Andoras returns to Lamont for bespoke clamp

The clamp painted in the colours of the Irish tricolour.

IN LATE 2015, we reported the purchase by Andoras Ltd of Southern Ireland of an oversized matrix table from Lamont. Technical manager, Anthony Douglas, replied when asked if he would recommend the company: “Definitely! It was a very pleasant buying experience. It was a bespoke machine Alan made for me, anything I asked for he did without any issue at all. I would definitely go back to him!”

Anthony was as good as his word: he has returned to Alan Lamont to have an existing clamp refurbished, and purchased an additional clamp and two woodwelders.

Andoras Ltd is a leading bespoke furniture manufacturer, whose website, aislingfurniture.com, says that the company’s quest “is to satisfy each and every customer’s individual needs and desires, resulting in furniture that is unparalleled in terms of design, construction and finish.”

On the most recent purchases, Anthony told PW&SS: “It is quite complicated some times to get an engineering firm to understand exactly what you are looking for, especially with clamping machines. Half the battle is solved when you have the likes of Alan who manufactures and sells: he already has an understanding of clamping machines.”

Regarding the reconditioned machine: “We had a Nicholls Panelmate which needed reconditioning, but the manufacturer went bust in 2005. We gave it to Alan to be reconditioned, painted and recovered, and as he did such a good job we realised he could take that design and make a bigger one, as we cannot find anyone else who does that type of clamping system. Because Nicholls Panelmate was no longer trading, we knew we were not infringing their intellectual property.

“The right choice was to approach Alan. With such ease he was able to copy the clamping system and give it to me in the correct dimensions. It was exactly what I wanted and needed, and I am very happy with it. It was also very good value for money.”

Regarding the colour choice for the new clamp, Alan said: “I asked Anthony what colour he wanted it in, and he said he didn’t mind. So we painted it in the colours of the Irish tricolour.” This choice went down well.

Anthony continued, “The first set of clamps I got off Alan was for the assembly of in-frames, the frame mounted outside of the door onto the carcass. This set of clamps was for the doors.

“We wanted bigger clamps to produce bigger doors, bigger in height and width. Any bigger doors that didn’t fit the original clamps had to be clamped by hand: the new clamps have sped up the process dramatically, as well as keeping the operators happy.

“If I ever needed another clamp for doors I would certainly go back to Alan for the same thing.”

This article was first published in the Dec 2016/Jan 2017 issue of Panel, Wood & Solid Surface.