To this end it was highlighting the overall service aspect of its business; how it works with timber processors to improve the efficiency of their tooling and wider manufacturing operations, and the quality and performance of the end product.

The ultimate expression of this is its own ThermoTec, highenergy performance wood window concept that it unveiled earlier this year. Effectively this is what the customer is offered, with the tooling provided as part of the technology package.

Leitz UK managing director Simon Liddell said that this aspect of the company was better known on the Continent. "In the UK we’ve been the best-kept secret in the timber sector," he said. "But that’s now changing."

The ThermoTec window system, he added, had already attracted considerable interest in the UK, with window makers looking to "keep up to date with [Building] Regulations while remaining competitive".

"The window designs go from U-values of 1.4 down to 0.7 and the tools can be bought in multiproduct or dedicated sets for spindle moulders, tenoners, CNC or window machines," he said.

An array of technical developments were on show, including the WhispercutPLUS cutterhead which combines replaceable diamond knives with lightweight aluminium bodies.

Also new were ProfilCut knives, with a new ‘Marathon’ "titanium nitride-like" coating which increases performance times, and the HeliCut tungstencarbide bladed cutterhead which promises line-free, across grain cutting of heavy-weight timber like CLT and glulam with no breakout.

Altendorf turns heads
New from sliding table saw specialist Altendorf is its F45 ElmoIIID, billed as the "most flexible and efficient" machine in its class to date.

The key to the saw’s capability is the fact that its entire saw unit can be tilted 46° in either direction around the workpiece.

"This gives the operator greater flexibility in terms of plane of work," said engineer Jürgen Rudinek. "It is particularly useful for cutting straightforward bevels and compound mitres and is also easier to use with heavier workpieces. As it is the head that moves, the operator does not have to manipulate an awkward section of timber – that, in turn, enables greater speed of processing. And the saw unit can move through the full 90° in 12 seconds."

The €29,900 Elmo IIID shares the same proven motorised axes as its predecessors in the range. The axes automatically adjust sawblade height, cutting angle and rip fence dimension. It also features the company’s tried and tested 12in touch screen control.

Hot air edgebanding
If you can use a tablet computer, you can drive a big piece of Homag panel or timber processing technology.

That’s a slight simplification, but was the general thrust behind its new powerTouch control panel, which was making its Ligna debut. The HD "multi-touch" touch screen monitor was designed not just to be user-friendly, said Andy Potter, but also to be applicable to any new Homag machine.

"Having a universal control panel, with the same graphical interface, means that operators can very quickly adapt to different machines in different parts of the factory," he said.

Also on show for the first time, and in action, was Homag Groupbrand Bargstedt’s TLB 320 collating centre. This stores panels according to ‘chaotic warehousing’ principles for maximum efficiency and space utilisation. Rather than type or size, different panels can be stacked and picked for machining by a range of parameters: processing set-up time, assembling order, colour or shape.

"This is ideal for companies making one-offs rather than long runs of the same item," said Mr Potter.

Another talking point was airTec, Brandt’s new ‘seamless’ edgebanding technology for smaller companies which can’t stretch to its laserTec systems.

"AirTec replaces laser by firing a jet of compressed air at 280- 300°C at the panel as the edge is applied," said a Brandt spokesperson. "LaserTec may be able to run at line speeds nearly four times faster, but the end result is virtually indistinguishable."

Wood-Mizer’s potential
Narrow band and mobile sawmill specialist Wood-Mizer billed its latest development as one of its most important to date – and one with particular potential in higher labour cost countries, including the UK and Ireland.

The SLP II is the latest version of its small log processing technology, which was first developed in 2007 for processing smaller dimension roundwood into viable lumber for pallets, fencing and a range of other products. The big departure from its predecessors is its level of automation.

"Previously you needed five to six people to load, unload and operate an SLP line," said Wood- Mizer UK general manager Dave Biggs. "With the SLP II that’s down to two or three – making it a very attractive option in higher wage-rate countries."

The new line, he explained, can handle logs from 1.3-3.6m long and 10-40cm in diameter. It comprises an initial twin vertical saw, fed by an inclined chain log conveyor, which converts logs into two-sided cants. The slabs drop onto another chain conveyor which removes them for further processing. The cants are then passed on to a single horizontal saw.

The subsequent HR500 horizontal resaw can be equipped with up to six heads. In this configuration it cuts six pallet boards, plus a slab in one pass.

The SLP II will be released in Ireland and the UK this summer.

Visitors make cut for Salvador
Italian cross-cutting specialist Salvador saw a big increase in eastern European visitors to its stand in Hall 12.

Director Christian Salvador reported a 30% boost to overall contacts by the end of Ligna, highlighting Russia, Belarus and Ukraine as strong visiting nations, as well as visitors from across northern Europe. Several orders were closed at the fair.

Five cutting solutions were presented by Salvador, including the new entry-level manual cutting saw Classic 50. The unit, featuring pneumatic blade adjustment as standard, was billed as an answer to the current market’s needs.

"The optional equipment like infeed-outfeed roller tables or automatic stops makes this machine very interesting, not only for small producers but also for a big company as a supplement of the main production line," said Mr Salvador.