Supplier May-June 2014

MAY/JUN 2014

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www.biesse.com.au 1300 BIESSE (243 773) Visit us at AWISA on Stand 2214

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Talk to your Biesse consultant TODAY to discover more advantages of using Biesse’s RBO WNS. CALL 1300 BIESSE (1300 243 773) Visit us at AWISA on stand 2214 www.biesse.com.au

Upfront Well, the countdown to the forthcoming AWISA2014 exhibition being held in Brisbane in August is really the “talk of the town”.

Organised by the Australian Woodworking Industry Suppliers Association, this massive event is held every two years. The 2014 AWISA is being held at the Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre, South Bank, Brisbane.

So if you want to meet up with suppliers of

Contents

MAY/JUNE 2014 vol. 30 no.3

☞News

04 3d Kitchen sponsorship

machinery, components, hardware, materials and

05 Hafele grows by 4% worldwide

software (just to mention a few of the large product

06 eServices from Hettich

range on display) then mark these dates in your diary now – 6 to 9 August 2014 – as you’ll be able to see everything under the one roof!

12 Aus industry needs to lift its game

Enjoy this issue!

☞Design & Trends

Cheers,

18 CMDA 2014 Awards 22 Lincoln Sentry's top 10 trends

☞Manufacturing Vicky Cammiade - Publisher Ph: 03 9890 0815; Fax: 03 9890 0087 or Email: vicky.cammiade@elitepublishing.com.au

32 Towards smaller CNC batch sizes 40 Customising machines to meet production needs 42 All smiles at JK Windows and Doors

☞Features 14 AWISA

16 CMDA update 28 Software

☞Front Cover Biesse

www.biesse.com.au

Vicky Cammiade Publisher

Philip Ashley Technical Writer

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 26 years!

www.suppliermagazine.com.au Member of the International Woodworking and Furniture Supplier Magazine Association

News

3D Kitchen sponsorship 3D Kitchen has continued its gold sponsorship of the Melbourne Holmesglen Institute of TAFE. Chris and Rose Adams, owners of the 3D Kitchen design and production software products, have been sponsoring the TAFE for many years now.

They were pleased to present this year’s prize valued at $2,750 to Claudio Mantuano in recognition of his outstanding achievements.

Chris and Rose were not able to attend the prize-giving this year so were represented by Patrizia Torelli, the CEO of the Australian Furnishing Association.

Chris and Rose wish Claudio great success in his future. “We know that he will go on to be a real achiever.” ●

Excellent start for LivingKitchen 2015 IN 2015, the international kitchen event, Living Kitchen, will return to Cologne for the third time, taking place in parallel with imm cologne from 19 to 25 January 2015.

Project manager Eike Fuchs said: “We already have very good registration figures, with over 130 confirmations currently from over 18 countries. Our goal is to attract 180 national and international exhibitors.“ Over 80% of the confirmed exhibitors for the 2015 event also took part in the last LivingKitchen in 2013.

The goal of LivingKitchen 2015 is a 20% increase in trade visitors from abroad, in particular from Europe, China, Russia and the USA. ●

Hafele mobile showroom HAFELE is taking its best designs and hardware solutions to the road with its mobile showroom, Kong.

Just like its movie namesake, at four meters high, 12.5 meters long and weighing in at 15 tonnes, Kong is a real showstopper. But it's what's inside that really excites.

Hafele will feature the latest and greatest in kitchen innovation on board including award-winning clever storage fittings from Kesseböhmer, brilliant LOOX lighting solutions, as well as designer accessories and stylish appliances from some of Europe's finest manufacturers.

The route began in Queensland in March and concludes in Western Australia in the second half of the year. It will visit South Australia and the Northern Territory between 16 June and 11 July and Western Australia between 4 July and 8 August. ●

Caesarstone Australia launches revamped website Letter to the Editor Comace would like to congratulate Supplier Magazine on its 30 years achievement.

As you say in your promotion: “In this day and age, this is a notable achievement and should be recognised”.

At Comace, we have just celebrated our 32nd year and I would have to agree that it is fairly rare to find companies that have succeeded for this long – especially from start-up and under the original ownership (where did those grey hairs come from !!).

Thanks and kind regards Paul Williams, MD Comace Pty Ltd Adelaide, South Australia PS – Great magazine!

4 | SupplierMay/June 2014

IN line with its ongoing brand evolution, Caesarstone has launched its newly revamped website www.caesarstone.com.au The new and completely redesigned Caesarstone website offers visitors quick and easy access to essential information across its collections and colour ranges.

Among the new highlights is an extensive photo gallery showcasing some of Australia’s leading designers work, providing many examples to inspire. It has been specially built to be Pinterest friendly.

With easy‐to‐navigate design, visitors can browse Caesarstone’s extensive colour pallete and gain inspiration from top designers and kitchen retailers showcasing their work with the specific colour.

To further assist in the decision making process the online Visualiser app offers a photorealistic representation of a kitchen, bathroom or commercial space, which then can be customised with a colour palette from the Caesarstone

range. It also for the selection of flooring materials, wall colours and even cabinet styles to accurately depict the overall tone and feel with a visual design mock up.

The website has cross platform support so the pages adapt to suit each device, providing a better, smoother user experience utilising the latest web technology.

The Find a Display locator also assists buyers with locating a showroom or a specific Caesarstone colour in a city or suburb nearby with Google map integration.● www.suppliermagazine.com.au

Hardware technology specialist Hafele grows by 4% worldwide THE international Häfele Group, known for its hardware technology and electronic access control systems, continued to grow in 2013.

The company group achieved revenue of 1.072 billion Euros, which represents growth of 4% compared to 2012.

The foreign subsidiaries and the German parent company have each contributed 3% to this result.

The company celebrated its 90th birthday in 2013. It operates in more than 150 countries around the world with 37 subsidiaries and numerous additional dealerships, and achieves 76% of its revenue outside Germany.

The Häfele manufacturing company’s above-average growth resulted from the takeover of Velbert-based sliding door specialist Weber & Co KG. Sphinx Electronics GmbH & Co KG in Kenzingen, the developer and manufacturer of electronic access control and security systems, also experienced encouraging growth.

The sliding door solutions from Weber have long since been a fixed constituent of the Häfele product range. Since the collaboration between the two companies had become increasingly close and intensive over the last few years, the takeover of Weber was the logical continuation of Häfele's strategy of combining sliding door expertise and engineering services for the furniture industry under one umbrella.

Major differences in the different markets The Asian and Eastern European markets experienced aboveaverage growth again in 2013, as they did in previous years.

Particularly the newer foreign subsidiaries in Kazakhstan, Romania, Serbia, the Czech Republic and the Ukraine gained a better foothold on the market.

Häfele’s headquarters in Nagold, Germany.

The trend in the USA was extremely pleasing, as it was in 2012. After years of recession, the American subsidiary again made a contribution to the international growth of the Häfele Group, with a significant increase in revenue.

Europe remained a difficult market last year. Häfele increased its domestic market revenue by 3%.

International project business is booming Above-average growth occurred in the revenue of architectural hardware and electronic access control systems, which is now at a level of 25%.

Häfele has been particularly successful with its Dialock electronic access control and security system, which frequently acts as a ‘door opener’ for follow-up orders. For example, last year several foreign Häfele subsidiaries collaborated with the Häfele export department and Dialock subsidiary Sphinx in the construction of the new Olympic facilities in Sochi, Russia, equipping them with hardware fittings “engineered by Häfele”.

Outlook for 2014 Häfele is entering the new year with optimism, and also envisages good opportunities for international growth in 2014. Among other things, this confidence is based on the indications of cautious economic recovery in several European countries. The new investments and projects that have taken place will also bear fruit. ●

Inaugural Wood Excellence prize THE World Architecture Festival (WAF) has announced that this year’s WAF awards program will feature a Wood Excellence Prize for the first time.

Sponsored by the American Hardwood Export Council (AHEC), any type of project can be entered, the only criterion is that wood is an integral part of the project.

Entry into the prize is free and if shortlisted, the designers or architects responsible will be invited to present their project to the prize judges live at the festival. The prize winner will be announced at the WAF awards ceremony on 3 October 2014 in Singapore.

Architect, designer and champion of wood in architecture, Matteo Thun will chair the jury for the Wood Excellence Prize.

Thun commented: "Wood, as a renewable resource material, is indispensable in architecture and design. Our daily challenge is to achieve projects and products that are sustainable, of timeless beauty, pure and simple, but at the www.suppliermagazine.com.au

same time technically and environmentally innovative. The new Wood Excellence Prize will reinforce this intention and I am very pleased to be involved in this very prestigious event."

Rod Wiles, Regional Director for the American Hardwood Export Council said: “It makes perfect sense to be collaborating with the World Architecture Festival to create a new award for excellence in wood. Given some of the exciting uses of wood I have seen in recent architectural projects whilst visiting Australia and New Zealand, I’m expecting a number of high calibre entries from the region”.

The WAF awards sit at the heart of the festival and will see practices from around the world compete across 28 individual award categories for global recognition. The winners of each category are put forward to compete for the coveted World Building of the Year award, presided over by the festival’s ‘super-jury’, with the presentation of the award being the culmination of WAF 2014. ● SupplierMay/June 2014 | 5

News

Online catalogue

eServices from Hettich FAST information, innovative planning and easy ordering have always been a strong focus for Hettich.

Providing a comprehensive service package made up of various electronic solutions produced with the commercial architectural and cabinet making industries in mind, Hettich says its eService provides the best possible support for every activity online.

Hettich home page The Hettich app provides comprehensive information for every user: catalogues, magazines, instructions and videos can be viewed online and stored in the bookshelf.

Optimised for smart phones and tablet, the Hettich home page provides access to all digitally available catalogues, brochures or newsletters by selecting the Service option and then Media centre.

The Hettich app makes this information mobile so it's available wherever you are.

The online catalogue brings together all data relevant to every aspect of Hettich products. Easily and conveniently, the customer can access detailed information on the entire range of products, benefit from rapid search functions and submit an order online – 24 hours a day.

In addition to a complete list of Hettich products, the catalogue provides product descriptions, information on technical properties, catalogue information, price information, accessory items, videos, assembly instructions and drilling patterns.

It also provides access to all catalogues, videos and installation instructions away from the office.

Products can be selected from the catalogues, placed directly in the online catalogue shopping basket and ordered straight away.

Product configurator Product configurators provide a convenient way of collating and viewing the fittings needed. The ProDecor Configurator can allow each user to visualise different design solutions such as judge the effect different Hettich handles have on

different coloured fronts – in seconds, simply at the click of the mouse.

HettCAD system The HettCAD system is a CAD library of fittings integrated in the online catalogue.

Customers can export over 50 different formats, such as DWG, DXT, SAT, IGES, and use them for their own CAD system. This way, all the main drilling points are identified and collision checks made as early as the design stage.

“We set the bar very high for the services we offer and envisage the online catalogue has become an immediate and valuable resource for the market,” said Corene Roberts, Marketing Support Manager, Hettich Australia.

“While the original hard copy catalogue remains a valuable resource, the accessibility of the e-version is a point of differentiation from some of our competitors, and includes all the latest product additions” said Roberts.

“We’ve created a simple, userfriendly online catalogue that’s easy to navigate and offers an immediate method of purchasing for all registered Hettich customers.” ●

Demand for tradies to grow THE demand for tradies is set to grow as 70% of home owners plan revamps, according to a National Australia Bank (NAB) survey.

The survey of home owners has revealed that almost seven in 10 Australians plan to renovate their property in the next 12 months and intend on spending an average $25,000 on home improvements.

According to the survey: • almost seven in 10 (68%) current home loan holders intend to renovate their property within the next 12 months. This includes painting and decorating; • increasing the value of the property and making the property more 6 | SupplierMay/June 2014

liveable were the main reasons given for renovating; • more than half of those renovating intend to update a bathroom or kitchen; • the average amount that renovators claim they will spend is about $25,000; • around three in four renovators (72%) say that they have been putting off their renovations because of financial constraints. On average, the renovations have been put off for about 18 months.

Dean Pearson, NAB Head of Industry Analysis, said: "People have been cautious about their spending and keeping a close eye on their household

budgets in recent years.

"Despite rising consumer anxiety as fears over job security continue to grow, our research suggests that they are becoming more keen to renovate their homes.

"With house prices growing across most markets (with particularly strong growth in Sydney and Melbourne) home owners are becoming more confident about investing in their single greatest asset.

"We've also seen that the number of people looking to build new homes rise sharply over the past year which is great news for tradies as they will become a lot busier over the next 12 months," Mr Pearson said. ● www.suppliermagazine.com.au

Trends for 2014 - Slide it. Love it.

There’s a movement that’s becoming increasingly popular - sliding doors in the kitchen, living room, bathroom and bedroom. Design, functionality and ergonomics are central aspects that define this movement in new innovations made by Hettich.

Hettich is using this as an opportunity to place a particular focus on sliding doors at AWISA 2014 and invite visitors to come view the comprehensive range.

Visit Hettich at stand 3505 & 3513 1800 687 789 hettich.com.au

News

Entries open for Intergrain Timber Vision Awards 2014

Laminex on the cutting edge LAMINEX Australia has launched a new cut-to-size service for fabricators seeking a hassle-free, ready-to-install compact laminate panel solution.

Laminex Marketing Manager, Joanna Baker, said the introduction of this service is the result of customer feedback and will deliver a convenient and efficient solution.

“Compact laminate is a great material, which specifiers love for its durability and design potential, but not every workshop is set up to be able to handle it,” said Joanna.

“Now with the cut-to-size service, fabricators can easily use compact laminate for a variety of internal and external applications, achieving the perfect balance of strength and beauty.”

Laminex’s new cut-to-size panels can help fabricators increase business efficiencies and enable smaller workshops to complete jobs that previously would have required specialist cutting and lifting equipment. No minimum order is required, the option of routering or pre-drilling for handles and hinges is also available and panels are customised, so the fabricator only buys exactly what they need.

“With no wastage to worry about, it’s a win-win solution,” Joanna explained.

Laminex cut-to-size panels are ideal for small and large jobs, from restaurant tabletops to laboratory benchtops and alfresco kitchen benchtops, doors and gables.● 8 | SupplierMay/June 2014

THE 2014 Intergrain Timber Vision Awards is open and welcoming Australian and New Zealand architects, building designers, landscape architects, interior designers and other design professionals to enter projects displaying creative and visionary use of timber.

Designed to celebrate innovative use of timber, the awards recognise the great work of industry professionals. This year’s categories include Exterior Residential, Interior Residential, Exterior Commercial and Interior Commercial.

Intergrain Trade Brand Manager, Amanda Chalmers said the Intergrain Timber Vision Awards aim to celebrate projects that push timber design boundaries.

“Last year’s entries were phenomenal, showcasing outstanding industry talent.

Each year the calibre of entries continues to grow and we’re expecting this year, our fifth consecutive year, to be no exception.

Woodworking fair in Turkey THE biggest fairs of the industry in Eurasia – Wood Processing Machinery and Intermob are prepairing to open their doors from 27 September until 1 October 2014 at Tuyap Fair Convention and Congress Center, Buyukcekmece, Istanbul.

Already 70% booked by both domestic and international companies, the organisers are expecting to host a huge number of visitors from all the major countries in Europe and the Middle East.

Timber continues to be a growing trend in both commercial and residential design and with this movement, projects are breaking away from traditional applications to using timber in new and innovative ways. We can’t wait to receive entries which speak to this sentiment, once again highlighting the important role timber plays in Australian architecture,” she said.

Winners will receive a $2,000 cash prize plus Intergrain product to the value of $5,000.

Entries close on 27 June. The winners will be announced in August at the Intergrain Timber Vision Awards Breakfast to be held in Melbourne.●

The fairs will be exhibited in 14 halls covering 120.000 m2 and, in addition to latest technologies in wood processing machinery, furniture accessories and forestry products, 2014 will see new companies operating in the industry of furniture upholstery products and technologies.

Turkey is located in the center of Caucasia, Balkans, Middle East, North Africa, Black Sea Basin, Western and Central Asia with a population of 1.5 billion people.

Together, the Wood Processing and Intermob fairs create an important trading platform for small-middle scaled companies wishing to build their own brands, exhibit their latest products and trends and meet with the most qualified customers.

The success that the fairs have achieved so far indicates the strength of the industry.

The figures for international visitors coming from more than 90 countries is proof of the interest shown to both local and international products. ● www.suppliermagazine.com.au

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News

HOMAG Group sets new record in Holz Handwerk AS the biggest exhibitor at the fair, attendance at the Holz-Handwerk Homag stand paid dividends for the Homag Group.

With machine technology on show over an area of 1,700 m2 to suit any size and scale of woodworking shop, Homag City proved a real magnet to trade visitors at the show with a new visitor record and an unprecedented degree of interest by joiners and woodworking shops.

Under the trade fair banner “Growing with the Homag Group”, the company provided tangible proof of how joinery firms and woodworking shops can grow with the utmost simplicity using individual technology modules from the Homag Group.

There were 30 machines demonstrating in continuous operation live at the show and the air was filled with the unmistakable hum of business being done.

“With visitor numbers at over 108,000, this year’s fair broke all previous records. We welcomed visitors from 46 countries to ‘Homag City’, and the value of new orders received was more than 10% up on the last show two years ago. The visitors were enthused by our innovations and our trade fair concept”, said Homag’s Head of Central Marketing Alexander Prokisch..●

10 | SupplierMay/June 2014

Students take priority delivery THE Australian Furniture Association (AFA) is proud to announce Pedemonts as the association’s official freight partner for the upcoming Australian International Furniture Exhibition, Australian Furniture Industry Awards and National Training Awards to be held in Melbourne in July.

Since the late 1800s, the name Pedemont has been synonymous with moving and storing furniture within Australia.

“This year the Australian Furniture Industry Awards are focussed on increased participation from students and education and Training providers,” said Bill Pedemont. “This is consistent with the Pedemonts’ ethos, which is to support the growth of the industry and support the next generation of furniture industry leaders.

“It is only fitting that we should be involved and we are very proud to do so.’

The partnership involves the offer of free freight from Pedemont capital city depots to Melbourne for all student award nominated pieces for the Australian International Furniture Exhibition, the National Furniture Industry Training Awards and the Australian Furniture Industry Awards.

Storage at the Pedemonts Melbourne Depot, event bump in and out and return freight to the original depot is also included.

“The Australian Furniture Association is thrilled to secure such an iconic organisation as Pedemonts to be the official transport and storage partner for series of activities of the festival of furniture,” said AFA CEO, Patrizia Torelli.

“The AFA is committed to a national approach for all of our initiatives and Pedemonts provides the perfect national solution for our needs. Pedemont shares the AFA’s values and is passionate about the ongoing success of Australian furniture design and manufacturing.

“Together we will work on a national approach to ensure the continued growth of the Australian furniture industry. Young people need to have the support of industry to enter the sector and quite often financial constraints prevent them from doing so. We are so grateful that Pedemonts are assisting with bringing their dreams to reality,” Ms Torelli said.

In addition, Pedemonts have offered to negotiate with other business category nominees to provide best price freight should they wish to take advantage of the fact that Pedemonts are on board and freighting into Melbourne for this event.

Support Manager and soon after Library Product Development Manager. ●

FWPA has grand designs on TV ad IN April, television viewers in Australia were greeted by award-winning architect Peter Maddison, host of Grand Designs Australia, promoting wood for Planet Ark and Forest and Wood Products Australia (FWPA).

The commercial, produced under Planet Ark’s Environmental Edge brand and co-branded Wood. Naturally Better. returned to free-to-air and pay TV in metropolitans and major regional markets in a short, targeted schedule.

“Tracking research has indicated excellent increases in awareness of our key messages from the previous campaigns with 74% of respondents saying the points in the ad were believable,” said Ric Sinclair, Managing Director of FWPA. “Our market research also shows this ad is effective in helping people’s understanding of the environmental benefits of wood and indicates that Peter, our presenter from Grand Designs Australia, is doing a great job. I look forward to this campaign continuing to create good results for our industry.”

In the commercial, Peter Maddison explains that wood stores carbon and that carbon is better locked away in wood than free in the environment. He ends by suggesting that by choosing wood, viewers are doing good.

Planet Ark’s Environmental Edge is a series of advertisements designed to provide people with facts to help them make more informed environmental decisions.

The commercial can be viewed at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b8hQoM5AXpg &feature=youtu.be ●

www.suppliermagazine.com.au

Introducing Pytha Partners Australia MICHAEL Rowe has taken the wheel at Pytha Partners Australia, dedicated wholly and solely to the sales and support of Pytha 3D CAD software in Australia and New Zealand.

Pytha Partners Australia is the only authorised Pytha software representative in Australia and New Zealand for new licences, updates and upgrades, individual and group training, technical support agreements, industry liaison and development requests.

Formerly co-director at Intermic Group, Michael made the decision to focus solely on the continuing success of Pytha in Australia and New Zealand. Michael explained: “Pytha 3D CAD software has enjoyed 15 years as Australia and New Zealand’s leading planning, presentation and design solution.

With such an established foundation, Pytha Partners Australia has one mission – to deliver exceptional levels of service and support to the vast network of Pytha3D CAD users across the region.

“Already secured are more competitive pricing and new support packages to meet the varying needs of Pytha users.

Work with TAFE and industry has established innovative and constructive working relationships that will drive further benefits to the Australian and New Zealand Pytha family.”

One of these synergistic relationships is with D&P Specialists.

“D&P is a powerhouse when it comes to software technical ability. I’m really pleased to have D&P deliver Pytha technical support services for me,” said Michael.

Pytha Partners Australia will be at AWISA 2014 in August.●

Timber Queensland releases revised technical data sheets PEAK industry body Timber Queensland has completed a major revision of over 30 technical data sheets (TDS) which provide timber related advice developed in Queensland for Queensland application.

Timber Queensland’s CEO Rod McInnes said the TDS provide expert, straight-forward and accurate advice making the selection, specification and use of timber products much easier.

“Timber Queensland’s TDS are the go-to documents for architects, building designers, engineers, certifiers, builders and handymen who need timber related advice,” said Rod McInnes.

“They’re also all referenced by building authorities and Australia’s leading timber processors, fabricators and manufacturers - these are highly respected and sought after publications,” he added.

“The review, undertaken by respected timber engineer and Timber Queensland’s Manager Timber Application and Use Colin MacKenzie, ensures the TDS reflect Australian Standards, state and national Building Codes and current best practice,” he said.

TDS topics include residential timber decks and fences, timber floors recommended installation practices, finishes for exterior timber and protecting buildings from subterranean termites.●

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News

Aus industry needs to lift its game AUSTRALIA needs to step up its manufacturing skills in the next decade or risk falling behind other nations, according to a new study by the Australian Workforce and Productivity Agency.

The manufacturing workforce study report examined Australia’s manufacturing shift from heavy industrial manufacturing to technologically advanced manufacturing. It recommended key areas in which Australia needs to lift its game in order to remain competitive.

A broad recommendation was for Australia to transition to a sustainable, globally competitive manufacturing base.

To do this, enhancing management skills and positioning the workforce for adjustment and renewal are needed.

Australian Industry Group chief executive Innes Willox said the report showed Australia needs to transition to a more diverse, high-end manufacturing base. He said the country needs a stronger focus on research, innovation and “more niche manufacturing of complex high value added goods”.

Other recommendations in the report included the promotion of manufacturing as a rewarding career choice, focusing on creating capable apprentices and increasing engagement with universities to secure a pipeline of skilled workers.

A core suggestion was addressing the increasing demand for STEM skills (science, technology, engineer and mathematics). It was also suggested that Australia increase the diversity of skills in the manufacturing workforce.

“The skills challenges for the industry are significant,” Willox said. “Currently 45% of the manufacturing workforce does not have post-school qualifications while 87% of the jobs in the industry require this.”

“Employers responding to Ai Group surveys report considerable difficulty recruiting individuals with STEM skills especially technicians and trade workers (41%), professionals (27%) and managers (26%).”

Manufacturing Australia executive director Ben Eade told SmartCompany he supports the principle of the findings, but says it is important to be careful how

Australia characterises the transition of the sector.

“Our manufacturing base has around 900,000 people… there has been a rationalising of manufacturing over several decades. What has happened is that we are a boutique nation with high costs and we can’t compete in the high cost, low value manufacturing.”

He says in the next decade Australia needs to play to its competitive advantage.

“Our advantages are our highly skilled employees, our proximity to Asia and our abundant energy resources that we are not making the best of,” he said.

Eade supports the view that Australia needs to invest more in manufacturing skills training; however, said that countless Australian manufacturing companies, particularly those of a larger scale, are already investing in skills and training for staff.

He said he understands smaller manufacturing businesses may be relying on external training resources to obtain skilled employees, and thinks that policies need to respect this. ●

Conflict over woodworking expos in Taiwan

Wood energy on show at INTERFORST 2014

THE Taiwan Woodworking Machinery Association (TWMA) is distancing itself from Interwood Taipei 2014 – the Taipei International Woodworking Machinery and Supplies Show to be held in May. TWMA is the only official organization of Taiwan's woodworking machinery industry and has decided to work in conjunction with the Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA) to expand and co-organise the Taiwan International Woodworking Machinery Show (TaiwanWood 2015), to be held 2 to 5 July 2015.

The event aims to become Taiwan's most professional and largest woodworking machinery industry exhibition and trade platform.

“Interwood Taipei is organised by an association that does not represent woodworking machinery manufacturers and we have confirmed that 99% of its member firms are not registered for participation,” said Bae, Shyr-tsong, the Chairman of TWMA. “Our members only support Taiwan International Woodworking Machinery Exhibition (TaiwanWood 2015), which is sure to be an excellent trade platform. That is where the real woodworking machinery action will be, and TWMA with all of its member companies will participate.” ●

WELL known exhibitors will present machinery and equipment for the entire energy wood process chain at INTERFORST 2014 in Munich from 16 to 20 July – ranging from timber harvesting, transportation and processing up to the use of wood as a source of energy.

In many areas of forestry, the use of wood as an energy source exerts a noticeable influence, a trend which is also recognisable in forest technology. On the one hand, the consumers’ requirements regarding the quality of the final product are continuously rising; on the other hand, resource efficiency at the different levels of the entire process chain is an important topic.

In addition, an increasing number of new areas have been opened up as a result of the use of wood as a source of energy in the last few years, such as for example short rotation coppices (SRC) or wood sourced from landscape conservation projects. ●

12 | SupplierMay/June 2014

www.suppliermagazine.com.au

open the door to great machinery and design

AWISA 2014

the show for wood and panel processing AWISA 2014 is the international exhibition of machinery, materials, fittings and services for the Australian and New Zealand cabinet, joinery, furniture, timber and panel industries.

6-9 August 2014 Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre

BRISBANE

www.awisa.com

AWISA

AWISA 2014: start planning your visit

Anyone looking to see what’s new in woodworking machinery, be it basic machinery or the most sophisticated and automated CNC machine, should be starting to plan their trip to AWISA 2014.

Likewise, anyone wanting to learn about the latest in hardware, decorative products and software should also be looking to visit the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre from 6 to 9 August this year.

AWISA 2014 occupies 15,000 m2 of the centre. All the major machinery companies that supply the Australian market are in the show, as are all the major hardware and software companies. AWISA is one of the largest trade shows in Australia and has become an internationally renowned success.

It’s a great chance to gather information and stay in touch with important industry trends. By getting away from the office and the factory, attendees can spend undistracted time learning about developments in machinery, materials, fittings and services that might help make their businesses run more efficiently and effectively – and profitably.

14 | SupplierMay/June 2014

Above: Brisbane city at night, with the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre at South Bank on the right.

Left: AWISA visitors will find plenty to do in the evening. Brisbane CBD is just across the river but, within a few hundred metres of the venue at South Bank, there are over 50 restaurants, cafes and bars.

There’s plenty to do in Brisbane while AWISA 2014 show is in town. The show venue is located at South Bank, where visitors will find a mix of cafes, restaurants, boutiques and cultural experiences – plenty for visitors to do in their spare time and after hours. The Queensland Art Gallery, Gallery of Modern Art, Queensland Museum and Science Centre, and Queensland Conservatorium are all within a short walk of AWISA 2014, and Brisbane’s CBD is just across the river with attractions such as Treasury Casino.

Visitors looking for what their favorite winter sporting code is up to during the weekend of the show should visit their code’s website. For example, in the NRL, the Broncos will play the Bulldogs at Suncorp Stadium (day to be confirmed), and in the AFL, the Brisbane Lions will be playing the Adelaide Crows at the Gabba on Sunday 10 August.

Admission to AWISA 2014 is free; however, visitors are asked to register.

This can be done in the venue foyer on arrival, but it is best to pre-register at www.awisa.com. ● www.suppliermagazine.com.au

2

4 3

1

1 Ergonomic clip element 2 Integrated damping 3 Depth adjustment +3/-2 mm

6 5

4 Height adjustment Âą2 mm 5 Overlay adjustment Âą2 mm 6 New kinematic

TIOMOS HINGE SYSTEM

Tiomos has integrated adjustable dampening across all applications.

Does your hinge ?

With or without integrated damping. Matching design for combinations of hinges with and without damping.

Door overlay up to 24 mm cabinet side width. Greater design scope. Full overlay for side widths up to 24 mm.

Tool-free damper adjustment.

Consistent closing action irrespective of door size and weight.

Utmost stability.

Strong connection thanks to 30 per cent more contact surface.

Durable stability in every position. Stepless, self-locking height adjustment.

Minimum gaps and reveals.

Newly developed movement sequences enable smaller gaps and reveals.

Grass Australia/New Zealand Pty. Ltd. Australia: Phone +61 3 9421 3048 Email: Info-australia@grass.eu

www.grass.eu

New Zealand: Phone: +64 9 273 7491 Email: Info-newzealand@grass.eu

QUALITY CERTIFICATE

CDMA News

CDMA Update

By Richard Brooks

Recent months at CMDA have seen many diverse activities being undertaken with the continued objective of assisting members to be profitable in a highly competitive marketplace. A particular focus of CMDA is in the area of innovation, design, craftsmanship and ingenuity and identifying ways by which our members can achieve a high level of skill and outcome in these areas in future years.

CMDA recently completed its annual awards program recognising the significant skills in design and manufacture that the industry can provide to both commercial and domestic clients. One guest at the event made particular mention of how impressed he was with the breadth of projects exhibited and the design flair in both small and large projects that entrants in the awards exhibited.

Recent months have seen the following projects undertaken by the association: • Victorian Building Authority (VBA) – the Victorian Government has recently tabled a Bill with regard to the consolidation of various building authorities, consumer protection, builders warranty insurance, dispute resolution and enforcement of registration etc requirements.

This bill is before Parliament and is expected to be enacted as legislation during the next six months.

• Registered Building Practitioners – Following

16 | SupplierMay/June 2014

negotiations with the Building Practitioners Board the requirements for registration as a limited building practitioner in Victoria have been clarified and are far more reasonable than the approach previously taken. The association has commenced a series of seminars to assist members who are considering making application for registration.

CMDA can now provide access to support where an applicant may have a particular need for skill development – the objective being to concentrate on the particular area of need rather than applicants having to undertake a formal certificate qualification – much of which is not relevant to a trade based limited application.

• Commercial and domestic building contract documentation – CMDA’s current documentation has been reviewed by our solicitors and information provided on how to obtain personalised copies of this documentation. This service is provided to members at a nominal cost to cover customisation and the ongoing review of the terms and conditions. Many members have saved a significant amount of money where they have used the commercial documentation and consequently been able to recover legal costs and other fees when taking action against delinquent debtors.

• Debt collection – a webinar will be conducted

in June/July focusing on credit management and the debt collection alternatives that are available to businesses in the cabinet design, manufacturing and installation sector.

These seminars will have a particular focus on trade accounts and the opportunities that are available to protect your debt and take recovery action where necessary.

• Furniture Cabinets Joinery Alliance (FCJA) - the board of CMDA has recently reaffirmed its commitment to FCJA – the body that has been established to represent the furniture, cabinet and joinery industry at a peak level. This position is consistent with the association’s ongoing belief that CMDA should, at all times, look at opportunities to work co-operatively with like industry bodies to improve opportunities for member businesses.

The FCJA has been extremely busy in the last few months, strengthening its relations with the Federal Government. Various FCJA Board members have had a series of meetings with federal politicians (Ministers and Parliamentary Secretaries), ministerial advisers and government officials. In addition, the FCJA held its first joint Industry Leaders Forum with the Federal Department of Industry, in Sydney on 9 April.

A common response from all in Government was the strong support expressed

for the FCJA initiative, which has brought together all the major associations representing the various and diverse industries that make up the furniture, cabinet and joinery sector, to develop a unified and cohesive strategy for the industry overall. Indeed, a number of the Minsters, and in particular the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Industry, Bob Baldwin MP, made it very clear that he did not want to deal with a fragmented industry and was only interested in talking with the one peak body for the industry, stressing that if industry comes with more than “one voice” he will not engage with it.

The founding members of the FCJA, ie FIAA, AWISA, AWA, CMDA, ASOFIA have all reaffirmed their commitment to the FCJA and the objective to work collaboratively together to develop, continually refine and help implement strategies designed to foster the ongoing growth and development of its constituent members. They are all proud of the significant industry coverage reflected by the FCJA membership, comprising furniture, inbuilt cabinets, kitchens, bathrooms, windows, doors and shop and office fittings. Membership continues to grow, with the Western Australia Furniture Manufacturers Association, the Western Australian Cabinet Makers Association and the Engineered Wood Products

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Association, to name just a few, all expressing interest in becoming a part of the FCJA activities.

Collectively, the total membership of these member associations exceeds 2000 companies and includes all the major businesses in the industry and a strong cross section of all the SMEs that characterise the industry.

It is this whole coverage that the FCJA hopes will be captured in the series of Industry Leader Forums to be held around the country over the next 12 months.

The inaugural FCJ Industry Leaders Forum held in April, proved to be a resounding success.

Intended as a genuine leaders forum, the original intention was to restrict numbers to 20 key executives from the industry but, such was the interest in the event, that the organisers accepted registrations from almost double that number.

Participants included representatives from each of the core industry associations in the sector as well as senior executives from major companies in the cabinet and kitchens industry, windows industry, wood and panel suppliers and the shop and office fitting industry.

Ron Scott, the current Chair of the FCJA opened the forum, highlighting the need for the industry to change its business models to one that creates value for the customer rather than trying to compete on price, as that simply is not possible in the face of low cost imports – and this will never change.

Ron also highlighted the value of collaboration, clearly evidenced by the strength of all the core FCJ associations working www.suppliermagazine.com.au

closely together to pursue improvements in the four strategic pillars critical for the industry’s future survival: • design and innovation; • regulation and compliance; • skills and training; • supply chain management.

Andrew Trainer and Sean Thomas from the Department of Industry supported Ron’s comments, confirming that it was the industry’s ability to come together with

Peter highlighted the importance of design and creativity to all businesses, stressing that creativity does not just apply to the product but can be introduced in all aspects of a business’ operations including in the underlying business model itself. Moreover, to be regarded as creative, not everything a company does needs to be creative as it can be the novel and unique treatment of relatively small

"A common response from all in Government was the strong support expressed for the FCJA initiative, which has brought together all the major associations representing the various and diverse industries that make up the furniture, cabinet and joinery sector, to develop a unified and cohesive strategy for the industry overall.” a single common voice through the FCJA that has solicited a positive response and engagement with the Government. Indeed, Sean noted in his presentation that the FCJA has demonstrated that the industry is one to be reckoned with as it is far larger and more visible than most other industries in the Australian economy (employing over 130,000 people and with annual turnover of some $33 billion).

A very insightful and thought provoking presentation was delivered

by Peter Ireland, one of the principals from commercial architect firm, Allan Jack Cottier.

things that still spark genuine interest in the marketplace.

Peter then talked about emerging trends in the urban housing market and the impact this had on consumers’ needs and thus the opportunities for furniture and joinery companies to provide innovative products that reflect these developments. These trends include the rapid growth in the over 60s demographic in western countries, the “downsizing” of apartments in the inner cities and the increasing desire for inside/ outside living.

All of these trends point to the need for greater multifunctionality in the product offering, geared towards

meeting the unique and demanding needs of the customer.

Dale Seymour, Commissioner of the new Anti-Dumping Commission provided a comprehensive summary of the Government’s current policies in this area, which generated extensive discussion between the Commissioner and the industry leaders. This is clearly an area of strong interest for the industry and the Commissioner has agreed to present at a future Leaders Forum once the Government has finalised further amendments to its antidumping provisions.

All participants overwhelmingly endorsed the value of the Forum and agreed that the FCJA and Government should implement the full series of forums around the country, as initially mooted.

The next FCJA Industry Leaders Forums will be held: * Brisbane – 6 August 2014, in conjunction with the AWISA Exhibition: 2.00pm – 5.00pm (followed by an hour of networking/refreshments), Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre. Anybody interested in attending should contact Peter Kreitals, FCJA’s Policy Adviser at peterk@ kreitals.com.au.

Now that the Budget has been delivered and the Government’s directions are clearer the FCJA will be working closely with all relevant Government agencies to identify the best way to get positive returns for the industry. In particular the FCJA will be looking at the opportunities that the new programs may offer and all members will be advised of the details of these once they come to light. ● SupplierMay/June 2014 | 17

Design & Trends

CMDA 2014 Awards

The Cabinet Makers and Designers Association conducted its 2014 awards night in the prestigious Olympic Room of the Melbourne Cricket Ground in May. This award night continues the program conducted by the CMDA’s founder, the Cabinet Makers

Association, over the past 20 years.

In line with the CMDA’s commitment to a national approach and the promotion of innovation and design in the broader industry the awards were open to both members and non-members of the association for the first time.

1.

6.

5.

18 | SupplierMay/June 2014

4.

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2.

Clockwise from top: 1. Designer of the year 2. Best free standing furniture 3. Best kitchen $15-25,000 4. Best commercial project 5. Best kitchen over $40,000 6. President’s award

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3.

The event was a particular opportunity to celebrate excellence in the design and manufacture of Australian cabinetry with a particular emphasis on innovation, design, craftsmanship and ingenuity.

The awards were judged by an independent judging panel consisting of industry and non-industry representatives including people with experience in design or manufacture.

The judges made particular mention of the quality and diversity of the entries and also noted that the trend was for the entries to be of higher value and complexity than those received in previous years.

On the awards night many guests took the opportunity to tour the MCG prior to the event and the backdrop of the floodlit ground during the event added to the prestige of the evening. The President of the

CMDA, Mark Nickson welcomed guests, thanked the evening’s sponsors and presented the awards during the evening.

The formalities of the evening concluded with the presentation of the principal awards for 2014: • President’s Award – Smith and Smith Kitchens; • Australian Cabinet Maker of the Year - Richard Curley, Debrich Custom Joinery; • Australian Designer of the Year – Rob Barclay, Smith and Smith Kitchens.

The winners of the Australian Cabinet Maker of the Year and Australian Designer of the Year each received a return flight and one night’s accommodation to the coming AWISA exhibition in Brisbane kindly sponsored by AWISA and a year’s 20 membership in CMDA. SupplierMay/June 2014 | 19

Design & Trends

7.

19 The CMDA Executive would like to acknowledge the significant contribution made by the judges and sponsors and also the many businesses who took the time to compete. Now is the time for businesses to start thinking about and preparing their entries for 2015.●

8.

Clockwise from top: 7. The sponsors of the awards 8. Best built-in furniture & Cabinet Maker of the Year 9. Best kitchen under $15,000 10. Best kitchen $25 – 40,000 and new member entry

10.

Sponsors Gold Sponsors • Hafele Australia Pty Ltd • Wiseman Institute of Applied Learning

Silver Sponsors • Blum Australia • AWISA • First Super Supporter: • Lincoln Sentry • ForestWorks Ltd

9.

Award Winners CMDA 2014 Apprentice of the Year – Anica Marie Costa CMDA 2014 Training Awards Encouragement Award – Brett Merrills Best Kitchen under $15,000 – Melbourne Contemporary Kitchens Best Kitchen $15,000 to $25,000 – Inwood Custom Cabinets Best Kitchen $25,000 to $40,000 – The Cupboard Boys Best Kitchen over $40,000 – Smith & Smith Kitchens Best Built in Furniture – Debrich Custom Joinery Best Commercial Project – Kitchen Innovations Best Free Standing Furniture – L T Nickson & Burke

Media Sponsors

Best New Member Entry – The Cupboard Boys

• Supplier Woodworking Magazine • Melbourne Kitchen + Bathroom Design • AWISA Magazine

President’s Award – Smith & Smith Kitchens

20 | SupplierMay/June 2014

Australian Cabinet Maker of the Year – Richard Curley, Debrich Custom Joinery Australian Designer of the Year – Rob Barclay, Smith & Smith Kitchens

●

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Tiomos offers all you need The Tiomos hinge from Grass is designed to provide maximum stability, variable dampening and stylish design.

The development of Tiomos has benefited from decades of knowhow and experience by Grass. The end result is an elegant movement system that meets all the technical and functional requirements of today and tomorrow.

“Tiomos simply offers all you need,” said Managing Director of Grass Australia/New Zealand David Maitland. “Rarely has a movement system achieved such rapid success around the globe.

“Grass developers set out to create a product innovation with special functions, variable operating comfort and timeless design as well as its own individual character. And the result is up to the mark,” Maitland said.

“Tiomos is the perfect movement system for contemporary trends in furniture design. And it is the best possible movement solution for furniture doors," he concluded.

Integrated adjustable dampening

characteristics are of special benefit to furniture designers for whom the reduction in gaps opens up new possibilities in furniture design.

Perfect alignment Grass has divided the fine adjustment options of Tiomos hinges into three movement dimensions: depth adjustment in the range of +3 to -2 millimetres based on a worm gear principle that is continuous and self-locking; height adjustment with a range of +/-2 millimetres and adjustment of the overlay with a range of +/-2 millimetres with limit stop.

Door thicknesses from 14 mm to 26 mm are covered by just one hinge type while the ergonomic clip engages audibly, so installation errors can be avoided. Tiomos also offers continuity: the cup depth remains unchanged so Grass customers can continue to work with the familiar drilling depth of 12.6 millimetres.

One of the outstanding features of the new hinge system is the soft-close dampener, which offers stepwise adjustment and is fully concealed within the hinge arm. The adjustability of the dampener enables uniform closing times and action irrespective of the door size or material.

“Use of an oil functioning dampener means that Tiomos has no rebound effect when closing. It also gives Tiomos the ability to function perfectly within a greater range of temperature changes making it perfectly suited to Australia’s varying climates.

Quality and stability

Optimum leverage and minimum gaps

One range covers all applications

With the new kinematics inside Tiomos, the physically optimised lever movements mean furniture doors are extremely easy to open. In addition, this unique kinematic mechanism makes perfect alignment possible with minimum gaps. These unique

The systematically extended Tiomos range provides movement solutions for virtually every application from glass, mirror or aluminium frame doors through to doors opening at variable wide angles – with and without damping function. ●

"You can tell the quality of a hinge system by how long a hinge will function without developing a fault and how much it will drop under load," said Maitland. “The new hinge system from Grass achieved exceptionally positive values in tests for durability and dropping under load. In addition, the use of topquality materials and cutting-edge manufacturing methods guarantees the same top product quality that customers are used to from other Grass products.”

SupplierMay/June 2014 | 21

Design & Trends

Lincoln Sentry’s top ten trends

1.

The Rho Mila Fairgrounds in Milan, Italy welcomed a sell-out crowd for the 20th edition of the international kitchen exhibition, EuroCucina held 8 to 13 April, 2014. 128

2.

exhibitors over 24,800 m2 paraded classic and designer kitchens constructed from brick, timber and laminated plastic catering for every palate.

The technology rich displays at EuroCucina 2014 emphasised the evolution of kitchens into environments which extend beyond the cooking of meals into social and entertaining havens. Kitchens are now the centre of living where families and friends come together to enjoy each other’s company and create memories.

The desire to make kitchens functional as well as warm and welcoming has generated a growing interest in natural materials and innovative design.

Organic, natural textures juxtaposed industrial stainless steel surfaces, geometric handles and shark noses.

Lighting was a dominant element featuring inside drawers and inside glass design elements in the drawer as vertical or horizontal highlights. Motion sensors, warm and neutral lighting were prevalent and strip lighting with diffusers created soft glows rather than a sharp direct light.

Kevin Bruce, Lincoln Sentry National Manager – Cabinet Hardware described Eurocucina 2014 as “Sensory compelling. There was an expectation and anticipation of what was behind every door and drawer and the array of textures invited spectators to interact with displays. In effect EuroCucina became more than a show, it was an experience”.

Lincoln Sentry is a leading specialist 22 | SupplierMay/June 2014

hardware distributor and has been supporting the building, renovation, furniture-making and shop fitting markets since 1986. Supplying leading brands such as Blum, VauthSagel, Hera, Lamello, Assa Abloy, Breezway and many more ensure Lincoln Sentry deliver quality products with their carefully planned function, known design and durability.

3.

Top Ten Trends: EuroCucina 2014 1. Task lighting, ambient light and mood lighting inside and outside cabinets, even under glass design elements highlighting drawer profiles.

2. Flush and non-intrusive handles are on trend. Handles recessed into drawer fronts produced a pop of colour and a new design feature.

3. Wider drawers manufactured out of timber with customised internal organisation.

4. Inner drawers maximise useable storage space.

5. Shark nose detailing continued stream-lined, handle-less façades.

6. Cabinetry displayed in neutral colours and wood grains.

7. Thin bench tops overlayed by thick bench tops creating layers and becoming a stand out design feature.

4.

From top: 1. Task lighting, ambient light and mood lighting inside and outside cabinets. Photo: Carola Merello.

2. Thin bench tops overlayed by thick bench tops creating layers and becoming a stand out design feature. Photo: Carola Merello.

3. Flush and non-intrusive handles are on trend as are lift systems in overheads. Photo: Carola Merello.

4. Handles recessed into drawer fronts produced a pop of colour and a new design feature. Photo: Lincoln Sentry.

8. Aluminium bench top rails and handle rails used as colour accents.

9. Matt surfaces in stainless steel, glass, laminate and faux stone.

10. Open shelving utilised as practical room dividers. ●

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Sales, Service + Orders T +61 8 9209 7400 F +61 8 9209 7499 E sales@beyondtools.com Repair + Servicing spare parts + technical support + installations T +61 8 9209 7444 F +61 8 9209 7455 E service@beyondtools.com

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Design & Trends

Slide it. Love it

Hettich is using this as an opportunity to place a particular spotlight on sliding doors at AWISA 2014 and give visitors new inspiration in making living spaces work beautifully.

Continuous refinements to the ArciTech drawer system, the Sensys hinge as well as to the InnoTech drawer system will be on show in a well‐balanced product line-up providing attractive solutions. ●

A preview of Hettich's line-up at AWISA 2014.

This year's AWISA Exhibition in Brisbane will not only see Hettich present highlights under its "Slide it.

Love it." banner but also launch a new sliding door systems that meet design demands.

Improvements to Hettich’s drawers and hinges will also be a major focus at the exhibition. Design, functionality and ergonomics are central aspects that define the innovations made by Hettich.

Sliding door systems from Hettich There's a movement that's becoming increasingly popular – sliding doors in the kitchen, living room, bathroom and bedroom. Sliding doors in furniture or as room dividers are causing excitement in the home. And there are good reasons for this because sliding doors open up a wealth of options for purist‐style furniture and interior design, making excellent use of space and provide ergonomic and unobstructed access.

The future of cabinet making

goCabinets is a premium online cabinetry ordering system that works with a vast array of cabinet making businesses Australia-wide. As a result, the company is able to draw insights about some of the overall trends that occur in the industry.

Recently, the team at goCabinets has noticed a rather major shift – two key categories of cabinet making businesses have started to emerge.

Those with CNC technology have now begun to place more of a focus on the cut-to-size market. On the other hand, small and medium size cabinet making 24 | SupplierMay/June 2014

businesses are forgoing purchasing any machinery and instead opting to order their cut-to-size from suppliers.

“Quality machinery is a big investment so companies with CNCs want to ensure that they are capitalising on their assets and cutting as much board as possible.

The best way to achieve this is to supply the industry,” said goCabinets Marketing Co-ordinator, Jess Wozniak.

“Since board can be cut so quickly, accurately and easily with CNC technology, the associated costs with production are significantly lowered.

Left: Sensys guarantees perfect closing function and Silent System performance over an exceptionally wide temperature range of +5 °C to +40 °C Top: The ArciTech Drawer System: a broad platform concept that can be used to create a multitude of solutions.

Above: Sliding doors are also being used more and more throughout the home.

This presents small and medium size cabinet makers with the opportunity to take advantage of the great prices without having to worry about any of the overheads involved in manufacture.”

Gary Cannard, goCabinets director, predicted this trend and the associated setbacks such as the time spent creating cut lists, manual job entry and the potential room for error. Cannard created goCabinets specifically to overcome these issues and he says that the response has been overwhelmingly positive.● www.suppliermagazine.com.au

Rover B FT Biesse’s fastest nesting technology The recently released Rover B FT machine is Biesse’s leading flagship of nesting systems.

The Rover B FT creates huge efficiencies in production through higher output and reducing labour costs. With the new automatic loading and unloading system and the automatic labelling we achieve faster cycle times.

Biesse’s new style gantry structure delivers greater acceleration which results in higher productivity and greater tool life. Biesse’s Rover B FT is completely flexible, including choices of drill heads, spindle type and vacuum multizoning. The fully customisable loading and unloading configuration will suit any factory layout.

Rover B FT

Talk to your Biesse consultant TODAY to discover more advantages of using Biesse’s Rover B FT.

Selco Panel Saws are the optimal solution for manufacturers looking for safe, efficient and flexible production. These heavy-duty machines combine the latest drive and control technology, thoroughly optimised machine movements, and are available with an array of options to exceed your quality and performance expectations.

The Selco WN 6 series uses cutting-edge technology, that will increase your output by up to 25%, this is the most affordable design available in the industry. As an optional extra this unit can be fitted with a twin pusher.

If you are looking for high performance and high quality, the Selco line of panel saws is the answer.

Selco WNTR 650 TP

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Biesse Australia 3 Widemere Road, Wetherill Park, Sydney, NSW 2164 Tel +61 2 9609 5355 Fax +61 2 9609 4291 info@biesse.com.au - www.biesse.com.au

Design & Trends

Design trends for 2014 Creating a space that is ideal for entertaining has completely changed the way we design our homes. From newly built homes to modern renovations, the latest design trends are all about bringing people together and making the kitchen the heart of the home, says Caesarstone.

In 2014, the concept of open plan living and entertaining will be taken to all new heights as we see more integrated and flowing spaces, combined with clever new ideas for storage and preparation.

1. The butler's laundry The idea of having a butler's pantry has taken off in recent years as kitchens transform in a more stylish entertainer's space with the messy work happening behind closed doors.

For 2014, the concept is going to be taken one step further to also incorporate the laundry in an effort to optimise space and practicality.

Combining the butler's pantry and laundry into one cohesive space takes advantage of the close proximity to the kitchen to create a more streamlined workflow for cooking and washing.

2. The indoor barbeque Rather than living out in the backyard, the humble barbeque will make its way closer indoors to covered alfresco areas and become an almost seamless extension of the kitchen.

The idea of using range hoods over the barbeque will also gain popularity and in many cases will be a stylish necessity which will add luxury and grandeur to your entertaining area.

3. The soft modern industrial look

Photo credit: McGrath Real Estate

As the industrial look matures, we expect to see a transition toward the more sophisticated and homely soft industrial look, which complements the raw industrial palette with light woods and softer materials.

The introduction of Caesarstone's Raw Concrete design will also

Photo credit: Sublime Architectural Interiors

Photo credit: Carlisle Homes

26 | SupplierMay/June 2014

www.suppliermagazine.com.au Photo credit: Breathe architecture

make the soft industrial look a more achievable prospect by combining the look of concrete with the easy maintenance of a quartz surface.

Creating a space which is ideal for entertaining has completely changed the way we design our homes.

From newly built homes to modern renovations, the latest design trends are all about bringing people together and making the kitchen the heart of the home.

In 2014, the concept of open plan living and entertaining will be taken to all new heights as we see more integrated and flowing spaces, combined with clever new ideas for storage and preparation.

4. An imperfect finish Designers are beginning to steer away from the pursuit of perfection and minimalist designs to now incorporate a more organic feel

Photo credit: Beth Gillitt of Kitchen Classics

that highlights natural materials and finishes. In particular, a more daring combination of materials will be featured throughout the home such as stone, timber, laminates – as well as using materials in areas other than their intended use such as floorboards on the walls and stone benchtops as entertainment units.

A natural patina will also be highly sought after in materials such as stone and timber, with Caesarstone's Calacatta Classic marble-inspired design set to become an ideal surface for this trend with its modern yet natural aesthetic.

5. The indoor courtyard With indoor living encroaching on our outdoor areas more and more, it's important to maintain a balance by incorporating the outdoors as much as possible into other parts of the home.

In particular, one former eyesore will be transformed into a beautiful feature as side access areas around the home have a lush makeover with plants and pavers, accessed with large exterior doors. This concept can be taken a step further with fully integrated, glass-walled indoor courtyards to bring light and natural elements back into the home. ●

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Software

Secrets to successful software implementation

By Anne Charlton, Operations and Marketing Manager, Integrated Joinery Solutions With technology advancing so quickly, new and improved software solutions for the joinery industry are entering the Australian market on a regular basis. To remain competitive, it is essential that the industry continues to invest in software solutions that allow businesses to: • move into new markets quickly; • work efficiently across both standard and custom joinery; • reduce manual processes; • reduce errors and wastage; • increase productivity and profitability.

Continuous process improvement To keep improving processes and making productivity gains, it is essential to remain ahead of the competition. In our business we see that one area that sets the successful businesses apart from the crowd is the view that software is on ongoing investment, not a one-off investment. These businesses understand that success is about ongoing process improvement – and software investment is one of the key ways to achieve this improvement. This may be through investing in regular upgrades to an existing solution or investing in new software solutions.

Many joinery businesses are in the position of working with software solutions that are currently only meeting around 70% of their needs. In this competitive environment you 28 | SupplierMay/June 2014

cannot afford to be working with tools that do not cater for 100% of your business needs.

But implementing new software into a production environment can be a daunting prospect. When faced with this challenge, many businesses decide to stick with outdated technology, which costs them both time and money each week.

Steps to success We have all heard of the cases where businesses have invested in new software and it has remained in the box, gathering dust as the team falls back to using old systems. This is not what anyone wants to see, certainly not the business owner who has not received a return on his investment. But, by keeping in mind a few key steps, businesses can increase the chances of a successful CAD/CAM software implementation.

1. Choosing the right solution a) There is a reason you are considering a new solution and it will help with the decision making process to list the shortcomings of your current solution. Your set-out team are in the best position to assist with this. Some key areas are: • having to redraw the model each time there is a change; • having to produce views/ elevations individually; • not having the ability to draw complex or curved units;

• high number of manual processes; • lack of association between the model and cutting lists, plot pages and rendered images; • lack of integration to the machinery. b) Listing what you are looking for in a system is the next great step.

• The type of technology you want to work with – 2D, library based, true 3D with custom design etc; • the functionality required; CAD, CAM, nesting, machine links etc; • the type of work it must be capable of producing both now and into the future; • the nature of the system: integrated, specialist, visual, parametric etc. c) List your expectations from the supplier. Here are a few suggestions: • unbiased information and professional communication; • Australian based support; • practical industry experience; • remote online sessions; • comprehensive after-sales services such as set-out staff for work overflow; • backing of large corporation for continuous process improvement. d) Internet Research: this is a quick and easy way to run through the different solutions available and compare them to your wish list. You will be quickly able to see: • how each solution is promoted;

• which markets it is targeting; • what support is being offered; • what other services are available through the local supplier.

This will give you a really good way to quickly cross of those solutions that are not in the running.

Shortlist There is no need to work through every solution on the market. Many will have already been crossed off your list based on the criteria of functionality, target market etc.

Once you have your shortlist you can proceed to the next step.

Demonstration For the solutions that have made your shortlist request a demonstration of the solution – one that is targeted specifically for your business. Some great tips are: • have the representative draw one of your units, on the spot; • have them show how their system can accommodate the standard units that are unique to your business and how can you develop your own library of units; • have them illustrate how their system can cater for work you may move into in the future; • listen to the questions that the representative asks – are they trying to learn about your business or simply running through an off the shelf demo; www.suppliermagazine.com.au

• ask them to address all of the current shortcomings with your current system and show how they can improve on it; • don’t be afraid to ask more information or detailed answers to your questions.

If the rep is serious about doing business with you they will be happy to accommodate; • involve all key members of your team that will be working with the solution.

2. Change Management Once you have made your decision on the right solution, you need to manage the change within the business. a) Obtain the commitment of all key influencers in the business. Do not underestimate how hard change can be and by securing their commitment up front, the installation has the greatest chance of success.

It is vital to realise that each individual has a different capacity to cope with change.

Some staff will look on the change as positive, as an opportunity to learn more and add to their skill set.

Others team members will see change as a negative and frightening, something to be resisted. Internal resistance to the process is one of the key reasons for software installations not being successful. b) Appointing a “champion” can be a great idea. This is a person in the company who is responsible for: • identifying and dealing with issues quickly; • gathering feedback for management; • identifying the main resistors and detractors amongst the team; • carefully managing that resistance.

They will be someone who

is positive about the change and has the power to positively influence the other team members. They don’t need to have any special training to become the champion and could be a production manager, set-out manager or a senior set-out operator.

The champion can be made known to the team or can work covertly – that is your choice.

It is vital not to underestimate the resistance to change that can occur when you are asking people to move out of their comfort zone by adopting new technology. The project champion is someone who is tuned in to this and works to alleviate the frustrations that may occur. c) Realistic goals: one of the key reasons new software installations fail is having unrealistic goals. This can come from any level in the business. For example, the business owner might expect the transition period to be a matter of days or the set-out operators may expect to be able to become experts in the new system immediately.

It is important to have a realistic timeline for the implementation of the new solution. For a comprehensive CAD/CAM solution this may be a few months, especially when balancing the need to continue to meet production deadlines. d) Different is not bad – it is natural that the new solution will be directly compared with the old solution, especially by the day to day users. But this is not fair or reasonable. It would be a fairer comparison to equate the new solution with the first few weeks of the previous solution, when it too was new and still being learnt.

If the team’s expectations are that the new solution will work exactly the > 30

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Software < 29 same way as the old solution then you will experience issues. This is where the project champion can step in – as someone with an overall view of how the new system will benefit the business they can refocus the team back to the reasons it was selected for the business.

3. Implementation and training We all know it is hard to take time out of a busy production environment to learn a new solution but it is essential to the success of the installation that all staff involved in the training are able to devote 100% of their attention to the training. Interruptions impact the flow of the training and result in missing key points.

The location of the training is also important – it may be necessary to set up computers

in a quiet location, away from the shopfloor. Schedule the training for when all the staff can focus on the new solution immediately after the training, do not schedule training just before annual leave for key users.

Practice: as with all things in life the more we practice the better we get. You did not become experts in your current solution overnight, and you cannot expect overnight success with your new solution. It is crucial to allow time to go over what was learnt in the training immediately, a delay of a few weeks can result in forgetting much of what was taught.

Even if the team need to continue to use the old solution to meet current production deadlines, carve out some time to continue to practice with the new

solution. This goes back to managing expectations of both management and users.

4. Ongoing Initially, after training there may be some further tailoring of the solution required to suit your specific processes. These are likely to be of a technical nature, especially if you have upgraded to a system that is a 3D CAD/CAM solution.

The supplier’s technical team will work with you to iron out these obstacles. This is not a time to panic and go back to your old solution; it is simply a natural adjustment period.

Encourage the use of the technical support. If you have chosen the right supplier they will encourage you to work closely with them for the first few months to iron out any issues you are having and keep you on track. They will

also be there to reinforce the training and should have good resources in place, eg, electronic helpdesk, training manuals and videos to assist new users.

It is vital that management support set-out operators as they transition to the new solution. Remember, they have spent years becoming experts on the old solution and cannot be expected to achieve the same level of expertise in a few short weeks. On the flipside, if management is experiencing pushback by the operators, try to get to the bottom of the issue – is it really the solution that is the issue or a resistance to change you are seeing.

With the help of these useful steps you should give your business the best chance of success. ●

IJS 1/2p

30 | SupplierMay/June 2014

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Manufacturing

The CNC+CAD+CAM revolution In modern CNC systems, end to end component design is highly automated using computer-aided design (CAD) and computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) processes, machinery, software and equipment.

There are many benefits of CNC + CAD + CAD technologies such as increased productivity and the ability to fabricate complex surfaces, objects and solutions.

The Geetech iCarver1520 is a sophisticated entry level mini carver/engraver taking a board size of up to 380x510mm and is suited for engraving and etching directly from a jpg, tiff or any other photo file.

The iCarver also includes simple and easy to use software for modifying images and creating custom graphics. The machine is highly suitable for carving into timber and acrylic and is highly suitable for schools and arts based applications.

The Geetech iCarvers are fully mounted on a heavy duty stand as standard and optional auto safety fence is available.

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The Redsail Co2 laser cutting machine is designed for industry application and is highly suited for schools, university and other educational institutions and arts based applications.

It is ideal for cutting and rtching complex shapes into wood, acrylic, plastic, rubber and other non-metal materials.

The low cost, high quality laser cutter is useful for production and fabrication of air plane models, advertising, decoration, article gifts, toys, and many more applications.

The Redsail laser cutting machine has a working table size of 900x1200mm and is driven by high-grade stepper motor, precision guide way drive whilst the mechanical movement system guarantees smoothness and flatness of the cut cross section.

The Boarke commercial CNC routing machines step up to 1220x2440mm board size with a 200mm maximum working height.

The routing machines are fabricated to varying standards from a basic model to a fully integrated unit with out flat conveyor and laser light curtain safety system and machine guard.

The routing machines are highly suitable for cabinet makers and furniture industry manufacturers.

The Robland BM3000 CNC boring machine is just another string in the already huge repertoire. A compact and affordable vertical CNC boring machine ideal for the small to medium kitchen/ cabinet manufacturers, the machine is equipped with a PC (including Windows operating system) and user-friendly CAD-CAM software for designing and programming, which can also be linked to existing software. During the workprocess a live video feed displays the spindle head ensuring easy viewing of the production processes.

The user-friendly CAD-CAM software includes hinge drilling, side drilling, making slot. The programming is configured parametrically and therefore is possible to make a library/storage of processes with ease for future applications.

The Robland BM3000 CNC upright boring machine

bridges CNC technologies seamlessly with a compact machine proving ideal where space efficiency is a key factor.

The CAD+T AutoCAD based software is a fast, flexible and powerful solution for interior design, planning, fabricating and nesting with integrated Australian libraries for hardware.

The software uses one data model for all parts leading to extremely efficient work processes. IT is modular based to suit individual requirements and is well supported by the CAD+T Australia team. The software co-ordinates shop floor drawings, flat patterns and exploded views including virtual renderings and animations and cutting list optimisation, capacity / operation budgeting, control and reviewing and links to CNC with optimised CNC Data.

All these machines are available from Beyond Tools, who will be at AWISA 2014 alongside Virutex Wood Working equipment.

SupplierMay/June 2014 | 31

Manufacturing

Towards smaller CNC batch sizes

By Supplier Woodworking Magazine's technical writer, Philip Ashley.

The benefits of CNC assisted manufacturing is wellaccepted in the Australian wood working industries.

Most manufacturers have one or more computer controlled machines for wood machining complicated shapes.

The reduction in levels of protection and the opening of the Australian economy has seen a relatively rapid adoption of new technology by the manufacturing industry â&#x20AC;&#x201C; a trend that is seen by the industry as fundamental to its future survival and success. Indeed, it is the application of sophisticated new technologies that will see the transformation of the Light Manufacturing Industry from being a product of the industrial age into the postindustrial and knowledge economy of the 21st century.

Of CNC wood working in Australia, it has been said that (generally) "There is no obvious difference between manufacturing using a CNC machine and that using traditional wood-machining technology."

This generalisation does not, of course, apply to nested based manufacturing (NBM) where the technology is unique to the flat panel sector. The processing of single jobs is possible in nesting operations where a sheet of manufactured board is cut to provide one 32 | SupplierMay/June 2014

set of components for one complete job. In Australia this could be a kitchen or bathroom cabinet, or a piece of office furniture.

For small job lots using manufactured board, nested based manufacturing is highly desirable.

The "no obvious difference" comment applies to the manufacture of wooden furniture and joinery products on CNC equipment. It is in this area of manufacturing that parts normally made on static machines are processed on modern CNC machinery and that the processing is of a "stand-alone" nature.

This means that a part that would normally have been square-dressed, bandsawn, shaped, drilled and sanded (five machines or more) is now processed in the one sitting on a CNC machine. It sounds like a big improvement in processing times but there is another level of manufacturing beyond this that will provide significant advantages to manufacturers.

This higher level is called "Batch size one" and requires some interpretation. In Germany a major CNC machine manufacturer has been using this term for many years. It is used in conjunction with "Just in time" and this principle has been used in Australia since the late 1980s. It is hardly a new concept.

In Germany and Italy, where the majority of CNC machines are made, the term "Batch size one" is usually used to describe a process of automation whereby a product is selected resulting in many millions of dollars of machinery swinging into action to produce a small number of parts made usually

from manufactured board.

The meaning of Batch size one in the European context does not readily apply to the very small batch sizes required by Australian manufacturers.

In the joinery sector (windows and doors) the CNC machinery exists to produce one set of

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components for one window or door. All of the parts are held in mechanical clamps and the program sometimes pauses for the operator to move or turn the components so the cutting tools can produce further profiles on the parts.

There are other machines available with multi-stacked tools that are able to produce one complete set of components within a few minutes. Of course, most windows or doors have only a few components in each set. When we get to furniture it's a different story.

Batch size one for furniture production can be described as a manufacturing process whereby a number of parts

common to one piece of furniture are gathered by a worker and placed onto a CNC machine table. The parts are then processed in the one production cycle.

This means that one jig is required to hold all of the parts.

The CNC machine has the capacity to hold all of the tools required for the entire set of components and with almost all new CNC machines using a computer to run the software, there is no issue with memory capacity for large programs.

Modern programs use subroutines so each part in the set could, in reality, be a sub program that is called up at specific locations on the

Batch size one jig

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jig. A group of parts could then be produced in the one machine cycle.

The bottom line is that Batch size one is possible for most manufacturer's.

Batch size one is technology dependent on knowledge and expertise of all aspects of CNC machine theory and technique. Training and skills, therefore, play an important role in realising the technology.

Batch size one is possible on CNC machinery provided complex jigs are constructed and there is adequate vacuum to hold the pieces onto the machine table. This has been proved overseas, but is not widely used due to the high volumes of orders available to European manufacturers.

However, in AUstralia, it is estimated that as much as 90% of furniture sold is imported and this figure is not expected to improve.

Imported product is, in most cases, sold on price and Australian furniture takes up the high end sector of furniture sold in this country.

It is agreed that orders are small and that a batch size of one is a desirable outcome.

However, there are issues surrounding small batch sizes that need to be addressed before proceeding with this technology.

• First, equipment with strong vacuum pumps needs to be in place to hold all of the various parts onto the table.

• Second, complex jigs need to be constructed in order to firmly support the various work-pieces.

• Third, highly skilled operators need to be involved to properly program the machine, allowing for tooling and wood properties.

• Fourth, a four axis machine is highly likely to be required to complete all the cutting necessary, especially if any curved or angled sections are to be manufactured.

In addition to these issues, not all furniture lends itself to manufacture as a batch size of one and appropriate furniture needs to be identified. The time to prepare the machine for the initial run, taking into account the high cost of the complex jig and the machine downtime, needs to be assessed to ensure a saving can actually be made over the life of the furniture item (projected units of sales). Other methods of effectively machining multiple parts without the use of expensive equipment, jigs and tools are available and should be assessed for suitability before a complete set of parts is considered.

Notwithstanding these considerations, batch size one is possible and has been demonstrated in Europe since the early 2000s. Small items of furniture have been produced by all the leading CNC machine suppliers as component sets and these include stools, tables and chairs.

Batch size one is a feasible manufacturing option and is possible with current technology in use in Australia. To a manufacturer, batch size one would appear to be a terrific idea. It's already used in nested based manufacturing (cabinets) and for the production of windows and doors. The manufacturing of wooden furniture is more complex and a manufacturer considering this technology would need to address the 34 downsides.

SupplierMay/June 2014 | 33

Manufacturing 33 The efforts required to achieve batch size one may not be justified for small job lots, especially if there were no guarantee of continuing orders. David Beaumann of Davis Furniture (Victoria) commented that: "We often make single job lots now and we make them to order â&#x20AC;&#x201C; it's possible that no two tables are the same."

While David was generalising, it does cause some concern as to whether or not a manufacturer is able to commit labour, materials and machine down-time to effect the manufacture of complex jigs that are unable to be easily modified for customer demand.

Another issue that will no doubt be a problem is that if a company embarks on single batch sizes, the technology to achieve this outcome must work flawlessly every time. If any piece in the layout were to move, or the machining be of poor quality, or the wood itself show signs of deterioration due to chipping, splitting, or other unseen defects, then the whole process will need to be repeated as the manufacturer would not be able to replace one piece of the set.

The resulting unused parts from one of the two sets made would be a waste factor the company would need to bear. Further to this, if a part were to be damaged during a subsequent (assembly) process, it could not easily be replaced.

Perhaps the real question is not whether a batch size of one is possible, but whether or not it is feasible to increase the complexity of the process and whether this actually reduces manufacturing costs.

After all, a rail for a coffee table takes the same amount 34 | SupplierMay/June 2014

of time to process as a single component as it does in a nested batch. The tool travels around the part at the same speed, it's the machine movement time that improves.

As an example, a coffee table with a top, four legs and four rails (two long and two short) may be a candidate for batch size one. The legs, if square will need pre-planing to finished size and only the mortices could be done with the CNC machine. The rails would need pre-planing in thickness only and the widthing and morticing could be done on the CNC machine. The table top would need preplaning in the thickness and the edges and any locating machinings for the attaching of the legs and rails could be done on the CNC machine.

In this scenario, due to the requirement to produce mortices and tenons on the CNC machine with aggregates, a large jig would need to be made that would allow space for the aggregates to work in.

This large jig would need to be mounted onto the machine table (possibly with

allen screws), fitted with supplementary vacuum hoses and then stored when not in use. These actions need to be taken into account when making a decision to attempt a batch size one.

Running each of the parts as single items can be achieved without the use of a jig. The parts are placed against a machine stop and held in place either by a vacuum "pod" or by a mechanical clamp. The time lost by not running all the parts in a single machining cycle is saved by not finding, positioning and attaching a supplementary vacuum to a complex jig, then putting it all away again when the job is complete.

The use of a secondary jig is problematical as it is another layer in the hold down sequence on the CNC machine. A single part held by the machine vacuum pods is the best hold that can be achieved. Only two seals are required â&#x20AC;&#x201C; that of the pod to the machine table and that of the component to the top of the pod.

In the case of a supplementary jig there are three seals that need to be

made. These are the seal of the pod to the table; the jig to the pod and the component to the jig. The issue of multiple parts being held at the same time further increases the chance of a leak in vacuum, adding to potential problems.

Industry association reports state that a major concern for manufacturer's is imported product and that, in most cases, manufacturing is done at the lowest possible cost and outlay. This situation does not support the development of batch size one. The reality is that the lowest batch size may not be the best batch size and all other issues need to be considered.

In this article I have attempted to present both sides of the small batch size ideology. Batch size one is a manufacturing solution the industry considers beneficial.

Whether or not it's being practiced in its entirety, one thing is for certain, the industry has to be constantly aware of new technologies and new ways of working.

For many companies, batch size one may be just what they are looking for. â&#x2014;?

One set of door components on a CNC router

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Manufacturing

Versatile, simple and easy to use The SCM K400 from Gabbett is an automatic, flexible machine for all types of edge tape.

This machine has been designed to handle carcase work, 2mm edgetape and solid timber through to high gloss edging. Its strength is its flexibility, making it ideally suited to workshops where no two jobs are the same.

The automatic controller means set-up times are minimal, as you don’t need to open the hood to make adjustments – the control panel does it for you (including third and

36 | SupplierMay/June 2014

fourth pass management when corner rounding). The controller also allows you to manage maintenance, production quantities and programs from the large touchscreen.

Output is maximised with high feed rates combined with a small panel gap.

Designed to have a small footprint, the K400 series claims to have the best production output to size ratio in its class.

The corner rounding unit is ideal for 2mm tapes – combined with the cleaning groups you’ve got a finished panel off the back of the machine.

The machine features unique service and maintenance systems, with interchangeable gluepot service reducing the running and ongoing maintenance costs. This eliminates the need for onsite glue pot cleaning.

Advances in edgetape technology such as high gloss tapes are well catered for via the onboard misting sprays – designed to protect the panel and edgetape as it passes through the machine.

This is a heavy built machine that is designed to work. Taking full advantage of the SCM groups in house foundry and machining systems, the K400 has oversized mountings and castings on all the operating throughout the machine.

There is also a premilling option featuring two counterrotating cutterblocks.

Designed to clean the edge before feeding into the machine, this system ensures a clean, chipfree edge giving a clean, perfect glue bond.

Having been available for many years now, the K400 has just undergone a major upgrade – most noticeable of which is a significant price reduction.

Darrel Aldridge, the edgebander product manager with Gabbett Machinery advised: “This is a great opportunity for people to get a high production edgebander at a fantastic price. There’s a limited number available, and we don’t expect them to hang around too long”.●

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Manufacturing

Next generation Pratika 310MF – the next generation nesting machine to be released at AWISA. Affordable, small to medium sized nesting machines are gaining much attention – and will be much sought after at AWISA 2014.

“Worldwide, media attention has turned to the new generation of nesting machines from the SCM group – namely the Pratika310MF,” said Gabbett Machinery’s Lee Gabbett. ”While the model number is mouthful, the specs on this machine read like a kitchen manufacturer’s wishlist.

“Small footprint, HSK toolholders, automatic toolchanging, dedicated drilling head, oversized vacuum pump, aluminium table and a heap of safety features.

This new machine ticks all the specification boxes.

But what about on a practical day to day user level?

Next generation machines need next generation software – so AWISA will see the latest nesting cabinetry software released by Gabbett Machinery – Xcab.

Cabinet design, nesting components and direct download to the machine – fast, simple and efficient.

“Put simply, this means operating the machine is easy,”said Lee. “You don’t need to learn complicated

operating software, you can spend your time doing what you should be doing – making kitchens and getting them out the door.

“One of the biggest advantages of the new SCM Pratika310MF nesting machines is how it is made.

The SCM group

has invested in new factories, featuring assembling and manufacturing systems that result in the Pratika310MF being hailed as the best value nesting machine on the market today.”●

Five axis machining The beauty of five axis machining is the versatility.

Combine a five axis machining centre with the right software and you can create anything – including objects of immense beauty such as the Peace Horse.

The Peace horse was designed and machined on an SCM group five axis machining centre.

The Z axis capacity of the

38 | SupplierMay/June 2014

machine used is a massive two metres: however, as the horse stands at over 3.9m tall it was machined in seven components, then hand assembled.

This labour of love took craftsmen over 540 hours to design, machine, assemble, sand and finish. It weighs over 1400kg, and used over seven cubic metres of American walnut. ●

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Manufacturing

Customising machines to meet production needs Factory lay-out efficiency and optimising manufacturing productivity are central to the commercial success of any cabinet making business.

So it was with Victorian cabinet maker Things of Brass & Wood when relocating to larger premises in 2012.

According to Things of Brass & Wood directors Michelle and Tom Sevcik, the purpose of the shift was, in part, to develop the capacity to add CNC routing capabilities to the company’s operation to complement existing precision, high quality machinery and equipment.

“To ensure the efficiency and factory flow was optimum we decided the CNC router would need to run from right-to-left, that is load on the right and unload on the left,” said Tom Sevcik.

40 | SupplierMay/June 2014

“After doing a fair bit of research we finally settled on a Biesse Skill 1224 NBC CNC flat bed machine that was customised to suit our needs, including automatic right-to-left load, unload and labelling functions.”

He added: “Because of the customisation of this machine, Biesse saw the need that we had to fulfil contracts and accommodated us with another CNC router, a Klever 3618 with manual load and off load.

“With the Klever in place – it performed exceptionally well and, with the training and software provided, we didn’t hesitate on purchasing that machine as well,” said Tom.

Accommodating the workflow and machining needs of Things of Brass & Wood, and indeed other customers, is one of the reasons why Biesse is a great partner for any woodworking business.

Biesse is able to provide machines built around the production layout and other needs of customers.

So operating right-to-left, rather than the conventional left-to-right, or other specific customer requirements designed to optimise workflow efficiency is all in a day’s work giving Biesse a real competitive advantage.

“With two Biesse CNC routers we have been able to double our production output and increased our

manufacturing flexibility without sacrificing quality,” said Michelle.

Things of Brass & Wood was established in 1997 initially with an emphasis on household brass and wood ware. However, the company quickly moved into the production of quality, custom-made traditional and contemporary style kitchens and is now a Victorian leader in top-end fashion kitchens with glossy finishes, minimalist fittings and glass and stone features.

However, they liked their quirky name so they kept it.

Now a successful kitchen and also whole-of-house cabinet fit-out specialist, Things of Brass & Wood

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supplies customised cabinetry across the greater Melbourne area.

“We unashamedly operate towards the top-end of the market so we deal with customers who have had previous experience and know what they want,” explained Tom. “So, today we design, manufacture and install fully customised cabinetry – that includes kitchens, butlers pantries, mud-rooms, vanities, studys and cellars.

We also deal with more medium density housing developments.”

By applying the latest CNC nesting technology Things of Brass & Wood has been able to increase manufacturing efficiency, improve quality and reduce waste. With the two Biesse CNC machines they have the capacity to maximise output and have greater flexibility. Having two new machines allows one to run high volume and the other to run intricate parts and oneoff pieces.

Tom says that although overall the new housing

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market in Victoria appears to be cooling Things of Brass & Wood is busy.

“We are flat-out, especially in medium density house developments, so the two nesting routers work well for us. We now recognise that quality is critical and maintaining control of the entire job is essential.”

Due to our satisfaction with Biesse machinery we are now talking with Biesse about CNC machines in their Intermac range that can do stone bench tops and glass splash-backs – essential elements of modern kitchen design for medium to top-end Melbourne homes,” he said.

“With the purchase of a suitable machine we will have total control over the entire manufacturing process and so ensure the standards of precision and quality that our customers have now come to expect of us can be guaranteed,” said Tom. Michelle confirms that Biesse has been a critical partner in their business development and has been accommodating in every way.

“Their technical support has been extraordinary – even minor issues have been resolved straight away and their technical advice has been clear and easy to understand.”

Tom says that he was so impressed with Biesse install technicians that he even offered one of them a job and has written an appreciation letter to Biesse to acknowledge his meticulous and methodical work ethics.

“Yes, Biesse have been a vital ingredient of our business expansion and we look forward to continuing that relationship as we move into stone and glass work and beyond,” she concluded.

Biesse Australia CEO Luke Tenaglia said: “Biesse is the technology-driven industry leader in terms of new machinery development.”

“We take pride in our exclusive Italian flair, technical innovation and leading industry knowledge.

Not only does Biesse have an impressive range of new

leading-edge machines, but the engineers and technical experts to back up the products and strengthen the business performance of customers,” he said.

Luke also added that Biesse is up-to-speed on kitchen design trends and able to advise customers what that means for manufacturing processes and machinery.

“Today, kitchen design is more than just a focus on function – it is a reflection of modern lifestyles and must enhance the overall appeal of the home,” said Luke.

“Smart cupboards, clever use of space, efficient storage systems and modern appliances are all part of today’s kitchen fashion trends, as are high gloss and bold colour finishes.

“Today’s modern kitchens are also about less visual clutter the greater use of glass and stone – areas of manufacturing where Biesse has the capacity to advise customers about manufacturing and machinery options,” he added. ●

SupplierMay/June 2014 | 41

Manufacturing

All smiles at JK Windows and Doors A new Holz-Her machining centre has given JK Windows and Doors an edge that is hard to put a price on. By Philip Ashley Joel Borch is a man on a mission. Only ten years in business and already people are starting to take notice.

Still a young man in a trade dominated by cut-price builders and quirky architects, Joel has found his niche.

Quite simply, Joel can do things others cannot â&#x20AC;&#x201C; and he can do it quicker and cheaper. His secret? As with all good tradespeople, Joel has the right tools of the trade.

Like all workshops producing a diverse range of designer joinery, Joel has a variety of static machines to do the work. The trouble is, it takes time to get the job to the customer. It gets worse when the architect specifies anything out of the norm. Machine setups for complex joinery take hours and, with over a dozen processes for each piece, the total set-up time can be calculated in days.

Two years ago Joel decided there must be a better way and, as he puts it, "Started out on a journey of discovery".

That journey took Joel to the 2008 Fensterbau window exhibition in Nuremberg where his eyes were opened to what was

42 | SupplierMay/June 2014

"out there" in terms of hightech manufacturing. This trip was followed, in late 2012, with another to Germany to investigate CNC machining options.

Factory visits provided networking opportunities with some of the biggest joiners in Europe and Joel realised his company needed to grow.

More importantly, it required an injection of technology to get the job done. Those journeys led JK Windows and Doors to a partnership with Weinig and Holz-Her. Of course it's never as simple as that. Several visits to Australian manufacturers revealed a number of manufacturing scenarios â&#x20AC;&#x201C; a few based on the highly productive Weinig Unicontrol machine. However, Joel's recent European experience pointed to a manufacturing solution that was highly flexible and could handle not just a standard set of joinery components, but anything that even the most creative architect could send their way. The business had to grow and creativity, flexibility and technology were the key ingredients.

Taking the next step,

JK Windows and Doors invested in a five-axis HolzHer CNC machining centre.

This was not an investment that was going to become obsolete overnight. Dual processing zones, extra tool-change slots and a bed large enough for even the longest joinery elements guarantee that this investment will continue to return dividends for many years.

Joel was now confident they could reduce manufacturing costs and tackle the lucrative designer builder market along the legendary Great Ocean Road.

"A different breed," as Joel puts it. "When the surf's up, the tools are down." Joel needs to respond to their changing building cycles and

the Holz-Her fits in perfectly.

A five-axis machine is not something that first springs to mind when you think about joinery. Australian joinery is relatively simple to construct by world standards and can be made with basic machinery. But things are changing. People want more for their money. They want sustainability and energy efficiency. They talk about aesthetics and design trends.

These buzz-words will change the market and a machine that can deliver whatever the customer demands at a price they are happy to pay is necessary.

A five-axis machine offers the processing capabilities needed so you can say: "Sure, we can do that" every time.

www.suppliermagazine.com.au

And can Joel do it?

Put it this way, Joel was happy when the Holz-Her trainer left â&#x20AC;&#x201C; he wanted to see what his new investment could do. It took just one month to transfer the profiles to the CNC machine and now it's possible to set up for any profile in seconds, not hours.

On the computer, simply drag a window stile from the awning window folder and drop it against a stop; adjust the position of the table rails with the mouse and you're ready to start.

Every jamb, sill or sash is exactly the same as the last one and it doesn't matter what the length is, the parametric (variable) program takes care of all those little details. Any component can be machined to accept any hardware in any position and all with a few clicks of a mouse. All the tools Joel needs are on the machine so there's no tool change time to hold up production.

Joel's machine is a ProMaster 7225 and comes with some sweet features. First, it's really easy to use: so easy in fact that follow-up training hasn't been necessary. The software supplied with the machine is all that's needed to do all of the work JK Windows and Doors currently does.

The powerful 17 kW (23 hp) motor makes light work of every moulding and shaping task using the heaviest highperforming Leitz tools and the

www.suppliermagazine.com.au

large table means that several jobs can be combined in the one cycle, further adding to the machine's versatility and value as a production tool.

The Holz-Her has features that are not readily apparent but essential in making a more robust machining platform for heavy joinery work.

Pneumatic clamps can be accurately positioned against machined guides to ensure precise accuracy. The fiveaxis motor is liquid cooled for even the heaviest cutting loads and guarantee's a long service life. The motor also locks mechanically into position to provide the most rigid cutting under high loads for perfect results every time. The slide-ways on the machine have no visible holding screws to gather dust so Holz-Her can offer a ten year warranty. Even the slides on the automatic rails are of the same quality as the machine slides. They don't have to be, but they are.

But why five axes for joinery?

A big CNC machining cost is cutting tools. Three or fouraxis machines require more complex and expensive tools to cut the angles a five-axis machine can easily achieve with its pivoting head. Most three and four-axis machines need "aggregates" to do profiles such as mortices, lock-housings and angled saw-cuts. These expensive "add-ons" need to cool between cycles, require

expensive maintenance and perform well below that of a five-axis machine. It's a fact that the extra cost of a fiveaxis machine is easily offset by the savings in tooling, and you get a higher level of performance to boot.

The Holz-Her machining centre allows Joel to deliver a top quality product that complies with every demand made by even his most astute customers. The possibility of down-cutting eliminates any chipping found on windows made with static machinery.

Any machining for any hardware can be added and the finish is superb. Even a simple hinge housing can be done quicker, more accurately

and professionally.

The Holz-Her machining centre has given JK Windows and Doors an edge that it's hard to put a figure on. Two employees now do the work of four. Any job is possible and no contract is lost because they don't have the technology. They add value to everything they make and attract customers because of their technical, competitive, can-do edge.

Joel just celebrated his tenth anniversary in business. He asks himself: "Have I done enough and have I done it well." His new Holz-Her guarantees that whatever he decides to do, he has the right machine to get it done. â&#x2014;?

SupplierMay/June 2014 | 43

Six commercial joiners reveal how

Empower Software has improved factory productivity

By Sean O’Sullivan, B Com (Hons) Otago University SHEARS AND MAC, NZ

SHEARS AND MAC, NZ “Too early to estimate but I expect a 15% to 20% increase in factory productivity over the next year, which will make a significant increase to our annual profit and will have a quick and high return on investment.” Jason De Graaf, Production Manager, Shears & Mac

Key Points 1. Ease of use for factory staff.

2. More accurate time keeping.

3. Clearer labour targets for staff.

4. Better simple productivity reporting.

44 | SupplierMay/June 2014

Core products manufactured (or core business)

Building fit out and joinery manufacturing services (Concept to completion)

Any key background information

One of New Zealand’s largest joinery manufacturing facilities

# Factory floor staff

53

# Total staff

110

Annual revenue (approx)

$30+ million

Factory and office size

8000 m2

Number of CNCs

4

Geographical area serviced

Worldwide

Staff times on jobs recording prior to Empower

We used other software on the factory floor previously but it was difficult for our factory staff to use.

Years in business

20+ years

Association memberships and any positions held

NZ Master Builders Association, NZ Employers and Manufacturers Association & NZ Retail Interior Association

Staff groups tracked on Empower

Detailing staff, factory staff, and logistics staff.

Year started using PCs on the factory floor and Empower Software

I have been using Empower at Shears and Mac for six months.

As I had been using Empower for six years when managing previous joinery companies, I did not want to step backwards so we brought Empower .

Number of PCs on the factory floor with Empower on

10

Number of our managers using Empower

6

Estimated productivity gains using Empower

Too early to estimate but I expect a 15% to 20% increase in factory productivity over the next year, which will make a significant increase to our annual profit and will have a quick and high return on investment.

We expect to achieve substantially more accurate data from site teams using tablets and smart phones.

Empower will log time taken on each job live.

www.suppliermagazine.com.au

RH PAGE, AUCKLAND, NZ

COMACE, ADELAIDE, SOUTH AUSTRALIA “30 % increase in factory productivity in the first two years.” Paul Williams, MD, Comace Pty Ltd

Key Points 1. A must for tracking employee times accurately and making payroll easy.

2. A must for time tracking labour hours spent on jobs accurately and in real time.

3. A must for identifying lost unproductive hours and reducing to an acceptable level.

4. A must for identifying hours spent on ‘re-works’ and ‘variations’ highlighting the wasted/uncharged hours.

5. A must for improving the accuracy of our quotations by allowing us to review accurate times on past projects and stages of past projects, before finalising our quotations.

Empower is a great job and staff management tool. It has been a very good investment for us.

“We regard Empower HQ as a strategic partner to our business and Empower Software as an essential tool. We could not contemplate running our business without Empower in the future.” Andy Pitcher, CEO, RH PageKey Points

Key Points Empower Software enables us to: 1. Accurately track times on jobs; 2. Accurately back cost jobs; 3. Accurately measure actual to budgeted performance; 4. Report live work in progress from our factory floor; 5. Establish database of times on jobs to allow us to form accurate standard times on jobs for quoting; 6. See clear information regarding our pipeline of future work.

We adopted lean manufacturing, which is about managing wastage. It would be impossible for us to measure our performance regarding our labour wastage without Empower. We regard Empower HQ as a strategic partner to our business and an essential tool that we could not contemplate running our business without in the future.

COMACE, ADELAIDE, SOUTH AUSTRALIA

RH PAGE, AUCKLAND, NZ

Core products manufactured (or core business)

Commercial joinery / fit-out and building maintenance

Core products manufactured (or core business)

Any key background information

Have merged Empower and EXO to work very effectively managing all time / payroll and project recording times and other details very accurately

Any key background information

Shopfitting - custom made joinery. We are corporate roll-out specialists

# Factory floor staff

51

# Total staff

92

Annual revenue (approx)

Confidential

Factory and office size

Office 450m2, factory 2212m2, warehouse 929m2

Number of CNCs

4

Geographical area serviced

Australasia, North America

# Factory floor staff

12 factory staff (plus casual and contractors). three on site staff

# Total staff

22

Annual revenue (approx)

$4 -5 million per year

Factory and office size

2400 m2

Number of CNCs

One

Geographical area serviced

South Australia

Staff times on jobs recording prior to Empower

Factory staff completed their time sheets on their jobs at days end

Staff times on jobs recording prior to Empower

Manual time cards – never accurate – a waste of time

Years in business

Since 1897

Years in business

32

Association memberships and any positions held

Employers and Manufacturers Association (EMA)

Association memberships and any positions held

Committee member of various business, industry and advisory groups

Staff groups tracked on Empower

Staff groups tracked on Empower

Factory staff, install team and maintenance staff

In our office we track our architects and designers. In our factory we track our machine shop, assemblers and painters, electricians and logistics.

Year started using PCs on the factory floor and Empower Software

7 years to date

Year started using PCs on the factory floor and Empower Software

7 years

Number of PCs on the factory floor with Empower on

3

Number of PCs on the factory floor with Empower on

6

Number of our managers using Empower

3

Number of our managers using Empower

5

Estimated productivity gains using Empower

30 % increase in factory productivity in the first two years

Estimated productivity gains using Empower

www.suppliermagazine.com.au

SupplierMay/June 2014 | 45

CLASSIQUE FURNITURE, CHRISTCHURCH, NZ

JB JOINERY, CHRISTCHURCH, NZ “15% productivity increase overall.

We have made significant productivity gains in the factory and will get more gains with more management focus on Empower. I estimate Empower paid for itself fully within six months.” Stuart Cowan, Director, JB Joinery

“In the first two and a half years of putting Empower Software in our factory, staff dropped from nine to six whilst output increased. Overall our staff and factory productivity increase was 103%. This was a $125,000 wage cost saving per year and increased our annual profit substantially. Empower paid for itself fully within six months.” Graeme Dreaver, MD, Classique Furniture

Key Points

Key Points

1. Empower certainly keeps our factory staff conscious of actual times they take on each of their jobs; 2. Great for accurately time recording and reporting all time on charge up jobs; 3. Great for tracking hours worked for wages alongside hours worked on jobs during the week and on weekends, when management are not always present; 4. We are keen to start using Empower’s new scheduling functionality to allow us to plan and monitor our forward and current work better; 5. Empower has been developed and works well for our industry, in commercial joinery; 6. we certainly would not want to operate without Empower Software.

1. Empower increased our staff and factory productivity by 103% and reduced our wage cost by $125,000 annually; 2. our factory staff enjoy using Empower. Staff appreciate seeing the time budgeted for the job when they start each job and they enjoy getting feedback on their actual time versus the budgeted time when they finish each job; 3. live production and productivity reporting from factory floor to management provides valuable insight and allows us to gain maximum output; 4. Empower has been very good for us and I regularly recommend it to other manufacturers.

CLASSIQUE FURNITURE, CHRISTCHURCH, NZ Core products manufactured (or core business)

We service high end commercial clients and hotel fit-outs with a wide range of custom designed furniture, both solid timber and veneers. We also service high end furniture for individual clients.

Any key background information

We have recently acquired another manufacturer and we are in the process of amalgamating the two factory floors and two businesses together under one roof. The new factory staff have recently started being time tracked by factory PCs and Empower Software with good productivity gains made. We compete head on with increasing levels of Chinese imports. Having Empower Software to keep all our factory staff highly accountable and highly productive on all jobs, every day, is absolutely essential in today’s highly cost competitive market place.

JB JOINERY, CHRISTCHURCH, NZ Core products manufactured (or core business)

Commercial joinery

Any key background information

Currently doing mostly earthquake related work

# Factory floor staff

42

# Total staff

10

# Factory floor staff

12

Annual revenue (approx)

$7 to 9 million per year

# Total staff

14

Factory and office size

2000 m2

Annual revenue (approx)

$1.5 to $2m

Number of CNCs

1

Factory and office size

1114 m2

Geographical area serviced

Mainly Canterbury

Number of CNCs

2

Staff times on jobs recording prior to Empower

‘Cheat sheets’ that factory staff used to guess and manually record at days end

Geographical area serviced

New Zealand nationwide

Years in business

18

Staff times on jobs recording prior to Empower

Factory staff used to fill out their job cards at day end (job cards are referred to as ‘cheat sheets’ in our industry for obvious reasons – the times staff recorded were highly inaccurate and did not motivate factory staff to work to meet budgeted times on jobs and be productive).

Years in business

32 years

Association memberships and any positions held

New Zealand Furniture Association. 2009 President of the Association

Staff groups tracked on Empower

All factory staff

Year started using PCs on the factory floor and Empower Software

2007

Number of PCs on the factory floor with Empower on

3

Number of our managers using Empower

3

Estimated productivity gains using Empower

15% productivity increase overall. In our offices Empower has meant we no longer require two full time administration staff, who were manually handling time recording of all jobs for invoicing.

We have made significant productivity gains in the factory and will get more gains with more management focus on Empower. I estimate Empower paid for itself fully within six months

Association memberships and any positions held Staff groups tracked on Empower

All factory staff in all work centres on the factory floor

Year started using PCs on the factory floor and Empower Software

3

Number of PCs on the factory floor with Empower on

7

Number of our managers using Empower

5

Estimated productivity gains using Empower

15% productivity increase overall.

In our offices Empower has meant we no longer require two full time administration staff, who were manually handling time recording of all jobs for invoicing. We have made significant productivity gains in the factory and will get more gains with more management focus on Empower. I estimate Empower paid for itself fully within six months

46 | SupplierMay/June 2014

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CENTRAL JOINERY, AUCKLAND, NZ

CENTRAL JOINERY, AUCKLAND, NZ “Empower Software paid for itself within a number of months. From a return on investment perspective the investment in Empower Software was a no brainer.”

Shaun Simpson, MD, Central Joinery

Core products manufactured (or core business)

Kitchens, vanities etc as well as commercial fit-outs

Any key background information

Just settling into new premises

# Factory floor staff

22

# Total staff

34

Annual revenue (approx)

$11-$12m

Factory and office size

5000 m2 factory and 600 m2 office and showroom

Number of CNCs

4 CNCs. All relatively new Homag gear including new board Bargstedt storage system

Geographical area serviced

NZ but mostly greater Auckland

Staff times on jobs recording prior to Empower

Manual timesheets our factory staff used to fill in

Years in business

Since 2001

Association memberships and any positions held

New Zealand Kitchen and Bathroom Association (NKBA)

Staff groups tracked on Empower

Our eight work centres including our office staff, factory staff and site staff

Year started using PCs on the factory floor and Empower Software

2009

Number of PCs on the factory floor with Empower on

8

Number of our managers using Empower

5

Estimated productivity gains using Empower

We have got our factory staff downtime from an average of two to three hours per staff member per week to an average of 30 minutes per staff member per week. With 32 staff, that is a total saving of 64 hours per week. At the eight times a day our factory staff start work, start and finish morning smoko, start and finish lunch, start and finish afternoon smoko and finish work at day end, we have eliminated an average of 15 to 20 minutes per staff member per day, which is 1.25 to 1.5 hours per staff member lost time member per week. Across 32 staff that is a total saving of 40 to 48 hours per week. Empower Software paid for itself within months. From a return on investment perspective the investment in Empower Software was a no brainer

Key Points

•

• •

• • •

•

PCs on the factory floor and Empower Time Tracking Software reporting real time production and productivity information has brought us real benefits including: factory and office staff are very aware of times on all jobs and, in general, our factory staff keep to the times that we budget for them; time overruns on jobs are seen and acted on promptly to ensure mistakes don’t repeat; our quoting accuracy has improved significantly based on more accurate recording of actual times on all previous jobs; huge administration time saving around payroll; we will shortly be upgrading to Empower Software on the cloud, which will bring significant advantages; our job scheduling will become easier and more accurate with further developments that Empower HQ are currently working on; Empower has been a far too valuable tool to us to contemplate going back to the old manual system.

Phone, e mail or go to our web site - and we will send you a FREE information package including a proposal to implement Empower Software in your business.

Email: manufacturing@xtra.co.nz or visit www.empowersoftware.biz Managing Director: Sean O' Sullivan Auckland +64 9 307 1115 office NZ mobile +64 27 228 4211 Email: manufacturing@xtra.co.nz www.suppliermagazine.com.au

SupplierMay/June 2014 | 47

Manufacturing

Impact Cyclone 11

New contour sander The Arbortech Contour Random Sander is a patented angle grinder attachment with a powerful random orbital sanding action. It is designed to reach into internal profiles and the patented flexible sanding pad moulds to the shape of the timber without burning or digging in at the edges.

It consists primarily as a dynamically balanced shaft that attaches to any

standard angle grinder and a flexible rubber sanding pad that is attached to the other end of the shaft via a set of bearings, so it can rotate freely. The pad is offset from the central axis of the shaft so that it is driven in a random orbital manner when the pad is brought into contact with a surface.

The 50mm abrasives are coated with a pressure sensitive

high temperature adhesive which is easily attached or peeled off the rubber pad.

The shaft allows the sanding head to get into deep hollows while the unique sanding head flexes and reach into areas previously impossible for conventional sanders. The random action is powerfully effective yet does not dig in, leave swirl marks or damage the surface. ●

Impact CNC is releasing the Cyclone II – the flagship model in Impact CNC’s range of CNC routers. It will replace the first generation Cyclone which has been on the market in Australia since 2011.

The Cyclone II provides nested based manufacturing for shopfitting, general woodworking, parts fabrication or sign manufacturing. It offers power and speed to cut high volumes of board on a daily basis and comes standard with all the features needed for high production CNC routing.

Cyclone II also comes with an impressive list of options to improve efficiency even further.

Available in a number of different sizes, including the three most popular sizes for cabinet makers – 2440mm x 1220mm (8’ x 4’), 2440mm x 1830mm (8’ x 6’) and 3660mm x 1830mm (12’ x 6’), this upgraded model will be launched on Impact CNC’s stand at AWISA Brisbane. ●

Low noise planing cutter block Noise is an Occupational Health and Safety issue with which all businesses and woodworking shops should be aware. Wherever possible, the noise of machinery should be reduced, as this is important not only for the persons operating the equipment but also the environment and general “functioning” of the facility.

Planing and thicknessing machines are some of the worst sound

48 | SupplierMay/June 2014

offenders as chatter noise is produced when the standard straight cutters contact the wood at high-speed. This is exacerbated when a dust extractor is connected to the machine as the airflow passing the chip-limiter effectively makes the planer a musical instrument… thus the howl

often heard in the workshop.

There are a number of improvements you can do to reduce noise on a planing machine particularly looking at the standard cutter head.

The latest innovation is a helical, shear-cut staggered insert tool (Shelix) that can

be retro-fitted to most planing and thicknessing machines.

These heads are imported by Robert Gregory from RDG International Agencies whohas studied the range of machines on the Australian market that can be modified. ●

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Events

JUNE 2014 6-9 China Furniture, Woodworking, Components 2014. Dalian, China www.sinoexhibition.com/Furniture/ index_e.asp

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9-11

NeoCon 2014 Exhibition of contract furnishings for the design and management of the built environment

Chicago, USA www.neocon.com/ 19-22 HIA Sydney 2014.

Home Show

Sydney, Australia www.sydneyhomeshow.com.au/ 25-26 ComponExpo 2014

Components, semi-finished products and accessories for the furniture, wood industries and interior

Zaragoza, Spain www.feriazaragoza.es/componexpo. aspx JULY 2014 10-13 Furnitex 2014

Furniture and furnishing trade show

Melbourne, Australia www.furnitex.com.au/ 27-31 LVM Las Vegas Market 2014

Furniture show & decorative accessories market. Summer Edition

Las Vegas, USA www.lasvegasmarket.com AUGUST 2014 6-9 AWISA

Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre, Brisbane www.awisa.com

3D Kitchen Design

AWISA

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