During Stiles annual European Benchmarking Technology Tour, manufacturing professionals and leaders from across North America had the unique opportunity to experience behind-the-scenes tours of some of the most innovative, efficient, and productive manufacturing facilities in the world. The event, which took place September 22-29 , 2018, gave participants the opportunity to benchmark their own operations against global leaders in Germany and the Czech Republic, giving them a competitive advantage in the marketplace and equipping them with valuable knowledge and tools that will affect the overall success of their companies for years to come.

The tour kicked off in the Czech Republic, where attendees were welcomed into a variety of facilities ranging from highly advanced, automated production, to smaller family-owned shops who depend on world-class technology to meet the standards of quality and craftsmanship that have been a hallmark of the area for generations. Regardless of the size of the company, the common thread evident in each facility was a focus on technology and automation to meet rising consumer and customization demands. Participants experienced intelligent networked production systems that showcased innovative storage and retrieval technologies, batch size one capabilities, edge processing techniques, and finishing and packaging systems for a fully optimized production process from start to finish.

One of the tour highlights included a stop at HOMAG production facilities in Schopfloch, Germany, where Mr. Andreas Denker, VP of Sales and Marketing for HOMAG shared the latest technology trends including software solutions, newly designed machines with intelligent features, and digital breakthroughs made possible with tapio, the world’s first IoT platform designed to support the entire value chain of the woodworking industry from the palm of your hand.

In addition to gaining a behind-the-scenes look at how global leaders are addressing challenges and opportunities within the industry, attendees also enjoyed cultural experiences throughout the week-long event including medieval cities, historic market squares and the ever popular Volksfest fall celebration in Stuttgart, Germany.

For more information about Stiles’ European Benchmarking Technology Tour or to be the first to receive exclusive information and registration details for Stiles upcoming events, visit www.stilesmachinery.com/events

About Stiles Machinery
As the industry’s leading provider of advanced manufacturing solutions, Stiles has been helping manufacturers throughout
North America increase their efficiency and productivity for over 50 years. With world-class machinery backed by an
experienced and responsive support team, extensive parts inventory, unique upgrade capabilities and a nationally accredited education and training program, Stiles offers solutions that equip companies for success in every area of their business. Headquartered in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Stiles has regional offices in High Point, North Carolina; Bristol, Pennsylvania; Coppell, Texas; and Rancho Cucamonga, California. Stiles is a proud member of the HOMAG Group, a global leader in the production of industrial manufacturing machinery.

TableLegs.com’s Industrial Metal Tapered legs are a big step ahead of the ubiquitous hairpin leg—a sturdier, more distinctive design with its feet firmly planted in the 21st century. They're a great solution for thicker table tops and live edge slabs, while the splayed stance and open silhouette make them suitable for Mid-Century furniture as well. 

With their natural variations in color and surface, the Antique Copper, Black Steel and Hammered Bronze legs are equally at home in rustic and contemporary industrial motifs. The more refined surface of the Satin Stainless is ideal for more polished settings—they're especially dramatic with darker wood tops.

Direct attachment makes Industrial Metal Tapered legs incredibly easy to install. Just affix the legs to the base of the table with 4 included screws. Two sizes—16" and 28"—make these perfect for dining tables, desks, benches, coffee tables and more. The legs are made from a single strip of cold-rolled steel, laser cut into a continuous taper, then thrice bent backward and welded to itself. Each leg is carefully detailed by hand with lightly chamfered edges.

Matthew Burak, owner and designer at TableLegs.com, notes that “With a heavy, slab-wood table top, you don’t want to be under-gunned with a light leg, like a hairpin. The Industrial Metal leg will hold a big, slab table top and a lot of weight. It creates a beautiful fusion with wood and is one of the easiest ways imaginable to build a great looking table."

• Easy to install: Simply attach with included screws
• Available in two sizes and four finishes: 16" for benches and coffee tables, 28" for dining tables and desks
• Splayed and tapered form: Perfect for Mid-Century Modern, Industrial, Rustic, Contemporary settings
• Superior strength: Cold rolled steel offers a more stable and sturdy alternative to hairpin legs

Laser cut and detailed: Lightly chamfered edges and continuous taper for a sophisticated look

See the product here: https://www.tablelegs.com/shop-by-products/new-products/industrial-metal-tapered-legs/
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About TableLegs.com: TableLegs.com is a Vermont company that designs and manufactures quality components for furniture, cabinetry and architecture, along with fine finished and unfinished furniture. They sell directly to professional woodworkers, furniture makers, hobbyists and do-it-yourselfers. Balanced proportion, crisp detail, and easy assembly are hallmarks of all our products.

Lockdowel Inc., the glue-less, tool-less fastening company that is propelling the woodworking industry to simpler lower cost assembly, announces the addition of Stephen P. Anderson as the company’s CEO. 

Anderson is an expert in increasing company value through customer focus, employee engagement, and continuous improvement through lean implementation.  He brings more than 25 years of experience leading private, public and family-owned building and wood product companies--including Enkeboll Designs, Pergo, and Wellborn Forest Products. Anderson has learned that lean principles and practices can be applied to any business and business process, and is looking forward to working with the team at Lockdowel to make the company the preferred source for woodworking fastening systems.   He holds a Masters of Management and an M.B.A. from the Drucker School at Claremont Graduate University in Claremont, California, and a B.S. in Psychology from Adams State University in Alamosa, Colorado.

 “Lockdowel enables simple, fast assembly, installation and Ready-To-Assemble shipping.  By providing a glue-less, tool-less fastening method, Lockdowel is helping companies take much of the waste and time out of their production.  Their quality improves with less rework and fewer returns, and productivity increases significantly,” Anderson says. “I know many customers want an invisible fastener that provides sturdy joints, and Lockdowel is a perfect solution.”

“I’ve seen a lot of exciting trends in woodworking, and a fastening solution that increases a company’s capacity by 60% without adding headcount means it’s time to change the industry’s paradigm.”
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Anderson says customers are his number one focus and he will be talking with as many as possible. He encourages companies to call him to discuss their needs and how Lockdowel can help them improve productivity and profitability:  (650)477-7112  ext. 101
 
About Lockdowel
Lockdowel manufactures glue-less, tool-less invisible fasteners and snap-in drawer slides and hinges for fast and easy installation and assembly of cabinets, furniture and architectural millwork. Patent pending.
Lockdowel 41920 Christy Street  Fremont, CA  94538, (650) 477 7112 www.lockdowel.com   See Lockdowel fastening assembly at --   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ugLbDTTOtg

Festool has just launched the “Trade Up to Festool” campaign, which starts today and will run through October 31, 2018. Customers who buy a new, Festool 55-series saw or Festool plunge router can send in any brand of used power tool, regardless of age or condition, and receive a $100 USD or $120 CAD prepaid Mastercard. The Trade Up promotion is the first of its kind for Festool, a premier power tool manufacturer, whose award-winning, German-made power tools and equipment are used by remodelers, carpenters, painters, cabinetmakers, and other professional tool users.
 
“We’re passionate about all of our tools and their unique functionality,” says Aaron Brading, Chief Sales Officer. “’Trade Up to Festool’ will provide an incentive for professionals to see how our 55-series saws and plunge routers will improve their work results and contribute to their bottom line, and existing customers now have an additional reason to expand their Festool line of power tools.”
 
How “Trade Up to Festool” works:

• Purchase any Festool 55-series saw or Festool plunge router between September 1, 2018 and October 31, 2018 and go to www.festoolusa.com/promo or www.festoolcanada.com/promo
• Send in any used power tool, regardless of age or condition - Festool will provide customers with a pre-paid shipping label
• Receive a $100 USD or $120 CAD prepaid Mastercard four to six weeks after the old tool has been received
• For complete Trade Up to Festool guidelines, go to Festool USA or Festool Canada

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About Festool
Founded in Germany in 1925, Festool is known for its innovative, precision-engineered power tool solutions.  Based in Lebanon, IN, Festool USA offers a comprehensive lineup of power tools and system accessories, designed to boost productivity through efficiency and high performance. For more information, visit www.festoolusa.com or www.festoolcanada.com.

The Cabinet Makers Association (CMA) is pleased to announce their shop tours the day before the Wood Pro Expo in Lancaster have sold out. However, they will host another event in November in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
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The registrations for the full day of shop tours in Lancaster on October 17 has reached the allotted capacity. This event will be held the day before the Wood Pro Expo and will visit local CMA members in the Lancaster area.

The CMA will host one more event this year on November 9 in Colorado Springs at The MiLL that also includes a tour of Concepts in Millwork. Register now to reserve your spot before this event sells out too. For more details and registration information, please visit www.cabinetmakers.org/events

The CMA has been hosting high-value events like this since 1998 as a means of connecting similar-sized shops around North America with the purpose of sharing best practices and business acumen, while learning how other businesses do what they do. In addition to the agenda, the regional events also encourage networking by providing an opportunity to talk shop and share issues, solutions, and even projects. 

About the Cabinet Makers Association
Celebrating 20 years, the Cabinet Makers Association was incorporated in 1998 by a group of custom cabinet makers who thought the small to mid-size shop needed to network and help each other grow profitably. Currently, CMA membership is made up primarily of 20 or fewer employee operations, with the vast majority of those being 1-5 person shops. For more information, visit www.cabinetmakers.org.

Chris Corrales, the owner of CNC Factory (CNCFactory.com) in Santa Ana, California, will address the Cabinet Makers Association October 17, one day before the Wood Pro Expo Lancaster event. Cabinetmakers from around the area will learn:       

• What is new in CNC (Computer Numerically Controlled) equipment;                                                                                             
• What is newly improved; and                                                                                                                                                                   
• CNC 3rd generation machines doing all the work.      

                                                                                     
The conference will be held at The Warehouse Hotel at the Nook, 75 Champ Blvd. in Manheim, PA.

CNC Factory designs, builds and manufactures CNC machines in their Orange County, California facility. “With CNC Factory located in the United States, we integrate new technology into CNC systems quicker and more skillfully than any other CNC manufacturer in the world,” Corrales says.
 
After breakfast at the Warehouse Hotel, the CMA group will tour:

•          Plain &  Fancy Cabinetry;
•          Keystone Wood Specialties and
•          Thaddeus Stephens College - Wood Technology Program.

Registration is $55 and includes group transportation, breakfast and lunch.  To attend the CMA event go to: https://www.cabinetmakers.org/october-2018-regional-event-lancaster.html
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CNC Factory is demonstrating its new Python XPR at Wood Pro Expo October 18 and 19 in booth 205. This robust CNC machine reaches a pinnacle of engineering that combines third generation (3G) robotic loading, spoil board cleaning, unloading and now CNC Factory Printing and Labeling. Users benefit from multi-directional graphic and text labeling instructions on nested materials. With these in place, woodworkers always know which edges need post production attention, and operators never lose track of cut pieces. In addition, Cabinet Vision software allows printing in various orientations. 

The Python XPR is designed for profitability, speed and ease-of-use. It is the workhorse of all CNC machines saving users’ backs and delivering a host of grow-as-you-grow features.
 
Corrales, who designed the Python XPR, notes that he, “included an automated 12-tool rapid carousel that changes tools in just four seconds, and moves 1,800 inches per minute. The Python conquers long, complex, multi-tool tasks efficiently from one to fifty sheets, with just one push of a button. It’s ergonomically, user-friendly, and needs only one operator to run in either robotic or manual mode.”  
 
The Python XPR sells for $69,900 and includes training and life-long customer support. CNC Factory promises that "nobody supports customers better!" See the Python XPR and all the company’s routers, edge banders, thermofoil presses and Lockdowel drilling inserting machines at www.CNCFactory.com
 
WPE is a regional event for woodworking businesses that brings together suppliers and experts for a localized presentation of equipment and supply solutions. WPE includes a strong educational program on best practices for shop production - including CNC basics, employee recruitment, finishing, lean manufacturing, business management, software, and shop safety - and an expo floor with equipment and supplies geared to small and medium-size shops. To register with free expo hall admission, go to this link and enter CNCFAC18 when prompted: https://www.woodworkingnetwork.com/events/wood-pro-expo-lancaste