P PAANNEELL,, WWOOOODD · 2019-07-03 · Milton Keynes MK6 2PX Tel 01908 669162 email [email protected] and is printed by ... help transform the business. When the company invested

PPAA NN EE LL ,, WW OO OO DD&& SS oo ll ii dd SS uu rr ff aa cc eeIssue No. 133/134 June/July 2019

Striebig on show at Ligna Turn to page 11 for the full story

Software for Designers & Manufacturers: pp 3-8Saws in All Shapes and Sizes: pp 9-11

News: pp 12-15 l Design & Innovation: pp 16-22Ligna Review: pp 22-31

Panel, Wood & Solid Surface

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Panel, Wood & Solid Surface June/July 2019 Page 3

SOFTWARE FOR DESIGNERS & MANUFACTURERS

Whatever your Wood Welder or clamping requirements,we can help!

Tel 01461 40017 l Email [email protected] l www.clampingmachines.co.uk

ONE OF the major highlights of thelatest release of Alphacam fromHexagon Manufacturing Intelli-gence’s Production Software busi-ness, are enhancements to thepost-processor engine, deliveringwhat is described as best-in-classcutting edge technology.

Brand manager Hector Henry says:“We can confidently back up that claim,as the enhancements mean the post-processor engine directly configuresand deploys a simulation session, re-sulting in more realistic motion, as well as the ability to support cyclessuch as M6, and additional hardware that has previously been underutilised or ignored. This new functionality is truly an industry-first and willsurely become a new standard.”

The Automation suite has been enhanced, improving the user’s expe-rience and productivity when creating and deploying job configurations.Whether setting up a first automation job, or whether the user is involvedin complex and dynamic environments, he says the new Setup Wizardswill make short work of daily production tasks.

Regarding solids machining, specifically machining solid faces directly,he says most industry packages are only concerned with extracting fea-tures from solids. “But Alphacam sets a new standard by allowing directinteraction with them. Previously, we enhanced our solids interaction byallowing users to saw a solid face directly. The Rough/Finish command(profiling) now allows the user to directly select and machine a solid face.And if your machine supports tool compensation on custom orientations(planes), this option provides the ability to create precision parts withminimal effort, via the use of G41/G42.”

Advanced 5-axis functionality has been updated to include numerousimprovements. Two new key features include the ability to integrate theToolpath Optimiser into a core cycle which can then be stored in a ma-chining style and deployed with Automation; and the Advanced 5-axisfunctionality has been updated to include Barrel Mill and Double Profile

Tools. Improvements in SWARF machining, multi-axis roughing and tool-path smoothing are also included in Alphacam 2020.0.

The geometry offset command is now intelligent and dynamic, mak-ing all operations more productive, whether the user wants to simply re-tain attributes and information on the geometry, or to completelyre-assign machining cycle parameters to a newly created offset.

“This new feature delivers an intuitive and simple way of changingtoolpaths for everything from simple tasks such as passing associa-tive/dynamic profile machining data, to complex ones including re-assigning a boundary to a 3D surfacing method,” says Hector Henry.

Regarding ordering and productivity tool enhancements, he says it issometimes necessary to control the sequence of events and toolpathorder with great care and precision, maybe requiring a preferred ma-chining sequence to be added due to special considerations, such ashardware difficulties or lack of part hold-down.

“This new feature provides a simple, productive and effective way toset a user-defined order in seconds.”

In conclusion, he says Alphacam 2020.0 contains numerous key fea-tures. These are the main ones which will be essential in improving pro-ductivity for customers working across the woodworking, metalworking,plastics and stone industries. Full details of all the updates in this latest re-lease of the software can be found on the Alphacam website.Alphacam l Tel 0118 922 6677 l www.alphacam.com

Alphacam2020.0

Page 4 Panel, Wood & Solid Surface June/July 2019


UNTIL JUST over a year ago,building and joinery companyNeighbour Construction hadnever used a CNC machine, anddidn’t know that combining itwith specialist software couldhelp transform the business.

When the company invested ina Felder Profit H 200 pod and railmachining centre, Felder recom-mended they program it withCabinet Vision software, as almostall the work is bespoke. Now,Neighbour Construction directorDominik Dubaj says Cabinet Visionhas eliminated all human errorand means they can cut around 16cabinets for a kitchen, and havethem sanded with a primer coatapplied, within a day or two. Andbedroom wardrobes which wouldhave taken two or three days to make previously, can now be producedin around five hours, to the pre-assemble stage.

“We had zero knowledge and experience of working with CNC machinetools, but saw immediately that the standard proprietary software was notgoing to be effective in creating programs for the bespoke products wemanufacture — the calculations would have simply taken too long.

“From the very beginning Cabinet Vision removed any issues we hadpreviously with manual work where panels sometimes were not squareand had to be redone. We would only find those problems when some-thing would not assemble properly on site. But Cabinet Vision ensuresevery panel is 100 per cent accurate, and means that our installationsnow take just one or two days instead of a week.”

The company has recently replaced a panel saw with a Felder CF 741 Scombination saw, and even though Cabinet Vision does not program it asit is a manual machine, the software does play a large role with it. “CabinetVision has been specially configured for us to generate a cutlist for pre-cutting the panels on it,” says Dominik Dubaj. The company worked withthe same type of bespoke User Created Standard (UCS) for the previouspanel saw, too.

“We use the Cabinet Vision cutlists to precut the panels on the combi-nation saw, oversized by 6 mm. Then the software generates precisiondimensions for finishing on the Profit H 200 pod and rail machine. These

correspond to the design, and the program includes features, such asholes for our cam and dowel joints.”

As well as manufacturing and fitting their joinery products, the soft-ware means they can also offer the products in flat-pack format, for cus-tomers who want to carry out the assembly themselves. It guaranteesthat the panels have the required high precision throughout, includingoverall dimensions, and the positioning of the cam and dowel holes.

Neighbour Construction was formed in 2006 as a building company,working on walls, roofs, steelwork and foundations, before expanding toprovide fit-outs with joinery and cabinetry for kitchens, bathrooms andbedrooms. Having successfully built a strong reputation, he felt the timewas right to take the company to the next level, which involved movingto a bigger workshop and investing in CNC machinery.

At 3,000 ft2 the current premises in Edmonton, North London, is be-tween three and four times the size of the old factory, and the companynow operates with five employees. “The combination of machinery andCabinet Vision helps keep costs down, while ensuring that everything weproduce is right first time, every time.”

Working mainly with moisture-resistant MDF Medite, Birch Plywoodand other veneered MDFs, the first part of the process is to design the in-dividual cabinets and the room layout in Cabinet Vision.

“We even use it if we are only creating a couple of cabinets. I can’timagine doing any joinery cabinet work without itnow. The 3D design already has the NC codes behindit, which means we only need to do the work once.Then we produce the cutlists. The process really isthat simple.

“With Cabinet Vision we have an image of what weare cutting, so we can see the panels both on-screenand on printouts, and we have a list of dimensions forthe operator to follow, along with the labels for eachpanel which are printed in sequence. Our machine op-erators follow the cuts on the list, and we can easilykeep order of the panels, and know which programsneed to be executed to build a bespoke cabinet.

“It also shows the amount of material we need,which helps us get accurate costs.”

In conclusion, he says Cabinet Vision gives thebusiness greater capacity, as it only takes a couple ofdays to get product from design to installation, if nec-essary. “I can’t imagine producing precision productsthis quickly if we were using traditional methods.Cabinet Vision makes a major contribution to usbeing a real game player today.”Cabinet VisionTel 0118 922 6644 l www.cabinetvision.com

Felder recommends Cabinet Vision to CNC novice



A COMPANY specialising in com-plex components for productssuch as skate parks and aircraftflight simulators, has saved hun-dreds of hours of programmingtime with a bespoke macro writ-ten for its ALPHACAM software.

Cambian Engineering Solutionsfocuses on using wood in the en-gineering world, where it is lessprevalent than metal. Workingmainly within the architecturaland engineering sectors, the com-pany provides a complete solutionwith engineered wood.

Managing director, Piers Chap-man, explains: “We take the tech-nology from the engineeringsector and use that within boththe architectural and engineeringworlds, but predominantly withwood instead of traditional metalor composites.”

A recent example of bringingwood into an engineering appli-cation involved the cockpit for atraining flight simulator. This wasa high-fidelity system to bemounted on a full-motion frame,and internally was indistinguish-able from a real aircraft cockpit.“For this project we replaced acomposite, which had two distinctbenefits: the product is more sus-tainable; and it’s considerablymore accurate.”

A sizeable part of the businesswithin the architectural sector isproviding products for extremeand action sports facilities, such asclimbing walls and skate parks.

“We frequently create extremelycomplicated free-form woodenstructures on a large scale, andthese are all designed and manu-factured in-house.”

He says the company’s skatepark assemblies comprise tens ofthousands of individual, uniquecomponents, all modelled, ma-chined, pre-assembled andshipped out in hundreds of sepa-rate modular elements.

“It’s critical that all our productsare precision machined, whetherit’s something like the cockpitwhere we need to achieve tight

tolerances on a small scale, or inthe architectural world wherewe’re assembling off-site, and thecumulative stack-up of any error,multiplied by extensive modularelements, becomes considerable.”He also points out there are quitelarge tolerances within the engi-neered wood panels themselves,which is dealt with through theirextensive design for manufactureexperience.

ALPHACAM is a vital bridge be-tween the NX CAD software andthe woodWOP CAM softwarewhich runs a Weeke Vantage 2004.5-axis router and nester from theHomag Group.

“Many woodworking com-panies work with just 2D data, butwe do a lot of work via the 3Dworld, so ALPHACAM is the per-fect tool for us.”

The company, operating withseven full-time employees from a

ALPHACAM macro skates over complex



7,000 ft2 workshop in West Sussex,uses ALPHACAM to program twofundamentally separate types ofpart — firstly, planar componentswhich are nested, and secondly,those which need to be 3Dmachined.

“The planar components aretypically 2.5D imported as solidmodels, and then we use ALPHA-CAM to extract the features.Where possible we move on toprogramming in a semi-automaticway using Machining Styles. Forthe more complex solid modelswe use 3D machining strategiesworking with the solid model orsurface geometry directly.

“ALPHACAM is the conduit be-tween our 3D design environmentand the physical embodiment ofthe parts we’re manufacturing.Nothing could get made withoutit.”

However, the unusual 4.5-axishead on the machine tool, meantthat programming was notstraight forward, and AndrewHarfield, ALPHACAM’s area salesmanager, created a complex

macro which has saved Cambianhundreds of hours of program-ming time.

Piers Chapman says: “The macrointerrogates the solid modelgeometry and passes the attrib-utes associated with that onto thewoodWOP post processor via TPDvalues.

“It improves our programmingefficiency by automating theprocess, and we now use it exten-sively. It’s become essential to theway we work nowadays.”

He says the graphical program-ming solution supplied with theCNC machine was not capable ofdealing with the complexity of theparts they manufacture.

“We already knew that ALPHA-CAM was the industry standardsoftware, so it was the obviouschoice of software to translate oursolid model information into ma-chine code. Despite this we areconstantly providing feedback toALPHACAM through the supportteam, much of which is incorpo-rated into the twice-yearly up-dates. And we continue to work

closely with Andrew Harfield,whose in-depth knowledge of ourrequirements, and what ALPHA-CAM is capable of, means thatmore time saving macros areplanned.”

He forecasts exciting timesahead for Cambian, which wasformed as a result of his back-ground in mechanical engineeringand enjoyment of different actionsports, including climbing, andriding BMX bikes. “That’s what ledus to start working on skate parksand bouldering walls. It was al-ways my ambition to combine my

love of engineering and extremesports, and we’re now doing an in-teresting hybrid of work withinboth the architectural and engi-neering worlds. In order to deliveron these projects, we are con-stantly advancing our manufac-turing facilities, which means newmachine tools are very much partof our plans. I don’t know of anyother company pushing theboundaries in the way we are atthe moment.”ALPHACAMTel 0118 922 6677www.alphacam.com

CNC components

THE LATEST of Workplan, fromthe Production Software busi-ness of Hexagon ManufacturingIntelligence, makes it possibleto import the full list of manu-facturing operations from aCabinet Vision project into aquotation, incorporating the ex-pected time based on the BidCentre’s rate tables.

Brand manager, Christophe Mas,says it is just one of a number ofitems of new and enhanced func-tionality for the woodworking sec-tor. “Not all companies managing

wood have the capacity or desire toset up a complete management sys-tem. The latest release of Workplanoffers a simple and efficient stockmanagement solution for them, in-cluding aspects such as stock recep-tion/withdrawal, inventory, scrapmanagement and traceability.”

The system is even more timeefficient when interfaced withHexagon’s CAM programmingsoftware, Alphacam. As soon asthe program is validated, data re-porting in Workplan, and informa-tion about panels and plates, is all

completed in a few mouse clicks.The new Workplan 2020.0 inte-

grates internet solutions for jobtime tracking on the world wideweb, including clock-in/out timetickets at the start and end of theworking day, along with timespent on both productive andnon-productive activities. Thisavoids the need for additionaltime-consuming data input.

The new release of Workplanfeatures an improved interface toconnect with the Enterprise andOnline version of QuickBooks ac-counting software. All customerand supplier invoices data areswiftly transferred, along with fullcompany records.

In conclusion, Christophe Massays the new enhanced function-ality further increases perform-ance for all project-based com-panies in the woodworking indus-trial sectors. “Workplan 2020.0 en-ables users to accurately manageand analyse the entire manufac-turing process step by step, fromquotation to invoicing.”AlphacamTel 0118 922 6677www.alphacam.comCabinet VisionTel 0118 922 6644www.cabinetvision.comWorkplanTel 0118 975 6084www.workplan.com

Integrated system



FOR OVER 20 YEARS TauntonJoinery in Somerset has beenmanufacturing timber windowsand doors, selling to both devel-opers and the general public,with prestigious customers suchas Poundbury, near Dorchesterin Dorset, coming back for re-peat business.

James Stewart is the new ownerand with a background in largerjoinery manufacturers, he is keen forTaunton Joinery to be able to com-pete with larger companies. Howdoes he plan to do this? By improv-ing their efficiency, productivity,production capacity and manage-

ment processes to ensure thateverything runs as smoothly as pos-sible. In his words the ability to “Domore work without having to workharder, or recruit extra people.”

Taunton Joinery was an earlyadopter of the JMS Standard soft-ware back in 2006 and has over theyears enjoyed all the many bene-fits that come with it. Having seena demonstration of JMS Pro fouryears ago, Jamie knew instantlythat this was the next step forward.He says, “I wanted to be involved atthe development stage so I couldinfluence the shape and directionof the software.”

Working in partnership withJoinerysoft, Taunton Joinery hasbeen a key company in testing andshaping the JMS Pro development.He confirms, “We have already seenfeatures we have asked for beingimplemented into the softwareand passed back to us for testing.”

After implementing even the‘development stage’ software atTaunton Joinery, Jamie has seensome amazing benefits over JMSStandard. Although the 3D designmodule was not a key selling pointfor him of JMS Pro, it has madethings a lot easier for showing cus-tomers exactly what they are get-

ting, and with the ability to uploadphotos they can even see what fix-tures and fittings will actually looklike in real world scenarios reducingany chance of issues further downthe line with client perceptions ofthe product they are getting.

Jamie admits there is more in-formation to put into JMS Pro,however with that extra informa-tion they’ve found it to be moreaccurate than JMS Standard, espe-cially now with timings fully mim-icking that of factory processes.This provides the ability to pro-duce better and more detailedoutputs, resulting in a huge re-duction in manual paperwork andlarge amount of saved time. Headds, “The time spent in the set-ting up process of JMS Pro hassaved us time later in the produc-tion process and will continue tosave us time going forward.”

JMS Pro gives Taunton Joinerythe ability to track customers fromprospect through to completionand send all jobs to their CNC ma-chines. Forthcoming updates willalso allow for automatic resourcescheduling. JMS Pro has put Jamieand Taunton Joinery on the rightpath to be more competitivewithin the industry.Taunton JoineryTel 01823 253471info@tauntonjoinery.co.ukwww.tauntonjoinery.co.ukJoinerysoft LtdTel 01608 [email protected]

JMS Pro helps Taunton Joinery grow


SAWS IN ALL SHAPES AND SIZES

New robot saws available from HomagHOMAG PRESENTED the newSawteq B-300 flexTec to an in-ternational public for the firsttime at this year’s Ligna. Whatmakes this robot saw and thesimilarly designed SawteqB-400 flexTec so special? Bothcan be used in either manual orrobot mode.

These two new developmentscan be operated manually in thesame way as any other panel divid-ing saw — for example, for cuttingbooks or thin panels, or for process-ing special materials. The new sawscan be equipped with virtuallyeverything a joiner could wish for —from the operator assistance systemintelliGuide basic and Power Con-cept to grooving, cut-outs, stresselimination cuts and much more.This makes these new saws as versa-tile as required for the varied tasks ofa joiner.

At the same time, operators canuse both saws to complete single-panel cutting jobs fully automati-cally for longer periods — thanks tothe integrated robot.

Visitors to the fair were able to seethe performance of the new saw

concept for themselves in person.Live shows demonstrated that, re-gardless of the cutting pattern, therobot knows what it has to do. Itfeeds a panel to the saw for the ripcuts to be performed. Then, it turnsthe strips and feeds them to the sawagain, so that all the cross cuts andrecuts can be completed. The fin-ished parts are automaticallylabelled and then stacked on palletsby the robot. A number of destack-

ing stations are available to the saw,depending on job type and selecteddestacking logic. The robot useshighly intelligent software with spe-cially developed algorithms. It usesthe destacking stations methodicallyand creates stable stacks.

Homag demonstrated a conceptfor continuing with fully automatedprocesses after cutting. The loadedpallets were collected by HomagTransbots — driverless transport sys-

tems — and taken to the next pro-cessing station. What was shownwas a fully interlinked, highly effi-cient single-panel cutting processwith minimum space requirements.

Illustrated below is the SawteqB-130 panel dividing saw, alsodemonstrated at Ligna.Homag UK LtdTel 01332 856500Email [email protected]



VOLLMER used its VDays event atits world headquarters in Biberach,Germany to present its latestVgrind 360E to over 400 customersthat came from around the globe.

Introducing the new machine,the Business Development Man-ager for the Vgrind 360 and Vgrind360E, Mr Andreas Weidenauer dis-cussed the extensive benefits ofthe Vgrind machine that canprocess tools up to 100 mm dia-meter with a length of 360 mm. Thepresentation included an overviewof the build quality that touched onthe polymer concrete machinebase for vibration absorption andreduced thermal expansion. Withextremely low thermal conductiv-ity, the Vgrind 360E generates lessthermal expansion throughout itsrobust 2,100 kg base.

Upon this base is the impressiveC-axis concept that provides theperfect absorption and elimina-tion of deformation and vibrationof grinding pressure through thetop and bottom bearings in thetwin grinding spindle configura-tion. The twin spindle configura-tion in the Vgrind 360E is uniqueto Vollmer and it demonstrateshow its dynamics, precision, de-formation and vibration dampen-ing characteristics far exceed thatof single-spindle machines. Com-petitor machines with just a singlebearing carry a higher risk of de-formation and vibration.

Underpinning the dynamics,kinematics and thermal stability ofthe Vgrind 360E, Vollmer has inte-

grated an internal oil-based coolantcycle for cooling both the spindlesand the motors. The temperature ismaintained at a constant betweenthe internal coolant oil cycle andthe grinding coolant liquid due to aplate heat exchanger. This attentionto detail increases the thermal sta-bility of the Vgrind 360E and as theoil runs through internal cooling cy-cles, the risk of damage or contam-ination through leakage isdrastically reduced.

The C and A-axis have both beenconfigured with direct drive torquemotors to improve the dynamics ofthe Vgrind 360E. The A-axis spindlerotates at a speed of 450 rpm as

standard with an optional 1,000rpm unit for specialist applications.The spindle options available withthe new Vgrind 360E differ some-what from that of the Vgrind 360.Branded as a more cost effective so-lution, the upper spindle of theVgrind 360E has a belt driven spin-dle with 9 kW peak power and amaximum speed of 6,500 rpmwhilst the bottom belt driven spin-dle generates 23 kW of peak powerwith a maximum speed of 10,500rpm. This cost-effective configura-tion delivers sufficient power, speedand torque to meet the most de-manding of tasks. However, for cut-ting tool manufacturers looking for

more flexibility, the Vgrind 360 of-fers three solutions that includeboth upper and lower belt or mo-torised spindle driven motors or thefacility to have one belt and onemotorised spindle on the machine.

From a precision perspective,cutting tool manufacturers willnot find a more precise platformthan the Vgrind 360 and 360E, ac-cording to the company. As stan-dard, Vollmer has equipped theVgrind 360E with rotary glassscales fitted to the C and A axes tooffer unsurpassed precision. Like-wise, the X, Y and Z axes can op-tionally be fitted with linear glassscales. As a demonstration of thisuncompromising precision and re-peatability, Vollmer provided evi-dence of a field test. Manu-facturing 10 mm diameter ballnosed tools with a variable helixangle of 25-30 degrees with a fullsimultaneous 5-axis processing, acomplete batch of 60 end mills re-tained a deviation on all forms ofless than ± 2 microns.

Further opportunities for theVgrind 360 include an optionalwheel changing facility for up toeight grinding wheel packages.Accommodating grinding wheelsup to 150 mm diameter, the wheelchanger is located outside thework envelope in a clean environ-ment to prevent contamination.This fully automated process canchange a wheel in just nine sec-onds on either spindle.Vollmer UK LtdTel 0115 949 [email protected]

Vgrind takes centre stage at Vollmer VDays event

IT WAS A LITTLE over a year agothat Swiss vertical panel saw man-ufacturer, Striebig, launched itsfirst retro-fittable panel optimisa-tion programme and label printer,OptiDivide. It was the company’sfirst intelligent software and hard-ware package designed for use ona wide range of models, regardlessof their age. It was a move that waswelcomed by existing Striebigusers.

The ongoing success of theOptiDivide, and the growing needfor smart manufacturing solutionsthat lessen waste and maintain a

consistent and accurate flow ofdata from preparation through tosawing, has led to two new optimi-sation software solutions beinglaunched at this year’s Ligna: Base-Cut CON and ExpertCut CON. Avail-able exclusively in the UK throughworking machinery distributor, TMMachinery, both programs have ini-tially been designed to work withthe newly upgraded Striebig Con-trol, which comes ready equippedwith an EPS.x electronic positioningsystem and ASP automatic sawbeam positioning. The new soft-ware is not retrofittable, but Striebig

is continuing its work to further en-hance its software offering.

So, how do these new softwareoptions work and how do theybenefit the user?

Both solutions offer differentlevels of optimisation. The StriebigBaseCut CON allows you to createsimple items lists and optimise cutsautomatically by programmingeach job directly onto the saw’s 12-inch touchscreen display panel.The user is then guided throughthe cutting process with the help ofsimple, colour-coded, on-screenprompts, making it easy for the op-erator to position the saw unit andthe longitudinal stop before press-ing the ‘start’ button. The saw isthen fully-loaded with all the infor-mation it needs to continue work-ing though the cutting list until thejob has been completed. The soft-ware also cleverly ensures that la-bels are printed automatically aftereach sheet is cut-to-size so they areeasily identifiable.

The ExpertCut CON, which caneither be requested at the time ofordering or added to existing Base-Cut CON software, takes automa-tion to the next level, fitting nicelyinto the industry’s ‘Vertical 4.0’trend. Unlike BaseCut CON, thesoftware is installed directly on theuser’s workstation remotely, allow-ing records for cutting optimisationto be imported from standard ERP,CAD systems or CSV-format Excelfiles before the saw gets to work.With this program, the user canalso process and manage orders,materials and part lists using thesame software and transfer fully

optimised cutting plans directly tothe saws through the network con-nection (LAN and WLAN) savingtime, limiting material wastage andreducing the level of skill requiredby the operator. Both options canbe used with or without the saw’s4SB automatic trimming optionand if required, a customer-specificinterface for importing data andlabel layout can be created. Furthersupport, training and installation ofthe software is also available.

Sepp Furrer, international salesmanager at Striebig adds, “Wehave been specialising in the de-sign and manufacturing ofStriebig vertical panel saws forover 60 years. The way the indus-try works has changed massivelyin this time, giving us the oppor-tunity to use our knowledge, ex-perience and invaluable skill set tocontinue pushing the boundariesof our saws and the technologywe create. This is clear from our lat-est cut optimisation software. Ithas been designed to aid our usersand better their productivity.

“We don’t sell our machines onprice. Our customers know that weoffer the best vertical panel saws,which come at a premium price,but they also know they get greatvalue for money. This latest tech-nological advancement is a hugestep forward for the industry andfor Striebig as we continue to con-tinue to develop new and innova-tive ways to combine the trend foroptimisation and industry 4.0.”TM Machinery Sales LtdTel 0116 271 7155www.tmmachinery.co.uk

Striebig takes Control at Ligna 2019




NEWS

A MANUFACTURING company in Somerset has purchased a wood waste heater fromWood Waste Technology to save money on heating and waste disposal bills.

Pro Carve Ltd is a specialist CNC routing company that operates from a 2,000 sq ft ware-house in Cheddar. Due to the nature of CNC routing, the business generates a substantialamount of waste wood regularly. Whilst managing director of Pro Carve, Rolf Weber, man-ages to recycle his plywood offcuts into animal bedding, his MDF offcuts were more diffi-cult to dispose of. As a result, the business was spending money on hiring skips to disposeof the MDF waste wood. Whilst searching for a more economical and environmental wayto dispose of waste wood, Rolf realised that by investing in a wood waste heater, the MDFwaste could be transformed into free heating to keep the workshop warm in winter, as ithad no other form of heating within.

Rolf managed to find a second-hand wood waste heater for sale, so took the plunge andpurchased, but was disappointed with the result. That’s when a business associate suggestedhe look to purchase a different manufacturer’s wood waste heater, and highly recommendedthat Rolf look at the heaters made by Wood Waste Technology. After speaking with KurtCockroft, managing director at Wood Waste Technology, and hearing recommendations byother businesses about the quality and efficiency of Wood Waste Technology’s heaters, Rolfpurchased a brand new WT5 wood waste heater from Wood Waste Technology.

Rolf explains: “I would never have thought there could be such difference in wood wasteheaters, and I’m so pleased that someone suggested I talk to Wood Waste Technology.We’ve had excellent service from the team as the guys there are really knowledgeable,friendly and helpful, and the new heater is just fantastic. We can now burn all our MDF off-cuts, and we’re saving money (and the environment) by not having to hire skips to sendthe MDF offcuts to landfill. The free heating makes the worship a much nicer place ot workon cold winter days, and we’ve added a summer heat dump so we can run the heater allyear round and send the heat to atmosphere when it’s not needed inside.”

Wood Waste Technology’s years of expertise in wood waste solutions have helped manycompanies reduce their waste disposal and heating costs. As well as offering site survey,design, manufacture, installation and on-going maintenance for new units, the companyalso services all types of wood waste heaters and supplies genuine spares.Pro Carve l www.procarve.co.ukWood Waste Technology l 01785 250400www.woodwastetechnology.co.uk l www.grossuk.co.uk l www.putzmaus.co.uk

Disposing of MDF offcuts without spending on skips

A NEW smaller format waterjetcutting machine has been intro-duced by AXYZ AutomationGroup. Called the WARDJetA-0612, it forms part of theA-Series of machines and sharesall of the same design and per-formance characteristics of thelarger X-Series but at a lowercost.

The A-0612 will process a widerange of materials that are un-suited to traditional CNC ma-chines, including for examplestainless steel, various alloys andglass that are frequently used inspecialist woodworking, furnitureproduction and panel processingapplications. With a comparativelysmall 213 x 124 cm footprint, theA-0612 will fit perfectly into anyworkplace where space is at a pre-mium yet offers the same cuttingpower and output capabilities ofmuch larger waterjet machines.

A key benefit of the A-0612 isthat whilst similarly configured

small-format waterjet machinesoperate at pressures ranging from30,000 to 45,000 psi, the A-6012will operate at 60,000 psi. This en-ables the same production andfast processing capabilities of afull-size machine.

The ability to operate at thismuch higher pressure also radi-cally reduces the amount of abra-

sive required for the cuttingprocess, thus further enhancingthe machine’s cost effectiveness.

As with the larger-formatWARDJet machines, the A-0612 isbased on a lightweight and rigidlyconstructed modular solid steelframe gantry that will reliably sup-port the most robust machine op-eration required for high-density

and heavier materials. It also incor-porates multiple cutting toolheads, an industrial-grade rack andpinion drive system for optimumcutting accuracy and the elimina-tion of problems frequently en-countered with alternative lowercost belt-driven systems and anoptional water level control systemand cutting table enclosure.

These latter features reducesplashback and thus help preservewater in addition to loweringnoise levels in the workplace,thereby enhancing the A-0612’senvironmental credentials.

In common with all WARDJetmachines, the A-0612 is supportedby the proprietary and dedicatedMove motion control software.

For further information and/orto arrange a machine demon-stration, contact AXYZ Auto-mation Group.AXYZ Automation GroupTel 01952 291600www.axyz.co.uk

AXYZ adds small-format option torange of waterjet cutting machines


NEWS

LAWSONS TIMBER was one ofthe first UK builders’ merchantsto spot the potential of Com-bilift’s multidirectional forkliftswhen the Irish manufacturerlaunched its original C4000truck just over 20 years ago.

As Lawsons continued to openmore branches, it augmented itsfleet and now operates around 35of these versatile, space savingmachines. Its latest deliveries fromCombilift are electric trucks, in linewith a general move towards elec-tric power in a number of sectors.

Lawsons is believed to be thelargest family owned independenttimber and builders’ merchants inthe South East and was estab-lished almost a century ago in1921. It supplies the area with itswide ranging stock which includesfencing, timber, building and sheetmaterials, insulation and steel fab-rication. It also offers services suchas timber processing, treatmentsand grading, and brick matching.

Much has changed since thecompany’s infancy when horses,carts and manual labour wereused for customer deliveries andtimber handling. Lawsons nowruns a fleet of approximately 100vehicles from 3.5 tonnes to 32tonnes from its 17 branches in andaround London, including a loftlifter for the efficient high leveldelivery of loft packages.

John Lawson came across theC4000 at a trade show in 1999 andsaw its potential for space savingoperation and its ability to replace

a combination of counterbalanceand sideloader models, which aremuch less manoeuvrable, particu-larly when handling long productsin tight spaces. The ability to workin greatly reduced aisle widths isalso a major benefit from a com-pany whose premises occupyprime land in and around the city.

Group transport manager,David Harvey, explains: “Most ofour branches are in built up areassuch as Camden, Acton andWandsworth, where expansion ofsites is nigh on impossible — dueto cost issues or the density of sur-rounding buildings. We can only‘go up not out’ with our storage sopacking as much stock into anygiven area is crucial. Being able toconfigure aisle widths accordingto the depths of the Combiliftsand going up to racking heights of7.5 m means we can optimisespace and cope with growth.”

Lawsons’ Combilifts, most ofwhich are 4 t C4000 models,handle long products such as 6 mpacks of timber weighing up toaround 3 t, and are also universaltrucks for handling plasterboard,blocks, bricks and palletised loads,within the racking as well as out-side. Most recent additions aretwo C4000Es at the Merton branchand numerous STEs at Whetstoneand Camden. “We are keen to keepemissions as low as we can for thegood of the environment, and alsoto keep noise levels to a minimumfor our neighbours in residentialareas, and these electric models

tick all the boxes on both counts.Electric power is definitely the wayforward for us and our drivers alsolike the quiet operation they offer.”

Drivers’ opinions of handlingequipment is not to be underrated

and Matt Long, who works at theMerton Branch, is full of praise forthe C4000E. “The guide rollers onthe truck together with guidedaisle operation make it so muchquicker to access the aisles andspeed up picking and placing, andthere is no risk of damaging theproducts either. Once the guyshave been trained on the Com-bilift they never want to drive any-thing else.”

“Our first Combilifts are stillgoing strong and have thousandsof hours on the clock, with just arefurb or so in the interim for someof the original models,” said David,“which is testament to their robustbuild and long life expectancy. Wealso like working with the com-pany as the management and en-gineers are very open to anyfeedback we have, take it on boardfor product refinement, so weknow we are getting machines100% fit for the job.”Lawsons Timberwww.lawsons.co.uk

Combiliftwww.combilift.com

Combilifts deliver space saving and more

NEWS

WEST YORKSHIRE-based wood-waste extraction specialist DustControl Systems Ltd, now partof Absolent Group, came to therescue of Red Rose Furnishingsfollowing an incident where aninattentive delivery driver re-versed a large furniture van intothe company’s filter unit.

Red Rose Furnishings is a fam-ily-run business that embraces along history of furniture manufac-turing in the former Lancashiremill town of Blackburn, and has es-tablished an extensive clienteleacross the UK and Ireland. Thecompany has gained a reputationfor quality craftsmanship and, aswell as manufacturing frames forsome well-known names in theupholstery industry, offers its ownrange of both traditional andmodern designs.

Although Red Rose’s sofas arehandmade, the factory housesseveral saws and other high-speedmachine tools which are in con-stant use and create a significantvolume of dust and woodwaste.“The old filter had been working atcapacity, but was still doing its jobvery effectively”, said managing di-rector Arif Kola. “It was quite ablow when the old filter got dam-aged — our insurance companywanted the unit to be repaired,

but I wasn’t convinced that apatched-up, 20-year old filter unit

would be able to provide the ex-traction capacity we needed, and I

was concerned that it wouldn’t betoo long before we had to coverthe cost of a new replacement.”

Ray Townley, area sales man-ager for Dust Control Systems Ltd(DCS) continues the story: “Follow-ing the incident with the lorry, Mr.Kola contacted DCS for advice andso I arranged to visit the factory toassess the damage. It was obviousto me on first sight that the agedunit was beyond safe repair and Iadvised Arif that DCS would onlybe able to provide a quotation forsupply and installation of a like forlike replacement. With Arif’s per-mission, I contacted the loss ad-juster directly to explain how theimpact with the overhanging fanenclosures had warped the filterbody, causing many of the sealedjoints to open up, and that any at-tempt at repair would be futile;rendering the filter ineffectual, un-safe and a potential fire hazard.”

Mr. Townley also provided theinsurers with supporting docu-mentary evidence, including in-formation on European ATEXdirectives regarding the safety ofequipment intended for use in po-tentially explosive atmospheres

DCS delivers rosy future for furniture maker

The new filter unit has an extraction capacity of 18,360 m³/hr and waste is discharged via rotaryvalve. Regeneration fans and access gangway are now safely located on the end of the unit.

Internally, DCS fitted a magnetic trap to protect the system from damage by tramp metal.



NEWS

and, thankfully for Red Rose Furnishings, the insurers re-versed their decision and the company was given the goahead to place an order with DCS. The replacement unit isan NFSZ3000 2HJLR Rotary Valve Filter – virtually the samefootprint as the old filter but, to avoid the possibility of sim-ilar damage occurring in the future, it’s configured with theregeneration fans and access gantry at the end of the unit.

Also, instead of filtered woodwaste being transferred toa large skip for disposal, it’s now stored in a large silo whichin turn feeds a waste-to-energy boiler.

“We purchased the silo and boiler at auction,” says ArifKola, “but, although we were filling a large container withwaste every week, we hadn’t got round to connecting themto the extraction system. However, with DCS engineers on-site to replace the filter unit we had the perfect opportu-nity to get everything connected and working – we’re nowgetting free heat for the factory and no longer need to payfor waste disposal.”

Although the new filter unit is the same physical size asthe old one, and the existing 22 kW main extraction fan hasbeen retained, the new unit is capable of filtering over2,000 cubic metres more dust-laden air per hour than theold one. The increase in extraction volume is simply downto improvements in filter technology and filter media overthe last 20 years, but this upgrade gives Red Rose somespare extraction capacity; providing the opportunity to addor replace machinery in the future with no worries aboutthe extraction system’s capacity.

“I can’t thank Ray Townley enough for going the extramile for us”, says Arif Kola. “Despite a few sleepless nightsfollowing the accident, the effort put in by Ray, and the effi-ciency of the DCS installation team, has given us peace ofmind for the foreseeable future.”Dust Control Systems LtdTel 0800 040 7116Email [email protected]

Although it’s fairly labour intensive, the manufacturing process at Red Roseallows flexibility in production.

The damaged body was beyond repair, but DCS engineers connected the new filter unit to Red Rose’s existing 22 kW extraction fan.


DESIGN & INNOVATION

NEY IS NOW the official manufacturer and distributor of Het-tich pre-assembled drawers for the UK and Northern Ireland.

NEY, a leading independent supplier of machinery, materials,components and doors in the UK, now stocks the InnoTech Atiradrawer in silver and the ArciTech drawer in an anthracite finish.

Manufacturing a drawer box can actually be more hassle andtime consuming than people think, and usually the indirect costsare not always considered. It may be more beneficial to buy a pre-assembled Hettich drawer box that is ready to fit straight into yourcabinet than buying component form and putting a drawer to-gether yourself.

If you are not a manufacturer but are buying your kitchens fromvarious different suppliers you may find that buying your pre-assembled drawers from a specialist drawer manufacturer is amore cost effective option than buying your drawers with yourcabinets. Usually your cabinets can be purchased pre-drilled tosuit the drawers you are using so fitting the drawers can berelatively easy and quick.NEY Ltd l Tel 024 7630 8100 l www.ney.co.uk

Pre-assembled drawers available from NEY


DESIGN & INNOVATION

Keeping calmRENOLIT has recently intro-duced two woodgrain designsin four colours which are consid-ered to be perfectly suited tobedroom furniture.

Bedrooms have to be manythings: a welcome retreat which iselegant and charming; a comfort-able relaxing oasis away from busylives; yet at the same time, practi-cal with plenty of storage to easekeeping organised and tidy.

Wardrobes and bedroom furni-ture by their sheer size dominatewhich means that their style andcolour has an immediate impacton the room’s interior design style.

While greys remain popular,early 2019 trends indicate apalette including nudes and

warmer tones combined withstrong statement colours such asdark blue or warm coral. By optingfor furniture featuring one ofRENOLIT’s versatile woodgraindécors teamed with an abun-dance of textiles and complimen-tary wall coverings bedrooms can

be transformed into cosmopolitanboutique havens.

Nordic Wood: Nordic Wood is arecent new addition to the rangethat brings contemporary stylish-ness to traditional woodgraindécor. The subtle design consistsof a natural grain, soft lines and

Delightfulbedroomsare ontrend withRENOLIT

Grey Nordic Wood

Coastland


DESIGN & INNOVATION

neutral tones available in twocolourways: White Nordic Wood,matched to Kronospan’s K088 isconsidered ideal for creating lightScandi style spaces in combi-nation with matt whites, denimblue and northern light inspiredturquoise.

Alternatively, the soft naturalwhite-grey tones of Grey NordicWood are considered ideal to cre-ate a tasteful ambiance. The de-sign can be paired with smokygreys and white-grey, and compli-mented by adding a warm flash ofcolour such as coral as illustrated

here. Grey Nordic Wood ismatched by Kronospan’s MFCK089.

Coastland Oak: To bring moretraditional detail to the wood-grain, Coastland Oak portrays anirresistible classic oak. Revealing ahighly sophisticated design of

split knots, natural imperfectionsand delicate cross-hatching thisdesign will add fashionable ele-gance to any room.

White Coastland Oak is consid-ered perfect to create an elaborateand luxurious atmosphere. It canbe paired with smoky greys, pur-ples and contrasted with white-greys and matches Kronospan’sK080. As an alternative, SatinCoastland Oak, which matchesKronospan K081, provides adeeper taupe colour inter-dis-persed with expressive grey tones.

For further information and torequest a 2018/2019 Trendsbrochure, contact the companyusing the details below.RENOLIT Cramlington LtdTel 01670 [email protected] www.renolit.com

Coastland

Grey Nordic Wood

NORBORD’S CaberWood range of Medium Density Fibreboard(MDF), believed to be the longest standing portfolio on the market,is one of the most versatile.

The resulting board is tough, easily worked and ideal for a mind-bog-gling range of building applications — from skirting boards, architravesand mouldings to furniture and fittings.

Norbord boasts one of the most comprehensive ranges of MDF prod-ucts currently available with key features and benefits of the board in-cluding finish, routing capability andscrewholding. Five grades are availablefrom the basic lightweight general pur-

pose grade, CaberWood MDF Trade, to the top-of-the-range, CaberWoodMDF Industrial, a hard-working, deep routing, moisture-resistant prod-uct with uniform density all the way through the board. Also available isCaberWood MDF Pro, CaberWood MDF Pro MR and CaberWood MDFTrade MR. Each designed for a specific range of projects, the five prod-ucts in the CaberWood MDF range offer what is claimed to be unbeat-able quality and legendary performance.Norbord l Tel 01786 812921 l www.norbord.co.uk


DESIGN & INNOVATION

CaberWood MDF: the legend continues

Datum Tools LtdTel 01892 667800 www.flipstop.com

TROLDTEKT 100% wood woolacoustic panels have been usedto dramatic effect at London’sfamous Open Air Theatre in Re-gents Park. A newly constructedrehearsal building, designed byarchitects Reed Watt, comprisesa stunning double-height danceand rehearsal studio in itscentre surrounded by offices,kitchen and green room. The de-tails of the structure were spe-cially designed to reinforce themagic of the setting in whichtrees, plants and sky surroundthe visitor.

The walls are clad with darkstained larch which helps to blurthe distinction between buildingand landscape while creating anatural extension to the existingbuildings along the edge of thesite. Inside, Troldtekt wood wallpanelling in natural grey also com-plement the natural setting whilehelping to dampen and keep re-verberated sound to a minimum.

The rehearsal studio has beenacoustically rated to that the max-imum noise level that can happenin the studio before being audibleoutside is 100 dB.

The acoustic studies have beencarried out not only to contain thenoise in the room but also to allowthe best sound quality during re-hearsals hence why, to avoid rever-beration, a band of Troldtekt panelshas been installed at high level. Inparticular, panels have been slightlyinclined, looking like a feather edgetexture, to increase the soundwaves’ change of direction.

This detail directly relates to theexternal timber cladding layoutwhere it becomes a feature, leav-ing the small side edges of theblack stained boards as naturaltimber, breaking down the impactof the upper level cladding.

Troldtekt panels are frequentlyspecified as a key way to controlacoustics. This is particularly truewith spaces like this which are full

of ‘hard’ surfaces where soundwaves will bounce causing dis-traction and reduced concentra-tion. Specified throughout the UKand Europe, their benefits includehigh sound absorption, high dura-bility, natural breathability, lowcost life cycle performance andsustainability as documented byCradle to Cradle certification at sil-ver level.

The panels are also specified toimprove acoustics in many differ-ent types of purpose and projects,such as schools, leisure centres,

pools, commercial, private andpublic buildings. Available in vari-ous sizes and in four grades fromextreme fine to coarse, they canbe left untreated or painted in vir-tually any RAL colour.

Samples, case studies and tech-nical information are easilysourced from Troldtekt. More in-formation around this project canbe found on the company’s web-site.TroldtektTel 01978 664255www.troldtekt.co.uk

Nature’s London theatre


DESIGN & INNOVATION

LIGNA REVIEW

H.B. FULLER, a leading global adhesive provider, recently announcedthe successful launch of a set of new, more sustainable solutions atLigna 2019 in Hannover, Germany, one of the world’s leading tradefairs for all segments of woodworking.

H.B. Fuller has specifically designed several next generation adhesivesolutions to address the growing demand from wood furniture and floor-ing manufacturers for materials that help reduce hazardous emissions intheir finished goods, considering that wood naturally emits VOCs. These

new products include Rakoll® 4933, a formaldehyde-free, water-basedadhesive; Rakoll® 5010, a low monomer emission reactive hot melt ad-hesive; and a range of NEP-free primers for edge-banding applications.

The company’s high-quality adhesive solutions and process innova-tions also support customers’ requirements to lower cost-in-use, increaseefficiency, and improve production output while strengthening productexperience. In fact, the adhesive used may be a relatively small compo-nent in furniture and flooring, but can play a powerful role in business

performance.“We continuously listen to our customers

and understand today’s challenges to bothmaintain efficient manufacturing processesand meet consumer demand for more envi-ronment-friendly goods,” says Johannes Chris-tiani, business development manager, H.B.Fuller EIMEA — Durable Assembly. “We are ex-cited to have launched new adhesive solu-tions for woodworking with the most recentinnovative additions to our trusted Rakollrange offering customers the potential to gaincompetitive advantage by obtaining low haz-ard certification for their high-performing fin-ished products.

“To experience the next generation of adhe-sive solutions for a smarter woodworking busi-ness, connect with our experts and discoverhow the new Rakoll adhesives can help opti-mise processes, strengthen product experienceand achieve superior business efficiencies.”H.B. Fullerwww.hbfuller.com

Next generation adhesive solutions from H.B. Fuller

CABINET hardware specialist TITUS is now offering a full range of retro-fit dampers that make it easy to add soft close to existing furniture.

The range will appeal equally to furniture manufacturers who can up-grade their products without making design changes. The add-ondampers, which are available in versions for use with hinged doors, slid-ing doors and drawers, feature proprietary TITUS technology that makesthem easy to adjust and ensures a long reliable operating life.

For drawers, TITUS offers three add-on damper options: theTitusoft MD, for single-wall metal drawers, the Titusoft WD for woodendrawers with roller runners and the Titusoft FF forface frame cabinets with wooden drawers.

All types are positioned at the front of the cabinetto ensure simple, fast and accurate installation. Nopre-drilling is needed, so the dampers can be fittedduring furniture assembly, or at a later stage whenthe furniture is already in use.

Four options are available for adding damping tohinged doors. Where TITUS T-type hinges are alreadyin use, the Glissando TT damper simply clicks intoplace to provide ConfidentClose motion control.

This damper fits directly into the concealed hingecup and takes up no extra space inside the cabinet.The Glissando TL is an equally convenient add-on forTITUS B- and S-type hinges, while the GlissandoTL170 adds soft closing to concealed hinges with170° opening angle.

All types are readily adjustable to suit a wide rangeof door weights.

The fourth TITUS option for adding damping tohinged doors is the Glissando CR, a standalone damp-ing solution that can be used with any type of hinge.

It offers easy and intuitive place-and-fix installation and readily adjustabledamping force.

For sliding doors, the TITUS add-on damper range includes the Titu-soft SD100 for top-running doors and the new Titusoft 100s for bottom-running doors with U or double U profiles. Both types have a 100 mmdamping stroke and provide controlled damping with no re-bounce anda consistent soft closing on doors of different sizes and weights.TITUSTel 01977 682582 l [email protected] l www.titusplus.com

Adding soft close to existing furniture with TITUS


LIGNA REVIEW

Production solutions for all from Biesse90,000 VISITORS from 100 coun-tries showed great interest inBiesse during the five days ofLigna 2019.

The 6,000 m2 stand earned theappreciation of both customersand partners, a gratifying re-sponse to the company’s invest-ment in increasingly efficientservices and innovative products.

Demonstrating automation anddigital interconnection, Biessepresented 49 technologies inaction, three fully-automatedprocess solutions and 50 years oftechnological innovation all aimedat manufacturers from large-scalebusinesses with significant pro-duction volumes and those look-ing for flexibility through tosmaller firms looking to increaseefficiency and transform into real‘smart factories’. Automation in-cluded seven ROS (Robotically Op-erated Systems) serving sizing,drilling, sanding and CNC ma-chines. Overall, Biesse technolo-gies were the undisputed stars ofthe stand, and marked a year fullof exciting new developments.

At the heart of the stand, andthe central theme for the show wasthe Digital Hub that guided cus-tomers on a journey through thephases of an Industry 4.0 factory,demonstrating data collection anddistribution for simulating pro-cesses, production planning, opti-misation and programming, all theway through to machine and serv-ice information delivered via theSOPHIA service platform.

The SOPHIA platform supportsincreased productivity by provid-ing users with access to machineinformation, helping to optimiseperformance and monitor quality.It can also anticipate potentialfaults and provide solutions to re-solve any anomalies. In addition,Biesse can also take proactivesteps to contact customers, help-ing to reduce machine stoppages,

increase machine availability andoutput.

Thus, the combination of au-tomation and digitalisation canprovide real value to customers byhelping to improve Overall Equip-ment Efficiency (OEE), the meas-ure of how well a machine works.

“Intelligent systems are con-necting the world,” commentedRobbie O’Neill, UK Commercial Di-rector. “This allows businesses toadapt more quickly. It is about im-proving machine availability, per-formance and quality via physicalautomation or connected facili-ties. This means a leaner process isrequired if you want to compete,let alone just protect your busi-ness. Biesse can help customerstransform their operations andhelp them to achieve greater effi-ciency and therefore derive bettervalue from their machines.”

Steve Bulmer, CEO Biesse GroupUK, added “We showed how we

partner with customers, roboticssuppliers and integrators to makefactories smarter and more effi-cient, which allows both em-ployees to add greater value toproduction processes and com-panies achieve improved results.”

To demonstrate this beyondjust representations, Biesse builtactual factories within the stand,focussing on the core areas of“size, edge and drill”, showingwhat the future should look likefor automated, flexible and linkedproduction and the results thatcan be achieved.

The first smart factory on dis-play was a Batch One solution thatdemonstrated sequential process-ing, panel by panel, irrespective ofsize. The line comprised of a num-ber of different machines, alllinked and communicating witheach other to create a supervisedsystem.

Production began by feeding afull sheet of material via a Winstoreboard storage and retrieval systeminto a NextStep sizing machine.Each single panel produced wasthen fed into a buffer system. Thisallowed the sizing operation tocontinue without causing bottle-necks, with panels then being fedinto a Winner handling systemthat facilitated automated loopedpanel return. This fed a Stream BMDS edgebander that squaredand sized each panel with finishedpanels being sent to a verticalbuffer system, again to avoid stop-page of the edgebanding process.

Completed panels were un-loaded, sorted and stored using a

robot to create cabinet sets readyfor ‘on demand’ production. Thesewere then fed into an Insider M,specified to drill on 6 faces.Finished panels would then bepassed to assembly or packing inthe order required, creating a justin time, batch one, lean produc-tion process.

While utopia is a batch one solu-tion, most modern factories en-deavour to have an efficient LowBatch factory with the ability tohandle high complexity. Because ofthis, Biesse decided to also displaya low batch factory. In addition tothe facilities of the batch one fac-tory, the low batch factory createdcomplex shaped and edged panelsin addition to standard square/rectangular edged panels.

Production began by feeding afull sheet of material via a Winstoreboard storage and retrieval sys-tem, with output split to a SelcoWN 6 ROS flexible panel sizingcentre and Rover B FT twin headednesting router. Both included inte-grated robots for automated un-loading. This showed a variety ofoffloading solutions that includedhorizontal and vertical stackingplus sorting to demonstrate re-duced machine idle times and im-proved machine utilisation as wellas how to minimise the risk ofpanel damage that is often causedby manual handling.

The panels produced were thenmarshalled to the edgebandingsolution which combined aStream B MDS edgebander thatsquared and sized each panel witha Winner semi-automated looped


LIGNA REVIEW

handling system that incorpo-rated manual loading.

There are a wide variety ofdrilling and machining solutionsavailable from Biesse. Biesse choseto demonstrate the most complex— a shaped, edged and drilledpanel, using a Rover B Edge thatwas loaded and unloaded au-tonomously by a robot.

Overall, the low batch factorydemonstrated that individualprocesses can be automated with-out the need to create a fullylinked and supervised line.

There were also a number of au-tomated stand-alone machines.

The Opera R2 ROS robotic sand-ing machine not only demon-strated high quality precisionfinishing with two delta robots butalso included two articulated ro-bots feeding and offloading fin-ished panels, showing a fullyautomated sanding line.

A Rover S FT flat table machin-ing centre was combined with aWinstore X3, a new panel man-agement system, that demon-strated how an automatedmagazine can be integrated intonesting and/or sizing cells, includ-ing retrofit options for existingproduction lines. The X3 deliversreduced production times thanksto the close proximity of panels.Therefore it is possible to substan-tially increase cell productivitycompared to manual loadingmethods.

Lastly, the Brema EKO 2.2 verti-cal processing centre, which hasbeen updated with a new dowelinsertion unit that provides cus-tomers with completed panels,was paired with a robot to showhow assembly times can bereduced.

“By establishing a perfect un-derstanding with robots and ma-chines, we, as human beings, cantake advantage of one of the lead-ing trends in the market —namely, robotisation — in order toimprove business. Indeed, in theera of automation, technologicalinnovations enable us to create

new business models based onautomated and interconnectedproduction,” explained FedericoBroccoli, Wood Division Sales &Subsidiaries Director.

Biesse also debuted a number ofnew machines and technologies.

The Akron 1100 range of com-pact single-sided edgebanders isideal for small-scale producerswho want to modernise produc-tion. Within its price range, theAkron 1100 is believed to be theonly technology on the market of-fering high-level components likethe ROTAX motors made by HSD, aleading manufacturer in its sector.There are three configurations of-fering choices on trimming, cornerrounding and premilling. Thisentry-level range stands out in themarket for its high specification,quality and performance. Stan-dards that are shared by all Biesseproducts.

A new option on VIET Opera 5and 7 sanders was also an-nounced. The new X-Spin Plusspinbrush unit offers an easier andfaster ‘snail lock’ locking system.

This system removes the need fora chuck that facilitates fasterchangeovers. Performance hasalso been increased with morepower that offers a higher cupspeed and an electric oscillatingsystem, both of which greatly im-prove quality and accuracy.

A new edging system on RoverA Edge 12/15 machining centresgives customers the ability toshape and edge larger panels,maximising the available workingarea. In addition customers havethe option to choose Ray Force, azero glue edgebanding systemthat delivers the same standardedge finish on shaped panels asAir force linear edgebanders.

The new system also offersfront tape loading, providingquicker changeovers.

OEE improvements are not al-ways rooted in automation anddigitisation. Machine mainte-nance, set up and breakdowns aresome of the major contributors topoor OEE. A well trained workforcecan therefore help to minimisethese risks and in turn enable

manufacturers to become moreautonomous.

The new Biesse Academy forService is a training centre thatcustomers’ operators and mainte-nance workers can visit to help in-crease skills and knowledge.Located in the Services Centre inPesaro, it offers classrooms andlaboratories as well as, most im-portantly, Biesse machines whichtechnicians can use for their theo-retical and practical training.

“It was great to see so many vis-itors from the UK and have lots ofpositive conversations. Thisdemonstrates that whether it bevia large scale automation, stand-alone machines, services or train-ing, we have the ability to helpcompanies of all sizes becomemore efficient and productive. Ourcustomers recognised this valueand made significant investmentsat the show,” concluded SteveBulmer.Biesse Group UK LtdTel 01327 300366Email [email protected]/uk/


LIGNA REVIEW

New Kündig models on show at Ligna 2019SITUATED IN HALL 11 at theLigna trade show, Kündig hadon display its latest innovationsin both wide belt and edgesanding technology along witha series of ‘special’ machinesfrom their Technic series.

Shown for the first time was the‘5-piece door machine’ which hasproven to be especially popular inthe North American and Canadianmarkets where solid wood kitchendoors are still the ‘must have’ itemwhen it comes to replacing akitchen. This machine has 2 x cali-bration rollers to ‘flatten the joints’followed by a third finishing padusing a higher-grade abrasive.

The fourth station is thecarousel brush unit that not onlymoves left to right but also oscil-lates to give a more intense sand-ing to remove any cross-grainscratch marks naturally left by theprevious abrasive. This systemgenerates a random style finishwhilst also braking or softeningthe edges. This same machine issuitable for sanding both prior toapplying a base coat and as an in-termediary sander after applyingthe base coat.

On display was a sanding ma-chine ordered by one of theworld’s best-known furniture pro-ducers. This was a bespoke ma-chine designed for sanding thinmaterials, known as a ‘TechnicBotop’ the machine sands bothtop and bottom sides in one passand uses the renowned ‘Brilliant’heads giving a shear cutting ac-tion to ensure a higher quality,flatter finish.

Also shown for the first timewas an example of the ‘Industry 4’machines where information re-garding the processing of partscan be directly fed back to the pro-duction team either directly totheir PC or via an app.

This gives information to partssanded and also details of the con-dition of the abrasive and how themachine has been used and howmuch each part of the abrasivehas been consumed.

The Kündig ‘Flash’ was also dis-

played for the first time. Kündighas been at the forefront when itcomes to high gloss surfaceswhich can be generated with easeand efficiency thanks to the tech-nological ‘know how’ installed ineach machine. However, as anymanufacturer will know the sand-ing of the edges can be a long andlaborious process, taking time andexpertise so as not to damage thevulnerable front and back edge byrounding. This is the function ofthe new Kündig Flash which hasan action-controlled sanding padand makes the edge sanding ofprimed of lacquered edges athrough feed operation.Kündig LtdTel 0845 833 0565www.kundig.com


LIGNA REVIEW

SCM Group celebrates 60 years at LignaTHE 2019 EDITION of the tradefair, Ligna, in Hanover, in whichSCM has been taking part for 60years, was, as expected, a greatsuccess.

Thousands of business clientsand visitors from more than 100countries filled SCM’s elegant,bright stand with more than 4,000m2 of exhibition space and morethan 60 technological solutionsmade available to the entire in-dustry for the second processingof wood, with outstanding oppor-tunities across all the key inter-national markets.

The Smart&Human Factorygenerated a huge amount of in-terest with its flexible and modu-lar automated cells, integratedwith industrial and collaborativerobots, unmanned shuttles andstate of the art IoT digital servicesand software.

An intelligent but user-friendlyfactory, which the vast inter-national crowd at Ligna 2019 wasgiven a chance to discoveramongst the different operatingcells and in its “smarter” modethanks to the dozens of real timedemos projected onto the hugeLED wall in the SCM Arena, at theheart of the stand, made possibleby an advanced system of videocameras installed directly in theSCM machinery processing anddemonstration area.

The return in terms of orders,deals and contracts on all product

types was very high, including thenew integrated solutions for sur-face treatments, proof of how thesector remains dynamic andstrongly attracted to advancedmade in Italy technology. Greatfeedback from Germany too fromall levels of the market, from theindividual craftsman to large in-dustries. SCM was also honouredby a visit from the German Secre-tary of State at the Food and Agri-cultural Ministry, Hans-JoachimFuchtel.

Welcomed by Giovanni Gem-mani, the chairman, Luigi De Vito,SCM’s division manager and GianLuca Fariselli, communicationsmanager, the Secretary praisedthe vast range of technological so-lutions on display, believed to beunique at international level, fromthe new numerically controlledmachining centres for panels, solidwood and carpentry, right up tothe most innovative integratedmodels for surface treatment.

A closer look was also taken atthese models, together with theSuperfici solutions on show in Hall16 by hundreds of visitors whotook the Ligna Guided Tour organ-ised by the Fair.

The success encountered dur-ing the five days of the event wasthe icing on the cake to an excep-tionally good year for SCM and theentire Italian Group.

As Gemmani and De Vito re-minded the press conference held

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LIGNA REVIEW

SCM Group celebrates 60 years at Lignaon 28 May at the stand, the SCMGroup’s turnover at the end of2018 was more than 700 millionEuro and more than 70% of thatreferred exclusively to the wooddivision with a growth rate in dou-ble figures, compared to the pre-vious years. In 2018, the ItalianGroup acquired the Americancompany DMS, specialising in ma-chining plastic materials and com-posites. This was only a little overa year after the deal sealed withthe German company HG Grimme.

In the first quarter of 2019, SCMrecorded a sales increase both inEurope and other continents,thanks to an ever expanding wide-spread presence in the key mar-kets supporting the sales networkand clientele, from large industriesto craftsmen. On the subject ofwhich, De Vito reminded the jour-nalists of the recent opening ofthe branch in Austria and the newheadquarters in Switzerland, fur-ther confirming the Group’s firmhold on the European market.

The framework for the Germanmarket outlined by Uwe Kosok,SCM Germany manager, is alsohighly positive. During a pressconference, he highlighted the in-crease in turnover (+24% at theend of 2018) as well as staff ap-pointed to deal with after sales as-sistance (+20%). SCM’s will to actfirst and foremost as a partner be-fore being a manufacturer is prov-ing increasingly more decisive in

this market, as well as the desire tosupply automated and turnkey so-lutions with the support of a spe-cific SCM engineering team.

SCM presented new models foreach wood machining stage atLigna 2019. In the Smart&HumanFactory which goes beyond thetraditional automation systemswith its flexible and modular cellsthat can be put together as theclient wishes to meet the mostvaried of machining demands,Flexstore HP, the automatic highperformance shaped panel ware-house integrated with the new

Morbidelli X400 nesting centre,the new Stefani Cell edgebandingcell for “batch 1” and the new CNCMorbidelli UX200D drillingmachine all attracted considerableinterest.

The DMC System sanding tech-nology integrated with the Super-fici spray painting systems and thenew robotic glue applications aswell as the new Sergiani 3D formpress attracted a lot of attention atthe surface treatment island.

The new CNC Hypsos andBalestrini power machining cen-tres for solid wood technologieswere well received as was theOikos X for carpentry work, thanksto its exclusive 6-axes machiningheads. There were also plenty ofnew entries for joinery machinerystarting with the new Class PX350I mobile carriage circular saw.

Digital took centre stage as one

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LIGNA REVIEW

of SCM’s key new entries with therenewed Maestro Digital Systemsthat diversified and increased theoffer in Software and Digital Ser-vices. The first ones involve twotypes of software: Maestro Office,different office software for pro-gramming, management and dataoptimisation and Maestro Active,the new HMI on the machinery,which received a special mention

at the most recent German DesignAward and which today presentsitself with a look and feel that isbelieved to be completely uniqueto SCM technologies and a mucheasier and more intuitive userexperience.

The Digital Services confirm thefundamental role played by theIoT Maestro Connect platformwhich, thanks to the constant

analysis of the data being pro-duced by the machines, grants in-stant access to a wide range ofservices such as remote technicalsupport with augmented realityglasses, the purchase of spareparts on-line, predictive mainte-nance and numerous other ser-vices to considerably increase theeffectiveness and efficiency of itsproduction plant.

SCM’s stand was one of thebusiest at the entire event. Thevast exhibiting space was also ren-dered unique by the presence of amagnificent 12 metre table inancient kauri wood, from an out-standing manufacturer likeRiva1920, designed by Renzo andMatteo Piano and the cornerstoneof the stand. A symbolic choicethat aimed to render the exhibit-ing area a place for meeting anddealing.

The trade fair was preceded bythe SCM Sales Meeting on 26 May,described by the company as a“must-attend” occasion, and partof the “made in SCM” events andfairs.

An opportunity to discover theGroup’s latest technologies, butalso an opportunity to continueteam building and share thevalues that are the backbone ofthis international team: in-depthknowledge of the product, invest-ments, presence and capillaryactivity.

Ligna rounded up with morethan 90,000 visitors. The next edi-tion is scheduled to be held from10-14 May 2021.SCM Group UK LtdTel 0115 977 0044www.scmgroup.me.uk


LIGNA REVIEW

New CNCmodelsfrom AESprovedpopularat Ligna2019LIGNA is the international stage where manufacturers have theopportunity to not only show what they produce but it is also theglobal forum where new products, developments and innovationsare launched for the very first time.

This year at Ligna, the AES group had several new launches includingthe new Nova Super and Raptor Ultra CNC nesting machines. The NovaSuper is a fully-fledged industrial flatbed nesting machine with linear toolchanger and speeds of up to 70 m/min, making it a highly competitiveand productive machine. The Raptor now has a 12-position rotary toolchanger as standard and linear positioning speed up to 90 m/min and isavailable as a stand-alone CNC or as a fully automatic through feed ma-chine with the option of bar code labelling of nested parts. All AES CNCnesting machines come complete with Alphacam CAD/CAM software al-lowing them to be easily integrated to those who may already be usingthird party CAD software.

The AES Vega 5X 5 axis machine was alson on display showing the ben-efits of the endless C axis of the 11 kW router head which is now com-plete with a chiller unit for efficient cooling whilst allowing extended

running times. The Vega 5X also now comescomplete with the powerful Alphacam Ultimatesoftware.

Following the worldwide success of the AES Sir-ius CNC drilling machines, AES launched the allnew ‘Go’ machine which benefits from a very gen-erous 1,300 mm working width, can drill to the faceand all four sides and has a router head which cutsfrom above (therefore any off cuts simply fall away)and having a double panel clamp can machine allround for either final sizing or profiling. This ma-chine is designed to be supplied either as a stand-alon CNC or with the option of conveyors can beintegrated as part of a flow productin line.

The latest AES Alpha beamsaw was also shown,which is available with cutting lengths of 3,200 mmor 4,500 mm and saw blade projections from 70mm to 135 mm. As is typical with all AES products,these are a heavy-duty series of machines withrapid cutting and positioning speeds to allow forfast cycle times for increased productivity.J & C O’Meara LtdTel 01704 893109www.ukwoodworkingmachinery.co.uk


LIGNA REVIEW

Weinig is satisifed with Ligna 2019

THE WEINIG GROUP achieved agood result at what is believedto be the world’s leading tradefair for the sector in Hanover. Atotal of 273 machines and sys-tems of the two brands Weinigand Holz-Her were sold. The am-bitious order inflow targetswere exceeded. Compared toLigna 2017, an increase ofaround 20% was achieved. TheWeinig Group received ordersfrom 29 countries. At the 5,000m2 stand of the provider of tech-nology for solid wood and panelprocessing, experts from 92countries informed themselvesabout the complete range dur-ing the five-day event.

The many new products werevery well received by the profes-sional audience. Weinig set an ex-clamation mark in the area ofsystems engineering. At Ligna, acomplex plant could be seen livein action, illustrating the compe-tence across the entire value chainof solid wood processing. In addi-tion to the traditional magnetsplaning, profiling and cutting,Weinig recorded a remarkable de-mand in the jointing technologysegment. The solutions in timberconstruction also met with greatinterest.

The Concept business unit reg-istered a number of high-calibreenquiries in the CLT area. In the

Forum, the Weinig Group concen-trated on the trends of today, to-morrow and the day aftertomorrow. Central topics weredigitisation, automation and net-working. Here Weinig was able toconvince interested parties withits customer-oriented range of so-lutions tailored to the individualrequirements.

Weinig underlined its socialcommitment at Ligna with thecampaign “Running for a goodcause”. Many visitors to the stand

took the opportunity to cover run-ning meters and convert theminto euros on a specially providedtreadmill. The proceeds will go tothe institutions of SOS Children’sVillages.

The Weinig press conference onthe first day of the fair was at-tended by 75 journalists from allover the world. CEO Gregor Baum-busch presented good figures.Contrary to the rather weak trendin the industry, the Weinig Groupachieved the best first quarterly

result in the company’s history inthe Ligna year. Compared to thesame period of the previous year,order inflow increased by 5.9%and sales by 8.7%. “The outlook forthis year has been very positive todate,” said the CEO.Michael Weinig (UK) LtdTel 01235 557600

Michael Weinig AGTel 0049 (0) 93 41 86-0Email [email protected]

Social engagement: CEO Gregor Baumbusch (centre), Chief Technology Officer Dr. Mario Kordt (left)and Klaus Müller, Head of Marketing Communication, present the results of the “Running for a goodcause” campaign at Ligna.

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