Friday, December 4, 2020
Blumsom Timber Centre has grown and diversified, whilst maintaining the core values etched into the company’s 124-year history. The Barking-based company is set to embark on a 30-year relationship with German machinery manufacturer, Weinig, that’s as firm today as it was then.
“We’ve never been a company that stands still,” begins Robert Blumsom, Chairman of Blumsom Timber Centre and founder of Blumsom Custom Milling. Investment came in the form of an advanced on-site machining facility that could offer a quick turn-around time and no minimum order quantity on solid wood and MDF mouldings. “To provide this service, we needed the best moulders on the market and Weinig was the only manufacturer that could supply us with the kit we needed,” admits Robert. “We haven’t looked back and as a result, over time, we’ve been able to reduce labour costs by 35% and process three times as many timber mouldings on half the number of machines.”
More recently, the company has undergone a £1 million invest project that has seen the full renovation of its workshop and storage facilities and the introduction of a brand new Weinig P1500 moulder – the first of its kind in the UK – designed to streamline production, secure short lead times and increase machining efficiencies.
“We knew we needed a highly specified machine to fit into our manufacturing process and Weinig delivered. We were already running two Powermat moulders to create standard hardwood profiles – including architraves, door frames, door stops and lippings – and non-standard profiles specified by architects. But we lacked flexibility when it came to working from cuttings lists with multiple-sized components…” he continued.
To overcome this, the new Powermat 1500 was built with a universal head and a second right head that can be inclined to 45˚ – a unique offering created for the long-standing timber specialist. These options gave Blumsom the extra flexibility they needed and reduced the number of tools required. The added 310mm width capacity and variable speed of 4-12,000 rpm (controlled through the Powercom system) also lent itself to broader production capabilities and in turn, future-proofed the investment. “This shortens the supply chain, gives us complete control over our production and ultimately, reduces costs. The moulder’s quick set-up time, ability to switch from short to long runs and its capacity to adjust PAR from one size to another without us having to turn off the machine, has also reduced downtime and positively impacted on our own lead times, whilst its production accuracy means we can ensure a high quality product every time.”
Robert adds, “We are so proud of our history and what we have achieved. My son, Freddie, has recently taken on the role of Chairman and he too has the foresight to invest in innovation – this is why we’ve been steaming ahead with our £1million investment programme. We know the industry will change and we know we’ll have to change our processes to remain relevant but like all things, change offers opportunities. Weinig’s machinery and technology has helped us stay ahead of the curve and I can honestly say that without them, we wouldn’t have a business today. Here’s to the next 124 years…”
Tags: Blumson Timber Centre, flexibility, moulder, powercom, Powermat 1500, weinig, weinig group
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