Hanson, Timber Merchants, Southall

A Striebig Standard vertical panel saw is boosting the efficiency of panel cutting at busy timber and builders’ merchants, W Hanson, of Southall, west London.

The rugged Standard is the most successful and widely used of the four vertical panel saw ranges offered by Striebig. Hanson’s TRK2 4216 is one of the smallest models in the Standard series, with a maximum cutting area of 3,300 mm x 2,160 mm and a maximum cutting depth of 80mm.

It’s used to size sheet materials which include plywood, MDF, veneered boards, Contiboard, OSB packaging and kitchen worktops. It has no difficulty trimming 54 mm thick wooden door blanks to the exact size required by customers.

Striebig Standard Vertical Panel Saw

The Striebig Standard is based on a rigid, self-supporting and heavily braced welded saw frame with toughened guides and a support frame with plastic supports. The integral TRK dust and chip extraction system guarantees that surrounding dust emission levels are kept well below 1mg/m3.

Other features include an aluminium small work piece support system, full length mid-height supports, brake support rollers, a programme rail and a strip cutting gauge. It was supplied with a fine blade to prevent chipping when cutting veneered sheets and Contiplas boards.

A wide range of options is available to make it even more productive. They include a digital measuring system and a grooving accessory for composite panels.

The freestanding and space-saving saw has been fixed to the concrete floor in the company’s mill. It replaced a German-made vertical saw that, although less than three-years-old, suffered from a series of technical problems that led to increased down-time.

Said W. Hanson director, Simon Gorringe: “We carried out a lot of research before buying the Striebig. This including speaking to the operators who would have to use it and they all said they wanted a simple and easy-to-use saw.

“We could have bought a cheaper model from another manufacturer, but I believe this would have been a false economy. As we do only square cutting, the Standard is a no- frills, durable machine that’s fully up to the job we want it to do. It’s a reliable workhorse that can be cutting up to 200 sheets a day.”

He said the decision to purchase was, in part, due to the overall strength of the machine and its components, particularly the powerful, high-torque, 5.5 kW (7.5 hp) motor.

Efficient and Strong Wall Saw

According to experienced mill foreman, Nick Elliott: “It’s an efficient saw that gives a good quality of cut whatever type of panel we put on it. I like the overall strength of the machine and the quality of the build. It’s a lot sturdier than the others we looked at.”

More specifically, he was impressed with the saw’s solid length stops, the fact that it can’t be started while the saw head is locked off, and the way the wheels lock when sheets are being loaded.

It was supplied and installed by T.M. Machinery Sales of Leicester, who have been exclusive Striebig agents in the UK and Northern Ireland for many years.

Said Mr Gorringe: “A T.M. Machinery rep came along to find out what we needed from a saw and recommended the Standard as being the most suitable for our needs. I was impressed with their professionalism at all stages of the process, including the efficient installation work.”

W. Hanson has been established for over 50 years, servicing both trade customers and the general public, and has a second depot at Harrow.

As well as offering a wide range of panel products it supplies softwoods, hardwoods, MDF mouldings and heavyside goods.