Xylexpo Woodworking Show Hits a High Note
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Recognized for its innovative technology such as the AirForce hot air edgebander system and WinLine One multi-center for window production, products displayed by Biesse also included the new Rover B FT machining center, along with integrated cells for the manufacturing of high production as well as customized products. A winner of the AWFS Visionary Award in 2013, the AirForce hot air edgebanding system emits forceful hot compressed air through a slot nozzle directly onto the reactive layer of edgebanding to activate it and bond the banding to the substrate. AirForce’s technique allows changes based on banding colors without any setup, says Biesse.
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From Borgonova, the Model LCB 600 is a continuous spiraling lathe capable of making pieces with right-hand or left-hand spirals. A drawing unit roughs the piece, giving it a cylindrical section, while two independent and tilting cutting units that can be adjusted lengthways and crossways shape the piece.
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The Casolin TS 530-630 can remove a maximum thickness of 12mm while providing a smooth surface on the workpiece, the company says. Feed through is made easy with the large diameter rubber rollers and the suspension of the rollers with torsion bars. Energy efficient, the company says there is an automatic reduction of the speed of the work in process if the engine exceeds the maximum available power.
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Making its return to Xylexpo, Cefla displayed a number of new products for finishing, including the Igiotto App robot for horizontal applications. Cefla Group also received recognition at Xylexpo for its innovations in digital printing and surface finishing including the Inert coating and Fusion coating technology.
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From the Homag Group, the Friz Optimat PUM 120 profile wrapper features a "bottom-up" nozzle for glue application from below: both for fixed length and coil material. The company says benefits of the nozzle technology include precise glue metering and a streak-free application system.
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Giardina Finishing offers the 6-axis robot, GS 25, for flexible coating of rectangular or complex shaped panels. It can be supplied with a dry or wet abatement system and a self-cleaning recovery system or waste paper.
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The Evolution Vertical CNC from Holz-Her is a small footprint machining center that can machine all four sides of a part in a single setup, handling routing, vertical and horizontal drilling as well as grooving, the company says. The Evolution is outfitted with a six-position automatic toolchanger. A division of solid wood specialist Weinig Group, Holz-Her also had on display a variety of CNC panel processing machinery, including panel saws, edgebanders and boring machines.
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Innovative products such as the laserTec edgebanding system for producing zero optical joints (pictured), plus the full range of offerings for batch one processing systems, standalone machines and high production offerings, helped Homag Group earn a first-place award in the Innovations category at the 2014 Xylexpo. Also contributing to the award decision, Homag says, is the company’s commitment to green innovation that surrounds its resource-saving ecoPlus technology package.
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Seen at Xylexpo, IMA’s newest additions to its Combima double-sided edgebanders include the R3 for edging tape up to 3mm and the L12 model for processing edging tape up to 3mm and lippings up to 12mm. The high-production machines feature feed speeds of 10-50 m/min and can process workpieces ranging in thickness from 8-40mm. Capabilities include: contour trimming, milling, buffing, scoring saw and hogger.
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The new Matrix has an automatic pin pedestal system, the latest addition to Italpresse’s line of air membrane presses. The Matrix features a fast scanning system that reads the panels and activates the pin pedestal for all shapes and sizes. The pins are activated while the tray is stationary in the layup station for easy viewing by the operator, then automatically reset at the end of the cycle. The press offers three selectable operating modes: membrane, membrane-less and high-gloss.
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Leitz offers the EdgeExpert Program of tooling for zero joint edging. The program includes the Diamaster router bits for CNC machining centers, the Diamaster WhisperCut jointing cutters and the DiamasterPLUS solid jointing cutters for industrial production.
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From Leuco, the DP scoring saw blades feature noise-reduction technology with three conical tooth geometries: conical-flat for laminated boards, conical WS for veneered panels and conical-hollow back for cutting in all coatings. Also new are the minimized gullets which are responsible for the noise reduction of 6 db(A) when idling.
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From Macmazza, the Piero is a flexible loading/unloading system. The platform can load 5,000 kilos in several flexible stations, the company says, thereby eliminating potential bottlenecks. The system can also remove the rejects from stations and provide equipment operators with the panels needed to complete orders, along with the ability to change sequences according to demand.
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Zaffaroni offers the MLS-T multi-head saw system featuring quick-change cutting ability from easily-positioned tool heads.The machine has a capacity width of 3,700mm and a minimum saw-to-saw width of 400mm, with 250mm and 100mm as optional. It can be used to cut composite panels, laminates, extruded plastics, as well as panels with coated surfaces.
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The new Robland BM 3000 is a CNC drilling machine for making slots, drilling hinges and featuring other jointing techniques.
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From Salvador Woodworking Machinery, the Superangle 600 offers optimized cutting of angles. The machine features a rotating table fixed on a high-precision mechanical construction system that guarantees exact angles, the company says.
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Superfici-Elmag, an SCM company, added 3D scanning to its 5-axis spraying robot, the Valtorta Bravorobot The scanner not only detects the shapes and sizes of the workpieces, but also reconstructs their thickness profiles. This makes it possible to perform selective spraying of complex mouldings. It also can be used for antique-effect staining or for spraying glue on panels, such as for membrane pressing.
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Vitap says the Blitz CNC drilling, gluing and dowel inserting machine is ideal for just-in-time or mass production of products.
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Holzma says the dustEx takes the invention of air jets on the table one step further with the availability now of dust extraction capabilities all along the cutting line. Holzma is part of the Homag Group of companies.
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Makor says its new generation spraying robot is available with a self-cleaning transport belt and a paper transport system. It features one anthropomorphic arm and an oscillating arm, with a 3D reading barrier and the capability to coat curved and convex shapes.

Attendance grew 7.1% as the number of registered visitors to Xylexpo reached 15,250. The 24th biennial woodworking exhibition, held May 13-17 in Milan, boasted 440 exhibitors from 27 countries, displaying panel processing and solid wood machinery, as well as supplies.

The first-ever award for Innovation, as voted by industry journalists, went to Homag Group (first place), Biesse Group (second) and Cefla Group (third).

View the slide show for a look at some of the new products that were on display.

 

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