System Six Kitchens Ltd, proud to call itself the South West’s largest independent kitchen manufacturer, has strengthened its production capability with the installation of a HOMAG EDGETEQ S-500 edge bander, complete with LOOPTEQ return system and XES glue pot pre-heating station. The investment enables full-scale PUR processing and ensures the reliability required to support output of more than 1000 cabinets per week.
A natural step forward
Established in 1975 and based in Exeter, Devon, System Six Kitchens operates from a 40,000 sq ft facility employing over 80 staff. With a suite of machinery operated by skilled craftsmen, the business supplies both trade and retail markets, alongside its own brands including Quantum, Express and Hinged. The time recently came for System Six to upgrade one of its edge banders. “We had an old HOMAG KAL 310 which we bought back in 2006,” explains Nigel Jones, Managing Director. “After nearly 20 years, it was still running fine, but we were certainly ready for something more modern.”
A key objective was transitioning fully to PUR adhesives for carcassing. “We wanted to move onto PUR for all our edge banding. The benefits – heat and water resistance, high bond strength, improved aesthetics – are must-haves in this day and age of kitchen manufacturing.”
Configured for performance Having worked with HOMAG edge banders for decades, System Six had no hesitation returning to the brand. “They have all been exceptional machines, and the support you get from HOMAG is unmatched,” says Nigel. “For this latest investment, we were steered in the right direction by Charles Smith, HOMAG’s Product Manager, who knows just about everything there is to know about edge banding. He understood the particulars of what we were looking for and was able to configure the EDGETEQ S-500 to suit our needs. To seal the deal, HOMAG invited us to send samples for testing. The results were spot on.”
The addition of a LOOPTEQ return system has streamlined workflow, allowing efficient single-operator processing, while the XES glue pot pre-heating station supports effective handling and maintenance of PUR adhesive systems – essential for consistent, high-volume production.
Smooth transition, immediate confidence
“Installation went like a dream,” says Nigel. “The lads who put it in place were brilliant, and then the engineer had it up and running in two and a half days. “The training was excellent as well; there was a lot for us to learn, but they soon got us up to speed with the new technology. We were using the machine confidently by the end of the week, ahead of schedule. It really was a fantastic transition.”
Mass production with PUR
The biggest transformation has been the ability to produce PUR edge banding, at scale, with total confidence. “The S-500 enables mass production of PUR edge banding, and the quality is consistently excellent. We’re thrilled with the performance.”
Reliability has been equally important. “We have it running ten hours a day and have encountered no major issues. Any minor blips are resolved promptly, and downtime is kept to an absolute minimum, which is crucial for our business.”
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].
