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

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
Panel, Wood & Solid Surface December 2012/January 2013 Page 13