Founded in 2012 by Jonny and Jean, two design-minded entrepreneurs with backgrounds in architecture and carpentry, Get Laid Beds has grown from a student garage project in Leicester to a leading UK manufacturer of solid wood bed frames and mattresses available exclusively online.
With a firm belief in British craftsmanship and customisation, the company now produces a wide range of bespoke bed designs, all made from 100% solid wood. Today, Get Laid Beds operates from a modern 41,000 square foot manufacturing facility in Leicester, employing a team of 90 and exporting hundreds of units per week across the UK, EU and US. Their commitment to quality, style and sustainability continues to redefine what customers expect from the bed industry.
To produce their iconic turned bed legs, some up to 2 metres in length, Get Laid Beds had been using a traditional hydraulic copy lathe. Whilst the machine had served them well for many years, it was becoming increasingly inefficient and posed several challenges:
- Slow setup times due to manual adjustments
- Health and safety issues relating to guarding and manual sanding
- Inconsistent surface finish on turned parts
Production manager Dave Stansbridge was tasked with finding a modern, efficient, and safer alternative to support the company’s growing production demands. Having worked with JJ Smith previously, Dave reached out to explore suitable replacement machines. After discussing production requirements, JJ Smith arranged a live demonstration at their Liverpool showroom of the Intorex CKI CNC lathe.
The Intorex CKI offered the perfect solution, featuring:
- 2.5m maximum turning length for large bed posts
- Twin CNC-controlled gouges (one for roughing, one for finishing)
- Two rear programmable dowel knives
- A fourth CNC axis allowing a sanding head to be fitted for automated finishing
This configuration ensured accuracy, repeatability, and an exceptional surface finish – all while significantly reducing manual handling.
Before installation, Dave and JJ Smith Sales Director Guy Stanley, who specialises in CNC machinery for furniture production, travelled to the Intorex factory in Spain for final acceptance testing.
“As soon as I walked into the Intorex showroom I was immediately impressed with the setup,” Dave recalls. “Every aspect of the machine operation was covered, and the training using the IntorEDIT design software was very straightforward and intuitive.
“The machine is much quicker to set up, and the quality of our turned and sanded bed posts has noticeably improved. It’s made a big difference to both our production efficiency and the finish our customers receive.”
Since installation, the Intorex CKI CNC lathe has delivered outstanding results for Get Laid Beds. “This significant investment in a market leading Intorex lathe sharpens our quality, underpins workplace safety and elevates our product finish,” says Scott Sheilds, CEO. “It strengthens the craftsmanship people expect and supports our growth without losing what makes www. getlaidbeds.co.uk unique.”
Contact a specialist at JJ Smith to find out more about the Intorex range of CNC lathes.
0151 548 9000
