MAR/APR 2019
W O O D W O R K I N G DESIGN + MATERIALS + TECHNOLOGY
H E A D T U R N I N G S O P H I S T I C AT I O N
WIN A TRIP TO EUROPE & THE AUSTRIAN GRAND PRIX One entry for every 100 sets of Scala drawers purchased from Häfele with a maximum of one entry per month TRIP INCLUDES: • 2x Grandstand tickets to The Austrian Formula One Grand Prix • 2x Business class return Airfares to Austria
• 1 weeks accommodation • Tour of the Grass factory • Transfers
*Please visit www.hafele.com.au to view the Terms and conditions
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Contents News
Publisher’s Note
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Welcome to our first edition of Supplier Magazine for 2019.
New Biesse campus unveiled
Technology 20
Robotics in the furniture industry
Profile 24
Profile on Fraser Killen – Panel Tools Online
Finance 35
Finance for profit
Interview 36
Vit Kafka
Overseas News 42
SCM’s “Smart&Human Factory” event
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You will notice the magazine has been re designed and now has a new updated look and feel. In this issue, editor Philip Ashley reports on the Ligna Preview Press Conference he attended, and also reports on what to expect from the forthcoming Ligna and Interzum fairs. He gives an insight into the new technology, innovations and breakthroughs that will be on display at these world renowned events. We also bring you a full report on the official opening of the new Biesse Campus in Sydney which certainly sets the benchmark for the industry, as well as news on the SCM open house in Italy which focused on the “Smart&Human Factory” model. We put the Spotlight on Robotics in furniture production, as well as our usual round up of news and new products.
Interzum preview
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Ligna preview
If you would like to be part of Supplier Magazine, just email me at Vicky.cammiade@ elitepublishing.com.au.
Front Cover Dorset Australia www.dorsetaustralia.com.au
Supplier March/April 2019
Vicky Cammiade Publisher
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News
Multicam - Sponsoring our Future Engineers Earlier this year Multicam CNC Routing Systems provided sponsorship to Mount View High School team IMPRO, to assist them in taking part in the F1 (Formula 1) in Schools STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) competition. Team IMPRO is the only all girl team in the competition and have already proven themselves to be talented and dedicated in their bid to become victorious nationally. Multicam has a long association with schools, colleges, universities and trade training facilities throughout Australia and are especially pleased to see these talented young ladies taking on engineering and manufacturing subjects, in what are primarily male dominated vocations. During the sponsorship presentation, Stephen Heusz,
from Multicam head office in Newcastle, was given an extensive tour of the team’s facilities and an in-depth explanation of the teams’ efforts and goals.
the students an appreciation and feel for real-world manufacturing processes as well as an understanding of what is involved in completing a team-based mission.
The F1 in Schools challenge is the world’s largest secondary school STEM competition where teams design, manufacture and race miniature F1 racing cars over a fixed distance. The cars are conceived and designed using industry standard CAD/CAM software and produced using CNC machinery.
As well as physically producing their race entries, competitors must also create a team identity (just as F1 racing teams do) including logo, branding, marketing and set up a trade booth display showcasing the team and it’s F1 entry. At all stages, individual portfolios are maintained by the team members, the quality of which goes a long way to accruing competition points. It’s not all about the race.
Once designed and software tested to satisfaction, the students then 3D machine the car body, 3D print some of the aerodynamic structures, assemble, paint and prove their creations in wind and smoke tunnels and on test tracks. The process gives
As a result of their recent other successes, team IMPRO has been selected to represent NSW at the F1 in Schools National Finals in Melbourne. If they are victorious, the next
Above: Stephen Heusz with students from Mount View High School Supplier March/April 2019
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step will be to compete at the forthcoming international competition. Australia has a tradition of success on the global stage, with team Horizon from Adelaide being victorious in 2018. “The excitement amongst the girls for this competition is evident in every aspect of what they are doing to achieve success at the finals.” said Mr Heusz. “In fact, the whole school is focussed on providing every opportunity for success, with an emphasis on the learning process and what skills the team members will gain in participating and take in to their future lives.” Mr Heusz added that “The professionalism of team IMPRO is something of which they should be very proud. By drawing on the guidance of their F1 in Schools Coordinator and being mentored by members of previous teams, the team realises that success can be achieved by recognising the value of utilising any resource at their disposal.”
Multicam is proud to be associated with Mount View High School and the F1 in Schools Challenge. “We know that by providing support at the grass roots level in engineering and manufacturing, our
country stands a better chance of remaining competitive in a global environment by encouraging talented people to develop the skills necessary in all aspects of manufacturing.” said Mr Heusz. ❚
ACFA to provide a united voice In a move that is set to strengthen the industry, the Furnishing Industry Association of Australia Ltd (FIAA) and the Cabinet Makers and Designers Association (CMDA) of Victoria have announced their upcoming merger. The new association will be known as the Australian Cabinet and Furniture Association (ACFA).
Supplier March/April 2019
ACFA represent members from the furnishing, cabinetmaking, kitchen and joinery industries. The association speaks as a united voice on behalf of the industry to the community, consumers and all levels of Government. It ensures the best interests of the industry are at the forefront of decisions being made across Australian Standards, licensing structure, insurance and regulation.
This is an exciting development that will positively impact the professionalism of the industry and the industry’s ability to advocate, present a positive outlook to consumers and speak as a single voice on issues that affect the industry. The merger will create prosperous future for members and the industry. ❚
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News
Big River Group expands into Victoria with MB Prefab acquisition As of the 3rd of December 2018, the Big River Group has acquired the assets and trading business of M.B. Prefab Framing Pty Ltd (MB Prefab), in Geelong, Victoria. MB Prefab is the 14th distribution site for the company, following four other business acquisitions during 2017. It is a key step in Big River’s continued expansion into the major population centres of Australia, and will enable them to directly supply the trade segment of the building and construction industry in this area.
in the prefabrication market, a growing trend in construction design.
Big River owns and manages 14 sales and distribution outlets in areas including Sydney, Gold Coast, Brisbane, Sunshine Coast, Townsville, Illawarra, Geelong, Melbourne, Hume (ACT), Adelaide and Perth. The Company also owns and operates manufacturing facilities at Grafton and Wagga Wagga in NSW.
“This highly regarded local business will become an important part of the Big River network,” says Jim Bindon, CEO of Big River Group. “The site is very well equipped to supply the broader range of products marketed by Big River Group into all construction segments of the Geelong and broader Melbourne markets.”
Acquiring MB Prefab not only gives Big River a market position in the growing Geelong region, it also provides strategic positioning
MB Prefab has a long trading history in the Geelong market, having been established over 40 years ago. Doug Maxwell, one of the
founders of MB Prefab, will remain with the business in an operational role, and all staff will be retained as part of the transition into the Big River group. Big River Group has been operating for over 100 years, manufacturing and distributing timber and steel formwork products, timber flooring, building products, structural plywood and related timber products. It also distributes a broad range of other building products, including MaxiWall and MaxiFloor, primarily to the commercial, residential and infrastructure construction market segments. ❚
20th Australian Timber Design Awards 2019 The Australian Timber Design Awards, celebrating their twentieth year, are distinguished by a proud heritage of innovation and achievement. They promote and encourage outstanding timber design. The awards are open to builders, designers, architects, engineers and landscapers - to anyone involved in the design or building of structures that feature timber. A Rising Star Award is available to students and entrants aged 35 or under.
Supplier March/April 2019
This competition offers a unique system for professionals in the building environment and students to showcase their outstanding application of timber-based design in their built projects. The awards also provide an online showcase system for competition participants.
Entries open: 11th February 2019 Entries close: 28th June 2019 Judging period: July 2019 People’s choice voting: August to September 2019 Presentation dinner: Mid October 2019 in Melbourne
Winners are featured permanently on the Australian Timber Design website. Runners up and all participants will be acknowledged in the yearly Awards e-Book.
For further information visit www.timberdesignawards.com.au ❚
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Win a trip to Austria with Nova Pro Scala In 2018 Häfele brought you the all-new Nova Pro Scala drawer range from their partners at Grass. Fitted with softclose, smooth runners and elegant drawer sides it was always going to be everything you needed in a drawer. So to celebrate the success of Grass’ Nova Pro Scala range in Australia, Häfele and Grass have partnered together to bring you the giveaway of the year.
From now until December 31st 2019 you will have the chance to enter the draw to win grandstand tickets to the Austrian Grand Prix for yourself and a friend.
included return business class airfares, a week’s accommodation and all transfers. You’ll even get an exclusive tour of the Grass factory in Austria.
Häfele have this great prize on offer exclusively for Nova Pro Scala drawers when you purchase 100 sets.
Make 2019 the year you say ‘yes please’ to your chance for a European Holiday.
We know that this prize is pretty good, but to make it even more worth your while we’ve
(Terms and Conditions apply. For more information or to order your Scala drawers visit the hafele website) ❚
Happy news for LEUCO In June 2018, as part of the festive gala held in the Technology Museum in Berlin, the winners of the German Innovation Award were honoured for the first time, in front of more than 250 invited guests from business, politics and the media.
“Coming home with not one but two awards given out by a top-class, industryneutral jury at the German Innovation Awards Ceremony confirms our power of innovation” explains LEUCO CEO Frank Diez with a broad smile.
On this evening, LEUCO received two awards in the ‘Excellence in Business to Business (B2B)’ category in the ‘Machines & Engineering’ field. One award for its innovative LEUCO p-System wood processing cutter and the other for the diamond-tipped saw blade LEUCO nn-System.
The assessment criteria of the German Innovation Award covers factors such as level of innovation; user benefit and costeffectiveness; economic sustainability and the use of energy and resources. ❚
Supplier March/April 2019
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FOR SALE
A HIGHLY PROFITABLE JOINERY BUSINESS.
A change of pace Every now and then comes an opportunity that seems almost too good to be true, but it could be just the thing that you are looking for. In the Southern Highland region of New South Wales an existing business opportunity is becoming available. The owner for the last 30-years is retiring and wants the successful joinery business to continue, producing custom built high end domestic joinery. This is a business that is well-known and respected and would suit an operator looking to build a lifestyle in this very beautiful part of Australia. With house prices in Sydney averaging $1.14 million and Melbourne almost $900,000 there is plenty of opportunity to obtain a very comfortable property in the Southern Highlands for around $600,000 giving you a great start. Couple that with a profitable business suiting up to four persons with a substantial amount of future projects already in place for 2019. The current owner of the business is offering a handover period to ensure a smooth transition for the new owner. The workshop is large and has a comprehensive range of equipment, tools and working stock of everyday items such as hardware and board of all types and thicknesses. Long term clients are aware the business is to be sold and support the change, mostly due to the age of the existing owner. This is a unique opportunity for someone or a couple in their mid-thirties and upward, with some experience running a business or someone with drive and ambition. A cabinet making or joinery background would be essential as the work is varied and interesting. All the hard work is done and everything is in place for the right person to continue on. The jobs are mostly local and there are long term existing business relationships with some of the biggest and best custom builders in the area. It’s an established business that, in many ways, could be a blank canvas for someone to grow the business. If you are looking for a change of pace, you will not be disappointed. FOR CONFIDENTIAL DETAILS
Contact Vicky Cammiade at Supplier magazine 03 9890 0815 or email vicky.cammiade@elitepublishing.com.au
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Grand Prize Winners of the 2018 Corian Design Awards
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he Corian® Design Awards for outstanding design, recognises local designers for the creative use of Corian in their field of expertise. The designer of the grand prize winning projects will win a trip to Japan to visit the Corian production facility, as well as ultimate bragging rights! Australia’s design and architectural communities came together to celebrate the best Corian designed homes, installations, hospital spaces, furniture and education spaces. Ten projects were shortlisted.
The minimalist approach, brings a sense of inclusiveness and warmness to the overall design,” were descriptions used by the judging panel regarding some of the entries in the Design Awards for Outstanding Design.
As the name suggests Furling is a work that captures the flip and flow of a sail as it is either gathered in - when bringing a boat to harbour, or released - as a ship makes sail for a new destination.
We have seen designers pushing the limits of Corian across all categories and the innovative and imaginative use of the material to enhance and elevate key design elements creating unique and thought provoking appeal.
Capturing the implied kinetic energy of this transitory moment required a unique type of material that could give a high degree of freeform manipulation, to create complex fluid curvatures, whilst not needing an overly intricate framework to hold the shape. Through research and intensive conversations with CASF Australia, regarding the material specifications and capabilities davisthomas decided on Corian.
And the winners are: Furling - Designed by davisthomas
“The use of Corian used throughout this project showcases not only the craftsmanship, but the ability to push this material to its limits. Imagination is evident throughout the design aesthetic.
Furling is a large-scale sculptural artwork inspired by the nautical history of the wharf’s industry and leisure sailing of the Brisbane River and Mary Street area.
“Corian made this project possible. The flexibility of the material’s thermoforming capabilities combined with the near seamless
Below: Furling
Supplier March/April 2019
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bonding capability of the joint adhesive allowed us to produce 9m linear planks that flow and glide up the side of the wall. Creating a majestic, dynamic sculptural artwork with a high quality finish,” said Lubi Thomas and Adrian Davis. Tweed Terrace - Designed by Raunik Design Group Tweed Terrace House challenges typical Gold Coast architecture. Comprised of two pods, the unique home was conceived by Mexican architect Javier Senosiain and was made a reality by Raunik Design Group. The process has taken over 3 years but has resulted in a home that is now a local landmark. Corian has allowed a seamless, curved and organic finish. The colour selections have been made mindfully to suit the rooms and their purpose. The bathrooms see Antarctica finished to a gloss level for the curved vanity tops with integrated basins yet a smooth, matte finish for the bed surround and shelves, evoking a sense of calm in Glacier White. Technically, the designs have called for an expert fabricator with complex curves and thermoforming throughout. Prototypes were made to really test the material performance as well as ergonomics and depths of basins. The resulting installation is of impeccable quality with the client exceptionally pleased with the finished home.
Above: Tweed Terrace “We wanted a product that looks like it flows with the curved walls and emerge from the wall. We wanted it to have its own form and dissipate in its own way.” – Scott Bowden, Project Leader, Raunik Design Group. The winners and highly commended shortlisted projects are all featured in the
CASF website. Finalists will receive editorial and global exposure via the DuPont Network. Entries for the 2019 Corian Design Awards are now open. Visit the CASF website for more information about the Awards and to enter your design. ❚
3d Kitchen software – winners announced The long-time partnership with 3d kitchen software and Supplier magazine, has for many years given the opportunity to cabinetmakers throughout the country to enter into an official “draw” for the chance to win a fabulous 3d software package.
Supplier March/April 2019
Supplier and 3d congratulate the following winning companies:• Lifestyle Cabinet QLD • Daztan Kitchens NSW • Vineyard Joinery NSW • Furness cabinetmaking NSW
• Richview Corporation Pty Ltd – T/A Paramount Cabinets WA For your chance to win a 3d software package just go to page 41 for all the entry details. ❚
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Biesse Group Sydney Campus
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he word ‘campus’ means pretty much the same in English and Italian; it’s a collection of buildings that belong to a given institution, mostly academic. It’s a place of learning, a place, in the case of Biesse Group, where customers can go to learn about modern manufacturing in an age where change is the norm. Albert Einstein once said, ‘In order to maintain balance, first it is necessary to move’ and it is in that context that Biesse Group Marketing and Communications Manager Raphael Prati says, “It is actions that prevent us from excess and keeps us on the straight and narrow. In fact, it is our ability to change that allows us to maintain our equilibrium” Following closely on the heels of the Barcelona campus last September and before the opening of their thirteenth campus in Ulm, Germany in September; Biesse Group opened their new campus in Sydney in late February this year. True to the name, some of the first people to come through the new facility were students from
TAFE NSW who were enthralled with the capabilities of one of the leading suppliers to Australia’s building; wood and furniture industries through a range of machines and equipment capable of manufacturing in a wide and increasing range of materials. One student was heard to say “Wow, I never knew machines like this existed.”
Above: (L-R) Raphael Prati, Federico Broccoli, The Honourable Natasha Maclaren-Jones MLC, Michael Bullock & Diane Tannous Supplier March/April 2019
Opening the new facility was The Honourable Natasha Maclaren-Jones MLC and Government Whip in the Legislative Council. She congratulated Biesse Group on twenty-five years in Australia; supporting local business which is the backbone of our economy. She said government should get out of the way of business and let them get on with their job, congratulating Biesse Group for the new facility and what it means to the industry. Also, in attendance and speaking at the opening were Arturo Arcano, Consulate General of Italy; Chris Hookham of ASOFIA and Shayne Fagan of TAFE NSW. Michael Bullock, General Manager Biesse Group Australia MC’d the opening ceremony. Federico Broccoli is Biesse Group Wood Division Director and said the Sydney campus is “The third largest showroom in the world behind Italy and USA. Biesse in Australia got off to a great start with Allwood; we had instant success and Australia is one of the few countries in the world where saying ‘I need a Biesse’ means ‘I need a CNC machine;’ such is the power of the Biesse 16
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customers don’t just buy machines, they buy the support, the training, the parts and the spirit of the company.”
Above: Broccoli and Prati brand in this country. Federico revealed that the plan for a Sydney campus was realised three years ago but that the journey is far from over, with more planned for the new Australian facility. The Sydney campus is not just another showroom; it’s a new customer-focused concept designed to enhance their client’s experience. Called Biesse/Intermac Campus; it is equipped with classrooms for training; a dedicated software space; fully operational showroom and a service and spare parts area. This allows Biesse Group wood; stone; glass and advanced materials divisions to offer a comprehensive sales and service experience to their customers that meets all their needs. In Sydney there is a fulltime campus manager with over 20-years of experience. Australian General Manager Michael Bullock said, “We’re already developing training programs that we will present to our customers, but we’re also looking to develop the skill level of our own technicians and this will happen here in Sydney and in Italy.” Biesse Group’s mission is to stay close to their customers and investments close to where the machines are sold is critical to that goal. Not a campus, but another subsidiary was
Supplier March/April 2019
recently opened near Milan in Italy’s north. Very few companies supplying equipment in the fields Biesse Group operate in make the investments made by Biesse Group over the last five years. It’s an ambitious undertaking but one that is essential to stay close to their customers. Federico says, “One way we develop our machines is by listening to our customers; when they bring their own materials; their own ideas; prototypes and designs to our showroom, we start to see new applications and our campus becomes an extension of Biesse’s R&D department. Our
Of the new Sydney campus, Federico said, “If you don’t train your people you cannot become a leader in your field. What you invest in your people, the return is at least three or four times. Even with the new 4.0 manufacturing; with robotics and with our ‘Automaction’ you still need people. Biesse is a H to H company, human to human and whatever technology we embrace, we will always be H to H. Even though our annual sales are a Billion Australian dollars, our R&D department is always busy looking at what our customers want; what they need. We re-invest four percent of our sales into making our machines even better every year.” In Sydney Biesse Group have made an investment in their Australian operations. The facility was the result of a $1.7 million investment by Biesse Group and the machinery on display at the opening had a sales value of three million dollars. In addition, around five million dollars in parts is in stock. Raphael said, “While our commitment isn’t measured in dollars and
Above: Biesse CNC www.suppliermagazine.com.au
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Above: Stone processing cents, it’s still an indication of what we are prepared to invest in a country that was very good to us when John Cover and Jake Martin brought our first machines to Australia with the Allwood distributorship in the 1980’s.” Federico added, “When Roberto Selci started coming here in the early 1980’s when he was still in university, he became emotionally attached to this country. Here it’s not about how many sales we make, although we are the top-selling supplier of wood working machines here; it’s the emotional attachment we have with this country. You may be the furthest subsidiary of the Biesse Group, but you are the closest emotionally.”
Biesse Group 50 years The opening of the Sydney campus is part of Biesse Group’s 50th anniversary celebrations. Roberto Selci CEO is the son of Giancarlo Selci, founder of Biesse Group. Late last year he said, “We have decided to dedicate our 50year anniversary celebrations to the future, through a programme of activities which will be rolled out throughout 2019. More specifically, ‘Future in Tour’ will launch in January, a programme of celebratory events to mark the company’s birthday with our
Supplier March/April 2019
Above: Phil Ashley with Raphael Prati of Biesse at the Ligna preview in Hannover customers throughout the world, beginning in Pesaro in January at the Biesse Group Headquarters and ending in Russia in December 2019, after a total of 18 events in 15 countries. The programme also includes three Grand Openings to inaugurate new Campus sites in various locations across the globe including Sydney Australia, as well as a very special edition of LIGNA 2019.” Of Biesse Group’s 50-years Federico said in Sydney that “We are working very hard
to make the company grow even more, we are not done yet.” He said that 50-years for a company started by a man who used to make motorcycle parts is a big event, but that the founder, Giancarlo Selci still comes in to the company almost every day. Selci is a perfectionist who regularly goes into the factory to check the machines and sometimes he can be found just standing there, listening to the noise. A founder still going into workshops after 50-years is not common, such is the commitment of people
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automated production line in Australia and manufactures batch-of-one kitchens,” he said. Apollo Kitchens is named after the moon landings and this is about the time the company started, much like a lot of other businesses, in George and Peter Bader’s back yard.
The ‘Tour”
Above: Biesse ‘rayforce’ at Biesse Group. Giancarlo said, “It is crucial that we listen to everyone, focusing on engaging and motivating every employee, from our manual workers to the Executive Director. Everyone must focus on doing what they are best at, and we must help each other to continue to grow and improve. And we can only do this well if we do it together.” Last year Biesse Group purchased land to build a new factory to support their move into the wooden housing market. In British Columbia in Canada and the regions in the west of the USA like Seattle and Portland and in Australia in Melbourne and Sydney, new housing is being built from wood that includes CLT panels. In Australia you can build to nine storeys in wooden construction and CNC machinery figures predominantly in the processing of parts for these buildings.
The purpose of Biesse Group’s 50th anniversary is to celebrate this occasion with their customers. Raphael says, “This is really a tour where we travel around the World to celebrate with our customers this important milestone. Our single common denominator is looking towards our future.” Supplier’s Phil Ashley caught up with Raphael in Hannover early this year at the Ligna preview conference. Raphael explained, “This year we will present three main technical innovations at the Ligna fair in May. The first is a new system to apply an edge on a curved panel. Like the air-force system for straight edge banding with zero glue line, the new ray-force system will apply an edge to a curved edge on a Rover B or C edge machine. Its revolutionary nature is based on an incomparable technique which
uses infrared lamps to fuse the reactive layer of special zero-edge tape. The second innovation is a robotic loading of the beam saw and this allows mass production with customisation.” “The third innovation is an entry-level edge bander that should do well in the Australian market. It takes the technology from our bigger machines and makes this available to a wider range of customers. The new Akron 1100 is the only technology on the market offering high-level components like the ROTAX motors made by HSD; the leading manufacturer in its sector, and solutions that ensure painstaking attention to detail to guarantee the quality of the product. Suction for panel cleaning; a removable glue unit vat for optimum finishing; a rigid structure and linear guides with ball blocks to ensure precision; these are just some of the features that reveal the outstanding engineering that has gone into this machine. In addition, the machine itself is extremely compact, taking up the minimum space in the production area,” Raphael concludes. No doubt about it, Biesse Group’s 50th anniversary ‘tour’ is off and running in Sydney, Australia. ❚
Below: Biesse Akron 1011
Kitchen cabinets are of course machined on 50% of the machines sold by Biesse Group. Federico announced that in Sydney, a fully automated line of some ten million dollars of Biesse Group machinery and equipment has been installed at Apollo Kitchens. “This is the second-biggest and most-sophisticated
Supplier March/April 2019
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Technology
Robotics in the Furniture Industry Below: Robots unload a Biesse Viet sander
According to the International Federation of Robotics; in 2017 there were 2.1 million industrial robots in the World. With a lifespan of something in the order of 25 years; that equates to almost 96 billion hours of human work!
That was fifteen years ago in the furniture industry! The joke about the factory with no workers except a dog to guard the premises, and a man to feed the dog is becoming all too true.
a small company in Switzerland was using a robot to load small furniture parts for children’s chairs onto a CNC machine. The robot and machine ran 24/7 and even went so far as to change blunt tools when this was needed. If the system broke down for some reason after-hours when there was no-one there, the owner would get a text message.
Furniture manufacturing is one of these niche industries that has not traditionally been a major user of robots but offers significant opportunity for robot technology suppliers and integrators, and numerous advantages to the user. Much of the panel processing industry is still very labour intensive. The use of automated robotics in the furniture industry is relatively small when compared to other industries, but the opportunities are compelling. Industrial robots are on the verge of revolutionizing furniture manufacturing as they are now noticeably more intelligent, quicker and less expensive. The earliest known industrial robot, conforming to the ISO definition was completed by “Bill” Griffith P. Taylor in 1937. The crane-like device was built almost entirely using Meccano parts, and powered
That staggering figure is based on a 38-hour working week. Double that if you have the automation to keep the robots working a double shift. Robots have transformed many industries including automotive manufacturing where 33% of the World’s industrial robots cut; press; fold; weld and paint most of the car body. Just one example of this common practice is the MINI factory in the UK which has a room with 1,000 robots and the only human presence is a guy on an electric scooter buzzing around the floor, doing maintenance. And it’s no different in the furniture industry either, especially overseas. Fifteen years ago
Supplier March/April 2019
Above: Robotic material handling from Wood Tech Group www.suppliermagazine.com.au
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NOVA PRO SCALA DRAWER SYSTEM
Inspiration in the right angle. Simple. Clear. Timeless.
Nova Pro Scala incorporates the best of Nova Pro. And much more besides! Elegant edge definition is a striking feature of Nova Pro Scala. The broad spectrum covered by the product range enables segmentation from the entrylevel version through to the premium segment and provides the individual styling option of designer panels which fit snugly on the drawer sides.
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Tavinea Sorto for Nova Pro Scala: Simple. Attractive. Tidy. Two frames units, one length divider. That’s all you need. The interior accessory system can be positioned and shifted at will within the drawer. Compartments are created exactly where you want them.
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Technology
by a single electric motor. The robot could stack wooden blocks in pre-programmed patterns. Industrial robotics took off quite quickly in Europe, with both ABB Robotics and KUKA Robotics bringing robots to the market in 1973. In 2017 almost 400,000 industrial robots are being added to the ‘workforce’ every year. Fanuc is only the 3rd largest manufacturer of industrial robots in the world but claims to build 6,000 to 11,000 robots a month.
Above: HOMAG Autonomous Cell
Left: Recent demonstration at SCM Teaching the robot positions may be achieved in several ways. The first is where the robot can be directed to the required position using a GUI or text-based commands in which the required X-Y-Z position may be specified and edited, much the same as programming a CNC machine. Another method is “lead-by-the-nose” and this is a technique offered by many robot manufacturers. In this method, one user holds the robot’s manipulator, while another person enters a command which de-energizes the robot causing it to go limp. The user then moves the robot by hand to the required positions and/or along a required path while the software logs these positions into memory. The program can later run the robot to these positions or along the taught path. This technique is popular for tasks such as paint spraying. Is it all bad news for human workers? Not according to a World Economic Forum study that forecasts 133 million new roles for humans that will replace the 75 million
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jobs lost as a result of robotics. The study finds that by 2025, robots will be doing 52% of all work tasks. “Robots are likely to have a bigger role in timber processing as they take over work that is dirty, dangerous or difficult” said Troy Krogh, regional director of Scott Automation & Robotics, at a Forest Industry Engineering Association conference in Melbourne last year. Troy continued “I look at it simply as the three D’s. Dirty, Dangerous or Difficult; if the work gets into one of those categories, well no one wants to do that! That’s the low-hanging fruit for automation,” he said. “Get people out of the dirty dangerous environment and get them in to better quality roles.” Several robotics solutions have been shown to the furniture industry over the past few years at trade fairs in Hannover (Ligna); Milan (Xylexpo) and Sydney (AWISA). Leading the industry has been the Homag Group although their preference for complete factory installations has them with an advantage. Biesse Group is another
company that has made significant strides into the field of robotics with stellar exhibits in Hannover and Milan. More recently, SCM Group has stamped their own mark with an impressive in-house presentation at their Rimini headquarters this year. And on a more local front, Wood Tech Group is clearly in the mix with an Australian designed and made robotic feeding system shown at last year’s AWISA in Sydney. Robots also contribute to the problem of an ageing population. The countries with the most robots per industrial worker are Japan; Germany, South Korea and Singapore and these countries have some of the oldest workforces in the World. Countries with more slowly ageing populations such as Britain and France have far fewer industrial robots per worker. MIT and Boston University studies indicate that a ten-point rise in ageing ratio equates to 0.9 extra robots per thousand workers. Robotic manufacturing solutions are available right here in Australia from several leading suppliers beyond those we have already mentioned. A recent installation of a fully automated Biesse Group production line at Apollo Kitchens in Sydney is only one of several major examples of furniture and cabinet manufacturers making the leap into the future. ❚
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W L O B N IL A A AV E
ACTIVE LID CLIP ‘N’ CLEAN TRAYS LARGE 35L BUCKETS
CR235
CONCELO BIN MODELS The 2 x 35L models of the award winning Concelo bin range are now available. Featuring the unique Active Lid system to control odours, and Clip’n’Clean trays, Concelo by Hideaway is the easiest bin in the world to keep looking and smelling clean. The CR235 is available in White and Cinder colours, and fits a 450mm cabinet to perfectly compliment any premium drawer system. Concelo is available from our distribution partners: Nover, Häfele and Galvin Hardware.
H I D E AWAY
COMPOSTABLE
BIN LINERS NEW from Hideaway, our Compostable Bin Liners are made from Corn Starch and are plastic free. They are engineered to be strong and durable for use in kitchen bins yet break down easily in a compost environment in 90 days and leave no harmful residue. Featuring convenient draw strings for easy disposal, Hideaway Liners are available in 2 sizes to suit 15/20L or 35/40L Hideaway Buckets.
Scan the QR code with your phone camera to learn more about Concelo. hideawaybins.com.au/concelo
hideawaybins.com.au/liners
24
Profile
Tooling, not just a cost Fraser Killen is a brilliant young man with the drive and passion that only youth can bring. With the backing of Accurate Australia, Fraser has founded Panel Tools Online, a supplier dedicated to growing your business. Fraser learnt about cutting tools with Accurate Australia, a privately-owned Australian supplier of cutting tools since 2001. He knows what makes a good cutting tool, having worked in the grinding shop and tool design areas of the business. And now, with the backing of Craig Honeyman from Accurate Australia, Fraser has cofounded Panel Tools Online with the aim of shaking up the CNC tooling industry with innovation and technology to further advance cabinet makers and shopfitters. Having achieved an OP1 (highest high school achievement in QLD), Fraser is now studying a double degree in mechanical engineering and business management at the prestigious University of Queensland. He is obsessed with technology and is determined to jolt the cabinet manufacturing industry into the future with an innovative approach to service. The online platform is just the beginning. He’s been travelling all over the country since Panel Tools Online Started and has noticed a trend. This is that so many cabinet makers, shopfitters and joiners are settling for what they’ve always had. Fraser says “They purchase a CNC machine which comes with a nifty nesting tool package and they continue on their merry
Supplier March/April 2019
Above: Fraser Killen way purchasing the same tools from the same people. The tools may be very good, but they can often be quite expensive.” Panel Tools Online supply the Xtreme blue titanium carbide cutters coated with a proprietary ultra-fine coating that Fraser says, “Makes the tool 40% harder and lasts twice as long as some other tools on the market.” “Ever heard of the lazy tax that plagues most Australians? Every year when it’s time to renew your car insurance, what do 85% of people do? Renew the same old average plan! “I guess I’m happy with whatever I’ve got. It’s too hard to switch.” There is always something better out there. Who’s considering ditching the big 4 banks? In my visits around Australia I’ve noticed that most people use the same tooling they have been using since they first bought their
machine years ago. They are not realising the full potential of their machinery and time, and it has nothing to do with buying the cheapest or the most expensive tool. It’s about buying the right tool.” Fraser says that even the biggest operators are so concerned with the upfront costs without any thought on the end-result. They are focusing on the cost of the tooling and not looking at the accumulating value of high-quality tooling in the correct application. This is something that the other 15% do so well. It is often the simple changes which allow you to ask a higher price for your product and a lot of it comes down to the amount you invest into the product. Tooling is part of the product. Think of it this way; would you buy the cheapest hinges, runners and colour board you could?
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25
Profile
So how do the other 15% think? They’re passionate about getting more volume; a smoother finish or better product and less operator downtime. They’re passionate about the efficiencies in their business, even bespoke, designer manufacturers such as Panache Kitchens in Glendenning use a dust and chip extraction tool to minimise the time spent cleaning between jobs. They refuse to accept a poor finish. Plywood furniture makers such as Oak & Hide in Yeerongpilly use an array of specialised roughing and finishing cutters to reduce the time spent sanding.
” There is always something better out there... In my visits around Australia I’ve noticed that most people use the same tooling they have been using since they first bought their machine years ago.”
They’re constantly introducing powerful innovations to reduce the time changing worn tools, lowering the time per sheet and increasing the life of their cutters. Kitchen Crew in Brendale introduced nano-tech titanium coated compression bits to cut 100% more boards per tool change and
save 20% on tooling. When these things are working against you, the loss in time and lost value in your product will amount to 3x more than you could ever spend on innovative and high-quality tooling. Fraser continues “So, what’s the first step to get out of the 85% and become one of the 15%? Benchmark yourself, quantify the key measures within your business. Delve deeper into what makes your business tick. How many sheets do you get out of a cutter? How long does it take to change a tool and adjust parameters? How quickly are you able to cut 1 board, 10 boards and 100 boards? When you know this, you can test other options and be able to answer with absolute certainty; did this improve our operation or not?” Fraser’s last piece of sound advice is a quote from Allen Iverson “When you are not practicing, someone else is getting better”. ❚
Power never looked so good. You can now have access to power points and USB sockets without compromising your design. Point Pod is an integrated and functional pop-up power outlet hidden within your bench top.
● INNOVATIVE DESIGN Modern, streamlined and simplistic design to blend into your bench top. ● EASY TO USE With one simple touch, the power appears from underneath your bench top. ● GREAT USE OF SPACE You can access up to three power sockets and two USB ports without taking up bench or wall space. ● CUSTOMISABLE Point Pod units can be customized to suit your design preferences and bench top specifications.
www.pointpod.com Ph: +617 3040 8280 E: info@pointpod.com
26
New Products
Planero: Storage space design for those who love aesthetics Purist design for every cabinet system Achieving optimum functionality has been a top priority for Vauth-Sagel since its foundation. The company has strived for perfection in design for years. The results of this are products which give the furniture interiors a completely new feel with elegant details and convenient functions. Planero is the first shelf developed by the system manufacturer with a flat steel design, bringing high quality and high value to the spaces behind the front.
Flat design combines aesthetic appeal with comfort “Planero is a great way to showcase how dynamic we are becoming”, says Sagel. Basket variants have been part of the company’s core competencies for decades; historically, they were made from bent wire.
Planero, with its flat design, demonstrates Vauth-Sagel’s breadth of material expertise. It meets the highest design requirements and adds a variant to the company’s storage portfolio which responds to the customer’s desire for personal expression. With Planero, Vauth-Sagel is reaffirming its position as a driving force behind comfort systems with high design and quality standards. The powder-coated steel plate formed around an inlaid wooden shelf results in a flat design with invisible suspension points. Planero combines the highest design standards with a practical feel and hygiene. For optimal cleaning, the inserted floors can be easily removed. The tray shelving system is available for almost all product groups, such as the tall cabinet VS TAL Larder, the new corner-unit solution, CORNERSTONE MAXX, and the VS COR Flex. Planero is available in three colours: champagne, lava grey and silver. The Planero range is available from Dorset Australia. ❚
“People are our main priority”. This is how CEO, Claus Sagel, sums up Vauth-Sagel’s activities in a nutshell. “Our products combine functionality, design and comfort. Planero is a perfect example of this.” Planero is a high-quality tray shelving system, suitable for almost all fitting options. The components and furniture interior are directly impacted by the users’ aesthetic appeal and lifestyle. Although the technical components are barely visible, they simultaneously provide a seemingly magical feeling of comfort. As a well thought out and systematic product with the ability to perfectly organise storage space interiors, Planero fits seamlessly into VauthSagel’s portfolio.
Supplier March/April 2019
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MODERN FURNITURE PRODUCTION PANEL CUTTING | CNC PROCESSING | EDGEBANDING Effective cutting optimisation CNC processing made easy Perfectly invisible joints
3 Widemere Road PO Box 6239 Wetherill Park, NSW 2164 Australia Telephone: +61 (0)2 9609 5911 Fax: +61 (0)2 9757 4773 www.weinig.com.au www.holzher.com.au
Picture credits: AdobeStock.com – dark background © Zffoto
Michael WEINIG Australia Pty. Ltd.
28
New Products
Point Pod Announces Partnership A new innovative product that solves your household power problems has teamed up with Australia and New Zealand’s large distributor to keep up with its growing demand. Point Pod, which seamlessly blends power outlets and USB ports into your kitchen and bathroom bench tops, made its Australian market debut in August 2018.
It has now partnered with Häfele, Australia and New Zealand’s biggest distributor, to spread its reach into the Oceania market. Point Pod was designed and developed by Brisbane builder, Cameron Singer, who was frustrated by the limited power solutions in the market. “I developed Point Pod two years ago out of my own frustration of the limited options available,” says Mr Singer. “After renovating my own house, I was disappointed with what was available to improve access to power for my island bench. There were products online, but they looked so cheap and flimsy in a kitchen we’d spent a lot of money renovating.”
With a simple press, Point Pod’s power points and USB sockets emerge for use, but unlike other power options, it blends seamlessly into your bench top. “I’m excited for Point Pod’s next phase, working alongside Häfele. Häfele’s commitment to innovation made them the number choice for our distribution partner,” Mr Singer says. “Our distribution agreement gives us access to a larger chunk of the market, but it also means we can focus on manufacturing and developing further products.” Mr Singer says his customers will now have access to Häfele’s huge selection of cabinetmaking solutions. “Häfele is always bringing new innovative products to the market, so their customers are always on the cutting edge of what’s available, and we’re excited to be part of it.” “Häfele also offers us the opportunity to showcase our product to its global Häfele subsidiaries, which will be doing at Interzum 2019 in Germany in May.” Point Pod officially launched its first two products – Point Pod Multi and Point Pod Compact – on August 13, 2018. ❚
Supplier March/April 2019
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30
New Products Hettich redefines the customisability of products With Fascin[action], Hettich has already defined three experience dimensions that motivate consumers when buying furniture: feel style, win storage, enjoy comfort. Increasingly, the new buyer is demanding customisable products which, of course, fit into their very own personal values model and lifestyle. It is not furniture that is being bought, but quality, flexibility or sustainability. This makes kitchen and furniture buyers a heterogeneous group in which each individual wants to feel addressed, both personally and emotionally.
Schmalz’s new adapter offers more speed and flexibility Schmalz has developed a new adapter for vacuum blocks. Thanks to the AP-S4, VCBLB-series vacuum blocks can also now be used on CNC machining centers with the TVN system from SCM/Morbidelli. This addition to the product range gives the user a much more flexible and cost-effective system in comparison to the original equipment.
Offering consumers added valued through the customisability of furniture, and being able to do this cost effectively is a philosophy that has been practised for many years at Hettich. Even today, the platform concepts for the ArciTech and InnoTech Atira drawer systems give customers incredible product and design variety based on a single drawer side profile. Proceeding from the platform concept, Hettich will in future be placing a focus on all embracing concepts with inspiring product solutions that can be seamlessly applied to all parts of the home and create scope for new furniture ideas. At Interzum 2019, Hettich is showcasing exclusive product solutions and overall
concepts for practical convenience, design and storage space that make customisability the standard. ❚
The adapter offers the same interface to the SCM-TVN console as the original equipment or the suction cup series SCM from Schmalz. As a result, suction cups from the original equipment, the Schmalz
suction cup series VCBL-S, and now also a combination of the adapter and VCBL-B can be deployed. Combined operation with the original equipment and Schmalz products is also possible. Furthermore, the AP-S4 fits tightly to the vacuum block VCBL-B. It can be turned in 15 degree increments, which means all the suction cups can be positioned with different alignments. This feature gives you many more options for designing the clamping layout – and lets you utilize the entire clamping area of your workpiece. The adapter can remain on the machine when changing the vacuum blocks, which reduces set-up times. You can fix the suction cup in place with magnets and a round blank in the adapter before activating the vacuum. If the milling tool accidentally damages the suction cup, it is easy to replace. You do not have to replace the entire assembly, as is the case with the original. You can simply change the damaged vacuum block suction plate. That reduces the cost of spare parts and minimizes downtimes. ❚
Supplier March/April 2019
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31
New Products
Launch of TopSolid Australia The Australian manufacturing industry is changing rapidly and businesses that do not keep pace will get left behind. Technology is now at the heart of manufacturing. Joinery businesses that utilise technology effectively are most likely to secure their place in the market and remain sustainable. TopSolid’Wood is a world class integrated design and production CAD/CAM software solution that was developed specifically for the Joinery Industry. TopSolid’Wood is joinery software that is designed to save you time and money through using cutting edge technology to support the most efficient processes. As one of the market leaders throughout Europe in the joinery market for over a decade, Australia & New Zealand are now reaping the benefits of TopSolid’Wood software.
Standard Joinery TopSolid’Wood has advanced library functionality. This means that it can quickly establish a joinery library for repeat projects/units. Simply save a unit into the library and drag & drop for use again & again.
Custom Joinery There are no limits with TopSolid’Wood. If it can be designed, it can be drawn with TopSolid’Wood. Then simply add machining to it, which can be seen on the model, and send it through to production using the integrated CAM module or the specialised production interfaces.
“Our strong partnership with Missler made the name change from IJSPLUS to TopSolid Australia as a logical next step for our progression. We believe in the product and now the TopSolid name becomes a part of our DNA with this change.”
One of Australia’s leading CAD/CAM providers IJSPLUS is the exclusive distributor of the software for the Australian and New Zealand markets. The product was front and centre at last year’s AWISA exhibition with partners from Missler software in France on hand to show their commitment to the Australian market. IJSPLUS has always been a “one product” company and the decision was made late last year to re-focus on building the name of TopSolid in the Australian woodworking and metal markets. Working together with the team at Missler in France the IJSPLUS management team made the decision to rename IJSPLUS to TopSolid Australia, thereby cementing the already strong relationship between the two companies. As TopSolid Australia, the team will focus on its continued support of the TopSolid product in Australia building out the team
to have specialised support and staff across all parts of Australia. The team will also look at introducing TopSolid’Metal and TopSolid’CAM into the Australian market in 2020 as a step to continue to bring the great products into the manufacturing industry of Australia. TopSolid Australia CEO, Mr Norman Kurta said “Our strong partnership with Missler made the name change from IJSPLUS to TopSolid Australia as a logical next step for our progression. We believe in the product and now the TopSolid name becomes a part of our DNA with this change.” The team at TopSolid Australia with their growth have also moved to new premises in Condell Park (NSW) from January 2019 which allows the team to expand and offer in house training services as well as access to live demos on machinery. ❚
TopSolid’Wood is developed with a Design to Build philosophy and supports the entire process from design through to production, no matter what type of joinery is produced.
Supplier March/April 2019
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4 Commercial Joiners reveal how Empower Factory Productivity & Scheduling Software has transformed factory productivity and profit By Sean O’Sullivan, B Com (Hons) Otago University
PEPPERTREE FURNITURE (ADELAIDE, SA)
MARK TOZER, MANAGING DIRECTOR
“At 10 weeks of using Empower Software we got 46% increase in factory productivity, at 6 months we had got to a 86% increase and at 3 years we had got a 100% increase in factory productivity. On factory productivity increases alone generated by Empower Software our annual profit has increased by approximately $200,000”
Key Points • Empower is the tool that our factory staff use to bring their jobs in on budgeted time • Our factory staff culture is far better as a result of being time and job focused • Each factory staff member gets paid bonus for meeting their personal productivity goals. This comprises capping their downtime and meeting times on jobs each week • The brilliant thing about how Empower has worked for me from day 1 of putting it in, is it simply reported area by area, in small bite size pieces each issues that I could address, precisely where I needed to start focusing to get things in order and up to scratch, which I simply followed through on • We have used Empower accurate actual times on products to go back and accurately cost our labour and set consistent margin across our products and quoting. This has enabled us to significantly increase our profit margin across our sales.
PREMIER FURNITURE
(SYDNEY, NSW) PETER LANGFORD, MANAGING DIRECTOR
“Empower Software has made a substantial improvement to factory productivity and bottom line and we would not be without it”
Key Points • Our factory staff have really stepped up to the mark and consistently meet and beat the budgeted times on the factory PCs, using Empower • Empower provides factory staff with a tool to be aware of their own productivity • The software is brilliant at staff performance reviews • We give individual factory staff reports on their weekly productivity. This is invaluable feedback to them to keep their productivity up • Empower gives us accurate times on jobs to allow us to carry out a sensible job cost (ie back cost) on completed jobs so we can refine our future budgeted labour in our costings and quotations • Empower is designed specifically for my role as production manager to ‘track, report and substantially increase factory productivity’ and it certainly works for us • Empower times are the truth and accurate – with evidence on issues I act immediately • Empower is the most positive thing we have done in 10 years • It certainly makes guys on the factory floor focus on their jobs and their times Core Products Manufactured (or Core Business)
Wide range of standard and custom office furniture
Any Key Background Information
2009 Empower Software was recommended to us, a factory productivity software and consultancy business, which had 10 years experience in our industry and a solid track record of increasing their clients factory productivity by 15 to 80%.
Core Products Manufactured (or Core Business)
Panel and Steel Tube Framed Furniture
Any Key Background Information
We operate the largest retail outlet for commercial furniture in South Australia
# Factory Floor Staff
20
# Factory Floor Staff
15
# Total Staff
25
# Total Staff
20
Annual Revenue (approx)
$4 Million
Annual Revenue (approx)
Confidential
Factory and Office Size m2
4100m2
Factory and Office Size m2
Large
# of CNCs
We run two Sleco beam saws, two Biesse borers, one SCM edge bander and a Stefani edge bander
# of CNCs
2
Geography Serviced
All Australia
Staff Times on Jobs Recording prior to Empower
Our production manager Robert advised “prior to 2009 we were attempting to run our factory and our labour the manual way, which was no different to how factories were run in Australia over 100 years ago. Stepping up to using factory PCs and time tracking software has been a quantum leap in professionalism and productivity for Premier Furniture
Geography Serviced
All States
Staff Times on Jobs Recording prior Our factory staff manually filled in their lie to Empower sheets at day end Years in Business
35
Staff Groups Tracked on Empower
All Factory Staff
Years using Empower
9 years to date (at 2018)
Years in Business
Since 1959
Number of PC’s on the factory floor with Empower on
8 @ 2nd hand PCs plus we have Empower on our CNC machines
Staff Groups Tracked on Empower
All staff in all work centres throughout the factory floor
Number of our Managers using Empower
3
Years using Empower
12 months to date (as at Jan 2011)
Estimated Factory Productivity Increase on Empower
I thought that my factory was productive before putting in Empower but really had no way of knowing whether I was productive or not at the time. Looking back on it I now know that my factory was terribly unproductive prior to Empower.
Number of PC’s on the factory 4 floor with Empower on Number of our Managers using Empower
2
Estimated Factory Productivity Increase on Empower
Substantial improvement to both our factory productivity and our annual profit
TASKER JOINERY (SYDNEY, NSW)
FINECUT JOINERY (SYDNEY, NSW) MITCHELL BLACK - PRODUCTION MANAGER
GREG TASKER, MANAGING DIRECTOR
“We have achieved a 25% increase in our staff and factory productivity”
Key Points “Using Empower we are getting 20% more joinery out the door each month. Our business consultant confirmed that a 20% increase in our factory productivity would increase our annual profit by an estimated 60%”
Key Points • For the first time in many years I enjoy coming to work, because the Empower system has my entire business monitored and well in control. I am no longer stressed as I used as I used to be, due to inadequate monitoring. I now feel as if my management, office staff factory staff and site staff are now “in the same boat and rowing in the same direction” • At 2 years of using Empower our factory productivity has increased by an estimated 20% • When I finally retire I will be able to pass on to my son a business with far better: systems and controls and a business that is far more: productive and profitable
• It has been much easier and more accurate for us to provide clients with an ETA, especially when using both Empower Time Tracking and Job Scheduling Software • Empower and the factory PCs force factory staff to be aware of their budgeted and actual times on each job and take responsibility for jobs they work on • Our factory staff are aware of how long they are taking on a job realise the importance of finishing on time • Empower has helped management and the sales team ensure that our prices are accurate as far as our labour component is concerned Core Products Manufactured (or Core Business)
White Good Appliance Displays mainly
% Production is custom made - one off designs (each job different to the last)
100%
# Factory Floor Staff
5
# Total Staff
13
Annual Revenue (approx)
Confidential
Core Products Manufactured (or Core Business)
Interior fit outs, commercial joinery and kitchens
Factory and Office Size m2
1000m2
# of CNCs
1 CNC and 1 computerised panel saw
% of Jobs Custom One Offs
100%
Geography Serviced
# Factory Floor Staff
8
Mostly Sydney and NSW, however we go nationwide
# Total Staff
13 2.3 Million approx.
Staff Times on Jobs Recording prior to Empower
No form of time tracking previously
Annual Revenue (approx)
Years in Business
18
Associations and any positions held
FIAA
Staff Groups Tracked on Empower
Factory staff, pre production staff in office and site workers
Years using Empower
3 years
Number of PC’s on the factory floor with Empower on
3
Factory and Office Size m2
800 square metres approx.
# of CNCs
1
Geography Serviced
Sydney mainly
Staff Times on Jobs Recording prior to Empower
Factory staff manually recorded their times on jobs daily
Years in Business
31
Associations and any positions held
Housing Industry Association
Staff Groups Tracked on Empower
Office, factory and site staff
Years using Empower
2
Number of PC’s on the factory floor with Empower on
2 PC’s
Number of our Managers using Empower 3 Estimated Factory Productivity Increase on Empower
Number of our Managers using Empower 3 Estimated Factory Productivity Increase on Empower
Using Empower we are getting 20% more joinery out the door each month
We have achieved a 25% increase in our staff and factory productivity. We have maintained production levels and not had to replace 2 staff that left (1 position in factory and 1 on site), so our current 8 staff are doing the workload of our 10 staff previously. This is a 25% increase in staff and factory productivity.
Please contact us anytime for an information package, a software demonstration or pricing Founding Director Sean O’Sullivan B Com (Hons) +64 27 2284211, phone anytime sean@manufacturingandengineering.co.nz
FACTORY PRODUCTIVITY & JOB SCHEDULING SOFTWARE
BE IN TO WIN FREE EMPOWER FACTORY PRODUCTIVITY AND JOB SCHEDULING SOFTWARE!
Email your company name and contact details to vicky.cammiade@elitepublishing.com.au for your chance to win. Conditions Apply.
34
New Products
AL-KO extraction range launched locally AL-KO KOBER SE was founded in 1931 by Alois Kober as a small metalworking shop in the Bavarian-Swabian town of Großkötz, near Günzburg. Today, the company employs approximately 4,200 people at 50 locations across the globe. The third generation to run this family business, it is still managed as per the founder’s wishes: constantly striving for quality, innovation and carefully designed functionality. AL-KO extraction units AL-KO OPTI JET® principle is different from other solutions in that it solely works with air jets. To put it simply: The polluted air is sucked in, swarf and dust settle on the filter and form a so-called filter cake which is blasted off at regular intervals by jets of compressed air. This blow lasts approximately 0.1 seconds and is generated from the existing airflow. Only 1/7 of the compressed air is generated by the compressor which positively affects energy consumption.
number of customers enjoying the benefits of the class leading extraction systems. “From mobile raw air dust extractors through to stationary clean air dedusting with heat recovery, all models boast long filter service life, maximum energy efficiency and a perfectly conceived technology. ” AL-KO extraction units offer the highest efficiency and reliability, lowest noise emissions - these qualities are what distinguish AL-KO extraction systems from the rest. From mobile raw air dust extractors through to stationary clean air dedusting with heat recovery, all models boast long filter service life, maximum energy efficiency and a perfectly conceived technology.
AL-KO recently won a German Innovation Award (Excellence in Business to Business Machines & Engineering) for their welding fume extraction system. The AL-KO AFU-ECO is a welding fume extraction system with integrated heat recovery for parallel welding fume extraction at several workstations. The modular system is divided into two functional levels. Level 1: Extraction unit consisting of pre-separation chamber, filter chamber, compressed-air cleaning, and clean-air fan. Level 2: Integrated fresh air supply area consisting of suction chamber, filter chamber, and fan. Connected by a plate heat exchanger, which allows up to 67 % heat recovery efficiency. ❚
Ausmach is the AL-KO exclusive distributor for their extraction range in Australia. AL-KO has a high expectation of delivery and service of all its partners and found Ausmach as the ideal candidate to help launch and sell the AL-KO extraction range in the Australian and New Zealand markets. Ausmach is a leading supplier of wood working and metal machinery in Australia and New Zealand. Their offering of CNC machinery, edgebanders, dust extraction units and specialised machinery is sourced from Italy, Germany and Austria. They offer the Australian and New Zealand markets unparalleled opportunities to have access to the highest quality and most state of the art machinery sourced from leading international suppliers. The AL-KO units have now landed in the country with a
Supplier March/April 2019
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35
Finance
Finance for Profit There can be a lot of financial jargon that flies around, and it doesn’t always make sense – or add up! But the team at Manufin aren’t just financial wizards, they’re also manufacturing experts, so when they spoke our language by showing us the bottom line we understood: increase profits! So, how can you use financing to start or grow your business? Manufin explained that there are two major benefits to financing: cash flow and tax advantages. Now, tax advantages are pretty simple and no different to doing your personal taxes. Reduce your taxes at tax time or maybe even get a little something back. Now that’s a big win! But cash flow is a little trickier, because it all sounds a bit too good to be true. Well yes… and no. At the end of the day there does need to be a demand for your products and services. But with the Australian Manufacturing Industry predicted to continuously grow, so too are your prospects for continuous work. So, if the customers are lining up at your door, how do you equip yourself with the tools to service everyone? By financing! Let’s use some round figures as an example. Let’s take two identical small businesses with the same experience, costs and number of resources. Business A decides to add a new Edgebander to their production line through a financing loan. Business B continues operating as usual. Each business has 10 available jobs per month. Each job costs them $7, 500 and they charge their customer $15, 000.
Supplier March/April 2019
Business A are approved for a loan on a $200, 000 brand new Edgebander. Interest and fees will be added to this and the loan will be paid off monthly over a 5-year period. The capacity to increase your offering, both in quantity and value is imperative for growth. So, take the time to scratch out some calculations and call a manufacturing and financing expert for their advice. Financing could bring new customers, new machinery and increase profits. And no, it’s not too good to be true! Things to Remember: • You operate a unique business, so make sure your new machinery caters for
exactly what you need to increase quality production. • Try to invest in a machine that will support your operations long-term, financing is not a quick-fix solution. • Loan repayments must be made, even during the occasional slow period, make sure you factor this into your budget. • Don’t forget to ask your financing company what happens once the loan is paid off. If a number of options aren’t available to you – better look elsewhere. Interested in how financing could help you start or grow your manufacturing business? Just want to know your options? Contact the friendly experts at Manufin and they’ll run all the numbers for you! ❚
One Month (Example*)
Business A Business B With Machinery Financing Without Financing
Available jobs
10
10
How many jobs your business can handle
10
5
Cost of total jobs on the business
$75, 000
$37, 500
Sales Profits
$150, 000
$75, 000
Profits after costs
$75, 000
$37, 500
Take out the cost of your monthly loan repayment
$3, 894*
0
Gross Profit
$71, 106
$37, 500
*This is an accurate example, but remember, your loan repayment amount will be subject to, but not limited to, your financial history, business value, the amount of your loan, the term of your loan, fees and interest rates.
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Interview
An Interview with Vit Kafka It’s not easy to pin Vit Kafka down but Supplier’s Phil Ashley ‘caught up’ with Vit recently for a chat about the new Altendorf Group.
V
it Kafka has been with Altendorf Australia since 1995 first as Sales Manager, then General Manager and for the last six years, Managing Director. His master’s in business administration ideally positions him for a career in sales where a scientific approach to management is required. Not only is Vit one of the busiest Managing Directors in Australia, his responsibilities as Director Sales Centre East (China, India, Japan, Korea, SEA, GCC and other countries) for the Altendorf Group see him away from home up to four months a year, so it was fantastic to finally pin him down and ask a few questions about the new Altendorf Group. Altendorf has undergone a few changes over the last few years starting with the sale of the family business to Avedon Capital Partners in October 2017. The momentum was immediate and within six months Avedon had acquired Hebrock of Bünde, North Rhine-Westphalia; a company producing edge banders and located in the same region as Altendorf. Founder Horst Hebrock said “We have had friendly relations with Altendorf Group for many years and know that growth orientation is the right way to meet the challenges of the future.” Joerg F. Mayer, Director of Altendorf Group, added “As Altendorf Group, we aim to offer premium machinery for the craftsmen in panel-based furniture manufacturing. Hebrock edge banders are among the leading brands in the segment, and we see the greatest potential for synergies in respect of procurement, sales and marketing.”
Supplier March/April 2019
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Interview
Above: (From left) Joerg F Mayer, Supplier magazine’s Philip Ashley and Florian Werner of Altendorf After the acquisition of the Altendorf company in 2017, the investor Avedon together with the management team devised a concept that shows how they would position the company in the future. The Altendorf Group would become a supplier of high-quality machines for the international craft businesses in the field of panel-based furniture manufacturing. In addition to the classical sliding table saw two additional categories of machines are planned, the Altendorf Group will become partner of the
handcraft sector in the areas of cutting, edging and CNC boring. The first stage of acquiring a quality edge bander has been achieved and Joerg F. Mayer volunteered to Supplier magazine that the next acquisition would be a company producing CNC routing and boring machines. It is believed that an announcement is only a few short months away and Supplier Magazine believes there is a possibility that a new machine type in the Altendorf Group could be revealed at the Ligna fair in May.
“We have had friendly relations with Altendorf Group for many years and know that growth orientation is the right way to meet the challenges of the future.” Supplier March/April 2019
Altendorf is now known as Altendorf Group, not in line with other companies being renamed ‘Groups’ but to reflect the fact that the company is growing, and they are now much more than a panel saw manufacturer. They are of course the maker of the original saw over 100 years ago and have maintained a level of quality that has led to a loyal following for well over a century. Altendorf now have 200,000 machines installed in 120 countries and Vit assures me “Avedon brings a new experience; expertise and synergy to the company. Altendorf has always been an international company but Avedon will take us to new levels. The move in America from Stiles Machinery as a single dealer to Altendorf Group America early this year is only one example of where the group is heading. We now have our own organisation and management in the huge American market.” At a press briefing for Journalists early February this year in Hannover, the
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Interview
catchphrase “Growing Together Worldwide” was released by Altendorf Group to reflect the direction the company is heading, and this will likely be displayed at Ligna. In Australia Vit reports that Altendorf Group is also doing exceptionally well. The challenges faced from cheaper equipment are still there but Vit says “In all of our previous five years we have set new sales records. This is not only about one or two extra machines a year, but we are achieving a dramatic difference in machines sold. In fact, over 45% of the machines we sell are going to manufacturers who previously have owned a cheaper machine.” Of the change to Altendorf Group with multiple machine types, Vit said “Our customers were coming to us and asking why we couldn’t provide other equipment. Now our acquisition of complimentary machine types will allow us to provide all the equipment our customers need. At Altendorf we know who our customers are. We are not trying to be the biggest supplier, what we are trying to do is to provide the right equipment they need.”
Supplier March/April 2019
“At AWISA in Sydney we ran with the catchphrase ‘Perfect Cut and Perfect Edge’ and any new machine in the group will reflect that philosophy. Altendorf Group doesn’t identify as a supplier to massproduction manufacturers although we certainly sell a lot of machines in that area. We identify as a supplier to the crafts trades; companies with between one and fifty employees; it’s our core sector of the industry” said Vit. He adds that Altendorf Group has been adopting software solutions for several years and the ‘Magis’ program is an example of a solution that will enhance the performance of the simplest Altendorf saw to the most industrial application. “Magis is a digital operator guidance system and optimiser that has become very popular in the USA; India and Asia and is seeing interest here in Australia too. It’s like having an iPad on your machine and doing away with pen and paper” he says. A further initiative of Altendorf Group is R+D to ensure that their machines are as safe to operate as they can possibly be. It would be a fair call to say the Altendorf saw is one of the safest machines available, especially if
you consider the wide range of operating aids available. How the Altendorf boffins can improve an already exceptional machine is yet to be seen. Perhaps a safety saw stop could be on the cards; of course we are guessing and only time will tell, the important aspect of this is that for Altendorf Group, continual improvement is the name of the game. Nesting is a technology that took its toll on sawing machines in Australia, the UK and America especially. The new manufacturing model was marketed as using one machine where you used to use two or more, resulting in a saving in space and equipment costs in addition to labour, still one of the major costs of any manufacturing firm. The technology hit beam saws particularly hard and had some impact on sliding table saws, but not a lot. Vit strongly supports nesting as a breakthrough technology for the cabinet industry but sees that sometimes it could lock the manufacturer into a very regimented manufacturing routine that has an issue with flexibility. He said, “Maybe nesting was over-sold in some cases, but the industry is very mature, and the flexibility provided by a separate sawing machine is well understood.”
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Interview
At the moment the past suppliers may continue to purchase Hebrock spare parts directly from Hebrock and this is done not to disadvantage any existing customers. The name will also stay but new buyers will notice ‘Altendorf Group’ under the Hebrock name. Retaining the Hebrock name is important because of the respect in which this machine is viewed. Any new machine type will be labelled the same way but Vit says “This may change in the future.” Vit also acknowledges that further machine acquisitions will occur, saying “I would be surprised if our next purchase is the last,” although he adds “We’re not about competing with everyone else, it’s the market Altendorf Group sees themselves excelling in and providing those customers with the equipment they need. The general perception by companies is that the customer is there for them, let’s be very clear, at Altendorf we are here for the customer.” ❚
“The general perception by companies is that the customer is there for them, let’s be very clear, at Altendorf we are here for the customer.”
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Overseas News
Smart AND Human
A
utomation through integrated robotics was the focus of the “Smart&Human Factory” event held at the Technology Centre of SCM Group Headquarters, in Rimini 31st January to 2nd February. More than 2,500 visitors from all over Europe, as well as Asia, America and the Middle East went to the SCM centre to witness new frontiers in the digital and intelligent furniture factory. In three days the SCM techs worked on almost a thousand panels to produce four different kinds of furniture in record time. SCM Division Director Luigi De Vito said, “This was a chance to experience a new model of interaction between machines and industrial and collaborative robotics, ground-level logistic handling and software.”
new model of interaction among humans, robots and machines, according to an open, safe cell design. The manufacturer also has the option to reconfigure the production process whenever this is necessary, to quickly process increasingly smaller “order to production” batches. The state-of-theart SCM cells can be put together as the manufacturer wishes, to meet different panel processing requirements, with the advantage of being able to rely on a partner which has provided its clients with wholly integrated made-to-measure and turnkey solutions for more than 65 years.
Inside the SCM Technology Centre, set up for the occasion with more than fifty display solutions; the presentation showed a new, ‘smart and human’ factory, making progress in terms of work flow; minimising risky and repetitive human tasks where operators can focus on higher added value tasks. SCM state-of-the-art technologies are integrated with industrial robots, assigned to more strenuous work, collaborative robots that work safely and barrier-free alongside operators, and inter-connected by unmanned vehicles with intelligent navigation systems. The result also brings progress on the work front, that not only means the factory can meet incoming demand from the market faster and more efficiently. The Open House summarised the goal of the new SCM product range: to supply the most user-friendly automation technology that considerably streamlines the factory layout, making it more efficient. It also creates a
Supplier March/April 2019
During the three days, an example of the automated system for furniture production was explained at each stage of the process: from furniture production to the generation of machine programs and from panel processing to cabinet assembly. In
addition, visitors were able to see the new “Smart&Human Factory” model at work in the area dedicated to surface treatment technologies where, in parallel with the production of different kinds of furniture in other Technology Centre areas, cabinet doors were worked on with the aid of a dmc sanding system, designed to meet the needs of small to medium enterprises seeking the highest sanding and finishing quality. On exiting the sanding machine, another Universal robot further perfected the finishing. The presentation included flexible cells served by industrial anthropomorphic robots for repetitive and low added value tasks. It’s SCM’s ideal solution for sawblade cutting or sawing, milling, drilling and edge banding or for workpiece sequence rearranging between one process phase and the next. The unique presentation showcased SCM’s collaborative Islands in which workers and collaborative robots (cobots) work side by side, sharing the available work space safely, without the need for enclosures or similar systems. The cobots are used in the final process stages, such as assembly, hardware insertion, glue dispensing and surface finishing. Along the lines of Homag Group’s Autonomous Mobile Robots; SCM presented their system where flexible connections of machining cells and assembly islands is achieved through mobile robots that work in space while identifying the surrounding environment and selecting the most efficient route to their destination, safely avoiding obstacles, including humans. Master Watch Supervision software manages and monitors the state of each product and SCM’s Maestro connect have full control over the entire system. ❚
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Overseas News
Interior Design & Production Software
Vauth-Sagel honoured at the ICONIC AWARDS With the ICONIC AWARDS 2019: Innovative Interior, the German Design Council honours “the best from all areas of interior design”. The goal of these awards, is to discover and honour the best from all areas of interior design. The jury, which consists of representatives from the areas of design, trade and the media, pursues an integrated design standard in which every individual element aids an integrated presentation of living environments. This year, an award went to Vauth-Sagel for its new product, the VS SUB Comfort. The VS SUB Comfort emerged from a collaboration with Rietberger Möbelwerke – and brings a new dimension of convenience to furniture. This innovative and ambitiously designed storage space solution was amongst the products that the jury selected from more than 500 entries. “After receiving a series of awards last year for CORNERSTONE MAXX and VS ENVI Toolbox, we are delighted that our new product is joining this success story,” says Georg Wittenbrink, Senior Product Manager for the Living Division at Vauth-Sagel. “Our ambition is to meet the highest standards with respect to comfort and design – and awards like this show us that our strategy is paying off.” The integrated design standard was also pursued by Vauth-Sagel and Rietberger Möbelwerke in their initial collaboration. The goal was to make access to the lower part of the storage space easier. To achieve this, two pull-out shelves are automatically extended when the cupboard doors are opened. The intelligent kinematics uses
the rotary movement of the doors, which means that the run-out speed of the pull-out shelves increases and slows down equally gently over the entire extension path. Afterwards, the top shelf can be pushed in intuitively without an additional trigger and thus also allows optimum access to the lowest level of the storage space. When the doors are closed, the unit is automatically retracted again. In addition to these sophisticated technical properties, Wittenbrink also points out the additional advantages of VS SUB Comfort adding “The storage space solution is a consistent realisation of Rietberger Möbelwerke’s system concept. It can be used in all cabinet sizes and collections.”❚
Below: Vauth-Sagel’s Georg Wittenbrink
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Overseas News
Interzum 2019, set to transform the industry
i
nterzum is a source of inspiration for the design of tomorrow’s living spaces. “An event that sets out to be a world-leading trade fair must meet demanding criteria. It must be international; it must enable exhibitors to make successful deals and to raise their profiles; and it must look ahead to the future,” says Maik Fischer, Director of interzum at Koelnmesse. “interzum covers all these aspects, with a strong focus on the future in the themed piazzas.”
Living in compact homes, an interzum 2019 focus How comfort can be combined with small living spaces is an issue that is driving the interiors industry. From New York to Berlin, Tokyo to Sydney; living space is in short supply in urban areas. The result is skyrocketing rents and house prices; with more people having to make do with ever-smaller homes. But this trend doesn’t necessarily have to mean sacrificing comfort in the home. Showing how is a challenge for the furniture
Supplier March/April 2019
and interior design industry. With its new Tiny Spaces showcase, interzum is addressing this highly topical issue. The world’s leading trade fair for suppliers to the furniture industry has succeeded in securing a line-up of distinguished industry names to appear in its showcase. Atim, Blum, Hettich, Hommel, Häfele and Pessotto; these companies will present their answers to the specific requirements of living in small spaces. Traditionally crucial momentum for new developments in interior design has come from suppliers to the industry. And these suppliers are also playing a vital role in the use of space: real wonders in small-scale living can be achieved with the right fittings and new solutions that open the space inside furniture. Six companies will demonstrate how at the special exhibition Tiny Spaces – Living in Compact Homes. With a selection of different market-ready solutions, they have set out to make functionality the focus of attention. In a true-to-life presentation,
visitors will be able to explore home living in miniature. All participating companies are convinced that demand for space-saving solutions is set to grow. Among the products on show at the special Tiny Spaces event will be an electric cabinet bed system with a folding sofa by Pessotto that combines living and sleeping in a single space-saving design. Fellow supplier Atim from Italy also has some innovative systems up its sleeve: “We’ve developed an item of furniture specially for Tiny Spaces that showcases ten different space-saving solutions,” says Vanessa Moretti, Sales Manager at Atim. Visitors will be able to test the different elements themselves and discover what “you need to furnish small spaces”. Blum also has some creative furniture ideas to contribute to the special event: “We want to show how future living spaces can be used multifunctionally,” says Michael
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Overseas News Pictured: (Below and throughout article) Highlights from interzum 2017
Mandlburger, Head of Product Management at Blum. “On a rotating display area, trade fair visitors will be able to see surprising solutions for living rooms, bathrooms and hallways – all practice-oriented and completely suitable for use in daily life.” One thing is crucial to Blum here: many of tomorrow’s homes will certainly be urban and smaller but there will also be more generously proportioned and open houses and apartments. “Our solutions can be adapted to all needs, from large to small living spaces.” “We’re already seeing growing demand for compact, multifunctional living spaces,” says Matthias Hommel, Managing Director of Hommel, based in the Vogtland region of Saxony. The company will use the exhibition space to present a micro-apartment as a complete solution that visitors can enter and experience in all its functionality. “Our objective is to present our concept as a whole and show it in application by combining and implementing very different industry products in our interior construction.”
Supplier March/April 2019
Materials that are transforming the world
latest material innovations and disruptive technologies at interzum 2019. Dr Sascha Peters, the agency’s founder and an expert in material innovations, is curating the special exhibition and has good reasons for picking this name. It is taken from the term “disruptive technologies”, used in digital technology to describe innovations that replace old systems entirely. “In contrast to material innovations, disruptive materials have far-reaching effects,” explains Dr Sascha Peters. “While innovations enable the further development of an existing market, disruptions create a new one. For consumers, the effect of a disruptive change can usually only be felt some time later.” The disruptive technologies exhibition is divided into four large themed areas: Biological Transformation, Resource Efficiency & Sustainability, Digital Materials & Smart Systems, and Production-Related Material Innovations. With more than
Innovative materials and developments in materials technology have influenced humanity since the beginning of time. Incremental advances lead to huge changes in technology and society. If researchers and the directors of major, successful international companies can be believed, we are on the verge of the next significant change. Thanks to advances in materials research, the features and functions that will produce a new generation of products are becoming a reality. Industry can increasingly expect to see innovative materials that are lighter, thinner, more compact, more flexible or more wear-resistant. All those who want to discover the new opportunities that materials research is opening for furniture production and interior construction should head to interzum 2019. The Berlin trend forecasting agency HAUTE INNOVATION has chosen the slogan “Disruptive Materials – Changing the Future” for its showcase of some of the
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Overseas News
100 exhibits across roughly 400 square metres of exhibition space, the Disruptive Materials Piazza is set to be one of the major attractions at interzum. Visitors will have a chance to view heat-able textile surfaces, magnetic woods and sofas that double as carbon loudspeakers. The environmental aspect is well represented in the form of bio-based materials and natural growth processes. Here Dr Sascha Peters and Koelnmesse have partnered with companies that produce leather from various plant fibres. This will be accompanied by research findings from several universities in fields such as “Baubotanik” – using plants to build living structures.
The manufacturers presenting their developments in lightweight construction and resource efficiency include Andrea Mocellin from Italy with his foldable vehicles and the German company Lightweight Solutions, which, true to its name, will be exhibiting an extremely material-efficient lightweight construction material. The final section focuses on production-related material innovations. It will shed light on future issues such as 3D-printed houses or e-bikes made from plywood.
interzum 2019 casually puts the focus on surfaces interzum is once again the provider of
Supplier March/April 2019
impulses in 2019 for the design of the living spaces of tomorrow. The “Surfaces & Wood Design” piazza is curated by the interior designer and trend expert Katrin de Louw. With her Trendfilter® agency, she has already been responsible for a special exhibition on the topic of surfaces at the last edition of interzum. “Our aim is to make it possible for people to experience the manufacturers’ latest developments at first hand, and to focus in particular on the most important from the great quantity of new developments”, says Katrin. To achieve this, she has further developed the area’s experience character: steel reinforcement mesh is used to stage the exhibits with a cool and casual look. Around large tables, visitors can experience and touch samples and prototypes and gain concentrated insight into the huge range of possibilities that carrier materials and surfaces offer customers.
The piazza is divided into sections addressing the key words Sustainability; Customized; Haptic; Lightweight; Digital Printing; Anti-Fingerprint and Wood & Stones. It is not just wood and wood materials that are presented at the special exhibition, but related product groups such as furniture handles, upholstery and decor fabrics. With the relocation of the lecture area and the new ‘Speakers’ Corner, the special event is now also significantly larger in comparison with interzum 2017. This allows visitors to experience even more of the great diversity of cutting-edge carrier materials and surfaces at the special exhibition and at the lectures of renowned experts and exhibiting companies. However, the piazza concept is not only the place at which trend themes are adopted and can be experienced by visitors but is instead; reminiscent of an Italian piazza, the central communication point within the trade fair. “The piazzas have considerable significance in the overall composition of interzum” says Maik Fischer. “There, visitors can acquire an overview and then selectively visit the individual exhibitors. The success of this concept is demonstrated by the enormous popularity of the piazzas. ❚
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Overseas News
Presenting Solutions at Ligna Below: The latest software
Supplier’s Phil Ashley attended the Ligna Preview Press Conference in February and reports on what to expect at the Ligna fair in May.
Presenting Solutions at Ligna At this year’s Ligna trade show 27th to 31st May in Hannover, visitors can expect to see innovations across all display categories, from forestry technology, furniture and window manufacturing, through to tooling systems and surface technology. They will also see live demonstrations of fully functional furniture production plants, learn about IoT (Internet of Things) platforms for Industry 4.0 plants and the latest R&D projects, and be able to participate at networking events throughout the show. Dr. Andreas Gruchow sits on the management board of the Hannover fair. He said “One of the big challenges is the ever-
Above: Dr. Andreas Gruchow Supplier March/April 2019
greater trend to product individualization; a trend that is putting pressure on manufacturers to deliver customized products at least as quickly, profitably and efficiently as with series production. It’s these sorts of challenges for which LIGNA exhibitors will be presenting solutions.” LIGNA 2019 has three focus themes. These are: Integrated Woodworking - Customized Solutions; Smart Surface Technology and Access to Resources and Technology. Integrated Woodworking – Customized Solutions is focussed on the wood industry where there is keen interest in IoT application scenarios such as condition monitoring and predictive maintenance as a means of further boosting production plant efficiency. In such scenarios, humans remain an integral part of the production process but are supported by cyber-physical assistance systems such as collaborative robots, automated guided vehicles and smart worker support technologies. The trend is
therefore towards hybrid human-machine production systems in which the product is inextricably linked to the production plant and the humans who operate it. “Visitors to the next LIGNA will gain captivating insights into what the future has in store for the furniture and woodworking industries” explained Gruchow. The surface finishing exhibits at LIGNA 2019 themed Smart Surface Technology will span all the intelligent processing solutions needed to cater for today’s surging demand for haptic, matt and reflective surfaces. That’s digital printing and decorative gravure printing systems, inspection systems, the latest generation of spray coating machines, robotics systems, and much more. Here, too, digitization and automation are the key to achieving greater flexibility while keeping costs to a minimum. The full range of the latest surface technologies, applications, innovations and solutions will be on display.
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Overseas News
Providers of technology for the forestry and/or primary wood processing industry will have an unrivalled opportunity to tap into new growth markets at this year’s Wood Industry Summit, which is themed Access to Resources and Technology. Complete with forum, lounge and exhibition area, the summit is all about international communication and technology transfer. Among much else, its focus will be on ways of optimizing the entire forest-woodlogistics value chain; from standing trees through to final processing in the factory as well as protecting forests from biotic and abiotic damage, and on climate and environmentally friendly harvesting processes and the future of the forest and wood industry. Digital technologies, such as drone-based data capture systems, mobile applications, laser scanners and highly sophisticated IT programs now span the entire forestry value chain from forest information and integrated harvesting systems right through to modern forest management systems. In each case, the focus is squarely on efficiency and productivity. Digitization will therefore be a prominent theme at the discussion forms and throughout the exhibits at LIGNA 2019.
Supplier March/April 2019
Above: Phil and Gian Luca Fariselli SCM Below: New developments and ideas
For Australian visitors; what we know already The focus of AKE is on the award-winning Cutting 2.0 Technology, which has been established successfully in the market since 2013 and found the approval of an everincreasing number of users. In the course of the last few years the extraordinary cutting principle had successfully been transferred from the saw blade to most diverse cutting
tools. In 2019 interested visitors can look forward to further developments. At the LIGNA 2017 the multifaceted customer benefit and practicability of this technology had already been proved based on the positive experiences of renowned customers and machine manufacturers such as IKEA Industry, BIESSE and fm Büromöbel. Another convinced user of 2.0 is the company of König + Neurath, one of the most successful suppliers of office furniture and space solutions. The latest developments of 2.0 will initially be presented at LIGNA 2019. At this year’s LIGNA, the Altendorf Group is introducing itself for the first time to the international trade-fair audience where Hebrock edge banding machines and Altendorf sliding table saws will be displayed together. The edge banding machines have been redesigned and bear a strong resemblance to the design of the Altendorf F 45 sliding table saw. This step has given a sharper edge to the machine profile of the Group. The Altendorf Group will also display their latest innovations, options and product improvements regarding both product lines. The company will also devote space to the overarching themes of digitalization
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Overseas News
for the craftsmen and occupational safety. Digital services and connected machines, to one another and to areas such as office, material warehouses, purchasing and work preparation, will also be on show.
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On 1st December 2018, the BECK Fastener Group from Austria launched the further development of the award-winning LignoLoc® wood nail system. The new F60 system offers larger dimensions, better pullout and shear values and more possibilities for ecological timber construction. The ecological wooden house construction especially benefits from the new dimensions due to new metal-free fastening options, for example for prefabrication of the laminated timber ceilings or in the production of solid wood wall systems. The LignoLoc® F60 pneumatic nailer provides the necessary power to shoot the wooden nails directly into
Above: Machines from all suppliers wood or wooden materials without predrilling. When LignoLoc® Nails are driven in, they fuse perfectly with the surrounding wood, forming an inseparable bond. This effect, referred to as lignin welding has been tested and confirmed by scientists at the University of Hamburg and led to a publication in the European Journal of Wood and Wood Products in January 2018.
Biesse Group presents the future of Industry 4.0 at Ligna with a record six thousand square metres of innovation highlighting robotization and digitalisation in technology. Guided by the ‘Automaction’ concept, a principle that describes the tangible impact of Biesse solutions on automated and interconnected production; Biesse confirms and further strengthens the bond between man and robot, not just by presenting a greater number of solutions that make use of robots on the stand, but also by demonstrating how people can benefit from them, validating their work and making production more efficient. The Biesse stand at Ligna will present three process solutions that have been automated from the raw material to the finished product. Several integrated lines and robotised cells will also be present, offering incomparable levels of customisation,
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modularity and flexibility, fundamental requirements for contemporary production. Homag Group plans five thousand square metres at Ligna and will show visitors complete solution concepts that allow large or small businesses to meet modern market requirements and the trends of the future. The heart of the HOMAG stand is the Innovation Centre, where this year, LIGNA visitors can take a journey through time in the furniture manufacturing industry with an exhibit including outstanding milestones and technical innovations from the history of the wood processing industry. Toward the end of the exhibit, the focus turns to the future: What will the furniture of the future (Smart Furniture) look like? What challenges will we face? How can HOMAG help its customers to meet these challenges? imos will show new digital ways at Ligna in May, deepening their focus on Virtual Reality. imos is a woodworking software package from Germany that is an object oriented, database-based 3D system developed in close cooperation with leading furniture, machine and hardware manufacturers. Imos was founded by Ralph Kottmann here in Australia in 2006. How the new complete process in iX 2019 looks in detail and how VR technology supports this process effectively, imos will show at the upcoming LIGNA. Furthermore, exciting development concepts that demonstrate tomorrow’s innovative concepts are waiting at the iX Lab. Fair-visitors can also look forward to a special surprise at imos. At the Ligna, Leitz tooling will present convincing, field-tested service concepts, once again demonstrating its special flexibility and customer orientation as a manufacturing service provider. Around 15 million tools per year are efficiently and flexibly serviced in Leitz’s worldwide service centre and there are 120 service locations all over the world, with 45 diamond competence
Supplier March/April 2019
Below: Tools and equipment
centres, including Australia. The LeitzXPress Button was presented at the Holz-Handwerk trade fair last year and will be a highlight of the Leitz stand at Ligna. LeitzXPress is a technical service concept that enables Leitz customers to contact Leitz quickly and easily at the touch of a button, provided by the Leitz Company via an online interface. The responsible Leitz service employee receives a notification by e-mail and contacts the customer personally within an hour. Complete Care is an all-round carefree package from Leitz where the complete tool management is handled by Leitz. Leuco tooling goes to Ligna with the brand promise to ‘Magentify Wood Processing’ meaning Leuco knows the industry and can shape it with tailor-made solutions and intelligent services. Magenta is the new Leuco corporate colour. Leuco views the upcoming Ligna fair taking place in an environment that is becoming calmer worldwide and could result in a slow-down. This means that manufacturers will be looking more closely at the optimisation of their own manufacturing processes and improvements in efficiencies. Leuco believes that tooling can play a major part in optimisation and
efficiency. At Ligna, Leuco will be showing tools to produce modern materials with different layers including fire protection; abrasive coatings and anti-fingerprint coatings that in some cases are harder than wood and require appropriate tooling and know-how. Leuco will also show how they will support the industry by creating a digital twin of the customer’s tools that can be stored in the ‘tool-cloud’ SCM Group is gearing up for the next Ligna with a four thousand square metre display featuring their ‘Smart and Human’ factory. Based on digital automation systems and already shown at their in-house event February this year in Italy, the even-richer cutting-edge Ligna production model will show advanced man-machine interaction and 360-degree control over the entire production. New production trends will be the focus of SCM Group at Ligna where a new model of interaction between machines and collaborative and industrial robots, logistics and software will work towards achieving their customers goals. SCM Group claim their customers ‘Will never work alone’ summarising the goal of their new product range of user-friendly automation.
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Overseas News
Above: Tooling for all applications In Hannover in May, SCM Group will add to their digital range by combining digital technologies with high added-value targeted services, displayed in the innovation control centre at the heart of the SCM display. SCM Group will also present new solutions for CNC processing centres and drilling machines.
The Weinig Group includes a huge range of equipment and machines for processing solid wood in addition to the Holz-Her range of furniture production equipment. Expect to see more than fifty machines operated live on a huge five thousand square metre stand in May. A special highlight will be a complex production line where all areas of Weinig’s competence are directly or indirectly integrated. Weinig will present the new Hydromat generation with a performance potential of up to three hundred metres a minute, fed by a new SF-200 accelerator as it’s not possible to hand-feed any machine at these incredible speeds. A new integrated tool changing aid; fully automatic aggregate positioning and spindle temperature monitoring will also be on display. The new Powermat 2400 3D that allows contour profiling from the
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right and left during the through-feed of the workpiece will also be on show. This is a technology that was not possible before. With the Weinig Group Holz-Her brand the company focuses on a high degree of transparency of production processes with ‘plug-and-play’ a requirement for all their new developments. This will be demonstrated across the entire range at Ligna. So, this is what we know from the preview in February. Of course, this is only a small selection of the exhibiting companies but it’s a snapshot of the size and scope of this year’s show and of the wide range of new technologies you will see there. Ligna 2019 is promising to be the biggest, best and most visit-worthy show in the last decade and you shouldn’t miss it. ❚
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Overseas News
The most important trends of LivingKitchen 2019
M
erged living spaces is an important trend in the entire furnishings sector. The greatest advantage probably comes from combining the kitchen and living area. The exhibitors at LivingKitchen 2019 presented many new products designed to make kitchens more comfortable and inviting. The flowing transitions are created with space-forming elements, bookcases, wall units, shelves with built-in writing desks or display cabinets. The dining table is also playing an important role again and together with comfortable chairs, represents the centrepiece of the new combined kitchen-living room.
The modern country kitchen 2.0 The classic influences of the country kitchen remain recognisable, but in a reduced form: subtly profiled doors and contrasting handles in dark metal set the tone. New is the combination with glass or painted fronts – a subtle stylistic inconsistency that lends an air of freshness. The colour spectrum varies, because whatever pleases is allowed. The trend is grey and green – from stone grey to anthracite, from sage green to olive. However, the new country kitchen can also be in black.
Innovative ventilation systems for open kitchens Visitors to LivingKitchen could also discover new trends and innovations in all accessory areas. A quantum leap can be seen in this area, especially with extraction systems. Not only are extractor fans more stylish now and increasingly becoming part of the architecture, they are also being cleverly integrated into existing kitchen elements. This also provides the technical requirements for opening the kitchen to the living area.
easy-to-open doors and fixtures that can be operated without touching, pull-outs for wall cabinets and more space for cooking. Optimal zoning of the worktops makes cooking together with others more fun. Appliances are usually installed at eye level. In the Future Kitchen presented at Koelnmesse, Alfredo Häberli even proposed a vertical, transparent refrigerator that provides an excellent overview of the contents. In the vision of the extraordinary Swiss designer, appliances that are not used all the time, such as the oven, simply disappear under the ceiling by means of a cable.
Refrigerator and oven at eye level Ergonomically favourable working environments are also an ongoing concern for kitchen and appliance manufacturers. The solutions include higher work elements,
Minimalism and clean desk convey high value As the kitchen is integrated into the living area more and more, it is important to maintain order and cleanliness. A tidy kitchen in a minimalist style is in line with many users’ desire for a kitchen that is always presentable. Kitchen furniture such as kitchen islands and dresser-like cupboards can act as room dividers and storage miracles. Understated, unpolished kitchen fronts without handles and elegant worktops create an inviting atmosphere. Blenders, toasters and power strips can be hidden from sight at the touch of a button, leaving a smooth, uncluttered surface.
Supplier March/April 2019
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design also got their money’s worth at the Cologne trade fair: sinks made of stainless steel can be flush-mounted in the worktop to form a holistic look with the kitchen cabinets. The trend for customisation is also gaining ground in this area: with custommanufactured worktops made of stainless steel, the sink and the worktop can be adapted to the respective space.
Smart Kitchen – for the benefit of the user
From concrete to natural Ergonomic and beautiful: woods: kitchen worktops kitchen taps must stand are becoming slimmer and the test of long-term use slimmer Fixtures for the kitchen are equipped with The worktop is to a kitchen what the door handle is to the architecture of a house. Two factors are hugely important in holistic kitchen design: the overall visual impression and functionality. The kitchen worktop must be able to withstand heat, bacteria and lots of dirt. At the end of the day, the kitchen – that is the worktop – must be hygienically clean again. When it comes to worktops and decor, popular current trends include imitations of natural materials such as authentic-looking wood patterns and the concrete look. In addition, a number of suppliers add anti-bacterial materials to their surfaces. Kitchen worktops made of solid wood – from sustainable sources, of course – are also very popular. Artificial stones can be produced more uniformly and thinner, which gives worktops made from these materials a more elegant, highquality appearance. While worktops outside of the norm, especially thick ones make of natural materials as well as particularly slim ones, are considered to be of high quality, the overall trend is for thin work areas.
Supplier March/April 2019
very different functions than those for the bathroom. Functionality is the priority at the kitchen sink: water at the press of a button or with an arm movement – it’s vital that you can wash, rinse or fill the pan with water easily and automatically with just one hand. The current trend is for fixtures with a stainless steel look to match the minimalist, clean style.
LivingKitchen 2019 featured demonstrations by manufacturers of kitchen appliances and accessories on the possibilities and advantages of innovative technology. From the smart, autonomous dishwasher controlled by means of a PowerDisk and programmable via app and touchscreens that can be integrated in standard kitchen dimensions to new air treatment concepts and plant furniture that ensures perfect growing conditions for herbs and lettuce. The digital support via cooking programmes with a recipe by means of new information systems during preparation also seems to be appreciated by many cooking enthusiasts. One of the factors driving these trends is the increase in health awareness. The kitchen does not only play a key role in the home as a communication hub for interacting with family and friends but also as the starting point of a healthy lifestyle. The time spent there is significantly enhanced by the merging of the living area. To sum up LivingKitchen 2019: The kitchen is clearly a winner in the home. ❚
Integrated sinks and diversity of materials Kitchen sinks are available in a huge range of materials: from stainless steel and granite to cast mineral and ceramic. Sinks have to be food-safe, hygienic, robust and easy to clean. They are the icing on the cake in any new kitchen. Fans of minimalist
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APRIL 2019
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3-6 UMIDS 2019 International exhibition of furniture, materials, components & equipment for furniture production & woodworking Krasnodar, Russian Federation www.umids.ru/en-GB/
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