North-west hardwood timber supplier Roger Haydock & Co has developed a market in face laminated stair strings after investing in equipment for the production of laminated components.
The Widnes-based company installed a Taylor rotary solid wood edge and face laminating clamp from JJ Smith Woodworking Machinery.
A 5m long, six-section semi-automatic hydraulic machine was supplied with two rows of 401 heavy duty clamp arms for laminating material up to 250mm thick. The other four rows were fitted with standard 302-type clamp arms that can laminate up to 150mm when fitted with rocker plates.
The special clamps are used for stair strings with the standard arrangement for other laminating work. Tightening and loosening of the clamps and frame rotation is hydraulic and glue application is by a PVA motorised roller.
Hardwood sales director Mark Harris said a number of laminated components were identified for production, including panels, newel post blanks, joinery sections for windows and doors, and kitchen worktops.
The company also targeted staircase manufacturers with stair strings made of two 250x25mm pieces of timber and laminated into a 250x50mm section up to 4800mm. These are made primarily from American white oak and have no visible joint on the edge of the string.
Mr Harris said: “The new Taylor clamp is working extremely well. Not only has it opened up new sales opportunities at a very challenging time, it had complemented the existing mill facilities.”
