Cabinet Maker articles from January 2004

Cabinet Maker archives from January 2004

MANUFACTURING: Lessons to inspire.
January 2, 2004... It is said that education is an ongoing process. There is much that can be learned from best practice and new ideas. This was certainly true at the recent 100% Design show at Earls Court, where many specialist furniture firms such as Ercol were...

MANUFACTURING: Masterwood moves CNC training to Scotland.(Brief Article)
January 2, 2004... Panel and Joinery CNC machinery specialist Masterwood (UK) has unveiled its new training school for CNC operators. Based near its headquarters in Helensburgh, Glasgow, the two storey building is part of a #200,000 investment and...

MANUFACTURING: Aspex cooks up office reburbishment.(Aspex Office Environments does the refitting)(Brief Article)
January 2, 2004... The sales, administration offices and reception area of Sidcup kitchen furniture manufacturer Stoneham have been refitted in a #100,000 package by Aspex Office Environments. According to md Adrian Stoneham, `while our overall site is...

MANUFACTURING: Saw under arrest.(Brief Article)
January 2, 2004... Crompton Controls has applied the brakes for Sheffield based Northern Woodworking Machinery. To comply with PUWER (Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations) its Altendorf F45 panel saw had to stop within 10 seconds, and replacing...

MANUFACTURING: Warehouse support for fast growing furniture retailer.(Housing Units has new warehouse)(Brief Article)
January 2, 2004... Home furnishing retailer Housing Units has just completed a #4m distribution and administration centre adjacent to its Oldham store. Becoming operational in January, the warehouse will provide more than 4,830sqm of space and 1,400sqm of...

MANUFACTURING: ASFI 2004 open for bookings.(Brief Article)
January 2, 2004... Bookings are now being taken for next year's showcase ASFI 2004 which will take place in Hall 6 at Birmingham's NEC from 10-13 October 2004. The Association of Suppliers to the Furniture Industry' re-launched exhibition will have an `open'...

MANUFACTURING: Lab fans SATRA fire testing.(furniture test laboratory is added)(Brief Article)
January 2, 2004... At the heart of SATRA's new 25,000 sqft extension to its site in Kettering will be an improved furniture test laboratory. The #1.5m lab, due for completion by early 2004, will include flammability chambers, bigger and better test facilities...

MANUFACTURING: Skydivers rain in Spain.(fund raising for learning difficulties school)(Brief Article)
January 2, 2004... Paul Steggall and Craig Veasey of INpress were among a team of 30 who took part in a skydiving event in Empuriabrava, Spain in September. The 13,000ft jump took around six minutes. Along with team leader Robert Morris of Morris Furniture,...

MANUFACTURING: Plastic veers to port.(Banbury Plastic Fittings introduces Teardrop cable port)(Brief Article)
January 2, 2004... New to the Banbury Plastic Fittings range is the Teardrop cable port, designed for an 80mm diameter hole, with either a single or double aperture. A wide choice of colours includes Graphite, All-Black and a flawless Aluminium finish,...

MANUFACTURING: Striebig vertical saws go for local approach to boost Irish sales.(Brief Article)
January 2, 2004... TI Machinery Sales has taken over as Northern Ireland-based sales agent for Striebig vertical panel saws. `Although Striebig saws are best-sellers in Britain we have never really made significant inroads into the Irish market,' said sales...

MANUFACTURING: Hettich passes the innovation test.(Brief Article)
January 2, 2004... Two products from German component manufacturer Hettich have passed the test for uniqueness and ease of use to gain FIRA Innovation Awards. Stringent testing was carried out in FIRA's laboratory on Hettich's Unimat hinge and twister dowel,...

MANUFACTURING: Perforated panels go large on wastage.(Brief Article)
January 2, 2004... Neat Concepts is offering its range of perforated MDF sheets in an 8ft x 4ft format, meaning less wastage for customers. The panels, used principally for radiator grilles, are routed, giving cleaner edges and finer definition to the...

MANUFACTURING: Action on recycling.(Brief Article)
January 2, 2004... WRAP (Waste and Resources Action Programme) has been investigating the opportunities for wood waste recycling in the furniture manufacturing industry. Now trade association BFM has produced a good practice guide for furniture manufacturers...

MANUFACTURING: Sander savings.(Brief Article)
January 2, 2004... Manchester-based Unsworth joinery has seen benefits of faster throughput, single-operator manpower and a saving of up to 50% in finishing materials since installing a Lower RotoMaster heavy brush sanding machine. Supplied and installed by...

MANUFACTURING: Hafele finds space for storage.(Brief Article)
January 2, 2004... Easy selection of kitchen fittings and accessories is the aim of fittings specialist Hafele's new Space Aid catalogue. All products are pictured in colour with details of performance, size and weight data. Hafele's stainless steel...

MANUFACTURING: Web spreads the word on wood.(Brief Article)
January 2, 2004... A free e-mail newsletter covering matters of safety and items of interest to woodworkers in small/medium workshops has been introduced by the Safety Course Unit. Regular features will cover events, what's new and updates on safety relating...

MANUFACTURING: SHOW REVIEW: Dedicated to design.(Brief Article)
January 2, 2004... At the 100% Design Show, held at Earl's Court from 25-28 September, unusual materials took designs to another level. Tony Hollyer reports. Trees dressed in colour co-ordinated bunting leading up to the entrance summed up the message of...

MANUFACTURING: Dedicated to design: GP & J Baker and Parkertex.(Brief Article)
January 2, 2004... Designers, decorators and project planners have all fallen under the spell of Dorset-based BP & J Baker's Alcantara textile and at 100% Design it introduced Compacto Cover, an unpolished fabric offering the look of wool felt but with the same...

MANUFACTURING: Dedicated to design: Benchmark Woodworking.(Brief Article)
January 2, 2004... Ash shelving shown by Hungerford-based Benchmark Woodworking combined solid timber with stainless-steel tension wires to create a visually stunning piece of furniture for both domestic and contract use. Benchmark also works with other materials...

MANUFACTURING: Dedicated to design: Crest Leather.(Brief Article)
January 2, 2004... Crest Leather created an art gallery setting, in which individual pieces were displayed in leathers from its range. Two solid wooden benches were commissioned to illustrate the different types, made up of eight upholstered `bricks' which...

MANUFACTURING: Dedicated to design: Mallinson.(Bendywood, Mallinson)(Brief Article)
January 2, 2004... Bendable in a cold state to a radius 10 times its thickness and twisting in three dimensions, BendywoodR from Mallinson has proved popular for sculptural spiral staircases and handrails, and as solid lipping for tables and counter taps. Coming...

MANUFACTURING: Dedicated to design: Ercol.(Brief Article)
January 2, 2004... Departing from tradition, Ercol presented a ground breaking new collection created by eminent designers. Its Cascade range of sideboards by Terence Woodgate is made exclusively for Terence Conran shops. The simple, but stunning design has...

MANUFACTURING: Dedicated to design: UK Veneers.(Brief Article)
January 2, 2004... With a beam just 0.1mm wide, CNC laser technology enables UK Veneers to cut veneers to almost any design, along with acrylic, perspex and MDF. The laser cutting machine has a bed size of 3.1 X 1.6m and with a similar size press in its factory...

MANUFACTURING: Dedicated to design: Morgan Furniture.(Brief Article)
January 2, 2004... Morgan Furniture has opted for a slightly retro feel with its new Flipper range of chairs. Plywood lends a sleek shape to the back, and flexes as the sitter reclines, while the use of Alpi veneer on the ply back blends well with the stained...

MANUFACTURING: Dedicated to design: Keen.(Brief Article)
January 2, 2004... School furniture received an lift from the Keen stand, which was showing Classrooms of the future. Its new Orbital workstation is a flexible seat and table unit designed by Shin and Tomoko Azumi. Mounted on castors, each individual unit has a...

MANUFACTURING: Dedicated to design: Hitch Mylius.(Brief Article)
January 2, 2004... Shin and Tomoko Azumi were back, this time with Chijoke Aguh with the hm38 upholstered dining chair for Hitch Mylius. Chijoke Aguh develops the range further with the hm88 sculptured upholstered bench that has evolved from his perspex version,...

MANUFACTURING: Dedicated to design: PTT.(Brief Article)
January 2, 2004... In either Alpi - dark wood with zebra like stripes- or in oak veneers with maple detailing, PTT launched a new range of Line furniture for both domestic and hotel use. Polished chrome legs are standard across all ranges. Nottingham based PTT...

MANUFACTURING: Dedicated to design: BLP.(Brief Article)
January 2, 2004... Another real wood material that can be formed into curved shapes, this time by the application of heat, was shown by Doncaster-based BLP. By using veneers together with specialised adhesives, its Thermaflex can be produced in sheet or straight...

MANUFACTURING: Dedicated to design: Spanlight.
January 2, 2004... Polylite edge lighting panels from Spanlight are designed to provide for energy efficient signage, furniture and display lighting. The Redditch, Worcester based firm says Polylite will illuminate up to 3m from a single source across the entire...

MANUFACTURING: Dedicated to design: Naos Atelier SCRL.
January 2, 2004... An ingenious construction method is behind the clean lines and increased legroom of a lightweight table from Naos Atelier SCRL, part of the Belgium Walloon Export Agency. Four oak legs screw into a metal plate on the underside to make support...

MANUFACTURING: Dedicated to design: Springwell Manufacturing.(Springwell Manufacturing introduces Parapan)
January 2, 2004... Springwell Manufacturing launched a high gloss resin based material, Parapan, which is durable, waterproof and UV stable, easy to clean and non-porous, making it ideal for sleek cabinet fronts in steamy kitchens and bathrooms. Its versatility...

GERMAN MANUFACTURING: NEW TEETH FOR SAWS.(Holmag UK)(Brief Article)
January 2, 2004... Sharing technology and standardising high levels of quality is behind Homag's decision to combine its Holzma and Homag Sawtech beam saw divisions, although a clear delineation of machine types will remain. In particular the Sawtech brand will...

GERMAN MANUFACTURING: WERZALIT CHIPS IN.(Brief Article)
January 2, 2004... Werzalit is perhaps best known for three products launched in the UK in 1989; sprung beech plywood bed slats, table tops, and moulded seat boards. The timber derivates company was founded in 1923, but in was in the 1950s that it made its major...

GERMAN MANUFACTURING: NIGHT CAP.(Hartmann Kunststofftechnik GmbH und Company KG)
January 2, 2004... The potential for sprung slatted beds was spotted by Hartmann Kunststofftechnik more than 30 years ago. Now distributed in the UK by Kent based Stephen Hunter, the company started life in Germany in 1973 with the production of simple plastic,...

GERMAN MANUFACTURING: WEINIG'S NEW MOULD.(Michael Weinig AG, moulding machines. )
January 2, 2004... Michael Weinig has focused on manufacturing moulding machines since starting out in the late 1940s. It also makes tooling, setting and grinding equipment and mechanical handling equipment, and exports to over 70 countries. The family-owned...

MANUFACTURING: ADHESIVES: BETTER BONDS.
January 2, 2004... Leeds based Everbuild says its Smart Tack spray bonding is 15 times quicker and three times more cost effective than conventional contact adhesive applied by spreader, whether for laminate, veneer, vinyl, PVC or fabric. Surfaces can be closed...

MANUFACTURING: ADHESIVES: MELTING MAINTENANCE.
January 2, 2004... `Easy-to-maintain adhesive melter systems which do not interrupt production have been long awaited,' says Brian Lund, national sales manager of BeA Fastening System of his company's new Durablue L Series. `The tanks have been engineered for...

MANUFACTURING: ADHESIVES: MAKING CONTACT.(Caswell Adhesives introduces a range os water-based contact adhesives)(Brief Article)
January 2, 2004... Caswell Adhesives has followed recent introduction of a new range of one-part membrane pressing adhesives for upholstery manufacturers with a new range of water-based contact adhesives. The new adhesives are for bonding foam to itself and...

MANUFACTURING: ADHESIVES: CHECK MATE.(Brief Article)
January 2, 2004... Sealant specialist Geocel, the UK and Eire partner of Dow Corning, is extending its range of Joiners Mate wood adhesives. Liquid five minute is a one part fast acting polyurethane adhesive which is resistant to seawater and so ideal for...

MANUFACTURING: ADHESIVES: TOOLS FOR THE JOB.(Brief Article)
January 2, 2004... Choosing the right glue is only one factor in a successful adhesive operation - the right equipment is just as crucial, says adhesive supplier Casco. The secret is knowing its customers needs for various types of glue and what kind of...

MANUFACTURING: ADHESIVES: GUN CONTROL.
January 2, 2004... For over 29 years, hotmelt adhesive specialist Power Adhesives has been producing guns and glues suitable for almost every fixing and fastening application. Its latest generation TEC 6300 spray applicator is a self-contained unit,...

MANUFACTURING: ABRASIVES AND FINISHING: HAPPY ENDING.
January 2, 2004... Working with Italian Giardina and Tagliabue, finishing units can be tailored for every customer requirement The advances in finishing materials, techniques and application systems count for nothing without meticulous pre-finishing and...

MANUFACTURING: ABRASIVES AND FINISHING: BE PREPARED.(Promatch system is the innovation of ISF)
January 2, 2004... ISF aims to take the mystery out of coatings selection with accessible specialist advice and an easy to use catalogue Finding the perfect finish for a particular job is hard enough without the added complication of the recent focus on...

MANUFACTURING: ABRASIVES AND FINISHING: CORPORATE CHALLENGE.
January 2, 2004... Automation has speeded bespoke veneer work with no sacrifice to quality From the delicacies of the veneers, inlays and symmetry of the lippings, the office furniture of Corporate Furniture & Interiors could be assumed to be the work of a...

MANUFACTURING: CABINET: Up Igoe.(Igoe Furniture )
January 2, 2004... Richard Hare visited Igoe Furniture to find a company with an aggressive investment programme scheduled for summer 2004 Ian Duckett, md of Igoe Furniture, is about to become very popular indeed with those who supply the furniture industry....

MANUFACTURING: UPHOLSTERY FABRICS: Covering leisure.
January 2, 2004... The leisure industry has spawned niche markets where upholstery and fabrics are much in demand In 1988 Jon Redish, then 21, set up a specialist caravan interiors business working from a wooden shed beside the beach at Brean Down Cove in...

MANUFACTURING: HANDLING VEHICLE: Space craft.
January 2, 2004... Combilift continues to make converts to its cause. Tony Hollyer visits the Irish manufacturer which has lifted sales to new highs Tucked down a narrow lane in the border country of Ireland is a firm that has bucked all trends and proven...

MANUFACTURING: HANDLING VEHICLE: BRADGATE FURNITURE GETS A LIFT.
January 2, 2004... Bradgate Furniture recently celebrated record sales figures and a move into new premises to cope with increasing demand for its range of pine and birch cabinet furniture. With plans for further growth over the next few years, efficient use of...

MANUFACTURING: ORGANISATIONS FFINTO: Chain reaction.(furniture,furnishings and interiors national traning organisation)
January 2, 2004... Major savings can be made from improvements in supply chain management, as Hypnos is finding out as the first beneficiary of a FFINTO initiative For companies signed up to the furniture industry supply chain management pilot projects, the...

MANUFACTURING: IN MY VIEW: Priced out.(Bill Rolfe)
January 2, 2004... Germany's furniture industry has responded to recession by moving production to cheaper eastern countries. But with no end in sight prospects are still bleak, says FIRA manufacturing and management consultant Bill Rolfe Of all the...

Sales get off to a cautious start.(Brief Article)
January 9, 2004... The start of the winter sales has seen slightly downbeat results but some promise, according to retailers. Shoppers at department store chain John Lewis seemed to ignore its furniture offering as its sale began. Furniture and textile...

COMMENT: A new beginning.(Brief Article)
January 9, 2004... Once again the New Year started with an initial bang for retailers around the country. Sales already seem to be last year's news. In the roundup of comments from our furniture store owners on how they fared, the January sales have already shown...

No date set for Omega flotation.(Brief Article)
January 9, 2004... Kitchen manufacturer Omega has played down reports of a stock market flotation before the summer. According to Francis Galvin, co-founder, the group - owner of the Chippendale, Sheraton and Omega kitchen brands - was planning a flotation...

Tony Northon.(Obituary)
January 9, 2004... Tony Northon, La-Z-Boy agent for East Anglia and East Midlands died on 18 December after suffering a heart attack. He was 53. Northon had worked for the upholstery company for decade. He is survived by his wife Jenny and five children....

New Dreams stores.(Brief Article)
January 9, 2004... Dreams opened nine stores on Boxing Day - Beckton, Brierley Hill, Cwmbran, Derby, Kidderminster, Poole, Rochester, Walsall and Wednesbury. `We are delighted to have exceeded our target of 100 stores by the end of 2003,' said Mike Clare,...

Sealy and Dunlopillo campaigns.(Brief Article)
January 9, 2004... Bed firms Sealy and Dunlopillo invested in advertising campaigns over the winter sale period. Sealy took the theme `Now's the time to get into a Sealy bed for less' for its #350,000 campaign which began at the end of December and is due to run...

Harveys ends the year on a high.(Brief Article)
January 9, 2004... Harveys and Bensons Beds saw a strong finish to 2003 with like for like sales rising by 6% and 13% respectively. The rise, in the six weeks to 13 December, contrasted with a previous poor six months at Harveys. The chain lost #6m in the 27...

Compensation paid.(copyrights case)(Brief Article)
January 9, 2004... Laura Ashley has paid #45,876 compensation and costs to furnishing firm Kandola Silks which complained the chain had copied one of its fabrics. Laura Ashley said the Genevieve cushion at the centre of the case had been provided by a...

Interesting option on Leekes store card.(Brief Article)
January 9, 2004... Leekes has launched a store card offering shoppers up to #25,000 of IFC. No interest is charged for the first six months, after that the APR is 9.9%. Most store cards have an APR of about 17%. Paul Beddoe, Leekes director of marketing,...

Hypnos deal in Canada.(Brief Article)
January 9, 2004... Hypnos is to have its beds manufactured in Canada. Edmonton firm Araam, began supplying Canadian retailers at the end of last month and hopes to secure nationwide distribution by the autumn. `We will be creating a market and setting a...

2003: slow sales, departures and comebacks.(Calendar)
January 9, 2004... Eddie looks back at an eventful year which was full of changes for people and companies JANUARY As a taster for the year ahead, the winter sales got off to a slow start... Parker Knoll ousted its top management... Steens and Kjellbergs...

CITY: Low expectations for a hippo market in 2004.(Brief Article)
January 9, 2004... Although share prices moved upwards on 10 successive trading days in the holiday period - the best daily sequence since May 1997 - investment expectations are low for 2004. Analysts at Jupiter Asset Management predict `A hippo market: lots...

Share Update on 5 January 2004.(Illustration)
January 9, 2004... Share Update on 5 January 2004 Bold=new High/Low Now Change Change 2003 2003 over since High Low 2 weeks 1 Jan Retailers...

Ikea shelves Northampton store plan.(objection of council)(Brief Article)
January 9, 2004... Ikea has abandoned plans to build a store at Grange Park, Northampton in the face of opposition from local authorities and the Highways Authority. Northampton Borough Council and South Northampton District Council indicated last year that...

Warming to retailers.(product introduction by Dimplex )(Brief Article)
January 9, 2004... Heating firm Dimplex has developed a range of fireplaces designed to be sold alongside furniture. The collection gives the impression of an authentic fireplace with large picture windows. The Furniture Show (18-21 January, NEC,...

SHOP WINDOW: CONNECT.(Brief Article)
January 9, 2004... Romeo is a modern interpretation on the traditional sleigh bed. The sprung slatted base is available in two leather options and seven fabric variations. Contact Connect by John Foreman on 0116 2796700 Copyright: CMP Information Ltd.

SHOP WINDOW: HANSONS.(Brief Article)
January 9, 2004... This freestanding display case is made from toughened glass, and features locking and lighting options. All ranges are flatpacked for easy assembly and storage. Contact Hansons of Leicester on 0116 2553330 Copyright: CMP Information...

SHOP WINDOW: LINDSEY PRICE.(Brief Article)
January 9, 2004... The Sunshine range is produced in Textiline, making it an all weather, all year round chair suitable for patio or conservatory furniture. The light aluminium frames also make the furniture easy to use. Contact Lindsey Price on 01432 277...

SHOP WINDOW: RONEO.(armchair introduction)(Brief Article)
January 9, 2004... The Tivi swivel armchair is a modern interpretation of a classic style designed for Italian company Antidiva. It is available in a range of removable fabrics, leathers and colours. Contact Roneo President on 08701 600 771 Copyright:...

Store manager: VAT's the way to do it!
January 9, 2004... Are you ready for Europe-wide changes to VAT? Steve James reports The problem From 1 January 2004, new rules will be implemented that will change the way VAT invoices must be completed. What do retailers need to know? The law ...

Retail Intelligence.
January 9, 2004... November was a very divided month for retailers. Some 64% of retailers said the value of sales were down on October, 30% said sales were up and 6% reported flat sales. This gave a balance of -34%. As pre-Christmas delivery deadlines passed...

Design Led Business 24/7: Stand out from the crowd.(views of The Design Council)
January 9, 2004... A scheme from The Design Council is helping Jay-Be look at product design in a different way, Jane Oliphant reports Design guru Simon May invites me to imagine a manufacturer about to put together a new range of dining room tables. `The...

Talent Show Collection: RHEA HUGHES.(Bedroom furniture)(Brief Article)
January 9, 2004... College: University of Central England, Birmingham Product: Atmos - mood furniture bedroom cabinet Spec: This cabinet is a piece of mood furniture designed to create a relaxing environment through the use of coloured light projected...

Talent Show Collection: THOMAS URBAN GARDNER.(Brief Article)
January 9, 2004... College: Royal College of Art Product: Let there be light - an analogue table trapping/exposing light through a flat material Spec: This table's surface produces light wherever pressure is applied. In the prototypes, the surface...

Talent Show Collection: DAVE GREEN.(innovative chair)(Brief Article)
January 9, 2004... College: DeMontford University Product: The Wave - a laminated ply and steel chair Spec: This is an innovative chair that integrates the key connections between components within the plywood-laminated forms with delicate steel legs....

Talent Show Collection: OWEN HISSEY.(Kingston University)(Brief Article)
January 9, 2004... College: Kingston University Product: Light Read - a pedestal bedside table with an integral illuminated bookstand Spec: When an inverted book is placed over the stand, it will keep its place until next time, while at the same time...

Talent Show Collection: RUSSELL LEE.(DeMontford University)(Brief Article)
January 9, 2004... College: DeMontford University Product: Useful - a multifunctional sofa Spec: This versatile sofa forms the hub of the home, providing a place to relax, eat and work. The side arms are detachable and can be used independently as an...

FIRST PERSON - DAVID WILLIS: Positively persevering.(Interview)
January 9, 2004... DAVID WILLIS How did you get started in business? After leaving school with no qualifications I started at a small printing firm on a YTS scheme. After four years, I decided to go back to college to further my education. Who do...

Retirement dropped as Hayes becomes C&H md.
January 16, 2004... Nicholas Hayes has reversed his decision to leave upholstery manufacturer Collins and Hayes after Bill Souter was ousted as md after less than a year in the job. Hayes, who becomes md, said the company had abandoned some of its policies...

Redbird prompts Airsprung speculation.(Brief Article)
January 16, 2004... Airsprung Furniture Group could soon face a takeover offer after large shareholder Redbird Holdings further increased its stake in the beds and upholstery manufacturer. Redbird, of which little is known, invested #17,625 buying 25,000 more...

COMMENT: Be selective at show time.(Brief Article)
January 16, 2004... January is show time once again. Whether you love it, or hate it, this is when the season's activities reach a peak. But each year it seems to get more difficult to navigate around the shows as they get bigger and attract more people. And with...

Jail for retailer who handled stolen goods.(Brief Article)
January 16, 2004... A North Wales furniture retailer has received a three-year jail sentence for handling #400,000 worth of stolen goods. Zachery Karl Fogg, 40, whose furniture business The Wrexham Furniture Company, has stores in Wrexham and Llandudno, was...

Slower month.(Brief Article)
January 16, 2004... The run up to the winter sales was a far slower month for furniture and floorcoverings retailers than in 2002. A balance of 3% of stores reported a fall in annual sales growth in the first three weeks of December, according to the CBI...

JLP sales comeback.(Brief Article)
January 16, 2004... John Lewis saw furniture sales return as its sale progressed. Sales bounced back after furniture and textile sales fell by 14.5% in the week after Christmas, including the first day of its sale (cm, 9 Jan, p3). Sales in the week to 3...