Furniture Journal Novemeber 2016

november 2016

On the cover: 3D-Space-Wave from Surteco Create differentiation with dĂŠcor W16 & Elements: 39-page review Viewpoint on Brexit

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NOVEMBER 2016

contents 2 BREXIT: ONE MAN’S OPINION What might the future hold post-Brexit?

6 DIFFERENTIATION THROUGH DÉCOR New and exclusive décors to grow your business and increase your margins.

10 SWISS KRONO: NEW BRAND, NEW COLLECTION

cover photo An acrylic edging with a high gloss finish, Döllken’s 3D-Space-Wave is available in 23 x 1.3mm for fascias or 43 x 1.5mm for worktops.

Swiss Krono’s new One World Collection brings together all the best-selling décors from the individual countries.

12 CLASS FROM GRASS New developments to Nova Pro and Quaturis from Grass at Sicam.

Story: page 52.

16 INVESTING FOR EFFICIENCY CWorkshop takes delivery of a second new Holzma HPP 300 ProfiLine beam saw.

18 W16 REVIEW Furniture Journal visits the NEC to bring you all the latest from the W16 and Elements exhibitions.

20 PLUG AND SPRAY FINISHING editor: Melvyn Earle email: Melvyn@FurnitureJournal.co.uk Direct Tel: 01502 733438 assistant editor: Olena Earle email: Olena@FurnitureJournal.co.uk circulation: Marie Earle email: Circ@FurnitureJournal.co.uk www.furniturejournal.co.uk

With DMC’s new Eurosystem sander and Superfici’s plug and spray Mini, SCM Group has brought automated finishing into the small manufacturer’s arena.

22 DELIVERING EFFICIENCY Biesse demonstrates how efficiency can be achieved by machines that work together

26 FRAME, SET AND MATCH 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, 2016.

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.

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

Felder upped its game again at W16 with machines for the traditional cabinetmaker through to industrial CNCs.

28 ON THE BALL Footballs, dinosaurs and engraved pictures showed some of the capabilities of Masterwood.

31 IN THE DRIVING SEAT The benefits of Maka’s experience in the automotive, aerospace and marine industries was on show to the furniture sector at W16.

32 A TRIO FROM HOLZ-HER Holz-Her emphasised three areas of technological development at W16 covering panel processing and solid wood machining.

34 LOOKING TRIM Fiorenza is a specialist when it comes to machines for door production.

36 OPTIMUM OPTIMUS The brand new Optimus from AXYZ makes its debut at W16.

39 COMPACT FH4 Schelling chose W16 to showcase its new fh4 along with Barbaric panel handling equipment and Votecs shredders.

40 APP-SOLUTELY BRILLIANT! With its new app, Mirka has made a major contribution towards health and safety.

42 THE IMPOSSIBLE CUBE Stars of the Weinig stand at W16 were a new Cube Plus, the VarioRip 310 and the very neat EasyStop.

45 CATCH A LIFT Combilift’s multi-directional trucks are in a league of their own when it comes to narrow aisle work.

46 CAD+T 2017 AT W16 New features from CAD+T in its new Release 2017 software.

49 BOILERS TO BANK ON For boilers that really do stay the distance, talk to Mawera UK.

50 NEW DÉCORS ON SHOW A new membrane-pressable PVC Decofoil collection at David Clouting Ltd.

52 RIDING THE WAVE Döllken showed a selection from its KSP stock range alongside some new and inspired designs.

53 LIGHT FANTASTIC Forget wooden shelves. Fit Pixalux panels and add a new dimension with illumination.

54 TENSOR ENDORSED Tensor launched three brand new products - and two were endorsed by industry leaders.

55 EXPANDING OSTERMANN Ostermann’s product range grows.

56 SPACE-SAVER Turn a cabinet into a desk with this new-to-the-market space-saving mechanism from Casetur.

2 • FURNITURE JOURNAL NOVEMBER 2016 - OPINION

brexit:

one man’s opinion With so much speculation at W16 about how Brexit might affect the industry we decided to include comments supplied

by John Sacs furniture consultancy, in which he quotes from a paper written by economist Roger Martin-Fagg on what the future might hold.

Roger Martin-Fagg

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longside the euphoria of growing sales among W16 exhibitors, the inevitable speculation over how Brexit might affect the industry a year or so down the line kept popping up in conversation. There seemed to be a general consensus that 2017 was going to be a good year, probably better than 2016, but there were concerns for 2018. According to economist Roger Martin-Fagg in a paper supplied through John Sacs’ furniture consultancy, there are a number of possibilities depending on events around Europe and whether the British government opts for a soft Brexit, or the so-called hard Brexit.

A great deal has happened in the last few months. Otmar Issing, the principal architect of the Euro, has stated that the Euro is bound to fail and that Greece should have left the system in 2010. “He believes the ECB is in an untenable position because it holds a trillion Euro bonds on its balance sheet (many of which were bought at artificially high prices), which will rapidly become almost valueless in the next downturn,” says Roger. “Jean-Claude Juncker is on record as stating that we need less interference from Brussels when it comes to the things that Member States can deal with better on their

own. Near-zero interest rates have done virtually nothing to stimulate investment in productive capacity and the UK Treasury is dusting off the Keynesian model, which emphasises infrastructure spending as a route to higher productivity. But long-term, interest rates are set to rise. Meanwhile, we Brits seem to be preoccupied with our own point of view and are largely ignoring the views of our trading partners of the last 40 years.

“The British Government is beginning to realise that a clean break from Europe is impossible without causing long-term damage and that a transitional arrangement must be put in place as soon as possible. Sterling has lost 16% of its value since the referendum. The UK balance of payments deficit is a record 7% of GDP. The Bank of England expects inflation to be 3% by the end of 2017 but Mark Carney has said they will tolerate overshoot on the 2% target.

This implies a delayed interest rate hike but no further cuts. Normally, base rate is inflation plus 2.5% - but we are not in normal times.

“After Germany, we are the biggest net contributor to the EU budget. In 2015 our net contribution was £9Bn; our gross contribution was £13Bn. The EU budget is under severe pressure.

When we leave, they will need to find

FURNITURE JOURNAL NOVEMBER 2016 - OPINION • 5 at least £9Bn from other members. The UK, Germany, France and Italy together provide over 60% of the funding. The EU needs our money. We need to control immigration (the will of the people). We need to maintain free access for financial services (last year we made a surplus of £21Bn on sales to the EU), for manufacturers, for travel, for holiday homes, etc. The deal for Norway and Switzerland was meant to be transitory but has become permanent. We need to do a transitory deal as follows: “We pay £13Bn per year, we get no farm support or regional aid back. We are free to limit migration. We only have to accept EU law in so far as it affects trading standards. We have no seat at the table but our access to the market remains as it is today. It is clean, costed and simple. It would cost £3.84 per person per week - one Starbucks latte.

Of course we would probably have to keep regional aid and farm support going, which is another, say, £5Bn of cost: 1p on the basic rate of tax. But for £3.84 a week we save a fortune in lawyers and trade negotiators, we get our sovereignty back from Brussels (we never lost it, but Boris would have to declare it). And if the EU does collapse, we will not be part of it. Meanwhile the

EU is busy saving itself, so this transitory arrangement becomes permanent. If I have understood the leavers arguments correctly, they are not opposed to trading with the EU but they dislike the loss of sovereignty, the bureaucracy (which they say is unaccountable), and uncontrolled immigration (from the EU). For £3.84 per week we can meet their requirements. My instinct is that the EU would agree to such an arrangement.”

So what is the alternative? The socalled hard Brexit.

“We leave within the next three years and then revert to WTO rules to access the single market,” says Roger. “The current rules would kill the UK motor industry because of the 10% tariff. It would take at least ten years of negotiation to tailor a motor industry package (which would need to be agreed by 27 countries, so make that 15 years). We would not be allowed to do tailored deals with each country within the EU, so each prospective deal would require 27 countries to agree. We would probably lose the inward investment from EU and American companies (the USA has £600Bn of investment in the UK). Our balance of payments current account deficit would have to fall to a level that we could finance. This means

a reduction from the current £126Bn deficit per annum to around £35Bn. It is doubtful we could do this by raising exports sufficiently, so we would have to reduce imports. This is usually achieved by a recession: as the weak pound drives up inflation, wages fail to keep pace and real spending falls. The WTO option would without doubt reduce the standard of living as real wages fell by around 2% a year until a tailored deal was in place. It would probably also wipe 10% or £600Bn of the value of UK houses in 2021-2023 as interest rates go above 4% in order to finance the current account deficit.”

Much rides on the deal we get with the EC but that isn’t something anyone expects to be finalised with any immediacy. Negotiations will be difficult and protracted but in all probability, while politicians work out the ramifications of a situation it now appears few expected to find Britain in, the industry will get the good year ahead that was talked about at W16.

This article by Roger Martin-Fagg was supplied by John Sacs of www.jsacs.com.

If you have an opinion you’d like to share on this or any other topic that affects our industry, please head it “Letter to the Editor” and email it to Melvyn@FurnitureJournal.co.uk

L

eading members of the furniture industry met with the Minister of State for International Trade and other MPs and Peers on 11th October to discuss investment in developing export markets.

They were attending the Export & Growth Event at the House of Commons, organised by The British Furniture Confederation (BFC) and sponsored by Stephen McPartland MP, Chairman of the All Party Parliamentary Furniture Industry Group (APPFIG).

A recent survey completed by almost 150 UK furniture manufacturers indicates that over 50% are planning to increase export activities over the next one to two years, yet 80% had been unable to access EU or UK Government funding for investment in export and growth. When asked about what intervention from the Government industry would like to see post Brexit to ensure the best outcome, the following themes were regularly mentioned: • Greater liaison with industry to fully understand the market conditions and requirements the industry needs to protect, develop and promote.

• Retain commonality of standards and ease of moving goods from Europe into the UK and vice versa.

L-R: Jonathan Hindle, Rt Hon Greg Hands MP, Baroness Warsi, Stephen McPartland MP and Mike Wood MP

• Access to the single market and, as required, access to the European labour markets for certain skills (e.g. upholsterers).

• Provide better, clearer advice, preferably through a central knowledgeable resource about a specific export country’s minimum mandatory legal requirements.

Industry also highlighted some of the key actions the Government could implement to encourage it to export more:

• Allow tax breaks for export investment and investigation. Ensure competitive trade agreements are in place.

• Provide more visible support to UK business in terms of simple and easily obtainable grants for exhibiting and travelling to trade shows, access to UK trade missions and promoting UK export as a success globally.

The Rt Hon Greg Hands MP, Minister of State for Trade and Investment, highlighted the new Government’s commitment to increasing the UK’s exports to £1 trillion by 2020 and the number of companies exporting to over 100,000.

6 • FURNITURE JOURNAL NOVEMBER 2016

differentiation through décor I Furniture Journal talks to an Italian décor specialist that’s found success by working with clients to create exclusive products that have helped them grow their business and increase their margins.

n a w o r l d t h a t ’s b e c o m i n g increasingly cashmere and grey, white and off-white, there’s a name in décor design that’s raising its head above the parapet with an offer that has already fired the imaginations of some of the UK’s leading names in kitchen furniture manufacturing, cabinet door production and panel distribution. It’s not a new company far from it - but it is a company that’s new to the UK. And with a very accessible and quite unique offer that provides manufacturers with true product differentiation, its penetration into the UK market seems assured.

Gruppo Mauro Saviola, well known in world markets for wood products as well as expertise in chemistry and

furniture, has come to the UK with an offer of décors that are genuinely different, guaranteed to match exactly with the high expectations of your customers and certain to provide you with real product differentiation and exclusivity. The whole ethos of the Italian company (more often known by cognoscenti in the world of décors as simply Saviola) is about creating exclusive products that provide you with a competitive edge in a market that’s becoming altogether far too me too. Saviola’s Head of Export Sales and Décor Management, Daniele Merla, explains: “Our strategy is to help our clients develop new business. Certainly, we have collections of designs and they are very different in a number of

FURNITURE JOURNAL NOVEMBER 2016 • 7

Main image: Vanguard P25 Above: Eureka Artwood Left: Artstone

important ways, but it’s not a take-it-orleave-it offer. We work in close partnership with our clients, sharing ideas that help us create and shape décors that provide each of them with something different and exclusive.”

Saviola’s clients are leaders in their markets; companies that seek to develop different and quite outstanding products with a competitive edge.

“Together with our clients, we develop the designs, the colours, the patterns and the textures, then we produce unique designs that stand out as different in a saturated market,” says Daniele. “And always, the client is an important part of that journey.”

By way of example, Daniele cites ArtWood, a product Saviola developed

in close collaboration with the German kitchen manufacturer, Nolte. Nolte wanted a surface that was closer than ever before to real wood, both optically and to the touch. The result, ArtWood, is more than just a beautiful print with a synchronised pore effect; it doesn’t just feel like it looks, it feels like real wood a leap beyond synchropore. By looking beyond the interdependence between surface structure and printed woodgrain and exploring in greater depth how the interplay between optical and tactile qualities creates the sensation we feel when touching real wood veneer, Saviola was inspired to take a fresh look at the whole process of creating surface texture

Daniele Merla

8 • FURNITURE JOURNAL NOVEMBER 2016

Paul Duddle

on a décor film. And the result is both remarkable and exceptional. Daniele Merla attributes the uniquely realistic finish of ArtWood to “the particular interplay of various degrees of matt”, which he contrasts with the “falselooking glossy surfaces” of a more typical synchropore surface. “The unique structure of ArtWood enables it to be combined with the most varied kinds of wood,” he adds - and, of course, Saviola has been able to develop other unique products for other clients by adapting the techniques it pioneered with ArtWood.

ArtWood, Vanguard and ArtStone are Saviola’s core collections and, although available as décor collections in their own right for those who want an off-the-shelf product,

these more often provide a springboard for the development of the new and exclusive designs Saviola’s forwardthinking clients need in order to create that all-important product differentiation and commercial edge.

“It’s incredible how quickly people start to become creative when they see a product that inspires them,” says Daniele, whose background as an industrial designer provides both the technical knowledge and the design flair to help Saviola’s clients develop their ideas. “At first, it’s difficult to get customers to think beyond a standard colour, or a standard collection, because that’s what everyone has become used to in this industry. But when you show them a product like Vanguard, they quickly start to have ideas of their own.

Some want to change the colour to

FURNITURE JOURNAL NOVEMBER 2016 • 9

Main image: Vanguard Walnut Below left: Ambassador Artwood Below right: Vanguard Registro

what they perceive as a trend, while others will experiment with combinations, but they never want to change the texture.”

Exclusive design generally comes at a premium and there’s little doubt that with an exclusive décor from Saviola you will be able to achieve a greater margin yourself. But do you need to be a Nolte, a Störmer, a Leicht, or a ProNorm to afford it? Perhaps surprisingly, the answer is no. “Some décor producers will require you to buy a tonne of paper,” says Daniele, “But because of the process we use, we can work with as little as one tenth of that.

We are much more flexible with our customers. Volume sales are not our priority. We are much closer to the industry than many of our competitors and we offer a new approach that

values customer input and ideas and provides choice and innovation in return. We prefer to look at what works for you than set levels you must take.”

Introducing Saviola to the UK and helping clients to develop their own ideas into exclusive designs is Paul Duddle. His intimate knowledge of the industry and of décor design and trends comes from 16 years with a well-known décor and board producer - and his skills and philosophy represent a perfect m a t c h with Savio la’s de s ign -le d customer focus. “We are delighted to be working with Paul,” says Daniele. “He understands colours and textures and has strong design and marketing skills everything manufacturers can use to their advantage. Already, Paul has introduced several key UK clients to Saviola. From January 1st, Panelco will

stock laminate, melamine and edging that they’ve worked in partnership with us to develop and we are working with several kitchen furniture manufacturers and a major cabinet door producer.”

Panelco’s Mike Briggs has nothing but praise for Saviola: “Panelco is delighted to be representing Saviola in the UK,” he says. “They are such an inspirational supplier into the MFC market in Europe and we are delighted to be bringing their innovation and creative flair to the UK. I firmly believe the new Artwood and ArtStone structures will be a huge hit with both the KBB and the Specification markets.”

To preview the designs and to find out how Saviola could help you increase your margins through product differentiation, call Paul Duddle on 07495 535862 or email paul@buildarocket.co.uk

10 • FURNITURE JOURNAL NOVEMBER 2016

swiss krono:

new brand, new collection Swiss Krono’s new One World Collection brings together all the bestselling décors from the individual countries, while also boasting an injection of brand new designs and surface textures.

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Each of the 253 décors in the One World Collection is available as a melamine or a laminate with matching ABS edging as standard.

016 will go down as a significant year for one of the world’s leading producers of engineered wood products. The company, formerly known as Kronoswiss, rebranded itself worldwide from January as Swiss Krono and launched its first truly global range of decorative panel products titled the One World Collection.

Swiss Krono was founded in Meznau, Switzerland in 1966 and has grown steadily since. It now has 4,500 employees working across 11 plants in Switzerland, France, Germany, Poland, USA, Ukraine, Russia and Hungary and the company specialises in wood-based products, flooring and decorative panels.

Says Paul Mullings, Export Sales Director: “The re-branding comes from the desire to present a strong global brand that unifies all of our plants that were previously operating under their

individual names, while also emphasising the importance of our Swiss-made product quality. The new corporate brand also aligns perfectly with the launch of our first truly global range of decorative panel products.”

The new One World Collection brings together all the best-selling décors from the individual countries, while also boasting an injection of brand new designs and surface textures. The 253 décors in the collection are a treasure trove for designers and manufacturers reflecting the latest trends in metallics, abstracts, concretes, woodgrains and plain colours. One World also includes the innovative Touch range, which expertly recreates the natural look and feel of real stone and wood. Its specialist surface structures are created by inline registered embossing, which gives unrivalled realism to the décors and is in

FURNITURE JOURNAL NOVEMBER 2016 • 11

great demand in the furniture and interiors sectors.

Each of the 253 décors is available as a melamine or a laminate with matching ABS edging as standard. They can all be combined with a variety of different substrates, including chipboard, MDF in all its forms and CDF (compact density fibreboard). This gives designers and manufacturers exceptional flexibility to select exactly the right design and product specification for their projects.

While the corporate branding and One World Collection are new, the company’s ‘Swissness’ is reassuringly exactly the same. Swiss Krono has an unerring commitment to producing high quality wood-based products, with the utmost respect for wood as a renewable raw material.

The headquarters in Meznau is a leader in surface design development.

Its core board is produced from 100% virgin wood material, which is sourced no further than a 350km radius from the factory, and which meets and exceeds standard FSC and PEFC requirements. “Our virgin core board is

something that has always set us apart from any other manufacturer,” says Paul. “It does not include any recycled wood waste at all, which gives furniture manufacturers the benefit of exceptionally good machinability.”

The Swiss factory is also significant for being the regional recycling centre for Canton Luzern. It ethically, sustainably and efficiently burns waste wood material as a bio-mass product to power the factory. Going forward, the synergy of the various Swiss Krono plants behind a unified brand will drive more intensive, joint research and development activities, ensuring the company is dynamic and responsive to customer needs.

In the UK, the company has a 35-year distribution partnership with International Decorative Surfaces (IDS).

With its thirteen branches nationwide, IDS provides extensive stockholding and rapid product availability to meet the J u s t - i n - Ti m e n e e d s o f f u r n i t u r e manufacturers. Every décor in the One World Collection is available in the UK exclusively through IDS within five working days and with no minimum

order quantity. This service is made possible by the slick ‘Red Express’, the weekly train that leaves Switzerland every Wednesday and delivers product direct to IDS’s railhead operations that feed into the nationwide branches. IDS also holds the most popular-selling décors, plus a selection of bespoke designs, ex-stock and all can be delivered to a customer’s door in just 24-48 hours.

Commenting on the new collection, Dave Huggins, Business Development Dire cto r Pan e l Pro ducts at IDS , concludes, “We are very excited about the new One World Collection because it has been built to meet the needs of the furniture manufacturing sector. The range is very clearly presented and easy to work with, it has immense design flexibility and, with the virgin core board, we know it offers a superior level of machinability that will give manufacturers a perfect result every time.”

For more information, please contact IDS on 08457 298 298, email info@idsurfaces.co.uk or visit www.idsurfaces.co.uk

12 • FURNITURE JOURNAL NOVEMBER 2016

class from grass Sicam saw the launch of several new and innovative developments to both Nova Pro slide technology and the Quaturis corner storage solution from Grass.

I

The new child lock makes it impossible for small hands to get into drawers and can be removed without trace when no longer needed.

f you’re looking for something different in hardware, something that will lift your product designs and provide a technological edge without compromising on product quality or reliability, a good place to start is Grass.

And it was abundantly clear at Sicam 2016 that grass is definitely not something the technologists and designers at Höchst-based Grass GmbH have been allowing to grow under their feet since Novo Pro slide technology made its debut a while back and the smooth-as-silk Quaturis in-cabinet storage solution was first introduced.

With seven months still to go before Interzum, both products have taken another leap forward with new optional features that could be very useful to you in the fight for product differentiation.

Nova Pro slide technology, already proven millions of times over in practical use and now the recipient of a recent

award from the German Design Council (the Excellent Product Design segment, 2016), is the latest generation doublewall drawer system from Grass. You’ve undoubtedly seen it and already know it comes in a wide choice of styles, functions and price points that enable you to cover every segment from entry level to premium. What you may not know about is the latest development Grass has introduced to Nov Pro: the Tipmatic Soft-Close option. Tipmatic Soft-Close is a mechanical, handle-free opening system that also offers soft closing with a gentle push on the fascia.

Basically, Grass has added left and right, under-mounted activators to its existing soft-close slide system enabling it to push to open as well as soft close. The activators provide five force adjustment levels so the one unit caters for light loads, such as cutlery or spice drawers, or heavy loads, such as pan drawers. There

The impregnate with a synchronous pattern impresses thanks to its design, technology, and extraordinary efficiency. Create realistic surfaces and vibrant textures easier than ever!

FURNITURE JOURNAL NOVEMBER 2016 • 15

The new Quaturis L corner solution is priced under the premium Quaturis S.

is a particularly large activation zone and installation is very easy. The front gap is just 2.5mm and adjustment of the gap is tool-free. Very neat, very effective - and guaranteed to impress consumers who want the luxury of automation without the cost of an electric system.

Another addition to the Nova Pro slide system, again introduced at Sicam 2016, was a very simple, well-concealed child lock that makes it impossible for small hands to get into knife drawers and the like. Easy and fast to install, the unit is concealed under the base of the drawer. Pulling the lever towards the drawer front releases the drawer for full access and a clever slider makes it possible to activate or deactivate the child lock very easily. The new child lock can be retrofitted and removed without trace when no longer required.

Making optimum use of storage space is one of the greatest challenges kitchen designers face. Depending on your viewpoint, corner cabinet areas can either be a headache or an opportunity that will increase your profit and enhance the desirability and functionality of the kitchen. With the Grass Quaturis, seen first at Sicam 2015, you have the chance to turn an awkward space into a useful storage area that makes the most of available space whilst giving full access. And with the new Quaturis L (a lower cost alternative to the premium Quaturis S), which made its debut at this year’s Sicam, you can provide full access to standard corner cabinets of 900, 1000 or 1200mm wide and a standard internal depth of 490mm without compromising the drawer stack you might want to place at the side of it. Full access to drawers is possible even when the 20kg

capacity swing-out shelves of the Quaturis L are outside the cabinet.

Shelves can be manually retracted singly or together and when the door is closed, the shelves automatically retract into the cabinet - with soft-close damping providing the whole kitchen with that unmistakable quality feel.

Both shelves can be steplessly adjusted in height and the Quaturis L can be fitted to either left or right-hand corners using a simple screw fitting to the bottom panel and stretcher. No side fixing is required. An anti-slip option is available for shelf bases and there are various rail and colour options to choose from that will enable you to offer a customised solution.

For more information on the latest Grass products call Häfele UK on 0800 171 2909 or Grass Movement Systems Ltd on 0121 500 5824.

16 • FURNITURE JOURNAL NOVEMBER 2016

investing for efficiency The commissioning of a second new Holzma HPP 300 ProfiLine beam saw has enabled CWorkshop to cut production times for customers who need custommade, sized, drilled and edged components.

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hen that big project comes in and you need custom-made components at the drop of a hat, it’s crucial you have an organisation behind you that can deliver everything you want exactly when you want it. No one knows that better than the guys at Borehamwood-based CWorkshop. They struggled to find the components manufacturing service they now offer to companies just like yours. But they also know that providing you with a superfast service is only part of the story: every component needs to be cut, drilled and edged to perfection so it fits together effortlessly. It also needs to be delivered in the right quantity. And you can’t do that if you don’t have high quality machines, capable operators and an organisation that thrives on detail.

CWorkshop has grown exponentially since it increased its manufacturing space by more than five times a couple of years ago. Determined to provide the very best to clients in a market where

prices have to be keen and quality has to be consistent, Managing Director Felix Zajarnijus and his partner, Antony Didjurgis, have embarked on a mission to invest in the latest technology - and th e m o s t re ce n t m achine to be commissioned at CWorkshop is the second of two new Holzma beam saws.

“In the last year, we have been getting more and more work,” says Felix.

“We’ve built up a lot of trust and sales are growing, so we can’t afford to risk letting any of our customers down. We knew we would need more cutting power quite soon after moving to our new premises, so we placed an order for a second saw last April in time for late summer delivery.”

The beam saw they chose was a Holzma HPP 300 ProfiLine, the base model of Holzma’s Three Series, which Antony had equipped with extra clamps and rollers to cope with thinboard cutting requirements. “By using the two saws instead of the CNC

FURNITURE JOURNAL NOVEMBER 2016 • 17

The most recent machine to be commissioned at CWorkshop is the second of two new Holzma HPP 300 ProfiLine beam saws.

router and the saw, we don’t need to reconfigure cutting patterns to take account of the wider cut of the router,” says Antony. “It means we don’t need extra boards to achieve the same number of components - and with two saws we’ve doubled the number of boards we can process in a shift.“ When you’re producing components, efficiency is everything.

Margins are tight, so working efficiently, cutting energy costs, maximising the yield from each board and minimising waste are essential.

T h a t ’s s o m e t h i n g e v e r y o n e a t CWorkshop understands. With the front-loading HPP 300, the 80mm saw blade projection makes it possible to cut a book of three boards easily, while the electromagnetic measuring system guarantees accuracy to within plus or minus 0.1mm on every component that leaves CWorkshop. The rugged two-finger clamps are easy to control and have a gentle side that allows for

damage-free positioning of boards with delicate surfaces, such as high gloss, or honeycomb boards. “It’s an easy saw to operate,” says Antony. “And the addition of a labelling machine means every component we supply can even be labelled, if required.”

The Holzma fits perfectly with the ethos of CWorkshop, delivering the accuracy and the reliability the company needs to grow to the next l e v e l . “ We wan te d to h alve o ur production time because people always want their components yesterday,” explains Felix. “The HPP 300 is already helping us to do that. We’re having our busiest month ever but we can service our clients even better and we can deliver more components faster. And that’s what it’s all about.”

To find out how CWorkshop could help you execute that big project and impress your client with speed and efficiency, call CWorkshop on 020 8236 2313.

Top : Extra clamps and rollers allow for damage-free positioning of boards with delicate surfaces, such as high gloss, or honeycomb boards.

Centre: The addition of a labelling machine means every component CWorkshop supplies can even be labelled, if required.

Above: CWorkshop has embarked on a mission to invest in the latest technology so you get the very best quality components even quicker.

18 • FURNITURE JOURNAL NOVEMBER 2016

REVIEW

Bristol-based woodworking apprentice, Liam Martin, 19, has been crowned the winner of W16’s very first woodworking and joinery competition, the W Challenge. Run by training provider, Didac, the talented finalist was given four-days to follow a strict brief that would see him and three further students put their skills to the test to create a curved door panel. The judging was headed by BWF’s Dave Campbell and Didac Supervisors, Paul Stevenson and Shane Stenning. Liam’s prize was £500 worth of Felder vouchers and each finalist was given a personalised plaque to mark the occasion.

W16, marked a series of milestones for JJ Smith employees. Managing Director, Martin Smith presented Kevin McGlone and Alan Reid with long-standing service awards to celebrate 40 years of commitment to the business and Paul Parker with an award to celebrate 25 years of service. “JJ Smith is a family business,” he said, “And it’s our mission to continue training and investing in the next generation. Our long-term commitment to our employees can be seen here today. We’re proud to have such loyal staff working within our team and it’s fitting to mark their career milestones on our W16 stand. Well done team!”

Alan Reid

Glone vin Mc

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Paul Parker

w16 review I

Furniture Journal visits the NEC to bring you all the latest from the W16 and Elements exhibitions.

n a year of upheaval and uncertainty, it was good to pause the winds of change for a few days and enjoy the euphoria of an exhibition that seems to get better with each edition. Although final figures were not available at the time of going to press, it would seem visitor numbers were up around 10% on 2014 and exhibitors in general seemed very pleased with both the number of orders signed at the show and the number of strong enquiries they had to follow up.

Andy Walsh of Daltons Wadkin commented, “W16 was the best UK exhibition for a decade. We’ve had some great results and there’s plenty more to come. It was epic.” Steve Bulmer, MD of Biesse UK added, “W16 has been great for us. We’ve done a lot more signed business this year and the level of enquiries has been much higher. We’ve also had more footfall.”

Homag UK’s Simon Brooks was also pleased: “The show has been extremely positive from start to finish,” he said. “We’ve had quality leads from all levels of the industry and we’ve taken lots of orders. It’s been a fantastic s h o w. ” I t ’s a s t o r y w e h e a r d throughout the four days from the W16 hall.

Sadly, although the level of sales and enquiries tended to be good - and despite a plethora of publicity ahead of the event - in comparison with the frenetic activity in the machinery hall, the Elements section of the exhibition seemed quiet, especially on the Monday. The positive comments of W16 exhibitors were not echoed so frequently by Elements exhibitors and it’s here the new owners of the W-series event, Montgomery Exhibitions, need to do a lot more work before W18. There were some great brands in the Elements section - and some really imaginative and attractive stands - but if it is to be seen as an exhibition in its own right rather than just a section within W16, Elements will

FURNITURE JOURNAL NOVEMBER 2016 • 19

German components manufacturer, Casetur Mechanism, won one of the two Elements of Innovation Awards sponsored by Ney, for its space-saving furniture mechanism, CM4070.

Debuting the unique product for the first time in the UK at the Elements exhibition, the prestigious award was presented to the inventor, Ben Halde, by independent awards judge, John Legg.

Felder UK won one of the two W16 Elements of Innovation Awards to be presented at W16. The Austrian machinery specialist won the award, which was sponsored by Ney Ltd, for its revolutionary SilentPower Cutter Block, which reduces noise emissions by 10db when compared with a conventional system and guarantees tear-free planing and blade life up to 20 times longer than high-speed steel. “We are very pleased to be a winner of the W16 Elements of Innovation Award,” commented Matthew Applegarth, Managing Director of Felder UK. “We are continually investing in our products and an award such as this proves it’s been a success.”

Francis Dalton, director of woodworking machinery supplier, Daltons Wadkin, celebrated 60 years in the woodworking industry. To mark this impressive milestone, Francis was presented with a celebratory cake at W16. “It was a great surprise,” commented Francis on receiving the cake from Events Director Lisa Campagnola. “The Dalton name has been in the industry for over 100 years and it is fantastic to be recognised for the hard work and investment both myself and the team have put in.”

need to attract more of the market leaders from the décors section and more of the top brands in hinges, slides and hardware. It needs to be as comprehensive as the ASFI exhibition of the 90s in its offer - and that, if you remember, had its own hall. Would such exhibitors get enough out of a UK event these days to make it worth their while when Interzum is just around the corner? Would the October timing even work for the décor producers? I’m not sure. The organisers would have to make a determined effort to attract more decision-making visitors from the larger furniture manufacturing companies and the bigger board suppliers and most will already have the latest products taken to their doorsteps on a regular basis by visiting reps. It won’t be easy to prise them out of their factories in droves, that’s for sure.

Hats off to the organisers for the number of new events that drew the attention of visitors from the smaller manufacturing sector. The newly introduced Elements of Innovation Award, sponsored by exhibition newcomer, Ney, was won by Ben Halde of Casetur. His clever pivoting mechanism turns a cabinet into a desk and is ideal when space is at a premium (you’ll find more about it on page 56). A second award was given to Felder for its Silent-Power cutter block, introduced a couple of years ago. Felder also sponsored the W-Challenge, awarding £500 to the winner of a four-day competition that saw four woodworking apprentices put their skills to the test. There was also an interactive Skills of Excellence Zone, where recruitment companies, marketing specialists and apprenticeship advisors offered assistance with knotty issues

alongside the exhibition’s chosen charity, Help for Heroes.

In addition to pre-arranged events, several of the exhibitors held celebrations to mark momentous occasions of their own. In recognition of 60 years in the industry, Francis Dalton of Daltons Wadkin was awarded a cake by the organisers, while JJ Smith’s Managing Director, Martin Smith, acknowledged 40 years of service from employees Kevin McGlone and Alan Reid and 25 years of service from Paul Parker.

After so many difficult years, it’s good to see the industry enjoying itself and to ride the wave of enthusiasm that swept through W16 was exhilarating. One only hopes that the events of June 23rd will not be allowed to slow the momentum, or dampen the spirits of manufacturers and suppliers as we move forward into 2017.

20 • FURNITURE JOURNAL NOVEMBER 2016

REVIEW

The Eurosystem is built to the specification you need.

plug and spray You may think a complete finishing solution is beyond your budget but with DMC’s new Eurosystem sander and Superfici’s plug and spray Mini, SCM Group has brought automated finishing into the small manufacturer’s arena.

Bruno Balossino

I

f the cost of a complete finishing system with specialised sanding, robot spraying, denibbing and polishing fills you with dread, you probably haven’t seen the plug and spray system that SCM showcased for the very first time at W16. It is quite s i m p l y r e m a r k a b l e . B u t i t ’s n o t remarkable because it represents a massive leap forward in technology, nor because it claims to offer a new a n d r e v o l u t i o n a r y p r o c e s s . I t ’s remarkable because the combination of a DMC Eurosystem sander and a Superfici Mini robotic spray system has been priced to replace a two or three-man painting and finishing operation and the whole system has been designed to ensure inexpensive delivery, easy installation and simplicity of operation.

“We are very strong in the finishing market - not just sanding or spraying but finishing,” explains Bruno Balossino, SCM Group’s Product Area Manager.

“Having DMC and Superfici-Elmag in the

group has enabled us to test and develop new solutions for the market that embrace both areas and we are able to offer some very exciting finishes.”

Making its world debut at W16, the brand new Eurosystem sander was presented as the heart of the finishing operation. Standing midway between the larger Eurosand L and its baby brother, the Eurosand, the Eurosystem is a very flexible machine that’s perfectly suited to working with solid wood, veneer, or with painted boards. Packed with top end technology, the Eurosystem is built to the specification you need and can be equipped with a variety of heads for anything from calibration to superfinishing high gloss, base coat cleaning to grain opening with steel brushes, or even the creation of specialised finishes, such as distressing. It isn’t as flexible as the Eurosand L in so far as there are no slide in units you can change if the nature of your work changes but you can add pretty much anything into the specification from the

FURNITURE JOURNAL NOVEMBER 2016 • 21 The conveyor features a paper protection system with automatic feed, which protects the belt conveyor and absorbs any overspray without the need for washdown or recovery systems.

finishing outset and it’s very easy to switch from one type of work to another. “You can adjust everything through the program, from choosing the unit you want to use to the speed of the belt and how it works,” says Bruno.

Allied to the Eurosystem sander on the stand was a Superfici Mini – a pared down robot spraying system that has all the advantages of an automatic robot without the price tag of a complex unit.

Designed to offer maximum flexibility, the Mini will offers surface and edge spraying of flat or moulded workpieces and it’s ideal for small batch work with frequent lacquer or colour changes.

Everything from the spraying system to the conveyor and extraction have been integrated into one neat box, ensuring easy transport and low installation costs.

The Mini can quite literally be sited, plugged in and start work without any complicated installation. The conveyor features a paper protection system with automatic feed, which protects the belt conveyor and absorbs any overspray

without the need for washdown or recovery systems. Quick connectors ensure the guns can be changed quickly and, as an option, it’s possible to install a feed container on the spraying arm for low pressure operations requiring just a couple of litres. Workpieces are detected automatically by the software as they enter the spray area, ensuring the guns only spray when needed.

“We have made the Mini super simple,” says Bruno. “The software does everything for you. As the panel enters, the size and profile are checked automatically by the reading bar. It makes mixed batches very easy. You can adjust the passes and select materials, such as stain or basecoat. Everything else is automatic. It is the ideal solution for a kitchen door manufacturer, or a small shop that has a spray booth with one or two men.”

For more information on a realistic alternative to labour intensive finishing, call SCM Group on 0115 977 0044 or visit www.scmgroup-uk.com

Everything about the Mini is designed for simplicity.

Quick connectors ensure the guns can be changed quickly. The feed container on the spraying arm is an option for low pressure operations requiring just a couple of litres.

22 • FURNITURE JOURNAL JULY 2016

REVIEW

delivering Achieving best efficiency is no longer just about featurepacked machines, it’s about how they work together to deliver exactly what you need.

Above: The Winstore K3 is one of Biesse’s midsize automatic warehouse retrieval systems.

Top right: Between the Winstore and the Rover B FT was a label printing system.

Bottom right: The Rover B FT is a gantry-type machine that’s ideal for manufacturing anything from doors to components for sofa frames.

Facing page: The new Biesse Winner W4 is a new handling system that’s claimed to provide a 25% increase in productivity of the edgebanding machine using just one operator.

T

he Biesse stand at W16 provided a splendid opportunity for visitors who didn’t make it to Germany a year and a half ago to see the smart working concept Biesse first introduced in a big way at Ligna alongside the Winner 4 panel return system and the compact and very efficient Rover A Edge.

Smart working is all about delivering more of what you need - more flexibility, more efficiency, more productivity and more profit for your business from machines that use space more economically and need considerably less human intervention. Now, if that sounds like a concept exclusively for the big boys and yours is a more modest operation, don’t turn the page just yet. Biesse is aiming its smart working solutions directly at small to medium-sized manufacturers that don’t have the space or the manpower to compete in a market that expects consistent quality, best prices and delivery yesterday. If

you’re about to pick up the gauntlet and improve efficiency, a Winstore K3 allied to a sizing or nesting unit might just be the solution you’re looking for.

The smart working story begins with board storage and retrieval. The solution Biesse chose to show at W16 was the Winstore K3, one of the mid-size automatic warehouse retrieval systems it offers, and it’s all about manufacturing what you need when you need it. It’s a very capable system that stacks much closer and in a much more confined area than could be achieved in a nonautomated warehouse situation. And it takes rainbow stacks in its stride.

Winstore stacks panels of different sizes and materials, including mixed stacks, with no need for operator intervention and then it reorganises and restacks automatically when the shift is over so everything is ready for the next day’s production. In operation, it can pick a specific board type from a stack, or an

FURNITURE JOURNAL JULY 2016 • 23

efficiency individual board colour for a one-off job in the middle of a run just as easily as it can feed either a machining centre, or a beam saw with panel after panel for nonstop production work. In the right circumstances, Biesse claims a return on investment is possible within a year, thanks to the increased efficiencies and production flow optimisation a Winstore system can offer.

Although it could just as easily have been a beam saw, next in the working cell at w16 was a Rover B FT processing centre, equipped for nesting operations, and between the Winstore K3 and the Rover B was a labelling device that placed barcoded labels in the areas from which individual panels would later be cut. The Rover B FT is a gantry-type machine that’s ideal for manufacturing anything from doors to components for sofa frames. Modular in design and with seven bed sizes to choose from (there are two larger models than the Rover B FT

2231 showed at W16), it’s a machine that’s easily customised to suit the work you do - and there is a vast range of options to choose from, including numerous electro spindles, boring heads and aggregates designed and produced

by HSD. The new BHC32 and BHC42 boring heads can hold up to 42 independent tools for single and multiple boring operations on the top surface of the panel and a further 8-29 tools and aggregates in the automatically loaded tool-changer. Loading and unloading operations are carried out simultaneously making this a highly productive unit, especially when working in tandem with a Winstore system. The Rover B FT at W16 was running easy to use, wastereducing bNest software.

Designed for use with Biesse’s singlesided edgebanding machines, the new Biesse Winner W4 is a new handling system that’s claimed to provide a 25% increase in productivity of the

edgebanding machine using just one operator. And in tangible terms, that could mean up to 600 pieces per shift. A typical panel return system will save one operator but it may also reduce the efficiency of the edgebander. “It’s all about distance to travel,” commented Biesse UK’s Robbie O’Neill. “Reduce the distance and you save time. With the W4 Panel Return System, it not only reduces the distance to travel, it automatically stacks the panels so the efficiency in the system goes back up.”

24 • FURNITURE JOURNAL NOVEMBER 2016

Above: The Rover A Edge is perfect for production of either odd size, shaped products or small batch work.

Far left: The edgebanding unit on the Rover A Edge can handle thick or thin pre-cut or coiled edges, producing tight curves with ease.

Left: The set-up assistance system (SA) indicates with a green and red light system whether the pods are correctly positioned.

Below: Three, four or five-axis heads are available for the Rover A Edge.

W16 visitors were treated to a nonstop edging and stacking demonstration allied to a single-sided Stream edgebander. The W4 pick-up system recirculated and unloaded panels, rotating them through 180 degrees before automatically positioning them using a dimension detection system. The detection sensors rendered the machine completely independent, so no operator assistance was required. In simple terms, it saves the cost of an operator and gives you back lost efficiency in a panel return system.

The star of the stand for me, however, was the diminutive Rover A Edge, a machine with a small footprint that was shown at W16 with pod and rail at one end, nesting at the other and five-axis machining and edgebanding in the middle. Three and four-axis machining are options if you don’t need full five-axis and it offers a lot of flexibility for production of either odd size, shaped products or small

batch work. At the pod and rail end there was a very neat set-up assistance system (SA) that indicated the exact position needed for each pod and rail for the workpiece that was next in line for processing - and if you get it even slightly wrong the machine will tell you with a green and red light system at the end of the rail. It’s a very visual way of avoiding collisions before they happen. The entire work area can be reconfigured automatically using Biesse’s EPS (Electronic Positioning System), if required.

The edgebanding unit on the Rover A Edge is very neat. Glue is applied directly onto the panel from a granule feeding system and it can handle thick or thin pre-cut or coiled edges, producing tight curves with ease where required and end trimming to a very tidy finish. Like the snap on spindle coupling system that makes for easy change of the boring head, the edgebanding unit benefits from a quick

release electrical system for PU granule adhesive and a six-tape magazine for fast changeover. There’s even a quick changeover kit for the pressure roller that makes switching from thick to thin edges and small radius curves a cinch.

To find out about any of the machines shown at W16 call 01327 300366 or visit www.biesse.co.uk

Increase your panel productivity!

Complete turnkey production lines, together with integrated Biesse Group solutions and software. With over 300 systems installed globally, Biesse can help you realise your potential. A perfect combination of Biesse Group’s experience and Italian genius.

T: +44 (0)137 300366 info@biesse.co.uk

biesse.com

26 • FURNITURE JOURNAL NOVEMBER 2016

REVIEW

Felder upped its game again at W16 with machines for the traditional cabinetmaker through to industrial CNCs.

frame, set and match M

The kappa 550 x-motion and e-motion have an eye level control panel with LCD touch screen for control of blade height and angle

arking sixty years since the first machine was produced, Felder took one of the largest stands at W16 to show traditional woodworking and panel processing machines for the craftsman and joiner right through to an industrial H500 CNC for solid wood machining.

Shown prominently on a corner of the stand was one of a range of sliding table panel saws manufactured in Austria by Felder, the kappa 550. A touch of the

sliding table says instantly that this is a machine that’s been engineered to tight tolerances and built to give long service.

The aluminium table runs on Felder’s X-roll precision guiding system and it’s equipped with an easy-to-use digital display on the table as well as an eye level control panel with LCD touch screen for control of blade height and angle (adjustable between 0 and 46 degrees), both of which are electronically adjusted. The table provides a cutting length of 2,8003,700mm and all three kappa 550 machines - the kappa 550, the kappa 550 x-motion and the kappa 550 e-motion - offer a cutting height of 202mm. With the kappa 550 e-motion you get an automatic rip fence unlimited tool storage positions and an unlimited number of cutting program storage options.

Felder offers a number of edgebanding solutions. Shown prominently on the stand was the tempora 60.12, a machine that offers a

FURNITURE JOURNAL NOVEMBER 2016 • 27

The tempora 60.12.

The Format-4 Profit H08 21.31 comes with a larger bed for taking advantage of jumbo boards.

corner rounding capacity of 60mm, a maximum workpiece height of 60mm and a maximum edge thickness of 12mm. The glue applicator unit is designed for processing with both EVA and PUR adhesives. Although it has a compact footprint, like all the tempora edgebanders, the 60.12 has been designed to save time, combining the key features of speed, productivity, flexibility and user comfort in a complete package that will edge your panels at a rate of 20 metres/minute.

At opposite ends of the CNC scale are Felder’s well-known entry level Format-4 profit H08 and the industrial Format-4 profit H500, launched at Ligna 2015. Joining the profit H08 Start and the profit H08 Professional is the profit H08 21.31, which made its UK debut at W16. Equipped for nesting operations, the 21.31 shares all the key features of

the Start and the Professional - cutting, drilling, routing and nesting in one process; six or eight independent vacuum fields and the newly introduced smart zoning system on the 21.3; and variable speed adjustment of the router spindle and (1-24,000rpm) and drilling head (1-7,500rpm) - but comes with a larger bed for taking advantage of jumbo boards.

With the Format-4 profit H500 you get five axes and limitless possibilities in one machine - and some pretty neat features as standard. Take the bed, for instance. The consoles are fully automatic. For manual pod positioning, Felder has come up with a hose free dual circuit system with pod height of 100mm that prevents any unintentional movement of the pods during loading.

Laser aided positioning of the vacuum pods ensures there will never be a

collision between pods and tools and changing over from frame to panel processing is a quick and hose-free operation. With the s-motion table, both the vacuum pods and the frame clamps are positioned automatically in under 30 seconds and workpieces can be moved in both the X and Y directions. As a workpiece is being processed on the right side of the machine, the table on the left automatically prepares for the next stage of production, providing real time savings when working in a pendulum operation. A nesting table can be placed directly on the consoles, and the drilling head comes with 18 spindles, making the profit H500 and extremely versatile machine for both five-axis modelling work and panel processing.

For more information on any of the machines shown at W16 call Felder UK on 01908 635000.

28 • FURNITURE JOURNAL NOVEMBER 2016

REVIEW

The Masterwood 375 is available in three, four and five-axis configuration.

on the ball M Footballs, dinosaurs and engraved pictures showed some of the capabilities of Masterwood machines on a packed W16 stand.

The Masterwood 15.38 demonstrated one of Masterwood’s nesting solutions at W16.

achining a football to mark the 50th anniversary of England’s last World Cup win might not be something you’ll do every day but it shows just what a Masterwood CNC is capable of - and this particular sample was made at W16 on a Masterwood Project 375.

“We really want to draw attention to the full five axis capability of the Project 375,” commented Dave Kennard from a busy Masterwood stand. “It’s a full five axis machine with a Beckhoff operating system that makes for very smooth movements and minute detail. It also comes with a full drilling head with vertical and horizontal spindles, making it one of the most flexible machines in the Masterwood range.”

The Masterwood 300 range is available in three and four axis versions as well as the five axis. All have a gantry system that is driven on both sides of the bed for added precision. A selection of kits is available and these can be

retro-fitted after installation if the nature of your work changes. The kits include direct drive horizontal routers for locks and hinges, a full c-axis control (fourth axis) to allow a full range of aggregate heads to be used. Added to this are options for waste conveyors, thickness sensors, extra tooling positions and a full range of heavy duty pneumatic clamps. All the Project 300 range - and the 400 series of cantilever machines can take tooling up to 250mm diameter, allowing traditional bespoke joinery with mortise and tenons to be produced. The Project 375 shown at W16 had a 3200mm x 1500mm metre working bed area, longer 5200mm versions are also available.

Although it does it very well, five-axis m a c h i n i n g i s n ’t t h e o n l y t h i n g Masterwood is known for. The very capable Masterwood MW1538 “M” series, which also utilises the Beckhoff system, was demonstrating Masterwood’s nesting capability at W16

FURNITURE JOURNAL NOVEMBER 2016 • 29

and, although the machine shown was equipped in a basic nesting and drilling configuration, the modular design means you can up the specification to cope with your particular production requirements quite easily with three, four or five-axis versions.

One of the nesting jobs carried out on the MW1538 M was a skeleton of a dinosaur and an eagle. Both were made possible by clever proprietary Master 3D software, which was demonstrated to new and existing customers on the stand. Masterwood can supply these machines with loading and unloading equipment, including vacuum pick up and bed cleaning, labelling systems and, of course, there are various bed

sizes up to 7000mm x 2150mm including standard configuration tables, double zone tables and automatic subdivision options.

Proving that good things often come in little packages, one of the most impressive machines on the stand was the Project TF100. Designed primarily with horizontal and vertical drilling in mind, the TF100 is capable of machining and drilling an entire cabinet (with shelves) in under ten minutes but, equipped with an optional router and a four-position tool changer, it transforms into a very capable CNC machining centre for any workshop that doesn’t have the space for a big machine. With a very solid gripper for

feeding the machine, it can work panels up to 1000mm in width, 60mm in thickness, and any length. Panel throughput is aided by an air film, which also helps avoid damage to boards with delicate surfaces, and a table with idle rubber wheels for in and out-feed. Handling equipment can also be added to automate the machine for higher production. The Project TF 100 at W16 wowed visitors by subtly routing themed pictures to accompany the footballs that were being made on the Project 375. It all goes to prove that Masterwood was definitely on the ball at W16.

For more information call Masterwood on 01293 402700

There’s sUre To be MAKA Know-how inside, And oUT !

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MAKA Machinery UK Ltd. C5 Horton Park IE., Hortonwood 7, Telford Shropshire TF1 7GX Tel: 019 52 - 60 77 00, Email: iy@makauk.com

2– 5 OCTOBER

2016 • NEC

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FURNITURE JOURNAL NOVEMBER 2016 • 31

REVIEW

in the driving seat F

lowing lines, soft yet extraordinarily complex curves, superb finish you’ll find them all in the interior of the Mercedes-Benz range. But how do automotive manufacturers like Mercedes-Benz create them time and time again, faultlessly across their product ranges? The answer is with fiveaxis machines - and in the case of Mercedes-Benz, their machines of choice are from the German five-axis specialist, Maka.

“We’re using increased computing power and highly developed multi-axis software to create the flowing lines demanded by today’s automotive, aerospace and marine manufacturers and bringing them to the furniture manufacturing sector,” commented Iain Young, Maka UK’s Managing Director, from a W16 stand that highlighted the company’s success in pictorial form. “By applying what we are developing for automotive and aerospace manufacturers to furniture applications, we’re able to provide much simpler, more intuitive solutions that empower designers, enable them to realise their creativity and help them bring their

ideas to fruition without incurring significant costs.”

Wi t h a M a k a , c o m p l e x c h a i r components, handrails and intricate detailing can be turned from drawing into reality with ease. “A Maka makes the most difficult of tasks simple to execute and repeatable and it does so accurately and with absolute reliability,” added Iain. “We work to exceptionally tight tolerances - far tighter than are required in the woodworking sector because that’s what the automotive and aerospace sectors demand. The robust and exceptionally accurate build quality of all Maka machines is combined with intuitive software that makes many seemingly complex tasks achievable a lot more easily than you might expect.”

To find out how a Maka could help you realise your ideas call Maka UK on 01952 607700.

The benefits of Maka’s experience in the automotive, aerospace and marine industries was on show to the furniture sector at W16.

Maka’s W16 stand highlighted the company’s success in pictorial form.

32 • FURNITURE JOURNAL NOVEMBER 2016

REVIEW

It takes four minutes to heat up the glue in a GluJet - and four minutes to purge the system of PUR and start running EVA.

a trio from Holz-Her emphasised three areas of technological development at W16 covering panel processing and solid wood machining.

The Pro-Master - for serious solid wood machining.

T

hree technologies from a host of machines dominated the Holz-Her stand at W16: the now familiar GluJet fitted to Holz-Her edgebanders; the very versatile Evolution vertical machining centre; and the class-leading five axis Multirex 7125, which is now being rebadged as the Weinig Pro-Master.

Glujet technology isn’t new. In fact, it’s a system that has grown almost organically over the last 25 years and until recently, when Holz-Her decided to narrow the options to just four versions, there were some fifty-odd variants for different applications. The version shown on a middle-of-the-range Holz-Her edgebander at W16 had everything necessary to support zero glueline edges. Holz-Her’s Sales Manager in the UK takes up the story: “One of the key

advantages of the Glujet system is its remarkably quick, four-minute heat up time. It uses just 2.3kW of energy compared with a typical heating system that needs 6kW. That’s a massive saving in both time and energy and because it is so fast to heat up, the glue doesn’t simmer. Every time you heat and cool EVA you lose around 10% of its power.

The Glujet only heats up what you need, so you never lose the effectiveness of the adhesive.” The Glujet system accommodates both cartridges and granules - and, because of a very clever purge function that thoroughly cleans the whole system out at the push of a button, in just four minutes it can switch from PUR to EVA. Using PUR means you get a better seal between the edging and the panel, which results in a waterproof glueline - essential if you

FURNITURE JOURNAL NOVEMBER 2016 • 33

The Evolution 7405 is equipped with a Clamex cutter block for cutting Lamellos.

holz-her don’t want your edging popping in or steamy conditions. As well as holed nozzle versions, there’s a Glujet with a slot nozzle option, which provides almost infinite adjustability and ensures much greater precision and a better finish at the glueline. All in all, it’s a very clever system, worthy of closer inspection if you are in the market for a new edgebander.

Pride of place on a prominent corner of the stand went to the compact Evolution 7405, an easy-to-program vertical machining centre that’s ideal for making furniture parts. “It’s just a bit of a gimmick to show what the Evolution can do,” commented Paul Nightingale, referring to one of the clever pic-to-plate images the 7405 had made at the show.

“Its key feature is its ability to machine five faces. There are no restrictive

exclusion zones on the Evolution and no mechanical clamps. All four sides can be formatted. Because the board is held by vacuum you can machine to square.” A laser picks up the edge so the machine knows exactly how big the panel is and where to commence drilling. It knows exactly how much overlay there is and compensates for it. And along with a fully equipped drilling head, the Evolution 7405 at W16 had been equipped with a special Clamex B aggregate, which makes light work of machining Lamellos for panel jointing.

For serious solid wood machining, the CNC technology offered by the five axis Pro-Master ticks a lot of boxes.

Equipped with a variable system of matched suction cups and workpiece clamps for surface machining, the ProMaster takes curved and straight parts in

its stride and it’s built to handle heavy loads. A 12kW spindle is standard but for very heavy work, a 17kW Pro-Torque power spindle is available as an option or standard on the windows version. The Z-stroke is 565mm and it’s possible to machine workpiece heights of up to 300mm depending on the Pro-Master model. The drilling unit is equipped with either 16 or 24 spindles and a sawing unit in the X direction and travelling disk toolchangers can provide either 12 or 18 tools, as required. There’s even a single pickup changer for a 350mm diameter tool. As you’d expect from a machine carrying the Weinig badge, Pro-Master build quality is very high and simpleto-use software makes this machine both intuitive and productive.

For more information call Weinig on 01235 557600.

34 • FURNITURE JOURNAL NOVEMBER 2016

REVIEW

looking A

Stefano Babuin

Represented exclusively in the UK by RW Machines of Bicester, Fiorenza is a specialist when it comes to machines for door production.

longside machines from most of RW’s partner companies, visitors to the RW Group stand at W16 were greeted with an impressive array of five-piece doors in different designs, each with rails and stiles that matched perfectly, impeccable joints and neatly finished end cappings. There were also examples of J-pull doors where an end cap had been applied and the shape at the end of the rail had been traced and cut to match the profile. And shown alongside them for the very first time in the UK was the machine responsible for applying and trimming the edgebanding: the BORD 1 CNC edgebanding, trimming and drilling machine from Pordenone-based Fiorenza.

Represented exclusively in the UK by RW Machines of Bicester, Fiorenza is a specialist when it comes to machines for door production. Fiorenza’s technicians have been designing and manufacturing machines for making cabinet doors since 1968 and today the company has a range that includes cutting, trimming and drilling machines, edgebanding machines, insertion machines,

FURNITURE JOURNAL NOVEMBER 2016 • 35

Whatever the style of door you want solid wood or wrapped MDF - Fiorenza has a machine to make just-in-time manufacturing or production runs easier and quicker.

The tool at the heart of the copying and trimming system is quite unusual.

trim clamping machines for assembling doors, drawers and furniture, packaging machines for doors and flat-pack furniture and internal handling machines.

“The BORD 1 is an edgebanding a n d t r i m m i n g m a c h i n e t h a t ’s specifically designed for kitchen doors,” explains Sales Manager, Stefano Babuin. “Take a five-piece door and the two rails have to be edgebanded at both ends, then trimmed. With the BORD 1 it’s very easy and the process is carried out automatically with zero setup time. The BORD 1 has an edgebanding unit with tape cutter and motorised pressure rollers along with a double trimming unit and a double drilling unit. It will edgeband practically any pre-routed or pre-moulded product and our unique copying system ensures a perfect finish,

copying the shape, edgebanding the end and trimming perfectly. There is no dimension limit except the rail must not be more than 200mm deep.”

The tool at the heart of the copying and trimming system is quite unusual: instead of having flutes that are sharp to the end, it has a bearing that contacts the décor film covering the rail and allows the tool to trace the inside or outside of a curved shape exactly while the cutting surfaces trim the edgebanding material that’s been applied beforehand. It doesn’t matter how complicated the curved shape is, the bearing always keeps the cutting surfaces of the tool at the exact distance required to match the edgebanding on the end of the rail perfectly to the material covering the rail itself. And nowhere is it more effective than on J-pulls.

Whatever the style of door you want solid wood or wrapped MDF - Fiorenza has a machine to make just-in-time manufacturing or production runs easier and quicker. You need beading, filming, drilling, milling or dowelling? Fiorenza has a machine that can do it. You want French-cut 45 degree doors, Shaker-style doors, mitred doors, or the increasingly popular J-pull style? They can all be produced easier and quicker with Fiorenza machines. And with a research and development team of designers and engineers whose focus is exclusively on improving product quality, the company a l s o h a s t h e r e s o u rc e s a n d t h e knowledge base to develop special machines that fulfil specific production requirements if need be.

To find out more about what Fiorenza could do for your company call RW Group on 01869 244943.

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REVIEW

optimum optimus Making its debut at W16 on the AXYZ stand was the brand new Optimus, a machine for the serious cabinet-maker.

W

Top: Everything about the new Optimus from AXYZ is more industrial.

Centre: Options include a scissor lift and a conveyor table.

Bottom: The head is fully enclosed and the Optimus always looks dust-free.

ith its brand new all-in-one CNC solution, Optimus, shown for the first time at W16, AXYZ has entered the arena with the big boys - and it’s done so in style, bringing all of its 25 years of CNC router experience together in one package.

First impressions count and with the Optimus, it was immediately obvious at W16 that this much larger machine was more powerful than its stable mates in the AXYZ range and has been constructed with the serious cabinetmaker in mind. Built on a heavy-duty base and equipped with a nine-pin drilling head and an HSD routing spindle, the gantry design Optimus is an all-in-one CNC cabinet-making solution that’s been designed for fast and effortless panel processing. AXYZ is offering a choice of 3kW or 10kW spindles and various multi-spindle drilling heads, as well as an optional 10-position automatic tool changer and sheet handling systems that include a scissor lift and a conveyor table. Opt for the tool changer and you won’t find a row of tools on display, though.

Everything is very cleverly designed into a space-saving cabinet at the side of the Optimus and the required tool pops up

when needed. All electrical components are in the carriage and even the machining head is in a closed unit.

Optimus hosts a cleverly designed dust extraction chamber which efficiently removes swarf from the cutting process, so even working at full tilt, the machine looks dust-free and uncluttered.

Processing areas up to around 1.9m x 6m and an aluminium vacuum bed with innovative automatic zone management and secure hold-down of materials complete the picture.

Ideally suited to kitchen cabinet manufacturing and powered by Solid Essentials software from Cabinet Vision, it will automate your production with intuitive design, nesting and programming. But perhaps just as importantly, AXYZ has put a lot of effort into ensuring you get the after-sales support you need. In addition to remote diagnostics on the Optimus, the company has two offices, one of which is newly built with a showroom facility, and around eight engineers on the road so when you need service there’s plenty of help just a phone call away.

For more information on the Optimus call AXYZ International on 01952 291600 or visit www.axyz.co.uk

Industrial Design Everyone’s a winner The award winning DEROS has a soft start function, a built in electric motor and a smooth, easy to operate lever to control motor speed. A pad brake that also acts like a seal minimises the air leakage between the pad and the shroud. This makes dust extraction more efficient.

Discover: www.mirka.co.uk

Innovation from start to finish

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REVIEW

compact fh4 Y

ou no doubt saw the compact fh4 cut-to-size saw on the Schelling stand at W16 - but did you know it’s been uprated? Some of the changes are quite subtle, though very useful if you are short of space. The new fh4 is not as wide as the original version, nor as deep. It saves half a metre at the back. Despite that, Schelling has kept the throat at 4.3 metres, so there’s no reduction in functionality. The new fh4 also uses a smaller blade but achieves a greater blade projection - something only possible because Schelling uses a solid steel table plate. From a 360mm diameter blade, projection is now 105mm but the cutting force remains the same.

The new fh4 sports some very neat features to enhance productivity: the actual format, as well as the book height of the material being processed, is detected automatically via integrated sensors. Saw stroke and saw travel are executed simultaneously, resulting in a shorter cycle time, while the travel speed

of the saw adjusts automatically to the book height ensuring maximum feed speeds. Even the pressure from the pressure beam is self-regulating and based on the size and height of the book. The fh4 also has the unique Evolution drive concept which matches the ratio of motor power to the actual book height. This results in higher power while saving energy costs. And if you need it, automatic labelling is carried out at the infeed before cutting starts. To ensure maximum angular precision, dual strip aligners before and after the saw line, which adjust automatically to the board thickness or book height, remain on the material during the cut. There’s even a format device for panels with overhanging surfaces.

Also now available through Schelling UK, and complementing both ends of the cut-to-size operation, are Barbaric panel handling equipment and Votecs shredders.

For more information call Schelling UK on 01937 586340.

Schelling chose W16 to showcase its new fh4 along with Barbaric panel handling equipment and Votecs shredders.

The new, more compact version of the fh4 has independently operating feeders and dual strip aligners.

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REVIEW

app-solutely brilliant!

With its new app, Mirka has made a major contribution towards health and safety.

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egardless of how good the tool is, using hand-held power tools for extended periods of time exposes the user to vibration and excessive exposure isn’t good for long-term health. With its new app, launched at W16 for the Deros sander, Mirka has made a major contribution towards health and safety by enabling users to keep track of just how much vibration they are being exposed to - from their own smartphone.

Mirka is a company that’s never been afraid to look at things differently and with the myMirka app, they’ve put control in the hands of the user. Not only is it possible to monitor and adjust the rotation speed of the Deros sander pad through the app, Deros users can get an instantaneous readout of the level of vibration. And if the vibration level is outside the green zone, they’ll

get advice on what to do in order to restore minimum vibration levels, such as checking the abrasive is centred on the pad and it’s intact, changing or lowering the speed of the interface, or adding a counter weight. The app monitors activity throughout the day, whenever the Deros is in use, and at the end of the day, it provides a daily vibration exposure readout. Collating each day’s activity, the app will even provide a graph to illustrate the daily dose of vibration the operator has received over the month with a simple bar system showing low, medium and high exposure in green, orange and red.

Although the myMirka app is only available for the Deros sander at the moment, it’s a feature Mirka intends to incorporate into other machines from the range. For more information call 01908 369468.

Format-4 - Looks good and works well everywhere

Felder at W14

www.format-4.co.uk

42 • FURNITURE JOURNAL NOVEMBER 2016

REVIEW

the

impossible

cube

Stars of the Weinig stand at W16 were a new Cube Plus, the VarioRip 310 - and the very neat EasyStop.

FURNITURE JOURNAL NOVEMBER 2016 • 43

Left: MoulderPreView projects red and green lasers onto the workpiece to indicate your spindle settings and the final dimensions before the timber enters the Cube Plus.

Below: The Cube Plus will create straight, dimensionally accurate, 90 degree right-angled workpieces in a single pass.

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tealing the show on Weinig’s W16 stand was the very latest version of the popular Cube - a very simpleto-operate machine that takes all the effort out of four-sided planing.

The latest version of the Cube, known simply as the Cube Plus, comes with all the advantages of its predecessor and a lot more besides. There is still virtually no setting - simply type in the values and the position of the fence, the straightening table and the thickness and rip adjustments are all carried out automatically. In goes the rough timber, out comes perfectly dimensioned t i m b e r t h a t ’s b e e n planed on all four sides. You know exactly how much will be taken off because a very neat laser system called MoulderPreView projects red and green lasers onto the workpiece to indicate your spindle settings and the final

dimensions before the timber enters the machine. If you type in the wrong dimensions, the lasers will appear beyond the workpiece, eliminating costly spoils and rejects before they occur.

Producing 90 degree right angles with a jointer and a planer is a highly skilled job - unless you have a Cube Plus. Forget re-running with six or seven passes. Forget the risks involved in machining small parts. The Cube Plus will create straight, dimensionally accurate, 90 degree right-angled workpieces in a single pass - and you don’t need to be a skilled operator to do it.

So where do the Cube and the Cube Plus differ?

The touch screen has been modified on the Cube Plus. Functionality remains the same but the Cube Plus now has a larger 10-inch screen with bigger numbers that are easier to read.

Under the hood, new tool design has been employed to reduce the noise level by 5db. Chip flow has also been improved with better extraction of chips - up to 60% better, Weinig says. This also has the effect of reducing noise levels at source, though the main advantage is an appreciably better surface quality. By adding Weinig’s optional spiral cutter, noise can be reduced still further - and you’ll get fewer tear-outs. The Cube Plus employs Weinig’s Easylock system, which means the head stays in place while the knife is being changed. “It’s all about making things easy for the operator,” commented an enthusiastic Malcolm Cuthbertson on the W16 stand. “The original Cube has been exceptionally popular. We’ve sold 96 so far and with the new Cube Plus we are certain a lot more companies will see the advantage of having a really simple-to-operate foursided planer in their workshops.”

44 • FURNITURE JOURNAL NOVEMBER 2016

A RipAssist laser system is used to project where the cuts will be made before the timber enters the machine.

If it’s a rip saw you’re after, Weinig’s VarioRip 310 will surely impress you with its ability to provide a glue joint cut quickly, accurately and with the least amount of waste. Shown prominently at W16, the VarioRip 310 is another easyto-operate machine and it comes with Weinig’s Quickfix fast release system to enable the saw blades to be shifted on the arbour without bushings, spacers, or even tools. The arbour can accommodate three or four blades and very much like the Cube Plus, a RipAssist laser system is used to project where the cuts will be made before the timber enters the machine. Weinig’s fixed and moving blade technology increases the flexibility in your production and

facilitates just-in-time batch production.

Cutting lists, diagnostics and the optional RaiCon online service system are all accessible through the ProfiCut Direct control system.

Inside the machine, big, heavy pressure rollers combine with a Raimann pressure board to fix the timber on the transport chain, guiding the material precisely, even with heavy or warped timber. The entire surface of the workpiece rests on the chain, which is designed to prevent splinters that can cause jams.

If you’ve ever wanted a tape measure with an automatic stop system that measures workpieces accurately so you can cut, drill or machine precisely every

time, Weinig showed the solution at W16: the EasyStop DimterLine.

Providing automatic length cutting, the EasyStop can be added to practically any machine and drives workpieces to the machine along a bed that can accommodate from 3.45 to 7.25 metres. The position of the stop is monitored by the Opticom Assist software, which includes an intelligent drive control for the more challenging workpieces. And once the job is done, EasyStop can be folded out of the way.

Neat, simple and accurate!

For more information on the new Cube Plus, the VarioRip 310, the EasyStop, or any of the other machines on the Weinig stand, call 01235 557600.

FURNITURE JOURNAL NOVEMBER 2016 • 45

REVIEW

catch a lift T

here are forklift trucks and there are Combilift trucks - and the two are not to be confused. At W16, Combilift showed two of its smaller trucks but without the space afforded by Ligna’s open air zone there were no turnin-its-own-length displays, or choreographed Irish jigs to show just how agile these robustly built and welldesigned machines really are.

The facility to edge sideways up a narrow aisle, pick weighty loads and reposition them right inside a container on the back of a wagon are unique to

Combilift’s baby, the Combi-CB - and the CB is as much at home delivering palletised furniture to a waiting truck as it is moving stacks of panels from storage to beam saw, or timber from wagon to workshop. With wheels that swivel, the CB makes ninety-degree ‘multidirectional’ turns at the flick of a switch and it’s designed with palletised loads and long loads in mind. The Combi-CB has to be the ultimate narrow aisle machine, offering really excellent manoeuvrability and instant changeover from multi-directional work inside the

Combilift’s multi-directional trucks are in a league of their own when it comes to narrow aisle work. confines of a narrow aisle warehouse to bulk stacking outside in the yard.

The CB on show was a 2.5 tonne machine with a standard 4.4 metre mast, though four-tonne CBs and other lift heights are available, along with optional extras like spreader bars, etc. Although both the CB at W16 and the hydrostatic all-wheel-drive sideloader it shared a W16 stand with were diesel powered, County Monaghan-based Combilift also offers electric and gas-powered options.

For more details contact Combilift on 00353 478 0500.

46 • FURNITURE JOURNAL JULY 2016

REVIEW

CAD+T 2017 at w16 With innovative new features in Release 2017 and virtual reality that is accessible for everyone, CAD+T was one of the highlights of W16 exhibition in Birmingham.

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aster performance, easy handling and an improved user interface these are just some of the key features of CAD+T software that will help you streamline your design and production processes. And at W16, a new virtual reality plugin was announced that makes presentations an unforgettable experience.

In Release 2017, both the AutoCAD basis and the CAD+T modules have been improved. PDF import, better graphics card support and faster 3D mode make working in the programme even simpler. Easy material changes, slope cabinets and new cabinet interiors extend the range of design options, while new block commands and a completely relaunched CAM Interface improve construction and production.

Built on AutoCAD®, the CAD+T add-on gives you the possibility of drawing the parts directly in 3D even

though you can still work on 2D. From standard-range cabinets to highly customised furniture and shop fit-outs, CAD+T software covers all areas of interior design and production. In the drawing, information about materials, finishes, edges, profiles, hardware, etc. can be saved. The drawing consists of more than just lines and text – it actually understands what you are drawing and allows you to create sophisticated renderings and visualisations to enhance your presentations. In the construction drawings you get plan views, elevations and sections automatically and define joints, hardware and construction details – even for bespoke furniture and non-standard designs. Customisation is the key to success: any part of the design can be changed easily at any point of the process, even if the element is highly complex. The program then

©Cadesign form

automatically adapts all data connected to the drawing, such as part lists and CNC data.

CAD+T’s Release 2017 is faster and includes new tools. To enhance your design and presentation, CAD+T implemented a virtual reality module, which allows your customers to see the design in 3D through special glasses as if they were standing in their own room. With just one program to learn, you’ll make fewer errors with Release 2017 and you’ll save up to 30% on labour costs, up to 10% on material costs and increase your productivity by up to 60%. To find out more visit www.cadt-solutions.com

FURNITURE JOURNAL NOVEMBER 2016 • 49

REVIEW

boilers to bank on I

f you are in the market for a new boiler, just how confident are you that the boilers you are looking at will stay the distance and help you get the most out of the RHI? If it’s not built to last, or the parts and service back-up aren’t there to keep it compliant and functioning properly, it may not make the full 20 years and you’ll have thrown money in the fire - quite literally.

There were no boilers on the Mawera stand at W16. All the proof you need that the Viessmanns Mawera UK installs will stay the distance is out there in the field. We’ve seen the evidence: Back in July, Furniture Journal r e p o r t e d o n a v i s i t t o A l s t o n ’s Colchester site where we went to see the FU1400RA boiler Mawera UK installed in 1999. Not in 23 years of editing and writing Furniture Journal has anyone had the confidence to suggest a machine that will soon celebrate its 19th successive year of service as the subject for an article but Mawera’s Managing Director, John Clissett, did just that. Alston’s Engineering and Facilities Manager, Michael Parker, told us their Mawera was, “…well looked after by John and his team at Mawera UK but the result is

we don’t get the problems we used to get with cheaper boilers,” adding, “There’s not a day I can recollect seeing smoke coming out of our chimney and I’ve been here 13 years.

All we see is moisture.”

It’s no wonder that when Starbank set about expanding its manufacturing facilities and ensuring its new factory was sustainable, they opted for a Viessmann and invited John Clissett and his team at Mawera UK to install the whole system. Starbank’s new Vitoflex 300 FSB-R-SE 950SE is capable of producing 160,000kW hours of heat every week. Starbank’s Managing Director, Philip Darbyshire, is very clear on his reasons for choosing Mawera: “We invited other tenders but what really swayed us towards Mawera were the installations we went to see. We saw several that were quite impressive and everyone spoke highly of them. When we went to see installations from some of the other boiler manufacturers, we didn’t get such good feedback and we came to the conclusion that you get what you pay for. Mawera does provide the Rolls Royce of boilers.”

For more information on Viessmann boilers call Mawera UK on 01543 258844.

Are you about to throw money in the fire? For boilers that really do stay the distance, talk to Mawera UK. Main pic: The Mawera boiler at Alston’s has almost made the 20 years and it’s still fully compliant and working well.

Inset: Starbank’s new Vitoflex 300 FSB-R-SE 950SE is capable of producing 160,000kW hours of heat every week.

Below: John Clissett.

50 • FURNITURE JOURNAL NOVEMBER 2016

REVIEW

new décors Complementing décors that show no finger marks and stunning Interior Film products, David Clouting launched a new membranepressable PVC Decofoil collection at W16.

Top: Dark Springfield Oak Above: Natural Chalet Oak Right: Concrete in Cashmere

FURNITURE JOURNAL NOVEMBER 2016 • 51

Decofoil, Hard Coat and Giplast edgebands were all displayed on the W16 stand

on show D

avid Clouting Ltd used W16 to showcase its latest décor and edgebanding offers with décors from LG Hausys and a brand new collection of edgebands from Giplast.

“The brand new Springfield oaks in our membrane-pressable PVC Decofoil collection are matched with Pfleiderer,” commented Ed Quant from a busy stand in the Elements section of W16.

“We’re offering a Dark Springfield and a Light Springfield as well as a Natural Chalet Oak and two Concretes that are matched to Light Grey and Cashmere in other ranges.”

The Hard Coat PET range, which first made its debut on the O&S and BA stands at KBB earlier this year, were also shown prominently. “Uptake has been very good,” Ed reported. “The big selling point is no finger-marking combined with a tough lacquer. We’re stocking seven supermatts and three glosses and there will be more to follow.

The s uperm a tts a re a v a i l a b l e i n Porcelain White, Ivory, Alabaster,

Mussel, Cashmere, Light Grey and Dust Grey and the three glosses are Porcelain White, Oyster and Light Grey.” Hard Coat décors are intended for flat lamination only but they really do look terrific on slab doors and the advantage of not marking is big selling point for door manufacturers.

The success of the IMO-rated Interior Film collection from David Clouting now extends from the shipping industry through to shopfitting and specialist interiors - and its popularity continues to grow.

Interior Film, which is self-adhesive, will stick to almost any substrate and the full collection extends to more than 400 designs from the wood look through to inspired metallic effects, stones, marbles and more. Although primarily designed for use as a wall décor, imaginative designers have found uses for it in furniture as well and with around 80 décors in stock at David Clouting, you’ll find inspiration aplenty in the swatches.

Available exclusively through David Clouting Ltd is the Giplast range of ABS and PVC edgebandings.

New to David Clouting’s range, and available exclusively through David Clouting Ltd, is the Giplast range of ABS and PVC edgebandings. “The collection has been carefully matched to Hard Coat products and we’re carrying 0.8mm for PUR and laser edging processes,” affirmed Ed Quant. “We’re focussing more on edgings and we will shortly be able to offer a complete range of Giplast edgebanding materials in a wide spectrum of colours and finishes.”

To find out more call David Clouting Ltd on 01376 518037.

52 • FURNITURE JOURNAL JULY 2016

REVIEW

Above: The brand new 3D-Space with blind effect.

Left: 3D-Space-Wave.

Far left: 3D-2in1 - created to mirror the look of real solid wood endgrain with a glass top.

riding the wave Döllken showed a selection of edgebanding materials from its 1200-strong KSP stock range at W16 alongside some new and inspired designs.

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n the quest for an ever more realistic look, Gladbeck-based Döllken launched its brand new and rather special 3-dimensional 2in1 edgebanding into the UK market. Created to mirror the look of real solid wood endgrain with a 3D effect, the 3D-2in1 edgebanding is available in both straight grain and cross grain options with high gloss and supermatt finish. The gloss matches with 12 of Egger’s latest board products - and therein lies a twist: it’s called 2in1 because one of the edges has been finished with a contrasting glass-look that will give you a seamless finish with an acrylic top surface, while the rest of the edgeband looks and feels like real wood. On a finished panel, 2in1 looks like wood-framed glass. Very different!

Up close, the recently introduced 3D-Space-Wave, shown on the cover of this month’s Furniture Journal, its threedimensional qualities become much

more defined. An acrylic edging with a high gloss finish, 3D-Space-Wave is available in 23 x 1.3mm for fascias or 43 x 1.5mm for worktops. The distinctive wave patterning, available in various colours (stainless steel, titanium, bronze and aluminium), is printed on the reverse and appears almost like a hologram, providing plenty of contrast between edge and top surface for imaginative shopfitting and furniture applications.

Last but not least, Döllken’s brand new 3D-Space, blind-effect edgeband made its UK debut, standing out as something very different among 1200 matching edgebandings currently stocked in the UK. Reminiscent of Venetian blinds, the effect changes as the angle of view steepens. It’s definitely something to watch out for.

For more information call Surteco UK on 01282 686850 or visit www.surteco.co.uk

FURNITURE JOURNAL NOVEMBER 2016 • 53

REVIEW

light fantastic F

rom a tiny stand at the edge of the Elements exhibition, a very bright light shone like a beacon of inspiration into the dimly lit aisle. In fact, it was not a single bright light at all; rather an entire illuminated display by the Leeds-based company, Pixalux.

And the light was coming from several 16mm flat shelving panels.

Pixalux is new to the UK. Invented in Australia, Pixalux illuminated display panels are load bearing, frameless and can be either single or double-sided for an even spread of light. They can be used inside display cabinets, wardrobes, lounge and dining room cabinets, in commercial shopfitting displays and on exhibition stands, or even as worksurface lighting under wall cabinets in a kitchen, or as mood lighting above a cornice.

Enclosed in profiles on the edge of each panel are ultra bright LEDs that emit cool white, warm white, or coloured lights that cycle through red,

green and blue. Panel edges can be opaque black, opaque white, brushed aluminium, or a glowing opal but common to all is a remarkably even spread of light that also makes this product ideal for displays where graphics need to be applied. And with panel sizes from small shelf size up to 800mm x 2400mm, there is plenty of scope to use Pixalux in a big way.

“What makes Pixalux so different to anything else on the market is its structural capability,” says Pixalux UK’s Managing Director Geoffrey Fairfield.

“Pixalux is an extremely bright LED light panel that can be u s e d t o replace wooden shelves or other flat panels. It can be easily integrated into furniture of all types, providing light where it was not possible before. It is highly durable, will not scratch and is easy to clean.”

To find out more call Pixalux UK on 0845 299 6466 or visit www.pixalux.co.uk

Forget wooden shelves. Fit Pixalux panels and add a new dimension with illumination.

Geoffrey Fairfield

54 • FURNITURE JOURNAL NOVEMBER 2016

tensor endorsed Elements saw the adhesive specialist, Tensor, launch three brand new products - and two were endorsed by industry leaders.

REVIEW

The Tensor stand would surely have won the W16 Best Stand award, had there been one.

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triking black and white displays and simple but effective lighting on the Tensor stand highlighted each of the areas in which Tensor adhesives already have a loyal following practically every sector from joinery and furniture manufacturing through to transport and aerospace. But one area stood out on a stand that would surely have won the W16 Best Stand award, had there been one: the display with three brand new products that had been formulated for use with solid surfacing materials, laminates and veneers. And two out of the three had received endorsements from industry leaders in recognition of their exceptional characteristics.

L90 is described as “the ultimate sheet solid surface spray adhesive”.

Formulated specifically for solid surface fabrication, it enables any solid surfacing material to be bonded to a substrate in just two or three minutes. Ultra high tack and temperature resistant to 120 degrees Celsius, L90 offers a remarkably short flash-off that will dramatically reduce your manufacturing time. So good is it that Westag & Getalit have approved it for use with their Getacore products - quite an accolade.

Likewise, L19 has been approved by Formica for bonding all HPL and laminate surfaces and edging materials to MDF, chipboard and plywood substrates. L19 underwent extensive testing before receiving the approval from Formica. Formica’s approval extends through its ColourCore, Magnetic Laminate, Fundamentals, Ligna and DecoMetal ranges. Available in 17kg canisters and convenient 500ml aerosols, L19 has many uses from bonding counter tops and cabinets to contoured furniture components and doors, where its fast flash off time and ultra high tack will reduce manufacturing time significantly.

Formulated for use with plywood, paper-backed veneer, natural veneer and standard laminate, the third new adhesive, L24, is lacquer resistant as well as providing temperature resistance up to 115 degrees Celsius. The high solids, non-chlorinated formula is lacquer resistant and comes in zero waste Co-Rez as well as aerosol canisters. And like the others, it’s also low odour.

For more information - and a Tensorgrip Kick Off kit to get you started call 08453 812 2333 or visit sales.uk@quinglobal.com

FURNITURE JOURNAL NOVEMBER 2016 • 55

REVIEW

expanding ostermann Hot topics were aplenty on the Ostermann stand at W16 as the company’s range of products grows.

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stermann is perhaps best know for its vast range of edgebanding materials - and on the stand were the very latest, from 3D acrylic Space Wave edgings in stainless steel, bronze, titanium and silver, to the newest colours in gloss and supermatt.

Ostermann also showed edgings for zero bondline application by laser, Airtec and Infratec and all are available in full length rolls with rapid delivery. Of particular note was the Edelkanten solid wood edgings collection, which, like end-grain edgings and sawn-look veneer edgings, add a rather special finish to your designs. There are sumptuous European and American oaks in the collection as well as eyecatching anodised and brushed options.

There’s even a Wenge and aluminium sandwich option - and if you need release fluids, or cleaning fluids to go with your edging materials, Ostermann UK stocks a full range of those, too!

Alongside edgebandings, Ostermann showed a selection from the 350 high grade design boards

produced by Austrian manufacturer, Sibu. Ideal for shopfitting and commercial interiors, the Sibu collection includes Translucent Line design boards that are perfect for b a c k l i g h t i n g a n d Wo o d L i n e , a collection of timber-look panels with strong grain effect and excellent print quality. Combine Wood Line with metal, or metal-look strips for stunning effects.

Ostermann may not be the first company that comes to mind for handles but with the Redocol furniture range, you might want to take a closer look at the new offer. The new range features all the classics - bow handles, segmented bow and bar handles in brushed or plain stainless steel; and mitred, square and round handles in brushed stainless steel. There’s also a brushed stainless steel designer rod handle as well as two knob designs and three coat hooks. The entire Redocol range is available through Ostermann’s online shop, or by calling Ostermann UK on 01905 793550.

Above: Sibu Design Boards Right: Edelkanten Below: Redocol Handle Collection Bottom: Zero glueline edgings

56 • FURNITURE JOURNAL NOVEMBER 2016

REVIEW

The Casetur mechanism allows the top to turn within the width of the cabinet, transforming a storage unit that’s in a corner into a desk.

space-saver Turn a cabinet into a desk with this new-to-the-market space-saving mechanism from Casetur.

P

Benjamin Halde

erfect for adaptable furniture for use where space is at a premium, this clever swivelling device from Casetur Mechanism GmbH will turn a storage cabinet into a desk, even if the cabinet is against an obstruction or a wall.

Shown for the first time in Britain in the Elements area of W16, and winner of the Elements of Innovation Award, the Casetur mechanism isn’t just a turning device that enables a counter top to swivel. Clever design means the pivot point moves away from the wall or the corner as the counter top swings out, enabling the top to turn within the width of the cabinet.

Invented by Benjamin Halde, who was on the stand to demonstrate, the

mechanism is easily affixed with screws to both the base unit, where it can be recessed to achieve a neater line between cabinet and top surface, and the mobile element above. “It is designed to be used with worktops of between 48cm and 70cm in width, so it’s ideal for kitchens or home offices,” says Ben, who also sees uses for it in small but invariably expensive flats in the Capital. “But it can also be used in shopfitting applications and children’s furniture - in fact, anywhere where there isn’t much space and adaptable furniture with more than one function is needed.”

For more information contact Munich-based Casetur Mechanism GmbH on +49 172 726 9953 or email ben@casetur.com

EUROSYSTEM

HEAVY DUTY SANDERS THAT DELIVER PERFECT FINISH Eurosystem is the new Heavy Duty modular sander designed to provide the UK market with a calibrating and sanding machine based on the most advanced technological solutions. Its modular components allow a great number of possible configurations, from the most versatile and flexible, to those customized to suit a single specific application.

Excellent finishing results are obtained when machining either solid wood components or MDF panels, also when laminated, veneered or painted (opaque or polished).

This thanks to the wide range of units (Cross-Belt, Calibrating Roller, Sanding Roller, Superfinishing Pad) that come within the Eurosystem options.

Eurosystem's design approach is a perfect combination of heavy duty rollers followed by super-sensitive EPICS electronic sectional pads to deliver the best finish you have ever achieved.

Tel. +44 (0)115 9770044 | scmgroupuk@scmgroup.com - www.scmgroup-uk.com

tel. +39 0541 674 111 | dmc@scmgroup.com