Knights Country Kitchens selects a Lamont matrix table

KNIGHTS Country Kitchens, founded forty years ago by managing director, Michael Wimpress, has many years’ experience designing bespoke kitchens that have exceeded customers’ expectations time and time again. All of the kitchens and interior furniture are handcrafted in Suffolk by highly skilled craftsmen, and are built using only the finest materials and traditional methods that will stand the test of time.

Shortly after the company moved into its present premises 31 years ago, Michael invested in a matrix table from Lamont, for kitchen frames and door assembly. It is only recently that Michael has needed to replace the matrix table, it has functioned so well over the years.

“It was really good, definitely, it has made me thousands of doors,” Michael told PW&SS. “It could do with having its rams refurbished, but otherwise it is still in working condition.”

Michael contacted Alan Lamont to discuss the way forward, should the existing machine be refurbished, or would it be more worthwhile to purchase a new table in order to double capacity? “Alan is a straight sort of guy and it is nice to work with him. He was willing to do the refurbishment, but it was more worth our while to double capacity with a new machine.

“What I liked about it is, I probably hadn’t spoken to Alan for 20 plus years but he was still the same: he explained what I wanted to know, we reminisced a bit and he said he would drop in. He came along, had a look, and sent some drawings, which arrived promptly. Once it all came through, I said I would book it: and it was ready in the three weeks that he said it would be. The whole experience was as good as it had been thirty years ago. The after-service was really good too.

“We are bespoke kitchen manufacturers, and Alan is a bespoke cramp manufacturer. He listens to what you say and designs a matrix table to match. We know the specific dimensions of our ranges, where we want the controls, etc. Alan will say if something is or is not possible, or if there is a better way of working, but in essence Alan will design a table exactly as you want him to. We would give Alan ten out of ten!

“I would definitely recommend him, maybe not to our competitors, but what he made up for us is definitely beneficial for our production. We can double up on everything, which gives us an advantage over others around here. If you have a kitchen with 22 doors, you don’t want to find out after they have been clamped that four are out of square. The matrix table saves a lot of time and money.

“Within an hour you can show people how to clamp a door up and you can’t get it wrong. Everybody loves it!”

This article first appeared in the August/September 2016 issue of Panel, Wood & Solid Surface.