New machine boosts woodworking pace and capacity

Martindales, the UK's leading supplier of replacement doors and window frames to the insurance industry, has introduced a high-efficiency woodworking machine.

The new plant means raw material now makes just one pass through one machine compared to four or more passes previously.

"This means a huge part of our woodworking production is now 100% automated when it was previously 100% manual," said Phil Martindale, founder and Managing Director of the Bolton-based business.

"We have created massive efficiencies, and are able to push through far more wood preparation and production volumes at a much faster pace.

It also means a consistently high quality of product," he added.

The GBP20,000 investment is timely: timber door and window frames are making a surging comeback as more architects and designers specify wood for new-builds and refurbishment projects.

"We are in a demand-driven world, and while people are becoming more and more conscious of our declining levels of natural resources, our understanding is that using timber to create door and window frames does less damage to the environment than the consequences of emissions from the plastic manufacturing process," said Phil Martindale.

"This growing demand for timber products is down to a combination of circumstances: architects don't like PVC frames, wood is becoming more available - and there is a growing body of feeling that using wood is far more environmentally friendly than manufacturing plastic.

"We have carefully researched this issue with suppliers, and our belief is that growth of forests around the world for the purposes of sustainable timber products is actually catching up and overtaking demand for wood," added Phil.

Current projects include boxed sash windows, complex patterned or moulded doors and windows, including those with stained glass inlays and leaded frames.

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