Felder fitout investment for future

On a large site close to town, and spread across several workshops, Ashburton Joinery was formed in the early 2000’s by the amalgamation of two long-standing local joinery shops. Now part of the Mastercraft group, and under the joint management of James Donaldson and Billy Nolan for nearly a decade, the legacy of the original companies remains. Antique tools decorate a workshop wall, qualified workmanship is prized, and a display rack with companybranded job cards record labour and materials ‘the old fashioned way.’

But Ashburton Joinery isn’t a business stuck in the past. With a staff of 11, their production utilises a mixture of modern and classical machinery that cater for the wide variety of work that the wider mid-Canterbury region provides. As well as plenty of kitchens, wardrobes and panel-based work, there’s also benchtops, wooden doors and windows and then the specialised products needed by the rural community – such as riddles for the local seed industry.

Panel-based work is driven from the office, with both Directors and an in-house designer feeding a flatbed CNC, Homag and Janssen edgebanders, and two panel saws. In the solid timber area there is a mixture of classic Wadkin and even a Robinson planer which stand alongside the latest European technology from the Felder Group.

Worksafe prompted the first Felder purchase a couple of years ago. A routine audit required additional guarding to be fitted to a very old and large bandsaw. Realising that the cost of doing so would be as much as buying new, James and Billy invested in an FB710. With a tiltable table (-10° to +45°) and ceramic guides providing maximum blade stability and reduced friction, the FB710 offers a heavy duty and long-life solution for Ashburton Joinery’s solid timber processing.

Beside the FB710 is a Felder F900M Spindle Moulder, fitted with table extensions, telescopic support rail and digital readout. Felder’s MULTI-fine adjustment system guarantees the fence relocates exactly and squarely when removed and returned, every time. It’s this repeatability that’s so valuable. “Our old spindle was worn out” explains Billy. “Stepping up to the Felder with the titling spindle, fence and digital read-out means we get perfect duplication every time. This is great for custom mouldings and fence-cap rails, with no need to change any knives”. The consistent finish quality is helped by Felder’s F48 4-wheel powerfeeder, which is also integrated into the F900M’s controls for additional safety.

Completing the set is Felder’s D963 thicknesser, offering a 630mm planning width, simple and precise adjustment, and featuring Felder’s renowned Silent-POWER cutterblock. “We just can’t hear it” says James. “Our old machine used to scream, but we can barely tell whether the D963 is running.” The spiral block is also living up to claims about finish quality and ease-of-use.

“We’ve also had a huge improvement in finish quality,” James says. “I’ve also turned the knives once and it’s simple and effective.” Being the biggest thicknesser in Felder’s range, and at 845kg, the D963 also offers the strength and power you’d expect in a European machine designed for tough timber processing.

The mood in Ashburton is optimistic - despite the ongoing COVID-19 situation. With strong support from the area’s dairy industry then the town is busy. “Volumes are good” says James, “and our relationships with local builders means the work is flowing in.” The company’s ability to take on all types of joinery work, and a strong reputation for fair pricing and quality workmanship, keeps them busy across the region.

With all the production staff qualified, several having done their time on site, the company also has a long history of investing in the future. And James and Billy are focused on what’s next. Straight after the photos for Joiners magazine they were off to sign on their next apprentice, due to start the very next day.