“Thin-Cutting Days” at Wintersteiger Exceed All Expectations
Ried/Innkreis Numerous visitors attended a trend-setting exhibition with world premiere: World market leader Wintersteiger once again impressively showed its technology and quality leadership in qualitative wood thin-cutting at its in-house exhibition which took place from 16 to 23 September 2009.
Over 200 visitors from 70 companies caught up with current developments and future trends in thin-cutting at Wintersteiger's one-week in-house exhibition in Ried. The international trade visitors who travelled from ten different countries showed a great deal of interest in the market leader's production range. With over 30 years of experience in the thin-cutting sector, the company is considered globally as the unrivalled specialist in this field. The absolute highlight of this year's exhibition was the DSB Singlehead thin-cutting band saw, which was launched for the first time with its 310 mm cutting width at the LIGNA in Hanover in May 2009. The advantages of this machine are its high level of flexibility, making it possible to cut different block widths, as well as different saw guiding systems (pressure or roller guides). On top of this, the machine is now also available with a 660 mm cutting width.
World premiere of the DSB Singlehead with 660 mm cutting width
The DSB Singlehead 660 celebrated its world premiere at the in-house exhibition and aroused enormous interest among the visitors.
The DSB Singlehead represents an extension in high-quality thin-cutting technology, and its design enables unlimited extensions. The 660 width is now the first expansion stage and wider versions will follow. This machine concept easily allows cutting widths up to 1500 mm, with the high accuracy that has always distinguished Wintersteiger's machines. With the DSB Singlehead 660 it is possible to cut workpieces with a maximum width of 660 mm and a maximum height of 180 mm. The top and bottom special rubbered driven rollers and the innovative pressure system ensure precise block guidance for both dry and wet cutting. As a result it is possible to achieve optimum cutting results on both planed and rough-sawn blocks in equal measure without retooling. According to sales manager Christian Klingsberger, "The DSB Singlehead 310 is used primarily in the parquet industry, particularly in the single-strip wide planks sector. If an extended cutting width is required, for example when cutting panels, then the new DSB Singlehead 660 can be used for this purpose." The DSB Singlehead 660 is also used for three-ply and multilayer boards, as well as in door production because the extended cutting width allows to cut the whole door panel. With the opportunities offered by the DSB Singlehead 660 it is also possible to cut other materials such as corrugated cardboard, plastics and much more.
Tools and machinery from a single source
The tool range and therefore the production of saw blades for thin-cutting frame and band saws make up a very important area of the business. The saw blades are produced in the company's own plant in Thuringia, Germany. The innovative, extremely thin saw blades with a kerf from 0.7 mm are perfectly matched to the thin-cutting machines.
Saw blades for mobile saw mills, carpentry saws, block and band resaws and food saws are produced in Thuringia along with high-precision saw blades for thin-cutting frame and band saws. This high-quality saw range is marketed throughout the world under the "Banso" product name.
Enormous added value for the customer is achieved due to the ability to offer tools and machinery from a single source that are perfectly matched to each other. Wintersteiger as a full-range supplier has access to this service which accounts for a considerable advantage particularly in economically difficult times.
Pressing line for the highest requirements: "Engineered Wood Flooring"
Wintersteiger's Thin-cutting Days came up with yet another premiere. The new "engineered wood flooring" pressing line is used for a solid three-ply parquet, referred to as "pre-solid" - also alternatively for a two-ply construction using plywood as the base - and has been developed specially for the north American market. The pressing line comprises automatic glue application, feeding station and hydraulic cold press. With production capacities of 30,000 to 150,000 m2 a year, the conscious intention with this pressing line was to focus on a particularly high-end niche. The first plant has been sold to a solid floor manufacturer in Canada that will use this pressing line to complete its product range in the high-end segment. In future the intention is to push even further ahead with this idea of completion within the market-specific niche. Sales manager Christian Klingsberger says, "It is our conscious aim to serve the niche and small-scale segment within the high-end sector. As a result we are now considered to be the first point of contact when there is a need for skilful complete solutions within a special niche."
Think global, act local
In-depth knowledge of the various customer markets, which is also emphasised by the development of the new pressing line, is undoubtedly one of the most important factors in Wintersteiger's success. Only on the basis of this global market know-how is it possible to identify trends and implement developments in good time. This forward-looking attitude enables WINTERSTEIGER to always be that decisive step ahead on the customer's behalf. Added to this, in line with the principle of "think local, act global", the company has its own sales and service branches throughout the world which completes the successful combination with a contact for after-sales service, tools and machinery. Thus the customer not only receives added value due to the construction of machinery and tools but also due to Wintersteiger's global know-how.
Fighting the crisis successfully with added value for the customer
Wintersteiger has also felt the effects of the current economic conditions throughout the timber industry. Nevertheless, it has been possible to limit the damage due to the economic added-value solutions which Wintersteiger has been backing for years. Franz Haas, manager of the WOODTECH Division at WINTERSTEIGER, says, "The key focus regardless of the prevailing market has quite clearly been on qualitative thin-cutting. As a thin-cutting specialist and global market leader, we offer the customer a complete range covering everything from machinery and tools to an after-sales service solution. Our customers simply appreciate this all-round package."
Basically, a good balance is achieved by dividing Wintersteiger's business areas into three divisions - Woodtech Division, Sports Division (ski tuning) and Seedmech Division (seed breeding research). It is easier in this way to make up for partial slumps in each of the business areas. Economically speaking, specialisation in the high-quality niche sector has been a complete success for the company.
From the present point of view, there are already signs of positive development - it is possible to see an initial upward trend after the crisis. This was particularly evident from the exceptional interest shown at Wintersteiger's thin-cutting days.
Photo (Source: Wintersteiger)
WOODTECH-Team
Saws from our own development and production department
The new "Engineered Wood Flooring" pressing line
The DSB Singlehead thin-cutting band saw in 310 mm and 660 mm cutting widths was the highlight of the "Thin-Cutting Days"
For enquiries please contact:
WINTERSTEIGER AG, A-4910 Ried/Innkreis, Dimmelstrasse 9, Internet: www.wintersteiger.com
Franz Gangl
Manager Marketing & Communication
Tel.: +43 7752 919 306, Mobile: +43 664 80 919 306, Fax: +43 7752 919 44306
E-mail: franz.gangl@wintersteiger.at
Alexandra Reitinger
Marketing Division WOODTECH
Tel. : +43 7752 919 326
Fax : +43 7752 919 44326
E-mail: alexandra.reitinger@wintersteiger.at
