Florida cabinet company pivots to flat-packed casework
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A Pro Edge Technology machine has been specially designed to process Lockdowel fasteners (metal or plastic), including H-Clips, Barbed Channel Locks, mini fasteners, snap fasteners and spring pins.
BRADENTON, Florida -- Five years ago Mike Lovell’s fixture and retail furnishings factory was going gangbusters outfitting Bealls and other large retail stores. When online shopping chiseled away at his customers’ niche, he had to make a paradigm change in his wood manufacturing business. Now in the world of ship-it-quick meets Covid-19, he is prepared for the times with a new market, a new method of manufacturing, new cutting technology, and a new way of construction.  This year Lovell and his chief operating officer, Paul Gillen Jr., decided to manufacture with glue-less, tool-less hidden fasteners and launched Presto Cabinets by WooDesigns. The team offers kitchen cabinets, closets, office cabinets, cut-to-size components and ready to assemble (RTA) cabinetry for Florida and the East coast.
“We chose Lockdowel because it was a fast and accurate construction method with a minimal amount of required tools,” Lovell explains. “The other factor was that our cabinets could be transported knock down and assembled quickly and easily on the job site, saving money on freight.”   Lovell says that finding the right insertion machine was key in their new endeavor. “We depend on our CNCs for all machining of our materials,” Lovell said. “CNC is an integral part of our business allowing us to maintain the highest quality and efficiency.” 
 
Mike Lovell, owner of Presto Cabinets by WooDesigns, works with a  Pro Edge Technology machine custom-designed for Lockdowel fastener technology.
Since 2012 Lovell and Gillen had trusted a single CNC manufacturer, Pro Edge Technology, for all their CNC routing, sawing and edge banding needs.   Pro Edge Technologt's owner, Dale Bucy, custom designed a machine for Presto Cabinets that routed the grooves and inserted all the various fasteners offered by Lockdowel. According to Pro Edge Technology, whether the fastener is metal or plastic it can process Lockdowel H-Clips, Barbed Channel Locks, mini fasteners, snap fasteners and spring pins. Because it can perform blind dado and do insertions inside of the dado on edges, it is ideal for closet manufacturing and cabinet shelving. The Pro Edge Technology Lockdowel machine is different from others in that it can insert fasteners of various depths and change the depth while functioning. In addition, it can route, bore and insert all on one machine, in one cycle.  The combination benefits their customers by making by speeding and easing assembly.  According to the company, the fasteners slide and lock into place, creating a strong and tight joint, without the need of any tools. Additionally, the fasteners become invisible once fully assembled, eliminating the need for post laminating or finished ends. “With Lockdowel every end is a finished end.”
 
Presto Cabinets creations are shipped flat-packed and "kitted." Regardless of the size of the order, components are bundled per cabinet and shipped on a pallet, preventing confusion over which parts go with which cabinet. 
Presto Cabinets creations are shipped flat-packed and "kitted." Regardless of the size of the order, components are bundled per cabinet and shipped on a pallet, preventing confusion over which parts go with which cabinet.  Customers can order by phone or email. “We are now working towards an (OSS) online store solution with an online catalog of stock cabinetry that can be customized,” Lovell explains.  “We are serving and marketing to the cabinet installers,” Lovell says. “Companies that buy cabinets and install. These can be the small independent or a large company. We are mostly interested in kitchens, closets, office buildings and hospitals.”
 
 

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