As furniture and joinery manufacturers continue to invest in automation to improve productivity and tackle labour shortages, the Railtechniek van Herwijnen Group believes efficient material handling is the next step in optimising factory performance.
With the established UK presence of Stewart Gill Conveyors and the engineering expertise of the wider Railtechniek Group, the business is ideally positioned to support manufacturers across the UK and Ireland.
Speaking with Craig Lindley at Professional Woodworking Expo, it was clear the group sees significant opportunities for its material handling and automation solutions within the furniture and joinery industries.
With more than 50 years’ experience in overhead conveyor systems, Stewart Gill combines UK-based design, manufacturing and installation expertise with the engineering and production capabilities of the wider Railtechniek Group across the Netherlands and Europe.
Together, the group delivers bespoke material handling and automation systems that help manufacturers improve workflow, productivity and overall factory efficiency.
As manufacturers continue to seek greater productivity while addressing labour shortages and rising operating costs, the company believes efficient material handling has an increasingly important role to play.
Rather than focusing solely on individual machines, the group’s approach is to optimise the entire manufacturing process. By automating the movement of components between workstations, manufacturers can reduce manual handling, minimise bottlenecks, improve product traceability and increase throughput, while creating safer and more organised production environments.
A recent installation for Dutch timber window and door manufacturer De Jong Kozijnen illustrates this philosophy. The Railtechniek Group designed and installed a bespoke overhead monorail system that automates product movement throughout the factory, ensuring components arrive at the correct workstation at the right time while reducing unnecessary handling. The result is smoother production flow, less work-in-progress, improved quality control and more efficient use of skilled labour.
For many furniture and joinery manufacturers, investments in CNC machinery and automated processing have transformed individual production stages, but material movement between those operations often remains manual. “Many furniture and joinery manufacturers have invested significantly in processing technology, but the movement of materials between production stages is still often handled manually,” said Craig. “By looking at the complete production flow rather than individual machines, we can help businesses improve productivity, reduce handling and make better use of skilled labour.”
With extensive engineering resources across the Railtechniek Group and an established UK base through Stewart Gill Conveyors, the company is well placed to build relationships with and provide solutions to furniture and joinery manufacturers throughout the UK and Ireland, introducing its integrated material handling solutions to businesses seeking to modernise production and maximise productivity.
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