The German machinery manufacturer also commissioned a special Rubik’s Cube-coloured carpet for the display area for the two Cube machines at W12.
Weinig was inviting sealed bids in excess of the standard Cube price of £27,750 for the Rubik painted machine, with all extra proceeds going to children’s charity Wooden Spoon.
Elsewhere on the stand the Powermat 2400 made its UK exhibition debut, giving UK timber companies a chance to see its ability to produce 3D profiles, suitable for a wide range of applications including wall panelling.
"The key theme of the stand is to present the affordability of Weinig machines," said Weinig UK managing director Malcolm Cuthbertson.
"For too long we have been seen as elitist. We are elite in terms of quality but there is a change now in that we can offer real value.
"Our technology used to cost a lot more but now it can be only a little bit more to access that German quality."
On this theme, Weinig is set to launch an entry-level model of its flagship Conturex profiling centre at the Weinig InTech exhibition in early November.
Meanwhile, Mr Cuthbertson did express some concerns about the W12 event.
"We are concerned about the disappointing size of the exhibition. We do question its value to the industry," he said.
US Kentwood moulder makes debut
The US-made Kentwood planer/moulder made its exhibition debut for Advanced Machinery Services (AMS).
AMS director Stephen Foster said the company was delighted to be approached by Kentwood brand owner Stiles Machinery earlier this year about becoming the UK and Ireland distributor of the machines.
The company previously offered Gau-Jing moulders, which it can still source, but found it could only compete effectively on single machines, not on system production requirements.
"Kentwood also has full infeed, outfeed, grinding and tooling technologies," Mr Foster said.
Kentwood is the biggest selling moulder brand in the US. The foursided planer/moulders can process timber up to 350m/min.
One machine is currently being shipped to the first UK customer, while another machine was sold at W12, with four more prospective sales being quoted.
AMS’s distribution deal also includes software and Kentwood ripsaws.
Also on the AMS stand was the French-made Charly Robot template maker and the rebuilt Wadkin NZ300 automatic grinder. AMS has sold four of the latter to UK sawmills this year.
JJ Smith launches CAT1
The JJ Smith stand at W12 was chosen by Italian manufacturer Stromab as the official launch platform for its new CAT1 high-speed push-feed cross-cut saw.
The machine incorporates a heavy-duty cross-chain infeed loading system and pusher with a speed of up to 240m/min. It features a floating gripper system fitted to the pusher, which enables the timber to be moved at high speeds while still maintaining a high level of repeat cutting accuracy.
Another Stromab on display was the CT600/F, an automatic angle cross-cutting machine with notching unit.
Meanwhile, on the biomass technology side, JJ Smith was launching the Nova Pico entry-level
wood pellet production machine.
The unit, aimed at joinery companies wanting to reduce the cost of their waste and at the same time produce a wood fuel, can produce an average 50-55kg of wood pellets per hour.
Nova Pellet production units are available right up to the high-volume Plus model, which has an output of up to 2,500kg of wood pellets per hour.
System Hall affirms UK presence
Swedish mechanical handling equipment specialist System Hall announced its entry into the UK market by showing a rolling video of its installation at James Donaldson Timber.
A giant video screen, complete with cinema-style curtains, was designed to show the capabilities of System Hall in supplying turnkey system installations for volume manufacturing.
The Donaldson project, currently being installed, consists of handling and painting technology for its Silktrim MDF moulding facility near Chorley. Deeside Finishing, System Hall’s UK agent, is partnering on the job.
System Hall’s name is familiar in the sawmilling sector – it has 80% of the mechanical handling market in southern Sweden’s timber product manufacturing sector, specialising in planing and painting lines featuring infeed/outfeed tables, automatic bundling and stacking technology.
About 20% of its business is conducted in Germany.
"The James Donaldson installation is an opportunity," said Deeside’s Kevin Whittle. "It’s very useful to have a reference project in the UK that we can take customers to."
Joinery companies support CPD scheme
Nine joinery companies showed their support for the British Woodworking Federation’s (BWF) Continuing Professional Development (CPD) scheme during an official launch at W12.
The initiative, the joinery industry’s first CPD scheme, is supported by some of the biggest names in UK joinery manufacturing, including Howarth Windows & Doors and the Performance Window Group, with all nine companies signing their names in a public display of backing as well as pledging to encourage all their staff to join the scheme.
The programme, being run by the BWF’s Woodworking Industry Training Forum (WITForum), offers all those working in the joinery and woodworking industry the opportunity to develop new skills and gain recognition for training and personal development.
Sharon Gorf, WITForum chairman and director of Parker & Highland Joinery, said the scheme was essential for the industry’s future, while David Pattenden, managing director of Westgate Joinery, urged all BWF members to embrace the scheme.
