December 2012/January 2013 - Low Resolution - PAWPRINT ...

PANEL, WOOD 

& Solid Surface 

Issue No. 55/56 December 2012/January 2013 

New: ThermoTech from Leitz 

For the full 

story turn 

to page 9 

Also inside this month: 

All the latest News 

Sustainable 

Development p 5 

Classical Machinery & 

Equipment p 10 

Software for 

Designers & 

Manufacturers p 11 

Sanding & Finishing 

pp 12-13 

Panels & Panel 

Processing pp 14-25

GENISIS 

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Unit 4, Falcon Place, Burscough, Lancs L40 8RT 

Tel: 01704 893109 

Email info@ukwoodworkingmachinery.co.uk 

www.ukwoodworkingmachinery.co.uk

NEWS 

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Hi-tech solutions at Weinig Intech 2012 

THE 20th EDITION of 

Weinig’s in-house exhibition 

InTech once 

again proved to be a 

magnet for the solid 

wood sector. 

Some 1,000 professional 

visitors came from 

across the globe to 

Tauberbischofsheim, 

where Weinig, the specialist 

in machines and 

systems for the solid 

wood processing industry, 

demonstrated the 

entire value creation 

chain in solid wood processing 

between 7 and 9 

November over 2,000 

m 2 of space. 

Visitor magnet — Weinig InTech. More than 1,000 professional visitors 

came to Tauberbischofsheim. 

New at InTech: the Conturex Compact profiling centre. 

One of the big surprises was the 

announcement of a double-end 

machine. The new machine sees 

Weinig extend its end profiling 

product segment. 

While those interested in this 

technology will have to wait until 

Ligna 2013, visitors were able to 

experience a further innovation 

live: the Conturex Compact completes 

the performance spectrum 

of the profiling centre at the lower 

end. That high-tech applications 

are now equally profitable for 

smaller operations as they are for 

larger ones was also clearly 

demonstrated by Weinig in the 

wood optimisation segment. 

Highlights here included the 

EasyScan and production software 

OptiPal. A new generation of controls 

with even more user-friendly 

operation completed the range of 

innovations on show at Weinig In- 

Tech 2012. 

The accompanying talks by experts 

shared a central theme of 

profitability, evidenced by completed 

customer installations. Following 

the talks, the professional 

visitors had the opportunity to experience 

the systems presented in 

action. In doing so, they witnessed 

a new dimension to the Weinig inhouse 

exhibition. This year saw 

more customer installations in 

production than ever before. From 

linking individual system components 

with state-of-the-art control 

technology to perfect organisation 

of the machine environment 

Weinig continued to break new 

ground, ensuring the company’s 

strong position in the market. 

Particular interest was received 

by the highly developed Weinig 

planing technologies, which facilitate 

significant savings in materials 

and personnel over the course 

of a year. With freely-programmable 

3D profiling on the Powermat 

2400, Weinig is also opening up 

new prospects for customised 

production. Weinig experts from 

the cutting segment demonstrated 

how greater efficiency can 

be achieved at less expense. The 

systems for width optimisation 

and automatic saw blade adjustment 

met with great response. 

Besides the new double-end 

machine, significant performance 

gains with finger jointing lines 

were the main topic of conversation 

in the end profiling product 

segment. To that end, the current 

top version of the HS model with 

spinfeeder enables the production 

of up to 220 long parts 

per minute. The other 

end of the substantial 

Weinig finger jointing 

technology performance 

spectrum is marked 

by a recently completed 

system for the production 

of pencils, which 

even allows incoming 

lengths of 75 mm. 

Another of the main 

themes at InTech was 

window production. 

Here, Weinig illustrated 

the almost limitless 

range of applications of 

the successful Conturex concept 

using the example of ready-todeliver 

customer installations. the 

range extends from toys to the sector 

of the future, timber house construction. 

Here, Weinig has a selling 

proposition believed to be unique 

with CLT production inlaying technology. 

By using Weinig technology, 

the customer can achieve a 

wood saving of up to 25 per cent 

regardless of the processing volume, 

according to the company. 

CEO Wolfgang Pöschl expressed 

his confidence that Weinig has set 

the right course despite the persisting 

problems in the inter national 

economy. “In a challen ging climate, 

the comprehensive expertise of 

Weinig for the solid wood processing 

industry and small businesses is 

unrivalled,” he said. 

The results of the 20th Weinig 

InTech confirmed the fascination 

with production technology in 

Weinig quality. Over the three 

days of the exhibition, 25 machines 

and systems were sold. 

Michael Weinig (UK) Ltd 

Tel 01235 557600 

Michael Weinig AG 

Tel 0049 (0) 93 41 86-0 

Email info@weinig.com 

www.weinig.com 

Panel, Wood & Solid Surface December 2012/January 2013 Page 3

NEWS 

Lamont clamping system selected by Roundel 

ROUNDEL specialises in the design, 

planning and installation of 

bespoke kitchens, bedrooms and 

bathroom furniture to major 

house builders across the UK. 

Substantial investment in new 

product sourcing together with the 

use of modern technology and manufacturing 

techniques have enabled 

Roundel to remain at the forefront of 

the market, thereby firmly establishing 

the company as a major force 

within the industry. 

In support of ongoing moves to 

manufacture more of its own 

kitchen and bedroom doors, rather 

than being dependent on outside 

suppliers, the company recently invested 

in a matrix clamp, purchasing 

the clamp displayed by Lamont 

on the JMJ stand at W12. 

Roundel’s Roy Ramshaw told 

PW&SS: “We already manufacture a 

significant number of doors 

through various manufacturing 

processes: however, we had recently 

designed a specialised, more upmarket 

door, and I needed a clamping 

system to be able to produce 

them. 

“We carried out a lot of research 

via magazines, websites and trade 

connections, speaking to companies 

that we have known over many years. We were able to whittle it 

down to a small number of people who could supply what we needed. 

“We had been reluctant to go to W12 as it has diminished over the 

years, but as we surveyed the websites of who did what, we noticed Lamont 

would be there, as well as two or three other companies I was interested 

in. As it turned out, it was the right show at the right time.” 

Visiting the Lamont sector of the JMJ stand, Roy reports that he was 

very impressed with Alan Lamont. “I liked the guy, what he said, how he 

London and Leeds seminar on thermal window production 

explained what the company does. 

He manufactures the clamps, so he 

knows his product inside out. Everything 

he told me I was impressed 

with. I saw the product on the stand, 

and it does what it says on the tin. It 

is well constructed and available at 

a very reasonable price: in other 

words, excellent value for money.” 

Roundel already had a woodwelder, 

purchased many years ago 

from a different company. Roy reports 

that “Alan came to the factory 

and serviced the woodwelding machine 

free of charge to ensure it was 

working correctly with his machine. 

He did not try to sell me a new one: 

he took one look at our existing 

woodwelder, said that it looked in 

fairly good condition and gave it a 

service. This is excellent service, as 

far as I’m concerned. 

“Alan is a fantastic guy to deal 

with. He is true to his word: what 

more can I say? I’m not saying it just 

because I bought the machine off 

him: the reason I bought the 

machine was because he was a 

genuine guy to deal with. He told 

me the good points and the bad 

points, and guided me to the right 

position.” 

In just the first fortnight or so of 

operation, Roy reports that the clamp has already allowed Roundel to 

strengthen its foothold in the furniture industry, providing versatility. “It 

gives us exclusivity as well, making a new range of doors that no one else 

makes.” 

When asked if he would recommend Lamont, Roy replied, “Definitely, 

100%.” 

Lamont ● Tel 01461 40017 

Email aalamont@hotmail.com ● www.clampingmachines.co.uk 

THE BUILDING Crafts College, 

Stratford and Leeds College of 

Building will host one-day seminars 

in February 2013 on “Thermal 

Window Production to 

Proposed New Building Regulation 

Standards for 2013”. Places 

are strictly limited: contact 

Richard Jacob rjacob@leitz.org 

to confirm attendance. 

British Fenestration Rating 

Council (BFRC) registered simulator 

Richard Jacob will present Leitz 

Tooling UK’s new ThermoTech Window 

System along with an update 

on the proposed building regulations 

for 2013. 

Representation from the British 

Woodworking Federation (BWF) 

will be present, along with machinery 

manufacturer Felder for the 

London seminar, Accsys Technologies’ 

Justin Peckham on Accoya 

and Steve Ashton of Teknos Coatings, 

with practical demonstrations 

held in the afternoon. The seminars 

will be accredited by the BWF’s new 

wood working CPD programme. 

Created in response to proposed 

Part L Building Regulations 

in the energy and carbon reduction 

improvement targets of 2010, 

which require further carbon improvement 

targets of a 44% reduction 

by 2013 and 100% reduction 

by 2016, Leitz Tooling has developed 

a complete, compliant and 

scalable system for the manufacture 

of high quality A rated thermal 

windows by not only large 

companies but for small to 

medium sized joinery companies, 

opening up new business opportunities 

and reducing waste and 

sanding, while increasing efficiency, 

performance and finish. 

Leitz Tooling UK is believed to 

be the UK’s largest supplier of tooling 

to British industry. The seminars 

will take place at the Building 

Crafts College in Stratford on 20th 

February 2013 and at Leeds College 

of Building on 26th February 

2013. Seminar places will be 

charged at £10 per person, which 

will be donated to local charities in 

Stratford and Leeds. 

Leitz Tooling UK 

Tel 01279 454530 

Email rjacob@leitz.org 

http://shopuk.leitz.org 

Page 4 Panel, Wood & Solid Surface December 2012/January 2013

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT 

Heaters save new business 

from winter bills and chills 

A NEW manufacturing business 

has prepared for the cold winter 

months with two new wood 

waste heaters from Wood Waste 

Technology. 

Manzana Contracts was set up 

in April 2012, to provide specialist 

manufacturing services for the 

leisure, commercial and elite domestic 

market, from its 20,000 ft 2 

workshop in Huddersfield. 

Being environmentally conscious, 

business owners Chris and 

Gill Heleine spent time researching 

eco-friendly ways to dispose of 

their wood off-cuts, liking the idea 

of converting wood waste into 

free energy rather than it going to 

landfill. Having calculated that it 

was going to cost around £26,000 

for the existing gas heaters to 

warm the workshop for the 12 employees 

every winter, investing in 

wood waste heaters no longer just 

made good environmental sense, 

but good business sense too — 

and they started stock-piling their 

wood waste over the summer in 

anticipation. 

Wood Waste Technology was 

recommended to Manzana Contracts 

by a supplier. Gill says: 

“Whilst we appreciate the quality 

and durability of the heaters, and 

were pleased they were manufactured 

by the company in the UK, 

we also liked Wood Waste Technology’s 

company values, as they 

seemed to match our own. Just 

like us, Kurt Cockroft and Mick 

Evans believe in good old fashioned 

quality and service, with a 

modern approach.” 

The WT15 heaters were installed 

by Wood Waste Technology’s specialist 

team and everyone at Manzana 

Contracts is thrilled with the 

outcome. As Gill says, “We’re delighted 

with both the heaters and 

the service we’ve received from 

Wood Waste Technology — 

they’ve delivered everything they 

promised. Chris and I are especially 

affected by the cold as we only 

moved back to the UK from Minorca 

last year — but it’s nice to 

see the guys in their short sleeves, 

rather than having to wear their 

thermals in the workshop!” 

Managing director of Wood 

Waste Technology, Kurt Cockroft, 

says: “Gill and Chris are benefiting 

from taking an organised approach 

to their business. By doing 

the business calculations in advance, 

they have been able to save 

a substantial amount of money on 

skip bills and heating costs, and 

they will get a good return from 

their investment.” 

Wood Waste Technology offers 

a full range of wood waste heaters, 

from small hand fired units to 

larger fully automated systems, 

and offers site survey and design, 

as well as manufacture, installation 

and on-going maintenance. 

The company also services all 

types of wood waste heaters and 

supplies genuine spares. 

In addition, partner organisation 

Gross UK supplies a wide 

range of economical and heavy 

duty dependable German shredders 

and briquetters, which come 

in various sizes and specifications 

to enable businesses to buy a machine 

suitable to requirements. 

Wood Waste Technology 

Tel 01785 250400 

www.woodwastetechnology.com 

www.grossuk.co.uk 


NEWS 

Saw service celebrates 40 years of success with 

WHEN THAMES VALLEY was established 

by two friends in 1973 

to service bandsaw blades, circular 

saws and plate saws, the 

company’s ‘quality’ philosophy 

entailed the acquisition of 

Vollmer manual hand grinding 

machines. 

Despite approaching 40 years 

of age, these machines are still in 

operation, a clear indication of the 

build quality and relevance to the 

modern day business. As a saw 

service and supplier of quality 

saws and tooling to many industries, 

it is imperative that Thames 

Valley Saw Service invests in the 

most up to date and highest specification 

machinery available to 

maintain its position and continued 

growth in the marketplace. 

Over the years new machinery has 

been predominantly supplied by 

Vollmer machine tools. 

With over 35 years’ service at 

Thames Valley Saw Service, workshop 

director Mr Nigel Muttram 

discusses the evolution of the 

company and industry in general: 

“Since I have been at Thames Valley 

Saw Service, the landscape of 

the industry has changed beyond 

recognition. We used to have a 

fume filled workshop with staff 

manually grinding cutters, bandsaws 

and circular saw blades day 

in, day out. To move with the 

times, we have invested in automated 

machine tools that can 

Nigel Mutram operating robot loaded Vollmer CHD270. 

Vollmer KRD710 with 40 year old Vollmer in the background. 

process our saw blades. With the 

evolution of materials and the demand 

for ever faster cycle times 

from the saw blades, the saw 

blade tips and geometries have 

changed drastically.” 

To emphasise this point, Mr 

Muttram highlights the company’s 

position as the UK’s only distributor 

for the full range of Kanefusa 

products: “As a supplier and ser - 

vice agent for the high quality 

range of Japanese manufactured 

Kanefusa tools for the wood and 

metal industries, we have to be capable 

of machining all geometries 

on all their cutting tools and saw 

blades. As Kanefusa develops new 

geometries to improve the performance 

of the saw blades, we 

have to be capable of re-grinding 

these geometries. So, when Kanefusa 

developed its 3DX, 6DX and 

10DX range of TCT blades with 

three, six and ten different tooth 

geometries on each blade, our 

Vollmer CHD270 was more than 

up to the task of grinding the complicated 

multiple geometries.” 

Since the Drayton based company’s 

inception, it has always invested 

in high quality machine 

tools and the 21 employee business 

now has a complement of 

Vollmer machines that includes a 

CX100 for sharpening carbide 

tipped saws, an ND230 robot 

loaded CHD270 and a CHD250 for 

re-sharpening industrial application 

TCT saws with more demanding 

geometries, plus a KRD710 for 

processing HSS saw blades. 

The acquisition of the KRD710 

in 2000 signalled the end of the 

manual machining era for Thames 

Valley and its first step toward automated 

CNC re-sharpening. 

As Mr Muttram recalls: “We had 

seven old Vollmer manual grinders 

for sharpening HSS saws. They became 

redundant following the arrival 

of the KRD710 as it improved 

the quality whilst providing productivity 

beyond that of our seven 

older machines combined. 

“By taking these old machines 

out, we also had considerably 

more floor space and our staff 

could be freed up to conduct alternate 

tasks.” 

The arrival of the KRD710 also 

enabled Thames Valley Saw Service 

to machine a HSS blade in 10 

minutes whereas the previous 

time with the manual machine 

was 25 minutes per blade, the setup 

times were also drastically reduced 

along with the benefits of 

wet grinding and CBN wheels to 

generate a very accurate tooth 

geometry and consistency in the 

quality of sharpening. 

The success of the KRD710 

paved the way for further Vollmer 

investments and in 2004, Thames 

Valley Saw Service acquired its first 

large Vollmer machine, a CHD250. 

The CHD250 replaced two ageing 

Vollmer CHP machines: one was 

tasked with grinding the face of 

tipped saw blades whilst the second 

was grinding the tops. With 

two grinding wheels in one machine, 

the CHD250 removed the 

two previous machines, and in 

doing so, improved productivity 

and workflow by eliminating excessive 

set-ups. 

The benefits were more far 

fetching as Mr Muttram states: 

“The CHD250 benefits were certainly 

worth the investment. Beside 

improved workflow and 

productivity, the CHD gives us advanced 

programming, so we can 

deliver improved tooth geo - 

metries to the customer. 

“Furthermore, the enclosed unit 

made a significant difference to 

the workshop environment that 

was previously filled with coolant 

mist. This has benefited the visual 

impact of the workshop and offers 


NEWS 

Vollmer machine tools 

a cleaner working environment.” 

An additional two CHP machines 

were removed in 2006 for 

the arrival of a Vollmer CX100. Purchased 

specifically for sharpening 

small TCT saws to maximum dia - 

meter of 500 mm in small batches, 

the CX100 offers rapid turnaround 

times with fast set-ups. This enables 

Thames Valley Saw Service 

to service up to 400 TCT blades 

each week for customers with low 

frequency, one-off orders. 

The company’s reward for providing 

saw blades of impeccable 

quality, has been an exceptional 

level of growth over the past 10 

years. As well as employing 

Vollmer grinding centres, Thames 

Valley Saw Service has invested in 

alternate machine tools with particular 

technical attributes over the 

past decade. As Mr Muttram continues: 

“Despite the exceptional 

quality, service and longevity of 

the Vollmer machines, we have on 

occasions acquired machines from 

alternate suppliers. In hindsight, 

this has proven a mistake. Some of 

our machines were acquired over 

Vollmer on price, but you get what 

you pay for, and the quality and reliability 

of lesser machines had an 

impact on our business. As we 

were going through a period of 

growth, a machine we believed 

would be an integral part of our 

Vollmer CHD250 at Thames Valley. 

business became extremely unreliable 

and this was compounded 

by poor service support.” 

The result was Thames Valley 

Saw Service’s acquisition of a 

Vollmer CHD270 with a three station 

ND230 robotic loading system 

in 2007 to replace a 

competitor machine. 

As Mr Muttram recalls: “We had 

the previous machine for nine 

years and in that period, it proved 

expensive to repair, unreliable, unproductive 

and time-consuming 

to set up. It would only hold certain 

saw blade bore sizes, which 

resulted in additional setting 

times or the transfer of blades to 

other machines. With regards to 

productivity, the automatic loader 

could only hold 20 saw blades, so 

we could only machine 20 blades 

unmanned overnight.” 

From the offset, the Vollmer 

CHD270 eliminated all these issues. 

The machine could cope easily 

with any bore size. The 

reliability has been exceptional 

and the ND230 robotic loader has 

a capacity for up to 100 blades, resulting 

in overnight productivity 

increasing five-fold. “The technology 

behind the CHD270 is outstanding. 

It has two touch probes 

for automatic measurement of 

each tooth. The probes measure 

the diameter, kerf and the face of 

Vollmer CX100 machining small TCT blades at Thames Valley. 

the blades. By measuring the face 

and gullet, the probe tells the machine 

how far the wheel has to go 

into each gullet. This removes any 

possibility of grinding thin air beyond 

the carbide tip, which results 

in improved cycle times. 

“With automatic wheel compensation 

that continually measures 

the grinding wheels, our 

consistency and quality has improved. 

Furthermore, the Vollmer 

is a more rigid machine with a 

heavier base and this has improved 

the surface finishes of our 

blades. 

“From a productivity standpoint, 

the Vollmer is at least 20% 

faster than our previous grinding 

centre. On average, we are machining 

a 300 mm diameter TCT 

blade with 96 teeth in 17 minutes. 

Despite the machine being capable 

of machining at higher speeds, 

this consumes more grinding 

wheels, more power and puts unnecessary 

stress on the machine. 

The high level of automation with 

the CHD270 enables an operator 

to spend an hour each evening 

loading and programming the 

machine and then starting the 

next shift with a robotic loader 

with 80 to 100 completed TCT 

blades. 

“With this remarkable automation, 

there is little need to push the 

cycle times to shave seconds off a 

blade. This method also ensures 

our blades are finished to a remarkably 

high standard. I would 

like to add that it’s not only the investment 

in machinery over the 

years that has aided our growth 

but also the loyal, dedicated and 

highly skilled workforce here at 

Thames Valley Saw Service,” concludes 

Mr Muttram. 

Vollmer UK 

Tel 0115 949 1040 

admin-uk@vollmer-group.com 

www.vollmer-group.com 


NEWS 

Taking the head/arm/backache out of cutter cleaning 

KEMET INTERNATIONAL Ltd, one 

of the world’s leading companies 

in precision surface finishing, 

is occasionally approached 

to investigate applications outside 

its normal sphere of operation. 

Interestingly, Kemet’s 

founding product back in 1938 

was the Sanderhead, which was 

used in wood fabrication, so it 

was a bizarre quirk of history, 

therefore, when one such request 

arrived from the industry 

of the company’s origins. 

This was in the form of some 

large spindle moulding cutters 

where the build-up of resin and 

wood particles was causing them to 

run out of balance. Not only did this 

cause deterioration of the finish of 

the mouldings but the vibration 

was also resulting in premature 

wear of the machine bearings. 

Chip/particle flow was also being 

disturbed and the carefully designed 

top-rake and flow channels 

were becoming obstructed. 

Kemet’s investigations into the 

problem uncovered that it can 

also be frustrating and time consuming 

when the cutters are serviced 

as the cap head screws are 

Wood Awards 2012 

DAVID MORLEY ARCHITECT’S 

Hurlingham Club Outdoor Pool 

scooped the top award in this 

year’s hotly contested Wood 

Awards 2012 competition. 

The ceremony, hosted by chairman 

of the Heritage Alliance Loyd 

Grossman and with presentations 

by the Canadian High Commissioner, 

Mr Gordon Campbell, was 

held on the 27th November at the 

Carpenters’ Hall in the City of London. 

The Hurlingham Club Outdoor 

Pool saw off competition of 

an exceptionally high standard to 

win the Structural category, before 

being crowned the winner of winners 

in front of over 200 leading 

industry and architectural figures. 

Chairman of the judges, 

Michael Morrison of Purcell UK 

said, “The Wood Awards truly celebrates 

innovative design and 

craftsmanship, and the Hurlingham 

Club Outdoor Pool is without 

a doubt a worthy winner; we were 

presented with a whole hearted 

complete package. The careful 

analysis of what was loved about 

the old changing room pavilion 

was sympathetic and the recreation 

and integration of all the elements 

which mattered were 

carefully considered and achieved 

with great craftsmanship. Delightful.” 

Wood Awards’ structural judge 

Andrew Lawrence of Arup praised 

frequently blocked and the insert 

seatings obstructed. At present 

most of these cutters are soaked in 

solvent, such as kerosene, and 

then manually cleaned — a 

process which can result in mechanical 

damage and shorten the 

life of the tool. 

As a result the team of engineers 

and chemists at Kemet developed 

a process which 

incorporates a combination of ultrasonic 

action and specialist detergents. 

Ultrasonic cleaning 

forms a major part of the Kemet 

product range. Using high frequency 

sound waves to create 

cavitation bubbles, which adhere 

to the item being cleaned before 

imploding to remove all traces of 

contamination, the action also 

penetrates blind holes, cracks and 

recesses — ideal for searching and 

cleaning out all the nooks and 

crannies in a typical cutter box. 

Commenting on the process, 

Cleaning Division Manager, Phil 

Butler, said: “On a typical steel 

spindle moulder cutter the 

process can be as short as ten minutes 

to make the cutter resin and 

particle free.” He added: “The results 

are typically better than that 

obtained through manual cleaning 

and, apart from loading/unloading 

into the ultrasonic tank, 

the process is labour free.” 

Being aqueous, the process 

uses only water and detergents, 

there are also significant environmental 

and H&S benefits over 

solvents such as kerosene. The 

process is exceptionally flexible, 

being suitable for a wide range of 

cutters. Routers, drills and circular 

saws can all use this process with a 

wide variety of tank sizes being 

available to accommodate most 

sizes of tooling. Aluminium cutter 

bodies can also be cleaned 

the Hurlingham Club Outdoor 

Pool’s innovative timber structural 

solution. He said, “With its even 

front and repeating rhythm, the 

building is excellently resolved to 

by a variation of the process. 

“It was clear from the response 

and enthusiasm Kemet received at 

the W12 exhibition that the development 

we have put into this 

process has been worthwhile,” Mr 

Butler reported, concluding: “We 

now look forward to expanding 

our historic connections with the 

woodworking industry and welcome 

companies who have these 

challenges to contact us for a 

demonstration of the process on 

their own tooling.” 

Kemet International Ltd 

Tel 01622 755287 

Email sales@kemet.co.uk 

www.kemet-cleaning.co.uk 

make a special place. It is not only 

intelligent, but is as lovely as the 

images lead you to believe.” 

Wood Awards 

www.woodawards.com 


NEWS 

Leitz Tooling UK launches ThermoTech Window System 

LEITZ Tooling UK has launched 

Leitz ThermoTech Window System, 

which enables any size 

joinery company to manufacture 

A rated thermal stormproof, 

flush casement and 

traditional wood windows. 

Created in response to proposed 

Part L Building Regulations 

in the energy and carbon reduction 

improvement targets of October 

2010, which could require 

further carbon improvement targets 

of a 44% reduction by 2013 

and 100% reduction by 2016, Leitz 

Tooling has developed a complete, 

compliant and scalable system 

for the manufacture of high 

quality A rated thermal windows 

by not only large companies, but 

for small to medium sized joinery 

companies, opening up new markets 

and business opportunities 

and reducing waste and sanding, 

while increasing efficiency, performance 

and finish. 

Brian Maddox, sales manager 

for Leitz Tooling UK, believed to be 

the UK’s largest supplier of tooling 

to British industry, said: “We have 

removed the burden of design, 

tooling, set up and window simulation 

thermal testing for the energy 

performance rating; the only 

things we don’t do is actually performance 

test the window or 

make it. 

“Leitz is committed to high 

quality product, innovation and 

providing valuable services to our 

customers and our ThermoTech 

Window System was developed in 

response to the proposed changing 

Part L building regulations. 

“It gives the opportunity for 

much wider high quality manufacture 

of A rated thermal performance 

wood windows, and 

The ThermoTech Window System enables any size joinery company 

to manufacture A rated thermal stormproof, flush casement 

and traditional wood windows. 

there is demand, both from manufacturers 

as well as architects and 

contractors.” 

Leitz’s ThermoTech Window 

System provides an all-in-one 

package solution which is scalable 

for the specific and changing 

needs of individual businesses. 

British Fenestration Rating Council 

(BFRC) registered simulator 

with Leitz, Richard Jacob, said: 

“The system supports every type 

of variation, to suit every type of 

manufacturer, with any type of 

specification, with flexibility. As a 

low cost, dedicated modular system, 

it is not only as accessible and 

future-proof as we can make it, 

but includes all the support customers 

might need, including custom 

window design and the cost 

of simulation to BFRC regulations 

to get the approved A rating.” 

Brian Maddox said: “If you want 

to make A rated wood windows, 

call us.” 

Leitz is holding one-day seminars 

on the ThermoTech Window 

System in February 2013 at the 

Building Crafts College in Stratford, 

East London, and at Leeds 

College of Building. Contact 

Richard Jacob on the email address 

below to book your place. 

Leitz Tooling UK 

Tel 01279 454530 

Email rjacob@leitz.org 

http://shopuk.leitz.org 


CLASSICAL MACHINERY & EQUIPMENT 

SCM’s new entry level edge bander 

SCM’S model K230 EVO is very easy to use and comes with all inclusive 

and necessary equipment provided, 

due to its advanced technological 

solutions to ensure optimal 

panel finishing. It is considered 

a perfect edge bander for companies 

new to the field requiring 

professional edge banding 

solutions immediately after 

purchase. 

The many advantages include 

cutting and radius of the 

edge banding with a twomotors 

end cutting unit, for the 

best quality finishing of panels 

even with thick solid wood lippings 

with a straight cut or chamfering with thin 

edge bandings. The high quality finish of the edge is due to the 

“Megaline” feed belt (an SCM patent) which allows the panel feed without 

the typical pulse generated by the pinion of a traditional feed track. 

Sandya 300 Sander 

THE SCM SANDYA 

300 wide belt sander 

is ideal for the small 

and medium-size 

woodworking, door and panel 

companies as it can offer solid wood and 

panel calibrating and veneered panel sanding 

operations (also with honey-comb support), 

plus any other sanding requirements, with a 950 mm or 1,100 mm 

working width and a working thickness of 4-170 mm. 

The availability of an electronic sectional pad on the model with 1,100 

mm working width also provides the sanding operations required on 

honey-comb veneered panels such as doors. The sanding belt length is 

1,900 mm with a powerful standard 11 kW main motor. 

Advantages include pneumatic cylinders for the positioning of the 

units together with the electronic positioning of the working thickness 

ensuring an easy and very fast work changeover from job to job. The CS 

Combined Group is the secret of the Sandya 300’s flexibility with the possibility 

to use the roller and the pad either simultaneously or independently 

of one another providing high quality results. The RCS machine has 

a roller group (optional steel for heavy calibrating) before the CS group. 

The exclusive digital ammeter, available as a standard feature, gives the 

operator a very easy and immediate readout of the absorbed main motor 

power. Superior finishing of the work pieces arises as the sanding pads 

have a wide contact surface. A sectional pad with extractable screwed 

graphite cloth for easy, fast changeover and cleaning is also available. 

The Logic 50K Control Unit allows the controlling of the operation of 

the automatic pad on machines with adjustable belt speed using a variable 

speed motor or inverter. 

SCM Group (UK) Ltd ● Tel 0115 977 0044 

Email scmgroupuk@scmgroup.com ● www.scmgroup-uk.com 

The RT-V panel edge trimming group provides a perfect edge joint line 

with a panel edge surface without any imperfections before the gluing 

process. It utilises two motors with opposite rotation and 

with large diameter tools (100 mm) and panel 

edge trimming up to 3 mm thickness. 

Error free machining and optimal visualisation 

of the information offered with the 

“Orion One Plus” control unit with 4” 

display allows easy selection 

of the main machine 

functions. 

Diagnosis of any machine malfunctions 

is provided. 

Versatility is due to the three positions 

of the RK trimming group, allowing simple 

machining changeover from thin edges to thick 

edges and solid wood lippings. Reliability arises 

from the use of high frequency operating motors. 

SCM Group (UK) Ltd ● Tel 0115 977 0044 

Email scmgroupuk@scmgroup.com ● www.scmgroup-uk.com 

Class spindle moulder 

THE POPULAR SCM TI 120 Class 

spindle moulder is the very best 

solution for every application in 

the woodwork, joinery or furniture 

factory. Precision and reliability 

with many technological 

devices guarantee reduced machine 

set-up times, greater 

safety and ease-of-use for all 

operators. The spindle can be 

tilted ±45 degrees for maximum 

flexibility and great savings can 

be made in tooling costs. 

Set-up precision and reliability 

is just one feature that the operator 

receives as the TI 120 Class easily 

adjusts all movements due to a 

hand wheel with mechanical decimal 

readouts located on the front 

of the machine. It comes in either 

manual or electric (E) versions, 

with a generous 1,200 mm x 810 

mm rigid table. 

The spindle moulder fence with 

mechanical programming also 

provides maximum set-up speed 

and ease-of-use. No more test 

runs due to digital readouts that 

ensure accuracy to a tenth of a 

millimetre in positioning the two 

worktables. 

The ‘LL’ version is ideal when 

machining very long workpieces 

due to worktable extensions up to 

2,500 mm in length. The mobile 

front bar makes it easy to move 

large dimensioned workpieces on 

the worktable, particularly for 

edge moulding. 

Tenoning and profiling can be 

accommodated due to the manual 

feed carriage with cast-iron 

structure mounted on axial bearings 

running on slideways made 

from hardened and ground steel 

bar. 

SCM Group (UK) Ltd 

Tel 0115 977 0044 

scmgroupuk@scmgroup.com 

www.scmgroup-uk.com 


SOFTWARE FOR DESIGNERS & MANUFACTURERS 

Professional quotes provide clarity for Fletcher Joinery 

BROTHERS Peter and John 

Fletcher started their joinery 

manufacturing business 28 

years ago, taking over from 

their father’s joinery business 

operating since 1947. 

Manufacturing mostly “one off” 

bespoke design windows, doors, 

cabinets and the occasional staircase 

in the small village of Darlington, 

County Durham, they 

have a compact, but well stocked 

2,500 ft 2 workshop. Peter Fletcher 

is the main customer contact for 

the business responsible for all 

customer enquiries, providing accurate 

site measurements, quoting 

and ordering materials. In 

addition they employ five experienced 

full time joiners: three in the 

workshop and two fitting on site 

plus an apprentice. Peter’s job has 

been made easier since the integration 

of Joinerysoft’s Joinery 

Management Software (JMS) six 

years ago. 

Utilising the software for pricing, 

and providing professional 

drawings and printouts has meant 

that Fletcher Joinery has maintained 

a good reputation during 

difficult times, relying upon recommendations 

and repeat business 

for work. Keeping up with the 

times, the company also maintains 

a modern website allowing it to 

present a professional image and 

effective company brochure to 

web customers 24/7. 

Describing himself as computer 

illiterate, Peter has still found JMS 

easy to use, saying, “JMS is clearly 

designed for joiners like myself 

and the fact that a time served 

joiner came to install and train me 

was a big help too.” 

Customers often comment 

upon the professional information 

received, and Peter says, “The true 

scale pictures of each individual 

item make a huge difference 

when quoting, as often customers 

don’t know what they require or 

have even asked for. Showing 

them a picture clearly laid out with 

all sizes, timber, fittings and glass 

ordered ensures there is no confusion 

later.” 

Even complicated orders with 

numerous windows and doors are 

easy to price now, with timber 

type changed at the click of a button, 

instantly providing a new 

price. Section sizes can also be 

amended just by double clicking 

the relevant component making 

changes to an order a simple matter 

without having to start from 

scratch. Peter adds, “At least 50% 

of my time has been saved in 

quoting alone. I am now able to 

return to the workshop occasionally 

and keep them on their toes 

too.” 

Turnaround of work through 

the workshop has also improved 

as a result of JMS. Peter explains, 

“Jobs used to sit around for up to 

10 days once completed waiting 

for glass to arrive and be fitted. 

Now with JMS I can print out the 

glazing report as soon as the order 

has been confirmed, which not 

only documents the glass size but 

also provides glazing diagrams for 

duplex bars, etc. Jobs are now 

completed 20% faster, which 

means that orders can be delivered 

and invoiced far quicker, further 

improving our profitability 

and credibility.” 

Welcoming the regular updates 

to the software, one of the updates 

used frequently by Fletcher 

Joinery is the Automatic U-Value 

Calculator. Helping the company 

to comply with regulations to provide 

U-Values for all external windows 

and doors, JMS also provides 

documentary evidence of compliance 

through the production of 

professional U-Value Certificates 

that can be presented to clients. 

Peter adds, “Providing certificates 

of compliance for customers improves 

our professional service 

and creates the right impression. I 

am constantly checking to see if 

new updates have been released 

and value the improvements to 

the software I’ve seen over the 

past six years.” 

Peter concludes, “I am very 

happy with JMS and have been for 

many years. I bought the software 

because it is versatile enough for 

our bespoke joinery, providing detailed 

diagrams and an effective 

method of presenting joinery 

items in a professional manner. 

JMS still saves us a significant 

amount of time both in the workshop 

and in the office and the professional 

approach has won us 

work.” 

Fletcher Joinery 

Tel 01325 357347 

info@fletcherjoinery.co.uk 

www.fletcherjoinery.co.uk 

Joinerysoft Ltd 

Tel 01608 643302 

enquiries@joinerysoft.com 

www.joinerysoft.com 


SANDING & FINISHING 

Mirka’s dust free net sanding system 

The Mirka CEROS sander uses revolutionary 

Abranet abrasives, and connects to a vacuum, 

extracting about 95% of the dust from source. 

Wayne de Wet. 

By introducing a ‘D’ type handle, Mirka’s Handy 

sanding block gives the tradesperson more control. 

You can vary the pressure as needed, and 

still have a good hold of the tool. 

INVESTING in top-quality equipment is the key to any business’s success. 

It not only saves time, it also quickly pays for itself. 

Multiple award-winning painter and decorator, Wayne de Wet, is resolutely 

in favour of high-end working equipment. He was first introduced 

to Mirka’s dust-free net sanding system at a trade show in London, in 

2006. Since then, he has used Mirka products daily in a multitude of sanding 

jobs — with no looking back. 

Wayne de Wet is well known not only in his sector, he is also an active 

writer in various media, tests new equipment and helps fellow industry 

professionals choose high-quality equipment. His strive for perfection as 

a painter and decorator has also helped him win various prizes: in 2011 

he was awarded Grand Winner Dulux Select Decorator. 

“Converting to Mirka’s sanding system has not only made my job easier 

and more enjoyable, it also creates the perfect base for any painting 

work. If you ask any decorator around the world what is the worst part of 

decorating, it is usually the preparation stage — that is the filling, sanding 

and the cleaning part of the project, but with the dust-free sanding 

system even preparation work is a pleasure. I often look at myself and 

think I must be made as I actually enjoy sanding now,” de Wet laughs. 

Wayne is a specialist in hand-painted kitchens and furniture as well as 

demanding home decorating projects. In order to meet high quality standards 

he uses Mirka’s CEROS sander and dust extraction machine combined 

with Mirka’s Abranet abrasives. He is also a big fan of Mirka’s Handy 

and other sanding blocks. 

“I have used the CEROS sander for many years and the Handy since it 

has been available — to say I like them is an understatement! CEROS and 

Handy can be used for a multitude of sanding jobs and it really does make 

it much easier, saving time and so I have earned my investment back 

many times over,” says Wayne. “The system is so light and very easy to use. I use mine mostly 

for ceilings and walls and large flat areas, flush doors and skirting: it copes very easily with two 

pack filler, powder filler and much, much more. Recently I used the CEROS on a really heavy 

orange peel painted ceiling: the results were amazing and it was so easy to do.” 

Using Mirka’s dust-free net sanding system gives a number of clear advantages over traditional 

sanding tools, Wayne reports. 

“For instance, if you are involved in the redecoration of of a house, the aggressive side to 

traditional sand paper can make your fingertips sometimes sore and bleed; or you might 

want to sand down a specific part of a job, but because of the traditional abrasives where dust 

is not extracted you may over sand, 

causing damage to the surface. 

“Even fat edges, caused by paint 

rolling round an edge and building 

up around a corner, can be handled 

easily with Mirka’s Abranet system,” 

Wayne continues. 

“With traditional sand paper you 

can try to rub this fat edge out, but 

you might end up rubbing the 

paint off all the way down the 

edge. With Abranet, you could pinpoint 

the areas that need to be 

sanded. The Abranet also cuts 

through dry paint runs and drips 

easily, making it less laborious and 

time-consuming to get a good 

base for painting.” 

As a sole trader, Wayne admits 

that it is even more important for 

him to invest in just the right tools, 

products and equipment. “By investing 

in top-quality, highly effective systems you will save time and if you save time, you 

will make more profit,” he says. 

“Before I found the Mirka system, at the end of the day I would look like Father Christmas 

covered in dust. Now I’m not covered in dust — I might have a miniscule amount on me, but 

I’m not breathing it in, nor is it spreading uncontrollably in my customers’ homes. Therefore, 

cleaning up at the end of the day is also a massively easier job to do,” Wayne concludes. 

Mirka (UK) Ltd 

Tel 01908 375533 ● sales.uk@mirka.com ● www.mirka.com 


SANDING & FINISHING 

Premium Kündig sander for Solihull Joinery 

BIRMINGHAM based Solihull 

Joinery is a manufacturer of 

high quality display furniture, 

supplying to the shop fitting 

and building industries. 

From tables and radiator covers 

to display counters and bars, the 

company makes its carefully 

crafted furniture to order, working 

closely with customers to provide 

a solution to their retail and commercial 

interior needs. 

In March 2006, the company invested 

in a Kündig Premium 3-belt 

sander. Nearly seven years on, the 

sander is still going strong, due in 

part to the original quality of build 

and in part to the ongoing maintenance 

programme organised 

through Kündig UK. 

Company owner, Patrick Murphy, 

told Panel, Wood & Solid Surface 

that 2006 was a time when 

the company’s workload was increasing 

and, in particular, a contract 

won with Birmingham City 

Council meant that a new sander 

was required. 

When it comes to buying machinery, 

Patrick likes to go back to 

companies he knows and trusts. 

When setting up his company in 

2002, Patrick had purchased an 

Altendorf panel saw from Carl 

O’Meara of J & C O’Meara. Patrick 

says, “I had built up such a trust 

with Carl that I asked him, ‘Carl, if 

you were buying a sander, what 

would you buy?’ He recommended 

a Kündig sander.” At that 

time Carl had just taken over the 

running of Kündig UK, so the recommendation 

may well have 

been expected, but Patrick comments 

that Carl is “very honest: if 

he felt the machine was not right 

for you, he wouldn’t try to sell it to 

you.” 

Patrick was immediately impressed 

with the quality of the 

Kündig sander. “We used to sand 

our bartops with a sander we had 

bought in 2003 from another 

company. It was cheap, but wasn’t 

very good. With the Kündig 

sander, you could put a bartop on 

there, sand it up and it would 

come out perfect. 

“The Premium has a very high 

quality of finish. 

“I have worked at various joinery 

companies over the years and 

so often have had to use a hand 

sander trying just to get that perfect 

finish. 

“A bartop that would take four 

or five hours to sand by hand can 

be sanded on the Kündig in just 15 

The Enormatic function of a Kündig sander in action: the machine 

sets itself and starts up automatically without the operator 

having to return to the control panel. The advantage of this can 

be seen when sanding large frames as in this photo, as can 

having a fixed height to work from. 

Patrick and Noreen Murphy with the newly delivered Kündig 

Premium sander in March 2006. 

minutes, saving both time and 

money.” 

Although principally used on 

bartops, the versatility of the Premium 

is such that it can work on 

the full range of the company’s 

products. Patrick adds, “Even if we 

had made a mistake and have laminated 

something up that should 

not have been, with the Kündig 

Premium we can sand the laminated 

straight off!” 

The Premium is still producing 

a perfect finish nearly seven years 

after it was purchased, and Patrick 

puts that down to the maintenance 

programme that has been 

organised through Kündig UK. “It’s 

like a car,” says Patrick. “If you buy a 

new car but don’t look after it by 

checking the oil and water, meanwhile 

driving it up and down the 

motorway, sooner or later it will 

break down and will cost you a lot 

of money. Similarly, it is important 

to look after your woodworking 

machinery. It is all about maintenance: 

and as a result, the Kündig 

is still absolutely fantastic.” 

When asked if he would recommend 

Kündig, Patrick replied, 

“Without a doubt: if I needed another 

sander I would buy a Kündig 

instantly. It has helped my company 

so much. It has helped me 

take on extra contracts which has 

made getting through the recession 

so much easier.” He adds, “I 

couldn’t get a better company to 

deal with or a better product.” 

Indeed, his enthusiasm for his 

sander is such that Patrick has welcomed 

visitors to his factory who 

are also considering purchasing a 

Kündig sander and would like to 

see one in operation. 

The Premium three-belt sander 

selected by Patrick is specified 

specifically for joinery. The Premium 

range comes in a variety of 

working widths: 650 mm, 1,100 

mm, 1,350 mm and 1,600 mm, 

with a working height of 3-200 

mm. The possible head configurations 

include a contact/calibrating 

roller, an inflating pad, an electronic 

segmental pad (veneer & 

lacquer), and two forms of combi 

unit: roller & segment, or roller & 

standard air pad. 

Available options include infeed 

and outfeed extension tables; increased 

motor sizes; belt cleaning 

devices; a vacuum bed; and lacquer 

sanding options. One, two and 

three head models are available. 

For further information on the 

entire Kündig range and on the 

available care and maintenance 

plans, please contact Carl O’Meara 

of Kündig UK using the details 

below. 

Kündig Ltd 

Tel 0845 833 0565 

Email info@kundig.co.uk 

www.kundig.co.uk 


PANELS & PANEL PROCESSING 

Print finishing panels — serious investmen 

CoJet will print any image on any substrate — including curves; inks are stored for use in pull-out trays beneath the work table. 

THE REVOLUTIONARY CoJet 

2612 industrial inkjet printer 

made its UK exhibition debut on 

the RW Machines stand at this 

year’s W12. 

Enabling high definition flatbed 

printing of anything from woodgrains 

to colour photo images or 

complex graphic artworks onto a 

wide range of flat 8 ft x 4 ft panels, 

CoJet will also print batches or 

random smaller panel components 

— such as cabinet doors, for 

example. 

CoJet not only prints with inks 

that are warranted UV stable for 

eight years, it can even add texture 

to the printed surface. 

The generously proportioned 

table (2,600 mm x 1,200 mm printable 

area) takes individual workpieces 

up to 500 kg in weight and 

CoJet 2612 will also print several 

different designs bi-directionally 

at a single pass and with a print 

definition of 720 dpi. A new 1440 

dpi ultra high-speed printing option 

was also launched the last 

Atlanta exhibition; for comparison, 

the images on this page were 

printed at 300 dpi using a coarser 

screen. 

The inkjet heads will return to 

overprint an image up to eight 

times, building a surface with real 

depth and covering around 20 

m 2 /hr in normal production mode. 

The resulting image of a natural 

woodgrain like oak, or other deeppored 

timbers, is convincing to 

both eye and touch. And in addition 

to wood-based panels, CoJet 

Print heads will accommodate a working thickness of 100 mm. 

Only imagination limits the printing scope of CoJet. 



t potential 

will also print onto almost any 

other material — metal, ceramics, 

glass, foam boards, acrylics and 

even concrete. 

A well engineered UV lamp system 

to both sides of the print head 

means inks cure almost immediately, 

making CoJet a seriously 

productive machine for any manufacturer 

requiring just-in-time, 

custom-designed décors. 

The table of the machine will 

handle materials of up to 100 mm 

in thickness and will even print 

down into routered patterns, such 

as on MDF door blanks. 

Powerful multi-zoom vacuum 

clamps will secure even very 

heavy or uneven media for a top 

quality printed result. 

Automatic adjustment accommodates 

materials of varying or 

uneven thickness and quick-drying 

inks help to raise productivity. 

Twin motors and a synchronous 

servo make for high precision 

printing on a flat-bed table using 

six colour print delivery with 

two additional colours optionally 

available. 

Inks are stored for use on the 

machine in individual plastic containers 

in pull-out drawer-trays 

under the work table and are de- 

Visitors to W12 marvelled at the visual complexity and touch qualities. 

livered to the print heads individually 

by suction via straws. 

The curable inks are pre-packaged 

to avoid any need for manual 

pouring and all are 

non-volatile organic compounds, 

all of them entirely environment 

friendly. 

Automatic pop-up pins on the 

machine bed enable simple repeat 

positioning of even irregular 

shaped workpieces for top quality 

print in the custom interiors arena 

and also for use in the kitchen, 

bedroom, bathroom and shopfitting 

sectors — output is limited 

only by the imagination. 

High resolution imaging coupled 

with high speed, six colour 

printing puts CoJet firmly into the 

‘wise investment’ category, says 

David Thompson Rowland. 

CoJet is available at RW Machines 

in Bicester, whose highly regarded 

team of service engineers 

will be fully supporting CoJet for 

service, spares and inks. 

RW Machines 

Tel 01869 244943 

Email sales@rwmachines.co.uk 

www.rwmachines.co.uk 

Workpieces are electronically positioned usuing a pop-up pin system. 



Meeting extraction needs 

DUST CONTROL Systems recently commissioned a new dust extraction plant which required 

its engineers to devise an unusual, yet cost-effective scheme to best fulfil its 

customers’ needs. 

Integral Surface Designs Ltd, based in Skelmersdale, Lancashire, is a newly-established company 

specialising in the manufacture of acrylic, vinyl-wrapped and MFC pvc-edged doors. 

Over £750,000 has been invested in the new venture, which is led by Deralam Laminates Ltd, 

a nationwide distributor of high pressure laminates, kitchen worktops and melamine-faced 

products. Investment included the complete refurbishment and fit-out of a 12,000 ft 2 workshop 

facility, along with the acquisition of an impressive array of advanced CNC-technology 

nesting machines. The machinery was purchased with the aid of funding under the Government’s 

Regional Growth Fund (RGF) and financed through NatWest and Lombard. 

Heading up the new operation is Jeff Green, who has 27 years’ experience in the woodworking 

industry, and considerable production management expertise in the manufacture 

of vinyl doors and wrapped mouldings. The management team also includes Clare Hartley- 

Montrone and Diane Williams; both of whom operate at director level, with responsibility for 

sales of Integral’s extensive range of doors, panels and mouldings. 

After finding suitable premises, Jeff Green project-managed the refurbishment and 

sourced the necessary machines and equipment required to design and engineer a range of 

high quality doors. Jeff was also determined from the outset that the facility should incorporate 

a Waste-to-Energy system — utilising woodwaste generated during production as a 

fuel to provide heat for the workshops. “I had no hesitation in contacting both Dust Control 

Systems and Ranheat Engineering to put forward proposals for dealing with our MDF waste,” 

says Jeff Green. 

Left to right: Clare Hartley-Montrone, Jeff Green and Diane 

Williams with one of Integral’s high-gloss doors. 

Top of the class 

MORE THAN 2,000 sheets of Norbord’s 11 mm Sterling OSB 

3 have been incorporated into the timber wall panels of a 

new grammar school in Kirkwall, Orkney. 

The material, which is made at Norbord’s Inverness factory 

from wood grown in sustainably-managed Scottish forests, was 

supplied to design-build contractor, Morrison Construction, via 

the Orkney branch of Jewson. 

Morrison Construction is the main contractor on Orkney Islands 

Council’s £58 million Schools Investment Programme. 

This scheme, which got underway in March 2011 and will take 

four years to complete, involves the construction of two new schools, a 

new halls of residence and a swimming pool complex. The new Kirkwall 

Grammar School building comprises three teaching wings connected by 

an interlinking curved “street” which houses social and dining areas. A 

new oval-shaped Orkney Arts Theatre will be integral to the building. 

Sterling OSB was specified for the highly-insulated timber panels which 

provide the main building envelope. They are combined with a variety of 

external finishes including copper cladding, natural stone, render and facing 

block. The building superstructure consists of a structural steel frame 

DCS modular filter and hopper sit perfectly on 

top of Ranheat’s 50 m 3 silo. 

“I had experience of working with both these companies in the past and 

they had always performed well.” 

Working in close co-operation with Ranheat Engineering, DCS engineers 

devised a filter system that could directly feed the silo of the new 

300 kW heating system, without the need for costly transfer fans and conveying 

systems. Melvyn Bathgate, sales director at DCS, explains: “We designed 

the system whereby the filter unit could be mounted on a hopper 

section and directly coupled to the 4 m diameter silo roof. In this way, extracted 

wood dust and chips could be gravity fed straight into the hopper. 

It meant that the whole system would only require just one main fan, 

resulting in considerable cost savings for Integral Surface Designs.” 

The completed structure, at almost 11 m high, incorporates a highefficiency 

modular filter which is fitted with tubular ‘Super bag’ polyester 

filter media, and is designed to handle an airflow capacity of 23,000 m 3 /hr. 

The system provides extraction to a total of nine machines and has 

enough capacity to accommodate additional machines in the future. 

In addition to the installation of ducting runs throughout the facility, 

DCS also supplied and installed a waste wood shredder and a dry back 

spray booth. The robust Schuko shredder is capable of handling MDF, 

chipboard and hardwood offcuts at a rate of 22-300 kg/hr, and the 4.4 m 

wide galvanised spray booth incorporates two axial flow fans and disposable 

double-layer paper-type filter media. 

Dust Control Systems Ltd ● Tel 0800 040 7116 

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

and its roof is aluminium standing seam system. “This is by far the largest 

use of timber panels on any building I’ve seen on Orkney,” says Brian 

Kynoch, manager of Jewson’s Kirkwall branch. “We supplied an initial order 

for 1,476 sheets of OSB and started shipping in January 2012. We then received 

an order for a further 738 sheets which were delivered in February.” 

At Kirkwall Grammar School, the timber infill panels forming the external 

envelope were largely complete by late April, having been started 

only 12 weeks’ previously. 

Norbord ● Tel 01786 812921 ● www.norbord.com 



No more trestle hassles for Waterhall Joinery! 

TRESTLES, rails and a 

hand-held circular saw 

were for many years the 

order of the day for sheet 

cutting at Hertfordshirebased 

Waterhall Joinery. 

Moving to a compact, 

keenly-priced Sagetech 

Koolkut KK12 vertical 

panel saw eased the 

process markedly. 

Waterhall Joinery is a 

classic example of that 

powerful combination: 

modern technology and 

traditional craftsmanship. 

Established by Julian 

Curtis in the early 90s, 

Waterhall provides domestic 

and commercial clients 

with a broad range of bespoke 

products including 

traditional signage, sash 

and casement windows, 

doors, furniture, fitted 

kitchens, wardrobes and 

bedrooms, recess units 

and garden furniture. 

“We have a motto,” Julian 

commented dryly. “If it 

can be made in wood, we 

Julian Curtis reports that the Koolkut has revolutionised life at Waterhall Joinery. “I’m 70 now, but I still 

can make it.” 

In common with many find cutting sheets easy with the Koolkut,” Julian reports. 

small joineries and cabinetmakers, Waterhall originally took the obvious 

approach to cutting sheet materials — trestles and a hand-held circular 

saw, with guide rails. 

“We’d lay a sheet on the floor with a trestle at each end,” Julian recalled. 

“Then we’d lift one end and slide a trestle under it. Then we’d do the same 

with the other end. Finally, we’d mark up the sheet, clamp an aluminium 

guide rail to it and make the cut. It was time consuming and laborious.” 

Julian and his son, Toby, who by now was owner of the business, knew 

that the only real way to address these issues would be a vertical panel 

saw. Initially, though, their research into available machines was less than 

encouraging. 

Looking at the ‘big names’ in the panel saw market, they were less than 

enthusiastic about the prices. However, things looked up when they 

started exploring the Sagetech range. 

“We were very impressed by what we read on the Sagetech website 

— in particular the points about the quality of the Koolkut machines,” 

said Julian. 

Having chatted to Sagetech (Julian’s verdict: “Very helpful indeed”) 

Waterhall ordered a Koolkut K12, which cuts sheets of up to 8 ft x 4 ft. 

Like the other machines in the Koolkut range (which respectively cut 

sheets of up to 10 ft x 5 ft, 3.1 m x 2.1 m and 4.2 m x 2.1 m) the KK12 offers 

plunge and bevel cutting (up to 45°) as well as simple and compound 

angle cutting to the full length and breadth of the sheet. 

Immensely strong and rigid, all saws in the Koolkut range run on a 

standard single phase 13 A supply, can be floor or wall mounted and have 

provision for the installation of any of a wide range of dust extractors. 

The Koolkut has revolutionised life at Waterhall Joinery. “I’m 70 now,” 

Julian observed, “but I still find cutting sheets easy with the Koolkut.” 

With MDF and ply stored vertically alongside the panel saw, loading a 

sheet is a simple matter of sliding it directly onto the machine. No horizontal 

handling is necessary at any point. 

Would Julian recommend the Koolkut to other joineries? “Oh yes,” he 

said, without hesitation. 

“Anyone cutting any amount of sheet materials should have one.” 

Sagetech Industries Ltd ● Tel 0118 970 1950 

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



CNC Routing upgrades with larger-format 

AXYZ machine 

WEST MIDLANDS-based CNC Routing 

Ltd has added a purpose-built largeformat 

router from AXYZ International to 

complement and extend the production 

capabilities of the AXYZ 4010 and 6010 machines 

already installed. 

The AXYZ 8010 now in operation has an impressive 

2,635 mm processing width that is capable 

of handling over-size eight feet-wide similarly awkward 

sheet sizes with a superior cut finish considered by this company 

not to be achievable with other smaller routing solutions. 

Established in 2005, CNC Routing has experienced rapid growth 

and commensurate profitability in the ensuing years, occupying five 

rather than the original one production unit and employing 20 people in 

place of the original three. Today, the company offers customers an all-embracing 

service capability encompassing in-house design, manufacturing, assembly and 

peripheral facilities like edge banding and spraying. 

At CNC Routing, the AXYZ 8010 router is used primarily for long-run work involving difficult 

or Jumbo-sized panels that hitherto were unable to be processed by companies with their 

own in-house routing and cutting facilities. Materials processed range from plywood and composite woods to acrylic that can be cut simultaneously 

by the three AXYZ routers now installed. 

CNC Routing’s co-director, Julian Howl, commented: “Since installation in August of this year, the 8010 machine has performed with consummate 

ease and has helped reduce daily production time from 24 to 16 hours whilst providing output that equates to the capacity of four machines rather 

than the three currently installed.” 

The AXYZ 8010 router in operation at CNC Routing has a number of additional production enhancements. These include two carriages on the 

gantry, servo motors, the latest AXYZ helical rack and pinion drive system that employs multiple ‘teeth’ to spread the work load and consequently significantly 

reduces machine wear and an expanded 21-station ATC (automatic tool change) facility. According to Julian Howl, “the drive motors in particular 

give a superior cutting capability to that achievable with other machines.” 

AXYZ International has the capacity to build customised machines in specific sizes, tooling configurations and material hold-down options. Sizes 

of the customised machines range from 1,524 mm (width) x 1,219 mm (length) in the 4000 Series up to 2,635 mm (width) x 15 m (length) in the 8000 

Series. All of the routers come with a host of both standard and optional production enhancements, including as standard the latest AXYZ A2MC machine 

control system, the AVS (AXYZ Vision System) for optimum material alignment and precise cutting and the enlarged multi-station ATC (Automatic 

Tool Change) facility. 

Co-director at CNC Routing, Greg McPhail, added: “The fact that we now have three AXYZ routers operating reflects the confidence we have in 

both the machines and the knowledge base of the AXYZ team that ensured the smooth installation of the latest router with minimal disruption to 

our production. We are a company that is ‘AXYZ through and through’ and it is our intention to purchase another 8010 machine in 2013.” 

AXYZ International ● Tel 01902 375600 ● www.axyz.co.uk 

CNC Routing ● Tel 01562 712068 ● www.cncroutingltd.co.uk 

CD UK, best known as the national 

distributor of DuPont 

CORIAN® solid surface materials, 

has extended its wood - 

working machinery range to include 

classical machines from 

Italian manufacturer, VEBA 

Meccanica Srl. 

VEBA has been designing and 

manufacturing classical machines 

for over 40 years, and the family run 

business has established a growing 

reputation as a producer of quality 

woodworking machinery. 

All machines are built on site at 

the VEBA factory in Northern Italy, 

from where the company exports 

around 80% of the production volume. 

The company limits its range 

An example of a 

large format AXYZ router 

similar to the one installed 

at CNC Routing. 

VEBA classical machines from CD UK 

to eight types of classical machines, 

which comprises: panel saws, band 

saws, surface planers, thicknessers, 

combined planer thicknessers, 

spindle moulders, combined saw 

spindle moulders and combination 

machines which carry out planing, 

thicknessing, sawing, moulding 

and mortising. 

CD UK has been appointed as 

exclusive UK agent for the competitively 

priced VEBA machines, 

which will be sold through its machinery 

division. 

The classical range complements 

the company’s existing 

range, which includes specialist 

machinery from leading industry 

names: Elkom for solid surface 

Page 18 Panel, Wood & Solid Surface December 2012/January 2013 

▲


Striebig proves popular at family joinery 

AFTER postponing the purchase of a Striebig vertical panel saw due 

to the recession, a Gloucestershire joinery is now taking full advantage 

of its benefits. 

The Compact 4164 bought by R A White & Sons of Stonehouse replaced 

a second-hand vertical panel saw acquired several years ago. 

The family-run kitchen and bespoke joinery manufacturer was established 

in 1971 by Bob White. He runs the company with the help of his 

sons, Chris and Mark, both joiners. Over a 40 year period White’s has built 

up an enviable reputation for making high-quality work — ranging from 

kitchens to shop fittings — for domestic and commercial clients. 

“I was going to replace the old saw about four years ago,” said Bob 

White. “I knew of Striebig’s reputation from what I had read in the trade 

press and heard from colleagues in the business, so I gave them a call.” 

Striebig’s exclusive UK agent, TM Machinery Sales, then sent someone 

along to talk to Mr White. “After learning exactly what we needed to do 

with the saw, the type and size of sheets we cut and our budget, he suggested 

the most appropriate model and size of machine for our needs.” 

After being all set to buy the Compact model that had been recommended, 

the recession hit and the purchase was put on hold. “Now that 

The Striebig Compact vertical panel saw bought by R A White & 

Sons. Striebig saws can cut most sheet material. 

business is 

much better I 

thought the time was now right to go ahead, so I phoned TM to place the order. I was pleasantly 

surprised to find that they had all my details on file from their visit over four years ago.” 

Their Compact 4164 cuts mainly standard size plywood, MFC and MDF panels, as well as 

kitchen worktops, up to 30 mm thick. “It’s a brilliant saw which is spot on when it comes to 

cutting completely square every time,” said Mr White. “It’s well built with a nicely balanced saw 

head that can be changed from horizontal to vertical in seconds, and its built-in extraction 

means there is now far less dust in the air.” 

His son Chris is also a big fan. “We do an incredible amount of work on the Striebig, sizing 

panels for everything from kitchen to shop fittings, as well as sawing worktops we produce 

for builders. I particularly like the way the saw blade does not cut into the machine’s backing 

panels, and the totally accurate cut we get every time.” 

Everyone at R A White has been impressed with the friendliness and high level of professionalism 

shown by TM Machinery’s staff. Said Bob White: “Right from my first telephone enquiry 

up to when the engineer installed the machine and carried out the training, nothing has 

been too much for them. They are great people to deal with.” 

Striebig’s Compact 4164 is one of nine models in the Compact series with a cutting range 

from 3,100 mm x 1,644 mm up to 5,350 mm x 2,200 mm. They are all based on a single, fully 

welded sawing frame to give decades of reliable service whilst maintaining cutting precision. 

The saws can be wall-mounted or freestanding. They can cut practically all wood-based 

sheet materials as well as timber, plaster board, plastics, composites and aluminium panels. 

They guarantee impressive dust limit values well below 1 mg/m 3 . 

TM Machinery Sales 

Tel 0116 271 7155 ● Email sales@tmservices.co.uk ● www.tmmachinery.co.uk 

▲ 

thermoforming machines, Langzauner 

for hot plate veneer presses, 

veneer saws and three-edge veneer 

sanders, and EMC for widebelt 

calibrating sanding machines. 

Eric Whorne, of CD UK’s machinery 

division, is looking forward to 

introducing the VEBA range of machinery 

to the UK market, and said: 

“VEBA products are extremely well 

built, with a solid construction, and 

they feature all the latest operator 

aids such as digital displays and 

motorised feeding. 

“VEBA has also thought about 

maintenance when designing 

these machines by incorporating 

good access for servicing.” 

Of particular interest to panel 

manufacturers is the SQ series of 

sliding panel saws, which are designed 

for long term accuracy and 

reliability. 

Available in a choice of 2,500 

mm, 3,200 mm and 3,800 mm sliding 

table sizes, they have a variety 

of options which include motorised 

rise, fall and tilt adjustment 

of the saw blade. 

For the smaller joinery manufacturer, 

the classical machines come 

in a variety of models with a choice 

of table sizes and optional equipment. 

A selection from the range of 

VEBA machines will be on display 

in CD UK’s impressive showroom 

and demonstration facility in Leeds. 

CD UK Ltd 

Tel 0113 201 2240 

Email info@cdukltd.co.uk 

www.cdukltd.co.uk 



Holz-Her’s new machining centre and sto 

S & I MANUFACTURING of Corby, 

Northamptonshire, has recently 

installed another two new innovative 

Holz-Her machines — 

Pro-Master 7223 CNC machining 

centre and a Cut 6120 Dynamic 

beam saw, linked to a 

Barbaric 14 sack position CSF 

storage system. It’s an indication 

of the company’s trust in 

Holz-Her technology and 

backup service over several 

years. 

With 60 working hours a week 

averaged over the past 10 years 

from the company’s existing Holz- 

Her CNCs and edgebanders, it is 

no wonder the decision to invest 

again in Holz-Her was reached, especially 

coupled with the highly 

regarded Weinig service. 

S & I Manufacturing is a very 

successful and highly reputed bespoke 

contractor, particularly focusing 

on top quality shopfitting. 

The company was established 21 

years ago and has 20 employees, 

and operates from modern premises 

in Corby. The company believes 

in providing personal, 

prompt and flexible customer 

service, and aims to deliver high 

quality, precision products — for 

which the company has gained 

customer repute. The company 

Paul Nightingale (left), Holz-Her sales manager, with area manager, Lee Gibson. 

addresses the requirements of 

contract shopfitting services, 

point of sale displays, library and 

educational furniture. It works 

with major design houses, local 

authorities and large retailers and 

has a growing customer list. 

The company’s belief in delivering 

quality and precision, bespoke 

products is proven by its large 

continuous investment in the German 

engineered flexible panel 

Holz-Her Pro-Master 7223 CNC machining centre recently installed at S & I Manufacturing. 



rage system 

machines. The company sees it as 

the guaranteed way to achieve 

customer satisfaction. With the 

Holz-Her Pro-Master, for instance, 

the new technology bristles with 

innovative and features believed 

to be unique: high processing 

rates, providing the ability to respond 

more quickly to customer 

orders; extraordinary precision to 

guarantee product finish; concentration 

on practical requirements 

for companies requiring a high degree 

of flexible manufacturing of 

all shapes and sizes they wish; and 

much more. 

The Pro-Master has a Vario table 

offering fully automatic table positioning. 

The Vario head is a five-axis 

automatic positioning aggregate, 

capable of automatic tool changing. 

These features return super fast, 

simplified set up and production. 

The new Cut 6120 beam saw is 

linked to a Barbaric 14-pack CSF 

storage system. The new CNC storage 

system has been a step-up in 

efficiency. As the panel leaves the 

beam saw, a bar code label is applied 

which is then swiped by a 

corresponding bar code reader at 

the machine — within seconds 

the machine will set itself and run 

the program automatically. 

Greater efficiency and productivity 

growth is also achieved by 

The Barbaric 14-pack CSF storage system. 

The newly-installed Holz-Her Cut beam saw linked to the Barbaric storage system. 

the Barbaric CSF Chaotic Storage 

System integration with the Holz- 

Her 6120 Dynamic beam saw. All 

in-store and out-of-store panels 

are managed and optimised, resulting 

in a three-fold increase in 

productivity, far easier and more 

accurate stock management, and 

vastly improved waste optimisation 

of each panel. Says managing 

director, Ian Huggins, “Holz-Her’s 

optimisation software is the best 

I’ve used. It has been a Godsend, 

and impacts positively to the 

whole production process, saving 

money and increasing productivity 

at the same time.” 

Up to 65% of a panel cutting 

process can be taken up by panel 

handling. The advanced technology 

Barbaric system removes this 

down time. It is capable of reading 

the complete cutting job list and 

facilitates the loading of the beam 

saw in the most productive manner 

for maximum efficiency. For 

example, should the beam saw 

need to cut in book heights, the 

Barbaric will stack a book behind 

the pusher arm whilst the beam 

saw is cutting. Once the beam saw 

has completed its current job, the 

pusher arm will lift and collect the 

awaiting book. Whilst this is happening, 

the Barbaric will continue 

to optimise its storage area for the 

next job. As soon as the pusher 

arm has cleared the loading area it 

will start loading the next job. In 

essence, the saw never has to wait 

for panel loading, returning up to 

three times greater productivity. 

Should the panel stock run low 

the CSF system will send an email 

to advise more panels need to be 

ordered. Even when the factory is 

closed, the Barbaric will analyse 

the job list and organise the most 

efficient way for the following 

day’s production. 

“The system has streamlined 

the operation at S & I and made 

panel production much more efficient 

and price competitive,” says 

Ian Huggins, “and the Weinig 

brand name has helped massively 

to increase continued confidence 

in our investment, guarantees a 

prompt after-sales service, provides 

technical solutions, and decreases 

downtime.” 

Michael Weinig (UK) Ltd 

Tel 01235 557600 

Email sales-uk@weinig.com 

www.weinig.co.uk 



Be inspired! Decorative Panels launches new 

brochures and website 

NOTHING stands still at Decorative 

Panels — hot on the heels of 

the massive investments the 

group has made in opening a 

state of the art new manufacturing 

facility for Decorative Panels 

Components comes the latest 

and most innovative set of marketing 

and sales literature the 

company has ever produced. 

With so much to offer throughout 

the group, it was decided that 

separate brochures should be produced 

for each company as well as 

a technical brochure on the company’s 

hollowcore product, dp-lite, 

and two extremely comprehensive 

and wide ranging swatch guides. 

The swatch guides are presented 

under the brands dp-decor 

and dp-specialist. The decor range 

comprises the latest paper foil 

woodgrain, unicolour and fantasy 

designs that when coupled with 

the enormous range of substrates 

available becomes an offer which, 

according to the company, is unrivalled 

in the industry. 

The dp-specialist swatch includes 

probably the largest stock 

gloss offer available in the market. 

Included in the 200+ designs are 

high gloss Acrylic Senoplast products, 

a huge selection from LG of 

high gloss PVC unicolour, woodgrain 

and fantasy designs, high 

gloss PP unicolour and PET woodgrains, 

a range of PET high scratch 

resistant gloss papers, matt paint 

effect PVC designs and over 100 

Kaindl laminates. 

To enable easy storage and retrieval, 

the full brochure set is presented 

as a boxed set with 

individual brochures available for 

specific market segments. 

Launched alongside the printed 

literature packs, the new Decorative 

Panels website is claimed to 

set a benchmark of simplicity of 

navigation that allows the user access 

to all aspects of the Group activity 

as well as a multitude of 

downloads and video presentations 

of the Group facilities. 

One of the most innovative features 

available to designers who 

use the site will be the dp-lightbox 

tool. This feature enables users to 

select decors from the dp-decor 

and dp-specialist swatches and effectively 

build a pallet of product 

to access compatibility in a mix 

and match environment. 

The process of sample ordering 

has been radically simplified: in 

fact, the system is now called “… as 

easy as 1 2 3 …”. This system, available 

through the web or by telephone, 

sees any decors selected 

form the swatch guides followed 

up with A4 samples of the actual 

material that will be despatched 

within 24 hours of the initial request. 

After the customer has received 

these presentation samples, 

and is ready to make prototypes, 

full sized laminated sheet material 

can be ordered through the same 

sample hotline number shown in 

the swatch guides and on the web. 

From the first browse of the swatch 

to the receipt of sheet material can 

take as little as one week. 

Visit the website today and Be 

Inspired! 

Decorative Panels 

Tel 01484 658341 

sales@decorativepanels.co.uk 

www.decorativepanels.co.uk 



INSPIRED Zapkut does it again! 

RECOGNISED as the INSPIRE 

Awards Micro Business of the 

Year in 2009, Zapkut Ltd has not 

rested on its laurels. A keen 

focus on innovation and global 

marketing in the three years 

since then has born fruit in the 

launch of new products and 

signing up of new customers 

and dealers around the world. It 

is fitting, therefore, that the 

company was in November 

named the INSPIRE Awards 

2012 Small Business of the Year. 

The Awards are one of the best 

established and most prestigious 

in the UK. Keith Bunker, managing 

director of Zapkut, based in 

Hampshire, was in enthusiastic 

mood: “It’s a huge honour to have 

won two INSPIRE Awards,” he 

observed. 

“We have worked hard to build 

a business as robust and productive 

as our saws, so we are delighted 

with this formal 

recognition of Zapkut’s success.” 

Competition was especially 

fierce this year, with the most 

closely contested awards being 

those for Service Excellence and 

Small Business of the Year, making 

Zapkut’s success in the latter category 

even more noteworthy. 

A timber, plastics and metal cutting 

systems specialist, Zapkut has 

created a range of high quality vertical 

panel saw solutions, designed 

in particular for operators with limited 

workshop space or needing 

mobile cutting capability. Much 

design effort has been invested to 

create robust, easy to use, accurate 

machines at prices within the 

means of smaller businesses. 

“We have taken a proactive approach 

in the light of the recession,” 

Keith noted. “We recognise 

the need for businesses of all sizes 

to reduce costs while maintaining 

or improving their capabilities: 

Zapkut saws give you more for 

your money. 

“Zapkut has built a comprehensive 

range of sheet cutting solutions 

for the smaller operator,” he 

continued. “We’ve listened to signmakers, 

joiners, cabinetmakers, 

kitchen and bathroom fitters and 

other craftsmen, gained a clear 

understanding of what they actually 

need, and focused ruthlessly 

on delivering those features at 

prices they can afford. We are 

proud to be able to offer proper, 

industrial-grade vertical panel cutting 

solutions at a very competitive 

price.” 

Zapkut’s sheet cutting solutions 

include the ZK range, believed to 

be unique, that can be folded up, 

making them what is believed to 

be the world’s only truly portable 

vertical cutting platforms, and the 

ZM range of European space-saving 

moving column style vertical 

panel saws. 

Cutting sheets range in size 

from 8 ft x 4 ft (2.5 m x 1.25 m) to 

10 ft x 7 ft (3.1 m x 2.1 m). 

Both ranges are enjoying enthusiastic 

take up from the woodworking, 

signmaking and other 

sectors. 

Gaining in popularity and competitiveness 

each year, the INSPIRE 

Awards are one of the UK’s leading 

regional business awards. The 

Small Business of the Year award 

was sponsored in 2012 by local 

radio station Kestrel FM, one of 

nine stations owned by Celador, 

the light entertainment company 

best known for the Oscar-winning 

film Slumdog Millionaire and the 

popular TV series, Who Wants to be 

a Millionare? Zapkut’s award was 

presented to managing director, 

Keith Bunker, by Celador’s chairman, 

Paul Smith. 

Zapkut 

Tel 0118 970 1950 

Email info@zapkut.co.uk 

www.zapkut.co.uk 

Managing director of Zapkut Ltd, Keith Bunker (left) receives the 

Small Business of the Year Award at the INSPIRE Awards 2012 

from chairman of Celador, Paul Smith. 



An integral part of the layout at Integral Surface Designs 

INTEGRAL Surface Designs is a 

new start-up which is all set to 

become a name to reckon with 

in the panel processing sector. 

Specialising in acrylic, vinylwrapped 

and PVC edged doors, 

as well as related items such as 

toilet cubicles and shop fitting 

accessories, a total of £750,000 

has been invested in machinery 

and equipment to create a stateof-the-art 

production facility. 

Integral to the design of the factory 

layout was a panel saw, and 

company owner, Jeff Green, found 

what he wanted at W12: a new 

Genisis P32 panel saw, sourced 

from J & C O’Meara Ltd. 

Jeff told PW&SS that the new 

panel saw will play a number of 

vital roles. “With the vinylwrapped 

product, we have to cut 

items before our final pressing and 

we also have to cut after our final 

pressing, because of certain limitations 

on the other machinery. 

“We will also be making components 

that will need to have 

angle cuts that our CNC routing 

machines cannot achieve. 

“The panel saw will also be integral for cutting 

our PVC edge doors. And in addition, the panel 

saw is a very versatile machine for cutting up 

waste!” 

Jeff had three aims in visiting W12: to network with those in the 

woodworking industry, to liaise with other suppliers that he had already 

committed to purchasing equipment from and to seek to source the remaining 

items he needed to complete his factory layout. 

The third objective whas fulfilled when Jeff met Carl O’Meara on the 

J & C O’Meara stand … and probably the first objective as well! Jeff comments, 

“I have known Carl for nigh on 10 years through a previous company 

and so, when I saw his stand and his machinery, I stopped and we 

had a chat.” 

Jeff made the decision to purchase the P32 Genisis panel saw at the 

show: “It is a very good machine. I knew of the Genisis machines anyway 

and it was a very smart looking, capable bit of machinery, that was ideally 

suited for what we needed.” 

The Genisis P32 uses the same heavy duty sliding table of multi chamber 

construction as the flagship X3 Plus machine. These use large dia - 

meter “dumb bell” rollers to ensure an easy gliding motion which run on 

solid, hardened and chromed steel runners to ensure accuracy and 

longevity. The heavy duty saw carriage is securely seated in cast iron tilt 

quadrants with the raise, lower and tilting of the saw blades by 

ergonomically positioned hand wheels at the front of the machine. 

The machine comes complete with fine adjustment to the rip fence, 

quick release to the heavy duty cross cut fence, two heavy duty flip stops, 

parallel overhead safety guard, LED indication to the angle of the blade 

and independent angle cutting fence which can be used ±45°. 

Jeff was delighted with the smoothness of the commissioning process. 

“He delivered it, installed it and the saw was operational within hours.” At the 

time of speaking the saw had been in place for a matter of weeks and Jeff was 

already delighted with the quality of the finish the saw provided, as well as 

its appearance: “It looks the part and goes in well with the other equipment.” 

Above: Jeff Green of Integral Surface Designs with his new Genisis P32 panel saw. 

Below: With precision anodising and hardness strengthening of the aluminium alloy, the multichambered 

structure of the sliding table provides high strength and load bearing stability. 

He adds, 

“How the factory 

looks can 

mirror a customer’s 

perceptions 

of the quality of 

the product,” and Jeff’s offering 

is designed to be topof-the-range: 

Carl O’Meara’s 

comment was, “This is going to 

be a very high profile company.” 

On the saw, Jeff says: “It is absolutely perfect: everything it says on the 

tin it is doing. It is certainly living up to expectations! With some machines, 

you can pay a reasonable price but you don’t get the quality: this 

appears to be a well built machine which we will get our money’s worth 

out of.” When asked if he would recommend the saw and the service provided 

by J & C O’Meara, the answer to both was “Absolutely”. 

Jeff is particularly appreciative of the private investor, the banks and 

the Regional Growth Fund which, between them, have secured the 

£750,000 that he has invested in new machinery. 

J & C O’Meara Ltd ● Tel 01704 893109 

Email info@ukwoodworkingmachinery.co.uk 

www.ukwoodworkingmachinery.co.uk 



Hranipex: Meeting all production requirements 

WITH 2012 coming to a close, Hranipex has taken 

the time to reflect on its first year of trading as a 

stand alone subsidiary in the UK and the first reaction 

is — More of the same, please! 

Hranipex has learned that customers need their pro - 

duct in many cases yesterday, and with Hranipex they 

can be assured there is a significant stock level of all the 

key decors in multiple dimensions to satisfy their 

requirements every time! 

It is common for customers to have product requirements 

which are not always a standard dimension. More 

and more customers are oriented to bespoke jobs — 

they need to have the edge with the same high quality 

identical matching, and to be able to use different thicknesses 

or widths with super fast delivery to the customer. 

Hranipex as an ABS edging producer can offer 

such service with all 900+ decors in the collection. 

Hranipex is enjoying the challenge of educating customers 

about the new possibilities available and investigating 

each customer’s individual needs – a company 

that always asks — what are your needs and what more can we do for you? 

To see Hranipex’s full collection online all you need do is visit the website and take 

a look at what this company has to offer every furniture manufacturer, from the smallest 

independent joinery to the largest multi-national producer. 

Looking to match a board? Then look no further than Hranipex’s board matching 

facility — just enter the board manufacturer and number, and within seconds you 

will have the best possible match for that board. Click on that recommendation, and 

you will also see the available dimensions: what could be simpler? 

From Kronospan’s new Touch collection to Egger’s ZOOM 2012 range, Hranipex 

can cover all its customer’s board matching requirements. If on a rare occasion when 

a customer cannot locate the information from the website, they need simply make 

a call to the Birmingham office, where the team of trained professionals can help 

with any enquiry — be it an unusual dimension or decor, no request is too big or 

small for Hranipex. 

“Having problems with the Sonae INNOVUS range? No problems, Hranipex has it 

covered. Got Finsa BAMA collection worries? Put your feet up: it’s covered. Whatever 

the board matching 

headache, Hranipex 

has the solution to 

help its customers 

sleep at night,” says 

Hranipex UK’s 

Jonathan Allaker. 

But it’s not just 

edgebanding where 

Hranipex excels. Not 

only does it supply a 

fabulous range of 

ABS, melamine, veneers, 

acrylic etc 

edging available 

with 24 hour delivery, but the company also supplies and offers practical solutions for 

customers, many of whom have problems removing glue from boards after the application 

of edgebanding, in many cases using inappropriate materials (which can cause 

irreversible material damage) to remove the glue residue from the boards — again, 

this is where Hranipex can help. 

“Try HRX01,” suggests Jonathan. “This is a board cleaner perfectly in-tune with the 

composition of glue, removing it and leaving the board perfectly clean and blemish 

free: leaving the user with problem free glue residue removal every time.” 

He continues, “Hranipex would like to take this opportunity to wish all its customers 

and business partners a happy and prosperous new year! And we hope to become 

acquainted with many new possibilities in the year to come. 

“And please look out in the New Year as Hranipex will launch plenty of fresh innovations 

for customers to enjoy …” Jonathan concludes. 

Hranipex UK 

Tel 0121 782 6248 ● Email info@hranipex.co.uk ● www.hranipex.co.uk 


NEWS 

Why Hearing Dogs? 

ON PAGE 3 of every issue of this magazine, a note has been included, 

in the “contact details” box, that Panel, Wood & Solid Surface supports 

the work of Hearing Dogs for Deaf People. 

Why Hearing Dogs, and why is the charity relevant to the readership of 

this particular journal? 

Hearing Dogs for Deaf People, which in 2012 celebrated its 30th 

anniversary, is a charity dedicated to improving the quality of life for deaf 

people, whose only source of funding is the generosity of individuals, 

groups, companies and other organisations. All of us, in whatever walk of 

life, may well know people who benefit from its work. 

It takes 12-14 months for a selected puppy to complete its socialisation 

training and a further 16-18 weeks for soundwork training to be completed: 

each puppy’s training is tailored to meet the needs of its intended 

recipient. 

As shown in these photos, taken during a demonstration at a fund - 

When an alarm clock goes off in the morning, a hearing dog can 

raising event, a hearing dog’s work begins first thing in the morning, 

when the alarm goes off. It is the hearing dog’s task to wake the recipient. gently wake the recipient, as Cedar is demonstrating here. 

A larger dog, like Cedar, will gently place a paw on the recipient, while a small dog would be 

trained to jump up on the bed. No sleeping through the alarm! 

A hearing dog is trained to attract the recipient’s attention to a variety of everyday sounds: 

a doorbell, for example, so that if a caller is expected, the recipient can get on with the day 

without having to spend all his or her time looking out the window. A portable timer can be 

used to time certain tasks, and when it goes off the dog will attract the recipient’s attention: 

similarly, if called by another member of the family, the dog will alert the recipient to the 

sound. As can be seen below, Cedar is attracting the attention of his companion during the 

demonstration with a raised paw: gentle and effective. 

If the sound the dog is responding to is one of those listed above, or a similar safe situation, 

then the hearing dog will lead the recipient to the source of the sound. For other sounds 

which denote danger, such as a smoke alarm, the hearing dog will lie down in front of the recipient 

and it will be the recipient’s responsibility to choose a safe course of action: that way, 

a dog will never lead a recipient into harm. 

The improvement to the quality of life that a hearing dog brings cannot be over estimated. 

Increased independence and confidence arise from the peace of mind that important events 

are not going to be missed, while at the same time isolation is reduced. 

A hearing dog is typically a labrador, golden retriever, cocker spaniel, miniature poodle or 

Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, either specially bred or, in certain cases, rescue dogs. Over the 

past 30 years, over 1,600 partnerships have been created, of which 750 are current at the 

time of writing. 

At the weekend event at which these pictures were taken, a total of £10,000 was raised for 

A hearing dog will gently attract the recipient’s attention in response to a doorbell, 

a timer going off or a family member calling the dog’s name, for example. 

Hearing Dogs receives no government funding, 

relying instead on the generosity of individuals, 

groups and companies, and fundraising events 

such as this charity auction. 

Hearing Dogs, in addition to another £30,000 raised 

for a charity supporting children in need around the 

world. Fundraising was not the primary aim of the 

weekend, but a lot of lives will be changed as a result 

of the moneys raised. 

From the Hearing Dogs website, the breeding, 

training, placement and life-long care of each hearing 

dog costs around £45,000. The result of this 

investment is a partnership which changes lives. 

Hearing Dogs for Deaf People 

Tel 01844 348100 (voice and minicom) 

Email info@hearingdogs.org.uk 

www.hearingdogs.org.uk 


Contact us for the latest developments in sanding lacquer and high grade surfaces 

Tel 0845 833 0565 ● Fax 0845 833 0567 

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

Kündig Ltd

December 2012/January 2013 - Low Resolution - PAWPRINT ...

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