furniture journal
november 2015
On the cover: Jim Burgess with the Curvomatic Senoplast: the glass that’s really acrylic Machines and tools for the smaller workshop Surfaces and edges
Formative Impression.
The diverse texture options from Döllken. Döllken edgebands offer the perfect symbiosis of optics and haptics. ● Profound and striking surface structures in natural optics ● The materials take on a new lively dimension ● More than 20 different texture options with optimal decorative finish ● Available for all edgeband materials and panel surfaces ● Also available as crossgrains – the edgeband combination, which carries the decoration and texture of the panel across the long and transverse sides ● Ideal for the modern surface trends such as saw-rough or crossgrains Order sample edgebands at www.doellken-kv.com
Innovation powered by SURTECO UK Ltd. Widow Hill Road, Burnley · Lancashire BB10 2TB · UK Phone: +44 (0)1282 686861 · Fax: +44 (0)1282 412361 info@uk.surteco.com · www.surteco.co.uk
november 2015
cover photo Cabinet-maker turned inventor, Jim Burgess, shows what can be done with Curvomatic - the simple way to make even the most complex of curves. Story: page 18.
contents 2 BUSINESS NEWS
21 CURVOMATIC
Expansions and acquisitions - and how to use Furniture Journal’s new-for-2016 Interactive Advertising Pages.
Videos, specifications, demonstrations - they’re all Interactive.
4 UNDER THE MICROSCOPE
22 THE CRAFTSMEN CRITIQUE
In pursuit of the ultimate gloss, Senoplast is almost obsessive about quality control - and its latest TopX is even tougher and comes in matt as well as gloss.
Workshop East chose SCM machines for their features and reputation - and on many occasions they take them well beyond normal limits.
8 TOUCH THE TEXTURE Deep texture and a real painted look and feel make David Clouting’s new B9 décor a real hit for flat lamination or 3d pressing.
10 WORKTOPS REVISITED
editor: Melvyn Earle email: Melvyn@FurnitureJournal.co.uk circulation: Marie Earle email: Circ@FurnitureJournal.co.uk Tel: 01502 517115 Fax: 01502 517117 www.furniturejournal.co.uk
CBP0210159297
By using Carbon Balanced Paper through the World Land Trust on this publication we have offset 1218kg of Carbon & preserved 102sqm of critically threatened tropical forests.
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, 2015.
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, Napier House, 11 Surrey St, Lowestoft, Suffolk, NR32 1LJ, United Kingdom www.craftsmanpublishing.co.uk
In a major move to stay ahead of the latest trends, Egger has revamped its entire worktop range - and it’s already available from Egger stockists.
12 DESIGNER BOARDS Ostermann’s new high-grade synthetic design boards from the Austrian manufacturer, SIBU, offer highly unusual design.
15 GAME, SET & MATCH
27 SUPPORTING SUCCESS What does it take to be the best at bespoke? Furniture Journal talks to Neil Bates about the machines behind his success story.
30 INVESTMENT PAYS DIVIDENDS ICM sees a return on investment within two years from their Biesse Rover A CNC and Akron 440 edgebander.
33 SANDING REVOLUTION Anders Karlström talks to Furniture Journal about Mirka’s Abranet Max, the sanding revolution launched at Ligna 2015.
36 BARRELS TO BENCHES
Fast delivery of one metre or more, special widths, perfect matches - they are all part of the Döllken service.
It’s all Weinig at Manzana Contracts. Director Gill Heleine explains why they chose Holz-Her, Weinig and Hofmann.
16 IT’S OVVO
38 CARLICK’S CAT
With the Ovvo Connection System, connecting flat-packed panels is a lot faster and easier - and it’s claimed to provide worthwhile savings in production time, too.
Faster drying, less fibre raising, less denibbing, less paint removed, better quality finish and reduced paint costs - these are just some of the benefits Carlick Contract Furniture has found its new Schubox flash-off and drying system is delivering.
17 FIT AND FORGET Can you confidently fit and forget your castors? Kenrick’s ranges perform tirelessly.
18 A DREAM COME TRUE It might be your customer's dream to have a curved kitchen but with Curvomatic, it doesn't have to be your nightmare to make it.
42 BLADE RUNNER For an extra £20 per blade, Mersey MDF, Plas & Ply gained a total of 180 days of work from a Leitz blade compared with 24 days from the company’s previous blades.
44 MACHINE SHOP
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New site for Combilift
Combilift Ltd, a major supplier of 4-way forklifts and other materials handling equipment to a wide variety of industry sectors recently formally inaugurated the construction process of its new 40 million Euro, 46,000m2 manufacturing facility and global HQ in Monaghan, Ireland. In the presence of local dignitaries and Combilift's current workforce of 350, Managing Director Martin McVicar and Technical Director Robert Moffett turned the first sod on the 40 hectare site which will house a multi-function facility including a dedicated R&D building, purpose built testing area and adjoining administration offices. “Excavation work has now commenced and we are on course to have the facility ready by the first quarter of 2017,” Martin
McVicar told Furniture Journal. “We have increased the initial planned building area by 6,000 square metres so that it will now cover 46,000m2 - close to 500,000ft2.” The facility is larger than originally announced and the expansion will position Combilift to double its current 150 million Euro turnover by 2020. The initial phase to level the site is expected to last for 10 weeks and 200 personnel will be employed throughout the construction period of 18 months. A further 200 jobs are set to be created in the next five years, mainly for skilled technicians and design engineers. Martin McVicar comments: “We are delighted to break ground on our new facility which shows our commitment to manufacturing in Monaghan as well as to the regional economy.”
Schelling acquires IMA The cut to size solutions specialist, Schelling Anlagenbau GmbH, has acquired automated edge processing technology manufacturer IMA from Adcuram in Munich in a move that will see the two complementary companies formalise a working arrangement that began more than 25 years ago. While it is anticipated that both brands will be preserved, the companies will intensify their collaboration in all areas of business, most importantly when developing and executing the newest most groundbreaking technologies that will underscore their position as a global technology leader. Schelling expects the global subsidiaries of both companies to work even closer together and says the dealer networks of both companies (that already overlap in 90% of the world markets) will bring even more advantages to the customers and partners of the two companies. Combined revenue of 250 million Euros is projected and the workforce now stands at 1,400 worldwide.
Salice’s new showroom presents the company’s entire range of furniture fittings in a domestic setting that makes it easier to visualise products in situ.
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ZOW adapts in 2016 ZOW 2016, which will be held from 16th-19th February 2016, will be all about networking, say organisers Clarion Events, who are endeavouring to gear the concept of the show more closely to the requirements of exhibitors and visitors. Visitors will experience a different layout to that of previous years owing to the occupancy of halls 20, 21 and 22.1. Hall 22.1 in particular will be given a new look through which the workshop character of ZOW will be reinterpreted. The focus of the event programme will be on central highlights.
Furniture Journal goes Interactive
With effect from the January 2016 edition, Furniture Journal advertisers will have the opportunity to show video content and take you directly to brochure hotlines, technical information sales contacts and more through their advertisements in Furniture Journal. And to show you just how easy it is to use, we’ve included an interactive ad on page 21 that you can try out for yourself.
Salice, the Italian manufacturer of furniture fittings for kitchens, bedrooms and bathrooms has recently opened a new purpose-built showroom facility at its UK headquarters, based in Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire. The 150m2 showroom is set on two levels in order to replicate the host of applications for Salice products in a domestic setting. The full range of Salice products is displayed, including the Silentia, Lapis and Titanium hinge ranges and Eclipse pocket door mechanisms that are now available made-to-measure and fully assembled. Salice's new Lineabox drawer system coupled with Futura concealed runners are also featured. Coplanar sliding door systems, some motorised, are viewed from raised walkways that enable the visitor to gain a better understanding of the engineering that lies behind them. Customers will be able to browse the various design and style options available, and as the showroom has been designed as a domestic setting, it will make it easier to visualise how the products will actually look in-situ. Branch Director Walter Gosling commented, “We believe that our new showroom will deliver real benefit to our customers, as it allows us to provide advice whilst actually being able to demonstrate the features and benefits of a given system, thereby ensuring that the most suitable product is specified for each individual requirement.”
Using your smartphone or tablet, download the free ‘clickable paper’ app from your app store search for CP Clicker for Barnwell - take a picture of page 21 using the CP Clicker app and the links will pop up immediately, providing instant information you can share on social media, send or save. Download the free app now, try it out on page 21 and be ready for the January 2016 edition!
4 • FURNITURE JOURNAL NOVEMBER 2015
Main picture. By adjusting the gloss level of its hard coating, the new high gloss, Senosan® AM1800 TopX, is now available as a silky matt - and it’s laboratory grade. Right. Every step of Senoplast’s production (from delivery of the raw materials to temperature during delivery) is checked in great detail and monitored to ensure consistently high product quality and zero batch to batch differences. Below. The reflection says it’s glass, the weight says it’s Senosan®.
under
FURNITURE JOURNAL NOVEMBER 2015 • 5
r the microscope Richard Cooper (left) and Stefan Radlgruber examine a sheet of high gloss acrylic as it comes off the line.
W
hen the smallest dust particle rises like a mountain on an acrylic surface, it’s perhaps no surprise that quality control has reached near obsessive levels at the Austrian thermoplastic extrusion specialist, Senoplast. In pursuit of the ultimate glasslike surface, Senoplast has invested massively in checking and monitoring procedures that begin with arrival of the raw materials and continue through colour calibration to production of its latest products in almost surgically clean ‘clean room’ facilities. “The quality and consistency of our products is simply the best,” says Area Sales Manager, Stefan Radlgruber. “We have checks at every stage, starting before the raw materials come off the
tanker. We constantly check colour, gloss level, layer construction and dimensions. Our colour lab checks consistency to back up deviation alarms on each line. The technology and continual investment that goes into our products means we can be confident they are colour and UVstable and absolutely identical batch to batch. That means manufacturers with long production runs can rely on them totally. “We keep a library of material samples in each colour that extends to more than 7,000 colour recipes. 60-70 of those are used for furniture products, including those we have formulated for individual customers. Five quality people are in charge of checks on lines during production and all production staff
In pursuit of the ultimate gloss, Senoplast is almost obsessive about quality control - and its latest TopX is even tougher and comes in matt as well as gloss.
6 • FURNITURE JOURNAL NOVEMBER 2015
Above. Colour consistency is rigorously checked to ensure it remains stable across the whole range of Senosan products. Main picture. TopX really is glass-like but it’s even more resistant to scratching (1.1N), impact and chemical damage.
Above. Surgeons in an operating theatre? Senoplast takes dust contamination very seriously.
Below. Investment in a new ‘clean room’ built into the line has enabled Senoplast to introduce the TopX 1800 range in various finishes.
check the line constantly. After production, we stack sheets manually so we can carry out a final optical check. Even temperature fluctuations in transit are tested.” Almost two decades have passed since Senoplast first started production of high gloss films and it now occupies a position at the zenith of its craft. The company’s staple product, Senosan ® AM1500X is well known not just for its mirror-like gloss surface but also for its high resistance to scratching - 0.6N. At 0.9N, Senosan® AM1700X offers even better scratch resistance. But with the arrival of Senosan ® AM1800 TopX, a new benchmark has been established. Currently available in 20 colours, Senoplast says the acrylic TopX sheets give a flawless high-tech hard coating. It is applied in clean room conditions to ensure the surface really is glass-like. This same coating makes AM1800 TopX even more resistant to scratching (1.1N), impact and chemical damage. “The chemical resistance of the hard coat is dramatically improved,” says Stefan. “Even aggressive cleaners like Isopropanol don’t damage it.” By simply changing the gloss rating of the hard coat finish, Senoplast has been able to adapt TopX to provide a very silky matt - a new development called Topmatt, made possible by the addition of a second lacquer line. As well
as being fingerprint-proof, this laboratory grade product is highly resistant to scratching (yes, I actually tried to scratch a sample by ferociously attacking it with a key to no avail!) even though it is incredibly soft to the touch. Also available is Acryl Glass, a 2mm thick replacement for glass furniture fronts available in five colours - and it comes with two key advantages: it can be cut and drilled on site and it has the ability to withstand edge impacts. Edge milling Acryl Glass is easy and improves the glass effect still further. And in the future, Senoplast plans to introduce food safe and antibacterial options. Another new line is planned and that should also help cut lead times on Senoplast products. Of course, there’s little point in Senoplast going to such lengths to ensure a flawless product if its subsequent lamination and processing isn’t carried out to equally high standards. Recognising this, Senoplast has a support team for Senosan users and its mission is to help you get the most out of the product, advising and helping with everything from choice of glue and substrate to conversion of the finished panel into components. To find out more about Senoplast’s service to users, or the new Senosan® range of products, call 01952 243999 or visit www.senoplast.com
8 • FURNITURE JOURNAL NOVEMBER 2015 The seven colours of LG Hausy’s B9 are now in stock at David Clouting Ltd. Below, top to bottom, are Light Grey, Ivory and Stone Grey on a background of Graphite Grey. Right are Mussel, Cashmere and Porcelain White.
touch th
FURNITURE JOURNAL NOVEMBER 2015 • 9
the texture F
or pressed panels with a softer look there’s little to beat the most recent introduction from David Clouting Ltd. With the appeal of an authentic painted wood look, B9 offers print combined with a superb texture that can be seen (and almost felt) from several feet away. The new B9 painted wood range is being stocked in seven colours that reflect the latest colours in the UK KBB sector. Currently stocked are: Porcelain White, Ivory, Mussel, Stone Grey, Cashmere, Light Grey and Graphite Grey. The lighter tones are already strong sellers with the Cashmere and Grey tones growing in popularity as furniture panels. The B9 range is perfect for those who want to free up capacity on their painting lines, or avoid painting altogether. B9 is a
highly durable product - and the whole range is available in small quantities of bespoke products, so mixed colours can be accommodated in an order. Ideal for both membrane pressing and flat lamination, B9 is fully FIRA certified and can be supplied ex-stock in rolls of 1450mm wide x 200m long (0.4mm thickness), or in whatever length you require. Alternatively, choose your own colour with David Clouting’s Make-to-Order service, available with a minimum order length of 2,000 linear metres. For more information on B9, or for an update on all David Clouting Ltd’s décor products, contact David Clouting Ltd on 01376 518037, or visit www.davidclouting.co.uk
Deep texture and a real painted look and feel make David Clouting’s new B9 décor a real hit for flat lamination or 3d pressing.
10 • FURNITURE JOURNAL NOVEMBER 2015 Background: H1181 ST37 Tobacco Halifax Oak. This image: F311 ST87 Ceramic Anthracite in combination with H3309 ST28 Sand Gladstone Oak.
worktop O
ut goes the existing worktop range and in comes a standard 38mm postformed Contemporary collection of 26 décors and a Premium collection of 25mm and 38mm square-edge worktops in 12 décors as Egger UK completely revamps its worktop range. The new collections incorporate brand new décors, textures and a number of industry firsts - worktops with matching MFC, laminate and edging for coordinated doors, end panels, carcasses, shelving and even plinths. “This is the most significant revamp we have ever made to our worktop range,” says Elliott Fairlie, Egger UK’s Head of Décor Development. “And we believe it will have a huge impact on the sector.” Placing worktops centre stage in kitchens that increasingly cater for open plan spaces and multifunctional living was the driving force behind the revamp. “We have
thought long and hard about how our products are used,” says Elliott. “Increasingly, the choice of worktop is the starting point of a kitchen scheme. How it then combines with the other furniture such as doors, end panels, shelving and flooring is crucial. Rather than just tinkering with the colour palette, we have developed a concept that helps designers and consumers create truly coordinated interiors.” Using a high-density protective layer along the front of the core board means the edge of the Contemporary collection is less susceptible to damage, even though it has a tightly postformed 3mm radius. Design emphasis is on woodgrains, while the new squareedge Premium range comes in 12 woodgrain, stone and ceramic décors. The woodgrain and gloss options are 38mm; the 6 stone and ceramic options are 25mm thick. “We have put a lot of effort into
FURNITURE JOURNAL NOVEMBER 2015 • 11
In a major move to stay ahead of the latest trends, Egger has revamped its entire worktop range - and it’s already available from Egger stockists.
ops revisited ensuring our new products are able to replicate other finishes and they are now indistinguishable from the real thing,” adds Elliott. Egger was first in the market with synchronised pore worktops that provide a natural solid wood look and feel but which require no maintenance. Laminates are also significantly less likely to fade in sunlight, more durable and more hygienic than solid wood. Premium tops are available in 4100mm x 650mm single edged or 4100mm x 920mm double edged, using 1.5mm ABS edging instead of 2mm to create an even more realistic look. Egger’s new worktop range was launched for October and the full range is held in stock nationally by its network of distributors. To find out more information, or to find your nearest stockist, call 01434 602191 or visit the Egger website, www.egger.com
12 • FURNITURE JOURNAL NOVEMBER 2015
designer boards T
he attractive finish, special look and feel of Sibu Design Boards holds the key to transforming interiors into something truly special - and these beautiful surfaces are effortless to apply Whether as wall panelling, sliding door panels, home furniture, recessed back panels (or even for the walls of trade fair stands), Sibu Design Boards can be worked using a box cutter or with standard woodworking tools. Ostermann recommends gluing the boards to achieve a perfect overall surface feel, though, optionally, they can be supplied lightly sanded and pre-treated on the back for PVA bonding, with a self-adhesive back, or with magnetic fastening. Finishes include synthetic Leather-Line surfaces with classic and smooth leather versions, reptile looks, furs, decorative seams and leather surfaces in shimmering metallic colours as well as acrylic glass surfaces and Structure-Line décors - a total of more than 350 different décors, all of which are available as a DIN A4 sample ex warehouse. Formatted to 2600 x 1000 mm and in thicknesses of 1-4 mm Sibu Design Boards can be delivered within 10 working days. For more information, or a brochure showing all Sibu Design Boards, visit www.ostermann.eu or call Ostermann UK on 01905 793550.
Ostermann’s new high-grade synthetic design boards from the Austrian manufacturer, SIBU, offer highly unusual design for high end interiors, exclusive shopfitting projects and trade show applications.
FURNITURE JOURNAL NOVEMBER 2015 • 15
game, set & match T
he world of boards is becoming increasingly colourful with ever more varied surface finishes. It’s a problem Döllken has solved with an edge for every surface available at short notice, even in small quantities, through its instant edgeband stock programme, known as ISP. Döllken’s claim is production of high quality plastic edgings to match boards one to one, in both visual and tangible aspects. Today, the Instant Edgeband Programme includes more than 1300 colours and surface prints, available in a diversity of widths, thicknesses and embossed surfaces. Making great products that work with just about every conceivable décor is one thing. delivering it is quite another. Service is more important than ever these days. Döllken is committed to providing
its wide range of products on short delivery times, ensuring high availability through good stock control and high stock levels. Not only are edgebands to match leading board collections available at short notice, they also come in many widths and thicknesses and can be supplied in lengths of one meter and up. Long waiting times and bulk orders for special dimensions are now a thing of the past. In addition to conventional standard and special widths of 23, 28, 33, 45 and 54mm, the 100 mm wide master rolls with over 550 colours and surface finishes may now be cut to suit your specific dimensions. Dimensions of 16-100 mm are available already when ordering just one master roll. This also applies to ABS, high gloss and 3D edgebands. For details call Döllken on 0049 (0) 2043/979-0. www.doellken-kv.com
Fast delivery of one metre or more, special widths, perfect matches - they are all part of the Döllken service.
16 • FURNITURE JOURNAL NOVEMBER 2015
it’s ovvo I
“
With the Ovvo Connection System, connecting flat-packed panels is a lot faster and easier - and it’s claimed to provide worthwhile savings in production time, too.
t’s Irish for obvious,” says Director, Sean Phillips when asked about the name of his Dundalk-based company, Ovvo. Undoubtedly, he was taking the Mick, as the Irish word for obvious is soiléir. What is obvious, however, is the unmistakable genius of the Ovvo product - and the success which Sean claims has enabled him and his fellow director to enlist some 70 distribution partners around the world since Ligna 2015! So what’s the product? Put simply, it’s a connector system that makes life ridiculously simple for assembly of flat-pack furniture; an invisible push-fit solution that allows two panels to be joined without tools by simply pressing them together until they click. From a manufacturing perspective, the Ovvo system requires a plunge and travel slot to be made using a router bit that produces a small ledge in the drilling of the two panels to be joined. Once the fitting is pushed into the slot, the ledge locks it in place without glue. Both male
and female fittings use the same router bit and, says Sean, not only is there an 80% saving in assembly time, “Ovvo enables manufacturers to make an increase of up to 30% in productivity”. More details: www.ovvotech.com
Sean Phillips, Director.
FURNITURE JOURNAL NOVEMBER 2015 • 17
Left. Steve Jones, Managing Director of Archibald Kenrick & Sons Ltd. Below and lower right: the Shepherd range of castors.
fit and forget
O
ver the last few years, consumers have become much more aware of quality issues, especially with regard to appearance and performance. However, there’s one area that seldom gets much attention until it fails and that’s castors. Steve Jones, Managing Director of Archibald Kenrick & Sons Ltd, is adamant furniture manufacturers should be able to fit and forget but with such extreme quality differences available in the castor market, can you be sure of the quality you’re fitting? “There can be an enormous variance in the quality of furniture components,” says Steve. “With castors it may not be immediately evident if they will perform without problems like bending, breaking or damaging flooring. Sadly, these issues are becoming more common and they affect the integrity of the furniture.” Kenrick’s range is one of the biggest collections of UK manufactured castors. They have all been tested to British standards and designed for a long and trouble-free service life. The trademarked range includes Orbit castors and Shepherd castors, which Kenrick has been manufacturing in the Midlands for 70 years. Both have passed the rigorous testing under BS EN 12527 and BS EN 12528. The wheels comfortably stood up
to a 5kg load being dropped on them 10 times from a 300mm height as well as a vertical static load of 80kg for 24 hours. The die-cast zinc Shepherd castor provides up to a 300kg load per set of four. It comes in four standard fixings peg and socket, 38 x 38mm square plate, round plate and M8/M10 fitting. It is also available with an anti-static rubber wheel for use on smooth floor surfaces and the castor can be supplied in any RAL paint colour and in a polished gold, nickel, brass or bronze-plated finish as standard. Manufactured from die-cast zinc, the Orbit range of 50mm diameter castors is durable and high performance, providing a 230kg load per set of four. The castor comes in five standard fixings - grip neck peg and socket, cast socket with thorn pin, 32 x 32mm square plate, 32mm round plate and M8/M10 fitting. Colours include black, beige, grey and brown as standard and any RAL colour as an option. “Although the castor is an integral part of the furniture, we believe that it should be barely noticeable in service,” says Steve. “We want people to fit it and forget it and for the castor to quietly do its job.” To find out about Kenrick’s quality, call 0121 553 2741. www.kenricks.co.uk
Can you confidently fit and forget your castors? Kenrick’s ranges are manufactured in Britain and undergo rigorous testing to ensure they perform tirelessly.
18 • FURNITURE JOURNAL NOVEMBER 2015
Jim Burgess.
a drea
FURNITURE JOURNAL NOVEMBER 2015 • 19
eam come true It might be your customer's dream to have a curved kitchen but with Curvomatic, it doesn't have to be your nightmare to make it.
I
t's hard to imagine a greater dilemma: do you take the opportunity to make a lot more margin by creating a customer's dream kitchen, or do you turn down the job because the curves she wants are a furniture-maker's worst nightmare to produce? The fact is, her dream doesn't have to be your nightmare and your route to a bigger profit is a lot simpler, more repeatable, more reliable and less expensive than ever you could have dreamed. You just need Curvomatic on your side. Curvomatic is the invention of Jim Burgess, the seasoned furniture-maker whose flair for design and cabinetmaking skills conceived and executed the beautiful, flowing lines you see on these pages. Jim freely admits, like most
furniture-makers, he found the protracted job of making curved components as difficult as it was unreliable and unpredictable - and the time they took seldom made them financially rewarding. Now the trend is for flowing lines and curved doors, demand for curves in all branches of the furniture industry is growing - and Jim has found a way of making them with such ease that his secret is something even organisations like NASA, Boeing, Airbus, the US Navy and other well-known companies that use curved products - seem eager to learn more about. But it’s not rocket science. And, fortunately, his secret isn’t a matter of national security, so we’re able to let you in on it. This is his story: “We had a kitchen to make a few years back that involved lots of curves.
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The biggest panel was too big for our bag press so we had to make a two-sided MDF press. The male side was easy. The female side was going to be huge and very costly in materials. That’s what started us thinking about a tool that would enable us to produce moulds more easily and more reliably,” says Jim. It took a few years of working with the idea and developing variations of the original tool before Jim and his Father realised they had discovered something other furniture-makers could benefit from. “The idea for an extrusion that fixed together to form any curve came just after New Year 2011,” recalls Jim. He still has the original sketch pinned to his office wall. “We filed the patent and the first Curvomatic was made in May 2011. It worked ten times better than the first version we’d made and with just one set of aluminium components, we were able to adjust the length and the width to make different sizes and curves. It’s changed a bit since the first time we showed it on YouTube. The YouTube video shows the first ever Curvomatic.” Curvomatic is very easy to use: you simply lay glued materials over the shape you want to create and tighten the aluminium bars of the Curvomatic system down on it using ratchets. Different kits are available to suit the radii you want to
create and the size of the component you want to make. Because the extrusions can be joined together, there is theoretically no limit to the size of the curved component you can produce. “Our patent is on the material not the usage,” says Jim, “So if you happen to be NASA and you want to build a large rocket shell, Curvomatic really could be the easiest way. “We sell three types of extrusion and ratchet kits,” he continues. “There’s an 18mm version for making curved components with a minimum radius of 185mm; we offer a 9mm version that goes down to 79mm radius; and we offer a 30 degree section that’s ideal for working solid surfacing materials because it will produce a radius of 40mm. “The extrusions are a maximum of 3.3 metres long. If you need longer, they can be joined together. We offer fixed length kits, solid kits, single, double and even triple hollow kits for making wall panels. There are more than 150 different Curvomatic kits including modular kits and joining kits that can join any number of modules.” To find out how easy Curvomatic is to use, look for ‘Clickable Paper’ in your app store, download the free app and scan the Interactive Page on the right. It’ll take you straight to the video and all the contact information you need.
22 • FURNITURE JOURNAL NOVEMBER 2015 Beautiful craftsmanship and inspired design from Workshop East.
scm: the craftsm Workshop East chose SCM machines for their features and reputation and on many occasions they take them well beyond normal limits.
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The SCM S700P Bandsaw.
orkshop East is a rather special place. Bringing diverse talents from architecture and furnituremaking to sculpture under one roof, the demands placed on its workshop range from rough-shaping of characterful, large section timber to fine finishing of custommade commissions for discerning clients. Designer-makers Mauro Dell’Orco and Steve Cook thought long and hard about which machines would best suit their needs and their budget before settling on a sliding table saw, a bandsaw, a spindle moulder, a planer thicknesser and a surface planer from SCM. “I worked in a company in Italy that had SCM,” says Mauro, “Then I had a course about programming CNC machines in Pesaro that had SCM. We looked at other machines but SCM was the best solution for us. We have a small space so we needed a table saw that would fit. The Si 300 Nova is perfect and I really like that it’s easy to set and easy to
use. The Ti 120 spindle was the right choice but we also needed an industrial bandsaw (one that could be used as a resaw) and a heavy duty planer and thicknesser. SCM had everything we needed at a price we could manage.” It’s been 18 months since Workshop East took delivery of its SCM machines and things are going well. “The saw is great,” says Mauro. “It’s fitted with a scoring blade, which helps with fine cuts, and it has the 400mm main blade I was looking for so I could make compound angle cuts without worrying about depth. The table is smooth and it can be locked in three different places, though you do have to be careful. It’s easy to unlock it by accident. It’s equipped with a long fence that’s very easy to flip to gain access if you run small pieces through it. There is no digital adjustment on this model but the tapes give accurate measurements. There are lots of safety features - everything is micro-switched
FURNITURE JOURNAL NOVEMBER 2015 • 23 Mauro speaks enthusiastically about the Si 300 Nova saw he chose for its compact footprint and big, tilting blade. “There are lots of safety features - everything is micro-switched and there are mushroom stops at both sides,” he says. “They are really useful if you’re cutting a long, narrow piece which tilts as it drops. The blades stop very quickly and I like that the blade protection is not fixed to the riving knife. You do need proper extraction with this machine. That’s something we didn’t get right.”
smen critique Micro adjustment.
Blade changing is easy.
24 • FURNITURE JOURNAL NOVEMBER 2015 Steve Cook working on the SCM S700P Bandsaw. It’s a machine Mauro really likes. “You can run a log on it but I also make tenons on it,” he says.
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The S520 Nova Planer/Thicknesser provides a “very fine finish”.
and there are mushroom stops at both sides. They are really useful if you’re cutting a long, narrow piece that tilts as it drops. The blades stop very quickly and I like that the blade protection is not fixed to the riving knife. You do need proper extraction with this machine. That’s something we didn’t get right.” Steve Cook is very impressed with the Ti 120 spindle moulder. He uses it both as a spindle and as a router: “I particularly like the fence,” he enthuses. “It has a mechanical memory with readers on the front that adjust to within 0.1mm and everything works on positive-feel screw threads. Having three extraction ports in the head is a big plus if you want to take big chips off. The head tilts by up to 45 degrees so you can use 320mm discs and you can reverse the rotation and flip the tools - great when you reach end grain, or for working internally. The spindles are quick to change over with no unscrewing. There’s only one negative really: I don’t like the rollers. They can’t be turned on without the machine running. I like to get the pressure right before the pass.” Mauro and Steve chose an SCM S700P band saw. “Mauro really likes this,” says Steve. “I like the texture it leaves on wood and it’s seriously heavy duty and has a big, 465mm cut height,” confirms Mauro. “You can run a log on it but I also make tenons on it. A micro adjustable fence would be useful but that’s just the nature of my work.” Steve adds, “It’s easy to make adjustments to the belts as they wear to maintain startup and braking speeds. The electronic brake stops the saw within 7 seconds.”
Steve uses the Ti 120 both as a spindle and as a router.
It’s not just the bandsaw Mauro and Steve have explored the limits of. They also have high expectations of the heavy duty S520 Nova Planer/Thicknesser - in particular the finish they expect from it. “We don’t take off 3-4mm at a time. We like to keep the tensions out of the wood and not trap moisture. Sometimes we’re taking off just 0.2mm. It has four speeds but we like to run it at the slowest, 8m/min, as this gives a very fine finish,” says Steve. “We made the mistake of asking SCM to change the sectional roller, which is for machining components of different heights simultaneously, to a solid roller. If we’d known the machine better, we probably wouldn’t have done that.” In six months, they’ve never had to recalibrate the S520. “It’s never gone out,” says Steve. The surface planer Mauro and Steve chose is SCM’s F410 Nova. “Everything goes through it,” says Steve, “We even use it for getting a straight edge on ply. We’re using finishing blades, mostly on hardwood. Occasionally we get a nick but blade changing is really easy and the blades can be adjusted to within a fraction very easily. The bed is a good length and I like the flip on the microfence that allows you to run small pieces safely. The fence is easy to angle and goes back to zero, which some machines don’t.” So, after 18 months, what’s the verdict on their investments? “I knew SCM was good from when I was in Italy,” says Mauro. “The machines are very reliable. They work well. They are easy to use.” Could one ask for more? Call SCM on 0115 977 0044. www.scmgroup-uk.com
Above. The Si 300 Nova is fitted with a scoring blade, which helps with fine cuts, and it has the 400mm main blade Mauro was looking for to make compound angle cuts without depth issues.
Above. The F410 Nova. Below. Steve: “Adjustment on the F410 Nova is up to 8mm, though you’d never take this off in one pass.”
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Suffolk & Essex Joinery has built an enviable reputation for undertaking prestigious projects, among them a spiral staircase that regularly features on BBC News broadcasts, corporate offices and reception areas, art galleries and some of Britain’s best known colleges.
supporting success What does it take to be the best at bespoke? Furniture Journal talks to Neil Bates about the machines behind his success story.
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here is no missing the smile on his face when you talk to Neil Bates about the work of his company, Haverhill-based Suffolk & Essex Joinery. He reels off one prestigious project after another complex spiral staircases for the BBC, furniture and fittings for colleges in Cambridge, reception desks for big corporate clients, refurbishment work for art galleries... The list is long. Suffolk & Essex Joinery is in great demand and its success has recently seen the company move to new premises that more than double its previous workshop space. With the expansion has come investment in new machinery - and for Neil, his preferred machinery supplier is Felder.
“Back in 2001, we bought an F700Z spindle moulder from Felder. It was a big purchase for us then but it’s never let us down,” says Neil. “We’ve since had a K940S panel saw from Felder and we’ve just bought three more machines from them: a D951 thicknesser; an A951 surface planer; and their new, uprated F700Z spindle moulder.” Representing the latest evolution of Felder’s popular 900 series saws, the K940S features a cutting height of 133mm with a 400mm blade, making it ideal for both panel processing and solid timber applications. Construction is solid. “We didn’t buy the all-singing-alldancing version,” says Neil, “But it’s a good, solid machine that does what we need it to do.” The X-Roll sliding table
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The Felder K940S sliding table panel saw is a low maintenance machine with a 10-year guarantee and lots of thoughtful details that make it easy to use. Below. The Felder D951 thicknesser processes widths of up to 504mm.
The new F700Z spindle moulder is available with an optional table extension - but this isn’t it!
Above. Neil particularly likes the three section planer guard on the A951 surface planer he took delivery of recently. “It’s a great safety feature,” he says.
with non-wearing roller bearings, the side-mounted dust-deflecting guide rails and the heavy duty brushes and silicon sweepers ensure the K940S is a low maintenance machine - which is why Felder confidently backs it with a 10-year guarantee. Height and angle control is electronic and the digital display is accurate to 0.1mm. Thoughtful design details, such as the overhead saw guard that adjusts to the height of the workpiece and the positioning of remote start buttons on the sliding table, make the K940S an easy saw to use. Neil’s D951 thicknesser enables him to process widths of 504mm, while Felder’s Power Drive controls ensure fast positioning and accurate results, saving him time and money. And when a knife change is needed, the double-sided HSS knives locate onto pre-set positions, making a knife change a two minute job. Like his thicknesser, Neil’s Felder A951 surface planer also enables rapid knife changing and with a 2250mm table length, it copes with most jobs. The depth of cut can be viewed in a lens
on the top of the machine. “I really like the three-section planer guard,” says Neil. “It’s a great safety feature.” The new version of Neil’s F700Z spindle moulder features Felder’s Easy Glide double trunnion support for the spindle unit (on the 2001 machine it was a single trunnion unit) and further refinements have been made to the spindle fence to make tool set-up and change easier and quicker. The new model has a heavier duty chassis and redesigned fence for tenoning, increasing operating speed, accuracy and comfort. Felder offers a table extension option to increase the working surface area of the F700Z, though Neil’s craftsmen, faced with a pallet of long components, were employing a temporary solution while we were there. “We like Felder,” says Neil. “They’re good, solid, reliable machines - built to last. They’re easy to operate and can handle heavy work. They’re great.” For further information on Felder machines telephone 01908 635384 or visit www.felder-group.co.uk
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Ian Wylie, ICM’s Workshop Manager, and right, Managing Director Steve Lewis.
investment ICM sees a return on investment within two years from their Biesse Rover A CNC and Akron 440 edgebander.
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CM is an established project management company with specialist business teams covering shopfitting, office interior fit-outs, exhibition stand fitting, commercial joinery, electrical contracting and maintenance and repair services. In a bid to save time and streamline efficiency, ICM purchased a Biesse Akron 440 edgebander and a Biesse Rover A G FT CNC router. The router performs a number of tasks that were previously undertaken by hand: “We used to process sheets of material using a panel saw then hand drill holes,” explains Ian Wyllie, ICM’s Workshop Manager. “We also had to cut grooves by hand to accept metal trims which, although successful, took an inordinate amount of time.” The
purchase of the Rover CNC enabled ICM to nest, drill and groove the panels in one operation, reducing production times and providing better quality and consistency. “Material wastage was also reduced so the overall benefits were huge,” adds Ian, who calculates the Biesse has saved around 40 man hours per week and that, together with savings on material, has provided ICM with a two year return on investment. The Akron 440 edgebander was purchased mainly for producing doors. “We used to glue and clamp the solid wood lipping. It would take about four hours per door. It now takes less than 10 minutes,” says Ian. The ‘knock-on’ benefits are also realised in the availability of more floor
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nt pays dividends space for both door production and storage. “Without doubt, our investment has enabled us to gain a larger market share. Our response times now mean we can deliver a much faster turnaround. We have won more contracts from our existing customers and our order turn round has decrease from 7-10 days to 2-3 days.” Ian also reports that production costs have reduced by over 60%. “There’s also the benefit of being able to go from CAD straight to the machine,” adds Ian. “Reliability is of paramount importance. When we have a problem, fast turnaround is critical to our business. On the odd
occasion where we’ve had a breakdown, Biesse has always responded quickly, even to an engineer attending the same day. “Biesse’s Total Care package was a major factor in choosing both machines as it provides peace of mind and confidence in the service and reliability.” To find out how Biesse could help your production, contact Biesse UK on 01327 300366 or visit the Biesse website: www.biesse.co.uk
The Rover A is a great machine for nesting with the matrix bed ICM chose (left) - and the new Rover A includes a five-axis head with pod and rail bed option.
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sanding revolution What are the main benefits of Abranet Max? “We tested the product on a broad range of sanding applications to obtain a really good picture of the product's performance as well as the customers' feedback. We also conducted the tests in several different markets. The benefits customers gained from the product were extremely long life - the belt outlasted the products the companies were previously using. It did not clog and the customers did not have to switch off their machines as frequently to change the belts, which resulted in less down time in production. On which products has Abranet Max been tested? “The product was tested on various wood types such as oak, beech, MDF etc as well as on paints such as Polyester, waterborne and UV using finer grits.”
Anders Karlström talks to Furniture Journal about Mirka’s Abranet Max, the sanding revolution launched at Ligna 2015.
Anders Karlström.
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nders Karlström is the Product Manager at the go-ahead Finnish abrasive specialist Mirka. After the company launched its revolutionary new net-like sanding belt at Ligna 2015, we wanted to know more about the product Mirka was claiming would last weeks rather than hours - and the obstacles they overcame en route to launching Abranet Max. Anders Karlström takes up the story: “We knew that we had developed a product that would be something completely new and unique for the market. One of the key issues was achieving a surface that led to an even sanding surface. This issue was solved by textile technologies as well as by using a suitable resin blend for mechanically fixing the fabric. Our R&D showed that a diamond-shaped pattern was the most effective for this purpose, whilst allowing the belt to be made as strong as fabrics that retain a certain stretch.
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Abranet Max is currently available and in stock in narrow belt format.
The net-like construction of the belt allows dust to fall through, reducing clogging, but what is it about Abranet Max that provides the extra longevity? “Some customers used the belts until they stopped cutting/sanding, at which point they turned the belts around to get another third out of the product's performance. This was because when in use the grain is being worn one way during the sanding process which creates a new sharp edge so when the grain becomes dull, the other running direction is sharpened and ready to use.” How does Abranet Max cope with cross grain sanding? “We have received positive feedback from customers stating that it cuts well and still leaves a good surface finish. It does not leave marks during long or cross-grain sanding.” Can Abranet Max be used on products other than wood-based, for example composites, or solid surfacing materials? “Initially, the focus of the project was for wood materials but it has also been sold to customers sanding other types of materials.”
Can Abranet Max be used for veneer or paint sanding as well as solid wood, or are there limitations to the grit levels that are available? “Yes, it is now suitable for various wood types as well as paint sanding. The grit range currently stops at P240, so at present we cannot achieve fine intermediate sanding (P320-P600). Currently, we have stearated paper products for this application.” When will Abranet Max be available in wide belt format? “We have tested Abranet Max as a wide belt and it works well. We will come back to you when we are in a position to provide you with further details.” What other versions of this product are we likely to see in the near future? “A broader grit range. We now have P80-P240 but we are researching a finer as well as a coarser grit range. In addition to the one grain type (Aluminium Oxide), we are also looking into other grain types.” Abranet Max is available through Mirka UK. Telephone 01908 369468 or visit www.mirka.com
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The Hofmann 107 is a classic German-built spindle moulder while the Weinig Cube’s single pass, four-sided planing is as legendary as it is unique.
It’s all Weinig at Manzana Contracts. Director Gill Heleine explains why they chose HolzHer, Weinig and Hofmann.
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ith five machine purchases from Weinig UK since starting the company in 2012, in just two years Manzana Contracts has created a reputation for excellence and secured and delivered bespoke and contract joinery to the leisure industry, bars, restaurants and casinos, as well as top end residences in London. At their 20,000 sq ft workshop in Huddersfield, Manzana Contracts started in 2012 with a Holz-Her beam saw and Holz-Her edgebander. Shortly after they added the Weinig Cube and recently, two Hofmann TFS 107 spindle moulders. “The combination of traditional and state-of-the-art machinery allows us to deal with commercial scale projects as well as individual bespoke items,” says director, Gill Heleine. “The range of quality machines that Weinig is able to offer fit our needs exactly and we are reassured by the fact that every machine is backed by Weinig guarantees and support. We have been able to meet our panel processing requirements with the Holz-Her beam saw and edgebander, the Weinig Cube is just a dream to use and the attention to detail provided by the Hofmann spindle moulders is more than a match for our high standards.” Manzana’s beam saw is the Holz-Her Cut 6010. It provides a variable feed rate of up to 60m/min and is designed for
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enches simplicity in operation. Manzana’s CutControl 2 comes with Easy-Plan optimisation software displayed on a 17" screen with a graphic user interface. The saw blade diameter is 300mm and there’s a 180mm scoring unit. It’s a capacious machine that offers a cutting length of 3100mm x 3100mm wide. Electronically controlled setup with accuracy to within 1/100th mm is a key feature of the Holz-Her Sprint 1327 edgebander Manzana chose. A high performance machine, it’s equipped with a cutting unit for edge thicknesses of up to 15mm. The Synchro magazine handles six tapes while Holz-Her’s hybrid Glu Jet technology in combination with thin film technique make the gluing system on the Sprint 1327 a good allrounder when it comes to “zero glueline” joints with PUR glue - and the Sprint 1327 can be also be used with high gloss edging and solid wood edging of up to 15 x 65mm. Changeover from one adhesive to another takes only three minutes. For four-sided planing, Manzana settled on Weinig’s compact ‘plug and play’ Cube. Straightening of the bottom side and of the right side, planing to width and thickness and profiling, the Cube
does it all in one pass. Machine setup is fully automated - all Manzana’s operators need to do is enter the desired dimensions reducing workload and increasing throughput. That’s important for Manzana. “Often, architects and designers will make changes but the finish date does not move and we are still expected to deliver our high quality on time,” says Gill. It’s not hard to see why Manzana chose the Hofmann TFS 107 spindle moulder. It offers a swivel range from -45.5° to +45.5°, motorised spindle positioning with LED displays, a 7.5 kW motor with four speeds and both clockwise and anticlockwise running of the spindle. “The range of quality machines that Weinig is able to offer fit our needs exactly and we are reassured by the fact that every machine is backed by Weinig guarantees and support,” concludes Gill. “We have been able to meet our panel processing requirements with the Holz-Her beam saw and edge bander, the Weinig Cube is just a dream to use, and the attention to detail provided by the Hofmann spindle moulders is more than a match for our high standards.” Details: sales@weinig.co.uk or call 01235 557600.
Below. The Weinig Cube is a “dream to use”.
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carli
Carlick Contract Furniture Ltd employs over 100 staff in its 85,000ft2 factory in northern Manchester and manufactures a range of both standard and custom restaurant and bar furniture.
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lick’s cat Faster drying, less fibre raising, less denibbing, less paint removed, better quality finish and reduced paint costs - these are just some of the benefits Carlick Contract Furniture has found its new Schubox flash-off and drying system is delivering.
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he contract furniture industry is renowned for short lead times,” says Josh O’Donnell, Procurement Manager for Manchester-based Carlick Contract Furniture Ltd. “Whatever they want, they want it within days.” In our climate, that can be a problem for any company that’s finishing furniture with a lacquer. Carlick was no exception: sprayed product from half a dozen manual spray booths was being left to dry until it could be handled, then it was transferred to a conventional oven. “We were using a conventional oven that was warm air circulating,” admits Josh. “It’s a very, very slow process and it doesn’t cure the product fully. We were giving it two to three days before sending the product out.” That was until Carlick bought a cat. And now everybody is purring about it, whatever the weather. Carlick’s cat is a custom-built flash-off and Schubox drying system which uses
infra-red catalytic conversion to cure paint and lacquer. “It has helped us massively with regard to production,” says Josh. “We can get more through, quicker and with the peace of mind that there will be no come-backs because it’s fully cured when it comes out of the Schubox. Tops, it takes an hour to dry AC coatings. It’s a superb product.” The new installation doesn’t just address the issue of curing time for Carlicks, it also reduces the likelihood of contamination and variations in paint quality. A dedicated flash-off room was designed and built in the spray shop area where wet sprayed product is loaded onto drying racks or low level trolleys. The flash-off is fitted with a pressurised air balance system which matches input air to extracted air volume. All incoming air is filtered to remove particulate and the solventladen extract air is fed into the modified Schubox catalytic infra-red drying
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All Interior images reproduced by permission of Carlick Contract Furniture Ltd.
The Schubox is fitted with three gas catalytic heater panels that provide heat, long wave infra-red and air movement at a gentle 35-40oC. A dedicated control panel with an easyto-use touch screen HMI serves the whole of the new installation from a central point.
system where it is neutralised. The permanent extraction system is set at low level to remove the VOC’s. Flash-off takes about 15 minutes, after which the racks are transferred into the dedicated custom Schubox drying zone. The Schubox is fitted with three gas catalytic heater panels that provide heat, long wave infra-red and air movement at a gentle 35-40 oC. A dedicated control panel with an easy-to-use touch screen HMI serves the whole of the new installation from a central point. The gas catalytic process is a chemical reaction that produces heat and long wave infra-red. The long wave infra-red technology inside the Schubox removes the water or solvent carrier quickly and efficiently at a fraction of the cost of traditional air drying methods. There is no spark, no flame, nor any form of combustion, therefore it is completely safe to use with solvent-based coatings. Single pack, two-pack, water-based and solvent-based products can all be used in the Schubox system in conjunction with either hand spray and automatic spraying machines. Once removed from the Schubox, the cured product can either be
denibbed in preparation for the next application, or sent for packing and dispatch. As the Schubox cures the product quickly, using low temperature, there is less fibre raise on the surface. Less fibre raise means less denibbing and of course, less denibbing means less paint is removed from the surface by sanding. This in turn gives a higher overall film build, a better quality finish and a very worthwhile reduction in paint costs. “We’re absolutely delighted with the whole system,” adds Josh. “It’s a real blessing and Schuberts are fantastic to work with. The whole system was delivered and installed within six to eight weeks - very quick - and the service has been great. To be honest, I wish all our suppliers were like Schuberts.” In addition to internationally acclaimed Schubox systems, Schuberts supply manual spray booths, spray enclosures, overhead joinery coating systems and the full range of Makor automatic coating machinery. For more information on how Schuberts can streamline your finishing bottlenecks, call 01226 360900 or email sales@schuberts.co.uk
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For an extra £20 per blade, Mersey MDF, Plas & Ply gained an average of eight days more blade life and six more regrinds - a total of 180 days of work from a single blade compared with 24 from the company’s previous blades.
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hen MFC starts to chip during sizing, a whole range of production, rectification, time and cost issues follow. “Toward the end of their lives, you're changing saw blades on a daily basis for frequent sharpening,” says Terry Stephens, Managing Director of decorative board specialists Mersey MDF, Plas & Ply. “You need that clean edge on the product but with the downtime it gets costly very quickly,” Six months ago, Leitz Tooling's Technical Sales Representative for the North West visited the Liverpool-based company to discuss how tooling from Leitz could help its production. While material chipping is a widespread problem experienced by most manufacturers using MFC, it is one of many production issues for which Leitz Tooling offers solutions. Such is
FURNITURE JOURNAL NOVEMBER 2015 • 43 Mersey MDF Plas & Ply was founded as Mersey Timber in 1919, and Managing Director Terry Stephens bought it 30 years ago. Working nationwide, the company supplies cut and edged MFC from stock and to specification for trade customers from the kitchen and bedroom fitting industry. Their online business has been successful from when it launched two years ago, building from one delivery a week to currently over a hundred.
de runner Leitz's confidence in its high quality BS EN847 1-3 manufactured tooling that it offered to install a set of saw blades at Mersey MDF, Plas & Ply on a free of charge/pay on results basis. “Leitz gave me numbers for the life and performances of the saws that I thought were impossible,” said Terry. “I simply didn't believe it - but we lost nothing by trying.” In fact, in this particular case Leitz's saw blades ran for 10 days between sharpening, saving the company significant amounts of money. “Leitz's tooling technology is very good,” confirmed Terry. “With four beam saws and three edgebanders, as well as other machines, and a thriving trade and online business, we can't afford for poor tooling to spoil the product, affect our production schedule and end up costing us time and money. The tooling changes we've made with Leitz have saved us tens of thousands of pounds. That's well worth a bit more for the tool in the first place.” So what were the savings for Mersey MDF, Plas & Ply?
For an extra £20 per blade, Terry gained an average of eight days more blade life and six more regrinds - a total of 180 days of work from a single blade compared with 24 from his previous blades. That’s impressive, you have to agree. Brian Maddox, Leitz Tooling’s Sales Manager, adds, “Just looking at the average blade life, you can immediately see that here the average Leitz saw blade is running five times longer than their previous make of saw blade. This means five times less sharpening costs, five times fewer tool changes, five times fewer lots of expensive downtime - the list goes on. Yes, Leitz saw blades cost a little more, but they're not five times more expensive. “The results are different for each business but customers continue to prove to us that buying cheap tools is a huge drain on their businesses. With our tools and support, they can get the right finish on the material first time, and in many cases save extraordinary amounts of money. “We know our Razor-Cut (finish cut) saw blades are
among the best available, and a trial with our saw blades can make a huge difference in downtime and setting time, duration and quality,” continued Brian, citing the rigorous BS EN847 1-3 test standard for accuracy and safety as proof of the prolonged life of the tool and its significant impact on the longevity of the machines it is used with. “Our tools give an excellent finish on most materials, which mean less sanding and rectification, less coating and ultimately, lower labour costs. “Companies can become fixated on the purchase price of tools but correct quality tools can have a fantastic, positive impact on other costs. Quality service back up and monitoring is also crucial to reducing overall costs.” Leitz Tooling is encouraging more manufacturers to contact them about production problems so they can demonstrate the full range of Leitz solutions. To try Leitz tooling for yourself, email salesuk@leitz.org, or call Leitz UK on 01279 454530.
ac ne o m h s p ma n h • ne ho m ch e s a in h m hi sh p • ac ine ho • m ch e s op ma chi s p a o h • e c ac ne o m h s p i n h • c ne o m h e o m h s a p i h • p in h m hi sh • ac ne o m ch s p i s a n o a h • e c ac ne o m h s p i h • e ne o m ch s o m h s a p i h • p i ho m hi sh • ac ne o m ch s p i n h a n a • ch e o ac ne o m h s p i h • e c n p m i sh a o h p i m h • e s c h m i sh • ac ne o m h s p in h • ne o a a n ac e o m h s p in h • c e op m ch s a m hi sh p • ac ine ho • m ch e s op ma hin sh • ac in ho ac ne o m h s p in h • c e op m hi e s a m hi sh p • ac ine ho • m ch e s op ma hin sh • ac ne ho ac ne o m h s p in h • c e op m hi sh a m hi sh p • ac ine ho • m ch e s op ma hin sh • ac ne op ac ne o m h s p in h • c e op m hi sh a m hi sh p • ac ine ho • m ch e s op ma hin sh • ac ne op ac ne o m h s p in h • c e op m hi sh a m hi sh p • ac ine ho • m ch e s op ma hin sh • ac ne op ac ne o m h s p in h • c e op m hi sh a m hi sh p • ac ine ho • m ch e s op ma hin sh • ac ne op ac ne o m h s p in h • c e op m hi sh a m hi sh p • ac ine ho • m ch e s op ma hin sh • ac ne op o h ac ne o m h s p i m h • e s c n p a i h o h n p i m h • e s a h c n o m i sh • ac e o m h s p i h • e c n p a o h ac ne o m h s p i m h • e s c ne o m h s p a in h p i h • a h c n op m i sh • ac e o m h s p i h • e c n a n o h 44 • FURNITURE JOURNAL NOVEMBER 2015
JJO’s Anthon
JJO plc has invested £500k in an Anthon panel sizing line to further improve efficiency within its manufacturing facility. The Anthon is capable of cutting eight sheets at a time, processing a pack of 10’ x 5’ (2950 x 2070) boards in fifteen minutes and increasing output by around 40%. It also makes savings on extraction as well as saw blades - and the machine, which requires only three operatives, only runs when panel cutting is required, making it eco friendly. For more information on Anthon call 0116 243 2181.
Holzma: new Batch Size One Just a few weeks before Ligna, Holzma announced the launch of what it claims is a world-first that revolutionises the cutting process in order-related manufacturing - the HPS 320 flexTec. In this smart cutting cell, the German company has implemented a concept that takes part transfer in customised production to a completely new level and allows fully automated processes, saving time and material and reducing costs. The HPS 320 flexTec completes individual cutting processes in mass production style - without manual handling and at speed. This is achieved
by fully automated cycles and a part transfer system that is individually tailored to the respective production process and the material to be cut. Other features include a small footprint and a low maintenance requirement, which results in significantly higher availability. The HPS 320 flexTec completes multiple recuts automatically, flexibly and without limitations, simultaneously reducing the amount of waste incurred in Batch Size One production. For more details contact Holzma Plattenaufteiltechnik GmbH or visit www.holzma.com
Digital Barberán line A new Barberán Jetmaster 1260 has just been commissioned at the Spanish company Barinsa and it’s already producing single pass digital printing. The Jetmaster 1260, delivered to Santa Barberan in the Tarragona region, is the fourth in Spain and the sixth in the world of this type, joining Barberán installations in Brazil, Russia, USA, Belgium and Australia. Some of these single pass industrial digital printing lines will print materials of up to 2200mm in width. Designed for printing on rigid substrates and perfect for producing murals, decorative panels, furniture and advertising hoardings, the Jetmaster 1260 digital printer heads work without any contact between substrate and surface, providing a print width up to 1260mm at a maximum speed of 55m/min, depending on the design characteristics. This equates to printing almost 3200m2 of high quality boards per hour. Barberán’s digital printer can be equipped with six colours - CMYK, Light Cyan and Light Magenta - to manage an extraordinary balance of colour with the most natural colour reproduction. The result, says Barberán, is higher optical resolution with better defined light shades as well as softer transition from one colour to another. The Jetmaster works with UV inks that allow excellent dot expansion control and three different dot sizes. Four gray scales are available for sharper, brighter prints and vivid colours. Barinsa’s Jetmaster 1260 digital printer includes in-line primer and a UV top coat application stations that turn it into an all-in-one solution for surface treatment, printing and finishing. In addition to the Jetmaster line, Barinsa has acquired an advanced digital design environment that will allow the company to reproduce existing textures and materials as well as their own collections. The entire facility was designed and built by Barberán SA. Details of other Barberán equipment and service can be found at www.barberan.com
m i h • c e o m h s p ho n p a h m i sh • ac ne o m h s p i ho • ch e p n a n ac e o m h s p in h • c e p m i sh a m hi sh p • ac ine ho • m ch e s op ma hin sh • ac ne op o h ac ne o m h s p i m h • e sh c n p a i o h n p m hi sh • ac ine ho • m ch e s p ma in sh • ac e op o h ac ne o m h s p i m h • e sh c n p a i o h n m hi sh p • ac ine ho • m ch e s p ma in sh • ac e op o h ac ne o m h s p i m h • e sh c n p a i o h m hi sh p • ac ine ho • m ch e s p ma in sh • ac ne op o h ac ne o m h s p i m h • e sh c n p a i o h m hi sh p • ac ine ho • m ch e s p ma in sh • ac ne op o h ac ne o m h s p i m h • e sh c n p a i o h m hi sh p • ac ine ho • m ch e s p ma in sh • ac ne op o h ac ne o m h s p i m h • e sh c n p a i o h m hi sh p • ac ine ho • m ch e s p ma in sh • ac ne op o hi s ac ne o m h s p i m h • e c n p a h o h n p i m h • e s a h c op m i sh • ac ne o m h s p i h • e c n a ac ne o m h s p in h • c e op m hi sh a m hi sh p • ac ine ho • m ch e s op ma hin sh • ac ne op ac ne o m h s p in h • c e op m hi sh a m hi sh p • ac ine ho • m ch e s op ma hin sh • ac ne op ac ne o m h s p in h • c e op m hi sh a m hi sh p • ac ine ho • m ch e s op ma hin sh • ac ne op ac ne o m h s p in h • c e op m hi sh a m hi sh p • ac ine ho • m ch e s op ma hin sh • ac ne op ac ne o m h s p a in h • c e op m hi sh Martyn Catchpole, 24, who’s studying MA Product Design at Nottingham Trent University, is 3D printing nylon lattices as an environmentally friendly alternative to polyurethane foam and springs which could call time on traditional spring-based furniture. The lattices – which can be custom made to reflect varying levels of comfort - can withstand compression as similar to metal springs. When the product is ready to be disposed of, the lattices can be removed and melted down, to be re-used as 3D printing material again. “A lattice of this type cannot be made from a mould,” says Martyn. “To make it correctly, it has to be 3D printed.” Find out more about the technology from Chris Davison at Nottingham Trent University: 0115 84 88215.
Kircaldy-based EPS Services & Tooling Ltd, continues to establish a strong reputation for precision saw servicing for the Scottish timber market using a range of new Vollmer CNC machinery. EPS has seen growth of over 30% in the last 24 months and turnover has more than trebled since 2011. In the last four years, EPS has acquired five new machines from Vollmer including two RC automatic levelling & tensioning machines, a Vollmer RC100 and an RC110 CNC.
EPS has also installed two Vollmer profile grinding machines, a CA200 and a CA210. Mr Steve Goodlad from EPS commented: "The two Vollmer CNC profiling machines are 'wet' grinding machines. This allows us to program up to 100 different tooth geometries on our stellite tipped saws and this is of real significance. The combination of CNC wet grinding our blades and the CNC levelling and tensioning will improve blade service life and performance for our customers." Call 01592 654990.
The new Makita DHS680 165mm cordless circular saw benefits from a Brushless motor which, with a 4.0Ah 18v Li-ion battery, produces 680 watts of motor power that will run the 165mm blade up to 5,000rpm without load. This saw also features the Automatic Speed Control that matches the cutting speed ideally to the load condition for optimum cutting performance. Also included in this high specification tool is the soft-start function normally found in mains machines: electric safety brake, electronic current limiter, twin LED job light and battery fuel gauge. A new larger base plate enhances operational stability with multi-angle selection. Maximum cutting depth at 90° is 57mm, 41mm at 45° and 37mm at 50°. A large lock-off lever fixes the cutting angle. In operation, a blower function blows sawdust off the cutting line for a clear view of the blade path. Makita advises that a rear dust port should be connected to the dust extraction system. For more information about Makita visit www.makitauk.com
USING SPACE INTELLIGENTLY MEANS RETHINKING CORNERS. Although many kitchens all over the world are designed around corners, the existing storage space is often not utilised to its full potential, and is neglected or even completely ignored. Vauth-Sagel thinks differently, Vauth-Sagel thinks innovatively: with our CORNERSTONE system solutions, we bring the corner unit out of the corner. CORNERSTONE moves the entire contents in front of the unit, unlocking completely new possibilities: Since so much storage space can now be reached with one easy movement, the corner unit is turned into the kitchen’s new centrepiece.
RETHINKING THE CORNER. CORNERSTONE. The new corner unit solutions by Vauth-Sagel.
Scan and discover CORNERSTONE
Available from
www.hafele.co.uk