Barlows Boards is a long-established, family-run manufacturer serving the kitchen and furniture trade. Led by Managing Director Dean Barlow and Co Director Robert Barlow, the business has built a strong reputation over more than 45 years for producing high-quality components and bespoke joinery solutions for a wide range of commercial and residential projects.
Based in Tyseley, Birmingham, the company processes and supplies MFC, MDF, laminates, worktops and decorative panels from leading brands including Egger, Kronospan, Formica and Polyrey. Its manufacturing capability extends across bespoke furniture components, kitchen and bedroom units, desktops, worktops and specialist joinery for sectors including retail, office fit outs, education, healthcare and high end residential developments.
As demand for its bespoke services continued to grow, Barlows identified edge finishing as a key area for investment. The aim was to improve productivity, reduce downtime and enhance finish quality across an increasingly diverse and demanding material range.
This led the business to invest in the Holz-her SPRINT 1329 power edgebander, supplied and supported by WEINIG UK.
For Barlows Boards General Manager, Shade Yacob, the decision was driven by both technical capability and supplier expertise. “What we needed was not just a machine. We needed someone who understood what we do, the challenges we face and what we were trying to achieve,” he explains. “That was exactly the approach we got from WEINIG UK.”
A solution built around understanding and support
From the outset, the relationship with WEINIG UK and Holz-her stood out for its consultative approach. Rather than focusing purely on specification, the discussion centred on workflow, production pressures and long term operational goals.
Working closely with Area Sales Manager, Richard Hird, Barlows was able to assess its requirements in detail and identify the most suitable solution for its production environment.
“Having those conversations with someone who actually understood the machine, had service knowledge and could explain things in clear, practical terms made a huge difference,” says Shade.
That support continued through planning, delivery and installation, which were managed in a structured and well communicated way. “Everything from delivery schedules and preparation requirements through to extraction drawings and installation was spot on. It was incredibly well organised,” he adds.
The relationship has remained ongoing beyond installation. “When we have needed support, WEINIG UK has always been there. It is not just about supplying a machine, it is about finding practical solutions together.”
A strategic investment in production efficiency
The Holz-her SPRINT 1329 Power edgebander is designed for high performance industrial edgebanding, delivering a fully automated finishing process in a single continuous pass.
The machine applies hot melt adhesive using EVA or PUR, it bonds edgebanding materials securely to panels, trims excess material flush, and completes corner rounding, profiling, scraping and polishing. The result is a consistently high quality, furniture grade edge finish with minimal manual intervention.
For Barlows, the impact has been immediate across both productivity and labour efficiency.
“We used to run the old edgebander with one and a half operators. Now we are running it with one person, so we have effectively saved half an operator on that process,” says Shade.
Beyond labour savings, the reduction in secondary finishing work has also delivered measurable time and cost benefits. “We are no longer spending the same level of time detailing boards afterwards. That has been a significant saving.”
Energy efficiency has improved as well. “The old machine took a long time to heat up. This one is ready in a couple of minutes, which makes a real difference operationally.”
Even downtime has been reduced, strengthening production resilience. “Sometimes the real saving is not making more, it is reducing downtime and improving efficiency. That is exactly what this machine has done for us.”
Improved throughput and operational flexibility
The SPRINT 1329 has also enabled Barlows to better manage peak production demand.
“When we were running large volumes recently, the machine just kept going, panel after panel after panel,” Shade explains. “It keeps up with demand without hesitation.”
The system’s ability to maintain speed and consistency under load has improved planning confidence and reduced production bottlenecks.
Raising the standard of finish quality
Alongside efficiency gains, the machine has significantly elevated finishing quality, particularly on more complex and demanding materials.
“We wanted to achieve as seamless an edge as possible, and that is exactly what we have got,” says Shade.
Previously, a considerable amount of time was spent on manual detailing after edgebanding. That requirement has now been significantly reduced.
“We are not having the same issues we had before with structured boards and difficult materials. The finish is now exactly where we want it to be.”
This improvement has also been noticed by customers across a wide range of sectors. “Some of our clients, including major brands and high profile projects, have seen the finish and have been genuinely impressed by the quality,” he adds.
Simplicity, reliability and operator confidence
Ease of use has been another key advantage, with operators quickly adapting to the system. “The machine is very intuitive. Once you understand it, it feels more like working with software than operating a traditional machine,” says Shade. Daily maintenance is also straightforward, contributing to smoother operation and reduced downtime. “It is easy to clean, easy to maintain and much more manageable than our previous system.”
This simplicity has had a direct impact on workforce confidence. “The operators are comfortable using it and confident in the results. I am being called down to the machine far less often, which says a lot.”
Supporting future growth
The investment in the Holz-her SPRINT 1329 power edgebander marks a significant step forward in Barlows Boards ongoing development as a high quality bespoke manufacturer.
By improving efficiency, reducing manual processes and enhancing finish quality, the business is now better positioned to respond to growing demand while maintaining its reputation for craftsmanship and reliability.
Reflecting on the investment, Shade concludes, “It is saving us time, reducing finishing work and giving our team confidence in what they are producing. Most importantly, it is helping us deliver the quality our customers expect, consistently.”
www.weinig.co.uk
