Ligna 2017 sets the stage for automation and smart manufacturing in U.S.

Stiles Machinery is proud to introduce new technologies and solutions to North America following LIGNA 2017. Manufacturers will benefit from a wide-variety of innovations and products demonstrated by some of the world’s leading manufacturers at LIGNA held in Hannover, Germany on May 22nd- 26th. Industry experts occupied 10 halls demonstrating innovations in wood processing equipment, services and solutions including smarter technologies and enhanced automation.

HOMAG further solidified their reputation as the market leader by stealing the show with the launch of tapio, a revolutionary digital platform for the future of the wood industry. “tapio” provides an open platform to all partners, customers and technologies providing comprehensive knowledge of the entire production process. Users are able to monitor the status of their machines in real time, retrieve energy-usage data, run reports, access saved programs and recipes from the cloud, and even operate machines remotely.

Along with a multitude of new technology innovations and automation designed to increase productivity, precision and efficiency, HOMAG demonstrated new advancements in CNC processing, zero-joint edgebanding technology, solid wood processing, surface technologies and batch size one production. Attendees enjoyed a fully-automated batch size one production concept with a fully-networked furniture production line including a storage and retrieval system, HPS robotic cutting line, four-sided zero edge processing, and automated drilling, clamping and robotic packaging. Benefits of the new automation technology were highlighted throughout the booth including AGV (Automatic Guided Vehicles) designed to transfer parts between the machines, the new intelliGuide system for panel saws which uses LED lighting and lasers to communicate part positioning to the operator prior to sawing, and a newly redesigned, cohesive software platform from HOMAG Software Solutions.

Also on display this year was the Innovation Center offering a glimpse into technology of the future with 3-D printing and a zero joint edgebanding process using microwave technology.

LIGNA attendees witnessed the introduction of fully-automated spray machines from HOMAG for furniture parts, doors, staircases and interior fitting elements as well as new solutions from WEINMANN in timber processing for home construction, window and door components.

Stiles will be showcasing a number of these new innovations in their (5) showrooms spread across North America, as well as in booth 7411 at the upcoming AWFS 2017 next month in Las Vegas. For more information on the new technology Stiles will be demonstrating at AWFS, please visit StilesAWFS.com.

​About Stiles Machinery Inc.
For more than 50 years, Stiles has been helping manufacturers succeed. As the largest supplier of quality
machinery, Stiles provides a Total Production Solutions approach by also offering equipment integration, financial
services, education, service and parts. Headquartered in Grand Rapids, Mich., Stiles has regional offices in High
Point, North Carolina; Bristol, PA; Coppell, Texas; and Rancho Cucamonga, California. Stiles is a proud member
of the HOMAG Group, a global leader in the production of industrial machines for manufacturing. Visit Stiles at
www.stilesmachinery.com. For additional information, please contact Christina Elsenbroek, Stiles Machinery, at
616.698.7500 or celsenbroek@stilesmachinery.com.