BRIK Group, Corian Sheet Cutting, Daventry

A Striebig Compact vertical panel saw has proved the ideal solution to Corian sheet cutting problems at a Midlands-based building and refurbishment company. BRIK Contracting, of Daventry, part of the BRIK Group, is a bespoke manufacturer and fitter of timber, joinery, Corian and acrylic items for retail and commercial interiors. Its growing customer base includes major players in the financial and leisure industries.

The Striebig Compact has replaced a German-made vertical panel saw in the Corian fabrication shop that was not delivering accurate results.

Operations manager Mark Thallon said: “The saw wasn’t cutting square and was up to 5mm out on some cuts. Because of this problem the supplier had to keep coming out to reset the machine and we were faced with increasing amounts of downtime.”

The Striebig was bought largely on the recommendation of Corian fabricator Ivan Barker. “I had used Striebig saws for about 20 years in other jobs and was familiar with their build quality and accuracy. When it was decided to replace the German machine I strongly suggested we bought one.”

Striebig Compact delivers accurate results

The Swiss-made Compact is an entry level machine that enables small and medium sized business to move into the world of precision quality vertical panel saws. It combines exemplary ergonomics and high quality visual appearance with unmatched functionality.

The Compact 5207 model chosen by BRIK has a maximum cut size of 4600 x 2070mm and a maximum cutting depth of 60mm.

Fitted with a 250mm diameter saw blade, it is used chiefly to cut up 12.7mm thick Corian sheets measuring 3680 x 760mm into sections for use in desking, as kitchen and bar tops and in vanity units.

It was supplied together with an optional strip cutting gauge which has proved useful when cutting down-stands used in kitchen worktops.

“The Striebig is a far more robust and better quality machine that gives us a clean cut every time and is never inaccurate,” said Mr Barker. “It’s also very easy to set up and use.”

When not cutting Corian sheet the Compact sizes 25mm thick MDF and plywood panels which are used in the Corian components’ sub-strate. This has led to greater productivity as two 25mm sheets can now be put on the saw at a time.

Among other features of the saw that Mr Barker likes are the two-part longitudinal stops, which are handy when cutting large and small pieces, and the simple mechanism that allows for ultra-fast blade changing.

“The saw’s built-in extraction is also very effective and there’s now far less dust around the operator than we had with the old saw.”

The Compact, together with an Al-Ko dust extraction unit, was supplied by Striebig’s exclusive UK agent, T.M. Machinery Sales, of Leicester.’

All five Compact models are now available in versions incorporating an automatic cut cycle facility to make them even more productive. This feature was previously only to be found on Striebig’s more expensive Control models.