The power of clustering is leveraged by the expertise found in the supply chain! Read on!
Software/Machinery integration and finishing technologies emerge once again from member’s needs to the surface for the recent BWA quarterly networking event!
35 BWA companies participated in another successful afternoon of networking and learning!
New BWA members were welcomed: Kitchen Visions, Parker House, Cutting Edge CNC, Budd Steel, and Akhurst!
The BWA Cluster region is now expanded to include southwestern Ontario as more wood companies learn about the value of clustering activities. The BWA membership now stands at 80 members in total!
The event kicked off with an update of our actives by BWA Executive Director Mike Baker.
This was quickly followed by presentations by Weinig, Planit Canada, and Sherwin Williams. Half hour networking breaks between the speakers allowed members lots of time for members to mingle and connect with each other. The presentations followed these themes:
Software/Machinery Integration: Cabinets, and Solid Wood Processing Applications
Many BWA members are new to the use of technology to link sales, design, engineering, ordering, cut lists, scheduling, etc from the “front end” of your business, to the production floor at your machines. Once at the machines, what role can software technology play and what are the capabilities? How can these capabilities help you in your operation? There also BWA members that have been using this technology for some time, but continue to evolve in it’s understanding and its application. We live in exciting times with what technology can do for us, an it is constantly changing.
BWA has members both realms: dealing with solid wood break-out for furniture and other applications, and cabinetmaking companies that need it to link design and sales to processing sheet stock and other steps in the process.
Kyle Roseneck of Taurus Craco, dealer of Weinig shared new software technology with solid wood break-out equipment to maximize yield and also expedite the processing steps to minimize labour and time.
For the cabinetmakers, BWA member Ewald Becker of Planit Canada taught members about how software strategies are used to help link the “front end” of businesses to the processes on the shop floor.
Formaldehyde – Free Lacquer Based Finishes
Many companies continue to use lacquer based finishes as a reliable solution to their product’s use. Conversely, other companies have converted to water-based products with acceptable results. The science continues to evolve. Environmental demands and customer perceptions also play into the pressures to move away from laquer based products.
Fromaldehyde – free laquer finishes are another solution that is available today. BWA member Brent Fischer of Sherwin Williams provided an overview of the science involved and the properties of this option to the industry, followed by Q&A.
These events always end with a large group continuing to network after the event an into the dinner hour (often this is the best part!).
If you would like more information on the BWA and these events, contact Mike Baker at manager@bluewterwoodalliance.com
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