Goodwins' automation keeps pace with growing timber frame demand
16 December 2006Goodwins Timber Frame's decision to automate production using Weinmann technology is helping the Irish company meet growing demand for timber frame housing components.
“The demand for timber frame has grown from around 5% of the new housing market to a current figure of 30%, and we expect this to continue,” said managing director Jonathan Goodwin.
Operating from 45,000ft2 factory in Co Kildare, Goodwins manufactures open panel timber frame wall sections and flooring cassettes on special Weinmann lines, which the company says provide the capability and capacity to react to individual customer requirements.
The company also produces roof trusses using the metal web structure and pre-hung door sets on a 5-axis Homag BOF CNC machining centre.
Goodwins also operates an 80,000ft2 facility in Cardiff with one wall line, one floor line and a roof truss line.
The main facets of the Weinmann lines at Goodwin's plants are the frame-making beds and CNC multi-function bridges that carry out all drilling, cutting, nailing and stalping operations.
These are gantry-mounted and move to any position over the beds via computerised controllers to work on any dimension and position.
“When we made the decision to go with Weinmann, an important factor was the technical back-up that we could expect from parent company Homag,” said Mr Goodwin.
