Stirling Group bringing furniture and joinery sector into the future

Entering its fourth year in the New Zealand market, Australia’s Stirling Group has been hard at work helping to modernise and automate the NZ timber processing industry.

A long-established company with a rich history in the industry, Stirling Group has serviced the Australian timber industry for over twenty-three years, the only vertically integrated company to combine Machinery, Automation and Tooling. In order to look after the entire process chain, from woodworking machines to application-based tooling, the Group was divided into three specific companies, each populated by highly experienced personnel.

Partnering seamlessly with Stirling Machinery are the two tooling companies, Accurate for the solid timber sector, and Panel Tools, which specialises in CNC tooling. “We have specialists in each company who can help you with any application or machining enquiry,” Stirling Group’s Managing Director, Craig Honeyman says.

According to Craig, the growing market and focus on manufacturing in the furniture and joinery sectors over the past few years has been overwhelming, a trend he says looks set to continue for years to come. “The secrets behind the renaissance in these sectors are technology and innovation,” he says.

A large part of that comes via the game-changing CNC processing machinery and equipment that Stirling Group is increasingly introducing to savvy customers. Stirling Machinery has partnered up with the ‘Rolls-Royce’ of CNC 5-axis machines from Italian manufacturer, Bacci.

“Many companies throughout the Oceania region are now running Bacci machines to produce furniture and joinery components,” Craig explains. “Stirling Group has great plans to strengthen that position, along with Bacci.”

The Group already has significant experience within the moulding, sawmilling, timber joinery and furniture markets. Specialising in the CNC components has positioned the company as a benchmark for the sector. “Stirling Machinery and Accurate both specialise in solid timber, however we are vertically integrated into the flat panel kitchen cabinetry business through our tooling company, Panel Tools. As the name suggests, we look after the tooling needs of CNC machinery and panel machinery.”

The company has a large, growing team of sales and service staff abundantly experienced in these markets. “Our people have been joiners and furniture manufacturers themselves. Now, they’re expanding their experience to show Stirling Group customers what’s possible with CNC equipment and make choices that’ll bring significant changes to their businesses.”

Leon Botes, Stirling Group’s Director of Sales says that while CNC forms a very important part of the company’s market moving forward, it’s not limited to traditional machines such as spindle moulders, surface planers, thicknesses and wide belt sanders.

“Stirling Group covers the entire machining process,” he says. “Focusing on the furniture and joinery sectors, customers have been requesting we play a higher role in all aspects, particularly

CNC. We’re always listening and looking for ways to meet customers’ changing demands. As they pivot, we do too. And often, we provide the catalyst for them to pivot by devising solutions for challenges they face.”

Craig says the New Zealand expansion is a major step for Stirling Group. “We’re carrying our values, ethics and expertise from twenty-three years of business across the ditch and have the right resources and people in place to deliver what we say we will.”

“Stirling Group itself stands for innovation and technology, partnering not just with our customers but with some of the world’s most trusted machinery and tooling manufacturers,” he explains. “Our job is to include everyone in the conversation because that’s what ultimately leads to devising the best solutions possible.”

Craig says the future of not just Stirling Group, but the New Zealand-made industry is exciting and healthy. “We want to play a major role in connecting passionate New Zealanders with locally made timber products of exceptional quality.”