PW&SS July 2011:Layout 1 - PAWPRINT PUBLISHING

PANEL, WOOD
& Solid Surface
Issue No. 37/38 June/July 2011
Weinig Cube in the spotlight: turn to page 3 for the full story
And more from Weinig on pages 8 and 18
Also inside this month: All the latest News; Design & Innovation; Health & Safety;
Ligna Review; Saws in All Shapes & Sizes; Software for Designers & Manufacturers

NEWS
Panel, Wood &
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Weinig’s magic Cube at Ligna
THE BIG splash event at Ligna
was the new Weinig Cube four
sided straightening planer —
believed to be an ideal machine
for all sectors in the industry.
It ‘reinvents’ the planing operation
and is called the Cube because
that’s the shape that suits its
function. It is fast, accurate and
easy to use as never before —
equipped with laser measuring
and automatic adjustment for
width and height. It is particularly
suitable for smaller companies and
those that currently use traditional
methods to PAR and may not need
to run a machine all day long.
It is very compact so it can fit
into a small workshop and can
easily be relocated by using handoperated
lift equipment. The Cube
does not require time consuming
adjustments and eliminates set-up
error due to its ‘part recognition
technology’. The operator can adjust
the machine dimensions
whilst spindles are running, and
using Weinig’s simple, ‘Easy Lock’
knife change system, downtime is
further reduced.
“Plus, it is affordable and attractively
priced,” says Weinig managing
director, Neil Forbes.
Michael Weinig (UK) Ltd
Tel 01235 557600
Email sales@weinig.co.uk
www.weinig.co.uk
Makita sends out all the right signals
FOR THE GREATER GOOD of the
preservation of spectacular
steam trains that graced British
tracks during the 20th Century,
Makita UK has donated power
tools to the Railway Trust in support
of its ongoing work on the
Great Central Railway (GCR).
The GCR is now a registered
charity and maintains Britain’s only
Double-Track Mainline Steam Railway,
which now runs from Loughborough
to Leicester North, a
distance spanning four stations,
with its HQ at Loughborough and
workshops at Rothley. GCR is currently
supported by a team of 700
Photo: Ian Castledine.
The Cube planer can be moved around the workshop easily by
using hand-operated lift equipment.
volunteers and staff, who have big
ambitions to continue their
award-winning achievement.
Michael Gregory, Group Managing
Director of Cromwell Tools
Group, has been a substantial supporter
of the GCR and has personally
contributed time and financial
support in his passion to see the
great steam trains, Pullman carriages,
track and stations restored
to their former grandeur.
Cromwell has its headquarters
and world distribution centre in
Wigston, Leicester, plus 50
branches throughout the UK and
international operations in Australia,
China, Czech Republic, Hungary,
India, Ireland, Malaysia,
Poland, South Africa and Thailand.
Cromwell is a leading European
supplier of production, maintenance,
repair and safety products,
offering a wide choice to all industries,
professions and trades, including
the full range of Makita
professional power tools.
At the GCR Gala Day held at
Loughborough station, Phil
Bagshaw, Makita Key Accounts
Manager, presented Mike Lang, a
lifelong supporter of the GCR, with
a Makita BO6040 dual action random
orbit sander and a Makita
447M/2 wet and dry dust extraction
unit. These high performance
machines will be used extensively
in the Rothley workshops helping
to ensure continually high standards
of finish in a comfortable
and healthy environment.
The GCR was originally a main
line from Sheffield to London-
Marylebone. The eight mile preserved
section between
Lough borough and Leicester
North is fully operational and the
four stations reflect a different
period of the railway’s rich 109
year history.
Makita (UK) Ltd
Tel 01908 211678
Email leads@makitauk.com
www.makitauk.com
Panel, Wood & Solid Surface June/July 2011 Page 3

NEWS
Gopak installs Morbidelli CNC machining centre
GOPAK Ltd, established in 1954, is
a UK market leader in the design,
manufacture and supply of lightweight
aluminium folding tables.
Based in Hythe, Kent, Gopak is
currently expanding its business
by increasing its 65,000 ft 2 factory
to accommodate a new SCM Morbidelli
CNC machining centre,
model Universal HP Edge.
Although folding tables are still
Gopak’s main production, the
company also manufactures
benches and market chairs and
ancillary equipment for schools,
colleges, studios, the National
Trust, prisons, the BBC, etc., the
majority of its deliveries being
within the UK but with a small
amount of exports.
Gopak is continually looking at
designing and manufacturing additional
products to compliment
its range. “Enviro” is a new range of
tables and benches that now includes
outdoor furniture which
utilises synthetic wood that looks
and feels like wood, but will never
deteriorate or discolour.
Although Gopak supplies round
tables in addition to its standard
square and rectangular tables,
within the new Enviro range, a
new shield-shaped table has been
designed, that includes a durable
2 mm thick edging, with the top
and the edging in a range of
bright and attractive colours.
To manufacture the new range,
it became that Gopak had to investigate
new production methods.
Although Gopak already had
two SCM CNC machining centres,
a Record 240 and a Record 125, it
was thought a combined routing
and edging machine would be a
distinct advantage.
Gopak’s managing director, Andrew
Fieldwick, comments: “As all
our products are made to order,
with large combinations of different
shaped tops, colours, dimensions
and frames, we decided to
investigate the market for a machine
that not only routed the top,
but also glued, edged and
trimmed the edging materials,
thus eliminating expensive operations
carried out by hand or with
small inefficient machines.”
Along with Andrew Fieldwick,
production director, Mario
Richardson, and production manager,
Damien Hickie, a number of
visits were arranged with SCM UK’s
area manager, Mike Lee, in attendance,
to view similar machines
operating on production. An order
for the SCM Morbidelli Universal
HP Edge was placed.
The Universal HP Edge has a
heavy duty construction with a
highly rigid closed structure and a
mobile upright that ensures the
machining unit has a balanced
support, is stable and is resistant
to the most severe machining conditions
for high performance and
precision. On it are mounted the
8.5 kW routing head with vector ‘C’
axis, 18-position tool changer, 18-
spindle vertical and horizontal
drilling unit and edge banding
equipment, with movement in the
‘X’ and ‘Z’ axes on prismatic guides
with recirculating ball screws.
The machine has a 4,900 mm x
1,850 mm table with two working
areas, and with 10 aluminium support
bars on which a range of differently
dimensioned vacuum
cups are located to accept the
loading of tops and panels for machining.
Digital displays on each
support bar for rapid positioning
of the bars in the ‘X’ axis and the
vacuum cups in the ‘Y’ axis allow
for very fast setting up times. A
new, removable, aluminium solid
work table will be supplied that
will enable the nesting of panels
when required to be carried out.
Gopak’s new tops are laminated
in house, with a Dufaylite core to
reduce weight, sandwiched between
two layers of laminated
board. With the Morbidelli system,
glue is applied to the panel edge
and then pressed into the core of
the panel by the revolving pressure
roller to give excellent adhesion
without overspill of the glue.
The edge gluing unit optimises
the glue consumption and improves
quality. The 5 kg capacity
glue tank, easily removable to
change glue or colour, is equipped
with a sensor to ensure it is continually
being topped up with new
glue, thus maintaining its adhesive
qualities.
The edging materials are automatically
fed to the edge banding
unit from a magazine that has a
capacity of six different edgings
that can be selected individually
and fed automatically to the application
head. Heating lamps
keep the edging flexible when
rounding sharp corners. Sensors
measure the exact length of edging
to be applied and the length is
automatically cut with an integrated
saw unit with an 8° angle,
ensuring an exact and perfect
joint without any overlapping of
the edging material.
Production manager, Damien
Hickie, states, “We are very impressed
with our latest SCM CNC
machine and the way it was installed
and commissioned by
SCM’s engineer, Andy McKenzie,
With the new products we have
just introduced, we need to
change from one product to the
next quickly and efficiently with
the minimum set-up time. We can
now produce our table tops to
order and the quality we are obtaining
is superb.”
Trimming the top and bottom
edges is performed by a special
combined trimming and scraping
unit facility, saving change over
times, the tools automatically adjusting
themselves for panel thicknesses
of 16 mm up to 60 mm.
When Gopak’s new factory extension
is complete, SCM will assist
in the move of the Universal
HP Edge to the new building.
Gopak Ltd
Tel 0845 702 3216
Email gopakinfo@gopak.co.uk
www.gopak.co.uk
SCM Group (UK) Ltd
Tel 0115 977 0044
Email
scmgroupuk@scmgroup.com
www.scmgroup-uk.com
Page 4 Panel, Wood & Solid Surface June/July 2011

NEWS
Five Vollmer machines
THOMSON Sawmills Ltd, a forward-thinking
manufacturer of
fencing and landscaping/architectural
timbers, has replaced
the subcontract reconditioning
of its bandsaw blades and circular
saw blades with five machines
supplied by Vollmer UK.
In 2010 Thomson Sawmills
commenced a project to review its
blade reconditioning requirements.
“The blades struggle to cut
straight at high speeds if they are
allowed to run blunt. We change
our blades before they reach this
stage and as a result we get
through around 75 large bandsaw
blades a week, and up to 45 circular
saw blades,” explains company
director and sawmill manager,
Jamie Thomson.
“Previously we used two subcontractors
to turn these around,
but we were becoming increasingly
concerned about deteriorating
service and quality, as well as
lack of process control.”
The machines in the company’s
automated saw mill were supplied
in 2005 by a German specialist
company in timber processing
machinery, and it was in discussions
last year about the blade situation
that Thomson Sawmills was
referred to Vollmer.
Sited in a separate facility just
metres from the automated
sawmill, the company’s blade reconditioning
facility is now home
to five new Vollmer machines. Installed
in October 2010, the machines
are overseen by an
experienced saw ‘doctor’, who was
purposely employed by Thomson
Sawmills at the same time.
The new Vollmer machines are
arranged in cellular format. After
leaving a checking station, where
each bandsaw blade is assessed
for defects such as broken teeth,
bends and timber residue, the first
job is to re-tension the blade using
a Vollmer RC 100 benching centre
for fully automatic dressing, a
process that encompasses measuring,
levelling, tensioning and
straightening in a single set-up.
From here, blades progress to
the Vollmer CA 210 automatic profile
grinding machine, where each
tooth receives a reground top and
face to carefully determined parameters
in terms of size and angle.
After approximately 20 regrinds
tooth size diminishes to a point
where re-tipping is necessary. Here,
the innovative Vollmer GPA 200, a
newly developed machine based
on a plasma welding technique, is
deployed to deposit new stellite
material on the tip of each tooth.
After re-tipping, bandsaw
blades require profile grinding on
the Vollmer CA 210, but they also
require the attention of the fourth
Vollmer machine in the reconditioning
shop at Thomson
Sawmills, the Vollmer CAF 100 side
grinding machine. Here, the sides
of each tooth can be ground to
the required radial and tangential
angles at a rate of up to 16 teeth
per minute.
The final machine in the line-up
is the Vollmer CHC eco, a sharpening
machine with atuomatic bevel
grinding control for face and top
machining of carbide-tipped circular
saw blades with different diameters
and tooth geometries.
“With the installation of these
Vollmer machines we have
demonstrated that the processing
of saw blades has a direct impact
on the efficiency of the sawing
process and hence on sawmill success,”
concludes Mr Thomson.
“We’ve had no reliability problems
with any of the Vollmer machines
and we anticipate rapid payback
on our investment.”
Vollmer UK Ltd
Tel 0115 949 1040
Email
admin-uk@vollmer-group.com
www.vollmer-group.com
Panel, Wood & Solid Surface June/July 2011 Page 5

NEWS
Immediate interest
HAMMER’S new A3 26 planer
thicknesser, described by the
company as ”the ideal compact
model”, was launched in the UK
at a two-day in-house show at
the Milton Keynes showroom of
Felder UK, to immediate customer
interest. Hammer, which
specialises in machines designed
to meet the needs of the
smaller workshop, is part of the
Felder Group.
The A3 26’s compactness arises
from its 260 mm planing width:
similar machines with 310 mm
and 410 mm planing widths are
available.
Chris Parkin of Hinckley, Leicestershire,
a retired engineer who is
a “serious hobbyist” when it comes
to woodworking, became the first
UK customer to purchase an A3 26
when he sealed the deal at the
launch event. This co-incided with
the sale by Felder UK of three Format
4 CNC machines in as many
weeks: more details on these will
follow in later issues.
Chris has owned Hammer machines
for two years, and when he
needed to replace his planer, it
was to Hammer he turned. He visited
the Felder Group stand at the
Get Woodworking Live exhibition
at Alexandra Palace in March,
where he was told about the A3
26, due to be launched just a few
weeks later.
He paid a deposit and was invited
to the May in-house show,
with the promise that if he didn’t
like the machine, his money would
be refunded. He liked what he
saw, and he is now the proud
Peter Sefton demonstrates the Hammer A3 26 planer using Chris
Parkin’s own materials at the in-house show in Milton Keynes.
owner of a Hammer A3 26 planer
thicknesser.
Chris had been invited to bring
some of his own materials with him
to Milton Keynes, so that Peter
Sefton, on behalf of Hammer, could
demonstrate to him how the A3 26
would perform. Peter, who demonstrates
regularly for Hammer, is independent
of the Felder Group,
running his own furniture school,
and has a workshop full of Hammer
machines. His experience both as a
teacher and a user of Hammer
equipment makes him ideal in
helping potential customers realise
the full potential of Hammer equipment.
Chris selected some cherry
more or less straight from the tree,
which he knew was beyond the capabilities
of his previous planer,
due to its wavy surface. He was delighted
with the results achieved
on the A3 26 by Peter.
Among the features that attracted
Chris to the A3 26 are its
solid build; its precision; its compact
size, meaning that it will take
up a minimal amount of space in
his workshop; and the fact that he
could opt to have it fitted with
wheels, making it easy to move
around. He also particularly appreciated
the fact that the blades
can be interchanged easily.
Chris is delighted both with the
service he has received from the
Felder Group and with the quality
of the machinery he has purchased:
he explains that, from his
background in engineering, he
knows quality build when he sees
it … and that this is what Hammer,
and Felder, represent.
Felder Group UK
Tel 01908 635000
www.felder-group.co.uk
www.ukhammer.co.uk
OSB campaign is a JOSB well done, says Norbord
NORBORD, a leading UK manufacturer of wood panel products, is
hailing the “JOSB Done” campaign a great success, over five years
since its inception.
Launched under the auspices of the Wood Panel Industries Federation,
with support from Norbord and
other interested industry partners,
JOSB Done has notched up five
year of successful campaigning to
establish Oriented Strand Board
— OSB — as a cost-effective, sustainable
and versatile alternative
to plywood.
Although familiar as a generalpurpose
sheathing and hoarding
product, OSB was less well known
in other, more demanding, applications
until the JOSB Done initiative
got underway. With its own
website (www.josbdone.com) and
its bold black-and-yellow branding,
the JOSB Done campaign has
spread the word on OSB via a range of media from the trade press,
through point of sale to the internet.
“We set out to build awareness of what OSB can be used for, its superb
environmental and quality credentials and to challenge the assumption,
especially amongst small- to
medium-sized builders, that OSB
was not suitable for jobs which
traditionally used plywood,” explained
Linda Hovord, marketing
manager of Norbord Europe.
Besides its toughness and durability,
OSB has the advantage of
being made from forestry byproducts
known as “thinnings”
rather than expensive timber veneer,
which uses whole mature
trees. It is therefore sustainable
and cost effective.
Norbord
Tel 01786 812921
www.norbord.com
Page 6 Panel, Wood & Solid Surface June/July 2011

NEWS
Briquetting brings warmth to the local community
DEVONSHIRE flooring specialist,
J F Joinery, with Fercell Engineering/Weima
UK assistance,
has turned a factory waste
stream into a revenue earner
and something useful.
JF Joinery managing director,
John Fanthorpe, has been running
this family owned woodworking
business for more than 35 years.
Built on recommendations and
repeat orders, the company is
renowned for traditional, beautifully
crafted, English and European
oak windows and doors, manufactured
in the Holdridge Cross Workshops,
North Devon. However,
more recently, the company will
probably be more widely known
for its engineered oak flooring
products. John said, “Our engineered
wood flooring products
are now being specified into commercial
properties and selected by
private individuals.”
When visiting the Fercell Engineering/Weima
UK stand at the
RWM Show, the solution to John’s
growing factory waste problem
became apparent: turn wood
shavings, dust and end wood
waste into an additional business
income stream, at the same time
improving the company’s green
credentials. John commented, “We
only use wood from sustainable
sources and now, with Weima’s
help, convert wood shavings, dust
and end wood into something
useful and profitable.”
The initial purchase included a
Weima C170 briquetter and an accompanying
10 station bagging
carousel unit. Factory wood shavings
and dust are fed directly to the
briquetting press where formed
briquettes are then automatically
bagged ready for sale. The briquetted
product has become such
a runaway success with the local
community it has encouraged
John to expand the operation to
include a Weima WL4A shredder.
Previously, end wood was
heaped in the yard for the local
people to help themselves to: this
quickly became a logistical nightmare,
presenting some serious
health and safety issues. The Weima
WL 4A 18.5 kW shredder is fitted
with a 10-12 mm screen processing
all end wood quickly, reliably and
efficiently, providing further raw
material for the briquetter press.
John added that soon after the
installation of the WL4A shredder,
an apprentice upended the shop
sweepings container into the
shredder hopper — along with a
large workshop spanner. After a
very loud BANG from the machine,
it stopped dead. John, fearing the
worst, found the spanner and the
only damage was a fractured
knife. Pressure torque protection is
just one of the many designed-in
safety features to Weima machines.
And, on reflection, an invaluable
insurance against more
expensive gearbox damage.
Fercell Engineering/Weima UK
specialises in the design, manufacture
and installation of dust
and fume extraction systems,
shredders, briquetters, industrial
biomass burners/heater systems
to include spray booths and drying
ovens. In essence, a one stop
shop supplying most time ex stock
anything from a single unit to a
complete turnkey solution.
Weima UK
Fercell Engineering
Tel 0870 428 2688
www.fercell.com
www.weimauk.com
Panel, Wood & Solid Surface June/July 2011 Page 7

NEWS
50 years with Weinig: CFO Karl Wachter
KARL WACHTER, CFO at Weinig AG in Tauberbischofsheim, today can look back on a
long career with Weinig: he has been with the company for 50 years.
Starting as an apprentice in the company which was even then aspiring to greater things,
after switching to the financial division he was quickly promoted to key positions and later
assumed responsibility for the financial and accounts division, including controlling. Since
1996 he has been a member of the board. Furthermore, he was appointed to the board of
Weinig International AG in 2000. As chairman of the board he also directs this company in addition
to his responsibilities at Weinig AG.
Dr Thomas Bach, chairman of the supervisory board at Weinig, was full of praise for his
services. “We are celebrating a man who has not only put his stamp on the company but who
personifies this company,” he says.
The long and exceptional career of the Chief Financial Officer is characterised by unswerving
loyalty to the different boards while retaining a close sense of identity with the production
plants and the people who work for Weinig. It was these qualities which ensured Karl
Wachter the highest esteem in all divisions of the company.
After 50 successful years with the Weinig Group, Karl Wachter intends to withdraw from his
operative responsibilities in the course of this year. However, he will continue to assist the
company in an advisory capacity. Chairman of the Board, Wolfgang Pöschl, indicated his satisfaction
that the CFO has remained to oversee the financial division through the initial challenges
of this Ligna year. Gerald Schmidt has been appointed as successor to Karl Wachter
and will take up his duties on 1 October 2011.
Michael Weinig (UK) Ltd ● Tel 01235 557600
Michael Weinig AG
Tel 0049 (0) 93 41 86-0 ● Email info@weinig.com ● www.weinig.com
New grading DVD for American Hardwood
THE AMERICAN Hardwood Export Council has created a new training DVD to guide
those who trade and use US hardwoods through the NHLA Rules for grading lumber,
one of the few grading systems whichis recognised and used internationally.
The 30 minute DVD presented by Bob Sabistina, grading consultant to AHEC, covers three
chapters: an introduction to grading and measurement, an explanation of the NHLA lumber
grades, and an introduction to the NHLA grading rules for colour sorting, defects, shape and
species. A copy of the DVD can be ordered free of charge online and viewed in AHEC’s video
library on www.americanhardwood.org from May 25, when it was launched and distributed
for the first time as part of AHEC’s presence at Interzum 2011 in Cologne.
European director of AHEC, David Venables, believes that waste is not an option. He said,
“In today’s environment, we cannot afford to waste, and buying efficiently and manufacturing
efficiently with a focus on yield is vital. We know that a better understanding of US lumber
grading has helped many companies change their approach or attitude towards different
grades and species, particularly when they realise there are significant business advantages
in having the confidence and understanding to buy and use different grades.”
Bob Sabistina is well-known by the hardwood trade and, in the past year alone, has run
seminars across the world on NHLA grading, including UK, Germany, Italy, Poland, Jordan,
Dubai, China and Malaysia. Mr Venables continued, “Practical demonstrations are inevitably
the most effective way to teach a system like the NHLA grading rules. Grades are define by a
fairly complex measurement system and the best way to understand this system is to see
Bob in action. This new DVD helps us to document the importance of the grading rules and
bring them to a far wider global audience than we could ever hope to achieve through seminars.”
The footage was recorded at Brooks Brothers Ltd timber yard in Maldon, Essex.
As the market share of American hardwoods increases in Europe, AHEC continues to educate
the market; an ongoing job as company personnel changes, buying habits alter and companies
expand.
Mr Sabistina
explains that
buyers and their customers need to appreciate that hardwood is a natural
material and by its nature will contain characteristics and defects that
need to be understood and allowed in any given application: “There is a
real naivety in the market place about the importance of the higher
grades,” he said. “The wood from an FAS board is exactly the same as the
wood from a 1 Common board. It probably was cut at the same mill and
came from the same tree. The difference is the amount of clear wood
without defects, such as knots. If you are cutting the wood up to make
cabinets or furniture, you don’t need long clear pieces so it is more cost
effective to purchase a lower grade.” By distributing this DVD, AHEC is encouraging
importers and their customers to focus on getting the right
grade for the right price, and this guidance will help obtain maximum
product performance through selection of the correct grade.
American Hardwood Export Council
Tel 020 7626 4111 ● Email europe@americanhardwood.org
www.americanhardwood.org
Page 8 Panel, Wood & Solid Surface June/July 2011

NEWS
Kündig: “That little bit more”
ESTABLISHED in 1976, English
Hardwood Design has grown to
become one of the leading
makers of bespoke kitchen furniture
in the North of England:
through a network of selected
dealers, the whole of Great
Britain and Ireland is covered.
The company designs and
makes bespoke quality furniture
to meet the individual needs of its
clients. Kitchens form the core of
the business, in a wide range of
styles and materials, from traditional
woods such as ash, cherry,
maple, oak and walnut, to hand
painted designs and modern high
gloss acrylics. A wide range of furniture
can also be provided for
both bedrooms and offices.
Working with such a wide range
of surfaces means that utilising a
high quality sander in the production
process is of the utmost importance.
Around six years ago,
brothers Graham and Keith Brady
noted that the finish they were
achieving on their existing sander
had deteriorated, and so they replaced
it with a Kündig Duplex
1100 RP, a model known today as
the Premium 2 1100 RP.
Graham told PW&SS: “We had
thought that we already had a
top-of-the-range sander: then we
discovered that the Kündig offered
that little bit more.”
Graham had first come into contact
with Carl O’Meara of Kündig
UK when he purchased an Altendorf
saw from sister company,
J & C O’Meara. “We had found Carl
to be easy to deal with and efficient,
and we were happy to look
at what he had to offer. We had
also read articles saying very positive
things about Kündig sanders.”
Particular features which
helped the Kündig sander sell itself
to English Hardwood Design
included the method used for
tracking the belts, the thickness
sensor and the ease with which
belts could be changed.
Five years on, the sander is still
performing well. It has offered
simplicity of operation for multiple
operators as well as consistency of
finish and is used on solid woods,
veneers, framed doors and for
solid panels.
English Hardwood Design
opted for a standard configuration.
The Kündig Premium has a
working width ranging from 650-
1600 mm, depending on model,
and a working height of 3-200
mm. Available options include infeed/outfeed
extension tables, increased
motor sizes, belt cleaning
devices, a vacuum bed and lacquer
sanding options.
As English Hardwood Design
has found, Kündig sanders are designed,
according to the company
website, “to guarantee that after
many years of use, [they] work as
precisely as the first day they were
installed.”
Kündig creates
its sanders to
be comfortable,
as well as
easy, to operate,
and over
the years has
introduced features
such as
Graham Brady of English Hardwod Design with the company’s
Kündig sander when new. Five years on, it is still performing well.
automatic thickness measuring
over the whole working width,
direct storage of actual operation
settings, and oblique sanding,
which removes the problem of
oscillation traces appearing on the
work piece and improves the abrasive’s
cutting capacity.
When asked if he would recommend
the sander do others,
Graham replied, “I certainly would.”
He added that it was good to do
business with Carl, as “It is very
easy to talk to the principal of the
business himself, and he has a
breadth of knowledge about the
machines he is selling.”
● Kündig displayed its complete
range of edge sanding machines
at Ligna, including, for the first
time, the new Uniq-S for lacquered
edges.
Wide-belt machines on display
included the Premium-2 machines
for joinery in 650 mm and 1,100
mm working width and a Premium-2
1350 with calibration
roller and segmental pad for
veneer sanding.
The Brilliant 2 and 3 belt machines
for lacquer sanding were
also on show, and visitors were
able to preview the new high
gloss cross belt sanding machine.
Also on display was an example
of a Kündig Technic machine, a
range of bespoke machines designed
and manufactured to meet
customers’ specific requirements.
The example on display was
created to sand sheets of veneer
to an accuracy of 0.01 mm.
Kündig UK Ltd
Tel 0845 833 0565
Email sales@kundig.co.uk
www.kundig.co.uk
Screens from the latest Kündig control system:
the quick start program selection page (top) and
the home screen giving general information.
The Kündig stand at Ligna displayed the company’s complete range.
Page 10 Panel, Wood & Solid Surface June/July 2011

NEWS
Partwell Group installs SCM Accord 5-axis CNC
THE PARTWELL Group is a family-owned company, located in Blackburn,
Lancashire, established in 1979 by John Bradburn, now the
company chairman. His son, Ashley Bradburn, is currently the managing
director of Partwell, who has succeeded in maintaining a
friendly, efficient and customer focused business, as the company
has grown from a three-person company to employ 28 staff and has
developed a strong engineering and manufacturing base.
The company has four divisions: press cutting technology, die making
and die cutting supplies, food related plastics, and plastics and engineering.
Concentrating here on the latter division, Partwell specialises in
many areas of manufacture where there is a need to cut or convert materials
in order to create a finished product. The company provides the
cutting technology and plastic solutions to achieve this.
Holding stocks of a wide range of plastic materials to accommodate a
diverse range of applications, all manufacturing is carried out in-house,
mostly on SCM CNC machining centres.
In 1996, Partwell purchased its first SCM CNC machining centre, a
three-axis Record 220 with a 3,200 mm x 1,200 mm table size and 12-
station tool changer. The machine is still performing to the same accuracy
and quality components are continually machined and supplied to
Partwell’s many customers.
Confident of future opportunities for growth in plastics engineering,
and to provide additional capacity,
the Partwell Group has recently invested
in a new SCM Accord 40
Prisma five-axis CNC machining
centre with 3D computer assisted
design (CAD) software from
AlphaCam. SCM’s area sales manager,
Ian McCarthy, was on hand
to provide demonstrations and
quotations before Partwell placed
an order for the Accord.
Ashley Bradburn states, “The
scope for plastic components in
engineering applications is developing
all the time so it is timely to
invest in our future growth with
brand new, leading edge five-axis
technology from SCM. Not only
has our investment significantly increased
our capacity immediately,
this new technology is twice the
speed of our existing machine and
enables faster uploading of large
and complex programmes. In addition, we have been able to train our existing
staff to use the new machine and their enhanced skills will help us
stay at the forefront of plastics engineering know-how and capability.”
Technical drawing in 3D is a long, difficult and skilful task, but the new
AlphaCam 5-axis “state-of-the-art” software allows multiple file formats to
be manipulated to a 3D shape. Once a 3D shape is achieved, the computer
relays the design directly to the machine for easy setting up and cutting.
SCM Accord 40 CNC machining centre at the Partwell Group.
Examples of components machined on SCM Accord 40
CNC machining centre at Partwell.
Rapid 16 tool changer on SCM Accord 40 CNC at Partwell.
The investment has provided
many additional benefits, such as
the ability to machine longer or
wider components than the
Record 220. The Accord 40 is manufactured
from a newly developed
structure to guarantee long lasting
precision and accuracy. The
mobile gantry with twin drive motors
ensures high speed positioning
(up to 75 m/min) with high
quality finishing for the processing
of all types of materials.
The Accord also has fast automatic
tool change technology
with 26 tool stations, including a
rack-type 10-station tool changer
on the side of the table and a
Rapid 16 supplementary tool
changer alongside the routing
head. The CNC is handled by a PC
with a Windows interface, providing
high powered processing and
ease of use with internal company network connections, and adding data
through USB with memory key included. “Telesolve”, SCM’s remote diagnostic
system, allows SCM’s technicians, based in Nottingham, to investigate
the machine in real time for PLC logic diagnostics, machine
parameter diagnostics and real-time updating of the CNC software.
The five-axis routing head is a Prisma K unit with five inter polated axes.
The electro-spindle is with HSK F 63 quick release tool holders, with a rotation
speed of 600-20,000 rpm and right and left rotation. Maximum
power is 11 kW from 12,000 rpm (on S1 duty).
The multi-functional aluminium worktable, 3,600 x 1,500 mm, is machined
by the Accord itself at SCM’s Rimini factory when it was manufactured,
and has an integrated vacuum hold-down system with holes at
120 mm spacing for providing the vacuum from the included vacuum
pump. The table is grooved to provide points for location or reference
stops and for holding jigs where complex components have to be
machined, or alternatively for location of rubber sealing for holding
plastic sheets directly on to the table. Various types and sizes of vacuum
modules can be screwed into the vacuum holes in the table.
Concluding, Ashley Bradburn said: “We are extremely satisfied with our
new SCM Accord CNC machine. Installation by SCM engineers was carried
out quickly and efficiently with little disruption to our existing manufacturing.
Already we have seen many advantages to our business and our
customers are extremely pleased with the investment we have undertaken
to provide them with quality components in fast delivery times.”
The Partwell Group
Tel 01254 671875 ● www.partwell.com
SCM Group (UK) Ltd
Tel 0115 977 0044
Email scmgroupuk@scmgroup.com ● www.scmgroup-uk.com
Panel, Wood & Solid Surface June/July 2011 Page 11

NEWS
High-gloss polishing — Italian style
WITH ITALY at the forefront of
quality high-gloss panel production,
it is hardly surprising
that it is an Italian company
which has developed innovative
technologies for the automated
buffing and polishing of highgloss
lacquered panels.
Based in Imola, and recognised
worldwide for its successful range
of wide-belt calibrating sanding
machines, EMC offers polishing
solutions that are believed to be
unique, and that meet the need to
achieve that classic high-gloss lacquered
finish that is typical of top
furniture brands.
The EMC Rotoplus lines are fully
automated, polishing machines
designed for wax finishing of high
gloss lacquered surfaces, particularly
polyurethane. Models include
the Rotoplus 135 LUC polishing
and wax applicating machine and
the Rotoplus 135 BRILL buffing
machine, both of which use
“through feed” technology and
achieve high levels of productivity.
Although the Rotoplus line has
a standard working width of
1.35 m, machines with wider feed
arrangements can be built to
order. With the Rotoplus 135 LUC,
polishing is carried out by cotton
brushes and abrasive paste which
is automatically sprayed. A key feature
of the machine is the four
roller brush carousel for efficient
polishing of chipboard and MDF
panels that are finished with a
polyurethane or polyester coating.
The Rotoplus 135 BRILL is an automated
buffer, which utilises a total
of 15 rotating buffing mops
EMC EASY GLOSS polishing machine
for flat and curved panels.
housed on a five-head polishing
carousel — three mops per head.
The Rotoplus conveyor system is
capable of handling large panels
and, unlike traditional brushing
machines, panels no longer need
to be fixed down: they are held in
place by a vacuum system. The
process is fully automated and the
operator simply loads from one
end and, after polishing, unloads
from the other. All the machine’s
movements — conveyor speed
and speed of rotation of the
carousel and brushes is adjusted by
inverter drive, so the optimum
speed for each individual workpiece
is always achieved. Programming
control of speed and working
EMC Rotoplus machines
include LUC polishing lines and BRILL buffing lines.
An EMC polishing line with two in-line Rotoplus 135 LUC stations.
pressure is by a Siemens touch
screen PLC. The inclination of the
brushes with respect to the axis is
also adjustable, so that the best
crossover can be found for any
lines that may be left by rollers on a
panel. The average working speed
is 1.2 m/min, which can vary depending
on the degree of polishing
and the type of finish required.
EMC sanding and finishing
products are distributed in the UK
by CD (UK) Ltd, and marketed
through the company’s machinery
division. Eric Whorne, who is responsible
for technical sales, says:
“It’s the outstanding quality of finish
achieved that sets the Rotoplus
135 LUC apart from other
machines and the same high standards
are matched by the Rotoplus
135 BRILL buffing machine.
For larger production facilities,
machines can be installed in series
— one or two buffing machines
plus a polishing machine — which
means that panels only need to be
handled for uploading and
unloading.”
For smaller to medium highgloss
polishing applications, EMC
offers the EASYGLOSS automatic
polishing machine, developed for
both flat and curved panels. The
EASYGLOSS is designed to take
work pieces up to 2,600 x 1,200
mm and is equipped with an oscillating
brush, a vacuum holding
system and touch screen PLC with
high resolution colour display.
CD (UK) Ltd
Tel 0113 201 2240
Email info@cdukltd.co.uk
www.cdukltd.co.uk
Page 12 Panel, Wood & Solid Surface June/July 2011

NEWS
New showroom and demonstration suite for Axyz
LEADING provider of integrated routing, engraving and
cutting solutions to, among others, the general woodworking,
furniture production, joinery and panel processing
industries, AXYZ International has moved its
Nottingham office to a new showroom and product
demonstration suite in the same locality.
The new facility will also serve as a regional office for the
East Midlands and provide customers with the opportunity
to gain hands-on experience and on-site evaluation of the
AXYZ technology.
Announcing this latest advancement, AXYZ marketing
manager (International), Robert Marshall, commented: “With
all of our machines now being manufactured at the main
AXYZ global facility in Canada, it made sense to set up a purposeful
showroom and demonstration suite in order to better
support our UK sales and marketing activities.”
AXYZ International
Tel 01902 375600
Email sales@axyz.co.uk ● www.axyz.co.uk
DESIGN & INNOVATION
New from FINSA
MFC is widely used in a number of industries as a board product with
a decorative surface: either plain coloured, wood grain or high gloss.
The number of decors available is wide and varied with increasing
numbers of manufacturers opting for striking effects to distinguish
their pro ducts and designs.
Multi-national wood-based board manufacturer, FINSA, is at the cutting
edge of developments in this field and has production facilities that
offer the market advanced products with real advantages.
The Superpan Décor board is one such product. Almost any colour or
grade of face décor is available on request and FINSA’s UK base at Birkenhead
on Merseyside is increasing its standard stock range by the month.
But Superpan Décor is not just any MFC. It has been specially developed
for the MFC products market and is now seen as an optimum substrate
for the latest high gloss finishes and photo-realistic patterns and grains.
The key difference is the Superpan substrate. FINSA UK’s Rafael Willisch
explains that Superpan is actually a chipboard central core sandwiched between
two face layers of MDF. The MDF faces of Superpan eliminate any irregularities
or pitting associated with raw chipboard and this translates
into perfect laminating for the final décor — for high gloss finishes it is
claimed to eliminate the risk of the dreaded “orange peel” blemish.
2011 Wood Awards shortlist
THE WOOD AWARDS judges selected an exceptional shortlist from a record 348 category
entries on Tuesday, 14th June at the Carpenter’s Hall, London.
The 30 strong shortlist features unique private houses and stunning small projects, outstanding
restorations, splendid public buildings and bespoke furniture ranging from the traditional
to the cutting edge, all of which are strong candidates for The Wood Awards’ main categories:
Commercial and Public Access, Private & Best Small Project, Structural, Conservation/Restoration
and Furniture, and the coveted Gold Award.
Over the past nine years, the Wood Awards has established itself as Britain’s premier architecture
and furniture competition celebrating excellence in design and craftsmanship using wood.
The continuing aim of The Wood Awards is to recognise, encourage and promote outstanding design,
craftsmanship and installation in wood; an aim which, with increasing demands and requirements
for sustainability and environmental responsibility, is more important than ever.
The Wood Awards is supported by a number of leading wood promotion, marketing and education
organisations, including the American Hardwood Export Council (AHEC), the Worshipful
Company of Carpenters, the Forestry Commission, TRADA, Wood For Good, American Softwoods,
the British Woodworking Federation, the Malaysian Timber Council, Canada Wood, Ontario Wood
and the Québec Wood Export Bureau.
The Wood Awards
Tel 01494 569622 ● Email lgovier@trada.co.uk ● www.woodawards.com
FINSA also offers Superpan in moisture-resistant P4, P5 and structural
P6. FINSA UK holds extensive stocks of Superpan and Superpan Décor
and distributes the product nationwide in minimum order quantities.
FINSA UK
Tel 0151 651 2400 ● Email uk@finsa.es
Panel, Wood & Solid Surface June/July 2011 Page 13

DESIGN & INNOVATION
Nature by Compac: now seven colours
COMPAC has recently
extended its Nature
range of quartz surfaces
from two colours
to seven.
The new designs
were well received both
at KBB London and at
the special launch event
at the Lakeside Continental
Hotel, which
PW&SS attended.
All are available now
from stock in both 20
mm and 30 mm depth.
Nature uses a vegetable
based resin developed
by Compac,
BIO, to bind together
grains of quartz and
other minerals, plus
colouring agents, into a
flexible and adaptable
surface that can be used
both for flooring and
worktops.
As well as being sustainably
sourced, the inclusion of BIO adds
definite benefits during the fabricating
and installing processes.
These key features arise from
the fact that in Nature, there are no
pore spaces From the end user’s
perspective, this means no opportunity
for water penetration, and
no hiding place for germs and
bacteria, a concern in any kitchen.
For the fabricator, the absence
of pore spaces leads directly to increased
internal strength and to
less internal shrinkage, minimising
the likelihood of cracks appearing
during cutting and leading to
more flexibility in the polishing of
the edges. It is also resistant to
bending, making it easier to store
and transport to the customer.
With all its ranges, Compac has
the confidence to offer the end
user a lifetime guarantee: this confidence
is further enhanced with
the Nature range.
It is highly resistant to the levels
of UV radiation common in Compac’s
home country, Spain, and
therefore will not age from sunlight
when installed in the UK!
Nature is also unaltered by the
action of acid from food and common
cleaning products.
The design of Nature is very organic,
and operates in three dimensions.
The blending of two or
more colours results in patterns
which are consistent throughout
the manufacturing run, but with
details that are always unique: no
two areas of any particular worktop
will be completely identical.
The pattern also flows through the
depth of the product (as exposed
at the edges). These features are a
bonus for those targeting the bespoke
market, and reflect the inspiration
behind the range: Nature
itself.
At KBB and at the launch event,
Compac added Perlino (top picture)
and Imperial (bottom picture),
along with marble-like
Carrara, mid-brown Noce and
white-on-black Portoro to the existing
colours, Botticino in cream
and dark Pierre Bleue.
The designs were very well received.
UK general manager, Toni
Lleó, commented: “We have been
delighted by the very positive reception
our Nature Collection has
received both at KBB and at the
Lakeside venue.
“From architects and interior
designers to kitchen showroom
managers and fabricators, everyone
has been impressed
with the new colours,
their performance characteristics
and the fact
that the worksurfaces
are so environmentally
friendly.”
Marketing executive,
Emma Shaw, added that
Compac is offering a free
coffee machine between
now and the end
of December to any
end user who purchases
at least 5 linear metres,
and any showroom
which sets up a permanent
display.
Compac UK
Tel 020 8564 9377
Email
London@compac.es
www.compac.es
Page 14 Panel, Wood & Solid Surface June/July 2011

DESIGN & INNOVATION
Product design & development at BA Components
“INNOVATION and great pro duct design are the lifeblood of our business. Innovation makes us grow. It’s exciting,” says David Caulfield, sales
& marketing director of BA Components.
The new Design Centre and display gallery space in the innovative BA Com ponents reception area at Doncaster is a clear statement that BA Components
puts design and development at the forefront of everything it does. This innovation means the company is constantly seeking to improve
design, products and quality and this, alongside the development of new products, attracts new customers month by month.
Purpose built, the Design Centre allows the design and development team to work with customers, reviewing the latest trends in product styling,
tracking and analysing market movements and in partnership, developing new products to
introduce to their market sectors.
David Caulfield and his team are pulling together professionals from all areas of the KBB
market with design experience and ground breaking ideas and vision, to work with other pro -
duct designers, graphic designers and architects from outside the market place to garner and
harness new ideas and drive development. The vision is that this Design Centre will become a
centre of excellence, driving research, development and innovation well into the future.
BA works with leading high street retail names and manufacturers in the UK, Europe,
Austra lasia and America across the kitchen, bedroom, bathroom and construction markets,
to realise the true potential of good design and research in the marketplace.
With factories in both Cooks town in Northern Ireland and Doncaster in Yorkshire, BA can
and does produce a wide range of well designed,
quality products.
BA Components
Tel 01302 890555
Email sales@bacomponents.co.uk
www.byba.co.uk
Panel, Wood & Solid Surface June/July 2011 Page 15

DESIGN & INNOVATION
Laminating the Living Lab with ABET
PIZZAEXPRESS’S ‘Living Lab’ Restaurant
in Richmond, Surrey, features
colourful high pressure laminates and
solid surface materials from ABET
LAMINATI.
These have been used to stunning effect
by Ab Rogers Design, who was appointed
to transform the restaurant into
a ‘Living Lab’ combining experiential
design, advanced developments in
restaurant acoustics and a re-energised
approach to display and service.
In order to achieve the rich and vibrant
atmosphere inspired by the traditional
open food stalls found in Naples, ARD
has used many different laminates, including
brightly coloured gloss HR LAQ
for counterfronts and ribbon seating
booths, white Stratificato with a black
and white striped core for tables and
shelving and Pral solid surfacing for
countertops and satellite stations. Talking
about the scheme, Ab Rogers comments,
“ABET LAMINATI is very easy to
work with and offers the best products
and colour ranges on the market. They
have never let us down with deliveries
and we think their high pressure laminates
perform remarkably well.”
HR LAQ is a collection of high gloss
surface laminates with very high resistance
to scratching, wear and abrasion.
Available in both vertical and horizontal grades, the range offers a choice
of 24 bold and bright colours. Stratificato is a decorative, self-supporting
compact grade high pressure laminate with decorative faces on both
sides and a sandwich of colours throughout the core which provide exciting
effects for tables, counters and partitions. Pral is an extraordinary
man-made material, obtained by combining a natural mineral with an
acrylic polymer. With an essence of
beauty, colour, formability, functionality
and great tactile finish, it is ideal for solid
counters, surfaces and washbasins.
High pressure laminates from ABET
LAMINATI are ideal for this type of heavy
duty application. The laminates meet
and exceed all European and British performance
standards (BS:EN) for resistance
to wear, heat, moisture, impact and
Datum Tools Ltd
Tel 01892 667800 www.flipstop.com
PizzaExpress’s Living Lab restaurant in Richmond, Surrey.
Photo: John Short.
scratching. They are frequently installed in situations where aesthetically
pleasing interior design, function and form are carefully crafted together
to create an attractive visual experience. Samples of the various ranges
and technical information are available from the Abet Sample Line.
ABET LAMINATI
Tel: 020 7473 6915 ● www.abetuk.com
Four new foil colours in Finnish Pine from
David Clouting
DAVID CLOUTING has recently
launched four new LG Hausys Deco
foil colours in Finnish Pine: White,
Champagne, Grey and Anthracite.
Finnish Pine is a highly realistic wood
look foil with the tactile feel of real
wood veneer and is incredibly versatile,
being suitable for a wide range of furniture
applications.
Three of the new colours, White,
Champagne and Grey, are co-ordinated
with Egger’s Avola MFCs: the fourth
colour, Anthracite, complements well
with many colour schemes.
A4 sample packs of Finnish Pine
samples are available direct from David
Clouting.
David Clouting
Tel 01376 518037
Email
marketing@davidclouting.co.uk
www.davidclouting.co.uk
Page 16 Panel, Wood & Solid Surface June/July 2011

DESIGN & INNOVATION
Design in motion: RENOLIT SE at Interzum
THE TREND over the previous
two years towards strong structural
effects continues, while
natural and high-quality design
is increasingly gaining attention.
In addition to a new PET-filmbased
collection, available in a selection
of woodgrain designs and
solid colours, with a variety of different
embosses, to coincide with
this year’s Inter zum in Cologne,
RENOLIT DESIGN presented 30
new stock range designs, alongside
many new developments.
In the premier collection,
RENOLIT COVAREN, the company
introduced exciting new high gloss
effects along with superb woodgrain
designs and solid colours incorporating
the latest textures.
RENOLIT ALKOREN is the classic
collection, and now includes a
number of new high gloss and
matt solid colours.
Burlington Oak 2 is a light, popular
oak pattern that conveys a natural
impression with its diverse array
of colours, making it look very much
alive. It can be combined best with brown and white.
Ceramicwood is part of the modern category of
distorted patterns. In this case, the fine striped structure
of a ceramic surface is combined with the shades
of naturally grown wood. The result is a mix of vividness
and elegance, strengthened by shimmering iriodin
pigments. The Melinga emboss structure creates
the matching effect of depth.
Lancelot C: An exciting product enhancement, it
combines an existing popular design with a new
heavy wood-touch emboss to achieve an extraordinarily
attractive result. Lancelot C is a pale farmhouse
oak with three dimensional effect distress lines, coupled
with the new wood-touch emboss. “The effect is
so realistic that at a recent product presentation people
were actually touching it and expecting to feel a
split in the wood!” says product manager, Barry Hobson.
It is matched by Pfleiderer R4262.
Kielder is a fresh modern design with a traditional
woodgrain structure, enhanced by a new wood-touch
surface emboss which brings the finished
effect even closer to real wood.
Available in two colour ways, Kielder A
is a light bleached colour with undertones
of grey, and matched Kronospan’s
Cono Bianco colourway D8565. Its sister
design, Kielder B, is in a slightly darker
natural honey tone, which matches
Kronospan’s Cono Naturale D8566.
An attractive and subtle light elm design,
Roxy A, is subtle and beautiful. Quietly
understated, it will blend with or
compliment a number of different styles
adding its own delicate sophistication. It
is matched with Kronospan D8333.
Should you wish to order a sample,
please contact RENOLIT Cramlington,
who will be happy to arrange delivery.
RENOLIT Cramlington Ltd
Tel 01670 718222
Email renolit.cramlington@renolit.com
www.renolit.com
Kielder (above) and Lancelot C (below)
are just two of RENOLIT’s new designs.
Panel, Wood & Solid Surface June/July 2011 Page 17

SAWS IN ALL SHAPES & SIZES
Opticut benefits enhance Turner’s services
E W TURNER & Company Ltd, a
small pallet and packing case
manufacturer in the West Midlands,
provide proof of the benefits
of a Weinig CNC OptiCut
optimising cross-cut saw, which
the company had installed a
year ago.
Packing case and pallet manufacturers
perhaps gain the most,
because crosscutting is a major
part of their production process,
but every type of manufacturer —
furniture and joinery — can enjoy
even more benefits: Increasing
production efficiency, speeding
up response to the customer, making
more savings in waste by optimising,
increasing yield and
improving profitability, are just
some. The more the timber
throughput is, the greater the
profit achievable.
E W Turner was established in
1854 in West Bromwich. The company
specialises in the manufacture
of bespoke pallets, packing
cases and plywood boxes, for export
worldwide.
Eighty percent of products are
bespoke, so modern machining
methods became essential to remain
competitive and meet the
demand for faster deliveries and a
growing order book. The company,
therefore, invested in the
highly reputed Weinig OptiCut optimising
cross cut saw, to replace
some of the five manual cross cuts.
The company have since realised
considerable benefits.
The managing director of Turners
is Nick Clarke. Nick was a footballer
in his early days and played
centre back for Wolverhampton
Wanderers, but injury forced him
to retire from football. He then
worked in the woodworking industry
and steadily gained considerable
experience. He was well
known in the Midlands due to his
football fame and worked as a
sales representative for Turners for
four years. Later, he set up his own
successful company, Mercia Contracts,
but after a period of time
Turners, who had the advantage
of being better know for over a
century, made him an attractive
offer to join them as Sales Director.
The installation of the Weinig
OptiCut CNC cross cut saw, S 50,
has ensured faster and higher production
and replaced three of five
manual cross cuts, with spare capacity.
Turners still uses the two
manual saws but only for a few very
special jobs. The OptiCut is safer,
easier to use and much less tiring
for operators — precluding the
need to lift heavy timber. It is faster
and easier to change over jobs and
is ideal for ‘one off’ production.
Turners now meets all its orders
without having to work overtime.
Turners has their own fleet of lorries for despatching countrywide.
David Sandland, Production Manager (right) talking to Dean
Grimbley, local Weinig representative.
Said Nick Clarke, “We definitely
would not have been able to meet
the increased number of orders on
time, if it wasn’t for the OptiCut. And
it has attracted more orders. We
have the confidence of knowing
that we have the spare capacity to
fit in urgent new jobs at any time.”
Nick adds, “It’s highly flexible,
and is able to cut 250 mm short
pieces up to 2 m lengths in singles
or packs. Setting time is negligible
and eliminates human error. Accuracy
is guaranteed to 0.5 mm. It is
a powerful saw and can cut 4 x 4
timber, with up to 40% moisture
content on home grown timber,
like cutting through butter. I can’t
fault it. We have had the machine
for a year now and never had a
problem — it’s so reliable.”
Production manager, David
Sandland, says, “Since we installed
the OptiCut, we are able to product
75 m 3 per week (6 packs per
day) and still have spare capacity.
We can guarantee a 24 hour turn
round, and pallets that would
have taken us two hours to produce
we can now do in twenty
minutes.”
E W Turner & Co Ltd
Tel 0121 556 1141
Email sales@ewturner.co.uk
Michael Weinig (UK) Ltd
Tel 01235 557600
Email sales@weinig.co.uk
www.weinig.co.uk
Page 18 Panel, Wood & Solid Surface June/July 2011

SAWS IN ALL SHAPES & SIZES
Striebig celebrates 50 years of the vertical panel saw
IN 1961, John F. Kennedy became
the President of the USA
and the Russian, Yuri Gagarin,
was the first person to travel
into space. The very same year,
Swiss master joiner Ludwig
Striebig revolutionised sawing.
He registered his patent for a
“Device for cutting major structural
plates to size or for cutting
sections therefrom” — heralding
the birth of the vertical
panel saw.
Striebig, who died in 1995, was
a practical craftsman, a brilliant
problem solver and a visionary inventor
all in one. His revolutionary
principle transformed material
handling in the workshop and
made the work of the woodworker
much easier. Thanks to his
innovative ideas, the vertical panel
saw developed from an original,
simple, basic cutting tool to a high
precision, automatic sizing and
cutting machine.
From the middle of the 1950s,
the large size chipboard panel took
over the European market. This initially
meant strenuous work for the
operator in order to cut the panels
to the required format.
Striebig, the master joiner,
solved this problem with an astonishingly
simple solution — he
stood the horizontal panels upright.
The cutting device he constructed
was a wooden frame that
supported a horizontal moveable
beam on which he attached a circular
hand saw that could be
moved vertically and pivoted into
a horizontal position.
After gaining extensive handson
experience with the saw in his
workshop in Littau, near Lucerne,
Striebig registered the patent in
March 1961. Later that year he
made and sold his first vertical
panel saw, the Model 62. The
frame and the beam were by now
made of metal and a proper saw
unit was built into it. Machines he
built in 1961 are still in use today,
which provides irrefutable evidence
of the legendary durability
of the Swiss craftsman’s precision
engineering.
The high level of demand for a
‘Striebig’ from his Swiss woodworking
colleagues convinced
Ludwig to give up his joinery business.
He concentrated solely on
the production of vertical panel
saws, established initial contacts
with dealers abroad and exhibited
his products at the Swiss National
Exhibition in Lausanne in 1964.
In 1968, Striebig launched the
completely new Model 68 series
which was to be the basis of the
fledgling manufacturing venture’s
global success story. The saw was
technically light years ahead of the
rest of the market, with its 80 mm
cutting depth; 300 mm saw blade
diameter; integrated extraction
system; and a powerful saw motor.
The Striebig Evolution is one of the most advanced manual
panels saws available.
The success story of the Striebig Standard began with Model 68. It was technically light years ahead
of the rest of the market, and the current Standard is still the world’s best-selling vertical panel saw.
Model 68 was to become what
it stood for — the industry standard.
Today, with more than
30,000 machines produced, the
Standard is still believed to be the
world’s best selling vertical panel
saw.
Half a century on, the vertical
panel saw is still the sole focus of
all commercial activities at Striebig
AG’s ultra-modern factory. Every
member of the design and production
team concentrates on a
series of important questions each
working day. What added value
can we offer to the market? How
can we make panel cutting even
more comfortable and efficient?
How can we continue to guarantee
precision, safety and durability
for our customers in the future?
Striebig is notable amongst
woodworking machinery manufacturers
for not continually introducing
new models, but refining
existing machines to improve their
productivity and ease of use.
The current product portfolio
consists of four machine series
catering for all sizing needs.
There’s the entry-level Compact,
the Standard, the Evolution and
the high-tech Control vertical sawing
centre. Each is available in nine
standard sizes with an extensive
selection of options available to
improve the saws’ effectiveness
still further. Machines can also be
built in special sizes and fitted with
specialist equipment to suit individual
requirements.
All Striebig models, which can
be wall-mounted or freestanding,
cut practically all wood-based
sheet materials as well as timber,
plaster board, plastics and
aluminium panels. They offer impressive
dust limit values well
below 1 mg/m 3 . Due to their versatility
they are used in a wide
range of industries from shop fitting
to exhibition stand construction,
and from car making to
aircraft construction.
To mark the 50th anniversary of
the introduction of the vertical
panel saw, Striebig is continuing
to concentrate on further extensive
detailed enhancements to its
product range.
Striebig AG’s managing director,
Marcel Bruner, said: “Innovation
for innovation’s sake is not the
way we have achieved our success.
We place a great deal of importance
on continually deve -
loping our saws in order to constantly
provide customers with
new or improved features.”
Because of this product strategy,
the company gives its customers
an excellent degree of
protection for their investment.
With new developments and
enhancements continually being
introduced, in many cases the
saws can be retrofitted to upgrade
them to the most up-to-date technological
standard.
Striebig saws are available in
the UK from long-time dealer TM
Machinery Sales, of Leicester. Sales
director, Matt Pearce, said: “After
half-a-century, Striebig saws have
not lost any of their main advantages.
They still offer space-saving,
economic sawing with exceptional
operating convenience and
top precision.
“The constantly evolving sawing
technology pioneered by Ludwig
Striebig back in 1961 will
continue to offer these same advantages
for many years to come.”
TM Machinery Sales
Tel 0116 271 7155
Email sales@tmservices.co.uk
www.tmpartnership.co.uk
Panel, Wood & Solid Surface June/July 2011 Page 19

SAWS IN ALL SHAPES & SIZES
New SCM Sigma Impact beam saw
SCM OFFERS high quality, precision beam saws that give an excellent cut ready for immediate
edge banding. SCM has made further improvements and refined features
of its successful Sigma Impact beam saw, intended for small and
medium-size furniture manufacturers using panels of all types.
Sigma Impact 87/107 has a new design and a robust
structure with a shape and a framework carefully designed
to ensure any vibration is absorbed by the ground. With
a generous 87 or 107 mm saw blade projection, it is supplied
in 3,200 x 3,200 mm dimensions up to 4,500 x 4,300
mm capacities, with the option of a rear lift table. The solid,
compact machine base provides precise carriage movements
and together with THK guides for the raising and lowering
of the saw blades, it ensures the highest quality of
finishing. Air flotation tables at the front assist in loading heavy
full-size panels and also turning and removing stacks of panels
that have been cut. They are particularly useful when delicate panels have to
be cut, avoiding marking or scratching on the lower panel surfaces. The innovative and automatic
panel aligner is included as standard when cross cutting and slides on THK guides for maximum precision
and reduces cutting times. A twin version is available for aligning in front and behind the cutting line.
Ease of operation arises from the rapid and precise axes movement of up to 150 m/min on the saw blade carriage and up to 120 m/min on the rear
pusher with the High Speed Kit. Cyclical speed is ensured by empowered automatic detection features of the panel length, width and thickness by using
photocells. The immediate saw blade changeover system uses a pneumatic selector that enables the saw blades to be changed quickly and without
using keys, spanners or having to unscrew tools. Electronic setting from
the PC allows the management of a powered system for time-saving of this
delicate setting task. A saw blade with a self-teaching upstroke feature,
consisting of a bar which automatically reads the height of the panel pack
and calibrates the optimum height of the saw accordingly, is included.
The easy-to-use machine control, with a new graphic layout on the PC
screen, is available now as a standard feature and allows for cutting optimisations.
It also enables inexperienced operators to manage efficiently
the machine control. A post formed panel or worktop cutting unit, a
grooving unit, a device for execution of slots in a panel or door and a
panel labelling system are also available as optional equipment.
Netline, thanks to the efficient integration of SCM machines and dedicated
software, sorts out the Furniture Manufacturing Process, assisting
the manufacturer along the complete “Line”, starting with a 3D presentation
through to the final delivery of furniture to the customer. Sigma
Impact 87/107 integrates itself perfectly within this process, making the
production of furniture easier and easier through automatic machine
programming.
SCM Group (UK) Ltd ● Tel 0115 977 0044
Email scmgroupuk@scmgroup.com ● www.scmgroup-uk.com
Martin saw from Scott & Sargeant for JP Joinery (Kent)
JP Joinery (Kent) Ltd is a family
run business in Hawkhurst, specialising
in the creation of handcrafted
quality joinery, tailor
made to meet clients’ individual
requirements. The team is able
to undertake any joinery project
from the small and straight forward
to the complex.
When the search for a new saw
began 18 months ago, the company
arranged a number of
demonstrations with suppliers but
nothing quite ‘ticked all the boxes’
in terms of build-quality, or ease of
use. However, when Scott &
Sargeant was awarded the agency
for Otto Martin GmbH in the
South of England, Scott &
Sargeant salesman Chris Bradford
made JP Joinery aware of the T60
Classic panel saw, and a visit was
arranged to Scott & Sargeant’s
35,000 ft 2 factory near Gatwick for
a demonstration. Within a week of
having seen the Martin machine,
managing director, James Pettet
placed an order.
“The saw itself was surprisingly
easy to use, despite being the first
ever computer controlled machine
onsite. The ease of height
adjustment by the touch screen
control panel is just one example,
and means that the blade can be
left below the table when not in
use. On the panel saw we had before,
the saw blade was always left
at 100 mm height no matter what
we were cutting, and when it was
not in use. Now that we have an
easy to use touch screen display
we can very simply make such adjustments
without even thinking
about it,” he said.
JP Joinery opted for computer
control of the scoring saw, to control
its lateral and horizontal positioning
at the touch of a button.
The panel saw was commissioned
and installed by one of Scott &
Sargeant’s engineers, trained at
Otto Martin’s factory in Germany.
So impressed were JP Joinery
with the all-round performance of
the T60 panel saw, that Otto Martin
was at the top of the list when
the company was looking to replace
its spindle moulder, and the
purchase of Martin’s model T12
spindle moulder swiftly followed a
demonstration at Scott & Sargeant.
Scott & Sargeant
Tel 01403 273000
Email paul@scosarg.co.uk
www.machines4wood.com
Page 20 Panel, Wood & Solid Surface June/July 2011

SAWS IN ALL SHAPES & SIZES
SCM’s Class sliding table panel saws
SCM, a world leading manufacturer of classical woodworking machinery, includes in its wide
list of machines sliding table panel saws from its Nova, Class and L'Invicibile ranges.
The Class range featured here has sliding table panel saws with specifications and prices to
meet all panel sawing requirements, are considered perfect for customers who require a
high level of features and automatic devices to assist in easy setting up and fast and precise
panel breakdown with an excellent quality of cut.
The SCM sliding saw carriage has the very latest technological solutions
to provide the very best quality of cut on a wide variety of
panel types, from melamine-faced chipboard to laminated and plastic
materials, and at the same time, making the panel saw itself
easy to set-up and use. The sliding table itself
is made from a high quality extruded
aluminium profile with a honeycomb structure
to offer the maximum tensile strength. Steel slideways fixed
by means of a mechanical bending system ensures maximum
reliability over the life of the panel saw. The arc-ground steel
slideways grant a cutting precision to an accuracy of ±0.005 mm
along the entire carriage length.
The support surface of the sliding table is of a large dimension to
give maximum support to the panels being cut. The swinging arm
table support is constructed of an exclusive extruded aluminium construction
for maximum precision and smoothness of operation. The adjustable
dust scrapers provide long lasting efficiency and operation.
The heart of the machine, the saw unit, is composed of a closed-type
ring structure to provide the highest level of rigidity and ensures a complete
absence of vibration. A smooth vertical movement is due to sliding
on round linear guides with precise tilting thanks to the direct sliding on
cast-iron supports. A vertical and horizontal system of adjusting the scoring
blade with mechanical stops for a rapid repositioning is included. The
lever mechanism position allows the carrying out of the adjustment directly
from the front of the machine. A Universal cutting fence is made of
a strong aluminium extruded construction and equipped with flip-over
stops and two metric rules to enable easy working on both sides. A quicklock
fence with rapid release (a standard feature for SI 450 and 550 version)
always provides precise working under the very best conditions.
Saw unit lifting and tilting has two options available. The manual versions
have two ergonomically placed front hand wheels to activate, with
precision, the mechanical components, and are fully protected from dust.
Electrical versions have the positioning speed and a clear indication of
the required quotas, thanks to two digital readouts.
Programmable versions of the Class machines have the ‘Easy’ electronic
control, with five axes maximum, for a simple and effective management
of all of the main machine functions. The ‘Easy’ controller is easy to use
with a user friendly operator interface with functional push buttons and
a high definition 7 in colour graphic screen. One tenth of a millimetre precision
is guaranteed for every axis. Sensors for every controlled axis ensures
maximum safety for the operator. As 999 programs can be
memorised, setting up times are minimal. A number of operator ‘help’
functions reduce errors to a minimum. The machine is ready for immediate
use with mitre cuts and/or cuts with an angled sliding table, by simply
entering the data for the work piece to be finally required, then start
cutting. An inverter is available that enables the exact setting of the
speeds of the saw blade rotation.
A number of options are available for the stops and fences with the provisions
for angled and mitred cutting. LCD read-outs positioned on the fence
and stops ensure correct angles and sizes are set before cutting. A rip fence
unit with an exclusive referencing system for the first trim cut which allows
the setting of the trim quantity to be cut for every panel side leads to no
more test cuttings, and no more risk of damaging costly panels.
When cutting large sized panels, the start and stop buttons are conveniently
located in the front of the sliding carriage. The mobile control unit
on an overhead arm enables the operator to easily program the desired
features. The cutting of post formed panels can be carried out with an option
on the scoring saw with automatic jumping for chip-free cutting.
The Class range of saws (with cutting height capacity) consists of the
SI 300 (100 mm), SI 350 (118 mm), SI 400 (130 mm), SI 450 (150 mm) and
SI 550E (200 mm). Cutting widths with a parallel fence are 1,000, 1,270
and 1,500 mm. Carriage cutting lengths are 2,200, 3,200 and 3,800 mm.
Variations depending upon final specifications are the SI 350E, SI 550E,
SI 400 EP and SI 450 EP. Full technical details, specifications and overall dimensions
are available on request.
SCM Group (UK) Ltd ● Tel 0115 977 0044
Email scmgroupuk@scmgroup.com ● www.scmgroup-uk.com
Panel, Wood & Solid Surface June/July 2011 Page 21

SAWS IN ALL SHAPES & SIZES
Genisis is the solution at Sterlingdale
IAN Morey of Sterlingdale has been manufacturing
bespoke kitchens, bedrooms and bathrooms
for the past 25 years from his base in
Wimborne, Dorset. Most of his customers are in
the South of England, but he is prepared to go
anywhere, even travelling out to Portugal on
occasion.
He is finding business at present to be very good,
and has recently invested in a new P32 Genisis
panel saw from J & C O’Meara Ltd.
Back in the summer of 2010, Ian became aware
that his 12-year-old panel saw was not performing
as well as it had in the past; and since he had a
neighbour who was interested in purchasing it from
him, he decided to research the market with the intention
of acquiring a new one.
An internet search revealed four manufacturers
that were of interest, so he began to do his homework,
noting people’s comments on both the machinery
and the company. In this regard, Carl
O’Meara of J & C O’Meara stood out, being described
as “laid back” rather than “pushy”: while, Ian
adds, “the quality of the product spoke for itself”,
with the Genisis panel saw meeting Ian’s requirements
in terms of budget and build.
Since Ian is a ‘one man band’ and therefore the
panel saw is not in constant use, he did want to be careful about how
much he spent.
Ian contacted Carl during August 2010, and Carl put him in touch with
a Dorset-based installer of Genisis saws, Sawtec Services. Ian followed
this up by contacting Sawtec, who not only answered all his questions,
but took him to see a working machine: the owner of this panel saw was
very enthusiastic about the advantages the Genisis saw had brought him!
Ian also attended the W10 exhibition in Birmingham last October,
which was a valuable opportunity to “compare and contrast” machines
from different manufacturers, including the Genisis. In early November,
he contacted Carl to confirm his interest and purchased a P32 panel saw.
The P32 features a heavy duty saw carriage securely seated in a large
The saw installed in the Sterlingdale workshop.
cast-iron cradle for maximum support, as well as a heavy-duty cross-cut
fence with quick release and an easy-glide sliding table. The saw features
handwheel adjustment to both the height of the blade and the tilting of
the blades, with a table lock in the central and backward positions. The
saw can be adjusted manually, while the blade tilting angle is shown on
an LED display. There is a simple overhead saw guard, while the manual
scoring saw can be adjusted in both the positive and negative directions.
The sliding table is 380 mm x 3,200 mm, and the saw offers a 3,200 mm
length of cut, 125 mm depth of cut of 90° and 88 mm depth of cut of 45°.
The cutting width is 1,300 mm as standard, with an option of 1,500 mm,
and the saw table extension is 720 mm.
Ian is delighted with the accuracy of the saw which, he says, makes
everything much easier to manufacture, as
well as being a great time saver.
He was also very impressed with the
whole installation process, commenting
that everything proceeded like clockwork:
the delivery man arrived on time and
wheeled it into position for him, and
through Sawtec the commissioning has
been carried out to a high standard. Ian
adds, “It is all set up correctly, I don’t have
to touch it at all!” And where there were
minor problems during the commissioning
process, which Ian acknowledges were
down to him rather than down to the machine,
he is very impressed with the speed
with which these problems were sorted
out, leaving him with a machine set up
ideally for his every day use.
Ian says he would recommend the company
and the saw to others.
J & C O’Meara Ltd
Tel 01704 893109
Email
info@ukwoodworkingmachinery.co.uk
www.ukwoodworkingmachinery.co.uk
Page 22 Panel, Wood & Solid Surface June/July 2011

SAWS IN ALL SHAPES & SIZES
Zapkut’s all new ZM panel saw range
PANEL saw specialist, Zapkut,
has announced an improved
version of its ground-breaking
European-style moving column
ZM range.
British built from top to bottom,
ZM units use an all-steel frame, delivering
much improved strength
and durability and a comprehensive
range of features. ZM prices
will be attractive to companies of
all sizes.
Zapkut managing director,
Keith Bunker, explained: “The latest
ZM is a completely new machine,
redesigned from the
ground up. By basing the machine
on a steel frame and employing
leading edge manufacturing and
design methods, we have been
able to remove significant cost
from the production process without
compromising specification or
build quality in any way. In fact,
the rigidity of the new steel
framed ZM machines is comparable
to that of machines costing
several times as much.”
The new Zapkut ZM range has
been designed with ruthless practicality
in mind, its specification
developed to meet needs identified
by users across various sectors.
Highly versatile, these units
are suitable for a wide range of
materials, including natural and
man-made timber products as
well as sign making materials such
as aluminium sheet, Corex,
Foamex, acrylics, polycarbonates
and aluminium composite sheets
such as Dibond.
A key advantage for sign
makers is that no blade changes
are necessary. Zapkut has developed
a special blade suitable for
all these sign making materials.
For those working with timber,
Zapkut has a range of blades designed
specifically for its machines,
and the expertise to advise
on the most suitable blade for any
given application.
Chipping and shattering of thin
materials such as acrylic sheets
and laminates can be avoided by
using a backing board, which with
the ZM range’s depth control can
be used many times before needing
replacement.
The ZM’s moving column design
means that once the sheet is
positioned on the frame, it need
not be moved again, whether rip
or cross cutting. By contrast, on a
fixed column saw, sheets must be
fed through the machine in order
to rip. There is no need for this on
the ZM, making it extremely compact
in operation and ideal for
smaller workshops, or even
mounting in a van.
Further space-saving benefits
accrue as a result of the various
sizes of ZM available. The range includes
three models.
The ZM12 caters for sheets of
up to 2.5 m x 1.3 m: this unit is considered
ideal for 8’ by 4’ sheets.
The ZM16 caters for sheets of
up to 3.1 m x 1.6 m: this unit is considered
ideal for 10’ x 5’ sheets and
their metric equivalents.
The ZM21 caters for sheets of
up to 3.1 m x 2.1 m: this unit is
ideal for the 3 m x 2 m plastics
sheets common
in the sign making
industry, and
the woodworking
sector’s ‘jumbo’
sheets.
Customers can
select the model
most suited to
their needs; there
is no need to
make do with a
‘one-size-fits-all’
approach, with
the wasted workshop
space that
entails.
The ZM’s sheet
supports can be
relocated in seconds
from the
bottom of the
frame to a waist height position,
allowing smaller work pieces to be
cut more easily. In both positions,
the sheet supports can be moved
horizontally, making dimensioning
along the length of the work
piece much simpler than on most
vertical panel saws.
The column has twin vertical
scales. One is zeroed at the lower
material support position and the
other at the waist height position.
The powerful sawhead runs off a
standard 240/110 V single phase
supply. Plunge (to 40 mm) and
bevel (to 45°) facilities further enhance
the machine’s capabilities.
Designed with the international
market in mind, the ZM range can
be supplied to meet local electrical
requirements around the world.
Early feedback has been enthusiastic,
with one independent fitter
declaring the ZM range
“outstanding value for money”.
There has been strong interest in
the machines from international
markets, with initial orders already
received from Holland and Germany,
and the US and France are
set to follow closely behind.
The steel framed ZM range joins
the ZK range (believed to be the
world’s only true folding vertical
panel saw) in the Zapkut stable.
Zapkut Ltd is actively looking for
dealers across the world to market
both ranges.
Zapkut Ltd
Tel 0118 970 1950
Email info@zapkut.co.uk
www.zapkut.co.uk
Panel, Wood & Solid Surface June/July 2011 Page 23

SOFTWARE FOR DESIGNERS & MANUFACTURERS
Parallel and flat 3D machining just got even better!
THE LATEST release of Alphacam
— 2011 R2 — is part of the
leading CNC software’s ongoing
program of development and
enhancement, ensuring it not
only keeps pace with the changing
needs of its users throughout
the world, but also delivers
maximum return on investment.
The following are just some of
the many functionality improvements
in Alphacam 2011 R2:
3D Solid and Surface Machining:
Much improved parallel and
flat area 3D machining strategies
for cutting solid models and
surfaces.
Automatic exclusion of flat
areas on parts allows for flat,
rather than ball ended cutters to
be used. Steep and shallow areas
of parts detected allows for different
strategies to be adopted — for
example, a smaller tool step-over
in a steeper gradient to that used
in a shallow area.
And there are options to always
down or up mill, and loop or
round external corners. Benefits
include reduced cutting time, improved
surface finish, and an improved
tool life.
Geometry Query Manager: A
user defined set of rules can be applied
to a drawing to help automate
toolpath generation. Based
on these user defined rules,
geometries are moved into specifically
named user layers, eg
Machining Style can be applied to
Flexible and accurate
LEADING CAD software specialist
for the KBB sector, ArtiCAD,
has plenty to offer both designers
and manufacturers working
in the KBB sector, and particularly
those dealing with panelling,
wood and solid surfaces.
For designers, the latest version
(v 17) of the ArtiCAD-Pro and
BathCAD software is going down
a storm with users. It contains a
host of innovative features with
two major new developments
being VR-Pro and ArtiCAD HD.
With VR-Pro, designers are able
to ‘move seamlessly’ around their
design with superior quality
graphics. Additional features include
the ability to ‘orbit’ the room
design and view the design as it
rotates. Any item within the design
can be selected and edited in
walkthrough mode.
ArtiCAD HD provides real life
scene lighting for designers regardless
of whether it is direct
light or indirect diffused light. For
what is believed to be the first
time, lighting behaves in exactly
the same way that it would in real
life, thus delivering even greater
realism to all ArtiCAD-Pro and
BathCAD designs.
For suppliers to the KBB sector,
ArtiCAD’s Supplier Partnership
Programme is going from strength
to strength. An increasing number
of manufacturers and suppliers to
the KBB industry are joining forces
with ArtiCAD to bring customers
the latest and greatest choice of
products to incorporate into design
— all available as easy to
search graphics catalogues within
ArtiCAD-Pro.
Theresa Turner, a director of
these layers, automating the
generation of toolpaths.
Autostyles and CAD to CAM
have also been updated to take
advantage of this new functionality,
providing further automation
improvements.
Solid Model Extract Edge for
Sawing: This allows the creation of
a special sawing geometry from a
selected solid model planar face,
automatically setting the correct
tool side, orientation and depth of
cut, giving faster toolpath generation,
while ensuring it is correct
first time from the scale model.
Work Plane Ordering: The
order of geometries and toolpaths
can be optimised using Order
Work Planes. The shortest path
ArtiCAD, said: “Whether we are developing
new versions of the software,
introducing new schemes
for our industry partners or designing
new approaches to training,
everything we do is aimed at
making the software as easy as
possible to use so that our clients
find it easier to sell their products
around a four or five-axis component
is automatically calculated
based on the configuration of the
CNC machine. The two main benefits
of this are the elimination of
time-consuming manual ordering,
and faster machining time as a result
of the reduced rapid distance.
Editable Spline/Polyline Toolpaths:
Toolpaths created to cut
Splines and Polylines, including
those that are simultaneous fiveaxis,
can now be modified and updated,
creating faster toolpaths,
and meaning the toolpath settings
can be referred to at a later
date.
Alphacam
Tel 01233 506100
www.alphacam.com
and services. ArtiCAD-Pro is fast,
flexible and accurate, saving our
clients time and money — and ensuring
that every job is right first
time, every time.”
ArtiCAD Ltd
Tel 01923 888101
Email info@articad.cc
www.articad.cc
Page 24 Panel, Wood & Solid Surface June/July 2011

SOFTWARE FOR DESIGNERS & MANUFACTURERS
U-Value calculation certificates for bespoke joinery
CONFUSED by all the options
associated with U-Values?
Tempted to ignore the problem?
Eight months after the revised
building regulations for England
and Wales have been introduced,
there are still some joiners who are
ignoring the requirement to supply
U-Values. Part L of the Building
Regulations for England and Wales
for the Conservation of Fuel and
Power requires all joiners to provide
U-Values for windows and
doors in order to show compliance
with minimum requirements.
Some joiners have yet to be
asked by customers to provide the
U-Values for their windows and
doors: this, however, does not remove
the need to be compliant
and to prove compliance if
requested.
Joinerysoft aims to simplify bespoke
joinery by not only providing
U-Values for custom windows
and doors, but also providing the
evidence necessary to prove compliance
in the form of a detailed
breakdown and U-Value Certificates,
which give the end customer
confidence and provide
your joinery company with a professional
image.
There are a number of ways to
work out U-Values:
● Carry out environment testing
of the finished product to provide
an energy rating specific to this
one product. Expensive and impractical
for bespoke joinery
where every item is different.
● Complex mathematical calculations
as specified in BS EN ISO
10077-1:2006 Part 1.
● Utilise Joinerysoft’s automatic
U-Value calculator which comes as
standard with the software for bespoke
joinery. Joinerysoft’s JMS
software includes the complex calculations
necessary to prove U-
Values, taking into account timber
density, section sizes, glass pane
energy ratings and linear thermal
transmittance/Psi. U-Values are
displayed at the design stage, enabling
you to advise your customers
on the best specification
for their windows and doors to ensure
compliance with building
regulations.
Joinerysoft users have been enjoying
the benefits of the automatic
U-Value calculator since its
launch nine months ago. Adrian at
Joinerycraft says, “Providing U-
Values is really important, especially
for larger new build projects.
I don’t know how Joiners can
prove compliance without JMS.
JMS ensures that my customers
have confidence that their joinery
complies with the latest regulations
and encourages them to
choose me over competitors.”
Some Joinerysoft users have
been asked to provide the U-Values
of products some time after completing
projects to help their customers
attain building regulation
sign off or to satisfy mortgage companies
for revaluation of property.
Joinerysoft’s JMS is designed for
joiners who specialise in bespoke
joinery manufacture. Providing
professional quotes with diagrams,
timber, glass and fittings
reports, cutting sheets, delivery
notes, invoices and more, JMS improves
productivity, reduces
wastage and helps joiners to minimise
paperwork and get back into
the workshop. With modules for
Windows, Sliding Sash, Doors,
Screens, Bill of Materials, Stairs,
Gates and CNC Output, joiners can
match the product to their individual
requirements.
Joinerysoft provides a comprehensive
solution to the difficulties
associated with providing whole
item U-values for windows and
doors. With JMS you can provide
U-Values, if required, on the estimate/quote;
provide printouts of
the detailed calculations that
make up the U-Value; and finally,
you can now provide certificates
for each job giving your end customer
evidence to satisfy their
planning requirements, mortgage
lender, architect, etc.
Still tempted to ignore the
problem? Call Joinerysoft to find
out more.
Joinerysoft Ltd
Tel: 01608 643302
Email:
enquiries@joinerysoft.com
www.joinerysoft.com
Panel, Wood & Solid Surface June/July 2011 Page 25

SOFTWARE FOR DESIGNERS & MANUFACTURERS
Cabinet Vision helps win five-year contract
A FAMILY-run furniture manufacturer
says Cabinet Vision
played a major part in helping it
win a five-year contract to refurbish
up to 1,250 dental surgeries
across the UK.
While Somerset-based Paneltec
Manufacturing originally invested
in Cabinet Vision to provide an integrated
link between its machines,
it quickly became the
mainstay of the whole operation,
starting at the quotation stage
and running right across the manufacturing
process.
And general manager, Ian
Larner, says the rendered designs
produced in Cabinet Vision as part
of the tendering process for the
five-year dental contract played a
major part in securing the work.
“We were the only company
that sent them 3D renderings, and
it also gave us the ability to work
out to the penny how much it
would cost to kit out the demo
layout, which helped us show how
competitive we could be on price.
“As the contract progresses, we
can also show our customer the
renderings for the cabinets and
worktops for each surgery and
sterilising room, and they know
the finished product will be exactly
as it is on the drawing.”
As well as its work for the dental
industry, Paneltec also manufactures
a range of other products
from various sheet and solid materials
including toilet cubicles,
kitchens and bespoke panel pro -
ducts, using AutoCad LT 2011 and
Ian Larner works on a Cabinet Vision rendering.
Cabinet Vision Ultimate with
Screen to Machine.
He says Cabinet Vision is an essential
part of the manufacturing
process, and is particularly valuable
in producing the bespoke
dental cabinets. “Normal cabinets
aren’t used in the dental sector as
they have to be special heights,
and they house special equipment.
Many dentists also want the
design tweaked to suit their own
individual needs. If we didn’t have
Cabinet Vision we’d have to
change the program for each individual
cabinet component which
would be very time consuming
and could lead to errors.
“Within Cabinet Vision we store
the cabinet designs by type, which
can then be pulled into the
planned layout. Any changes can
be input parametrically very
quickly, and the CNC programs are
being automatically written for
each component part in the background.
“For us this is a key benefit —
how simple it is to modify a cabinet,
changing not just the view
but also the program to produce
it, and we’re confident that it’ll run
through the workshop and be
100% right every time.”
Most customers provide Auto-
CAD designs with quote requests,
which he then transfers into Cabinet
Vision, and if it is a particularly
complicated room with a lot of
curves, he imports the dxf file of
the cabinet.
Having pulled the appropriate
cabinets from their files into the
layout, he then generates a 3D realistic
view of what the finished
room will look like, along with rendered
cabinet doors, drawer fronts
and worktops, and the elevations.
The pricing is also done automatically
at the same time.
“The fully detailed drawing and
quote with itemised costs produced
by Cabinet Vision is sent
back to the customer, often within
an hour, and this level of detail and
quick turnaround has secured orders
for us which we wouldn’t
have won without it.”
When Paneltec starts to produce
the order, the job file is
opened and any changes to the
cabinets can be made quickly.
Another set of more detailed
manufacturing drawings is created
for the workshop, and the
production process is started by
sending the optimised cutting
sheet to the Selco beam saw, while
the drilling program is sent to the
Biesse CNC drill.
Each cabinet is numbered, and
each panel for that cabinet has the
same ID number. As it cuts, the
beam saw prints a bar code label
which also contains a drawing of
the panel showing details of
which sides need edging strips to
be put on by the Homag edge
Page 26 Panel, Wood & Solid Surface June/July 2011

SOFTWARE FOR DESIGNERS & MANUFACTURERS
bander. And scanning the bar
code at the CNC drill automatically
pulls the correct drilling program
up.
This labelling system also aids
installation on-site because the
drawing contains the same cabinet
numbering used in pro -
duction, so the fitter can easily follow
which cabinet goes in which
location.
Cabinet Vision’s historical record
of all jobs has proved invaluable
on numerous occasions when a
customer has requested a new
panel to replace one that has become
damaged, sometimes as
long as four years after the original
was produced.
“I send them the drawing of the
room asking them to identify
which panel they want, and then I
can produce an identical one. Before
we had Cabinet Vision, we
had to send someone to site to
measure it and get full details.
“Cabinet Vision Ultimate with
Screen to Machine is the core of
our business, providing everything
we need: the front end, the
design and the manufacturing.”
As a regular contributor to Cabinet
Vision customers’ eSupport
community, Ian Larner has been
involved in creating a number of
new functions in the software. He
began working for Paneltec while
studying for his degree in Computing
for Real Time Systems, a
course focusing on high level software
application programming,
along with low level assembly programming
which is ideal for CNC
applications.
As Paneltec’s only CAD designer
and programmer, he quickly appreciated
the tremendous benefits
that Cabinet Vision brings, and
was invited to join the online
forum to offer practical advice to
other users.
He has also put forward a number
of his own suggestions for
new functionality which became
an integral part of the software, including
the live previews and premilling
functions.
“Before suggesting live previews,
I had a 100-room health
centre, and then needed to
change something in the rooms. I
had to regenerate and send each
drawing back to the drawing
page, which was quite time consuming,
and there was always the
The power of Cabinet Vision: the real product and (inset) the rendered product.
danger of leaving an elevation out
somewhere. Now, with live previews,
I can send a live drawing to
the drawing page and whatever
gets updated in the model space
automatically gets updated in
drawing space. It means users
don’t have to regenerate all the
drawings, and everything remains
in line.”
Planit Software
Tel 01233 506100
www.cabinetvision.com
Panel, Wood & Solid Surface June/July 2011 Page 27

LIGNA REVIEW
Biesse at Ligna: Innovation for Growth
BIESSE’S strong position in the development
of new technologies was
Rover A
confirmed at the Ligna trade fair
with the presentation of technological
solutions for the processing of
window and door fittings and the
launch of several new products
across the range.
Biesse also launched its development
strategies for the coming years,
with a focus on significant investments
in technology, attentiveness to client
needs and energy saving solutions that
can be passed on to its customers.
At the fair, Biesse Group’s management,
led by chairman, Roberto Selci,
presented the new technologies developed
to guarantee increasingly targeted
responses to client requirements,
high standards of quality, finish
and design; the first results achieved
and the new three-year plan to an audience
of clients and sector specialists
from 90 countries. The innovative
products that were presented at Ligna
included a complete range of five-axis
machining centres, dedicated to the processing of both panels and solid wood, with an offer
combination capable of satisfying large industrial companies as well as small and medium
sized companies. The solutions for window and door fittings received great public reception
during the exhibition, including not only the innovative technologies of the Multicentre Uniwin
and the Rover WMS machining centre but also the range of sanders and calibrators from
Viet, a historic brand that recently became part of the Biesse Group, as well as the new
Hybrid Door for packaging doors and windows.
Significant new and innovative products from Biesse included the Biesse Skipper V31,
which was launched at Ligna, the Rover A-S 5 axis and the Selco Sektor 470.The Skipper V31
is Biesse’s new entry-level vertical drilling machine that combines flexibility, productivity and
space reduction at a highly competitive low price point. As standard, the Skipper V31 comes
with Biesse’s own Biesse Works operating software and a working head that features 10 vertical
independent spindles, six horizontal independent spindles and an optional 4.5 kW
electrospindle.
Biesse’s Selco brand also launched two new products to make its Sektor 4 series: both
products have been designed for small to medium sized companies and special departments
of larger producers. As well as featuring many of the patented features that exist in the larger
panel saws from Selco, the 4 Series machines can also include optional extras such as a lift
table, which is compact and allows for the automated loading of panels and as a solution it
increases the efficiency and safety of the machine without taking up any extra space.
Quite possibly the most noteworthy new machine from Biesse was its new Rover A-S pod
and rail CNC. The five axis technology used in the A-S makes it what is claimed to be the most
advanced and compact five-axis machine on the market at a highly competitive price.
2010 was a positive year for the Biesse Group globally, which saw a significant increase in
revenue and the beginnings of Chairman of Biesse Group, Roberto Selci.
signs that the global market is recovering. This has continued into 2011 with reassuring
figures and a continued increase in business. With the woodworking market beginning
to re-invest in new technology for the production of furniture and joinery applications,
the Group has been able to plan its strategy up to 2013, clear points of which are the
clear focus on reducing industrial costs, the re-inforcement of its sales distribution network,
technological innovation through investment aimed at renewing and expanding
the product range, and the commitment to improving after-sales service.
“We are delighted to return to Ligna following an important year like 2010. A year that
saw Biesse return to encouraging levels of production and results,” stated chairman,
Roberto Selci. “Now, however, these positive results must be maintained through a 360°
attention to client needs and therefore to the product portfolio.” He continued, “We will
launch on the market machines that have been conceived to give clients the possibility
of working in the most efficient way through a complete range of solutions that respond
to every single requirement. Biesse’s decision to reinforce its own research and development
activities has had a particularly significant impact on this trend which, for the
Wood division in particular, will result in the introduction of new products and technologies
on more than 40% of its range — within the next 6-12 months. We are also planning
a reinforcement of the commercial network at an international level.”
For further information about the range of Biesse products or to arrange to visit the
Biesse Group showroom at the group’s UK facilities, please contact:
Skipper V31
Biesse Group UK
Tel: 01327 307366 ● Email info@biesse.co.uk ● www.biesse.co.uk
Page 28 Panel, Wood & Solid Surface June/July 2011

LIGNA REVIEW
SCM Group’s Furniture Division at Ligna
SCM Group’s REM CNC machining centre, model OVER.
SCM Group’s GABBIANI panel sizing & squaring centre.
THE SCM GROUP’S Furniture Division companies
launched a number of new machines and innovations
at the recent Hannover Ligna Exhibition,
with fast setting up times and the ability to offer
‘Batch One’ production at the fore front.
GABBIANI presented an innovation for a broad
group of customers whose top priority is to improve
the processing of very small, highly different batches
in very short cycle times.
Large companies, who already have production
systems for handling large-size batches, are now
looking for ways of improving their efficiency in the
processing of small batches. Medium-size companies
need to move up to higher levels of technology and
automation.
C.U.B.O. — Cutting Unit Batch One — is a panel sizing-squaring
centre with a fixed worktable and two
mobile gantries, each with a single machining head.
The structure is very compact and strong and the use
of two routing units achieves high standards of quality,
finish, precision and productivity.
Each gantry is driven by two, electrically synchronised, brushless motors.
The drive transmission consists of two racks with hardened and
ground helical teeth. Moving components travel on prismatic guides.
The machining units travel on the vertical axis and are driven via a recirculating
ball screw transmission by brushless motors. A centralised extractor
system removes sawdust and shavings through a single
connection.
The CUBO panel sizing centre incorporates a MAHROS loading-unloading
system controlled by EASY PLAN supervision software, which enables
automatic control of all work cycle steps including: loading the
sheet to be processed from the stack, unloading the sized panel to the
edge banding line, off-cuts management and labelling of each single
panel.
The software ensures full integration of the system into the production
process and enables the preparation of cutting lists, the optimisation
of cutting patterns and the management of work cycles.
Giving priority to the management of the off-cuts has made it possible
to optimise and reduce to a minimum the quantities stocked. There are
no limits on cutting patterns to ensure very low waste rates even on difficult
jobs such as one-off batches. The simultaneous operation of the two
machining heads plus loading and unloading in masked time means that
this system is able to achieve particularly high production rates.
Stefani’s revolutionary idea behind the Panel Suite is to provide different
edge gluing technologies in a single application unit, and is the result
of two years’ research by the Stefani design team.
By using a modular approach, each Stefani customer can achieve maximum
flexibility by fitting different edge banding technologies in a single
machine:-
❁ EVA hot-melt glue technology applied with the glue tank
❁ Polyurethane glue technology applied with the second generation
Stefani Slim Line technology
❁ The latest generation of optical technologies
The three technologies are activated individually, but they are always
available, making the switching of production between technologies extremely
fast. The cost can also be spread over time by setting up the machine
for the various technical modules and installing them at a later stage
when required. Switching between the various types of gluing is practical
and fast, without the need for any tools or disassembling any parts.
Based on panel type, servo-assisted cutting of the edge and automatic
and intelligent dosing of the glue are available on all three technologies.
The Panel Suite gluing machine can be fitted with 24-reel magazines and
can apply edges on panels with a maximum thickness of up to 80 mm
with the EVA and Slim Line technique.
Melt on demand is now available on the Slim Line. This new technology
allows for the continuous control of the pressure that guarantees a
constant amount of glue even under 100 g/m 2 . This ensures that only the
glue needed is melted, so that there is no waste of raw materials.
The REM ‘Over’ is aimed at the mid to large-sized furniture companies
and is a CNC machining centre that performs all of the drilling and routing
of the panel vertically and allows the insertion of five types of hardware:
dowels, bushes, hinges, shelf supports and bumpers. This allows
for the complete production of all kitchen parts such as cupboard doors,
sides, bases and drawers.
The Over features high productivity rates, the three
independent work zones perform the machining
masked from each other, for extremely low cycle
times and high productivity. Set-up is in less than five
seconds, and the significant movement and acceleration
speed of the axes allows for very quick program
changes, minimising down time. Vertical machining
also requires a minimal amount of production space.
The REM Over, Pilot and Mirror models feature a
wide range of machining heads, from the electrospindle
with the integrated 12-position tool changer
(revolver), which can change tools in just two seconds,
to the variable configuration drilling heads with independent
vertical and horizontal spindles that always
provide the most suitable solution even for extremely
complex machining. Each model, in its maximum configuration,
features right and left units and can house
the retractable feed (patented) that allows all six sides
of the panel to be worked. The REM machining centres
can house various types of devices for the insertion of
any piece of hardware, from dowels to drawer guides.
SCM Group (UK) Ltd
Tel 0115 977 0044
Email scmgroupuk@scmgroup.com
www.scmgroup-uk.com
Panel, Wood & Solid Surface June/July 2011 Page 29

LIGNA REVIEW
SCM Group’s many innovations at Ligna
CELEBRATING the 50th year of
participating at the recent Hannover
Ligna Exhibition, the SCM
Group decided on a different
approach, by having three separate
stands in Hall 11, 16 and
25 covering over 3,000 m 2 in
three different halls, rather than
one big stand as previously, but
still showing machines from all
of the SCM Group’s Divisions
and manufacturing units.
The new look of the SCM
Group’s technologies, presented at
Ligna 2011, features simple and
rational lines on all of the new
models displayed.
Practicality, ergonomics and
safety were the criteria behind the
new aesthetically striking design.
It features simple and right angle
lines and essential flat sheet metal
covers. The style is designed for
the various product ranges, but
the identifying element is the radial
profile that recalls the brand,
running horizontally on the top
part of the machine’s front body.
The extruded aluminium section
indicates the group name and the
model name. Another striking feature
is the transparent windowed
doors that allow easy viewing of
the machining process.
Over the past year the SCM
Group has concentrated specifically
on setting up new technological
solutions that have
resulted in a series of patents in
the various application sectors.
The SCM Group’s technical office
has worked a great deal in researching
new solutions in all sectors,
products and processes.
BRC stands for “boring, routing,
cutting”. This is the unit used to
machine doors and window
frames, patented by the SCM
Group, capable of rotating
through 360 degrees, and is a
compact high performance machining
unit that allows for multiple
machining operations, with
extremely low tool change times.
INTEGRA is a new machining
cell for doors and window frames,
with a patented worktable that allows
for the completely automatic
machining at “Batch 1” of pre-finished
components for doors and
window frames. The machine architecture,
believed to be unique,
allows for the semi-automatic machining
of arched components.
Integra’s design and technology
gives a sense of total freedom. It
offers the possibility of making
Machining on SCM Integra CNC machining centre.
SCM CNC machining centre Accord 40FX
any window regardless of the
joint, shape, cycle, number of
tools, species of wood, sections,
productivity, etc. Integra performs
all machining operations for making
a window such as end trimming,
tenoning, profiling, boring
and routing on all sides, rebating
and creating arches, all with minimal
operator interaction.
This great flexibility is due to a
series of new devices with two
worktables designed, and if necessary
can be used separately or
together. The “Combiflex” is a table
using grippers, for the machining
of straight workpieces.
A set of NC grippers with automatic
switch off, patented by SCM,
allows the machining of large
workpieces measuring up to 160 x
220 mm and lengths of up to
6,500 mm. The direct gripper
change-over guarantees high precision
machining regardless of the
section, type of profile or species
of wood machined.
The “FX Pilot/Matic” table consists
of bars and clamps/suction
cups, the same used on the SCM
Group’s routing machines, with
semi-automatic or automatic positioning,
for making arches, rebating
sashes or squaring doors,
solid shutters and louvre shutters.
MACH 5 is a very fast tool
change system on CNC machining
centres that replaces the tool in less
than five seconds, wood to wood,
in the routing or machining unit.
MATIC is an automatic table
set-up system on CNC machining
centres with a simultaneous
movement of the bars and suction
cups/clamps, which eliminates the
hold-down table repositioning
times. The Matic tables are extremely
sturdy tables which are
vital when machining high quality
doors and window frames with
heavy sections of timber.
“FOTOBUMPERS” is the new
safety system for CNC machining
centres featuring a combined operation
between photocells and
the protective bumpers to allow
pendulum machining without inadvertently
interrupting the production
and by utilising the
loading and unloading zones as
much as possible.
JOINTERING is the new Jointing
system on SCM throughfeed
moulders that allows the tool to
be sharpened directly on the machine.
SCM’s model Topset Master
throughfeed planer moulder now
features jointing as SCM has
added the ability to perform jointing
by adding straight knives directly
on to the machine to
increase productivity and guarantee
high levels of finishing quality.
This process of sharpening the
tool in the spindle allows for the
Page 30 Panel, Wood & Solid Surface June/July 2011

LIGNA REVIEW
SCM single-sided edge bander Olimpic K260evo
difference on the radial quota between
the knives to be brought
back to a tolerance within 0.01 mm.
This solution resolves the issue of
wear by ensuring that the Topset
knives are always perfectly sharpened,
in order to ensure a high
quality finish. Moreover being able
to sharpen the knives directly in the
machine reduces down time.
Jointing, which is very important
in the production of furniture,
frames, matchboards, door and
window frames and components
for the construction of wooden
houses, is performed on countersupported
tool holder spindles
and allows for the machining of
work sections up to 305 mm x 203
mm. This possibility together with
a feed speed up to 60 m/min, substantially
increases the productivity
and finish quality.
Routech’s AREA is a new CNC
machining centre for wooden
walls capable of machining large
sized work pieces up to 4.5 m in
width, 50 m in length and 360 mm
in depth, notably for timber frame
housing pre-finished walls.
The ACCORD FX range, the new
generation of mobile gantry
routers, has been improved with
the addition of the new ‘30’ version,
boasting greater working
areas, with bars from 1,300 mm to
1,900 mm in length and with
powerful, reliable and compact 3,
4 or 5 axes machining heads.
The tool magazines, positioned
on the machining head for the
tool change over in masked time
or on the mobile gantry, can hold
up to 48 large-sized tools, also
with double profile, and they can
be changed in only five seconds
thanks to the Mach 5 tool carrier.
From the L’INVINCIBILE
RANGE of classical woodworking
machines comes the new S5200
“fully optional” thicknessing
planer with a two axes control system
to set the worktable height
and the feed speed. A more effective
feed is ensured by the introduction
of the new device with
independent pneumatic pressure
of the feed rollers.
SIGMA PRIMA P is a new entrylevel
panel beam saw with loading
platform and a new control system.
Sigma Prima 67 P is the new
model of panel beam saw for
small to mid-sized panel workshops.
The new loading platform
streamlines the work flow and the
new design offers many new features
including a carriage speed
up to 80 m/min and a pusher
speed at 50 m/min with brushless
motors, a magnetic band for the
pusher positioning and a rack and
pinion for the carriage transmission.
Sigma Prima 67 P is available
in three cutting sizes 3,300 mm,
3,800 mm and 4,300 mm. All versions
make use of the 2,200 mm
loading length.
OLIMPIC K 260 EVO is a new
compact single-sided edge bander
that gives high quality finishing
due to the panel edge trimming as
well as high productivity thanks to
the immediate set up of all the
operational machining units.
The PRATIX S CNC machining
centre with the “Nesting” work
table is considered ideal for small
and medium-sized woodworking
and panel processing shops where
floor space is at a premium, due to
the technological solutions such
as no peripheral guards and the
remote control with a 7in touch
screen colour LCD display.
The CYFLEX F900 PRO CNC
drilling and grooving machine
comes with an enhanced new detection
system capable of automatically
reading the panel dimensions
on the boring and
grooving centre, using a laser device
that compensates for errors
on the final panel size and grants a
perfect joint between the panels,
even if they are out of tolerance.
SOFTWARE AT THE HEART OF
TECHNOLOGY: The software and
the operator interface have become
fundamental aspects of the
machine. They are no longer accessories,
but they are the heart of
the SCM Group technology, which
aims to make the machine more
accessible and easy to use. SCM’s
design efforts to find new solutions
has been focused in this direction,
with the following results:-
MAESTRO: A good product
must be easy to use and program,
even for the most complex technological
process, and it was this
that led SCM to create Xilog Maestro,
the new programming and
management software for the
SCM Group machining centres.
Maestro introduces an innovative
approach to programming
the machine, strongly focussing
on the processes, as the user no
longer has to think about “how to
do something” but about “what to
do”. This approach allows the user
to concentrate on defining the
workpiece, the geometries, the
machining and machining
methods, leaving the software to
handle the complexities of generating
the tool paths and optimising
the machining programs. Xilog
Maestro provides simple and intuitive
3D graphic tools to program
the machining and manage the
machine worktables, in line with
the latest CAD/CAMs on the market.
The user can set a new machining
program with just a few
clicks, by using the CAD drawing
tools of the new software and immediately
check the results with
the realistic 3D display of the
workpiece, machining required
and the machine worktable.
PLAY & MOTION is the new
portable console that represents
another innovation which is extremely
easy to handle and with
an interesting technical content.
This innovative tool features a 5 in
touch screen, easy to reach keys
and a software that displays the information
about the machining
process in progress in a way that is
easy to understand. The console’s
light weight ensures that the operator
can use it continuously
without getting tired and the
wireless version frees the operator
from the restrictions of a connecting
cable.
Gabriele De Col, SCM UK’s managing
director, was very pleased
with all of the SCM Group’s many
new innovations on display at
Ligna, commenting: “We can now
continue to offer our UK and Irish
customers the very latest technological
solutions to ensure their
own production requirements are
met in terms of fast setting-up
times, superior quality of finish to
their products, increased productivity
and the ability of their operators
to use the very latest
software, taking much of the specialised
skills and knowledge
away, but ensuring the components
are manufactured quickly
and efficiently ensuring maximum
cost savings in this ever increasing
competitive market place.”
SCM Group (UK) Ltd
Tel 0115 977 0044
Email
scmgroupuk@scmgroup.com
www.scmgroup-uk.com
Panel, Wood & Solid Surface June/July 2011 Page 31

LIGNA REVIEW
Combilift pulls in the crowds at Ligna
PACKED with innovations and offering entertainment
and hospitality, Combilift’s two Ligna stands featured
14 models and were a hive of activity at this year’s show.
The very international mix of visitors represented all timber
related activities from large saw milling operations to
small joineries, and kept the Combilift personnel busy with
enquiries throughout the full five days.
A recent development is the level of interest shown by
woodworking machinery manufacturers, and one of the
many orders taken during the event was from a new Slovenian
customer, Mebor, which manufactures wood machining
equipment such as band saws. Mebor’s 10 tonne capacity
Combilift will be used for moving materials and finished
products within the company’s production facility.
Combi-CB display team: The Combi-CB display team was
back following its very popular debut at the previous Ligna,
and drew large crowds for its regular performances of the
CB dance routine to traditional Irish music. The team was
formed when the CB was launched at an event to mark
Combilift’s 10th anniversary and the routines demonstrate
not only the CB’s extraordinary manoeuvrability but also the
drivers’ precision driving skills.
The Aisle-Master (below) and the Combi-CB Display
Team (left): just part of what was on show on the
Combilift stand (above).
Larger capacity CB models: Visitors had the chance to see the new 4 tonne capacity version
of the award winning counter balance design, Combi-CB. The CB was originally designed
as a 2.5 tonne truck for customers hand ling a mix of long and palletised loads, and the larger
capacity 3 and 4 tonne CB’s developed in the past year now offer customers needing to
handle heavier loads a wider range of applications. AC electric power options are now
available on the 2.5 and 3 tonne models.
New C series design: The new generation of the Combilift C series now comes with a
roomier cab with a redesigned dash panel for improved ergonomics. The curved windscreen
and addition of more glass to the cab also provides even better visibility for the driver.
Ligna premier for Aisle-Master: Combilift recently incorporated the articulated Aisle-Master into its product portfolio, which is designed primarily
for handling palletised loads. A new design and distinctive new yellow warehouse safety colour of this very narrow aisle forklift was at Ligna for the
first time this year. Furniture manufacturers, for example, have been quick
to recognise the advantages of this versatile and space saving truck which
can replace a combination of counterbalance and very narrow aisle forklifts
for much better storage density in the warehouse. An Aisle-Master
parts warranty of five years or 5,000 hours now offers even more peace
of mind for users and underlines the extreme reliability of the range.
Combilift welcomed visitors from across Europe and as far afield as
Brazil, Canada and South Africa to its stand — testimony that this is a truly
international event. The timber sector was one of the first to recognise
the benefits of Combilift’s tailor made approach to materials handling,
and the company’s range of products on offer is as varied as the differing
requirements in the industry itself.
There are now over 14,500 units in operation worldwide, with an
extensive global dealership network across more than 50 countries.
Combilift Ltd
Tel 00353 47 80500 or 07870 976 758 ● Email info@combilift.com
www.combilift.com ● www.aisle-master.com
Page 32 Panel, Wood & Solid Surface June/July 2011

LIGNA REVIEW
Innovate, innovate, innovate with Stegherr
STEGHERR is always looking for
ways of improving productivity
through innovation and this
year at Ligna is no exception.
On show for the first time was
the new KSS mitre saw with two
fixed saw blades and automatic
programmable feed system. The
machine will vee notch the component
and is able to remove defects
which have been highlighted
by the operator: the defect recognition
system is illustrated on the
right.
Another new machine on show
is the SKF programmable through
feed end scribing of profiled glazing
astragal bars. This machine will produce perfect scribed ends with no
breakout on the profiled face and can also have the defect removal feature
as fitted to the KSS. The SKF can be built with twin cutting units
giving it the capacity to work with two different end scribes without tool
changing.
There were also numerous new developments on the
well established machines such as the KSF-2/E programmable
halving joint machine for astragals with defect
removal, GLS mitre saws and FD-E2 CNC machining
centre.
The KF Mini and KF1 machines were demonstrated
for manual end scribing and automatic scribing, drilling
and insertion of fixings.
Stegherr machines are available in the UK from John
Penny Woodworking Machinery.
John Penny Woodworking Machinery Ltd
Tel 01235 531700
Email john.penny@btconnect.com
www.john-penny.co.uk
Panel, Wood & Solid Surface June/July 2011 Page 33

LIGNA REVIEW
Innovative cleaning system from Teknek
MICROSCOPIC dust particles
trapped beneath film can have a
serious impact on furniture production:
it is generally accepted
that the film “magnifies” particles
trapped beneath it by a factor
of ten, enabling particles too
small to be seen by the naked
eye to ruin the look of a finished
product.
And at a time when modern finishes,
such as high gloss films, are
becoming increasingly popular in
the production of doors, kitchens
and other furniture, it is good to
know that a Scottish company,
Teknek, has developed a solution
which has met with success
around the world, reducing waste
in workshops and factories.
PW&SS took the opportunity to
visit the Teknek stand at Ligna to
learn more.
Traditionally in the furniture industry,
brush or vacuum methods
have been used to remove debris
from a workpiece before film is applied.
Renfrewshire-based Teknek
can supplement these methods of
cleaning with a contact cleaning
system which uses an elastomer
roller, believed to be unique,
which can remove particles as
small as one micron from the surface
of the substrate on which the
foil or laminate is to be applied.
For a sense of scale, one micron
is one thousandth of a millimetre:
impossible for humans to see
without magnification.
Once removed, the debris is
then transferred to a special reverse-wound
sheeted adhesive
roll for permanent disposal.
Although the roller makes direct
contact with the surface of
the material, Teknek assures customers
that there is no risk of damage
to the material being cleaned.
The technology was initially developed
for use in the electronics
industry, for processes including
the manufacture of printed circuit
boards and flat screen TVs, fields
in which contamination must
be minimised as far as humanly
possible.
This has now been adapted for
use in the furniture industry: in
one case, PW&SS was told, a customer
was able to increase his
yield from 37% to 90%, although
this is an extreme example. Teknek
systems can be used in conjunction
with membrane pressing,
PUR and laminating processes.
The Teknek range is available in
a range of formats: web, sheet and
manual; and in a wide range of
sizes.
Having previously exhibited at
W10, Teknek’s team was delighted
with the response the product received
from a world-wide audience
at Ligna. When PW&SS visited
the stand on the third day of the
five-day exhibition, a sale had already
been completed off the
stand and particular interest was
reported from Australia, New
Zealand, Colombia and, particularly,
Turkey. Teknek exports 98%
of its product, with offices in
Japan, China, Hong Kong, Taiwan,
Korea and the USA as well as in
Scotland.
The contact cleaning system
can work with a wide variety of
sheeted materials, including glass,
film, panels, laminates and graphics,
as well as reel to reel materials
such as labels and foil.
Used in conjunction with methods
such as brush and vacuum
methods, a Teknek system can reduce
waste for the manufacturer
by offering additional, more intensive
surface preparation.
Teknek Europe
Tel 0141 568 8100
Email teknek@teknek.com
www.teknek.com
Leadermac at Ligna
Left to right, Michael Chang, managing director of Leadermac Machinery Co
Ltd; Graham Bell, Health & Safety Manager, Ramsey Timber Group; Michael
Ramsey, managing director, Ramsey Timber Group; Dale Daglan, shift manager,
Ramsey Timber Group; Kevin Wright, managing director, Leadermac
UK Ltd; and Lawrence Marklew, project manager, Ramsey Timber Group.
LEADERMAC UK Ltd has been
working closely with the Ramsey
Timber Group and is due to
deliver to the company a sixth
Leadermac machine.
The teams recently met up at
Ligna, Hannover.
Ramsey Timber Group is a company
with an excellent reputation
who started in 1890 building canal
boats and barges in Bradford. 121
years later, Ramsey Timber Group
is a dynamic and innovative manufacturer
and a major supplier of
timber components to the UK
bedding and furniture industry,
annually sourcing over 30,000 m 3
of quality softwoods.
Operating across three sites,
Ramsey Timber Group has currently
running in its hi tech plant
three Leadermac machines.
Leadermac first installed in 2002
a five-head Compact machine and
a six-head Compact machine. In
2008 Leadermac supplied a
Thundermac 120 m/min machine
and in 2010 Leadermac supplied
Ramsey Timber Group with two
new 6 head Compact machines.
The Thundermac which was delivered
in 2008 was the first of this
model in the UK and was installed
as part of what is believed to be the
UK’s first high speed and stacking
system, operating at feed speeds of
120 linear metres/min producing
60,000 m of components per day.
The new machine, due to be
delivered in July, is a Leadermac
Speedmac 6 head high speed fully
jointed machine.
Leadermac UK Ltd
Tel 01942 859933
Email info@leadermac.uk.com
www.leadermac.uk.com
Page 34 Panel, Wood & Solid Surface June/July 2011

LIGNA REVIEW
Pioneering Spirit — Made in Germany
Photography by Paul McCleery, Furniture Production Magazine.
Photography by Paul McCleery, Furniture Production Magazine.
ATTENDANCE at MAKA’s booth
was buoyant, with a significant
increase in foreign visitors, including
many from the UK.
“There’s clearly a willingness to
invest, and the quality of discussions
was of a consistently high
standard,” reports Iain Young of
MAKA UK.
MAKA introduced its new highperformance
CNC machining
centre, type CR27tx with robotic
loading. The double portal “tx” version
features twin-channel technology
and what is believed to be
the fastest tool changing system,
with what is believed to be the
most compact footprint.
The CR27tx combines four machines
in one and includes a
heavy-duty five-axis spindle with
MAKA’s quick Tool-Shuttle for rapidly
changing tools from the 51
position tool magazine. The second
bridge carries three further
spindles and drilling units. All appear
to be cutting at the same
time! Complete with twin tables,
the CR27tx minimises cycle times
by eliminating virtually all nonproductive
processes, including
table changing, tool changing and
positioning times.
Large components can straddle
both tables if required, but the
majority of furniture components
can be accommodated on each
table.
The MAKA CR27tx is designed for
high speed manufacturing of bespoke,
one-off furniture components,
providing a first-class finish in
the shortest time. This technology is
highly appreciated in many industries,
particularly the automotive
sectors, where MAKA has gained
most of its experience designing
and building such solutions.
The components demonstrated
being produced were roulette
tables, requiring a very high precision
and the highest quality finish.
Other engineered timber components
or simple panels can also be
produced highly efficiently on the
flexible and adaptable CR27tx.
Another highlight was the
robot. Besides loading and unloading
various components on
each table, and resetting the position
of the vacuum fixtures and
pods, the robot was demonstrated
handling the most delicate kinds
of jobs. Spectators gazed, full of
amazement, as the robot gripper
skillfully opened a tiny drawer,
picked a small chocolate goodie
out of it, waved it around tantalisingly
in front of the audience, before
finally transferring it into a
glass tube where it slid down and
fell right in front of the visitors’
hands. It was a delight to see their
faces!
The German machine builder
can look back on many years of experience
developing, building, installing
and servicing tailor-made
CNC and robot solutions, used by
numerous satisfied customers all
over Europe. MAKA’s exhibition
was a tremendous access, and a
crowning achievement just one
year on under new management.
MAKA Machinery UK Ltd
Tel 01952 607700
Email iy@makauk.com
www.makauk.com
Narrow band sawmilling ideas from Wood-Mizer
NARROW blade thin-kerf sawing
pioneer Wood-Mizer demonstrated
a number of developments
at Ligna, including band
sawmills for small and medium
businesses, improved small log
processing for pallet production
and a new sawmill in the company’s
industrial range, which
cuts logs up to 1.7 m in diameter.
Wood-Mizer demonstrated a
large spectrum of sawmills beginning
with the LT10 Series, and also
showed the advanced version of
the LT15 equipped with power
feed and the company’s ‘Setworks’
for automatic control of board
thickness.
For customers supplying or
working in the housing industry,
there is a new moulder-planer —
the MP100 — which can be
mounted on the bed of the LT10
or LT15 to allow production of
planed or profiled beams and
boards. The most recent development
is the MP150, which features
power feed and ‘Setworks’.
A small-to-medium LT20B mill
on a segmented bed demonstrated
increased productivity at
an affordable price. The bed
length can easily be extended, allowing
two or more short logs to
be loaded end-to-end and cut in a
single pass of the head — as well
as enabling the owner to handle
longer logs. A small horizontal
resaw was demonstrated to assist
with the conversion of short logs
into saleable products.
The mid-range LT40 workhorse
was shown working with the
Edger/Multirip that can increase
productivity by one third. The
edger is equipped with two blades,
one fixed and one moveable, with
the operator able to adjust the
blade for optimum yield or to cut a
list of required widths. Two lasers
show the line of cut and material
feed speed is smoothly controllable.
The Edger can be easily converted
into a Multirip with up to
five blades by the addition of a
special collar that holds the blades.
Wood-Mizer UK
Tel 01622 813201
Email info@woodmizer.co.uk
www.woodmizer.co.uk
Panel, Wood & Solid Surface June/July 2011 Page 35

LIGNA REVIEW
Vollmer at Ligna
VOLLMER welcomed the international trade press, including PW&SS,
to its extensive stands at Ligna 2011, spread over two halls, on the
middle day of the show, demonstrating processes as diverse as the
grinding of circular saw blades, automated polishing of PCD tools,
an automatic benching centre RC 110 for machining band saw blades
and innovative software packages.
The QM eco select is equipped with five simultaneously controlled CNC
axes and measures and erodes in one single clamping. It is designed to
process tools with PCD-tipped cutting edges with ultimate efficiency and
best surface finish quality. The individually selectable software packages
are said to make the machine especially suitable for beginners.
The standard version of the QM eco select includes a basic software
package, which can be extended with up to three software add-ons. The
hogger package was, for example, designed for processing radius hoggers
in path operation, or profile hoggers with plug-in method. The profile
package includes a four-path program, and works with a peripheral
electrode. The saw blade package covers the complete top and face processing
of all common saw blade tooth geometries. Additional software
packages can be installed at any time.
While one work piece is processed, the parameter of yet another work
piece can be entered in the measuring and eroding program. The piece
is clamped into the machine, and the program for fully automatic processing
is started. Within each processing program, up to four different
eroding steps with individual parameters can be applied: coarse roughing,
roughing, finishing and fine finishing.
The QXD 200/400 offers fully automatic polishing of PCD cutting tips.
Formerly, this application had to be applied manually, whereas now the
machine measures the surfaces of the PCD tips by auto-touch immediately
after eroding and subsequently polishes
them. Different types of tools such as
face milling cutters, groove cutters, groove
drill cutters and other types of cutting tools
can be processed in unmanned operation
and large batches. The polishing process improves
significantly the surface quality of
the PCD tips, and therefore leads to prolonged
operating lifetimes of the cutting
tools. This is because the previously eroded
tips receive an ultra fine surface finish with
roughness results of a few micrometres and
become more resistant to wear and tear, depending
on the type of use.
The CP 200 and CPF 200 new grinding machines
are equipped with four CNC axes,
multiprocessor technology and integrated
software programs. The CP 200 with CNC
axes and multiprocessor technology is designed for top and face grinding
of TC-tipped circular saw blades with a diameter of 80-650 mm. All
common tooth geometries of the wood and aluminium processing industries
are integrated and can be run in one single process cycle. Saw
blades with cutting tips situated in axial angles can also be processed in
one cycle. The CPF 200 is designed for side grinding. The user can choose
between five integrated grinding programs and machine saws with
grouped teeth in one cycle. Another option is oscillation grinding, where
the operator can determine the number and infeed of the grinding
strokes. The lateral relief angle can be introduced either as absolute value
or as angle. Positive and negative hook clearances, which are common
amongst scoring saw blades, can be machined with no problem.
Vollmer’s RC 110 is considered especially suitable for the complete and
fully automatic processing of band saw blades: straightening, levelling
and tensioning in one single clamping.
Thanks to the new measuring unit, the enhanced
benching centre RC 110 achieves
even more precise results when processing
band saw blades. The application is now easier
and more accurate, especially the band
saw blade run-out, and operating lifetime
can therefore be significantly improved.
Vollmer can also offer all the services required
for the lifetime of a machine: from
consulting and financing, through initial machine
set-up, machine operator training,
maintenance and service work, as well as
software upgrades.
Vollmer UK Ltd
Tel 0115 949 1040
Email admin-uk@vollmer-group.com
www.vollmer-group.com
HEALTH & SAFETY
A breath of fresh air from Fercell COSHH/LEV services
THE LEGAL BIT: The quality of compressed air to an aspirator is vital in terms of Health &
Safety. The British Standard for BS EN12021 defines the maximum contaminant para -
meters for breathing air and states, “A competent person should test the quality of the air
supplied for breathing apparatus at least once every three months. More frequent tests
should be conducted if contamination is foreseeable within this three month period.”
The Nice Bit: With more than 35 years’ industry experience delivering air control, air extraction
and dust and fume filtration products and services, Fercell Engineering could be regarded
as specialists in the design, manufacture, supply and installation of turnkey systems. The company’s
engineers hold both P601 (commissioning and thorough examination and testing of
LEV Systems) and hygienist qualifications to ensure a professional COSHH LEV testing and maintenance
service, in compliance with current legislation, thereby ensuring a safe working environment
for employees. The company’s COSHH LEV services are competitive priced,
administered by proficient, competent engineers and tailored to best suit customers’ needs.
Much of Fercell’s business comes through referrals. Fercell adopts a friendly, straightforward,
no pressure approach, quoting competitive prices and ultimately delivering concise,
fair, comprehensive written reports, where necessary including sensible recommendations.
Contact Carol and the COSHH crew for more information.
Fercell Engineering
Tel 0845 130 4014 ● Email info@fercell.com ● www.fercell.com
Page 36 Panel, Wood & Solid Surface June/July 2011

HEALTH & SAFETY
DW Group cuts extraction energy costs with Ecogate®
ECOGATE energy-saving systems,
installed by Dust Control
Systems Ltd, have enabled The
DW Group of Companies to dramatically
cut running costs at
two separate manufacturing facilities
in the South of England.
DW Mouldings Ltd, based in
Sandy, Bedfordshire, and DW General
Wood Machinists in Tottenham,
North London, both com -
missioned DCS to retrofit Ecogate
“extraction-on-demand” systems
to their respective dust plants.
Established in 1971, DW Mouldings
is one of the country’s leading
hardwood timber merchants and
specialist trade moulding mills.
From its 33,000 ft 2 Sandy facility,
the company provides quality bespoke
and production hardwood
mouldings to a growing customer
base throughout the UK. The company
has a library of more than
1800 production moulding profiles
to choose from and confidentially
claims that any bespoke
moulding profile can be achieved
with a quality finish guaranteed.
Raw hardwood timber is to cut to
width, efficiently machined using
high-performance Weinig Powermat
moulding machines, and then
spray lacquer finished, if required.
Short or long production runs can
be accommodated.
At the Tottenham factory, DW
General Wood Machinists, established
in 1948, also has a fully
equipped trade mill and a showroom.
The company offers trade
wood-machining services including
moulding, CNC routering,
planing, drilling, panel cutting,
panel edging, wood components
and cabinetry, displays and shop
fittings.
In a bid to improve energy efficiency
at its factories, DW Group
called in DCS to carry out energy
appraisals on the existing dust extraction
plants. DCS engineers surveyed
both installations and
calculated that installing Ecogate
Left to right: David Howard and DW Mouldings’ production engineer,
Brian Dawes, check real-time power levels on variable
speed drives, controlled by Ecogate greenBOX 12+ units.
New filter bench from acs
NOW available from Air Cleaning Systems (acs) are its re-designed range of downdraught
filter benches for dust extraction in the wood industry.
The FB70011, FB132011 and FB200011 models that control airborne particulate are considered
ideal for removing dust from sanding processes.
The new downdraught benches fully comply with the HSG258 legislation (controlling
airborne contaminants at work) and incor porate an inverter control, filter gauges with ‘filter
full’ indication, G4 pre/primary filtration and optional HEPA secondary filtration as standard.
Additional features that are standard on the models are a motor fail warning light,
three-sided enclosure, levelling feet and an on/off push button control with ‘power on’ light.
The benches are complimented by two carbon filter benches designated FB700C and
FB1500C to control odorous contaminants within an airstream, for example from a bonding
process. The benches will improve the immediate working environment and eliminate
potential respiratory health problems for employees.
For application advice or further information, please contact acs.
Air Cleaning Systems Ltd
Tel 029 2077 6100 ● Email acs@acs-ltd.com ● www.acs-ltd.com
Extraction volumes are automatically adjusted as machines
become active or are shut-down.
technology, with variable speed speed operation, and a total of 24
drives, would result in a combined woodworking machines were fitted
with motorised gates linked to
annual reduction in electricity
usage of a massive 240,000 kW two Ecogate greenBOX 12+ controllers.
Power usage at Tottenham
hours. “DCS put forward an extremely
compelling case for the has been reduced by 58%.
Ecogate system and, with a return David Howard, managing director
of DW Mouldings, says: “Dust
on investment of just three years,
it was an easy decision to make,” Control Systems managed every
says Brian Dossett, Chairman of aspect of the contract extremely
DW Group.
professionally. They worked hard
At the Bedfordshire site, DCS installed
two Ecogate greenBOX 12+ causing any disruption to produc-
to operate around us without
controllers, 15 automatic motorised
gates with sensors and fit-
clean and tidy. We are delighted
tion and always left the place
ted variable speed drives to 75 kW, with the system which is actually
55 kW and 30 kW fan units. As machines
come on-line, or shut cast and will pay for itself much
producing better results than fore-
down, the Ecogate controllers automatically
detect changes in load ally, when buying major plant and
sooner than anticipated. Gener-
and adjust fan speeds accordingly. equipment, there’s always something
that niggles you. With this
The system also detects when
groups of machines served by a project I can honestly say that
particular fan are off-line and everything was done right and
shuts down the fan until required. there is nothing to criticise.”
The net result is a total power saving
of around 60%.
Tel 0800 040 7116
Dust Control Systems Ltd
At the Tottenham factory, two 30 Email sales@DCSlimited.co.uk
kW fans were converted to variable www.ecogate.co.uk
Panel, Wood & Solid Surface June/July 2011 Page 37

HEALTH & SAFETY
Fercell Engineering: a complete solution
FERCELL ENGINEERING can offer a complete solution to all your woodwaste
and dust extraction needs, from initial assessment environmental
to final project completion, including dust and fume extraction
systems and the reduction of woodwaste through its subsidiary, Weima
UK, which offers a range of briquetters, shredders and granulators.
Services to meet ongoing needs including COSHH assessments and a
stock of spares exceeding £200,000 in value, so whatever your need, it
can be delivered quickly and efficiently — whether your machine is upto-the-minute
or tried-and-tested over many years. Fercell has built up
its excellent reputation over the course of 35 years, having its origins in
the dust and fume control market: 15 years ago, the company began to
stock the Weima product, becoming the exclusive UK distributor back in
2004 and is currently one of two Premier Global Dealers for Weima.
Fercell is a company with environmental awareness built into its core.
Everything that can be recycled within its own factory is, making use of
Weima technology to compact waste and hence reduce the space required
for storage. During manufacture, wherever possible, Fercell avoids
the use of environmentally harmful materials, such as CFCs and VOCs,
moving from chemical solvents to water-based paints. And materials
used in the manufacture of Fercell projects are fully recyclable, should
they need to be replaced.
Often the first contact with a prospective customer will arise through a
company’s need for a COSHH or LEV survey, just part of the comprehensive
range of environmental surveys Fercell can offer. These need to be
completed on a regular basis, prompting renewed contact and ongoing
solutions. Over time, a customer may wish to expand his extraction layout
to accommodate new machinery, upgrade with up-to-the-minute technologies
such as individual control of extraction from each workstation, or
simply replace a system that has served
faithfully for many years but is now well
beyond its projected life.
Here, Fercell’s experienced design
team will come into its own. Working
from initial site survey to final design,
basic schematic or full detailed plans
can be supplied on paper or in electronic
format, whichever suits the customer
best. Once the design has been
agreed, the project is handed over to
the manufacturing team.
Fercell’s production department is
equipped with the latest manufacturing
technology, making use of an integrated
CAD/CAM system to work to the highest
standards. With complete control of the
production process at its Aylesford site,
Fercell will ensure that each project is
ready to install at a time convenient to
the customer, minimising any loss of
Fercell is a specialist in creating
down draught sanding benches.
production. The installation teams are
highly trained, with each team qualified
in mechanical lift equipment, access
equipment, working at height, first aid,
fire training, and holding a Health &
Safety Passport.
Fercell’s extensive stock of spares
means that, in the unlikely event that
something does go wrong, replacement
parts can be supplied quickly and efficiently.
Preventative and emergency
breakdown servicing are both available
on either an ad hoc or contract basis and,
of course, Fercell’s ability to offer statutory
COSHH, LEV and EPA assessments
will assist in regular monitoring of the
equipment throughout its working life.
The link-up with Weima is valuable to
Fercell in assisting its customers in managing
solid wood waste, as well as dust.
A Weima briquetter can offer reduction
of waste volume by up to 90%, which reduces the amount of storage
space required and the number of lorries (and hence carbon footprint)
should it need to be transported. Weima briquetters can work with waste
with a maximum moisture content of 18% from wood, paper, light alloy
swarf or biomass. Weima shredders are designed to work with plastics or
wood: the WL series shredder for wood, illustrated, is intended for shredding
maximum volumes of timber waste on an industrial scale, with a rotor
width of 1,000 mm to 2,500 mm. Others, such as the WL 4 series, are considered
ideal for small and medium sized business.
Both briquetters and shredders result in a more compact product that,
depending on the source material, may be used as fuel or sold on for another
purpose, such as animal bedding, maximising the value of an investment
in a Weima product.
Fercell Engineering Ltd
Tel 0845 130 4014 ● Email info@fercell.com ● www.fercell.com
Weima UK ● Tel 0870 428 2688
Email enquiries@weimauk.com ● www.weimauk.com
Page 38 Panel, Wood & Solid Surface June/July 2011

GENISIS
… setting the standard for quality, reliability and accuracy …
AT A PRICE YOU CAN AFFORD!
TENONERS
DUST EXTRACTION
PANEL SAWS
BAND SAWS
BRIQUETTERS
THICKNESSERS
SPINDLE MOULDER
J & C O’MEARA LTD (WOODWORKING MACHINERY)
Unit 4, Falcon Place, Burscough, Lancs L40 8RT
Tel: 01704 893109
Email info@ukwoodworkingmachinery.co.uk
www.ukwoodworkingmachinery.co.uk

Contact us for the latest developments in sanding lacquer and high grade surfaces
Tel 0845 833 0565 ● Fax 0845 833 0567
Email sales@kundig.co.uk ● www.kundig.co.uk
Kündig Ltd