Many manufacturers say their machines are brand new for Ligna, but they don’t come any newer than GreCon‘s HS120 Plus finger-jointing system. The paint was barely dry when it was shipped to Hannover.
“It was ready just two weeks before the show – it was a near thing!” said Thomas May, spokesperson for GreCon’s parent Weinig.
The Plus version of the HS120 gives a 50% output improvement, handling up to 180 parts per minute, and is priced around €300,000.
“The higher productivity is achieved with a new automatic feed and an optimised automatic transfer station,” said Mr May.
Among the 30 other machine launches or upgrades featured on the 2,400m2 Weinig stand, Mr May highlighted the new, high-power Unimat 2000 Turbo moulder. This is equipped with PowerLock tools running at up to 10,000rpm and achieves feed speeds of up to 80m/min.
But, stressed Weinig, the high output does not mean a lower quality finish.
Alongside, the company also showed the newest version of the Hydromat 23 capable of feed speeds up to 100m/min.
Under the Rondamat brand, Weinig highlighted its new 980 grinder which includes a finger-joint tool sharpening package.
A key aim of the Ligna presentation was also to underline Weinig’s machine offer to the smaller operator. These included the recently developed entry-level OptiCut S50 cross-cut from Dimter specifically designed to meet latest safety rules and to handle rapid change over from handling single to multiple workpieces. At the other end of the spectrum was Dimter’s OptiCut 450 Quantum, billed as the fastest cross-cut ever with a feed speed up to 415m/min. “It really is the Formula 1 of cross-cuts,” said Mr May.
