Panel Production by First Sight Graphics

Twin Pusher System by Selco. The response to new production requirements. Panel sizing centres

Two machines in one: two positioning pushers completely independent and complementary to each other serving a unique cutting line. The action range of the two pushers varies automatically according to the cutting pattern by means of independent grippers that are enabled or disabled in the necessary working areas. Thanks to the possibility of carrying out different cutting phases simultaneously, the Twin Pusher System can perform very complex cutting patterns maintaining an extremely

Biesse Group UK Ltd.

high level of output.

Lamport Drive Heartlands Business Park Daventry Northants NN11 8YZ United Kingdom Tel: 01327 300366 Fax: 01327 705150 info@biesse.co.uk www.biesse.co.uk

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contents

July-August Issue 2008 Published by:

EC Media Ltd 23 Uvedale Road Enfield, Middlesex EN2 6HA

Telephone/Fax: E-mail: Publisher: Designer:

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Schelling’s focussed on flexible and fast cutting of single boards and large books - see full story on page 4

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Schelling – Impressive in Every Aspect

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20-21

EGGER Launch New Grey Concept

ISSN 1476-6272

CONTENTS News Biesse/Wadkin – a new & exciting partnership NAS – successful visit to SCM Group Rimini Hardwood Timber Specialists Invest in a Striebig Hirzt is No 1 for Kitchen Creation Top Yorkshire Stair Maker Moves up to Masterwood New SCM Moulder System at Ladymead Joinery Holzma Boosts Capacity at VCI Anderson is Best Bet for Richmond Cabinets Combilift is the Solution for Acrelane Joinery Addspace Adds Space with Aisle-Masters EGGER Launch New Grey Concept IDS’s New Tuscan Quartzstone Timbmet Partners with Egger

July/August 2008

2 7 8 9 10/11 13 14 17 28/29 30 31 36/37 38 39

Homag Group Succeeds at Xylexpo

SPECIAL FEATURES Events Spotlight on Xylexpo Handling Dust Extraction & Woodwaste Utilisation Decorative Surfaces Boards & Panels

8-9 20-26 30-31 32-34 36-39 40

news

++news++news++news++ News from James Latham James Latham, is pleased to announce the availability of a range of new product brochures, to make life even easier for its customers. The five new individual brochures include a timber purchasing guide and four separate brochures on flexible panels, door blanks, decorative veneered panels and Birch plywood. The booklets provide customers with a variety of information on each product from grades and specifications to standards and environmental credentials. James Latham is also proud to announce it’s exclusive UK sales and distribution agreement with Finsa UK for Finsa GreenPanel®. Finsa GreenPanel® is produced using two narrow layers of MDF with an internal MDF grid system, resulting in a material that is ideal for projects requiring a high resistance to weight. The lightweight panel is available in sheet size 3050mm x 1220mm by 25mm up to 200mm. Initial stocks will be in standard grade with MR and FR to order. Finsa GreenPanel® is PEFC certified in fitting with Lathams’s environment policies. For more information: Tel: 0116 257 3415 Email: marketing@lathams.co.uk

Steady Growth from Homag Group AG Following the record year 2007, HOMAG Group AG maintained its growth course in first quarter of 2008. Buoyed by a continued high utilisation of capacity, the SDAX-listed leading global manufacturer of plant and machinery for the woodworking industry recorded a substantial rise in sales revenue. In what is

usually a slow quarter in the industry, sales revenue rose by 10% in the first three months vis-à-vis the comparable prior year quarter, reaching EUR 227 miilion (prior year: EUR193 million). Total operating performance rose 11% to EUR 240 million (prior year: EUR 216 million). Adjusted for the increase in merchandise of some EUR 5 million, sales revenue would have increased by 15% and total operating performance by 9%.

Unico Launches Online Catalogue A previous customer survey by Unico Components Ltd revealed that its customers found the company’s website easy to use, but only 10% were willing to place their orders online. Acceptance of e-commerce has now improved dramatically following a trial of Unico’s brand new, fast, simple and secure online catalogue which provides a one-stop-shop service on a 24/7 basis. Customers can register to use Unico’s new e-commerce service at www.unico.uk.co Tel: 01483 237621

Egger Offers More Support to Distributors EGGER. The UK’s leading supplier of wood-based products to the kitchen, bedroom and bathroom industries, has improved its service to their distributors with the introduction of an exclusive e-newsletter. The newsletter keeps distributors up-todate with relevant EGGER product and service related information to help them offer superior service to their customers. Marketing manager Nick McClughin said: “EGGER aims to provide the best customer service in the market and to do that we need to provide excellent support to our distributor network.”

New Shareholder Structure for HOLZ-HER Reich Spezialmaschinen Shareholder change at HOLZ-HER Reich Specialmaschien GmbH (HOLZ-HER Reich Special Machines LLC) is complete. The family enterprise wants to assure continuity and tradition with the investment company, HANNOVER Finanz Gruppe (HANOVER Finance Group), within the scope of a

management buyout and to continue to grow through investments.

Element Six Sponsors 2009 Diamond at Work Conference Element Six will be the main sponsor for the 3rd Diamond at Work Conference planned to take place in Paris between 16-17th April 2009. Diamond at Work is the showcase where the latest developments in the industrial application of diamond and related materials are aired. The 2009 conference is planned to be strongly application-based while also covering specific research that is leading to a deeper understanding of the properties of new materials and significant breakthroughs in fabrication techniques. The aim of the Diamond at Work says conference secretary, Martin Jennings: “Is to provide a comprehensive overview of current and future applications for diamond and cubic boron nitride.” Abrasive applications will cover machining operations for components and materials in the oil and gas and stone and construction industries, for toolmaking and grinding. Non-abrasive sessions will discuss the broad new applications for diamond, in particular, in optical, electronic, thermal, detectors and electrodes and in advanced technologies such as the emerging field of spintronics. For more information about the forthcoming Diamond at Work conference: www.diamondatwork.com

Diary Dates W8 26th – 28th October 2008 NEC Birmingham Woodworking Scotland 26th – 28th March 2009 Royal Highland Centre, Edinburgh Nelton Exhibitions Tel: 01474 536535 Email: exhibitions@nelton.co.uk LIGNA+ 18th – 22nd May 2009 Hannover

July/August 2008

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profile

Schelling – Impressive in Every Aspect With hands-on demonstrations and latest trends in panel dividing technology Schelling’s exhibition stand attracted a large number of trade visitors.

t the Xylexpo plus show in Milan, Schelling Anlagenbau GmbH again lived up to its reputation as an outstanding innovation enterprise. On 170 square metres Schelling presented itself as a competent partner when it comes to cutting solutions. Numerous new business contacts were made and the follow-up business after the show has started already successfully. During the exhibition several business deals were made and finalised. Over 200 trade visitors and customers from all over the world were impressed by the cut-to-size saw type fh6. the fh6 with the Schelling PLUS+ concept sets new standards in the rational cutting-to-size of boards. The presentation at the show focussed on the flexible and fast cutting of single boards and large books with this type of saw. One of the highlights of the Schelling fh6 machine is the new turning device in the saw. With this turning device Schelling again sets standards in the field of the optimal material handling. The audience was enthusiastic about the already well-known

Schelling’s stand at Xylexpo - Milan

separate push-off carriage, which permits a simultaneously cutting and feeding of the boards and the double strip aligner, which

A close-up of the ‘pushers’

July/August 2008

profile

For more information: Tel: 01937 586340 Fax: 01937 586866 Email: info@schelling.co.uk Schelling’s fh6 beam saw includes the latest technology in cutting individual panels and books

July/August 2008

profile

guarantees for highest angular accuracy. Schelling as always stands for best machine quality paired with maximum preference and optimal material handling. We expected a low interest at the Xylexpo based on business from various countries. “However, we were positively surprised by the number of high quality contacts,” explained Wolfgang Rohner, managing director of Schelling Anlagenbau GmbH.

saws

profile

Which Vertical Panel Saw? hen considering the purchase of a Vertical Panel Saw why not start at the very top and work your way down. Francis Dalton of woodworking machinery distributors and manufacturers Daltons suggests that the best is not always the most expensive in the long term and says that if you are looking for the best you could do worse than start with world renowned Dutch manufacturer Elcon. ‘Elcon firstly have the track record having run a dedicated manufacturing facility in Holland since the 1950s. This gives them some 60 years of production experience to draw upon. Accordingly Elcon Panel Saws offer a wider range of technical features than any of their contemporaries and indeed a wider range of machines, having at the present time eight standard models incorporating frame sizes when required bespoke to individual requirements. The standard features and the options are all-encompassing including automatic positioning, digital readouts, programming with touch screen controls, double cut scoring, variable saw speeds, the unique Advance clamping system, PC links, automatic cutting operations and the soon to be announced all new Quadra system which enables the Vertical Panel Saw concept to be used as an accurate programmable Beam Saw occupying the minimum of floor space. The machines work to 0.1 mm tolerances but just as importantly the machines are equipped with a more accurate guidance system

than their principal competitors, incorporating hardened steel rails with dedicated bearings and a particularly robust frame construction. Elcon machines also feature fine adjustments for setting dimensions, failure diagnosis, pneumatic functions for plunging, locking and lifting rollers and if further proof of the Elcon pedigree were needed it is known that Elcon machines are still in operation which were supplied new in the early 1970’s, i.e. 35 years after their construction ‘ Elcon Panel Saws are marketed in the UK and Ireland through sole distributor Daltons. Daltons’ expertise in the marketplace is certainly an important factor but the machines themselves must also meet the required criteria when it comes to versatility, ease of use and compliance with the latest Elcon 215DSX Panel Saw European health and safety requirements. Andy adds: “Users throughout the world are benefiting from the manufacturer’s commitment to safety and ease of operation, high performance and the finest build quality.” The machines will be prominently featured at the forthcoming W8 Exhibition when incidentally the new Quadra concept will be introduced in the UK for the first time. For more information: Tel: 0115 986 5201 Fax: 0115 986 2820 Email: sales@daltonswmw.co.uk.

Simplified Selection of Specialist Adhesives hemique Adhesives and Sealants Ltd, pioneers environmentally friendly and have a two-part in the development of solvent free adhesives for performance for extra bond strength and is most the construction industry today announced the widely used for: insulation panels in buildings and launch of its newly simplified Solfre2 range. vehicles, cladding and architectural panels and The new Soflre2 range falls into three key types: Solfre2 textile and foam laminates. GP, Solfre2 HC and Solfre2 HCR, with each type providing “Our Solfre2 range is seen as an integral a number of different open component in ensuring that the correct times to suit the individual performance criteria for panels is achieved,” said Solfre2 adhesive is used in all customers needs. kinds of applications including John Bellerby, Chemique Technical Manager boards and panels “Our new simplified range ensures that users get Solfre2 GP is the generalpurpose formulation, which can be the best product to meet their stringent adhesive requirements.” applied using either spray or bead. Dedicated to the on-going development of innovative adhesive Formulated specifically for honeycomb systems and application equipment, Chemique has up to 20 different panelling and again used with either tests which can be done to measure the quality of the panels helping spray or bead is the Solfre2 HC, lastly to develop more superior adhesives, remain at the forefront of is Solfre2 HCR an alternative rollable adhesive technology and ensure customer satisfaction. version of the Solfre2 HC. The new Solfre2 range is available for use in a whole range of For your copy of the Solfre2 brochure: Tel: 01922 459 321 or visit www.chemique.co.uk applications, all Solfre2 products are The new Solfre2 range of adhesive for honeycomb panels

July/August 2008

saws

profile

A New & Exciting Partnership Wadkin Ltd and BIESSE UK are delighted to announce a new and exciting partnership in the UK woodworking industry. With effect from June 1st Wadkin will be appointed the exclusive UK distributors for the growing range of BIESSEARTECH machines. ith a great heritage Wadkin continue their development as a business, moving away from mass manufacture and towards a service focussed future. Already boasting the largest and most successful service team in the UK Wadkin are now building a machine sales capability and product range to complement the service, parts and educational needs of UK customers. The partnership with Biesse signals this strategic move. It is the intention of Wadkin to become the leading machine reseller in the UK over the next three years, and the introduction of the BiesseArtech high quality range of machines gives Wadkin the credibility and quality of products to continue this growth. The coming together in this partnership of a leading solid wood provider like Wadkin, and one of the worlds most respected panel industry machine manufacturers in Biesse, will create new opportunities in the UK for both parties. Wadkin Managing Director Mark Kirton was delighted to seal this agreement, and is excited about the future of this partnership for both Wadkin and Biesse. “It is with great pride that I announce the partnership between Wadkin and Biesse. It is our strategic intention to become the leading machine reseller in the UK, on the back of our service, parts and education expertise, and the exclusive distribution rights for BIESSEARTECH machines is the first major step on this path. We are currently refining a UK wide sales network that will dovetail with our UK wide engineer network, and we are confident of achieving great things with BIESSE over the coming years. We were looking for a prestigious brand and company to launch our new machine sales focus and BIESSE fits the bill in so many ways.” “BIESSEARTECH has already established itself as a quality brand worldwide and with the increasing demand for all Biesse products in the UK we have for some time been looking to find a reliable,

July/August 2008

credible BIESSEARTECH UK partner, said BIESSEUK SALES DIRECTOR Steve Bulmer. We are very excited with the prospect of working closely with WADKIN; who we consider to be a perfect fit in terms of organisation and quality nationwide service. We have ambitious plans for the continued growth of the BIESSEARTECH brand in the coming months and feel very confident in having WADKIN involved.” The partnership was launched at a spectacular show at Wadkin’s new UK showroom in Leicestershire earlier this month.

For more information: Tel: 0870 850 9111 Fax: 0870 240 0575 Email: mark.kirton@wadkin.com

events

NAS – Successful Visit to SCM Group in Rimini lmost 50 member companies of ‘The National Association of Shopfitters’ were recent hosts of the SCM Group at their headquarters in Rimini, Italy, at the same time having their Spring Meeting in the main SCM Group theatre and enjoying a 4 day break with their wives and partners by the seaside. Members travelled from all over the UK and Northern Ireland. NAS President, Richard Easton, of A.E. Hadley Shopfitters, Portsmouth, was a member of a similar trip to SCM Group 6 years ago, and he wanted more of the NAS membership to have a fact finding trip to view SCM’s impressive production facilities and have demonstrations on the wide range of machines that SCM can offer their existing and potential customers, from CNC Machining Centres to Spindle Moulders, Edge Banders to Planer Moulders. Richard Easton commented “My members and their partners, totalling 92, had a superb long weekend as guests of the SCM Group and Mike King from SCM UK. Many of our members were first time visitors to Italy, so having an excellent day touring 4 of SCM’s factories, seeing machines in operation and then being well looked after made it the best Spring Weekend the NAS have experienced. The good weather was a bonus!” While the men were busy touring the factories, SCM provided the ladies with a visit to the historical University hill-top town of Urbino, followed by a visit to the principality of San Marino along with a tour guide. A welcome dinner was provided on the first evening of the visit, hosted by SCM UK’s Managing Director, Gabriele De Col. On the final Saturday evening, a Gala Dinner was held at the Hotel Milton, hosted by SCM Group’s Managing Director, Adriano Celi. NAS

Demonstration of a SCM Accord cnc router to NAS visitors at the Rimini factory Director, Robert Hudson, was equally impressed with SCM and the well organised 4 day trip, commenting “We had a great visit to Rimini and I am sure SCM UK will be rewarded with a considerable amount of business from our members who attended. We also confirmed our mutual commitment to further training of our member’s apprentices at SCM UK that is proving extremely successful. A great visit was had by all.” For further information: Tel: 0115 9770044 Fax: 0115 9770946 Email: mking@scmgroup.com

Members of the NAS outside SCM Group Villa Verruchio factory

July/August 2008

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Hardwood timber specialist invests in a Striebig

leading hardwood timber stockist quicker as there's no marking out needed has increased sawing efficiency anymore." and attracted extra business by He also likes the way you can switch from upgrading to a Striebig Compact vertical the standard blade to a scribing blade in panel model. seconds, when cutting veneered panels. "All S.L. Hardwoods, of Croydon, claims to be you have to do is push a lever. It used to be the largest quality hardwood supplier in a ten minute job to change blades, and the South London, with a customer base ranging joiners often had to fill in with wax because from hobbyists to designers and small of the breakout caused." builders across the UK. The arrival of the saw has prompted the It stocks an extensive range of turning and business to go out and actively promote the carving blanks in a wide variety of exotic benefits of its cutting service, something it did species, as well as sheet material that not do before. includes specialist veneered panels. Because Mr Smith said: "Because we can now size of its concern for the environment, it only buys panels more quickly it has allowed us to timber from properly managed and increase throughput, and customers don't sustainable resources. have to wait around so long for their orders." Unlike most other specialist hardwood The forward-looking business is also Wood machinist Raj Patel shows off the Compact's taking full advantage of the latest advances timber merchants it also has a joinery that easy-to-change blades. produces purpose-made items such as in communications as well as in machinery. windows and doors for the building trade. A staggering 95% of new business now comes from its web site The Compact 5207, with a cutting size of 4600 x 2070mm and www.slhardwoods.co.uk which features a virtual shop. Local a cutting depth of 60mm, is used chiefly to size sheet material required customers can also place their sizing orders by email and collect for customers and for use in the joinery. the material after it has come of the Striebig. Another task in which the versatile saw excels is straightening log For more information: sawn lengths of timber board. It even cuts 650mm wide x 50mm Tel: 0116 271 7155 thick hardwood kitchen worktops to size, without them having to Fax: 0116 271 5862 be moved once they have been placed on the saw's frame. Email: sales@tmservices.co.uk The Compact replaced a 15-year-old saw that had accuracy problems plus a heavy beam, which meant that sizing was increasingly taking far longer than necessary. It features central support and small parts support over the entire length of the saw, making the cutting of small work pieces much easier. It was supplied and installed by T.M. Machinery Sales of Leicester, Striebig's exclusive UK dealer. The business's owner, John Smith, said: "We needed a robust saw that would stand up to daily trade use. I looked closely at four different manufacturers and opted for the Striebig because of its build quality, accuracy, speed of set-up and ease of use." Another point in its favour was the highly efficiency integral extraction which meets all EU regulations with dust levels kept to a minimum. "We are very pleased with it," said Mr Smith. "It's around 30 per cent quicker than using the old saw and gives us a clean, crisp and accurate cut every time. We often had to double cut before to get things right." Experienced wood machinist Raj Patel is the saw's operator. As he used the old saw he is well qualified to point out the benefits provided by the Striebig. "It's a dream to use. Before, panels were coming off which were not 100% square, which was a problem. The Striebig is also much The Striebig Compact vertical panel saw cuts a 40mm thick piece of Zebrano

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Hirzt is No 1 for Kitchen Creation Kitchen Creation is a specialist manufacturer and retailer of fitted kitchen and bedroom cabinet furniture based in the north east of England and has taken delivery of the first Hirzt point-to-point borer to be sold by newly appointed UK agent RW into the UK marketplace. The Hirzt Livra 4 replaces a Bussellato which was also supplied by RW Machines of Bicester but over which the new Hirzt system has some crucial advantages. The first of them was the compact form factor of the Livra, which was a key benefit for Mark Bunting, director of Leangrange, the manufacturing arm of the Kitchen Creation operation. “A straight replacement of the old machine would have demanded significantly more valuable space in the factory than the old machine occupied - and a great deal more more than the new Hirzt layout,” he says.

All the new health and safety equipment that you must now have on or around a machine boring from the top takes up so much more space,” says Mark. “With the new Hirzt, we get the improved performance, in terms of cut precision and

“

Hirzt - designed for the smaller shop floor, it takes half the time to set up and delivers twice the output

controlability, and a machine that fits into a space of around half the floor area that was being used before.” Hirzt is one of Italy’s leading manufacturers of borers and the Livra range is designed especially for smaller specialist workshops. The Livra 4 model in particular is designed as a compact CNC system for point-to-point boring on a throughfeed cycle with four controlled axes boring from the underside. Although Livra 4 can be deployed as a throughfeed system it can also be operator fed, as it is at Kitchen Creation, and the work taken off at the same position - no throughfeed continuation table to further increase the footprint and no need for the operator to step away from his own footprint to take off and stack the work. This first new import features 11/12 vertical spindles plus 1+1 horizontal and 1+1 lateral spindles, all processing the broad spread of carcassing components. The 20,000 sq ft factory of Leangrange is at Newton Aycliffe in County Durham where the company makes kitchens and bedrooms for sale through its retail arm, Kitchen Creation, with showrooms in Sheffield, Chesterfield and Newton Aycliffe. The factory also sells through an exclusive network of independent retailers and Kitchen Creation also offers a bespoke manufacturing service for trade customers. As well as carcasses, the company makes all its own five-piece

July/August 2008

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timber doors, primarily in oak and maple, and a selection also in painted MDF. Fascias from Kitchen Creation feature both contemporary and traditional styles and the latest designs also include a new line in pippy oak. Leangrange produces between 35 and 40 kitchens a week to special order, whether for customers at street level or for specialist designer/retailers middlemen. The new Hirzt point-to-point boring station has released around 18 sq metres of ‘very valuable’ floor space in a factory that now enjoys significantly more efficient working across the whole line. “Hirzt delivers everything we had before but with greater accuracy and more productive capacity,” says Mark Bunting. “It’s a much simpler machine to configure and to operate, which means there is less time between pattern changes and a faster throughput capability when the pressure is on.” Mark Bunting has bought several machines from RW to date and was happy to take the Livra 4 on the strength of a recommendation and a demonstration video. “RW has been a trusted supplier for many years,” he says, “and we know we can rely on their service and support capabilities to keep us operational. “As wel as trusting their promises on the production strengths of new machines, we also trust the delivery dates they quote. We’re very much a justin-time operation and any downtime here has a direct impact on our ability to meet our customers’ own delivery expectations - so these are important

July/August 2008

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Mark Bunting is delighted with the new Hirzt - it does a better job and occupies half the floor space.

considerations,” he adds. Michael Gill of RW Machines, the salesman who won the order, says of the installation: “the new Kitchen Creation machine is a great example of the versatility of the Hirzt range. The new Livra 4 brings them the rapid turn around and ease of use that a bespoke manufacturer needs - and though new to the UK market, Hirzt has a proven track record of reliability in demanding environments right across Italy, as well as the broader European environment. “We’re delighted to have opened a door with Mark Bunting for Hirzt in the UK and we’re confident that his will be the first of many machines that will deliver the same advantages of compact size, reliability and improved performance to this country’s smaller specialist manufacturers.”

For more information: Tel: 01869 244943 Fax: 01869 253498 Email: sales@rwmachines.co.uk

The Hirzt system bored from the underside of the panel so it relies on much less safety equipment.

profile

The Latest from SCM for Sanding Technology

mall workshop businesses are increasingly seeking out thicknessing and finishing – sanding solutions which combine versatility, productivity and quality machining, and at the same time within their budget. SCM’s model SANDYA 9S, the latest compact sander from SCM, is a highly versatile machine which can be used for thicknessing MDF, chipboard, etc., plus thicknessing and sanding of solid wood, pre-sanding and sanding veneered panels and the finishing of painted or lacquered surfaces. The machine is available in two working widths of 1100 and 1350 mm, with two or three main machining/sanding heads which can even be fitted with independent motors. The abundant standard kit, including 2620 mm long sanding belts, together with the huge range of optional items, means that any type of machining and sanding can be undertaken, even the most complex and problematic items. SANDYA 9S can be equipped with an electronic sectional pad with a 30 mm centre-to-centre between sections which, allowing high precision and therefore a high quality finish, is the best solution for sanding panels which have a shaped profile or for narrow work pieces. SANDYA 9S optional items include:• sanding rollers with 250 and 300 mm diameters • vacuum hold-down worktable • electronically-controlled oscillating blowers • workpiece cleaning and satinising units • inverters for adjusting abrasive belt speed and conveyor feed speed SANDYA 9S can also be set up with floating pressure shoes which improves and evens out the pressure applied to the work pieces and are ideal for thicknessing with heavy stock removal, or for machining short and thin work pieces and large panels, even if SCM’s Sandya 95 wide belt sander they are warped.

For further information: Tel: 0115 9770044 Fax: 0115 9770946 Email: mking@scmgroup.com

Two sanding groups on the SCM Sandya 95 wide belt sander

July/August 2008

joinery

taircase manufacturer ASD Joinery Ltd has proved without any doubt that the Masterwood MasterStair system, which has enabled it to increase production by 50 per cent, is probably the most user-friendly in the woodworking industry. Before lunchtime on the day its new Masterwood Project CNC machining centre, equipped with Masterwood’s specialist MasterStair specialist CAD/CAM software, was installed, it had designed and produced a staircase. By the end of the same day the total had reached seven – equivalent to over a week’s work for one man using traditional methods. ASD Joinery Ltd, based in Rotherham, is a family business that proudly proclaims itself as ‘Yorkshire’s Premier Staircase Manufacturer.’ It was set up by Trevor Barraclough and his two sons, David and Stephen, in 1999 and has a total of 15 staff. Its highly skilled joiners make all types of standard and bespoke timber staircases; both kite winder and straight flights. Producing stairs for loft conversions is a growing part of its output. The story of ASD Joinery Ltd is a familiar one of a joinery company struggling to cope with traditional methods of stair making, as director Stephen Barraclough explained: “Because we could not always guarantee to get the work out on time we often had to turn it away, which is very disheartening for a small business. When it got to the stage that we were turning as much work away as we were doing, we realised we had to do something about it.” He said the choice was to take on more trained joiners, who are difficult to recruit and keep, or take the CNC machining centre route. After deciding to invest in the latest technology they looked at various manufacturers’ machines. What persuaded them to buy from Masterwood was the fact that it could supply both the machining centre and its own specialist staircase CAD/CAM software. The Project 415 V2L they purchased has a 5m long bed to take the longest staircase strings. It features a tubeless system vacuum bed, 10.5hp router motor, 12 position tool carousel, dedicated horizontal router, 17 spindle drilling head, and heavy duty newel clamps to complete the ideal staircase machine. ASD had been using a proprietary CAD package to design stairs, but chose to change to MasterStair, which was developed following extensive trials at leading UK stair makers. “It has slashed production time dramatically as there is no marking out needed and has enabled us to boost production by more than 50 per cent,” said Stephen Barraclough. “Masterwood claim their

July/August 2008

MasterStair system does the work of around four to five joiners, and I reckon they are right.” For example, a shaped kite winder string that used to take one and a half hours to make now takes 10-15 minutes, and loft stairs can be designed and produced in two to three hours, compared with 1012 hours before. He had nothing but praise for the training received. “I spent two days at Masterwood’s training school, and the technician gave us some more training when he installed the machine. By lunchtime on that first day we had already made our first staircases on it, and by 4.30pm we had made seven. I could not design them quickly enough.” Its introduction has led to ASD moving to an entirely new way of working. Production methods have been totally redesigned around the Project and it now makes batches of components, which has made the operation far more efficient. “We don’t have to turn work away anymore,” said Stephen Barraclough. “Our turnover has more than doubled and profits have gone up considerably. Having the Project has helped us take on contracts we would not have considered before. We can even afford to drop prices slightly to win a contract and still make a good margin. Amongst numerous other joinery firms benefiting from the Masterwood stair system are MSJ Joinery of South London and Iona Joinery of Upper Lissivigeen, Killarney, Co. Kerry, Ireland. Since purchasing a Project 300 fitted with MasterStair software last December, MSJ Joinery has boosted stair production considerably. Owner Richard Mant said: “We were making between 200-300 stairs a year by traditional methods but are now on target to produce more than 1,000 this year. Everything is so quick and accurate with the Masterwood. We recently had an order for 15 straight flights and finished the work in a day and a half.” The arrival of the machine has enabled MSJ to extend its product range by adding a less expensive range of stairs to its portfolio. Iona Joinery’s owner Pat Moynihan is delighted with his MasterStair software, used with a Project 416L machining centre. His Masterwood, bought from High-Tech Machinery, Dublin, produces all of the stair components. A staircase can now be designed and produced in four hours compared to a day-and-ahalf using traditional methods. For more information: Tel: 01436 675 000 Email: masterwooduk@aol.com

joinery

Top Yorkshire Stair Maker Moves up to Masterwood

Stephen Barraclough with a staircase made by ASD Joinery Ltd.

The Masterwood Project 415 which has helped boost production by 50 per cent at ASD Joinery Ltd.

Stephen Barraclough of ASD Joinery uses Masterwood’s MasterStair CAD/CAM software in conjunction with a Masterwood CNC machining centre.

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New SCM Moulder System at Ladymead Joinery adymead Joinery obtains immediate results Readers may remember an article a few months with their new SCM Superset Class NT ago when Ladymead Joinery took a leap of faith Moulder. The new ground breaking and installed an SCM Windor 20 CNC Window and machine has an easy to use electronic controller, Door Machining Centre. model Control 10, coupled with an SCM HSK 85 Tony Clark of Ladymead Joinery says “Since plug in tooling system. These two options, linked installing the Windor 20, we simply haven’t looked together on a moulder, result in the most back and it has changed my whole outlook on the advanced and cost effective machine of its type business. I now feel that I am in the driving seat, on the market today. no longer being pushed around by customers. SCM were the first company to use HSK Customers, for their part, are happier because we technology on a moulder and have been using it on are performing and the quality of our products, their CNC routers and machining centres for many something that I built my business upon, years. This has given SCM a vast experience in this has been maintained and in many ways, greatly Easy change of cutterblocks on the type of system and has helped make SCM the SCM Superset Planer/Moulder improved upon.” market leader. Tony Clark continues “Just after Paul Jennings of Sophisticated does not mean complicated so SCM has thought SCM sold me the Windor 20 and it was installed, he pointed to our of everything on this machine. As usual, SCM has made the controller moulder and said “that will be next Tony.” So I replied, no way, that’s simple to understand and easy to use and it is designed for the a good bit of kit. The Weinig that we replaced we hadn’t actually had average “hammer and nails” guy most companies have in their own it that long and in moulder terms it wasn’t that old. After a few months workshop. Using the HSK plug in tooling system is effortless, with of using the Windor 20 and getting used to how easy it was to make no spanner and no “brawn” required, just the press of a button and windows, I started to look at the moulder with fresh eyes. I would “hey presto” tools are changed. say now, with the benefit of hind sight, that the purchase of the new When a tool change is required, the controller is set to “Set-up” moulder was every bit as significant at the purchase of the Windor mode, the machine automatically opens up to its maximum height 20, but I didn’t really see that at the time. The new moulder has had and width allowing unrestricted access to all the machining heads. as much of a positive impact on the business as the Windor 20 has It has, as standard, the SCM patented “Set-Up” quick setting up had. When buying it I thought it would be a good addition or system. This enables the machine to be set in only one movement compliment other machines, even a bit of a luxury really. But now I without the need to adjust front and rear pressers and feed rollers, realise that it is making me as much money as the Windor 20 has which are simultaneously adjusted automatically. done.” This results in the absolute minimum of manual intervention required “I did, of course, look around at all the other moulders on the at the setting up stage. Cutting set-up time to a minimum in this day market, as I didn’t want SCM to think like they have a free reign here. and age is just as important as cutting the skills level required to use At the end of the day, I’m in business to make money for me and the machine to a minimum. not some one else. I selected SCM because the machine ticked all the boxes and it is very easy to use, easy and quick to set up and although it was by no means cheap, it is the best for value for money on the market.” Paul Jennings, SCM Sales Area Manager for Solid Wood machines, states “Ladymead employs a total of six people, only three of which work on production. For a company of its size, their production output is astounding and growing exponentially along with their turnover. It’s incredible to think, as I visit other companies making similar products, they do not have this level of technology. That they are employing triple or even quadruple the amount of people Ladymead Joinery have and Ladymead is out producing them and is just as likely making a better quality product.” Continuing, Jennings says “The Technology is here, customers just have to look for it, buy it and use it.”

SCM Superset Class NT Planer Moulder at Ladymead Joinery

For further information: Tel: 0115 9770044 Fax: 0115 9770946 Email: mking@scmgroup.com

July/August 2008

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ooteâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Builderâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Merchants has 3100 x 1644mm and a cutting depth of upgraded its sawing facilities with a 60mm. Striebig Compact vertical panel It was supplied and installed by T.I. machine after winning a contract to provide Machinery, the Belfast-based Northern Ireland plywood sheet sections to a local box maker. sub-agents for T.M. Machinery Sales Ltd, the The sheets were initially cut to size on a flatbed UKâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s exclusive Striebig distributor. saw at the Ballygawley, Co. Tyrone, company in Designed for use with smaller panels, the Northern Ireland, but this proved to be too slow Compact sets new standards for ease of use and too labour intensive, as well as inaccurate. together with exceptional degrees of accuracy Yard manager Sam Clarke uses and versatility. It is based on a single, fully Managing director, Isobel Coote, said: â&#x20AC;&#x153;We the Striebig Compact. welded sawing frame to give decades of reliable were not getting total accuracy from the flatbed saw which led to complaints from the customer. service whilst maintaining cutting precision. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Being a few millimetres out was a big problem for them as it There are five models in Compact range with cut sizes ranging prevented the plywood sections fitting together correctly first time, up to 5350 x 2200mm, making them suitable for sizing the largest which doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t happen with the Striebig because of its accuracy. panels available. Each has a maximum cutting depth of 60mm. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The flatbed saw needed two people to cut the sheets but itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a oneAll five models are now available in versions incorporating an man job with the Striebig and, because of its built-in safety features, I automatic cut cycle facility to make them even more productive. This know that we now meet all the necessary health and safety regulations.â&#x20AC;? feature was previously only to be found on Striebigâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s more As well as sizing plywood sheets for the box maker the Striebig expensive Control models. also cuts plywood and MDF panels to the sizes required by DIY For more information: enthusiasts and other retail customers. Tel: 0116 271 7155 The space-saving Compact 4164 is the smallest of the models Fax: 0116 271 5862 in the entry-level Compact range, with a maximum cutting size of

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Kittle of Toye Ltd Install an SCM Superset Class stablished in 1985, Kittle of Toye is a family around the machine looking for grease points only to run business located in the heart of County find after a few months he has missed one and the Down, Northern Ireland. Husband and wife machine could be potentially damaged. Many features team, Wesley and Olga Kittle, have built their are fitted as standard, such as rollers in the machine reputation on hand finished craftsmanship and a bed, lubrication pump for the table, lights inside the great attention to detail. sound proof cabinet and a full set of tools and a With their carefully measured approach Wesley and measuring device to name but a few. Olga, when selecting a potential supplier, expect that Service and support was one of the key points in the supplier to meet the same exacting standards of decision to purchase the SCM machine. MJ Marty McCallion with Wesley Kittle in front of the excellence that they themselves adhere to in the running Woodworking Machinery, of County Antrim, is the first port SCM Superset Planer Moulder of their business. Such a progressive and innovative of call for customers in Northern Ireland. In turn they are company that manufactures award winning kitchens can only afford to use the supported by the SCM Group, who have three full time service engineers based best available equipment in its manufacturing procedures if it is to maintain its in Northern Ireland on call at any one time. In addition, two engineers are available position of esteem. from Ireland and a further thirty two are on call from SCM’s base in Nottingham When considering upgrading their four-sided planer, after a long process of on the main land. evaluation and detailed assessment of potential suppliers, Wesley and Olga decided Marty McCallion of MJ Woodworking Machinery stated “Working with Kittle of upon purchasing an SCM Superset Class Planer Moulder with electronic control. Toye was a real pleasure because of their professional approach to the project. The Superset Class 6-head Moulder with Control 20 electronic control for They knew exactly what they wanted to achieve, due to many years of experience handling 4 axes - height, width and vertical movements of the left and right spindles. processing solid wood and manufacturing complex mouldings. They were able to This is coupled with the SCM “Set Up” quick setting system, a patented, unique quickly understand and make decisions on the various options put before them SCM system. This enables the machine to be set in only one movement. Just set before purchasing the SCM Superset.” the minimum diameter of the tool and the front, rear pressers and feed rollers are For further information: simultaneously adjusted automatically. This system is the envy of all manufacturers Tel: 0115 9770044 of moulders worldwide but only available from SCM. Fax: 0115 9770946 Email: mking@scmgroup.com Centralised colour coded greasing points so that the operator is not crawling

SCM Superset NT: Throughfeed Moulders CM’s Model SUPERSET NT is their new range of Throughfeed Moulders for medium and large-sized woodworking manufacturers, developed to provide an extremely effective response to customer requirements in terms of versatility, high technology and maximum performance with a limited investment. SUPERSET NT is ERGONOMIC. The range has a new design guaranteeing ergonomics and an improved control of machining. All the machine controls are positioned in order to make the set-up and the positioning very easy for the operator. SUPERSET NT is VERSATILE. Thanks to HSK rapid tool chucks, available for many years on SCM CNC Machining Centres, it is now possible to pass from one machining to another in an extremely fast way. This technology also ensures high processing quality thanks to the rigidity of the tool-spindle’s structure. SUPERSET NT is TECHNOLOGICAL. The entire range can be equipped with Mobile 10 and Mobile 10 LH, the new generation of touch screen electronic controls, which allows extremely simple machine programming, minimising the risk of errors at the programming stage. SUPERSET NT is REASONABLE in PRICE. It offers the best performance/price ratio for every type of investment.

In fact, thanks to the experience gained in the technology of CNC Machining Centres, the Superset NT range offers higher performance, customised compositions together with a very competitive price. TECHNICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE SUPERSET NT RANGE • • • • •

Configurations with 4 to 8 spindles. Maximum working section 260 x 180 mm. Axial strokes: 80 mm for horizontal spindles, 45 mm for vertical spindles. Electronic control devices on a remote carriage. Pre-arrangement for inclusion in automatic integrated production lines, with loading and unloading systems.

For further information: Tel: 0115 9770044 Fax: 0115 9770946 Email: mking@scmgroup.com

SCM’s Superset Class NT Planer and Moulder

July/August 2008

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tourton-based VC Industries are specialist panel processors offering a complete cut, edged and drilled service to the general panel furniture industry, office furniture manufacturers and the retail outfit trade. The company was set up 4 years ago by Robin Cliff who is now joint Managing Director with Pauline Vernon. When they took over the then existing panel processing works that had gone into administration. Since that time, and through shrewd investment in manufacturing technology, they have achieved a turnover of £4.6 million with a projected turnover of £5 million this year. Pauline Vernon explains: “Essentially we are order takers in a highly competitive market so to increase our customer base we need to offer better quality of product and service which is why we have a solid policy of investing in the best technology. In turn, this allows us to develop efficiencies that allow us to protect our margins and further develop the capacity and service we can offer customers.” The saw that was ‘inherited’ was old and not any more up to job that was required by VCi’s new direction and drive. Intensive research into the beam saw supply market eventually led to VCi installing a state-of-the-art Holzma HKL11 angle plant. VCi Works Manager Paul Douglas said that working with Homag UK and Holzma was a very positive experience with exceptional expertise and machinery technologies on offer. Led by Homag UK area sales manger John Shepherd, VCi arrived at a specification that was particularly suited to their immediate requirements while still offering a future-proof investment in terms of reliability, accuracy and spare capacity. The HKL11 is an angle plant with a dual level powered roller infeed station and an integrated turntable for head cuts (which accounts for significant savings in material). The 4330mm bed gives large capacity along with a 125mm sawblade projection and 150m/min saw carriage speed. Many of the movements on the saw like the pressure beam extension and ‘sharks fin’ central side pressure device are optimised to the program running which has a major impact on reducing cycle times. The CadMatic control is particularly easy to program and use and is directly on-line with the Magi-Cut parametric optimisation software operated by the production management department. Dimensional accuracy is guaranteed by, among other elements, the contactless magnetic encoders which position the program fence and the special side pressure alignment device. Superb cut accuracy is delivered via Holzma’s legendary and patented mono-rail saw carriage which ensures long term alignment between the main and scoring blade so that no chipping occurs – particularly when cutting MFC

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Holzma Boosts Capacity at VCi S

July/August 2008

Outfeed of the Holzma HKL11 which is important for downstream processes like edgebanding. Pauline Vernon expresses total satisfaction with the machine, the installation and with the relationship with Homag UK: “They have been totally professional, they agreed to install over our Christmas shutdown to minimise production disruption and their training and subsequent service and back-up has been great. This is a very key investment for VCi and our customers.” Tel: 01332 856500 Fax: 01332 856400 Email: info@homag-uk.co.uk

Double-deck loading at infeed of the Holzma HKL11

company profile

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Superb Swiss Sanders Wide-belt and edge sanding machines from Kundig undig, the wide-belt and edge-sanding specialist, enjoys an enviable reputation as a leading supplier of sanding machinery and systems throughout world markets. The company was established in Zurich, Switzerland more than sixty years ago by Armin Kundig. It is still a family-owned and operated business with brothers Hansreudi and Stephan Kundig now at the helm. Kundig specialises solely in the development and manufacture of both wide-belt and edge-sanding machines. Sanding is, and always has been, the sole area of commitment of this proud and highly successful company. Producing in excess of 400 machines each year, Kundig supplies the major share of the Swiss home market and is also very strong in many overseas markets, notably in the UK, Germany, France, Eire and North America. Several customers have up to five Kundig sanders operating concurrently. The head office and principal factory of Kundig is located in the Wetzikon area of Zurich with a further major production facility in Gotha, Germany. Wholly-owned subsidiary companies operate in France, Germany and the United Kingdom. In modern and well-equipped production and assembly areas, around 100 highly-motivated and fully-trained technicians form a dedicated and skilled workforce which is continuing the Kundig tradition of manufacturing sanding machines which embody state-of-the-art proven precision, rugged reliability and advanced technology. At Kundig, the customer always comes first. The customer’s needs are constantly monitored and are taken into consideration during development as the design and construction of each machine is carried out by engineers who work in close collaboration with the sales force and installation technicians. Every detail is thoroughly clarified and checked whilst achieving the acknowledged excellent standard associated with each new Kundig machine. Kundig wide-belt sanders are designed to make the operator’s work as comfortable as possible. Features which assist in achieving this ideal include the head adjustment with constant working level and the clearly arranged control panel. Studies on working processes have revealed that with individual production, the direct handling of familiar control elements is both quicker and safer than with menu-controls. Alternatively, for repeat sanding operations, a screencontrolled programme has been found to be preferable. Accordingly, Kundig reacted to these findings by developing

‘Uniq’ edge sander an easy-to-understand operation panel that includes both elements. Direct handling control is simple: - select the required sanding operation; start the sanding belts; activate the ‘Enormatic’ automatic self-setting operation. Now the workpiece can be placed on the table, the thicknessing is measured automatically; the feed starts and the sanding process will be perfectly executed. For more demanding and repeat sanding operations, i.e., lacquer and sealer sanding, it is recommended to store the complex instructions into the work screen. In this way, at a later date, a single touch of the screen will call up all initial instructions and transmit them to the machine. The selection of the unit, the stock removal, the belt and feed speeds are subsequently installed according to the stored parameters and additional functions such as vacuum fixing or belt blowers are switched on. At the same time, the work screen, with information on all settings, appears automatically. An important Kundig innovation, which is becoming increasingly more popular and requested by users, is the patented ‘oblique’ sanding technique whereby sanding is carried out in the ‘shear plane’. As has been proven in many cutting applications, a far superior finish can be achieved when there is a ‘shear’ angle to the cut as opposed to the traditional full-on 90-degree ‘attack’ angle. Kundig now produce a range of ‘oblique’ sanding machines. Designated the ‘Brilliant’ series, these machines are totally flexible and can be used for a variety of applications including the

July/August 2008

company profile

calibration of solid wood and sanding of veneers. The principal advantages of ‘oblique’ sanding are: - perfect fibre-free sanding of wood; totally flawless intermediate lacquer sanding; absolute uniformity of the surface and an improved sanding image; all workpieces are free from any oscillation traces; enhanced profitability of operation. With the recent introduction of its eco* energy saving mode, Kundig has been one of the first industrial companies to react to the legitimate concern for an economical use of resources. The company has achieved this goal by developing software which helps to reduce the energy consumption of Kundig machines without lessening their performance. The eco* energy saving mode, with which all new Kundig widebelt sanders are now equipped, continually checks the required electrical energy. After a short period of time, if no workpieces are being processed, the machine starts a current saving function. Studies have revealed that in an average-sized workshop, savings on electrical consumption of between 10% and 15% will be affected. Kundig’s popular edge-sanders include the ‘Basiq’, ‘Uniq’ and Uniq-S’ models. The ‘Basiq’ is a single-sided multi-functional machine which, within seconds, can be switched from sanding solid wood to veneered wood, from straight to beveled edges and from manual to efficient throughfeed work. The ‘Uniq’ edge-sander is rugged, reliable and competitively priced. It features two heavy cast work tables, on either side of

July/August 2008

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The ‘Brilliant’ oblique wide-belt sander with 1100mm working width

the machine, which facilitate both solid wood sanding and veneer sanding. Motorised height adjustment and tilt of the sanding unit together with two fixed tables which guarantee constant working levels, allow the user to carry out complex sanding procedures on both tables. Kundig’s patented system ensures that the tilted sanding head acts equally on both work tables without the need for any adjustment. This unique configuration enables the user to sand straight or beveled edges on both solid and veneered workpieces, by hand or power feed, quickly and easily. The ‘Uniq’ specification also includes an oscillating sanding pad with guide rollers, an adjustable infeed table with extraction outlets and a lever for control of stock removal. Floor space requirement is 800mm x 1150mm. Belt widths are up to 200mm. Optional extras include: - a feed unit with support; an additional cast table with mandrel and abrasive bobbins for external and internal shapes; a semi-round table for sanding of curved pieces on the working table against the rubber covered driving roller; a sliding table extension for easy handling of large workpieces; rugged castor units which enable the machine to be fully mobile. The ‘Uniq-S’ edge-sander includes an integrated feed belt system which allows throughfeed sanding of both small and large workpieces to be carried out. The feed motor is 0.55kW and it operates at feed speeds of 3-15 m/min. The main motor of both the ‘Uniq’ and ‘Uniq-S’ is 3kW (4hp). Oscillation stroke is 12mm and dimensions of the work tables are 325mm x 1190mm. All Kundig edge-sanders ensure optimum precision performance and are designed to provide years of trouble-free operation. For further information: Tel: 0845 833 0565. Email: info@kundig.co.uk

Kundig ‘Technic’ top/bottom wide-belt sanding installation

spotlight

Homag Group Succeeds at Xylexpo Famous from its inception at Ligna, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Homag Cityâ&#x20AC;? re-appeared in Milan with the same superb presentation and organisation. On this significant and well organised stand that has become the hall mark of the Homag Group at international exhibitions; each Group member company presented important developments and advances across a wide range of machinery at all levels.

omag AG showed new advances in controls and systems across their Venture range of CNC machining centres which will add to processing capabilities and reduce cycle times. Similar developments have taken place on the BOF range of machines for solid wood processing. New processing ideas on the BAZ range of stationary CNC

processors for complete manufacturing of shaped components in a single clamping were shown along with new developments for processing lightweight panels. The new KAL210 single-sided edgebander was introduced giving high capacity, complex edgebanding capability to entry level users. The new FPL220 double end tennoner was also on show.

The HPP 250 beam saw from Holzma

July/August 2008

The new KAL 210 edgebander from Homag

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Drilling and CNC machining centre specialists Weeke showed new developments across their entire range including machinery for nesting and the BHX500 one-man panel processing centre. Beam saw specialists Holzma displayed new features on their HPP350 saw with increased speeds and reduced cycle times. They also demonstrated developments in handling sensitive materials, showed their expertise in cutting hollow core panels and introduced new developments to their CADmatic control system. Wide belt sanding manufacturers Bütfering showed a range of new developments addressing the trend for new materials and high quality surface finishes with the SCO range of sanders. They also showed the SBR413 TTBB brush sander for 3D work surfaces. They launched a new entry level sander with a segmented pad head for the first time. Edgebanding specialists Brandt exhibited the new KDN/F400 series and on the KDN420 edgebander demonstrated a high precision gluing unit and multi-function trimming tool. This machine will accept workpieces with a maximum height of 60mm and edge thickness of 8mm. Feed speed are 8-14m/min. They also demonstrated the new EC10+ “easy” control. The entry level KDN210 was shown along with the KDN/F500 and 600 series. Handling experts Bargstedt demonstrated the TBH500 compact pitless feed system in both single and double side formats – aimed at entry level users. Friz showed major developments in their modular machine range designed specifically for processing high gloss materials. Torwegge showed their Optimat PWR100 machine and the new ZKR510 machine for faceplate and hinge processing on door frames. Finally, timber frame experts Weinmann exhibited a new multi-function bridge for their framing stations.

Homag city in Milan

Tel: 01332 856500 Fax: 01332 856400 Email: info@homag-uk.co.uk

The new EC10 Brandt controller

July/August 2008

spotlight

Masterwood Presented Two New CNC Machines asterwood, a global market leader in the design and manufacture has five vertical drills in the X and five in the Y axis, and a 250 cu m/per hour of highly productive CNC machining centres for panel and solid vacuum pump. It does away with the need for a panel saw, as all the cuts can be wood processing, unveiled two new models at Xylexpo which will made on the machine. be showcased on their stand at W8 show in October. Masterwood is alone amongst manufacturers in developing its own range of The new Project 200 is an entry level machine that comes packed with features purpose-designed operating software for use with its machining centres. This means to guarantee high productivity and accuracy under the hardest working conditions. that in the event of any problems, customers have only one number to call for The specification of the 3-axis machine includes back-up, as there are no third parties used. nine vertical drills plus two horizontal drills each in the As well as MasterWorks, the standard CAD/CAM package for panel x and y axis. It has a grooving saw, an 8Kw router, a processing, there's MasterCabinet, which is available in five levels six-post tool changer, and a twin valve tubeless bed from simple production to full room designs system with six aluminium arms for quick and easy setwith accurate rendering and production control, up and the ability to apply suction caps and pneumatic and MasterNest, Masterwood's own clamps. It is also available with a matrix table. optimisation package. All these systems have Also new is the MW 2142, a nesting one thing in common - ease of use. The new Masterwood Project 200 entry level CNC machine with a bed size of 4200 x 2150mm, Joinery software includes MasterDoorSet, machining centre, also available with a matrix table enabling it to handle the largest sheets MasterTraditionalDoor, MasterStair, MasterWindow and of chipboard. MasterSlidingSash. It's a larger version of the MW 1836 3-axis entry-level machining centre which Software and machine demonstrations can be accessed on-line on uses Masterwood's own MasterNest CAD/CAM software package. The MW 1836 Masterwood's constantly updated website www.masterwood.co.uk. features a matrix table measuring 3900 x 1900mm combined with a router with For more information: a maximum stroke of 3600 x 1800mm. Tel: 01436 675 000 Its 8kW router is equipped with a 12 post carousel tool changer and the machine Email: masterwooduk@aol.com

Altendorf Show a Comprehensive Selection of Machines liding table saw originator, Altendorf, productivity with total simplicity of operation. New presented a comprehensive selection of features include:- a unique control concept; a 12machines at the Xylexpo trade fair. inch low-reflection touchscreen for controlling all A completely redesigned series of F45 and F45 axes; a USB interface for online data and program ELMO machines together with the latest versions of transfer; a new crosscut mitre fence complete with the popular new WA 80 saw were exhibited the length compensation; extremely user-friendly low-cost entry-level models, the WA 6 and operation of all functions; plus the infinitely-variable WA 8 machines. VARIO drive that is now included as standard. The new WA 80 machine now incorporates many The F45 ELMO III three-axes model offers a elements from the big-selling F45 series. There is also diverse range of practice-oriented application a whole range of optional add-ons available which The top-of-the-range F45 ELMO sliding table saw programs which simplify both daily routines and enable the user to have his machine individuallyspecial applications. Operation is by the 12-inch tailored to suit his specific requirements. The WA 6 machine is ideal for someone touchscreen. The operator types in the parameters, presses the start key and the who has little available space and a limited budget but who still desires absolute motorized rip fence will move at 250 mm/sec to assume the desired settings within quality. The WA 6 is the smallest saw made by Altendorf. However, it still offers an +/- 0.1mm. outstanding quality of cut and total flexibility. The F45 ELMO IV is the top-of-the-range Altendorf sliding table saw. It has four The WA 8 machine combines high quality with a low price and incorporates axes – height, tilt, rip fence and crosscut mitre fence. These can be controlled via several proven Altendorf features including motorized rise/fall and tilt adjustment the 12-inch touchscreen controls and the comprehensive range of programs. With of the saw unit together with digital tilt angle display. use of the interface package option, the F45 ELMO IV becomes network-capable. The F45 sliding table saw is striking in appearance and includes a larger LCD screen. New controls ensure increased operational precision and a new USB interface For more information: offers online data and program transfer. Tel: 08452 241 258 The new safety hood is also a real eye-catcher. It embodies an ingenious ‘clickFax: 0049 571 9550 – 111 Email: sales@altendorf.de lock’ function which facilitates changing the hood from narrow to wide settings. A new saw unit ensures even smoother running and increased precision tilting. The F45 ELMO saw combines elegance with ergonomics. It offers increased

July/August 2008

enowned for inventing the unique dovetail key system for jointing, Hoffmann showed the versatility of the system on their stand for an extensive range of applications. From creating simple and compound mitre joints the Hoffmann system can also be applied to complex haunch and overlap joints and in is easily strong and secure enough to be used in beam construction. Hoffmann have developed a wide range of single and multi-function machines for the application of their system. From bench mounted manual keyway routers to pneumatic variants and through to combination machines that will double mitre saw, dowel drill and keyway rout in a single cycle – this is the new X-line 70 machine which was introduced for the first time at this show. They are also capable of producing bespoke CNC solutions to customer requirement. The Hoffmann system is used worldwide by furniture and cabinet manufacturers, joinery firms, boat builders, construction companies and specialist.

spotlight

Hoffmann at Xylexpo

For more information: Tel: 01524 841500 Fax: 01524 841567 Email: info@hoffmann-uk.com

The Hoffmann stand created plenty of orders at Xylexpo

Kundig at Xylexpo eading wide-belt and edge sanding machines facilitate an excellent finish when used specialist, Kundig AG, exhibited on two for the preparation and sanding of lacquered stands at Xylexpo. surfaces. They are ideal for any company desiring The Swiss company showed several versions of to achieve a totally flawless finish. the hugely successful ‘Brilliant’ oblique sanding At Xylexpo, Kundig exhibited a comprehensive technique which has been achieving excellent array of sanding equipment:- cross-belt machines operational results for customers worldwide whether with oblique sanding heads; different models, (with calibrating solid timber or sanding veneers. one to three heads), with oblique sanding Kundig specializes solely in the development and capabilities; a wide-belt sander with two oblique Typical Kundig wide-belt sander installation heads; standard wide-belt sanders in widths of manufacture of sanding machines, both wide-belt and edge sanders and the company produces in excess of 400 machines 650mm, 1100mm and 1350mm; a top/bottom sanding system with a each year. working width of 1600mm and including four sanding heads, two at the Wide-belt sanders produced by Kundig are constant-level machines top and two at the bottom; plus edge sanding machines with varying whereby additional support can be provided to the infeed and outfeed executions. of the machine. This, in turn, ensures that even workpieces of differing With Kundig’s wide-belt sander range, the use of the company’s thicknesses can be positively supported. This is particularly advantageous ‘Enormatic’ automatic self-setting mode is of particular interest. When the and ensures considerably increased accuracy over ‘moving bed’ machines workpiece is presented into the infeed, the machine then registers the where material can often tilt into the abrasive. thickness of the workpiece across the width of the machine and Furthermore, being a constant-level machine, the Kundig wide-belt automatically sets the heads to a pre-determined depth of cut. This is sander can be easily integrated into a flowline production facility, thereby most useful when processing large panels or frames as the feed conveyor obviating the need for more than one operator. automatically starts to take the workpiece through. This obviates the Kundig’s most recent wide-belt innovation is the patented oblique problem of ‘balancing’ the workpiece whilst endeavouring to reach the sanding technique where sanding is carried out in the ‘shear plain’. It has control panel. Many users have proclaimed that the Kundig wide-belt been proven in countless cutting applications that a far superior finish can sander ensures guaranteed accuracy and is probably the easiest and be achieved when there is a ‘shear’ angle to the cut as opposed to the quickest machine to set. traditional full-on 90 deg. ‘attack’ angle. For more information: Kundig now produces a range of oblique sanding machines which Tel: 0845 8330565 are totally flexible and which can be used for a variety of applications Email: info@kundig.co.uk including the calibration of solid wood and sanding of veneers. These

July/August 2008

spotlight 24

The SCM Group ‘Metropolis’ at Xylexpo CM GROUP was the largest exhibitor at Xylexpo 2008 in Milan, covering put their trust in SCM and in its innovative developments in their nesting solutions. an area of 7000 square metres with “Metropolis”, the SCM Group’s This processing technology, which SCM has always continued developing and “City” for woodworking and panel processing technology. perfecting in its CNC Machining Centres, was presented in work cells with integration This vast exhibition area of the Group offered comprehensive, technological, of machines and work pieces and loading/unloading systems allowing the automation integrated and innovative solutions for the woodworking industry, with over 130 and the speeding up of the total processing. Four types of flexible integrated machines and systems on working demonstration from the following SCM production cells with various levels of automation were Group’s prestigious brands:displayed. In Hall 3 were SCM, Celaschi, Routech, THE ACCORD INTEGRATED WORK CMS, Minimax, Casadei, DMC, CELL allows a stack of panels to be Gabbiani, IDM, Stefani, Morbidelli, loaded on the infeed platform. It machines Busellato, Superfici, Valtorta, Mahros, up to two superimposed panels and unloads Sag, SCM Group Engineering, Delmac the finished machined parts onto a mat Engineering and CPC, all featured their suitably positioned in order to facilitate very latest developments and machines. the operator’s intervention. Ideal for In Hall 5, Sergiani, the SCM Group’s machining panels that have yet to be company specialising in automated presses and pressing painted or veneered. systems. “DOUBLE-SIDE” RECORD NT Work Cell SCM Sigma Impact automatic panel beam saw A number of UK and Irish existing and new with double loading/unloading table located at the sides of customers visited the SCM Group stands and a number the work table, allowing for alternate machining on the two of serious enquiries were obtained. Gabriele De Col, SCM UK’s new Managing worktables. At the end of the processing, the machined components are unloaded Director, commented “With such a large number of machines on a very automatically on the same table that loaded them and are conveyed by the spoilbig stand, it was pleasing to see a number of customers looking at all our board to avoid damaging the finished surfaces. Designed for those requiring high new machines from SCM and our Group companies. Quotations have production levels whilst not being able to load stacked panels. already been sent out and we expect a fair amount of business to be “AUTOMATIC” RECORD NT WORK CELL with loading bridge at the infeed concluded within the next few weeks. A good show.” which deposits the panel to be machined directly on the spoilSome of the new products exhibited were board in order to avoid damaging the surfaces of the panel. as follows:After being machined, the finished work pieces • SCM: Aries Cell, Nesting Cells, Sigma Impact are conveyed to the 107 Beam Saw, Sandya 9S Wide Belt Sander, TI 155 unloading zone, always on the EP Class Spindle Moulder and Windor 1 CNC Machining spoil-board, and picked up manually Centre. by the operator, whilst the machine restarts for • DMC: High Tech DMC, Research Laboratory a new work cycle. An automatic system cleans • GABBIANI: Galaxy T3 Automatic Beam Saw the spoil-board and returns it to the loading zone. • MORBIDELLI: Powerflex the new integrated boring system Ideally suited for those machining painted panels • ELMAG: Magnum Spraying Line or panels with finished surfaces but who still require The Aries CNC Machining Centres have become a high performance product high production levels. in the door and window manufacturing sector designed for both small “FULLY AUTOMATIC” ERGON WORK CELL manufacturers and larger industrial frame manufacturing companies. SCM Spindle moulder Model TI 155 EP Class with automatic loading and unloading bridge. The small manufacturer can enjoy the full benefits of the ARIES high flexibility which, The panels are picked up from a stack of panels that reaches the loading zone thanks to a wide range of options, enables it to solve numerous machining with a roller conveyor and are deposited on the two worktables of the ERGON requirements using only one machining centre. The big industrial door and window Machining Centre by a novel lifting structure. The machine can perform a different manufacturers can rely upon a ready to use machining centre that can be inserted program, both in terms of shapes and execution times, on each work table. Once in existing production lines, built with high strength components, with automatic machining has finished, the work pieces are picked up and deposited on to an component feeders and it can interface with the other machines that are necessary unloading mat, thus eliminating any problems with scrap material. in the frame processing cycle. Specially designed for small and medium-sized furniture companies, the new SCM NESTING PRODUCTION WAS PRESENTED IN 4 WORK CELLS WITH SPEED SCM SIGMA IMPACT 107 Automatic Panel Beam Saw can machine chipboard, AND AUTOMATION FOR LARGE COMPANIES laminates, MDF, wood and wood-based panels in panel sizes up to 4500mm long Manufacturers of sashes, box components for furniture, upholstery frames, and 4300mm wide. furniture for boats, plastics and resinous parts means a large number of companies SCM’s vast experience guarantees rapid and precise axis movement of up to

July/August 2008

spotlight

135 metres/min on the blade carriage and up to 75 metres/min on the pusher. Thanks to the rotary movement of the presser, it is possible to process, in sequence, Ideal ergonomics are provided by the remote control panel. The machine’s cyclical the two sides of the work piece in an extremely easy and fast way. speed is ensured by empowered automatic detection standards featuring panel GABBIANI presented its new range of single beam panel saws featuring the length, width and thickness photocells. The machine is also fitted with an immediate very latest advances in technology. This is GABBIANI’s high-end range aimed at blade changeover system with a pneumatic selector that enables the blade to be specialist, industrial woodworkers who specify perfect quality panel sizing on both changed quickly and without using keys or having to unscrew tools. The saw blade single panels and panel packs. Fast cycle times ensure high throughput rates and also has a self-learning upstroke feature that consists of a bar which automatically a high level of customisation ensures that the same machine model can be tailored reads the height of the pack and calibrates the height of the saw accordingly. The to a wide variety of requirements. A strong machine base and reliable components saw can be incorporated into a Netline production cell. ensure a long, productive life cycle for the GALAXY T3. The WINCUT operator interface, which is part of the standard SIGMA IMPACT The machine bed has a single upright fitted with the THK slideways for the blade 107 supply kit, also has completely new graphics. The new version of WINCUT that carriage. This feature is a characteristic on all GABBIANI machines and has been can be opened by simply clicking on its user-friendly icon, is indispensable for efficient redesigned to support intensive, heavy duty use on three work shifts. The pusher machine operation, as it makes the panel saw commands simple and easy to and pressure units have also been redesigned to ensure smooth movements, understand even for the less expert operators. precision positioning and optimised sawdust extraction. Small workshop businesses are increasingly seeking out thicknessing sanding The PC–PLC control system and control interface have been designed to make solutions which combine versatility, productivity and quality machining, and at the life easier for the operator. The WINCUT interface is very user-friendly. The interactive same time within their budget. diagnostic pages make troubleshooting simple and ensure a rapid return to service. SANDYA 9S, the latest compact wide belt sander from SCM, is a highly versatile The design of the new GALAXY range also incorporates technical developments machine which can be used for thicknessing MDF, chipboard, etc., thicknessing suggested by their customers. It goes without saying that the GALAXY T3 is backed and sanding of solid wood, pre-sanding up by GABBIANI’s expertise acquired over nearly fifty years and sanding veneered at the forefront of technological innovation. panels and finishing MORBIDELLI’s “POWERFLEX” is a the new painted surfaces. integrated boring system. The machine is This new range of boring machines, available in two working thanks to the optimum level of automation widths of 1100 and 1350 which allows mm, with two or three main the complete machining heads which can automated set even be fitted with independent up of the machine in less then 5 seconds and provides motors. The abundant standard high rates of productivity up to 25/28 components per kit, including 2620 mm long sanding belts, minute. together with the huge range of optional items, means that any type POWERFLEX, is unique for the great versatility of its configurations. In fact, of sanding can be undertaken, even the most complex can be equipped with upper and lower vertical units and SCM Windor CNC Machining Centre and problematic. horizontal units to complete the boring operations on all 6 The TI 155 EP CLASS is the latest model spindle moulder from the new CLASS faces of a panel. POWERFLEX’s unbeatable advantage is to be a user-friendly range produced by SCM, and it is the only existing spindle moulder which is equipped machine, taking advantage of its new generation software which allows optimising with an SCM patented electro-spindle as a result of 4 years of research. the working cycle. The main feature of TI 155 EP CLASS is the drive unit consisting of an electroThe “MAGNUM SPRAYING LINE” is the ELMAG SUPERFICI solution to obtain spindle specifically designed for all possible spindle moulder applications. Electroexcellent quality panel finishing, especially for furniture, kitchen cabinet spindle motor power of either 7,5kW or 10kW, tilting from -45,50 up to +45,50 components, and doors. and electronic tool speed control from 900 to 12.000 rpm, with the maximum power The compact and high-tech MAGNUM SPRAYING LINE features a very controlled available from 3.400 rpm. All these features assure a better work piece surface spray application, an excellent paint recovery-recycling system, and is very capable finishing and more freedom to process customised parts. of short production cycles and a limited investment is required. The latest SCM spindle moulder also features an effective dust extraction system The line displayed at a Xylexpo 2008 used an innovative, water-based UV product with two outlets positioned under the worktable, in order to keep the machine perfectly in its painting cycle and can process panels dimensioned from 150x300 mm to clean and also provide a healthy working environment. 1300x2500 mm. The production speed is up to 12 metres/minute, depending upon Compact and ergonomic, the SCM WINDOR 1, the new CNC Machining Centre the type of coating and the length of the dryers. for window frame manufacturing, is completely enclosed in order to reduce noise to a minimum and ensure complete safe conditions for the operator. The new WINDOR 1 executes mitred tenons with twin or single angle mitre by interpolation. Overall dimensions are greatly reduced because the tenoning reference For further information: guide does not have to be inclined. Tel: 0115 9770044 Furthermore, the tenoning becomes semi-automatic with no manual positioning Fax: 0115 9770946 Email: mking@scmgroup.com of the work piece for the processing of the second side is necessary because the clamping is through a central presser with electronic positioning, enabling the clamping of one or two work pieces at the same time depending upon their length.

spotlight

Our software is not someone else’s

At Masterwood we develop our own user-friendly software rather than relying on third-party packages. As well as standard MasterWork there’s MasterNest for panel nesting and new MasterCabinet for panel design and processing, both delivering fast production with minimal wastage. With our renowned high-spec, high performance machining centres and purpose-designed software available from a single source, it’s one less thing for you to worry about.

New Innovations from Hofmann H

ofmann Maschinenfabrik GmbH showed several new innovations at the Xylexpo trade exhibition. The redesigned Universal UFM 210 VISION spindle moulding machine includes a new, user-friendly Touch Screen control. This machine is the culmination of five years intensive research and development that has enabled Hofmann to produce a state-of-the-art spindle moulder which is both practical to use and simple to operate. The 210 VISION is a true 3-axis machine with the spindle having motorized adjustments to angle, height and lateral movement. The addition of lateral adjustment to the spindle obviates the need to adjust the outfeed fence. It also facilitates automatic compensation with the spindle set on an angle, thereby reducing setting up times to a minimum. This new concept of spindle moulding, (with tilting shaft/swivel range from - 45.5 degrees to + 95.5 degrees), represents a successful breakthrough which has resulted in perfect milling coupled with optimum time savings. A new, low-cost spindle moulder, Type TFS 107, was shown in Italy for the first time. This machine incorporates electrical adjustment for both height and tilt and it includes a powerful 10hp motor with four speeds. The tilting range is +/- 45.5 degrees. The TFS 107 represents an ideal choice as either a simple-to-use entry level spindle moulder or as a second machine. The planing height of the thicknessing machine, Type D 512/632, has now been increased from 275mm to 300mm. Also, the ‘Preset Automatic’ control for the table adjustment has been considerably improved. It now includes 250 memory places and the actual operation of the unit has been modified to ensure total simplicity of use. The Hofmann range of classical woodworking machines is truly comprehensive. It embraces innovative, precision-built equipment that is manufactured to typical German standards which combine high quality engineering with ultra-efficient economic operation and longevity of machine working life. Machinery which has proved to be highly successful in the UK market includes surface planers, tilting spindle moulders, combined surface planer and thicknessing machines, and standard thicknessing machines. For more information: Tel: 0845 833 1651 Fax: 0845 833 1652

Masterwood (UK) Limited, St. Andrew’s House 13 East Abercromby Street, Helensburgh, G84 7SP

Tel : 01436 675 000 Fax : 01436 678 999 Email: masterwooduk@aol.com Web: www.masterwood.co.uk

Innovation not imitation The new Hofmann VISION spindle moulder

July/August 2008

what’s new

ollowing the launch at ZOW of exciting new foils from leading specialists Pentadecor, exclusive UK agents EDP have experienced great success and a very enthusiastic response from UK and Irish component and furniture manufacturers. The foils that have caught the imagination of designers are the exotic high gloss woodgrain prints, mixed and matched with more traditional plain colours. Also creating much excitement are new high gloss decors including high gloss metallic prints and high gloss mother-of-pearl. New plain colours in high gloss and super matt have also proved very popular. Particular foils to enquire after are: The new Red Brown Highland Oak (matched to Egger décor H3362); Mother-of -Pearl Glossline; Aluminium Glossline; Aubergine Glossline; Aubergine Supermatt. EDP has also been updating existing décor matches to popular MFCs so that customers can experience excellent matches. Their new Rosental Beech has been matched to Ellmau Beech while Planked Maple has been matched to Maple D375. EDP’s new Pearwood has also been perfectly matched to Egger’s Swiss Pearwood décor H1532.

EDP continue to introduce the latest developments in foil fashions along with matching Proadec edging materials and their highly popular new real wood veneer ranges. Tel: 01702 618877 Fax: 01702 618811 Email: Edpgroup@btconnect.com

what’s new

EDP Experience Great Success with New Foils

A selection of foils from the EDP range

New Postforming Developments from Homag OMAG has made enormous progress in the development of postforming techniques to improve the appearance of furniture edges in line with modern demands reports Homag’s Markus Kostenbader. Using a new, patent-pending technology, it is now possible to impart a top-quality surface finish to even the smallest of radii. Using high-gloss HPL with a thickness of 0.9 mm, for instance, it is now possible to produce a radius of just 3 mm. This introduction of this innovative HOMAG technique has meant that narrow edges can now be produced to the same high standard of quality as surfaces. Furniture manufacturers can now produce topclass furniture with a surface and edge appearing to have been produced from a single mould, with a high-quality surface finish and no glue joint in the visible area. HOMAG has traditionally played a pioneering role in the development of postforming technology, which allows rounded edges to be applied to panel-shaped workpieces and so offers enhanced scope for creative design. As long as 15 years ago, HOMAG developed a plant which combined all the work steps required for the postforming technique, and to this day remains the only manufacturer to offer this type of complete postforming processing plant. A wide range of different processing units and supplementary modules are also available for non-standard processing operations.

July/August 2008

For more information: Tel: 01332 856500 Fax: 01332 856400 Email: sales@homag-uk.co.uk

Examples of postformed workpieces with a radius R=3mm

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Anderson is Best Bet for Richmond Cabinets Roy Fletcher at Richmond Cabinets in Hyde, Cheshire, reckons it’s odds-on that his new Anderson CNC router system from RW Machines - the fifth on the shop floor there - will save the company £4,000 per month. That’s the kind of odds, he says, that a manufacturer of gaming machines likes to place bets on! f ever there was a recession-proof and cash-rich market, it is fruit machines and other gambling devices all more correctly known these days as gaming machines. Britain’s love of today’s generation of highly sophisticated, multibuttoned ‘bandits’ is as unwavering as it ever was and has proved to be a secure and growing source of business for the Richmond Cabinet Company. According to Government statistics, there are almost 270,000 gaming machines currently in operation in the UK. It can only ever be an estimate, however, because the turnover in machines is very high - and particularly at sites where punters get familiar with the games too quickly. The art of gaming machine operation is to maximise the usage of each machine for every minute they are in play. In some locations, such as Blackpool, this may mean changing a machine more than once a month to keep its allure fresh and the space it occupies generating maximum cash. This makes great business for gaming machine mechanism manufacturers such as Bell Fruit, Barcrest, Games Warehouse and others as well as for Richmond Cabinets. It also makes for

Nesting components and using the twin tables in tandem has given Richmond Cabinets much greater production capacity on the new Andi.

Andi 5 is the latest Anderson CNC Router from RW Machines in the gaming machine shop at Richmond Cabinets demanding and complex production schedules and a need for constant innovation - the cabinet that contains the machine is a crucial element of the product lifecycle. Richmond is one of the UK’s biggest specialist manufacturers of gaming cabinets and has recently acquired a new Anderson CNC twin-table router to help meet consistently strong and rising demand. The machine was installed by RW Machines in May 2008, the fifth Anderson machine on the floor at the Richmond factory. “We call them ‘Andis’, as most people in the industry seem to” says John Hanbridge, operations director for Richmond. “Andi One was installed twelve years ago and still gives us dependable service. We have two more Andis in the gaming cabinet shop and a fourth in our kitchen cabinets manufacturing section. “The new Anderson, Andi Five, is also in the gaming machine shop and is a real step up, giving us as much additional production capacity as the other two Andis on the floor put together.” For all their digital sophistication, today’s gaming machines are built to withstand rough treatment - anything from bumping and jostling in crowded bars and clubs to direct assault and battery from frustrated users whose skills are not equal to the those of the machines that are taking their money! An additional challenge for Richmond is the fact that each cabinet will probably

July/August 2008

feature

be used more than once, as manufacturers strip old games out and re-install new ones - re-usability has to be factored into the build. “But it’s quality and precision that are our first priorities,” says John Hanbridge. “As well as meeting the throughput demands of our customers, we have to accommodate the many technical changes to the highly detailed specifications of these machines - technology changes that enable the makers to keep the machines exciting, fresh and profitable. “Our routing processes must achieve pinpoint precision; any errors can make life impossible for the people who are actually installing and commissioning the machines. We also drill wiring points and fit some of the bigger components for the makers, so if our cuts are not in the right places it makes life difficult for everyone and slows down production throughput for our customers.” The new Anderson 3021 PT machine delivers the accuracy that John Hanbridge is looking for, with four 10 horsepower router heads, each with an accompanying 11 spindle drilling head, allowing for the simultaneous machining of four nested workpieces. Each router head is equipped with the latest HSK63F tool holders, each with automatic tool changer facilities for eight tools. Head speeds are variable to 24,000 rpm; travel speed is up to 60 metres per minute across the X, Y and V axes, and 12 metres per minute across the Z axis. The twin tables are each equipped with a pair of Becker 250 vacuum pumps for precise workpiece positioning and vacuum clamping, eliminating need for jigs. “Nesting the workpieces and using the twin tables in tandem has given us much greater production capacity,” says Roy Fletcher, Richmond’s technical manager. “We cut panels into four long strips for machining, and we can get several components out of each strip. We’re already seeing significant increases in productivity from the new Anderson.” The higher throughput and increased efficiency has enabled the Richmond team to move from a 24 hour shift pattern to a much more cost-effective and worker-friendly 39 hour week. “Our carbon footprint has also been substantially reduced,”

July/August 2008

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Richmond Cabinets are built to withstand rough treatment from people who are often angry at their gaming skills.

adds Roy Fletcher. “Although it’s early days, my estimate is that we are saving around £4,000 a month in energy costs since the installation of the new machine - and that’s in addition to the increased productivity we are now getting at almost every other working level.” With five Andersons on site, Richmond has a long and productive tradition of working with RW Machines. “Because we have our own engineers on-site for gaming machine installation work, we are able to do a lot of our own maintenance,” says John Hanbridge, “and we keep a large stock of Anderson spares. “Nevertheless, it’s important for us to maintain a close working relationship with RW, not least for those times when we need extra technical support. I’ve always liked the approach the RW team takes; it sounds like a cliché, but it is more like a genuine working partnership. “They understand our business and our needs, and they’ve made sure that they have the right resources available to meet them when they arise.” As manufacturers everywhere view the economic future with growing uncertainty, Richmond looks forward with cautious confidence to a steady workflow from its gaming machine customers. “We make our own investment in customer relations,” says John Hanbridge - “we’ve been in gaming machines for a long time and we know what our customers expect from us. Quality, short lead times and great adaptability are some of the things that make us ultra-competitive and Andi 5 delivers on all those fronts. “We’ll need to maintain that strong competitive edge no matter what the economy does, and I’d back our Andersons to go the distance for us at any odds. Though, of course, I’m not a gambling man,” he adds. For more information: Tel: 01869 244943 Email: sales@rwmachines

With a total of five Anderson routers from RW Machines on their various shop floors, Richmond Cabinets, can be classed major users of this eminently well proven technology.

handling

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Combilift is the Bespoke Solution for Acrelane Joinery Croydon based Acrelane Joinery is a relatively young company, but it is looking to the future and has invested in a Combilift 4way forklift to cope with expected growth and a corresponding increase in the amount of raw materials it handles.

crelane offers a wide range of bespoke joinery services – window frames, mouldings, staircases, door linings and frames for example, and prides itself on a flexible, quality service with a quick turnaround for its customer base across the South East of England. “If it can be made in wood we can make it“ is how MD Richard Colwill sums up his operation. Until recently the company was making do with an old sideloader to handle packs of timber, but this was too cumbersome to work in most of the very tight yard space and could not access racking in the workshop. Richard knew it was time to pension this off and look for a much more efficient handling system. On a visit to a woodworking show at the NEC, he saw the Combilift, and after a few minutes of watching a demo, realised that this 4-way forklift would cope perfectly in spite of the space constrictions at this premises. Combilifts come in a wide range of sizes, with capacities from 2.5 up to 14 tonnes for very heavy duty applications. Acrelane chose a compact 3 tonne C3000 diesel powered truck, which was actually designed with the requirements of joiners, door and window

manufacturers and shopfitters in mind. Like Acrelane itself, the manufacturer of the Combilift range offers bespoke machines according to customer needs, and in Acrelane’s case, the very low height of the mezzanine floor necessitated some creative thinking. Combilift’s Paul Hopkinson explains: “We calculated that by fitting a very low level mast and mounting lights on the front and sides of the cab rather than the top, we would gain that extra bit of headroom to enable the truck to work under the ceiling. We did it by literally an inch or so, so the truck can get to all areas of the workshop.” At the moment the Combilift handles 5m packs of timber, but as Richard points out the truck was purchased both with short and long term objectives in mind, and he predicts that it will be handling a much more diverse range of products in the future. “In the short term, we wanted the Combilift benefits of extreme manoeuvrability in tights spaces; in the long term it is part of the growth plan and will enable more efficient and faster operations as volumes increase. The drivers are all very happy with the truck, they value its reliability, and improved visibility has improved health and safety procedures whilst reducing the risk of product damage. Richard sums up: “For its size it is amazing what this truck can do.” All Combilifts are manufactured by Combilift Ltd in Monaghan Ireland, and the company is celebrating its tenth anniversary this year. The current range now encompasses over a dozen models with capacities ranging from 2.5 – 14 tonnes, with LPG, diesel or electric power available. The trucks are designed to work both inside and out, on semi-rough terrain and in all weather conditions. A team of design engineers at the Monaghan factory in Ireland will also draw up free warehouse layouts to illustrate the best possible use of available storage space using the Combilift system.

For more information: Tel: 07815 314 990 Email: info@combilift.com

For it’s size it is amazing what this truck can do

July/August 2008

handling

t’s a case of doubles all round for Rotherham based furniture manufacturer Addspace: The company has doubled in size since it was established four years ago, and it has created 50% more storage space in its warehouse by replacing counterbalance trucks with 3 Aisle-Master articulated forklifts. Addspace supplies the retail, catalogue and mail order sectors with a range of self assembly furniture suitable for bedrooms, living rooms and home offices, and is one of the leading UK suppliers in its field. “We provide a quality product as well as excellent service” says MD Paul Grainger, “and this has enabled us to achieve significant growth year on year, in spite of the amount of imported products coming onto the market.” One byproduct of increased orders was the need to stock more material, which in turn led to the requirement for more storage space. Not wanting to buy extra warehousing capacity nor move from its current premises, Addspace consulted local materials handling specialists Ability Handling for advice on how to maximise storage capacity in the 87.500ft² facility, which is split between 35% production and 65% storage. Ability recommended the Aisle-Master articulated forklifts, which are capable of working in much narrower aisles than counterbalance or reach trucks, and a demo on site was instant proof of the trucks’ space saving capabilities. 3 electric powered Aisle-Masters now work in the finished good warehouse, and the 5m high racking in this section has been reconfigured, with aisle widths now of only 2m compared with the 3.7m needed with the old system. This has enabled 3 extra sets of racking to be installed to accommodate standard euro pallets as well as larger pallets for packs of longer units. “Ability Handling’s advice was spot on,” says Paul. “They identified the perfect machine and therefore a cost effective solution for our requirements, and delivery was very quick, enabling us to get on with the job and to cope with varying seasonal demands.” The trucks work a double shift operation, and the drivers like the trucks, find them easy to drive and prefer them to the counterbalance trucks. As there is no need to turn around or strain to see the load, visibility is much improved and work in the aisles is safer. The Aisle-Master range can work in aisles of just 1.75m, with capacities up to 2.5 tonnes and lift heights of up to 12.5 metres. LPG powered models are also available; all fitted with 3-way catalytic converters as standard, with CNG power also an option. Manufacturing standards at Aisle-Master are stringent, with build quality and safety featuring uppermost on the company’s agenda. All the fundamental aspects of the Aisle-Master’s design, from the overhead guard for enhanced driver protection, the ergonomics of the controls, down to the high quality seating, guarantee the highest level of operator safety and comfort.

For more information: Tel: 07725 642 472 Email: info@aisle-master.com

July/August 2008

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Addspace Adds Space with Aisle-Masters

Scott Burnett handling one of the Aisle-Master articulated forklift at Addspace

Trevor Law (driver) with Scott Burnett of Addspace (left) shaking hands with Lee Brown of Ability Handling Ltd

dust extraction

DCS Shuts the Door on GRP Dust recent contract undertaken by extraction specialists Dust Control Systems required a dust plant installation that would deal effectively with dust from the machining of fibreglass-faced door blanks. Distinction Doors Ltd, based in Barnsley, is a major stockist of high quality GRP entrance doors which replicate the appearance of traditional hardwood doors. Since Distinction Doors was formed in 2005 it has demonstrated spectacular growth and, to keep pace with demand for its doors, the company has recently re-located to a large modern facility. Its new home is a 40,000 sq ft warehouse, just off junction 36 of the M1, which has a stockholding of 30,000 door blanks and is equipped and staffed to pick and distribute doors across the UK. A key element in the company’s success has been its willingness to provide support to new entrants into the composite door market. The support system has been developed to assist door fabricators with transition issues particularly regarding changes in production techniques and, to this end, a major service offered to these customers is the CNC machining of door blanks. To coincide with the move to new premises, the company decided to invest in new machining and finishing equipment, installing an SCM Record 100AL machining centre and an automatic edgebander. The hi-tech, tandem loading CNC machining centre is capable of sizing doors and machining glazing and letter plate apertures, along with hinge and lock detail, in just a few minutes. Dust Control Systems was called in to evaluate the extraction needs and to put forward proposals to effectively deal with dust from the processes. DCS’s Chris Oldfield says: “High speed machining of the door blanks, which comprise fibreglass moulded outer skin

High efficiency DCS modular filter plant installed at Distinction Doors and polyurethane insulating core, generates an extremely fine dust. As well as specifying a filter that was up to the task, it was of equal importance that we accurately determined an optimum air flow velocity for the system.” The filter proposed and installed by DCS is a high-efficiency modular filter unit, complete with high specification filter bag which enables the filter to handle higher dust loads; ensuring effective deep filtering and very low pressure loss/energy consumption. The shape of the bag also facilitates easy and efficient cleaning due mainly to the built-in anti-static bonding. The externally located filter plant is programmed for continuous cleaning during use and collected waste is transferred from the filter’s rotary valve by a return loop, fan-assisted waste conveying system, to a waste collection skip. David Gomersall, general manager at Distinction Doors, says: “We were impressed with the way DCS handled every aspect of the contract .The system is extremely neat and tidy, is relatively quiet in operation and does a good job keeping the workshop clean.” For more information: Tel: 0800 040 7116 Fax: 01924 482530

CNC machining of GRP door blanks generate extremely fine dust

July/August 2008

Wood waste disposal problems?

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dust extraction

Edgewood Turns Up the Heat leading Bristol joinery company that started life in 1982 in a cowshed is gearing up for future growth with investment in a new dust extraction, briquette and heating system that is cutting costs and improving the company’s environmental impact. Edgewood Joinery expanded into a new industrial unit in the Brislington part of the city in 1988 and has expanded steadily since until today the company fills three adjacent units totalling more than 10,000sq ft. Edgewood has built a strong reputation for bespoke windows, doors, reception counters and other cabinetry – and even projects for various celebrities. Clients are typically construction companies working for commercial organisations ranging from Bristol and Reading Universities to nearby Magistrates Courts, and from NHS Health Centres to schools, shops and swimming pools, and Edgewood’s turnover has risen steadily to break through the £1 million barrier. The company employs 25 people and a commitment to developing its own joiners through from apprenticeship has stood the company in good stead over the years. It is currently undertaking Investors in People assessment as a further demonstration of its commitment to developing its personnel. Investment in the business has seen a steady increase in manufacturing capability and Edgewood recently invested in a 4-axis CNC SCM Record 100NT router. A 5-axis CNC machine is planned as the next major investment. Following a fire in a waste wood skip at the premises, director and shareholder Graham Underwood realised that a new waste handling system was required both in order to overcome the damage caused, but also to enable the business to move forward with its plans for further expansion and investment in new machines in the future. Edgewood turned to Wood Waste Control (Engineering) Ltd, one of the country’s leading dust extraction specialists with hundreds of

The silo filter installed at Edgewood Joinery by Wood Waste Control (Engineering) Ltd

Graham Underwood, director of Edgewood Joinery, with the new briquetting press successful installations across the UK, in Europe, Russia and Africa. The company provides the complete dust extraction range, from simple stand-alone bagging units through to complex integrated systems, together with silo and chain filters and briquetting and heating options. Reg Gareppo, managing director at Wood Waste Control, specified the company’s WFS/13/2HJ silo filter with 1m rotary valve and a dust handling capacity of 10,000cfm. The filter is mounted at the rear of the Edgewood premises on a raised steel gantry, and feeds waste into a Reinbold Prestige RB60S briquetter press which is housed in a special secure container beneath the gantry. The 70mm diameter briquettes produced are transported to a 500,000BTU wood-fired heater housed in the centre of the production area, which burns the briquettes and wood offcuts to provide heat for the entire factory. Graham Underwood said: “Our former extraction system had always posed problems so we decided to change the way we went about removing and using the waste. It was clear from the beginning that Reg Gareppo at Wood Waste Control understood our requirements and our need to keep working while installation of the new system was carried out. “The new solution is much quieter and more reliable and the ability to burn the briquettes has slashed our waste from a 14 sq yard skip every two weeks to a small wheelie-bin which needs emptying once a week. I estimate that we are saving over £14,000 each year by being able to recover and burn our waste in this way – and the factory is kept piping hot too!” As a next stage Graham expects to be able to decommission and dispose of an existing gas-fired heater in the factory. “I just can’t see it being used again,” he said. For more information: Tel: 01628 525290 Email: info@w-w-c.co.uk

July/August 2008

decorative surfaces

rends in surface finishes for 2008 are, according to Decorative Panels’ design chief Julian Tatham, changing in line with the style icons of the times notably cars and iPods. And that means that white is the strongest individual theme. As popular as white is becoming, he says, black, as a stark contrast, is also prominent and where foil finishes are concerned, those colour values also apply to woodgrains. The ‘natural’ appearance and texture of woodgrains remains a significant force to be reckoned with and brushed texture effects are popular on the one hand with the smooth, flat depth of gloss growing in importance all the time. So, all very black and white so far. But there’s more, says Julian. Grey unicolours and single colours that reflect earthy hues like greens and browns are rising in importance and the traditionally dark woodgrains like walnuts are getting lighter. Even the lighter woods like beech and maple are getting ever lighter with increasing levels of texture now being a priority feature in the printing. Very highly favoured oak grains too are also getting lighter, traditional medium brown being optimum. Cherries are popular in the medium tone range but with overtone hints of grey-browns. Exotic woods are strengthening their position as focus pullers and

are one of the woodgrain traditions still often specified in the darker shades. To sum up, the most important element of the new trends in design right now is the mixing of colours and textures - often subtle, often high profile, always to good effect. This was the show message from Cologne earlier this year where different colours, shades and textures were being mixed in fine style and where some very snazzy surface finishing trends were emerging. But ‘where have all the flowers gone?’ Florals are out, says Julian. Not absent, perhaps, but ‘dropping away in popularity’ as other, more sophisticated colour and texture combinations emerge.

For more information: Tel: 01484 658341 Email: sales@decorativepanels.co.uk

decorative surfaces

Where Have All The Flowers Gone?

(Top) In line with the style icons of the times - White is where it’s at in surfacing foils for 2008 (Bottom) Classic woodgrains like this new Lyon Walnut are becoming paler

CUT IT OUT FOR FUTURE REFERENCE.

July/August 2008

decorative surfaces

EGGER Launch New Grey Concept GGER UK has unveiled its new grey concept. Proof once again that they are industry leaders in design competence. EGGER is confident that its new grey tones will be the colour scheme that will replace the current craze for brown. “Lately we’ve seen trends move towards black and white combinations, so we have developed the new grey tones to build the bridge and soften the contrast between them," explains EGGER UK Product Manager Andrew Sanderson. The neutrality of these grey decors means that they work well in combination with a wide range of woodgrains and at the same time, provide a subtle contrast with white, black and last season's rich shades, including aubergine, green and blue. Andrew adds: “For many people grey might conjure up images of cool, almost mechanical colours, which were around at the end of the 1990s, but we've developed a much wider spectrum of grey shades which bring warmth and subtle contrasts. “At EGGER we have divided these new grey tones into three groups. The first belongs to warm brown greys and in this group we have two decors - U741 Lava and U795 Brown Grey, which follows on from the previous trend for brown. “Pale green-grey shades form the second group and include 3 decors, from the light U100 Mussel, to the mid toned U717 Dakar, through to the rich U631 Olive. The final group of cool blue grey is very much a future trend with U732 Dust Grey the only decor in this group so far.” All of the new greys are produced with EGGER’s innovative ST9 surface texture, which create a soft, luxurious “powder coated” finish. Following the success and unanimous acceptance of these colours during an eight-week in-house exhibition at the company’s Hexham plant in Northumberland, EGGER UK have decided to bring all 6 of these grey tones into their standard range and are now available to order.

u741 Lava

u795 Brown Grey

Samples can be ordered via the website. The growing trend for black and white interior design has been met by EGGER with the introduction of two new decors in its UK standard range. Hacienda White (H3078 ST22) and Hacienda Black (H3081 ST22) have a linear grain but with natural curves similar to that of a softwood to provide a clean, modern look for kitchens, bathrooms and bedrooms and create a timeless elegance. Hints of grey can be seen throughout the design which softens the contrast when the two decors are combined. The colour neutrality of the Hacienda decors also makes them very versatile and capable of combining with a wide range of colours. In addition, the deep ST22 undulating surface texture adds real depth both visually and to the touch. The Hacienda decors are the latest designs to feature as part of EGGER’s Directions trend programme, designed to ensure the UK furniture industry has access to the very latest decor trends. A folder and website have been specifically designed to keep kitchen, bedroom, bathroom and office furniture manufacturers up-to-date with the hottest decor designs and trends. The compact folder was initially available with 5 inserts detailing new decors from EGGER, including Natural Lancaster Oak (H3368 ST9) and Natural Urbano (H3070 ST22). The Hacienda decors will be issued in the coming weeks as an insert which can be added into the folder. Each insert focuses on one new EGGER design and presents this decor in three different room settings aimed at inspiring manufacturers to help them create the furniture of tomorrow. Designers and manufacturers who do not yet have a Directions folder can order one by going online at www.egger.co.uk/directions. All of the decors featured in the UK standard range are available as EURODEKOR MFC and EURODEKOR MDF with colour matched edging available for the majority. A4 MFC Samples can be ordered via the website.

u100 Mussel

July/August 2008

decorative surfaces

EGGER Launches ‘ZOOM Design Guide’ A New Online-Tool for Furniture Manufacturers EGGER UK, is now offering Kitchen, Bedroom and Bathroom designers a practical way of utilising the various products in its ZOOM collection. Furniture Designers and fabricators will be able to access a host of design tips on how to make the most of ZOOM decors and related products using the new online ZOOM Design Guide at www.egger.co.uk. Clients will be able to view video clips and listen to EGGER design experts provide background to the materials in the collection and how best to use and combine decors. EGGER Product Manager Klaus Monhoff said: “Furniture and interior design trends are becoming increasingly individual and varied. The ZOOM Design Guide is a tool to assist with planning and design. For instance, if you select a particular decor for a retail project we aim to show you the type of material that would be best to use for each application area, as well as provide inspiration with our design tips and material recommendations.” The ZOOM Design Guide takes the user on a journey through three

u717 Dakar

July/August 2008

u631 Olive

decorative surfaces

The Hacienda white/black kitchen decor, supplied by Omega plc, features a linear grain surface which illustrates H3078 and H3081

‘furnishing worlds’ in both the commercial and domestic sectors. It shows both the current and future trends in the ZOOM collection, providing design suggestions to inspire individual projects and recommends the most suitable materials. The Design Guide acts as a backup for furniture designers and fabricators when discussing projects with clients. It’s up-to-the-minute with reports on the latest trade fairs, new products and interior design news, providing a reliable reference point for designers. For the domestic market, the three room scenarios are the bathroom, kitchen and living room, and for the commercial sector, there are example scenarios for hotels, shops and trade fairs. EGGER design experts Klaus Monhoff and Verena Michaels explain general trends in decor, colour and materials for each scenario and shed more light on the materials used. They show examples of how the decors can be combined: "The ZOOM collection provides numerous options in any living or commercial space. The ZOOM The EGGER design experts have provided helpful comments with the list which acts as a backup for fabricators when discussing projects with clients. The list can also be downloaded separately and EGGER offers a free sample-ordering service. For more information: Tel: 01434 613360 Email: andrew.sanderson@egger.com www.egger.co.uk

The ZOOM Design guide covers both the Domestic and commercial fields.

u732 Dust Grey

decorative surfaces

IDS’s new Tuscan Quartzstone DS’s new Tuscan Quartzstone worksurface range captures all the beauty of natural stone yet offers the unique benefits of being available off the shelf, lightweight and easy to install. As a pre-fabricated blank, arguably the biggest benefit is its excellent price advantage due to reduced installation costs. Tuscan Quartzstone worksurfaces are surfaced in a 5mm engineered stone panel that is 90% stone. It’s made from granites and quartz and fused together to offer a truly versatile sheet material. IDS has taken advantage of this unique thin stone technology to bring together a range of beautiful unique stone worksurfaces that satisfy the trend for natural materials. Signifying its premium specification, the range is backed by a 10 year limited warranty. The range offers four contemporary stone worksurfaces centred around a popular beige, grey and black palette. Worktops are available in 2900 x 620 x 38mm and breakfast bars 2100 x 900mm x 38mm. The product is also suitable for a range of sink options

including flushmount and inset. With Tuscan Quartzstone, the stone sheet material is bonded to a moisture resistant core and faced on the underside with a 0.7mm laminate giving a superior quality finish and specification. The great advantage of this is the weight compared to granite or stone. This makes for easier on-site handling and installation with usual manpower, as well as reducing the chance of breakage. Tuscan Quartzstone can also be installed using standard joinery tools with diamond-tipped cutters that are available as installation kits from IDS. Says Andy Sutton, IDS Business Development Director: “Tuscan Quartzstone opens up the design potential and availability of an aspirational product to a wider audience. As an off the shelf ready-made blank, much like a conventional laminate worktop, Tuscan Quartzstone rings in with a definite price advantage for the consumer, as well as excellent margin opportunity for the retailer.” Tuscan Quartzstone worktops have been designed so that any competent kitchen fitter, following the comprehensive installation instructions, will be able to install these worktops with a high standard of finish. IDS has set up a Gold Standard Fabricator Network who will be fully trained in the product and method of fabrication. Promotional material includes a 12 page lifestyle brochure, display stand with sample blocks, a comprehensive Installation Kit and Care & Maintenance guidelines. Tuscan Quartzstone worksurfaces are available on 48 hour delivery from all ten IDS branches.

For more information: Tel: 08457 298 298 Email: info@idsurfaces.co.uk

IDS’s Tuscan Quartzstone worksurface in Matrix

July/August 2008

decorative surfaces

New MFC range features matching laminates: ideal for shopfitters, furniture manufacturers and interior designers.

eading timber importer and distributor Timbmet has added two significant new ranges of panel products from specialist manufacturer Egger to its growing portfolio of products. The unique offering of matching Eurolight, MFC, edging and laminates makes them perfect for shopfitters, furniture manufacturers and interior designers. Now available for the first time through Timbmet, Egger’s innovative Eurolight lightweight panel range addresses one of the key challenges facing furniture designers and specifiers today; how to create the latest, chunky look furniture without adding excessive weight. Eurolight comprises a rigid honeycomb core sandwiched between two high-quality 8mm boards giving the impression of real substance, while also being extremely light, durable and portable. Available from stock in 8 different colours, Eurolight is also available as a raw, sanded surface (whereby laminate or veneer could be fabricated to it) or with a painting grade surface ideal for schemes that require a corporate colour or specific RAL reference. Eurolight is perfect for weight critical applications such as shopfitting, exhibition stands, partition walls, kitchens, office furniture, shelving, room sets and even boat and caravan interiors. Bolstering Timbmet’s already extensive range of MFC (Melamine Faced Chipboard) products, 30 different colourways from Egger are now available which can be mixed and matched according to the desired look, feel and application. Traditionally associated with kitchen and bedroom cupboards, Egger’s wide variety of finishes, complemented by matching edging and laminate options, makes it ideally suited to the interior finishing market, providing shopfitters and designers with a virtually limitless range of permutations.

decorative surfaces

Timbmet Partners with Egger

Eurolight – lightweight panel Representing the most significant innovation in its 50 year history, Zoom is the name of Egger’s unique portfolio of co-ordinating products. Available in both classic and modern designs, Zoom offers specifiers a comprehensive range of up-to-the-minute finishes including Eurolight and MFC - which can be supplied in a wide variety of substrates. A key advantage of the Egger product range is that the same finish can be applied across all MFC panels, edging and laminates - creating the uniform look and feel much sought after by shopfitters and furniture manufacturers. “Right now we’re seeing a return to the use of chunky-looking, natural materials in retail and hospitality applications but, in these environmentally-conscious times, specifiers don’t want to add unnecessary weight,” explains Timbmet’s Sector Director for Manufacturers and Contractors, Sean O’Sullivan. “Our new product lines provide the perfect solution; in fact we’ve already secured our first major order from a major UK retail chain.”

For more information: Tel: 01865 862223 Email: marketing@timbmet.com

An office interior utilising Egger’s range of products

July/August 2008

boards&panels

profile

The Art of Norbord he Glasgow International “I chose Norbord’s Caberwood Festival of Visual Art (G12008) MDF because of its versatility, low offered a platform to many weight and ability to be painted. Scottish-based artists to showcase What’s more, it’s great that it can be new work to both national and recycled too” said Toby. “I have used international audiences. Norbord, Caberwood MDF before in smaller the UK’s leading supplier of scale sculptural projects and I would engineered wood-based panels, definitely recommend it and use it in supplied Toby Paterson, a “Creative future projects – Caberwood MDF is Scotland Awards” winner, with a very useful and adaptable material,” Caberwood MDF for use in his he added. artwork of a transformed sculptural Patricia Fleming, the curator, Norbord supplied Toby Paterson, a “Creative Scotland Awards” winner with Caberwood MDF for this exhibit-transformed comments: “We are delighted to have ceiling; his exhibit at the Gi2008. sculptural ceiling The Local at SWG3, located by the received support from Norbord. I found River Clyde, was used for events and performances during the festival dealing with Norbord simple and direct, they understood straight away and, as such, the interior underwent a complete artistic how vital our request was and were keen to get involved. This enabled transformation. Along with other examples of artistic talent and us to realise an important commission for a leading Scottish freedom, in chairs and bars for example, this project included Toby’s contemporary artist; the ambition of this would have been out of our sculptural ceiling. reach without their contribution.” The main component of Toby’s ceiling at the SWG3 was Norbords Caberwood MDF; Norbord supplied 40 sheets of 12mm thick For further information: Caberwood MDF. Tel: 01786 812 921

James Latham’s £1.5 Million Investment he UK’s leading timber and built site conveniently situated just one panel products distributor, mile away from its current facility. The James Latham, is making intention is to operate similarly to the significant financial investments in Scotland and Fareham depots, and to new sites during 2008. add further products to its already The company opened its first extensive stock profile. Scottish depot in April. Based at Chris Sutton commented: “James Eurocentral in Lanarkshire, the Latham is now in its 251st year of 40,000ft2 operation has a state of the trading and our strategy is to continue art racking system with guided rails, building for the future. Not only are we and specially adapted Combi trucks. investing in new sites, we have also Stocks of panel products, hardwood, The 40,000 ft² depot in Lanarkshire carried out significant improvements in North American softwood, Bausen the longer established depots at hardwood flooring and hardwood decking are all held and are Wigston, Ossett and Yate, and when necessary, we will improve available for prompt delivery. operations at the remaining depots. Both Scotland and Fareham The James Latham Eastleigh site closed at the end of February have seen significant benefits and a whole host of visitors to these and was relocated to a 35,000ft2 facility at Matrix Park, Fareham. sites have been very impressed with what they have seen. We firmly Significant additions have been made to the stock profile and further believe that substantial investment now is the correct long term staff have been employed to process the extra business being decision for the company”. generated. Training in high narrow aisle racking and Combi truck For more information on the new range of brochures or any operation has been provided to the warehouse staff, which has helped products available visit the website at to improve and reduce order processing times. www.lathamtimber.co.uk Email: marketing@lathams.co.uk In late summer 2008, the Dudley depot will relocate to a purpose Tel: 0116 257 3415

July/August 2008

Website product directory Panel Production lists the major manufacturers and suppliers to the UK woodworking industry under easy-to-find product headings. If you think that your company should be included in this list, please contact us immediately.

YOUR WEBSITE CAN BE SEEN BY OVER 5,000 READERS OF PANEL PRODUCTION

To book your entry: Tel/Fax: 020 8366 3331 e-mail: panelproduction@btconnect.com

Adhesives

Panel Saws

Sanders (Wide Belt)

Chemique Adhesives & Sealants Ltd www.chemique.co.uk

Allwood Machinery Ltd (inc Interwood) www.interwood.co.uk

Boere Machineenfabriek B.V. www.boere.com Homag UK Ltd (Butfering) www.homag-uk.co.uk

Brackets (Furniture Fittings) Dudley Tool Presswork & Engineering Co Ltd www.dudley-tool.co.uk

Carcass Assembly

Panel Saws (Beam) Homag UK Ltd www.homag-uk.co.uk

Software (manufacturing)

Panel Saws (Sliding Table)

Tooling

CNC Machinery

Felder UK www.format-4.co.uk Homag UK Ltd www.homag-uk.co.uk

Masterwood (UK) Ltd www.masterwood.co.uk

Panel Handling

Homag UK Ltd www.homag-uk.co.uk

Double End Tenoners Homag UK Ltd www.homag-uk.co.uk

Dust Control Systems Dantherm Filtration Ltd www.danthermfiltration.co.uk Woodwaste Control Engineering Ltd www.w-w-c.co.uk

Edgebanders Allwood Machinery Ltd (inc Interwood) www.interwood.co.uk Homag UK Ltd www.homag-uk.co.uk Trimbridge Ltd www.trimbridge.com

Flexible Ducting Masterflex Technical Hoses Ltd www.masterflex-uk.com

Manufacturing Software Linkwood www.linkwood.com

Packaging Lines Homag UK Ltd www.homag-uk.co.uk

Homag UK Ltd www.homag-uk.co.uk

Panel Producer Egger UK Ltd www.egger.co.uk

Postforming Homag UK Ltd www.homag-uk.co.uk

Presses Allwood Machinery Ltd (inc Interwood) www.interwood.co.uk Homag UK Ltd www.homag-uk.co.uk

Profile Wrapping Homag UK Ltd www.homag-uk.co.uk

Routers (CNC) ATA Engineering Processes www.ataeng.com Thermwood www.thermwood.com

Sanders (Speed) Allwood Machinery Ltd (inc Interwood) www.interwood.co.uk

Thermwood www.thermwood.com ATA Engineering Processes Ltd www.ataeng.com Allied Tooling Ltd www.alliedtooling.com

The Woodwork Dust Control Company Ltd www.woodworkdustcontrol.co.uk

Throughfeed Drills Homag UK Ltd www.homag-uk.co.uk

Veneering Equipment Allwood Machinery Ltd (inc Interwood) www.interwood.co.uk Realwood Machinery & Consumables Ltd www.realwoodmachinery.co.uk

Wood Burning Equipment Talbotts Biomass Energy Ltd www.talbotts.co.uk Woodwaste Control Engineering co Ltd www.w-w-c.co.uk Woodwaste Technology Ltd www.woodwastetechnology.com

Wood Shredding Equipment Almac Ltd www.shreddall.com

Woodworking Machinery (New & Used) Allwood Machinery Ltd (inc Interwood) www.interwood.co.uk CAM-CO Machinery Ltd www.cam-co.co.uk

Wood Waste Control Woodwaste Control Engineering Co Ltd www.w-w-c.co.uk

Scm

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The Sandya wide belt sander is able to calibrate and finish sand panels, solid wood components and frames, veneered and painted surfaces. Sandya makes your company efficient and capable of expanding, because itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s easy to satisfy all customersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; requirements, even the most demanding ones.

SCM GROUP (UK) Ltd Dabell Avenue, Blenheim Industrial Estate, Bulwell NOTTINGHAM NG6 8WA Tel. 0115 977 0044, Fax. 0115 977 0946 www.scmgb.co.uk scmgroupuk@scmgroup.com