For over 40 years, Browns 2000 has been at the forefront of manufacturing made-to-measure doors and glass splashbacks for kitchens, bedrooms, and bathrooms. With a 350,000-square-foot facility in Northumberland, the family-owned business produces over 25,000 doors and glass splashbacks weekly.
Committed to continuous investment in cutting-edge technology, Browns 2000 recently took a significant step forward by integrating a HOMAG STORETEQ & SAWTEQ Cell into its production line.
The need for increased automation and efficiency
Among its wide range of products, Browns 2000 manufactures Glacier, a laser edge-banded product that is entirely processed in-house, including board lamination, cutting, and further processing. As demand for this product grew, the company sought to enhance its production efficiency and flexibility while maintaining the high-quality standards for which it is known.
“We wanted to increase our capacity for producing Glacier while also gaining all the benefits that come with a HOMAG machine – quality, accuracy, and efficiency,” explains Graeme Brown, Sales Executive at Browns 2000. “Previously, everything was processed on a beam saw. This new investment was a shift towards automation and a greater degree of flexibility.”
Why HOMAG?
Having worked with HOMAG for years, Browns 2000 turned to them first when considering this new investment. “They were our first port of call, without question. HOMAG is a global leader in this type of machinery, and obviously it’s a huge company … and yet, the service you get is that which you’d expect from a smaller firm,” says Graeme. “It’s that personal, one-to-one relationship that really goes such a long way. From Alan Betteridge in sales to the engineers who visited our site, everyone has been a pleasure to deal with.”
With Alan Betteridge’s help, Browns 2000 found the perfect solution: the STORETEQ & SAWTEQ Cell, which includes a STORETEQ F-100 single-axis storage and retrieval system feeding a SAWTEQ S-200 panel dividing beam saw, all powered by the woodStore 8 software.
STORETEQ & SAWTEQ – a breathtaking duo
The STORETEQ & SAWTEQ Cell is designed to significantly increase production efficiency, offer layout flexibility, and eliminate board damage. It manages board storage and provides a just-in-time machine feed system – all within a small footprint.
The STORETEQ features a gantry design frame with a movable lifting device capable of feeding single or multiple machines. The lifting unit has a crossbeam with suction cups to handle boards up to 250 kg and can rotate them up to 90 degrees, enabling optimal material loading orientation.
To gain firsthand insight into the technology, Browns 2000 visited HOMAG’s facilities in Germany. “Seeing the Cell in action was breathtaking,” Graeme recalls. “The Robotics are so advanced – they don’t move like typical machines that stop and start. Instead, they flow seamlessly, almost human-like. And the speed is incredible.”
A seamless installation process
Despite the complexity of the STORETEQ & SAWTEQ Cell, the installation process proceeded smoothly, as expected from Browns 2000’s long-standing relationship with HOMAG. “In all the years we’ve worked with HOMAG, installation has never been a concern,” says Graeme. “They have protocols in place to ensure a seamless process, and any challenges are tackled together. Everything just flows from start to finish.”
Boosting production and eliminating bottlenecks
Since implementing the STORETEQ & SAWTEQ Cell, Browns 2000 has seen a substantial improvement in production efficiency. “It has delivered on all that we were expecting, and more. We’ve been running the new cell for about a month now, and we’ve not encountered any disruptions or any bottlenecks in production.
“As I mentioned earlier, with our Glacier product, we start by laminating the boards in-house. Using HOMAG software, we then create nests and cut the boards into components, and that’s where these machines come in. The components are then immediately loaded onto our laser edge bander and finished using the latest laser edge banding technology.
“In other words, this Cell sits at the heart of our production line. If we didn’t have the speed or reliability there, it would create serious issues – but thanks to the Cell, we’ve been able to increase our output across the board.”
Looking ahead
Browns 2000 remains committed to staying ahead of the curve through ongoing investment in technology. “As a company, we’re always looking at how we can grow,” Graeme affirms. “We’re fortunate to be able to invest in the latest technology, and we’re not shy about doing so. We already have several HOMAG machines, and I can confidently say there will be many more investments in HOMAG machinery in the near future.”
For more information or a demonstration of HOMAG’s machinery and software, please contact HOMAG UK on 01332 856500, option 4 for the sales department. Or email [email protected].
