Seamers, a bespoke joinery specialist established in 1875, has embraced modern CNC technology to improve drilling accuracy and bring more processes in-house.
Derby-based Seamers Specialist Joinery is a family-run business that has held itself to the highest standards of joinery and service for 150 years. The expertise of Mr John Seamer has been passed down the generations, and the company now operates from a 22,500 sq ft facility, delivering beautifully crafted bespoke joinery to customers across the UK and Europe.
The company’s success is powered by a highly skilled team making expert use of specialist tools and machinery. However, with many tasks – like the drilling of workpieces – still performed manually, the business was facing avoidable constraints on its growth. Recognising this, Seamers’ leadership took decisive action.
The challenge
For Workshop Foreman Leigh Freestone, the tipping point came down to one critical factor: accuracy.
“We were having problems with consistency when it came to drilling holes and jobs like inserting Lamello biscuits,” he explains. “We decided the best way to achieve a better result was to embrace modern technology.”
Manual processes were limiting both precision and productivity, and the team recognised that automation could help raise standards while freeing up valuable labour.
Choosing HOMAG
The journey began with a visit from HOMAG. “A rep popped their head in and told us about some of their CNCs, including the V-310,” says Leigh. “We left it for a couple months, and then the realisation set in that a vertical CNC processing centre may be the exact solution we’re looking for.”
Requiring just 11m² of floor space, the DRILLTEQ V-310 offers an impressive scope of functionality while taking up as little room as possible. In addition to drilling it can groove and trim more than any other machine in this design class, and it is even possible to process doors and every type of connector used in furniture construction.
“We explored our options and looked at CNCs from other companies, to get a full picture of the market. But we always really liked the sound of the V-310, and when we saw it in action at Castle Donington, our minds were made up. The drilling accuracy was seriously impressive.”
A game-changer for the workshop
The impact of the V-310 has been immediate and profound. “The main benefit for us is the consistent drilling accuracy. We basically get a perfect result every time. We’re also doing some CNC work with it, which means we can bring more jobs in-house instead of outsourcing. That’s a huge bonus.
“We were doing everything by hand before, so really, everything from quality to capacity to efficiency has improved. It’s been a total game-changer for our business.”
A solid partnership
For Seamers, HOMAG’s service has been equal to the machine itself. “The customer service has been really good, particularly the after-sales care,” says Leigh. “It makes a huge difference knowing you’ve got the full support of a supplier long after the machine has been installed.”
Looking ahead
Growth is now firmly on the agenda for Seamers. “We’re anticipating expansion with the V-310, which means we’ll be needing a few more machines later down the line. When that time comes, we’ll be more than happy to go with HOMAG.”
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