Furniture & Joinery Production #333

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November 2021 #333

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EDITOR John Legg Tel: 01424 834973 john@media66.net ADVERTISING MANAGER Lisa Williams Tel: 01424 834829 lisa@media66.net SALES EXECUTIVE Conor O’Brien Tel: 01424 834962 conor@media66.net PRODUCTION James Ash studio@media66.net DIGITAL CONTENT Nyall McCurrach digital@media66.net COPY ADMINISTRATION & DATA Steve Merrick Tel: 01424 776108 production@media66.net ACCOUNTS Wendy Williams accounts@media66.net SUBSCRIPTIONS UK-free with sign up Europe-£85 RoW-£95 lisa@media66.net

PROOF READER Paul Farley REPRO, PRINT and DISTRIBUTION Stephens & George DISCLAIMER: All material submitted for inclusion in Furniture Production is done so entirely at the contributor’s own risk. No responsibility is accepted for the safe-keeping of contributors’ materials. Whilst all attempts are made to ensure accurate reproduction, Furniture Production accepts no responsibility for variations. Artwork undertaken by our studio remains the copyright of Media66 and may not be reproduced or stored without prior permission.

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© Media 66 Ltd 2021 www.furnitureproduction.net

ISSN 2396-9024

Comment Welcome to the latest issue of Furniture & Joinery Production – a bumper issue complete with a supplement on the business of edgebanding, something that continues to be a hotbed of innovation for the manufacturers and suppliers of various edgings, and perhaps even more so, the suppliers of machinery and equipment for the application of those very products.

With COP26, the UN climate summit, just days away, we hear from Unilin, Renuva and Furniture Clinic on recent climate-conscious activities including two impressive world’s firsts which demonstrate how forward-thinking our industry can be. For those of us who believe in the science and recognise the dramatic shifts in global weather patterns, this has to be the overriding concern, the zeitgeist of this generation, for now and the coming months and years. So the question is, how ‘green’ (or otherwise) is the UK furniture and joinery industry, including its supply chain – and what are we doing about it, and what should be done about it? We simply have to find out ...

Elsewhere in this issue, we have a conversation with Panelco’s Mike Briggs and the company’s involvement with Medite’s campaign to help industry professionals connect and showcase their work with the aim of increasing innovation. Amongst our regular clutch of installation case studies this month, we hear from a fire door manufacturer which has upgraded its a capability; a high end furniture brand which overcame an significant adhesive challenge; and a KBB specialist which is prospering from a new ‘game-changing’ software system.

With features on joinery, window and door production; saws, blades and cutting technology, and warehousing, packaging and materials handling, I trust you enjoy this month’s issue.

John Legg, editor

MEDIA PARTNERS

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Flying the flag for British Manufacturing

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• Employment and commercial legal advice • Health and safety and technical advice • Benchmarking and trade data

BFM Representing the industry Visit our new website www.bfm.org.uk @BritishFurnitureManufacturers

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6 NEWS

Software launch delivers “completely new way” to design, produce and distribute furniture imos AG has unveiled the latest version of its successful iX software technology, which is already in use at more than 4500 companies worldwide. imos AG develops and distributes software for furniture and interior design worldwide. iX 2021 is an integrated software solution that connects all essential work steps, from sales and design to production, into a continuous and efficient process.

Connectivity, new cloud services as well as optimisations in terms of handling, convenience and speed mean industrial companies, as well

as more humble businesses, are, according to imos, able to expand their business models across

company boundaries, to handle workflow from sales to production more securely, flexibly and

AAG launches new and upgraded website Leading global manufacturer and distributor of industrial-class CNC machining solutions, AAG, has launched a new and radically upgraded website. Visitors to aagcnc.com will now have easier and faster access to comprehensive information about AAG’s AXYZ, WARDJet and CNCShop.com power brands, and the full range of tailored CNC routing/cutting and print finishing, waterjet cutting and essential spare parts, accessories and consumables available respectively via these brands.

In addition to enabling companies to increase automation in the workplace and consequent business growth, competitiveness and profitability, aagcnc.com will open up a host of new opportunities. These will not only fuel further expansion within the industries in which these companies specialise, but also,

efficiently, as well as modernising their service. imos says that with the extensive digital application possibilities of imos iX, furniture and interiors can be designed, produced and distributed in a “completely new way”.

Numerous videos, graphics and animations provide clear information on how the new version sets the digitisation of the furniture industry in its sights. Experience iX 2021 online at https://ix21.imos3d. com/en/ to review the innovations and brand-new features. www.imos3d.com

and significantly, will open up new opportunities for engagement with other industries, due to AAG’s internal strategy of greater market diversification.

Innovative new features of the website include information on the specific industries in which CNC machines supplied by AAG have become a preferred choice, and a section entitled Featured Work, which highlights major projects undertaken by AAG customers, and in which AXYZ and WARDJet machines have been pivotal to their successful completion.

A history of AAG, from inception to the present day, which includes the origins and evolution of the AXYZ, WARDJet and CNCShop.com brands and details of AAG global locations, serve as a fitting conclusion to the new website. www.aagcnc.com

Blum appoint two new Product Support Advisors Jodie Mack Jodie Mack joins Blum after a career including teaching sport at a school in Cambridge, followed by sales jobs in the catering industry. With time on her hands in lockdown, Jodie developed a hobby and passion for upcycling furniture, at one point having five pieces filling her garage! She really enjoyed the technical challenges involved.

With a move to Leighton Buzzard came the opportunity to move careers again, and in June 2021 Jodie joined Blum as a Product Support Advisor. “As a hands-on person, the technical role appealed to me. I had no experience in the kitchen industry, so the role also gave me the challenge of pushing myself and widening my skill set and knowledge in a completely new industry. The role offers a huge variety from day to day which is great. Blum is a wonderful company to work with – my team is

so supportive, and Blum is providing me with the stepping stones to become the best I can.”

Nathan Sydney I’ve worked in various customer service roles over the last 13-14 years, from PC World to PortAKabin.

“I have always enjoyed practical work and believe I have a strong technical mind. The job opportunity at Blum allowed me to make use of my extensive customer service experience but also allowed me to utilise and develop my practical skills. The variety of tasks that the technical team gets involved in was a massive attraction for me since my last job was always the same day to day and I was losing interest.

“I am part of the technical team offering advice and technical services to our customer and partners. My focus going forward with be

Jodie Mack

Nathan Sydney

assembly devices so I will be working more with our machines, learning more about them and doing service and commissioning work. I am now part of the warehouse maintenance team and will be servicing our warehouse crane system.

I have really enjoyed my first three months at Blum, lots of variety, great training structure and made to feel very welcome. The office is a fantastic place to work, very comfortable and all the equipment we use is always to a very high standard.”

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8 NEWS

A big year for Daltons Wadkin 2021 has been an eventful year for Daltons Wadkin – celebrating its 120-year anniversary, recording record sales across all departments, welcoming new staff members to the expanding team, being nominated for the prestigious Made in the Midlands award, becoming an official SCM machinery partner, and opening an extended showroom and demonstration area.

Founded in 1901, Daltons Wadkin is the longest-established woodworking machinery supplier in the UK. Now under the watchful eye of fourth-generation family member Alex Dalton, the company has welcomed in its 120-year anniversary against a backdrop of soaring demand and a global pandemic.

“There is never a dull day’” comments MD, Alex. “We, like most of the industry, have been fortunate enough to be on the positive end of the pandemic. Demand for both new and pre-owned machinery has never been higher. Requests for operator training and service contracts have also been in huge demand. I often wonder what my late father and uncle would have made of it all ...”

To help keep pace with demand and ensure continuity of service for its customers, Daltons Wadkin has taken on new staff in all departments. “We have welcomed both newbies to the industry as well as seasoned professionals to our service, training and engineering departments,” continues Alex. “We have around 35 staff members now, and are looking to recruit further into Q4’” The past year and a half has had its challenges, too. Like the majority of businesses, Daltons Wadkin was impacted by the arrival of Covid-19 and, in line with the Government guidelines, was forced to close its doors in March 2020.

The real success and achievements of this business lie

in how it responded and adapted to the pandemic in order to remain current during a pivotal period in its history – a fact recognised by a nomination for the Insider Media Made in the Midlands award.

A key strength of Daltons Wadkin is its relationships with leading European manufacturing specialists, and 2021 saw the start of a new partnership between Daltons Wadkin and SCM. “I have always admired the professionalism of the SCM brand,” enthuses Alex. “Their offering of high-quality, Italian-built machinery dovetails perfectly into our existing portfolio of solid wood- and panelprocessing equipment. It is early days, but already we have seen significant sales across the range, with new stock arriving almost daily’.”

An impressive range of SCM equipment joins Altendorf panel saws, Elcon wall saws, Kimla CNC equipment, Salvador crosscut saws and Stenner band resaws in Daltons Wadkin’s Nottingham showroom. To allow sufficient space for showcasing the huge range of machinery on display, the showroom and demonstration area

‘I have always admired the professionalism of the SCM brand … it is early days, but already we have seen significant sales across the range, with new stock arriving almost daily’

has been expended by a further +50%.

“Demonstration is key for us.

When viewed in person, the build quality, performance and advantages of the machinery we offer is immediately evident,” says Alex. “Our recent Wood & Panel Machinery Show was testament to

this, and we continue to welcome anyone looking to take advantage of our specialist services.”

For more information on the range of equipment and services offered

by Daltons Wadkin, call 0115 986 5201 or email info@daltonswadkin. com. www.daltonswadkin.com

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10 NEWS

BFM service offers Covid-compliance support

Navigating the health and safety environment can be a challenge enough, but Covid has added new pressures for the furniture manufacturing sector.

Support in this vital area is at hand to ensure compliance, through the British Furniture Manufacturers’ (BFM) Environmental, Health and Safety (EHS) service.

Developed to help furniture manufacturers keep their workers safe and their business compliant to avoid prosecutions, the service is

one of the trade body’s most valued member benefits.

Headed-up by Alistair Bromhead, it has proved of significant value as the industry addresses the changing work environment in the pandemic.

BFM MD Nick Garratt says: “The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is calling for businesses in Great Britain to make sure they’re Covidsecure.

“Inspectors are out and about, putting employers on the spot and checking that they are complying

with health and safety law.

“The HSE is publicising that it is still continuing its Covid-19 spot checks in workplaces, especially with increasing numbers of office workers returning to the workplace. As of September 2021, some 316,000 checks have been completed.

“Being Covid-secure means being adaptable to the current guidance and putting measures in place to control the risk of coronavirus to protect workers and others.

“By law, employers have a duty to protect workers and others from harm, and this includes taking reasonable steps to control the risk and protect people from coronavirus.

“It’s important that workers are aware of the measures that will be put in place to help them work safely.

“Our EHS service is here to help ensure compliance. That includes 24/7 access to BFM’s online guidance, handbooks and downloadable templates, “Members can also access BFM’s free telephone helpline, as well as

individual on-site support at heavily discounted rates and a monthly EHS bulletin.”

An attractive feature of BFM membership is the provision of a subsidised first visit in the year for EHS issues – at a rate of £125 + VAT + travel expenses.

Any additional visits are then charged at the normal daily member rate of £450 + VAT + travel expenses, which represents a sizeable discount over the typical market rate.

Services available include: review of EHS issues; noise surveys; audiometry (hearing tests); spirometry (asthma surveillance for those exposed to wood dust or coatings); dust exposure monitoring LEV testing (local exhaust ventilation); and help with risk assessments, training or improvement notice compliance. www.bfm.org.uk

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12 NEWS

CAD+T welcomes a new generation

Martina and Thomas (left) with Rosemarie and Anton Schwarz

After more than 30 years, the founder and CEO of the international CAD/CAM and ERP software company, CAD+T Consulting, Anton Schwarz, is stepping down as CEO. The move, which will take effect from this autumn, will see the current CTO, Thomas Schwarz, and international sales director, Martina Schwarz, reprise the role and continue to carry the business forward.

Anton founded CAD+T in 1990, and in the same year launched the company’s first AutoCAD-based design software. Success followed, and a year later the company opened its first subsidiary in Germany, growing its bespoke software and consultancy offering to the furniture design and manufacturing industry. Within 10 years, the company had over 1000 clients worldwide, and as his workforce grew, Anton welcomed his son, Thomas, and later his daughter, Martina, into the business.

Today, the company has subsidiaries across the world, including in the UK, UAE, East Asia and Australia, and employs over 80 members of staff.

It is renowned for supplying complete software solutions to the furniture industry, and offers over 60 software applications based on AutoCAD and Autodesk Inventor for batch-size-one production and serial production.

Martina says: “My father had a vision – to become a leading bespoke software provider for the furniture design market. He has achieved this and so much more. Now, with the industry entering a new generation of developments, and cloud-based solutions leading, it seems like a fitting time for him to pass the baton onto the next generation of the Schwarz family.

“My brother and I share my father’s vision. We want to continue to create innovative software solutions to the global furniture design and manufacturing industry, with the family ethos still very much at the heart of our business.

“After all, companies consist of people. The quality of our technology, product offering and service depends on the people behind it. We want to offer our customers continuous added value, and that all stems from the enthusiasm and dedication of our staff. We intend to continue on this path and work with our customers to embrace technology and the power of digitalisation, and reap the benefits it has to offer.” www.cadt-solutions.com

14 NEWS

Furniture Clinic rolls out 100% recycled plastic for its product packaging in sustainability drive Leading UK leather, wood and fabric restoration product manufacturer, Furniture Clinic, has reduced its use of virgin plastic by 80% as part of its eco-drive to minimise its plastic packaging footprint.

With immediate effect, the County Durham based business will switch plastic bottles across its own patented range of 100 specialist products to 100% recycled plastic (rPET), saving an estimated 30,000kg of virgin plastic from landfill each year. Furthermore, the introduction of cardboard packaging and paper packing, instead of plastic, will solidify its sustainability drive.

Furniture Clinic, which operates from its 50,000 sq ft factory in Consett, County Durham with offices in New York and Hong Kong, employs 60 staff in the UK and shifts over 1,000,000 products annually to customers and distribution partners in over 40 countries worldwide.

Accoladed as one of the top ten fastest growing companies in the North East of England in the prestigious Fastest 501, Furniture Clinic is also recognised as one of America’s fastest growing companies (Inc. 5000).

With a mission to extend the

lifespan of any leather, fabric or wood item – from luxury home and garden furniture, to car interiors and equestrian equipment – conscious consumption is at the heart of the business model. An early pioneer of sustainability with founding roots dating back to 2004, Furniture Clinic secured an ISO 9001 accreditation2 in 2020, recognising its progress in reducing waste and increasing efficiency. The company is now focussed on developing its Environmental Management plan to become ISO 4001 certified within the next year.

As part of its on-going sustainability drive to become cleaner, greener and more energy efficient, Furniture Clinic, has implemented several additional new systems to maximise its energy efficiency and further reduce its ecological footprint. Culturally, all employees are encouraged to help reduce carbon emissions; post pandemic, all office staff are able to work from home on a hybrid basis, cutting out unnecessary travel for meetings in favour of Zoom – there are also dedicated car pool spaces in the car park to encourage ridesharing. Charging points will soon be installed to promote electric vehicle usage and company car

renewals will all soon be electric.

Beyond product packaging which has been overhauled to ensure it’s 100% recyclable, Furniture Clinic constantly review and assess a product’s lifespan and impact on the environment, reworking the formula if necessary to ensure it is ecofriendly. Passionate about reducing waste, the company recycles wherever possible and operates a near paperless environment.

Furniture Clinic’s Managing Director, Ben Staerck, said: “As a restoration business, sustainability is deeply embedded in our DNA and we constantly strive to deliver the highest quality yet eco-friendly solutions for our customers and partners. Today’s news is an important milestone in our circularity quest and we’re proud to be doing what’s right to help preserve our planet for generations to come.”

From humble beginnings when founder Keith Staerck ran a small furniture upcycling business and produced and sold wood restoration

products at trade exhibitions, Furniture Clinic grew exponentially when son, Ben, boarded to develop its digital presence in 2004. Today, Furniture Clinic has firmly cemented its reputation as the leading manufacturer of leather, wood and fabric cleaning and restoration products and services in the UK. All products are created inhouse using the most advanced and innovative techniques with input from expert leather restorers, upholsterers and French polishers who work alongside Furniture Clinic’s in-house and development experts to create the highest quality and most extensive range. The product range not only comprises cleaning and care products but also a full range of dyes, paints, fillers and glues. From DIY users and hobbyist renovators to professionals, the range is accessible and easy to use. Loyal B2B customers include Harrods, Rolls Royce, John Lewis, DFS, Four Seasons Hotels and the Royal Air Force. www.furnitureclinic.co.uk

Furniture retailer walks coast to coast and raises £11k for Step 2 It Furniture retail professional David Tracey has raised £11,000 for industry charity The Furniture Makers’ Company by trekking one of the UK’s longest hiking trails, the Coast to Coast, for the Step 2 It campaign.

The Coast to Coast walk is a 192-mile trailway that crosses the breadth of northern England, starting in St Bees, Cumbria and finishing at Robin Hoods Bay, North Yorkshire. Devised by fell walker Alfred Wainwright, the walk passes through three contrasting national parks: the Lake District National Park, the Yorkshire Dales National Park, and the North York Moors National Park.

David started the challenge on Tuesday 7th September, and he completed it in 16 days, finishing on Wednesday 22nd September. At the end of the trek, David had racked up 204 miles in distance with 25,300ft of elevation, which translated to 487,000 steps a 14 pound weight loss.

After setting off from St Bees, David spent five days walking through the Lake District, the most challenging part of the journey. The next leg of

David, right, completing his impressive walk

the challenge saw him cross over the Pennines at Nine Standards Rigg followed by traversing some boggy moorland. David was able to enjoy gentler landscape through the Yorkshire Dales National Park and Upper Swaledale, before stopping at Raven Seat Farm at the halfway point.

The Vale of Mowbray preceded the Cleveland Hills and the last three days took him across the North York Moors and onto his final destination

at Robin Hoods Bay. Completing the hike has been a long-held ambition of David’s and he decided to take on the challenge in 2021 as part of The Furniture Makers’ Company’s Step 2 It campaign, which has been inspiring individuals and companies in the sector to get active and raise funds for the charity.

David, who has worked in the furnishing industry for 40-plus years in senior and director level roles in companies including Dreams, Harveys, Hygena, MFI, Moores Furniture Group and Wesley Barrell, raised a total of £11,114 (including Gift Aid).

Commenting on the fundraiser, David said: “I’m so grateful to everyone who has sponsored me and donated to The Furniture Makers’ Company, a charity close to my heart. The support really did inspire me to get the job done, through some very challenging days – thank you all.”

There is still time to sponsor David via his Virgin Money Giving campaign page: https:// uk.virginmoneygiving.com/DavidTracey

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16 NEWS

Unilin Group claim a world first – the recycling of MDF and HDF boards Innovative recycling technology developed in Belgium provides missing link for circularity Timber is a renewable product and stores CO2 as long as it is not incinerated. So the longer timber can be used and reused, the more our climate benefits. For the production of its MDF and HDF boards, Unilin Group, a global reference in interior design and the building industry, is deliberately opting for the use of recovered and recycled wood.

Until now it was technically impossible to recycle the 100 million m3 of MDF and HDF boards manufactured worldwide each year. Unilin Group, with its headquarters in Flanders, has now developed a unique and innovative technology to reclaim the wood fibre from these boards in an economically viable manner and reuse them for the production of high-quality fibreboards on an industrial scale. Over time, this innovation will enable Unilin Group to keep 380,000 tons of CO2 per year stored in the wood fibre that is given a second life through this new technology.

Missing link in a sustainable concept MDF (Medium Density Fibreboard) and HDF (High Density Fibreboard) fibreboards are commonly used in the furniture industry, in interior design and for the production of laminate floors. Unilin Panels, the division within Unilin Group that produces panel material, deliberately chooses to use recovered wood for its production.

This is wood waste or wood that is no longer usable and is therefore saved from incineration.

This means that Unilin Group is not cutting trees for production purposes in the first place, but is able to extend the life of waste material with a new application. Now Unilin Group takes things to the next level.

Véronique Hoflack, president of Unilin Panels, who herself was at the origin of the new recycling technology, explains: “Because of the use of adhesives as a binding agent for the wood fibres, no industrially viable method existed to recycle

Véronique Hoflack, president of Unilin Panels

17

Bernard Thiers, CEO Unilin Group

Unilin’s Bazeilles, France factory

the fibres from fibreboard waste at the end of their product life.

That means that the lion’s share is incinerated after use (on average 14 to 20 years). We have now succeeded in developing a new and innovative process to recycle these wood fibres and reuse them for the production of new panel material.

For example our decorative Evola panels or Quick-Step laminate floors. This new technology doubles the life of the wood fibres! This longer life will give new trees the chance to grow and, in turn, store CO2. A major step forward towards circularity.”

Circularity in our DNA The development of this groundbreaking new technology fits seamlessly with the sustainability

strategy of Unilin Group, which underscores the company’s commitment to contribute to the realisation of the Paris Agreement to limit global warming to 1.5°C. Unilin Group considers its commitment to innovation a precondition to realising these ambitious goals.

manufacturer of flax chipboards and we developed a solution for the waste from the local flax industry.

Even then we saw the challenges involving the reuse of materials as an opportunity and this is still the case today. With our new technology we can now close the

“With our new technology we can now close the circle completely for our MDF and HDF boards” In the next two years the group will invest a further €160 million in Belgium, amongst others in research and development.

Bernard Thiers, CEO Unilin Group: “Circularity has been embedded in Unilin Group’s DNA from day one. In 1960 we started out as a

circle completely for our MDF and HDF boards (the basis of the QuickStep laminate). This development is fully in line with our sustainable raw materials strategy of using 100% recovered or recycled wood and prolonging the product life of wood as much as possible.”

In the initial phase Unilin Group will use the technology for the recycling of internally used material at the production site of Bazeilles, where the group has a history of investing in cutting-edge technology for the production of MDF and HDF boards. In the next phase production capacity will be increased to also allow the recycling of externally harvested fibreboards and laminate floors. This technology, which has been patented in the meantime, is an absolute world first. The goal is to replace at least 25% of Unilin Group’s raw materials mix with recycled fibres by 2030.

Over time, this will enable the Unilin Group to keep 380,000 tons of CO2 per year stored in the wood fibre that is given a second life through this new technology.

18 NEWS

Mattress recycling now a reality with start-up of new Renuva plant Orrion Chemicals Orgaform’s chemical recycling unit in Semoy, France where Dow’s Renuva Mattress Recycling Program will use chemical recycling to convert this recovered foam into new valuable polyurethane raw materials (polyols)

Renuva polyol, now ready for use in flexible foam applications, promises to deliver greater sustainability offerings for the bedding industry.

Dow Polyurethanes and Orrion Chemicals Orgaform, together with Eco-mobilier, H&S Anlagentechnik and The Vita Group, have inaugurated a pioneering mattress recycling plant as part of the Renuva programme.

Old mattresses made of polyurethane (PU) foam will now be recovered, dismantled and chemically recycled to create a new polyol, which is a key starting material to produce PU. This Renuva polyol is designed for various applications including mattresses.

This is a major step forward in the recovery and recycling of PU foam, and a significant advance

for closing the loop for end-of-life mattresses.

At full capacity the plant will process up to 200,000 mattresses per year, helping to tackle the growing mattress waste problem.

“We are immensely proud to have unveiled this plant. By doing so we are answering the question of what can be done with recycled PU foam. It is part of Dow’s strong commitment to delivering solutions that help close the loop and protect our environment,” comments Marie Buy, sustainability leader EMEAI, Dow Polyurethanes.

“As Renuva now shifts focus to the production phase and the first foam made with the new polyol, our Dow Polyurethanes sustainability journey continues. We are actively exploring future possibilities for recycled material and potential applications. It is really a new beginning.”

The Renuva mattress recycling plant is the result of strong collaboration between Dow and key players from across the mattress lifecycle.

“This really is a first for our company and for France. We have a longstanding commitment to creating more sustainable solutions, and have long recognised the need for industry to part of the solution,” comments Christian Siest, president, Orrion Chemicals Orgaform. “Our plant uses a chemical recycling process in which the PU foam is decomposed and converted into a novel single product. The great thing about this

is versatility – we can process foam from any mattress, and the Renuva polyol recipe itself can be tailored for different applications.”

“Our ambition is to ensure the quality of the materials collected and delivery to Renuva so that we keep to the promise of a closed loop”, states Dominique Mignon, president of Eco-Mobilier.

As previously announced, flexible PU foam solutions provider The Vita Group will use the Renuva polyol to create its award-winning Orbis flexible foam, providing a more sustainable offering to the bedding market.

“Consumer attitudes have changed significantly, and people are becoming a lot more focused on making sustainable choices. We have already seen strong interest from customers across Europe for Orbis foam and interest in the Renuva technology, providing exciting opportunities for our product lines,” comments Mark Lewis, operations and projects director at The Vita Group.

“For over 50 years, Vita has recycled or rebonded pre-consumer foam trim into material suitable for a range of products such as underlays for flooring. Our collaboration with Dow allows us to take our sustainability vision to the next level, and we are extremely proud and excited to play our part in driving this groundbreaking innovation forward.” www.dow.com

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20 NEWS/EVENTS

Xylexpo and bi-mu collaborate to provide stellar event With a focus on digitisation and sustainability, the next edition of BI-MU and Xylexpo, the events organised by Ucimu-Sistemi Per Produrre, the association of Italian manufacturers of machine tools, robots and automation, and by Acimall, the association of woodworking machinery manufacturers, to be held from 12-5th October 2022 at the Fieramilano-Rho expo centre, near Milan.

The two events – 33.BI-MU and Xylexpo will cover eight halls in the West area of the show grounds. Halls 9, 11, 13 and 15 will be assigned BI-MU; halls 14, 18, 22 and 24 to Xylexpo. The organisers are positing that it is reasonable to expect that Xylexpo and 33.BI-MU will ‘return to normal’ after the necessary breaks we have all endured.

A premium event BI-MU and Xylexpo, two distinct but complementary events, are set to merge into a single entity where operators from all over the world will find technologies, equipment, services and ideas to produce in an increasingly sustainable and efficient way, according to the principles of Industry 4.0.

BI-MU and Xylexpo together will give life to the week of instrumental mechanics, attracting to all manufacturing industry operators who will be able to combine the visit to both exhibitions at Fieramilano-Rho with a single trip, The stars of the events will be the most advanced technologies that, without neglecting all the related sectors, will show the evolution of production systems, their progressive integration, the constant involvement of different and complementary materials, including light alloys, composites, aluminium.

Four days that will attract technicians, entrepreneurs, opinion leaders and operators from all over the world to Milan, especially from those countries where the demand for Industry 4.0 solutions is higher, solutions that are automatic, flexible, effective, and at the same time, empower an effective management of energy and resources thanks to increasingly ‘friendly’ digital systems.

The organiser states that from this edition, the exhibition enters a new digital dimension that, through a dedicated platform, will further extend its geographical and time boundaries.

Registration update More than positive, the early reactions of the exhibiting companies involved, who have immediately seized the new opportunities that arise from the collaboration between the two events, which will be promoted through an even more effective communication campaign all over the world, starting in the coming weeks.

Barbara Colombo Barbara Colombo, president of Ucimu-Sistemi Per Produrre commented: “In recent weeks, we have updated the 2021 forecasts for the industry.

The data processed by Centro Studi & Cultura di Impresa of Ucimu-Sistemi Per Produrre tell us that we are cruising at twice the speed estimated only a few months ago. And the data for Q3 2021, just processed, indicate an increase by 52% compared to the same period of last year, thus confirming that the positive trend will continue throughout 2022. Government incentives are supporting domestic demand and will keep doing next year to the benefit of 33.BI-MU.” Luigi De Vito “Technologies for the wood and furniture industry are experiencing an extremely positive season,” commented Luigi De Vito, president of Acimall.

“If the figures relating to the first part of the year are confirmed in the coming months, it is reasonable to believe that in 2022 the world of Italian technologies for wood-furniture will record a double-digit growth in production, approaching the threshold of €3bn, two of which from export.

“Such trend will be reflected in Xylexpo that, once again, will be a great international showcase of innovation, the world reference in evennumbered years, a not-to-be-missed event not only because it takes place in a market – Italy – highly attractive both in terms of quantity and quality of demand, but because it has always been a key meeting point for industry operators from all over the world”.

Alfredo Mariotti Alfredo Mariotti, general manager of UcimuSistemi Per Produrre, said: “The participation of industry operators in Emo Milano 2021, the world-leading industry exhibition currently hosted at Fieramilano-Rho, is further evidence of the excellent moment that the market is experiencing. This positive situation, together with the numerous innovations that will characterise 33.BI-MU, starting with ‘RobotHeart’, the new area dedicated to robotics, will certainly attract the

interest of exhibitors, a hundred of whom have already confirmed their participation, booking a total area of approximately 12,000 sq m”.

Dario Corbetta Dario Corbetta, director of Acimall, added: “There are a hundred companies that have long confirmed their participation, 10,000 sq m of exhibition space assigned already in the aftermath of the cancellation of the 2020 edition, and by the end of the year we expect a massive increase in both exhibitors and exhibition area.

We will achieve this result thanks to the levers on which a trade association can act, having no other objectives than the promotion of the sector it represents, including the ‘early bird’ rates for those who register by 31st December – or the decision to keep the participation costs unchanged.”

Side events Many events, seminars and collateral initiatives will be deployed by the two organisers, offering opportunities for in-depth analysis and discussion on the most current topics of industrial production.

Alongside the shared paths between 33.BI-MU and Xylexpo, there will be specific initiatives in the programs of each fair.

Xylexpo is renewing the appointment with Xia-Xylexpo Innovation Awards, that in 2022 will reward the commitment to sustainable business (and the development of digital solutions and structures. A specific award will go to the best technologies for the production of furniture with a special design content.

Xylexpo will also dedicate three exhibition days to as many topics of woodworking, through events and technological routes that will put specific segments of the production process under the spotlight. On Wednesday, 12th October, the topic will be panel processing, 13th Thursday will be dedicated to surface finishing, 14th Friday to processes from sawmill to semi-finished material production. www.xylexpo.com

22 NEWS/EVENTS

Surface Design Show unveils the best in new talent from across the world Surface Design Show, the UK’s leading event for architects and designers to explore the best in surface material innovation, is getting ready to welcome over 120 exhibitors to its 2022 show, including over 35 confirmed New Talents.

In partnership with Canon UK and curated

by Trendease International’s Jennifer Castoldi, the New Talent exhibitors will feature a wide range of start-up designers, all brought together to exhibit for the first time. Jennifer and her team travel to over 100 design events each year, seeking out the most innovative and dynamic designs.

The class of ‘22 has been sourced from showrooms, trade fairs, exhibits and design shows in major design capitals, and new talents from the Netherlands, Singapore and Spain will be participating.

Surface Design Show and Canon UK are dedicated to supporting the New Talent showcased in this important and increasingly popular sector of the show.

Derek Joys, product marketing manager at Canon UK, comments: “We are delighted to be partnering with the New Talent section of Surface Design Show, and to have the opportunity to work with such talented new global designers. From wallcoverings to textiles, digital printing plays a hugely important part in interior decor – we hope that through our involvement, we can pass on expert knowledge which will help these individuals to thrive in the future.”

The 2020 event featured talented new designers showing materials that included decorative panels, biomaterials, plastic waste tiles, flexible plaster and laser-cut biophilic surfaces. The 2022 show is set to be just as exciting, with participants offering a range of sophisticated and innovative designs – from textile designs featuring augmented reality to 3D tiles of eco resin and waste materials.

Many of the participants this year also reflect a recurring theme of using natural materials and dyes.

“Once again Trendease International and I are delighted to bring together a diverse selection of new talent we have scouted from around the world. Over 35 fresh faces will present their creations at the next edition of Surface Design Show, ranging from 3D tiles and bioplastics, to wallpapers and textiles with circular design and wellbeing centre stage.” comments Jennifer Castoldi, CEO/chief creative director, Trendease

International.

Among the New Talent designers for 2022 visitors will find surfaces using fruit waste, tiles using waste materials, a celebration of British wool, and lighting using wood veneer.

Designer Ellie Preece will bring her Kitchen Archives project to the show, an exploration of biomaterials with the goal being to create alternative packaging. Ellie’s biomaterials have been produced using various fruits, many of which can be sourced from fruit waste. The results are an edible packaging material, along with a material that can be used in place of plastics.

Emily Hatton’s work consists of a collection of 3D tiles that are made using a combination of techniques including laser cutting and hand construction, with elements of laser etch and digital print that incorporate subtle pattern into the designs.

Some of the tiles have then been further developed by mouldmaking and casting with an eco-resin (Jesmonite) and waste materials. Each waste material is able to offer a unique surface texture to the resin.

The 3D tiles can be applied to a range of applications including luxury wall panelling, unque wall art and adornments for furniture design.

Introduced for the first time to the New Talent section will be a lighting design by

Chloe Hook. Developed using veneer, the design celebrates the beauty of nature and the importance of it in any environment.

Chloe chooses to work with wood because of its primitive familiarity, warmth of colour and its sustainability credentials.

Textile designer Cara Tomi will introduce her project, The Psychology of Mandalas.

The mandala is a spiritual symbol from the Buddhist faith – a sacred, circular, symmetrical pattern that can be understood in two different ways: externally as a visual representation of the universe; or internally as a guide for several practices that take place in many Asian traditions, including meditation.

The prints are made using the traditional Japanese technique of shibori (stich resist) combined with the contemporary application of structure and form through mandalas breathing new life into traditional designs.

Louisa Knapp of Knapp Textiles will showcase her textiles while championing British wool. After watching the documentary Kiss the Ground, the important role sheep can play when implemented in a regenerative farming system highlighted their ability to aid carbon sequestration into the earth’s soil, reversing the effects of climate change.

For Louisa this was unforgettably inspiring.

Therefore, she aimed to investigate how wool could play a significant role in this regenerative period in the country’s economic and ecological reconfiguration.

Design enthusiasts are invited to discover this New Talent, along with enjoying some well-known, respected ones on 8-10th February 2022 at the Business Design Centre, London. www.surfacedesignshow.com

STAY GLUED WITH HENKEL

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Don’t come unstuck, call 0161 627 1001 or email salesteam@kenyon-group.co.uk www.kenyon-group.co.uk

24

I N C O N V E R S AT I O N W I T H

Mike Briggs, Panelco

>> Introduce the company, its key people and an overview the products and services on offer.

Panelco is the UK’s premier supplier of wood based panels to the UK furniture industry, the company has a tight management structure tasked with driving quality and service consistently.

Julie Dean, commercial director and Matthew Davies, commercial manager, head up sales and marketing, Mike Briggs as purchasing director is responsible for supply chain, product development and innovation ,while Ashley Hooley takes responsibility for the stock and inventory management.

As a company we offer a unique proposition in our industry, offering ex stock next day delivery on the widest range of premium wood based panel solutions currently available in the market, MDF, Plywood P2 and P5 chipboard, FR based panels, MR panels, Veneers, OSB, structural flooring, and the widest range of decorative melamine faced boards assembled under one roof in the UK, >> Among Panelco’s products, Medite products feature strongly – tell us about Panelco’s relationship with Medite and specifically what Medite products Panelco offers.

Panelco’s relationship with Medite goes back many years, they are a specialist in producing MDF and MDF alone, as a result I believe Medite have developed a product that far exceeds the market expectations in terms of quality and usability, As a specialist producer they offer many products which have been developed to work in over 400 different applications including Fire retardant, moisture resistant, Medivent and the incredible waterproof Tricoya to name a few.

Panelco offer an extensive range covering Trade, standard, MR, FR exterior grade and Tricoya covering all the industry standards, available for next day delivery from a single sheet to full loads.

>> How do the Medite products that Panelco offers differ from the norm – what are their core attributes in terms of quality and machining?

Along with the industry standards Panelco specialise in carrying a range of non- standard product lines, these include oversized and specialist panels, supporting a great number of niche applications, Medite Clear is a product manufactured with zero formaldehyde, specifically developed for use in environmentally sensitive applications. Medivent is a product developed for use in Passivhaus buildings, a suitable breathable MDF that is CARB2 compliant and FSC certified. >> Give us a fuller appreciation of the services that Panelco offers its furniture and joinery customers?

Panelco is based in the heart of Staffordshire in a 650,000 sq ft distribution facility, we own our own fleet of trucks designed with the sole purpose of supplying customers on time and in full whatever the customers requirements.

Take a look further into what Panelco offer you will discover so much more than just a next day delivery service. Visit our recently opened Design Studio & Forum where you can utilise all the facilities we have on offer to develop new ranges, see new trends and decors all with the assistance of the sales team. >> Regarding Panelco’s wider portfolio, what is currently in particular demand from furniture and joinery manufacturers – and what their key applications?

Sales remain extremely strong for Medite product however we are seeing a real emergence in demand for oversized MR MDF up to lengths of 5.2m these specialist products have been bought into stock as we adjust requirements to reflect demand.

25

Medivent is quite unique in its application and is specified more and more in the development of Bio and Environmental homes, both offering great levels of machinability, performance and a considerably lower environmental impact, finally Medite Tricoya Extreme, a product designed to be machined and processed just like standard MDF but is completely waterproof, ideal for making external furniture. >> What is the best way for customers to understand more about the Panelco portfolio in the round and and develop solutions for their particular applications?

Panelco’s website is fully updated with all the most up to date Medite information alternatively pay us a visit at our Design Facilities to look at samples and discuss your requirements, >> Could you tell us about Medite’s campaign – and how Panelco is involved?

We have a real respect for what is possible with raw MDF and working with so many different types of manufacturers and designers we get a real vision for what is possible and just how versatile the product is.

We acknowledge that customers can sometimes struggle to find the right product that is fit for purpose with projects and can struggle to find solutions. Often there is a simple remedy and to reinforce this we have teamed up with Medite to promote their Medite Makes It Real campaign.

The campaign focuses on a brand new portal that Medite launched at the beginning of the year, this portal allows industry professionals to connect and showcase their work or projects. We believe this fantastic tool is an incredible step in the right direction for the industry and opens the door to increasing innovation.

Alongside competitions and prizes including merchandise this is a really valuable tool.

Medite UltraLight

Medite Exterior

Tricoya

>> Give us an insight in Panelco’s future?

Panelco has a very bright future and is continuously investing across the core elements of the business including manufacturing, warehousing and IT infrastructure.

01782 392100 www.panelco.com Medite MR

26

Installations

Successful first foray into CNC manufacturing for fire door specialist

Words and images @ Media 66

Following a management buy out in 2016, directors Jason Thompson, Martin Hammond Snr and Martin Hammond Jr changed the focus of the Washington & Riley hardware business to the manufacturing of door sets for contract applications, especially fire doors. John Legg catches up with them as they bed in in their latest acquisition.

Initially a hardware firm based in Burslem since 1935, Washington & Riley is today a thriving joinery business based in Market Drayton working with healthcare, education, local authorities, housing associations, hotel, leisure and retail sectors.

The company’s financial director, Martin Hammond ( junior) enjoys a dual role in the business by also taking responsibility for the operational side of its latest acquisition, an impressive AES Vega Ultra 1325 CNC machine. But in just a couple of years, the company has changed considerably from being a hardware supplier At the time of the MBO, and following the awful Grenfell fire in 2017, the company was only supplying doors and door sets alongside its hardware operation. It had become evident finding capable suppliers was a real challenge - Martin describes them ruefully as ‘quite useless to be honest’. Collectively the Washington & Riley team

INSTALLATIONS 27

felt that this side of the business was an area they could potentially develop.

Through its connections, the next 18 months saw the beginnings of the company’s future as a door and door set manufacturer become a reality. Clearly, more space would be needed and its 1000 sq ft facility could and would not cope – they needed a bigger facility to allow them to move forward and create a proper manufacturing process. A suitable place was identified and a move to Market Drayton was planned – then the first lockdown of the Covid era was announced.

“Having identified a suitable factory space, and we had decided to go, we were faced with an unexpectedly major decision,” says Martin, “do we push on under these unknown and challenging conditions and continue to invest in our future business?

Do we buy the property that was to become our new home? At the time we just didn’t know whether the business was just going to stop in its tracks, there and then!”

Washington & Riley did take that brave step forward, and the market was

Martin Hammond with the impressive AES Vega Ultra 1325 CNC machine which is opening new options for the business

receptive to what they could offer – and more importantly perhaps, nobody in the business fell ill during that time. Washington & Riley’s manufacturing operation had begun. Today the business operates from a tidy 13,000 sq ft premises – and having been in the property for just 18 months.

Using traditional joinery machinery alone, the business was able to produce around 200 doors a month with eight staff. The mindset of the company at this time was to ensure it could provide an effective and flexible service to its customer and the business grew steadily, gaining valuable experience all the while. This service-foremost approach also helped them achieve Bluesky accreditation for the manufacturing, installation and maintenance of its door sets.

Things progressed and Martin and the team had pitched for a larger contract, which, they had promised themselves, it they won it, they would invest in some new equipment.

The machine that Martin had in his sights was a one year old Biesse Akron

the Akron edgebander was Washington & Riley’s first major investment

edgebander for solid timber lippings. Biesse was brought in to set it up correctly helping Washington & Riley on its way.

“The Akron made production a considerably less stressful process for us – and also gave us more added confidence in the potential of the business,” explained Martin.

“As a young business, we needed to provide a thoroughly professional service which kept our customers happy. It was >>

‘Having identified a suitable factory space, and we had decided to go, we were faced with an unexpectedly major decision…’

28 INSTALLATIONS

>>

The well drilled team at Washington & Riley

J & C O’Meara also supplied an efficient dust extraction unit

With its HSD 9Kw router head and 14-position tool changer is a highly capable machine

The work cell at Washington & Riley now has a new flexibility and significant extra performance with the AES Vega Ultra 1325 CNC machine at its heart

29

Martin Hammond, Washington & Riley financial director (and now trained CNC machine operator)

a case of streamlining really which has allowed us to learn, become more proficient and then hopefully to grow with a wider customer base.”

So, from that solid base and the experience with a modest customer base, Martin and the team could see that the market to manufacture high quality fire doors and door sets would potentially create further growth. The next move was a CNC machine - something nobody in the Washington & Riley business had any direct experience of. Having made contact with J & C O’Meara 12 months previously, Martin was aware of the AES machines they were supplying, and quite rightly, decided to check out a number of other potential suppliers to see first-hand what else was on offer.

“I visited a few other suppliers to see what options were available, and although the machines seemed good enough, it all felt a bit awkward - it felt a bit like a car showroom experience with them very quickly wanting me to put down a deposit that day,” says Martin.

He called Carl O’Meara back and made arrangements to see the machine fully operational at the J & C O’Meara premises in Burscough, Lancashire.

After a full demonstration and thoroughly examining the entire software, training, delivery and installation process, a decision in principle was made and Martin and the Washington & Riley team had taken another major step forwards and the AES Vega Ultra 1325 CNC for fire doors was set for delivery not long after.

The specification of the machine included a dedicated, double-sided, horizontal router head to machine the locks and the recessing of the hinges, an HSD 9Kw router head and 14-position tool changer.

The machine was also fitted with an additional aggregate for machining pockets in the head and bottom of the door for concealed closers.

The CNC was also supplied complete with Alphacam Standard along with a special door macro allowing fast and easy programming which makes it suitable for

‘We’re very happy with the CNC and the service from Carl and his team, the whole process went very well from initial contact through to the installation and the training. The entire J&C team is very approachable, you feel valued from the outset and they show great attention to what you’re actually doing, how you’re doing it, and how they can help you do it better’

both bespoke and volume production.

In addition, the total package to the customer included the supply of a dust extraction unit, delivery, off-loading, commissioning with pre delivery training along with training on site.

“This installation was particularly smooth – the customer went from never having operated a CNC machine before, to producing for orders within the same week as delivery,” says Carl O’Meara.

“Washington & Riley is a highly capable business, and is now very well set-up to take advantage in what is a growing market sector.”

“We’re very happy with the CNC and the service from Carl and his team,” says Martin.

“The whole process went very well from initial contact through to the installation and the training. The entire J&C team is very approachable, you feel valued from the outset and they show great attention to what you’re actually doing, how you’re doing it, and how they can help you do it better.”

Without direct experience, Washington & Riley needed a supplier such as J & C O’Meara in order that they could get up to speed with the support required. Martin’s brother, Anthony, takes care of software and, for now, Martin takes the lead with operational aspects of their new machine.

He says that the installation went well, but there were a few minor issues which Carl and his team smartly took care of.

At the time of my visit, the company was hopefully going to be a position to almost double its turnover with a new contract - a position Martin readily agrees the business would not have been able to consider prior to installing its new AES Vega Ultra 1325 CNC machine.

So what does Washington & Riley’s future look like? “Our market is strong,” says Martin, “and as our confidence grows we are seeing more opportunities with our customers as they understand and visualise the greater potential of our capability.

“At the moment we’re busy, and the future looks very promising. Hopefully, as we progress, we’ll be looking to invest in further new machinery to enable us to become still more efficient and offer a wider range of services. One thing is for sure, I’ll definitely be going back to J&C – from my experience they can’t be faulted, there’s no flim-flam with Carl, no silly games, he’s straight down the line - and I really respect that.”

01704 893109 www.ukwoodworkingmachinery.co.uk 01630 654905 www.washingtonandriley.ltd.uk

30 INSTALLATIONS

Substantial cost savings with Ecogate® greenBOX NXT Newly-appointed Ecogate distributor, Extractly Ltd, have recently installed a complete extraction system, including state-of-the-art Ecogate greenBOX NXT technology, for Thwaite Holme Kitchens & Bedrooms Ltd. Located near the village of Dalston, just a few miles south-west of Carlisle, the name Thwaite Holme has been synonymous with the design, manufacture and installation of quality fitted kitchens and bedrooms for over 40 years. The company was established in 1972 by father, Bob Postlethwaite, and now remains a familyrun business headed by middle son Ian. The company specialises in high-end, luxury kitchen and bedroom furniture; designing and manufacturing quality, bespoke fitted furniture to suit individual tastes and styles. “Every piece of furniture we make in our workshop is unique and personal to each of our customers”, says Ian. “We have a highly skilled team, with years of experience in cabinetry and bespoke furniture, and we pride ourselves on the quality of the work we produce.”

Working in traditional hardwoods such as oak, walnut, maple and ash, the craftsmanship and attention to detail is obvious in every piece of Thwaite Holme furniture. Details of this nature are not produced on high-speed CNC machines, but crafted on a vast range of individual machines – in fact just about one machine for each year of the company’s existence, and a new extension to the premises, more than doubling the available space, has enabled the factory layout to be reorganised to optimise workflow.

“I’d come across an article about Extractly in one of the joinery magazines,” Ian explains, “and, knowing we’d need to make changes to our extraction system when the building work was completed, I had it pinned up on our noticeboard for weeks as a reminder to get them in to give us a price for getting the ductwork re-configured to suit the new layout.”

Extractly director, Jake Oldfield, takes up the story: “We were obviously pleased to get the enquiry from Ian”, says Jake, “but as soon as Ian showed me into the newly extended factory it was immediately

With the versatile Ecogate greenBOX NXT, the extraction system can be monitored and controlled from anywhere in the world via any internet-connected device

obvious that the task was going to involve much more than an update of the ductwork arrangement.”

After a brief inspection of the factory, the filter unit, the armoury of dust-producing equipment, and a candid discussion with Ian, Jake carried out a comprehensive evaluation of the extraction requirements, including a full energy-saving survey.

“It was a bit of a wake-up call,” says Ian, “but I guess I already knew that our existing system was coming to the end of its useful life. However, I was pleasantly surprised when I received the proposal from Extractly; especially the calculations showing the savings we could expect to make by including Ecogate technology in the new system.”

With around 40 machines requiring extraction, and yet only a small number of them ever in use at any given time, the potential savings were substantial.

The laws of physics ‘rule of thumb’ is that electricity consumption is halved if fan

speed is reduced by just 20% and, with the energy survey having determined that a 35% reduction could be achieved with Ecogate technology controlling the new system, the predicted savings were substantial. For Thwaite Holme, the lower fan speeds achievable with an Ecogate system will save over 66,000 kilowatt hours a year, saving thousands of pounds every year on electricity costs – which, with the current economic uncertainty in the energy supply market, is welcome news for Ian Postlethwaite.

Although the technology controlling the system is sophisticated, the principle is a simple one: Ecogate’s smart motorised dampers are fitted into the extraction ductwork; machines are fitted with sensors that detect when they come on or off-line; and the Ecogate greenBOX controls the opening and closing of the dampers. At the same time, the greenBOX controls a variable speed drive which, in real time, automatically adjusts the fan to run at the

31

Thwaite Holme’s factory houses a vast array of equipment and a total of 28 ‘Smart’ motorised dampers are controlled by the Ecogate greenBOX NXT

Every piece of a Thwaite Holme kitchen is individually-designed and manufactured for a discerning clientele

The compact NFSZ3000 2HJLR modular filter unit, designed to handle large volumes of air with heavy material contamination, is fitted with patented antistatic polyester Superbag filter bags which are cleaned automatically by a 1.1kW reverse air regeneration fan

optimum speed required to extract only from machines that are in use, and to maintain minimum airflow velocity in the ductwork.

Extractly’s installation team fitted Nordfab QF® ductwork throughout the factory, connecting equipment to the main ductwork via four separate branches. A 37kW direct drive Combifab fan provides the capacity to extract in excess of 20,000 cubic metres of air an hour, delivering sawdust, shavings and wood chips to

be filtered through the externally-sited Nederman NFSZ3000 2HJLR filter unit.

From here, collected waste is discharged pressure-free, via a Nederman rotary valve, and then by way of an enclosed mini-conveyor unit to feed the company’s existing briquetter unit. Clean, filtered warm air is returned to keep the factory warm through the colder months, or expelled to atmosphere when not required.

The filter unit is fully ATEX-approved and, in the unlikely event of an explosion in the unit, a Nederman non-return safety valve, situated in the main ductwork between the filter and factory, prevents the effects of a pressure wave and flames travelling through the ductwork and into the factory.

At the heart of the system is the Ecogate greenBOX NXT which, as well as monitoring individual machines, is also capable of

monitoring activity on each of the four ductwork branches and, as technical director William Kenyon explained: “If any branch has no machines in operation, the NXT controller can automatically shut down that branch entirely, negating the need to maintain minimum airflow, and so further increasing the potential energy savings.”

“I’ve been really impressed with the level of service Extractly have provided”, says Ian Postlethwaite. “From Jake’s initial visit through to final commissioning of the new installation, communication at each step of the process has been excellent and, with the way energy costs are rising at the moment, it’s been the perfect time to have invested in Ecogate’s latest technology.”

01924 520462 info@extractly.co.uk www.extractly.co.uk

32

The Garden Kitchen by Clive Christian Furniture represents the ultimate in fine outdoor living

Trusted adhesive specialist solves tough challenge for Clive Christian Furniture

Oliver Deadman, head of design at Clive Christian Furniture

INSTALLATIONS 33

With over 25 years of experience, Cambridge-based adhesive specialist Adkwik can help manufacturers find an optimum solution that sticks, whatever the area of expertise be it joinery, furniture making, exhibitions, set building, timber frame construction, or a wide range of woodworking and industrial applications.

In short, Adkwik helps clients solve their specific needs.

With a reputation of delivering some of the finest bespoke furniture, Clive Christian Furniture Co has been in the business of designing and manufacturing some of the world’s finest spaces.

The company, whose roots are in Lancashire and has 17 showrooms around the globe, prides itself on exceptionally, inspired opulence. Using the best materials; their artisans form timeless cabinetry at its company-owned workshop, intertwining state-of-the-art equipment with heirloom skill sets.

Like many manufacturers Clive Christian was facing a new challenge. The company had been set the task of relocating its

exceptional furniture in a new outdoor arena. The Garden Kitchen was born.

Inspired by the glamour of classic yachts, the outdoor cabinetry had to be constructed using the materials which would withstand the elements of some of the harshest climates.

“When it came to the adhesives we looked to trusted industry friends at Adkwik to assist us,” explains Oliver Deadman, head of design at Clive Christian. “Adkwik readily grasped our predicament and drew on their technical expertise to support us.”

One of the biggest construction challenges OIiver and his team faced was bonding its selected wood, Iroko.

This extremely durable timber is suited perfectly for the Garden Kitchen, however the optimal adhesive required to achieve the desired effect was a crucial issue to be resolved.

“When Clive Warren, head of technical sales at Adkwik, informed us that the adhesive technology advised was used to affix timber to carbon fibre race yachts, we knew we were in safe hands, he understood

Timbond X600 PU Adhesive Timbond X600 2-part high performance PU adhesive.

Ideal for the most difficult joints and extreme conditions. This super strong, gap filling, has excellent temperature resistance and good water resistance. Also suitable for bonding large areas and use to bond most timbers. Also used to bond metals and stone. X600 is easy to mix and easy to apply using either a notched trowel or spreader.

Full data sheet available online at https://www. adkwik.co.uk/timbond-x600-pu-adhesive/

our drive for the absolute.”

Timbond X600 PU Adhesive was ideally suited for this application, this two-part non-foaming PU adhesives could cut through the oils within the timber and give a 100% waterproof glue line.

“Once we agreed on using the X600, Clive then swiftly set up a workshop visit where he personally walked our team though handling and application at our premises – this was followed up a short time later with a courtesy visit ensuring all was going to plan and we were happy with his prescription.”

Oliver concluded: “Adkwik provided a very personal service, guiding us through uncharted waters with vast industry knowledge backed by science. We hope to continue to work with this company for many more years to come and look forward to the next brief we can put their way.

01223 904218 www.adkwik.co.uk One of the major challenges for Clive Christian’s Garden Kitchen was the bonding of the Iroko – expertly dealt with by Adkwik’s capable team using the impressive Timbond X600 PU adhesive © Images Clive Christian Furniture

34 INSTALLATIONS

Unitech Oxon embraces the future of manufacturing Unitech Oxon – a family run kitchen and bedroom furniture manufacturer based out of Banbury – has been providing bespoke designer kitchens for the past twenty-five years throughout Oxfordshire and surrounding areas. The independent company is continuously expanding, embracing new ideas and technologies to streamline and enhance their production methods. Unitech Oxon utilises some of the most advanced woodworking machinery and automation software available, providing them a competitive edge in their market.

But as Unitech explains, life was not always so high-tech. “In the early days, our workshop and everything we built was fairly standard.

We had a standard product line that had fixed constructing methods and we relied on manual processes to create programs for our CNC machinery. We produced quality products, but our workflows were far from high-tech or automated.”

As Unitech Oxon’s business grew, their need for mass production increased. “We started to take on more projects which meant we needed to ramp up our production to keep up with the demand for our products. With the increased volume and stacked sheets of material being processed through our beam saw, the accuracy of our parts declined. If we wanted to maintain our reputation for quality and grow our company, we knew it was necessary to improve our machinery and workflows.”

Unitech’s search for new machinery led them to Anderson, manufacturers of CNCcontrolled precision machine tools, where they were also introduced to an all-in-one, AutoCAD-based manufacturing platform from Microvellum. “After a demonstration of the software and its capabilities, we knew straight away that Microvellum was going to be the solution that would help us redefine our workflows. It would help us move forward into the future of manufacturing.”

Microvellum’s platform has been developed to handle all aspects of wood product manufacturing, including design, drafting, estimating, engineering, CNC production, and reporting. Its open architecture allows users to be in full control of the products manufactured with the system, as Unitech puts it, “down to every detail”.

“We used to offer a standard product

at a time when everyone wanted bespoke. We were accommodating and made our customers happy, but that manual, one-off work caused delays and frustration throughout our workshop. With Microvellum, we can customise anything and everything - right down to the little details. Now, nothing we do is standard, and everything comes customised. There are so many variations in what we do. We have even setup different construction and machining specifications for repeat clients, which was not possible before.”

Today, the crew at Unitech Oxon are busier than ever. They have added to their sales team, expanded into new showrooms, are exploring new markets, a larger factory, and the possibility of adding new

machinery to complement their line-up of other CNC equipment.

“For us, implementing Microvellum was a game changer. Not only did it help us provide more flexible options for our customers, but it also helped move us into the future of manufacturing where everything is centralised and connected.

We can make changes to any product and with the click of a button, our production team has the updated CNC code, drawings, and reports. It provides the flexibility for mass customisations that we needed, combined with the power to keep everything streamlined throughout our entire workshop.” Unitech concluded.

0800 680 0669 www.microvellum.com

Clamex P-14 Flexus

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NEW Clamex P-14/10 Medius

P-System Tool-free, form-fit anchoring – So that you can save time and differentiate yourself every day!

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With mountable and dismountable connections and strong material tension?

Yes, with the Lamello P-System!

Lamello AG | Joining technology | Hauptstrasse 149 | CH-4416 Bubendorf Shaye Chatfield | Area Sales Manager International | M +44 789 1025 646 | s.chatfield@lamello.com | www.lamello.co.uk

36 INSTALLATIONS

Escalating energy prices lead more business owners to investigate woodwaste heaters The reported UK energy crisis and escalating energy costs means there has never been a better time for businesses to investigate alternative, more cost-effective options, says UK manufacturer, Wood Waste Technology (WWT).

With the ongoing effects of last year’s pandemic and more uncertainty ahead, business owners are looking for ways to future-proof their businesses by monitoring operational outgoings in order to try to reduce any areas of heavy expenditure.

For manufacturing businesses that generate woodwaste, one cost-effective alternative is to invest in a woodwaste heater. Converting waste wood into energy could save a business thousands of pounds on heating and waste disposal bills each year, by burning the wood waste to create heating, rather than paying to have the waste taken away.

WWT offers a range of woodwaste heaters to suit businesses of all sizes. Easy to use and install, the heaters can save companies money on waste-management solutions such as hiring skips, while also helping keep premises warm – and some companies can receive payback on their investment in less than 12 months.

WWT’s heaters can deal with all kinds of wood, from MDF and pallets to hardwoods and sawdust. The units are also incredibly environmentally friendly and are compliant with the Clean Air Act. Combustion, rather than incineration, makes for a much greener alternative to waste management, and hugely reduces carbon footprint.

For over 19 years, WWT has helped businesses save money on heating and waste disposal costs. All its durable and dependable woodwaste heaters

“Converting waste wood into energy could save a business thousands of pounds on heating and waste disposal bills each year, by burning the wood waste to create heating, rather than paying to have the waste taken away”

are manufactured at its headquarters in Staffordshire. As well as offering site survey, design, manufacture, installation and ongoing maintenance for new units, the company also services all types of woodwaste heaters, and supplies genuine spares up to -60% cheaper than other suppliers.

In addition, WWT is the UK’s official distributor for Gross Apparatebau, a German manufacturer of dependable,

precision-engineered shredders and briquetters. The company is also a distributor for Putzmaus boiler tube cleaning systems – a powerful but gentle routine maintenance solution that is quick and easy to use, and helps to increase boiler efficiency and lower operating costs.

01785 250400 www.woodwastetechnology.com ww.grossuk.co.uk www.putzmaus.co.uk

STRONG AND BEAUTIFUL SURFACES

Whether you are a designer or a producer of interior furniture and fittings, floorings, outdoor facades, windows or doors, we have the right finish for you. At Sherwin-Williams we have a coating solution to meet virtually every need. As the leading provider of customized finishing solutions we can offer you the latest industry innovations at the highest quality to add value to your process and your everyday life. If you require a finishing solution, and you want the optimal one for your operations then look no further.

Sherwin-Williams UK Coatings Ltd | wood.sherwin.com | A1 Business Park - Knottingley | West Yorkshire | WF11 0BU | England Phone +44 (0) 1977 67 33 63 | ukinfo@sherwin.com

38

Joinery, window & door production

Weinig UK’s Connect Series continues Weinig UK has completed the third instalment of its in-house event series, Connect, with its CNCs For Solid Wood open house. The three-day event, which took place at the company’s showroom in Abingdon last month, offered visitors an exclusive opportunity to see Weinig’s five-axis Pro-Master 7125 CNC in action, and explore the possibilities it had to offer those in door, window and stair production.

Mark Smith, regional sales manager, Weinig UK

“For many of our visitors, Weinig UK’s Connect series has been the first opportunity they’ve had since the pandemic began to see new technology demonstrated to them on a one-to-one basis,” says Mark Smith, regional sales manager for Weinig UK. “With each Connect event focused on a specific manufacturing process, Weinig’s machinery specialists have been able to tailor machinery demonstrations to meet

the needs of their visitors, and showcase the latest software and processing options available – helping new and existing customers stay connected with market trends and developments.

“This event has been about demystifying the world of CNCs, and proving you don’t need to be a CAD technician to use the software effectively,” admits Mark. “Investing in a Pro-Master 7125 is the next step for many traditional machinery users who are looking to deliver efficiencies in their workshop. It’s ultimately a step change in how they will manufacture in the future – saving on time, skill and labour – and it’s been fantastic to see visitors embrace this change and the benefits that come with it.”

Mark adds: “As well as running the machines throughout the event, we also demonstrated our software, to reassure visitors just how easy the machine is to programme and use. We wanted to highlight the simplicity of a Pro-Master 7125, and break down the costs associated with the purchase into clear, manageable chunks.

“We believe this approach added real value to our attendees. The Connect series continues to be a great opportunity for our customers – large and small – to explore Weinig’s machinery portfolio, and we’re looking forward to welcoming people to our next in-house event, Smart Workshops For The Smaller Manufacturer, on the 1st3rd February 2022.” www.weinig.co.uk

JOINERY, WINDOW & DOOR PRODUCTION 39

40 JOINERY, WINDOW & DOOR PRODUCTION

MS40-SF

AJB Group specialises in the design and manufacture of high-quality internal joinery, external doorsets, windows, composite doors and mouldings, established in 1999 and providing an excellent service for residential, commercial renovations and new-build developments of all sizes.

AJB’s talented and youthful workforce is a breath of fresh air, bringing life into their product range – and they believe this is “where timber meets perfection”. They

PP2-H-DB

Hoffmann’s optimum solution for quality joinery firm continue to move forward with modern methods of manufacturing, combined with advanced technology, which creates the hub to their success.

In the woodworking industry the mitred corner has always been recognised as a sign of high value and quality, especially in door production.

The joints, when finished using the Hoffmann Key, offer strength, durability and stability, while the process of production offers simplicity and speed. AJB found all of these attributes in both the Hoffmann MS40 SF double mitre saw and the Hoffmann PP2-H-DB pneumatic dovetail routing and dowel boring machine – resulting in “the perfect combination” in the fabrication of its door frames.

The Hoffmann MS40 SF double mitre saw is designed to simultaneously cut one left- and one right-hand mitre with each machining cycle. Accurate, repeatable mitre cuts are achieved in a variety of materials, including hard and softwoods, wood-related materials (MDF, plywood, particleboard), plastics, and non-ferrous metals such as aluminium.

The heavy-duty design of the saw heads and precision machined components, as well as the use of industrial-quality, carbidetipped saw blades, assures “perfect” cuts with no burrs or tear out, making it “the ideal double mitre saw for small and large

shops when accurate and efficient mitre cutting is required”.

The Hoffmann PP2-H-DB pneumatic dovetail routing and dowel-boring machine is a freestanding version specifically designed for mitred corner production.

The machine cycle begins by pressing the foot pedal. The workpiece is clamped pneumatically, and the units router the dovetail slots and drill the dowel holes.

The workpiece is then released. The joint is completed using dowels and Hoffmann Keys W1/2/3/4.

Extensive development has been AJB’s footprint to becoming a manufacturer of the highest quality in modern and traditional joinery. It has designed a product range that not only satisfies the performance and technical criteria of today’s industry, but exceeds all expectations.

“We focus our attention on engineering timber and timber-like products to the highest possible degree, and then take it one step further. We take a raw material and engineer out all of its natural defects to provide our client with the very best in carpentry and joinery. With intelligent inhouse designs, accurate estimating and a state-of-the-art production facility, we can deliver success without any hesitation,” says Amarjit Binji, MD of AJB Group.

01524 841500 www.hoffmann-uk.com

ADVERTORIAL

Special is our standard This year STEMAS celebrates its 40th anniversary as Italy’s leading specialist machinery manufacturer, primarily within the woodworking and panel processing industries.

Author Lorenzo Esposito, Technical Sales Manager, STEMAS

Over these ensuing years STEMAS has developed to become the predominant market leader in the manufacture of special execution machinery; however, in terms of CNC Routing Technology and in particular door processing, they are widely recognised as the undisputed industry frontrunner in terms of highspeed house door processing machinery.

In the last two decades, Stemas has reputedly become the leading supplier of specialist high-speed through feed routing and ironmongery inserting systems for the door industry around the world; with many large fully automatic door line system installations in Poland, the one of the biggest house door manufacturers in Europe, as well as the UK, Israel, China, South Korea, USA. The PERFECT-DOOR Systems, represents the first serious choice for either a small/medium producer, facing a growing demand on their production capacity, or indeed a medium to large door manufacturing enterprises in need of achieving unmatched productivity of up to 3 doors per minute and to gain a competitive edge over their market rivals.

In the UK there has been a proliferation of door manufacturers coming to the market in the last five or so years, especially the Fire Door market, each one following the exact same ‘Calf Path’ manufacturing routine as all the others, namely buying one standard 4 or 5 axis, ‘run of the mill’ CNC router after the other.

“Of course, one must start somewhere, and the traditional CNC Router is the

correct starting point, no doubt about it” comments Angelo Glenn Onorio CEO of Stemas “but there comes a point in time where the ‘stand-alone CNC Routers’ start become very inefficient” “For example,” continues Angelo “The production inefficiencies really starts to come to light once a company gets to three CNC routers, then a fourth and possibly a fifth or more even, at this point door processing with traditional 4 or 5 axis traditional routers, is really uneconomical and the manufacturer truly risks losing market and more importantly margin and profit” Three doors per minute “When a door manufacturer approaches ‘Critical Mass’ with his existing production capacity he must re-evaluate his door manufacturing methods and efficiencies.”

Adds Lorenzo Esposito, Technical Sales Manager “It is fair to assume that a traditional 4 axis CNC, which I understand is the most common style in the UK door industry, generally takes around 10 to 15 minutes to complete a basic door process*, hinges, door locks, keyholes etc, and in many cases we have observed much longer processing times, especially when the door is being loaded on and off manually, if a company has five CNC’s this equates five possibly six men producing say 20 to 30 doors per hour” “With the fully automatic Perfect Door System, in one hour” continues Lorenzo “One can produce around 170 – 180 doors with only one man, only in partial attendance; carrying out a similar basic door processing operation, if one calculates the extra manufacturing capacity the fully automatic perfect door system creates and the sevenfold reduction in manpower the savings are phenomenal, they run in hundreds of thousands of pounds” The ‘PERFECT DOOR’ System, is designed as a unique modular concept, wherein the

line can be built up in customised stages to suit the purchaser’s individual needs, for example, a fully automatic ‘First Stage’ system can produce one complete door in just over 45 seconds* The ‘PERFECT DOOR’ system has certain features that traditional door routers simply do not have, nor can they be supplied, for example, in essence it does not require a full-time operator as it is a fully automatic/ autonomous line, it will ‘check measure’ the door before machining starts, it will ‘talk’ in real time to the production planning dept and production managers.

The modular construct of the PERFECT DOOR system allows the customer to build up in stages the level of speed, sophistication and flexibility in a stepby-step approach so as to minimise the initial investment costs and also to maximise productivity at the same time enjoy significant reductions in day-to-day operating costs and then as demand builds up, the ability to add further modules to the line.

Stemas have recently taken two orders for their fully automatic lines, one in the UK and one in the Republic of Ireland, one will be delivered by the end of 2021 and the second within the first six months of 2022 as well as these two recent firm orders there has been a major groundswell of interest from several major UK door manufacturers with projects reaching “Critical Mass” and orders are expected to be placed for two, possibly three full lines before the end of the year.

Tailor made solutions Although the PERFECT DOOR systems are of very well proven technology, developed over many years each system is designed to the customers exacting requirements to suit their specific manufacturing needs as opposed to the more traditional ‘off the shelf’ CNC Router offerings where, more often than not, the customer always

43

has to make a compromise, he can never truly have what suits his exact needs. In essence with STEMAS, the attitude towards producing special execution CNC routing solutions is a normal day to day activity, the process of customising the machine line configuration prior to manufacturing is a key element to the success of the PERFECT DOOR systems, it is 100% co-operation with the client, their input is highly valued.

Different types of door hardware really do require dedicated working units, so as to achieve the high through feed speed whilst maintaining dimensional accuracy and quality of machining.

Stemas PERFECT-DOOR can work with almost every kind of hinge on the market as well as the standard or tailored lock systems, with the advent of ‘SECURE

by DESIGN’ more specialist hardware is required and again STEMAS provide the systems to accommodate such.

Unlike many providers of door processing machinery STEMAS have their own ‘Software House’ with some of the top software engineers in Italy, STEMAS are justifiably proud of their unique systems; The internal software department makes sure that the user interface displays on the touch screen are a parametric graphic which grants an easy programming of any change in the machining of the hardware locations, in essence extremely user friendly and again bespoke to the client’s needs, no short-cuts are made in this regard State of the Art As stated earlier the PERFECT DOOR system is a modular concept and can be built up in stages as the client’s work and orders increase, ranging from semiautomatic to fully autonomous self-running systems only requiring basic supervision and not needing an operator in permanent attendance.

There are two basic ‘units’ one can consider as a start point, the ‘Stage One’ and the ‘Full Line’ even these two basic systems can be enhanced greatly either straightaway and/or step-by step.

The stage-one PERFECT-DOOR comes as a single working station, able to perform a basic door process every 45 seconds*; Basically, the milling of three/four hinges

with pilot holes on one side, plus the milling of the lock and strike-plate with pilot holes, keyhole and handle seats on the other side.

It is the natural evolution of the traditional CNC centre, combining the flexibility of the various working processes with the possibility to work on two sides and the top router simultaneously, to boost the overall productivity.

These lines come with a Portal Vacuum Bridge for the automatic feeding and stacking of the doors; lifting the doors from the stack which is normally placed on pallets and/or roller tracking; the stacking is the same operation except in reverse, the line is effectively autonomous, and requires no real manual intervention, as long as the in/outfeed of material is taken care of, most PERFECT DOOR systems run from motorised roller tracking on the infeed and outfeed and there is no real no for the line to stop unless it runs out of doors to process.

These systems also have certain automatic ‘dimensional quality’ check via the numerical control which can dialogue (Bar/Q codes) with the internal servers to extract the working data after the automatic reading of a barcode or RFID, as well as simply import a .csv working list.

Besides the most common operation for interior doors, the top router with tool magazine up to 24 positions, is able to execute special operations such as the milling of the automatic door closer, ventilation holes or the bottom guillotine seats.

The through feed system also works in conjunction with integral vacuum cups, which raise and secure the door above the feeding belts, the whole surface is free for a 6-side processing, including the squaring and the opening for glass or panels as required by the client.

PERFECT-DOOR-HP, is in essence a second routing/work station added to the stage one module ,the two working stations divide the longest operations between them and ensure a productivity up to a completed door each 20 seconds.

This advanced solution, is suitable to process wooden and/or metal doors, it is now reputed to be the ‘go to’ choice of the biggest door producers in the world.

It can come as a turn-key solution or also

be the result of a future upgrade of the single station, helping the customers in a two-step process of growing production.

The layout of the line can be also designed with an additional working station able to insert the hardware. Either rotative or vertical magazines for hinges or locks feed 3-cnc-axis units able to insert the elements and screws with brushless motors.

It is also very common for these full lines to have ‘barrel turners’ between the two working stations to further increase operational flexibility Component insertion In recent years there has been a growing demand within the door process industry for the automatic insertion of hardware, including the UK, this is where STEMAS really does lead the market in cost effective systems, hinge insertion with screw fixing, lock insertion with screw fixing The layout of the line can be also designed with an additional working station able to insert the hardware utilising either rotative or vertical magazines for hinges or locks feed three CNC axis units able to insert the elements and screw with brushless motors.

A fundamental feature of Stemas commercial strategy is the long-term relationship with its customer. Whoever owns a Stemas machine is a repetitive purchaser; many door factories can be a display of up to 30 Stemas machines, being proof of the high reliability of the installations and the after-sale service.

For further information please visit our websites or email for more details. www.stemas.it stemas@stemas.it * Basic door processing is deemed as machining 3-4 hinge recesses, hinge pilot holes, strike plate, lock slot, handle hole and keyhole

44 JOINERY, WINDOW & DOOR PRODUCTION

Dorset joinery firm impressed with outstanding window and door CNC machine performance TK Joinery (Blandford) Ltd a leading joinery manufacturer in Dorset with exacting standards which has re-cently taken delivery of a Soukup UK Series CNC Window Centre Model Crafter and Soukup Hydraulic Frame & Sash Cramp Model FP32.21 to increase productivity and efficiency to meet increased demand for its quality timber windows and doors.

Chris Owen, owner of TK Joinery researched the market for several years for a CNC window machinery supplier which could supply the correct CNC window machine complete with tooling and window software providing a total package from one supplier – rather than from suppliers which could only supply a CNC machine without tooling advice or any dedicated window software.

Until Chris contacted International Woodworking Machinery (IWM), the exclusive supplier of the award-winning, specialist, dedicated, window and door machinery manufacturer Soukup Machinery.

In recent years, Soukup Machinery has gained an impressive reputation in the UK joinery industry for man-ufacturing unique CNC window machinery – dedicated to the UK window and doors joinery market com-plete with Soukup-designed window tooling to BS 6375-1:2015 and PAS 24:2016 certification plus its im-pressive Soukup Wincreator window software.

The impressive Soukup package provides users with a comprehensive three-inone package for UK window styles of casements and doors, sliding sash windows with pulley and weights and balance springs includ-ing creating the horns,

Chris Owen of TK Joinery during commissioning and training

trenching the cill and head, producing the boxes, cills and beading.

Chris Owen and his works manager, Dylan, naturally wanted to view a machine in action, and as such ar-rangements were made to visit one of the 25 Soukup CNC Crafter installations in the London area alone – all within the M25.

One such Soukup Crafter customer is Todi & Boys Ltd in Chessington which installed in 2017 a Soukup Crafter, Coukup Hydraulic cramp FP32:21, Soukup CNC milling and drilling Versa, Soukup automatic crosscut crossline 500 plus a Soukup five-head

Left: Works manager Dylan operating the Soukup Crafter after initial training. Above: Soukup Crafter interactive touchscreen with Wincreator software programme

planer/moulder.

Following their visit, Chris and Dylan were suitably impressed with the Crafter and its capability to manu-facture at least 10/15 complete sliding sash including boxes, cills, horns, trenching the cills, heads, bead-ing per day – plus at least 15-20 casements and doors and other joinery components all achieved with just one operator. In view of this outstanding performance, Chris was minded to confirm his order for a Soukup UK series Crafter CNC Window Centre and a Soukup Hydraulic Frame and Sash Cramp.

The machinery was delivered, installed and commissioned, immediately after the Easter holidays and ev-erthing went seamlessly – complete with training provided to Chris and Dylan with the full knowledge on how to produce knock-down finished window components saving more than 40% of production time over normal tradition joinery production methods.

Following the installation, works manager Dylan commented: “The Soukup is brilliant, it makes makes fantastic windows, but the only thing wrong is it doesn’t make the coffee!”

01636 918280 www.iwmachines.co.uk

Regardless of your application, your company size or the materials you‘re processing, we can build your sander.

learn more kundig.co.uk

Calibrating, fine sanding, lacquer or veneer sanding, rough sawn or brushed. Be it an all-round sanding machine for carpenters and interior fitters or specialised solutions for industrial purposes or for processing specialised materials such as plastics, lightweight construction or insulation materials (and many more). We at offer surface and edge sanding machines for almost every conceivable application and are sure to have the right solution for you.

Contact us with your request now.

Kundig Ltd Lancashire, UK

0845 833 0565 sales@kundig.co.uk

46 JOINERY, WINDOW & DOOR PRODUCTION

Setting superior sanding standards since 1945 Kündig is widely recognised as being one of the most experienced and highestquality manufacturers of wide-belt and edge sanding machinery. Kündig has two manufacturing plants, one in Switzerland (which is also its headquarters, and where the research and development and special projects are developed), and the other in Gotha, Germany, where the production of the standard wide-belt and edge sanding machinery takes place.

In today’s market, where manufacturers are facing all sorts of different challenges in generating the right surface finish, Kündig boasts the experience to respond and to offer a solution to what is seen by many as near impossible.

Where first impressions count, manufacturers strive to achieve ‘that something special’ when it comes to surface finishing, and this is exactly why some of the world’s leading manufacturers of grand pianos have researched the market and commissioned Kündig to produce sanding machines to generate a perfectly flat surface and give intermediary sanding, building up to a high-gloss finish where any imperfection would stand out and not be accepted.

Other companies which have faced challenges have needed sanding accuracy to +/-0.02mm, and turned to Kündig to meet the tight tolerances for final product.

These machines are typically used in the automotive industry, but have also been installed by manufacturers looking to calibrate brake discs for commercial aircraft, insulation materials, plastics, etc.

Of course, the more familiar

application for Kündig is in the woodworking industry, where its fixed-bed design has proven to give long-term accuracy, being fixed to the machine frame and the sanding group that raises and lowers.

This system has proven to be especially beneficial for calibrating heavy components – typically fire doors, where the fixed bed cannot move despite the weight of the door or the amount of pressure generated during sanding. This fixed-bed system is, of course, also a huge benefit for veneer

sanding, where veneer-cutting technology has increased, making the thickness of veneers less and less – hence making sanding accuracy more important than ever.

To cater for a wider part of the market, Kündig recently celebrated its 75th anniversary with the introduction of the new Kündig Master, which offers an out-of-the-box solution. The idea behind the machine is to produce a more cost-effective machine while keeping to all the traditional values associated with Kündig.

The machine is produced in the same factory as the Premium, Brilliant and Perfect models but is manufactured to a standard configuration to allow serial production, hence reducing the cost to produce. The Master has a generous 1350mm working width, and two sanding heads – first contact roller followed by finishing pad, which is available for solid wood or as a segmented pad for sanding veneers.

The Brilliant series of machines are aimed at those

47

looking to achieve the highestpossible quality of surface finish.

Simply placing the abrasive at a 10° angle eradicates the wavy scratch pattern inherently shown on traditional-style sanding machines. These machines are available in widths of 1100, 1350 and 1600mm as standard, and available as either

single- or multi-head machines.

In recent times Kündig has seen a substantial increase in the demand for purpose-made machines throughout different industries. Typical of this is a recent delivery to a company which wanted a machine to calibrate five-piece doors ready to go straight to spraying, to

then denib and also have the possibility of creating a rusticstyle surface with a ‘bandsaw’ finish.

The answer was a four-head sanding machine with a contact roller, oblique sanding pad, cross belt to sand the rails – alternatively, using a 16-grit belt to create the rustic surface

– followed by a carousel brush unit to sand into the profiles and soften the edges.

Despite the disruption throughout the past year, Kündig have seen sales growth, both in the UK and in other markets.

0845 833 0565 www.kündig.co.uk

PERFECT-DOOR-HP Fully automatic cnc door processing line, made up of two working stations and complete with feeding and stacking.

The fully executed line is capable of processing three doors per minute.

Representing the very latest State of the Art in high-speed door processing technology.

PERFECT-DOOR Single-station cnc door processing line.

Capable of processing one door in 45 seconds.

HARDWARE INSTALLATION To be placed after the main machine to complete the installation of the lock and hinges.

Via Brigata Gap, 80 - 61122 Pesaro (PU) Italy

+39 - 0721 282993

www.stemas.it

stemas@stemas.it

-

www.edgesealing.com

50 JOINERY, WINDOW & DOOR PRODUCTION

2022 promises to open new doors for Moralt AG Despite a number of challenges and disruptions, 2021 has proved to be a very good year for the specialist German producer of certified technical door solutions, Moralt AG. Clearly, throughout 2020 the pandemic affected a lot of businesses with lockdowns in several of its key markets, staff on furlough at both its customers and suppliers and major door projects cancelled or placed on hold, all adding to a subdued and frustrating trading period.

“Our particular need to further test and develop products was also badly hit,” explains Steven

Dennard, who looks after Moralt’s International Sales.

“Test institutes were unable to offer their services and lack of available finances to fund these developments meant we were all especially happy and eager to welcome 2021.”

“A slower start to the year began to show signs of promise in the Spring and our twoweek acoustic test package at IFT in Arnsberg, northern Germany with the support of Mann McGowan showed some excellent product performances and assisted the mood greatly.

Our FireSound Xtreme FD120 door now performs acoustically to Rw dB44 as a single leaf

door, and as pair, dB43, making this our strongest acoustic product, which at only 58mm thick, is excellent. Further confirmed positive acoustic performances within the internal “Laminesse” door range with concealed hinges and concealed door closers means that our acoustic door offer has become a lot stronger for contract specifiers.

“A fire door test package FD60 to BS 476 Pt. 22 at DMT in Lathen, Germany in early September in part to compliment the March acoustic testing covering concealed closers and hinges, was our next larger testing programme.

‘Despite the ongoing challenges presented by the pandemic, 2021 has been an extremely successful year for us with strong sales from the UK, European and Middle East markets’ Moralt FireSound was the principle focus of these tests and we included an RFID access solution from Assa Abloy in the test doors as well so that specifiers could consider a high acoustic, fire rated door products with electronic card readers for use in hospitality,

51

Image © Assa Abloy

Image © Assa Abloy

Moralt’s range of internal and external door blank solutions is one of the most technically sophisticated on the market

education, healthcare and administrative environments.

The tested doors were all 2440 x 1000mm in size so that we might see a good size scope added to our already comprehensive acoustic and fire range of doors.”

2021 has seen the business continue to make significant investment, for example with the introduction of Hubspot, a CRM system which enables the company to manage product enquiries from around the globe more quickly and efficiently.

“With this system in place, sales enquiries can be considered in line with our R&D work that is so critical in serving our customer’s requirements,” Steven added.

Plus, in the Autumn, the company began work on a UL door test package for Spring 2022 which will appeal to existing markets in the Middle East as well as being the basis of its future commercial work in North America.

“In September we exhibited at our first face to face show for

Klaus Feile, managing director, Moralt AG

>>

52 JOINERY, WINDOW & DOOR PRODUCTION

>> almost two years, the Big 5 in

Dubai which saw heightened interest in our FireSound high acoustic and fire rated door cores, as well as our timber external door core range. It was great once more to be able to engage with people directly from around the globe and it proved to be a major success for us.”

Managing director at Moralt AG, Klaus Feile echoes Steven’s optimism. “Despite the ongoing challenges presented by the pandemic, 2021 has been an extremely successful year for us with strong sales from the UK, European and Middle East markets. In addition, the introduction of FireSmoke and FireSound Xtreme (FD90 and FD120) as stock items at both UK distributors – James Latham and Falcon Panel Products – means that we now offer a full suite of FD30, 60, 90 and 120 fire ratings with our sustainable, certified timber door blanks but also a solid acoustic range too with dB40 and beyond acoustic performances in all fire categories.

Klaus added, “Throughout this difficult period, we have used the time effectively, continuing to invest in the business with the latest technology to deliver innovative solutions across both our production facility and processing systems. This will ensure that we are in the best possible position for future growth which is expected to continue through 2022.” info@moralt-ag.de

International Woodworking Machinery Ltd

Unit 20, Newark Business Park, 3 Brunel Drive, Newark, NG24 2EG

IWM Falach Briquetting Presses Turning Your Biomass Wood Waste into Renewable Energy Briquettes.

Turn Your Biomass Wood Waste including MDF Dust into Renewable Energy Wood Briquettes, eliminating landfill costs or even giving them away. IWM have Five Models Falach 30, 35, 50, 70 & 100 to suit your Production Requirements at very FP32:21 HYDRAULIC FP32:21 HYDRAULIC competitive prices. Each machine can be Supplied freestanding FRAME PRESS FRAME PRESS our Installed under your existing Dust extraction with 5 Bag 3.2M X 2.1M HYDRAULIC 3.2M X 2.1M HYDRAULIC Carousel Bagging Units. We have many examples installed in & DOOR PRESS WINDOW WINDOW & DOOR PRESS UK, Please ask for details of installations near YOU Bring your waste material for Demonstration

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International WoodworkingInternational Machinery Ltd Woodworking Machinery Ltd Unit 20, Newark Business Park, Unit 320, Brunel Newark Drive, Business NewarkPark, NG24 3 Brunel 2EG Drive, Newark NG24 2EG Tel 01636918280 / Mobile 07944108747 Tel 01636918280 / Mobile 07944108747 Email ibrown@iwmachines.co.uk Email ibrown@iwmachines.co.uk www.iwmachines.co.uk / www.soukup.co.uk www.iwmachines.co.uk / www.soukup.co.uk

54 JOINERY, WINDOW & DOOR PRODUCTION

The evolution of door and window hardware

“A recent visit to one of England’s castles got me thinking about how doors and windows have evolved over the years,” says Neil Jones, marketing manager of Coastal Group, “a lot of which has come about from shifts in consumer demand, lifestyle, and perception of quality, further enforced through the ongoing pandemic.

“There are three main areas that have evolved in doors and windows: the ‘inside-out’ lifestyle, leading to increased demand for oversized glazing with larger, heavier sliding doors; home improvement programmes influencing homeowners to have an increased perception of the aesthetics of their doors and windows; and homeowners spending more time at home, meaning they’re looking for higher-quality products which look and perform better for longer.

“This had led to a need for door and window manufacturers and hardware manufacturers to evolve to meet this change in taste and demand, or get left behind. But not all companies have evolved with it.”

“Don’t be the ‘Kodak’ of the door and window industry” As Loren Jenner, Coastal Group MD, says: “Whilst it’s difficult when you’re busy to take a step back and assess if your current hardware offering really does meet the current demand, it’s most definitely worth it.

“Nobody wants to become the ‘Kodak’ of the door and window industry – but there’s a danger of that happening once demand starts to settle and homeowners spend more time shopping around for their chosen supplier of their new doors and windows, unless you evolve with the times.

“And it’s through this that we’re seeing our

BLU range of 316 marine-grade stainless steel hardware becoming increasingly popular,” says Loren.

“We’re constantly innovating and developing our hardware product offering based on customer feedback and requirements. Our BLU hardware range now includes product to suit contemporary and classic style tastes, and is available as a suited range in a variety of finishes. So, if a homeowner wants a classic-style front door, with hardware to suit that style of door, but then wants large sliding doors or a set of bifold doors on the back of the house, we have hardware to suit that also. >>

Alfa Twin CNC MILLING MACHINE FOR DOORS AND FRAMES

The NEW CENTAURO ALFA TWIN has been specifically designed for the machining of internal doors and frames. Through a user friendly graphic colour touch screen control unit it is quick to program and simple to use. Thanks to the simultaneous machining of the door on both sides, hinge recesses on one side, lock slot / face-plate recess and handle / key holes on the other, typical machining time is just 2 minutes.

THE LEADERS IN DOOR & FRAMING SOLUTIONS www.jjsmith.co.uk

sales@jjsmith.co.uk

0151 548 9000

56 JOINERY, WINDOW & DOOR PRODUCTION

>> Ensuring the best possible performance

for doors and windows “Throughout this ongoing development of the range we’ve continued to manufacture the BLU range using 316 marine-grade stainless steel, to give the best possible product performance.

“Compared to the overall cost of the door or window, the cost of the handle is a relatively low percentage,” Loren continues, “yet it is what gives the highest impression to the end-user client. The homeowner will often base his rating of how good the door or window is based on what they can see, touch and feel – the hardware.

Helping those that want to progress “We’re seeing the door and window companies that want to progress increasingly coming to us and standardise on offering our BLU door and window hardware for their front entrance doors, patio sliding doors, bifold doors and windows.”

According to Lore, feedback from customers has been excellent, and is proving the benefits of using BLU hardware, as one composite door manufacturer testified: “We were introduced to the BLU range of hardware after being let down by our supplier,” they said. “Coastal were able to step in and deliver a great service and great product. We were impressed from the start, as they not only got us out of a potential hole, but were happy to go the extra mile for us.

“From a product perspective, you are looking at high quality from the BLU range – the marine-grade stainless steel is second to none, both in terms of styling and performance.”

01726 871025 www.coastal-group.com

57

Panel Processing Ferwood: unleashing potential Infinitus Bespoke Interiors specialises in high-end bespoke interiors, architecture and con-temporary furniture for luxury houses, super yachts and prestigious commercial projects. Offering a full inhouse design, manufacturing and fitting service, each project varies considerably.

With high expectations from its discerning customers, the Lancashire-based business knows the importance of investing in good-quality machinery that not only offers superior quality and reliability, but also the scope and flexibility needed to fulfil the most challenging of projects.

This, along with an increasing project portfolio, has led the family-run business, co-owned

by Joshua, Andrew and Luke Fishwick, to invest in its first fiveaxis CNC from reconditioned machinery specialist, Ferwood.

“Investing in a five-axis CNC was the best thing we’ve ever done,” begins Luke Fishwick, co-director at Infinitus Bespoke Interiors. “We knew what a fiveaxis CNC was capable of but we underestimated the impact it would have on our business.”

The craftsmen at Infinitus

Biesse Rover B FT 1536

had been using a standard 8 x 4, three-axis CNC machine for flat surface work but, with increasingly challenging designs needing to be fulfilled and an ageing drilling unit, it was struggling to keep up with demand. “We use a lot of MDF and birch ply but we also use premium materials like Trycoya®, SikaBlock®, solid timber and honeycomb aluminium that we can’t afford to damage if a machine malfunctions. It also didn’t have end-boring capabilities and, with poor suction on the bed, we were unable to work with large sheets, resulting in us having to Toolchanger position 1

manually pin small panels to the depth of the bed.

“We needed a CNC that could work easily with bigger sheets and optimise each cut in order for us to reduce material waste and increase yield. We also needed a machine with a boring unit so it could load 10 drill bits without taking up additional tool changer space. Up-to-date software and a faster running time were also desirable but we didn’t know if these features would be financially viable.”

After researching a number of different machinery brands, Luke found the Biesse Rover B FT 1536 on Ferwood’s

website and, after viewing the machine at Ferwood’s UK showroom, he knew it would fit his requirements perfectly.

“We originally went to see two machines that had the specification we were after, but we knew this was the machine for us.

The Biesse Rover was only two years old with 50 hours on the clock and, because it fell under the ‘Ferwood Function-al’ brand, the machine was function-tested by a specialist prior to being sold. Not only were we getting a fantastic piece of nearly-new machinery for 50% less than what we would have paid for it if Toolchanger position 2

>>

58 PANEL PROCESSING

“I cannot rate the machine or the service from Ferwood more highly. Ferwood’s knowledge and experience of working with this calibre of machinery is second to none”

>>

Luke Fishwick, co-director at Infinitus Bespoke Interiors

Pineapple tool in five-axis head of Rover B

it was new, it was also delivered, installed and calibrated by Ferwood’s engineers with-in two weeks. Ferwood even updated the BSolid software package for us so it included the very latest nesting software. We couldn’t have asked for more.”

Once the machine was installed, the company started to see a return on its investment almost immediately. “In under eight months, it had paid for itself twice over,” admits Luke.

“We get at least four enquires a week relating to five-axis machining work which, in turn, has changed our approach to design and manufacturing considerably.

“Not only has this machine’s five-axis capabilities opened new doors for us, it’s allowed us to optimise and de-skill our old processes. Now, an order that requires 60 doors to be designed with intricate detailing, locks, hinge slots and end-boring can be completed in one hit without the need for routers, jigs or excessive handling.”

It also speeds up the company’s manufacturing processes. Luke says, “We save time using the CNC, even when we’re running the machine at lower speeds. That’s why we now use it for everything we make. Processing fielded panels on our old CNC was a slow process and could take up to 90

minutes per panel. I’ve just run 27 off and made all of them in a space of a morning.”

“It’s also helped us save time on simple things like cleaning a corner out on a panel. Instead of physically setting to work with a chisel, we now have a 60 degree corner cutter that cleans each corner perfectly. It’s so much quicker, painstakingly accurate and, because of the ma-chine’s cyclone tool and impressive extractor, it’s considerably

BSolid software package

cleaner to use too. It’s such a game-changer for us and, if the cutting times on the machine’s simulator are anything to go by, things are only going to be better.”

Luke adds, “I cannot rate the machine or the service from Ferwood more highly. Ferwood’s knowledge and experience of working with this calibre of machinery is second to none.

Ferwood gave us a lot of advice about the different machines

and models available to us and because of that, we were able to make the best decision for our business. Knowing that machines of this quality and condition are available through Ferwood has opened our eyes to the fantas-tic opportunities used machinery can bring to our business. I couldn’t recommend them enough.” +44 (0)113 286 6689 sales.uk@ferwoodgroup.com www.ferwoodgroup.com

To learn more contact Freud UK Team at bosch-sales@uk.bosch.com or visit www.freudtools.co.uk

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62

Saws, blades & cutting technology

Saw Centre cuts path to productivity with Vollmer As a company that has roots that date back to 1889, The Saw Centre and its growth trajectory really took off when the company was bought by a father and son partnership in the late 60’s. The company has grown exponentially since then and it now employs more than 30 staff in a 20,000sq/ft purpose built facility.

Now in its third generation of family ownership and jointly managed by David Stevenson and Tony Galbraith, the company has evolved with significant growth of its saw blade sharpening business bolstered with diversification into the sales and service of

machinery for the wood, metal and UPVC sectors.

To expand the portfolio of services, the acquisition of a tooling service and manufacturing company in 2006 provided the staff with

the skills and knowledge to service the needs of the precision engineering and panel processing industries.

Scottish independent The purchase of a small

tooling company enabled the Saw Centre to move work from traditional machines to a CNC grinding centre and subsequently become the only independent company in Scotland with this facility.

However, the mainstay of the business remains as the name suggests, the Saw Centre – and it is here that grinding and sharpening machines from Vollmer have made a significant impact.

It was back in 2001 the company made its first major investment in Vollmer technology, purchasing a Vollmer CHD250R2 TCT saw blade sharpening machine and a Vollmer Loroch HSS saw sharpening machine that were both connected to a Vollmer ND automation centre.

At the time, it was the first Vollmer automation station in the UK to simultaneously service both HSS and TCT saw blade sharpening machines.

That investment provided The Saw Centre with the facility for 24/7 operation, ramping up productivity levels and capacity.

SAWS, BLADES & CUTTING TECHNOLOGY 63

Most impressive was that the automated cell eradicated the need for 3 HSS saw blade sharpening machines and an additional four TCT saw sharpening machines. The cell removed seven machines from the shop floor, reduced costs, as well as power and consumable consumption and enabled the company to allocate two staff to alternate tasks whilst adding significant sharpening capacity.

The latest investment Despite working around the clock for 20 years, saw blade technology has evolved and this required a new solution. As joint Managing Director, Mr Tony Galbraith says: “The evolution of saw blades for our primary industries of wood, metal cutting, construction and UPVC

has moved on quite drastically in the last 20 years.

To service the needs of our customers and streamline our productivity, we needed to upgrade our machinery.

This upgrade was the Vollmer CHD270 with an ND250 fivestack robot loading system that arrived in April 2021.”

Alluding to the evolution of saw blades, Tony continues: “As manufacturers strive to improve productivity and prolong saw blade life, the required geometries have become ever more complex.

Unfortunately, the software, kinematics and machine movement of the old Vollmer CHD250R2 meant that we either had to undertake two or three set-ups to complete complex saw blades, or we

would subsequently subcontract the work out to another supplier.

In some instances, we turned away the sharpening of certain blades. Now, we can regrind everything on the new CHD270 and when it comes to TCT saw blade sharpening, I wouldn’t go to anyone but Vollmer.”

The Vollmer CHD270 is a fully automated machine for the complete machining of Carbide Tipped (TCT) circular saw blades with eight CNC controlled axes and measuring equipment. The machine design demonstrates excellent stability, takes up little space and is very easy to use. With the CHD 270, the entire grinding unit is compactly and robustly mounted on a central monoblock main structure to take precision and smooth running

to a new level.

Furthermore, the patented twin grinding wheel concept provides complete machining without having to replace the grinding wheel. The ergonomic design makes the CHD270 very easy to operate and to access for maintenance work on the control cabinet, coolant pump, pneumatic system and fire extinguishing device. When combining this with the userfriendly ND250 automation system, users have complete confidence in the ability to sharpen saw blades around the clock with impeccable quality and productivity levels.

The benefits of the CHD270 This confidence in Vollmer technology is justified after the impressive performance of the

>>

64 SAWS, BLADES & CUTTING TECHNOLOGY

>> previous Vollmer CHD250R2

over two decades, but the new machine takes productivity, technology and automation to a new level.

Discussing this, The Saw Centre’s factory manager, Mr Scott McQuillan who has been with the company for 25 years, says: “In the last 20 years, saw blade geometries have evolved considerably in all industry sectors, as saw blade suppliers and their customers strive to improve performance and blade longevity.

In the panel processing industries, the demand for hollow ground blades with concave tooth geometries has increased drastically. Used in wall saws and vertical panel saws, the blades require an excellent finish and as we are selling more of the machines and blades we had to find a more efficient way of grinding them, previously the blades would require two processes on two machines to get the quality we were looking for.”

The transfer of the blades between two machines resulted in a sharpening time of approximately 40 minutes, depending upon the blade size and type. Furthermore, these saw blades had to be manually loaded, increasing the workload for staff as the volume of blades continually increased.

“With the new CHD270, we can now process the saw blades in a single automated set-up in less than 20 minutes.

Not only has this slashed our cycle times by 50%, but it has also eliminated manual loading – as we can just put the blades into the ND250 robotic cell and forget about them.”

“Going back 20 years we did not have such a variety of machines using carbide tipped blades and with all the new materials that are

coming onto the market such as composites and processed board, we needed to have a system that could deal with all the geometries and with the new Vollmer CHD270 we can achieve endless saw blade geometries. This means that there is no saw blade we cannot sharpen and the need to inform a customer that we cannot service their blade has been completely eradicated, increasing our production and service capabilities.”

“Blade manufacturers are continually increasing the geometry range of their saws and this is particularly prevalent in the UPVC and aluminium industry. We have some saws with a flat tooth geometry with side bevels that would previously be three operations, this is now a single operation on the CHD270.

“Likewise, some saws would alternate teeth between flat and bevelled teeth. The CHD270 takes all this in its stride as it has all the tooth forms and geometries we could ever need, future-proofing our business from next-generation saw geometries that may come along in future,” continues Scott.

Additional benefits The move from the ageing Vollmer CHD250R2 to the next generation CHD270 has gone far beyond extending flexibility and capacity at The Saw Centre. As Scott continues: “The new machine has a host of new features that really do highlight how Vollmer has evolved its technology over the last 20 years. The CHD270 software is more user friendly than ever before and we now have apprentices becoming very competent at setting the machine with minimal training.

Likewise, the software for the ND250 robot loader has been

improved too. Previously, if there was an issue with a saw blade in the middle of a stack, we would have to remove half of the stack and reload the stack.

Now, the software allows us to remove individual blades from the processing cycle without re-stacking.

Additionally, with the variety of portable plunge saws on the market, we now have the ability to stack blades that are under 180mm. We spent two-three hours of each day manually loading the portable saw blades and now with the facility of stacking up to 70 at a time, we are gaining more time each day. The processing time has gone from nine minutes to six minutes which in our factory, any time gained is a bonus.”

In conclusion, Scott adds: “The software, flexibility,

kinematics and performance are much improved from the previous machine, but there is much more. The machine is more robust and the build quality has improved too. The probing and measuring system is second to none and it makes it near impossible to make errors, even the hydraulic oil system has been enhanced with a new pneumatic system that is cleaner and safer for our staff.

Investing in the new Vollmer CHD270 will speed up our processing times and raise the quality that our customers need.

It is not only an investment for us but it is a machine and a service that our customers deserve. We are extremely happy with our new Vollmer CHD270.”

0115 9491040 www.vollmer-group.com

‘With the new CHD270, we can now process the saw blades in a single automated set-up in less than 20 minutes. Not only has this slashed our cycle times by 50%, but it has also eliminated manual loading – as we can just put the blades into the ND250 robotic cell and forget about them’

(SOUTHAMPTON) LTD

Professional Re-Sharpening, Machine Sales and Servicing established in 1989

CNC RE-GRINDING AND TRADITIONAL

RE-SHARPENING METHODS AVAILABLE FOR: • Wood working tooling • Metal working tooling • Spiral & PCD tooling • Bespoke items

Scan the QR code for the complete list

TEAM OF SERVICE ENGINEERS TO ASSIST WITH: • Breakdown repairs and servicing • Machinery refurbishment

• Workshop relocation & planning • Training

EXPERT BESPOKE TOOLING DESIGN AND MANUFACTURE AVAILABLE INCLUDING: • Bandsaws

• CNC & PCD Tooling • Spindle Tooling

• TCT & HSS Circulars VISIT OUR SHOWROOM FOR: • Machine Demonstrations • Finance packages

• New/used & ready to go machines • Part exchange

Contact us to arrange re-sharpening or to discuss your machinery needs 02380 653329

sales@sawtec.co.uk

www.sawtec.co.uk

Unit 3 Barton Farm, Chickenhall Lane, Eastleigh, Hants, SO50 6RP

Scan the QR code for more information

66

Saw Tec’s sharp service ethos delivers cutting edge for its clients Brian and Valerie Bourne started Saw Tec in 1989 wanting to provide a resharpening service to the wood and metal working industries. The company’s humble beginnings was a tin shed down a farmyard track, with machinery that Brian had either purchased second-hand or refurbished to help make their dream a reality.

Over the decades since, the Hampshire based Saw Tec has become an established and dependable company, going from strength to strength, investing in state-of-the-art CNC grinding machinery, bigger

premises and earning itself an even bigger reputation in the South for providing a high standard of service.

“Our dedicated staff maintain progressive relationships with our customers,” explains Brian. “We work directly with our clients to provide expert tooling knowledge to a diverse collection of customers, including joinery companies, kitchen manufacturers, fine furnituremakers, fire door production lines and pictureframing firms. To maintain quality control, every resharpening section has its own dedicated technician. Therefore,

Saw Tec’s facilities in Eastleigh, Hampshire

each department is solely product focused, enabling the individual grinding needs for every tool that comes through the door.”

Saw Tec’s fleet of delivery and services vehicles ensure rapid reaction to customer’s needs

Saw Tec has four main re-sharpening departments, which take up the majority of the footprint of its modern workshop and showroom.

Sawing technicians Paul Grover and Paul Langler use advanced CNC machinery from Walter and Vollmer, while the company’s saw doctors Glyn Cherrett and John Parsley also use classic old-fashioned machine technology for the more traditional tooling.

“We only use oil-based coolants in all our grinding,” explains Brian. “This not only gives a cleaner finish, but prolongs the life of the tool.

The vast majority of tooling

SAWS, BLADES & CUTTING TECHNOLOGY 67

that comes to us is cleaned, inspected, serviced and returned within one week. Our collection and delivery area covers eight counties, with customers from further afield regularly shipping blades to us.

“Bespoke tooling is something we take great pride in. In the last two years alone, we have included more than over thirty new tools to our range. Engaging with the customer’s needs, designing and manufacturing either TCT blades, spiral solid carbide routers, PCD tooling or spindle cutters is of great importance to us. We understand and enjoy the challenge for exact specifications – whether that’s working from a CAD drawing, from a sample of a tool that needs modifying, or by phone.

Our underlying relationship of trust with our customers is most prominent when a specific tool can be spoken about and initially designed over the phone.”

“Thirty years of trading has shown us how the industry has evolved” says Brian “and we have successfully adapted to meet those needs. Customers in today’s market are looking for the full package when it comes to cutting requirements. We aim to offer a comprehensive service to fill that demand.” A large part of this is the expansion of their team of mechanical and electrical engineers, who are able to carry out breakdown repairs, provide preventative maintenance checks and machine installations.

During the lockdowns, Saw Tec were relied upon by customers contracted to support the NHS. With minimal staff both in the workshop and drivers making deliveries, they assisted sign makers, refrigeration companies, leaflet/ banner printers and PPE manufacturers to name a few.

Sarah comments “To be part of such a vast ‘background network’ in support of the NHS was a privilege”.

Despite last year, Saw Tec

Saw Tec MD, Brian Bourne

Director, Sarah Taylor

has emerged a stronger company as Brian explains “Once the lockdowns eased, supplementary grinding and machinery training was given to our sawing technicians and doctors to achieve additional technical abilities. Skill sets across all departments were refreshed and optimised.

“One of the biggest reviews undertaken in 2020 was an improvement of our collection and delivery service. By simplifying the routes we have been able to visit more customers cost-effectively on a weekly basis.

“Coupled with a determination

Saw Tec’s advanced CNC machinery from Walter and Vollmer

>>

68 SAWS, BLADES & CUTTING TECHNOLOGY

>> not to let our customers

down and our own resilience, surviving the challenges of 2020 has been an incredible effort achieved by every single member of staff.” Brian says, “The willingness to adapt and survive has brought us to where we are today and I am very proud of my team members.” Going forward, Saw Tec will continue to invest with more machinery, for both the workshop and machine showroom and will employ additional staff to help with increasing demand.

The friendly and experienced office team are at hand to help with a variety of enquiries as Sarah explains “Our customer’s cutting requirements is a parameter that is constantly changing and sometimes these modifications are critical to timeframe. Recently, an urgent alteration to a routine door manufacturing design was required. Working from drawings, a new cutter was designed within 24 hours.

Following its successful trial, new solid carbide tools were produced within a week allowing our customer to meet his original deadline.”

Saw Tec’s Machinery Manager, David, is also keen to help clients solve problems. “Waste is an issue all manufacturers have and when on site with a customer, I noticed large piles of waste being thrown into skips.

I approached the subject of waste with them and asked how

often it was being collected for disposal and its composition.

They were disposing of off cuts, pallets, dust, chippings etc and were spending thousands of pounds per year on waste disposal. Utilising such waste hadn’t even been considered before I spoke with them about it,” explains David.

“I suggested that with the investment of a shredder, briquetter and wood burner that they could manage all waste on site and do away with the skips.

The briquettes could either be sold or burnt onsite with the heat vented externally or used to heat the workshop. This was a solution that could offer a return on investment (ROI) in three years and sustain reduced heating bills for the long term.

“Specialist engineers delivered and installed the machinery with the project overseen by Saw Tec and the benefits were seen within weeks. The most immediate benefit was seen in the cash flow not paying for skip hire.”

Another way of helping customers is to alleviate any concerns regarding the supply of new goods. “In the aftermath of Brexit, a lot of our suppliers have struggled to import from the EU,” comments Brian.

“Delays at customs and general availability of raw materials are the most prominent issues we are all dealing with at the present time – we are constantly reviewing the situation to ensure plenty of

Saw Tec woodworking machinery manager, David Stead

stock of our most popular items.

“We hold a healthy supply of panel saws and scorers, Tersa knives, carbide bar, HSS blades, lubricants and other products, whilst keeping in contact with suppliers to monitor availability.

We aim to supply standard items within two working days if it cannot be delivered on one of our van routes.”

In addition to the impressive saw blade and sharpening side to its business, Saw Tec has a long-served reputation for new and used woodworking machinery sales, installation, training, after-sales service, repairs and spare parts across the south. Their extensive network of suppliers for

Saw Tec customers will soon enjoy a significantly larger showroom with new options including three- and five-axis CNC machinery from AES

machinery and tooling includes AES, Altendorf, Genesis, Kundig, NLS, Stehle, Swedex, Trend, Titman and Whitehill. The company’s busy showroom has a good stock of new machinery consisting of a ProTec CNC nesting machine, Altendorf panel saw, Genisis edgebander and panel saw, Kundig edge sander and SAF extractors. They also have used wide belt sanders, planers and thicknessers. All machines are available to demonstrate.

For further details, contact Saw Tec about re-sharpening, servicing or machine needs.

02380 653329 sales@sawtec.co.uk www.sawtec.co.uk

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INSIDE STORY

The Brand new Edition 60 Introducing the Edition 60, Striebig’s brand new vertical panel saw.

To mark its 60th year in the industry, Swiss vertical panel saw specialist, Striebig, has launched a brand new vertical panel saw: Edition 60.

New Panel Lowering Device (PAV)

For further details: 0116 271 7155 / www.tmmachinery.co.uk

Designed specifically for single-operator use, the Edition 60 features an integrated panel-lowering device (PAV) comprising two panel-lowering units that position each panel automatically. This process eliminates the need to turn the sheet by hand during the cutting process, reducing handling.

Extensive Features The new Edition 60 comes with intelligent features designed to guarantee accuracy, speed and safe, hand-guided workflow. This includes a laser indicator for horizontal cuts, digital measuring systems on both the X and Y axis, 17-pneumaticallybraked support rollers and a pneumatic clamping motor carriage.

OptiDivide Striebig’s exclusive cutting optimisation software, OptiDivide, is also available on this model, offering further reductions in panel handling, operator error and material waste.

SAWS, BLADES & CUTTING TECHNOLOGY 71

Single-person operation

Direction lights

As standard, the Edition 60’s Panel Lowering Device (PAV) is suitable for use with panels up to 3000 x 2150mm and weighing up to 160 kg. A third lifter can also be added for cutting large format panels up to 5000 x 2150 that weigh up to 240kg.

Features like these integrated LED lights have been designed to guide you safely through the sawing process, guaranteeing optimised and short processing times.

The new design also features a robust wooden support wall, powerful, high-torque 5.5 kW (7.5 HP) saw motor and an integrated TRK dust extraction system.

Easy Operation

Bottom Trim

The Edition 60 has a user-friendly pushbutton control for simple and ergonomic operation. The panel lowering device can be moved quickly and precisely.

The new model features a horizontal trim cut, which is performed once the panel has been positioned automatically. This guarantees an accurate, smooth cut every time, without needing to turn the panel.

72 SAWS, BLADES & CUTTING TECHNOLOGY

Salvamac marks its 200th UK installation With the installation of a new Salvapush2000 optimising saw in Doncaster, Salvamac has completed its 200th machine installation in the UK. “We are pleased to have reached the milestone of the 200th successful installation of Salvamac woodworking machinery in the UK,” says Christian Salvador, co-owner of Salvamac, “and, the most important thing, I was very satisfied to know the installation went efficiently and that the customer appreciated that the Salvamac optimising saw is performing better than expected.

“Really big thanks must go to our technicians in the UK, who have successfully installed upcut saws, optimising saws such as the SalvaPush2000, crosscutting saws with the successful SalvaStop100 and a lot of dust extraction systems all over the UK and Ireland.”

Ziemowit Dolkowki of Salvamac continues: “Our team

and our partners in UK are the reasons why this impressive tally of 200 machines have been successfully installed.

This double hundred shows again that we are a true leader of cross-cutting solutions, with excellent customer support, expert engineering, and, most importantly, great people.

“We strongly believe in human relationships – our customer is not a serial number but a person, with a name and needs. They must be satisfied and happy with our machines.

People must be at the centre of everything.”

The SalvaPush2000 is the Salvamac Group’s flagship cross-cutting optimising saw.

The optimising saw, assembled in Italy, is ideally suited to cut single wood pieces with length optimisation, as well as to cut boards using a prefixed cutting cycle. It can be applied for use in a range of solid wood market segments such as windows and doors, furniture, beams

and houses, flooring, sofas, glue panels and lamella wood, pallets, garden furniture and children’s toys, among others.

Christian says that the machine can be easily integrated with other machinery and data within a factory, as it can receive cutting lists directly from the office, and connect to multi-blade machines or moulders via automatic loading and unloading systems.

The instantaneous graphics and a large touchscreen, complemented with digital communication among every electric component, enables fast and easy data entry.

“The SalvaPush2000 comes with a brand-new software version which is easily and completely manageable by anyone, like a smartphone – with website graphics and all the convenience of data setting via an impressively large touchscreen, and all electronic components connected through digital communication,”

says Christian.

“Moreover, there are new and exclusive mechanical solutions, both for the cutting and pusher systems, which become part of the complete digital management of the machines’ communication systems – not only within their electronic components, but towards external IT systems.

“The application of the SalvaPush 2000 in the construction component and special pallet sectors fully confirms the recent developments. The new and exclusive mechanical solutions are also present in both the cutting and pushing systems.

“A special system, with a 55mm-wide toothed belt and 33 strips of hard steel, allows high precision and capacity.

The aluminium beam is big and solid – at a height of 135mm and a width of 120mm, it is fixed in a steel structure in two parts for better solidity and reliability. The beam is also >>

Explore our optimizing saws SALVAPUSH_2000 Optimizing saw managed by numeric control with integrated computer and SALVA-OPTIM software.

SALVAMAC SP. Z O.O. ul. Modrzewiowa 18 62 081 Przeźmierowo - POLAND Via XX Settembre 105 31015 Conegliano TV - ITALY info@salvamac.com

74 SAWS, BLADES & CUTTING TECHNOLOGY

>>

covered and protected by a special steel cover. All this guarantees a long machine life with no dust or service issues,” confirms Christian.

“Compared to their older and more traditional cutting systems, the SalvaPush 2000 has become a cost-cutting machine for one major producer in particular. The yield of their wood has increased about +9%, the number of operators needed is about half that of before, and they no longer need skilled operators – cutting can be done in complete safety, and statistical data can be easily generated.

“The cutting range is also complemented by the Classic cutting saws, which are characterised by the three s’ of Salvamac’s philosophy – solid, simple and safe.

“Solid because they are designed and made to work even in difficult conditions and with heavy wood. The structure is completely made of hard, painted steel – very thick and very resistant.

“Safe thanks to the two-hand safety control in an ergonomic position, and the blade

protection cover that allows the user to work in absolute safety.

“Simple, because the ease of use is increased by the new Salvastop 100 device, our evolution of the numerical control length positioning and stop system. It is a real solution to save labour costs, increase productivity and decrease human errors – and you can finally do away with the tape measure,” concludes Christian. www.salvamac.com

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76 SAWS, BLADES & CUTTING TECHNOLOGY

Bigger Sheffield home for leading saw brands

Two of the leading British saw blade manufacturers, Sheffield Industrial Saws and Atkinson Walker – the latter established in 1928 – are rightly very proud to be still manufacturing industrial-quality circular saw blades in Sheffield.

The recent move to new premises at Imperial Works, Sheffield Road, Sheffield S9 2YL not only makes the company more readily accessible (near the Meadowhall shopping centre by Junction 34 on the M1), but serves to demonstrate the company’s confidence in its future and its underlying commitment to its customers.

Sheffield Industrial Saw describes itself as being hands-on with its customer

base to ensure the saws it provides meet their needs. The combination of experience and expertise, modern equipment and techniques, combined with traditional skills and a highly skilled workforce in crucial processes such as sawsmithing and grinding, all point to Sheffield Industrial Saw more than maintaining its reputation in this sector.

For a circular saw blade to perform, it is very important to achieve flatness and the correct tension to ensure all blades run true when the blade is cutting the product – this is the true measure of a quality saw blade. Sheffield Industrial Saws says its customers recognise this fact, and, as a matter of great pride, it continues to manufacture what they need for their operations.

All Sheffield Industrial Saws’ products are crafted using the highest-quality steel and tungsten tips available, ensuring they last longer than average saw blades, which helps users save money in the long term.

The main market for its saw blades are joiners and furniture manufacturers, PVC window/ door manufacturers and kitchen fitters – all of which appreciate the high quality which gives Sheffield Industrial Saws’ customers a fine finish to their work. The Sheffield Industrial Saws staff have a great affection for its SAP (Special All-

Purpose) blades, which allow its customers to cut metals, plastic and wood with one saw blade.

Of course, Sheffield Industrial Saws will take your old blades and regrind them, or fit replacement tips and regrind them to put the saw back into service – true recycling with our customers benefiting on cost savings against new.

The company has a dropin counter for its customers to call at – alternatively, the knowledgeable Sheffield Industrial Saws staff are on hand to offer advice and advise customers of their best options.

0114 2250804 sales@sheffsaws.com www.sheffsaws.com

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MasterCut London boosts productivity sixfold with Homag technology A leading company that provides an off-site cutting service to the construction trade recently selected Homag as its preferred supplier of sawing equipment.

MasterCut London is a relatively new, family-run business that was set up in 2019. It prides itself on providing a reliable service at a very competitive price. The company specialises in the cutting of plasterboard for the construction trade.

The cutting of this material on construction sites is being phased out due to health and safety concerns, alongside new regulations. This has significantly increased the construction trade’s demand for pre-cut plasterboard panels.

Moving from manual to automated production Due to the necessity to increase productivity, MasterCut’s MD, Costy Croitorui, decided to substantially improve his company’s production assets. He opted to upgrade MasterCut’s panel-cutting production processes from manual to fully automated by investing in a customised Homag Sawteq B-300 panel dividing saw.

Commenting on the machinery selection process, Costy says: “Homag was my preferred supplier. I obtained quotes from other potential suppliers, but soon appreciated the value of the Homag package compared to the others. I chose Homag for many reasons, not least because of the superior

and timely communications I experienced when dealing with them.

“The quality and reliability of the Homag saw were important factors in the selection process.

The cutting of plasterboard generates a vast amount of dust, so we need reliable, high-quality equipment that has the advanced technical ability to cope in such a tough environment for a long time.

“To help us customise the Sawteq B-300 to meet our demanding requirements and budget, a Homag sales representative, Charles Smith, visited our 5000ft2 production site. He was exceptionally knowledgeable about the equipment we required and the ways it would benefit our business.

“To view the specified equipment in operation, Charles took us to another business that had installed that model. This was very insightful and useful, as we were able to investigate the multiple benefits the machinery had delivered to that business.”

Fast delivery and installation Costy was also impressed with Homag’s fast machine delivery and installation service. He found that Homag offered the shortest delivery lead times of the three supplies he had shortlisted.

To avoid production disruption, Homag agreed to a rapid install of the Sawteq B-300 at MasterCut London’s Essexbased production site.

Costy says: ‘’The installation

“We were delighted with the exceptional service Homag provided. We also value Homag’s renowned aftersales service, which we can fully rely on for the rare occasions it may be required”

of the saw was handled very professionally and prevented any extensive delays to our manufacturing. Homag’s technicians helped us swiftly accelerate our production capabilities. Operator training was provided immediately following the installation of the equipment, which kept our downtime to an absolute minimum.

“We were delighted with the exceptional service Homag provided. We also value Homag’s renowned aftersales service, which we can fully rely on for the rare occasions it may be required.”

Improved production rates and reduced labour costs According to Costy, with the new Sawteq B-300, the

company is now six times more productive than it was before the investment. The equipment can be programmed to automatically cut panels of plasterboard to customers’ exact specifications. This work had previously been done manually, so the new equipment has reduced labour costs, too.

Due to the increased productivity, MasterCut London is now able to offer a significantly faster delivery service to its customers, which mostly comprise builders and property developers.

For a demonstration or more information on Homag’s machinery or software, contact Adele Hunt at Homag UK on 01332 856424. www.homag.com

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Warehousing, packaging & materials handling Combilift trucks help digital growth for English Woodlands Timber There’s a bit of a digital and e-commerce revolution happening in the tranquil setting of the South Downs, the home of hardwood timber specialist English Woodlands Timber. Since the start of the pandemic the company has pulled out all the stops for its online marketing activities, and as a result has achieved record sales as well as a large number of new customers.

Catering for the bespoke and high-end construction, joinery, furniture and kitchen sectors, the company is experiencing huge demand for its niche products which include boards, cladding and structural timber as well as a wide range of species such as oak, elm, ash and sweet chest-nut.

Fundamental to its success is the fact that each and every item stocked is now also availa-ble to view and buy via the web shop.

Equally important however is the ability to efficiently fulfil what director Ian McNally calls the “pick, pack and dispatch” side of operations once orders have been received. For this, English Woodlands Timber (EWT) has switched to products from Irish handling specialist Combilift

which have been instrumental in enabling it to keep pace with the recent 50% growth in business. Having previously used mainstream counterbalance forklifts, Ian and his team were won over by the multidirectional abilities of Combilift’s C-Series trucks when they saw one in operation at another timber supplier.

Having taken delivery of the first C4000E model in 2019, two of these 4t trucks are now in op-eration at the four acre site, together with two 2t capacity CombiWR4 multidirectional pedestri-an stacker trucks. The latter feature Combilift’s unique patented multi-position tiller arm which enables the operator to work at the side of the unit rather than at the rear when working in narrow confines for enhanced safety. EWT’s materials handling consultants Locators supplied all the trucks and also recommended a wider than standard fork carriage of 1950mm for the WR4 models, which increases load stability when carrying 6m long packs or boards.

“What differentiates us from other suppliers is our quality and diverse range, best summed up as the choice of length,

width and thickness of our products,” said Ian. “But we need to ensure that our own pick, patch and despatch procedures match the ease and efficiency with which customers can select and buy packs and individual boards. The Combilifts can handle all the varied and awkward sized boards we stock, they are nimble, manoeuvrable and allow us to work more quickly.”

WAREHOUSING, PACKAGING & MATERIALS HANDLING 79

“The Combilifts can handle all the varied and awkward sized boards we stock, they are nimble, manoeuvrable and allow us to work more quickly”

The ability to move 6m lengths sideways with the C4000E trucks has done away with the need for wide aisles and access areas in the undercover warehouse, and the widths between packs stored outdoors have been more than halved - down to 3m compared to the 6-8m needed for the old twodirectional counterbalance trucks. Storing most product in 4m high racking rather

than block stacking has also made best use of vertical capacity and Ian reckons that at least 35% extra space has been gained in the existing footprint. This is set to increase once another Combi-WR4 is brought in for use in the machine shop.

A further advantage of the Combilifts is their versatility, not just when it comes to lifting and moving products around

inside and out, but also their ability to double up as portable work sta-tions to rest boards on whilst they are logged, numbered and photographed before being put online. Owner and MD Tom Compton is particularly impressed with the performance of the Combi-WR4s. “This one operator/one machine combination has been transformative and has improved productivity by 30-40% compared to the old trucks. In spite of their relatively small size they can easily lift packs of timber from the top bay of racking. An added bonus is that train-ing staff to use them takes just a few hours.”

Sustainability is also a byword at the EWT woodyard, with solar panels on roofs wherever possible, charging stations for those who drive electric vehicles, chippings are used for biomass and other material is recycled into bedding for horses for example. “It’s electric power wherever possible here and nothing goes to waste,” says Ian. Electric Combilifts were therefore the ma-chines of choice, as they are emission free and are also very quiet compared to diesel ma-chines, which is much appreciated by all on site. Due to the general move to cleaner operation in many sectors, over half of Combilifts now manufactured in the Monaghan HQ are electric powered.

Thanks to its digital offering, EWT’s customer base has expanded not only in quantity but also in geographical reach.

“We used to typically sell to a radius of 20 – 30 miles but now we sell nationwide,” said Ian. “Also whereas customers generally used to come in person and look through the range with our experts, they can now browse and find exactly what they are looking for from the comfort of their office or their workbench. But if people want to visit us and meet the team, then of course they are always more than welcome!”

Ian sums up: “The latest digital technology and the innovative engineering from Combilift has been a winning combination which has enabled our business to expand and flourish, without having to worry about building extra space too.” www.combilift.com www.englishwoodlandstimber.co.uk www.locators.co.uk

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Homag material storage – sorting and collating solutions boost production momentum In today’s marketplace, furniture manufacture and wooden panel structure construction are no longer feasible without highperformance logistics and reliable production technology. Homag’s material storage, sorting and collating technology is specifically designed to optimise logistical production processes, efficiencies and safety, while reducing manual labour costs.

Affordable automated storage systems Homag Storeteq automated horizontal storage systems improve material flow and stock control. They are an affordable solution for both the craftsman with a small storage area, and larger industrial manufacturers which operate multi-storey horizontal storage.

The systems are suitable for all types of panel storage applications, and can increase productivity by up to +40%, states Homag.

The systems are designed to work in conjunction with other Homag machinery or as standalone systems. When used with other machines such as a beam saw and/or a nesting CNC machining centre, the intelligent horizontal storage systems create efficient work cells.

The Storeteq systems consistently keep track of panel stock levels and the space required to store them.

They can also create rainbow stacks on demand. Storeteq systems ensure that the correct panel and panel quantity is safely delivered to the required machine at precisely the right moment.

Transportation and storage systems for construction industries The Homag Stockteq series offers a wide range of options for transporting and storing large panel components for construction companies. The Stockteq systems can be individually adapted to suit different storage facility sizes and capacities.

The systems also provide the ideal supporting structure and technology for finishing work.

For instance, exterior plaster can easily be applied to wall panels and, with the help of purpose-built window vacuum lifters, windows can be fitted to wall panels.

Robotic sorting and collating to enhance productivity Material flow is optimised and storage space is maximised

with the aid of Homag’s Sortbot R-300 robotic sorting cell. The robotic sorting cell automatically tracks, sorts and feeds flat-panel workpieces.

To enable variable storing capacity, the robot sorts panel workpieces flexibly into different compartments. With the incorporation of gentle gripping, the technology also delivers energy-saving efficiency. The Sortbot R-300 provides a reliable solution for buffering and decoupling.

Feed and stacking systems for material handling with high process stability Production chains use various feed and stacking systems.

Homag Feedteq feed systems split stacks of material into individual panels. The Stockteq stacking systems then puts these individual panels together

WAREHOUSING, PACKAGING & MATERIALS HANDLING 81

to form a material stack (package of panels).

Homag offers single- and double-sided feed and stacking systems that are compatible with all machines in the throughfeed area. They are ideal for continuous feed and stacking for applications including edge systems and drilling lines. The Homag drive technology in the systems enables the panels to be

automatically transported to the next processing step while protecting the panels’ sensitive edges and surfaces.

The high-performance feed and stacking systems facilitate transparent and highly flexible logistics for the entire production process. Their premium-quality German engineering ensures that they are extremely robust, requiring very little maintenance, and this guarantees a

particularly long lifespan.

To summarise, the key advantages Homag feed and stacking systems deliver to boost production momentum and safety include: increased overall system performance; failsafe production; material quality preservation; minimised transport times; a high level of process safety; cost-cutting and process stability due to intelligent material flow;

material handling optimisation; reduction in space needs for material transport; and a higher performance ratio, due to the optimal utilisation of all machines in the linked production process.

For a demonstration or more information on Homag’s storing, sorting and collating solutions, contact Adele Hunt at Homag UK on 01332 856424. www.homag.com

82 WAREHOUSING, PACKAGING & MATERIALS HANDLING

Save time and money with TAWI vacuum lifters

Did you know that the implementation of vacuum lifting equipment in your operations can save you both time and money? Matt Baker, UK sales manager at TAWI, offers advice on how to work efficiently with vacuum lifters ...

“TAWI vacuum lifters use innovative technology to grip and lift various types of loads. Our systems consist of a vacuum pump, connected by an air hose to a lifting tube,” says Matt.

“At the end of the lifting tube are the suction head and the suction foot which will hold the load, and they come in different sizes depending on what the load is. The feet create an airtight seal between the load and the lifter, ensuring a safe grip of the load throughout the handling process.

“The operator can easily adjust the lifting height by regulating the vacuum level

through a control handle. This type of suction lifting is safe and gentle on both the operator, and, most importantly, is quick and easy to use.”

TAWI customers report that its vaccuum lifters have become an indespensible part of their operation: “With TAWI lifters, everyone can lift large and heavy sheets, and the employees can keep an even pace throughout the whole day without straining their bodies,” says Bjorn Skoglun, production leader at LG Collection.

Matt continues: “With our vacuum lifters, you can easily lift sheets of wood weighing up to 500kg. A comfortable and userfriendly control panel makes it easy to keep full control of the load and ensures an ergonomic working position.

“Sheets can be rotated and tilted up to 180°, making it easy to move doors, panels

and other sheet materials. Bags and other more porous loads normally require a larger suction foot. For these types of porous loads, the suction foot is often accompanied by a rubber skirt to ensure an airtight seal to ensure that leakage is minimised and suction is maximised.”

Savings from vacuum-powered lifting Vacuum lift systems come with many benefits for both businesses and people, says Matt, pointing out that a vacuum lifter will almost fully eliminate the weight of any load, making lifting effortless. “Naturally, this improves employee satisfaction, and will also help save companies from injury-related costs,” he says. “When lifting is effortless, anyone can lift, resulting in improved workforce flexibility, diversity and retention.” www.tawi.com

Introducing

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Designed with operator friendly features such as high ground clearance, large cushioned front & rear tyres and a spacious cab, allowing smooth operation on semi-rough terrain whilst offering higher levels of driver comfort than any other forklift.

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84 WAREHOUSING, PACKAGING & MATERIALS HANDLING

Meeting demand with Häfele to Order With demand for joiners at an all-time high, manufacturers understand that the need for efficiency, while maintaining quality, has also never been greater.

With this in mind, Häfele UK offers Häfele to Order, a bespoke service which allows users to specify any Häfele product to an exact size, quantity and finish, before it is cut, packaged, labelled and delivered to meet the brief.

Häfele to Order is ideal for long furniture elements such as wardrobe rails, handle profiles and sliding door gear, as well as time-sapping bespoke timber drawers. With the latter, joiners can expect handmade, solid timber drawers crafted to exceptional standards, fully personalised with impressive features such as full dovetail joints in just a 12-17-workingday lead time.

Häfele to Order is also perfect for strip furniture lighting, and can be paired with the company’s Lighting Design Service for “the ultimate in speed and efficiency”. Through this duo, experts will create a bespoke lighting plan and product list from the joiner’s plan free of charge, and, when ready to order, the quoted products will be cut to order, packaged and delivered.

As well as being a way to save time, Häfele to Order helps minimise ordering errors and reduce wastage, as users

only need to purchase precise quantities. What is more, there is no minimum order quantity, making it suitable for smaller jobs, too.

Service in practice Häfele to Order is a popular service amongst the manufacturer’s customers, including acclaimed joinery specialist KWB London, which has worked on prestigious projects such as Battersea Power Station, Park View and Postmark London.

Speaking about his experiences, Kevin Behan, MD at KWB London, says: “Häfele to Order is a great service for the handling of long materials, which we rely on for our projects. Using the service means we can eliminate the delays and expense caused by products only being available in a limited range of options – so we were able to order Gola profiling cut to our exact length requirements, which was packaged plot by plot for easy distribution when on site.

“I would absolutely recommend Häfele to Order

to any joinery firm. We already have a great working relationship with Häfele – it’s a fantastic company, and this service is another bonus that benefits our business.”

For more information on how Häfele to Order can help improve a firm’s efficiency, complete a form on Häfele’s website, or email hafeletoorder@hafele.co.uk. www.hafele.co.uk/hafeletoorder

:

WHEN YOU NEED IT MADE-TO-ORDER, SPEAK TO HAFELE. You Specify. We Deliver.

Save time, cut costs and avoid mistakes with Häfele to Order, our bespoke manufacturing service which allows you to specify products to the exact size, quantity and finish you require*.

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Order online häfele.co.uk/fj-nov21 or contact us on 0800 181 4290 to discuss your requirements.

86 WAREHOUSING, PACKAGING & MATERIALS HANDLING

Driving flexibility and efficiency in materials handling As the UK has now opened up again from national and local lockdowns, businesses continue to re-evaluate their processes in order to adapt and find stability in these uncertain times. In particular, for the retail industry, for clear reasons there has been a significant shift away from the high street to the online shopping environment, moving the emphasis from in store fulfilment to individual ecommerce deliveries.

As such, the ways in which retailers and other parts along the supply chain must manage demand has had to change. The idea of forecasting peaks in demand around the traditional holiday periods, such as Christmas, can no longer be relied upon in isolation.

For example, the retail sector experienced a 209%growth in April 2020 compared to the previous year, but many retailers were completely unprepared for this surge.

So how can businesses prepare for unexpected demand surges without disrupting their processes and impacting costs?

Alexander Baal, director of sales operations, Jungheinrich UK, explains how a new approach to materials handling rental could be the answer to a more streamlined and flexible strategy.

Market volatility There are arguably three elements that have become focuses for warehouse operators throughout the pandemic; demand for immediate high availability of staff and equipment, an emphasis on streamlining usage and a reduction in wasted resources.

Rental, along with used forklift trucks, is now seen as a compelling solution for businesses, and many are rethinking the way rental can be used to their strategic

advantage. This includes combining both long-term contract hire rental that comes with affordable rates, with shortterm hire which provides the flexibility required during times of anticipated demand increase.

But given the unprecedented volatility that has hit almost every industry, businesses are looking to become more agile, and are therefore seeking ways to unlock even more efficiency.

Combined with increasing pressures to match output with cash flow and higher focus on working capital considerations, businesses need to be able to maintain their usual activity levels while still rapidly adapting to changes in the marketplace when necessary.

Unlocking efficiency A new rental strategy that is built around an ‘as a service’ model can empower businesses with the confidence that they have the ability to rapidly meet unexpected demands.

In addition to the minimum amount of long or short term rental trucks that the business is used to maintaining, they can also keep further trucks on site with an availability fee at a fraction of what they would normally pay. As soon as

demand ramps up, they have instant availability of additional materials handling equipment on site – no need to wait for any supplier lead times or to take delivery costs. Effectively, they can increase and decrease operations as and when needed – an output-driven solution that they only pay for when they use it.

In the current economic climate, this ‘pay per use’ model can help businesses to eradicate waste from their operations by placing the emphasis on paying for usage, not for a truck sitting idle. In particular for those businesses that cannot be certain about their opening hours and equipment usage beyond a minimum amount, this strategy can provide the flexibility and ROI they need.

Back up plan To say the past 18 months has been full of disruption and uncertainty would be an understatement. But it has demonstrated the fact that our world is becoming more complex, and guaranteed stability in the market is unlikely to return for some years to come.

As such, there is a greater

need than ever for flexibility in logistics processes and equipment. And once stability returns to a certain extent, businesses will still need to deploy a handling equipment strategy that is complementary to the current fleet portfolio.

Even with contract hire equipment on site, businesses can immensely benefit from equipment on standby, waiting in the wings in case another truck goes down or additional support is required to keep business critical logistic operations running. Not only will this strategy benefit the market peaks and troughs in demand right now, but also in the long term as we continue to ride the waves of economic turbulence. www.jungheinrich.com

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Parts handling from panel to packaging

Ideas that move.

Automatic handling equipment for commercial or industrial production lines as well as manual vacuum lifting devices.

CSF MULTILEVEL PANEL STORAGE SYSTEM Space saving production area

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Products

Cross grain look in three new colours: the Ostermann ABS edgings sliced ash across, sliced ash across natural and Lindberg cross-cut oak are available in numerous dimensions from a length of 1m

New cross grain decor edgings from Ostermann – ash twice, oak once Cross grain decors are always a highlight.

It is good news then that Ostermann has extended its range with no less than three new ABS edgings for this remarkable design. One light and one dark ash decor as well as an oak decor with a cross-cut look are now available to create furniture with a special touch.

Its complex production makes cross grain extra special. Luckily, the striking design can be achieved with wood decor boards as well. Furniture makers can now find at Ostermann three new ABS edgings with a cross grain decor for a perfect solution on the edge.

Under the designations sliced ash across, sliced ash across natural and Lindberg cross-cut oak, these edgings are available in standard dimensions of 23, 33, 43 and

100 x 2mm. Find all information by typing in the search item “#Highlights10” on the Ostermann website www.ostermann.eu Dark beauty: ABS edging sliced ash across The edging’s dark brown main colour gets its natural look from irregular vertical stripes of different lightness degrees and widths which correspond to the natural grain. These stripes are reminiscent of wood veneer production with a vertically operating slicing machine. Colour nuances in the surface finish range from chocolate brown to light honey brown in the filigree stripes.

Nordic look: sliced ash across natural For thosew who prefer the lighter Nordic

wood hues, the ABS edging sliced ash across natural is an ideal option. The delicate, light brown tones are interspersed with warm, cream-coloured stripes, giving the edging a particularly elegant look which is reminiscent of a limed surface.

Warm caramel brown: Lindberg cross-cut oak The Lindberg cross-cut oak edging is distinguished by a restrained colour scheme. The stripes’ nuances show less contrast, and their fine lines are more delicate than those of the ash variants.

Shades range from warm caramel brown in the darker lines to a lighter golden brown.

01905 793550 s.parsons@ostermann.eu www.ostermann.eu

• Suitable for Flat Pack / RTA • Suitable for Flat Pack / RTA • Key FastAdvantages and easy tool free assembly • Fast and easy tool free assembly • Quality finishforwith connector • Suitable Flatinvisible Pack / RTA • Quality finish with invisible connector • Time saving paneltool processing • Fast and easy free assembly • Time saving panel processing • Quality finish with invisible connector • Time saving panel processing

DRAWER BOXES DRAWER BOXES Releasable Drawer Box DRAWER BOXES Releasable Drawer Box Key Features Key Features Releasable Drawer Box • Panel components can release if the correct • sequence Panel components can release if the correct build is not followed Key Features build sequence is not followed • Panels can be replacedcan release if the correct • Panel components • Panels can be replaced build sequence is not followed • Panels can be replaced

Circular Circular Economy Economy Circular Economy

150mm 150mm

Connector Type Connector Type 12mm Panel = V-0930RD.25 + V-0930RH 12mm Panel = V-0930RD.25 + V-0930RH 15mm+ Panel = V-1230RD.25 + V-1230RH Connector Type = V-1230RD.25 + V-1230RH 15mm+ Panel

150mm 100mm 100mm Minimum Thickness Panel Minimum Thickness Panel

100mm Recommended Drawer-Box-Deep-3+2-Releasable-Sides-D&M-12.Assembly Recommended

12mm Panel = V-0930RD.25 + V-0930RH 15mm+ Panel = V-1230RD.25 + V-1230RH

Minimum Thickness Panel Drawer-Box-3+2-P-D&M-12-Assembly Drawer-Box-3+2-P-D&M-12-Assembly

Drawer-Box-Deep-3+2-Releasable-Sides-D&M-12.Assembly

Permanent Drawer Box Recommended Permanent Drawer Box

Drawer-Box-Deep-3+2-Releasable-Sides-D&M-12.Assembly

Drawer-Box-3+2-P-D&M-12-Assembly

Permanent Key Features Drawer Box Key Features • No complicated instructions • No complicated instructions • Key Dowel option can be used to align the panel Features • Dowel option can bethe used to align the panel components to push into correct position only • Nocomponents complicated instructions to push into the correct position only • Dowel option can be used to align the panel components to push into the correct position only 150mm 150mm 150mm 100mm 100mm 100mm Recommended Recommended

Minimum Thickness Panel Minimum Thickness Panel Connector Type Connector Type Minimum Thickness Panel V-1230PD.20 + V-1230PH V-1230PD.20 + V-1230PH Connector Type V-1230PD.20 + V-1230PH

Combination Drawer Box Recommended Combination Drawer Box Combination Drawer Box

Drawer-Box-3+2-P-D&M-15-Assembly Connector Type Drawer-Box-3+2-P-D&M-15-Assembly

Connector Type 12mm Panel = V-0930RD.25 + V-0930RH 12mm Panel = V-0930RD.25 + V-0930RH 15mm+ Panel = V-1230RD.25 + V-1230RH Drawer-Box-3+2-P-D&M-15-Assembly Connector Type = V-1230RD.25 + V-1230RH 15mm+ Panel 12mm Panel = V-0930RD.25 + V-0930RH 15mm+ Panel = V-1230RD.25 + V-1230RH

Key Features Key Features • Fool proof build sequence - Back panel can • Fool proof buildbottom sequence - Back panel can release if the drawer is not in place Key Features release if the drawer bottom is not in place • No complicated instructions Minimum Thickness Panel • Fool build sequence - Back panel can • Noproof complicated instructions Minimum Thickness Panel • Dowel option can be used to align thein place release if the drawer bottom is not Drawer-Box-3+2-P-D&M-12-Assembly • Dowel option can be used to the Drawer-Box-3+2-P-D&M-12-Assembly Connector Type panel components to push into the align correct • Nopanel complicated instructions Minimum Thickness Panel Connector Type components to push into the correct position only V-1230PD.20 + V-1230PH • Dowel option can be used to align the position only V-1230PD.20 + V-1230PH Drawer-Box-3+2-P-D&M-12-Assembly Connector Type panel components to push into the correct position only V-1230PD.20 + V-1230PH

90 PRODUCTS

Merinolam FR grade laminate available ex-stock from IDS

Responding to growing demand for fire rated laminate, IDS’s exclusive Merinolam range offers a wide choice of FR grade decors available exstock for 24-48-hour delivery nationwide.

Part of an exclusive UK partnership between IDS and world leading decorative laminate manufacturer Merino, the Merinolam range includes a dedicated Merino FR+ Fire Retardant Laminate collection which has been tested in Europe to BS 476: Part 7,

passing Class-1 Fire Rating provided that fire retardant adhesive, backer and substrates are used. Class-1 FR laminates do not allow fire to spread further once the source is removed and extinguishes itself within a stipulated time, significantly reducing the risk of toxic smoke.

The FR+ collection comprises 37 decors spanning a wide selection of plain colours, woodgrains and patterns.

Postformable for optimum versatility across a range of

applications, FR+ is available in a standard 3050 x 1300 x 0.7mm sheet size. Over 70% of the 55-décor Merinolam range is available in FR grade.

Merinolam is polycoated as standard and is suitable for a wide range of horizontal and vertical applications, meaning it can be specified with confidence across a range of sectors including residential, healthcare, education, architecture, construction and hospitality.

The Merino FR+ Fire

Retardant Laminate collection is exclusively available in the UK from all of IDS’s 18 regional branches in just 24-48 hours.

Customers have the flexibility to order single sheets, mixed orders through to full pallets, together with access to a free express sampling service and the support of a trained team of product specialists who can provide information, guidance and technical advice.

0845 7 298 298 info@merinolam.co.uk www.merinolaminates.com

SERVICE, DIVERSITY AND SPEED

SO MUCH MORE THAN EDGINGS Apart from Europe’s largest range of edgings, we supply a continuously growing range of products for the carpentry and furniture industry. From fittings and handles to lighting solutions, fastening systems and innovative designer surfaces: as the experts in edging, we always have the answer for your project.

www.ostermann.eu

92 PRODUCTS

Trusted names and top international supplier behind Malvern edging firm Based in Malvern, Worcestershire, Edging Supplies was set up by Kal Sandhu and Derrick Gray in July 2018 to supply the furniture manufacturing industry with edgebanding and ancillary products.

With over 25 years involvement in this market, and a widespread customer base built up over that time, Kal and Derrick are well placed, especially with such a robust supplier base behind them.

Edging Supplies’ prime partner

is TECE based in Turkey.

TECE was established in 1987 and is a major producer and supplier of edgebanding. TECE has supported the company since Kal and Derrick set the wheels in motion. With TECE and its other suppliers, Edging Supplies is set fair to provide a high standard of service and support to its customer base.

“Our ethos of quality, service and reliability is closely aligned with our suppliers in this everdemanding world,” said Kal. “We have a comprehensive

Kal Sandhu

Derrick Gray

Edging Supplies’ Malvern, Worcestershire premises

range of edgebandings and ancillary products in stock at our warehouse in Malvern.

There are over 400 product lines comprising 2,000,000plus metres of edgebanding all available on a next day delivery,” said Kal. Customer orders can be taken by phone, email, WhatsApp messaging and via the website as an enquiry. If received prior to the carrier collection times, the orders will be despatched on a next day service. Deliveries can be arranged on a timed delivery or the standard next day service.

For special colours, Edging Supplies can match from a extensive selection held in the office or arrange a colour match directly from TECE, this can be done within two weeks with production and delivery being about four weeks

from order. Edging Supplies holds a range of products, from ABS, PVC, Melamine, Veneer edgebandings, ancillary products such as Self-Adhesive Cover Caps, Repair Waxes, Edgebander Adhesives, and Panel Cleaners.

“Moving forward, we have plans to expand our warehousing capacity on its existing site in line with our projected growth over the next three years,” concluded Kal, “and this will help us to increase both our stock range and quantities held in Malvern for express availability to our customers.

Kal Sandhu 07384 810271 kal@edgingsuppliesltd.co.uk Derrick Gray 07384 810106 derrick@edgingsuppliesltd.co.uk www.edgingsuppliesltd.co.uk

QUALITY PANEL SUPPLY PRODUCTS Wooden Edge Glued Panels Worktops TGV Legs Birch Ply Wood veneered mdf Wood edge banding MDF MR MDF MR Butt & Bead Primed THICKNESSES 6/9/12/15/16/18/20/22/25/27/30/40mm WIDTHS 300/600/620/915/1210/1220mm LENGTHS 900 through to 4000mm SPECIES Oak, Ash, Pine, Knotless Pine, Tulipwood/Yellow Poplar, Beech, Iroko, Maple, Black Walnut and more SERVICES Cutting Service Available 24-72 hour delivery National & European delivery available Volume orders from stock No minimum orders Rubio Monocoat Supplier

01206 396725

sales@mlpanels.com www.mlpanels.com

Follow us on social media

@mlpanels

94 PRODUCTS

Joined-up thinking Fast, precise, versatile, easy – Lamello’s hand-held Zeta P2 P-System offers an exceptionally efficient solution for joining panels and solid wood.

Designed for use with all P-System connectors in Lamello’s range – including the best-selling Clamex P, Tenso P and Divario P – the Zeta P2 offers flexible design solutions for furniture manufacturers, and greater stability and easier assembly for flat-pack producers.

So, how does it work? The integrated vertical mechanical drive on the Zeta P2’s cutting spindle is the centrepiece of this P-System. During the cutting process, the vertical mechanical drive automatically performs a vertical movement to create a clean and accurate profile groove. The chosen P-System fitting is then manually inserted into the groove, ensuring a fast, form-locking anchorage.

To accommodate the entire P-System

Lamello’s Zeta P2

range, the Zeta P2 can cut P-System grooves with varying installation depths by

simply turning the P-System depth adjuster.

This removes the need to continuously change or purchase additional cutters when working on multiple projects at one time.

The vertical movement for the P2 P-System groove is also triggered automatically when the maximum cutting depth is reached, making it quick and easy to accomplish perfect results every time.

Shaye Chatfield, Lamello area sales manager international for Lamello UK and Ireland, adds: “The Zeta P2 is simplicity at its best. All you need is Lamello’s Zeta P2 biscuit joiner and your chosen fixings, to be able to create a wealth of designs. Cut the slot, insert the fixing, mate the components and the job is done.

“It saves you time on every application – especially when you’re comparing it to more traditional joining techniques that require glues and clamps – and, with precise cuts, simple processing on both sides of the panel and a slide-tolerant design that allows for perfect workpiece alignment, it offers serious design scope in (and out) of your workshop.

“Plus, by simply deactivating the P-System groove function and changing to a 4mm blade, you can also use original biscuits, making it a popular choice for everyone from artisan furniture makers to large furniture manufacturers looking for a quick, efficient and portable solution when joining panels.” www.lamello.co.uk

30

Visit hpponline.co.uk/egger-optima to view the range

Light Mid-tone

We’ve also created a new door builder specifically for Egger Optima frontages which makes quoting instant and ordering simple.

2

Input your component sizes and our optimizer will give you an instant price.

3

It will show you a visual representation of the full sheet you are using to help you get the most for your money.

Solid Colours

Choose any of Egger décors and a matching or accented edging tape.

ORDER ONLINE TODAY AT HPPONLINE.CO.UK EMAIL: INFO@HPPONLINE.CO.UK TEL: 0161 620 5656

H1401

H1176

H1336

F186

H3349

H3170

H1180

F461

H1714

H3176

H1253

F628

H3158

H3146

H1313

F121

Colour

PerfectSense

1

Materials

Dark

INTRODUCING A COMPLETE COLLECTION OF EGGER DÉCORS PERFECTLY SUITED FOR FURNITURE DOORS, DRAWER FRONTS AND FRONTAGES.

Wood

Grey

EGGER OPTIMA FURNITURE DOOR COLLECTION

Available for delivery nationwide

Made-to-measure components

carefully selected Egger décors

Texture

U702

U750

U201

U750

U708

U732

U960

U708

W1100

U708

U732

U732

U702

U961

Providing solutions, service and inspiration to the fitted furniture industry for 30 years

U599

CELEBRATING

YEARS 1991 - 2021

96 PRODUCTS

Affordable, reliable and no-nonsense door and cabinet furniture, exclusive to Ironmongery Direct For householders looking to update their homes with bespoke carpentry for built-in cupboards and wardrobes, new kitchens and storage solutions, leading ironmongery supplier, Ironmongery Direct, offers a huge range of solutions for carpenters looking to meet client briefs and budgets.

Included in the company’s range is Touchpoint. This exclusive collection is ideal for tradespeople who value functional and dependable door, window and cabinet furniture in a number of smart, modern design options. The high-quality products within the Touchpoint range include finishes such as polished chrome, satin chrome and polished brass, and are all backed with a five-year guarantee as standard.

Cohesive hardware The range includes door locks, door handles and turn-and-release locks, as well as fasteners, casement stays and hardware suitable for vertical sash windows, all available in matching designs and finishes to provide a cohesive look across the whole home.

For example, Touchpoint door hardware in satin chrome offers a clean and luxurious feel to the home and will tie into almost any interior design aesthetic. For the kitchen, consider the satin chrome domed cabinet knobs and pull handles, or T-bar knobs.

For clients interested in more subtle styling, the Touchpoint Flush Cabinet Pull Handles in matt and polished chrome sit neatly out of view while still maintaining functionality. Or, for a more traditional natural look, a wooden cabinet knob offers a suitable choice, and unlacquered knobs can be painted over to match the cabinet colour – such as the Wooden Cabinet Knob 50mm in beech.

Door locks and latches The Touchpoint collection covers everything needed to complete the job. The Touchpoint Contract Tubular Latch Pack comes with 10 sets of latches, with enough for almost all homes, while the Touchpoint Bathroom Turn and Release locks are an ideal choice to complement a Touchpoint door handle.

To save on time and money, a comprehensive range of door kits are available, which include handles, locks and hinges – such as the Touchpoint Eloise Lever Door Handle in rose, which provides a unified design solution for the customer and installer.

All of the above products can be ordered from ironmongerydirect.co.uk. The company has been supplying architectural ironmongery to the trade for over 50 years, and offers over 18,000 products, all in stock and available for next-day delivery or click and collect. www.ironmongerydirect.co.uk

98 PRODUCTS

Combilift launches XLE model

Irish materials handling specialist Combilift has officially launched its latest product, the Combi-XLE, as a further addition to its impressive range of electric models. In line with the growing demand for electric-powered equipment, this multi-directional forklift, with up to fiveton lift capacity, combines emission-free operation with powerful performance for a wide range of industries and applications.

The original engine-powered XL C-Series model was developed to address the requirements of tough working environments such as those in the timber, concrete and steel sectors. The new CombiXLE incorporates the same key design features as its earlier counterpart, such as high ground clearance, large cushioned front and rear tyres and a spacious cab, allowing smooth operation on semi-rough terrain while offering a high level of driver comfort.

Three forklifts in one With sustainability ever higher on the agenda, Combilift further helps its customers achieve their environmental goals with its versatile ‘three forklifts in one’ models, which work inside and out, reducing fleet size and thereby carbon footprint.

A hallmark of all Combilift products is the ability to increase storage capacity without expanding the size of a facility, resulting in lower energy usage and associated costs such as heating, lighting and maintenance, which is of significant benefit to the environment and the workforce. Noise

pollution and carbon emissions, which can impact on the health and wellbeing of people as well as wildlife, is also no longer an issue, thanks to electric power. Drivers, employees and visitors on-site appreciate the quiet operation, as do neighbouring residents and businesses, particularly in urban areas.

99

Performance and capability The Combi-XLE incorporates up-to-theminute technology such as the patented all-wheel traction that reduces tyre wear and load swing, and enhances braking. Also included is a newly developed, patented Eco-Steer System, which provides a smaller turning radius and improved user experience.

Since electric-powered trucks do not have traditional combustion engines, or hydraulic transmissions, there is no longer any need to check and top-up engine fluids/ lubricants, resulting in longer intervals between services, ultimately saving costs.

The use of toughened, eco-friendly, waterbased paint also dramatically reduces the amount of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) during build.

“The technology we have incorporated into the Combi-XLE means that its performance is equally on a par with dieselor LPG-powered forklifts when it comes to handling very bulky and heavy loads, whilst of course offering a greener operation,” says Combilift CEO and co-founder, Martin McVicar.

Key features at a glance • AC electric powered • Five ton lift capacity • A ‘3-in-1 forklift’ – counterbalance, sideloader, reach truck • New technology Eco-Steer system • All-wheel electric traction control • Large diameter, super-elastic tyres • Extra-large cabin • Multi-directional operation • Increased ground clearance • 80V 700Ah battery (56kW)

“We made our first electric C-Series over 18 years ago, and now over 60% of the trucks we manufacture are electric, with availability in almost all models across our range. As more and more of our customers are opting for electric power, it is obvious that they are as committed to sustainability and a circular economy as we are.”

At Combilift’s own manufacturing facility, features such as daylighting technology – LED lights with individual PIR sensors – solar panel energy and rainwater harvesting are all aimed at conserving natural resources and decreasing energy

consumption. 92% of all components used in the truck assembly are 100% recyclable, and the company is also on track to save over 473 tons of CO2 by using carbonneutral woodchip instead of gas for heating within the factory.

Customer testimonial “At our South Derbyshire precast factory, we use five multi-directional Combi-XLE trucks to transport product from the factory to storage and then to load-out for distribution nationwide,” explains Dave Clement, production director, Roger Bullivant.

“As we had already been using Combilift units for years, the product decision was straightforward, and from a driver perspective, the operation remains essentially unchanged.

“The reasons to move to electric were twofold: to eliminate exhaust particulates in the factory; and as part of our group environmental plan to minimise our carbon footprint – so, an improvement to the environment, in more ways than one.” www.combilift.com

100 PRODUCTS

Ground-breaking technologies from Titus Titus combines customer-led research and development with lean processes and state-of-the-art manufacturing to deliver solutions that provide outstanding customer benefits.

Titus’ recent innovations include the new System 6 connector family of performance-engineered connectors for simplified cabinet assembly, the Slidix range of damping solutions for sliding doors, and state-of-the-art dampers for cold environments which operate reliably in temperatures as low as -30°C. System 6 connectors feature an elegant square design that allows a large surface area of the product to rest on the panel when tightened, thereby ensuring optimum positioning. Anti-rotation ribs prevent cam rotation and panel shift, while the angledrive feature on the cam makes these connectors an ideal choice for applications where space for assembly is limited.

Slidix products are novel damping solutions for use with sliding doors. The range includes a complete family of softclosing systems with a damping stroke of 50 or 100mm, that assure efficient damping at any closing speed for applications from

“At Titus, our aim is always to offer innovative and practical solutions that will give our customers the maximum possible competitive advantage”

Titus Damper

5-120kg. A unique feature of the range is Slidix Centro, which is specifically designed to control the motion of and centring of middle doors in applications that involve three or more sliding doors.

Dampers for cold environments are the latest product of Titus’ ‘Engineered for a Purpose’ philosophy. By providing reliable damping at temperatures as low as -30°C, these offer convenient and affordable solutions to challenges that include the damping of doors in freezers, wine coolers, mobile equipment and automobile applications.

B-type-i3 is a third-generation, slide-on hinge with integrated damping, which can

Titus Slidix Centro

be relied upon to deliver consistent and reliable opening and closing performance throughout the entire life of the furniture.

The extended lifecycle of B-type-i3 hinges make them an appropriate solution for a wide range of cabinet applications in bedrooms, kitchens and bathrooms.

At Titus, our aim is always to offer innovative and practical solutions that will give our customers the maximum possible competitive advantage,” says Phil Beddoe, UK general manager at Titus. “And I believe that the new products recently launched confirm that we are successfully meeting this aim.” www.uk.titusplus.com

Titus System 6

101

EDGING SUPPLIES LTD, ARE A STOCKIST OF EDGE BANDING MATERIAL FOR SOME OF THE LARGEST FURNITURE MANUFACTURING MAKERS IN THE UK

Edging Supplies Ltd

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08/10/2021 13:02

102 PRODUCTS

HPP launches Egger Optima, a new range of PVC-edged doors A new range of PVC-edged furniture doors has been launched by Hill’s Panel Products (HPP), in conjunction with partner manufacturer Egger.

Named the Egger Optima range, it features 30 decors perfectly suited for furniture doors, drawer fronts and frontages for the kitchen, bedroom and bathroom (KBB) market. They are all available as made-to-measure components.

HPP, which manufactures and distributes furniture components, has created a dedicated Egger Optima range page on its website, www.hpponline.co.uk/eggeroptima.It features a specifically created custom door builder for the Egger Optima frontages, to make quoting instant and ordering simple.

HPP account holders can choose any of the Egger Optima decors and a matching or accented edging tape, input the component sizes, and the optimiser will create an instant price. It even creates a visual representation of the full sheet of the chosen design, to help subscribers get the most for their money.

The jobs are optimised and priced in real time, day and night, and multiple quotes can be saved and modified before ordering.

Dan Mounsey, HPP’s marketing and business development director, says: “We’ve had our own Optima range for a while, but that includes all of our melamine faced chipboards (MFCs), which is several hundred. Egger wanted to work with us to pull out a range of MFCs that they thought were particularly suited to the KBB market, and present them as a collection in its own right.”

The new range, which is available for delivery nationwide, includes decors in: dark, light, mid-tone and grey woodgraineffect finishes; solid and textured colours; matching Gloss and Matt PerfectSense finishes; and matching and Accent edgings all suitable for interior applications.

HPP has commissioned imagery of the various decors in roomsets that can be viewed on the Egger Optima page, and more images supplied by Egger will be used in marketing literature.

Dan adds: “The decors that Egger have selected are from their Décorative Collection. This was initially scheduled to run from 2020-22, but has now been extended to run for an extra year.”

The Egger Décorative Collection was originally launched just before the pandemic. It features 250 decorative

surfaces in highly advanced wood, stone and ceramic finishes, suitable for all interior spaces including kitchens, bedrooms and commercial property.

HPP is an Egger Diamond Distributor and is the only distributor to offer its trade customers the unique service of processing full panel sheets from the entire Egger Décorative Collection into made-to-measure doors, or cut-to-specification orders.

From its base in Oldham, and a second distribution centre in Sheffield, HPP serves the national kitchen and bedroom fitting industry, manufacturing its own products and additionally distributing those from Egger and others from major international brands.

The company has over 2000 UK trade customers and employs almost 200 staff.

0161 628 1147 www.hpponline.co.uk

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TheInsertCo_JA.indd 1

23/03/2018 11:58

Specialists in Threaded Inserts for Wood, Plastic and Metal A huge range of high quality components available to buy online Price breaks available, please contact us for a quote We can have parts made to your specifications

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18/02/2021 14:46 TheInsertCo_JA.indd 1

Automatic crosscut saws

TheInsertCo_JA.indd 1

23/03/2018 11:58

Daltons Wadkin offer a comprehensive range of automatic programmable crosscutting systems for straight and angle work complete with powerful optimisation and defecting software as standard.

23/03/2018 11:58

production costs reduced by up to

5-15%

50% less wood used

Visit our Nottingham showroom for a demonstration

Sole UK & Ireland Distributors tel: +44 (0)115 986 5201 www.daltonswadkin.com www.daltonswadkin.com

Sole UK & Ireland Distributors tel: +44 (0)115 986 5201

104 PRODUCTS

Step away from grey

Neutral tones are making a comeback and starting to offer an alternative to the wide spectrum of grey shades which have dominated during recent years, says Renolit.

“Grey has been the colour of choice in our homes for over a decade, but the blue undertones of grey can make a room feel cold. Trends are changing and interior designs are being influenced by natural, warmer tones as palettes lean towards more earthy hues, which are steadily gaining popularity.

“Lighter, more natural colours create a calm yet uplifting space in your home, to form a retreat from the outside world. They create the perfect backdrop, which can be

accessorised with bold statement colours, or intermingle with muted woodgrains to create structured simplicity.”

Renolit offers a selection of colours that create warmth and provide modern alternatives to existing greys. From light, muted colours such as Sand Satin and Taupe Grey, to warmer earthy hues with subtle red undertones like Mocca NAT Trend and Stone Grey Premier Matt, Renolit boasts the ideal palette to suit the changing trend.

For further information and to order samples, visit www.interiorcollection. renolit.com or call Renolit’s customer care team on 01670 718222.

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TM MACHINERY WOODWORKING MACHINERY EXPERTS SINCE 1983

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0116 271 7155 sales@tmservices.co.uk www.tmmachinery.co.uk

1/2 page landscape.indd 1

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T 01275 340763 F 01275 340765 E adslimited@aol.com

www.ads-uk.net Specialists in the manufacture of multi-spindle drill heads

AUTHENTIC RYE SPARES: ADS has purchased Rye’s old drawings relating to Borers, Shapers, Tenoners etc. Some parts in stock. We also manufacture to order.

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106 PRODUCTS

Press Play featuring back to nature Colourful feeds, streaming services, Spotify ... new inspirations and ideas are available 24/7 today. The choice is huge, and always on the move. At international decor printer, Interprint, the contemporary answer to this is Press Play – a constantly expanding decor playlist that picks up on current trends and, above all, always evolves when trends emerge.

But, states Interprint, there is also a realisation of how important it is not to lose sight of what is essential: “It is a journey that leads us back to nature,” says Interprint. “It is a reaction to humanity’s alienation from nature, and is the growing realisation that we are part of nature and can only live well if nature is doing well. Threats from climate change, global pandemics and economic recession have accelerated this realisation.

“The boundaries between inside and outside, between nature and architecture, are blurring.

Natural materials such as wood, earth and neutral colours, a blend of textures, plenty of natural light, glass walls and greenery are some of the elements that can bring nature inside. The home is no longer just the house.

“Justus is just one of Interprint’s decor responses to the trend of bringing nature into your home.

Smoothed putty, dark traces of water and cracks that have turned black with age – each of Justus’ shades has a soul. Be it light or dark – inspired by 400-year-old beams from Allgäu, the narrow oak design becomes the perfect companion for rough materials such as metal and stone or unicolors.” www.interprint.com

107

Coated Abrasives For Any Kind Of Surface

UK Manufactured Abrasive Sanding Belts in 3-5 days Full Technical Coverage Throughout The UK & Ireland Market Leading Innovative Products

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Bibielle UK Ltd

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Wood waste disposal problems?

RANHEAT ENGINEERING LTD 62-64 St James Mill Road, St James Mill Industrial Estate, Northampton NN5 5JP Tel: +44 (0)1604 750005 Fax: +44 (0)1604 757300 Web: www.ranheat.com Email: sales@ranheat.com

Wood Combustion Equipment Industrial Heating Systems Specialist Metal Fabrications Ranheat design and manufacture the complete range of equipment including Boilers, Heaters, Stokers, Grit Arrestors, Chimneys etc.

Manual & automatic woodburning systems, gas & oil fired, turnkey installations for disposal and/or heating purposes, outputs up to 10 million BTU/HR

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108 PRODUCTS

The OVVO family of award-winning connectors keeps growing

OVVO continues to expand its range of invisible wood joining connectors leading the way in furniture assembly components, making life easier for consumers and endusers, and delivering a more profitable and efficient solution for manufacturers.

OVVO products are a range of cleverly engineered, award-winning, invisible connectors that make joining wood simple.

The connectors are installed during the manufacturing process so the end-user can simply click together cabinets, shop fit-out components, door frame assemblies or furniture without the need for tools, screws, or glues. The result is an accessible, sustainable product that saves time, money and effort for consumers and manufacturers alike. Manufacturers can also benefit from significantly reduced shipping costs, as items can be shipped flat-packed.

The latest addition to the OVVO product family is the new V-0930 Releasable Drilling Connector (V-0930.RD25), which is specifically designed for panels as thin as 12mm.

This new invisible connector is designed for connecting cabinet parts and drawer boxes using simple drilled holes on one side of the joint, thereby simplifying the panel processing operations while continuing to provide all of the benefits of OVVOs’ proven tools-free assembly methodology.

Established in Ireland in 2014, the OVVO brand has gone from strength to strength, picking up numerous highly regarded industry awards along the way. Most recently awarded a “High Product Quality” award at Interzum 2019 for the innovative V-1230 Connection system, the relentless quest to make life easier for people ensures that simplicity is at the heart of every new product: with each new product developed, the OVVO range has become more accessible to manufacturers, with the ability to be integrated into existing production processes, and suitable for a wide range of production capabilities.

All OVVO connectors are designed for automatic insertion, and recently announced partnerships with leading software providers Cabinet Vision, TopSolid, iFurn, Swood and Cabinet Sense ensure that manufacturers can easily incorporate OVVO into their existing processes, and also into new product design and development. The click-together connectors can also connect joints at angles that aren’t possible with bolts, nails and screws.

All OVVO connectors can be installed into a variety of materials ranging from highquality hardwoods to low-grade particle board, and our recyclable plastic means any waste is put back into the production of our product. OVVO works best in boards >12mm thickness, and is available in a range of sizes to perfectly match your requirements. All connector sizes are available in both permanent and releasable options, extending the range of materials and opportunities to inspire creative design and innovative development.

Consumer demands are shifting more and more towards convenience and sustainability. OVVO helps its customers meet those demands and give your products a competitive edge. The OVVO team is on hand to support a switch-over to OVVO and help customers take the next step of innovation. www.ovvotech.com

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www.hoffmann-schwalbe.de tel. 0049 7251 95440

110 UPDATES

Crisis? What crisis?

The heat is on (if you have a wood-fired heating system)

A simple bunker silo fed directly from a chain filter – with no transfer system required – feeding extracted material from the bunker silo into a 150-kW warm air heater Words and images by Chris Franklin, MD of Ranheat Engineering

We made it through Brexit (or have we?) and Covid-19 ... and now an energy shortage. The UK woodworking industry. in the main, is dependent on electricity to run the machinery, and gas or oil to heat the premises. With recent low wind levels and a global shortage of gas, where is the heating and power coming from?

At least four more energy supply companies are on the brink, according to OFGEM, and with prices capped the consumer will get some limit to the rise in bills, but industry won’t. Wholesale gas prices in the UK have increased six-fold over the last 12 months, and this will be passed on to industry.

The UK woodworking industry can help itself. Most manufacturing units have large expanses of roof and a ready supply of woodwaste.

Ranheat Engineering are a UKbased manufacturer (manufacturing in Northampton) of industrial, wood-fired boilers and heaters, able to burn all types of woodwaste including fine dusts and man-made boards (MFC and MDF, as well as OSB and other plyboards).

Boilers and heaters are available from as small as 150kW (which will heat around 10,000ft2 of factory) up to plants of several MW output.

With a sixfold increase in wholesale gas prices, there has never been a better time to invest in a woodfired heating system from Ranheat Engineering.

All wood processors have some form of dust extraction system, from simple bag units where the bags of dust can be emptied into a simple ‘bag-loader’, to a purpose-made transfer system into a metal storage silo, directly off the main extraction system.

All Ranheat systems are bespoke

‘The UK woodworking industry can help itself.

Most manufacturing units have large expanses of roof and a ready supply of woodwaste’

installations – with Ranheat manufacturing almost all of the system (including the boiler/heater, the storage silos, the feed system as well as the flue-gas cleaning), there are no concerns about delays (as if shipping systems from abroad). All of the cutting, bending, rolling and welding is carried out in-house.

I remember the start of the UK woodburning industry in the early 80s. Oil prices globally rose 15-fold in a year – we went from cheap

energy to no energy in a very short space of time. Now it is more about greenhouse gasses and emissions, as well as cost.

Using woodwaste that is a byproduct of a wood manufacturing process has got to make sense – when the wood-manufactured item comes to the end of its life, it can be recycled into energy.

01604 750005 sales@ranheat.com www.ranheat.com

Offcuts loaded directly into a woodchipper for chipping and feeding into a 300-kW Ranheat warm air system

111

The Woodwork Dust Control Co Ltd Leaders in Dust Control Technology

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Screws & Fixings Builders Metalwork Ironmongery Silicones Sealants Specialist kitting and coating services “My Dad says his fixings are the best and probably the UK’s cheapest”

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112 UPDATES

What is asset finance?

Asset finance is a popular way for businesses to obtain the equipment they need to grow, says Close Brothers Asset Finance, with common products being: • Hire Purchase (HP) allows the customer to buy the equipment on credit. The finance company purchases the asset on behalf of the customer and owns the asset until the final instalment is paid, at which point the customer is given the option to buy it.

• Refinancing (capital release): The finance company purchases the asset and finances it back to the ‘business’. Repayments are calculated in line with the income stream that will be generated by the asset – at the end of the refinance term, the business owns the asset.

• Finance lease: The full value of the equipment is repaid to the finance company, plus interest, over the lease period. At the end of

the term, the company can choose to: continue to use the asset by entering a secondary rental period; sell the asset and keep a portion of the income from the sale; or return it.

• Operating lease: Similar to a finance lease, an operating lease allows the business to rent the asset from the finance provider while they need it. The key difference between the two is that an operating lease is

only for part of the asset’s useful life.

This means the business pays a reduced rental because the cost is based on the difference between the asset’s original purchase price and its residual value at the end of the agreement.

Types of assets financed The beauty of asset finance, states Close Brothers, is its flexibility – it can be used to fund any asset,

‘It makes the otherwise unaffordable affordable, because it gives businesses access to the equipment they need without incurring the cash flow disadvantage of an outright purchase’

including CNC routers, sanders, moulders, saws, edgebanders, planers, jointers, mortisers, milling machines and drill presses. There is very little that Close Brothers Asset Finance will not consider financing.

The business can even help with the refurbishment of assets – for example, where it pays the refit costs by taking security of an asset to aid cashflow, via Sale & HP Back.

It makes the otherwise unaffordable affordable, because it gives businesses access to the equipment they need without incurring the cash flow disadvantage of an outright purchase. Agreements can also be customised to the business’ needs, with flexibility on both the term and repayment schedule.

Why Close Brothers Asset Finance?

Close Brothers says it is the largest, most successful and longestestablished specialist asset finance funder in the UK, with over 30 years’ experience working with SMEs through all economic cycles – there is very little the business has not seen or experienced!

Its team of finance specialists – many of whom have relevant sector experience themselves – work with businesses across the UK to provide funding for both new and used equipment. As sector experts, they understand how vital it is that a business has the right equipment – so can be of help to those looking to expand or replace their range of equipment. www.closeassetfinance.co.uk/ asset-finance

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Softwood supply finally catching construction demand, says TTF More than seven million m3 of timber and panel products were imported by the UK between January and July 2021, according to the latest Timber Trade Federation (TTF) Market Statement.

This is nearly two million m3 above the same period in 2020, and half a million m3 above 2019 levels - the UKs last ‘regular year’ before COVID-19 – which is about an 8% increase.

These record-breaking volumes of imports reflect high demand for timber products with a strong RM&I sector and a resurgent private housing market having kept supply on allocation.

Timber prices, and structural softwood in particular, experienced rapid increases over the course of 2021, a trend explored in an earlier joint timber industry Market Statement in July.

These latest TTF statistics show the average price of sawn and planed softwood in May, June and July rose by 55%, 65% and 88% respectively over their corresponding months in 2020.

Nick Boulton, TTF head of technical and trade, said: “After a year of record production and nine months of near record structural softwood imports it is highly likely the UK is at a point where there

is sufficient volume of wood at UK ports and in the UK timber supply chain to satisfy construction demand.

“With Q3 now behind us, which we viewed as a real pressure point this year between supply and demand for timber products, we expect that over the coming months we will find there is greater stability within the UK market.

“However we are not yet out the woods as any return to ‘regular’ patterns within the UK market will be difficult amidst the ongoing shortage of HGV drivers, and in fuel and labour, which are likely to continue to impact the market in the

coming months.

“These shortages are of high concern to the timber supply chain as while there may now be enough timber in the UK to meet demand it does little good to anyone when there are no means to transport stock from ports to warehouses or customers.

“The challenges posed by these shortages are being felt right across the UK economy, and as discussed in our Market Statement, you can view their impact in the latest statistics coming out from the construction sector with growth shown to be tailing off in June and July.

“Despite these challenges, we are

Customisable cardboard tubing for ultimate versatility when packing Long, thin or awkwardly shaped objects call for easily adjustable packaging. Accordingly, Kite Packaging has launched cardboard tubing that is available on a roll, enabling it to be cut to custom lengths.

Comprised of recycled content and recyclable after use, this tubing expresses great sustainability through these qualities and the fact that only the necessary amount of material is used. It is an eco-friendly alternative to plastic tubing, demonstrating admirable green credentials to your customers and helping to protect our planet.

It lays flat on the roll, granting great space conservation in a warehouse and is near instantaneously assembled by merely folding along the scored corners. The corrugated

cardboard will then hold its shape to offer strongwearing protection to each side of the object inside.

The angles of the corners can be altered to best suit the contents and provide the most secure fit to guard against damage during transit. The tube can be sealed with staples for a simplistic approach, or each crease can be cut into and folded inwards before being sealed with paper or plastic tape or hot glue. The latter method keeps a strong cuboid shape suitable for wider products.

Available in three different sizes, this corrugated tubing can be tailored toward a wide variety of products including anything from table legs and other furniture parts to pipes, tools, sections or skateboards.

www.kitepackaging.co.uk

confident the timber supply chain can continue to rise to meet the growing demand for sustainable, low-carbon construction materials we are seeing in the market – as it has done so for the past 20 months.

“The UK timber supply chain has proven to be remarkedly resilient amidst an ongoing series of intense global and local pressures which have rippled out since the pandemic, as evidenced through the impressive import volumes reached in 2021.

“As a low-carbon, and crucially - amidst a looming global energy crisis – low-energy construction material, timber is likely to grow as the material of choice among climate conscious architects, engineers, developers and planners in the UK.” You can read the full report on the TTF website: https://ttf.co.uk/ download/ttf-market-statementoctober-2021/

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