English Hardwood Design Ltd has strengthened its manufacturing capabilities with the investment in a HOMAG CENTATEQ P-110 CNC processing centre and EDGETEQ S-200 edge bander.
Replacing ageing machinery from other suppliers, the new set-up has delivered improved reliability, higher processing speeds, and consistently high-quality results.
A long-established manufacturer ready for change
Established in 1976, English Hardwood Design Ltd has grown into one of the North of England’s leading manufacturers of bespoke furniture for trade customers and selected retailers across Great Britain and Ireland. Known for producing high-quality, custom-made furniture, the company combines traditional craftsmanship with modern manufacturing techniques to meet the diverse needs of its customers.
However, after many years of operating older machinery, the business recognised it was time to upgrade. “We’d had a few CNCs from another brand in the past,” explains Paul Bowman, Sales Director at English Hardwood Design. “The main reason we stayed with them was continuity; our programmes transferred easily and we had a great relationship with the engineer. But after he retired, it became harder to get support when problems arose.”
With their newest CNC approaching 15 years old and reliability beginning to decline – alongside growing issues with an ageing edge bander – confidence in the existing setup began to fade.
The “Rolls-Royce” of machinery
When evaluating replacement machinery, English Hardwood Design explored several major manufacturers. HOMAG quickly emerged as a compelling option. “We’ve known about HOMAG for a long time and have always considered them to be the Rolls-Royce of woodworking machinery,” says Paul. “In an ideal world, we’d always have had HOMAG machines, but we assumed they were out of our market.”
After visiting HOMAG’s showroom in Castle Donington and working closely with HOMAG UK’s Jon Lawman, perceptions quickly changed. “Once we weighed everything up, we realised HOMAG was well within our reach, and that it made perfect sense to go with them. Jon sent us an offer we couldn’t refuse, and that was that. It was an exciting moment.” The company ultimately selected a CENTATEQ P-110 CNC alongside an EDGETEQ S-200 edge bander to modernise its production workflow.
Smooth installation and rapid adoption
Installation and commissioning progressed ahead of schedule. “It was really smooth,” says Paul, “and the training was excellent. This technology is more advanced than what we were used to, but the woodWOP software is highly intuitive. Our operators picked it up easily.
“Since commissioning, we’ve had no issues, just questions, and HOMAG have always been available to answer them.”
Greater flexibility, speed and quality
The new machinery has already delivered measurable operational improvements, particularly in terms of flexibility. “The CENTATEQ P-110 is a four-axis, so we can now perform certain tasks like recessing for butt hinges far easier than we could before. In general, the CNC and the edge bander are much quicker and quieter than all our previous machines, and they have huge capacity without taking up any extra space. They are very easy to programme and reduce a lot of unnecessary workload.”
Perhaps most importantly, product quality has also reached a new level. As Paul says, “It’s absolutely bob-on.”
A partnership for the future
Beyond the machines themselves, English Hardwood Design highlights HOMAG’s ongoing support as a key factor in the success of the investment. “Jon has been brilliant from the start and still checks in to make sure everything’s running smoothly,” Paul adds.
“There was plenty of contact from HOMAG whilst we were waiting for the machine; they’re very responsive and always happy to help.” Looking ahead, the company sees this investment as the beginning of a long-term partnership. “Everything has lived up to our high expectations,” Paul concludes. “When the time comes to invest again, we won’t hesitate to speak to HOMAG.”
For more information or a demonstration of HOMAG’s machinery and software, contact HOMAG UK on 01332 856500, option 4 for the sales department, or email [email protected].
