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WESSEX
HOMES COMES BACK TO STRIEBIG
A
Striebig Control vertical panel saw has been bought
by Wessex Homes, manufacturers of timber-framed
residential and holiday homes. It has cut the
time taken to size panels as well as taking the
hard work out the job.
The
skilled craftsmen at the company's Okeford Fitzpaine
factory, in the heart of rural Dorset, have years
of experience behind them. They produce five hand-built
homes each week, paying close attention to detail
and taking pride in a job well done.
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| The
Striebig Control vertical panel saw cuts a
2 1/4" thick foam panel at Wessex Homes. |
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Only
top quality materials are used. These are combined
with traditional construction techniques to produce
homes in a choice of seven distinct designs incorporating
both contemporary and traditional styles.
The
choice of quality materials extends to the woodworking
equipment used, with the Striebig Control handling
all of the panel cutting in the mill. It has replaced
a manual Italian machine that was unpopular with
operators.
Its
workload includes cutting 8ft x 4ft plywood panels
ranging from 6mm to 18mm thick into sections for
use as internal screens, in ceilings and for general
finishing, with bundles of the thinner panels
put on at the same time. Sections of 18mm thick
plywood sections are sized for the buildings'
outside skirts.
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| Mill
team leader Jonathan Eveleigh uses a home-made
jig to cut shaped barge end plywood panels
on the Striebig Control at Wessex Homes. |
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The
highly versatile Control also cuts 8ft x 6ft Melamine
panels into the correct sizes needed for bedroom
shelving, with Wessex Homes specifying the optional
scribing blade so as to prevent chipping. It also
has no trouble slicing through chunky 2¼" thick
Xtratherm foam panels that are used for the buildings'
insulation.
So
as to make the Control even more productive, mill
staff have made up a special jig to allow shaped
barge end plywood panels to be cut out on the
saw, with two produced per sheet.
Mill
team leader Jonathan Eveleigh said they had a
Striebig saw years ago, before a former member
of management decided to replace it with a cheaper
Italian version.
"That was a bad move as it did not have a power
drive, making it hard work to use, and we kept
having mechanical problems with it. When management
was persuaded to go back to Striebig, we were
all pleased when the new saw arrived."
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| Wessex
Homes' mill team leader Jonathan Eveleigh
sets up the Striebig Control vertical panel
saw. |
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Wessex
Homes chose the 6.5m long Control 6224 version,
capable of cutting 5.3m sheets, because it was
power driven and fitted perfectly into the space
allocated for it in the mill.
The
Control is Striebig's top-of-the range model which
offers every possible option for automatic sawing
operations. With manual feeding of the saw unit
eliminated, the operator's job is made easier,
giving him ample time to prepare the next sawing
job.
Ease of operation is provided by a PLC control
system, with any operating errors displayed so
that they can be immediately corrected.
Numerous
automatic procedures can be carried out by the
press of a button including locking and releasing
the beam saw, setting the horizontal cutting height,
plunging and swivelling the motor, locking the
support rollers during sawing and fine saw blade
adjustment.
Everyone
who uses it agrees that the Control is a brilliant
saw," said Mr Eveleigh. "It's so simple to set
up and use and because it's power driven it has
taken all the hard work out of the job. As well
as slashing the time we now need to spend on sizing
it gives a smooth and accurate cut every time,
whatever the sheet material used."
It
was supplied and installed by Striebig's exclusive
UK agent, T.M. Machinery Sales Ltd of Leicester.
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
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