WEINIG planers and moulders: Optimal solutions to give you a competitive edge

Tasmania is way off the beaten track for most people on earth. Even there, however, in the extreme east of Australia, wood processors rely on the German premium brand with six letters.

Brittons Timber has an excellent reputation as a producer of high-quality timber products for interior fittings. The company is also renowned for its spectacular timber construction projects and the use of exotic Tasmanian wood types. When it comes to surface quality, Brittons Timber does not entertain any compromises. Company boss Shawn Britton knows what he wants: 

“I have been a proud WEINIG customer for 25 years and look forward to continuing this partnership for another 25 years.” In 1994, when the company acquired its first WEINIG moulder, planing facility manager Jock Dawson traveled to Tauberbischofsheim for extra training. He says the principles he learned there about wood processing to the highest standard continue to serve him well today. His first machine has since been replaced by a 10-spindle Powermat 2400, whose jointing system guarantees optimal finishes even at high feed speeds. Furthermore, WEINIG fan Shawn Britton quickly recognized that WEINIG’s all-round expertise could help him to further optimize his production process. He now has a WEINIG optimizing cross-cut saw OptiCut 200 Elite linked to the Powermat. For its facility in Melbourne, the model Tasmanian business also invested in a further WEINIG automatic moulder plus two saws. This production technology helps Brittons Timber to fulfill its advertising promise day after day: Timber products that give every project a new definition of style and beauty.

Vietnam is among the “Tiger countries” of South-East Asia. San Lim Furniture is one example of the impressive growth in the region. The company's factory halls contain more WEINIG technology than the Expo Center in Tauberbischofsheim. 

With GDP growth of more than six percent in 2016, Vietnam was among the fastest-growing nations in the world. The furniture industry is a significant contributor to the boom. San Lim Furniture is one of the companies in the sector that has particularly succeeded in exporting high-quality products to North America. During their rapid expansion in recent years, they have also invested in production technology. In doing so, they have set out a clear path: Only the best and only a complete solution from a single source. Their search for a partner who could fulfill these requirements led San Lim almost inevitably to the WEINIG Group. Owner Tony Sulimro underlines: “The brand name and the pioneering technology were instrumental in our decision.” Outstanding service was another key factor according to the customer. In our Singapore subsidiary, WEINIG has a point of contact in the region with an excellent track record. In 2015, San Lim purchased 14 machines and systems covering almost the entire value chain in wood processing. The spectrum ranges from an automatic moulder and tool grinding machine to an optimizing cross-cut saw and CNC center as well as automation and scanner technology. “With this production line, San Lim is a technological trailblazer in the region,” says Anthony Teo of Michael Weinig Asia. The company’s experiences with the highly-efficient technology have been positive from the outset. So much so that San Lim ordered another 16 machines in 2016. “Such confirmation of customer satisfaction may be almost unique worldwide,” beams Anthony Teo. 

It’s magic! This advertising slogan for the four-sided Cube is on the lips of more and more British woodworking professionals. Tweedside Timber are the latest to invest in a “magic Cube”. 

Tweedside Timber is part of MH Southern & Co. Ltd., a family-run company based in the north of England. And a company laying the foundations for growth. When it came to modernizing the production facilities, greater competitiveness and increased flexibility were at the top of the agenda. As a result, Tweedside Timber opted for WEINIG technology. In addition to two Powermat 1500s, including a tool grinding system, the company acquired a Cube, specifically selecting the compact four-sider following an intensive market comparison. James Southern on his investment plan: “We wanted to be more flexible in order to better adapt to market developments and to respond more quickly.” The Cube plays a vital role in this strategic orientation. “Our customers now come to us spontaneously whenever they need rectangular goods,” says Manager Richard Dobson of Tweedside Timber.

Regardless of the required dimensions, the company can produce the desired product there and then. Richard Dobson is impressed: “The Cube is a revolutionary machine. It is simple and safe to operate. We do not have to set aside one of our machine operators to get the job done.” Malcolm Cuthbertson, Managing Director of Michael Weinig (UK) Ltd., hails from the same area as Tweedside Timber. He is proud that a company from his home region has joined the large ranks of Cube owners. He also intends to take advantage of the extraordinary service offered by the Cube in the near future.

Anybody who nibbles on a pencil while thinking normally does so on a pencil from world market leader Faber-Castell. It may not taste like a sandwich, but the wood-cased writing implement is the epitome of a perfect sandwich design. 

Few companies have as long a tradition as German firm Faber-Castell. Joiner and family forefather Kaspar Faber manufactured the first pencils with graphite leads and wooden casing back in 1761 and sold them at Nuremberg market. More than 250 years later, the largely unchanged product is still here. Moreover, 2016 was the most successful year in the history of Faber-Castell. The drawing equipment manufacturer produces 2.3 billion writing utensils each year.

The timeless benefits of the pencil lie in its simple handling, its versatility of use owing to the different levels of hardness and the ability to remove that which has been drawn or written with an eraser. However, these are only some of the secrets to the company's success. The decisive factor is the unique cult status the Faber-Castell brand has been able to generate. In the high-end market segment, the German manufacturer’s products are synonymous with quality and style. As “creative instruments”, they have become treasured means of expression for art and leisure activities. Not least because stressed-out, modern humans have discovered drawing as a means of relaxation.

Faber-Castell currently manufactures in nine countries and has sales companies in 23 countries as well as sales representatives in more than 120 countries. To secure its market position for the long term, the sector giant values efficient and ecological production with high quality standards. For years, the manufacturer has trusted in WEINIG as a partner for producing its wood-cased pencils. In partnership with the world market leader from Tauberbischofsheim, they have developed solutions specifically tailored to their individual requirements, which are in use in a variety of international production facilities.

WEINIG machines play a central role in the manufacturing process for pencils and colored pencils. The first stage involves sawing thin lamellae. A Powermat then cuts parallel grooves in the lamellae, which are around half as thick as the final pencil, before the leads are laid in the recesses. The next stage is to glue on a second, identical lamella from above. The “sandwich” is then planed to produce round, triangular or hexagonal end products. What appears simple is actually quite demanding to produce. Pencils pose particular challenges for machine technology owing to their small work piece dimensions. The WEINIG solution primarily impressed Faber-Castell with its minimal tolerances of 2/100th millimeters as well as its high level of repetition accuracy and extremely fast retooling. 

The Louis Vuitton Museum in Paris is a veritable feast for the senses in steel, glass and wood. The planning and design required boldness and inspiration. Precisely the right kind of challenge for Mathias Hofmann and his company Hess Timber.

Louis Vuitton is renowned worldwide as a manufacturer of exclusive luggage, handbags and champagnes. Behind the brand is France's richest man Bernhard Arnault. An art lover who recently commissioned the construction of the museum of the Louis Vuitton foundation in the south of Paris. The plans were drawn up by renowned North American architect Frank Gehry. Costs were not high on the agenda and the individual works were subject to the highest demands in quality and creativity.

Mathias Hofmann and his company Hess Timber won the tender for the timber sections of the winding and sophisticated roof structure comprising 12 sails. "The more challenging the better. I love such projects," says the man from Kleinheubach, Bavaria, of his philosophy. With his unconventional thinking and bold attitude to risk, Mathias Hofmann has earned a lofty status in international timber construction engineering. He somewhat regrets that his highly competitive day-to-day business, building supporting structures for standard buildings, has taken something of a back seat. The costs for major projects are high. "Each time you need practically new technology," he says. This was also the case for the Louis Vuitton Museum. The ridge girders required, partly comprising two arches, were produced on an in-house press bed. The client was impressed during the tender process by Mathias Hofmann's unusual style of rod-based block gluing. The highlight is a rod cover lamella that has the same visual appearance from above and below as from the sides.

That transporting the laminated beams, which are up to 28 meters long, through the Parisian metropolis did not cause chaos is attributable to another unorthodox idea of Mathias Hofmann – Hess Limitless. The procedure is based upon a special adhesion geometry and, in principle, enables girders to be transported in short, individual segments without length restrictions or loss of bearing capacity. The girders are then put together at the construction site. Mathias Hofmann can rely on excellent partners in WEINIG. Defects are cut out by an OptiCut at Hess Timber. Two PowerJoint systems take care of finger jointing the lamellae. A Powermat then planes the workpieces ready for gluing. "I have never regretted opting for WEINIG," says Mathias Hofmann.

Photo: HESS-TIMBER / © Rensteph Thompson

The North American window market is becoming more demanding. A good environment to start a model for the future combining Germany technological know-how with windows "made in USA".

Hurricanes and icy temperatures are nothing unusual in Massachusetts. The ideal environment for production of quality windows with triple glazing. And home to Menck Windows USA Inc., a joint venture of German company Menck, since 2013. With self-produced, energy-efficient window and door components, the company aims to secure a share of the major US market. The signs are promising. Energy-saving standards, certification guidelines and tax incentives have significantly stimulated the window market in the USA. There is particular investment in the prestige market segment. However, high demands from customers require first-class production technology. Little surprise, therefore, that Menck turned to WEINIG. Since the start of the year, its windows have been produced on a Conturex CNC processing center – the first of its kind in the USA. The system is respectfully referred to as a "factory in a shoe box" at Menck USA. The Conturex performs the work of several standard single machines in a single pass. Every two minutes, it produces a new, completely processed part. With a ValuRip, an OptiCut S 90 and a Powermat 1200, Menck has also placed its trust in WEINIG know-how in terms of ripping, cross-cutting and profiling. The entire system is networked via MillVision Pro production software, offering optimal efficiency in production.

http://www.menckwindows.com/

When it comes to distilling a good Bourbon whiskey, Jack Daniel’s has long set the standard. Now, the production of the barrels is also state of the art.

The taste, aroma and color of the whiskey is largely determined all around the world by the barrels in which the whiskey is stored for years. However, Europe and the USA prefer different processes.

While in Europe, the whiskey producers swear by the qualities of old oak barrels, in the USA they prefer new barrels that have been charred. This creates the strong vanilla aroma during the aging process. Before filling the barrels, the distillate is also slowly dripped through a meter-high stack of charcoal. This makes the whiskey softer and purer.. Each barrel must only be filled once.

Naturally, this also applies to traditional company Jack Daniel‘s: 3,000 barrels of the famous Bourbon whiskey are distilled every day in the computerized production facility in Alabama. Until recently, the complex barrel staves were still made by hand. This meant poor wood recovery. So it was little wonder that parent company Brown-Forman decided to re-consider the production process. They opted for WEINIG. Now three Powermat 2400 moulders are on hand for the task. The solution is customized for the high demands of the special cross-section of the barrel staves and includes CNC-controlled jointing technology. Even at high feed speeds, geometrically identical workpieces can be created.

"With the help of WEINIG and the Brown-Forman specialists, we are now able to produce better barrels more quickly, more safety and with less effort," summarizes Larry Comps senior, Vice-President and Managing Director of Jack Daniel‘s.

The know-how also impressed the US association of wood processors. The WMIA awarded Brown-Forman the honor of "Innovator of the year". WEINIG is happy to have played our part and says "cheers"!

Peter Weller says: "If I want an entire concept, there is no alternative to Weinig."

The idea started in Hamburg. The production was outsourced to MeckPom. Using outsiders has really given the company a boost. But the Dauerholz decking boards are an obvious hot topic.

A few years ago, a Hamburg carpenter made a sensational discovery: Unlike similar preservatives, hot wax seeps into the core of the wood ensuring genuine deep protection. The researcher found bold investors who believed in the idea, primarily because the outdoor area, with decking and construction timber, provides vast scope for ecological wax-impregnated wood with its high resistance to weathering, moisture and pest infestations. A production plant was built in the perfect spot in Dabel near Schwerin.

The customized Dauerholz production line was designed and installed in close cooperation with the project specialists at Weinig Concept. As well as a planing and profiling machine, a high-speed optimizing cross-cut saw, a curve cross-cut saw, a scanner and a finger-jointing line, the site also includes a tool grinder machine from the Weinig portfolio. “We wanted to keep the entire process in-house as well as being completely autonomous in terms of tool preparation,” says Peter Weller, explaining the decision.

Dauerholz placed greatest emphasis on optimization of wood recovery and finishing. We performed a recovery analysis and established that we had more than halved cutting losses, reports Peter Weller. This success is also partly attributable to the new moulder. The moulder is equipped with “floating” vertical spindles whose flexible bearings allow it to follow the natural curvature of the wood over long lengths. This prevents “snipes” and “dips” on either end of the work piece and eliminates finish planing with further chip removal.

The glulam lamellae at Pfeifer in Imst, Austria, are pressed at 160 m/min and subsequently planed. The throughfeed press replaces four old machines.

The Pfeifer group commissioned its modernized production facilities in Imst at the start of 2013. Performance and wood savings were decisive in awarding the order, recalls authorized representative Dietmar Seelos. "We required a press with a feed speed of 160 m/min." This feat of strength was necessary because the new single pressing line was replacing four existing lines. The company chose a WEINIG DKK 115 through-feed press. Its role is to create a continuous strand from the pre-milled and glued infed timber. A feed unit accelerates the lamellae and transports them to the feed-in station, where they are handed over to two servo-controlled, synchronous aligning chains. This ensures continuous jointing with no offset. The master computer knows exactly which infeed lengths and cross sections are coming to the press. The DKK 115 adjusts itself automatically. At the end is a continuous flow of glulam lamellae, which is pushed relentlessly towards the planing. This is a special case as the feeding power of the DKK must also be sufficient for downstream planing. Two 90 kW electric motors are therefore used. The improved chip removal of the WEINIG planer proved decisive. The Powermat 2500 saves at least one millimeter. Since the Kundl sawmill invested in the same planing technology in its quality sorting, it has benefited from the combined effect of the two machines. Performing the cutting in its own sawmill also allows the smaller input dimensions to be reflected one-for-one in the cutting dimensions. For a glulam factory with an output of 100,000 m3/year, this represents an enormous saving.

http://www.pfeifergroup.com/

Source: Holzkurier

The Swiss are accustomed to precision workmanship. Still, Lüchinger AG struggled with an automatic moulder from the Far East for four years. Then they had enough.

Full order books are a fine thing. However, it can be a problem if your production capacity is not up to the task. That is why Lüchinger AG were delighted when an Asian manufacturer offered them an immediately available planer that was a perfect complement for their long-serving Weinig Hydromat. The Swiss firm accepted and bitterly regretted it: There was one material defect after another and breakdowns were a daily occurrence. The promised performance was far from being achieved. When the local service operation closed its business, Max Lüchinger drew a line in the sand. “We realized in that moment that you have to take your time to obtain a functioning, customized solution,” says factory manager Arthur Pfiffner. The road led back to WEINIG. The Tauberbischofsheim specialists partnered with Lüchinger to develop a customized production concept based upon the Powermat 2400. With the Uni spindle and state-of-the-art technology for structure planing and carving, Lüchinger now handles every market demand with complete process reliability. After years of uncertainty, we are very relieved, Arthur Pfiffner admits. And if Lüchinger ever need any advice, the Weinig telephone hotline is at their disposal. There is always an expert contact partner immediately on the line who can help, Arthur Pfiffner underlines.

Alois Prader GmbH is fighting back against the quick-turnaround wood industry with quality. The firm compensates for its disadvantages in terms of location with modern, customized production technology.

The wild and beautiful Villnöss Valley, home of the extreme mountaineer Reinhold Messner, is also home to Prader. However, holidaymakers' joy is a wood processor's sorrow: The mountain timber takes twice as long to grow as that on the lowlands and is destroyed by the mass-produced wood industry, says Managing Director Peter Prader, voicing his frustration. To assert themselves, Prader invested in new production technology. The objective was to increase value creation while maintaining top quality, an extensive product range and the shortest possible delivery times. The centerpiece of the production line is two Weinig planers. While the old machine is used for special applications, the new investment is purely aimed at productivity and flexibility. This is achieved via 11 shafts, "floating spindles", which allow the lowest possible chip removal thickness, and a tilting cleaving saw unit, which allows several workpieces to be produced in a single pass. The results speak for themselves – Prader are doing brisk business. And the quality has also impressed the die-hard wood enthusiast: With Weinig technology, we get surfaces that are so good, our scanner detects significantly more defects than previously, said Peter Prader. His verdict on the new planing line: We are better and significantly more productive and the flexibility it has given us has opened up new markets.

It was the star of the CUBE Days in Abingdon. Now, the first orders for the Cube are flying into the offices of WEINIG UK. First off the mark were P&J Joinery, as we report.

P & J Joinery is a small English firm with three employees. The business provides a complete joinery service for windows, doors, staircases, kitchens and bedroom furniture and is well-placed to satisfy every individual customer requirement. The quality of the personnel and the high levels of flexibility are the keys to their sustained success. Brisk business encouraged company boss Philip Nixey to increase efficiency by investing in the latest production technology.

The firm had been using traditional planers as well as a WEINIG Profimat 22N, which has been in operation to the company's complete satisfaction for 22 years. With its potential, the WEINIG Cube ideally complements the existing operation and opens the door to expand business thanks to its innovative technology.

We opted for WEINIG because, through the Profimat, we have come to appreciate the reliable German technology and rapid service over many years, says Philip Nixey. "The Cube now gives us the additional advantages we need to expand our business." It is simple to operate, faster and more precise. We particularly needed its 260 x 160 mm option and were very impressed with its flexibility and the savings in setup time. In addition, the Cube has a number of practical features, such as the 60 per cent energy saving during extraction, the quick and simple blade change via EasyLock and the safe charging with short pieces."

The Cube has quite simply re-invented planing. It is very fast, highly precise and easier to operate than any planer before. In addition, it features new laser technology for workpiece measurement and dimension setting. The Cube is particularly suitable for smaller operations and those that still perform S4S with standard machines and methods. It does not have to run all day to be profitable since it is highly productive, efficient and attractively priced.

The Cube is compact and ideal in conditions where floor space is in short supply. Where necessary, it can also be easily lifted and re-located with a lift truck. The Cube does not require time-consuming settings and also avoids setup errors thanks to its part recognition technology. The operator also has the additional advantage of being able to set the dimensions while the machine is running. Thanks to WEINIG’s simple EasyLock blade change system, auxiliary processing times can also be dramatically reduced.

Philip Nixey: "Since working with the Cube, we have benefited from the reduced auxiliary processing times in a variety of respects. We have become more flexible and productive and the increased capacity has allowed us to take on more orders, which has made us more competitive. We were completely satisfied with the machine installation. Everything has run perfectly smoothly."

Since 2001 the hardwood sawmill owner Walter Ohnemus has been running a cutting line. In 2011 he dared to take the next step towards further processing: solid wood board production in Kappel-Grafenhausen with the ProfiPress T 3500 from Dimter.

It is not always easy doing everything right. Particularly when your customers are used to it. That is why it is good to have THIS in your corner.

Tanguy Matériaux in Brest, France, provides service with a capital 'S' Every day, tradesmen come to the timber merchant with orders large and small. Sometimes for a cubic meter of mouldings, others for a handful of profiles.

Previously, the planer had to be laboriously tooled and set up in every instance. Those days are over. Now, Tanguy Matériaux has the WEINIG Cube. Managing Director Roland Tanguy is happy: "A brilliant little four-sider with a unique concept". The WEINIG Cube makes planing simpler than ever before. In addition, the compact machine is ten times faster than a jointer and planer. All that is required is to enter the planing width and depth on the touchscreen. "Moulder Preview" allows the operator to make any adjustments and correct chip removal where necessary. This ensures optimal wood recovery even before the workpiece is processed.

Four-sided processing in a single pass then provides a perfect planing result, which was previously often only achieved after post-processing and defect correction. One point is particularly important for Roland Tanguy: "The cube is so simple to use that I can ask almost any available man to operate it," he says. So when customer requests are coming in thick and fast, qualified personnel are always free and can take care of the larger orders.

Efficient, simple to operate and safe to handle: Upper Austrian carpenter Holztrattner has acquired a compact, rapid and practical planer in the WEINIG Cube.

Holztrattner is a company with a long-distance effect, one might say. When approaching by car on the highway, you can already see a large sign from some distance away that reads: “Holztrattner. Your master carpenter with ideas." And Herbert Holztrattner certainly has some ideas: Living rooms, bedrooms, kitchens and bathrooms – the carpenter and his team cover the full spectrum of interior fittings. We can even fit out entire houses, says Holztrattner, who founded his company as a one-man operation in 1990.

EXPORT HIT: GARDEN FURNITURE
The 46-year-old, who completed his apprenticeship in cabinet-making, started out primarily with restoration work. The business has since steadily grown to a 12-strong workforce, including son Jürgen – also a trained carpenter – who has worked in the business for years. Restoration work is now just a small part of the workload. In addition to the core business of interior fittings, Holztrattner has also designed and produced its own garden furniture for a number of years. The garden swings produced by the carpenter have proven a real export hit. Holztrattner's first design was actually "only" a birthday present for his wife. However, the resourceful master carpenter has since developed the garden seating with characteristic C-shaped side rails and arm rests, improving the design, and even received a design award in 2003. The model is now sold with great success to Poland and East Frisia.

BY TRADITION: WEINIG
As a carpenter who works with solid wood, Holztrattner also has a planer in the workshop. For 17 years, the Quattromat 18 four-sided planer from WEINIG gave him good service. However, last year, he took the decision to acquire a new machine. Once again, he opted for a WEINIG machine: The Cube, unveiled by the wood machinery manufacturer at the Ligna trade fair in Hanover last year. In addition to the machine's qualities in terms of precision, Holztrattner was particularly impressed by its user-friendliness: “You don't have to adjust anything. The whole machine can be practically operated via a touchscreen. Even our apprentice in his first year can already use it.” The planer is delivered ready to plug in, meaning that it can be immediately put into operation once set up. Additional training
was not necessary.

HIGH-TECH PLANING
Now, everybody in the business – including the boss – occasionally uses the Cube, which does S4S in a single pass while also making work easier with a range of additional practical features: The WEINIG EasyLock system allows quick blade changes with little intervention inside the machine. Dimensions can be changed while the machine is operating at the push of a button while the so-called MoulderPreView projects the spindle settings onto the workpiece by laser, allowing further optimization before machining. Herbert Holztrattner has also customized his new Cube visually: The machine exterior proudly bears a prominent company logo and motto. That way, the "master carpenter with ideas" is ever-present both in the factory as well as further afield.

Text and cover picture Thomas Prlic, Tischler Journal

A traditional 'beer mat calculation'* made Werner Eichelbrönner curious. And after a test, he did not want to hand the Cube back. Read more about his experiences.

Werner Eichelbrönner set up his business in Schwanfeld, Lower Franconia in 1999. Despite some difficult times at the outset, the master joiner remained true to his love of high-quality products in solid wood. Today, individuality is highly sought-after, particularly in the joinery's core business of interior fittings. With three master craftsmen in the company, Werner Eichelbrönner places great value on the internal know-how of his team from cutting to assembly. Our customers know that we think pro-actively during projects. That is the way is should stay, underlines the company boss.

*typical German method of making a quick and simple financial calculation.

The new Cube is hotly sought-after and the order list long. The four-sided planer offers numerous buying motives that smart sales people can take advantage of. Here, Belgian company Ysewijn explain why they have opted for the WEINIG masterpiece.

Belgian company Ysewijn produces timber windows and all types of interior fittings. Their day-to-day business is characterized by small batch sizes and widely varying dimensions. Up until recently, the company was using a traditional jointer and planer for straightening.

Now, however, the machines are gathering dust like museum pieces. Ysewijn has drawn a line under that era. The future is shaped by the Cube, which is operating pleasantly quietly a few meters further down the factory hall.