P PAANNEELL,, WWOOOODDPPAANNEELL,, WWOOOODD & Solid Surface Issue No. 85/86 June/July 2015 Also...

PPAA NN EE LL ,, WW OO OO DD&& SS oo ll ii dd SS uu rr ff aa cc eeIssue No. 85/86 June/July 2015

Also inside this issue:All the latest News: pp 3-11 l Software for Designers & Manufacturers pp12-17

Ligna Review pp 18-22 l Design & Innovation pp 22-24Saws in All Shapes and Sizes pp 25-27

Filter from DCS for Ellis FurnitureTurn to pages 8-9 for the full story

Contact us for the latest developments in wide belt & edge sanding technology

Kündig Ltd Tel 0845 833 0565 l Fax 0845 833 0567Email [email protected] l www.kundig.co.uk

Brilliant:For the utmost in surface finish using oblique sandingtechnology where at least one of the sanding heads isplaced to give a shear cut across the surface effectivelycutting away surface fibres, eliminating oscillation markswhilst giving a flatter surface and suitable for solidwood, veneer and lacquer sanding. Available with singleor multiple sanding heads.

Wide-Belt Sanders:l Standard working widths: 650 mm, 1,100 mm, 1,350 mm and

1,600 mm (1,900 mm and 2,200 mm available on request).

l All machines have a fixed working height (it is the sanding groupthat adjusts from 3-200 mm with 400 mm available on request).

l Enormatic ‘smartset’ standard on all machines for ease of settingand registering off the highest point across the full working width.

l All machines now incorporate ‘Eco’ energy saving mode.

l All machines have both colour touchscreen and manual controlelements.

l For solid wood, veneer and lacquer sanding.

l Choice of cutterblock, combi unit, calibrating roller, standard pad,electronic segmental pads and cross belts for veneer or high gloss.

Premium:Traditional style straight line sanders with 1 to 3 sandingheads for solid wood and veneer sanding.

Edge Sanders: The Uniq, Uniq-S and Flash offer

l Heavy cast iron working table

l Sand solid wood on one side and veneer on the other

l Motorised height adjustment

l Motorised tilting of the abrasive belt

l Straight or bevelled, veneered or solid edges sandedwith ease

l Technology patented worldwide

The Kündig edge sanding range offers exceptionalconstruction quality, versatility, ease of use, and anextremely high quality of finish on both solid wood andveneered edges.

The ultimate sanding machine

Panel, Wood & Solid Surface June/July 2015

NEWS

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Tel 01424 205428or 01908 669162

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All rights reserved. No part ofthis publication may bereproduced, stored in a retrievalsystem or transmitted in anyform by any means electronic,mechanical, photocopying,recording or otherwise withoutthe prior consent of PawprintPublishing Ltd.

This journal includes editorialphotographs provided and paidfor by suppliers.

Panel, Wood & Solid Surfacesupports the work ofHearing Dogs for DeafPeople

Tel 01844 348100(voice & minicom)Fax 01844 348101email [email protected]

CELEBRATING in style is some-thing BA Components is goodat. As the company officiallymarked its 25th birthday onThursday 4th June, so did thestaff and dealers.

With the help of a beautifullybranded gift box with a tasty caketreat inside, it really was a charm-ing surprise to brighten up any-one’s day. As you can see, it is hardfor your mouth not to water whenyou see it! With a strawberry

flavour and a cherry option, itwould be hard to decide whichone to choose.

Kieran McCracken, operationsdirector at BA Components, says:“Twenty-five years is a real mile-stone in any business and to cele-brate and share in our sweet tasteof success so far, we thoughtsomething appealing straight tothe taste buds got the messageacross in a practical and memo-rable way.”

Well they certainly went downa storm as Kitchen Flair in Prestonposted: “Happy Birthday BA, thankyou for our ingredients of success.”

PRO-Fit KBB Ltd also sharedtheir thoughts on the cake: “Thankyou so much for sharing yourbirthday cake with it, it was ab-solutely delicions. We will gladlytake leftovers!”BA ComponentsTel 028 8676 4600www.byba.co.uk/25years

The sweet taste of success

ONE OF the world’s largest providers, manufactur-ers and suppliers of formwork and scaffolding sys-tems, PERI Ltd, has strengthened its plywood andpanel products division with the appointment ofJamie Burke as Panel Sales Executive.

Following significant growth in the business, Jamiebecomes the latest addition to PERI’s plywood divisionwhich is based in Warley, to further strengthen PERI’soffering of panel products, utilising his 15 years’ expe-rience in the timber and building industry.

Joining from Panel Supplies Ltd, where he workedwithin the international plywood group’s sales team,Jamie brings valuable experience to PERI havingworked with both end-users and merchants. With pre-vious experience working for an independent timbermerchant, Jamie also brings a comprehensive under-standing of the construction industry.

Boasting a steadily increasing product range, PERImanufactures and imports panel products in varioussizes, thicknesses and grades, meaning the most suit-able offering of all panel products from foundation toroof are readily available for customers.

Paul Cousins, National Panel Products Manager, said: “Following the substantial increase in sales in recentmonths, we are delighted to welcome Jamie to the panel products team. His experience working with bothmerchants and end users will help further our development as a panel products supplier to new and existingcustomers.”

Jamie commented: “I’m looking forward to using my experience and working with Paul to contribute to thecontinued success of the company. I have been impressed with the quality of products that PERI has availableand I relish the challenge of positioning PERI as the preferred chosen supplier of panel products.”PERI Ltd l Tel 01788 861600 l Email [email protected] l www.peri.ltd.uk

Jamie Burke joins PERI Ltd


NEWS

BROADSTOCK Office FurnitureLtd, a major manufacturer ofworkplace, educational andcatering furniture, has dramati-cally cut its dust extraction run-ning costs by retrofitting Eco-gate energy-saving technology.

At Broadstock’s 53,000 ft2 man-ufacturing facility in Macclesfield,Cheshire, 90 plus people con-tribute their expertise to the de-sign, manufacture, supply,delivery and installation of highquality furniture, with all aspectsof production being carried outon-site. Operating for more than30 years, Broadstock has growninto one of the UK’s most re-spected workplace and contractfurnishers, trusted by architects,designers and specifiers alike.Above all, the company ethos is todeliver world class service — fromfirst contact to final fit.

Last year, Broadstock manage-ment decided that they would ex-plore the potential for energysavings by taking advantage of thefree ‘energy saving appraisal’ of-fered by approved Ecogate in-staller, Dust Control Systems Ltd(DCS), Andrew Gill, facilities man-ager at Broadstock explains: “DCS,together with Ecogate, came in andwere able to determine the totalextraction demand for all of ourhigh performance machines in theworkshop as well as for two clean-up hoses. They then were able to

identify how the individual systemscould be adjusted for volume andduty cycle, with the aim of lower-ing the average total volume and,therefore, our power usage.”

The existing dust extraction in-stallation at Broadstock employed

two main extraction fans with atotal power rating of 59 kW. And, asis the case with most workshops,the fans were installed to run con-tinuously — at full load, in this case,for around 2,000 hours per year.

DCS put forward a proposal

which involved retro-fitting the in-novative Ecogate optimisationsystem to the existing dust plant.The DCS proposal predicted thatinstalling Ecogate would result inpower savings approaching 60%against previous usage.

Broadstock commissioned DCSto install the Ecogate system whichcomprises two Ecogate PowerMASTER® variable speed driveunits, each with an Ecogate green-BOX® 12+ central controller, to-gether with Ecogate motoriseddamper gates and sensors whichwere fitted to each of the six pro-duction machines. The dampergates automatically open andclose as machines come on or offline, and the Power MASTER® vari-able speed drive units respond‘on-demand’ to the variations inmachine usage; continually regu-lating the speed of the fans andoptimising energy usage. Further-more, the system also detectswhen all machines on either fanline are inactive, and will automat-ically shut down that particular fan.

Ian Rayner, sales manager ofEcogate, says: “We confidently pre-dicted that the Ecogate systemwould achieve power savings of60% and six months on from theinstallation, analysis of the system,confirmed that savings had in factexceeded our initial forecast.”Dust Control Systems LtdTel 0800 040 7116Email [email protected]

Broadstock saves power with Ecogate

A section of the Broadstock machine area where optimised extraction ensures that fan speeds areautomatically adjusted as demand changes.

Ecogate’s Ian Rayner checks out Broadstock’s power savings after six months of operation.

NEWS

Exciting colour combinations from Broadstock’s innovative new E2A range.


NEWS

OFF THE BACK of huge successfrom 2014 Felder Group UK is onto the next stage in its growthand development.

A state of the art showroombenefiting from an increase in500 m2 and brand new officespace is the latest from the brandthat is renowned from its constantinnovation.

Felder UK showcased a new ex-tended showroom with a mezza-nine floor, office and trainingcentre at a spectacular grandopening event on 23 April 2015.

Industry press including PW&SS,a selection of VIP guests and com-pany partners attended the one ofa kind exclusive opening and werewelcomed with a champagnereception.

Located in Milton Keynes, thenew showroom is conveniently sit-uated for the motorway network.The new showroom facility notonly demonstrates the Austrianparent company’s commitment tothe UK market, but also providesan ideal setting for potential cus-tomers not only to view a repre-

sentative selection from the com-plete Felder range, but also to trythem out on their own samples.

Whether you are looking for ahi-tech, high throughput machineto enhance your production, or fora smaller machine that will fit intoa workshop where space is at a

premium but the need to enhanceproduction is required, Felder hassomething to offer.

The exact range on display isconstantly changing: it is alwaysworth giving Felder a call to findout what is currently on show andto discuss your requirements.

Teaming with industry profes-sionals, Felder UK has ensured thatits facilities are second to noneand made certain that the newshowroom benefits from qualityproducts.

Leading specialists in com-pressed air technology, Air Power

Brand new Felder showroom and facilities

Felder UK are pleased to announce the arrival of three new salesrepresentatives. From left to right: Stephen Sinclair, Gareth Deanand Kevin Sefton.

The Woodwork Dust Control Company Ltd provided the dustextraction system.

Edward Williams manufactured the reception desk and boardroom table.

NEWS


UK Ltd, provided the air supply.The Woodwork Dust Control Com-pany Ltd, leaders in dust controltechnology provided the dust ex-traction, offering a completewood waste extraction service.

The renovation also includes abrand new kitchen, board roomtable and reception desk, whichwere manufactured by Felder cus-tomers, Edward Williams Furnitureand Greenacre Property Ltd.Felder UK has pulled out all thestops in this remarkable show-room and office transformation.

Sales and marketing director,Hansjörg Felder flew in from Aus-tria to attend the special event andtogether with Matthew Apple-garth, managing director of FelderUK; gave a speech highlightingthe success of the UK branch.

Cutting the ribbon to the doorsof the new showroom, both gen-tlemen expressed their delightwith the success of Felder UK andanticipation of an even better fu-ture moving forward.

“The new showroom is brightand effective and lets you focus onthe machines,” said owner of Ed-ward Williams, Adam Howe. He

elaborated further saying, “Thewhole renovation project hascome together and the showroomlooks amazing.”

The first customers to use thenew training facilities have re-cently purchased a Format 4 profitH08. Mr Bloo Ltd is the first to usethe state of the art centre. “Thetraining is very interactive and wecannot wait to use our H08 oncewe are back at our workshop!” saidmanager Ian Parkinson.

The new spacious showroomand training facilities ensure thateach customer benefits fromexcellent training in the bestenvironment.

Felder UK’s rise to success hastaken the industry by storm andthe global brand constantly seeksto move forward at every turn.Now with an exceptional customerexperience and training centre,customers are assured that FelderUK is able to offer the right ma-chine to meet any requirements.Felder GroupTel 01908 635000www.felder-group.co.uk

Sales and Marketing Director Hansjörg Felder and Managing Di-rector of Felder UK, Matthew Applegarth cutting the ribbon toenter the new showroom.

Machines suitable for the smaller workshop are located on theupper mezzanine level, which also affords a clear view of thelower level, with the larger machines, pictured elsewhere on thispage.

All the machines on display attracted considerable interest, as shown above & below.


NEWS

DUST CONTROL SYSTEMS Ltd(DCS) has recently completed amajor energy-efficient dust ex-traction scheme for leading fur-niture manufacturer, EllisFurniture, at its factory in Hud-dersfield, West Yorkshire. Estab-lished in 1891, Ellis Furnituredesigns and manufacturesstrong, durable and safe furni-ture to meet challenging envi-ronments such as universities,care homes and hotels.

The company’s Huddersfieldsite has 200,000 ft2 of productionspace occupying two separatebuildings on either side of a road.On one side is a 65,000 ft2 facility,which is dedicated to machiningand panel production, and on theother side is the company’s exten-sive assembly and CNC routingfacility.

Ellis Furniture who, in 2013,contracted DCS to install a com-plete energy-saving Ecogate ex-traction optimisation system for itsmachine shop, called DCS back into discuss its requirements for acompletely new extraction systemto serve the assembly building.

Ellis Furniture’s engineeringmanager, Paul Dudley, explains:“Our two existing filters were al-ready working at full capacity and,with further investment in newequipment planned for the as-sembly area, we knew that the fil-ters would no longer be fit for

purpose. The board gave us the goahead to look at the various dustextraction options available andwe were tasked with coming upwith recommendations for a sys-

tem that would provide the bestlong-term investment. After un-dertaking a detailed review of thepros and cons of different filtersystems on the market we decided

on an energy-efficient system pro-posed by DCS which centresround a Schuko ECOVAR VALIDUSfilter.”

New generation ECOVARVALIDUS filters feature a fan cas-cade system whereby fans arebrought on-line or taken off-lineaccording to demand.

Cleaning cycles are also tailoredto specific needs by employing acleaning train regenerationsystem.

The Validus also benefits from astandardised construction systemwhich means that the filter can beinstalled quickly, with reducedtransport costs.

Built using corrosion resistantgalvanised external panels, unitscan be fitted with thermal insula-tion to save on energy usage andto provide soundproofing.

“We were impressed witheverything about the Validus filter,”says Paul Dudley, “and we alreadyhad proof of DCS’s capabilities fol-lowing their highly successful in-stallation of Ecogate throughoutour machine shop, from which wecontinue to reap the benefits ofmassive energy savings.”

Ellis Furniture contracted DCSto install the new extraction sys-tem during the firm’s Christmasshutdown.

Latest DCS filter technology for Ellis Furniture

Matthew Thomas checks dust extraction system status at the touch screen control panel.

The Validus filter was delivered in three pre-assembled sections, enabling quick and efficient on-site construction.

NEWS


This meant disconnecting andremoving two enormous old dragchain filters, installing the newValidus filter, including all newductwork, and having everythingfully operational in just sevendays.

The new plant, sized at an airvolume of 110,000 m3/hr, extractsfrom a total of 23 machines, withwaste collected by the filter beingdischarged pressure-free from arotary valve, via a screw conveyor,into an enclosed skip.

The energy efficient system em-ploys four 37 kW cascade fan unitsthat operate in conjunction withan Ecogate energy-saving system,and are controlled from a touchscreen control panel.

Matthew Thomas, a mainte-nance engineer at Ellis, who de-veloped his engineering skillsthrough the company’s internaldevelopment programme, andwas involved with the dust extrac-tion project from start to finish,says: “DCS engineers did a thor-oughly professional job and exe-cuted our time line plan perfectly.Had we gone for a traditional filter,which would have been deliveredflat-packed, it would have been anear impossible task.

“The Validus filter was suppliedin three pre-assembled sections,which considerably simplified in-

stallation when compared witherecting traditional filters.”Dust Control Systems Ltd

Tel 0800 040 7116Email [email protected]

New generation ECOVAR VALIDUS filter replacedtwo enormous drag chain filters.

Sized at an air volume of 110,000 m3/hr, the new dust extraction system serves a total of 23 machines.


NEWS

LAMONT can offer a wide rangeof matrix tables in all shapes andsizes, as well as a broad selectionof refurbished woodwelders, asshown in this picture.

With Lamont, all equipment ismanufactured in the UK, with theequipment designed to suit cus-tomers’ exact requirements. Fullyrefurbished machines can be sup-plied, and Lamont offers a com-plete service from spares torepairs.

Although most well known forthe range of matrix table assemblyclamps and radio frequency gluecuring equipment, as illustratedhere, Lamont has in recent yearschanged the face of coffin pro-duction in the UK with a numberof machines designed to increasethe quality and speed of manufac-turing, enabling the coffin indus-try to offer a better quality andmore competitively priced coffin.

Lamont supplies clamping ma-chines, gluesetters, previouslyowned equipment and spares andrepairs.

Comments from customers thatPanel, Wood & Solid Surface has

spoken to over the years includepraise for the high standard ofservice, before, during and afterinstallation. Many people havespoken of Alan Lamont’s willing-ness to work with a potential cus-tomer to ensure that the machine

that is chosen is the one that is ex-actly right for their needs, as wellas the care and attention to detailduring the delivery and commis-sioning process, ensuring thateverything happens on schedule.The peace of mind of the spares

and repairs service has also beenhighly praised. To find out more,contact Alan Lamont.LamontTel 01461 40017Email [email protected]

Matrix tables and woodwelders from Lamont

DESIGNED to be universal and versatile, Hofmann’s new “OmniFact” mortiser (inspiredby the Latin “omni facere”) is such an all-rounder it really can “do all” and make almosteverything.

Brought to the British market by leading wood processing and technology company,Weinig UK, the new Hofmann slotted dowel milling machine type LB 770 “OmniFact” is ex-ceptionally versatile. Its fixed or swivel drilling unit from 65°-0°-65° is in response to cus-tomers’ requests, particularly from staircase manufacturers.

The options for motor specifications for theHofmann OmniFact also adds to its flexibility.The standard pole changing motor offers twodrilling speeds 1,500/3,000 rpm with optionalvariable speed control from 900 to 3,000 rpm.The new mortiser can also be equipped with ahigh-speed motor running up to 23,000 rpm.Fitted with the ELA drill head equipment, themachine is perfectly suited for the new genera-tion 3D-Dubel connector system used in furni-ture production. The machine can alsoaccommodate multiple spindle drill units.

The OmniFact has a maximum drilling depthof 200 mm; the useable height range of eachdrilling head is 150 mm, and the horizontal ad-justment is 416 mm.

Throughout the development of the Omni-Fact mortiser, Hofmann has paid careful attention to detail. The machine can be moved with pallet truckor it can be equipped with swivel castors for ease of mobility around the workshop or production area.

Hofmann’s proven fence and stop system can also be found on the OmniFact. The concept has beenexpanded to offer a plug-in system, which makes it possible to use Aigner extension tables and otherequipment.Weinig UK l Tel 01235 557600 l Email [email protected] l www.weinig.com

Hofmann launches new “OmniFact” mortiser

Datum Tools LtdTel 01892 667800 www.flipstop.com

NEWS


Do you want to shred:hardwood and softwood cutoffs l particle board or MDF scrap

l high pressure laminates l truss offcuts l pallets l

www.scanhuggeruk.comScanhugger UK is a trading name of Woodheat Solutions Ltd.

Company Registration No. 7159457Mobile: 07788 597749

The Scanhugger Difference

New ‘chip pocket’ routerand knife design

Reversible and sharpenable shoulder style cutting knives

and counter knives

Rugged mainframe andram construction

Chrome-nickel shaftingwith ‘power-lock’ hubs

Hydraulic oil sensorsfor low level or

high temp shutdown

Hour meterfurnished with

preventativemaintenance

schedule

If so, look no further than Scanhugger UKThe cornerstone of Scanhugger design is a PLC controlled, hydraulic operated ram system.

The ram pushes the wood waste into the grindingrotor at a uniform, controlled rate,keeping the main motor operating

at optimum efficiency.

Also available:Chip augers and chip conveyors

Wood waste conveyors

Fan and filter systems

A NORTH EAST manufacturing company has purchased a woodwaste heater from Wood Waste Technology to reduce waste disposalcosts and provide free heating for the business.

FuDa Hobart Rose in North Shields, Tyne & Wear manufactures fur-nishings for home decor. The business has been running for 56 years, andnow employs 148 people in four factories that spread over 100,000 sq ft.

The business has recently launched a new division, expanding thecompany’s activities to include the design and manufacture of occasionalfurniture, including sofas, chairs and acces-sories for its customer base of major re-tailers. Launching the new division meantthe company needed more manufacturingspace, so it acquired its fourth industrial unitin November 2014.

Executive Chairman of FuDa Hobart Rose,David Rose had seen articles in the tradepress about the benefits of wood wasteheaters and their ability to save companiesmoney on waste disposal and heating. Asthe new unit had no form of heating, andthe amount of wood waste produced by thecompany was about to escalate with in-creased manufacture, including MDF andchipboard waste, David contacted WoodWaste Technology to find out more aboutconverting wood offcuts into energy.

After speaking to Kurt Cockroft, manag-ing director of Wood Waste Technology, andevaluating the prices and outputs of woodwaste heaters available, the companyordered a WT15 which was installed inJanuary 2015.

Now, FuDa Hobart Rose is benefiting frombeing able to convert all its wood waste to

heat, as the wood waste heater provides a free, environmentally friendlyfacility to heat the factory whilst saving the company vast amounts ofmoney on waste disposal fees. The company has also purchased a sum-mer heat dump, to allow the waste wood to continue to burn throughoutthe summer, by sending the heat direct to atmosphere. The new heateris also creating a tidier workplace and saving space as, previously, all thewaste would pile up around the factory whilst waiting for disposal.

David says: “We are delighted that we chose Wood Waste Technologyas our supplier. As a company, we have astrong commitment to UK manufacturing,so we liked the fact that all Wood WasteTechnology’s heaters are manufactured inthe UK. We have also been very impressedwith Wood Waste Technology’s customerservice, from our initial point of contact rightthrough to the efficiency of the Wood WasteTechnology engineers who installed theheater with speed and ease.“

Kurt Cockroft says: “We are delighted thatwe could assist FuDa Hobart Rose to help thebusiness lower its operational costs by sav-ing money on heating and waste disposal.”

Wood Waste Technology’s years of ex-pertise in wood waste solutions have helpedmany companies reduce their waste dis-posal and heating costs. Wood WasteTechnology isalso the UK official distributorfor Gross Apparatebau GmbH, a Germanmanufacturer of dependable, precisionengineered shredders and briquetters.Wood Waste TechnologyTel 01785 250400www.woodwastetechnology.comwww.grossuk.co.uk

New wood waste heater furnishes company’s new division


SOFTWARE FOR DESIGNERS & MANUFACTURERS

NOWADAYS more and morepeople are looking for some-thing different that will reflectthe personality of the personthey are buying for and that hassentimental value.

This is particularly the case whenyou are looking for a wedding gift.If a couple already has a home to-gether, they most likely have all thehousehold items they need. Theymay request money for theirhoneymoon, but for some wed-ding guests this can feel imper-sonal, so what does that leave …

Taking a concept from the mid19th Century, the lithophane mayprovide just the present. Inessence, a lithophane is a 3Dimage, carved or etched out of apiece of translucent material. Whatmay first appear dull against asolid background, comes to lifewhen held up to the light, as thethinner areas of material appearwhite against the light and thickerareas of material, the original ma-terial colour.

This technology has been usedto create some stunning piecesranging from an array of windowdecorations, ornaments, lampsand candle holders, to large com-mercial applications such as inte-rior design for walls, mirrors, barsand reception desks.

Lithophanes are becomingfashionable again thanks to theuse of computer software such asthose in the ArtCAM range, thatcan take an image and quickly andaccurately convert it into a 3Dprinted, laser or CNC machinedpiece of artwork.

The lithophane of a marriedcouple was created using a CNCmachine and Delcam’s introduc-tory 3D modelling & productionsoftware, ArtCAM Insignia. To en-sure the best results, a high reso-

lution image with a neutral back-ground, ideally a black and whiteimage, is imported into ArtCAM. Ifthe desired photo does not havethis or it is grainy, this can easily becorrected in a photo editing pack-age, such as Adobe® Photoshop®.

From there, users can choosethe size of their design or use thephoto’s dimensions automaticallydetected by ArtCAM, so that detailis not lost. All that is then requiredis to select how deep to cut intothe material. Next ArtCAM trans-forms the photograph into a 3Dimage by converting the shades oflight and dark into varying depthson the Z axis for the CNC machineto cut. Adding a border oftenhelps to not only keep the mate-rial strong during machining, butalso provides space to clampdown the material if a CNC ma-chine with a vacuum bed is notbeing used.

To stand the test of time, thislithophane was machined out ofCorian® which is known for itsstrong and durable properties;however Avonite, Plexiglas and

Acrylic are also good alternatives.To complete the design, the de-

signer needs to select the cuttingtools required to remove theunwanted material from the blockof material. Typically using aroughing toolpath developed toquickly cut around the main de-sign areas of the design followedby a smaller cutting tool to addthe detail — thus also preventingextended machining times andtool breakages. Afterwards a sim-

ulation of the machine piece canbe run to ensure that it is as re-quired and the toolpaths sent tothe CNC machine.

There are a wealth of backlit Co-rian and illuminated 3D images onGoogle to feed your inspiration.Why not have a look to see whatyou can make with ArtCAM?DelcamTel 0121 766 5544Email [email protected]

Lithophanes make a comeback with ArtCAM Insignia

The lithophane without back ground light (above) and with (right).



2020, A WORLD-leading pro-vider of applications and enter-prise solutions dedicated to in-terior design, space planningand furniture manufacturing, ishelping cabinet manufacturersmeet the increasing customerdemand for specialised pro-ducts. The pre-configured, scal-able solution allows the manu-facturer to expand capabilitythrough streamlining existingprocesses and reducing cost.

As the consumer landscapewithin the furniture marketevolves and customers demandproducts that are customised to fittheir specific needs, the manufac-turer faces the increasing chal-lenge of meeting ever-changingcustomer needs, whilst striving tomaximise existing investments inits people and equipment. In-creasing custom design output, oroffering a wider range of productswithout expanding team size, orthe number of engineering mod-els required, can be difficult forany organisation trying to grow.

“2020 Insight provides a com-prehensive manufacturing opera-tions management platform thatconnects the manufacturer’s

processes to create a seamlessflow of information from salesorder to installation,” stated JoergBrauns, general manager — man-ufacturing line of business at 2020.“We strive to provide our cus-tomers with the tools to makemass customisation not only pos-sible but profitable.”

Through process automationand optimisation, it is now possi-ble to meet industry demands aswell as continuing to increasesales volumes and reduce orderprocessing costs. 2020 Insight de-livers a software solution that en-ables forward thinking companiesto be both agile and successful inwhat is recognised as a constantlychanging marketplace.

With its recently launched scal-able edition and licensing options,2020 Insight is now also perfectlysuited to small and medium sizedcabinet manufacturing organisa-tions. Pre-configured data and se-lective software modules helpensure a fast, efficient deploy-ment, whilst delivering a low costof ownership for maximum returnon investment.

“At 2020, we believe the futureof manufacturing includes smart

factories using information andcommunication technologies todigitise their processes,” statedJoerg Brauns. “2020 Insight wasdeveloped specifically for cabinetmanufacturers and our goal is to

help manufacturers set up theirbusinesses for future success.”2020Tel 01204 304040www.2020spaces.com/

2020Insight

Solution provider meets customer demandswith 2020 Insight

Pre-configured, scalable manufacturing operationsmanagement solutions enable growth



AS THE UK’s only productionmanufacturer of teak decks withfull depth seams for boats andyachts, Moody Decking and Serv-ices produces several thousandsquare metres of predominantlyCNC programmed decking a year,using Alphacam software. Thefirst time Alphacam was used inconjunction with the state-of-the-art digital scanner, it was areal sink or swim affair.

Boats priced from £5,000 up to£120,000,000 use Hampshire basedMoody Decking’s teak decks, astheir unique construction processensures the decks last considerablylonger than decks produced withtraditional rebated seams.

Martin and Scott Moody are thefifth generation of their family towork in the boating industry. Thecurrent company has been makingdecks for 10 years, supplying to 12high end boatyards, with customone-offs for individual owners. Pre-vious family enterprises stretchback 200 years and have includedbuilding dinghies and wartimelanding craft, yacht construction,repair/maintenance, yacht broker-age and running marinas.

Martin Moody explains the dif-ference between conventionaldecking and decks manufacturedusing his company’s own process:“To keep the planks evenly spaced,a traditionally built deck will havea 4 mm wide seam, rebated to 3-4mm for a 6 mm deck, leaving 3 mmof teak at the bottom used to con-trol the seam width. Caulking isonly added to the sides of a seam,not the base, so it can expand andcontract in the sun. As the deckingwears down over the years, the re-bates end up with only 1 mm ofcaulking attachment, so whenpeople walk over it, the seams arepulled out.”

“This doesn’t happen as quicklywith Moody decks, because ourspecial manufacturing procedurecreates full depth seams, addingsubstantial life to the deck, poten-tially doubling the life of the prod-uct. The Moody Decking caulked

seam has no rebate; the caulkingis the full depth of the seam inevery case, regardless of the thick-ness of the deck. Our teak thick-ness varies between 6 mm and 18mm, depending on the size of theboat. As an example, our 6 mmdecks have a full 6 mm of caulking,while a conventional rebated deckonly has 3-4 mm.”

In his opinion, the combinationof the digitising system andAlphacam CAD/CAM softwareslashes average production fromaround 12 weeks to less than afortnight, including drying time. “Ithas been a real game changer forus, giving us the opportunity to in-crease our work load because ourturnaround is now so muchquicker and efficient as well as re-ducing the required floor space.”

The scanner digitises up to 100metres with extreme accuracy. Theteam then smooth the shape outto tolerance with Rhino before ex-porting it into Alphacam to under-take the design and styling processincorporating butt patterns,snapes, etc, and thus creating thedeck to each customer’s remit.

Digitising and CAD technician,Jarrod Hulett, says moving fromCAD to CAM in Alphacam is seam-less and quick. “An Alphacam pro-gram contains around 10 planks

wide for a 12 ft boat, rising tomore than 150 for a 100 ft vessel.Once we have located the planksand inserted them into the jigs,the process is extremely straightforward as we only cut the planksin 2D with machining styles.”

Different customers and proj-ects require different materialthicknesses between 6 mm and 18mm. This requires varying tool-paths and number of cuttingpasses within the program. As theAlphacam post processor whichcontrols the two SCM Pratixrouters and the Rye machine in-cludes material thicknesses, hecan then simply click on the NCoutput to send everything theCNC machine tools need to startcutting the teak to the correctspecifications.

Martin Moody explains thatusing the scanner in conjunctionwith Alphacam for the first timeseveral years ago was a real sink orswim situation. “It was the biggestjob we had undertaken at the time… decking for a 100 ft yacht. Weknew we couldn’t achieve thequick turnaround time required bythe customer without using thissystem; we had developed theprocesses required in our minds

for some time, and had the tech-nical support contacts in place.This was the right time to proceed.Everything was then installed andwe just had to trust the system —which worked perfectly for us.

“It links the digitising, drawingand design packages together,and means we have moved onfrom hand tooling and then digi-tising individual small componentparts, to the whole operationbeing done in one seamless designand production process, increasingspeed of service, accuracy andguaranteed repetition.”

The process has subsequentlybeen sped up even further with anumber of Alphacam macros.Three of these involve extrapolat-ing the planking from their angledpositions and fully preparing it forinsertion into the jig, which he sayshas turned a two week job on alarge boat into just a week. A fourthmacro enables a multiple offset tobe done from the same line.

“Another great benefit is thatwe don’t need to keep thousandsof templates. When a customerwants a replacement deck in 20years’ time, we have got the re-quired toolpaths on an Alphacamprogram and can go straight tocutting it. Of course, accidentshappen on boats. Planks can bedamaged by items being droppedor occasionally through collisions.If we are sent a picture showingwhere the damaged planks are inthe deck, we simply cut the indi-vidual new parts, be that in plankor panel form, for the owner orcrew to install.

“Alphacam has revolutionisedour production process and wecontinue in work with the Alpha-cam engineers to improve and re-fine our processes into the future.”Moody Deckingwww.moodydecking.co.ukAlphacamTel 0118 922 6677www.alphacam.com

Deck company swam with Alphacam when thrown in the deep end



CABINET Vision users say a number of seminarsaround the UK have been invaluable in showingthem how to use the flagship new functions inwhat is described as the “biggest ever” update ofthe software.

With over 100 items of new and enhanced func-tionality in Cabinet Vision V9, Senior Support Engi-neer Dave Roberts says woodworking companies cannow take their business to the next level.

“Cabinet Vision is now a very different piece of soft-ware, as users can put models into the system andoperations into materials, for the first time, all ofwhich can be shown graphically.

“This is one of the biggest releases ever, and, assuch, we planned these seminars to show customershow to use the new features, so they can get the verybest from their software investment.”

A point echoed by designer Ruth Lovelock, who

attended a seminar with two of her colleagues from bespoke furnitureand architectural joinery company Hetherington Newman. “We can seetoday how to utilise the new functionality to make our lives easier andwork more efficiently.”

Once a survey has been completed, and after establishing the kitchendesign from an empty floor plan, they add the cabinets into CabinetVision.

For sole trader, Glyn Burgreave, the software’s powerful rendering fea-ture is a vital part of his sales process. “While flat drawings of elevationsare important, customers love seeing a 3D image of how their cabinetswill look in situ. The better the render, the greater chance I’ll get the job.It gives a real Wow factor.”

Dave Roberts explained to delegates how to import 3D Sketchup and3D DXF models.

“This gives the functionality to apply all the associated operations tothe models and provide accurate visuals to complement the already ac-

curate machining data.“V9 also sees a major improve-

ment to the material database,giving greater flexibility in organ-ising materials.

“Woodworkers can now creatematerial categories and sub cate-gories, and carry out quick mate-rial searches.

“The improved user interface ismore in line with Windows Ex-plorer, making it easier to manageand maintain the material data-base.”

Delegates also learned how togenerate faster reports, thanks tothe Integrated Reporting Engine,which has replaced the standardversion … along with understand-ing 43 new bid methods; how aNew Connect Tool creates a 0” fil-let; how the CAM editor can re-verse toolpaths on operationssuch as circles, arcs and lines; anda new utility for defining mould-ing profiles.Cabinet VisionTel 0118 922 6644www.cabinetvision.com

Delegates learn Cabinet Vision’s flagship updates

From left, Michael Marsden, Ruth Lovelock and Zoe Iasonos, fromHetherington Newman.

Cabinet Vision Senior Support Engineer, Dave Roberts.

Delegates learn about Cabinet Vision’s biggest ever release.



SINCE purchasing Joinerysoft’sJoinery Management Softwarein January this year, joinerAndrew Miller has found unex-pected benefits to his businesswhich he wished he had knownabout sooner.

Looking at purchasing the soft-ware initially during the middle ofthe recession, Andrew now sug-gests, “Had we bought the soft-ware earlier we would have hadmore retained profit and wouldhave been in a different situationduring the recession!”

Based in Stirling, Andrew MillerArchitectural Joinery has beenmanufacturing custom built join-ery since 2000, providing joineryfor both public and private cus-tomers. The majority of work issash and casement windows or re-productions of existing joinery butthe company offers a bespokeservice including traditional doors,screens and even architrave andskirting. The business has grownthrough personal referrals, aidedby its attention to detail and ex-pertise in matching existing join-ery in renovation work. There areten full time employees, with sixjoiners and two apprentices.

Moving to larger premises re-cently highlighted areas within thebusiness where delays were occur-ring. One of these was quoting,which was time consuming and atrisk of human error. Quotes couldbe lost or go cold, while prospec-tive customers were waiting for aresponse. Knowing this was unac-ceptable, Andrew investigatedsoftware, but could only find oneUK supplier which offered local

support and a firm knowledge andunderstanding of the UK joinerybusiness. Andrew says, “I thoughtJMS was a good idea, but until Isaw the benefits translated into myjoinery business, I never under-stood just how great an idea it is!”

One of the unexpected spin offbenefits from introducing the soft-ware is the increased visibility ofcosts and therefore the profitabil-ity of jobs. Andrew says, “Now Ihave loaded all my costs into thesoftware I can clearly see if I ammaking money on a job. This visi-bility has enabled me to go aheadand invest in a spray shop, which I

have been meaning to do foryears, simply on the back of beingable to see the profitability of jobsincluding factory finishing.”

He explains this makes every-thing sharper and adds, “This isone of the biggest benefits not inJoinerysoft’s sales literature. I amnow in full control of my business.I have predictable results whichare repeatable.”

Another major benefit, also un-expected from the software, isthat Andrew has been able toanalyse production costs and as aresult has introduced new toolingto streamline production, reducemachining times and improveproductivity.

Customer service has been im-proved with professional quotesbeing emailed back to the cus-tomer the same day. Andrew sug-gests, “JMS levels the playing field;if you want to compete againstlarger companies you need it.” Hedescribes it as a ‘selling point’ thathas invoices now state the com-pany is able to CE mark the win-dows and doors. He is also able totake more interest in other areas ofthe business now. “The software isall set up and so easy for others touse. I feel confident that the calcu-lations will be right. 100% ofquotes now go out on time,” headds, “I have a better success ratedue to improved service andspeed.”

Aside from the benefits of quot-

ing, Andrew has also more time todevelop the business and focus onthe financial information that isbeing gleaned from JMS. He says,“I have confidence in the accuracyof JMS. Knowing how much profitI am going to make on the jobs Ihave priced through JMS allowsme to plan improvements and in-vestment with a greater degree ofcertainty.” He adds, “Leaving outthe obvious benefits of more pro-fessional quotes, and improvedconversion rate, I can see the soft-ware paying for itself just in thesavings we make, by not makingmistakes. With accurate pricing,accurate material ordering and re-duction in errors or omissions inquotes, I expect the software willhave paid for itself within a year.”Stating, “It’s a lot of money, but it’sa hell of a tool!”

Andrew concludes, “I knewJoinerysoft would provide profes-sional estimates, speed up thequoting process and provide ac-curate cutting lists for the work-shop. What I didn’t realise was howmuch it allows me to analyse otheraspects of my business.”Andrew Miller Architectural

JoineryTel 01786 [email protected]

Joinerysoft LtdTel 01608 [email protected]

The ‘untold’ benefits of Joinerysoft’s software


LIGNA REVIEW

KÜNDIG had a successful Ligna,reports Carl O’Meara of KündigUK Ltd, present on the Swissparent company’s stand to wel-come visitors from the UK andfrom other English speakingcountries, such as the USA andCanada.

“As always, Kündig had a com-prehensive display of machines in-cluding the new carousel brush forsanding deep into profiled sur-faces, along with traditional solidwood veneer and lacquer sandingmachines, some fitted with cross-belts,” says Carl. “Those visiting thestand were high quality visitorsmaking serious enquiries.”

Carl reports that a number oforders were placed for companiesbased in the UK during the show:one for a three-belt solid woodmachine from the Premium rangeand two further machines from theBrilliant range.

He reports that the Brilliant 2was, as always, popular with visi-tors “as it is a genuine all-rounder”,along with the edge sanders, while

the compact 650 Premium 2 beltmachine generated a lot of interestfor component work.

Also on display were a numberof examples of products for whichspecific machines from the ‘Tech-

nic’ range had been constructed:these included honeycomb, ve-neer, automotive components,composites, snowboards and a‘butcher’s block’ which was a spe-cially commissioned machine (pic-tured), which demonstrates one ofthe key advantages of a Kündigsander: it is the working heads thatraise and lower, not the worktable,allowing the sander to work withunusually heavy loads.

Kündig was commissioned tobuild a seven-head sander to cali-brate and finish solid wood jointedbutcher’s blocks in one pass. Themachine was equipped with a cut-ter block to the top, followed bythree sanding heads including aBrilliant head for the final finishand bottom cutterblock, followedby two standing heads.

Each of the butcher’s blocksweighs around half a ton, andneeds to be loaded by forklifttruck. Because the Kündig sandershave fixed tables, they are able to

take the weight of the butcher’sblocks along with all the sandingand cutting pressures.

The Brilliant widebelt sandersare high quality, sturdy machinesthat can offer the option of havingat least one oblique head, leadingto a better quality finish. As with allKündig wide-belt sanders, theycombine innovative technologywith ease of operation. Both theBrilliant and the Premium rangehave proved popular in the UK, asevidenced by the sales which tookplace during Ligna, and can be setup to work with delicate surfacessuch as lacquers and veneers.

The Uniq range of Kündig edgesanders feature a heavy cast ironconstruction and a range of fea-tures, depending on model, whichinclude a telescopic table exten-sion, castors for enhanced mobil-ity, and a semi round table forsanding curved workpieces.

The sanding brush units, intro-duced 18 months ago in responseto customer demand, have en-abled Kündig to extend its rangeto include not only hybrid ma-chines, with brushes and wide-beltstanding in one machine, but alsosingle sanding brush sanders,without any wide-belt unit.

For example, for customersmanufacturing five piece doors, asuitable configuration may be acalibration unit followed by thesanding brushes: such a machinecould pre-sand before lacqueringand de-nib after lacquering; whilecustomers working with MDFpanels which have been routedand need preparing prior to spray-ing, for example, may prefer a ma-chine with just brushing heads.Kündig LtdTel 0845 833 0565Email [email protected]

Brilliant Ligna for Kündig sanders!

A specially commissioned Kündig sander: the workpieces weighhalf a tonne.


LIGNA REVIEW

AS WITH ALL previous Ligna ex-hibitions, the venue providedHoffmann with the opportunityonce again to meet its manypartners from throughout theworld. For Hoffmann it is alwaysa pleasure to listen to its dealersand gain from their insideknowledge of each other’s coun-try. Hoffmann partners in turnwere able to discuss with eachother, the changing marketsand each to benefit from this in-formation. Hoffmann is an ex-port focused company with 80%of its business coming fromabroad. The first hand experi-ence of Hoffmann partners is in-valuable. It is instrumental indetermining the company’s fu-ture sales strategy throughoutthe world.

Ligna 2015 saw the launch of anentirely new machine from Hoff-mann Maschinenbau, the “FlexControl” NC machining centre. Thisversatile machine was designedwith customer requirements atthe forefront. Primarily developedfor the efficient production ofstructural and high strength woodjoints, the machine is NC con-trolled for routing, drilling, cham-fering and grooving withsurprising versatility. With its opti-mised work processes, automatedworkflows and individual, applica-tion-specific variants, the “FlexControl” can also be adapted forspecific tasks in interior design, infurniture manufacturing, in win-dow and door production and forlarge section wood constructions.The process optimises many per-formance criteria and achieves ahigh level of automation.

The design is both compact andspace-saving. The machine per-forms the machining processes ofrouting, drilling, chamfering andgrooves by precise three-axis NCtechnology with a powerful 4.5kW motor. All working parametersare entered at the operator’s panelwith intuitive 10.4” colour monitorand touch-screen interface. Pro-grams are accessed for the auto-matic positioning of the workingaxes. The machine control panelcan be integrated into the com-pany network. Similarly, it is alsopossible for external data acquisi-tion as well as the easy transfer

from the network by USB sticks.A reliable and safe operator en-

vironment is complemented bythe eight-fold tool magazine andautomatic tool change with quick-change function. For those whowant more automation, the “FlexControl” can be equipped with anautomatic work-piece in-feedingand/or out-feed system and with alarger tool magazine.

Current maximum work-piecedimensions are: width 600 mm,height 300 mm, depth 150 mm.

The areas of application include:Interior fittings: frames, cor-

nices, panels.Staircases: handrail holes,

grooves and holes in stringers,newel post preparation.

Door production: door sets, ar-chitraves, mouldings, claddings,facings, frames, transom connec-tions, lifting/sliding doors, patiodoor elements, olive/fitting/hingerebates and drilling, corner bear-ings, lock box, striker-plate re-bates, all corner mitres or buttjoints.

Window manufacturing: for alldrilling and milling, all profile sys-tems, open/closed parapet, circu-lar, wicker, curved, arched andslanted windows, cottage win-dows, stepped glass windows,wood/aluminium composite sys-tem, frame/sash sealing systems,glass ventilation, connectingusing mitres with Hoffmann Keysand/or Hoffmann Keys withdowels, butt/countered frame cor-ners with dowel/screw connec-tions, glazing beads and glazingbead frames.

Frame joints, diaphragms, base,crown mouldings, drawers, framedoors, rungs and rails.

Timber construction: node con-nections in post/rail constructions,glass façade elements with con-nection systems “Hoffmann Key/anchor” or for freeform machiningand also Pocket rebates and pilotholes for fitting connections. De-signed for all standard connectionfittings such as Raico, Gutmannand Knapp.Hoffmann MaschinenabauTel ++49 72 51 95 44 00

Hoffmann Machine Co LtdTel 01524 841500Email [email protected]

Successful Ligna exhibition for Hoffmann

All-rounder for routing, drilling, chamfering and grooving withautomated workflows for specific tasks in interior design, in fur-niture manufacturing, window and door production and for tim-ber construction.

All working parameters are entered at the intuitive 10.4” colourmonitor with touch screen operator interface.

Three-axis NC technology with powerful 4.5 kW motor and eight-fold tool magazine and automatic tool change with quick-change function.

J & C O’MEARA LTDJ & C O’MEARA LTD (WOODWORKING MACHINERY)

Unit 4, Falcon Place, Burscough, Lancs L40 8RTTel: 01704 893109

Email info@ukwoodworkingmachinery.co.ukwww.ukwoodworkingmachinery.co.uk

Genisis 312S£7,995 + VATEnd saws, flush trim, buffing

Genisis 412S£9,995 + VATUnique combined endtrim/flush trim/cornerrounding unit

ScrapingSolvent sprayBuffing

Genisis 512S£13,500 + VATPre milling (2 motors)Colour touch screencontrol

Pre heating of the edgeUnique combined endtrim/flush trim/cornerrounding unitScraping, solvent spray,buffing

Special 25th year

Anniversary offers

BEST SELLER

COMBILIFT once again provedthat it has the winning formulawhen it comes to attracting thecrowds to its two stands atLigna; around 16 exhibits incor-porating new features and tech-nology, regular performances ofthe by now much awaitedCombi-CB dance routine, hospi-tality, and the added bonus ofperfect weather made for a verybusy five days in Hannover.

The range of exhibits demon-strated that Combilift has pro-ducts ideal for use in small car-pentry workshops right up tolarge operations manufacturingmodular buildings. Models for theever popular C-Series, sideloadersincluding the 4-wheeled SL andstand on trucks were comple-

mented by the smallest Combiliftproduct — the WR4 Walkie Reachwith a lift capacity of 1.5 tonnes.

The largest Combilift, theCombi-SC straddle carrier, was onshow at Ligna for the first time andwas a talking point for visitors,who were impressed by its designand extreme manoeuvrability inspite of its imposing size. With liftcapacities of 50 tonnes and above,this was initially developed forcontainer handling but, as manag-ing director, Martin McVicar com-mented, “More and morecustomers in the prefabricatedhouse and building sectors arerecognising its benefits for thecost effective and space savinghandling of oversized loads.”

The demo area at the stand in

the heart of the open air area wasused by Combilift personnel tobest effect to show the versatilecapabilities of the products to vis-itors from all corners of the globe.“The visitors to our stand weredefinitely in buying mood,” said

Martin McVicar. “We took firm or-ders throughout the show fromnew and established customers.”Combilift LtdTel 00 353 47 80500Email [email protected]


LIGNA REVIEW

DESIGN & INNOVATION

A busy Ligna for Combilift

Building better communities

Comfort & luxury

BUILDERS’ merchant, Jewson, has been asking people up and down the country tonominate community projects that are in need of a transformation and, after over 2,000entries, the shortlist has been revealed.

As part of its Building Better Communities initiative, of which Norbord is a contributingpartner, Jewson offered community building projects the chance to win a share of £100,000to be spent on anything from a new roof for their village hall, to a much needed coat of paintfor a long-forgotten public space.

A team of 60 judges, including Norbord’s David Connacher along with Jewson employeesand other supplier partners, deliberated over the course of a week and picked the final 63projects which will progress to the next stage of the competition. The projects range from amountain rescue team to food banks and community centre refurbishments.

David Fenton, marketing director at Jewson, said: “The Building Better Communities schemehas received an incredible response and we have seen more than 2,000 entries from peopleacross the UK. It was really difficult to compile a shortlist from so many worthwhile projects.It is clear that helping projects such as these will play a vital role in improving communities.”

After carrying out initial research into communities across the United Kingdom, Jewsonfound that 70% of residents felt there was average-to-little community spirit in the areawhere they live. To see the full list of selected winners, visit the blog: http://bit.ly/1JIYfSHNorbord l Tel 01786 812921 l www.norbord.co.uk

BACK IN THE 1930s, inflatable bladders in car seats were not un-common. They were used in seat bases to provide a comfortable andadjustable means of support for the driver and passenger.

Now, 80 years on, bent wire components from William Hughes Ltd arehelping a leading passenger car manufacturer introduce a high technol-ogy version of seats that can be controlled with air pressure.

Like many other projects, William Hughes was first contacted by thecar company’s design engineers with an outline of their needs.

Following a number of meetings, a specification was agreed and theapplication engineers at William Hughes translated these requirementsinto a prototype assembly that could be evaluated before the finaldesign was agreed.

Material specifications were chosen and the most cost effective andefficient method of production determined based on William Hughes’extensive experience and the latest computer aided design.

A particular challenge of this component was the need for the fixings to be adjustable to suit different seat layouts and this required locating ‘flutes’to be incorporated into the design. The manufacturing process covers three stages namely wire shaping, assembly and spot welding.

Project engineering and the manufacture of tooling was completed at William Hughes newly opened engineering centre in Stalbridge, Dorset,with prototype and bulk production being provided by the William Hughes factory in Bulgaria.William Hughes Ltd l Tel 01963 363377 l Email [email protected] l www.wmhughes.co.uk

DESIGN & INNOVATION


Premium surface technology now available at LathamsTHE INNOVATIVE and highly tex-tured range of premium, ThermoStructured Surface (TSS) decors —XyloCleaf — which offers a varietyof wood grains, linens and otherunique materials — is now availablethrough James Latham.

XyloCleaf is a highly original andexclusive range of decors which arecreated using a process of thermalfusing, believed to be unique, in whichdecorative papers are treated withmelamine resins, that under heat andpressure become part of the panel itself: hence the term Thermo Struc-tured Surface. This process provides not only a stunning end result, butalso a product that is strong, durable and highly scratch and chemical re-sistant, meaning that as well as looking great, it will stand up to thetoughest of challenges when used in high traffic areas.

The sensational and inspiring new XyloCleaf collection is perfectlysuited to premium domestic design schemes such as kitchens, bedroomsand bathrooms as well as for wall panelling and furniture and it has al-ready proved particularly popular within high end commercial, leisureand hotel specifications. The deep textures and intricate detail of Xylo-Cleaf makes it difficult to distinguish from the real material it is designedto mimic and the portfolio includes 50 different colours and patterns, allof which come with ABS edging as standard.

Paul Morson, James Latham’s Group Product Champion for Melaminesaid, ”XyloCleaf represents a new generation of panel product and onewhich offers extraordinary potential, delivering a complete solution ofinnovative products to suit all interior decorative tastes, trends andapplications. I have no doubt at all that it will become a big success for us.”

XyloCleaf is available nationwide and directly from stock throughJames Latham and is supplied in panel sizes of 2800 x 2070 x 18mm. James Latham l Tel 0116 257 3415Email [email protected] l www.lathamtimber.co.uk


DESIGN & INNOVATION

SCIENCE-based company 3M has integrated its innovative PrecisionShaped Grain (PSG) technology into a brand new sanding disc whichcan last up to six times longer than conventional A/O 80 Grit, accord-ing to the Abrasive Systems Division.

In six minute removal tests carried out by 3M, the new Cubitron II Sand-ing Disc has also been shown to remove twice as much material as con-ventional A/O 80 Grit.

The new Cubitron II brand Hookit Clean Sanding Film Disc 775L is an

addition to the Hookit Range of abrasive discs by 3M. The grades rangefrom 80+ to 120+ and can be used on a variety of surfaces, includingwood, paint, metal and composites, meaning that they are ideal for themetal fabrication and woodworking industries.

PSG is an innovative technology that is designed to cut faster andlonger than traditional abrasives. As the triangular shaped grain abrades,it continually fractures to form sharp points that slice through the sub-strate and wear evenly. Conventional grains are irregularly shaped which

means they ‘plough’ through metal andcause a build-up of heat resulting in aslower cutting rate. This can also directly af-fect product durability, potentially resultingin shorter life.

Nigel Willcock, technical specialist at 3MAbrasive Systems Division, said: “Science isbehind everything we do at 3M and devel-oping a sanding disc with the PSG technol-ogy was a clear-cut next step for theCubitron II Product Range. Each product isdeveloped with the customer in mind andwe strive to innovate the way they workevery day.”

The Cubitron II brand Hookit Clean Sand-ing Film Disc 775L are part of a wider rangeof 3M abrasives, sanding tools and acces-sories to assist productivity, whilst savingcosts and improving the quality of surfacemodification operations.3MTel 0870 60 800 90www.3M.co.uk/abrasives

New 3M sanding disc harnesses the power of three

IN TODAY’S modern manufacturing climate providing only a limitedchoice of production equipment falls short of what is actually re-quired by businesses.

This is especially the case in the woodworking and related industrieswhere there is a growing demand for more innovative and flexible ma-chining solutions. These can now be found in the wide range of routing,cutting and engraving solutions developed by AXYZ International andavailable through a staggering choice of 366,918 different standard ma-chine configurations, combined with the company’s ability to manufac-ture distinctive one-off routers quickly and efficiently.

Operatives in the aforementioned industries have demonstrated amarked predilection for AXYZ routers in the popular 4000 and 5000 series,due primarily to their ideal processing widths and to the wide range ofboth standard and optional machine upgrades available. Offering a twincarriage facility, heavy-duty base and steel gantry configuration, theserouters have enabled woodworkers to dramatically improve productivity,machining efficiency and quality of output. For example, the twin-car-riage option enables manufacturers to run multiple versions of thesame job by effectively cutting two sheets simultaneously, therebydoubling production capacity and enabling a faster turn-around on jobs to be achieved. In addition, theheavy-duty base and steel gantry com-bine to provide the perfect balance ofstrength-to-mass proficiency in wood-working applications and ensuring opti-mum quality of cut under all conditions.

Well utilised cutting options like the HSDSpindle and Pneumatic Drill extend the capabilitiesof AXYZ routers, with the five- or 10-HP HSD quick-release spindles adding a higher degree of power andoffering a maximum speed of 24,000 rpm. The cost-effective Pneumatic Drill dramatically increases productiv-ity levels and would be seen performing at its best when com-bined with the Electric Drill for heavy-duty and/or continuous

use applications. The further inclusion of accuracy-enhancing machiningoptions such as pop-up location pins ensure that the material beingprocessed is always correctly positioned, thereby guaranteeing uninter-rupted and continuous 100% accuracy on all work undertaken.

The Automatic Tool Change (ATC) facility, encompassing 7G, 21G or33G options, ensures that an optimised CNC router runs as easily and con-veniently as possible. Simply configured to work in conjunction with mul-tiple carriages and a range of cutting tools, the ATC system is believed tobe the fastest method of changing tools on a regular basis in order to de-liver a dramatic improvement to throughput capacity in applications re-quiring multiple tool functions.

In addition to providing a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility sup-plying a global customer base with bespoke machining solutions withinthe shortest lead times possible, a particular strength of AXYZ Inter-national is a claimed unique ability to provide literally hundreds of thou-sands different machine configurations that will accommodate virtually

any specific manufacturing requirement. This is founded on thewide choice of both standard and optional production tools,different processing areas and cutting head options nowavailable. The ability to accommodate any material process-

ing length and width and with the optionof one or two carriages, each of which canincorporate up to three cutting heads inany combination of router and knife tools,together with the optional ATC facility,supports these claims.

Taking into consideration the range ofcutting head options that can be incorporatedand the multiple ways in which these can be

arranged and utilised, the manufacturing possi-bilities of AXYZ routers are virtually endless andthis is what makes AXYZ International a versatile

routing, cutting and engraving specialist company.AXYZ Automation l Tel 01902 375600 l www.axyz.com

AXYZ routers have cutting edge appeal for woodworkers

SAWS IN ALL SHAPES & SIZES


WITH innovations rolling off theproduction line at Vollmer, the lat-est new addition to its extensiveproduct line-up is the newCHF840 and CHF1300 machinesfor grinding the tooth sides of car-bide-tipped circular saw blades.

This new generation of TCT sawblade sharpening technology usesfive CNC-controlled axes to machinethe tooth sides of carbide-tippedcircular saw blades with precision,productivity levels and capabilitiesbelieved to be beyond anythingavailable from alternate vendors.

All commonly used angles areground in only one cycle, even onsaws with group toothing. Thismakes processing of complexblade geometries a simplisticprocess for the end users.

The new CHF840 has been intro-duced to deliver a solution for theprocessing of circular saws from 80mm to 840 mm diameter whilst thelarger CHF1300 is capable of finish-ing saws from 80 mm to 1,300 mmdiameter. Offering versatility thatleaves nothing to be desired, thenew CHF machines provide oscilla-tion grinding as standard to re-move maximum material rates in asingle cycle. The five-axis kinemat-ics deliver maximum flexibility andoptimal movement co-ordinationfor short grinding times and to re-duce non-production times withan adjustable cam for the idealtooth positioning.

All this makes the new CHFseries suitable for side grinding sawblades for the saw mill industry,woodworking, plastic and alu-minium processing and also themetal cutting industries. The ma-chines from the CHF series adjustthe angles without assistance, eventhe hook angles and tooth pitchare automatically detected. To fur-ther simplify processing for the enduser, the CHF makes it possible to

machine convex tooth flanks and ithas an optional tooth pitch up to180 mm, which is credit to a secondfeed pawl for greater flexibility. Ad-ditionally, saw changes are possiblewithout adjusting the mountingcarriage, so there is no need to seta blade up a second time.

From an operational perspec-tive, the new CHF840 and CHF1300incorporate a multi-functionalhand-wheel that makes operationfaster and more simplistic. The axescan be selected and controlled byonly one module to avoid the pos-sibility of incorrect operation. Thishand-wheel can also be used as apotentiometer in order to carry outspeed adjustments in automaticmode. With operator conveniencebuilt into every aspect of the newCHF line, there is no need for man-ual adjustment of radial and tan-gential clearance angles. Thismeans that operator errors areeliminated and values can be en-tered as angles or absolute values.

With an intuitive Windowsbased CNC control, the multi-func-tion hand-wheel and the storageof up to 4,000 programs that areaccessed via a 10-inch LCD colourdisplay, Vollmer has truly coveredevery angle from the perspectiveof user friendliness. “For our newsharpening machines, we providenumerous services such as consul-tation and training, as well as fi-nancing options. We also supportour customers throughout the en-tire service life of the machines,with services for maintenance andcorrective repair, for which we op-erate twelve of our own Sales andService branches worldwide,” saysJürgen Hauger, head of the salesdivision at the Vollmer Group.Vollmer UKTel 0115 949 [email protected]

Vollmer develops newside grinding machine



ONE OF BRITAIN’S oldest joinery busi-nesses has invested in the future bybuying a Striebig Evolution vertical panelsaw, which is delivering improvedaccuracy together with increasedproductivity.

J Seamer & Son was established in Derbyin 1875 by John Seamer and until recentlywas still family-owned and run. The lastmember of the Seamer family involved inthe business, also called John, retired in2014 and the company is now owned bymanaging director Richard Latham, whostarted with the firm as an apprentice joinerin 1981.

With 140 years of experience and ex-pertise under its belt, Seamer’s 18 highlyskilled joiners produce a wide range ofhand-crafted bespoke joinery items for do-mestic and commercial customers nation-wide, with a great deal of repeat business.

Among residential customers are a largenumber of people in the more affluentareas of London, for whom Seamer manu-factures products to the highest possiblestandards. These range from bookcases and other furniture to kitchens,doors, windows and staircases. The company’s commercial clients includesome of the most highly respected companies in the UK leisure industry.

“As we operate at the very top end of our market it’s vitally importantthat we continue to strive to maintain and improve our product quality,which is why I believe in investing heavily in the best and most up-to-date equipment,” said Richard Latham. Buying the Striebig was a key partof a modernisation process which has seen £100,000 spent on new ma-chines and other equipment in recent months.

When Mr Latham took over the running of the business he set up a man-agement group to look into ways of improving how the products weremade, as well as how to boost productivity. The existing sawing capability,which consisted of an elderly flat bed saw that was not all that accurateand needed three men to handle the cutting of large panels, was quicklyidentified as being in urgent need of improvement.

“I knew from my time in the business and from what contacts in asso-ciated companies had told me, that Striebig had a reputation of beingthe market leader in panel saws, which iswhy I didn’t bother looking at any othermakes,” said Richard Latham.

He did some research on Striebig and itsUK dealer, TM Machinery, who were thenasked to come in to talk about what ma-chines they could offer. He decided to go withan Evolution model as it came with a bed sizethat could handle all their sheet material andhe felt it suited exactly what was needed.

The Striebig Evolution 5224 he selected,one of nine different sized models in theEvolution series, has a maximum cutting sizeof 4,300 mm x 2,240 mm and a maximumdepth of cut of 80 mm. It features as stan-dard Striebig’s user-friendly ‘touch and saw’operating system which delivers easy andconvenient machine control through atouch screen panel that operates all of themachine’s functions.

The Evolution represents the cuttingedge in vertical panel saw technology. Tech-nical features that are optional extras inother saws are included as standard. They in-clude a digital measuring system, accurateto 0.1 mm, and an adjustable precision dis-

play that can be set to an accuracy of 1.0, 0.5 or 0.1 mm, according to thethickness of the panels being sized.

It has a fully automatic roller locking function, an auxiliary stop sec-tion with its own tape measure, three additional auxiliary stops for repeatcuts and small work piece support, and automatic moving backing sup-port. Striebig’s highly effective TRK extraction keeps users well ahead ofall European legislation, with the panel support system offering supportfor the thinnest panels.

The Evolution is used to size all the sheet material used by Seamer’sjoiners, mainly MDF and plywood, including veneered MDF sheets, aswell as cutting the occasional piece of timber to length.

Richard Latham is extremely satisfied with the benefits the Evolutionis delivering. “We now have 100% accuracy all the time with cut panels nolonger out of square. This means we have eliminated scrappage as wellas saving on sawing time, which will help to improve our profitability.”

Another plus is that the Striebig has reduced manual handling. It couldtake three men to size a large sheet on the flat bed saw, with two needed

to feed the panel on to the bed and a thirdto pull it through. Now it is usually a oneman job on the Striebig, or occasionally twoto handle the biggest panels.

“In my book you get what you pay for andI wanted a saw that was reliable, accurateand long lasting,” said Richard Latham. “Itwas well worth buying the Striebig becauseof all the added benefit it is giving us. The in-stallation went as planned and TM’s engi-neer then provided training in its use.”

He said it makes him happy to know thatall the joiners enjoy using the new saw be-cause of its simplicity which has made theirlives easier.

TM Machinery’s sales director, MattPearce, added: “It is very satisfying to knowthat by supplying one of the latest Striebigsaws to Seamers we are helping this long-established company move forward andtake full advantage of the latest in sawingtechnology.”TM Machinery SalesTel 0116 271 7155Email [email protected]

Striebig gives boost to long-established Derby joinery

Managing director, Richard Latham, with thenew Striebig vertical panel saw.

A joiner sizes a panel on the Striebig Evolution at J Seamer & Son.



BACK in 1989, when Dave Den-ton founded Creative Spirit, hestarted providing a design andprint service.

This remains a major part of hisbusiness, with this part coveringboth screen and textile printing.

However, as so often happens,his customers, many of whom areactive exhibitors at various shows,started asking Dave for modularsystems involving extensive tim-ber construction.

By the very nature of this typeof business, it needs to meet ex-acting and often last-minute de-mands from customers.

To have had cutting in-house atthat stage would have involvedpeople working on their own inthe building, often at weekends,and Dave was especially con-cerned with the safety aspects.

He was able to find someone lo-cally who was willing to providethe sub contract cutting service,and this has worked well for manyyears.

However with the sub-contrac-tor being essentially a one-manband, and looking to retire, andwith the cost of sub contractingrising to several hundred poundsa month, Dave realised that bring-ing the cutting in house couldsave considerable cost and give arapid pay-back for the investmentinvolved.

It was on that basis that Daveapproached Sagetech and pur-chased one of the Zapkut ZM16machines, capable of cutting 10ftx 5ft sheets.

Dave is very impressed with theaccuracy of the machine now thatit is installed and fully aligned, say-ing that it is cutting square to ± 0.5mm. He is also looking forward togetting under way to using thefloating head router option whichhe also purchased from Sagetech.

In the past he has been buyingin a lot of trays manufactured outof aluminium composite.

He chose the Sagetech optionas this gives very precise depth ofcut and straight cut alignment,

with rapid dimensional setting,whether along or across a sheet.

The Creative Spirit machine isone of the Zapkut ZM range ofmachines, which are very compet-itively priced in sizes from 8ft x 4ft(2,500 x 1,250 mm) upwards.

This is just one of the now fourranges of machines offered byBritish manufacturer Sagetech,who specialise in vertical panelsaws for the smaller business.

The Zapkut brand is for lighterduties, and in addition to the ZMrange the company also offers aZK portable unit, believed to beunique, in two sizes, which whennot in use can be folded up com-pactly and stored conveniently,say hanging on the wall.

The Koolkut brand is for thoseneeding a heavier duty machine,where the KF and KK Koolkut unitsoffer capacities up to 3.1 x 2.1 m,so these are easily capable of han-dling the big 3 x 2 m sheets.

Sagetech thus provides a verycomprehensive range of sizes andmodels, enabling its customers,whose need range from intermit-tent cutting to the higher endusers (with some even cutting anaverage of about 150 sheets aweek), to select the most compact,space-saving solution appropriateto their business.

Darren, as one of the main usersof the machine, and who comesfrom a carpentry and joinery back-ground where accuracy and per-formance tend to be more

demanding than with signmakers,said: “It does its job, and the otherlads get on okay with it, and it’seasy enough to use,” remarkingthat the Zapkut ZM16 can fitunder the company’s low height

storage racks, making it an excel-lent solution. Sagetech LtdTel 0118 970 1950Email [email protected]

Sagetechgetscreative

P PAANNEELL,, WWOOOODDPPAANNEELL,, WWOOOODD & Solid Surface Issue No. 85/86 June/July 2015 Also...

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Transcript of P PAANNEELL,, WWOOOODDPPAANNEELL,, WWOOOODD & Solid Surface Issue No. 85/86 June/July 2015 Also...