A Morbidelli Author X5 five axis work centre is helping Nicholson Joinery complete demanding door specifications for the Prison Service.
The Leeds-based company, which manufactures about 7,000 doorsets annually, invested about £160,000 in the CNC X5 for its ability to rout out 200mm lock pockets for prison doors.
The X5, supplied by Machine Sales Ltd, is also being used for hinge drillings to fine tolerances and machining of apertures in a growing range of shapes and sizes to satisfy specifiers’ demand for glazed visibility panels.
Nicholson already operates a Morbidelli Author 430 and intends to invest in further Morbidelli machinery when it moves to a new factory this year. The company is planning a purpose-built facility costing up to £1.5m, which will be significantly larger than the existing 36,000ft2 site.
Steve Nicholson, director, said the current Morbidelli units could produce a complex doorset in 11 minutes, compared to three-and-a-half hours on old pin routers and templates beforehand.
The company has also recently bought an edegbander for about £65,000 to take pressure off panel-based product finishing.
All Nicholson Joinery’s doorsets are fire tested under the British Woodworking Federation‘s Certifire scheme.
