TONICTONIC Seminar Seminar

15-16.9.2011 15-16.9.2011 JoensuuJoensuu

””Patented Patented manufacturing manufacturing

technologytechnology& &

materialmaterial””

Jukka-Pekka Karppinen, Jukka-Pekka Karppinen, Managing Director Managing Director

Flaxwood OyFlaxwood Oy

Company infoCompany info

Flaxwood Oy established 2005 Patent registered 2006 First Flaxwood®-instrument, electric guitar,2003 Flaxwood USA Inc. established 2008 OEM-business in the business strategy 2009 New ”Hybrid”guitar line launched in 2011 New NFC-components launched 2011-2012 OEM-business will play remarkable role in the

future growth

Flaxwood patent covers:“ Music instrument and/or components

for musical instruments that are manufactured of a natural fiber composite (NFC) material by injection molding process”

PATENTPATENT

Business areas: - Flaxwood® instruments manufacturing (B to C) - NFC component OEM-supply to MI (B to B)

- Patent licensing MI manufacturers (B to B)

New Flaxwood Blank products 2011-2012

Looking for strategic partnership with major MI corporation(s) 2012

SRATEGYSRATEGY

Components for guitars are produced by using Components for guitars are produced by using effective serial production technology (injection effective serial production technology (injection molding)molding)Consistent quality components supplyConsistent quality components supplyComponent manufacturing capacity can be easily Component manufacturing capacity can be easily increasedincreasedWood sourcing, logistics and warehouse Wood sourcing, logistics and warehouse management not neededmanagement not needed

UNIQUE MANUFACTURING PROCESS FOR UNIQUE MANUFACTURING PROCESS FOR COMPONENTSCOMPONENTS

Molded components are finished as any wood Molded components are finished as any wood parts in a traditional guitar workshopparts in a traditional guitar workshopWe mainly use common tools that are used in We mainly use common tools that are used in any guitars shops that are using wood any guitars shops that are using wood componentscomponentsCertain special properties of NFC requires new Certain special properties of NFC requires new tool adjustmenttool adjustmentCertain clear advantages over traditional wood Certain clear advantages over traditional wood componentscomponents

TRADITIONAL GUITAR MANUFACTURINGTRADITIONAL GUITAR MANUFACTURING

Very accurate parts in shapes and measurements Very accurate parts in shapes and measurements minimizes further machining or shaping minimizes further machining or shaping Almost 0% material lost with shaped componentsAlmost 0% material lost with shaped componentsEvery component is similar, no variations in Every component is similar, no variations in quality like with wooden partsquality like with wooden partsPossibility to make product details already in the Possibility to make product details already in the mold, saves processing timemold, saves processing timePossibility to use in-mold parts, i.e screw inserts. Possibility to use in-mold parts, i.e screw inserts. Minimum material stock needed in productionMinimum material stock needed in productionVery short lead time of componentVery short lead time of componentJust on time deliveries to production (JOT)Just on time deliveries to production (JOT)

ADVANTAGES IN NFC-COMPONENTSADVANTAGES IN NFC-COMPONENTS

TRADITIONAL SUPPLY CHAINTRADITIONAL SUPPLY CHAIN

NFC SUPPLY CHAINNFC SUPPLY CHAIN

EXAMPLES OF COMPONENTSEXAMPLES OF COMPONENTS

PROCESSING COMPONENTSPROCESSING COMPONENTS

Density about 1,2 kg/cm3 makes components a Density about 1,2 kg/cm3 makes components a little heavier than wood in general (density is little heavier than wood in general (density is same with ebony)same with ebony)First investment in a mold (tool) per each First investment in a mold (tool) per each component is higher (2000-40.000 €/component)component is higher (2000-40.000 €/component)Requires 3D-designRequires 3D-designPrototyping and testing is not as easy Prototyping and testing is not as easy Mold manufacturing migth limit further changes Mold manufacturing migth limit further changes in component shape and product variationin component shape and product variationColored components available by changing raw Colored components available by changing raw material colormaterial color

FACTS FOR A NEW NFC-PRODUCT FACTS FOR A NEW NFC-PRODUCT

Flaxwood two complete guitar linesFlaxwood two complete guitar lines Stonedge snaredrum line and snare drum cellStonedge snaredrum line and snare drum cellSeveral major MI manufacturers are testing NFC Several major MI manufacturers are testing NFC components at the momentcomponents at the momentSeveral commercial corporations are considering Several commercial corporations are considering to take NFC-components in their product line to take NFC-components in their product line Available NFC-products at the moment:Available NFC-products at the moment:

NFC-guitar necks (bolt-on neck)NFC-guitar necks (bolt-on neck)NFC-guitar fingerboard and fgb-blank(2011)NFC-guitar fingerboard and fgb-blank(2011)NFC-shaped violin fingerboard (molded) 2011 NFC-shaped violin fingerboard (molded) 2011

FACTS OF NFC-PRODUCTS TODAY FACTS OF NFC-PRODUCTS TODAY

New Flaxwood fingerboard blanks with new New Flaxwood fingerboard blanks with new material and production technology 2011-early material and production technology 2011-early 2012. (Guitars, viola, cello, double bass)2012. (Guitars, viola, cello, double bass)New NFC-material grades for injection molding New NFC-material grades for injection molding including: new colors, wood grain pattern including: new colors, wood grain pattern imitations and sound/technical properties 2012imitations and sound/technical properties 2012 SFC-certified NFC-material(s) 2011-2012SFC-certified NFC-material(s) 2011-2012 More ebony substitute products available under More ebony substitute products available under Flaxwood brand 2012.Flaxwood brand 2012.Hopefully few new business ventures licensing Hopefully few new business ventures licensing Flaxwood patent! Flaxwood patent!

WHAT NEXT ? WHAT NEXT ?

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