Award Program Recognizes Excellence in IndustryThe Cabinet Makers Association (CMA) is pleased to announce the winners of their 2016 Wood Diamond Awards Contest.
The CMA award program, dubbed the Wood Diamond Awards, was first offered in 2010 as a means for members to be recognized by their peers. Immediately the program became yet another benefit from the CMA to help their members market themselves. In the past six years, shops of all different sizes and types have entered and won. All judging is done by non-participating members of the CMA, assuring that the results are scrutinized by professionals. “The CMA was founded on the principles of sharing one’s experiences and ideas with other members in an effort to promote success and professionalism in the woodworking business,” explains Amanda Conger, CMA’s Executive Director. “This award program allows yet another outlet for that purpose to be fulfilled.” The 2016 award winners were announced on Thursday, August 25, during the association’s annual member appreciation banquet at the IWF trade show in Atlanta. All winning entries receive a certificate recognizing their achievements, while first place winners are awarded a customized plaque declaring their excellence in their respective category. The winners represent 38 selected categories, for a total of 57 entries submitted by 18 companies in the United States and Canada. This year the CMA added a third classification to further narrow down the submissions by dollar amount. The options are now: Under $25,000, $25,000 - $50,000, and Over $50,000. A listing of the award winners follows. Project details and photos for each entry can be viewed on the CMA website: Bar – Commercial: Best Overall (Over $50,000)
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Question: An employee came back from the chiropractor with a handout of specific ergonomic measurements for her work station, stating that the employee’s back problem - a previous condition – is being exacerbated by what she is doing at work. The company’s office is state of the art, and designed with ergonomic considerations. The employee sits at a station to type, and turns her head to address patients, versus turning her chair and whole body. The employee also wants to have the computer screen higher, despite the desk and screen currently being set at the proper height. The company feels that the issues are caused by the employee not using the equipment properly, versus facilities that are being provided. What does the company need to document or purchase now, to ensure it does not get a future claim for the employee’s back issue?
Response: Generally employers are required to provide a safe and healthful work environment under OSHA, including appropriate chairs and workstations for employees who do their work seated. This does not mean that the employer has to buy the most expensive chair and equipment available. Rather, a chair and workstation, including a computer screen and keyboard, that are well-designed and appropriately adjusted, even if moderately or even inexpensively priced, will still fit the bill of contributing to a safe and productive workstation. For more information, please see OSHA's excellent guidance on the subject at https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/etools/computerworkstations/components.html If, however, the employee is disabled -- as may be the case if the employee suffers from a back condition -- and needs accommodation in the form of a more ergonomically sound chair and/or workstation than what is currently provided, an employer may need to change (or upgrade) the chair or workstation, or perhaps look into less expensive options such as supportive pillows, cushions, articulating keyboard drawer, monitor riser, foot stools etc., if doing so is reasonable. The employer may require medical documentation to assist in determining whether the employee has a disability and if so, to support the employee’s need for reasonable accommodation. If the employee is not disabled, the employer is not required by law to provide an accommodation. As I mentioned, though, the employer does have an obligation to ensure that the employee is still provided an appropriate chair and workstation as every other employee should be provided. If the employee is disabled, then she would be entitled to a reasonable accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act if she needed one in order to perform the essential functions of her job. Keep in mind that a reasonable accommodation for purposes of the ADA is not necessarily one the employee wants (such as a brand new or certain brand of equipment, equipment, chair or workstation) if there is another, less expensive option available (i.e., cushions, foot rest, modifications to the existing chair and workstation, etc.) that achieves the same result. However, denying an accommodation altogether because the expense of doing so is not in the budget may create exposure to a potential failure-to-accommodate claim under discrimination laws, particularly if the accommodation would not, in fact, cause the employer to suffer "significant difficulty or expense." The employer in this instance should engage the employee in an interactive discussion to explore these options. For more information, please see http://www.eeoc.gov/facts/accommodation.html and see also http://askjan.org/media/Back.html for specific assistance in exploring accommodations to back conditions. © 2014 Advisors Law Group, All Rights Reserved To learn more about the Federated Employment Practices Network®, contact your local Federated Marketing Representative, or visit www.federatedinsurance.com. In 1973 The Savioli and Botti Families had a vision to find the best manufacturing resources and offer customers who were building new homes or remolding existing ones an unparalleled choice in both aesthetic and quality. Out of this vision, Lebrun Group was formed.
Starting in a small retail space in Venezuela South America, the founders forged a business in which commitment to excellence in customer service and quality manufacturing resourcing would be the keystones for creating a long lasting company. Now, as the second generations of the families take the reins, Lebrun is bringing those four decades of experience and know-how to the North American market. With over 12,000 SQ FT of warehouse space and a retail showroom that allows designers and cabinetry makers to experience the quality of the product, Lebrun is ready for the challenge. All of our items are in-stock and ready for shipping or local delivery. Whether its knobs, handles pulls, rack or storage systems, our buyers and designers are constantly on the lookout for the next trends in the K&B industry and look to lead the way in contemporary and postmodern design offerings. Our pricing is second to none; our quality is of the highest standard and our service and commitment to excellence will make you a client for life. Let’s Create Remarkable. The Alphacam and Cabinet Vision solutions, by Vero Software, will be presented Aug. 24-27 at International Woodworking Fair (IWF) 2016, a major industry trade show hosted at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta, Ga. As one of the world’s premier trade shows for furniture manufacturers, as well as those in the architectural and general woodworking industries, IWF provides a platform for learning about and seeing firsthand the latest in time-saving machinery, software, and more. Visitors to IWF are encouraged to visit Booth No. 4613 to receive demonstrations of the time-saving capabilities of Alphacam and Cabinet Vision. Alphacam is a full-featured, easy-to-use CAM solution for wood manufacturers who want fast, efficient toolpaths and the generation of reliable, machine-ready CNC code. The latest release of Alphacam includes automation updates, as well as new-and-improved capabilities for machining and feature extraction. Among significant upgrades are new user-interface commands that quickly add up to faster and simpler means of working more efficiently. Cabinet Vision, the most widely used design-for-manufacturing software, offers custom cabinet and room design, photo-realistic renderings, material optimization, bidding and costing, and the production of cutlists and bills of materials. Combined with the powerful Cabinet Vision Screen-to-machine, or S2M, Center, it can automatically create machine-ready G-Code for CNC flat-table routers, point-to-point machines, panel saws, drill and dowel machines, chop saws, and other specialized CNC machinery. At IWF, Cabinet Vision will promote its partnership with over 40 machinery, hardware, software and services companies, which will also be on site. Screen-to-Machine Ready, an industry partnership program, has certified that Cabinet Vision's products have been successfully tested for compatibility with other vendor products within the woodworking industry. Customers can take comfort in knowing that Screen-to-Machine Ready products can be seamlessly integrated for use in their shops in a quick and efficient manner. Cabinet Vision Industry Partner is a program developed to build and promote cost-effective and comprehensive products and, or, services solutions for the woodworking market. Customers can rest assured that Cabinet Vision Partners are working cooperatively to deliver software and other technology solutions to improve the productivity and profitability of our mutual customers. To learn more about Cabinet Vision partners, please visit http://www.cabinetvision.com/industryresources/partners, and be sure to look for the “Screen-to-Machine Ready” magnets on the show floor at IWF. Vero Software is also the exclusive reseller of Tractivity software and VORTEK Spaces for the U.S. woodworking market, and will be displaying both products on its booth at IWF. Tractivity is a robust ERP software solution that helps organizations to streamline operations and reduce costs while providing essential management tools to support critical decision making. VORTEK Spaces is an easy-to-use, interactive and high-impact 3D visualization platform for designers and sales teams. Cabinet Vision jobs can be directly imported into VORTEK Spaces to create immersive sales presentations and renderings, while allowing the designer to change colors, materials and finishes on any surface in real time. About Alphacam Part of the Vero Software Group, Alphacam is a leading CAM solution for wood, stone, composites and metal components from 2-axis through 5-axis NC programming applications. The emphasis behind the development of Alphacam is to provide our customers with productivity, reliability and flexibility. About Cabinet Vision Part of the Vero Software Group, Cabinet Vision is a unique solution for manufacturers in the woodworking industry. Its products help enable any furniture or cabinet manufacturer to fully automate and integrate its design through improved manufacturing processes and greater efficiency. In addition to producing significant time savings, Cabinet Vision eliminates costly mistakes and increases productivity. About Vero Software Headquartered in England, Vero Software designs, develops, and supplies CAD/CAM/CAE software radically enhancing the efficiency of design and manufacturing processes, providing its customers with exceptional value through high productivity gains and significantly reducing time to market. The company’s world-renowned brands include Alphacam, Cabinet Vision, Edgecam, Machining STRATEGIST, PEPS, Radan, SMIRT, Surfcam, WorkNC and VISI, along with the production control MRP system Javelin. Despite the diversity of application, these solutions have one thing in common: they all address the rising challenges of achieving manufacturing efficiencies and bring huge value to the operations in which they are deployed. Vero has direct offices in the UK, Germany, Italy, France, Japan, USA, Brazil, Netherlands, China, South Korea, Spain and India supplying products to more than 45 countries through its wholly owned subsidiaries and reseller network. Vero is part of Hexagon (Nordic exchange: HEXA B), a leading global provider of information technologies that drive quality and productivity across geospatial and industrial enterprise applications. For more information, please visit www.verosoftware.com. Milesi is proud to introduce the first high performance 275 VOC 2K polyurethane wood coatings products that offer extremely higher build, easier sprayability and contain absolutely no formaldehyde unlike typical conventional US 275 VOC products. Perfect for California and low VOC regulated areas. Twice the performance without the hassles.
The Milesi LGA6522 Series 275 VOC Compliant Polyurethanes represent the next generation of wood coating technology. They provide the same quality, durability and luxurious feel of our premium polyurethanes but on 275 VOC Compliant platform. The Milesi LGA6522 Series 275 VOC eliminates the compromises in performance often found in other types of VOC compliant coating systems. It also offers the highest build of any 275 VOC compliant products. The Milesi LGA6522 Series 275 VOC is also easy to use. It has excellent flow out and leveling. Most importantly, it is very tolerant of temperature and humidity swings. Gone are the blushing issues common in high humidity situations and also the need to add retarders when using in high temperatures. The Milesi 275 VOC Compliant Clear Polyurethane system is available as a sealer and topcoats in several sheens. It will be presented during the AWFS Show in Atlanta, Georgia next August 24th - 27th, at booth #1553. Milesi Wood Coatings - Italian Technology meets design solutions Milesi is a brand of the IVM Group, one of the largest and influential wood coatings manufactures in Europe and in the world. Milesi products were born in 1947 in Italy, a country that has always been a point of reference in the furniture industry. These products were developed and perfected through constant interaction with local industry experts and designers who are appreciated all over the world. With its presence in North America, the IVM Group wants to declare the intention to make Milesi products more available to the North American professional user. IVM Group can establish a systematic cooperation with the North American user to define the product and application. For more info: http://www.milesi.us REHAU is set to introduce its expanding line of custom cabinet doors for modern kitchens and baths at IWF 2016. The line now features seven collections, four of which will debut at IWF, encompassing high-gloss, polymer glass, matte and natural deep-embossed surfaces. All REHAU finished components are fabricated using zero-joint REHAU LaserEdge™ technology.
The new cabinet door line is designed to give cabinet shops of all sizes the ability to provide high-quality cabinets built from durable, easy-to-process polymer surfaces. Custom doors can be ordered online and are ready to ship in just seven days (in popular colors) across the United States. More than 50 finishes are offered in the following surface collections:
There will be several opportunities throughout the IWF show machinery hall to experience REHAU furniture solutions. At REHAU booth No. 4735, the company will be highlighting its complete cabinet door surfaces range with physical displays and a virtual reality experience. In addition, woodworkers who are shopping for hot-air or laser edgebanders will find several machinery suppliers applying REHAU LaserEdge. For more information on REHAU’s line of furniture solutions, visit IWF booth No. 4735, hall B or the company’s website at http://na.rehau.com/cabinetdoors. About REHAU REHAU delivers “Unlimited Polymer Solutions,” and is the premium worldwide brand for polymer-based innovations and systems in construction, automotive and industry. The company generates continuous growth through its expertise and innovative capabilities in materials development, systems design and surface technology. Approximately 20,000 employees at more than 170 locations around the world ensure the success of the independent, privately held company. Keeping pace with the record results of 2015 could appear no easy task for the Biesse Group; nevertheless, the Consolidated Report for the First Half demonstrates with facts and figures that the Group is continuing to surpass itself also in the first half of 2016.
‘We must underline the extraordinary ability of the Biesse Group to produce organic sales growth, i.e. €283.4 M (+15.4% in the first half of 2016 compared to the previous year with an astounding +24.9% in the second quarter), albeit in the presence of numerous political and economic challenges at the global level. We achieved a 16.1% increase in order intake and recorded a record high order backlog: over €178 M in value for growth of almost 28%, all corroborated by net cash generation exceeding all expectations, so much so as to virtually cancel debt at the end of June’ underlines Stefano Porcellini, Group General Manager. The secret to this constant growth lies in the Group's ability to invest in strategic assets, first and foremost in human capital which is growing hand in hand with the increase in the Group's turnover and which now exceeds 3,450 employees, excluding temporary staff. Then innovation, in terms of both the level of technology in the Group's products, as well as its ability to expand and complete its range and experience, are winning factors in the Biesse Group's vision. It is no coincidence in fact that it is precisely the 4.0 solutions, relating to the so-called Smart Factory, which have recorded significant increases, thanks to the Biesse Group's ability to apply them not only to large but also to medium-sized installations. Through the recent acquisition (May 2016) of the Vicenza company Uniteam, the Group has opened the door to new synergies and opportunities, penetrating a strategic “niche" sector such as that of wood carpentry (structural beams and façades) and expanding its presence in the plastics and advanced composite materials processing segment. The figure, therefore, which sees Biesse as the first Italian Group in the field of wood, glass and marble processing machines and the second player in the world in terms of revenue, but with growth rates well above the German competition, is further consolidated. Leadership which is also confirmed overseas; in Melbourne, in fact, during the Awisa Fair in July, the Group received orders for nearly AUD 20 M and announced the creation of a new 5,000 sqm campus in Sydney (Oceania Group Campus). Then revenue growth in North America during the first half of 2016 was astounding: +35.2% over the same period in 2015. ‘The overall results communicated in the Group's 1st Half Report also fully represent the particular situation in the North America and Canada: turnover and orders growing; an expanding workforce, especially at the technical level; a new and spacious Campus in Charlotte, a unique example of its kind, which is attracting visitors from all over the country, offering them a complete pre-sales or simply informative experience through dedicated events and meetings. These are the premises that will allow us address the IWF trade fair in Atlanta from 24 to 27 August 2016 with the greatest enthusiasm, where Biesse will participate with a stand of over 17,000 sq ft, increasing the display area by 40% compared to the previous edition, confident to continue in this wake of successes also on this occasion’ says Federico Broccoli Wood Division/Sales Director and CEO/President of Biesse America. BIESSE S.p.A. - Biesse Group is a global leader in technology for processing wood, glass, stone, plastic and metal. It designs, manufactures and distributes machines, integrated systems and software for manufacturers of furniture, door/window frames and components for the construction, ship-building and aerospace industries. It invests on average 14 million Euro per year in R&D, boasting over 200 registered patents. It operates through 8 industrial sites, 34 branches and 300 agents and selected dealers, exporting 90% of its production. Its customers include some of the most prestigious names in Italian and international design. Founded in Pesaro in 1969, by Giancarlo Selci, the company has been listed on the Stock Exchange (STAR segment) since June 2001. It now counts 3.450 employees throughout the world |
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