An unexpected exhibit on the stand of Swiss-based international tool specialist Oertli was a Gunn & Moore cricket bat.
The idea, said Oertli UK managing director Alan Briggs, was to highlight the range of technical challenges the company takes on and the way it works with wood processors to provide cutting solutions for them.
“We worked closely with Gunn & Moore in its £500,000 manufacturing investment programme this year,” he said. “It installed a 5-axis CNC machining centre to complement traditional woodworking skills and handle some key aspects of production. We consulted on the whole approach and our Swiss engineers adapted our tooling profiles to the unique geometries required and the particular challenge of working with willow.”
With the deskilling and loss of traditional apprenticeships in many parts of the woodworking sector, Oertli’s consultancy role is increasingly a central activity.
“When a customer is investing in new technology, or developing a new product we like to get involved as early as possible so we can advise on the optimal, most efficient and cost-effective cutting solution,” said Mr Briggs.
Oertli also highlighted its newly developed Pure! knives which use micro-grain tungsten carbide and optimised geometry so they need less cutting pressure.
