Irish timber frame manufacturer Century Homes is reaping the benefits of investing in the latest Swedish production technology.
The company said its ‘zero tolerance approach to manufacturing defects’ led it to purchase a £500,000 Randek Maskin assembly line, used in association with Duo-Fast fastening systems. It has also spent £200,000 overhauling its computer software.
Century is the first in Ireland or the UK to have a Randek line, a modular form of machinery design and build with total automation. Older production lines will be phased out.
The GE Fanuc control operated equipment with monitoring CAM is directly linked to software comprising AutoCAD ADT 2000 and HSB.
Chief executive Gerry McCaughey said production levels were not any higher – about 3,000 homes annually – but benefits included improved quality, better production planning and reduced manufacturing waste.
He said: ‘Our aim, through investment in R&D, people skills and best-in-field technology, is to further develop our position as a world class player in timber frame manufacture and to meet the huge growth we are experiencing from the Irish and British housebuilding industries.’
Installed in January, the line is constructing a standard type of open wall panel. However, Century has short-term plans to move to a closed panel system, incorporating insulation, services and factory finished internal walls.
Duo-Fast has supplied specially-adapted high-speed fastening systems to drive nails and staples used in panel assembly – the first timber frame installation incorporating nail magazine coils holding 1,200 nails each.
The Randek can handle thicker frame wall thicknesses likely to be required when the Irish government introduces minimum thermal insulation performances.
