WHoward Ltd has committed major investment to Weinig machinery to build up its business in MDF mouldings.
The Manchester-based firm, previously a successful timber merchant, moved into the MDF mouldings market in 1995. Since then this side of its operations has achieved substantial growth. In fact, it recently dropped the word ‘timber’ from its name to stress the company’s change of emphasis.
Howard, whose product list includes dado rails, door casings and stair treads, expects to achieve further growth of 30% next year.
To drive the business forward it has invested in three new Weinig moulders for its production line at Astley.
The new machines, operating on two production lines, are a 4-spindle, 8,000rpm, 12in capacity Weinig Hydromat moulder working at 60m/min on double shift; a 6-spindle, 6,000rpm, new Hydromat 23 line operating at 80m/min; and a smaller Unimat 23 jobbing line for special and non-primed MDF orders.
A Mayer beam saw cuts four and five 18ft MDF sheets into strips before feeding the Hydromats.
Howard’s chairman Alan Grant said the secret of consistently high quality mouldings was the use of superior equipment. ‘We have put our trust in Weinig’s technology,’ he said.
The Weinig Hydromat moulders retail from about £125,000 upwards.
