Whether working for private or commercial customers, the name of the game is to become as efficient as possible – which means using the best and most appropriate woodworking machinery available. One of the worst things that can happen is a bottleneck that causes a slowdown in the entire production process.
This problem was nipped in the bud by high-quality residential and commercial bespoke joinery and cabinetry specialist NBJ London, whose latest Striebig vertical panel saw has prevented what could have been serious sawing delays in its rural Leicestershire workshop.
Previously known as NBJ Midlands, the business changed its name when it realised it was losing out on commissions from its chief customers, London-based designers and architects, who considered it too far away from the capital.
The company designs, produces and installs a wide range of made-to-measure items including fitted furniture, cabinetry, kitchens, windows, staircases, fine mouldings and traditional joinery.
In addition to employing skilled joiners, machinists and spray painters, the company has an in-house design team of draughtsmen with extensive technical experience. This ensures that often-complicated sophisticated design concepts are followed through to completion and fitting.
“More than 90% of our work comes through designers and architects who work for high-end private customers in the London area,” says production manager Keith Aubrey. “Providing the highest quality bespoke work on time as promised is fundamental to the success of the business, and is something that our demanding clients insist on.”
With an increase in orders, the workshop’s existing flat-bed saw and elderly Striebig Automat vertical panel saw were proving insufficient to handle all the extra sizing work needed, so another saw was sought to provide additional capacity.
“Having men waiting to get on one of the two saws was not good and we were losing efficiency,” says Keith. “It was agreed that having another flat-bed saw would take up far too much space, so we decided to go for a second vertical panel model.
“We were very happy with the original Striebig, which was extremely reliable and has not given us any problems over the years. So, despite looking at some other makes, we decided to buy a second, more up-to-date Striebig, which we consider to be the best vertical panel saw on the market.”
The company’s new fully-automatic Control 6224 – the largest model in the nine-strong Control series – has a cutting range of 5300 x 2240mm, and a cutting depth of 80mm. It is used for sizing mainly sheets of MDF – either plain or veneered with some laminated, for which the saw’s optional scoring blade is ideal – and some plywood.
Designed as a comprehensive vertical cutting centre to meet the demanding needs of today’s panel processors, the Control sets itself apart from other vertical panel saws with its high degree of automation and user-friendly operations that deliver secure, risk-free operation. With manual work becoming a thing of the past, it guarantees that sizing is performed easily, quickly and totally accurately.
Among the saw’s key features are an automated cut cycle with panel end detection, laser-assisted indication of the horizontal cut, a ‘touch and saw’ operating system, and precision machine parts of the saw frame manufactured to an accuracy of 1/100mm.
The unique “‘ouch and saw’ operating system developed by Striebig is activated via an innovative programmable control system with a touchscreen panel. Simply touch the panel with the finger tips to carry out every operation, while the 7.5in colour display screen visualises all functions. This easy-to-use system ensures that operating errors are reduced to a minimum.
With pneumatic assistance, the saw unit plunges fully automatically into the panel. Feed speeds can be adjusted between 10 and 25m/min, and individually adjusted to the material being sized. Other advanced features built in as standard include panel end recognition, constant return speed of the saw unit, an operating-hour meter and a digital measuring system on both axes.
“As all of our work is bespoke, we needed a saw that would provide us with total flexibility, and the Striebig does just that,” says Keith. “Once a panel has been placed on the saw it’s a one-man job to cut it to size. It’s always highly accurate, with speedier set-up time, improved panel support and far less dust created around it. All in all it has been a great investment which has boosted our sawing efficiency as well as taking up a minimum of valuable workshop space.”
The Swiss-made Control was supplied by Striebig’s sole UK agent, TM Machinery Sales, which also carried out the installation and provided operator training.
0116 271 7155
[email protected]
