A long-standing partnership between a Dutch woodworking firm and Italian machinery manufacturer Saomad has entered a new chapter, as Tifa Lemele moves decisively into timber-frame construction and large-scale prefabrication.
A Company Built on Wood and Precision
Tifa Lemele was established in 1999, growing out of a construction company that had historically manufactured its own windows and doors. That heritage continues to shape how the firm operates today. The company now employs more than 55 people and manages the full production cycle in-house — from initial design through to on-site assembly — giving it considerable flexibility and quality control across complex projects.
Three qualities define Tifa Lemele’s position in the Dutch woodworking market. It thinks project-first. It controls every phase of production. And it places certified, sustainable timber at the centre of everything it builds.
In 2024, marking its 25th anniversary, the company adopted the motto Constructed by Nature. This philosophy reflects a belief that wood is among the few genuinely renewable building materials capable of supporting a circular construction model. The company works with certified timber, invests in prefabrication, and increasingly incorporates bio-based materials across its project portfolio — decisions that reduce environmental impact and support long-term carbon retention in built structures.
The First Saomad Chapter: Woodpecker Just
Tifa Lemele’s relationship with Saomad began when the firm was seeking a dependable, high-performance solution for manufacturing wooden window frames and doors. That search led to the Woodpecker Just, a machine that combined precision, flexibility, and production efficiency in a way the company found difficult to source elsewhere.
Saomad’s Dutch distribution partner, Gerretsen Wijhe, played a meaningful role in the decision. Both parties took time to understand Tifa Lemele’s processes before making any recommendation. That consultative approach helped build a foundation of trust that has endured well beyond the initial purchase.
The Woodpecker Just delivered results. Productivity increased. The workforce required to operate the line reduced. Quality remained consistently high. The machine’s ease of use meant the line operator could take full advantage of its capabilities without extensive intervention. Complex window and door geometries could be executed with dimensional accuracy that manual processes could not reliably achieve.
Entering New Territory: The Kairos 620
Demand for prefabricated buildings and timber-frame construction is growing across the Netherlands and wider European markets. Tifa Lemele identified this trend early. The firm concluded that further automation was essential to meet that demand competitively and sustainably.
The Saomad Kairos 620 is a five-axis machining centre designed specifically for structural beams and cross-laminated timber (CLT) panels. It opens production possibilities that were previously out of reach for the company. Large wooden elements, complex joints, and non-standard structural components can now be processed in-house with both speed and precision.
Tifa Lemele did not arrive at this decision quickly. Several competing manufacturers and machines were evaluated in detail. Technical specifications, software usability, and operator feedback all informed the final choice. The firm’s production operator recommended the Kairos 620 directly — citing its intuitive controls and operational ease as decisive factors. That endorsement carried considerable weight internally.
The five-axis capability eliminates the need for multiple setups when working with complex geometries. This saves both time and labour. Large-format panel processing, which was previously difficult to manage in-house, becomes straightforward with this system.
Partnership Over Transaction
What distinguishes the Saomad relationship for Tifa Lemele goes beyond the machinery itself. Direct communication, reliable after-sales support, and a shared understanding of the firm’s production model have made Gerretsen Wijhe and Saomad genuine long-term partners rather than equipment vendors.
In a manufacturing environment where after-sales responsiveness can determine whether a production line runs or stalls, that local presence matters. Gerretsen’s proximity in the Netherlands provides Tifa Lemele with rapid support when issues arise.
The Road Ahead
Tifa Lemele intends to grow its footprint in prefabricated construction, timber-frame building, and bio-based facade solutions. Automation is central to that ambition. The Kairos 620 allows the firm to scale production without a proportional increase in specialist headcount — a critical advantage as skilled labour shortages continue to affect the wider European woodworking sector.
The company’s trajectory is clear. Sustainable timber construction is not a niche. It is the direction of travel.
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