So what was the next step in Wood Solutions workshop renewal?
“Soon after the sander we replaced our edgebander” said Andrew.
Mid 2004 saw the introduction of the latest release from the
European manufacturer, SCM, a K203. A fully automated machine,
in one pass it gives a finished edge, ready for assembly.
The critical factor in choosing SCM machinery was the longevity
and reliability of the machines. The SCM brand has had a strong
brand presence in New Zealand for many years, with a large
network of service personnel to back it up. As Andrew said “It’s
a reputable brand that has great after sales service”
At the same time a new SCM tilting spindle moulder and 630mm
wide thicknesser were also added to the workshop. The decision
to purchase a tilting spindle, rather than fixed, has allowed
Wood Solutions to be that little more adventurous in the
profiles they are machining, also reducing setup times and
increasing the safety for the operators.
As with any new technology, production methods change and staff
need to adapt to this. “We then moved on to update one of our
four siders, however the new SCM was a totally different concept
to what we were used to”.
Twelve months down the track, what does Andrew think of it?
“Now the one SCM machine is doing all the work our previous
two machines were doing, it’s a really versatile four sider.
We’ve done everything from some really small bead mouldings
through to some fairly large stuff for guys doing garden
landscaping”
The biggest sign that the machine was the right choice for is
the fact that the older older four sider, which was the
machine of choice previously, has been relegated to the
mundane simple dressing tasks. “The operators continually
surprise us & gloat over the times they take to complete
previously complicated operations” said Andrew.
Wood Solutions also found a hospitality & Tourism market that
required efficient suppliers. This part of the company has now
expanded to service an expanding nation wide market.
“Last year we did about 11 bars in total” said Andrew “so its
becoming a bigger and bigger part of our business. It’s an
area we now have some distinct advantages in.”
Typically, bar fitouts require a very short turn around time,
by using their streamlined manufacturing systems and the
versatility of the SCM machines, Wood Solutions have placed
themselves in a strong position to serve this market.
As Andrew explained “We have just priced up a job that needs
to be completed in 4 calendar weeks to meet the clients
deadline, we’re looking at something like 1000 man hours over
that time to get the job done”
One of the major projects that Wood Solutions have been
involved in is the fitout of the Speights bar’s throughout New
Zealand. These have all been manufactured in their Dunedin
workshop.
The influx of foreign investment in the Central region has
also proven to be boon for the company. This foreign
investment has seen many large residential dwellings built in
the area. Many of these are a combination of fitting out not
only the main residence, but guest & staff quarters as well.
It’s not an easy market to get into, as privacy is often key
to the people investing. However, as Wood Solutions have
proved, if you can provide a unique design, with a reliable
timeframe, its possible to tap into a large and wealthy
market.
The plan for the future is to capitalize on the reputation the
company has built.
With a wide variety of markets to tap into, and a workshop
that is capable of quickly and accurately meeting their
customers needs, Wood Solutions are now aiming to increase
their turnover in these markets.
Wood Solutions can be contacted on (03) 479 2323.
www.woodsolutions.co.nz
The SCM range of Machinery is available from Gabbett Group, AKL (09) 828 4530, CHCH (03) 377 3795.
www.gabbett.com
