Tech tour delivers first-hand experiences
If you want to see the most advanced panel processing technology in the world, you have to travel to Europe.
In mid-March, 30 manufacturing executives from the United States and Canada joined a team from Schelling and IMA for a weeklong technology tour of European factories. The trip included visits to a variety of highly automated plants showing the North Americans a wide range of innovation using the latest Schelling and IMA technology.
QTK Fine Cabinetry aims to satisfy its customers one kitchen at a time. “Your kitchen, your taste, that’s our slogan and we employ this methodology to build every single project,” says Daniel Toto, general manager. “We don’t stock parts, we cut everything we need for one job. Everything is processed in a batch size of one and our Schelling and IMA machines’ speed and reliability allow this. We not only build the kitchen for each customer, we design it for how each particular user uses their kitchen.”
Plant of the Month: Rago Millwork & Supplies Co. Ltd
It’s long been understood that sophisticated panel processing equipment can be used to produce complex components used in varied end product environments. But there’s more to that fact of manufacturing life.
A Canadian architectural woodwork company has discovered that standard high tech CNC machinery can perform very specialized tasks in a streamlined production environment.
Plant of the Month: Kountry Wood Products
Just waiting patiently for the economy to turn around before investing in the latest technology is not the norm at Kountry Wood Products.
This northern Indiana kitchen and bath cabinet manufacturer has more than weathered the down turn. It has shown growth and has maintained its place as one of the top, medium-end manufacturers in its market area – primarily the Midwest, but with dealers nationwide.
“We haven’t been affected much by the down economy,” says company vice president Virgil Yoder. “In fact, we had growth from 2008 to 2010. Our strengths are that we produce a reasonably priced cabinet, with structural integrity and a quality finish.”
IMA/Schelling to host open house
The Southeastern U.S. will be the prime gathering point for the wood processing industry’s manufacturing sector in early November.
Two leading panel processing systems – and more – will be showcased by IMA America Corp./Schelling America Inc. at an open house Nov. 10-11, at the company’s Raleigh, N.C., area headquarters.
Unveiled will be the Schelling Duplus2 panel saw concept and IMA’s new plasma edgebanding technology. The public is invited to the two-day event, which will also feature educational seminars showcasing the latest technology of both companies.
CNC router expands company capabilities
The addition of an IMA BIMA 310V CNC router actually allowed Primeway to manufacture a new furniture line. “Shortly after we got the machine, we started developing our first official case goods line for the office furniture industry, called Flex.” says Kevin Walby, Primeway president.
The Madison Heights, Mich., company’s existing flat table router and straight line edgebander could do a lot of the rectangular parts, but couldn’t be competitive when they had to contour edgeband bullet-shaped tops, bow-front tops and racetrack conference tables. Primeway has concentrated on custom work for hospitals, universities and banks.
Showing you “The Old” and “The New” Europe
Join Schelling and IMA for a trip to explore the old and new of Europe. The trip will include touring state of the art furniture factories that illustrate Schelling and IMA’s innovative technology as well as exploring the Austrian, German and French Alps and its culture.
For more information or if you are interesting in participating in The New American Alliance Technology Tour of Europe in 2012, please contact Virginia Hoskins at Virginia.hoskins@ima.schelling.com or 919-544-0430.
Plant of the Month: Northway Industries, Inc
Running three shifts with 130 employees, Northway Industries, Inc. has come a long way in 45 years. When it was founded in 1966 by C. Kenneth Battram and Joseph Callender, it was a simple laminate countertop shop with just two people on payroll.
Today, the Middleburg, Pennsylvania, firm specializes in mass customization, creating office furniture, store fixtures and architectural millwork for all of the following market sectors: health care, institutional, corporate, educational, retailing, kitchen and bath, and more. Contracts flow in via competitive bid, as well as through the company’s Online Ordering and Strategic Partner programs.
IMA and Schelling Get Ready for the Big One
When Ligna Hanover opens its five-day run in Germany on May 30, total attendance is likely to exceed the 83,000 visitors who showed up in 2009. Two years ago the world economy was tanking; today, market conditions are better, although not perfect. Still, there is every reason to be optimistic.
And this year, IMA Schelling are planning something entirely new for those who come to their combined booths in Hall 26 (#D63, D64, D65, D82 and E59). Altogether, the companies will occupy 2,322 square meters or approximately 25,000 square feet.
Duplus2 can cut it two ways at once
Introduced to American panel processors at the IWF show in Atlanta last year, Schelling’s Duplus2 concept will be on view once again at the upcoming Ligna Hanover trade fair scheduled to begin late this May in Germany.
Using what the company calls “revolutionary technological advances,” the Duplus2 system increases productivity of single axis beam saws by using two independent feeders to position the material in the saw. This allows for simultaneous cutting of the head and main piece or cutting of staggered patterns with one cut.
