Natasha Hickling, brand & communications manager, Häfele UK, shares advice on how joiners can work smarter to save time and improve their efficiencies.
Whether driven by the surge in home improvements, a workforce shortage or simply a desire to improve their profitability, most joiners are looking for ways to save time and work more efficiently on site. Fortunately, the need for speed, while keeping up quality, is something we understand well. We’ve developed a wide range of products and services to help tradespeople work with ease and speed, and at the same time, maintain their solid reputation.
Fewer tools. More speed
At Häfele, we have focused on making furniture construction as tool-free as possible. An example of this is Ixconnect CC 8/5/30, a claw connector for wooden drawers that can be used without dowels.
Because it has an innovative claw, it compacts the chips in the front panels of wooden drawers for quick fixing of panels and sides over 12mm. When combined with a rear panel connector (Ixconnect RPC D 5/24) that clamps the rear panel with the side walls, Ixconnect CC 8/5/30 reduces the number of drill holes needed, dramatically cutting down assembly time and giving complete precision. It’s also entirely concealed once in place.
While a simple piece of hardware, products like Ixconnect make a big difference. In fact, it halves the number of holes required and can reduce assembly time by up to 70 per cent.
Speed vs efficiency
Innovative time-saving products are just one way that manufacturers like us can help joiners and furniture manufacturers maximise their workload. In recent years, we’ve extended Häfele to Order, a bespoke service which allows users to specify products to exact size, quantity and finish. While customers regularly use this service for items such as wardrobe rails or sliding door gear, joiners can now use Häfele to Order for bespoke timber drawers too.
Crafting beautiful, handmade bespoke timber drawers takes skill, care, attention, and time, but sometimes there just aren’t enough hours in the day. Through the service, customers can order handmade, solid timber drawers personalised to their needs and complete with full dovetail joints, in up to a two-week turnaround.
The Häfele bespoke timber drawer service is completely made to order, meaning customers can tailor their requirements against a long list of design and personalisation options.
Let there be light
A similar approach can also be taken to lighting. Loox by Häfele has been developed specifically for the furniture industry. A simple, modular plug and play system, it can be easily incorporated it into designs to create that all important wow factor.
As well as being easy to fit, Häfele also offers a free-of-charge Lighting Design Service. Simply complete an online form with basic information and upload a floor plan, and our team of lighting consultants will return a tailored specification. Usefully, the Lighting Design Service can also be paired with Häfele to Order, making Loox probably the easiest furniture lighting range install in the UK market.
