Queen’s University, Belfast

Cutting sheet materials in the School of Planning, Architecture & Civil Engineering at Northern Ireland’s top university has been made simpler with the purchase of a space-saving Striebig Compact vertical panel saw.

Technicians in the Woodworking Shop at Queen’s University, Belfast specialise in making models for civil engineering students, using plywood, MDF and other wood-based materials as well as plastics. All the sheet materials needed for the models, which can be boats, buildings, bridges and other structures, are cut on the Striebig, together with wood needed for shutters used in concrete moulds.

Space saving Striebig Compact

Technicians also make models for outside companies and organisations, which are then tested in the School’s prestigious .Northern Ireland. Technology Centre. The Striebig Compact vertical panel saw 4164 replaced a table saw, with the space saved used to create an additional teaching laboratory. It is the smallest of the three models in the Compact range, with a maximum cutting size of 3100 x 1644mm and a cutting depth of 60mm.

Designed for use with smaller panels, the Compact range sets new standards for ease of use together with exceptional degrees of versatility. It is based on a single, fully welded sawing frame to give decades of reliable service whilst maintaining cutting precision. Wood technician Hilary Laing said the decision to buy the Swiss-made Striebig was made because of the saw’s sturdiness, its ease of use, the quality of the cut and the lack of space it takes up.

“It has made us much more efficient,” said Mr Laing. “The table saw needed three or four people to load the panels and then hold them in position during sawing. With the Striebig it’s a one-man job.” In particular, he likes the medium and small work piece supports extending along the full length of the machine which makes it much easier to saw small pieces.

It was supplied and installed by T.I. Machinery, the Belfast-based Northern Ireland sub-agents for T.M. Machinery Sales Ltd, the UK’s exclusive Striebig distributor.

The Compact range was recently extended with the introduction of a larger model with a maximum cutting size of 4600 x 2200mm. All models can be wall-mounted or freestanding.