December 2011/January 2012 - PAWPRINT PUBLISHING

PANEL, WOOD 

& Solid Surface 

Issue No. 42/43 December 2011/January 2012 

Woodscape 

opts for 

DCS 

dust plant 

See page 37 for 

the full story 

Also inside this month: 

All the latest News 

Classical Machinery 

Panels & Panel 

Processing 

Software for 

Designers & 

Manufacturers 

Sustainable 

Development: 

Wood Waste & 

Dust Control

NEWS 

Panel, Wood & 

Solid Surface 

is published by 

Pawprint Publishing Ltd 

Creative Media Centre 

Robertson Street 

Hastings 

East Sussex 

TN34 1HL 

Tel 01424 205428 

Fax 01424 205436 

email 

info@pawprintuk.co.uk 

www.pawprintuk.co.uk 

and is printed by 

Bishops Printers 

Walton Road 

Portsmouth 

Hampshire 

PO6 1TR 

Tel 023 9233 4900 

Fax 023 9233 4901 

email 

sales@bishops.co.uk 

www.bishops.co.uk 

© Pawprint Publishing Ltd 

All rights reserved. No part of 

this publication may be 

reproduced, stored in a retrieval 

system or transmitted in any 

form by any means electronic, 

mechanical, photocopying, 

recording or otherwise without 

the prior consent of Pawprint 

Publishing Ltd. 

This journal includes editorial 

photographs provided and paid 

for by suppliers. 

Panel, Wood & Solid Surface 

supports the work of 

Hearing Dogs for Deaf 

People 

Tel 01844 348100 

(voice & minicom) 

Fax 01844 348101 

email 

info@hearingdogs.org.uk 

www.hearingdogs.org.uk 

W12 Working With Wood will come at a crucial time 

NOBODY can argue about the 

fact that trading conditions are 

tough. The companies that find 

their way through and even 

those who strengthen their market 

position are those prepared 

to be bold. “Think laterally”, 

“think outside the box” … all of 

these phrases apply. The thing is 

that market activity shifts at different 

economic times and 

many manufacturers at the moment 

will tell you that targeting 

areas of activity is essential. For 

this they need to be flexible in 

terms of their design and manufacturing 

abilities. This allows 

them to focus on the middle to 

upper end of particular markets 

when the volume end is sluggish 

or to move into completely 

new market areas. 

It’s called smart manufacturing. 

Crucially, Working with Wood comes in a non-Ligna year so the importance of holding the event becomes all 

the more relevant for British and Irish manufacturers. Many companies are now far more particular about the 

equipment they invest in. They are looking far beyond “fit for purpose”. They are looking for machinery that 

offers fast set-up times, software interfacing, low energy drive motors and more. 

At W12 Working with Wood visitors will find smart manufacturing technology at all levels under one roof 

with some exciting trends already emerging from exhibitors reporting back. Readers of PW&SS will be able to 

keep abreast of this news as it comes in at W12 over the coming months. 

One of the world’s largest machinery and technology groups, Homag, will definitely be a must for visitors 

looking for methods to integrate manufacturing processes. Homag has introduced exciting new innovations in 

integrated production and control software. These go hand in hand with technical innovations in five-axis CNC 

machining, edgebanding and automated storage systems for routers and panels which can result 

in 40% increases in production capacity, so investment can be amortised in around 

12 months. 

For anyone looking to widen their business activities, Dutch widebelt sanding 

specialists Boere inform W12 that the design of its machines allows for amazing 

diversity. At Working with Wood the company will be celebrating its 70th year 

and the ensuing expertise and experience has allowed it to develop sanding 

solutions as delicate as removing the aluminium coating from polycarbonate 

CDs for recycling … to stripping off cement, paint and other residue from scaffolding 

planks for re-use! In between they calibrate paper and waste into notice 

boards and also clean and brush carpet tiles for re-use at exhibitions. Looking forwards, 

the new electric motor fits well into the CRS process, meaning that only the 

minimum amount of power is drawn for the operation in progress. 

These are just two examples of signed-up exhibitors looking forward to October 2012. 

The “W series” of exhibitions have always seen milestones of success. At W10, for example, exhibitor REHAU 

held a seminar to introduce the new edgebanding material designed for bonding to the panel edge via a laser 

system — important for both manufacturers and designers. As a result of W10 being used as the UK launch pad 

for the concept one of the UK’s largest cabinet door manufacturers became the first to install a stateof-the-art 

laser edgebanding machine that could apply the new material and is now enjoying 

phenomenal success with a range of acrylic doors with the new seamless edge. Others have 

quickly followed. This example also serves to underscore the vital cross-over value between 

W12 Working with Wood and W12 Working with Design. 

It’s all about bringing people and businesses together to disseminate information, exchange 

ideas, stimulate new methods of working and solving problems. There is no other 

forum where this value of face-to-face interaction can be achieved. 

In the months approaching the exhibition the W12 team will be 

bringing readers further information about what they can look 

forward to seeing and why they 

should be ensuring that 

the dates receive 

priority in their 

diaries. 

W12 Exhibition 

Tel 01629 530998 

Email sales@w12exhibition.com 

www.w12exhibition.com 

“W12 will be the highlight of the 

British woodworking industry’s 2012 

calendar and we at Homag UK are, 

as always, very supportive of this important 

event. The Birmingham exhibition 

in all its various guises has 

always been close to our hearts and 

we, more than any other company, 

have been keen to see this exhibition 

survive and prosper even through 

difficult times. To me it is important 

for the UK woodworking industry to 

have a quality exhibition where 

companies can keep abreast of technology 

and trends emerging from 

Europe and further afield. W12 will 

be the perfect opportunity for potential 

investors to view the very latest 

developments from the Homag 

Group and we will be presenting a 

full range of machinery and software from entry level options through to high 

capacity solutions — something for everyone!” 

Simon Brooks, Sales & Marketing Director, Homag UK 

SCM will also be a significant presence at W12. 

Latest exhibitors: OHRA (storage solutions) & GRACO (finishing equipment) 

Panel, Wood & Solid Surface December 2011/January 2012 Page 3

NEWS 

New Design 

Centre opens 

A CUSTOM-BUILT Design Centre 

has been incorporated at the 

heart of the recently refurbished 

Northumbria Building at 

RENOLIT Cramlington Ltd. 

It creates a permanent display 

of the company’s products and 

provides an impressive environment 

for customers to visit and 

use for business meetings and 

new product design presentations. 

The building also provides 

much needed meeting rooms and 

conference facilities. 

The striking exterior façade is 

created by combining windows 

made from RENOLIT EXOFOL MX 

Hazy Grey Finesse with matching 

Hazy Grey Finesse cladding top and bottom, contrasted in the middle 

with Siena PR, a warm Italian walnut design. Both designs are RENOLIT 

EXOFOL MX Premier stock range effects, which are produced at the Cramlington 

site. 

The Design Centre itself is divided into four sections, presenting the 

products of DESIGN, EXTERIOR and WATERPROOFING Business Units plus 

an open display facility for interactive use during presentations. 

The DESIGN area proudly houses the complete global 3D stock ranges 

of RENOLIT COVAREN and RENOLIT ALKOREN with an impressive display 

of almost 170 different effects. 

Rotating carousels show the UK 3D stock ranges, 2D applications, experimental 

ideas and new product developments. 

A large conference table made from RENOLIT ALKOREN Lissa A takes 

centre stage, with an informal seating arrangement to the side. The room 

has windows running along its whole length, which provide the necessary 

natural day light into the room. 

On the other side of the room are the display areas for EXTERIOR and 

WATERPROOFING. The windows in the EXTERIOR 

presentation are backlit to simulate an external 

view and currently feature the four most recent 

additions to the RENOLIT EXOFOL MX Premier 

range: Teresina XC, Wisconsin XD, Siena PL and 

Winchester XC. A more extensive selection of 

window corners is displayed on the central unit. 

The WATERPROOFING unit features ALKOR 

Bright, ALKOR Solar, ALKOR Design, ALKOR Plan 

and ALKOR Green, which are primarily used in 

roofing and construction projects. 

Excellent storage for literature, 

samples, MFC matching boards 

and RENOLIT branded giveaways 

is provided by the under-display 

cupboards surface with RENOLIT 

ALKOREN Platinum White 

Suedette Matt. 

The Northumbria Building has 

been developed as a working facility 

for the staff and customers 

with rooms suited to individual 

presentations right up to those 

designed to accommodate large 

groups. Already the building has 

hosted its first major event — on 

15th September over 100 customers 

attended an open day to 

visit the Design Centre and to view 

new machinery investments 

within the factory. 

RENOLIT Cramlington Ltd 

Tel 01670 718222 

Email 

renolit.cramlington@renolit.com 

www.renolit.com 

Page 4 Panel, Wood & Solid Surface December 2011/January 2012

NEWS 

Innovation award 

THIS intriguing staircase won 

the prize for Innovation at the 

2011 Wood Awards. 

Designed by Atmos Studio, the 

structure of the staircase arose 

from laminating different thicknesses 

of MDF as either tread or 

riser or support wall, capping tips 

and verticals with finer threads of 

laminated oak. The main contractor 

was Red Oak Services. 

Everything was fabricated directly 

from 2D CAD information 

using CNC routing, carefully intersecting 

flat-pack 2D elements to 

create a complex 3D composition 

with the illusion of three-dimensional 

curvature. 

A precise laser survey was crucial 

to minimise tolerances and ensure 

that the millimetre-perfect 

design slotted perfectly into the 

planometric and sectional constraints 

of the existing fabric. 

The stair was designed as a cohesive, 

easily-assembled kit of 

parts: “an outsized 3D jigsaw constructed 

with an animated flipbook,” 

according to the designers. 

An engraved base-plate enabled 

precise positioning of outer 

frame walls and the central spine 

wall, both bridged by elaborately 

carved beams that slotted in 

sequence into these flank walls. 

Routing constraints limited the 

use of chamfered cuts and thus 

meant substantial voids at the intersection 

between diagonal planar 

elements, necessitating the 

generation of additional filigree 

masking elements. In the main 

stair void, these acted as tendrils 

resolving the eccentric junctions 

between riser and wall, curling up 

to form the additional delicate enclosing 

balustrades required by 

Building Regulations. 

The geometry was generated 

from a basic sequence of angles 

and radii, matched in plan and section, 

and interstitial lines placed at 

intervals. The design sought to 

minimise mass whilst ensuring stability, 

laminating three staggered 

layers of MDF in section to form an 

ultra-thin profile in the dominant 

elevations, layers of engraving further 

splitting the mass into the appearance 

of two thin strands. The 

use of two engraving depths for 

each of the three layers of MDF enabled 

intricate functional carving 

of what would ultimately resolve 

into the appearance of a single 

sculptural mass. 

The Wood Awards 

www.woodawards.com 


NEWS 

In-Excess equips new factory with SCM machinery 

IN-EXCESS retail stores provide an 

ever-changing shopping experience 

for the consumer, supplying 

quality household, DIY, hardware, 

tools, timber and garden products 

at discount prices, with product 

lines continually changing 

depending upon availability. 

Owner, Carl Chambers, decided 

12 months ago to examine the possibility 

of manufacturing doors and 

garden related products in-house 

rather than buying them in from a 

number of sources, so he approached 

SCM’s local distributor, 

Mike Martin, of MJM Woodworking 

Machinery. After initial discussions, 

it was decided to visit the SCM 

Group’s manufacturing plants in Rimini, 

Italy, not only to see how all 

the SCM machines were made, but 

also see classical and CNC machines 

demonstrated in SCM’s impressive 

new showroom. 

Very happy with the visit to 

SCM, Carl Chambers placed orders 

for a number of SCM machines, including 

a L’Invincible SI 6000 sliding 

table panel saw, a TI 155 EP 

Class spindle moulder, a TEN 220 

single end tenoner, an FS 520 

Class planer thicknesser, a Sandya 

5S wide belt sander and a Tecnomax 

S600P band saw. A week later, 

an SCM Pratix Z2 CNC machining 

centre was demonstrated and ordered 

on SCM’s stand at the W10 

exhibition at the NEC. 

The L’Invincible SI 6000 is a top 

of the range panel saw and has 

blade tilting and a 3,200 x 3,200 

mm squaring capacity, with a generous 

140 mm cutting height. Fitted 

with the “Vanguard” control 

system and Windows XP, all on an 

overhead control panel, direct 

control of the main and scoring 

saw lifting, tilting, blade rotation 

speed (an inverter fitted) with a 

999 program capacity of the controlled 

axes. Programming of sequential 

cuts within a program is 

possible and full graphic assistance 

for the operator is included. 

A controlled axis programmable 

parallel fence with 1,500 mm capacity 

sliding on two THK guides at 

a speed up to 25 m/min is included. 

A full support mobile frame enables 

angular cutting with micro adjustment 

with an LCD readout display. 

The TI 155 EP Class spindle 

moulder with tilting spindle and 

HSK 63 rapid tool changer has the 

“Easy” electronic control system 

installed with an overhead panel 

for controlling 2 to 8 axes, with a 

300 program storage capacity, enabling 

lifting and tilting of the 

spindle to be carried out simply 

and fast. The “Flex” fence control 

provides automatic adjustments 

of the entire fence with reference 

to the tool diameter and the infeed 

fence for the removal of the 

required amount of timber. 

Aluminium fences combined 

with the “Fast” section table with 

automatic adjustment managed 

from the “Easy” controller and an 

Programming the SCM L’Invincible panel saw SI 6000 at In-Excess. 

Programming the SCM Pratix Z2 at In-Excess. 

Mike Martin demonstrating the SCM spindle moulder TI 155 EP Class. 

inverter for spindle speeds of 900 

to 12,000 rpm, reverse spindle rotation, 

a glazing bead unit and the 

HSK 63 rapid tool change system, 

ensures the TI 155 EP Class is fully 

fitted with all the devices to provide 

fast and simple programming 

for the operators between the variety 

of jobs that will be undertaken 

at In-Excess. 

The Sandya 5-S wide belt 

sander, with 1,350 mm working 

width, has two rollers, 140 and 220 

mm diameter, each with its own 

15 hp motor, the first roller with 

SCM’s helicoidal grooved steel 

roller for maximum stock removal. 

Electronic positioning of the work 

table, with on/off pneumatic selector 

for each roller, again ensures 

rapid setting up between jobs. 

The TEN 220 Class Tenoner has 

ISO 40 rapid tool change system 

fitted, providing a 350 mm maximum 

tool diameter with a 7.5 kW 

motor. The saw unit carries a 400 

mm diameter blade, 3 kW motor 

and has a revolver with five stops. 

The rotating chip breaker has capacity 

for five profiles. 

The Pratix Z2-27 CNC machining 

centre has a 2,750 x 1,300 mm 

working area and a 7.5 kW routing 

head with both a Rapid 8 automatic 

tool changer and a TR 10 

rack tool changer, and with a vectorial 

speed of 60 m/min. Manufacturing 

MDF kitchen doors, 

ready to paint, radiator panels and 

back panels will be carried out as 

In-Excess can also supply handles, 

hinges and associated products 

from its own retail outlets. The machine 

has the capability of nesting 

panels and doors from a full-size 

sheet using the aluminium multifunctional 

work table and high 

volume vacuum system. 

Joinery shop manager, John 

O’Neill, is very pleased with all the 

new SCM machines installed, commenting 

“The machines, especially 

the spindle moulder and panel saw, 

are very easy and fast to set up 

using their CNC controls, so we can 

move from one job to the next in no 

time at all, as programs can be recalled 

or amended within seconds.” 

The new 3,000 ft 2 factory is in a 

new unit on the In-Excess site and 

headquarters just outside Salisbury 

and has a new dust extraction 

system fitted and a power upgrade 

installed for all the new machines. 

Carl Chambers concluded: “We 

are very pleased with our investment 

in SCM machinery and the 

service and back-up provided by 

Mike Martin and SCM UK. The machines 

are all high specification for 

fast set-up times between jobs, and 

therefore we are in a great position 

to take full advantage of the upturn 

in the market when it arrives.” 

In-Excess 

Tel 01722 412233 

www.in-excess.com 

SCM Group (UK) Ltd 

Tel 0115 977 0044 

scmgroupuk@scmgroup.com 

www.scmgroup-uk.com 


Saylerlack’s 

Ultra gloss 

topcoat system — 

pung on the sheen 

Our improved topcoat system can be used with 

exisng formulated colours, meaning greater colour 

choices and gloss finishes for your wood 

TL345 Clear Gloss Lacquer and TLL3097 Ultra Gloss Topcoat 

With opons of hardener choice and mixing raos, the system allows adjustability 

of flash-off, touch dry and curing mes as well as levels of gloss from the gun. 

Extra fast drying mes are also achievable, allowing quick polishing. 

Providing the perfect soluon for ultra glossy topcoat applicaons — bespoke 

kitchens, dining room and bedroom furniture, yachts and motorboats 

vernicci is our industrial paint coangs specialist division supplying a large range 

of coangs to industrial markets: 

18 Javelin Road, Norwich, Norfolk NR6 6HX 

T: 0845 603 7105 F: 0844 561 0045 E: sales@vernicci.co.uk 

MWS/08

NEWS 

Weinig’s Solid Wood Days attract trade visitors 

from all over Europe 

MORE than 70 companies from 15 countries were briefed about innovative 

system technology and current trends in solid wood processing 

during Weinig’s Solid Wood Days on 12 and 13 October. The event was 

held at the Ohnemus company in Kappel-Grafenhausen near Freiburg. 

Ohnemus has developed steadily from a hardwood sawmill and trading 

company to become the manufacturer of high-quality sorted solid 

wood panels and represents a modern company that has secured sustained 

competitiveness through consistent adaptation to the market. 

With its refinement of cut pieces, Ohnemus was able to develop an interesting 

clientele for staircases, furniture and interior fittings. 

The concept of the Solid Wood Days combined an insight into running 

production at one of Weinig’s partners with a comprehensive section for 

presentations. The focus was on increasing added value. Optimisation of 

cutting to size and of widths and lengths, wood optimisation through 

the introduction of scanners, wood saved using planing machines and 

intelligent gluing systems were the main topics. Information on Weinig’s 

finger-jointing systems rounded off the schedule and emphasised 

Weinig’s comprehensive expertise in solid wood processing. 

Visitors were able to form a global impression of all this on a visit 

around the production facility. Weinig supported the Ohnemus company 

as its partner for the whole production process. The result of this collaboration 

is a state-of-the-art linked solution from cutting to size through 

to the finished solid wood panel. 

At the start of the processing process, there is a Maxicut 800 pre-cut 

saw which removes major defects in the wood such as warps and splits 

in the cut wood. The operator can then turn the boards and inspect the 

underside via an automatic turning station before measuring the width. 

Using a laser controlled via a joystick s/he can then measure the unfinished 

board either by marking the whole width of the board or marking 

various quality zones along the surface of 

the board. The division of the board width 

and quality zones into the corresponding 

cutting widths is then done automatically 

by the TimberMax width optimisation system. 

Based on the cutting list and optimisation 

parameters (timber yield, achievable 

prices, required number), it calculates the 

optimum division of the board for each 

rough board measured. 

The rough board is divided up exactly by 

the ProfiRip KR 450 M multiplied buzz saw. 

The cut lamellae and waste are separated 

from the oddments via a discharge belt 

conveyor downstream from the ProfiRip. 

These so-called returns are fed back into 

the machine before the width measuring 

stage, measured again and cut into widths. 

The wood then travels through the chalk 

marking station to the optimising cross-cut 

saw. The OptiCut 304 calculates the best division 

into lengths based on the best combination 

of the cutting list and optimisation 

parameters and cuts the lamellae to size. 

From here the workpieces are processed 

using the new Weinig panel line and a hall specially extended and fitted 

with climate control. The whole process, from feeding in the boards cut 

to variable widths to the finished, sanded and stacked panel, runs nearly 

fully automatically with only two operators required. The first station is a 

Powermat 500 moulder with automatic pull-in, measurement of width, 

mobile spindle, automatic discharge for the various widths and transfer 

to the sorting station. The lamellae are then sorted according to colour 

and application of images. The lamellae are then collected automatically 

in the buffer before the ProfiPress T 3500 HF, where they are glued automatically 

and pressed nearly free of offsets into panels. Very short pressing 

times are guaranteed through implementation of high frequency 

technology. Since only the joins are heated, no stresses or warping are 

created in the wood, especially in hardwood in comparison to other gluing 

processes. Furthermore, energy consumption is significantly lower. 

HF gluing also ensures demonstrably better join quality. 

After pressing the panels are fed individually into the grinder. The finished 

boards are then stacked on pallets using vacuum technology. 

The trade visitors to Weinig’s solid wood days were very enthusiastic 

about the combination of live demos and accompanying presentation 

schedule. “Our concept of demonstrating Weinig’s overall expertise in a 

manufacturing company has worked as planned,” CSO Stephan Weber 

summed up at the end of the event. 

Michael Weinig (UK) Ltd ● Tel 01235 557600 

Michael Weinig AG 

Tel 0049 (0) 93 41 86-0 ● Email info@weinig.com ● www.weinig.com 


NEWS 

Felder UK celebrates success of World Skills London 2011 

FELDER UK is proud to have 

been a supplier of woodworking 

machinery to what is believed to 

be the largest international 

skills competition to date: World 

Skills London 2011. 

The 41st World Skills Competition 

featured nearly 1,000 competitors 

representing 51 different 

countries. Participants competed 

in 46 skills, ranging from hairdressing 

to robotics and web design, for 

the honour of being the world’s 

best in their chosen discipline. 

More than 200,000 visitors arrived 

to show their support and 

participate in “Have a Go” activities, 

allowing them to try selected 

skills for themselves. they attended 

as individuals as well as organised 

groups from schools, colleges 

and other organisations. 

Due to the predicted high 

turnout for this year, World Skills 

2011 was hosted in London’s 

ExCeL Exhibition Centre, a venue 

large enough to provide 90,000 m 2 

of space for the competition — 

the equivalent of 10 Wembley Stadiums! 

With a record-breaking surface 

area and number of 

attendees, it is believed to be the 

largest event ever to be held at 

ExCeL. 

The vital role of the World Skills 

competition in promoting further 

education in the UK and throughout 

the world was recognised by 

local and national government, attracting 

influential visitors such as 

Joinery and cabinetmaking experts at World Skills London 2011 

Work 2 Learn celebration 

Mayor of London Boris Johnson 

and Prime Minister David Cameron. 

Their presence highlighted the importance 

of skills worldwide and in 

Britain’s economy. 

Felder UK stepped in as one of 

the sponsors who collectively provided 

81% of the World Skills infrastructure. 

Felder supplied a 

total of 26 woodworking machines 

to the cabinetmaking and 

joinery competitions; these included 

the A 951 planer, the D 951 

thicknesser, the AD 741 planerthicknesser, 

the FB 640 bandsaw, 

the RL 200 and RL 125 dust extraction 

systems, the K 700 S panel 

saw and the F 700 Z spindle moulder. 

With top-of-the-line Austrian 

engineering at their disposal, the 

competitors were able to make 

the best use of their talent and 

training to create some truly impressive 

results. 

Felder UK would like to congratulate 

Richard M Schauer of 

Germany for winning the gold 

medal in Cabinetmaking and 

Seung Hyeon Wang of South 

Korea for winning first place in the 

Joinery competition. In addition, 

team UK won five Gold, two Silver 

and six Bronze medals 

“We are proud to have supplied 

machines that helped them score 

top points on their projects and 

look forward to supporting the 

participants of World Skills Leipzig 

in 2013,” a Felder UK spokesman 

told PW&SS. 

Felder UK 

Tel 01908 635000 

Email info@ukfelder.co.uk 

www.ukfelder.co.uk 

A CELEBRATION of student success 

occurred on 28th September 

2011 at the Woodwise 

Academy in Bristol. 

Over the past year an innovative 

new venture has been developed 

by Didac Ltd and the Work 2 Learn 

School Programme. This collaboration 

has seen the Kingswood Partnership 

schools working with 

Didac Ltd to create a practical 

learning experience for students 

that is “hands on”, challenging and 

results in a recognised trade qualification 

for achievers. 

At an Awards Evening held at 

the Woodwise Academy, students 

were presented with Level 1 City 

and Guilds Certificate in Furniture. 

Jon Gibson of Didac Ltd, a specialist 

training provider in the 

woodworking sector, commented, 

“We are delighted that the students 

received a 100% success 

rate and that we are able to run a 

second programme into 2012 with 

a new group of learners. ” 

Left to right: Alex Sills (trainer), Connor Rogers, Jack Green, Jake 

Thomas, Lee Hathway and Liam Baker. 

In addition to the presentation 

of certificates, an award was also 

made to Lee Hathway as Learner 

of the Year. Having now left school 

and as a result of his experience on 

the Work 2 Learn programme, Lee 

has enrolled on a construction 

skills related course as part of his 

continued learning. 

Didac Ltd’s trainer, Alex Sills, 

who ran the course at the Academy, 

stated: “This was a new venture 

that was challenging for 

students and training staff, but 

one that succeeded because of 

the commitment shown by all involved 

to make it a positive and 

practical experience. I’m really 

pleased that all my learners 

achieved their certificates.” 

Jon Gibson finished by saying: “I 

am pleased to be able to offer this 

course that encourages students 

into a woodworking career. As well 

as this programme, we are now 

able to offer funded training 

courses to the unemployed looking 

to train in furniture related skills 

and are working with Job Centre 

Plus to promote this further.” 

Didac Ltd is already recognised 

as one of the leading training 

providers in the UK timber sector 

and the Academy has already attracted 

both nationwide and overseas 

interest. 

Jon Gibson added: “We are continually 

developing our range of 

provision and we pride ourselves 

on delivering quality qualifications. 

We firmly believe the Woodwise 

Academy will become recognised 

as the UK Centre of Excellence in 

woodworking and woodmachining 

training provision.” 

Didac Ltd 

Tel 0117 904 9377 

Email info@didac.co.uk 

www.didac.co.uk 


NEWS 

REHAU 

invests in 

Anglesey 

REHAU HAS ANNOUNCED a 

£775,000 investment in its 

edgeband facility at Amlwch on 

Anglesey. A major extension will be built to house new set up and 

recycling equipment which will help to deliver greener products in 

higher volumes. 

The new facility will store, prepare and recycle the paints used in the 

application of colours and patterns to the edgeband and will also regrind 

the waste and offcuts which can be reintroduced into the extrusion 

process without any visual or functional detriment to product quality. 

Allison Tucker, the Business Team Leader responsible for REHAU’s furniture 

edgebands, said: “This investment will give us the space we need 

to service the growing demand from customers for REHAU edgeband 

produced in the UK. 

“It is also a statement of intent which demonstrates not only our ongoing 

commitment to UK manufacturing but also our determination to 

deliver products which are greener than ever.” 

REHAU’s Amlwch facility produces 70% of the edgeband which REHAU 

supplies into the UK market and recently received a global award for its 

success in implementing lean manufacturing techniques. 

REHAU Ltd 

Tel 01989 762671 ● Email Martin.Rover-Parkes@rehau.com 

www.rehau.com 

National Sales Manager 

Weinig expands in China 

WEINIG AG continues to invest 

in China. In Yantai, Shandong, 

province, the specialist in machines 

and facilities for solid 

wood processing is expanding 

the production area of the plant 

by around 800 m 2 to a total of 

12,000 m 2 . 

The new assembly hall was inaugurated 

at a ceremony attended 

by the members of the 

board at Weinig who had come especially 

from Tauberbischofsheim. 

In future Unicontrol 6 window machines 

will be produced there. This 

classic angle system for artisan 

production of window frames has 

been in Weinig’s range in Germany 

for many years. The new production 

facility in Yantai is intended 

solely for the domestic market in 

China. The expansion of the range 

with the window machine is 

Weinig’s response to the strong 

growth being experienced by the 

wood processing industry in 

China. 

The manufacturer is very confident 

for the future. “Our Chinese 

customers value engineering from 

Germany,” the chairman of the 

board, Wolfgang Pöschl, emphasises. 

“The Unicontrol 6 will be assembled 

in Yantai according to 

German standards of quality to 

satisfy the increasing demands of 

the Chinese market.” 

The main factory in Tauberbischofsheim 

will make a significant 

contribution to the market 

drive in China. Numerous precision 

parts such as the cutter spindles 

for the machines will be supplied 

from Germany. “This means that 

the expansion of the plant in Yantai 

will not compete in any way with 

the production facility in Tauberbischofsheim; 

on the contrary, it 

strengthens its position,” Mr Pöschl 

explains. Weinig’s premium products 

will continue to be made in 

Germany without exception. 

Weinig has had its own plant in 

China since 1995. Following successful 

development in recent 

years, the construction of the new 

assembly hall marks the third large 

investment project. 

Michael Weinig (UK) Ltd 

Tel 01235 557600 

Michael Weinig AG 

Tel 0049 (0) 93 41 86-0 

Email info@weinig.com 

www.weinig.com 

THE FULL brand and identity 

merger of the new Armac Martin 

creative furniture component 

manufacturing business is now 

headed in the field by its National 

Sales Manager, Gary Barnes. 

Gary has a wealth of market and 

technical knowledge and has 

been instrumental in incorporating 

new Rapid Prototyping technology 

in to the company’s 

manufacturing plant in Birmingham. 

The business is keen and 

able to develop more customer requested 

bespoke and exclusive 

lines with its ability, believed to be 

unique, to bring design concept to 

rapid product reality. 

Armac Martin 

Tel 0121 359 2111 

Email gary@armacmartin.co.uk 

www.armacmartin.co.uk 

Official inauguration of the new assembly hall: A Chinese tribute 

for the Board at Weinig. 


NEWS 

Cross and Sansam installs SCM Routech 5-axis Chronos 

CROSS and Sansam is a well established 

family run business 

specialising in pattern and 

mould making and general 

wood machining, based in 

Shepshed, near Loughborough 

in Leicestershire. The company 

has recently expanded by taking 

delivery of an SCM Routech 

Chronos HT 5-axis CNC machining 

centre. 

Cross and Sansam’s company 

policy has always been based 

upon manufacturing and supplying 

a quality product, delivered on 

time, using the company’s wealth 

of experience, technical knowhow 

and long gained experience 

of its customers’ requirements. All 

sales are obtained by reputation 

and repeat business. 

Pattern and mould making is a 

large percentage of the manufacturing 

at Cross and Sansam, but in 

recent years, the company has 

moved into specialist wood machining 

and mouldings, on both 

hard and soft woods, with 

handrails, flooring and wood turning 

being produced on a wide 

range of machinery located in its 

wood mill including CNCs, planer 

moulders, sanders etc. 

Customers in a wide range of industries 

are supplied, including 

aerospace, marine, medical, transport 

and water treatment, with 

foundries in Sheffield, Birmingham, 

Leicester and Scotland 

included. 

Cross and Sansam already has a 

Thermwood 5-axis CNC machine, 

a Wissner 5-axis CNC, a Bridport 

VMC plus an SCM Record 130 standard 

3-axis CNC that was purchased 

second hand from SCM UK 

a few years ago. As the company is 

currently extremely busy, at the 

beginning of 2011, directors David 

and James Sansam decided to 

purchase an additional five-axis 

CNC with a larger machining capacity, 

so they contacted Ian Mc- 

Carthy, Area Sales Manager at SCM 

Group UK. 

Along with CNC supervisor, 

Simon Riley, and James Sansam, 

they accompanied Ian McCarthy 

for a working demonstration at 

SCM’s customer Stage 2 in Yorkshire, 

who were impressed with 

the Routech Chronos installed 

four years ago. Soon after, David 

Sansam confirmed an order with 

SCM for the Chronos HT with a 

3,700 x 2,100 mm table size, with 

delivery and installation in July. 

With a 900 mm Z-axis capacity, 

machining is carried out by an 8.5 

kW Prisma H routing head, capable 

of 24,000 rpm, tools being fed 

to the routing spindle from a 

Rapid 12 Automatic Tool Changer. 

Examples of moulds machined on the SCM Routech Chronos at 

Cross and Sansam. 

5-axis routing on the SCM Routech Chronos at Cross and Sansam. 

Simon Riley preparing a mould for machining on the SCM 

Routech Chronos. 

The Chronos, with its rigid portal 

structure, has SCM’s aluminium 

multi-functional work table fitted, 

with two 250 mc/hr vacuum 

pumps, so the nesting of panels, 

when required, can be carried out. 

Programming of the Chronos is 

carried out using Mastercam 

CAD/CAM. Customers’ paper 

drawings or emailed drawings are 

converted into programs to be 

sent directly to the 5-axis Chronos. 

With patterns for castings, Simon 

Riley comments “With our experience, 

we can add various contraction 

values to a program 

depending upon the final metal 

being cast, or we can scale or factor 

up or down dimensions as required, 

for example, a gear box 

casting.” 

Patterns are made from a combination 

of wood, plywood and 

various synthetic materials. Rough 

component shapes are bandsawed 

out and then fitted to a 

base board, that is then fixed to 

the table of the Chronos for 

machining. 

For machining, a typical job 

uses a tool that is 20 mm end mill 

for roughing out, running at 

14,000 rpm, with a feed speed of 

15 m/min, stepping down 3 mm at 

a time. When finishing, a 10 mm 

cutter with a 1 mm radius is employed 

running at 18,000 rpm at a 

10 m/min feed speed stepping 

down at 0.25 mm. The final finish 

obtained is excellent. 

The Chronos work table is fully 

enclosed with sliding doors for 

easy access and provides maximum 

safety for the operator, with 

large windows in the doors so the 

operator can view machining as it 

proceeds. Prismatic guideways 

with recirculating ball slides ensure 

the highest accuracy and dynamic 

rigidity, and rack and pinion 

with backlash recovery for the X, Y 

and Z axes at 130 m/min. 

James Sansam comments, 

“Since installation of the SCM 

Chronos we have been very impressed 

with its accuracy and 

quality of finish on the patterns 

and components after machining, 

whether they are very large up to 

the machine’s capacity or fairly 

small, intricate component parts. 

Space allowing, another Chronos 

could be on the cards in the near 

future.” 

Cross and Sansam 

Tel 01509 651414 

5axiscnc@crossandsansam.co.uk 

www.crossandsansam.co.uk 


Tel 0115 977 0044 

scmgroupuk@scmgroup.com 



NEWS 

Cube attracts woodworkers to Weinig UK 

THE WEINIG Cube, PAR and 

straightening planer, drew 

woodworking companies from 

all sectors of the industry to the 

Abingdon showroom to see it in 

action. 

They were not disappointed: according 

to the company, nothing 

like it has ever been seen before 

and, in addition to several recent 

orders, enquiries are beginning to 

pour in. 

PAR and straightening of timber 

has never been easier, as fast or 

more precise. Most importantly, 

there is no setup time involved! Innovation 

in setup technology and 

design make the Cube truly ‘Plug 

and Play’ — meaning that, when 

you switch on — it’s ready. It can 

also be moved around in the 

workshop at any time, on a hand 

operated lift. 

The benefits are believed to be 

way above any conventional machine 

can offer — including the famous 

Weinig P22N, which is used 

widely in the industry. No expensive 

training is needed. It is safe, 

simple and highly efficient. Dimensional 

changes can be performed 

at the push of a button, 

with the spindles running. 

A group of visitors with a couple of Weinig agents at the in-house exhibition showroom in Abingdon. 

With the MPV preview feature, 

you know in advance what the 

machined piece will look like, because 

the spindle settings are projected 

onto the workpiece by 

laser. This allows you to optimise 

before machining, saving timber. 

Other efficiency benefits include: 

energy saving of 60% in 

dust extraction; absolutely 

The Cube dominating the in-house exhibition at the Weinig showroom showing various other 

Weinig and Holz-Her machines in the background. 

straight and 90% angles on the 

timber; tilted table keeps workpiece 

to the fence; ten times faster 

than with a jointer and planer; reliability 

guaranteed and no production 

errors; takes up minimum 

floor space; simple and fast knife 

changes on Weinig ‘EasyLock’ system; 

low labour costs; easy to machine 

short pieces normally 

difficult to hold with high risk of 

accidents; and last but not least, 

full Weinig after sales service and 

support. 

Commenting on the Cube exhibition, 

Malcolm Cuthbertson, the 

new Weinig UK managing director, 

said: “Interest in the new Cube machine 

has been growing steadily 

since it was first launched at the 

last Ligna exhibition. It has revolutionised 

the world of four-sided 

planing, so we decided to demonstrate 

it at a special in-house exhibition 

on 23rd/24th November, in 

Abingdon, to the UK industry. I am 

delighted with the high attendance 

and genuine customer interest. 

Customers were bowled 

over by the technology and we 

have numerous enquiries to follow 

up — some close to placing 

orders. There was a ‘buzz’ about 

the exhibition and I am sure there 

will be a big sales potential for this 

machine from the people who 

came to see it in action and from 

Page 12 Panel, Wood & Solid Surface December 2011/January 2012 

▲

NEWS 

▲ 

EasyLock tooling on the Cube makes 

knife changes simple and fast. 

CD (UK) Ltd, best known as the national distributor of DuPont 

Corian® solid surface materials, recently hosted an open day 

event to mark the official opening of its new 22,000 ft 2 premises 

in Leeds. 

The move to larger, purpose-built facilities has seen the company 

expand its operation with the addition of a permanent showroom 

which displays its range of woodworking machinery, together with 

thermoforming equipment and power tools used in the fabrication 

of products using Corian®. Also included is a training centre for 

teaching methods of fabricating and shaping Corian®, as well as dedicated 

workshop areas for demonstrating the use of specialist tools 

and machinery. 

Established in 1979 by Geoff Baker, chairman, and Mrs Toni Hibbert, 

director, CD (UK) Ltd has been distributing Corian® solid surface 

materials ever since. Managing director, Gary Baker, who joined 

the company in 2006, said the open day was a resounding success: 

“Today, CD (UK) is much more than a distributor of Corian® materials 

and we felt we should invite customers to come and see for 

themselves what our new premises and CD (UK) has to offer — we 

were delighted with the response and welcomed over 100 visitors 

representing more than 50 companies.” 

The day started with a celebratory ribbon-cutting by BBC tele - 

many more joinery and furniture 

companies in general.” 

For details of the Cube contact 

Weinig UK. 

Michael Weinig (UK) Ltd 

Tel 01235 557600 

Email sales-uk@weinig.com 

www.weinig.co.uk 

CD (UK) hosts hugely successful open day 

vision presenter, Harry Gration, which was followed by a presentation by Jean-Yves Bach, head of Building Products for DuPont in the EMEA region. 

Visitors were able to see all-day demonstrations of the thermoforming of Corian® on an Elkom Multitherm in the workshop, and view specialist tools 

for fabricating Corian® being demonstrated throughout the day in the training centre. 

A major attraction was the new showroom which includes machinery 

from leading names: Elkom — recognised as a leader in vacuumforming 

machines; Langzauner — veneer and composite presses, 

veneer saws and precision veneer sanding machines; EMC — wide belt 

sanding, polishing and buffing machines. The showroom also features 

power tool displays for Betterley, Festool, Makita and Mirka, plus clamping 

devices from Bessey, Chesterman and Omnicubed. 

Jim Mackenzie, a guest at the event who was representing 

Sheffield-based Interior Surfaces (UK) Ltd, enthused about the day 

saying: “Hospitality was first-class and I was really impressed with 

what CD (UK) has created here. We will certainly take advantage of 

the training facilities which are outstanding. Everything about the 

day was carried out in a very professional and friendly way by a 

group of knowledgeable and capable people. Another great thing 

about the day is that it brought together like-minded people from 

different sectors of our industry who were happy to discuss and 

share experiences.” 

All types of specialist tools for fabricating Corian® were demonstrated 

throughout the day. 

The MPV preview software on the Cube mirrors the laser settings 

on the workpiece — green for width and red for depth. 

Demonstrations of thermo-forming of Corian® were carried out on an 

Elkom Multitherm pre-heating and vacuum press station. 

CD (UK) Ltd 

Tel 0113 201 2240 

Email info@cdukltd.co.uk ● www.cdukltd.co.uk 


NEWS 

Brilliant Kündig sander at Dee Valley Joinery 

DEE VALLEY Joinery is a manufacturer 

of quality bespoke timber products, 

“where custom-made is standard”. 

Priding itself on being “large enough 

to cope, yet small enough to care”, 

Dee Valley Joinery has built a reputation 

based on manufacturing and 

supplying a high quality product, 

where success has largely been based 

on customer satisfaction. 

Established in 1987, a highly skilled 

team of woodworking machinists and 

joiners operate in the company’s custom 

built premises in Aberdeen, equipped 

with some of the most modern machinery 

and equipment in Scotland. This includes 

a Kündig Brilliant sander which, 

company proprietor Lennie Georgeson 

told PW&SS, works as well today as the 

day it was installed back in 2006. 

Lennie became aware in 2004 that his 

previous sander was not performing as 

he would like and began researching alternatives. 

He originally learned of the 

Kündig range through reading about it 

in a trade journal, but he also values 

trade exhibitions as an important opportunity 

to see and compare different 

machines “in the flesh”, as it were. His 

search for a new sander took him to 

Holz-Handwerk in Nurmberg in 2004, to 

Ligna in 2005 and back to Nurmberg in 2006. There he met Carl O’Meara, 

of Kündig UK Ltd, from whom he purchased the Kündig Brilliant sander. 

Lennie says, “We were looking for new technology, something more 

user friendly. We had been looking at the Kündig range for a wee while: 

it seemed to be the best value for money in the market. 

“I had some questions and problems that the people on the Kündig stand 

could answer and that some of the opposition didn’t want to get involved 

in. The same people were there from year to year with Kündig, and it gives 

you confidence. I was quite impressed with Kündig, to be honest with you. 

“Some of the opposition were suggesting that we needed a three-belt 

sander as most of the product we are sanding gets a water based finish, 

and the three-belt sander was the technology for water based finishing. 

However, with the Brilliant sander using the oblique sanding process, operating 

at 10 degrees, it can cope equally well with two belts! We are a belt 

Lennie Georgeson of Dee Valley Joinery with the Brilliant sander. 

up on the opposition all the time, saving 

on abrasives and on running costs compared 

to a three belt machine.” 

Oblique sanding is a process developed 

by Kündig during which the sanding 

unit rotates slightly obliquely to the 

feed belt. Just like a knife or a plane in a 

slightly angled position, the drawn cut 

of the abrasive belt is more efficient and 

effortless than a 90 degree frontal cut, 

resulting in less pressure on the abrasive. 

As a result, belt clogging and belt 

consumption are reduced, improving 

the life of the abrasive while leaving 

fewer uncut fibres on the surface. 

As Lennie says, “The previous sander 

had an appetite for eating up belts: the 

Kündig does not! The quality of the finish 

has also improved.” 

All models of Kündig widebelt 

sanders (Brilliant and Technic) can be fitted 

with oblique sanding units. In 

Kündig’s experience, it is becoming ever 

more popular and, according to the 

company, many customers report that 

blemishes caused by irregularities on 

the sanding pad’s graphite cloth are no 

longer present. 

Dee Valley Joinery uses the Kündig 

Brilliant sander on components for its 

complete range of bespoke joinery projects, 

although Lennie reported that the company probably sands more 

stair components than windows and doors. 

Lennie describes himself as being “much more hands on than paperwork. 

I use the sander myself every week at some point for something. I 

keep tabs on all my machines.” 

He continues, “The Kündig sander is as good today as it was when we 

bought it new: there has been no deterioration in the quality of the job. 

I am very impressed with the quality of the sander, it is absolutely spot on. 

It is my third sander and, at my age, it will be my last and final one.” 

Asked if he would recommend the Kündig sander to others, Lennie 

replied, “Oh yes, I have already recommended it to two or three people 

who have since bought Kündig sanders and are quite happy as well. 

Some have been in the trade magazines already!” 

Lennie is equally impressed with the service he has received from Carl 

O’Meara of Kündig UK. 

Kündig UK Ltd ● Tel 0845 833 0565 

Email sales@kundig.co.uk ● www.kundig.co.uk 

Brilliant – inside and out! 

Lennie Georgeson of Dee Valley Joinery considers trade exhibitions 

an important opportunity to compare different machines. 

The Kündig stand at Ligna 2011 (pictured above) displayed the 

company’s complete range. 


NEWS 

Working With Design — 

making a winning difference 

“PRODUCT differentiation” is 

becoming more than a buzz 

phrase in the context of the current 

furniture market. It’s actually 

the difference between 

winning and losing, success and 

failure. 

Any one of the top kitchen furniture 

manufacturers in Britain 

(and across Europe) today will tell 

you that they have to offer a 

highly bespoke product in order 

to move forwards. 

The UK division of one of the 

world’s pre-eminent fittings manufacturers 

admits the kitchen industry 

is difficult but, whereas 

they measure a 9% contraction 

overall, their sales are up by 

around 3% and a lot of this success 

in bucking the trend can be attributed 

to offering products and 

services that allow their customers 

to add special value and design/ 

performance to their products. 

The board and surface materials 

suppliers concur. They say that important 

trends emerged from Interzum 

in May and these will now 

have the spotlight on them at 

ZOW in Germany in February. 

In October 2012 the W12 Working 

With Design exhibition will be 

what is believed to be the first and 

only national show to highlight 

and focus on these new products 

and trends identified by experts 

for the UK market. 

Originality will be the watchword 

at Working With Design, and 

visitors can expect to see the completely 

new designs and products 

from edgebanding suppliers, surface 

lamination experts, solid surface 

exponents as well as the 

latest in design and CAD software 

with fascinating new integrated 

packages that make the manufacturer 

and designers’ projects a 

pleasure to accomplish. Fittings 

manufacturers, coating and adhesives 

suppliers also bring new 

technologies to the market via 

Working With Design — a vital 

forum for discussing advances in 

product technology in the context 

of new standards. 

At the same time, designers visiting 

Working With Design will be 

able to delight in an exhibition of 

products and ideas that, rather 

than placing limits and restrictions 

on their aspirations, opens up and 

widens new horizons and creative 

opportunities. 

What does this all mean? It 

means that visitors will have an 

opportunity, believed to be 

unique, to view the tools of their 

future success in a single location. 

Naturally, the seamless proximity 

with the W12 Working With 

Wood technology and machinery 

event makes the days of 7-10 October 

in 2012 a must for future 

diary planning. 

The immediate uptake for 

space at Working With Design has 

meant that organiser, Huddlestone, 

has already extended available 

space. John Smith-Bodden of 

Huddlestone says: “The response 

to the concept of the show has 

been amazingly encouraging. 

There’s a lot of excitement about 

the potential opportunities that 

an exhibition of this format will 

generate.” 

Watch the trade press for more 

updates and the latest news as the 

W12 Working With Design exhibition 

continues to grow. 

W12 Exhibition 

Tel 01629 530998 

Email sales@w12exhibition.com 

www.w12exhibition.com 


NEWS 

Axminster Tool Centre becomes new dealer for Griggio 

GRIGGIO, the well known Italian manufacturer of quality woodworking 

machinery, has appointed Axminster Tool Centre as its new 

dealer. 

Axminster is ideally positioned, with retail outlets throughout the UK, 

together with a thriving mail order and web business, to work with Griggio 

and highlight the quality of the Italian company’s products. 

Axminster has been a significant presence in the UK industrial woodworking 

sector for many years and is able to offer long term stability, 

product awareness, servicing and depth of knowledge in a fast changing 

market. Andy Cross, Head of Trade & Commercial Sales at Axminster, 

commented: “We are delighted to 

be working with a family company Unica 350E panel saw. 

like Griggio. Axminster is always 

looking for partners who complement 

our own philosophy of offering 

the customer sound advice, 

best value for money and excellent 

customer service.” 

With the continuing tough economic 

situation, in Axminster’s experience 

many customers are 

moving away from highly specified 

machinery, and instead are investing 

in good, solid products 

that do the job. 

Andy went on to say: “Today it 

is all about the cost of production, 

THE LATEST export statistics from the 

US Department of Commerce show 

that for the first nine months of 2011, 

the total value of exports of softwood 

lumber from the US to the UK is up 12 

per cent on the same period in 2010 

and, when averaged over 12 months, 

could be on course for a 20 per cent increase 

on 2010 by the end of the year. 

American softwood exports to the UK 

started strongly at the beginning of 

2011, and continued to demonstrate 

ease of use and safety. Many second-hand machines do not have the upto-date 

features necessary for use in a modern workshop. With Griggio as 

our new partner we are able to offer a good range of modern machines 

complementing our own Axminster Industrial Series up to flat bed CNC’s.” 

A comprehensive range of Griggio machines is now on display at 

Axminster’s High Wycombe retail outlet. 

Axminster Power Tool Centre Ltd 

Tel 0800 371822 

Email Andrew.cross@axminster.co.uk 

www.axminster.co.uk 

American softwood exports to UK are increasing 

Datum Tools Ltd 

Tel 01892 667800 www.flipstop.com 

steady growth from January to September 2011, with the export value of key species increasing, including 

hemlock (up 19 per cent) and fir (up 187 per cent). Southern Yellow Pine continues to hold steady. 

“With the new programme of promotion underway this year, we have been working hard to show that 

species such as Southern Yellow Pine, Douglas fir and hemlock offer real advantages, opportunities and 

benefits in a wide range of applications,” said American Softwoods UK director, Charles Trevor. 

“American producers are keen to do business in the UK, and there is great potential to develop the 

market for these under-used species much further.” 

American Softwoods 

Tel 020 8444 0885 ● Email info@americansoftwoods.com ● www.americansoftwoods.com 


NEWS 

In-house box-making system from Autobox 

ANY furniture manufacturer that uses a 

wide variety of corrugated box sizes for 

transit packaging should consider the benefits 

of an in house box making system from 

Autobox Machinery Ltd, specialists in box 

making systems. 

Producing boxes in house on a just-in-time 

basis eliminates the need to stock a wide range 

of pre-made boxes in minimum order quantities, 

saving both significant cost, waste and 

warehouse space. 

Companies need only stock corrugated 

sheets and convert it as and when required 

whether that is one box or hundreds, even 

thousands. Moving from one box to another is 

quick and easy with set-up times typically less 

than 30 seconds. Customer service improves 

too by taking control of the packaging supply 

chain, simultaneously reducing packaging 

New from Makita 

Autobox Hipak Kinetic 2600 & Hicut Box Maker 

damage and customer returns. With the flexibility of producing exact 

sized boxes, other protective packaging can be reduced or in some cases, 

completely eliminated. Coupled with the new Hicut that allows oversize 

stock sheet to be cut to size and then converted with hand-holes or other 

useful die-cuts, the Autobox Hipak system usually achieves a very rapid 

pay back. 

Other machine models are available depending on the quantity of 

boxes required but all Autobox machines are simple to use and no previous 

experience of box making is required. 

Autobox Machinery Ltd 

Tel 01525 379359 ● Email r.garvey@autobox.co.uk 

www.autobox.co.uk 

MAKITA has designed a new and 

comprehensive range of useful 

power tool accessory sets and 

structured the range at three 

levels of user experience. Within 

those three tiers is a wide variety 

of the most useful and popular 

accessories. 

Specific attention has been 

taken to provide industry sizes for 

UK professionals and duplications 

of the most popular dimensions 

have been provided in some of 

the sets. Each set contains a balanced 

selection of sockets, screwdriver 

and drill bits while the high 

end kits also incorporate tape 

measures and spirit levels ensuring 

that a professional has everything 

they may need for the job. 

Top of the range PRO-XL sets 

are carried in a robust, aluminium 

carry case, and is a available in 120, 

70 and 40 piece sets. 

The mid-range PRO sets are 60 

105 and 120 piece selections, in 

moulded carry cases with a strong, 

clear plastic front cover design. 

The TRADE sets are 50, 75 and 100 

piece sets in plain moulded cases. 

The Makita accessory range is a 

blend of tried and trusted products, 

together with some valuable 

innovations, carefully selected for 

the demanding needs of the user. 

More information about the full 

accessory range is available at 

Makita’s website. 

Makita (UK) Ltd 

Tel 01908 211678 

Email leads@makitauk.com 

www.makitauk.com 


NEWS 

“From drawing board to delivery” with Blue Diamond 

ALTHOUGH engineers still occasionally 

refer to the development 

of new products as being 

“from drawing board to delivery”, 

in reality the drawing 

boards are long gone and have 

been replaced by powerful computers 

and sophisticated software. 

These systems enable 

today’s engineers and designers 

to develop components that are 

functional, durable, aesthetically 

pleasing and cost efficient. 

Blue Diamond is a company that 

specialises in the design and manu 

facture of a range of components 

in a wide variety of materials. 

“We specialise in solving problems 

for our customers,” said Mike 

Doel, sales director, Blue Diamond. 

“The process usually starts with an 

issue related to a component’s performance, 

appearance or cost. 

Sometimes quality issues or supply 

problems have forced customers 

to look for alternative sources.” 

Blue Diamond has many years’ 

experience analysing products and 

designing or re-engineering them 

to provide the best performance at 

the lowest cost, resulting in a range 

of procedures and techniques that 

have proven highly successful in 

solving customers’ problems. 

These techniques include Design 

for Manufacturing (DFM), Digital 

Prototyping, Finite Element 

Analysis (FEA), Rapid Prototyping 

and Small Batch Production. 

DFM involves designing new 

parts or improving existing parts 

in a way that aids the manufacturing 

process and, at the same time, 

reduces costs. This includes the selection 

of appropriate materials 

and production methods, setting 

realistic tolerances, the use of 

standard/catalogue parts, and, 

where pos sible, avoiding duplication: 

for example, left hand and 

right hand version of the same 

components. 

For Digital Prototyping, Blue Diamond 

uses Autodesk Inventor 

software for 3D mechanical design, 

product simulation, tooling 

creation and design communication. 

Inventor produces a 3D 

model that allows Blue Diamond 

to design, visualise and simulate 

customer products before they are 

built, improving product design, 

reducing development costs and 

minimising development times. 

Engineers can test fit and function, 

optimise the design and perform 

structural simulations using 

From rough 

sketch to 

finished 

component: 

Blue 

Diamond 

specialises in 

solving 

problems for 

customers, 

using its 

many years’ 

of 

engineering 

experience 

designing 

and 

anlalysing 

fittings and 

components. 

FEA. FEA simulates a component’s 

response to a range of forces that 

a product will experience in use, 

allowing the engineer to make design 

and/or material changes to 

areas of concern. FEA can also be 

used to simulate the effects of 

wear in a virtual environment to 

ensure a component can exceed 

its design endurance. 

Rapid prototyping results in a 

physical prototype that can be 

used to check fit, function, ergo - 

nomics and aesthetics. This allows 

the customer to make detailed adjustments 

before finalising the design. 

Following successful proto - 

typing, the next stage is often 

small batch production to prove 

the design and manufacturing 

process before moving to high 

volume output. 

The Blue Diamond service includes 

sourcing production quantities 

from low cost suppliers 

outside the UK. All suppliers have 

been thoroughly vetted to ensure 

they meet Blue Diamond’s stringent 

quality standards. And, because 

Blue Diamond is able to ship 

in bulk, shipping costs are also 

minimised. Stockholding facilities 

are available, as are Kanban and 

JIT deliveries. 

A recent example of a typical 

customer problem solved by Blue 

Diamond is the re-engineering 

and supply of glass door handles, 

hinges and latch systems, the customer 

being a leading supplier of 

wardrobe, window and door systems 

to the new build industry. 

This particular project presented 

a number of challenges for 

Blue Diamond’s design engineers. 

Fixings in glass are notoriously difficult 

to engineer and manufacture. 

Glass is a heavy material and 

the tolerances are critical. In addition, 

all the visible components 

had to be polished or plated to 

complement the clean lines of the 

glass. The finished parts also 

needed to be strong and robust, 

and have the right ‘feel’ to be consistent 

with a top quality modern 

and stylish product. 

The engineers and designers at 

Blue Diamond worked closely with 

the customer to develop and 

agree the new design, meeting all 

mechanical and aesthetic requirements. 

The complex designs included 

a range of cast and pressed 

components, springs, metal and 

plastic parts, some of which had to 

be plated or polished. Based on 

experience, Blue Diamond’s engineers 

were able to improve the assemblies 

by enhancing their 

appearance, reducing cost and increasing 

durability. 

All engineering drawings were 

originated by Blue Diamond using 

advanced CAD-based systems and 

prototypes were sourced for testing 

and appraisal. Following evaluation 

of the design and testing of 

the samples, the new handles, 

hinges and latch systems were accepted 

immediately for volume 

production. 

Blue Diamond Technologies Ltd 

Tel 020 8025 8966 

Email bdsales@rolwey.com 

www.blue-diamond.co.uk 


CLASSICAL MACHINERY 

Lamont at Causeway Joinery 

BASED in Kent, Causeway Joinery 

has been manufacturing bespoke 

joinery products for the 

trade and public for over 25 

years. 

Over the years, the company 

has built up an enviable reputation 

for quality and reliability, and 

is a member of the Guild of Master 

Craftsmen. 

Work undertaken includes 

doors, windows, staircases, cabinet 

work and period work, as well 

as other, more unusual projects. 

The company recently invested 

in a new gluesetter from Lamont. 

Causeway Joinery received a 

commission from a monastery for 

cabinet work, which involved 

turning around 1.5 km of shelving. 

With these kinds of quantities, the 

gluing process needed to be 

speeded up, so that the workshop 

would not be filled up with components 

in clamps. 

A fellow joiner provided the solution: 

he had previously purchased 

a gluesetter from Alan 

Lamont, and he recommended 

both the product and the company 

to Paul Chapman of Causeway 

Joinery. Paul approached Alan 

and made the purchase in June. 

Although the gluesetter was 

purchased with a particular project 

in mind, Paul finds that it is so 

fast and efficient that it is now 

used across the full range of 

Causeway Joinery’s work: for example, 

gluing up treads for staircases. 

It offers a much faster 

turnaround than alternative methods, 

in Paul’s experience, and it 

means that components can be 

worked on almost immediately 

after being glued: his workshop is 

not being filled up by components 

in cramps. 

And having been recommended 

the product and the 

company by a friend, he would be 

happy in turn to recommend the 

Lamont gluesetter, and Alan 

Lamont’s service, to others. 

Lamont 

Tel 01461 40017 

Email aalamont@hotmail.com 

www.lamontclamping.co.uk 

New machines from SCM’s Minimax range 

THE SCM GROUP’S Minimax division has recently launched a range 

of new machines and updated existing models with increased capacities 

and more features included in the standard specification. 

The new SCM Minimax CU 410 Elite S Combination Machine provides 

top of the range technology for woodworking shops and small companies, 

all provided in a combination woodworking machine that guarantees 

ease of use, flexibility, reliability and precision. 

The CU 410 Elite S ensures a more ergonomic way of machining thanks to 

the saw blade lifting hand wheel (in the manual version) that is now positioned 

on the front of the machine. The LEDs displaying 

the rotation speed (3,500/ 6,000/8,000/10,000 rpm) of 

the spindle are supplied as standard, therefore making 

the setting up of the machine easier. Hand wheels 

for lifting and tilting of the saw blade and spindle 

moulder are located on the front of the machine. 

The sliding table has been increased to 330 

mm width, to comfortably and precisely enable 

the machining of large dimensioned 

work pieces and components. 

Flexibility has also been increased 

thanks to the inversion of the spindle 

rotation, now supplied as standard, and 

with the possibility of fitting cutters up to 

240 mm diameter to the machine at the 

top of the spindle itself. 

CU 410 Elite S has been designed 

with new features and safety devices, 

all supplied as standard, for example, 

the new dust and shavings device 

guarding the planer, which 

now has a 410 mm working width. 

Tables are 2,200 mm in length. 

The new SCM Minimax Lab 300 

Plus increases machining performance with precision and flexibility. The 

new saw unit, tilting 90 to 45 degrees, can now house a blade with a diameter 

of 315 mm. With a maximum working height of the material increased 

to 220 mm for the thicknesser, a 300 mm planer width capacity, 

and with a maximum spindle length of 100 mm, the Lab 300 Plus is truly 

a high specification combination machine. The carriage, up to 270 mm 

wide, allows for an increased and stable support, even for larger dimensioned 

work pieces, offering a more precise and easily achieved cut. Particular 

attention has been given to the Lab 300 Plus’s ergonomics and 

ease of use, with the introduction of a new table opening system 

with 90 degree rotation towards the machine, that limits the floor 

space required and allows for easier machining for the operator. 

Also, with a new scoring unit, adjustment is performed outside 

the machine, and is therefore easier to access and manoeuvre. 

Lab 300 Plus has been designed with new features and safety 

devices supplied as standard with the new dust and shavings conveyor 

guarding the planer and the spindle moulder guard for trimming. 

With a limited investment and minimum space, the Lab 300 

Plus provides all the benefits and the quality of the Minimax level of 

production and it is expected to become one of the best selling combination 

machines in the world. 

The Advance 21 provides a level of technology that ensures the 

work pieces are precisely drilled and the drilling process is carried 

out simply and fast. 

This new single head multiple spindle drilling machine, with 

21 spindles at 32 mm centre distance, contains all the experience, 

quality and skill of the Minimax brand. 

The machine features a new design and a solid base that 

supports the steel worktable, 905 mm x 372 mm, which ensures 

precise machining to a hundredth of a millimetre, including 

when drilling horizontally. 

All the controls are positioned on the front of the machine, 

such as the tilting of the drilling head by 45 degrees, 

ensuring the passage from one setting to the next 

is comfortable and ergonomically simple for the operator. 

The new extraction system, integrated in the drilling 

head, ensures the work area and the machine are kept 

clean of dust obtained when drilling. Advance 21 allows 

operators to create components, in solid 

wood or panels, 10 to 85 mm in height, that 

can be assembled easily and fast due to the 

accuracy of the drilling process. 


Tel 0115 977 0044 

Email scmgroupuk@scmgroup.com 



PANELS & PANEL PROCESSING 

Flexibility, speed and accuracy with Schelling 

ABI (UK) Ltd operates from a 16 

acre site in East Yorkshire manufacturing 

high quality, British 

made holiday and leisure 

homes. With a rich heritage dating 

back to 1971, ABI has established 

itself as one of the 

premier brands within the holiday 

and leisure homes sector. 

An important part of ABI’s continuing 

success has been its choice 

of highly reliable machinery including 

the latest Schelling fh 4 

cut-to-size saw. 

The philosophy of ABI has been 

to invest in machinery that can deliver 

its commitment to excellent 

holiday home design, whilst encompassing 

every individual taste, 

budget and season. The buildquality 

success of ABI has been 

achieved in part with help from 

the latest technology from 

Schelling. It is important, however, 

not to forget the contribution 

made by the individual craftsman: 

the hand built nature only adds to 

the appeal of the ABI brand. 

With 36 different models, which 

have an extensive range of internal 

door and surface finishes, ABI’s 

production process required a versatile 

machine with the ability to 

cut a variety of material. The solution 

was the fh 4 because it delivered 

the flexibility to change from 

MDF to plywood panels at the 

drop of a hat. As Chris Patterson, 

the factory manager, commented, 

“It is important to have a sawing 

system which is adaptable to 

changing customer needs, particularly 

with regard to board dimensions 

and board surface quality.” 

ABI’s investment in the 

Schelling fh 4 means it now has 

capacity for both small batch production 

and equally for fast 

throughput of larger orders. 

According to Chris Patterson, “the 

fh 4 is perfect in both scenarios”. 

This is because many operations 

on the fh 4 are automated as standard. 

For example, integrated sensors 

automatically detect the 

material book height and adjust 

the saw projection height followed 

by the pressure beam, 

which adjusts itself to the size of 

the material as well as the book 

height. So when ABI changes material, 

the operator does not have 

to adjust anything, the fh 4 does it 

all automatically. This automation 

means the fh 4 always works with 

the right surface pressure, because 

too much pressure can 

cause cutting quality and accuracy 

issues. 

The four-day working shift pattern 

was perhaps the biggest reason 

for choosing the fh 4. Basically 

the fh 4 has the advantage of automatically 

adjusting the saw 

travel and saw stroke speed resulting 

in shorter cycle times which 

means it can saw more material in 

a shorter time. This means the fh 4 

can achieve higher production figures 

in a single day shift. 

According to Chris, dimensional 

cutting accuracy was very high on 

ABI’s wish list of requirements. “However, 

so too was the investment 

value: so when we learnt the fh 4 

had the same standard features as 

the fh 6, such as double aligners, we 

knew we had to invest in the fh 4.” 

Double aligners, one on either 

side of the saw line, remain on the 

material even during cutting to 

provide dimensional angular accuracy. 

With an alignment range 

of 40 mm to 2,200 mm, this was 

ideal because ABI knew the fh 4 

could deliver high cutting accuracy 

even with the narrowest 

strips. This commitment to technological 

features may have 

something to do with the fact that 

Schelling is believed to be the only 

specialist cut-to-size saw producer 

in the world. 

Chris summed up: “The fh 4 has 

definitely helped us be more flexible 

when planning our weekly 

production demands.” 

Schelling UK Ltd 

Tel 01937 586340 

Email info@schelling.co.uk 

www.schelling.co.uk 



AXYZ router proves a key performer at Cornish boat builder 

WITH installation of a CAMTECH 

Z7 CNC router supplied by AXYZ 

International, production of the 

sailing boats and yachts ranges 

manufactured by Cornish Crabbers 

has increased dramatically 

in line with the company’s expansion 

and commensurate 

profitability following its acquisition 

in 2009 by boating enthusiast 

and keen businessman, 

Philip Langsdale. 

From its original but greatly expanded 

manufacturing facility in 

Rock, Cornwall, Cornish Crabbers 

builds and sells both traditional 

12-30 ft sailing boats marketed 

under the same name for enthusiasts 

with a penchant for the more 

conventional and relaxed cruising 

style of yesteryear and the modern 

classic 30-43 ft Mystery yachts 

that have a special appeal to 

sailors who want top cruising performance 

and a head-turning classic 

style of craft. 

Both are manufactured at Cornish 

Crabbers’ 360 m 2 factory employing 

a staff of 32, of which 24 

are skilled and seasoned boat 

builders. Central to the ongoing 

success of this well known and 

much respected specialist company 

has been the installation of 

an AXYZ CAMTECH Z7 CNC router. 

According to Cornish Crabbers’ 

managing director Peter Thomas: 

“AXYZ proved the most responsive 

to our needs and given the relatively 

low specification of our requirements, 

the CAMTECH Z7 was 

also the most affordable option.” 

The router is employed primarily 

for the manufacture of 

wooden components installed in 

the boats. These include interior 

furnishings and plywood inserts 

used in the laminating process. As 

an example of the contribution 

the AXYZ router has made to the 

speeding up of production, Cornish 

Crabbers’ process co-ordinator 

Will Harris cited the frame work 

for the plug of the company’s new 

Crabber 12 dinghy. He commented: 

“Hitherto this would have 

been marked and cut out by hand 

and would have required at least 

three and a half days to complete. 

Using the AXYZ router, the same 

work can be completed in less 

than a day.” 

Will Harris added, “Knowing 

that the router will cut all curves 

precisely and with a perfect finish 

has led to a much higher degree of 

accuracy and a shorter time scale 

than was previously possible.” 

The AXYZ CAMTECH Z7 router 

is a full-sized entry-level system 

that shares many of the advanced 

production tools and capabilities 

of the company’s higher-end and 

higher productivity but inevitably 

more expensive machines. 

For example, it has the same robust 

construction based on a 

welded steel frame plus a budgetconscious 

set of configurations 

that will effectively handle all 

types of plastics and their derivatives, 

solid woods, particle and 

foamed boards and non-ferrous 

metals in 2- and 3D manifestations. 

It also includes as standard the 

latest AXYZ A2MC Control System, 

which represents a huge advancement 

in machine control technology 

and which combines ease of 

use with outstanding performance 

to maximise productivity and 

the quality of cut. 

Among the many other notable 

design features are an advanced 

vacuum hold-down system and a 

high-capacity dust and particle extraction 

facility that is a key component 

of the router. 

At Cornish Crabbers, the 

CAMTECH Z7 router is supported 

by ArtCAM Express production 

software also supplied by AXYZ International 

as part of a package 

that included on-site training and 

full ongoing technical support 

and advice. 

In conclusion, Peter Thomas 

commented: “We have experienced 

a high level of customer 

care from AXYZ International personnel, 

with the consideration and 

understanding of our needs, particularly 

during the period prior to 

installation, proving decisive in 

our decision to purchase.” 

Cornish Crabbers 

www.cornishcrabbers.co.uk 

AXYZ International 

Tel 01902 375600 

Email sales@axyz.co.uk 

www.axyz.co.uk 

Mate Series CNC Router 

Model M12 

From 

£49,900 

● All new design offers traditional C R Onsrud build quality and performance 

● 3 12 HP-24,000 rpm HSD spindle ● Linear tool change ● Servo drives 

● B & R controller ● 2 year warranty 

Bed sizes 4 x 8 (1245 x 2464); 5 x 10 (1524 x 3050) 2M x 3M (2050 x 3050) 

ATA ENGINEERING PROCESSES 

Tel 01442 264411 ❆ Fax 01442 231383 ❆ Email sales@ataeng.com 

Web www.ataeng.com ❆ www.cronsrud.com 



Häfele lightweight furniture fittings allow 

hi-tech solutions for various applications 

HÄFELE has been dedicated to 

developing innovative hardware 

solutions for years and the 

results are quality, hi-tech hardware 

fittings that perform in a 

variety of applications. 

Today Häfele offers a complete 

assortment of hardware fittings for 

lightweight furniture construction 

and present a solution for many 

lightweight panel constructions. 

A prime example of Häfele engineering 

and of true innovation is 

the Aerofix 100 adhesive insert 

available for panel thicknesses of 

25, 28, 30, 32, 34, 38, 40, 50 and 60 

mm. The Aerofix 100 facilitates the 

construction with frameless panels 

with a top layer thickness of 4 mm 

in manual and automated industrial 

manufacturing processes. 

It makes use of traditional hardware 

fittings in a lightweight construction 

possible as Aerofix 100 

achieves a solid connection at the 

fixing points that is comparable to 

the pull-out strength of traditional 

chipboard (750-590 Newton 

torque). At the same time, adhesive 

is used economically and only 

applied where needed — at the 

contact points between the insert 

and the surface layers of the panel. 

Aerofix 100 does not waste adhesive 

in the hollow core as inserting 

and gluing is a one step 

operation, reducing the requirements 

of supplementary glue, 

which saves money and is environmentally 

friendly. 

The adhesive insert from Häfele 

can be processed manually or with 

machinery and is equally suitable 

to the building trade and industrial 

manufacturing with the only 

preparation being the drilling of a 

10 mm diameter hole. Aerofix will 

be inserted into the hole to be 

flush with the surface, allowing 

screws and connecting bolts to be 

attached immediately after the insert 

is positioned. After 16 hours it 

will be fully loadable. 

Tests conducted by the LGA 

concluded that the Aerofix 100 is 

also suitable for the installation of 

lightweight panels to sliding door 

hardware fittings. 

Now, even large format sliding 

doors from lightweight building 

materials can be used in furniture 

construction. They are not only resistant 

to warping, they are also 

lighter and they have the additional 

benefit that they can be 

used with smaller hardware fittings 

that are aesthetically desirable 

in furniture construction. 

The HC rear panel and shelf 

supports complete the lightweight 

panel hardware assortment 

both being suitable for 

construction with frameless lightweight 

panels with a top layer of 4 

mm. The HC shelf support is available 

with or without visible screws 

and provides a solid connection 

between the shelf and the cabinet 

mounted into 32 mm series drilled 

holes in the cabinet side panel. 

Both versions can be inserted and 

screwed on with the Varianta HC 

special screw. The shelf (made of 

lightweight panel with or without 

frame or solid wood) is inserted 

from above to create a positive fit. 

The HC rear panel support is 

suitable for top layer thicknesses 

ranging from 2.8 mm to 3.8 mm in 

frameless lightweight panels. 

The fitting is anchored into the 

4 mm top layer, which prevents it 

from sinking into the core of the 

panel. 

No tools are required for the assembly 

and the rear panel can be 

installed in the same manner as 

with traditional panel products 

such as chipboard or MDF. 

Häfele 

Tel 01788 548811 

Email info@hafele.co.uk 

www.hafele.co.uk 



We look good together 

Platinum White Suedette Matt with Roxy A 

Roxy A is an attractive and subtle pale elm design, which is gentle and beautiful. 

Combine with Platinum white to create a light and airy environment, 

quietly understated but exhibiting its own delicate sophistication. 

New range introductions make 

ideal mix ‘n’ match partners 

INTERIORS today often combine kitchen and living areas together, minimising walls 

and extending boundaries into open spaces. Kitchens find themselves the centre of 

the home, becoming as much a design statement on display as needing to provide 

a functional culinary location. 

No wonder that the designers increasingly use a blend of colours mix ‘n’ matched with 

harmonising designs to bridge, shape and differentiate the atmosphere, style and use of 

an area within these continuous spaces. Using a colour which can continue into another 

zone to provide a connection and introducing a sharp contemporary design with which 

to create a distinctive highlight element to define the place itself can create some stunning 

results. 

Providing an extensive palette of colour with a variety of intensities, the recently 

launched RENOLIT ALKOREN range of matt plain colours provides an assortment of seven 

elegant shades to choose from. They can be combined in an almost endless list of woodgrain 

designs to create a wide selection of choices. The colour range starts with light 

whites through soft and rich creams to the deeper, more atmospheric and muted tones 

of mushroom, taupe and olive. 

Here we have featured a few of our favourite combinations which can be used to 

create a number of different effects, styles and moods in kitchens, living 

areas, bedrooms or bathrooms. 

RENOLIT Cramlington Ltd 

Tel 01670 718222 ● Email renolit.cramlington@renolit.com 

www.renolit.com 

Plover Suedette Matt with Samira B 

The paleness of Samira B successfully portrays a cool yet appealing effect. 

The depths of the small knots create movement with its sophisticated 

contrast. Combine it with the charismatic olive tones of Plover to create a 

deep atmospheric effect. 

Dakar Suedette Matt with Tauern A 

If it’s a classic you’re after, look no further than Tauern A, which cleverly re - 

invents the popular beech woodgrain. Undeniably recognisable, beech’s 

continued popularity presents the opportunity for re-invention. Combined 

here with Dakar Suedette Matt, a more muted taupe to create mood and 

atmosphere in a lighter shade. 



Stone Grey Suedette Matt with Kielder A 

Solid Cream Suedette Matt with Kielder B 

Kielder is a fresh modern design with a traditional woodgrain structure enhanced by a new structured surface emboss which brings the finished effect even closer 

to real wood. Kielder is available in two popular colourways. Kielder A (left) is a light bleached colour with undertones of grey, which makes an ideal companion of 

Stone Grey Suedette Matt. Its sister design, Kielder B (right), is in a slightly darker natural honey tone, which combines perfectly with Solid Cream Suedette Matt. 

Soft Cream Suedette Matt with Lancelot C 

Lancelot C is a pale farmhouse oak with three dimensional effect distress lines, 

coupled with the new structured emboss creating an extraordinarily attractive 

result. Soft Cream Suedette matt in close proximity to it emphasises the lighter 

undertones in the design, bringing it to life in an interesting combination of 

rustic charm with a fresh modern twist to contemporary design. 

Mussel Suedette Matt with Tiepolo PB 

Tiepolo PB is a striking mid-walnut which is fast becoming a distinctive 

favourite in the market. Tiepolo has strong core features which create a vivid 

and incredibly realistic effect. The design is presented in a colour which conveys 

the character and variety of the woodgrain. The natural undertones of 

this design stylishly complements Mussel Suedette Matt. 



Striebig takes control of solid surfaces 

BSF Solid Surfaces is a flourishing bespoke 

fabricator of 3D and shaped solid surfaces, 

using all available quality sheet material. 

The highly successful company was born 

out of a shop fitting business. In 1997, managing 

director David Bailey, a pioneer in the 

use of solid surfaces in the UK, decided to set 

up a business specialising solely in commercial 

solid surface fabrication. 

Based in Brentwood, Essex, the family-run 

business has grown to become a major and 

well-respected solid surface fabricator, with 

a reputation for delivering and fitting quality 

products on time. 

The company produces everything from 

reception desks and display equipment to 

shop front entrances and dispensing outlets. 

They are supplied to, amongst others, offices, 

banks and the leisure, entertainment 

and medical sectors in the UK and overseas. 

Prestige jobs have included installations 

at the headquarters of Bloomberg in the 

City, a restaurant in the OXO Tower on London’s 

South Bank, and the Al Khalifa Museum 

in Bahrain. 

BSF recently bought a top-of-the-range 

fully-automatic Striebig Control vertical 

panel saw to replace a 12-year-old Germanmade 

model. 

“I have always been exceedingly innovative when it comes to buying 

tools and plant,” said Mr Bailey. “As far as panel sizing is concerned, I 

wanted to automate the operation as much as possible as long as the 

quality and reliability of the cut could be guaranteed.” He said the switch 

to Striebig was based on his extensive experience with panel saws and 

the opinions of industry colleagues. “Today, Striebig is recognised as the 

key machine for cutting amongst solid surface fabricators.” 

BSF buys in 3.6 m long lengths of solid surface board, in thicknesses of 

between 3 and 12 mm, so it opted for the largest machine in the ninestrong 

Control range, model 6224, which has a cutting range of 5,300 x 

2,240 mm. 

After being sized, the cut panels go direct for fabrication or for shaping 

on BSF’s Masterwood CNC machining centre. 

The Control features an optional Electronic Positioning System (EPS) on 

The top-of-the-range Striebig Control vertical 

panel saw at BSF Solid Surfaces. 

both the horizontal and vertical axes for the 

automatic positioning of both the length 

stop and saw head. This increases the saw’s 

productivity by delivering automatic repeat 

strip and upper trim cutting. Incorporated as 

standard is Striebig’s user-friendly “touch and 

saw” operating system. This delivers easy and 

convenient machine control through a touch 

screen panel that operates all of the machine’s 

functions. Other standard features include 

a digital measuring system, accurate to 

0.1 mm, and an adjustable precision display 

that can be set to an accuracy of 1.0, 0.5 or 

0.1 mm, according to the thickness of the 

panels being sized. 

The Control offers every possible option 

for automatic operations. With manual feeding 

of the saw unit eliminated the operator’s 

job is made easier, giving him ample time to 

prepare the next job. Numerous procedures 

are carried out at the press of a button, including 

locking and releasing the beam saw, 

setting the horizontal cutting height, plunging 

and swivelling the motor, locking the 

support rollers during sawing and fine saw 

blade adjustment. 

“The Control is easy for our staff to operate 

and gives us a good clean and precise 

cut every time, both vertically and horizontally,” 

said Mr Bailey. “It’s certainly a piece of quality kit which laughs at 

cutting the hardest of solid surface panels.” 

He gave as an important reason for buying the Striebig the ‘can-do’ attitude 

displayed by the Swiss manufacturer’s sole UK dealer, TM Machinery 

Sales. “Their positive approach was evident right from the start, with 

their fast response to my initial telephone enquiry. It’s something that has 

continued since the machine’s installation, such as when they were asked 

to move the saw’s ventilation from the left of the machine to the right.” 

He said that BSF’s success as a company was due to its close attention 

to detail in everything it does, from design and fabrication through to installation 

on site. “To get the very best out of our people you have to give 

them top-grade tools, and I consider the Striebig to be unsurpassed.” 

TM Machinery Sales ● Tel 0116 271 7155 

Email sales@tmservices.co.uk ● www.tmpartnership.co.uk 

This futuristic reception desk at market research company Synovate in London was produced by BSF Solid Surfaces for West One Interiors. 



Significant expansion for The Decorative Panels Group 

DECORATIVE Panels is a company 

which has not simply survived 

the economic downturn, it 

is a company that has thrived. 

The Lamination division has 

gone from strength to strength, a 

new Furniture division has been 

acquired and the Components division 

will see significant expansion 

both in factory space and 

panel capacity during 2012. 

Decorative Panels Components 

Ltd (DPC) is part of the Decorative 

Panels Group of companies specialising 

in high volume production 

of chipboard and MDF 

component parts for the kitchen, 

bedroom and allied industries. 

DPC currently operates from 

two sites in the Huddersfield area 

of West Yorkshire, occupying 

around 100,000 ft 2 of factory 

space. Following the acquisition in 

January of a new site on Lowfields 

Trading Estate in Elland, West Yorkshire, 

DPC will bring the operation 

together under one roof with production 

on the new site commencing 

in May 2012. 

This move represents a significant 

increase in working space 

with associated increases in capacity 

available to the market. 

When complete, the facility is expected 

to represent one of the 

largest and most efficient panel 

processing plants in Europe. 

The business in its current format 

has a capacity of some 

300,000 panels/wk, but when it is 

operational from the new site this 

will increase to over 500,000 

panels/wk. 

The investment being made by 

the group is in excess of £8.5 m. 

The factory will be equipped 

with new cutting, edgebanding 

and drilling lines sourced as a 

turnkey purchase from the Biesse 

Group of Italy with a state of the 

art dust extraction system from 

Moldow, which will be supplied 

through Cades in the UK. 

The new facility will not only enable 

vast increases in productive 

capacity with the associated efficiencies 

of single site working, it 

will also bring the scope to introduce 

a broader range of products 

to the market with some available 

on an ex stock basis. 

Investment in other group companies, 

Decorative Panels Lamination 

Ltd and Decorative Panels 

Furniture Ltd, is ongoing and will 

also continue through 2012. 

Part of the secret of Decorative 

Panels’ success is its extensive stock 

of paper foils, MDF, chipboard and 

dp-lite hollowcore board, an innovative 

sheet material utilising a 

sandwich construction, enabling 

the company to offer an impressive 

3-5 day lead time. 

It also has impressive environmental 

credentials: it is accredited 

in both the FSC and PEFC chain of 

custody schemes. Wood waste is 

either burnt to heat the factories 

or is recycled back into particle 

board products. Sawdust is reused 

as a filtering medium and animal 

bedding. Metal banding is cut 

and passed on for recycling, while 

waste foil materials are baled and 

responsibly disposed of. 

The company is also expanding 

in Northern Ireland and Eire, 

where Shore Distribution of Lisburn 

has been appointed an official 

Distribution Partner for its 

specialist surface range. 

Although Decorative Panels 

Lamination Ltd already supplies 

bulk quantities of acrylic product 

into Ireland, it is difficult to service 

small quantities. Shore is seen by 

Decorative Panels as the “Perfect 

Partner” as it has been using the 

product itself for a couple of years 

now and is familiar with its characteristics, 

and Shore’s sorting and 

delivery capabilities match up perfectly 

with DP’s requirements. 

Shore Distribution manufactures 

its own doors and ancillary 

pro ducts and distributes around 

the whole of the North and South 

of Ireland, and can be contacted 

on info@shore4doors.com 

The Decorative Panels Group 

Tel 01484 658341 

Email 

sales@decorativepanels.co.uk 

www.decorativepanels.co.uk 



New SCM machines for panel furniture production 

THE SCM GROUP has recently introduced new models to add to its wide range of panel 

processing machines for furniture production. With sliding table panel saws and 

beam saws, edge banders and CNC machining centres, SCM has machines 

with specifications and prices to suit all production requirements. 

SCM is a world leading manufacturer of classical woodworking machinery, 

and includes in its wide range of machines, sliding table 

panel saws from its Nova, Class and L’Invincibile ranges. 

The Class range has sliding table panel saws with 

specifications and prices to meet all panel sawing 

requirements, 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 honeycombe 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 loading capacity is believed to be four times higher with respect any other manufacturer’s system. 

The Sigma Prima 67 P Beam Saw is the new model of panel saw 

for all types and sizes of panel producers. The new loading platform 

streamlines the work flow and the new design offers many 

features, such as a saw carriage speed up to 80 m/min and a 

pusher speed of 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 depth. 

The Olimpic K260 EVO, a compact automatic edge bander is 

believed to be the reference solution for woodworking, furniture 

and panel processing companies. It is fitted with SCM’s patented 

‘Rainbow’ feed track, guaranteeing the absence of vibration and 

maximum stability for panel movement through the machine. 

Panels from 8 to 60 mm in thickness can be edge banded, with a minimum 

panel length of 140 mm. Feed speed is 9 m/min. As well as the end trimming and top 

and bottom edge trimming units, there is space for scraping and buffing units to be fitted as and 

when required. To provide a perfect edge for gluing and removing any imperfections, the infeed RT-V 

panel Edge Trimming Group has two motors with opposite rotation and large diameter diamond tool cutter blocks. An anti-adhesive group is optional. 

The main news includes a VC-VM gluing unit with direct motor power drive for the glue pot and first pressure roller with optimal gluing through continuous 

glue recirculation. There is auto loading of material in strips and lippings up to 6 mm thickness and rollfeed materials including ABS to 3 mm thick, 

as well as a K-2/F end cutting unit with pneumatic blade/motor tilting and sliding of the two motors on prismatic guides with recirculating ball bearings 

and an R-K top & bottom trimming unit with pneumatic positioning on two working positions (thin/radius) with ED-System high efficiency exhaust 

hoods. Two melting temperatures and an easy to remove glue tank allow the user to edge band with two or more types of glue. Various options are available, 

such as the rotating “nesting” tracers with two-support points to edge band panels with holes on the upper panel surface and the new glue scraper 

unit with double rotating tracer. Advantages include a flexible, very fast work changeover directly from the infeed control panel (ie between thin and thick 

edge materials), versatility with the possibility to apply solid wood, veneer, PVC and ABS on to panels with the automatic loading in strips, and user 

friendly setting up thanks to the “Orion-One” electronic control available as a standard feature on all models. 

SCM has designed new CNC drilling and routing solutions designed to support the growth of companies working with 

wood and panels. The “Cyflex F900 Pro” model now features an automatic panel length reading device. A laser sensor ensures 

that the difference between the actual panel length and the programmed length does not create misaligned 

joints, thus achieving high precision drilling and perfect joints. 

The Pratix S is the new range of compact and high performance CNC machining centres with a nesting 

table. Thanks to “smart” technological solutions, such as no perimeter protections and the practical 

remote control with 7in touch screen colour LCD display, it is considered a perfect router for 

workshops with a limited floor space. 

The Tech e Pratix Z2 series grows with each new version that allows work pieces up to 5,200 mm 

in length to be machined. This dimension allows for the 

pendulum machining of both doors and panels up to 1,240 

x 2,450 mm each. The Tech Z2 machining centre with the 

new optional “autoset” system for the automatic positioning 

of bars and suction cups is even easier to 

use. With this device the operator cannot position 

the work pieces incorrectly, saving 

time and avoiding damage to the machine. 


Tel 0115 977 0044 

Email scmgroupuk@scmgroup.com 




Two new Decofoils from David Clouting 

CONTINUING along the innovative lines on which the company was 

founded, David Clouting Ltd has announced the launch of its latest 

Decofoil designs. 

Grey Odessa Oak (UYJ01-Q3M) (below) and African Walnut (YO203- 

03M) (right) are the latest results of the company’s long-term and highly 

productive relationship with LG Hausys. 

As is always the case with the company’s product launches, the new 

designs will be supported with complementary products to ensure manufacturers 

and interior designers can achieve the optimum end result. 

The two Decofoils will each have matching edge banding, in both PVC 

and melamine edging, to provide all-round continuity in appearance. 

Further to this, matching MFC and MDF panels will also be available 

for both African Walnut and Grey Odessa Oak. 

The MFC and MDF panels can both be sourced from Kronospan, which 

has introduced these designs into its Fresh 2 range. 

Further choice is available within the Grey Odessa Oak range, as this 

additionally includes a cross-cut saw pattern (UYJ01-T3M) in Decofoil. 

Both designs offer an ideal solution for those seeking authentic woodgrain 

effects, which continue to represent the height of fashion, while 

Abet provides a 

colourful change 

THE NEW STUDENT Resource Centre at the Cambridge Veterinary School, 

University of Cambridge, is supported by hundreds of colourful lockers 

surfaced with compact grade laminate from ABET LAMINATI. 

Designers Saunders Boston cleverly specified the colours to delineate different 

areas of the locker room. Blue is used to signify the ‘dirty side’ while 

green is used for the ‘clean side’. This ensures that the sterile side of the facility 

is kept as hygienic as possible. 

Abet’s compact grade is a popular choice among architects, interior designers 

and locker or cubicle manufacturers. 

The 12 mm compact grade material is manufactured complete with black 

core in standard sheet sizes of 3,660 x 1,610 mm; larger 4,200 x 1,610/1,860 

mm sizes are available to special order. 

Abet’s standard compact grade comprises 42 finishes ranging from pastel 

and strong colours to complementary speckle effects and woodgrains. Different 

finishes are available to give the top surface excellent resistance to superficial 

daily wear, such as fingermarking, through to damage from graffiti, 

abrasion and impact. 

Samples and technical literature are available from Abet’s sample line. 

ABET Laminati 

Tel 020 7473 6915 ● Email sales@abet.ltd.uk ● www.abetuk.com 

conforming to the increasingly essential element of minimal environmental 

impact. 

“We’re continuing to update our ranges on a regular basis to provide 

innovation and ensure we are at the leading edge of developing trends,” 

says Edward Quant, David Clouting Ltd commercial director. 

“Grey Odessa Oak and African Walnut are the latest in a long line of 

new developments introduced in recent years.” 

The business has enjoyed a close relationship with Korean conglomerate 

LG for over 10 years, which Mike Clouting, David Clouting Ltd managing 

director, states will continue to provide benefits for customers: “Our 

latest launches again perfectly match trends and will provide our customers 

with the competitive edge they need to stay ahead of the competition. 

Our association with LG means we are able to lead with the latest 

trends while offering customers the most competitive prices to ensure 

they maintain optimum profit margins.” 

David Clouting Ltd 

Tel 0843 289 2252 

Email marketing@davidclouting.co.uk 

www.davidclouting.co.uk 



Koolkut just right for Kingsbury Joinery 

BUSINESSES relying on trestles or table 

saws for cutting sheet material will be interested 

to know that there is a much easier 

way, available at a highly affordable 

price. Read on to find out how Nottinghamshire 

based Kingsbury Joinery upgraded 

to a vertical panel saw, and the 

difference it made to the business. 

When he started the business, Bob Kingsbury, 

owner of the joinery, used a hand-held 

circular saw and trestles to cut boards to 

size, trimming down smaller pieces on a 

table saw. Because of limited space in the 

workshop, the initial cutting on the trestles 

had to take place outside. 

This approach, used by joiners, carpenters 

and others across the world, has three key 

limitations, as Bob recalled. “Firstly, rain 

stopped play,” he said. “When you’re cutting 

sheets outside, you’re completely at the 

mercy of the weather. 

“Secondly, cutting a board on trestles accurately 

with a hand-held circular saw is not 

the easiest or quickest thing in the world, especially when doing repeat 

cuts. And, thirdly, manhandling heavy 8ft x 4ft MDF sheets onto trestles 

is difficult, and probably quite dangerous.” 

Given these limitations, Bob knew he needed a better solution for cutting 

sheet materials. Checking out the machines available on the web led 

him to Sagetech’s website and the company’s Koolkut range. 

“It came down largely to size and price,” he noted. “Limited workshop 

space was one of the reasons I needed a vertical panel saw in the first 

place, and the new machine had to fit — and be usable — in a particular, 

rather tight, space.” 

Sagetech’s Koolkut KK12 proved the ideal match for Bob’s requirements. 

A moving column unit, the KK12 fitted perfectly in the space Bob 

had available, and remains exceedingly compact even in use. It carries a 

head-turning price tag, too, as Bob observed: “I did look at some cheaper 

units, but they were all fixed-column machines, which would have required 

more working space.” 

The KK12 is one of four units in the Koolkut range, which have been designed 

for light to medium industrial use, particularly by those with limited 

workshop space. Despite being very competitively priced these are 

Cabershield from Norbord 

NORBORD has extended its range of particleboard flooring products with the launch 

of Cabershield, a moisture-resistant P5 tongue-and-groove board with a permanent 

protective non-slip coating. 

Complementing Norbord’s Caberdek — a leading peel-clean board —Cabershield is made 

from the same 22 mm P5 board but with a tough polyurethane coating permanently bonded 

to the top surface. As well as making the floor safe and waterproof, the PU coating on Cabershield 

is really tough. Like Caberdek, a newly-laid Cabershield floor can be left exposed to the 

elements for up to 42 days without risk of deterioration. 

“Although Caberdek, with its peelable protective film, represents a much larger market, 

there is now a demand for a tough flooring panel with a permanent protective surface,” explains 

Norbord’s building systems sales manager, Bill Miller. “It’s very much a personal choice. 

In the majority of cases, a peel-clean surface is ideal and when the building is finished, you 

can simply peel off the protective film to reveal a clean, undamaged floor. But some users prefer 

the permanent coating, especially if their floors are going to be subject to an abnormal 

amount of wear and abrasion. We can now satisfy that demand.” 

Cabershield is fully BBA-certificated and independent tests have shown that its protective 

coating is three times more durable than the nearest competing product. The new board 

has just completed a year of pre-launch pilot projects with Norbord customers, who have 

reported excellent results, says Bill Miller. 

Cabershield is very quick to install using Norbord’s Caberfix new Joint & Joist adhesive. 

This adhesive is 100% waterproof which means that, when used with Cabershield boards, 

there is no need to tape the joints after installation. 

Norbord ● Tel 01786 812921 ● www.norbord.com 

high quality machines, built to last, delivering 

years of accurate, fast and easy cutting. 

The range caters for sheet sizes from 8ft x 

4ft through to 4.2 m x 2.1 m, capable of taking 

‘jumbo’ sheets and worktops. 

For those with very limited space of low 

workloads, Sagetech’s sister company Zapkut 

Limited offers a range of vertical panel 

saws, including what is believed to be the 

only genuinely portable unit available on 

the market today. 

Features offered by the Koolkut range include 

the ability to cut bevels, simple and 

compound angles to the full width and 

length of the sheet (with the optional anglecutting 

kit). Each machine comes with quickstop, 

built-in scales for easy dimensioning 

and a midway fence for smaller workpieces. 

Koolkuts can cut timber products and nonferrous 

metals, as well as signmaking materials 

including acrylics and composites like 

Dibond — Sagetech sells many machines 

into the signmaking industry. 

Kingsbury Joinery cuts some 15-20 8ft x 4ft sheets each week on its 

Koolkut KK12 — typically birch ply, MDF and chipboard. 

Asked about how the Koolkut has improved things at Kingsbury Joinery, 

Bob was enthusiastic. “Rain never stops play now, and the entire cutting 

process has become easier. Getting sheets on and off the Koolkut’s vertical 

cutting platform is much easier than with trestles, repeat cuts are a doddle, 

and there’s much less wastage: previously I had to cut sheets roughly to 

size on the trestles and then trim them down more accurately on the table 

saw. There’s just no need for all that with the Koolkut’s accuracy.” 

Bob also noted that the Koolkut has allowed him to run a genuinely 

one-man operation: cutting even heavy sheets on the Koolkut is a bonafide 

one-man job, in large part because of the vertical handling, which is 

so much easier than the horizontal handling required when using trestles 

or a table saw. The saw has also proved to be highly reliable. “It’s brilliant 

value for money and it does exactly what it says on the tin. I’d definitely 

recommend it,” he summed up. 

Sagetech Industries ● Tel 0118 970 1950 

Email info@sagetech.co.uk ● www.sagetech.co.uk 

Zapkut Ltd ● www.zapkut.co.uk 



‘All in One’ technology and turnkey solutions from Biesse 

THE BIESSE GROUP is a leading producer of CNC machines. 

As a company, the Group produces machines for the working 

of wood, glass, stone and new materials, which includes 

plastics and metal, as well as machines for the packaging 

industries. 

Then there is HSD, Biesse’s mechatronic division, which produces 

the technical working heads and components for all 

Biesse Group machines as well as other companies. 

For the wood industries, which include both panel and solid 

wood, Biesse offers a range of machines that cater for small 

batch production or that are ideal for R&D departments of larger 

companies, that truly offer several machines in one and which 

Biesse refers to as ‘All in One’. 

For larger companies that want a production line, Biesse offers 

a range of machines that have been built up by incorporating 

well-known brands into the Biesse Group family: brands 

such as Bre.Ma, Selco, Comil, RBO and Viet are all part of the 

Biesse Group. 

Offering a range of drilling, saws, edgebanders, sanders and 

vertical machining centres, Biesse Group is able to provide complete solutions 

for companies that want to take the next step in production methods. 

For some of the biggest producers of panels and pre-made products, 

Biesse goes that one step further by offering complete turnkey solutions. 

To ensure the best possible service when delivering such large projects, 

Biesse has created Biesse Systems division. 

Biesse Systems can take customers through every step of completing 

Biesse Rover A Edge 

a production plant, from the original idea to its final implementation. 

Biesse Group then offers complete control of all its machines via its 

software, BiesseWorks, which allows for the easy design and operation 

of the work needed and for those customers with more than one Biesse 

machine, they can be linked via Biesse Link so that the machines work 

together in perfect harmony when working in a production line. 

For customers looking for an ‘All in One’ machine, two of Biesse’s 

newest machines are sure to catch the eye. 

The Skipper V31 is Biesse’s smallest vertical CNC and due to its 

vertical construction, it takes up minimal floor space, which for 

many customers is one of many factors which influence decisions. 

The Skipper V31 is both a compact and versatile machine 

which features zero set-up time, with a working head that features 

10 independent spindles and 6 horizontal spindles, as well 

as a 120 mm diameter saw and an optional electrospindle for 

routing work. 

For those looking for a machine capable of shaping and edging 

panels, the new Rover A Edge offers a high level of technology 

in a small and highly competitively priced machine. The 

Rover A Edge edgebanding machining centre offers the same 

technology found in Biesse’s range of edgebanders and uses the 

same processes to ensure a perfect edge. The Rover A Edge is 

ideally suited to the production of shaped furniture and eliminates 

the need for a separate CNC and edgebander. 

Biesse UK 

Tel 01327 300366 

Email info@biesse.co.uk ● www.biesse.com 

SOFTWARE FOR DESIGNERS & MANUFACTURERS 

Increased sales for Windowmaker 

WINDOWMAKER Software Ltd has reported a 31% increase in sales in 2011. “We 

manage sales in seven different regions across the globe, and there has been growth 

in every one,” says Goronwy Jones, managing director (pictured). 

“The UK has performed particularly well with 57% growth over the previous financial year. 

“We forecast strong growth continuing. We have just launched the Windowmaker 2012 

product range, which is the result of a massive R&D effort — and we have our largest and 

most experienced sales team ever to take this to market. Extensions to this product range are 

also in the pipeline. We are poised to grow dramatically over the next three to five years.” 

Windowmaker Software is among the leading suppliers of software to the window and 

door industry with over 4,000 customers in 74 countries. The company has over 27 years’ experience 

and employs over 60 staff across the UK, Europe, North America, Australia and India. 

Windowmaker is believed to have been the the first Microsoft Gold Certified Partner specialising 

in the window and door industry. 

Windowmaker Software Ltd ● Tel 020 8390 4931 ● www.windowmaker.com 



Award-winning 3D artistic design for Alphacam 2012 R1 

THE LATEST release of Alphacam 

CNC software contains a 

new module to create stunning 

low relief carvings from 2D designs 

and 3D models. 

Aspire for Alphacam is a totally 

new 3D relief modelling software 

for CNC routing and engraving 

projects such as carving decorative 

ornate panels and doors, 

swept flourishes, custom millwork, 

architectural mouldings, dimensional 

signage, bespoke company 

logos, custom gifts and awards. 

Alphacam 2012 R1 combines 

Vectric’s award-winning 3D artistic 

design software with the Alphacam 

machining software. A fullfeatured, 

easy-to-use solution for 

creating 3D relief models with 

quick, efficient tool path creation, 

and machine-ready CNC code. 

Aspire for Alphacam quickly 

and easily converts 2D sketches, 

drawings and graphic designs into 

unique high quality 3D designs. 

Alphacam 2012 R1 is the latest 

release in the 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 other functionality improvements 

in Alphacam 2012 R1: 

New and improved 3D 

Machining Strategies: 

● The new Constant Cusp strategy 

gives a more consistent surface 

finish over the entire part. 

● A 4-axis Cylindrical Profiling 

strategy is introduced. 

● The improved Horizontal Z Contour 

machining with Rest Machining 

support comes with more control 

options, increasing reliability. 

● New Tool Axis Conversion 

methods for 4- and 5-axis normal 

to surfaces or solids are introduced. 

Continued improvements to 

Toolpath Associativity and 

Operation Editing/Updating: 

● All machining operation types 

are now fully editable. 

● New commands provide the ability 

to regain any lost associativity. 

● Tool Axis Conversion settings are 

now stored with the operation, and 

automatically updated as needed. 

● New API components provide 

the ability for operations generated 

by user add-ins (eg VBA macros), to 

support associativity, editing and 

updating. It includes Machining 

Styles, adding geometry, and copying 

operations or boundaries. 

Solid Viewing Support for all 

Modules/Levels 

● Solid bodies contained within 

Alphacam drawings are now visible 

and maintained in all Alphacam 

product levels, including 

Alphacam and the new Alphacam 

Shop Floor Editor, which was formerly 

known as Alphaview+. 

Updated and Improved Vertical 

Application Add-ins: 

● The Alphacam APM User Interface 

has been completely refreshed. 

● All machining add-ins now support 

operation editing functions. 

Alphacam is renowned as being 

one of the most responsive CAM 

systems on the market, providing 

full machining capabilities to manufacture 

anything from simple 2- 

axis parts through to complex 

5-axis components. Its extensive 

range of features helps manufacturers 

adapt to changing business 

requirements, by being able to 

quickly modify tool paths. 

In highly competitive markets, 

automation is the key to reducing 

programming time and maximising 

efficiency. Extensive research 

and development ensures Alphacam’s 

twice-yearly releases allow 

users to gain the absolute maximum 

performance from their CNC 

machines and the CAM process, 

maintaining a competitive edge. 

Alphacam 

Tel 01233 506100 

www.alphacam.com 

Supported by Gang-Nail 

AN award nomination, a tenfold 

increase in staff and doubling 

turnover year-on-year are 

just some of the achievements 

by manufacturer, Fencehouse 

Truss Company, thanks to the 

help of Gang-Nail Systems. 

In the past three years the company 

has built its own factory in 

Durham and employs 20 people 

from the local area to make roof 

trusses for prestige clients. And 

the beginning of 2011 saw investment 

in a new joist machine, 

which marked the expansion into 

manufacturing and marketing 

Ecojoist to accompany the existing 

successful roof truss market. 

Fencehouse has worked with 

Gang-Nail for the past six years 

and in that time the company has 

been provided with continuous 

training and guidance on both the 

software and the best machinery 

to buy. 

Steve Harris, director at Fencehouse, 

said: “We’ve taken our expansion 

one step at a time and 

Gang-Nail has been there supporting 

us as we’ve progressed 

from just producing trusses to 

Ecojoists. Everything has been created 

from scratch — we built the 

factory from the ground up after 

buying the land and even despite 

the difficulties of the past few 

years, we’ve continued to go 

against the grain.” 

Jason Ruddle, Gang-Nail’s Sales 

and Business Development Manager, 

added: “It’s great to see manufacturers 

like Fencehouse 

thriving in these harsh economic 

times. To be nominated for a best 

manufacturer award against the 

likes of Nissan is a real achievement 

in such a short space of time 

and they have been staunch supporters 

of Gang-Nail’s products. 

“With the support of Gang- 

Nail’s software and training expertise 

we hope Fencehouse continues 

to grow and expand at its 

north east site.” 

Gang-Nail Systems 

Tel 01252 334691 

Email gang-nail@eleco.com 

www.gangnail.co.uk 



Joinerysoft saves as much time as my 4 sided moulder! 

FED UP with long hours and customers 

chasing for quotes, Rob Evans of R J 

Evans Carpentry and Joinery decided 

to purchase Joinerysoft’s Joinery Management 

Software (JMS). 

Five months later, he wishes he had 

made the decision years ago and would 

not be without the software now. Rob 

says, “It saves me time and earns me 

more money.” 

Based in Hereford, Rob Evans formed 

his joinery business six years ago; going it 

alone after working for the same company 

since his apprenticeship at aged 16 

years. Undertaking bespoke work including 

windows, doors, stairs, curved 

work and mouldings, he is essentially a 

one man band and would rather be in 

the workshop earning money than struggling 

to keep up with paperwork and 

pricing. 

Not particularly computer literate, Rob 

was surprised by how simple the joinery 

software looked during the demonstration 

at his premises. “Despite the complexity 

of the job that it does, JMS 

remains very easy to use,” he says. 

Calculating everything from glass sizes 

to timber measurements, every size, 

every shoulder length, all furniture and 

screws, JMS provides consistent and accurate 

pricing. Previously Rob calculated 

everything by hand, estimating glass 

prices using rough sizes and often forgetting 

to include sundries. The lengthy quoting process previously 

meant that if he was busy it could take a month to get back to customers. 

Rob says, “I’m more competitive now and know I’m making money.” 

The deciding factor for Rob was the ability to calculate U-values, and 

the professional image of printed quotes and order confirmation. Purchasing 

the software immediately after the demonstration, Rob made 

use of Joinerysoft’s flexible payments over 12 months to aid cash flow. 

He adds, “In the long run it doesn’t cost me a penny because the cost per 

month is more than covered by the increase in earnings I have made since 

having Joinerysoft. It effectively pays for itself.” 

JMS calculates U-values automatically for windows and doors providing 

compliance certificates for end customers. Designed for bespoke joinery, 

it helps at the design stage so that joiners can check that the design 

and materials will meet the required specifications. Rob believes this 

function alone has allowed him to quote for more jobs. He says, “This 

function gets me work because other than sitting down and working out 

calculations for myself (which would take days) there is no other way of 

doing it.” 

JMS has contributed to winning orders, especially where technical 

drawings are required. Other joinery companies failed to produce the 

drawings because of the hassle involved in drawing up each window. He 

says, “I won the work because I was the only one to get back to the customer. 

The technical drawings took no more than two minutes to print 

within JMS. If they want to change anything, this is easy with JMS; I can 

reprint the order confirmation easily and once signed it removes disputes 

later, though thankfully this has never happened to me.” 

JMS has enabled Rob to spend more time at home after 5 pm. He says, 

“If I want to price in the evening it will just take 1 ⁄2 hour to quote or one 

hour for a big job. I can duplicate similar windows easily within JMS to 

avoid duplication of effort and don’t need to worry whether I am under 

or over pricing or missing out items because everything is displayed in 

black and white. My girlfriend is a lot happier because I’m at home with 

her. I’m a lot happier because I don’t have to think about work constantly, 

and can sit down in the evening.” 

JMS has definitely provided more time and increased efficiency in the 

workshop too. Rob adds, “If setting windows out I don’t have to calculate 

sashes with a calculator and can print out Joinerysoft measurements and 

can mark it out straight away.” Joinery soft saves him at least 20 minutes 

a day in the workshop, which “all adds up”, he says. JMS has removed the 

need to measure up glass so Rob can order in advance before making up 

the window. The glass then arrives as the window is being finished. Everything 

can go out together leaving Rob with the free space to start the 

next job without a delay or hanging around. All measurements are provided 

so he can mark out the frames and casements at the same time. 

This has changed the workshop scheduling because Rob doesn’t need 

to go back and redo them later. 

Rob concludes, “JMS helps me to grow my business and become more 

professional. Joinerysoft saves as much time as my four sided moulder. It 

makes my life so much easier I wish I’d bought it years ago. Even though 

I can’t physically see the tangible benefit of the software sitting in the 

workshop it’s the best investment I’ve made and I would not be without 

it now. I would highly recommend it to anyone. It is an absolutely brilliant 

program and especially benefits a smaller company like mine, because 

I haven’t got time to do paperwork.” 

R J Evans Carpentry and Joinery 

Tel 01981 580152 ● Email info@evansjoinery.co.uk 

www.evansjoinery.co.uk 

Joinerysoft Ltd 

Tel 01608 643302 ● Email enquiries@joinerysoft.com 

www.joinerysoft.com 



Alphacam’s tagging helps monoplane-maker soar 

THOSE MAGNIFICENT men with 

their cutting machines played a 

significant role in getting other 

magnificent men their flying 

machine. 

A Cambridgeshire woodworking 

company has produced all the 

shaped wing struts for the recreation 

of a famous early 20th 

century monoplane. 

A group of model-makers from 

Basildon came across the story of 

the Oakington Monoplane, which 

was built in 1909 in an attempt to 

win a £1,000 prize offered by the 

Daily Mail for the first circular flight 

of at least one mile, by an all- 

British aeroplane. Alfred Grose and 

Neville Feary constructed the original 

monoplane in a barn in Oakington, 

Cambridgeshire. Although 

it never flew, the story captured 

the model-makers’ imagination, 

and they are currently building a 

full-size working model. Ironically, 

the woodworking company chosen 

to manufacture the birch plywood 

wing struts was The Cutting 

Room, sited just 15 miles from 

Oakington as the crow flies. 

Cutting Room partner, Mark 

Durey, explains that the leading 

CNC software, Alphacam, was instrumental 

in cutting out all the 

components “as sweet as a nut” on 

the company’s twin-bed Anderson 

Duo CNC router, which has two 

heads and eight-station auto tool 

changers. 

“We used the Anderson as it has 

the best vacuum for this type of 

work,” says Mark. 

“While Alphacam was absolutely 

essential for creating the CNC codes 

for the toolpaths, a particularly important 

factor for this project was 

the software’s Support Tagging procedure. 

Tagging is a real gamechanger 

for making small, accurate 

components like these wing struts. 

Without it our job would have been 

much more difficult.” 

He says once they had made 

sure all the geometric lines on the 

client’s CAD file were clean and interconnected 

properly, they decided 

whether they were going to 

cut inside or outside the line and 

then put in the toolpaths to a 

depth of minus-1 mm. 

“Using the tagging function, we 

raised the cut for lengths of 15 

mm in specific areas to about 3 

mm. Putting a series of these in 

holds the components steady. I always 

liken it to how Airfix kit parts 

are held in place. 

“Tagging these components 

saved us hours over the other 

Alphacam’s Support Tagging procedure was “a real game-changer for making small, accurate components,” 

says The Cutting Room’s Mark Durey. 

more traditional options: making 

a purpose-built jig, pinning, or 

onion-skinning. Making jigs is 

time consuming, pinning tends to 

spoil the component and with 

onion-skinning, you’ve got to release 

each part with a craft knife. 

Using Alphacam’s tagging feature 

is much quicker and neater. 

“Although we were creating a lot 

of small parts, using tagging effectively 

makes them one large part, 

which ensures absolute accuracy 

and increases the cutting speed. 

The more accurately we can work, 

the better. And that’s what Alphacam 

gives us. It means we’re working 

to perfection. In the office we 

work to perfection on the programming, 

then in ‘real life’ when it gets 

to the machine, it’s also perfect.” 

Although The Cutting Room 

used the Anderson Duo, the company 

could just as easily have 

transferred the job to the SCM 

Record 220 or SCM Routomat 3. 

The Anderson handles most of 

the contract work, with the 

Routomat 3 used mainly for 

kitchen doors, which is a large part 

of the company’s business, and 

the Record mainly for 3D work and 

some overspill from the other two. 

“Another distinct advantage of 

Alphacam, is that its programs can 

be transferred to any of our machines. 

We can produce a program 

for one machine and within a 

minute it can be transferred to another. 

We’ve got all our post 

processors, which I can readily 

tweak. We’d be nowhere without 

Alphacam, we’re so embedded 

with it now.” 

Alphacam 

Tel 01233 506100 

www.alphacam.com 


SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT: WOODWASTE & DUST CONTROL 

Woodscape opts for DCS dust plant 

At Woodscape, traditional skills work hand-in-hand with modern machinery 

to produce outdoor furniture to an extremely high standard. 

DUST CONTROL Systems Ltd has 

completed a major installation 

at the new premises of leading 

hardwood street furniture manufacturer, 

Woodscape Ltd. 

Due to continued success and 

business growth, Lancashirebased 

Woodscape decided to relocate 

to larger, more modern 

premises in Blackburn, just a few 

miles from its old workshops. The 

move saw the company increase 

its floor space from 18,000 ft 2 to 

42,000 ft 2 allowing the company 

to accommodate three separate 

group companies under one roof. 

All Woodscape timber products 

are manufactured from naturally 

very durable hardwood timber. 

The privately-owned company’s 

experience of working with these 

timbers, and its ability to fashion 

them into outdoor furniture and 

structures which combine creative 

design with extremely robust construction, 

has enabled it to win a 

growing share of the UK’s outdoor 

furniture market. 

Recent prestigious contracts secured 

by Woodscape include the 

supply and installation of timber 

external furniture at more than 

450 Tesco stores — each location 

typically having two seats, two 

planters, two litter bins and seven 

trolley shelters. 

Woodscape’s managing director, 

Richard Nelson, explains: “We 

simply outgrew our old factory 

and moving to the new site more 

than doubled our floor space as 

well as providing us with a blank 

canvas to work with. Over thirty 

woodworking machines had to be 

re-installed and a complete re-appraisal 

of our dust extraction requirements 

was necessary.” 

Melvyn Bathgate, sales director 

at DCS, said: “We were invited by 

Woodscape to carry out a study of 

its extraction needs and we put 

forward a distinctive proposal 

which centred round a filter unit 

which combines both reverse-jet 

filter and waste silo in a single 

space-saving package. The unit 

would deal with dust and chips 

from all 33 machines, provide 

waste storage and, in addition, return 

filtered air back into the workshop 

to reduce heating costs. Our 

proposal also included all related 

electrics and compressed air work 

as well as provision of access 

equipment for the installation.” 

The DCS M-30 combination filter/silo 

unit is sized on an air volume 

of 45,000 m 3 /hr, incorporates 

a filter surface area of 353 m 2 and 

has waste storage capacity of 24 

m 3 . Waste is discharged, pressure 

free, into a box cart via a rotary 

valve and closed-loop waste transfer 

system. Two 37 kW high-efficiency 

fansets provide low-noise 

extraction from all machines, and 

a 15 kW fanset powers the ducted 

waste transfer system. 

The filter layout design is such 

that it can readily accommodate 

future installation of a woodwaste 

heater system. 

In addition to wood dust extraction 

equipment, DCS also supplied 

and installed a dry back 

spray booth. 

Mr Nelson added: “The DCS proposal 

fully satisfied our requirements 

and the attention to detail 

was a contributing factor in our 

decision to award the contract to 

DCS. I am pleased to say that the 

plant is fully living up to our expectations 

and we have been impressed 

with the level of service 

provided by DCS.” 

DCS Limited 

Tel 0800 040 7116 

Email sales@DCSlimited.co.uk 

www.DCSlimited.co.uk 

DCS M-30 combination filter/silo unit deals with dust and chips 

from 33 machines. 



SAM – Investing in the environment 

DUSTRACTION Ltd has been the 

waste extraction supplier of 

choice at SAM Mouldings in 

Antrim for well over a decade 

and has helped Europe’s leading 

manufacturer of architectural 

mouldings in MDF to win some 

very significant environmental 

protection accolades in the 

battle for the environment. 

Most recently, a new 80 m 3 storage 

silo, the fourth on the eight 

acre site, was installed by Dustraction 

to take and to store the MDF 

waste from an existing but relocated 

cyclo filter. A two way diverter 

was also installed at the 

outlet of the cyclo filter to enable 

the flow of waste to be switched 

between silo stores three and four 

to ensure a reliable feed source for 

the new CHP plant. 

Around 2.5 tons of MDF waste is 

generated per hour at SAM 

Mouldings and is, with the help of 

The Carbon Trust, being used to 

generate electricity, as well as factory 

process heating. 

This has completely eliminated 

the company’s energy bill that was 

running at £230,000 per annum. 

Dustraction’s longer term role in 

the enterprise has been continually 

to upgrade the waste extraction, 

storage and delivery 

Above: Complex pipework by Dustraction at the SAM architectural 

mouldings factory in Antrim. 

Left: Dustraction’s multi-cyclo filter and silo installation in Antrim 

handles 2.5 tons of MDF dust per hour and is part of a power generating 

project that is turning wood waste into profit. 

mechanisms needed to get the now valuable wood waste fuel to the electricity 

generating turbine via the MDF chippings and dust incinerator. 

A second cyclo filter has also been installed to exhaust waste from a 

repositioned hogger via a new external network of ducting. 

Dustraction’s layout is in support of a biomass wood chip and dust 

boiler installation with a heat exchanger and steam turbine that was partially 

funded by an interest free Energy Efficiency loan from the Carbon 

Trust. It produces, according to factory manager Mark Kirkpatrick, around 

7.5 million kW per year and payback will be in a little over two years. In addition 

to the elimination of SAM Mouldings’ annual electricity bill of 

£230,000, the turbine will generate an excess of power for sale back to 

the national grid for an additional estimated annual income of up to 

£35,000. It also completely eliminates a waste disposal bill at SAM of a 

further £300,000 per annum, making the sustainability element look very 

attractive indeed. 

“On top of all that,” says Mark Kirkpatrick, “we close our eyes at night 

knowing that we are saving about 1,200 tonnes of carbon dioxide being 

pumped into the atmosphere each year by avoiding the use of fossil 

fuels.” 

Dustraction Ltd 

Tel 0116 271 3212 

Email steve.matuska@dustraction.co.uk 

www.dustraction.co.uk 



Tailor made 

extraction 

WHEN BIESSE Group UK Ltd installed 

a Klever CNC at Tailor 

Made Signs in Daventry, the 

company selected Air Plants 

Dust Extraction Ltd to supply 

and install the dust extraction 

system serving the machine. 

Biesse UK is one of the UK’s 

leading woodworking machinery 

suppliers and, as such, has an established 

reputation for the provision 

of excellent customer service 

and technical support. 

At Tailor Made Signs, a state of 

the art CNC is employed in cutting, 

processing and finishing large 

quantities of different materials 

panels which, in turn, generates 

high levels of material waste. 

After careful consideration of 

Biesse’s requirements, Air Plants 

came up with a scheme that involved 

the installation of an Air 

Plants D1821P fine dust unit and 

connecting ductwork to the extraction 

manifold on the CNC. The installed 

system has a total airflow capacity 

of 3,393 m 3 /hr. The Air Plants 

D1821P unit consists of a central 

plenum section onto which the 

inlet spigot is mounted. Below this 

is the 4 kW motor and dynamically 

balanced impeller. As the waste enters 

the unit through this inlet 

spigot it is turned through 90 degrees 

into the main chamber. Heavier 

particles are collected directly 

into the heavy duty plastic bags 

below. Light particles are separated 

through the 21 filter bags on the 

top of the unit. The cleaned air is 

discharged back into the workshop. 

Air Plants Dust Extraction Ltd 

Tel 0116 283 3581 

Email enquiries@airplants.co.uk 

www.airplants.co.uk 

Efficient and effective dust control from Air Plants 

WHEN Cutwrights Ltd decided it 

was time to expand its operation 

and move to new, larger 

premises, the company selected 

Air Plants Dust Extraction Ltd to 

supply and install the dust extraction 

system serving the new 

and relocated machines. 

Cutwrights offers an online cutting 

and edge banding service to 

the trade and retail. With a stock 

list covering over 400 different 

boards and two internet connected 

beam saws operating all 

day, waste minimisation is important 

to Cutwrights. Cutwrights 

concluded the most environmental 

solution was effective dust collection 

together with a com bus - 

tion system for workshop heating. 

After careful consideration of 

Cutwrights’ requirements, Air 

Plants came up with a scheme that 

involved installation of an Air Plants 

Modulair Filter and 8/8 centrifugal 

fan, ducted to all the machines. 

The installed system has a total 

airflow capacity of 15,300 m 3 /hr. 

The air and extracted dust is 

moved from the machines into the 

Modulair filter via an 8/8 centrifugal 

fan with 22 kW motor. The 

heavier particles fall directly into 

the trough hopper below, where it 

is continuously discharged via a 

screw conveyor and rotary airlock. 

The light particles are separated 

through the 56 filter bags on top 

of the unit. The cleaned air is discharged 

back into the workshop. 

A shredder is also supplied as 

part of the package. This allows 

Cutwrights to reduce its solid waste 

and transfer it to the combustion 

system via the extraction system. 

The system is capable of being 

easily extended to provide additional 

filter area, should the extraction 

requirements need to expand 

to cater for future needs. 

The collected waste is discharged 

into the storage bunker of 

a Talbott’s T3A wood combustion 

system. The heat from the combustion 

system is used to warm 

the factory during the heating season 

and discharged to atmosphere 

during the warmer months. 

The system provides Cutwrights 

with efficient and effective dust 

control, whilst allowing the company 

to dispose of its solid waste 

and collected dust in a cost effective 

way, saving on waste removal, 

land fill and factory heating fuel 

costs at the same time. 

Air Plants Dust Extraction Ltd 

Tel 0116 283 3581 

Email enquiries@airplants.co.uk 

www.airplants.co.uk 

No afterburner required 

Energy efficiency loans available* 

Ask about our New Release “150-CMH” 

150 kW Hand Fired Wood Waste Heater 

No afterburner required 


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

December 2011/January 2012 - PAWPRINT PUBLISHING

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?