The Routech, which has quadrupled component output and halved manpower input at Phoenix, complements a Morbidelli Author 600 work centre and Omal Livello 4 dowel and components drilling and inserting layout installed earlier this year. All three machines were supplied by Machine Sales Ltd in an investment of around £500,000.
Nested components, such as drawer fronts, wardrobe doors and kitchen end panels are being cut on the Routech from 4000x2080mm boards.
Panels can be optimised, sized, edge-profiled and face routered in a single pass before being transferred to the Morbidelli for drilling or to the Omal to accept a range of fittings, hardware or components.
Phoenix is planning a new showroom to attract builders of higher quality housing in the east coast area. The company is already producing kit kitchens for Wimpey Homes, with units hung on wall frames rather than built on a traditional carcass.
