is a range that offers exactly what the brand says, a limitless number of surface finishes bonded to your preferred substrate.

I

t’s been months in the planning, installation and trial stages but finally, Decorative Panels has announced the launch of its new dp-limitless range.

The brand new line which will laminate the entire dp-limitless offer is located within dp-lamination’s 140,000ft2 manufacturing facility in Elland, West Yorkshire. The laminator utilises a high bond strength PUR glue line which ensures a superb overall finish on sheet sizes up to 3660 x 1430mm, although 2440mm x 1220mm and 3050mm x 1220mm account for the majority of the offer. dp-limitless is a range that offers exactly what the brand says, a limitless number of surface finishes bonded to your preferred substrate, available in quantities from one sheet up. The core range within dp-limitless is extensive and includes an array of materials and finishes.

Decorative Panels has partnered with two of the worlds most recognised producers of High Pressure Laminates in order to bring you an impressive range of over 500 designs. 300 dĂŠcors, unicolours and

fantasy designs are from the Abet Laminati collection and a further 250 uniolours, woodgrains and designs based on other materials come from the 2017- 2019 Egger Decorative Laminate Collection. dp-limitless also includes the full range of Senoplast Acrylics, which are renown for excellent scratch, scour and high UV resistance, and the newly developed Acryl Glass, a coextruded material that gives the appearance and depth of a real glass finish. Acryl Glass offers high gloss levels and delivers all the aesthetic advantages of real glass with the processing and practical advantages of an acrylic.

In addition to the ever popular high gloss acrylic finishes, the dp-limitless collection also includes matt surfaces. Offering a supermatt smooth surface with the added benefits of scratch and scour resistant provided by TopX, these anti-finger print designs are setting a bench mark in the industry.

The Technical range includes designs from Renolit Armouren - a multi-layered decorative PVC film, which offers excellent mechanical resistance and light fastness. With

18 furniture journal | MAY 2017

a highly durable anti-microbial surface finish and superior impact resistance, Armouren is ideal for use in areas such as healthcare, public buildings, schools, hotels, restaurants and retail outlets. Also available are seven Real Stone veneers.These innovative products are made from a thin layer of stone, either quartzite or slate, and are predominantly 2mm thick with a resin reverse bonded with high performance PUR adhesive to the substrate. As with all natural products each sheet is unique and will display many different aspects of the stone structure.The surface is pre-sealed, so no further surface protection is needed. Real Stone is an innovative, cost effective,

lightweight solution that replaces the need for a solid stone product.

A selection of premium quality Faux Leather finishes conveying a feeling of comfort and elegance can also be found in the Technical range. Laminated Faux Leathers are an economical alternative to genuine hide, offering the advantage of a realistic grain structure, whilst being able to withstand the rigours of daily use.You’ll also find a range of four Real Wood Veneer Laminates protected by thermo setting resin, which require no further finishing.

A genuine alternative to traditional Wood Veneer surfaces, they provide the added benefit of an engineered finish.

As the dp-limitless name suggests, Decorative Panels can laminate just about anything that exists as a sheet veneer onto any number of substrates. If you do not see it within the dp-limitless core range on The Decorative Panels group website – just ask!

They will locate and source a supply to satisfy your design needs, or laminate your own materials if you’d prefer to supply them yourself.

Why not arrange a visit to the Decorative Panels Group Marketing Suite to see the brand new dp-limitless display for more ideas and inspiration? Contact Decorative Panels on 01484 658341.

the decorative panels group YOUR PERFECT PARTNER

IT’S

HERE dp-limitless is a range of specialised decorative and high performance products available in a limitless number of possibilities. There is no commitment to bulk quantities and deliverable from single sheets up to full load quantities. A limitless offer of surface finishes bonded to the substrate of choice manufactured in the UK.

Contact us for more information.

Century House, Premier Way, Lowfields Business Park, Elland, West Yorkshire, HX5 9HF

T: +44 (0) 1484 658341 F: +44 (0) 1484 658812 E: info@decorativepanels.co.uk www.decorativepanels.co.uk

20 furniture journal | MAY 2017

Egger’s new online visualiser showcases countless worktop combinations and enables you to choose and compare.

Visualise L

aminate and wood panel manufacturer, Egger, has launched an online visualiser to help kitchen manufacturers and retailers explore the potential of what is now Europe’s largest range of coordinating worktops and décor panels. “With the launch of the 2017 Egger Decorative Collection, there are 6,460 possible combinations of worktops and frontals and we are keen for our customers to get the maximum benefit from what is available,” said Egger UK’s Head of Décor Development, Elliott Fairlie. “Our new worktops visualiser is free to use, and allows you to create your dream kitchen in minutes. The visualiser enables you to view countless combinations of worktops, splashbacks and upstands and explore how they work with doors, shelving and drawer fronts. As the décors are instantly applied to room sets, it’s a quick and easy way for you to create the type of look you want.”

After navigating to www.egger.com/ worktopsvisualiser, you can easily select from a range of room sets. Clicking on various elements brings up a chart of available décors that can also be viewed full size. Once the main elements of the new design have been selected, plinths and flooring can be dropped into place – and more than 2,700 colours of paint help to bring the ‘virtual room’ to life.

“The worktops visualiser even has a ‘compare’ feature that allows you to set two different décor combinations side by side with a slider allowing you to move seamlessly between the two and decide which you prefer,” continued Elliott. “This feature will instantly speed up the process of deciding which décors are your favourites and which décors just don’t work together.

Once the room set is complete, you can save or print the design you have created or share with colleagues or customers via email for their comments.”

Egger’s newly-launched decorative collection for the UK and Ireland furniture manufacturing sector is not just its biggest ever, it also showcases the company’s unique ability to match its MFC, MDF, melamine and complementary products. Central to the new décor collection is a range of ever-morerealistic, deep-textured surface décors for furniture makers. This innovative approach is also demonstrated in its worktop range.

Continued innovation in worktops has had a major impact on the KBB industry – by combining the natural look and feel of solid wood with all the durability, care and maintenance benefits of laminate. Egger woodgrain worktops have an authentic rustic appearance with real depth. Knots and cracks – traditionally considered an imperfection, or fault – are now seen as a desirable design feature.

If you are looking for a worktop that mirrors the clean lines of granite, stone or

MAY 2017 | furniture journal 21

This industrial ceramic, you can opt for a square-edge worktop that provides that stylish, sleek look in either 25mm or 38mm thicknesses.

“The role of the kitchen is changing, with home owners increasingly looking for open plan spaces that are coordinated to create the right look and feel for multifunctional living,” concluded Elliott.

“Creating that co-ordinated look requires materials that either match or complement the worktop. And because we also supply the materials that are made into splashbacks, doors, carcasses, shelving, end panels, upstands and plinths, the resources exist to bring it all together from a single supplier.”

Try out the new online visualiser for yourself by visiting www.egger.com/ worktopsvisualiser, or for more information on Egger products, contact Egger UK on 01434 602191.

22 furniture journal | MAY 2017

“We set standards in design and surface engineering and we want to convey this at first glance to our visitors.”

Managing Directors, Dieter Baumanns and Peter Schülte.

Surteco shows its Strengths Members of the Surteco Group will demonstrate their collective strength at Interzum with perfectly coordinated solutions, all from one source.

I

n keeping with the motto of the fair, One in Motion, visitors can look forward to a strong presentation from the Surteco Group. In almost 600m2, Surteco’s new stand concept will be an expansive architecture designed to allow the visitor to experience the strength of the Group.

Visitors can look forward to seeing exciting surfaces from super matte to highgloss, new haptics and 3D experiences as well as technical highlights for modern furniture and flooring design. For the smaller manufacturer there will be a futuristic edging area featuring products that are available from stock, in small lot sizes and short delivery times.

Appearing just in time for Interzum is the new Surteco Trend Book, which was

developed on an interdisciplinary basis and makes a powerful statement on décor design for the near future, distilled from the various social currents and visual tendencies. Three trends have been identified that describe different, yet related forms. To match these trend worlds, the Surteco Group has included new décors from all its Group members BauschLinnemann, Dakor Melamin Imprägnierungen, Döllken, Canplast, Gislaved Folie, Süddekor Art Design + Engraving and Surteco Decor. On the stand you’ll find décor and surface solutions for floor to ceiling; flat foils, wrapping foils, melamine and thermoplastic edgebandings – everything for the wood-based manufacturing industry. Find out more by visiting Surteco Group at Interzum, Hall 6.1, Stand D50.

G LI A N nd ta e –S ! u th yo at 15 us all eing it H e vis ion o s e t t m ibi rd Co exh rwa – fo 17 ok 20 e lo W G 61

Driven by Innovation The perfect edgeband for all of your projects.

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Our capabilities include, laminating, straight as well as shaped edgbanding, cnc routing and postforming decorative interior panel products & fire doors.

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MAY 2017 | furniture journal 25

Building on Success Döllken is to show leading edgebanding technology alongside Homag in the new halls at Ligna 2017.

A

fter the success of its participation in 2013 and 2015 fairs, the edgebanding specialist, Döllken will again be at Ligna this year. With its fair concept focused on installation technology and innovation, Döllken has chosen a prime location close to Homag in the new machine halls, halls 14 and 15. On a stand that will extend to more than 40m2 next to Henkel, emphasis will be on the subjects of laser, hot-air and NIR techniques.

“At the fair, Döllken will be using the slogan ‘Fusion-Edge for all and for all new installation technologies’ as symbolic of our innovational capacity,” Döllken told Furniture Journal. “This is further demonstrated in the form of our 3D SpaceWave edgeband, which has won the 2017 pro-K Award, and our extremely robust and scratchproof Supermatt edgeband.

“The spotlight will also be on our new concrete finish embossing (W-256) that conveys the popular ‘industrial loft’ effect, now also on edgebands. This timeless look currently dominates in the furnishings sector and is employed on many different surfaces.

“We will also be exhibiting our new 3D 2-in-1 Duo Gloss end grain and long grain wood edgebands in convertible design. The finish on this pair of edgebands gives the impression that a high-quality glass plate has been mounted on solid genuine wood board.”

Also look out for Digital-Edge, Döllken’s digitally printed edgeband. Not without good reason, it won the 2015 pro-K Award. The quality of digital printing makes it possible to reproduce accurate reproductions of kitchen work surfaces, for example, and align the edge pattern to the décor paper.

If it’s the ultimate in custom made production you need, Döllken is believed to be the world’s only edgeband manufacturer that is able to produce products in customer-specific dimensions, colours and designs in just five working days.

Ask about your requirements at interzum Cologne (hall 6.1 / stand D50) and at Ligna in Hannover (hall 15 / stand G61) 22nd-26th May 2017 - or for more information on all Döllken products, visit www.doellken.co.uk

26 furniture journal | MAY 2017

Ostermann at Interzum Head over to Hall 10 at Interzum for a closer look at the complete edgebanding offer from Ostermann.

A

new look stand, new edgings to match products from Pfleiderer, Egger and Fundermax and one of the largest ranges of zero bondline edgings are just some of the novelties you’ll find among a collection from Ostermann that has grown exponentially over the last few years.

Pfleiderer recently presented its new “Design Collection 2017-2020”. “Inspirations close to you” was the motto for the launch.

Through its special partnership with Pfleiderer, Ostermann is already able to deliver edgings to match the new collection and will present them at Interzum.You can look forward to seeing the new edgings matching to Egger’s “Decorative Collection 2017-2019” as well as for the FunderMax “Interior collection”.

For the processing with the available zero bondline technologies, to keep pace with the

trends, you need edgings in different colours, décors and with varying surface finishes.

Ostermann sees itself as a specialist in the area of small delivered quantities and offers Airtec, Infratec and Laser edging - Europe’s largest range of edgings - to obtain a zero bondline.

Ostermann will also be introducing new glues, cleaner and numerous technical profiles as well as various other products for creative furniture-making. It will be a truly international line-up. All Ostermann‘s subsidiary heads and the German Ostermann Team will be on hand to meet international visitors and provide expert advice on products and services with enthusiasm.

Ostermann’s stand will put the spotlight on all new edgings for new collections from more than 70 boards suppliers. Make a beeline for Ostermann, Hall 10.2, Stand H-070.

One in Motion

I N T E R Z U M 2 017

16.–19.

05.2017 HALL

6.1

S TA N D

Motion is born of change. And those who want to move things on have to be one. We are ONE. We are in motion. Working together with you, we develop products that are in touch with people. Because we are the experts for creative design and technologically advanced surfaces. And we would like to prove it to you: At interzum in Cologne.

INTERZUM COLOGNE 2017

D50 E59

Ostermann: always matching Edgings pre-glued Are you looking for the matching edging? with hotmelt adhesive upon request Find a whole world of matching edgings at Ostermann!

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United Kingdom

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Laser edgings despatched after 4 working days Airtec edgings despatched after 4 working days

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Phone: 0044 1905 793 552 · Fax: 0044 1905 793 559 sales.ie@ostermann.eu · www.ostermann.eu

MAY 2017 | furniture journal 29

Grass on Show New offices, a new showroom and a substantial warehouse mean Grass is better equipped than ever to demonstrate and deliver.

U Top: Enter the showroom and the first thing you’ll see is the island unit with the peninsula behind.

Above Right: The full suite of Grass components is displayed prominently.

Above: Wayne Nabal demonstrates components displayed in the interactive tower unit.

p until about a year and a half ago, the showroom Grass UK offered its customers lacked size and presence and was well behind the quality of products its representatives were able to take to them. Grass had great products - innovative drawer boxes, slides and hinges, many of which offered cutting edge design and engineering - and it could sell them at attractive prices. It had established a sales office but it had nowhere to demonstrate products to clients and no real warehousing.

Delivery was from the factory in Austria and for many larger customers that simply didn’t work. But all that has changed. April saw the opening of a brand new, showroom and demonstration/training area with a well-

stocked warehouse behind, all within easy access of the motorway in West Bromwich.

And at last, larger clients who like the quality and the prices can see, try, choose and buy Grass products and know they will be delivered from UK stock.

“When I arrived, we had a sales office and we were seeing growth but I realised we hadn’t opened any major industrial accounts,” Wayne Nabal, Grass UK’s Managing Director, told Furniture Journal.

“Customers of this size need to be able to give you an order and get delivery within a week. Grass products are being stocked by Häfele UK, and everything in the new showroom is already available in stock. In some instances, technical solutions drive

30 furniture journal | MAY 2017 Left: The new Grass offices and showroom.

Below Left: The peninsula houses storage solutions from drawers to the superbly engineered Quaturis.

Below: The new Grass warehouse.

Bottom: The discussion area is equipped for presentations and training.

decisions with larger Industrial customers. We are well equipped to understand and support their requirements from our new location.

We also needed a warehouse because even when the product and the price looked good, we couldn’t deliver within a week. Now we can. We hold backup products for our industry customers as far away as Ireland.”

When Wayne first went to see the new premises, it was in desperate need of total refurbishment. It has taken several months but the transformation has been remarkable.

Equipped with a full suite of cabinetry from the factory in Austria that includes everything from the latest hinges and slides to corner and other storage solutions, it includes a full suite of individual components

and a tower that enables customers to experiment with different combinations of drawers and side panels. An island unit showcases Nova Pro Scala, while a separate showcase highlights the options within Scala, Dynapro and Vionaro. Hinges and internal storage systems are shown in a peninsular, which separates the showroom area from a discussion area that’s equipped with computer projection for presentations and training.

“We really needed somewhere special to show the Grass Brand,” continues Wayne. “It needed to be clean, simple, sophisticated; a nice environment with plenty of space and something interactive that we can use and Häfele’s sales managers can bring their

clients to as well. The units themselves show the functionality in each of the products and the tower unit shows the interchangeability and allows us to demonstrate different combinations. We can easily accommodate ten people in the discussion area. Anyone who wants to use the showroom can book it by calling the office.”

Holding stock has undoubtedly made Grass a much more attractive proposition to larger users while the showroom has provided a much more attractive and relaxed environment in which to explore all the products.Visit Grass to see the new products and find out about their distribution solution.

Call 0121 500 5824 or visit Grass at Interzum, Hall 7.1, Stand E020/E021.

Convenient opening and closing has a new name: Tipmatic Soft-close

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www.grass.eu

MAY 2017 | furniture journal 33

Towering Success Blum’s Space Tower larder unit provides a simple and straightforward solution to storage problems.

O

pen-plan living-dining kitchens are a growing trend in the UK. Kitchen owners want sleek cabinets that hide everything away, yet which still offer easy access and immediate viewing of everything stored. Perfect for kitchens, bedrooms and Bathrooms, Blum’s Space Tower larder unit is a breathtakingly simple and straightforward solution to the storage problems that most users have. Fully extendable drawers mean every single centimetre of space is utilised with no need to leave gaps above and below each drawer to manoeuvre items in and out. By using pull out drawers rather than shelves

Blum says up to 55% more accessible storage can be achieved.

Space Tower can be used at all levels of the market. Each drawer has the option of flexible inner dividing systems, such as Ambia-Line or Orga-Line, to organise the interiors for all shapes and sizes of packets, boxes and bottles. It is available in various widths and heights to cater for all kitchen, bedroom & bathroom sizes.

Space Tower is available in widths of 300mm to 1200mm and comes with a lifetime guarantee. For more information contact Blum UK on 01908 285 700 or visit the Blum stand at Interzum.

34 furniture journal | MAY 2017

LDL goes 3D The latest drawer technology is converted from individual components into a fully assembled drawer box for quick and easy installation using LDL’s new 3D assembled drawer solution.

Above: The Legrabox drawer in Terra Black, a sophisticated new finish. Legrabox drawers are now available in Orion Grey, Silk White, Stainless Steel and Terra Black.

Right: Switch drawer dividing inserts offer more choice and flexibility for the optimum organisation of drawer interiors. The Switch system is available in plastic and oak inserts and can be used for cutlery, spices, kitchen utensils and other items.

A

s part of its ongoing bid to offer unrivalled levels of customer service, LDL Components Ltd is introducing the unique 3D drawer solution, whereby fully assembled drawers, custombuilt to your exact specifications using premium quality Blum components, are delivered within five days of order.

According to Matthew Lord, LDL’s Managing Director, this new move will not only save precious time ordering and assembling all the separate components, it also means a huge range of drawer sizes, colours, finishes and internal accessories can be offered to the end customer without incurring complicated and costly stock

issues. In effect, LDL holds all the stock for customers as he explains: “We’ve dedicated a warehouse specifically to the new 3D drawer solution, where every possible combination of Blum components can be created. All our customers have to do is select the design type and colour they want from the 3D section of the brochure on the website and then order using just one code.”

As well as saving time and effort in both ordering and assembly, the new 3D drawer solution is surprisingly inexpensive, costing from as little as 99p per assembly and any width from 250 to 1200mm is catered for.

For more information please visit www.ldl-3d.co.uk

®

INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION OF COMPONENTS, SEMIFINISHED PRODUCTS AND ACCESSORIES FOR THE FURNITURE INDUSTRY

10-13 October 2017 PORDENONE FAIR

Exposicam srl Via G. Carducci, 12 20123 Milan • Italy Tel: +39 02 86995712 Fax: +39 02 72095158 info@exposicam.it

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36 furniture journal | MAY 2017

Cworkshop’s new website will soon allow you to order bespoke components whenever it’s convenient to you.

Components -

Day or Night T Felix Zajarnijus

here’s no standing still at Cworkshop.

First they introduced made-to-order components, then they invested in high level beam saws, a machining centre and an edgebander to give you the best possible quality and the fastest possible service. Next came a London workshop facility in which it’s possible to rent space, tools and machinery and buy fittings with which to assemble components prior to delivery and installation.

And now they’ve made the whole process of ordering exactly what you need, even the booking of workshop space, easier than ever with a new website that encompasses every

aspect of the Cworkshop offer.You can now order outside working hours at a time that suits you.

“We know from experience that a lot of our customers prepare their cutting lists on screen outside working hours and waiting for quotes to come back just slows things down for them,” Cworkshop’s Managing Director, Felix Zajarnijus told Furniture Journal. “Using our new website, bespoke components can now be ordered and priced online, making our services more accessible at the times our customers need them as well as expanding what they can get from us. It also means they

MAY 2017 | furniture journal 37

GET PRICE can get their own quotes out to customers so much faster.”

The new website is a far cry from the ‘information only’ site Cworkshop began with. Felix admits, it was pretty basic, had no bells and whistles and didn’t allow the user access to product names, codes, dimensions, or materials. “We’re now on the third edition and designing the fourth website,” says Felix.

“The new one we’re launching in May/June will be better organised. It will have more products and more up to date information on availability. People will be able to place their orders online at any time of day or night.

“The way we’ve designed the website is based on a project. We work with a lot of smaller clients who, typically, have one project on the go at a time. From the point where you enter the cutting list, or book a workshop space, you are building a project online with us. Whatever you need components, carcases, feet, fittings, hinges you put into a basket and navigate through various parts of the site for cutting lists, CNC work, fittings, workshops space, etc.

Once you’ve selected everything you need and you can order different components, bespoke or off-the-shelf, very easily - you

can get an instant quotation by pressing the Get Price button. When you’re ready to proceed, everything can be paid for online.”

Further developments are already planned. Cworkshop will soon be launching bespoke finished products like cabinets for kitchens and carcases for wardrobes, which can be specified in any size. It’s a logical progression and development of the services currently available that will take Cworkshop nearer to its goal of becoming the ultimate one-stop shop for bespoke components.

Check out the new website at: www.cworkshop.co.uk

38 furniture journal | MAY 2017

Total Eclipse Salice’s Eclipse system is perfect for use in studio apartments, where hiding appliances to create an up-market feel in multifunctional living spaces is very much in vogue.

T

he ever-rising cost of property and the need to make the most of smaller spaces, combined with the trend to conceal the kitchen and its appliances behind full-height seamless doors, have led to the inclusion of pocket doors in an increasing number of kitchen designs. Once the preserve of high-end kitchens, pocket doors are increasingly featured in mid-range kitchen and studio apartment storage solutions because of the significant functional and aesthetic benefits they bring.

Salice’s Eclipse system is widely recognised for the quality of its movement. It features soft, cam-assisted opening and soft closing, providing a feel of quality that further accentuates the impression of an up-market product. Fitters will

also love the simplicity of installation and the ease of adjustment offered by Eclipse.

Each Eclipse system is made to measure for each application. No cutting or assembly by the installer is required – the system arrives fully-assembled and slides into clips on the side of the cabinet. It is secured by just two screws. Installation, adjustment and, if necessary, removal are carried out from the front of the cabinet, making Eclipse simple to use even if access to the side panel is limited.

Eclipse systems can be used on doors from 400mm to 900mm in width and from 1550mm to 2500mm high.

For further information on the Salice product range call 01480 413831, or visit Salice at www.saliceuk.co.uk

Interior Design & Production Software

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MAY 2017 | furniture journal 41

Digital Transformation T

imes are changing in the contract upholstery market. Over the years, the popularity of steel frame, straight-lined furniture in public spaces has given way to softer, more innovative and complex designs. Office furniture must be flexible in order to adapt to the nomadic nature of contemporary work environments.

A rising number of companies are also ordering furniture equipped with charging docks and power sockets for reception areas. And customers need products much faster. “Three or four years ago, we would have had six to eight weeks to deliver furniture to the customer,” explains Michael Donachie, Operations Director at Godfrey Syrett. “That has now been reduced to three or four. We even have products where we have to deliver within seven working days on receipt of an order.”

After 70 years in the market, traditional manufacturing processes had to be changed if the company was to meet the new challenges - and its revenue targets. “Lectra demonstrated that they could help us improve capacity, efficiency, quality and bring product to the marketplace with a much quicker process,” says Michael.

With their new, digitised process - which, in addition to a VectorFurniture® fabric

cutter, includes Brio®, Lectra’s automated spreader, as well as its automated pattern making and marker making solutions Godfrey Syrett has increased its manufacturing capacity by 70% compared with manual cutting. “Lectra helps us meet the strict deadlines. Our team of upholsterers used to cut the fabric manually.

As a result the wastage was greater and the time needed to cut the fabric was five to ten times as long as it is with the Lectra machine,” says David Hall, Group Sales and Marketing Director. A more efficient process, including automated nesting, has also enabled the company to reduce fabric waste, resulting in a material savings of £150,000 per year.

As customer demands for modularity, speed, and style continue driving the market, Godfrey Syrett’s investment in Lectra’s technology is helping the company satisfy current market demands and future-proof itself for the inevitable changes to come.

“The choice to invest in Lectra was not just for the immediate gains that would be delivered, but also for the future. Lectra will help us take our products to the next level,” concludes Michael.

For more information contact Lectra on 01274 623080.

Healthcare, education and office furniture specialist, Godfrey Syrett, has increased its manufacturing capacity by 70% with help from Lectra.

42 furniture journal | MAY 2017

HotCoating® turns relatively mundane melamine coated panels into rather special high gloss or supermatt products.

Hot News Pfleiderer has teamed up with Kleiberit and will start production of panels finished with the HotCoating® process by early 2018.

I

f you are a regular reader of Furniture Journal, you’ll have read about Kleiberit’s revolutionary HotCoating® process in our Ligna review of 2013.You’ll already know it’s a process that turns relatively mundane melamine coated panels into rather special high gloss or supermatt products (from >90GU to <5GU) and, if required, gives not only a remarkable depth of gloss (or softness) at the touch of a button, but also a structured surface - all without the need for sanding or pre-treatment.You’ll also be aware of its other properties: its micro-scratch resistance to steel wool type “0” and its shock resistance, not to mention the opportunity it provides for the creation of a seamless continuation of the surface over the edge of the substrate without any glueline or cracking, even on an edge with a tight radius.

Cogniscenti of the HotCoating® process will be aware that, unlike classic coating and lacquer technologies that reach their limits when it comes to the demand of deep

textures like pores, Kleiberit’s HotCoating® ImpressTouch technology can be applied with a very high layer thickness in just one application step - and it can be embossed in an inline process, such as an embossing calendar, or a short cycle press without any risk that the pores will retract over time.

It’s not hard to imagine the design flexibility such a system offers, or why major manufacturers might be investing heavily in the process, is it? And one in particular has really taken up HotCoating® in a big way.

Pfleiderer, a leading European manufacturer of wood-based décor panels, has seen the potential in Kleiberit’s HotCoating® technology and has taken the decision to invest in a large-scale lacquering line at its site in Leutkirch, Germany. When commissioned, the line will set new standards in Europe.

Pfleiderer’s Leutkirch site will play host to the largest HotCoating® line worldwide, with a length of 165m and a width of 2,400mm. Due

MAY 2017 | furniture journal 43

for commissioning in the first quarter of 2018, the new line will produce both high gloss and supermatt coatings on decorative chipboard and MDF panels.The new products will feature anti-fingerprint surfaces, a pleasant warm feel and provide Pfleiderer products with excellent mechanical properties during downstream board processing.

The first big HotCoating® line, which was developed together with Barberan, was delivered more than eight years ago for producing high quality gloss. The technology is now well-proven. What is new, however, is the supermatt - and Pfleiderer will be able to offer this as well as high gloss. The new line in Leutkirch underlines the high level of interest Kleiberit’s technology is attracting from major international companies. To find more out about the HotCoating® process, or to discuss its applications and the costsavings it can offer with machines that start at just seven metres in length, call Kleiberit on 01530 836699 or visit www.kleiberit.com

HotCoating® makes seamless continuation of the surface over the edge of the substrate possible without any glueline or cracking.

44 furniture journal | MAY 2017 Tightly packed ribs inside the top beam of a cantilever give extra rigidity when machining. It’s typical of the build quality but most of it you’ll never get to see.

Pride & Prejudice If heavyweight engineering, attention to detail during manufacture and futuristic technology are features you thought only came out of Germany, you might be surprised by a closer look at SCM.

I

t may have been true in the past that Italy stood for innovation and Germany stood for build quality and engineering excellence but such a prejudiced view doesn’t come close to the reality of 21st century machinery manufacturing.Take a tour of the SCM Group factories in Rimini,Villa Verucchio and Thiene, peer inside the structures of frames and gantries while construction is under way, observe closely as machines take shape on the production lines, and you may be more than surprised by the heavyweight engineering that goes into every SCM Group machine. From the very beginning of the process, where the machine beds are cast in SCM’s own foundry and components facility, through the various build stages where individual components are added, it’s clear these are not the lightweights some might have you believe. What’s just as impressive, every single component that goes into an SCM Group machine is designed and

made in Italy under tight controls imposed by engineers and production managers whose pride in their product is as evident as their near obsessive insistence that all the machines built on their shift (and all the components that go into them) meet incredibly strict standards. And if one component should fail to meet the standard at any point, a red light halts the production line and a whole team of specialists descends within seconds to sort the problem.

Maintenance and Safety Manager, Fabio Comandini is immensely proud of the lines under his control: “We have three lines each with a capacity for 35 - 22 - 28 machines a month respectively, and each machine takes from 130 hours up to 250 hours to build,” he confirmed. “We operate an Andon system where all the machines pass down the line. A machine stays about eight hours at each station. If the operator encounters a problem,

MAY 2017 | furniture journal 45

Fabio Comandini

Giuseppe Lucisano

production stops and a task force of designers arrives to solve the issue. We want to be sure the problem will never reoccur.

“Problems at assembly stage are rare,” he adds. “All our production is vertically integrated. We produce all our own sub assemblies. Components like tool-changers and table bars are made here. All electrical cabinets and installations are by sister companies in the SCM Group. It means we can control quality all the way through the process and be certain everything has been checked before it reaches the assembly stage.”

During the installation process, technicians use a checklist to compare actual tolerances with those required and chart every measurement they make in a record that is unique to each machine. “The technician has to sign the record to guarantee responsibility and confirm quality standards and tolerances have been met,” says Fabio. “At the end of

production, all the checklists are sent to the service department so there is a story for each machine that dates from the very beginning. Everything can be traced.”

Behind the public face of the SCM Group we will see again at Ligna in May lies another story: a story of innovation, of involvement in industries and futuristic projects that extend way beyond woodworking; a story that has inspired many of the revolutionary ideas we now embrace as the way forward.The benefits of being involved with racing solar-powered vehicles across Australia may at first seem intangible and irrelevant to a manufacturer of woodworking machines, but, just as technology from the automotive sector and the Space Shuttle programme have filtered down to benefit everyday objects, the result of SCM Group’s involvement in the regional Onda Solare project and the Solar Challenger Race have enhanced expertise in the processing of

new materials. “We are involved with many projects that will eventually benefit users of the machinery we make,” says Giuseppe Lusciano, a member of SCM Group’s Executive R&D and Innovation team. “The development of industry 4.0 requires many new technologies - at a basic level, technology like sensors that manage maintenance procedures and provide advanced warning of wear, enabling predictive maintenance; or automatic standby systems that reduce energy consumption. In the future, sensors will do much more than simply switch machines on and off. They will help predict down time, enabling us to advise users on how to make the best use of their machines according to the tasks they need them to perform. Our work in other fields has been of significant benefit to the woodworking industry already and it continues to influence and shape the direction of woodworking technologies.

46 furniture journal | MAY 2017 “After three years, we have just finished the FP& Close to the Customer Project in which we showed how one machine could perform all functions and produce a customised product designed by the consumer. In the future – and it is only a few months away now – our work on the H2020 Inclusive Project will mean we will be able to tell an interface we want a machine to make a door without any technical programming and it will do that. At Ligna we will show how mass customisation is possible using several machines in a limited space by using robots and one unskilled operator.”

The results of SCM Group’s successes in recent years have been felt in the bottom line performance of the Group as a whole, which boasts exports approaching 90% of total production.The wood division has been particularly successful with double digit growth.

The Division Director for Machinery, Luigi De Vito, is more than happy with results over the last year: “2016 was a good year,” he said. “It’s close to being very good. Growth has come from two things: people and innovation. We have put a lot into research and development, and we have taken a fresh look at our production and moved to the lean production concept. Our machines offer exceptional reliability resulting from rigorous manufacturing processes and quality control, but we have also introduced some of the most advanced and flexible software in the market and our three-year plan includes the launch of a complete new suite of software.

“The Close to the Customer concept was intended to show to the market how easy our software makes customised production on a small scale but we are also having success with big factories that work the same way. We are currently working on a factory that will make 800 doors in a shift for a company in Uzbekistan, where our technology is filling the skills gap.”

So where does Luigi see growth coming from in the future? “There are several areas,” he says. “One of the key areas will undoubtedly be software - not just the PLC but also Human Machine Interfaces. Another will be the development of cells; smart combinations of machines that provide the flexibility to run production quantities but also provide customers with differentiation and the facility to customise. We expect to see growth both in the wood and non-wood sectors, especially following our acquisition of CMS.” One of the key areas Luigi sees as critically important to the success of the division is service and parts. “You can’t judge the value of a machine on its sales price,” he says. “You have

MAY 2017 | furniture journal 47

Luigi De Vito: “2016 was a good year. It’s close to being very good.”

Ada Harka

Automatic Warehouse

to look at its entire life in your factory and include service and parts.”

“We have 10,000 square metres of space and hold a parts stock of 30 million Euros market value,” confirms Ada Harka, the Project Manager for the Spare Parts Division in Villa Verucchio. “All small components are stored in four automated warehouses. Large items are hand-picked and we use a barcode system to identify the product and minimise errors.

Sophisticated IT software manages the picking and optimises the paths of each warehouse worker. Availability can be checked via internet access directly into our ERP system. If an item is required urgently, it can be delivered to most

locations within the UK by 8am the following day – while the technician is on the way to the client. If a machine is down and the component is not in stock, sometimes it’s possible to pull it off the production line but 30% of our stock is made out of critical parts, so that’s something that happens very rarely.”

It is quite remarkable.The guy on the factory floor who machines and assembles electro spindles to tolerances within a fraction of a millimetre; the lady who runs the parts department and takes a real pride in sourcing even the most obscure of components for customers all over the world; the divisional director who effervesces over the company’s

successes and purrs in admiration as he charts its growth - it seems to matter little who you talk to. All share a common pride in the job they do and in a product that, perhaps uniquely in this age of cost-cutting through global sourcing, is made entirely in Italy. At every level, people talk about quality, about accuracy, about reliability.They are keen to show it to you, to prove its merits - and then to push it to the next level, make it better, give it that little qualcosa di speciale that most of their customers will never know is there. And at every opportunity, they are doing just that.

To find out for yourself, call SCM Group (UK) on 0115 977 0044

48 furniture journal | MAY 2017

Nine heads and CNC positioning on the Powermat 1200 mean super fast setup times.

The infeed end of the Powermat 1200

Growth through Investing in Weinig has enabled Lambson Laminates to cut setup times massively, increase flexibility and productivity and offer customers an altogether faster service.

S

ometimes, the hardest thing about investing is making the decision. We’ve all been there at one point or another. We get the idea, we mull it over, we investigate, we get quotes. Should we? Shouldn’t we? While some might make relatively instant decisions, others will hold back. Even when they know that not investing in the equipment they need means they’re strangling growth, they still hold out as long as they can.

When Lambson Building Products took the decision to acquire Lambson Laminates around 12 years ago, they knew they’d taken on a company that had been starved of investment.

Moulding was a large part of Lambson Laminates’ business but its main client, the

caravan industry, no longer wanted batches running into thousands. “The caravan industry was driving us into small batches,” Operations Director, David Bean told Furniture Journal.

“We desperately needed flexibility. We had four old moulders, each equipped with six or seven heads.They took a phenomenal amount of time to set. We were losing 30% of the week to setting up because batches were so small.They only ran six to eight metres per minute, so we were working two of them 24 hours a day to satisfy customers’ requirements.

“Simon Bridge at Weinig never gave up trying to sell me a moulder,” David continues.

“We did lots of analysis. It wasn’t just a moulder we needed, though. There were

MAY 2017 | furniture journal 49

Lambson’s lineup: the Powermat 1200 in the foreground with the Powermat 2400 and the Unirip behind.

Flexibility other priorities. We had to buy new saws, new IMA Bimas and new extraction. Even though we were not being productive, we pushed the decision on a new moulder down the line. Finally, we did the numbers again and the directors agreed to spend the money, so Simon got his order.”

David ordered a new Weinig Powermat 1200, which he’d specified for maximum flexibility by equipping it with nine heads. “We needed to be able to make any profile that was asked of us,” he says, “So we futureproofed it by ordering a special machine with maximum flexibility and linear scales that allowed us to get within 3mm of the bed instead of the usual 10mm.”

In the run up to delivery, David’s order book took a sudden upward swing with several huge orders. “We had to have a machine urgently,” he recalls. “We couldn’t wait six weeks. These were big orders and we didn’t have the machine to satisfy them.

We were in a real hole. Malcolm Cuthbertson [the MD of Weinig UK] and the guys at Weinig pulled out all the stops to help us and the next day, a Powermat 2400 from Weinig UK’s demonstration showroom arrived as a stopgap.”

Six weeks later, the Powermat 1200 was delivered and Lambson’s operators and tooling specialists went over to Weinig for training. “These newer machines are so much

easier to use, and so much faster,” says David, “But it was a change for the guys to be pushing buttons rather than swinging on spanners. Everything is CNC controlled.

“One of the main differences is when you put a cutter block on the shaft there always used to be 0.2mm difference between the block and the cutting circle because one knife cut and the other balanced the block.The Weinig system means the machine sets the tooling. We’re on HSK spindles which mean that the block and spindle effectively become one with virtually zero tolerance. When we grind the cutters, knives have to be within 0.1g and the cutting circle within 1/100 of a millimetre so we know both knives are cutting.”

50 furniture journal | MAY 2017

A Powermat 2400 from Weinig UK’s showroom arrived at short notice to help Lambson Laminates

Operations Director, David Bean.

Lambsons Laminates has invested heavily in Weinig equipment. Everything from the tool room to the moulders is Weinig. “We have a tool room of grinders. We make our own knives and do our own sharpening. It’s all Weinig equipment,” says David. “Our customers can order any moulding they need and every order is different, so we have a slick IT system. Sometimes we’ll receive a drawing, sometimes we have to make a template and grind the knives. We are in complete control from the drawing to the finished product. We have a Weinig template maker that makes the templates, then the template is taken to the

grinder and it follows the shape to give an exact profile for each knife.The knives are put into a block and measured on the measuring stand, which is a shadow graph that shows both knives are the same when the block is rotated through 180°. Everything is measured digitally and sent to the moulder.The moulders are actually so fast we had to move the tool room closer to the machines so the guys could keep up with them.

“The PC talks directly to the moulder, so it knows the dimensions that are needed and sets the machine up right first time. We’ve virtually recovered the 30% we’d lost to setting

MAY 2017 | furniture journal 51

The Unirip 310 cuts the production time of some jobs by splitting boards into 12 pieces.

with this machine. All we have to do is set the pressures.The screen tells the operator which block goes on which spindle, so the machine is down minutes rather than hours.The Powermats are also a lot faster than the old moulders we had. We’re running at 36 metres/ min, which is six times faster.”

David has found another way to increase productivity markedly by investing in a Weinig Unirip 310 multi-rip saw: “Depending on the size of the profile, we can split them to increase productivity massively,” he says. “Not every profile can be made that way but for a small investment, we gained a very fast

machine that can be run with a fixed arbor, or a quick release system with spacers. We have 11 blades on one machine.The only limitation is how close we can get the blades. On our machine it’s about 18mm.”

David was so delighted with the Powermat 2400 Weinig UK loaned him that when the new Powermat 1200 was commissioned, he cut a deal with Weinig UK to keep the 2400 as well.

“It’s not because we have problems with the machines and need a backup.They don’t give problems. We just wanted the extra flexibility.

“When we opted for Weinig, it wasn’t the cheapest by a long way but it is an

investment that will be with us for decades,” concludes David. “It’s enabled us to grow our customer base, improve the service we offer and increase our turnover. What we are producing in a week now is what we were producing in a year when I started with the company.” And if that isn’t a reason to stop deliberating and call Weinig, I don’t know what is!

For further information about how Weinig could help boost your production, call Weinig UK Ltd on 01235 557600 or visit www.weinig.co.uk, or, if you need mouldings, take a look at www.lambsonbpl.com

52 furniture journal | MAY 2017 Simon Draycott demonstrates bSolid and the finished pentagonal box.

Bottom Left: The five-axis head of the Rover A.

Five-Axis

With practical examples ranging from simple to complex, Biesse UK demystified the art of fiveaxis machining at its FiveAxis Made Easy events.

D

on’t let anyone tell you that programming a five-axis machine to make complicated workpieces is childsplay. Unless you are a gold star computer geek, it’s not something you’ll get your head around in five minutes. But with a little practice and some guidance from the experts, you could certainly be on your way to designing and making consistently good work with Biesse’s bSolid software that you might never have thought possible. And that was the message from Biesse UK’s Five-Axis Made Easy days, held at the beginning of April.

In four sessions held over two days, Biesse UK staff introduced the full range of five-axis machines from the Rover A to the M Series; demonstrated the entire design process from beginning to end using bSolid to create three examples of varying complexity; and then showed how to set up a five-axis Rover A and machine each product. The first example was a fire door, machined from a door blank complete with a window cutout, pockets for hinges and a mortice for a lock. Next, bSolid

made easy work of the angle calculations involved in a hexagonal box, joined with Lamellos that the Rover A was tasked with cutting out. And finally, most complex of all was a hollow twisted vase from solid wood.

Once the complexity involved in the twisted flute had been demystified (it’s little more complex than creating a hexagon, copying and pasting it, twisting it and telling the machine to join the dots), even the third example seemed to be within the capabilities of most who attended the event. Several invitees commented afterwards that bSolid software as a whole was more intuitive than they’d expected it would be and much quicker at getting products from design to production.

During the design stages, presented by Software Trainer Simon Draycott, each element can be checked in bSolid using seven different views (including cross section views inside pockets that show elements not normally visible) as well as isometric. Specify a key hole and swarfing is calculated automatically. Set the lead in and bSolid does

MAY 2017 | furniture journal 53

Above: The Rover A and fully machined door detail (inset).

Made Easy

Below: Robbie O’Neill talks invited guests through the process of setting up the Biesse Rover A.

the rest.Tool paths are generated automatically with each stage that’s added, so you can see instantly how the machine will execute everything from the angle cut around the edge of a component to the morticing of a hole for a lock.Tasks you might want to replicate within the design, like machining a hinge pocket, can be saved as a sequence model, so data for one task can be copied and pasted as one complete set of instructions elsewhere in the design.

Some tasks, such as cutting patterns for Lamello jointing, are already included as part of the software but the live demonstration showed how simple it is to make a macro for any task you might want to repeat regularly. As the design progresses towards completion, the software builds a bill of materials and the NC control shows exactly the time it will take to produce. Finally, to check for any clashes, bSolid provides a real time presentation of the whole process that can be viewed from any angle.

With the design stages complete, attendees at the presentations were then shown how simple it is to set up the Biesse Rover A before

being treated to a demonstration with simultaneous live video of the machining process from inside the machine.

Was it complicated? I don’t think there’s any doubt that Biesse staff chose demonstration pieces that used techniques with which most furniture makers would already have been familiar. But it’s only a short step from there to more complicated machining and I think the message is clear: the more you use it, the more you’ll want to use it and the deeper you’ll delve into the resource bSolid offers. It’s as simple or as complicated as you want it to be. Just remember to start at the beginning and learn to walk before you push the pace and break into a jog.

The events were so successful that Biesse UK has announced it will be running another two sessions on Thursday 18th May for those who missed out. For more information on bSolid, or to reserve your place at the next event, call 01327 300366 or visit www.biesse.com

54 furniture journal | MAY 2017

The

Striebig School of Innovation The versatility of Striebig’s Compact saw has made diverse projects possible at the University of Southampton’s Winchester School of Art.

W

orking with TM Machinery was easy and fuss free,” begins Andy Brook, Technical Services Officer and Technical Staff Manager at the University of Southampton’s Winchester School of Art. Looking to improve the university’s technical provision by replacing a 50-year-old table saw and dust extraction unit that were no longer performing effectively,Andy researched the best possible options on the market and after a demonstration at TM Machinery’s Leicesterbased showroom last summer, the Art and Design Institute purchased Striebig’s Compact vertical panel saw.

“I had a tick list of things I needed the saw to offer me,” explains Andy. “Whilst I knew our

work wouldn’t involve high volume cutting and it would be primarily used for sizing plywood and MDF sheets for student projects, I wanted a saw that could withstand years of use and continue to offer accurate and safe cutting for years to come. It also had to offer simple, manual operation, have the ability to work with a range of materials up to 2.4 x 1.2m and fit in a compact space.”

Bought predominantly for students on Fine Art, Fashion Design and Games Design degree courses, the saw would be commissioned for use on student projects, including the building of exhibition stands, creating crazy golf courses and designing arcade gaming cabinets. Andy adds, “It was

MAY 2017 | furniture journal 55

The Striebig saw frame is rigid and guarantees absolute parallelism between upper guide rail, central support and lower roller support. The result is 1/10mm accuracy.

important for us to find a new saw that was as versatile as the ideas our students were coming up with.

“Knowing the type of projects the saw would be working on made it easy to narrow down my search but, with limited experience sourcing new woodworking machinery, I welcomed the knowledge and guidance offered to me by TM Machinery. On the surface, the machines looked very similar but it was clear from my visit to TM’s showroom that the build quality and precision of the Striebig Compact was far superior to anything else I had considered. It’s easy for manufacturers to tell you how good their machines are but seeing the saw in action

puts everything into perspective. The Compact really did set itself apart from the competition and with the ability to modify the design to include a digital measuring tool, the university got a tailor-made machine that was perfectly designed for the work it would be carrying out. The whole process from build to installation took around three months.”

As well as a range of bespoke solutions that can be added to your saw during the build process, the entry-level Compact comes fully equipped with a powerful 3.9kW motor and an integral dust extraction system with a dust limit below 1mg/m3. Able to cut a wide range of panel materials, including timber panels, plastics and composite panels, the

Swiss-made saw also copes with panel sizes from 3100 x 1644mm (model 4164) to 5350 x 2200mm (model 6220) and thanks to its rigid, self-supporting, heavily braced saw frame, it guarantees 1/10mm accuracy with every cut. True to its name, the Compact’s smallest model, the 4164, measures 4,256 x 2,400mm and only needs half the space of a horizontal cutting centre for handling the same panel size, making it the ideal addition to a small to medium sizes workshop.

It was during Andy’s visit to TM Machinery that he also saw the AL-KO Mobil JET 160 dust unit working in tandem with Striebig’s Compact saw. The space-saving design offers a high extraction capacity and

56 furniture journal | MAY 2017

Above: The Striebig compact will cut a wide range of panel materials with precision. All Compact models are also ideally suited for milling and grooving work.

Right: The Compact features a powerful 3.9 kW motor and length-adjustable operating lever for smooth operation.

Far Right: The University of Southampton’s Winchester School of Art also bought the AL-KO Mobil JET 160.

powerful motor. It’s also been fully tested to offer the optimum combination of extraction power and low energy consumption and has been accredited with both the GS and H2 marks.

“The extraction unit was the best all round package I’d seen and it was still comparable in price. It could also be installed at the same time as the machine – something that hadn’t been offered to us elsewhere,” explains Andy. “This - along with the added automatic synchronised start system that

could be requested when ordering - was the cherry on the cake. I was sold.”

With space at a premium, TM Machinery had engineers assess the installation area and make sure the access routes could accommodate the new purchase for added peace of mind. To ensure safety during operation of the saw, certified training was also given to five members of staff once the machine was installed.

Andy adds, “TM went the extra mile to guarantee a smooth and efficient installation

that worked around us. From the very first demonstration to the training and ongoing aftercare service, it has been a pleasure to work with the TM team. We couldn’t have asked for more.”

Keen to put TM to the test? For more information on the complete woodworking machinery range offered by TM Machinery Sales Ltd. and its servicing division,TM Services & Spares Ltd., visit www.tmmachinery.co.uk or call 0116 271 7155. For the latest news, follow TM Machinery on Twitter: @TM_Machinery.

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MAY 2017 | furniture journal 59

Why buy

Weinig?

With lower cost moulders available, if you ever wondered why companies buy Weinig, you only need to ask Brooks Bros.

W

ith 60% of its multi-million pound turnover dedicated to added value product, complete timber service provider Brooks Bros has added the latest Weinig Powermat 1500 moulder to its machining operation in Skelmersdale.

Over the last decade, Brooks Bros has installed 23 machines from Weinig at its manufacturing depots in Danbury, Sewstern, Skelmersdale and Nottingham. “We work closely with our customers and see how their businesses evolve,” says Managing Director, Mark Fleming. “There is an increasing demand for machined and finished timber product -

from straightforward planing to intricate mouldings and profiles - and with our latest investments at Skelmersdale, including the Weinig Powermat 1500, all our sites are selfsufficient and able meet the requirements of customers in their region.”

In just the last year, Brooks Bros has invested in a new Weinig Unicut P cross-cut saw for heavy hardwood sections, a Raimann VarioRip optimising rip saw, a new Rondamat 960 grinder and setting stand, and a Powermat 1500 moulder with Powerlock tooling.

“The dynamics are changing within the industry,” continues Mark. “Customers no longer need to process timber, they want

60 furniture journal | MAY 2017

machined products. With the ability for short runs for small joinery firms to full scale production, we take on responsibility for processing timber product and offer much more than just timber distribution.

Our customers, the door set industry in particular, demand very quick service of the highest quality and accuracy which, with the help of Weinig technology and machinery, Brooks Bros delivers.”

Brooks Bros’ experienced machinists like using Weinig machines, citing their user friendliness, ease of use and speed of setting.

Mark Fleming continues, “Weinig machines are the best in the world. The amount of work we put through is relentless. Our Weinig moulders process hardwood day in, day out, six days a week. The reliability of the machines and the reassurance of working with Weinig is not just nice to have, it is a necessity.

“We take on complex, difficult and demanding jobs and get them right. We have demanding customers who require fully finished, perfect product. The fantastic quality and productivity we get from Weinig make it an easy decision to install the latest Weinig Powermat moulders and upgrade what remaining other machines we have to the Powermats.”

For more information on Weinig, contact 01235 557600, email sales@weinig.co.uk or visit www.weinig.co.uk. For Brooks Bros, visit www.brookstimber.com.

The Powermat 1500 is the flagship moulder of Weinig’s new generation of Powermats. ComfortSet makes setting fast and easy, while Weinig’s Powerlock tooling enables the machine to run at up to 12,000 rpm, increasing throughput.

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MAY 2017 | furniture journal 63

Coping with Demand The Akron 1300 edgebander (left) and Skipper V31 helped to keep pace with the output from the beamsaw and provide an accurate and consistent quality.

Rather than having the three panel saws with five men, Sheffield Kitchen Outlet now has one beamsaw with one man - and a massive increase in output.

I

magine if you started a company and managed to plan your resources to perfection.Your vision was realised and the risks associated with a business start-up evaporated as your business thrived.Your marketing and customer service proved your belief that the business model was indeed correct and customers needed your products and services. Could it be too good?

Stuart Hattersley, Managing Director of Sheffield Kitchen Outlet, recalls those early days: “We invested in three panel saws which were operated by five men.We also had a second hand edgebander, which was a bit slow but did a job. At first it was ideal, but orders ramped up so fast that in the end we couldn’t cope with demand.

“We received a marketing email from Biesse and the timing couldn’t have been better.We visited their Tech Centre in Daventry for discussions about production methodology and volumes, which were backed up with machine demonstrations.We’d always gone down the cut, edge and drill route and Biesse guided us through this process, introducing us to new machinery which included a Selco beamsaw with twin pusher, an Akron edgebander and a Skipper V31 point to point drilling machine for the gables.”

Technical Director, Dan Hattersley commented, “The star of the show is definitely the Selco SK4 beamsaw with twin pusher.

Rather than having the three panel saws with five men, we now have one beamsaw with one

man and a massive increase in output.We’re now processing fifty sheets per day.”

“Which is great,” continued Stuart, “But for us the most amazing thing is that we’re saving £300 per day on waste through more efficient use of material with Biesse’s Optiplanning software.”

One of the other deciding factors for Stuart and Dan was Total Care, Biesse’s fiveyear warranty and service package. “It underpins the confidence in the quality of the machines,” adds Dan. “Without doubt, Biesse’s solution has made us much more efficient and not only helped us to cope with the demand for kitchens, but also helped us to move in to the bedroom market.”

64 furniture journal | MAY 2017

In Praise of

Pre-loved Buying a pre-used machine doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have to be a risky business and there are positive advantages if you need additional production fast.

T

here are many reasons why you might want to consider buying a used machine rather than a new one.

Sometimes, cost is the driving factor - a used machine is probably going to have less impact on your cashflow - however, sometimes, the reason for going down the used route is because delivery times on a new machine just donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t fit with production demands. But will a second hand machine

last? Will it do the job long-term? Will it be reliable? And are spares likely to be an issue?

Certainly, when it comes down to a used saw, Schelling UK is more than confident it can allay your fears with pre-owned Schelling machines that have been reconditioned in its Wetherby workshop.

To eliminate any possible risk to your production, the reconditioning process needs to be thorough. Allan Horsfield, Works

MAY 2017 | furniture journal 65

Manager, at Schelling UK puts every used saw through its paces, cleaning and rebuilding it to ensure it runs and works perfectly. “Our aim is to refurbish machines so they leave our showroom with the original factory tolerances and accuracy,” he says. Bearings and other parts that are likely to show wear are replaced before the machine is checked to make sure it is within tolerances, then it’s repainted. If the new user requires additional specification to suit his production requirements, these can be added once the saw has been fully restored to its original condition. Modifications can include additional features and software updates to bring the saw right up to date with a modern specification.

Markus Freuis, Managing Director of Schelling UK Ltd, is confident in the service offered in Wetherby: “Schelling used saws are proven to have a long and productive life,” he says. “Furthermore, we have a good

working knowledge of the condition of each Schelling saw before it arrives in Wetherby, due to the yearly service and maintenance carried out by the Schelling technicians - and that gives us a history of every saw.”

All used saws from Schelling UK leave the Wetherby showroom fully refurbished, function tested and repainted to a high standard and each saw has a thorough examination and is sold with a warranty.When Bullys Wood Works had an immediate need for an additional saw and was unable to wait the lead-time for a new unit, they opted for a used FMH Schelling saw. It was available immediately and was installed and working in just seven days. Remarkable though that might sound, it’s not untypical.

One of the other benefits to buying a used saw from Schelling is that you can inspect it first-hand while it’s running in the showroom and produce examples of the finished products you want to manufacture before its delivered.

“Our showroom can help you form a clearer picture of what you need and if you have questions, there is an expert on hand to answer them,” adds Markus.

With 19 years of service at Schelling UK and a diverse background in production machinery and mechanical and electrical engineering, Allan Horsfield understands the importance of getting the job done correctly.

“The reality is that if it comes from a well respected supplier, has solid build quality and a competitive used price tag and has been refurbished correctly, a used saw can deliver many more years of service.” Each saw comes with a detailed inspection report, along with knowledge of where it’s come from, providing Schelling customers with additional confidence.

And if you’re concerned about parts, Schelling also guarantees the availability of spares for 25 years on all its pre-loved machines.

To see the current used machine stock, visit www.schelling.co.uk

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MAY 2017 | furniture journal 67 Leitz tooling has made all the difference to quality at Plain English - and increased profitability.

When more

costs less

N

ot many people delve into the real cost of tooling like Martin Shaw, Production Manager at bespoke kitchen manufacturer, Plain English. Most would probably throw a wobbly at the total on their tooling bill and switch as fast as possible to a cheaper source. That’s certainly one option - but it’s not necessarily going to cut your costs, as Martin’s research proved.

Martin became aware of fundamental issues with the company’s kitchen door manufacturing shortly after arriving at Plain English, specifically the poor tolerances of the tooling they were using. “Leitz talked about datum tooling – the ability to make tiny adjustments in diameter and height – and they redesigned all the tools for us from scratch with precise repeatability,” said Martin. “Our set-up times went from hours to just 15 minutes from start to finish, and when you change profiles a lot, this is a revelation.”

“With the improvements provided by Leitz’s tooling and support, we quickly discovered that they were saving us a fortune,” said Martin, but he wanted to

quantify the data. To get a proper perspective, Plain English worked out that their downtime was costing them £15 per minute and Martin undertook a retrospective analysis of the money that had been wasted over the previous year. “This exercise was not about finding fault or blame. It was to understand exactly how much cheaper tooling was actually costing us in hold ups, rectification, down time and setting time. We saw in black and white the value of tooling which might initially cost more but with its higher quality and unparalleled precision, gave us a level of improvement in our process that meant per unit produced, the purchase price of the Leitz tooling was a fraction of other suppliers.”

Sales manager for Leitz, Brian Maddox, couldn’t agree more: “It’s so important for companies to know exactly what their manufacturing is costing them per product.

We work with international production companies who couldn’t see past the amount on the tooling invoice, and we work with small joinery workshops that can account for every stage and minute in their production

A tool is just a tool - until you find out exactly how much it’s costing you.

68 furniture journal | MAY 2017

process. In both cases we provide whatever support is needed and work with them on process improvement. As a result, our customers’ tooling purchases create more efficient production.”

Plain English has also implemented a Continuous Improvement Programme for their production. “Continuous Improvement does not mean continuous investment,” said Martin. “It means that all the production staff from apprentice to paint shop to sales and marketing regularly meet to discuss current issues.The key then is to actually do something about it.” Whenever a decision on tooling is needed, Plain English involve the operators, who have ownership of the problem and its solution.Taking them to Leitz’s head office and service centre of excellence in Harlow gave them a better understanding of machine tools.

Rather than seeing them as pieces of metal to chew through wood, they began to see the real value in the right tool. Martin believes if you just look the cost of the tooling you will make the wrong decision. “You need to look at your applications and have a long term plan,” he says.

He also thinks many manufacturers make the mistake of buying a machine for a

particular job without involving the tooling company. “Go to the tooling guys first and work out what you need and what you will be using day to day,” he advises. “This understanding puts you in a much better position to work with both the tooling and machine manufacturers to establish the best solution for you.”

Utilising seminars like those run by Leitz in Harlow can put an entirely different spin on processes you think you know inside out.

“Whether is it specifically for one organisation, or a group of like-minded companies, we discuss production issues which are relatable to their manufacturing and develop their understanding of what could be standing in their way.” At one of these seminars, Plain English also gained a greater understanding about the importance of speed. Martin said, “Running production at the correct speed doesn’t just mean getting product through quicker. In many cases it actually increases the already impressive longevity of the tool both between sharpening services and its overall lifespan, and gives a much better finish quality.

“We have a Weinig Raimann rip saw and it’s a great machine, but we found the saw

blades on it needed to be sharpened and cleaned every two weeks. Leitz’s solution was to provide us with saw blades with wiper teeth which reduced the resin build-up. This took us from sharpening every two weeks to every 10 weeks, so with a comparative 15 regrinds possible on each saw blade, they also last nearly five times longer. Even at a higher purchase price, and not including the massive reduction in disruption to production and setting times, that provides savings no company can ignore.”

Martin freely admits that Plain English now spends more on tooling. “Our investment has doubled,” he says, “But the savings we are making per product produced over the lifetime of any given tool make the question of price irrelevant. From working with other tooling suppliers, we know we are now spending the right money on the right products for the job with specialists that have fantastic experience and provide unheard of levels of support. With Leitz, we are more efficient and creating more high quality products ‘right first time’ - and the revelations are ongoing.”

Call Leitz on 01279 454530, or visit Ligna Hall 15, Stand F16, or www.leitz-tooling.co.uk

EFFICIENCY SQUARED. THE NEW VOLLMER VGRIND 160

Smart Innovation The one-of-a-kind, multi-level machining of the Vgrind 160 uses two vertically arranged grinding spindles to provide the highest standard of efficiency for the production of solid carbide tools. Further highlights include its sophisticated wall design for optimum accessibility and clear viewing, flexible automation solutions and tried and tested operating software. Are you ready for precision at its best?

www.vgrind.com VOLLMER UK LTD. // Orchard Park Ind. Estate // Town Street Sandiacre // Nottingham NG10 5BP info-uk@vollmer-group.com // Phone: +44 115 9491040

The award-winning, ergonomic Mirka® DEROS is the lightest random orbital sander on the market, and has been used successfully by thousands of professionals since its launch in 2012.

Now, Mirka® DEROS employs ‘smart’ technology with an integrated vibration sensor and Bluetooth connectivity. Using a free app on your mobile phone, you can monitor and record vibration levels while sanding. w: mirka.co.uk t: 01908 866100

Quality from start to finish

Fit faster, work smarter and save money with Lamello P-System can See how Lamello For a y. ne mo u save yo mises pre ur yo at mo de 36 call 01297 3024

Installing fittings is fast and easy Save time and money with rapid assembly No tools required, ultra simple fitting Hassle free fitting on site or in the workshop Allows work to be fully flat for transport Quick and effortless assembly at your client!

Call for a demo on 01297 302436 or visit our stores at axminster.co.uk/stores. For more info visit lamello.com or axminster.co.uk/lamello

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MAY 2017 | furniture journal 71

Putting on a Show Aside from the Guinness and the jig performed by choreographed CBs, there is always plenty to see on the Combilift stand at Ligna.

C

ombilift is well known with Ligna visitors for putting on a show and exhibiting new models and technological advancements in its products, and this year is no exception. The Irish specialist manufacturer of customised handling solutions will occupy a large stand in the heart of the outdoor area as well as an indoor stand in Hall 13. Around 15 models will be shown, all designed to make handling and storage procedures safer, more cost-effective and productive.

Exhibits at this year’s show will include models from the original and still very popular multi-directional C-Series and multi-directional and two-directional sideloaders.The narrow aisle capabilities of the Aisle-Master articulated forklift will be demonstrated live within racking.There will be the opportunity to see Combilift’s ever expanding range of pedestrian operated trucks in action.These now include the Combi-WR, its multi-directional

counterpart the Combi-WR4, as well as the new Combi-CS counterbalance pedestrian stacker. And as always, there will be Guinness and other refreshments on tap, and the Combi-CB display team will be performing its popular forklift “dance” on a regular basis.

Whether you handle extreme lengths of engineered timber, timber frames, palletised goods, or a mix of products, there is a Combilift model that can deliver the goods.

Combilift has now sold over 32,000 units in more than 75 countries since it was established in 1998 and its products are renowned for their tough, long life operation indoors and out and in all weather conditions. The use of standard and readily available components ensures that they can easily and maintained wherever in the world they are in operation.

For more information call 00353 478 0500 or visit the outdoor arena, Hall 13 or www.combilift.com

72 furniture journal | MAY 2017

The downstairs showroom in a quiet moment after the Saturday event.

Felder’s

In-House Success More than 100 different companies attended Felder’s In-House show on 24th and 25th March.

W

ith a selection of top end CNC machines through to sanders, edgebanders and classical machines from the Format-4, Felder and Hammer ranges, there was plenty for visitors to see at Felder’s two In-House events, held at the end of March.

“Our Spring Exhibition was a great opportunity for us to showcase the wide range of machinery that we have on offer,” commented Matthew Applegarth, Felder UK’s Managing Director. “As well as being able to see and discuss over 50 machines with our team of sales managers and support technicians in our showroom, customers were able to see live demonstrations on four CNC machining centres, a range of our

edgebanders and see our Silent Power Spiral Cutterblock in action. Overall the show was a huge success.”

The focus was on replicating customers’ own operations with live, personalised demonstrations and it’s an approach that seems to have gone down particularly well.

Over 100 different companies took the opportunity to visit and Matthew confirms, “We made record sales at a spring exhibitions with a range of machines sold from Hammer, Felder and Format-4.”

Your next opportunity to see Felder machines in action will be Ligna in Hannover from 22nd-26th May. Make a beeline for Hall 13, Stand E74, or book an appointment by calling 01908 635000.