32 minute read
Installations
Biesse’s Selco SK4 in situ at Verco
Office furniture manufacturer, Verco, mobilised its fleet of Biesse wood processing machines to manufacture 5500 Covid-safe desking stations for the UK Government within a four-month timeframe.
Verco counts on Biesse to deliver on Covid-safe desking contract
When office furniture designer and manufacturer Verco secured one of its largest ever orders – a special desking project for the UK Government – it knew it could only deliver on time if it could rely on the performance of its Biesse machines.
Biesse rose to the challenge, providing responsive engineering support and rapid online troubleshooting to meet Verco’s ambitious uptime targets. Fulfilling the exacting terms of the contract and delighting the customer, 5500 MFC desk positions with Covid-protective MFC/ Perspex and glass screening were delivered by the end of March.
A seat in the capital
Verco has a rich heritage in furniture making that stretches back more than a century, when High Wycombe was known as the chair making capital of the world. In the 1960s, the company’s focus switched to office furniture, primarily seating, and recent history has seen Verco investing in CNC machinery from Biesse to develop its panel furniture business.
Verco’s first Biesse purchases were two secondhand machines: a Protec (built in 1999) for large panel processing and a smaller Rover 380 (built in 1992). Both are still in use by Verco today – testament to the longevity and build quality of Biesse machines.
Positive first impressions
“These were our first introduction to Biesse, so when we subsequently looked to purchase new machines we called them in to have a chat. When compared with other brands, Biesse’s machines were more competitive from a technical and pricing perspective,” says Peter Mitchell, production director at Verco.
These early models have since been joined by several other Biesse machines, including a VIET sander, Selco beam saws, Rover A Edge edgebanding CNCs and its newest purchase – a Rover A FT flat-bed router. Housed within Verco’s 40,000 sq ft woodworking mill, this battery of furniture making equipment, in conjunction with a highly skilled and dedicated workforce, has established Verco as a leader in high quality commercial desking and table products.
Colossal contract opportunity
In summer 2020 Verco was approached with a view to designing and manufacturing 5,500 work stations, incorporating more than 25,000 MFC panels and 13,000 Perspex panels, to create a Covid-safe working environment.
One of the largest ever contracts in Verco’s 109year history, there was a lot riding on this project. Even before the contract was awarded, Verco had to secure its supply chains, commit to materials and make the logistical arrangements to pack 1000 tonnes of desking into special desk-unit stillages and deliver them to a central distribution warehouse.
The scale of the order meant Verco would have to pull out all the stops to guarantee ontime delivery of the desking. This would entail operating an extended shift and moving to a six-day week for the duration of the contract, and even then, any machine downtime would jeopardise Verco’s ability to complete on time.
Complex components
“We were very aware of the magnitude of this project and the fact we had very little time to make all the components,” explains Peter. “This challenge was compounded by the complexity of those components. Some of them needed secondary machining in terms of sizing, edging, shaping, routing and shape-edging, which are difficult but essential to get absolutely accurate all of the time. We knew we were going to have to rely heavily on the repeatability and reliability of our machines as we simply wouldn’t have enough time to make the job with any downtime.”
He continues: “Two machines that were absolutely crucial to the success of the project were the Rover A Edge machines, because we couldn’t perform shaped edge-banding with the same accuracy, repeatability and quality on any other machines, especially in the quantities required. Therefore guaranteeing uptime for these machines was paramount.”
Seeking assurance
With this in mind, prior to the contract being signed off, Verco sought Biesse’s assurance that it would respond swiftly in the event of any equipment issues.
“We wanted to make sure that they could guarantee support on our site when we needed it and remotely when we needed it,” says Peter.
With the client delighted with the prototypes that Verco designed, it was all systems go from mid-November. From then on, with only a few breaks in between for Christmas, six 45ft artics left Verco each week for the next 11 weeks.
An Opera 7 widebelt finishing centre provides exceptional finish quality for Verco
All hands to the deck
“Staff were seconded from all areas of the business to work on this project. Everyone engaged with the fact it needed to be done. They were all under full employment at that time which they were pleased about, and employees in the mill were working long hours – 6am to 6pm – and doing lots of overtime,” says Peter.
During this period, several of the Biesse machines were working flat out, including some of the oldest ones.
“Even the big old Protec had its part to play,” recalls Peter. “Some of the panels we were handling were 1800 x 2100mm, so the Protec was ideal for the precise edge saw process. We were able to do some of the shaping and some of the edging on the Rovers and then move onto the Protec for the saw cut, which was a more efficient way of working.”
Rapid resolution
During this project, Biesse’s remote troubleshooting capabilities played a vital role in keeping downtime to a minimum.
“The benefit of an engineer identifying a problem on a machine remotely and correcting that problem remotely is speed. If issues can be sorted without a site visit that is better for everyone,” says Peter.
The latest machine purchased by Verco incorporates SOPHIA – Biesse’s IoT platform. This gives Biesse a ‘window’ into each installed machine via a continuous connection with the platform. Users can call for assistance via an app and Biesse’s engineers will diagnose and resolve issues remotely.
“SOPHIA makes a big difference in so far as being able to identify where there are problems,” notes Peter.
During the project, any issues that couldn’t be resolved remotely were dealt with efficiently onsite by Biesse’s engineers, according to Peter, who praised Biesse’s response as “positive” and engineer attendance as “on-time and effective”.
Successful completion
By the end of March, all four phases of the ambitious programme had been delivered ontime, with the product passing the Government’s stringent procedures.
“The customer was extremely pleased with our performance, which was a tremendous boost for our workforce who had put their all into what was one of the largest single orders in the history of Verco. Biesse’s support was key in keeping production on track and on time and their engineers should be applauded,” says Peter.
www.biesse.com
Boxing clever with Salvador
Leading potato box manufacturer, United Box, has invested in a Salvador SuperUp crosscut saw from Daltons Wadkin. Located at Airlie in the heart of the Scottish seed potato growing region, United Box has an unrivalled reputation for manufacturing a range of high-capacity wooden boxes.
Formed in 2003 by the current owners Scott Group, James Jones and Sons, and the Phillips family, United Box claims to supply 80% of the Scottish potato box market. To keep pace with increasing demand from growers in the UK and Ireland, the company looked to Daltons Wadkin for expert advice on how to meet its growing production requirements.
“Crosscutting was a bottleneck in production”, comments Andy Walsh, sales director at Daltons Wadkin. “We offer an unrivalled range of manual, semi-automatic and fully automatic crosscut saws from leading European manufacturers. When looking to boost productivity, reduce skill requirements and provide a safe working process, Salvador answers the call every time.”
Daltons Wadkin is the sole agent for Salvador in the UK and Ireland, a partnership spanning over 10 years with installations into the hundreds.
The new Salvador SuperUp has replaced the company’s original saw, and boasts a wealth of features. “The working principle of the machine remains the same, with safe, two-handed operator control,” says Andy, “but the overall design is stronger, with improved accessibility
for maintenance and blade changing.”
The added strength of the machine enables sawing capacities to be increased with blades sizes of 500/550 and 600mm available. Pneumatic controls for regulation of the saw stroke are now conveniently located above the machine bed, making adjustment for varying material types/thicknesses simple.
Infeed and outfeed tables can be specified in any length, with a choice of manual and pneumatically operated flip-down stops.
The company’s previous saw featured a fixed front saw guard that encumbered machine loading and unloading in tight workspaces. The new SuperUp model now offers an optional automatic retracting front protection guard, allowing operators to front-load the machine across the saw line without having to manoeuvre the entire length of the workpiece onto the infeed table.
For more information on the Salvador range of crosscut saws contact Daltons Wadkin on 0115 986 5201, or email info@daltonswadkin.com.
www.daltonswadkin.com
A West Midlands kitchen manufacturer has purchased a new woodwaste heater from Wood Waste Technology to save money on waste disposal and heating.
Wudyu, based in Coventry, designs and installs the highest quality kitchens from leading manufacturers. Alan Winfield, director at Wudyu, realised that by investing in a woodwaste heater, he could burn all the wood offcuts generated from kitchen manufacture instead of having to hire skips each week. Plus, the business would no longer need to run the oil heater to keep the factory warm in winter.
Alan says: “Once we looked at the numbers, we realised it just made sense. What we’d save on paying for skips would pay for the heater, so we contacted Wood Waste Technology.”
After reviewing costs and performance, the business purchased a WT15 that was installed into the middle unit of Wudyu’s three manufacturing units so air could be channelled into the other two units either side.
Alan says: “There are so many benefits to having a woodwaste heater, that I can’t understand why all woodwaste-generating businesses don’t have one, as the money saved on heating and waste disposal pays for the heater! And the team at Wood Waste Technology is fantastic, they’re always so helpful and their woodwaste burners are fantastic!”
Wood Waste Technology’s Kurt Cockroft says: “Whatever the primary reason for purchase – heat or waste disposal, a woodwaste heater is a cost-effective and productive solution for companies that generate waste wood, and some companies get payback on the investment in less than 12 months.”
Wood Waste Technology’s years of expertise in woodwaste solutions have helped many companies reduce their waste disposal and heating costs. As well as offering site survey, design, manufacture, installation and ongoing maintenance for new units, the company also services all types of woodwaste heaters, and supplies genuine spares up to -60% cheaper than other suppliers. Wood Waste Technology is also the UK official distributor for Gross Apparatebau, a German manufacturer of dependable, precision-engineered shredders and briquetters, available in various size and specifications to suit all business applications.
01785 250400 www.woodwastetechnology.com www.grossuk.co.uk
New CNC machine upgrades capacity and capability for Welsh joinery firm
Operating in a marketplace that was diversifying away from its core high-quality joinery work, Wrexham-based Bryn Roberts Joinery has successfully developed another line of business. Recent investment by Bryn Roberts Joinery in new CNC machinery has seen the business take steps forward in terms of the breadth of its design and manufacturing capability, the repeatable accuracy of its work as well as the volume of output.
Works foreman Owen Roberts (no relation) explains: “Initially, the business was focused on high-end joinery, with the odd 5% of the business being other specialist work for all sorts of markets. Today, that has entirely flipped and we make sensory toys and that is our core market, and now the Bryn Roberts Joinery business is majority-owned by TFH.”
TFH is one of the most successful companies in this space, and its partners distribute hundreds of products – such as bubble tubes, fibre optic lighting, safe storage cabinets, projectors, interactive wall panels, mirrors and more – to over 100 countries worldwide. Owen says that the company currently produces around 50-60 different products in batches throughout the year delivering to the TFH UK headquarters in Stourport, Worcestershire, before being shipped out around the world via TFH offices in the US, Canada, and Sweden.
In terms of machinery and equipment, Owen, who has worked for Bryn Roberts for almost 20 years, says that looking back, Bryn Roberts Joinery was typical of a traditional joinery firm with a range of modest machinery and classical equipment with skilled, bench-trained craftsmen.
However in recent years, the company also acquired a limited CNC capability, but it was a machine with only 900mm on the Y axis, meaning sheets had to be trimmed before being used on the CNC, wasting time. The limitations of this machine quickly became clear as the guys were having to work around the machine pre-trimming sheets and not really getting all the benefits you would want from a CNC – so it was only used maybe an hour or so each day.
Clearly the company needed a more capable machine to create more efficiency, so Owen approached Carl O’Meara, the MD of Burscough, Lancashire wood working machinery expert, J & C O’Meara, to explore some CNC options. Following an initial meeting, Carl carried out a full assessment on the company’s existing capability and compared that with a new CNC option he believed would be right for the business.
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Compared to its previous set up, the AES Extreme nesting CNC supplied by J & C O’Meara has delivered significant gains across the board for Bryn Roberts Joinery
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As one might expect, on all like-for-like areas, the AES Extreme 1632 CNC nesting machine that Carl proposed would provide considerable gains across the board, the headline being that it would be three times quicker to machine parts. It gets interesting of course when one extrapolates that to a 40-hour working week using the AES Extreme – the existing CNC would take around 120 hours.
More significant was the difference that a combination of the faster, more efficient AES Extreme along with operator training and introducing optimised machining strategies would make. And then it is also the hidden costs that need to be appreciated, including having a machine operator present to cover those additional 80 hours (at £15/hour x 80 = £1200) plus the additional cost of 80 hours power to run the old CNC, dust extraction and compressor to allow it to produce the same number of parts as the AES machine – the opportunity becomes ever-more compelling.
Asking Owen what he feels the new CNC will mean for the Bryn Roberts business, he says: “The new AES Extreme is enabling us to drive higher volumes through, it also means our batch quantities can go up because our sheet size is bigger, and with the excellent nesting facility, our yield quantities are considerably better too.
“Notably, because of the Extreme’s efficiency and ease-of operation, where previously we were considering an extra person to keep up
Bryn Roberts Joinery also opted for AES’ recently introduced extraction option
with demand, which in these changeable and challenging times is a decision we’re glad we’ve been able to delay for now.”
Owen also praised the pre-sale efforts by Carl and his team, the installation and training being very good indeed: “We’ve had the new Extreme for six or seven months now, and along with the AES extraction system we bought at the same time, we’re delighted with how much more performance and capability we have – it feels entirely natural now and we’re making gains across the business because of it. I would absolutely recommend this set-up to businesses in a similar situation, and I would also put a shout out for Carl and team at J & C O’Meara for their insight and professionalism.”
01704 893109 www.ukwoodworkingmachinery.co.uk
The AES Extreme nesting CNC is easy and intuitive to operate
Microvellum software fuels vision for Shopfit UK’s growth
A specialist in the manufacture of bespoke cabinetry, worktops, furniture, and retail shopfitting products, Shopfit UK has been a family-run business for over 20 years. The company, based in Hull, specialises in providing personalised solutions for its clients spanning the residential and commercial sectors of the woodworking industry.
For two decades, its work has been consistent and similar in scope, but recently it has recognised the need to diversify and expand into new markets to effectively grow the business.
Last year, owner John Fallowfield and his team agreed that to achieve their goals, they needed to overhaul their processes and upgrade their technology. Their upgrade included an additional CNC machine and software from Microvellum, an AutoCAD-based platform for design, drafting, project costing, engineering, and manufacturing. According to John, the software is well suited for manufacturers that need to build beyond simple cabinetry.
“The CAM solution we have used for years has worked for our basic needs, but it does not provide us with the automation nor the capabilities that we need to support our future growth plans,” comments John. “We needed software that could help us modernise our workflows and simplify the design and engineering processes for the complex products typically found outside our current markets.”
Shopfit UK is currently laying the groundwork for its expansion into laboratory, healthcare, and office interiors markets. Part of this expansion includes the development of new parametric products designed within Microvellum that will enable the team to quickly configure products that meet simple to complex project design specifications.
The CAD/CAM solution from Microvellum also includes tools for 3D modelling and one-off product creation that will enable Shopfit UK to engineer and manufacture other intricate products such as reception areas, storage systems, and other bespoke joinery.
Shopfit UK also offers a variety of services including CNC machining, a full spray and polish service, as well as other aspects of bespoke joinery. Its recent machinery purchase, a Morbidelli cx220 from SCM, was added to complement Microvellum, and includes a Lamello cutter and Blum head.
John goes on to describe the transformation: “We have the power to design and engineer what
we want. And when it comes to manufacturing our products, CNC programs can be generated for every part within any project automatically, right from our Microvellum software. Not only that, but the system is also set up to intelligently direct CNC programs for specific parts to any machine on our production floor.”
In addition to the Morbidelli cx220, John’s factory is also equipped with an SCM Record 121 and Record 125 nesting machine, and a Biesse Sector 470 beam saw.
“This investment, combined with the support from Microvellum’s UK-based team, has equipped us with the tools and confidence to tackle any project, in any market, no matter the complexity,” concludes John.
Shopfit UK is one of two businesses owned by John Fallowfield. The second, MIPOD, is a market leader in producing commercial glamping pods and shepherds’ huts for holiday and caravan parks throughout the UK. According to John, plans for extending the Microvellum solution into this business are already underway – having set a long-term goal of bringing the entire glamping pod construction, including the framing, interior components and cabinetry, into Microvellum as CNC-ready, parametric products.
www.shopfituk.com
It has been two decades since Combilift supplied its first order to the UK’s largest independent timber distributor. An impressive 165 trucks later, and the relationship remains strong and progressive …
James Latham and Combilift –20 years of partnership
For those in the timber sector, James Latham hardly needs any introduction. With a history stretching back over 260 years, the company is now one of the UK’s largest independent distributors of timber, panels, and decorative surfaces. Operating from 12 branches throughout the UK and Ireland, Lathams supplies its products to a broad range of customers, from contractors and merchants to construction professionals and designers. The company has also been the recipient of many major TTJ Awards over the years.
When it comes to materials handling and warehousing – a crucial aspect of any business to get right – it is now 20 years since Lathams ordered its first three C4000 multidirectional forklifts from Combilift in June 2001 for its Hemel Hempstead site, starting a partnership that continues to this day. The Irish specialist manufacturer was at the time just a few years old and still a relatively small company – albeit one with big ambitions – and it has since enjoyed unparalleled growth in the global materials handling sector.
70 Combilifts in operation
Two decades on, around 70 C4000 models are in operation across all Latham branches, and, according to Combilift’s Tommy Cadden, who has been closely involved with the company from the outset, over 165 trucks have been supplied in all, which have a typical lifespan of seven years before being replaced by new models. “When we first started working with James Latham, they were considering two electric four-way reach trucks for indoor operation, and two counterbalance trucks for outside use only at Hemel,” he says.
Until the launch of the Combilift, this combination was then quite a standard one, but as company director Piers F Latham explains: “We had nearly decided to go with this option, but were ideally looking for a new way of working, and one that would maximise the footprint in our depots. After seeing the Combilift at a show at the NEC, the rest was history. The combination of Combilifts and racking enabled us to be the first to go to an impressive height of 8m in narrow aisles, and of course the indoor/ outdoor ability meant we needed fewer trucks whilst achieving optimum operational versatility.”
Innovators in their sectors
Combilift is acknowledged for its innovative design philosophy, and Lathams continues to be an innovator in its sector too, which has led to an expansion of many of the company’s depots, and consequently the ongoing need for space-saving materials handling. Piers says: “We consistently push the boundaries of materials selection, from our origins in timber products, panels and doors, to today, where we are one of the most recognised suppliers of cutting-edge materials technologies, including decorative laminates, veneers, thermoplastics and acrylics.”
The Yate branch is an example of how the Latham Group is addressing growth and progress. It is one of a number of new facilities designed with 9m-high racking to make the most of every inch of possible space, following on from sites in Motherwell and Leeds. With a footprint of 53,000ft², it has a current storage capacity of 7000m³ for its stock, which comprises 70% sheet and panel products and 30% hardwoods. A 10,000ft² extension is planned for later this year on-site, to cope with expanding volumes.
James Latham director, Piers F Latham
Tommy Cadden, Combilift
Hard-working trucks
The 10 Combilifts on-site are on the go constantly on a 24/5 shift pattern, offloading incoming deliveries, putting products into racking and reloading for despatch to customers. Their 4t base capacity, with lifting capability of 2t to 9.4m, enables them to handle diverse loads, which can be up to 4.5m long.
They work in real guided aisles of 2520mm (for easy entrance, exit and quick travel within aisles and reduced risk of product damage) as well as in some free-roaming aisles set aside for the storage of 3 x 2m jumbo boards. For easier and stable handling of these larger loads, four trucks have been fitted with telescopic forks, which measure 2050mm when extended.
These can lift 1900kg at 1035 load centre to 7.8m. Other specifications requested by operations manager Reg Court and depot director Andrew Jones and their team were blue warning lights to alert pedestrians of an approaching truck, and a mast-mounted camera with an in-cab screen to ensure safer handling for drivers when placing and picking loads from the higher bays.
Embracing electric power
Yate is also the first branch to introduce electric Combilifts into its fleet – previous trucks at Lathams have been LPG powered – and four of its current fleet are electric. According to Piers Latham, all the company’s replacement models will be electric wherever possible, which is in line with the general move in many countries towards greener operation. Due to an upsurge in demand, over 50% of Combilift products that leave the production lines in Monaghan are now electric. For applications with high utilisation, Combilift also offers the option of supplying these trucks with GNB/Exide Tensor fast-opportunity profile batteries and chargers, and this was included in the specification for Latham’s machines.
Andrew Jones says: “There are numerous advantages to the electric trucks, a major one of which is the quiet operation. This is appreciated by our neighbours, particularly when we are working during so-called unsociable hours (many Latham depots work 24-hour shifts to maximise delivery capacity). There is enough juice left in the batteries after the night shift for the rest of the following morning before we need to charge again.
“Any doubts we may have initially had about performance compared to LPG power have also been totally dispelled, and we look forward to delivery of the three new electric models we have on order.” Drivers are equally happy with the electric models, according to materials handling manager John Bennett: “There is now a bit more space in the cab, and when you are working in hot weather, conditions are much cooler and more comfortable as there is no heat emanating from the engine.”
Ongoing collaboration and customer care
Tommy Cadden says: “I believe that our customised products, the design of which has also been influenced by input from Latham employees and depot directors, together with the level of after-sales service that we offer, have enabled Combilift to continue to be the company’s preferred provider of handling equipment. This extends to recent new company acquisitions in Rochdale and Dublin, where a Combi-WR4 stacker truck and other multi-directional forklifts are now in operation.”
Customer feedback has always played an important role in Combilift’s product development, and this was the case when the first trucks were planned for Hemel. Piers states: “This site was, in essence, a guinea pig, and Combilift worked on our suggestions regarding various issues such as the position of the exhaust, the hydraulics, the cab size and also incorporating cameras. Not all manufacturers are willing to pursue such open and frank dialogue, but this resulted in trucks that were 100% fit for purpose, and was a major reason for adopting Combilift’s multi-directional concept across the board. The people at Combilift are great to work with, as their ultimate aim is to find solutions for our requirements. This has been key to the long and ongoing partnership.”
www.combilift.com www.lathamtimber.co.uk
High-end residential woodshop Alexis Cabinet Works increases volume and shopfloor efficiency with Cabinet Vision’s job-management tools
Woodworking began as just another summer job for Vance Sadler, whose first stint in a woodshop turned quickly into a passion and ultimately a career path. Today, Vance is owner of Alexis Cabinet Works, a custom high-end residential shop based in Iron Station, North Carolina, that prides itself on delivering topnotch quality and customer service.
“We’re building the kind of quality products that you can’t get without going completely custom,” says Vance, who attracts new clients primarily by word-of-mouth. “In giving our customers what they want, a high level of service is very important to us.”
To take his business to the next level in overall efficiency and production capacity, Vance needed software that could generate realistic shop drawings, as well as material and cut lists. After investigating his options, he purchased the Cabinet Vision design-to-manufacturing solution in the summer of 2017.
“I was going through and hand-figuring all of my boxes and all of my cut lists,” he says. “Every single drawing was done by hand. I started looking at what my hourly rate was versus using software, and the difference was very significant. Just in labour, I’ve paid for the software twice — and I’ve had it for less than six months.”
Since implementing Cabinet Vision, Vance has hired a new full-time employee, which brings his crew up to three – including his wife, Sheila, who works in the shop part time. Though small, his team is able to take on more work while maintaining high product quality, making fewer errors, and dealing with shorter lead times.
A former employee of Vance’s returned to the job after the implementation of Cabinet Vision, and was almost instantly further along in his ability to understand the flow and logistics of production than he was when he had left.
“I hand him drawings, and everything he needs is on the cut list and the assembly sheet, so having the software has really helped him to understand how things work,” Vance says. “I can just hand the drawings and the sheets to my employees and they’re able to go from there, without more help from me. I’m extremely pleased with the software – I have no regrets or buyer’s remorse. It’s helping my business go to the next level.”
Jobs at Alexis begin when Vance visits the homes of customers to look at the spaces in which his projects will be built. He also encourages customers to submit images of finished spaces that they find aesthetically pleasing, which gives him an idea of their style preferences.
“With Cabinet Vision, I can put a design in front on my customer and they can see any changes that they want to make, and see the full layout of the project,” Vance says. “I’m very heavily involved with the customers, and even the contractors I work with turn customers over to me. One of my favourite things is sitting down with them, seeing what they really want and showing them how everything will look when it’s done.”
In addition to ironing out project details for customers, Cabinet Vision is helpful in delivering a ‘wow factor’ for customers who may not be able to accurately visualise the end result. It is also a handy tool for helping customers to spot project details that do not fulfill their vision.
“I can take Cabinet Vision and make them see when something is a terrible idea, without having to say it. I think sometimes that how people envision things to be built versus how they are actually built doesn’t match up,” he says. “I’ve actually sold jobs by using Cabinet Vision to help customers see what they are asking for and
what really works best.”
He also uses the software to take customers on virtual tours of finished projects.
“I can open doors, open drawers, have people tell me that they have one pot or plant that they want sitting here or there. It lets the customer be very detailed with what they want to see,” he says. “I do sit down with my customers with Cabinet Vision open and go through a virtual walkthrough of the project before we ever start construction, and with a lot of customers there is pleasant shock and awe.”
While Vance has yet to implement CNC machinery, he utilises all of the job-planning
tools within Cabinet Vision to streamline workflow, increase efficiency and reduce error.
He and his team use the system’s ability to generate material lists, door lists, face-frame lists, cut lists and assembly sheets on a daily basis. Though he still invests a significant amount of time in layout and design, Vance is eliminating shopfloor errors, and the team is able to handle an increasing volume of work.
“Even with a learning curve from running the software, the mistakes I made were easy to correct,” he says. “I would not have been able to add a second employee as quickly as I had if I wasn’t able to hand them jobs with very minimal instructions.” Vance also appreciates the help he gets from the Cabinet Vision team, which provided support throughout the implementation process, and is “always willing to answer my questions”.
“As we grow, I will grow with Cabinet Vision, and that is one thing I can guarantee,” Vance says. “As we grow as a shop and continue to implement more machinery, I’ll keep learning and growing with the software as it continues to evolve.”
www.cabinetvision.com
Duncan Reeds selects Homag machinery for extended production facilities
Leading fabricator of laminated products, Duncan Reeds Limited, recently acquired a new factory and selected Homag as its preferred supplier of the plant’s machinery. The new facility is an extension to the company’s existing production facilities and is centrally located in Kidderminster, Worcestershire. It has been equipped with five Homag machines which total nearly half a million pounds of investment.
The family business was established in 1989 and has since grown into a dynamic operation. It produces a vast array of custom-made products for a diverse variety of businesses in the UK and overseas. Along with the new 12,000ft2 production facility, It has two other facilities located in West Sussex and Manchester with joint production and storage space of just over 70,000ft2 .
Commenting on the new West Midlands production facility, director Dean HarkessCowlyn says: “Once you have reached the summit of your industry you need to continually develop and improve on the quality and service that got you there. To maintain our leading industrial position we have taken the bold step of opening a third manufacturing facility. The addition of this operation will enable us to expand our client base, serve our customers more efficiently, and offer the most competitive prices and shortest lead times in our industry.”
The company is especially delighted to have taken on Rob Shilvock as the new business and operations manager for the new factory. With a wealth of over 28 years’ experience in the decorative panel industry, Rob has been tasked with further cementing the company’s status as the UK’s number one laminate fabricator. His specialist industry expertise will be key in helping the company evolve further.
Ongoing investment in Homag Machinery
Duncan Reed first invested in Homag machinery in 2002, when the company bought a top-end Brandt edge bander. Since then it has added over 20 more Homag machines including saws, CNC processing centres, throughfeed post formers and PU
edge banders. The five machines that were installed at the new Kidderminster site consist of Homag’s Centateq P-110, Edgeteq S-500, Sawteq B-300 and the Joos press and glue spreader.
Homag – a longstanding trusted partner
Duncan Reeds’ company directors visited Homag’s headquarters in Germany to see the new machines in operation before purchasing them. During their visit, the Homag sales team helped the directors to select the most appropriate machinery for their specific requirements and budget.
Remarking on the Homag machinery investment, Dean concludes: “We consider Homag a trusted partner having invested in over 20 of its machines over the past 30 years. So the decision to use them again was an obvious choice.
“We selected Homag as our preferred machinery supplier for the new factory as quality and service are essential to our success. These are the two most important attributes we look for in our machinery suppliers, and our long-standing experience with Homag has clearly demonstrated its ability to deliver these qualities.
“During our visit to Homag’s head office, we decided to invest in some of their most advanced technology to facilitate our ambitious expansion plans.”
For a demonstration or more information on Homag’s machinery or software, contact Adele Hunt at Homag UK on 01332 856424.
www.homag.com
