Integrating functional hardware into cabinetry design and manufacturing systems

Perhaps surprisingly for the functional hardware business, there is growing demand among customers for integration to advanced designed and manufacturing technology is a growing demand, say Shawn Pressley, Marketing Manager for Salice America.

"Actually it's the the biggest trend, one that we haven't seen in past years.," says Pressley, who is based at Salice's U.S. headquarters in Charlotte. "We are getting more requests for technology as far as catalogs, videos, and planning systems - and also being able to have product solutions that are programmed into their planning software for both for their boring equipment and assembly equipment."

As a  result, "Salice America offers what we call 'configurators,' where customers are able to plug in the dimensions of the cabinetry door and it actually plans in the hardware. We have such a wide range of hardware there could be a hundred different choices, so having a planning and programming software that tells them exactly what product they need to use, and it also tells them cutting dimensions and then also boring dimensions." 

Pressley says Salice also sees a continued trend to more European style frameless cabinetry in the U.S. market.

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Harry Urban

Harry Urban is the retired publisher of the Woodworking Network. Urban spent more than 30 years working in business-to-business publishing, trade shows, and conferences. He has travelled extensively throughout North America and overseas visiting and reporting on major manufacturing facilities and trade shows. In retirement, he's still following the woodworking industry, but he plans to do a lot more fishing.

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Bill Esler | ConfSenior Editor

Bill wrote for WoodworkingNetwork.com, FDMC and Closets & Organized Storage magazines. 

Bill's background includes more than 10 years in print manufacturing management, followed by more than 30 years in business reporting on industrial manufacturing in the forest products industries, including printing and packaging at American Printer (Features Editor) and Graphic Arts Monthly (Editor in Chief) magazines; and in secondary wood manufacturing for WoodworkingNetwork.com.

Bill was deeply involved with the launches of the Woodworking Network Leadership Forum, and the 40 Under 40 Awards programs. He currently reports on technology and business trends and develops conference programs.

In addition to his work as a journalist, Bill supports efforts to expand and improve educational opportunities in the manufacturing sectors, including 10 years on the Print & Graphics Scholarship Foundation; six years with the U.S. WoodLinks; and currently on the Woodwork Career Alliance Education Committee. He is also supports the Greater West Town Training Partnership Woodworking Program, which has trained more than 950 adults for industrial wood manufacturing careers. 

Bill volunteers for Foinse Research Station, a biological field station staddling the border of Ireland and Northern Ireland, one of more than 200 members of the Organization of Biological Field Stations.