Furniture Journal May 2019

MAY 2019

ON THE COVER: A visit to Pfleiderer’s Leutkirch site with Jason Taylor confirms why the P in Primeboard stands for Perfection Interzum Preview: New décors & hardware solutions Ligna Preview: An interview with Markus Freuis Neville Johnson’s twin Stefanis A new Sittex/Wemhöner line for HPP Biesse: RayForce to Robots Holz-Her Storemaster transforms Sunny BK

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MAY 2019

Contents 2

Interzum 2019

Interzum 2019, takes place in the Kölnmesse from 21st May until 24th May.

4

P for Perfectionism

Pfleiderer’s Primeboard has arrived in the UK – and here are just a few of the reasons you’ll want to get your hands on it.

to Stefani

Two Stefani edgebanders have enabled Neville Johnson to achieve record production outputs without increasing overtime.

8 On the Cover A visit to Pfleiderer’s Leutkirch site with Jason Taylor confirms why the P in Primeboard stands for Perfection.

Story: pages 4-7.

Game, Set and Match Visitors to the Ostermann stand at Interzum will find plenty to inspire them.

Design: Leigh Brown email: studio@leighbrowndesign.co.uk Circulation: Marie Earle email: Marie@CPCbooks.co.uk www.furniturejournal.co.uk

12 Matt to Metal

44 Double the Doors

Durability is only one of the advantages of David Clouting’s Hard Coat.

The Continental stand will be all about texture and fresh interpretations.

COPYRIGHT: No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means without the prior written consent of the publishers.

Copyright CPC Ltd, 2019.

ISSN 13653-8969 Readers should note that a charge may have been made by the publishers to cover the cost of reproducing some colour photographs in this publication.

Origination: CPC Ltd Published by: Craftsman Publishing Company Ltd, Landings House, Lound Road, Blundeston, Suffolk, NR32 5AT, England. www.craftsmanpublishing.co.uk

On a stand at Interzum of more than 1,300 metres, Blum will unveil its new brand promise and present new products.

19 Attuned to Megatrends

Hettich is making customisation the central theme at Interzum.

20 Häfele: Thinking Ahead

Two Inspiration Areas are among attractions on Häfele’s stand.

23 Open Up to Vauth-Sagel

Vauth-Sagel’s stand motto for Interzum 2019 is Open Up.

24 Peanut on Show

The IF Peanut® is taking over the world: India, Europe and soon the USA.

Above and beyond service from TM and Striebig have set Sign Trade Supplies up for the future.

Hills Panel Products has a new line from Wemhöner and Sittex that will see its vinyl pressed door production double in the next 12 months.

51 CAD+T on the Cloud

CAD+T will be demonstrating its latest cloud-based concept on stands at Ligna and Interzum.

52 Salvamac at Ligna

Look out for the SalvaStop 100 alongside Classic saws and products from Salvamac’s Air division at Ligna.

54 May RayForce be with you

Edgebanding curved components and

switching between EVA, PUR and laser quality

just became a whole lot easier with Biesse’s RayForce.

58 Zero Gloss

Looking to produce an extremely matt surface? Take a closer look at Giardina’s Excimer technology at Ligna.

60 Flying the Holz-Her Flag

27 Fix a Date!

28 Sand Happy

65 Henkel’s New Hotmelt

Printing: Barnwell Print

Senosan will show new gloss colours, a new anti-fingerprint film and a new “clear” glass-effect film at Interzum.

16 Moving Ideas from Blum

Please note: points of view expressed in articles by contributing writers and in advertisements included in Furniture Journal do not necessarily represent those of the publishers. While every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of information contained in Furniture Journal, no legal responsibility will be accepted by the publishers for incidents arising from use of information published. All rights, including moral rights, reserved.

38 Neville Johnson moves

42 Signs of Striebig

14 Surprise, surprise!

Assistant Editor: Olena Earle email: Olena@FurnitureJournal.co.uk

Accuracy, precision and the challenge of a really ambitious customer are what Schelling UK’s Managing director, Markus Freuis, thrives on.

10 As Hard as…

Editor: Melvyn Earle email: Melvyn@FurnitureJournal.co.uk Direct Tel: 01502 733438

34 Driven by Precision

Fix a date at Interzum or Ligna with the Swiss fixings expert, Lamello.

James Walerych visits Mirka as the company celebrates its 40th anniversary in the UK.

32 Ligna 2019

Ligna is the biggest and most comprehensive exhibition for wood and panel processing in Europe. Don’t miss it!

Sunny Dayal is so pleased with Holz- Her’s automatic warehouse solution and the service he gets from Holz-Her that he’s taken the company colours as his own.

Henkel will premier Technomelt PW 863 at Ligna alongside an expanded range of PUR adhesives.

66 Lifting at Ligna

Electric power will feature strongly in the Combilift lineup at Ligna 2019.

2 furniture journal | MAY 2019

PREVIEW

Interzum 2019 Interzum 2019, Europe’s most comprehensive furniture components and materials exhibition, takes place in the Kölnmesse from 21st May until 24th May 2019.

I

f you’re in need of a little inspiration, or just want to keep abreast of the latest trends, there is nowhere better in Europe than the biennial Interzum exhibition – and the next edition opens its doors just a few days! Taking place in the Kölnmesse from 21st May 2019 until 24th, Interzum brings together products and ideas to inspire the furniture designs of the future. Décor products, printing technology, innovative materials, panel products, surfaces, components, hardware, textile and mattressmaking machinery… you’ll find them all in the halls of Interzum, and more.

In addition to new products shown by exhibitors, the various piazza areas of Interzum will once again be the trend hot spots of the event. The Surfaces & Wood Design piazza presents product solutions for interior architecture and the furniture design of tomorrow relating to the topic of surfaces.

The piazza will be divided into sections addressing the key words Sustainability, Customised, Haptic, Lightweight, Digital Printing, Anti-Fingerprint and Wood & Stones. It is not just wood and wood-based materials that are presented. Related product groups, such as furniture handles or upholstery and décor fabrics, will also be shown. With the relocation of the lecture area to hall 4.2 and into the new Speakers’ Corner, the special event will be significantly larger in area this year compared with Interzum 2017.

If you’ve ever wondered what the home of the future will look like, how we will furnish our homes in future, or what materials and functions will shape the design and architecture of tomorrow, Interzum 2019 is the place to look for innovations that will shape the way we live in future. Pioneering materials and innovative new technologies are the focus for exhibitors. With a range of special exhibitions, the trade fair also explores global megatrends such as individualisation, living in small spaces, mobility and digitalisation.

Atim, Blum, Hettich, Hommel, Häfele and Pessotto will present their answers to the specific requirements of living in tiny spaces.

They will demonstrate how real wonders in small-scale living can be achieved with the

right fittings and new solutions that open up the space inside furniture. The six companies will show at a special exhibition, Tiny Spaces – Living in Compact Homes. With a selection of different market-ready solutions, they have set out to make functionality the focus of attention and, in a true-to-life presentation, visitors will be able to explore home living in miniature.

Digitalisation is sometimes referred to as the fourth industrial revolution. Its effects are also evident in consumers’ living spaces. These effects range from the digitalisation of the furniture industry and the new experiences on offer when choosing and buying interior fittings, right through to innovative business models. With its new Focus on Consumer Trends piazza, Interzum 2019 provides the opportunity to explore ways in which this megatrend is having an impact on living environments. As well as physical products, there will also be new business models and solutions that use digital tools to improve the design, production or sales process.

With the Mobile Spaces Piazza, Interzum is responding to one of the most exciting current issues – life in mobile living environments. “With the Mobile Spaces Piazza, we want to draw the attention of visitors

interzum.com

Years

Furniture production Interiors Cologne

’s d ’s orrlld Wo W din ingg eaad LLe nt EEvveent

from the automotive, cruise ship and aviation industries to these offerings because the interior design industry’s showcase at Interzum is stronger and more innovative than anywhere else in the world,” commented Interzum Director, Maik Fischer.

While innovations enable the further development of an existing market, disruptions create a new one. In the coming months and years, we can expect to see innovative materials emerging that are lighter, thinner, more compact, more flexible or more wear-resistant. The Berlin trend forecasting agency Haute Innovation has chosen the slogan Disruptive Materials – Changing the Future for a showcase in the Disruptive Materials piazza of some of the latest material innovations and disruptive technologies.

In Hall 3.2’s edutainment area, the potential uses of digital printing will be shown in a highly practical demonstration ranging from the design concept to the finished piece of furniture, including all the important steps required for the integration of digital printing into furniture production. Demonstrations will show how digital printing technology can be integrated into your processes, providing valuable know-how with practical relevance.

With over 1,700 exhibitors from 60 countries and only four days to see them, you may be forgiven for wondering how it might be possible not to miss something. The organisers have designed a Guided Tour for six trend themes to help you – and it’s completely free. Tours are limited to 20 persons per tour on a first come, first served basis. Just arrive at the registration counter in the Service Centre on the North Boulevard 15 minutes before the tour begins.

Advance registration for the tours is only possible on the day. Enjoy!

Furniture Journal App users can register and buy tickets for Interzum by touching the picture, or here.

The future starts here.

interzum 21.–24.05. 2019 From the big picture to the tiniest detail. All in one place.

Attention to detail makes all the difference – and your success depends on it. At interzum, the world’s best suppliers in the furniture and interiors industries present their entire range of products – from fittings, glass and lighting solutions through surfaces, wood-based and natural materials to leather and upholstery, as well as production equipment for furniture fillings and mattresses. As the leading industry event, interzum is the doorway to the future. This is where the key players, trend-setters and driving inspirational forces of the industry come together. Get the competitive edge – and get inspired !

Buy your tickets now and save up to 25% ! interzum.com/tickets

International Business, Media Services Ltd. 42 Christchurch Road Ringwood BH24 1DN Tel .: +44 1425 48 68 30 info@koelnmesse.co.uk

4 furniture journal | MAY 2019

PREVIEW

P for Perfectionism Pfleiderer’s Primeboard has arrived in the UK – and here are just a few of the reasons you’ll want to get your hands on it.

A

decade or so ago, the emphasis among décor producers was on perfecting reproduction in prints.

Then came perfect synchronicity between print and emboss, swiftly followed by lacquers that provided a new realism to the touch.

High gloss progressed from reflective orange peel to mirror-like surfaces with varying degrees of flatness, while the opposite and equal, matt surfaces, brought soft touch to new levels.

In its search for absolute perfection – and that’s not a term I use lightly – the German company, Pfleiderer, has invested double digit millions in cutting edge technology and a brand-new machinery line to bring you Primeboard, a product that aspires to offer the ultimate in both high gloss perfection and silky matt surfaces applied to a range of different substrates. Following the successful

low-key launch of a handful of plain colours in the UK towards the back end of 2018, Pfleiderer UK is now making Primeboard available more widely – and, having seen the products and the manufacturing process first hand, believe me, when you read how its made and the advantages it can offer, I guarantee you’ll want it.

In essence, Primeboard is a generic name that covers a multitude of coated coreboard products from standard MDF, raw P2 chipboard and black MDF through to more specialised substrates like moisture-resistant P3 for bathroom furniture – and you can choose whichever works best for you, or any combination in a load to suit your production requirements. What’s unique about Primeboard, however, is not the substrate itself but the finish that’s applied to the face, or indeed both face and back if you need it.

MAY 2019 | furniture journal 5

The sheer quality of the gloss and matt finishes Pfleiderer’s Leutkirch production plant is able to add to the boards you choose – and the pains they take to ensure not a speck of dust, nor a dimple or pimple ever adulterate the surface – set Primeboard apart, certainly from anything I’ve ever seen before.

Cleanliness, attention to detail, perfectionism – they’ve been taken to extreme in the Leutkirch factory. Nothing is left to chance, not even when the finished boards are packed, the protective foil has been applied and they are ready for shipping.

So, what lies behind the impeccable surface qualities of Primeboard and how does Pfleiderer achieve such a quality of surface finish?

Primeboard’s surface is the result of a multi-stage coating process. The technology was developed by the German adhesive specialist, Kleiberit, and it’s Kleiberit’s expertise in PUR combined with Barberan’s expertise in machinery that combine to provide a finish that’s exceptional in its surface properties. It’s a resilient but soft surface – the result of starting the process with a PUR layer – and the lack of any brittleness in the surface makes it a dream to machine, with zero breakout at the edge of surface drillings and clean lines to routed grooves every time.

As we take a tour of the Leutkirch factory, Rüdiger Jürke, Head of Product Management

for Décor Boards, explains the various production stages: “Our Primeboard line is 165 metres long, in a U-shape,” he begins. “It can take 10mm core material up to 38mm. The first step is to bevel the edges with a 45-degree edge to all four sides of the board. This creates a ramp for the lacquering rollers and prevents breakout. The first step takes place in a dust tight enclosure so no dust enters the factory to contaminate the line, then we preheat the surface of the board using infra red before it passes through a Wandres micro cleaning unit. Only then, when it’s absolutely clean and free from any dust particles, can we apply the first of the four layers.”

The first layer, Rüdiger explains, is a functional PUR layer and it’s applied hot with rollers, hence the process is referred to as HotCoating. “With this layer, we are priming the surface,” he tells me. “It’s where the product gets its name from: Primeboard.

Where other companies use UV lacquers, we use PUR because it’s permanently elastic, so for processing it’s superb. It isn’t at all brittle and there’s a softness to the final surface. The PUR also gives the adhesion between the MFC and subsequent applications of acrylic lacquer, so it won’t peel later.

“The next steps are what we call base coats. We apply two different layers of acrylic that serve as fillers and equalisers to give a

Rüdiger Jürke

6 furniture journal | MAY 2019

First stages of the HotCoating line at Pfleiderer’s Leutkirch factory.

Operators communicate through headsets so anything that might need watching can be conveyed immediately.

Jason Taylor

thickness that will withstand the chemical reactions later in the process. We can offer two different versions: using white pigmented enables us to get a perfect match with other boards but we can also apply a standard clear system. The machines for white and clear are next to each other in the line and on tracks, so changeover time is minimal. Even these lacquer layers are hardened by UV and the line is 2.25m wide throughout its full length to ensure the sides of the boards are hardened properly and the properties of the board are the same at the extreme edge as they are in the middle.

“The next step is the sanding line – it’s more like polishing than sanding as we use 600 grit and five different sanding heads to avoid any marking in the surface. We don’t want to see any structuring, so we change the belts regularly. After the sanding process, there is an outfeed where we can remove anything from the line that isn’t absolutely perfect.”

At each stage in the process, we pause as Rüdiger explains it in detail. And with each

explanation, I am conscious the word “perfect” keeps appearing again and again.

Operators throughout the length of the line wear headsets so anything that might need watching can be conveyed immediately so the next eagle-eyed operator can double check perfection is in the making. We arrive at the next stage and Rüdiger explains that here, the four edges of the board are sealed. “Regardless of whether the board is P2 or MDF, we spray it with hotmelt,” he says. Isn’t this just a little obsessive, I query? I mean, these are only the edges of a board that will be later be cut. “No,” comes the reply. “We want to minimise any climatic influences that may affect it before the board is used by the customer. It must arrive perfect and stay perfect.” There’s that word again. Twice.

Another clean down, this time almost a wipe down, follows before the board enters the lacquering line. From here, the line is enclosed in a pressurised clean room. “Here we apply the fourth and last layer of the lacquer,” he explains. “Again, it’s a UV lacquer

but inside there are three stations: one for transparent lacquering, one for pigmented lacquering and one for external grade. Then the board passes through a levelling tunnel of 19 metres. High gloss production normally ends here after the hardening of the lacquer. We force the lacquer to become high gloss by applying a production foil – a transparent PET - into the wet lacquer using rollers. While the foil is in the lacquer, the surface is hardened by UV and when we remove the foil, the final hardening stage takes place. That gives the perfect mirror gloss effect. It’s what we call inert calender technology because it takes place in an atmosphere without oxygen. That makes it highly scratch resistant. The combination is unique and gives superb machineability.

“A second surface we can create in the Primeboard line is a matt surface. It is possible to apply a foil as a matt foil but we do it differently: we fill the levelling tunnel with nitrogen and use Excimer technology that relies on the smallest acrylic polymer reacting when a short-wave emission hits

MAY 2019 | furniture journal 7

The line is 2.25m wide and lacquer layers are hardened by UV.

A production foil and Excimer technology are used to produce the extreme matt surface.

Sanding with 600 grit belts.

the surface. It shrinks the surface to get the matt effect and then it is hardened with UV lamps to preserve it. We don’t use a chemical matting and we don’t have to polish as a result. It is remarkably smooth, anti-fingerprint and both scratch and scuff resistant.

“After a final hardening, the boards are left to mature for 48 hours so the first layer of PUR can cure. Where a double-sided board is required, it’s returned through the line and all the steps from bevelling the edges are repeated.”

With such a high level of investment and so many steps involved in the production of an immaculate finish, it seems inevitable to me that Primeboard will be a much higher priced product than others in the market – yet, surprisingly, that isn’t the case. “The benefit of our process is we make all our own coreboards, chipboard, MDF, etc., so we are competitive,” assures Jason Taylor, Managing Director of Pfleiderer UK. “Our resins are mixed in our own factories so we have a cost advantage over competitors who

buy in. We can compete with everybody in the market but we have far higher quality than anything else that’s out there.”

To begin with, Pfleiderer UK’s offer is starting with a basic collection of 21 stock items - four décors in chipboard and 17 in MDF, all available as samples in a presentation binder. “I think what we’ll end up with in a year or so is a much bigger collection,” says Jason. “We put one wood in there to show what’s possible with wood, but the European DST collection is 162 décors so, in essence, any of those are available. 70% of the first colours will still be in there but there will be dark blues, stones, metallic look, other colours that emerge through the year. It will evolve like any other range of décors to meet the UK trends.

“We feel the real advantages of Primeboard are in the vast range of décors and matches to Duropal HPL, etc., and the fact our boards are 2,800mm x 2,100mm rather than 8’ x 4’. Almost without exception, the people we’ve shown it to have run with Primeboard afterwards.

“One of the additional benefits of Pfleiderer’s operation is we keep stock in Immingham and can pull material from any of the four Pfleiderer factories from that stock for a customer. Along with Primeboard and high gloss from Leutkirch, a customer can order standard melamine from Gütersloh, other melamine products from Neumarkt… There is a huge amount of flexibility. They can order whatever items they need in the quantities they need rather than making up a full trailer load from one or other factory.”

With so many advantages to Primeboard, and such painstaking attention to detail during its manufacture – dare I use the word perfectionism again? – it’s probably a good idea to get your sample request in quickly.

The number to call is 01625 660411, or you can email info@pfleiderer.co.uk. If you are reading this article with the free Furniture Journal App, touch the main image on the first page to watch a video about Primeboard production, or touch the address in blue, above, to send an email.

8 furniture journal | MAY 2019

PREVIEW

Game, Set and Match Ostermann is well known for delivering small quantities of matching edgeband but visitors to the stand at Interzum will find much more to inspire them.

T

here’s no point in having a great décor if you can’t get a great edging to match. That’s where Ostermann comes in, and at this year’s Interzum, Ostermann will show it’s on top of the game with matches to all the latest décors.

At the beginning of the year, Pfleiderer presented 34 new décors, including cuttingedge reproductions of trend materials like concrete, metal, stone and marble as well as woodgrains. Through its special partnership with Pfleiderer, Ostermann is already able to deliver edgings to match the new collection and will present them at Interzum.

Ostermann has become something of a specialist in the area of delivering small quantities and for zero glueline applications,

offers a vast range of Airtec, Infratec and Laser edgings. Visitors can look forward to another innovation in the area of zero glueline technology at Interzum in May. Accentuating furniture with modern lighting solutions, trend-setting furniture handles and handle profiles - like innovative designer surfaces – might seem light years away from edgebands but these will also be shown on the Ostermann Stand this year.

Visitors can also expect to see a wide range of technical profiles, cleaners and adhesives.

For more information, call 01905 793550 or visit Ostermann in Hall 10.2 (stand H-070).

If you are reading this edition using the free Furniture Journal App, touch the main picture for a direct link to the Ostermann UK website.

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10 furniture journal | MAY 2019

PREVIEW

As hard as…

Durability is only one of the advantages of David Clouting’s Hard Coat high gloss and supermatt collection.

I

t might be a slight exaggeration to say LG Hausy’s PET Hard Coat finished décors are as hard as nails – call it journalistic licence but when compared with many high gloss and supermatt finishes, they certainly take durability to a new level.

By modifying the lacquer formulation, Hard Coat from David Clouting Ltd is fast becoming the material of choice for both lamination and profiling, and with the range of colours now

including white, cashmere, light grey, dust grey and graphite in both the XC (gloss) and DC (matt), the Hard Coat collection provides plenty of opportunity to co-ordinate with different components.

“It’s surface finish is still the best emulation of a painted finish in matt and gloss,” says Edward Quant, Sales Director at David Clouting Ltd. “This means it is a costeffective alternative for gloss and matt

MAY 2019 | furniture journal 11

painted finishes. It’s better than paint – the durability of the Hard Coat finish means the doors will look pristine for longer – no need to worry about paint chips with wear and tear.”

The new formulation means that Hard Coat supermatt and gloss foils, as well as being suitable for lamination, are now suitable for profile wrapping – a point that hasn’t escaped BA Components, who have adopted it for

their new Jayline range of handleless J-Pull doors. “Using Hard Coat to profile wrap a J Pull handless door, enables the door fascia to be fully wrapped in vinyl, with no edging requirement for the ‘handless’ element of the door,” says Edward. “The foil is 1580mm wide, which is an unusual width. It provides the best material utilisation for the Jayline profile wrapped doors. The foil is 0.3mm thick, which enables a finish as good as a lacquered or

acrylic finish, and rolls are 400 linear metres.

A 1250mm wide Hard Coat in gloss and matt is also available for lamination.

For samples and further information contact David Clouting Ltd on 01376 518037. If you are reading this edition with the Furniture Journal App, touch the background image for a link to all the colours, or touch here to request samples. Alternatively, visit LG Hausys at Interzum, Hall 10.2, Stand B080/C081.

12 furniture journal | MAY 2019 Background: skai® Colore Classico Ultra black

PREVIEW

Matt to Metal The Continental stand at Interzum will be all about texture and fresh interpretations in supermatts, metallics and woodgrains.

I

f you are feeling the need for a little inspiration, the Continental stand at Interzum is just the place to find it.

Always a magnet for visitors seeking convincing textures, sophisticated embossings and inspired designs, Continental will be taking tactile sensation to a whole new level this year.

Take a look close look the fascinating texture in the skai® décor, Colore Magic Metalspin. Metallics and all their various facets are in demand for furniture surfaces in the kitchen, bathroom and cabinet furniture area. Their attractiveness is complemented

and reinforced by seemingly handcrafted effects. The newly developed Metalspin embossing, with its iridescent scratch-effect, “worn” structure accentuates the metallic plain colours of the skai® Colore Magic Collection. The laser engraving, with precision almost down to the nano range, creates a deceptively real filigree effect, providing the surface with circular “signs of wear” that fit well with the vintage trend and contrast well with plain colours.

Also new for Interzum will be skai® NatureFeel Kitami. Described by Continental as “Naturalness in Perfection”, the skai®

MAY 2019 | furniture journal 13

skai® Colore Magic Metalspin

NatureFeel Kitami light and brown furniture films have 3D synchronous structure and represent the protagonists of a new generation of materials that reproduce the uniqueness and perfection of natural surfaces with a maximum degree of authenticity.

Wood décors can be felt and experienced in a new way: the hand feels what the eye sees – the eye sees what is experienced through touch. A greater level of authenticity is difficult to find. The unity of visual and tactile experiences enables a completely new interpretation of the materials, providing new opportunities for 3D application and

skai® NatureFeel Kitami

processing. The 3D surface is created using state-of-the-art EIR (in register) digital embossing technology that achieves maximum synchronicity between the décor and structure. Typical features of wood, such as pores, cracks, flowers, knots and hollows are presented as one with skai® NatureFeel and remain true to the original.

If it’s a new supermatt you are looking for, skai® Colore Classico Ultra might just be the one. The new Ultra surface in deep matt for plain colours is characterised by particularly good technical performance combined with a pleasantly fine feel. The

skai® NatureFeel Kitami

nano-embossed surface works particularly well in dark colours, for example as skai® Colore Classico Ultra black. Highly scratchresistant, the matt structure has a dry, finehoned feel about it that fits perfectly into the modern world of surfaces, in counterpoint with the more d surfaces that appear to have been machined.

For more information, visit Interzum, hall 6.1, stand E040, or contact Marlborough Furniture Surfaces on 01327 877646. If you are reading this article with the free Furniture Journal App, touch here for an immediate link to the Marlborough website.

14 furniture journal | MAY 2019

PREVIEW

Surprise, surprise!

Senosan will show new gloss colours, a new anti-fingerprint film and a new “clear” glasseffect film at Interzum.

I

n January, we presented you with a new range of high scratch resistance supermatt metallic décors in Granite, Anthracite and Champagne atop an equally new slate décor – all from Senosan, and all unusual departures for a company that’s made its name in mirrorlike high gloss acrylic. All will be on show at Interzum. Since then, Senosan has added three new colours to its AM1800TopX high gloss collection (pictured are Blue 4670, Blue 4644 and Green 5357) and announced yet more new products for its Interzum presentation.

Sadly, we’re not at liberty to show you the newest of the new until after the show – but we can tell you about them!

Visitors to Interzum will be able to see first hand the latest generation of Senosan’s AM1800TopMatt AF. And those of you who can’t resist touching them will soon realise that the “AF” at the end of the catchy product name stands for Anti-Fingerprint. Senosan’s innovative coating technology is said to provide “completely new” anti-fingerprint properties, while the stain-resistant film has a

MAY 2019 | furniture journal 15

special velvety feel. AM1800TopMatt AF is available in a thickness of 0.5 mm in all common colours but special formats can be produced on request. It’s ideal for a variety of indoor furniture applications and may be flat laminated or postformed. Edgeband manufacturers will be able to supply samecolour edges.

Also due to be launched at Interzum is Senosan’s high transparency “clear” glasseffect film, the Glass Line. Made from coextruded material, the Glass Line boasts

impressive depth effects that combine the aesthetic look of genuine glass fronts with the processing and practical advantages of a thermoplastic film. It is characterised by very high resistance to scratching and abrasion.

Glass films are available in eight colours and in sheet sizes of 2,800 x 1,300 x 2mm with custom thicknesses from 1-4mm. The ultra transparent “clear” version, is available in thicknesses from 0.5 mm to 2 mm and can either be affixed directly to a decorated surface with transparent PUR hot melts, or

printed first with screen or digital printing and then laminated on the base with the usual methods. Senosan Glass RS is the matching reverse side material.

To find out more about Senosan’s new departures, visit hall 6.1, stand C025 at Interzum or email richard@senoplast.co.uk.

Alternatively, for more information on Senosan AM1800TopMatt, touch here if you are using the free Furniture Journal App on your smartphone or tablet. For more information on Glass, touch here.

16 furniture journal | MAY 2019

PREVIEW

Moving Ideas from Blum On a stand at Interzum of more than 1,300 metres, Blum will unveil its new brand promise and present new products.

W

hat are the furniture trends of the future? Can new ideas be implemented? And more importantly, what will customers get out of these ideas? These are the questions that the manufacturer of fittings, Blum, is interested in – and they form the basis of the company’s Interzum presentation.

Starting from customers’ needs, the Austrian company works closely with its customers to develop new ideas and solutions for greater quality of living. Blum observes global trends, conducts its own research and passes on findings to its customers, for new insights provide furniture makers with inspiration and ideas. Blum will be presenting unique products at Interzum that underpin its brand new promise of “moving ideas”.

Its latest solutions include lifts, hinges and pull-out systems as well as innovative assembly devices and services.Visitors can also look forward to a new product in the field of special solutions. How to create bespoke furniture, make optimal use of small and large living areas and inspire customers with surprising solutions - these are the questions that the Austrian company will answer at the trade show.

Blum will show at interzum 2019 in Hall 7.1, Stand A020/C021 or call 01908 285700 for more information. The company will also take part in Interzum’s special exhibition “Tiny Spaces - Living in Compact Homes”.

Readers using the free Furniture Journal App, please tap the main image for a direct link to Blum’s website.

MIX, MATCH, COMPLEMENT, CONTRAST. THE LOOK AND FEEL OF VENEER THE STRENGTH OF MELAMINE

Kronodesign® Combinations The latest interior design trends combine contrasting decors for decorative effect. Rustic woodgrains with a matt black counterpoint, or concrete with new textured woodgrains that compare favourably with veneers. New Slim Line or square edge worktops add another layer of creativity to the mix in the kitchen, and teamwork pays off in the bathroom, bedroom and office too. In fact we have the palettes to make a statement in style anywhere you choose.

For more information, or to order samples, please visit: www.kronospan-express.com Decors featured: K087 PW Dark Rockford Hickory, K097 SU Dusk Blue, K030 SU Java Block Wood, K094 SL Riven Slate, 4299 SU Dark Atelier, 4298 SU Light Atelier.

K026 SU Grey Pietra Marble Worktop K096 SU Clay Grey MF Board K083 SN Light Artwood MF Board

K108 SU Peltro Slim Line 8685 AM Snow White Acrylic Matt Board K022 SN Satin Blackwood MF Board

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K016 SU Carbon Marine Wood Worktop K098 SU Ceramic Red MF Board K087 PW Dark Rockford Hickory MF Board

K205 RS Black Concrete Worktop 7045 AM Satin Acrylic Matt Board K021 SN Barley Blackwood MF Board

K102 SU Dark Terrazzo Marble Worktop 4298 SU Light Atelier MF Board K098 SU Ceramic Red MF Board

K094 SL Riven Slate Worktop K087 PW Dark Rockford Hickory MF Board K097 SU Dusk Blue MF Board

Service, diversity and speed

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Ostermann delivers the matching edgings for more than 70 board suppliers, from 1 meter and within 24 hours.

www.ostermann.eu Ostermann UK Ltd π Droitwich UK: Phone 01905 793 550 – sales.uk@ostermann.eu IE: Phone: 0044 1905 793 552 –sales.ie@ostermann.eu

MAY 2019 | furniture journal 19

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Hettich’s ArciTech drawer system illustrates the company’s Individualisation theme. AvanTech YOU images will be released after Interzum.

Attuned to Megatrends

I

t’s not long since furniture fittings would have been the last place to look for design individuality. At Interzum 2019, however, Hettich is making customisation the central theme of its participation in the show. Function remains central to Hettich’s success, but aesthetics has for many years been gaining prominence in line with the emerging megatrend of individuality. At Interzum, Hettich is showcasing exclusive product solutions and overall concepts for practical convenience, design and storage space that make customisability the standard.

A clear expression of this theme is AvanTech YOU: design flexibility touches every conceivable aspect of this drawer system. There are five drawer heights, numerous widths, three colours for the drawer and its internal organisation (silver, anthracite and white) and two runner system options (Actro or Quadro) on a single drilling pattern with up to 70kg load capacity, to suit different applications and market segments.

And that’s just the start.

Add in the option of Push to open silent, customisable internal drawer fronts, in terms of height and material, and individual drawer side printing with the facility for a branding clip, and you have a drawer system with infinite possibilities to add value.

There are practical benefits, like no routing of the bottom panel is necessary.You can choose screw-fitting the bottom panel or use clamps with the no-catch assembly.

Rear panel corner connectors for wooden rear panels are no longer required.

Also prominent at Interzum from Hettich will be the remodelled TopLine M, TopLine L, TopLine L+ and TopLine XL – the easy-to-use, easy-to-fit, flexible solutions for sliding doors which lend themselves to a harmonious overall appearance. All offer an even faster, smoother running action, fewer visible components and more decorative choices.

For more information, visit Hettich in Hall 8.1 to see individuality in action, or call Hettich UK on 0161 872 9552. Readers using the free Furniture Journal App edition, touch the main picture marked with a link for more information.

Hettich is making customisation the central theme of its participation in the Interzum show.

PREVIEW

20 furniture journal | MAY 2019

PREVIEW

Häfele: Thinking Ahead Two Inspiration Areas are among attractions for visitors to enjoy on Häfele’s Interzum stand.

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he theme of Häfele’s exhibit at Interzum 2019, which takes place from May 21st- 24th in Cologne, is “Thinking Ahead,” and it aims to support the creation of beautiful home design that will stand the test of time.

Visitors to the Häfele stand will get the chance to view a carefully curated selection of some of the company’s most innovative responses to the increasingly complex challenges facing modern home environments.

The presentation will address issues like the increase in digitalisation, which is changing the way people live; the shrinking of living spaces; and the additional demands placed on these smaller living spaces, with people demanding more comfort, additional features and intelligent solutions.

In an Inspiration Area themed “Digital living. We make it easy.” Häfele will present solutions for facilitating digital living, both now and in the future. Products showcased will include the new generation of Loox lighting products; Häfele Connect, the company’s innovative system for the for the management of “smart” furniture and rooms; and Nimbus, the newest addition to the company’s lighting solutions portfolio.

In a second Inspiration Area, themed “Easiness. Engineered by Häfele.“, the company will demonstrate the performance

of its products by offering hands-on experiences at five live stations. Highlights to look out for include the completely tool-free assembly of an entire piece of furniture, using newly developed fittings in tandem with the company’s established Easiness connectors, and the exclusive debut of a brand new product in the Häfele flap fittings range.

Becci Pell, Marketing Communications Manager at Häfele UK, comments: “Our customers and their challenges constantly inspire us to find new ideas, new possibilities and new paths and Interzum gives us a fantastic opportunity to showcase our latest designs and innovations in front of an expert, influential and engaged audience.

“Häfele prides itself on ‘Thinking Ahead’, ensuring every element of furniture design takes into consideration how items will be used now, and in the future. We will be promoting this concept at Interzum through our carefully selected product range, which perfectly encapsulates this philosophy. Our aim is to help both supplier and customer alike create beautiful home design that will stand the test of time.”

Visit Häfele in Hall 7.1 – C040, call 0800 171 2909 to talk to a customer service adviser, or tap the main image on this page to send an email if you are reading this edition with the Furniture Journal App.

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MAY 2019 | furniture journal 23

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PREVIEW

Open Up to Vauth-Sagel A

t Interzum 2019,Vauth-Sagel will present a completely new trade fair concept. Anyone familiar with VauthSagel’s Interzum history will see it straight away. The system component manufacturer’s stand will be characterised by a new openness.

“Our brand relaunch in 2017 was already based on the fundamental realisation that the world is changing,” commented Vauth-Sagel’s CEO, Claus Sagel. “We set off on our own journey and began to actively shape our transformation two years ago. We have opened ourselves up and have embraced a new image, new markets, new technologies, for the benefit of our customers. Open Up is now the next logical step on this journey.”

For the first time,Vauth-Sagel will show solutions for all areas of the home: the kitchen, utility room, bathroom, bedroom –

the whole living environment – and there is potential for the efficient space solutions in Vauth-Sagel’s portfolio everywhere. Open a door and you’ll see how elegant and efficient Vauth-Sagel’s design solutions create more space, even where you would least expect it.

Open Up is more than just an extremely apt description of the trade fair stand’s various dimensions; it’s also an invitation to everyone interested in future home design to get actively involved and experience spaces in a new way with Vauth-Sagel products.

Vauth-Sagel will show in Hall 7.1, Stand C020 – and the Vauth-Sagel experience can be enjoyed 9 o’clock in the morning until late at night. Are you reading this edition with the free Furniture Journal App? Touch the main picture for a direct link to VauthSagel’s website.

Vauth-Sagel’s stand motto for Interzum 2019 is Open Up.

Claus Sagel

24 furniture journal | MAY 2019

PREVIEW

Peanut on Show The IF Peanut® is taking over the world: India, Europe and soon the USA.

A

s Theodore Levitt put it, “People don’t want quarter inch drills they want quarter inch holes”. The same can be said for connectors: you want to make good, strong furniture, quickly and efficiently…now the solution is here - The Peanut® System from Intelligent Fixings and it will be on show at both Interzum and Ligna!

The Peanut®1 is a simple fixing solution made from a single piece of highly engineered reinforced plastic. The cost is low, and it’s set to decrease even further as mass production kicks in. IF’s goal is to produce high quality connectors, that compete with cams and dowels on price, but are in a league of their own when it comes to strength and user satisfaction. There’s also a Peanut®2 that complements the P1 perfectly for face-fix applications, or as a standalone invisible connector.

The demand for this stunningly simple connector has spread around the world at a phenomenal rate and support for the Peanut® System has been unwavering. In March alone, the IF team were at the Homag UK Open House, nesting cleverly designed boxes to carry spare parts. Their attendance at DelhiWood with Biesse India was a great hit, as was their participation at the launch of a new SCM showroom in Austria. The year ahead will be similarly busy, starting with Interzum & Ligna in May, followed by their North American debut at the AWFS, Las Vegas in July.

For a closer look at the Peanut® in action visit IF at Interzum, hall 5.1, stand C60, at Ligna, hall 12, stand A65 and at AWFS, booth 8878.

Each stand will be made using the Peanut® System. Furniture Journal App readers can link directly to the IF website by touching the picture above on their smartphone or tablet.

NOVA PRO SCALA DRAWER SYSTEM

Inspiring design, creative and functional.

Simple. Clear. Timeless.

INTERZUM COLOGNE 21. - 24. May 2019 Hall 07.1 Stand E20/21

More glass. More height. More space.

Alongside the familiar Crystal and railing options, the Nova Pro Scala range also includes a high glass version and a drawer side in height 250 mm.

Nova Pro Scala incorporates the best of Nova Pro. And much more besides!

Elegant edge definition is a striking feature of Nova Pro Scala. The broad spectrum covered by the product range enables segmentation from the entrylevel version through to the premium segment and provides the individual styling option of designer panels which fit snugly on the drawer sides.

www.grass.eu

Tenso P-10 Self-clamping connector for gluing thin materials from a thickness of 12 mm

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m Interzu e n g Colo 24.05.19 – .

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MAY 2019 | furniture journal 27

PREVIEW

Fix a Date!

S

wiss wood and panel fixings specialist, Lamello, will be returning to Europe’s largest furniture production and design show, Interzum and woodworking machinery and tools exhibition, Ligna, this May. Boasting a new, interactive stand design measuring 63m2 and 65m2 respectively, Lamello’s new P-System connector, the Tenso P-10, will be taking centre stage at the two back-to-back furniture manufacturing shows.

The self-clamp connector has been designed with a unique gluing aid that not only alleviates the need for screws, clamps and presses but also gives the user the flexibility to glue thin materials from a thickness of just 12mm with no visible joins – offering design flexibility and precision on wood-based panels, high pressure laminates and solid timber.

To show visitors just how simple and effective Lamello joining systems are, live demonstrations of the new Tenso P-10 connector and the complete P-System connector range, including the timesaving Cabineo, will be taking on Lamello’s stands.

Requiring no edge drilling, the Cabineo joining system, which is installed into a drilled or routed shape, is ideally suited to both three and five-axis CNC machines and nesting processes. When compared to standard cam and dowel fittings, it also offers more efficient production, faster installation and a higher clamping force, eradicating unsteady joints.

Working alongside its established CNC partners, Lamello will also showcase its range of CNC connectors - including the Cabineo Black which was launched last year – and run exclusive show offers.

Keen to find out more? Visit Lamello at Interzum from the 21st – 24th May 2019 in Hall 8.1, Stand C019 and Ligna from the 27th-31st May 2019 in Hall 13, Stand B22. For more information visit www.lamello.com, contact Lamello’s UK representative, Shaye Chatfield, on 07891 025646 or email s.chatfield@lamello.com.

Furniture Journal App readers will find a video of the new fixing by tapping the linked image on a smartphone or tablet.

Fix a date at Interzum or Ligna with the Swiss fixings expert, Lamello.

The new Tenso P-10 self-clamping connector.

28 furniture journal | MAY 2019

Sand Happy James Walerych visits Mirka as the company celebrates its 40th anniversary in the UK.

F

Craig Daycock

inland was recently awarded the title of the happiest country in the world, according to the UN 2019 World Happiness Report. Eager to find out how this manifested itself in a Finnish company, I decided that it was time to take a trip - not to the boreal forests and lakes, archipelagos and coastal lowlands of this Nordic nation, but up the M1 to Milton Keynes to visit the first daughter company of the Finnish organisation, KWH Group. The objective was to see how the happiness factor from Finland had rubbed off on Mirka UK as it celebrates its 40th anniversary this year.

Happiness is definitely high on the agenda.

It was clear from the moment Craig Daycock, Mirka UK Managing Director, greeted me and the Mirka UK history lesson began. Craig’s journey to the top of the Mirka UK pyramid has spanned over three decades. He’s risen steadily through the ranks, but still retains the

passion and commitment for the business that he had when he was initially on the road as a technical sales person. When he talks about his time with Mirka UK, it’s clear he is proud of what he has achieved but just as proud of the support he’s had on the way: “The business invested in my development and provided me with opportunities to grow into greater roles and responsibilities,” he told me. “I’ve continued this with the current team,” he told me. One of the things he really likes about Mirka, as a business, is that, “It genuinely cares about its customers and employees, which fosters good working relationships and a very happy work environment. That, in turn, leads to increased productivity because, without either of these, nothing can be achieved.”

Mirka is known for its distinctive yellow tools and wide range of abrasives. Craig takes up the Mirka story: “Mirka has evolved with

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MAY 2019 | furniture journal 31

the multiple industries it is in to meet the needs and requirements of the end user,” he starts. “Yet the one area that has remained consistent is its clear focus on improving customer production, output and profitability.” This idea of a consistent focus is evidenced by the fact that the business listens to users and, with the insights that are provided, it adapts to meet the requirements of its customers, enhancing the tools, training and services that it provides.

Research and development is expensive for any business but as Craig sees it, it is a necessary cost to stay at the cutting edge of technology. “There is significant and regular investment into research in Finland,” he explains. “This has led to the introduction of some exceptional market leading products such as Abralon, Abranet, Iridium, Novastar, and Mirlon as well as electric power tools.

When it comes to UK R&D, having access to the new training centre enables the team to explore new possibilities to meet the constantly evolving processes customers are using on a day to day basis.”

The business has faced several challenges, including the digital transformation of day to day operations, adapting to social media

platforms, improving customer satisfaction and ensuring compliance with new industry regulations. Mirka took a systematic approach to ensure the business continued on the path of being a successful and sustainable business that grows organically.

Alongside the internal challenges, customers’ expectations have over the last 40 years but Mirka, like any good company, has listened to, understood and adapted to those challenges. Introducing the training centre has helped meet the demand for more product and system training, as well as promoting closer supplier relationships. More space became available for the demonstration of new products and there has been increased joint venture activity in winning and developing new business opportunities as well as providing help and support for customers with new regulations.

Summarising what Mirka is all about, Craig recounts one example from many to illustrate how Mirka’s ‘user first’ philosophy resolved a customer’s problem: “A customer producing solid oak wood flooring and using wide belts from one of our competitors was experiencing random marks in the wood after limited sanding. After several attempts

by its current supplier to resolve the issue, it decided to call in the wide belt machine repair company that immediately got in contact with Mirka to assist. The marks were caused by hard spots of silicon embedded in random parts of the oak, caused by an unnatural occurrence in the Parenchyma Cells within the oak tree during growth.

These hard spots, when sanded with standard Aluminium oxide belts, cause damage to the belt which then transfers to the oak panel each time the belt passes over it. To resolve the issue, we supplied a close coated Silicon carbide grain belt, which is much harder and capable of sanding through the hard spots without damaging the belt.”

It’s very clear that Mirka’s innovative tools, processes and services will stand both its customers and the industry as a whole in good stead for a long time – and it’s just as clear to anyone who visits the company that the Finnish title was, indeed, well deserved.

For more information on Mirka’s products, call 01908 866100 or, if you are reading this edition of Furniture Journal App on a smartphone or tablet, touch any of the pictures marked with a link sign for instant connection to more information.

32 furniture journal | MAY 2019

PREVIEW

Ligna 2019 Ligna is the biggest and most comprehensive exhibition for wood and panel processing in Europe. Don’t miss it!

F

rom 27th until 31st May 2019, the biennial Ligna exhibition will open its doors at the Hannover Messe in Germany. Dedicated to wood and panel processing, exhibitors from over 50 countries will showcase state-of-the-art processing solutions, applications and concepts for the entire forestry and wood industry.

Visitors can expect to see innovations across all display categories, from forestry technology, furniture and window manufacturing, through to tooling systems and surface technology. There will be live

demonstrations of fully functional furniture production plants, opportunities to learn about IoT platforms for Industry 4.0 plants and the latest R&D projects, and there will be opportunities to participate in networking events throughout the show.

The trend towards ever greater individualisation is putting pressure on manufacturers to deliver customised products at least as quickly, profitably and efficiently as with series production. Ligna 2019 promises plenty of solutions to these challenges.

The exhibition will centre on three themes: Integrated Woodworking – Customised Solutions, which encompasses IoT application scenarios, such as condition monitoring and predictive maintenance as a means of further boosting production plant efficiency, as well as collaborative robots,

automated guided vehicles and smart worker support technologies; Smart Surface Technology, including digital printing and decorative gravure printing systems, inspection systems, the latest generation of spray coating machines, robotics systems, etc., in halls 16 and 17; and Access to Resources and Technology - international communication and technology transfer for the forest-wood-logistics value chain.

The free Ligna App, introduced at Ligna 2017, is well worth downloading as it provides guidance to the stands you want to visit. If you’d prefer not to go it alone, readers using the free Furniture Journal App will find a link to register for a guided tour by touching here. To register and get your ticket, touch here, or to watch the Ligna video, touch the picture, above.

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INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION OF COMPONENTS, SEMIFINISHED PRODUCTS AND ACCESSORIES FOR THE FURNITURE INDUSTRY

34 furniture journal | MAY 2019

PREVIEW

Driven by Precision Accuracy, precision and the challenge of a really ambitious customer are what Schelling UK’s Managing director, Markus Freuis, thrives on.

MAY 2019 | furniture journal 35

A

t first meeting, it’s hard to imagine Markus Freuis tearing around the twists and turns of Donington Park circuit astride a motorbike. He seems altogether too calm and composed to be temerarious. After each question I ask, there’s a pause while he considers and shapes his answer, making it difficult to reconcile the deep thinker behind the Managing Director’s desk at Schelling UK with the pushy, risk-taking mindset of a competition biker. But the more we chat, the more I begin to realise, like his other hobby – shooting – Markus is not in it for the competition. By his own admission, he is competitive, but it’s the skill, the accuracy and the precision involved in both pastimes that really fire his passion.

Accuracy, precision – and let’s add perfection in there, too - are very much part of his job as Managing Director of the sizing specialist, Schelling UK. It puts Markus at one with the Austrian company’s ethos. “I like to go into details,” he admits. “I’m a perfectionist. I like to have things right. I try to make my staff

perfectionists and look for the details, too.

I want to make sure that what we sell is reaching or exceeding what our customers expect. I won’t sell something that won’t do the job properly, or something that fails to reach the production targets our customers need long-term. That’s not the way we work.

And we don’t deliver late. We will always put extra staff on to get back on track if something comes from Austria late.”

I remember seeing the gleeful expectation on his face as the first freshly cut component of the day emerged from the FH4 at the W exhibition. It was a clear indication of the pride Markus feels about Schelling’s engineering. He revels in the accuracy of the cut, the sharpness of the edge, the smoothness of the finish, and he purrs over the build quality the company produces. He’s as proud of the standards it upholds as he is of its heritage.

As we take a short tour of the machines in the Wetherby showroom, there’s an unmistakable smile on his face as he points out favourite features on the demo model, a new

Opposite: Markus Freuis Top: Rear loading FH4 saw with Barbaric system in the Wetherby showroom.

Centre left: Board Aligners.

Centre right: The pushers come right to the edge of the table.

Above: Rear loading with a Barbaric system.

36 furniture journal | MAY 2019

Side Aligners on the FH4

FH4: the clever design of the side aligners; the saw carriage and frame that, as he says, remain as solid and as accurate after 20 years as the day they were built; the engineering Schelling puts into every machine to ensure it will perform tirelessly; and, of course, the simpleto-use software visitors to the IMA-Schelling Group stand at Ligna will be able to see up close and personal in a few weeks. There’s also an FM8 in the showroom – a saw you won’t see in the woodworking industry. “It’s for cutting aluminium,” he tells me. “It’s extremely accurate and will cut through aluminium plate up to 150mm thick. We sell a lot in the metal, plastics and special materials markets.”

Schelling UK supplies saws ranging from the entry level FH4 up to the highly productive FH8.

“Soon we’ll have an FH10,” he says.“The FH4 comes in standard front loading or rear loading, and we offer integrated storage systems. Blade projection range from 105 to 250mm at the present on single saws and plants. Then we have the LS1, which now has a new design. It’s the third generation of the LS1 [lot-size-one] saw and we will be showing it at Ligna.”

Ligna 2019 will provide a showcase opportunity for a number of new developments from across the IMA-Schelling Group. “Industry 4.0 is the big push,” Markus tells me. “It’s gathering pace in the UK. Schelling, together with IMA, will show integrated board storage systems, lot size one (the LS1) and edging and drilling from the IMA side of the business. That’s the big area where

we have a lot of enquiries in the UK. Automation - Industry 4.0 - is the future because machines are predictable and have a fixed cost. Because manufacturers from the smallest to the largest can benefit from it, we will be showing a Barbaric system, aimed more at the smaller workshop, alongside an industrial VS storage manager. There will also be a focus on software.

“We have developed a new product called Zimba. With this software, customers can see what their actual production is. It tells you exactly your production outputs, parts per minute, machine performance. Because it measures exact output, it tells you where the slow down buffer points are and how you can optimise buffer zones. It monitors maintenance status and it will provide information on predictive maintenance. If it takes longer than usual to produce something, an alarm appears to show you’re outside the timescale window so there’s an issue to be investigated. It’s a productivity and profitability tool working across Schelling and IMA.” Since Schelling opened its UK subsidiary 30 years ago, under the direction of Markus, the company has expanded its portfolio to include shredders, briquetting presses, even ducting and filtration for the aluminium side of the business. “We’ve done very well with Votecs shredders - from small shredders to big ones that take a two-metre sheet after it’s been processed on a nesting machine. They are very well built.”

Although pre-owned machines are not easy to find, Schelling UK also offers fully reconditioned machines that have been brought right up to the latests standards by the UK subsidiary’s engineers. “Our beam saws will last 20-25 years,” says Markus. “And we will support them for 25 years. We can bring old machines right up to modern standards and they will cut with the same accuracy as when they were new.”

After 20+ years working for Schelling in the UK – first, as Service Manager, then, since 2005, as Managing Director of Schelling UK and its 15-strong team of support staff Markus still relishes the challenge of a really ambitious customer. “That’s when I thrive,” he says, “When everything matters. They are the customers I really like because they have the same outlook as me. They like everything to be perfect. You can put a machine into a factory and it will produce well, or you can put one in and it will produce perfectly every time and go on doing that for 20 or 25 years. That’s what a Schelling machine will do,” he says proudly, “Even after 20 or 25 years, it will still be 100% accurate.”

To find out for yourself why Markus is so passionate about Schelling, visit Hall 12, stand E50 at Ligna from 27th-31st May, call Schelling UK on 01937 586340, or, if you are reading this edition with the free Furniture Journal App, touch here for a link to Schelling UK’s website, or here to watch a YouTube demonstration of Schelling’s Zimba software.

38 furniture journal | MAY 2019

Neville Johnson moves to Stefani O Mick Coulthard

ver the last 30 years, Neville Johnson has built an enviable reputation for manufacturing high quality, bespoke offices, bedrooms and lounge furniture. Offering discerning clients a wide choice of designs, sizes and colours in bespoke layouts that have been tailored to fit even the most awkward of spaces perfectly is a challenge few manufacturers would relish, especially not with any regularity - but at Neville Johnson, it’s the norm. Add exacting quality standards to the mix and it’s not hard to imagine the scale of the nightmare Factory Manager, Mick Coulthard, faced when his two 10-year-old edgebanders started showing their age.

With every job different, Neville Johnson’s Trafford Park factory is dedicated to nestbased manufacturing. Three nesting CNCs, all

commissioned within the last three years, feed two edgebanders with individually sized panels ranging from large doors to small components. When the company took the decision to replace the two edgebanders with the latest technology, Mick had a clear idea of what was needed: “We wanted to get rid of the bottle neck that all edgebanders create in panel manufacturing,” he told Furniture Journal. “We also wanted to eliminate or reduce changeover times and increase flexibility.”

At the same time, knowing the impact machine changes have on production, Mick was adamant the replacements would have to be installed back to back so production could continue. Installation, commissioning and training would have to take place after the Easter rush but before the 2018 summer

MAY 2019 | furniture journal 39

PREVIEW

“We achieved record production outputs that the factory has never seen before without increasing overtime – and that’s all down to getting the panels out of the edgebanders.”

Mick Coulthard, Factory Manager, Neville Johnson.

holidays. And if that wasn’t enough, he had one further non-negotiable that narrowed the field still further: “Reliability is a big thing for us. We have to have absolute faith in the companies we deal with. We needed to be convinced we could get the specification we needed in a reliable machine that we could future-proof, but also that when things go wrong the spares backup was in place, we could get fast delivery and the company we were working with had the number of engineers on the ground to deal with it fast.”

Mick approached two companies and in a seachange that, for the first time, saw the factory shift away from German machines to Italian technology, Neville Johnson ordered two new Stefani XDs from SCM UK. And almost 12 months down the line, with all the boxes on his wish list ticked, Mick is

convinced the company has made the right choice: “We have been able to achieve a reduction in overtime to an acceptable, sustainable level while achieving record production months prior to Christmas. Since the Stefanis were commissioned, we have achieved record production outputs that the factory has never seen before without increasing overtime – and that’s all down to getting the panels out of the edgebanders.”

Before deciding on the Stefanis, Mick made two visits to SCM to convince himself that the engineering of the frame, the chain and major components really were on a par with the best of German build quality and to refine a specification and check out the backup available from SCM. “We wanted to be 100% sure of the backup systems, the spare part warehousing and all the dedicated

process SCM offered,” he said. “We had to have the confidence that they could deliver a service throughout the machine’s life, with spare parts, warranty, backup engineers, as well as a machine that did the job.

“What SCM has out there is incredible.

You have to see it. We went out the first time to go through our specification and see what was available. Having seen the machines, with help from the engineers at Stefani, we respecified a couple of features and decided what our machines needed to have built in so they would see us through the next ten years. Originally, we looked at EVA and PUR units but when we saw the finish with the EVA, we realised we didn’t need PUR. The standard was more than acceptable for the products we wanted to produce. The machines have been

40 furniture journal | MAY 2019

prearranged for PUR and AirFusion+ so if the market changes we just need a plug-in module to be up and running.”

The two Stefani XD machines, each equipped with a panel return system, are relatively straightforward in specification and more than meet the process times Mick laid down in his first meeting with Stefani’s engineers. Importantly, they also provide the fast changeover and the flexibility Neville Johnson needed. There are some neat features, like a ceramic heating lamp after the premilling unit that warms the panel to the right temperature before the edgeband is applied – ideal for situations where panels are sized, then left overnight before edging, because there’s no risk of glue shock – and Mick specified the automatic pressure roller.

The touch of a button is all it takes to switch from a 2mm thick edge to a 0.4mm edge (for example). Mick also wanted a

grooving unit to automate production of Neville Johnson’s characteristic V-grooved solid edge lippings. Both Stefanis are equipped with nesting shoes on the trim and scrape that ride over any drillings or routed slots in the board to give a flawless edge, and there are three spraying units for anti-adhesive, high gloss and delicate edges.

In the original specification, the LCD touch screen was Stefani’s 17” TFT controller.

Mick was delighted that, on delivery, Stefani had provided both edgebanders with the very latest 21” Eye-M touchscreen controller. They were also equipped with Teamviewer® software for remote diagnostic control of the machine via the internet as well as data backup and installation of upgrades.

Mick can’t speak highly enough about the service he has received from SCM: “They made the whole process really easy and

seeing the factories and meeting the Italians to discuss and refine the specification gave us a lot of confidence. Everyone was very efficient, very open and I really like the flexible mentality of the Italians – they were prepared to go that extra yard and took nothing for granted. There was no backwards-forwards, backwards-forwards with prices. We agreed the specification, and SCM delivered on time and on budget.

“The installation process was very, very quick and very smooth. We had a very tight window for installation and training. We needed the machines in after Easter but before the summer holidays. We cleared the factory out and decommissioned one of our machines. SCM moved one machine out as the next was being craned off in the yard and then they took the old machines as part of the deal. I only wanted to deal with one contractor, so this was great for me. It

MAY 2019 | furniture journal 41

Both Stefani XD edgebanders have been equipped with panel return systems.

allowed me not to worry about delays, or whether I’d got the right crane. Bringing outside engineers in to disconnect the old machine was my only real worry. SCM took the project as a whole and that made it very easy for me. They even gave us maximum part-exchange value for our old machines. It made everything very simple.”

Everything about the programming of the Stefani XD is very straightforward. It’s easy to recall programs, change to different edging configurations, different panel thicknesses, different lippings and edgings, and different substrates. Even so, there’s always a bit of a barrier for operators when they have to change from a machine they’ve become familiar with over many years. “A new system always makes people feel uneasy,” commented Mick, “But we’d pretty much conquered that within the first two weeks from installation. The simplicity of

this machine makes that possible. Both machines were in full production by the end of week four.

“We had a week’s training for each machine. We staggered this because we took one machine out while still running the old one. After day three, the machine was available, so we moved shift patterns around to release operators for a week’s training with SCM’s Jon Wilson. The first three or four days was training, then we started running full orders through, but without time pressures so they had a chance to change and reset things and learn new features with an engineer at their side. That was replicated when the second machine came in. The training we received was all very thorough.

Since then, Jon’s only been back once.

Almost a year on since the commissioning of the twin Stefani XDs at Neville Johnson, Mick is convinced he made

the right decision. “It was a huge wrench for us to move away from German machines but the build quality, the accuracy, the ease of use and the reliability of both the Stefanis - and the service we’ve received from SCM – have proved to be exceptional. Before we made our decision, we also saw other SCM clients in the UK whose machines were very close to what we wanted. We point blank asked them what the service was like.

They all pretty much said the same. SCM have done everything they promised. I can’t fault them.”

For more information, visit SCM in Hall 13 at Ligna in Hanover from 27th until 31st May 2019, call 0115 977 0044, or download the free Furniture Journal App and touch any of the pictures in the online edition for a link to video demonstrations and more.

Alternatively, touch info@scmgroup.com to send an email.

42 furniture journal | MAY 2019

PREVIEW

Signs of Striebig Above and beyond service from TM and the accuracy and robustness of a new Striebig Control has set Sign Trade Supplies up for the future.

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urrently undergoing an expansion programme and moving to bigger premises due to growing demand and a successful online offering, established sign making material supplier, Sign Trade Supplies, has invested in a new Striebig Control vertical panel saw to increase productivity and reduce waste and labour costs.

“We had been using an old flat bed panel saw to cut our sheet material but as demand grew, it was proving difficult to keep up,” begins Garrick Dartnell, Business Development Manager at Sign Trade Supplies.

“It struggled to work on the vast range of materials we wanted to use and manual

handling made work more challenging than it should have been. We needed a better solution and a more efficient replacement that could not only benefit the company now but also in years to come.”

The new saw needed to cut large panels up to 4000 x 2000mm and cope with a variety of sheeting materials including ACM, Foamex Foam, Acrylic, Polycarbonate, 11SWG aluminium, Plywood and MDF. It also needed to offer unparalleled accuracy, reduce handling and produce minimal waste when trimming material sheets.

The Kent-based company did their research and contacted several vertical panel saw distributors but it was TM Machinery and the Striebig brand that stood out from the crowd.

“Where other distributors focussed on their machines and features,TM Machinery took an interest in our business and what we needed the machine to achieve,” says Garrick. “They showed us the features that would benefit us and went the extra mile to show us why a

Striebig vertical panel saw was right for our business. This approach made us buy into TM’s knowledge, experience and understanding of the industry. It felt like they were willing to help us find the right machine for the job and not just try and make a quick sale.”

The Striebig Control ticked every box for Sign Trade Supplies and its superior build quality was a key selling point for the sign producer. “We cut a lot of sharp sheets so we needed a machine that could easily withstand these robust materials. Several of the saw brands we looked at only offered melaminebacked models and standard rollers that would quickly wear when cutting high volumes of harder materials. The Striebig, however, offered a self-supporting welded saw frame and aluminium rollers that would stand the test of time.”

As well as an automated cutting cycle with digital input for outstanding trim and cut accuracy, the vertical Control panel saw could accommodate 4000 x 2000mm sheeting up to

MAY 2019 | furniture journal 43

Garrick Dartnell

19mm thick with ease and, with the addition of a triple chip negative saw blade, it could accommodate a wide range of materials and thicknesses whilst maintaining its renowned precision and cutting quality.

“Having the ability to cut several sheets at one time has made the biggest difference to us,” admits Garrick. “The speed and accuracy of the machine is phenomenal and sheets are being cut at record speed. It’s safe to say that we’ve increased our productivity by more than 75%. We were previously limited to cutting two sheets at a time on our old flat bed saw but we can easily cut six sheets of softer material at once with the Striebig. This has allowed us to slash our lead times, offer a rapid response to those customers that need a super-fast turnaround and take on larger jobs we couldn’t have fulfilled before. In fact, it was only last week that we had an order that required 1,000 sheets to be cut-to-size in a few days. This would have been impossible to achieve without the Striebig.”

The Control’s top trimming feature has also proved to be invaluable to the supply company.

“When we create shop signs, we often need more than one sheet length. The size of the two sheets has to be completely square, which in the past, required the painstaking accuracy

of an experienced operator. With the new Striebig Control, we can programme the saw to cut the smallest amount off a sheet automatically and it does this quickly and effectively.” The accuracy of the Striebig has reduced rejects to an all time low and, with minimal handling required from our operators, there has also been a significant reduction in damage when loading and unloading the sheets.

The installation team delivered, unloaded and installed the vertical saw in just two days and comprehensive training was provided. “It wasn’t a quick overview of the machine and its key features. The engineer went above and beyond to help us create a ‘best practice’ when operating the machine. Because of the length and breadth of materials and sheet thicknesses we use, he tested a range of materials for us and recommended cutting speeds that would guarantee the saw’s best performance. We really valued his experience and it helped us hit the ground running.”

This level of service from TM Machinery has continued since the saw was installed.

Garrick explains, “We wanted to know if we should be using a different blade to cut solid aluminium. It’s a new material for us – one we couldn’t use on our old saw - and we were confident TM Machinery’s experts would know

the answer. As expected, they were really helpful and were brilliant at helping us find a solution. As it goes, we didn’t need to purchase a new blade. Instead, we just needed to cut the material at a slower rate.”

Garrick adds,“The introduction of the new Striebig Control is an investment in our future.

As well as moving to bigger premises later this year and expanding our services, we are continuously looking to improve our supply chain and work with a wider range of materials that have the potential to benefit our customers and reduce costs. Thanks to our new Striebig vertical panel saw, Sign Trade Supplies can now excel in producing perfect cuts every time. Jobs can also be priced more economically due to a reduction in our labour costs and customer satisfaction is high. We value TM Machinery’s continued support and we couldn’t recommend their team or Striebig more highly.”

For more information on the complete woodworking machinery range offered by TM Machinery Sales Ltd and its servicing division, TM Services & Spares Ltd., visit www.tmmachinery.co.uk or call 0116 271 7155. For the latest news, find TM Machinery on LinkedIn or follow @TM_Machinery on Twitter. Find out more about Trafford Timber Centre here: www.trafford-timber.co.uk.

44 furniture journal | MAY 2019

PREVIEW

Double the Doors Hills Panel Products has a new line from Wemhöner and Sittex that will see its vinyl pressed door production double in the next 12 months.

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hen Oldham-based Hills Panel Products took the decision to invest in a new pressing line, the objective was to increase the company’s vinyl door production from its present capacity of around 30,000 doors per month to 45,000, and achieve that within the next 12 months.

But so efficient is the new, combined Sittex and Wemhöner line that Operations Director, Martin Hill, believes the company’s £3.5 million investment, which also includes a new building and additional routers, could set Hills on course for production closer to 60,000 doors per month.

“We started up in 1991 with a view to making furniture components for the kitchen and bedroom trade,” explains

Martin. “We started making vinyl doors in 1995/96. It’s quite a big side to our business now. It’s been a progression over the years to move onto an automatic line. The first Wemhöner presses we had were series 1000 machines - they have turnover devices on them and a sloping trimming out bed - and we still have both of them. With the new line, we’ve got the latest series 3000 Wemhöner press with a 3.1 metre bed, which gives us the advantage of being able to press the cornice and pelmet in three metre lengths, and we’ve switched over to in-line automatic production. I believe we’re the first in the country to have a Sittex line.”

The new line is complicated to explain but, as Machine Operator Cairan Chadwick

MAY 2019 | furniture journal 45

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says, its operation was quick to learn, and it’s both simple to maintain and easy to operate.

Everything from the feed conveyor belt up to the Wemhöner press is Italian-made Sittex equipment. Panels from the routers are placed on a high grip infeed conveyor (photograph 1) and transported into a SIT Clean surface cleaning machine (photograph 2) that improves surface quality and flatness and treats the surface prior to spraying of the glue. The next stage is a SIT Air air treatment unit (picture 3). Using filtered air and a heating unit, the SIT Air removes any dust on the panels that might later be seen as pimples under the vinyl when pressed and result in rejects.

Before each panel is conveyed into the glue spraying robot, it is scanned for shape, size and position using a camera system placed high over the belt (picture 4).

The glue spraying robot is a SIT Botix (picture 5). Inside the cabinet, there are two

glue spraying arms, the first equipped with a single gun and the second equipped with twin guns (picture 6) for top and edge spraying. Together, they are able to cope with practically any shape of component, coating both the top surface and the edges automatically. “On the new line, there are two heads that increase the speed of throughput and the number of products we can produce,” Cairan Chadwick told Furniture Journal. “With our old machine, the cleaning cycle is quite long but with the new one, we don’t have to interrupt the spraying cycle to clean the guns. Sittex has integrated the cleaning system into the program to clean the guns after every bed. It makes it a lot easier to get consistency in the spraying. As the doors are travelling from one bed that’s been sprayed to the next charge that’s coming in, it cleans the guns so you never lose the production time.” The SIT Botix is also equipped with an easy to change

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disposable film system positioned under the outfeed end of the cabinet on a cleverly designed trolley (picture 7) that’s pulled out from under the belt.

“Sittex designed this machine to do square and rectangular pieces – heavy production of the same shape,” says Cairan.

“The Sittex guys came over and integrated more functionality into the program so we can now do angled doors and internal frames as well. They redesigned the software around what we wanted to produce,” says Cairan.

The transfer belt between the SIT Botix and the SIT Flex glue drying oven (picture 8) has a special raised peg surface to ensure panels don’t stick during transport and drying and it is equipped with six hot air drying trays. To the side of the glue drying oven, Sittex has provided a separate manual transfer table (picture 9) that enables any

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specials, or extra production to be pulled out of the line and transferred to the adjacent older pressing line. “The press can produce up to 27 presses in an hour where the glue line can produce material for 42,” confirmed Cairan. “When we have a full batch to do, we’ll send two beds to the Wemhöner press and one bed out of the system to the other pressing line. The Sittex is so productive it can produce enough work to feed both lines at the same time.”

After the drying unit, panels that remain on the new line are deposited on a transfer conveyor, which retracts, placing them on the tray of the press. This section is Wemhöner, provided by IMA UK. Photographs 10 to 15 show the steps and IMA UK’s Ashley Cooper explains the sequence: “The tray is on a scissor lift that drops to the lower position. It then travels

through the bottom of the press, passing the scanner. The scanner sets the pins of the Variopin system [photograph 16]. The tray then travels to the far end of the press where it rises on a scissor lift to the upper level. The vinyl is automatically unreeled and laid in the correct position. The tray then travels into the press and the pressing cycle takes place. After the pressing cycle, the tray exits the press and a turnover device turns the whole press charge through 180 degrees.

[Photographs 17 and 18]. At the same time, the pins are reset and the tray moves back to the loading position. There are three trays travelling in the circuit.”

Capable of up to 27 cycles per hour, the Wemhöner press (picture 19) provides a maximum pressing pressure of eight bar working with a multifunction frame and membrane to create a perfect finish,

MAY 2019 | furniture journal 47

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especially with glossy foils where the extra pressure creates a mirror finish without orange peel effect. The maximum pressing charge size is 3140mm x 1290mm with extra heating rows around the top heating plate edges to ensure the correct amount of heat gets right to the extreme edges – vital for a perfect bond that won’t delaminate.

To keep energy costs down, Wemhöner incorporated an air pre-heating device and an air recycling device to extract maximum efficiency from the heat created during press cycles. An infra red temperature sensor controlling the temperature of the membrane on the side in contact with the foil allows for perfect pressing every time.

Once the pressing of the foil has finished, cold air is blasted between the foil and the membrane to cool the foil quickly so there is no memory recall. The press will then

open and the charge is driven to the turnover device and onwards for trimming.

The Wemhöner Variosize system fitted to each tray ensures the correct amount of foil is automatically unreeled from a 20-roll high magazine at the end of the line and laid up on each tray, again automatically, guaranteeing the absolute minimum of foil is wasted. The whole line has been designed for minimal human intervention from laying up at the start of the glue sprayer to stacking of the finished panels at the end of the line – it really is fully automatic.

Once pressed, the turnover device (pictures 17 and 18) collects the panels from the press and feeds them onto a right-angled transfer at the side of the press (picture 20) that moves the panels to the Sittex SIT Trim trimming machine, an automatic twin head machine (picture 21) that precisely trims the

panels from whatever thickness of vinyl Hills chooses to use. Once the foil is trimmed, a Sittex SIT Buff buffing machine removes any glue residue or sharp edges and presents perfectly cleaned panels ready for collection (picture 22).

Martin Hill is delighted with the new line: “There are a lot of advantages to the new press line,” he says. “We use fewer people on it because there’s a lot of automation. It also has the Variosize system, so we only need as much foil on the bed as the doors that we’re producing require so we can reduce the size of the tray. That works very well and increases our vinyl yield. Half a metre at the end of a pressing adds up at the end of the year.

“We looked at other manufacturers for the glue spraying line before deciding on Sittex but not the presses. We have two

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other Wemhöner presses and we’ve tried lots of different ones but we always find the Wemhöners are the best for what we are doing. We find the service is very good from IMA UK and we have a long-standing relationship with them because we also have IMA edgebanders.

“It was quite a leap of faith for us to go with Sittex. We went out to the factory in Italy and while we were there we saw several factories that were using Sittex equipment.

It’s pretty apparent that most of the door

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manufacturers producing vinyl doors in Italy are using Sittex machines. They feel Sittex is the best. We did wonder if they could cope with installing and servicing the machines from Italy but it’s not proved to be a problem. The Sittex machines are really quite simple to maintain. We have five engineers on site, so it’s only things like software or IT we can’t deal with and they tend to be dealt with online. This line is the biggest single project we’ve ever embarked on but we’re really pleased with how its gone. We

definitely made the right decision to go with Wemhöner and Sittex.”

To find out more information on Wemhöner presses, call IMA UK on 0116 243 2181 or, if you are reading this edition with the Furniture Journal App, touch here for a link to IMA UK’s website or touch image marked with a link. For information from Sittex call +39 0434 627206 or tap here for a direct link to the Sittex website.

Visit Wemhöner at Ligna, Hall 26, stand E11.

Visit Sittex at Ligna, Hall 17, Stand B01.

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MAY 2019 | furniture journal 51

CAD+T: on the Cloud CAD+T will be demonstrating its latest cloud-based concept on stands at Ligna and Interzum.

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ustrian CAD/CAM software specialist, CAD+T will be returning to Interzum and Ligna this May with a brand new customisable software solution for the furniture production industry, interactive software demonstrations, special show offers and a unique opportunity to take part in local factory tours to experience CAD+T’s software solutions in action.

As well as an interactive stand at Interzum, CAD+T will have two stands in halls 12 and 15 at Ligna. Measuring 54 square metres and 36 square metres respectively, each stand will home software experts from CAD+T’s international offices who will be on hand to talk to perspective clients about the company’s latest developments and bespoke software solutions.

Making its debut at the leading trade fairs, the software producer will be showcasing its new ‘Configurator Professional’ cloud-based concept that allows you to customise the software’s interface using an online platform.

Unlike a standard configurator, the user is given the opportunity to manipulate any kind of construction or technical drawing during

the production process , resulting in a swift and simple bespoke solution for both small and large production facilities.

For those keen to see CAD+T’s bespoke solutions up and running, the company is arranging exclusive factory tours to coincide with each show. Taking place on the 24th May in Cologne and 27th May in Hannover, each tour offers customers a unique insight into how CAD+T’s software has been implemented into smaller and larger manufacturing sites in the immediate area. As well as being given a detailed tour of the factory’s manufacturing processes and the software packages created for each customer, visitors will also be able to talk to the existing customers about their experiences and have their technical questions answered by CAD+T’s experts.

Martina Schwarz, International Sales & Marketing Manager says, “We wanted to show people just how innovative and fully customisable our software solutions are and what better way for us to do that than to invite them to see how our existing customers have benefited from working with CAD+T? You simply need to register your interest, highlighting which factory visit would be more convenient or relevant to your requirements, and we’ll arrange the rest.”

Martina continues, “We have been exhibiting at Interzum and Ligna for over 20

years and it continues to be a must-attend events for many people in the furniture production industry. As an international company, it offers us an opportunity to present our latest innovations to thousands of visitors from around the world, not just Europe, and it continues to generate strong leads for us. In fact, two years ago, we gained more than 400 solid contacts from 67 countries at Ligna alone. That was a truly incredible response to our product offering and we can’t wait to see what 2019 holds.”

Visit CAD+T at Interzum from the 21st – 24th May 2019 in Boulevard B, Stand 078 and Ligna from the 27th-31st May 2019 in Hall 12, Stand B81 and Hall 15, Stand G59.

Readers using the Furniture Journal App can register interest in CAD+T’s exclusive factory tours by touching here.

Alternatively, visit www.cadt-solutions.com or email office@cadt-solutions.com for more information.

PREVIEW

52 furniture journal | MAY 2019

PREVIEW

Salvamac at Ligna The SalvaStop 100 will make its debut on the Salvamac stand at Ligna alongside Classic saws and products from Salvamac’s Air division.

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Christian Salvador

alvamac will be out in full force at Ligna 2019 with a showing that includes not only its Classic 40, 50, and 60 semiautomatic cross-cutting saws, but also the latest SalvaStop 100.

Christian Salvador will be on hand to demonstrate the Classic cross-cut range and point out key features like the robust structure, the two-handed safety control and the blade protection cover that allows working in absolute safety.

He will also demonstrate how ease of use is increased by the new SalvaStop 100, shown for the first time at Ligna. The SalvaStop 100 is the latest generation of Salvamac’s numerically controlled length stop/positioning system. Its contribution to reduced labour costs, reduced waste and human error are significant, as the system electronically manages the stopping and positioning of the boards or profiles to be

cut with high speed and absolute precision, thanks to a state-of-the-art brushless electronic motor.

Salvamac’s Air Division will also show a new range of equipment, including painting booths (equipped with innovative sandwich panels to provide increased strength and reduced consumption), “do it clean” sanding benches and efficient portable vacuum cleaners.

Also being shown for the first time will be the most recent versions of its new filter, the Compact Super and Grande. Constructed from zinc with easy access through a door to the filtering sleeves, the units are equipped with an automatic cleaning system.

To find out more, visit Hall 27, Stand K09, visit www.salvamac.com, or, if you are reading this edition with the free Furniture Journal App, tap here to send an email from your smartphone or tablet.

RAY FORCE SYSTEM

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54 furniture journal | MAY 2019

PREVIEW

May RayForce be with you Edgebanding curved components and switching between EVA, PUR and laser quality just became a whole lot easier with Biesse’s RayForce.

MAY 2019 | furniture journal 55

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aser technology might well be the stuff of Star Wars, but Han Solo probably gave Luke Skywalker far better advice when they were preparing to leave Yavin 4 with that now famous phrase, “May RayForce be with you”. According to Paul Willsher, Biesse UK’s Brand Sales Manager for CNC and Drilling, RayForce is cheaper to operate than a laser, less than half the price to buy, offers fast interchangeability, and consumes far less energy – all points that Biesse Rover Edge operator, Han Solo, clearly knew.

So, what is RayForce and why should you make a special trip to the Biesse stand at Ligna to see its official launch on a Biesse Rover Edge?

RayForce is a brand new, easily removed unit for the new generation Biesse Rover Edge A, B and C machines that enables users to benefit from laser quality edgebanding around curves using comparatively inexpensive infra-red technology with coextruded laser edgebanding materials.

Already capable of applying edgebanding

with either EVA, PUR granules or 2kg PUR slugs, the versatile Biesse Edge range now benefits from a fourth option – RayForce – and it’s very probably going to be a big hit with manufacturers who already have the AirForce zero glueline system on a linear edgebander and want to continue the same quality around a product that has a curved as well as straight edges.

“RayForce is a cleaner way of being able to use your machine with PUR and EVA that can run alongside the AirForce,” Paul told Furniture Journal. “Obviously, there’s no glue pot involved on the machine, so it makes for a lot cleaner environment to work in. It heats up quickly, so there’s no waiting time for the glue pot to reach temperature. That makes it a more productive way of working. It can run up to 10m/minute on curved components without quality loss and the bond is very strong. It is quite difficult to get the edgeband off after five minutes without ripping the chipboard out of the board.

“One of the key advantages is fast change over. To change from EVA to RayForce it’s a simple matter of removing one unit and fitting another. Changing from PUR is just as quick.

You clean the PUR in the normal way but once it’s been cleaned, take the unit off and replace it with the RayForce unit for perfect, water resistant joints and a fused, zero bondline joint between the surface and the edge of the board.”

Easily fitted to the latest Generation Rover A, B or C Edge, Rayforce will apply edging tapes 1 – 3mm in thickness to panels 10mm up to a maximum thickness of 50mm.

There are some limitations on the Internal radius, admits Paul, “Between two perpendicular sides, the minimum internal radius the glue rollers can get into is 40mm.”

Externally, with two perpendicular sides, it’s a 10mm radius. Speed wise, it’s limited from 2-10 m/minute but, when applying tape to straight edged components, it will increase up to 15m/minute. At these speeds, you’re assured of the best quality joints with the board.

56 furniture journal | MAY 2019

“Whichever Rover Edge machine you have, you will have bSolid software and a bEdge module that will be specified to use the RayForce. All the operator needs to do is say he wants to use RayForce with a particular edge and it will automatically use the parameters in the software to run the panel.

It’s all set up for the operator when the machine is commissioned. The bEdge can be specified to work with the aggregates you’re using, the cutters you’re using – everything. As soon as the RayForce is slotted in, the machine sees it, the software knows it’s on board and it’s brought into use automatically.”

Paul sees the real advantage will be with manufacturers who already have Airforce on a linear edgebander. “It would be a simple matter to put straight edges through the linear edgebander, then place the panel on the

Rover to do the curved edge with exactly the same fused, water-resistant, zero glueline finish. It’s an operation office desking manufacturers, shopfitters and kitchen manufacturers perform all the time. It can be used on open or closed geometries for perfect butt joints, and that’s something a lot of customers are after, too.”

Sadly, RayForce can’t be retro-fitted to older model Rover edge machines, but it can be retro-fitted to the new generation models.

Even if you don’t need it now, if you’re thinking about purchasing a Rover Edge, it’s well worth asking for it to be prepared for RayForce.

Two more machines will also be shown prominently on Biesse’s substantial Ligna stand: the star-studded Akron 1100 edgebander – an ideal machine for the smaller workshop where space is at a premium but a top notch edge

really counts – and the highly productive Selco WN6 ROS panel saw with integrated robot.

The Akron 1100 is the most compact edgebander in the Biesse range. Designed for small-scale producers who need to modernise their technology or carpenters wanting to automatise their production, this entry-level solution stands out both for quality and value for money. Within its price range, the Akron 1100 is packed with technology like the Rotax motors made by HSD, suction for panel cleaning, a removable glue unit vat for optimum finishing, a rigid structure and linear guides with ball blocks to ensure precision.

The ergonomics of the Akron 1100 emphasise user-friendliness: all the manual adjustments are intuitive, using simple numerical indicators. The standard control is a 7” touchscreen and there’s a highly intuitive

MAY 2019 | furniture journal 57

Space image courtesy of NASA

Paul Willsher

interface that uses just a few large keys but plenty of images. It also provides feedback in the form of valuable information, reports and statistics relating to the daily work carried out, highlighting the productivity level and any errors or settings. Well worth a look when you are on the Biesse stand!

No Ligna would be complete without the introduction of time-saving, productivityboosting solutions for the burgeoning Industry 4.0 revolution. Maximum efficiency is moving swiftly in the direction of robot-assisted production and Biesse’s response is to show its expertise with robotised solutions that combine versatility, efficiency and high investment returns for both small and large users. With the Selco WN6 ROS, robotically operated system, Biesse has effectively combined ease of use without operator

intervention, optimised work cycles and maximum efficiency in a sizing solution that will handle delicate materials when required.

Due to be shown at Ligna in hall 11, stand, A16, the Selco WN6 ROS is a technological sizing solution based on a proven Selco beam saw but now with integrated robot for handling panels. It allows the job to be carried out in predefined times and always with the same quality standard. A robotised solution that can increase efficiency and production continuity, facilitating the daily work, the WN6 ROS takes the place of the operator, handling sectioned strips longitudinally, then positioning them for cross sectioning, and finally sorting the finished pieces. The working cycle is executed in automatic mode until the entire machining batch is complete, even without an operator present. Idle times are

drastically reduced, and the risk of damage to the material due to panel handling by the operator is practically zero.

There’s little doubt the whole crew of Star Wars would approve, though to see Biesse’s latest Industry 4.0 technology in operation might be more than a little worrying to R2-D2.

With such robotised efficiency, his days would surely be numbered!

For more information on RayForce, the Akron 1100, the Selco WN6 ROS, or to see Biesse technology in action, call 01327 300366 for a down to Earth chat, or visit Biesse at Ligna, hall 11, stand, A16. Alternatively, if you are reading this article with the free Furniture Journal App, touch the RayForce picture to watch a video of a RayForce-equipped Rover B in operation. Don’t be put off by the Swedish introduction – it’s very informative!

58 furniture journal | MAY 2019

PREVIEW

Zero Gloss Looking to produce an extremely matt surface?

Take a closer look at Giardina’s Excimer technology at Ligna.

A

fter successful testing in the laboratories of major international paint manufacturers, Giardina Group is ready to present the first GST ZeroGloss dryer. Utilising Excimer technology, the GST ZeroGloss dryer creates super matt surfaces that are reported to have exceptionally high chemical and mechanical resistance, afford perfect adhesion of the varnishing product to the support, and offer the maximum ease in cleaning operations on any type of surface.

In recent years, the traditional systems used to create matt surfaces (using silica particles) made the final result particularly sensitive to scratches, abrasion and shock, and came with a level of fragility directly proportional to the amount of matt product present in the paint.

By using Excimer technology, Giardina has solved the long-standing problem. The resulting zero gloss surface gets its high damage resistance from paints with special characteristics and special lamps that act in a nitrogen-rich environment that, together, create a surface structure by reticulation.

The surface offers many advantages: it is an extremely matt surface (from 1.5 to 5 gloss); it has exceptional softness to the touch and increased abrasion resistance - up to five times that obtained with traditional painting systems; it offers a higher chemical resistance and anti-fingerprint properties; and it is resistant to yellowing – all in surfaces that come with a smooth and uniform threedimensional effect.

Giardina’s GST ZeroGloss dryer will undoubtedly appeal to manufacturers of all kinds of furniture, kitchens and floors, but also to manufacturers whose work involves different materials ranging from building components, cement and fibre, to glass, plastics, composites and metal. The finish can be transparent or pigmented and can be applied by roller or curtain coating.

For more information, visit Ligna, Hall 16, Stand A12, or contact Schubert Technical Services on 01226 360900. Readers using the free Furniture Journal App, please touch here for a link to the Giardina website.

NEW

www.giardinagroup.com

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via V. Necchi, 63 I-22060 Figino Serenza (CO) phone +39 031 7830801 info@giardinagroup.com www.giardinagroup.com

Schubert Technical Services Ltd and Schucon Ltd. S35 9ZX Sheffield, South Yorkshire phone +44 (0) 1226 360900 sales@schuberts.co.uk www.schuberts.co.uk

60 furniture journal | MAY 2019

PREVIEW

Flying the

MAY 2019 | furniture journal 61

Sunny Dayal’s office in the Holz-Her colours.

Holz -Her flag I

Sunny Dayal is so pleased with Holz-Her’s automatic warehouse solution and the service he gets from Holz-Her that he’s taken the company colours as his own.

can’t recall a single company I’ve visited over the last 26 years as Editor of Furniture Journal where the machinery sales consultant gets a hug instead of a handshake on arrival. Neither have I ever visited a company where the colours in its reception area, its factory offices and even its Managing Director’s office have quite intentionally been changed to mirror the corporate colours of its main machinery supplier. But at Hounslow-based Sunny BK, there’s no mistaking the sea of white, orange and black. This is Holz-Her territory and the Holz-Her stamp is everywhere.

It was a cold call from Holz-Her’s National Sales Manager, Paul Nightingale, that lay behind the redecoration. Paul’s proposal – a fully integrated Storemaster

5110 automated warehouse system with beam saw for carcase work and CNC for door manufacturing, along with a Sprint 1329 edgebander and Evolution vertical drilling machine – achieved much more than the efficient, automated manufacturing system Sunny Dayal had been hoping for. It revolutionised his business, adding profitability and reducing costs on a scale he could never have anticipated.

“We make made-to-measure bedrooms and kitchens for retail, but we also sell to a few bluechip companies on contract,” Sunny told Furniture Journal. “We concentrate on retail and have our own retailers. Mainly we work in London, Birmingham or Luton, sometimes in Manchester. We do all the fitting and we have 16 teams of fitters with

62 furniture journal | MAY 2019

two or three people in each team. Altogether we have around 60 people.”

Before Sunny invested in the Holz-Her automated warehouse system, he had premises of around 65,000 square feet some distance away and a 20,000 square foot warehouse just for storage of boards, plus the 35,000 square foot factory and offices from which Sunny BK now operates. “We had one lorry just to move boards for cutting,” he recalls. “It was constantly running between the warehouses. And we had forklifts running everywhere, finding and delivering panels to the machines, then returning to collect more.

We keep 300 different colours and patterns in stock and every day we use more than 100 boards and many different colours.”

Since commissioning of the Holz-Her system, Sunny confirms he has reduced his storage needs to the area of the Storemaster warehouse, just shy of 3,800 square feet within the 35,000 square foot factory, but that still enables him to keep a stock of seven to eight lorry loads and all the different board types he needs. The price of a huge warehouse space in London has gone from his costs, and, he says, “We are manufacturing

more now than we were before – around 25% more production – and profit has increased.” It’s also given him the opportunity to revolutionise his business model by cutting less profitable trade work and concentrating on manufacturing for retail.

At the heart of the system Holz-Her supplied is a Storemaster 5110 with a warehouse of 32.5m by 9.7m that provides stack heights of two metres. Panels range from a maximum size of 3.2m x 2.1m down to 1.5m x 0.6m. The low level design of the manipulator saves space and the grippers adjust automatically to the size of each panel. Sensors ensure automatic position control and adjustment of the panel position while the manipulator itself rotates when charging the saw, allowing the saw operation to be optimised. With positioning accuracy of plus or minus 20mm, panel damage is avoided, even when moving 4mm thick panels. “The storage system comprises one manipulator traversing x, y and z axes,” explains Paul. “The stack spaces are as little as 70mm apart. Essentially, it’s simplified his operation and got rid of the endless forklifts with deliveries of packs to the store, so the

saw and CNC get the individual panels they need without delay.”

The Storemaster feeds a Zentrex 6220 Dynamic beam saw that nestles neatly within the safety-fenced warehouse area. “The saw is 6.5m at the back and it has a dynamic table on it,” explains Paul. “The advantage is that while the pusher arm is in cut and the machine is cutting, the manipulator can be stacking panels behind. If you compare that with a typical front-loading beam saw, traditionally 65-70% of the time is spent moving panels. With this system, we’ve crunched that down so the only time you stop for the panel to be moved is when the pusher is going backwards and collecting the next step. That makes the machine about three times more productive. Aside from that it’s a fairly standard specification with 130mm saw blade projection, feed rates of up to 130m/min, a servo-controlled angular pressure unit for positioning of pieces down to 35mm in length and a 21.5” flat screen with graphical 3d user interface.”

Although Paul took Sunny to see a software system that would enable him to design from the office, extrapolate the

MAY 2019 | furniture journal 63

programs, and post them to a server so the storage system could read them, Sunny’s operators tend to prefer the Holz-Her software. “Data input to the optimiser is done from the office through OptiPro,” says Paul. “That creates the cutting plan and they optimise the sheet and post it to the storage system so it can deliver the right panel to the beam saw.”

While the Zentrex takes care of all Sunny BK’s carcase cutting, at the opposite end of the warehouse is a Holz-Her nesting cell that cuts out and machines the doors. Panels are loaded onto the bed directly by the Storemaster from behind the safety fence, saving space, and it’s equipped with a conveyor and pusher arm that pushes material off and delivers it to the operator.

Separate from the automatic warehouse, Holz-Her also provided Sunny BK with an Evolution 7402 vertical drilling centre that takes care of additional door and carcase drillings and will handle panel thicknesses from 8mm to 70mm, and new edgebander – a Holz-Her Sprint 1329. “It’s the best-selling machine in our range, worldwide,” says Paul.

“We sell more Sprints than any other model –

wall saw, beam saw, anything. Sunny’s machine is equipped for EVA or PUR. The GluJet 301 unit can take granulate or cartridges, and it will give you a near zero glue line. Most customers choose it because it gives a finish almost like a laser. The machine is equipped with servos throughout so it’s fully programmable and it has a full complement of units: fine trim, two motor corner rounding, profile scraping, surface scraping, buffing. It also has the three sprayers on it – parting agent, anti adhesive and cleaning as well. The corner rounding can handle 18m/min. The max feed rate is 18m/min and it will do solid wood lipping up to 8mm and coiled materials from 0.4mm up to 3mm. The machine it replaced was three times the size.”

Sunny is absolutely delighted with Holz-Her. The Holz-Her machines have jointly saved him 65,000 square feet of expensive storage space in West London, streamlined his manufacturing operation, condensed his warehouse needs to under 3,800 square feet and saved his staff many hours of time shuttling boards between sites on lorries and forklifts – and, if that wasn’t enough, he’s added 25% to his production

and is poised for a new phase of expansion.

It’s not difficult to see why he’s taken the Holz-Her colours as his own. But for Sunny, it’s the help, the guidance and the on-going support he’s received from Paul and the team at Holz-Her through Weinig UK he can’t praise highly enough: “The service from everyone at Holz-Her is really great; they are a really, really good company to work with. I have mobile numbers for all the engineers and managers. It’s very easy to talk to them. If I have a problem, it’s always dealt with fast.

The engineers are very knowledgeable and can usually tell us what to do over the phone. If we need them to visit, mostly it’s same day or next day.” And that’s the reason Holz-Her’s Sales Manager, Paul, is welcomed like a brother, not just the guy who sells Sunny his machines.

For more information on the full range of Holz-Her solutions for panel processing, call 01235 557600. If you are reading this article with the Furniture Journal App, email Paul Nightingale by touching here. You can also watch a video of the Storemaster 5110 by touching the main picture, marked with a link sign.

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MAY 2019 | furniture journal 65

PREVIEW

Henkel’s New Hotmelt H

enkel will be presenting its brand new Technomelt PW 863 hotmelt adhesive at Ligna. Jörg Kienle, Project Manager Technical Customer Service (TCS) at Henkel, explains: “Thanks to our technologies, we are able to eliminate the all-too-common problems of conventional laminating processes – for instance, formaldehyde emissions when using urea resins or compromising quality when using water-soluble PVAc dispersions. Instead, we rely on thermoplastic, solvent and water-free hotmelts that are reactivated by heat. With reacTec, therefore, we can offer our qualityconscious customers a convincing solution that is effective, inexpensive and highly efficient when it comes to saving resources and energy.”

With a polymer architecture specially developed by Henkel, this adhesive stands out from other EVA-based polyolefin adhesives and hotmelts. Jörg sums up the most important product and process advantages of Technomelt PW 863: “High thermal stability up to 110°C, a hard

adhesive film, low application weight and excellent melting properties. These properties and the possibility of application both on standard machines and at line speeds of over 55m/min truly make Technomelt PW 863 a shooting star.”

In time for Ligna, Henkel has further upgraded its tried-and-tested Technomelt PW 866, an all-rounder specially designed for profile wrapping with decorative paper, veneer or CPL. It now has improved thermal stability. Alongside hotmelts, the company will also showcase its extensive PUR portfolio and, this year, its aim is to highlight Micro-Emission (ME) products and nonhazardous (also known as label-free) adhesives.

There will be a focus on Industry 4.0, as well as a major step toward digitalisation with the new Henkel Adhesives eShop, and the Henkel Connect smart service project, which will be introduced at the show.

For more information visit the Henkel UK website at www.henkel.co.uk or visit Hall 17, Stand C21 at Ligna.

Henkel will premier Technomelt PW 863 at Ligna alongside an expanded range of PUR adhesives.

66 furniture journal | MAY 2019

PREVIEW

Lifting at Ligna Electric power will feature strongly in the Combilift lineup at Ligna 2019.

C

ombilift is promising to have plenty to show at Ligna on its extensive stand at the heart of the outdoor area, as well as on a stand in Hall 13.

The company’s product range, which encompasses small pedestrian stackers, multi-directional forklifts through to large straddle carriers, will be well represented at this year’s event with around 18 models on show. All have been designed for the safe, space saving and productive handling of the various loads that the timber and panel sectors needs to lift, transport and store.

Combilift continues to add to its range of electric models and at Ligna around half of the exhibits will be electric powered.

Included in the display will be a Combi-ST stand on truck, the Combi-WR4 multidirectional pedestrian stacker, a Combi-CBE counterbalance design four-way truck and the Aisle-Master VNA articulated forklift.

Combilift’s trucks are renowned for their versatility and incorporate rubber tyres so even electric range provides good traction on a variety of surfaces, enabling easy transition from inside to outside operation.

C-Series models on display will include the C5000XL, a robust diesel-powered truck with high ground clearance, large operator cab and a host of features which cope easily with harsh operating environments and tough ground surfaces.

Combilift aims to entertain as well as inform at Ligna, so the usual line up of dancing forklifts and Guinness will be available for visitors to enjoy. Visit the outdoor area, M61, and Hall 13, stand G25, or visit www.combilift.com for more information. App readers need only touch the web address, above, on their smartphone or tablet for an instant link. Touch the main image to see the Combilift dance.

VISIT US | 27th - 31st MAY

SAFETY | STORAGE | EFFICIENCY Whether you handle long products, pallets, or awkward oversized loads, Combilift has a safe, space saving and cost effective solution.

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