Devonshire flooring specialist JF Joinery, with Fercell Engineering / WEIMA UK assistance, has turned a factory waste stream into a revenue earner and something useful.
JF Joinery managing director, John Fanthorpe, has been running this family owned woodworking business for more than 35 years. Built on recommendations and repeat orders they are renowned for traditional, beautifully crafted, English and European oak windows and doors, manufactured in their Holdridge Cross Workshops. North Devon. However, more recently they will be probably more widely known for their engineered oak flooring products. John commented, "Our engineered wood flooring products are now being specified into commercial properties and selected by private individuals”.
When visiting the Fercell Engineering / WEIMA UK stand at the RWM Show the solution to my growing factory waste problem was solved turn wood shaving, dust and end wood waste into additional a new business income stream, at the same time improving the company’s green credentials.
Testament to Johns strong environmental ethic, he commented, “I noted some time ago the “green credentials movement”. We only use wood from sustainable sources and now with WEIMA’s help convert wood shaving, dust and end wood into something useful and profitable.
The initial purchase included a WEIMA C170 briquetter and an accompanying 10 station bagging carousal unit. Factory wood shavings and dust are feed directly to the briquetting press where formed briquettes are then automatically bagged ready for sale. The briquetted product has become such a runaway success with the local community it has encouraged John to expand the operation to include a WEIMA WL4A shredder. Previously end wood was heaped in the yard for the local people to help themselves; this quickly became a logistical nightmare, presenting some serious health and safety issues. The WEIMA WL 4A 18.5kW shredder is fitted with a 10 – 12mm screen processing all end wood quickly, reliably and efficiently, providing further raw material for the briquetter press.
John mentioned an at the time not so funny story. Soon after the installation of the WL4A shredder, an apprentice upended the shop sweepings container into the shredder hopper. Unfortunately on this occasion the containers included a large workshop spanner. After a very loud BANG from the shredder the machine it stopped dead, John, fearing the worst, found the spanner and the only damage being a fractured knife. Pressure torque protection is just one of the many designed - in safety features to WEIMA machines. And, on reflection an invaluable insurance against more expensive gearbox damage. The spanner feared the worst requiring replacement!
Fercell Engineering / WEIMA UK specialises in the design, manufacture, and installation of dust and fume extraction systems, shredders, briquetters, industrial biomass burners/heater systems to include spray booths and drying ovens. In essence, a one stop shop supplying most time ex stack a single unit to a complete turnkey solution.
