One of the largest profile wrapping machines in the UK has been installed at furniture manufacturer BLP (UK) Ltd‘s Doncaster plant at a cost of £150,000.
The machine – the seventh of its kind at the factory – is expected to push output of PVC, paper foil and veneer-wrapped MDF profiles to nearly 290,000 linear metres per week from the present level of between 220,000-250,000 linear metres.
Installation work began at the end of December and the line was able to process its first orders last month.
The line, which was installed by Elliot Machinery, is more than 10m long with an additional automatic in-feed unit increasing its total length to 14m. It has a quick-width adjustment to accommodate varying widths of profile, from 10mm up to 450mm.
Polyurethane and standard hot-melt glues are applied by two slot coaters, rather than the usual roller coater, which is expected to lead to savings of between 30-40% of the glue used.
A foil roll-splicing device on the machine does away with the need to halt production and change rolls when changes to the coating are required. This is designed to increase the cost effectiveness of smaller runs.
BLP marketing director Barry Berman said that the new wrapping line gave the company the ability to expand into new markets.
‘The furniture and kitchen industries are our largest volume customers, but we see widening application in the electronic/hi-fi industry and for the production of window boards where the fine finish afforded by the wrapping line is particularly important,’ he said.
