|
STRIEBIG
SAW IN TUNE WITH ORGAN MAKER
Organ
builder and repairer GO-Organs.com Ltd is achieving
significant efficiency gains after investing in
a Striebig Compact vertical panel saw.
It's an example of a company within the highly
traditional organ building industry combining
craft skills with the benefits that can be gained
from using the latest in woodworking technology.
 |
|
| Gary
Owens with Striebig Compact vertical panel
saw at organ builder, GO-Organs.com Ltd. |
|
The Liverpool-based small business, set up in
2001 by Gary Owens and his partner Carl McCain,
carries out organ building and restoration work
for churches, schools and private residences throughout
the UK.
Amongst
its current long-term contracts are the rebuilding
of the organ at Giggleswick School, North Yorkshire,
and the chapel organ at Liverpool Blue Coat School.
After
outgrowing its first premises it moved into a
larger 1,750 sq ft workshop in May this year and
set up a woodworking machine shop.
Said Gary Owens: "We had a small circular saw
and a band saw that we used for cutting wood.
We realised we needed something more substantial
that would last a long time if we were to improve
our efficiency and keep up with all the work we
were attracting."
"I
had seen a Striebig saw in action at a local B&Q
store and it seemed a better way of cutting wood,
as the blade moves through the wood instead of
the panel through the blade."
Its Compact TRK 4164 model was chosen for the
already-cramped workshop because of its size,
build quality, guaranteed precision, highly efficient
extraction system and its ability to cut both
horizontally and vertically with ease. It was
supplied by Striebig's's sole UK agent, TM Machinery
Sales of Leicester.
The
Compact Series is the smallest within the Striebig
range, but packs the same high performance as
larger models. The 4164 measures 4.2m long, 2.3m
high and a space- saving 1435mm from wall to front.
It can size panels to a maximum of 3.1m x 1.6m
and has a maximum depth of cut of 60mm
Bought
primarily for cutting up timber to make pipe trays
for transporting organ pipes from clients' sites
to the workshop and back again, they have since
found a lot more uses for it.
It cuts 8ft x4ft panels of ply and other soft
and hardwoods to the required sizes for pieces
needed for the repair of organ cases and for the
sound boards which the pipes sit on.
Said
Mr Owens: "We are finding new uses for it all
the time. We now plan to start using it to cut
sections for the wooden wind chests and trunks
that carry the wind to the sound boards, as well
as the rectangular wooden replacement pipes that
are needed for the Giggleswick School contract."
The
Compact gave a precise, crisp and clean cut every
time, whether it's cutting rough, sawn timber
or sizing panels. "It's a very versatile machine.
We are able to cut everything on it, from four
sheets of ply at a time to short pieces of timber.
It has even been used to cut Perspex panels needed
to make display units for a customer."
Making the organ pipe cases and the other woodwork
was previously put out to local contractors, so
bringing it all-in house has made the operation
much more efficient.
There
are numerous benefits, said Mr Owens. "It speeds
up the work as we no longer have to wait for sub-contractors
to deliver and we can now also guarantee the quality
of the woodwork as we do it all ourselves. It's
also very satisfying from an organ lover's point
of view to be able to carry out the entire job."
The
move is expected to translate into substantial
cost savings running into thousands of pounds
each year, in addition to considerable time savings,
which will help the business keep its prices down.
With the savings achieved they expect the saw
to have paid for itself within two years.
"Not
surprisingly, the TM representative who came to
see us had never been to an organ maker's before,
and after asking all about our specific requirements
he suggested the most suitable model for our needs,"
said Mr Owens. "The saw is so simple to use and
we like the high level of safety features which
means it's impossible to chop your finger off."
He
said that TM Machinery's after-sales service was
very responsive and they were quick to supply
new blades whenever asked. "We must be one of
the few organ builders in the country to have
bought such a modern saw. It certainly impresses
visiting clients when they come to look around."
Sales
enquiries to Matt Pearce, T.M. Machinery Sales
T: 0116 271 7155. F: 0116 271 5862
E: sales@tmservices.co.uk
W: www.tmpartnership.co.uk
Editorial enquiries to Stephen Barry Publicity.
Tel: 020 8341 6660. email: stephenbarry@clara.co.uk
|
