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CHURCHILL
BROTHERS GOES VERTICAL WITH STRIEBIG
Bespoke
furniture maker, Churchill Brothers, has achieved
all-round efficiency gains with the purchase of
a Striebig Compact vertical panel saw.
It
has replaced a sliding table version to create
much-needed space in the cramped workshop, transforming
sheet cutting into a one-man job.
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| Olly
Churchill (left) and joiner Nick Hampshire
with the space-saving Striebig Compact vertical
panel saw at Churchill Brothers. |
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The
family-run firm, which grew out of Leavenheath
Joinery, makes made-to-measure domestic kitchens
using traditional methods and the finest materials.
Although
designing, making and fitting quality kitchens
is now the mainstay of the rural Suffolk business,
it also turns out made-to-order windows, doors
and staircases.
The
TRK 4164, the smallest model in the recently upgraded
Compact series, has a maximum cut size of 3100
x 1644mm.
It's
used to size MDF, plywood and blockboard panels,
ranging in thickness from 6 to 24mm. It also has
no difficulty in cutting through 40mm thick sections
of Oak, Iroko or Maple that are used as kitchen
worktops.
Delivering
a cutting depth of 60mm, it has a digital measuring
system accurate to 0.1 mm, delivering 100% cutting
accuracy. It was supplied with an optional scribing
saw so that it can also size veneered boards.
"Our
old saw badly needed replacing, but I was not
sure we had room in the workshop for a new sliding
table model as it would take up so much space,"
said Olly Churchill.
He learned about the vertical Striebig range from
T.M. Machinery Sales, the exclusive UK agents,
whose service arm maintains their sanding machine.
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| The
Striebig Compact vertical panel saw in use
at Churchill Brothers. |
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"I
had not thought about buying a vertical saw until
they suggested it, but after seeing a Striebig
in action at our local B&Q store I was sold on
the idea."
The
updated Compact series is designed for use with
smaller panels, with models also available with
maximum cut sizes of 4600 x 2070mm and 4600 x
2200mm.
With its combination of a totally re-designed
control panel, saw head housing and saw head operating
mechanism, the Compact is even easier to use than
ever.
In
particular, the addition of medium and small work
piece supports extending along the full length
of the machine makes it much simpler to saw small
pieces.
In
a major improvement to its environmental features,
an additional TRK dust extraction point has been
fitted within the horizontal cutting area. The
highly efficient integral dust and chips extraction
system ensures that dust levels are kept well
below permitted European limits. The Compact can
be wall-mounted or freestanding
Useful
accessories include an angle-cutting unit, a grooving
accessory for composite panels and a strip-cutting
gauge, either 400 or 600mm long, to rip cut thin
pieces from the tops of panels.
"It works a treat and is totally accurate every
time," said Olly Churchill. "As the pieces it
cuts are perfectly square, we no longer have to
check them. There's no more re-cutting or hand
planing needed to get them right.
"It's now a one man job to put the sheets on the
saw's frame. It used to take two men to manoeuvre
them on to the sliding table saw's bed, so we
are saving on both time and effort."
Having the Striebig has allowed them to create
more room around existing machines. This has made
the manufacturing operation far more efficient,
with the added bonus of safer working.
Olly and his brother, Will, have ambitious plans
to grow the kitchen side of the business still
further. It includes moving into a brand new production
unit and opening a showroom on the site.
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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