It wasn’t so long ago that it seemed to be the smaller your company, the more fiddlesome your moulder. The bigger machines used by bigger companies had the automated tool changers and simple set-up software, while smaller operators, spanners at the ready, had to make do with the real hands-on kit.
Today the picture is different. Appreciating that lengthy set-up times and the need for constant adjustment are, if anything, more of a headache for small to medium-sized moulding producers, machine makers have trickled the latest labour and time-saving systems down to entry level models.
A clear example of this trend is a new addition to Weinig‘s Powermat family, the 500. This entry-level machine is designed to “make new technology affordable for smaller woodworking shops” and is equipped with conventional spindles and a holder for HSK tools. “Both tooling systems operate up to 8,000rpm,” said a Weinig spokesperson, “and using the powerLock HSK tool, you can substantially reduce set-up time.”
The 500 also has a “memory system” similar to the Powermat 1000’s, “allowing values from previously produced profiles to be loaded at the touch of a button”.
SCM Group (UK) is also selling more sophisticated moulding technology to smaller customers.
“It is now more accessible to them and they’re also being driven by new safety regulations,” said sales director Mike King. “Many companies are deciding to replace old equipment to comply with new standards on tooling, braking and so on.”
Construction industry
Another market trend SCM has focused on is increasing use of solid timber in construction. It first developed its Superset throughfeed moulder for structural woodwork, the 23, in the mid-1990s, and this has since developed into a range with variants “to suit all pockets”.
Updated versions of several SCM moulders were on show at Xylexpo, including the Superset Class, one of the machines suited to smaller to medium-sized users for production of solid doors and windows, matchboarding, MDF frames, solid flooring, picture frames, furniture and stair mouldings.
At the top of the range is the model just installed by Timbmet, the Topset Master. This can handle production of beams, joists and other structural woodwork.
Leadermac of Taiwan now lays claim to being the second biggest moulder maker in the world – and it’s just about to open a second factory. And according to Leadermac UK managing director Kevin Wright, among the company’s most successful markets are the UK and Ireland, with 100 machines sold in the two countries in the past three years. The range runs up to the high speed, heavy-duty Thundermac launched last year, but Leadermac too has focused on putting modern moulding technology within everybody’s reach. “Our biggest seller is the Compact 623C which is ideal for the small to medium-sized operator,” said Mr Wright. “This type of business is important to us and we’re now developing a four-side planer for them too.”
Technology packages
Leadermac is now also supplying technology packages including planer/moulder quick change tooling systems from Terminus and infeed and outfeed stackers from another Swiss engineering business Ziwo.
“Recently we supplied £200,000 of Ziwo machines to a Gateshead merchant,” said Mr Wright. “He was fed up with his moulder back-end staff not showing on Monday mornings, so he decided to automate.”
When Wadkin Ultracare’s restarted moulder production in 2002, it focused on its 305mm Sigma, compact 60m/minute Delta and XK models. The move proved a success and the company continues to develop these ranges. This year, for instance, it has added the Wadkin 4 roll push feed system to the Delta, resulting in the Delta Plus which is designed to cope with “even the most arduous sawmill environments”.
But, while the company continued to do well with these machines, it also identified a need to broaden its price and specification range, resulting in the addition to its line-up of Japanese-made IIDA moulders and the Robinson brand models made under licence in Taiwan.
The consequence of all these developments, combined with healthy sales of grinders, is that Wadkin last year reported the third successive annual increase in turnover and profits. And the company will soon unveil plans for new office and factory facilities.
