Somerset Panel Centre, Taunton

Somerset Panel Centre has streamlined its manufacturing facilities by purchasing a space-saving Striebig Compact vertical panel saw.

The enterprising Taunton family-owned small business started out as a panel supplier but is now also a manufacturer of bespoke panel based products. These include domestic and industrial items ranging from bedroom and kitchen units to office and retail furniture, point of sale units, bar tops, and cubicles for offices, schools, clubs, public buildings and hospitals.

Vertical Panel Saw

With space in the cramped workshop becoming severely limited as the manufacturing operation grew, it was decided to replace a traditional panel saw with a vertical panel saw. This has allowed the company to make more efficient use of the available floor space so that the work flow could be streamlined.

Supplied and installed by Striebig’s sole UK agent, T.M. Machinery Sales Ltd, of Leicester, the Striebig Compact is a small footprint vertical panel saw that comes in a choice of two cut sizes. The smaller version has a maximum cut size of 3100mm x 1644mm x 60mm thick, with the larger model, chosen by Somerset Panel Centre, measuring 4600mm x 2070mm x 60mm, making it ideal for all the different sizes and thicknesses of MDF, chipboard, ply, MFC and laminate sheets it uses.

TRK Extraction System

Among the Compact’s standard features are the highly efficient TRK extraction system, which keeps users ahead of even the toughest European legislation, and automatic moving backing support. It has been supplied with an optional scoring saw to make it easier and quicker for thick laminate panels to be cut accurately and safely.

As well as improving the accuracy of the sizing and the quality of the cut – Striebig saws perform to an accuracy of 0.1mm – it has reduced substantially the amount of panel manhandling required.

“It’s now far easier to put even the largest size panels in position on the Compact’s smoothly sliding rollers,” said co-owner Trevor Butler. “With the other saw you had to first turn the panels flat in order to load them on, which increased the chances of back strain occurring amongst our workshop staff.

“Also, because of the modern design of the Striebig, the operator does not have to keep swivelling his body around once the panel is in position. To change the direction of the cut from vertical to horizontal, and back again, you simply swivel the saw’s head.”

Striebig Pricing

Among the accessories available to enhance the performance of the Compact range are an electronic positioning system, a digital measuring system, an angle cutting unit and grooving accessories for composite panels. Prices of Striebig saws are from £7,500 to £25,000.