A 167-year-old joinery company has invested more than £110,000 in two Homag machines to boost flexibility and quality in its production of doors, doorsets and wall panels for the commercial fitting-out sector.
Thame-based Graefe Joinery, which originally made delicate marquetry items such as jewellery boxes and diversified into aircraft wings during the war, installed a Weeke CNC machining centre and heavy-duty Bütfering wide belt sander for calibrating.
Graefe’s managing director Brian Baker said the £3m turnover company needs to deliver a high level of aesthetic design along with rugged performance characteristics for architect clients. Current work includes specialised items such as 35m high and 10m wide panelling for atrium walls at the Welcome Trust in Euston.
The Weeke BHC550 was specified to machine ironmongery and hardware cut-outs on doors, including hinge plate rebates, lock slots and special recesses and fixing points for overhead closers.
Graefe needed the Bütfering sander to cope with a large and varied throughput of boards and panel requiring calibration.
The 1350mm wide sander is of a constant passline design, for handling longer or heavier parts, featuring twin steel rollers and heavy pressure bars for part guidance.
Graefe is considering an expansion of its factory to incorporate an extra polishing booth to handle items across its product range.
