Supplier July-Aug 2015

JULY/AUG 2015

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Contents

JULY/AUGUST 2015 vol. 31 no.4

☞News

Vicky Cammiade Publisher

03 3D Kitchen expanding its horizons 06 Integrated Joinery Solutions wins sales award 08 International scenario for woodworking technology

☞Design & Trends

Jennifer Curtis Group Managing Editor

14 New trends at interzum 24 Renovation reality

☞Manufacturing 34 Wood Skin and Biesse: shaping the world around you 38 SCM: streaming innovation

Ashley Cooper Group National Sales & Marketing Manager

41 The rise and rise of Felder

☞Features 10 CMDA – Australian cabinetry excels 12 Profile – Setting a standard in excellence 26 Business – EOFY or BOFY?

Phil Ashley Technology Editor

28 Lighting

The only specialist business publication servicing the Furniture, Kitchen, Shop/ Office Fittings, Cabinetmaking, Joinery and the related timber and panel product industries in Australasia for over 31 years!

www.suppliermagazine.com.au

Member of the International Woodworking and Furniture Supplier Magazine Association

☞Front Cover Multicam Systems

News Hettich supports the Australian Institute of Architects HETTICH Australia continues to support excellence in design and construction through the sponsorship of the 2015 WA Chapter Architecture Awards category for Residential Architecture – Houses (Alterations and Additions).

The program is an opportunity for the general public and other architects to recognise and promote architects and architecture in Australia and internationally.

“The Australian Institute of Architects is the peak body for the architectural profession in Australia, representing 12,000 members. The Residential Architecture category sponsorship aligns with Hettich’s continued partnership with the institute to ensure we support in working towards innovation, learning and passing on knowledge to the emerging future and professionals of this industry,” National Marketing Manager Corene Roberts.

Clutha Adams

Blaze Petrevski

3D Kitchen expanding its horizons With over 120 entries, this year’s awards showcase a broad range of projects across the state including entries within remote areas.

The Architecture Awards Presentation evening showcased the best in architecture and announced the winner of each award category. ●

Non-conforming products – Senate inquiry announced THE Senate resolved on 23 June that there will be an inquiry into non-conforming building products conducted by the Senate Economics Reference Committee.

CMDA will be making a submissions to the inquiry in conjunction FCJA – any business that has specific examples of cabinetry components being non-compliant is requested to contact the CMDA. CMDA in conjunction with the Furniture Cabinet Joinery Alliance (FCJA) and other peak industry bodies has been advocating for an inquiry into the issue of non-conforming products consistently over recent years and has actively participated in a number of industry projects including one conducted by the Australian Industry Group (AiG), which included a survey wherein nine out of 10 businesses surveyed complained of noncompliant product in their industry.

A major concern for the association is the lack of inspection when goods are imported and the significant responsibility placed on building certifiers to ensure 4 | SupplierJuly/Aug 2015

compliance. Unfortunately the trend is often for the building industry to focus on minimising the cost of construction, which can result in the use of lower cost nonconforming product.

CMDA initiated the review of AS 4386 by the Standards Australia technical committee BD 89. The certification of compliant products involves reference to the National Construction Code, Australian and International Standards and certification by building certifiers.

In the case of cabinetry the Australian Standard (AS 4386.1 & 2) is not mandatory unless called up in specifications or at the time of order.

This Senate resolution follows the recent consumer awareness campaign by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) regarding the recall of faulty electrical cable and many examples of noncompliant product including falsified test reports being identified within the construction industry.●

TWO new staff members have joined the 3D Kitchen team.

The newest member of the Australian sales and support team is Clutha Adams. Clutha is resident in Melbourne and will be servicing the state of Victoria.

Clutha has high level computing and networking skills as well as advanced knowledge of the CNC nesting operation and function that 3D Kitchen provides.

The second new team member, Blaze Petrevski is based in Macedonia and is also servicing several surrounding countries including Macedonia, Bulgaria, Serbia, Albania, Greece, Crete, Turkey and Cyprus.

Blaze has been living in Australia for the past 18 years but has now decided to move back to his homeland and represent the 3D Kitchen range of software products in the wider EuroAsia region.

Blaze has considerable experience in the joinery and cabinet making software area having worked in the industry since1997, covering all aspects from design to manufacturing and project management.

In recent years in Australia he has been involved with software promotion and support and so is perfectly skilled to fill his new role with 3D Kitchen.● www.suppliermagazine.com.au

Supernatural Designs kitchen renovation competition TO celebrate the long awaited launch of Caesarstone’s new marble inspired design – Statuario Nuvo, Caesarstone has launched the Supernatural Designs kitchen renovation competition.

The competition rewards customers that choose any of the Supernatural Designs as a benchtop surface in their kitchen renovation with a chance to win a share of $35,000 in cash prizes!

To enter, all that renovators have to do is select any Caesarstone Supernatural Design and complete the online entry form, including a before and after photo of their kitchen renovation and a short blurb on why they chose a Supernatural Design.

The competition is open for all kitchen renovations completed from 1 July to 30 October, 2015.●

VACUUM LIFTING SOLUTIONS Our vacuum lifters can lift and move a huge range of products from 10kg to 2,000kg.

Two majors sign up for Xylexpo TWO major companies have announced their participation in Xylexpo 2016.

Biesse Group has once again confirmed its participation as an exhibitor at Xylexpo 2016, the biannual international exhibition dedicated to technologies and supplies for the furnishings and woodworking industries.

“Our decision to participate at Xylexpo once again this year was certainly based on our past attendance record at this event, which, despite the complexity of the current times, shows our desire to go ‘above and beyond’,” explained Giancarlo Selci, founder and CEO of Biesse.

Cefla Finishing Group has also announced it will be back in 2016.

“Our country has always boasted exceptional innovation skills in all processes related to furniture and interior decorations, from design to manufacturing, representing a source of inspiration for the international markets,” said Alberto Maestri, Managing Director of Cefla Finishing Group. “It is not mere chance that Italy is the country of origin of some of the leading industrial organisations in woodworking and finishing technology; as a result, Xylexpo is an event that offers huge potential, recording constant development and growth with an increasingly global scope."

“For us, the 2016 edition will be one of transition”, says Lorenzo Primultini, president of the exhibition and Acimall.

“We are well aware that the time has come to change, and to offer the Italian and international exhibitors new opportunities. While it is true that exhibitions (and not only those in our industry) are traversing a period of ‘excessive tranquillity’, it is likewise true that there is an abundance of ideas and skills for building new pathways, perhaps even in terms of the daily contribution offered by the latest woodworking technologies.”

“Xylexpo is scheduled for 24 to 28 May, 2016, at FieraMilano-Rho, Italy. ●

www.suppliermagazine.com.au

A SCHMALZ TUBE LIFTER CAN MAKE LOADING OF YOUR CNC AN EASY JOB FOR A SINGLE OPERATOR

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SupplierJuly/Aug 2015 | 5

News American hardwood exports to Australia continue to boom FIGURES released by the United States Department of Agriculture for the first quarter of 2015 show a 57% increase YOY in the volume of hardwood lumber exported to Australia and 43% in value.

The growth experienced in 2014, a record year for exports to Australia, shows little sign of abating.

American white oak once again is driving the increase accounting for 2,912 cubic metres in the three month period, an increase of 68%

compared with the same period in 2014. American hard maple, whilst exported in smaller quantities, also exhibited an uplift of over 40% in volume.

Whilst building construction in both residential and nonresidential sectors in Australia fell at the end of 2014 it scraped back into expansion in the first quarter of 2015 and sources suggest this was driven by the home building sector. And when it comes to American white oak, it continues to be the timber of

choice for some of Australia’s largest construction projects.

Steve Napier of Melbourne’s Woodform Architectural commented:”We have noticed a definite increase in demand for American white oak. We believe this is due to three factors – the rise in engineered flooring sales, flexibility in use and also higher desirability and interest driven by social media.

“We’ve also noticed the rise in other species such as maple as specifiers are

drawn to its warmer tones”.

Roderick Wiles of the American Hardwood Export Council said: “It’s encouraging to see American hardwoods continuing to be used so extensively in Australia.

I think the fact that American hardwoods have very strong and proven environmental credentials makes them an easier choice for architects and designers than some other material options and this is certainly contributing to that growth.” ●

Australian softwood timber industry-wide environmental product declaration THE Australian timber industry has registered the first industry-wide Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) as part of the new Australasian EPD program.

The Australian timber industry has supported development of the EPD through Forest and Wood Products Australia (FWPA). The EPD was produced by the Timber Development Association and sustainability expert thinkstep. The EPD will be available for building and design professionals via the WoodSolutions website. It is already available on the Australasian EPD program website.The EPD confirms sawn Australian softwood as a "better than carbon neutral" building material considering cradle-togate and a typical landfill scenario.

“This project demonstrates the ongoing commitment 6 | SupplierJuly/Aug 2015

of the Australian timber industry to sustainability”, commented Chris Lafferty, Acting CEO of FWPA, “and I am pleased to see benefits flow to our members and levy payers from these credible environmental profiles."

The EPDs will also benefit timber product buyers as it will be easier to get credits for using Australian softwood timber in building and fitout projects seeking a rating under the Green Star building rating scheme.

This EPD is the first of five industry-wide EPDs for Australian wood products authored by the Timber Development Association and thinkstep and independently verified by Catalyst. EPDs for Australian hardwood, particleboard, medium density fibreboard and plywood have also been finalised and will be registered in the coming weeks. ●

Integrated Joinery Solutions wins sales award IN June, Peter Duff, General Manager of Integrated Joinery Solutions, attended the 2015 TopSolid Seminar in Arles, South of France, to join in the 30th anniversary celebrations.

Celebrating with Peter were representatives from the 75 reseller companies from all around the world and some of the 250+ TopSolid staff from France.

Celebrations took place over four days. At the formal dinner Integrated Joinery Solutions was presented with the award for Best Sales Improvement 2014.

This represents a huge achievement for Integrated Joinery Solutions, which brought TopSolid’Wood to the Australian & New Zealand markets in October 2013.

With over 100 licenses now in use throughout the region, TopSolid’Wood is quickly gaining a solid reputation for results in the commercial joinery sector.●

www.suppliermagazine.com.au

News International scenario for woodworking technology THE Studies Office of Acimall, the Italian woodworking machinery and tools manufacturers' association, posed the question: what is happening in the wood and wood-based materials processing industry worldwide? Who are the major competitors and what’s their export trend?

Acimall analysts have processed the latest available figures, as usual, drawing a detailed map of major “global flows” in the January-December 2014 timeframe.

The first evidence is that last year, five top competitors − Germany, Italy, China, Taiwan and Austria in decreasing order − recorded a positive trend. Only the United States closed 2014 with a negative result, minus 0.7%, which however, should be considered a sign of substantial stability and stronger attention to the domestic market, that was the liveliest on a global scale in the last two years.

than in the first one. In the January to June period, export amounted to 376 million euro, 13.6% more than in the first six months of 2013.

When Acimall presented its six-month report, it pointed out that the growth rate of Chinese export was virtually twice as big as Italy’s, and now the proportion has changed further to 4:1 (plus 22% for China, plus 2.3% for Italy). In absolute value, the gap has shrunk to just 200 million euro approximately (1,169 versus 964 million).

However, made in Italy can be satisfied with an export growth rate in 2014 that was double than its German competitors.

Taiwan, at number four in the ranking with 517 million euro, recorded a satisfactory 13.5% growth compared to 2013 export while place number five went to Austria, close to 400 million (plus 11.9% from the previous year).

The last position in the ranking was taken by the United States, with an export value of 281.7 million Euro, as the only competitor that lost shares from 2013.

More generally, it can be stated that the health conditions of wood and wood-based materials processing are not arousing worries on a global level, with widespread export expansion that − despite all caution − suggests a constant growth of global demand.

IMPORT

The first place in the ranking of global exporters is still held by Germany, which closed the year with much better results than could be expected after the first six months of the year. After plus 0.44% in the January-June period, a much stronger 2.3% increase over 2013 was achieved in the second half, with an export value close to 1.8 billion Euro.

Italy remains the runner-up, proving its capacity not only to face all the global markets, but also to offer high-level technology in all application domains. Made in Italy export amounted to 1,169.8 million euro, which means a final result of plus 5.3% compared to 2013. Unfortunately, the annual growth rate was not in line with the more positive 7% result achieved in the first half of 2014, which means that Italian export in the second half was less lively.

The third place by value was taken by China, with 964 million euro export and 22% growth over 2013. These are actually estimates, as economic data from this country are not always consistent and comparable. Notice that things went better for Chinese technology in the second half

8 | SupplierJuly/Aug 2015

On the opposite face of the coin: who are the biggest users, the best customers for wood technology suppliers?

Every six months, the Acimall Studies Office publishes a list of the top 50 destination countries, based on Uno statistics (www.intracen.org).

A quick glimpse immediately reveals that the United States is the world’s biggest market: in 2014 they purchased woodworking technology from abroad for a total value just below one billion Euro (987.6 million), up by 18.1% from 2013.

The runner-up has not changed either: despite the wellknown economic and political troubles, Russia closed 2014 at plus 4.5%, with import worth 554.3 million Euro.

Germany remains the third biggest consumer country (401.3 million, plus 5.8%), followed by China (331.6 million Euro), with imports down by 6.2% from 2013.

A slight decrease (minus 0.14%) was also recorded for Canada, which bought foreign technology for 249.7 million Euro. France is growing (247 million, plus 9.1%) and Belarus even more, scoring an amazing 143.2% growth with a total value slightly below 221 million Euro.

In decreasing order of value, the ranking continues with the United Kingdom, Poland, Austria, Malaysia, Turkey, Switzerland and − at number fourteen − Italy, with 126.3 million Euro import, i.e. 13.2% less than in 2013. The vast majority comes from Germany and China, with the former addressing the medium-high end of the Italian market, and the latter focused on facilities, equipment with low-tech content. ●

www.suppliermagazine.com.au

furniPRO Asia now part of ASEAN circuit THE regional trade exhibition for the woodworking, furniture and panel production industries will be held from 10-12 March, 2016 at the Singapore Expo Convention and Exhibition Centre, Singapore.

This is the very first time the event is brought forward to the early quarter of the year, to be held in conjunction with the International Furniture Fair Singapore (IFFS) and to be a part of the prestigious ASEAN furniture exhibition circuit supported by the ASEAN Furniture Industries Council (AFIC).

“We’re delighted that furniPRO Asia will co-locate with IFFS next year, to strengthen our collective offering to the furniture fraternity – right from materials, to equipment, services, and finished products – all in one convenient location. This move will certainly give our exhibitors much more to look forward to,” said Ernie Koh, Chairman of IFFS Pte Ltd and President of the Singapore Furniture Industries Council.●

Inaugural FWPA chairman announces retirement RON Adams, chairman of Forest and Wood Products Australia Limited (FWPA) will be stepping down from the Board following the company’s AGM in November, 2015.

Ron has been chairman of FWPA since its formation in September 2007 and was previously a director, and then chairman, of the predecessor organisation (FWPRDC). As chairman and an active industry participant, Ron has played a key role in the transition of the organisation from a statutory authority of the Australian Government with a singular focus on R&D investment to a broader industry-owned services company.

Ric Sinclair, FWPA’s managing director, www.suppliermagazine.com.au

said: “Ron has had a seminal influence on the establishment of the company and its ongoing evolution. He has a tireless focus on aligning the company to stakeholder interests and ensuring best practice corporate governance. There is no doubt that he has left an indelible mark on the company.”

Ron Adams is currently managing director of Wespine Industries Pty Ltd, a major softwood sawmilling business and is immediate past president of the Forest Industries Federation of WA, director the Australian Forest Products Association, a member of the Forest Industries Advisory Committee, and a Trustee of J.W. Gottstein Memorial Trust.●

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SupplierJuly/Aug 2015 | 9

CDMA

Australian cabinet industry excels Cabinet designers and manufacturers joined together recently at the Cabinet Makers and Designers Association Annual Dinner and Awards presentation where a record number of entries from both new and old participants came from four states.

Right: Individual Design and Construction won Australian Cabinet Maker of the Year, Best Built-in Furniture and the People's Choice award.

Below: Designer of the Year winner – Art of Kitchens.

10 | SupplierJuly/Aug 2015

The MC for the evening was Shaynna Blaze, interior designer, judge and writer, who provided the audience with her impression of the award entries and observations on the industry and its opportunities for the future.

Mark Nickson, president of the Cabinet Makers and Designers Association, also made reference to the last three years being extremely difficult and testing for the industry. He commented that year-to-date reports from the industry show a renewed enthusiasm with talks of full order books – in some cases for the rest of the year.

Mark also emphasised the importance that CMDA places on the relationship with the Furniture Cabinet and Joinery Alliance and the opportunities to develop collaborative projects with members and suppliers to assist the industry in meeting volume demand currently being supplied from overseas.

Mark made mention of the contribution and support provided by a number of industry

businesses that had sponsored and supported this year’s event. Particular reference was made to the gold sponsors Hafele Australia and Blum Australia, Silver sponsors Leda Machinery, Lincoln Sentry and Newgrove Benchtops and pre-dinner drinks sponsor Planit.

The winners of the principal awards for 2015 were: • President’s Award: Art of Kitchens Pty Ltd • People’s Choice Award: Individual Design and Construction • Australian Cabinet Maker of the Year: Individual Design and Construction • Australian Designer of the Year: Art of Kitchens Pty Ltd Further awards were made in a diverse range of categories.

It was most encouraging to the independent judging panel that the People’s choice award was awarded to Individual Design and Construction for the same project that they had selected for the Australian Cabinet Maker of the Year. www.suppliermagazine.com.au

Shaynna Blaze MC for the evening Shaynna Blaze provided some background on her career including commencing work as the only woman on a building site of over 200 men. Shaynna commented on the outstanding quality of the awards highlighting the importance of the integration of shapes and layout including the breaking of the mould in cabinetry and design and the significant innovation and merging of ideas.

The relationship between the designer and cabinetmaker was highlighted as being critical in particular with regard to changing trends and the opportunity to integrate new materials and hardware.

As a judge having reviewed all of the entries she commented that it was the

www.suppliermagazine.com.au

least boring range of entries she had ever seen and that the variety was exceptional.

Shaynna emphasised that she believed that there were significant opportunities for Australian businesses to work collaboratively to supply projects which are currently being serviced by overseas manufacturers. To achieve this it would be important for the traditional barriers between businesses to be broken down and for people to use their particular skills to the best advantage.

Her concluding remarks to her presentation were change – innovate – make magic happen.

The 2016 CMDA annual dinner and awards presentation will take place in conjunction with AWISA in Melbourne on Friday, 8 July 2016. ●

2015 AWARD WINNERS AWARD

WINNER

Best Kitchen under $20,000

Kitchen Design Victoria Pty Ltd

Best Kitchen $20,000 to $35,000

Kleverkamp Bros Cabinet Makers

Best Kitchen $35,000 to $60,000

Hargreaves Joinery

Best Kitchen over $60,000

Art of Kitchens Pty Ltd

Best Contemporary Kitchen

Hargreaves Joinery

Best Traditional Kitchen

de Wacht Cabinets & Design Pty Ltd

Best Bathroom/Laundry

de Wacht Cabinets & Design Pty Ltd

Best Built in Furniture

Individual Design and Construction

Best Commercial Project

GMD Architectural Joinery (special commendation: H K Joinery Design)

Best Free Standing Furniture

GMD Architectural Joinery

Best Outdoor/Alfresco Project

GMD Architectural Joinery

Best Showroom

Bourke’s Kitchens

Best New Member Entry

Art of Kitchens Pty Ltd

President’s Award

Art of Kitchens Pty Ltd

People’s Choice Award

Individual Design and Construction

Australian Cabinet Maker of the Year

Individual Design and Construction

Australian Designer of the Year

Art of Kitchens Pty Ltd

SupplierJuly/Aug 2015 | 11

Profile

Setting a standard in excellence Alvaro and Maria Del Gallo are very proud when they look at the small business they launched back in 1985 to see how it has grown 30 years later: a custom designed showroom known as Breakwater Kitchens is a clear stand out for creating excellence in kitchen and bathroom designs.

These quality kitchen displays in Geelong, Victoria, typify the quality, care and excellence produced from Geelong’s locally owned kitchen maker.

From his first year as an apprentice, Alvaro Del Gallo knew that he wanted to be self employed. As a mature 18 year old he set high standards for himself and achieved Apprentice of the Year each year during his apprenticeship as well as a number of individual course awards.

In1985, at the age of 25, he started Breakwater Kitchens in partnership with a colleague. Initially the business operated from a

leased premises; however, after two years Al had plans for his own factory. The business had grown as a result of quality workmanship and the high aspirations of Al and the partners agreed it was time to purchase land and build their own factory and showroom.

Al’s business partner decided to sell his share of the business in 2001 and, today, Al and Maria continue to grow the customer base with Al as the driving force.

Over time the operation outgrew their second location and Al decided that, in order to increase the potential growth of the business, he needed a larger showroom and factory. The current showroom was opened in 2009 and was named the CMA Runner Up for Best New Showroom.

The business remains a family business and Al and Maria are supported by a team of 13 employees all working hard to provide

excellent customer service and high quality cabinetry and renovation projects.

Letting go Al was asked to present on the topic of “Letting Go” at a Geelong Small Business Festival session in August 2014. The topic was one that many business struggle with – letting others within their business manage much of the day-to-day running, so the owners can free up their time to develop the business or spend time on other things.

Al detailed how, as the business grew, he had found himself unreasonably stretched trying to “do it all himself”.

He came to the realisation that he was potentially stopping his business from growing and increasing cash flow. He often felt too busy to focus properly on the customer and providing excellent customer service became harder to do.

Al also came to understand that his leadership was

Alvaro and Maria Del Gallo

12 | SupplierJuly/Aug 2015

suffering and that the limitations of the current structure left employees feeling undue pressure without the ability to solve the situation themselves.

Realising all this, he decided to divide the roles and responsibility up and to analyse what he was best at and where he should focus his time. He developed a structure and then looked within his business to existing employees that could take on and grow into these roles.

His current focus is to work on succession planning for employees within the business.

After successfully implementing this Al was able to free up his time to concentrate on business development through advertising/marketing, networking and other activities including annual open days.

The new team is also able to process a far greater volume of business, increasing cash flow into the business.

“One of the unique features of the business model is that from the consulting stage, through to designing, manufacturing and installing you are working with the one team,” explained Breakwater’s Dave Webb.

“We specialise in providing the best customer service at every step of the process – from a preliminary visit to our spacious showroom, through design consultations to 3D drawings, colour selection appointments and progress viewing, finished with full installation by our quality staff.” www.suppliermagazine.com.au

The showroom

More than just kitchens

Celebrating 30 years in business.

www.suppliermagazine.com.au

Breakwater Kitchens does more than the name suggests – in fact, any custom built cabinetry requirements can be undertaken including laundries, bathrooms, studies, wardrobes and entertainment units.

Breakwater specialises in renovations as well as new builds and offers a complete range of finishes and fittings from laminates to the finest quality timber veneers and painted finishes as well as a large range of bench top options and internal fittings from high quality suppliers.

“We have instilled in all of our staff, from the friendly reception to the final fit out, that all customer requirements are fully met – and over achievement is often the case,” Alvaro said.

With this philosophy much of Breakwater Kitchens’ work is by referral or repeat business – further evidence of complete customer satisfaction.

“Additionally, as a full service package, we can project manage works with relevant trades for a seamless transition from old to new,” he added.

“Our customers are constantly amazed at the difference a kitchen renovation can make. Not only can they enjoy their new space on a daily basis, but updating a kitchen can also add thousands of dollars to the value of their home.”

To demonstrate what is possible, Breakwater Kitchens will host a Fresh Ideas Kitchen Showcase in October this year. The showcase will have

the very best new ideas in kitchen design on display, demonstrate smart storage, finishes, colour styling and much more.

“We have been in building and renovating kitchens, bathrooms and laundries for 30 years; however, innovation is part of our core business, which is why we host the biannual Fresh Ideas Showcase.

Innovation is the key to developing contemporary and sophisticated kitchen,” Al said.

The business is a winner of the Australian Achiever Award for Excellence in Customer Service and has built a reputation through their emphasis on listening closely to clients, assessing their requirements and designing and delivering the right product within an agreed budget.

Breakwater Kitchens was also been nominated in three categories in the Geelong Business Excellence Awards in 2012.

After this accolade, Alvaro said: “Recognition from industry peers is great, but what drives us is looking after our customers. I want to thank all our customers over the 30 years. Together with my staff and our customers, we have created some beautiful, practical and unique kitchens that really change lives.

“It’s been also fantastic to see many of our clients from the early years return to us as they move home and engage us to create their new kitchen, bathrooms, laundries and living spaces. We very much look forward to the next 30 years.” ● SupplierJuly/Aug 2015 | 13

Design & Trends

New trends at interzum In May, the international fair for the furniture supply industry interzum revealed what will shape furniture design and interior decoration over the next few years.

Homes will start breathing sensuality with truffled wood, cool cement-look walls that come in a roll, suspended doors, wall veneers infused with the aroma of coffee and faux rust doors.

With shimmer and shine all around, it’s matte that is the new sign of exclusivity. Dark matte is the new black, especially as part of classic black-white contrasts. Using tone-in-tone nuances, structures and ornament, matte black creates beguiling depth for surfaces.

Together with metallic accents – glossy or matte and predominantly copper – and unusual colour combinations of red and pink or the popular coupling of turquoise tones and warm wood, the colour trend of this year's international fair for the furniture supply industry interzum was characterised by matte and authentic-looking surfaces. Many nuances for lighter woods were also on display, from chalked oak to honeycoloured beech for floors and furniture.

Every two years, the world's leading industry trade fair interzum presents all the relevant new developments for interior design and furniture manufacture. Technological and material developments are revealed alongside colour and surface trends.

Innovative technologies and clever materials provide momentum for furniture design.

Sliding doors that can not only be seamlessly integrated into furniture and walls, but can also be made to hover 14 | SupplierJuly/Aug 2015

open and closed with just a light touch (such as InLine S by Hettich); opaque veneers (Radiant by Alpi), cement-look walls or rusty doors that come on a wallpaper roll (stoneslikestones); matte surfaces that don't require cleaning after every touch (Fenix NTM nanotech material by Arpa, Traceless by Resopal, XTreme by Pfleiderer and Pianova Lackmatt by Niemann) and sofas that can be dismantled into easy-to-carry parts, in case you are moving to the top floor (CoFix by Hettich) – these innovative furniture and decor features for interior design are not only of interest to the consumer, but also to interior decorators and furniture designers.

However, what was sen at interzum often won't be available in stores or seen in magazines for one or two years.

The desire for the original has become a general trend. As a sort of levelling of the contradiction that exists in our society between individualism and mass-production, the genuine and unique has been transformed into the essence of personal style and that which is considered valuable.

Originality is the trump card in interior design too, where the question of whether the object is really genuine or only "almost" genuine appears to be less important. In fact, today's modern technologies even make the customisation of mass-produced goods possible.

Everything's authentic Authentic-looking materials for floors and walls, doors and furniture, such as wallpaper, laminates, worktops and

faux leather and printed cork (ATN faux leather collection, for example) not only look deceptively real, and are sometimes even more robust and easier to clean than the materials they are imitating, they can sometimes be customised with (photo) motifs or exclusive colour schemes.

Rarely is the “fake” label playfully employed, whereas the authentic look is consistently upheld and more often than not without any irony. The results are astonishing: whole walls appear genuine Cor-Ten rust red or textile-like denim blue; with some floors, it is hard to tell whether they are made from wood or concrete (Atrium grey

by Pfleiderer) and, with the Reysitop compact panel by Polyrey, even the longest store counter can shine in saturated matte copper tones.

A deceptively real wooden feel can be created using a particularly deep structuring (Meandra by Pfleiderer). 3D and thick-cut veneers (by Danzer in the new, especially strong 2mm version) are not only ideal for automobile interiors, but also for upholstered furniture, such as the Seame chair by infinity by OMP, for the seat of which designer Klaus Nolting used a 3D veneer by Danzer.

Weight also plays a role here – veneered wood fibre panels, which look like solid wood (such as Querkus

by Decospan), or composite boards are lighter and save on raw materials and energy for transport.

At interzum it is plain to see that the furniture industry is making steady advances in the area of sustainability. It is more often the case now that lightweight materials can be manufactured from almost a single material or at least without any harmful additives.

The Fraunhofer Institute for Wood Research (WKI) has even created an easily recyclable wood foam made from 100% wood, which is manufactured completely without any petrochemical additives and has been developed as a replacement for packaging material and as a base for lightweight materials.

Good old plywood also finds exceptionally innovative new uses, as shown by the construction panel Flex by Ply Project, which combines flexibility and a hard surface.● www.suppliermagazine.com.au

Design & Trends

Nover Platinum appliance update Extra features, no extra cost Nover is pleased to announce updates to popular models from the fantastic Platinum appliance range – including additional features – available at no additional cost to customers.

The updates include great new features, such as flame failure protection on the gas cooktop and a larger 70 litre capacity for the electric ovens. The standard and multifunction oven, microwave and dishwasher models have also received a stylish new facelift to modernise them.

The Platinum appliance range includes a selection of ovens, cooktops (gas, ceramic and induction), range hoods, a microwave and a dishwasher. The new look gives a more streamlined look that allows Platinum appliances to be truly at home in any home or project. New, consistent and discreet branding will also impress customers who prefer matching appliances.

Platinum has been part of Nover’s comprehensive offer as an exclusive brand since 2001 and is now a well-established brand of quality appliances. All models in the range are sourced specifically for Nover’s customers to ensure they are stylish and suit modern lifestyles and needs whilst also being effortlessly functional and representing outstanding value for money.

Platinum appliances also come complete with an Australian based manufacturer’s warranty for peace of mind for you and your customers.

The updates made recently will be available in models stocked from late 2015. For more information, or to receive a copy of the new Platinum Appliance Brochure, please speak to your local Nover account manager. ● 16 | SupplierJuly/Aug 2015

www.suppliermagazine.com.au

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For more information about Nover’s unbeatable range, service and Star Partner rewards program or for a copy of our complete catalogue, contact Nover today or visit www.nover.com.au

Design & Trends

Sliding door system for the premium segment InLine XL from Hettich is the premium sliding door system for flush fitted fronts. It provides maximum design flexibility, particularly in the use of handles. As InLine XL lets sliding doors open from the door's outermost edge, it also provides the option of creating handleless fronts.

InLine XL can be used in many different applications: for wood or aluminium-frame doors up to 2,600 mm high, door widths from 750 to 2,000 mm and door thicknesses from 16 to 25 mm. The fitting is designed for doors weighing as much as 60 kg. An added touch of luxury and convenience comes from Silent System that gently and quietly slows doors down in the opening and closing direction.

InLine XL is the premium-segment sliding door system from Hettich for flush fitted fronts.

When open, sliding doors are left completely flush, one in front of the other. This makes internal drawers particularly easy to use â&#x20AC;&#x201C; entirely without the need for spacers.

Large cabinets are easy to create with InLine XL because the integrated height adjustment facility is easy to reach with the doors in place, making them convenient to adjust for precision

18 | SupplierJuly/Aug 2015

alignment. Infinitely adjustable door reveal and door tilt adjustment also help to give frontages a look of perfection.

The pre-assembled fitting sets make short work of installation and ensure great results every time. With ten different sets to cover all door widths, this reduces inventory costs and simplifies logistics. â&#x2014;?

www.suppliermagazine.com.au

Getting things moving in furniture design: InLine XL Creating handleless flush fitted sliding doors: with InLine XL a premium sliding door system.

Opening in response to a light pull on the doorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s leading edge. Easy, quiet running action.

The superior Silent System can be set to suit any personal preference.

Discover the latest in German quality innovation by visiting a local Hettich Showroom.

1800 687 789 www.hettich.com.au

Design & Trends

“The playful way in which the special features of the product are discovered by customers and prospects also makes these details more memorable among the target group.”

Grass’ passion for design and movement is reflected in the microsite’s design, which is consistently oriented towards Vionaro’s looks and visually echoes the product’s minimalist and cubist lines. A specific insight into the world of the movement system draws every visitor into the site which, needless to say, can also be accessed using a smartphone or tablet.

The product behind the website

Grass movement systems and the new microsite.

Grass launches dedicated microsite In order to guarantee optimal service and advice worldwide for its cubist drawer system, Vionaro, with its precision moves, Grass has launched an international interactive microsite focusing on this product.

The centrepiece of the site is an image film, which effectively sets the scene for the system, along with powerful images highlighting specific product features.

The idea behind this dedicated web presence was to give a special product its own special presentation space because it’s not just in the teaser that Vionaro steals the limelight.

Its minimalist design, excellent 20 | SupplierJuly/Aug 2015

The cubist drawer system Vionaro is a designer solution developed on the basis of a concealed drawer slide solution. It is already used in many living room, kitchen and bathroom applications all around the world.

The slender 13-millimetre drawer side in this complete system, which was recognised with the coveted Red Dot Award in 2014, is based on the concealed drawer slide Dynapro.

As well as being successfully proven millions of times over in practical use, Dynapro was itself a winner of the internationally acclaimed design prize in 2010. ●

workmanship and precision movement also turn heads in the real world.

The dedicated web presence is intended to provide an emotional bridge between the customer and a modern, informative presentation of the movement system.

“As well as informing our customers about the special features of Vionaro, we want to provide them with a virtually live experience of the product,” explained marketing head Andreas Marosch. “This idea has been achieved by incorporating targeted interactions that focus the visitor’s attention on key details of the drawer system. www.suppliermagazine.com.au

SENSOMATIC OPENING SYSTEM

Balancing design with functional user comfort.

Check out the benefits of Sensomatic.

The Sensomatic single set contains all components for equipping a drawer. Contact your GRASS dealer for more information.

Two, and yet only one: Sensomatic and Soft-close form a functional unit for maximum comfort in all living areas. The electro-mechanical opening Sensomatic can be triggered anywhere on the front surface; a light touch or pull is enough to start an even movement of the drawers.

GRASS Australia/New Zealand Pty. Ltd.

www.grass.eu

Australia: Phone +61 3 9421 3048 info-australia@grass.eu

New Zealand: info-newzealand@grass.eu

Design & Trends

Hamper works as a laundry chute As the demand for land space escalates the need for houses to be built upwards instead of outwards increases. This has led to a demand for laundry chutes to be built into our homes to deal with laundry from the upper levels.

The new-to-market Base Mount Laundry Hamper by Hideaway Bins is an ideal solution installed under a laundry chute to catch dirty laundry and keep it hidden away.

Typical to the quality of Hideaway Bins no stone has been left unturned in the design of this ergonomic and functional new product. The strong and sturdy yet stylish base mount tray holds the hamper in place and conceals the German soft close runners when the unit is open.

The 60 litre hamper is also locked into location by the use of a handle support attached to the door fascia to ensure the hamper does not tip when pulled open should there be a back log of washing above. Any clothing that should fall into the base of cabinet is protected as all runners and moving parts are covered and extra attention has been given to ensure all metal edges are smooth protecting clothing from any possible damage.

The light weight 60 litre hamper is very ergonomic as it lifts easy at waist height from the base mount tray and does not require the user to bend or 22 | SupplierJuly/Aug 2015

lift the hamper high to remove it from a frame.

The hamper is made from a high grade polypropylene plastic, which has smooth insides for clothing protection, air venting for moisture reduction, a solid base to protect the internal cabinet from drips and moulded handles to assist the user in moving the hamper.

The hamper can be installed into any area of the home to suit your laundry chute requirements â&#x20AC;&#x201C; laundry, hallway cupboard or even the bathroom.

This new system is available throughout Australia from Hettich, Nover and Galvin Hardware. â&#x2014;? www.suppliermagazine.com.au

Design & Trends

Renovation reality The impact of reality renovation TV by goCabinets

There is no doubt that Australia’s obsession with reality and home improvement shows has soared over the past decade and is inspiring a nation to dream of their own home renovation.

Home renovations are both a creative outlet and a way to out-do the neighbours. Whether it’s a fresh coat of paint or a complete home makeover, Australian’s are trying their hand at DIY renovation and are soon realising they need help to complete their vision.

Figures have shown viewers of reality renovation programs are prepared to knock down walls rather than slouch on the couch watching contestants battle it out for the grand prize.

The figures include a 48% rise in job postings for interior designers, a 35% rise in requests for kitchen renovations

and a 30% increase in bathroom renovation job postings.

An online survey by thehome.com. au has shown dreams of a home ‘reno’ are outweighing desires for a tropical holiday, with results showing that 72% of respondents nominated home improvements over a holiday when asked “What would you do with a spare $15,000?”

Whilst house prices within Australia’s two major cities, Melbourne and Sydney, continue to soar as well as the steady growth in population across the nation, it isn’t any wonder why these figures highlight such a demand for renovation as the big imposts of government stamp duty make it less appealing to sell and buy again.

Austalians are house proud people – always have been and always will be – and they have an inclination to spend money on their homes to make improvements that both enhance their lifestyle and add value to their property. The popularity of shows such as The Block, arguably Australia’s favourite reality program, is a reflection of this interest.

Although these shows may not truly reflect the demands of ‘real world renovations’, it can not be argued that they have inspired a nation to update their homes and, as far as we are concerned, if reality renovation programs continue to produce high lifts in trade requests, they can remain within our lounge rooms for the next decade. ●

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Business

EOFY or BOFY?

By Sue Hirst, Co-founder & Director, CFO On-Call 2. Costs

It’s that time of year again when everyone is advertising their products and services leveraging off End of Financial Year.

It’s great to be on the ball with getting as many tax deductions as possible but what I want to canvas with you are your plans for Beginning of Financial Year, i.e. the one that started in July.

Presumably, if you’re in business, you want to achieve and improve profits.

Here’s a checklist of what to focus on to ensure sustained and improved profits this year:

a. Closely review your business costs, e.g. are there ways you could achieve supplies more cost effectively and efficiently? b. Labour hours is a massive opportunity to achieve better productivity in a service business. Look very closely at everyone’s productivity level, i.e. how many hours they’re working are you able to bill to customers? Small changes in work practices can have massive impact on profitability. Ask yourself “Am I selling all the hours I’m paying for”?

1. Sales/Gross Profit

3. Pricing

Review sales and gross profit by product, service, customer, region, division, etc. to determine which ones you should be focusing on this year. Perhaps there are some you should ditch that are dragging things down.

Consider new opportunities available due to changing business conditions. Be a survivor of ‘digital disruption’ not a victim. If you aren’t comfortable with online/ digital marketing get some help in this area. Unless your business appeals to those only over, say, 65 you must get it together online.

Run a strategic planning session with your team or find someone to facilitate it for you. Brainstorm ways you can achieve sustainable sales improvements.

26 | SupplierJuly/Aug 2015

a. Answer these questions honestly: How long since you increased your prices?

Have you been too worried you will lose customers if you do this? Can you continue to suck up the margin squeeze created by increased costs without increasing your prices? How much more is your overhead this year compared to the previous two years? If you’re being squeezed by competitors you must fight back by lowering your costs to compete or by explaining to the market why they should pay more for your better product/ service. You need to make the ‘invisible visible’ by describing what you do that makes your offering so much better, longer lasting or whatever is your point of difference.

4. Overheads/Net Profit Closely review all your overheads and ask yourself these questions: Why are we spending this money? How does this expense contribute to the business and our profitability? Should we stop spending on this item? Is there a more cost effective alternative or better way of achieving this? Should we seek an alternative supplier – if only to get current supplier to sharpen their pencil on costs? It really pays sometimes to create an environment of competition amongst suppliers. Don’t underestimate your value as a customer to them.

5. Customer Payments How does the average number of days it takes to get paid by your customers compare to the terms you offer? Not many business owners really understand and/or appreciate the massive difference between these two numbers and the horrendous impact it can have on cash flow if the difference is large. Work it out and set yourself a goal to reduce this number.

6. Supplier Payments How does the average number of days it takes to pay suppliers compare to the terms they offer? If you’re not taking advantage of every day of the terms offered you could be

creating unnecessary cash flow squeeze. It really pays to seek better terms from suppliers – particularly if you’re a big customer and they have plenty of competition for your custom.

7. Stock Management How much stock do you really need to keep on hand at any given point?

Think of stock sitting in your stockroom as dollars piled up on the floor that could be used for other things, e.g. marketing, to get the stuff out of the door quicker.

It’s so easy to get sucked into buying things in bulk to get discounts but if the stuff is going to sit around sucking up precious cash, you might be better to buy in smaller quantities.

Consider ways to minimise the amount of stock.

8. Job Management How much money do you have tied up at any one time in jobs in progress?

Try to find ways to speed up the time it takes to get payment on jobs, e.g. through a deposit, progressive invoicing etc.

Set a plan this year to focus on these key aspects of your financial control to achieve better profit and cash flow.● If you would like some pragmatic tips feel free to download our e-book, The Seven Key Numbers that Drive Profit and Cash Flow www.suppliermagazine.com.au

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AusMade

Lighting

Loox:

the fourth dimension

In furniture design light is often the first consideration when additional comfort and functionality are required.

Häfele has introduced the third generation of its LED lighting system Loox with 60 new products – half of those are new lights.

Loox is an innovative modular system solution marked by quality, flexibility and creative freedom. Easy plug and play installation and convenient operation are additional features. Loox was specifically designed for the furniture industry and can be installed with an expectation of great results.

In the right installation light in furniture and furnishings will strike a soothing balance with the ambient light in the room and create a comfortable and harmonious atmosphere at all times. The properly choreographed balance of its components and the creation of nuances and zones and accents for specific areas conveys a holistic impression. Häfele calls this the fourth dimension of furniture. It can be achieved very easily and economically with the Loox LED lighting system.

Innovative modular LED lights and switches Amongst others, new 28 | SupplierJuly/Aug 2015

highlights for industrial applications are innovative, expandable modular LED lights for customised solutions. The 12 volt lights LED 2025, LED 2026 for standard 58 mm drill holes and LED 2040 for 35 mm drill holes consist of a standardised light fixture as a base component with plug-in leads in three different lengths and installation rings or bezels in different shapes. The high illuminance of the LED 2025 is a good choice for work areas while the LED 2026 is better suited to living areas.

The LED 2040 is the small compact option in the modular system. All three lights are offered in three different light colours.

Customised shapes and colours and materials of the rings/bezels are available.

Modular designed Loox switches can be incorporated in all LED systems and with plug-in leads they are upgradable and easily installed.

New switch possibilities are made possible by a new capacitive switch for concealed installation in wood, glass or stone that makes continuous light adjustment possible. The universal door contact

switch is designed for hinged doors or oneleaf sliding doors. With the new 1-10 V dimmer interface, furniture lighting can also be connected to a common wall dimmer making an easy and intuitive central operation possible.

Strong LED strip lights with high colour consistency High luminous efficiency, small variances in light colour, aftermarket replacement assurance and availability in four light colours are characteristic for the new LED strip lights in the 12 Volt and 24 Volt range. Häfele has a suitable LED strip light for every application in its product range. In five metre strip lights up to 600 LEDs (in the 12 V range) ensure even lighting for direct or indirect lighting applications. The strip lights can be shortened every 25 mm, 33 mm or 50 mm, depending on the version.

In the 24 V range the two-row LED 3028 strip light with 1200 LEDs in a five metre length is a special highlight. It features a very homogenous and consistent lighting effect.

New converter – Loox driver for multiple applications With the use of a converter, lights from different systems can be powered by one driver. The new converters that change 12 V to 24 V and the other way around, supplement the existing 350 mA to 12 V converter, allowing the connection of 350mA lights to a 12 V driver. It’s that easy. And those that want to combine light and sound can use the Loox driver to power Häfele sound systems 105 and 420 – it doesn’t get any easier.

High performance drivers are the heart and soul of Loox At the heart and soul of Loox are high performance drivers. They can be used around the world because they are built to manage different voltages and frequencies safely and without problems.

The user-friendly set up has standardised plug connections with an easy colour coding system.

Drivers can be installed easily at the rear wall of the cabinet. The powerful drivers can deliver up to 60 watts in the 12 V range and up to 75 watts in the 24 V range. www.suppliermagazine.com.au

Main image: Thanks to the modular system with installation rings/bezels in different shapes, the Loox LED 2025 surface mounted downlight can be used in a variety of applications. Customised lights can be developed quickly and easily.

Right: Simple elegance and homogeneous light output are the most important features of the Loox LED 3022 recess mounted light/surface mounted downlight. Its flat design makes creative application solutions possible.

This allows even large installations to be driven by one unit.

In addition to an assortment of different lights and switches, there are additional complementing components for more flexibility and convenience during installation such as a multi-switch box, a multi-driver box, a sixway distributor, a fourway extension lead etc.

International certificates and inspection tags prepare Loox for global deployment.

Controlling more lights The multi-driver box can interconnect 12 volt, 24 volt and 350 mA systems

without problems, allowing them to be operated via a single switch. With it several lights can be controlled independently regardless of which Loox LED system is being operated.

The multi driver box can also be used to combine systems of the same kind for operating with a single switch. This is always useful if the output of a single driver is insufficient for the planned lighting solution and several drivers of the same type have to be used.

The six-way distributor and the four-way extension lead allow for more options to connect several lights to one driver.

The multi switch box - a more economical and convenient option The multi-switch box allows up to three different switches to be connected to any driver of the Loox product range. This is always useful if you wish to switch one Loox lighting system from different positions in the room.

Typical applications are, for example, operating two lights on the left and right sides of the bed in bedrooms, or operating the internal lights of wardrobes with switches on the left and right sides of the cabinet.

The use of the multi-switch box in these cases is very convenient for the user and a

GERA hits the mark At this year’s interzum, Gera Leuchten presented the influence of light on the effect of furniture and rooms.

A manufacturer of highquality lights and lighting systems based on LED, Gera showed its entire product range in black-brown-anodised aluminium and focused on designing niches with different lighting situations.

“Our requirement as a partner of the furniture industry is to develop innovative light concepts with which manufacturers can provide additional contours to their furniture and emphasise the features. This year, it was possible for visitors to experience how simply changing the profile colour from silver to black-brown gave the lighting systems and therefore their surroundings a completely new quality. www.suppliermagazine.com.au

An effect with which we were even able to pleasantly surprise our longstanding customers,” said Hening Pölitz, CEO of Gera Leuchten.

With the new colour, manufacturers can emphasise the puristic design of their kitchens and furniture and give each model its own character. For black furnishing elements are not only timeless and bring structure to lightcoloured rooms and furniture, but – just like individually adjustable light sources – emphasise features, stand out from the crowd and are the expression of personal living and lifestyle.

“Customers from southern Europe and Asia were particularly enthusiastic about the appeal of the new profile colour and the resulting puristic-elegant design,” said Hening Pölitz.

Besides the presentation of the new product colour, Gera focused on illuminating the niche. Two-dimensional lighting elements and various anti-glare railing systems, equipped with central basic functions such as power supply or storage possibilities, provided the kitchen niche on the trade fair stand with various effects based on their design and depending on the light colour and intensity.

“The niche is and remains a central design factor in the kitchen. With three different niche lights, we have shown at a glance how individually designed and controlled light sources can create completely different atmospheres for one and the same kitchen unit. With our modular concept of lighting systems, which has the right solution for any piece of

very economical solution for the cabinet maker because he needs one or two fewer drivers.

Engineering expertise for industry and cabinet makers With the Loox system components multiple applications and customised lighting solutions can be designed for mass manufactured furniture easily and cost effectively. The latest system expansions of the Loox LED lighting system were introduced during this interzum show. They make the use of light in furniture even easier, more versatile and flexible.●

furniture, we specifically support kitchen and furniture manufacturers in offering their customers this crucial design advantage,” explained designer and product manager Thomas Ritt.●

SupplierJuly/Aug 2015 | 29

Storage

Intelligent use of storage space Hailo Built-in Technology has established itself as an innovator and reliable development partner for manufacturers in the area of waste separation and organisational systems.

At interzum 2015, the company impressed visitors to the fair with product solutions that provide furniture in various room situations with the desired benefit. These include the new Pantry-Box, with which Hailo is optimising food storage in the kitchen, and the Laundry-Carrier for laundry rooms, as well as the cosmetics bin for the

bathroom, which bring design, comfort and order into other areas of the home.

With the systematic further development of its product lines, Hailo Built-in

Technology is both fulfilling the expectations of its kitchen customers and also tapping new target groups.

As a partner of furniture manufacturers, Hailo is not just content with existing

products, it is continuously creating new solutions and ideas for specific challenges in modern kitchen planning, and for making existing storage space concepts even more attractive.●

cupboards, doors, boxes and lids.

Many of the world’s most celebrated cruise liners, ferries, freighters and oil platforms use Gislaved foils M-1320 flame retardant product as a surface coating on cabin bulkheads and in communal spaces such as restaurants, bars and lobbies. Here, design is important but function is vital. The foil is classified as fire retardant by all the major certification bodies

around the world and is IMO rated.

Surteco’s environmental management system is certified to ISO 14001 standards and the company is Greenguard Gold certified. Its environmental work is constantly adapted to meet standards, legislation, directives and regulations including REACH and RoHS. Gislaved quality management work is certified to ISO 9001 standards..●

Surfaces

Bringing beauty and function to interiors projects Surteco foils from Gislaved add colour to furniture and interiors and are suitable for kitchens, bathrooms, bedrooms and lounges.

Gislaved has solid colours, patterns, and life-like appearances with textured wood grain patterns. The surface can be smooth or structured and gloss or matte. What’s more, the product gains a surface layer that is very resilient, both in terms of durability and fabrication.

Surteco has a large range to choose from with most of 30 | SupplierJuly/Aug 2015

the standard lines in stock locally. The remainder of Gislaved is made to order.

Surteco is the first to insist that its furniture foils are the best. One of the most exposed environments is the kitchen with its wear and tear, spills, splashes and the use of cleaning agents.

However, Gislaved foils retain that good-as-new look year after year.

Mouldability is an important quality in the manufacturing process and these foils are equally suitable for 1D, 2D and 3D lamination of joinery

www.suppliermagazine.com.au

The Rover A makes it easy to process complex pieces whilst ensuring quality, precision and long term reliability. The Rover A is a 3, 4 or 5 axis working centre, it can be conďŹ gured to suit small and large joineries. High-tech becomes accessible and intuitive using the bSolid 3D cad cam software. Planning is achieved in just a few clicks.

A perfect combination of Biesse innovation and Italian genius.

1300 BIESSE (1300 243 773) biesse.com.au

Software

A case study in successful software transition Capital Veneering is a multiaward winning company located in Queanbeyan, just outside of Canberra, ACT. Established in 2000, it has steadily evolved from a boutique veneer pressing and furniture making workshop to a large enterprise with 55 employees, including four set-out staff. They use nested based manufacturing along with a beamsaw.

Capital Veneering works across a variety of markets including custom made furniture, kitchens and residential joinery, commercial joinery, corporate and government fitouts and shop and club fitouts.

Software challenge Capital Veneering had been using the same CAD/CAM software for the last eight years, upgrading regularly.

In 2014, TopSolid’Wood was bought to their attention, positioned as new generation software specifically for the joinery market and achieving great success globally. As new versions of their current software solutions were soon to be released, Capital Veneering conducted a detailed review to see if their current software solution was still the best fit for them.

Andy Mann, Pre-Production Manager, began the investigation process with the mindset that to continue to be competitive in today’s market Capital Veneering needed to have a software solution that supported the most efficient process from design right through to production.

32 | SupplierJuly/Aug 2015

As a first step Andy met with the representative of their current software solution, investigating the new features in detail to see how it could assist to meet the goal of meaningful productivity improvement.

After looking at online videos on TopSolid’Wood, Andy met with a representative of Integrated Joinery Solutions. The initial meeting was six hours in duration and Andy and three of the set-out team really took the opportunity to put TopSolid’Wood to the test.

Capital Veneering accessed a trial version of the TopSolid’Wood software – a vital step in the process to be able to meaningfully compare the performance of the different solutions under consideration.

Once TopSolid’Wood had been put through its paces, and Capital Veneering was assured of its capabilities, it had reached decision time. A number of factors taken into account at this stage, but the top three were:

live production environment Capital Veneering was able to measure the productivity gains and produce the productivity comparison chart on each step of the process.

Number of set-out operators

4

Active set-out hours per week

25

Hourly cost of setout operator

$80

Set-out hours per year (48 weeks)

4800

Average time per job; current solution

6 hours

Average time per job; TopSolid’Wood

By working through the efficiencies of the process improvement, Andy estimated that the savings would be in the region of 25% once the solution was fully operational.

On presenting the business case to management it was a identified that there was the potential to save close to $100,000 pa by implementing TopSolid’Wood as opposed to staying with the current solution.

Transition

4.5 hours

Estimated time saving using TopSolid

25%

Potential hours saved

1200pa

Potential cost savings

3. The bottom line

$96,000pa

One of the key decisions made throughout the investigation process was to involve the whole Capital Veneering team. It was vital to secure the support of the set-out team for the transition to be successful. Andy had the support of management in the transition process and ensured realistic expectations were set at all levels.

1. Cost This was not just about the initial outlay but the ongoing savings the right solution could offer. TopSolid’Wood may have presented a higher initial outlay than upgrading their current solution but it won hands down in offering savings over the medium term – a much better long term investment for them.

2. Process improvement By using both solutions in a

www.suppliermagazine.com.au

Results Capital Veneering was looking for real gains in productivity from either upgrading or changing software – somewhere in the region of a 25% improvement in productivity. Six months down the track they are already starting to see the productivity gains they had estimated and they are on track to meet their 12 month target of 25% productivity gains.

“TopSolid’Wood has been a great addition to the manufacturing processes we have at Capital Veneering.

With the detailed and sometimes complex projects we work on a smart, user modifiable software solution was required. The tight lead times we work with also meant that we needed to

reduce drawing revision and pre-production times.

TopSolid’Wood has allowed this to happen.

My team is very happy that we changed over to TopSolid’Wood from our old software and are able to produce more work for the factory with less overtime.

The team at Integrated Joinery Solutions has been a big part in the implementation of TopSolid’Wood at Capital Veneering and has always been there for us to assist and guide, even when I have made the error.”

Andy Mann, Pre-Production Manager, Capital Veneering

“We are always looking for new and innovative ways to improve our business.

We had invested in our machinery and workshop

processes and this resulted in increased production capacity. In looking at how we could feed our increased production capability, our attention turned to the set-out department, which was where a bottleneck now existed.

We conducted a full review of the processes and tools used in the set-out area and this lead us to selecting TopSolid’Wood as our new CAD/CAM software solution. We understood that implementing a new software solution would not be the easy option, but the easy option is not always the best option for the business long term. There have been some short term challenges for the business as we transition from our old software solution. But we were committed to the

change, and we knew that the challenges in the short term would be worth it in the long term.

As we start to see the productivity gains that we knew could be made by moving to TopSolid’Wood, we are confident that we have made the best decision for the future of our business.”

Ben Madden, Director, Capital Veneering.●

Pytha viewer Pytha, a leading 3D CAD software for planning, presentation and production in the applications furniture and interior design, woodworking, exhibitions, architecture and many other fields, has now made available a free Pytha viewer.

Until now the presentation of Pytha projects was limited to computers on which the Pytha software is installed.

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Now the demonstration is also possible on computers without Pytha installation – so the customer can view the designs in 3D on his own computer.

The Pytha viewer means you can turn layers on/off, highlight particular objects and measure distance or radius. Plot sheets within the project can also be displayed.●

SupplierJuly/Aug 2015 | 33

Manufacturing

Wood Skin and Biesse: shaping the world around you Successful manufacturers turn to CNC equipment to keep pace with the highoutput, quality and delivery deadlines imposed by today’s customers. Products include cabinetry, joinery, furniture and other common items sold in low or high volumes.

Occasionally though, something comes along that excites the imagination and makes you sit up and take notice; something that is unique, visionary and speaks to the future while impacting the present. That “something” is Wood-Skin – an innovative new product from a young, dynamic Milanese design team headed by Giulio Masotti. And to make WoodSkin come alive, Giulio and his team turned to Biesse as their technical sponsor and production partner.

Wood-Skin is both a process and a product; able to challenge the conventional approach to wood and other flat materials to realise new, creative possibilities.

As a process, the beauty of Wood-Skin is that it can be anything you can imagine.

The advanced digital fabrication process takes life thanks to the interaction between the various textile cores, wood and other surfaces, and software.

As a product, Wood-Skin 34 | SupplierJuly/Aug 2015

is two laminations (surfaces) of material and a central, flexible textile core. It can be furnishing, architecture, acoustics, lighting, building material or works of art.

Wood-Skin products are created in the digital (computer) world and brought to life on modern CNC equipment. It fits in perfectly with Biesse’s commitment to digitisation through CAD software and advanced machining processes.

Wood-Skin is a strong and resistant composite material that combines the rigidity of traditional materials (wood) with the flexibility of a textile core that allows original applications to both architectural and furnishing elements to develop unconventional structures, impossible to achieve with traditional building techniques. Recent Wood-Skin installations include the Reign restaurant in Dubai with a 50 metre long counter in shiny black laminate and seven metre high walls covered in a walnut 3D skin. It is a blend between European and Arabic architecture creating a more pleasing and visually appealing use of space.

The counter and floating ceiling at the Biesse stand at the Ligna show were also constructed from the new

material to show the design potential of the new product and the capabilities of the machines it was made on.

There is no limit to the possibilities of the WoodSkin product. A fascinating example is in the audio industry where the holy grail is to change the acoustics for rock concerts or classical music where the concert hall environment is fixed. It’s what audio engineers study all their life to achieve but Wood-Skin was able to solve the problem with their unique product.

A music venue in Milan was fitted with wood skin panels with the facets moved by miniature actuators to change the volume of air within the venue and the distances between the ceiling and the band to alter the resonances. You can move the ceiling like a curtain with a few touches on your iPad. To create something from Wood-Skin, Giulio and colleague Stefano Baruffaldi

work with Biesse to turn the digital form into reality.

Giulio said: “Wood Skin and Biesse are a perfect marriage because both are experimental driven; information is what drives us through to the next step.

“We found a very contemporary way to use CNC machines that are not used to their full advantage.”

What he really wants to do is to “find solutions to bridge the gap between what you can imagine, what you can design and what you can produce because it’s the production where everything gets complicated”.

It comes as no surprise that Biesse was able to uncomplicate the production of the Wood-Skin product.

In collaboration with the MIT (Boston) Self-Assembly Lab and Wood-Skin, a revolutionary form of furniture was designed and unveiled at the 2015 Fuori Salone del Mobile in Milan in 36 collaboration with Biesse. www.suppliermagazine.com.au

Manufacturing

34 The Programmable Table is an entirely new type of furniture that actively transforms itself from shipping to full-functionality by taking advantage of the pre-stressed textile core that eliminates the need for assembly of complex parts. It can simply be removed from the package where it jumps into shape at the touch of a finger. Once in place, the furniture may be reconfigured into other shapes or flattened again for storage and moving.

By minimising the volume during shipping, the flatpacked programmable product

is extremely efficient and economical for distribution.

Milan is regarded as one of the leading design cities of the world and it was there, in 2013, that this talented team of individuals, working together to use traditional techniques in innovative ways, developed the groundbreaking new product. WoodSkin is a low budget, no-frills, high quality and highly functional creation that works so well that many leading international publications have said the furniture industry could be revolutionised. The

revolution is no less apparent in the many other ways Wood-Skin can be applied.

“We don’t actually have a product, but a way to get to a product or solution. It’s not about the object you create but how you create it,” said Giulio.

Every shape can be realised from flat sheets of material that once processed will be ready for sale, shipping and installation without any hardware or tool, just like origami.

The central textile core is a form of digital hinge that

allows multi-faceted creations to be produced on basic threeaxis machines currently in use.

Wood-Skin is currently a base on which future knowhow can be built. Technologies such as audio systems, LED lighting (in the skin) are possibilities yet to be fully explored but when they are, Biesse will be in a position to put their high-precision machines on the line once again to transform ideas into life.

Truly, Biesse translates the digital (virtual) world into reality with wood skin. ●

New compressor solution from Kaeser Where the compressed air user requires a mobile yet stationary portable compressor, Kaeser presents an altogether different hybrid solution – the diesel powered stationary M57 Utility rotary screw compressor.

The compact M57 Utility combines the advantages of a modern stationary screw compressor with the location flexibility of a portable compressor. Powered by a diesel engine, the unit does not require an external power supply, providing the user with a mobile but stationary portable compressor solution.

It was primarily developed to be installed as a stationary compressor on the flatbed of a truck. A fixed crane eye on the top of the unit’s housing 36 | SupplierJuly/Aug 2015

makes loading easy, whilst forklift pockets in the closed environmentally-friendly base frame ensure safe, dependable manoeuvrability via a fork-lift truck.

Equipped with an advanced rotary screw compressor, the M 57 Utility combines performance with energy efficiency and userfriendliness. At the heart of each unit lies a durable rotary screw compressor block featuring the renowned Sigma Profile rotors, which use 15% less energy compared to conventional compressor block rotor designs.

In addition, Kaeser’s highly efficient 1:1 drive design eliminates the transmission losses associated with gear or V-belt driven systems,

as the compressor block is directly driven by a watercooled, four cylinder Kubota diesel engine.

Other advantages include a compact design as well as excellent power efficiency. All maintenance access points are easily accessible once the applicable retaining pins have been removed from the load floor side and fuelling is carried out from the front face of the unit.

Reliability is further enhanced by the fuel filter with water separator that is fitted as standard, and the vertical discharge stainless steel exhaust pipe that also features a rain protection flap. Moreover, the wide range of available tools and accessories also means that the system can be precisely tailored to suit the exact demands of the working environment.●

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“Zero-Glue-Line” Evolution AirForce System is Biesse’s award winning robust, affordable hot air edgebanding solution. The revolutionary AirForce System developed by Biesse now allows companies of all sizes access to invisible glue line quality achieved by laser edges without the need of a complex and expensive laser system.

No Glue Seamless joints Stronger bonds

1 300 BIESSE (1300 243 773) We have a Biesse showroom near you biesse.com.au

Using hot air technology the edge tape is perfectly bonded to the panel and is resistant to peeling which creates a stronger bond. This guarantees a superior product which is highly resistant to heat, water penetration and humidity, resulting in an excellent finish that will last for years.

Manufacturing

SCM: streaming innovation SCM is distributed by Gabbett Machinery and Philip Ashley recently spoke to Lee Gabbett about SCM in Australia.

The SCM group has been designing, building and distributing technologies for the wood working industry since 1952. This makes SCM the oldest and most experienced of all the major woodworking machinery suppliers. There are some older (single brand) machinery companies but none that manufacture the range that the top four suppliers (in Australia) offer.

Lee Gabbett of Gabbett Machinery said that SCM was very strong with traditional machines; however, the group’s main focus in recent years has been with high-technology CNC and automation systems.

To see for myself what SCM was capable of I tagged along when Lee visited SCM in Rimini (Italy) just after Ligna. This article is not the result of a free ride and I committed a week to see everything I could. To SCM’s credit I was shown through all seven of their (Rimini area) factories and allowed to take photographs of anything I wanted.

Now, I have to say that I’ve visited several other international suppliers recently and for various 38 | SupplierJuly/Aug 2015

reasons have not been offered the same privilege.

Of course I respect their reasons but SCM’s openness was refreshing. SCM is not concerned about other suppliers and is not afraid to show the world what and how they do things.

And they should be confident because SCM controls every aspect of their production. Others will say this, and to a certain degree this is correct, but SCM actually controls the production from the very first piece of raw material. SCM is unique in that they are the ONLY machinery maker to have their own foundries to cast their machine bases and parts. These foundries also produce for other companies such as Toyota so they are world-class.

SCM controls the design and manufacture to regulate the amount of vibration within the machine frame to the absolute minimum that is physically possible. If anyone says there’s no vibration at all it’s a play on words. Where there are moving parts and motors spinning cutting tools, there is vibration. You might not be able to feel it but it’s still there, measurable only with the most precise

equipment. You’ve probably seen the dollar coin on the sliding table trick? There is still vibration – just not enough to make it fall over.

To ensure every SCM machine is manufactured to the highest standards, SCM has an exclusive facility that is unique amongst woodworking machinery makers. The CSR acoustics laboratory was established in 1976 to “provide excellence in operating segments” and is accredited as an independent centre despite it being owned by the SCM group.

The results from tests done at the centre are binding and SCM is obliged to rectify any issues identified in the tests.

The facility conducts sound and vibration testing and also performs recognised tests from BG-Fachauss Holz

(Stuttgart) for dust emissions.

This is where the technician identifies exactly where any vibration is coming from so the machine designers can make you a better machine.

The walls of the laboratory are 1.5 metres thick and the door weighs in at 3.5 tonnes! I’m told that it’s so quiet that if they turned off the lights I wouldn’t be able to stand up because the inner ear acts like a gyroscope and with no sound or sight, I would fall over.

SCM produces components the same way as all the other machinery suppliers. A number of pre-set jigs are used to hold parts that are precision CNC machined. Many of their frames, especially on traditional machines, are mostly folded (by a robot) from one piece of laser-cut

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Clockwise from left: Philip Ashley inside the CSR sound testing centre.

Testing a part for accuracy.

Hiteco spindles.

Folded machine frame.

Ferrimobili children’s furniture.

steel. This means the frame is not made from a number of pieces welded together, but one homogenous piece of steel for improved rigidity and strength.

The frames of all SCM machines are placed on some of the industry’s biggest CNC machining centres and the guides are all machined in the one setting. This means they are perfectly aligned for a high degree of operating accuracy.

SCM even makes its own Hiteco branded spindles.

And of course, every machine is certified in the CSR testing centre for noise, vibration and dust emissions to name just a few of the standard tests.

One thing I noticed at SCM was the excellent communication. Everyone talks to everyone else (It’s Italy, what can you say?) and the shared knowledge and information strengthens the entire group. Parts for a certain machine may be made in one of the other

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factories so everyone is learning from the rest of the group. And it’s not just themselves that they listen to: while I was there the guy’s from Gabbett were finalising the design of an edge banding machine specifically for Australian users. They listen and they act; they don’t just talk about it.

That learning also comes from the many “turnkey” projects SCM undertakes around the world. A turnkey project is a “program, project, solution, or system where the contractor or provider undertakes the entire responsibility from design through completion”.

I wanted to see a turnkey solution for myself and was invited to visit a children’s furniture manufacturer.

Ferrimobili makes mostly bedroom furniture but the catch here is that up to a dozen colours in several thicknesses are used for each job – such is the nature of children’s furniture.

Beds, wardrobes, desks, bookshelves and storage units are all made in a “just in time” process and each sale is highly customisable.

Ferrimobili needs software and equipment that can gather the right amount of board in the right colours and feed it to the machinery in the right order and at the right time. This is a highly complex process and to achieve this, SCM fitted a Flexstore panel storage system with not one moving beam but two. This increases the speed that the material is kept up to the machine so the CNC machine is never idle – it’s working at a true 100% capacity. Even the laying of the sheets onto the sacrificial board is automated, noone touches a thing until it’s finished.

Ferrimobili uses some other brands of high-tech machinery including IMA and Biesse. IMA is considered by some to be the Rolls-Royce of all CNC equipment but the high cost is often an issue for Australian buyers. Ferrimobili has an IMA line so they know what the “very best” can do.

The manager told me they were going to increase the IMA equipment but since the SCM turnkey solution came on line, this has proved to be unnecessary.

The owner said: “We have two beams bringing the material to the machine

very fast and then on the CNC machine, we have two routers cutting the sheet at the same time. We don’t need any more equipment”.

Gabbett representatives were present during this leading technical installation and are able to advise potential customers of the highest level of automation and cost-saving available in the industry.

SCM has 23 separate brands in the group covering everything from furniture, joinery, building and construction, marine (America’s Cup yachts) and aeronautical (Boeing and Airbus), bespoke furniture and skilled artisans. The CMS brand (CNC routers) has a virtual monopoly on the production of designer eyewear frames – not an easy item to produce.

What this all means is that the SCM brands are used by the world’s top manufacturer’s producing the most demanding products with the highest technical specifications.

So what does “streaming innovation” mean? To SCM it’s an “uninterrupted and ambitious flow of new ideas, skills and technologies!” To you, it means you’re getting the very best machine from one of the most experienced companies with the highest level of technical excellence.● SupplierJuly/Aug 2015 | 39

Manufacturing

The rise and rise of Felder For almost 60 years, Felder has been producing some of the finest quality woodworking machines for both hobbyists and small manufacturers.

Philip Ashley reports.

Since 2001, Felder’s Format-4 premium range of industrial woodworking machines has extended the company’s quality and performance into the highend manufacturing sector.

Felder is now able to equip even the largest companies with the complete range of industrial machinery of the same Felder quality and performance. I recently visited the Felder head office in Emu Plains (NSW) to speak with the Australian representatives and find out just what the Felder phenomenon is all about.

Felder was represented in Australia for many years by Hans Rauter and Andrew

Peck in Bayswater, Victoria.

Felder owners will remember these guy’s and very likely, still have their machines going strongly after all these years. But Felder was evolving from individual suppliers to national agents in support of their quality brand and expansion into industrial equipment.

Stefan Kremer and Peter Burkitt obtained the Felder group’s Australian agency in 2003. Stefan has proved, over the last ten years, that he has the drive to challenge the other (more) established brands and the experience and knowledge users would expect from a company with Felder’s reputation.

But let’s put aside the business aspect for now because that’s not really what this story is all about. Sure, I could rattle off numbers and specifications but is that really what you want to read about? A brochure would give you all that. As a (past) purchaser of TAFE equipment, my perspective on a good purchase is who you are buying from and how they treat you – and I’m sure this means something to you as well. I don’t want to be promised the world and find out who my friends really are after the cheque has been cleared.

I’ve been in a number of offices of CEOs and have

run the gauntlet of sales managers and personal assistants to finally sit in a chair opposite the head guy.

These guys are usually so busy they don’t have the time to speak to everyone and that’s not a fault­or a criticism – it’s reality. With Felder, however, the scene is much different. Sure they aren’t quite as big as some of the other major suppliers yet and this will certainly change, but at the moment you get a completely different picture when you walk into the Emu Plains office of Felder.

The first thing you notice is that Stefan’s office is about two metres away from the showroom. There are no

Below: Stefan Kremer shows Philip Ashley the Felder edgebander.

Top: Stefan Marquart and Stefan Kremer point out the advantages of the Format panel saw.

40 | SupplierJuly/Aug 2015

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collars and ties, no corporate suites and no expensive coffee machines. He’s the forklift driver, the financial controller and CEO all thrown into one. Stefan is exactly the same as you and me and he speaks our language.

I asked him if I could visit him on a Sunday afternoon and he gladly opened the showroom for me. Few others would do that. And let’s say you call them in the evening or on a Saturday – one thing is for certain – you won’t be talking to a machine.

Times are tough and when that happens manufacturers are very careful when buying new equipment. There are far fewer furniture or joinery businesses operating today and Felder needs to be better at what they offer.

Your bigger competitors with multi-million dollars worth of equipment need to make a great deal of product so their unit prices are lower.

This often pushes smaller companies out of business.

Stores like Ikea and Bunnings also add to your problems.

To maintain your market share you need smart, efficient and reliable machines. www.suppliermagazine.com.au

So why look at Felder?

Let’s go back a little and see what the past has shown us. As an example, look at the combination machine, something for which Felder was probably best known. According to Wikipedia, the two top-end combination machines were Felder and Knapp. Knapp was bought by Robland in 2000 leaving Felder at the top of the gene pool.

Amongst their customers, Felder lists businessmen, ex-airline pilots, doctors and other professionals.

These are people who, throughout their professional lives have either needed or demanded the most reliable and cost-effective systems and equipment. Now, in their private pursuits, they turn to Felder to provide the same level of performance and security.

It’s that level of quality and performance that stands Felder in good stead with their Format-4 range of industrial equipment. Felder know how to build a quality machine and has been doing that for almost 60 years.

When you think about it,

they’ve been learning for almost 60 years. So it was that about seven years ago Felder felt the time was right to enter the top end of the machinery market. Felder partnered with some of Europe’s most experienced manufacturers in a research and development program to come up with a range of high-end equipment based on Felder’s established know-how and in-house manufacturing capabilities.

It’s that in-house knowledge and experience that makes all the difference. Felder knows exactly how much a metre of weld costs and they can do it as efficiently in Austria as in China. They know that to maintain quality you have to do it yourself. That’s why Felder is made only in Austria at the Felder plant or by Austrian partners. The message is that when you buy a Felder, it comes from Austria and it’s made there.

I visited the Felder factory in May this year to see for myself how the machines are made. Their lower cost machines are made on the same production line by the same technicians

so the quality is consistent throughout their entire range.

All the parts do come from Austria (some from Germany) and all the assembly is done in Austria.

Felder was established in 1956 by Johann Felder junior and remains a family run business. In Australia the agency is firmly about people and customer satisfaction. Showrooms are spread across Australia and I am advised that service personnel outnumber sales by a fair margin.

Felder doesn’t compromise on quality and after roadtesting many of their products over 10 years for several magazines, I can personally attest to that.

So what is the Felder phenomenon?

It’s personal service from genuine people who talk your language and who supply and support outstanding equipment they make themselves with no compromise. It’s no wonder that Felder is probably the fastest growing wood machinery manufacturer in the world.

A Felder is all Felder and that’s the Felder difference.● SupplierJuly/Aug 2015 | 41

Manufacturing

Behind the excitement of Sin City Karisma Joinery is firmly established as one of Sydney’s leading entertainment precinct design, fit-out and joinery specialists.

So what have Sydney’s leading entertainment hot spots like The Star casino, Sydney Hilton, Rockpool Bar and Grill and Cyrens restaurant got in common?

Besides being among Sydney leading excitement centres they have all had the Karisma Joinery treatment.

Then there are other talked about Sin City good time destinations, like the downtown Ivy complex. Since opening in 2009 the Ivy Bar has become the partycentral playground for many Sydneysiders, housing bars, nightclubs, bistros, drinking areas to suit all tastes, party joints that keep going long into the night, and some of the city’s hottest dining spots – there is even a pool on the roof.

Karisma Joinery’s list of Sydney’s leading commercial clients is long and impressive, from complexes

42 | SupplierJuly/Aug 2015

like hotels and airports through offices, board rooms, work stations, restaurants, cafes, cinemas and libraries.

The dynamo behind the company is Joe Zarantonello.

He stresses that quality and durability are overarching values for Karisma Joinery: “So we employ only the highest quality tradesman and use the best materials”.

With Italian ancestry – how did you guess – and equipped with a cabinet maker’s ticket, Joe started his business making kitchens in his mother’s shed in 1985.

From the backyard at home to a modern cabinet making and joinery factory at Seven Hills in western Sydney employing 35 tradesmen and specialists, Joe is now firmly established as one of Sydney’s leading entertainment precinct design, fit-out and joinery specialists.

“We now tend to concentrate on top events and entertainment venues where flair, quality and made-to-last are the essence of our joinery and cabinet

making work. We can do everything from interior design, lighting, bars, restaurants, gaming tables and a myriad of other furniture,” said Joe. Karisma Joinery is able to offer clients a complete package from initial conceptualisation through design, architectural drawings, to manufacturing and installation.

Joinery work carried out by in Sydney by Karisma Joinery as part of major refurbishment projects includes the Regent Hotel, Alto BMW, and the University of New South Wales. Karisma Joinery also designed, manufactured and installed the joinery as part of a multi-million dollar renovation and refurbishment of the Sergeants Mess complex.

Overlooking Chowder Bay, the Sergeants Mess is set in one of Sydney’s most glamorous and breathtaking locations commanding spectacular views of Sydney Harbour across to Camp Cove, Watsons Bay and

Multi-million dollar renovation and refurbishment, Sergeants Mess complex ... paying homage to the simple glamour of the ‘60s.

Rose Bay. Paying subtle homage to the simple glamour of the ‘60s, the joinery for the renovation and revitalisation was provided

by Joe and his team. It is now a prestigious location for weddings, conferences, meetings, gala events or private celebrations.

Yet another more recent job has been the refitting of Sydney’s The Star casino and hotel at Darling Harbour. The Star features two gaming floors, eight bars, seven restaurants, 351 hotel rooms, 130 serviced apartments and the 2,000 seat Lyric Theatre. Karisma Joinery has managed several aspects of the major refurbishment, including designing and manufacturing casino tables and the high-rollers area fitout, plus various bars.

Part of Karisma’s brief at The Star included Sydney’s hottest nightclub, Marquee.

Brash and glitzy, Marquee is modelled on Las Vegas personality and the casino look. It is about brash sex appeal in a city trying to shock.

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their precision, reliability, quality and trouble-free running, plus excellent software programming, are cornerstones for us.

“While we have other brand machines – panel and beam saws, edgebanders and so on, I wouldn’t use any flat bed router other than a Biesse. We found it impossible to go past the innovation, precision and reliability of their CNC machinery and we’re very satisfied with the performance and finished product they deliver.”

Biesse’s chief executive officer for Oceania, Luke Tenaglia said he is delighted to have a special, rewarding relationship with Joe and his Karisma operation.

“They are an exciting company at the centre of Sydney’s night life and entertainment. We are pleased to be able to make a contribution to Sydney style and excitement throughout our Rover and Skill series routers.”

Luke said Karisma has been able to reaffirm the reality that Biesse has a point of difference with other

From top: The Cherry Bar in The Star, another Karisma Joinery standout. – Reception station ... just part of the art created by Karisma and Biesse.

Two floors of gaming tables, eight bars, seven restaurants, 351 hotel rooms and 130 serviced apartments all part of the brief at The Star.

The critical part in Karisma’s manufacturing process ... Biesse Rover and Skill series CNC routers.

The engine room of the Karisma Joinery operation is the new modern compact and functional Seven Hill’s factory designed for high throughput manufacturing.

Joe emphasises the critical part in the manufacturing process played by CNC routers.

“This is the fundamental aspect of our manufacturing, so we need and use the best CNC routers available – and, without doubt, they are the Biesse Rover and Skill series machines,” he said. “They are critical to our performance so www.suppliermagazine.com.au

machinery manufacturers: “Biesse is the technologydriven industry leader in terms of machinery development, performance and support.

We take pride in our technical innovations and leading industry knowledge.

“Our products are capable of adding value and profitability to our clients’ production activities like that evident at Karisma Joinery.

So yes, providing solutions that lift productivity, increase flexibility, contain labour costs and improve cost effectiveness is what we are about.”

He confirmed the view that Biesse’s Rover and Skill series CNC routers are at the heart of Karisma’s manufacturing process. “Extremely fast, powerful and precise, they represent the top-of-the-line in today’s industry,” he said.

“With high axis speeds, they are the fastest machining centres in their category, capable of high performance in even the most demanding operating environments. A wide range of configurations is available to meet any production requirement,” he added. ●

Apprentice machine operator and nephew, Marcus Zarantonello with Uncle Joe ... building on a strong, successful family business.

SupplierJuly/Aug 2015 | 43

Manufacturing

Flexstore inventory management and stock control With the advent of complete nesting and machining solutions, inventory and stock control systems are quickly becoming a key part of the manufacturing process.

So, what is the best solution to effectively managing your stock?

SCM group’s Flexstore system features advanced automation and integration of machines and systems, which can work both in a stand-alone capacity and in combination with one another. High level software manages the flow of information and logistics for the materials being processed.

Flexstore EL 3-axis store Designed to be a compact solution, the new generation Flexstores provide excellent performance for the small cabinetmaker.

Adapting perfectly to the space available, from a minimum of around 100m2 to much larger areas, Flexstore EL is built with two sturdy steel load-bearing girders that support a mobile horizontal girder on which the suction cup arm is fitted.

Brushless motors drive the girder, which runs on flat guides thanks to wheels coated with antiwear material – all of which adds up to trouble free, continuous operation.

The suction cup arm automatically adjusts to the various lengths and thicknesses of the panel to be picked up and, moving 44 | SupplierJuly/Aug 2015

both horizontally and vertically, can travel in the three main directions. It also has a pneumatic device for panel front detachment, and a device for detecting the weight – this ensures the system knows when a panel is in use by the cups.

The design of the Flexstore pays great attention to panel movement: the horizontal layout of the store prevents any possible damage from sliding.

The store uses a labelling system to guarantee full traceability and recognisability of every element.

Software The cell’s strong point is the new Watch Store supervision software.

Advanced and modular, it is perfectly suited to Australian requirements, making every pick-up operation absolutely automatic. Watch Store saves the positions of the panels or the semi-finished products re-introduced and

even the batch for their subsequent machining operations.

The software was designed from the ground up by SCM technicians, with a unique feature of allowing real time control of the store status.

Watchstore supervision software can manage several machines in a cell, it controls the automatic store and the remote areas, preparing stacks of panels for machining. In the absence of the operator and based on instructions received, it canprepare ‘rainbow’ stacks of material for subsequent production.

Flexstore EL is guided amongst the various stacks so as to optimise loading of the machines or to top up or better organise supplies, moving sheets from three to 40 millimetres thickness.

Moreover, always following the best possible trajectory, it guarantees full automation of the entire production process.

The supervisor saves every pass, from the

moment when the stack of panels enters the system and is loaded in the store, to the made-to-measure semi-finished product, labelled and ready to be sent on for other steps of the process.

Watch Store also allows integrated management of machining off-cuts for improved use of raw materials and, above all, management of the material even outside the cell.

The supervisor saves the location and, in due course, supplies that information to the operator, who can recover the specific element and put it back in the machining cell. There are also complete, effective diagnostics, able to supply production reports and ability to link to external warehouse and factory management systems software.

The Flexstore system will soon be on display at Gabbett demonstration facilities around Australia.●

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Efficient and networked solutions From September 22–25, at an exhibition area spanning over 10,000 m² in Schopfloch,Germany, the Homag Treff in-house exhibition is presenting innovative machines, plants, and service concepts with insights into transparent production over an area of around 50,000 m² and the presentation of the new CompetenceCenter Surface.

Small to large-scale solutions show that the main theme of Ligna – furniture production on the way to Industry 4.0 – is not reserved exclusively for industrial businesses.

Networked machines and integrated data flow are the key to being competitive today, regardless of whether the business is a small trade or an industrial operation The advantages show how important networking is in furniture production today: • workpiece data only has

to be entered once – data is prepared for production via rule-based systems; • avoidance of sources of error (manual interventions in production data are no longer necessary); • highly efficient production, maximisation of potential; • maximum flexibility and a high level of individuality in end products; • less waste, reduced storage area; • paperless production; • individual furniture tailored completely to the customer's wishes — at the same cost as series production.

In the throughfeed range, Homag is presenting numerous special features in edge technology from processing shaped parts in throughfeed mode, through edging 45° corners, up to door rebate gluing with airTec and a thick edge for robust

edges with a zero joint look.

Especially designed for today's craftsmen, the new KAL 370 edge banding machines and clever unit combinations on the machines for the new Ambition range, provide individual solutions for trade and industry on an optimised platform with price and performance advantages. For industrial companies, there is a live high-tech demonstration of batch size 1 plants for furniture and construction element production, with impressive features.

There is also a focus on surface processing in the new CompetenceCenter Surface featuring the sanding options offered by Butfering as well as the surface lamination provided by the one-sided Homag laminating machine, as well as the reacTec process and the latest technology for profile casing specialists.

Individuality becomes the standard with the new Venture range, from CNC entry-level models to hightech five-axis processing centres or machines with gluing technology. What's more, all Homag CNC processing centres are fitted with the new generation of extraction hoods. Providing optimised collection and removal of chips, these extraction hoods combine a better suction result with lower air requirements. This solution has reduced the energy required in sample processing by up to 30% while also improving the degree of suction by 25%.

In addition to many highlights for the trade (for example, the new HPP 130 and the new HPP 200), Holzma is also presenting Cut Rite V10, the brand-new release of its optimisation software.●

Retro-fit 82mm cutter WoodCraft Supplies, an Australian distributor of a large range of innovative spiral (helix) cutters for most timber planing machines, has just released a retro-fit 82mm cutter to suit the most popular Makita 1900B series of electric hand planers.

This spiral cutter also is suitable for the 18V Makita planers.

“Featuring 14 x 15mm square solid tungsten carbide inserts in three www.suppliermagazine.com.au

curved rows, these inserts are 10 times as resilient as the original high speed steel knives and, as they are segmented, an improvement on straight tungsten knives,”

said WoodCraft Supplies’ Robert Gregory.

“Planing of MDF, melamine, Laminex and highly figured timber is now not a challenge. Tungsten inserts

perform with ease with the security that each insert has four sharpened edges that can be rotated in seconds should they become blunt or damaged.”●

SupplierJuly/Aug 2015 | 45

Events

AUGUST 2015 21-24 Wood Tech India 2015

Exhibition on wood & woodworking industry, woodworking machinery, timber & lumber, wooden doors & windows, flooring, power tools, fittings & accessories, parquetry, furniture & furnishing, fixtures, raw materials

Chennai, India http://www.woodtechindia.in SEPTEMBER 2015 3-7 IFM 2015

International Famous Furniture Woodworking Machinery and Material Fair (IFM) (Autumn Ed.)

Houjie, DongGuan, China http://www.3fifm.com 4-6

Woodmach Davao 2015 Manufacturing Technology Exhibition: Wood, Woodworking, Furniture-Making Machinery, Furnishings and Accessories Exhibition Davao, Philippines

9-12

FMC + FMC premium China 2015 Furniture Manufacturing Premium (FMC Premium) – furniture raw materials & components suppliers worldwide.

Concurrently with FMC for furniturerelated woodworking technology

Shanghai, China http://premium.fmcchina.com.cn 17-19 iFMac 2015

International woodworking & furniture manufacturing components exhibition

Jakarta, Indonesia

OCTOBER 2015 6-9 BWS Eisenwaren 2015

International trade fair for woodworking processing, fittings, carpenter supplies, joinery- requirements, ironware, tools, do it yourself and security systems

Salzburg, Austria http://www.bwsmesse.at DREMA Furnica 2015 International Trade Fair of Machines and Tools for the Wood and Furniture Industries

Poznan, Poland http://www.drema.pl/en/

Flexliner Gabbett Machinery

Grass Australia/NZ Hafele Australia Hettich Australia

46 | SupplierJuly/Aug 2015

Jennifer Curtis Email:jennifer.curtis@elitepublishing.com.au TECHNOLOGY EDITOR Philip Ashley philipneilashley@yahoo.com.au NATIONAL SALES MANAGER Ashley Cooper CIRCULATION MANAGER Georgia Gilmour georgia.gilmour@elitepublishing.com.au GRAPHIC DESIGN Uber Creative – Annette Epifanidis Mobile: 0416 087 412 Email: annette@ubercreative.com.au www.ubercreative.com.au PRODUCTION For artwork and production enquiries please email: production@elitepublishing.com.au Prominent Digital PRINTED BY Prominent Press Pty Ltd OVERSEAS REPRESENTATIVES Representative Agent for Taiwan,China and Hong Kong, Robert Yu,Worldwide Services Co Ltd,11F-B, No. 540 Wen Hsin Road, Section 1,Taichung, 408, Taiwan

***For more information on the fairs or to confirm dates, please check the individual websites.

Tel: +886 4 2325 1784 Fax: +886 4 2325 2967 Email: sales@wwstaiwan.com ELITE PUBLISHING CO PTY LTD PUBLISHERS OF: Supplier Magazine, FB Magazine, Flooring Magazine

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Member of the International Woodworking and Furniture

Insert

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GROUP MANAGING EDITOR

21-23 CIKB 2015

China International Kitchen and Bathroom Expo

Shanghai, China http://www.cikb.com.cn

Lincoln Sentry

Ph: + 61 3 9890 0815

Email: vicky.cammiade@elitepublishing.com.au

14-17 Window & Doors Vietnam 2015

Glass technology exhibition

Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam http://www.glasstechvietnam.com/ window&doors.asp

31 & 37

Carb-I-Tool

PO BOX 800, Templestowe, Victoria, Australia 3106

ashley.cooper@elitepublishing.com.au

Biesse Group

ABN: 27 006 876 419

Vicky Cammiade

14-17 VietnamWood & Furnitec 2015

International woodworking industry fair, furniture, fitting components & accessories exhibition

Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam http://www.vietnamwoodexpo.com

Kitchen King/Hideaway Bins

Cabinets by Computer

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13-16 SICAM 2015

Exhibition of components, semi-finished parts and accessories for furniture industry

Pordenone, Italy http://www.exposicam.it

25 & 47

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Woodworking 2015

International exhibition for machines for the woodworking industry and furniture production

Minsk, Belarus http://woodworking.minskexpo.com

3D Kitchen Design

Contact Us

Tuyap Fairs - Intermob

ELITE PUBLISHING CO PTY LTD. All rights reserved - No part of this publication maybe reproduced, transmitted or copied in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical including photocopying, recording, or any information storage or retrieval system, without the express prior written consent of Elite Publishing Co Pty Ltd. Viewpoints, opinions, claims, etc expressed in articles appearing in this publication are those of the authors. The Publishers accept no responsibility for the information supplied or for claims made by companies or their representatives regarding product performance, etc or for any errors, omissions, misplacement, alterations, or any subsequent changes, or for any consequences of reliance on this information or this publication.

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