JJO production manager Darren Eatough
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Leading independent kitchen, bedroom and bathroom manufacturer J and J Ormerod has invested £1.2million in the latest pressing and cutting machinery.
The Lancashire company wholly manufactures its products in bases across Rossendale, and has been using a Wemhöner press in the production department since 2001.
The new Wemhöner 3D Variopress at JJO
Production director Bob Myers said: “With prices rising, especially energy costs, we were aware that newer machinery would be more energy efficient and, unlike the older model that we had, would not keep the presses at an operating temperature all day long. As well as having a lower running cost, the newer presses have allowed us to increase production.”
The new Wemhöner 3D Variopress connects to an automated Sittex pressing and trimming line which has a laser temperature control to reduce energy consumption.
The precision cutter on the Sittex pressing and trimming line at JJO
Bob said: “Just two weeks after it had been installed, we had increased productivity by 30% –because the pressure we can achieve reduces the cycle time from three minutes to two so instead of 20 cycles an hour – we now do 27.”
Staff have welcomed the new equipment as the previous press involved a lot of manual handling, was not as precise to use and when the vinyl had been pressed, they had to manually cut round the wood.
Production manager Darren Eatough said: “These new machines are a lot less la-bour intensive and they have an automated cutting system.
“The quality is better and the reliability of the machinery is a lot better. Staff want to produce quality products and this new machinery ensures that it happens. It has made life a lot easier for everyone.”
