Lamont clamp and Woodwelder saves time and space at Gibson's Cabinet Makers

Gibson's Cabinet Makers offers quality handmade kitchens, bathrooms, dining rooms, bedrooms and freestanding furniture. Based on the southern fringe of Whitby, the company serves a wide area including Durham, Cheshire, Lincolnshire as well as Teesside and all of Yorkshire. With four or more major commissions on the go at any one time, Gibson's Cabinet Makers has seen its workforce double in recent years.

Part of this success is due to the Woodwelder and clamp system purchased from Lamont.

“We were getting busier and busier as the popularity of our furniture increased,” partner Roy Gibson told PW&SS. “To cope with the demand we were having to look at alternative ways of gluing up doors and drawers. Traditionally we were doing it with sash clamps, which is quite time consuming; and you also have to check that the workpiece is square a lot as well. Then there is the gluing up time, which could be hours. And once you had used all your clamps you would have to wait for one batch to dry before going on to the next. So we could only do 20 drawers or doors in one batch.

“With the Lamont system, it has a square corner and glue resistant plastic sheath to it, so glue does not stick to it. You put your drawer or door in and clamp it down: it pushes it into the square corner so everything is absolutely square.

“You also get the (Woodwelder) glue gun which heats up the RF glue in about 15 seconds, so you can do a corner with one zap, which speeds you up tremendously. Indeed, with the glue and the gun working together you can do a door in a minute.

“The Lamont system has become part of a production line, which allows us to have door components coming out of the machines, go straight to the Lamont system, after which the doors get sanded then go to be hinged and fitted. It is incredible to think back how we were working with sash clamps before we got the Lamont system. It is massively beneficial to us.

“We had seen one of Alan Lamont's displays at a JMJ woodworking exhibition, which we visited when we were looking into ways of increasing production. He was on the stand. We spoke with him and saw demonstrations and said we were very interested, went away to think about it, decided the amount of time it was going to save us would be very cost effective and purchased one.

“Before the show we were aware there were things of this nature, but really needed to see one and have it explained to us to understand the benefits, so the exhibtiion helped.

“We primarily use the Lamont system for doors, and also for drawers. It can also be used for frames. These are all our main components that we use to manufacture hand made kitchens and made to order furniture.

“As well as savings in time and in ensuring the work is square, it allows us to use staff effectively. Instead of having two people using the sash clamps, we now can have one guy putting units together while his colleague is gluing up. This means we can meet deadlines more quickly and increase turnover.

“It also saves space. With sash clamps, you end up with a great area of your floor covered in clamps and doors, all piled up on top of one another. The Lamont system is vertical, so it does not take up a lot of space; and as the doors come off dry they can be stacked vertically.

“One of the other nice bits about it is that you get different shapes and different sized face plates for the gun, which allows you to zap a drawer from inside, for example a 45° corner, as well as flat plates for a flat surface. You can utilise the machine in all sorts of gluing up procedures to solve a great many problems.”

Asked if he would recommend the system, Roy said, “I would absolutely recommend it to other people. I can't believe we coped so long without one, to be honest.”

This article was first published in Panel, Wood & Solid Surface, February/March 2019.

Woodwelder from Lamont speeds up production

PETER COCHRANE, of Peter Alexander Cabinets, began work as a carpenter nearly 13 years ago. “I had always wanted to specialise in fitted carpentry, and today I supply kitchens, wardrobes, studies and other fitted furniture items to high-end homes in the South-East,” he told PW&SS. “I have always been a sole trader, but having shared my workshop with a chap in a similar position, we are currently in the stages of becoming a limited company as joint directors.”

Peter has recently invested in a refurbished Woodwelder from Lamont.

“The need to turn jobs around quicker and quicker without compromising on quality forced us to break down the processes currently involved in cabinet production, trying to isolate where time savings could be made.

“Whilst quick-drying glues such as PUs are available, the mess involved is a massive turn-off, so we were keen to stick with traditional PVA glues. The process of assembling/clamping and storing the items in clamps was a howling sore-thumb in this respect — so a Woodwelder seemed like a no-brainer, at first sounding too good to be true!

“Chatting with fellow cabinet makers, and the use of on-line forums, only a few names crop up when discussing such things and Lamont was the most current and frequently occurring name in
discussion.

“A quick chat with Alan [Lamont] during my initial enquiry prevented me from looking further, as his informative and zero-pressure attitude towards selling his products was so encouraging, and filled me with confidence.

“We mainly use the Woodwelder for gluing face-frames, cabinet doors and drawer fascias, as well as small worktops, enabling us to move straight from assembly to the widebelt sander.”

When asked to describe the advantages the Woodwelder had brought, Peter replied, “The ability to have a single pair of clamps on the bench, assemble a door, ‘zap’ it, and then stack it up with other doors until assembly is complete is great. Then, moving straight to the sander to flatten everything within minutes just makes the process so slick!”

Asked if he would recommend the Woodwelder and Lamont, Peter said, “I would whole heartedly recommend the Woodwelder to anyone trying to up production times. I would definitely recommend Lamont: it was genuinely a pleasure doing business with Alan!”

Bespoke matrix table for bespoke kitchen maker

THWAITE HOLME Kitchens & Bedrooms Ltd manufactures bespoke kitchens and bedrooms. Each fitted kitchen or bedroom is designed and made in the workshop near Dalston, Carlisle, by a very skilled team with years of experience in cabinetry and bespoke furniture who pride themselves in the quality of their products. Styles run from classic to contemporary, and kitchens are fitted by Thwaite Holme’s own team of experienced fitters.

During the summer of 2017, Thwaite Holme invested in a matrix table from
Lamont.

“Alan [Lamont] demonstrated a matrix table to us many years ago and it was something we were keen to purchase, but never quite got round to,” director Ian Postle­thwaite told PW&SS.

“We had a smaller hydraulic table which we used for many years, but it was too small and we needed a larger one with bigger capacity.

“Alan was the obvious choice. We had seen the product in both trade journals and other workshops, and were impressed. His place is only 20 miles away, so he is handy and local. We went up to see Alan at his premises and discussed our needs. Alan came back with a design and price, and the table was manufactured specifically to our needs.”

The design of the table was bespoke: at the same time as purchasing the matrix table, Thwaite Holme invested in an OMEC 750CN dovetailing machine. The matrix table was constructed with a special section in the bottom left hand corner designed specifically for the assembly of dovetail drawers. Together, the dovetailing machine and the matrix table opened up a whole new field for Thwaite Holme.

The matrix table is also used for the assembly of frames and doors.

Ian described the advantages brought by the matrix table as “speed and accuracy of assembly, and bigger capacity. It is vertical rather than horizontal, and this is much more convenient and space saving.”

When asked if he would recommend Alan and the matrix table, Ian replied, “Absolutely, 100% I would recommend him. We would tell him the issues we had, and he was very good at coming up with solutions. I was very happy with the whole process.”

This article was first published in the June/July 2018 issue of Panel, Wood & Solid Surface.

"I should have done it 15 years ago"

CRISPIN and Gemma Furniture Design, of Marlborough, Wiltshire, is a specialist cabinet
makers and specialist kitchen manufacturer established 25 years ago. The team of four specialises in “things you can’t get anywhere else”, Crispin Forster told Panel, Wood & Solid Surface: “one off and unusual designs, from super modern to extremely traditional.” The company benefits significantly from repeat business with clients with whom it has a good relationship.

In the Summer of 2017, Crispin needed to upscale his production. To do this, he purchased a Woodwelder and a clamping system from Alan Lamont of Lamont Clamping.

“A long standing commercial customer contacted us with a big contract, which involved a lot of hardwood frame and door construction for bars and commercial kitchens, in sapele, ash and beech. We already had a full order book, so we needed to completely change our methods of manufacture for this contract. The CNC work was outsourced, but all the frames were made in house. They had to be separately constructed and we had to know they would fit together perfectly. The Lamont system was really helpful as it keeps everything square. It was very important it was really, really accurate and that the guys in the workshop could use it with minimal training.

“I chose Lamont because of the clamping system he sold, and because of his phone manner. Alan has a big variety of different clamping systems and you could see he had really thought about applications. He knew the industry and knew what was required, and I was impressed with the quality. It was obvious he was a specialist, as soon as you start talking to him you know he knows what he is talking about and offers very good guarantees.

“We use the clamping system and Woodwelder a lot for panel door manufacturing and also for worktop manufacturing and, while the Woodwelder cannot be used for all worktops, for example oilier woods such as Iroko, it is very good for tulipwood, for example. However, really heavy worktops can be left in the clamp overnight: and the clamping system really is a panacea!

“The Woodwelder, which was very well priced, is very, very good for panel door and frame construction, as well as for dovetail drawers. We try and do as much as we can on it, to be honest, as it is easy to use. And with the Woodwelder, glue dries in minutes rather than hours. This is a significant time saver.

“Everyone in the workshop is an accomplished cabinet maker and can think for themselves, so we are continually improving our methods of working. One great advantage of the new system is that, if you are careful, you can clean the glue off the reverse side before it is completely dry. With traditional clamping methods, this is not possible.”

When asked if he would recommend the clamping system, the Woodwelder and the company, Crispin replied: “I would highly recommend it! I am very happy with the purchase and should have done it 15 years ago: that is my only regret.”

This article was first published in the April/May 2018 issue of Panel, Wood & Solid Surface.

Lamont matrix table speeds up production

GEORGE Nicholson of Braewick Partnership set up business in 2009 on the island of Shetland. His main business is the manufacture of 'polycrubs', a particular Shetland form of polytunnels (http://www.nortenergy.co.uk/), which can be manufactured at the rate of one a week with one completed approximately every three weeks, with weather being an important factor. He can also turn his hand to the manufacture of anything, such as gates and house refurbishments, as the need requires.

George recently purchased a Lamont matrix table for its advantages in speeding up his production and in ensuring a perfectly square product.

“I had six gates to make and not enough sash clamps to do it,” George told PW&SS.“By the time I would have bought enough I would have spent a quarter of what the Lamont matrix table was. I felt it was best to buy the matrix table and have it for evermore than continually buy clamps, of which you would never have enough.

“I had a corner in the workshop where I could set up the machine without any problems: it is very space saving. It does not limit anything you do, and it is easy and quick to use. Most of the work I do on my own: when you have glue and lots of gates and need to glue them up and clamp quickly before the glue goes off, it is much easier to do it with the push of a button with the Lamont matrix table.”

George chose Lamont as his supplier as “It was about the easiest one to find on the internet. I did speak to some one else who had a second hand one coming which I could have had in three weeks, or I could buy one from Lamont immediately. I chose to go for Lamont.

“I could not find any bad reports on the internet; he is in Scotland; and the price was right.

“I spoke to Alan [Lamont] on the phone and he is a very genuine fellow: that is important when buying tools. I know if I phone him I will get an answer from him quickly and it will be the right answer. He will always see you right.”

As well as the gates for which the matrix table was originally purchased, George used the clamp to make a toy box for his six month old nephew as a Christmas present: the clamp held the box while it was glued up.

George sums up the advantages of the Lamont matrix table as “It saves space, it is easy to operate
single handed and is guaranteed to be square. That is a very big thing as the gates are not complicated, but there is a lot in them and everything is very tight, so once you have got them all cramped up to move them would take a bit of effort. By having Alan's machine I know it is square in two directions, down and across: it has to be square as his machine is square. It is a very good piece of machinery for that type of operation.”

When asked if he would recommend it, George replied, “Yes, no problem. It has a lot of power to do the job. With sash clamps you feel you are getting a bargain but you can't get any pressure. This machine has a good amount of power behind it.

“The company is very swift and easy to deal with: it was a pleasure to deal with Alan. If he said it was going to be delivered on Thursday, it was ready to be delivered on Thursday. That was Alan's way of saying thank you very much for the business. It was a great help as here in Shetland you know it has to be in Aberdeen at a certain time or it is not going to get on the boat that night and it might spend the next few days in Aberdeen at the back of a shed: machinery and equipment can get stuck in Aberdeen for a week if there are other things in the shed in front of it. Knowing it is on its way when it says it will be is very much appreciated.

“We have not had any problems yet, but I am sure that anything that does arise can be sorted over the phone. Alan would send up to anything required with no hassle. He always seemed to be very keen that you got the right machine you needed. He was very genuine, and went out of his way to explain the differences between each machine he had. It is his name that is on the machine, so he has to be good!”

This article was first published in the Feb/March 2018 issue of Panel, Wood & Solid Surface

Lamont matrix table and Woodwelder for Shaker 2 Go

SHAKER 2 GO is a specialist manufacturer of Shaker doors, specialising in doors for wardrobes and kitchens. Based in a medium sized workshop in Kent and working with Medite moisture-resistant MDF, the company offers Shaker doors in any size up to a maximum of 2,430 mm x 800 mm and has, through liaising with the client, been able to manufacture doors up to 10 ft high.

Managing director, Phil Temple, recently invested in a matrix table and Woodwelder from Lamont, to speed up production and to further improve the quality of the product.

“We manufacture doors in batches, and we used to use 30 minute polyurethane glue with sash clamps, stacking them while they dried. We were running out of space and clamps, and the process was a bit long,” Phil told Panel, Wood & Solid Surface.

When asked “Why Lamont?” Phil replied, “There wasn't really any other choice for us. Lamont kept popping up on the second hand market so I thought I would take a look. I didn't want a second hand machine and there was also the question of the Woodwelder, which all came as part of one solution for us.

“Now, we have no need to stack clamps and there is no need to tidy up clamps after use. It has sped up our production probably I would say 10-15 fold and, in combination with the Woodwelder, has made us a more professional workshop. We can turn orders around much more quickly and the quality of the work is much better. We know the doors are straight when they are clamped, equal pressure is applied to all sides and every single joint is solid. We use the matrix table and Woodwelder on every single door that we do: it is a tremendous time saver.”

Asked if he would recommend the matrix table and Woodwelder, Phil replied, “Yes, I would definitely recommend it. When we first took it on I was a little sceptical as I looked at the machine and thought about how much we had spent on it, but within a week I knew it was a right choice. We had never used a Woodwelder before, but it worked perfectly.

“Alan [Lamont] has been really good from start to finish, guiding how things work without being a salesman, giving us a very honest insight into it. We knew we needed it, and he was happy we had done our research. It has been a great help to us in moving forward and has enabled us to move into other areas. If we were to expand further, perhaps take on contract work, we would probably take on another matrix table and Woodwelder as if you have two joiners doing the work, you need two machines.

“It has changed everything.”

This article first appeared in the June/July issue of Panel, Wood & Solid Surface.

Lamont matrix table at Woodcraft Repetitions

WOODCRAFT Repetitions is a specialist manufacturer of windows and doors for the shed and garden leisure industry. With many items in stock for same day delivery, the company supplies both to trade partners and to the public.

“We found a niche in the market which hadn’t been filled,” managing director Ron Unthank told PW&SS. Ron has seen his company expand year on year, and recently invested in two matrix tables: one for windows from Lamont, and another, larger press from an Italian company for pressing doors.

Ron believes in investing in his workshop. “When you start as a business you haven’t got any funds. We have spent a lot over the past few years, investing heavily in machinery, as part of the company’s philosophy as we grow.”

With many years’ experience in joinery, Ron was familiar with Lamont, although he had never dealt with the company previously. Ron searched on the internet for Lamont and, on finding the website, made contact with Alan Lamont. He has been delighted with both the matrix table and the service he received.

“I wanted a very quick delivery, and three weeks later it was down in the factory,” Ron reports. “He was also able to very quickly adapt the machine to how I wanted it. The table comes with a left hand press station as standard: he changed this to a right hand press station, which fits in better with our workshop.”

He continues, “The table is mainly used for pressing windows so they are square. The windows for the shed industry are slightly different from other windows. We do not use glue, because that would not last in the garden setting. Instead, our windows are stapled with galvanised staples, in a tried and tested method used throughout our industry.

“Before we had the press we had to use hand clamps. Now, a process that previously would have taken minutes is completed in 15 seconds. The way we work, we have a team of people putting windows together, which are now being pressed as fast as they can be put together. And they are all perfectly square now.

“Two or three years ago we would be doing 30, maybe 40 windows a day. Now we can do 150 or 200, no problem.”

Another advantage for Ron was the ability to stagger payments, with the final payment being made in January, a month after delivery.

Asked if he would recommend the press, Ron replied, “Most certainly. I am very pleased with it, very impressed.” Although he did not attend W16 in Birmingham, Ron regularly attends shows in the W series, and says, “When I next go, I will drop by and see Alan. I have only known Alan since Christmas, but I have known of the company for many, many years. He is a pleasure to do business with.”

This article first appeared in the April/May 2017 issue of  Panel, Wood & Solid Surface

Bespoke Lamont clamp is "value for money", says Stephen Anthony Design Ltd

The bespoke clamp was specially constructed to meet
Ian Moore's specific requirements.

STEPHEN Anthony Design Ltd was established in May 2002 with a view to making the finest handmade furniture and providing the highest level of service whilst delivering value for money. To this end, the company has recently purchased a pneumatic matrix table assembly clamp from Alan Lamont of Lamont Clamping.

“For the past 15 years we had been using a manual cramping system. It had its problems in ensuring items we were cramping were flat and was also labour intensive in setting up,” the company’s Ian Moore told PW&SS.

“I do go every two years to the woodworking shows in Birmingham looking out for new innovations, new ideas, different ways of doing things. This year I specifically went with the knowledge we would have the capacity to re-invest and had pin-pointed cramping as being one of the areas we wanted to improve on. I had done my homework before I went and wanted to see the goods in the flesh. There was nothing else like Alan’s at the show.

“Lamont is pretty much the only company out there that will bespokely make what you want. We had some fairly unique requirements. The clamp is positioned underneath a fairly low mezzanine floor: a lot of other off-the-shelf versions on the market were too tall. With Alan’s product he makes them to order so they can be made to measure.

“We made allowances for the height it had to fit under. We had it built to the length we wanted, and there were other specific specifications. For example, although clamps can be built for a specific purpose and a lot of what we do is door and frame assembly, he also made clamps that press dovetail drawer boxes together. Also, as the press is 4 m in length, we can clamp up in 4 m plank worktops together. We have combined all the uses we would need and built in the flexibility to achieve all of these in one machine, saving space and money.”

Ian continues, “It is a great deal more accurate than our previous cramp. We are able to press up our doors, etc, and we can ensure they are flat with no twist in them when they are taken out. It is easier and quicker to use than our old system. It is a time saving, money saving device.”

When asked if he would recommend it, Ian replied, “Yeah, all of it, the whole thing. Alan is very good, a nice chap, who understands all of our requirements. We worked together on designing it and he included some design features to complement and achieve what we needed. The quality of the clamp, its robustness, is possibly over-engineered but therefore it is extremely good value for money. I would highly recommend Alan and what he makes, it is very good.”

This article first appeared in the February/March 2017 issue of Panel, Wood & Solid Surface.

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.

Lamont matrix table and Woodwelder proves popular at W16

ALAN LAMONT’S demonstrations of the Lamont matrix table and Woodwelders on the JMJ Woodworking Machinery stand proved highly popular throughout the W16 exhibition.

The matrix table on display had been sold before the end of the show, and many serious enquiries for both the matrix table and the Woodwelders were received during the show, to be followed up afterwards. Alan commented that visitors’ response to the equipment on show had exceeded expectations, and that he was pleased with his attendance at the show.

The main advantage of a Lamont matrix table and Woodwelder is that it significantly speeds up glue setting time, freeing up space in the workshop and the time taken to complete a job: many users quote the significant production gain as a major advantage. For example, glue will cure in minutes rather than hours. Most Lamont matrix tables are vertical, as illustrated, saving space in the workshop, but horizontal tables are also available.

All Lamont equipment is manufactured in Scotland and is designed to suit customers’ exact requirements. Both new and fully refurbished machines are supplied, as well as a complete service from spares to repairs. Although most well known for the range of matrix table assembly clamps and radio frequency glue curing equipment, Lamont has in recent years changed the face of

coffin production in the UK and Ireland, with a number of machines designed to increase the quality and speed of manufacture, enabling the coffin industry to offer a better quality and more competitively priced coffins.

To find out more about what Lamont can do for you, contact Alan Lamont today.

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

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.

Lamont matrix table and Wood Welder at Inscape

The matrix table and Wood Welder before they left
the Lamont workshop.

INSCAPE is a leading manu-
facturer of cubicle washrooms which are adaptable and attractive, durable and cost-effective, and smart.

The company’s products cover a wide range, including fitted furniture, and are designed for commercial settings, including health-
care, manufacturing, education, commercial/
retail, hotel/leisure, sports/fitness, residential care and secure institutions. There is a strong emphasis on high standards and the company is always looking to expand. To support this, Inscape is constantly investing in new machinery and, as part of this process, recently purchased a matrix table and Wood Welder from Lamont.

Inscape’s Gary Wynne told PW&SS, “We have extended our range of WC cubicles to include a more upmarket, more executive range known as Ligna, with hardwood lipping.” The Ligna range offers real wood veneers, stained and lacquered to achieve a variety of finishes. It is available in either a traditional cubicle door format or in a 44 mm flush fitting door, and it is for the latter that the Wood Welder and matrix table were particularly required.

“To manufacture the 44 mm Ligna flush fitting doors without the Wood Welder and matrix table is very time consuming indeed, as it involves sash cramping the edging onto the doors, waiting until the glue has gone off and then starting the process again,” Gary explained.

“With the Wood Welder, the glue is instantly cured, and the matrix table can be set for a particular size, which can then be repeated. This results in significant time savings, as well as freeing up space. We used to tie up two or three of the four benches we have with the old process: now none are tied up. Quality is also improved: you can be consistent in what you are doing, and our edging is now constantly in the right place and in the same place.

“The Wood Welder and matrix table have also opened up different options to us in terms of hardwood edging and jointing capabilities in terms of worktops and cabinets, which we have yet to exploit fully.

“I went to Lamont as Alan Lamont’s name was the one that came up as being linked to the Wood Welder. After speaking to him I was impressed: he knows what he is doing and is a great guy to deal with: very professional. He offers the right kind of prices and right kind of service, including training: he came down and spent two or three hours training the guys on exactly how to use the new kit.”

Asked if he would recommend Lamont, Gary replied, “Absolutely, both the kit and the person. Alan is great to deal with, I would recommend them in a heartbeat.”

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

Bespoke drawer clamp for Timbertone from Lamont

TIMBERTONE Design Ltd has 25 years’ experience in the kitchen and bedroom industry. The factory, which is modern and purpose built, is based on a two acre site, near Moneymore in Northern Ireland. It is equipped with the latest production machinery and is constantly investing in new technology. As part of this program, Timbertone Design Ltd recently purchased a drawer clamp from Lamont, which has helped enhance the quality of the company’s dovetail drawers.

Director, David Anderson, explained that the company had previously used a wooden mallet to tap the drawers together: when working manually, there is the risk of the drawer not being square, which would mean that it would not run properly in the runner. With the drawer clamp from Lamont, this simply doesn’t happen: “This clamping system squeezes the drawer without putting pressure on the joints: the pressure is evenly spread across the drawer. The drawer is never off square now. This gives enormous peace of mind. I don’t know how I have done  without it for so long, actually!”

One reason why David turned to Alan Lamont of Lamont is that 10 years ago he purchased a matrix table from Alan for use with solid timber doors, a table which continues to give excellent service and is used on a daily basis. David speaks highly of the personal service he received from Alan. “I phoned Alan and described to him the machine I wanted, I told him what I needed, supplied him with three samples of different  sizes of drawers, including curved drawers, and when the machine arrived it did exactly what I wanted. It was made to my requirements, to suit what I am doing, not something off the shelf,” says David.

“Alan is a gentleman and took time to go through the order with me. Any information I requested he forwarded to me. I got all the time and attention needed to ensure that the product was made to suit my requirements.

“The machine was delivered sooner than I thought it would be: that was a bonus. Alan gave me the option of picking the machine up myself or having it delivered, and we chose to have it delivered. When the machine arrived we took the wrapping off and set it in place: everything was self-explanatory. We have had no hassles with it whatsoever, and everything is as it should be.”

When asked if he would recommend it, David replied, “Certainly, yes. I would recommend the company and the product, we received excellent service.”

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

Bespoke Lamont matrix clamp for Andoras Ltd

The bespoke matrix clamp purchased by Andoras Ltd.

ANDORAS LTD, in Southern Ireland, is a leading bespoke furniture manufacturer, whose recently launched Aisling Furniture range exemplifies the company’s high standards: the 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.”

To meet these high standards, the company recently purchased a bespoke matrix clamp from Lamont.

“All our kitchens are high end, solid timber at the highest quality, the majority is hand built in-frame construction,” technical manager Anthony Douglas told PW&SS. “Usually the solid frame is 37 mm in size and implants directly onto the edge of the carcass. Our production is increasing: we are expanding and there is definitely an upward trend on how many pieces we are creating per week.  The clamps we had previously were not efficient enough to be able to clamp the 600 frames we needed clamped per week.

“I had always had in my head that a peg board system is the way to go: a matrix of holes where clamps can be fitted would be very versatile in all the sizes we do. We do not manufacture stock or set sizes: a customer can have any height, any width of frame or door that they wish. We needed as versatile a clamp as possible for these sizes.

“As I went through looking for peg boards, I found Alan Lamont. Where other manufacturers produced boards of set sizes, Alan was able to cater for everything I wanted on size. Although the table is reconditioned, there is no sign of this: it is practically brand new.

“I also needed an oversized machine: Alan had one that fitted the bill for me. Originally, it had only operated as a left hand side machine: I needed to have both sides operational. By talking with Alan and him understanding what I needed, he was able to manufacture for me exactly the shape and size of clamp we required. He was very helpful and the service was very good, he really stepped up for the mark.

“We have only had the table a few weeks and it is definitely paying dividends and increasing production. It has brought speed and efficiency. I used to have a clamp that only one operator at a time could use. Now you can have two operators working at the same time, an advantage of the left and right hand operation. Anyone can use it without much training: it is also a safe machine. It came very easy to install: it has four wheels on the bottom to manoeuvre into position, as well as a facility to easily take it off the lorry with the forklift very safely. Alan has thought of everything!

“We are using the matrix table to assemble frames and doors: it also has the versatility to glue up solid laminate boards. In its simplistic design (in the best sense) there is very, very little that can go wrong with it: it is very maintenance free! It only uses seven bar air pressure, which is not difficult for any workshop to achieve.”

When asked if he would recommend it, Anthony replied, “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!”

This article first appeared in the Oct/Nov issue of Panel, Wood & Solid Surface.

Matrix tables and woodwelders from Lamont

LAMONT can offer a wide range of matrix tables in all shapes and sizes, as well as a broad selection of refurbished woodwelders, as shown in this picture.

With Lamont, all equipment is manufactured in the UK, with the equipment designed to suit customers’ exact requirements. Fully refurbished machines can be supplied, and Lamont offers a complete service from spares to repairs.

Although most well known for the range of matrix table assembly clamps and radio frequency glue curing equipment, as illustrated here, Lamont has in recent years changed the face of coffin production in the UK with a number of machines designed to increase the quality and speed of manufacturing, enabling the coffin industry to offer a better quality and more competitively priced coffin.

Lamont supplies clamping machines, gluesetters, previously owned equipment and spares and repairs.

Comments from customers that Panel, Wood & Solid Surface has spoken to over the years include praise for the high standard of service, before, during and after installation. Many people have spoken of Alan Lamont’s willingness to work with a potential customer to ensure that the machine that is chosen is the one that is exactly right for their needs, as well as the care and attention to detail during the delivery and commissioning process, ensuring that everything happens on schedule. The peace of mind of the spares and repairs service has also been highly praised. To find out more, contact Alan Lamont.

This article first appeared in the June/July 2015 issue of Panel, Wood & Solid Surface.

Massive Lamont matrix table for Laminates Ltd

LAMINATES Ltd is one of the UK’s leading specialists in the manufacture and distribution of bespoke kitchen worktops and ancillary products. Operating from three premises within the UK, Laminates supplies a wide range of laminate worktops, splashbacks, gables and
windowsills, supplying to customers throughout England, Scotland and Wales.

Recently, the company invested in a massive 5.3 m x 2.2 m matrix table, purchased from Lamont.

“We have been in business for 30 years,” Laminates’ Andrew Ruddiforth told PW&SS, “and for the past 20 years we have gone down the CNC route of getting machinery to do a lot of the work. However, there are still a lot of things the machines don’t do, especially on the bespoke side of things, and for the handmade product, the matrix table from Lamont allows us to apply pressure to edging before the glue sets, for example: we had been using hand held clamps which is quite time consuming so, by using this system, we are able to maintain the highest quality standards with our handmade products but in a more efficient way.”

Andrew had spoken to Alan Lamont of Lamont, as well as consulting the Lamont website, and was impressed with what he saw and heard.

“Alan understood what we wanted. We did not really feel the need to look elsewhere: alternative quotes were obtained, but were not as relevant to our needs as that from Lamont. What Alan provided was exactly what we were looking for.”

The new super-size matrix table has allowed Laminates to maintain the hand made aspect of its product, alongside the CNC automation.

“The main advantage of the matrix table is the speed in which we can manufacture our product without any loss of quality,” said Andrew.

The matrix table is used for a wide range of bespoke products: exhibition stands, worktables, framing panels and more.

When asked if he would recommend it, Andrew responded enthusiastically: “Yes, absolutely!”

He continued, “The service has been excellent. Alan has always kept us up to date and answered any questions we had; he made recommendations that would best suit our needs and visited us to understand our requirements. We were very pleased with the service we received.”

This article first appeared in the April/May issue of Panel, Wood & Solid Surface.

Pleasing response at W14 for Lamont

LAMONT had a very successful W14, where the company exhibited a small matrix table and a refurbished woodwelder RF gluesetter on the JMJ Woodworking Machinery stand.

Many enquiries were received and there were several sales off the stand, including the matrix table on display, which was sold to Yorkshire Timber, a customer introduced to Lamont by JMJ. Many more orders are expected in the coming weeks and months.

A woodwelder will significantly speed up glue drying times, as many of Lamont's customers will testify. Benefits include freeing up workshop space, as product is ready for the next stage of processing within minutes rather than spending hours in clamps, as well as reducing lead times, particularly with urgent jobs. Lamont has a wide range of refurbished woodwelders available.

Also highly regarded are the matrix pegboard clamps, which can be produced in sizes ranging from small, through medium to large. The vertical orientation saves space in crowded workshops, and the ability to position the pneumatic clamps to meet any requirement is also much appreciated.

Lamont also offers a range of specialist machines, including coffin clamping and assembly machines, which prove highly popular within their market areas.

Alan Lamont was very pleased with the response at W14 and looks forward to following up on the enquiries in the weeks and months to follow.

For more information, please get in touch with Alan Lamont.

This article was first published in the Dec 2014/Jan 2015 issue of Panel, Wood & Solid Surface.

Silvan Floors invests for the future with Lamont

Silvan Floors produces high quality hardwood floors at its mill in rural Leicestershire, personally selecting the raw materials from the forests of Northern France and supplying the finished products to prestigious projects around the world.

Always on the look out for the latest in machinery & equipment, Silvan Floors recently acquired a “monster” press to laminate flooring from Alan Lamont of Lamont.

“It was a case of expanding our business,” partner, James Iliffe, told PW&SS. “We needed more pressing capabilities for several large orders we had picked up, as well as needing to produce more metres per month.

“Through our research, we found Alan's company. He came and sat with us, went through the options we had. We explained what we did and what he required, and he informed us of a press he had provided for one of our competitors: we wanted something similar but on a larger scale. He came to see us two or three times before an order was placed to make sure we were happy with everything he was proposing and to ensure that we got a machine that was exactly what we needed.

“What we do is quite unique: we are one of the few companies in the world that can produce flooring up to 15 m long, and we needed a second press that could cope with at least 7.5 m lengths.

“We do always try to purchase UK goods, as in this way we can do our bit to help the economy: and if we encourage our customers to buy British, well, we feel we should do the same. Alan's pricing was not too far away from what we wanted to spend; and the fact that he had produced not one, but four or five, presses for our competitor was also an advantage. The other company must have been happy with what they were purchasing as they kept ordering more!

“We use it to press 6 mm oak veneers onto a 15 mm birchwood plywood: this is the main component of an engineered timber floor. The new press can handle components up to 7.5 m long and 350 mm wide: and we still have the other press if required for longer components.

“As a side loading press, the new machine is quick to load and unload: certainly quicker than the longer press, which is daylight loading. The time and labour saving is a huge advantage to us.

“Another advantage is the ability to move the rams around, so if we are pressing components at different lengths we can almost build a pyramid on the press and move the rams to suit each level.”

James added that another advantage is that the press runs off compressed air. “We have a power limit within the building, which we are very close to. With this press, the electricity runs the compressor but that it is all: which also means the cost of running the machine is lower than it would otherwise be.”

When asked if he would recommend it, James replied, “I most certainly would, yes!”

This article first appeared in the August/September 2014 issue of Panel, Wood & Solid Surface.

Significant savings in time for Tucker Joinery with a refurbished clamp from Lamont

TUCKER Joinery is a long established, family run business offering a complete range of timber products including joinery, furniture, staircases, conservatories and shopfitting, as well as providing a spraying & finishing service. Recently, company owner, Lee Tucker, invested in a refurbished “supersized” clamp from Lamont. Lee’s wife, Emma, also part of the company, took the time to speak to PW&SS about this purchase.

Emma explained that the refurbished clamp was required as its predecessor, which Tucker Joinery had owned for a number of years, had failed and needed to be replaced. Emma said that the company had turned to  Lamont “because it is a name we know and trust.” Lee had spoken to Alan Lamont in the past: and it was on the basis of these conversations that the order was placed now.

The clamp is used across the full range of Tucker Joinery’s products, including windows, doors, cupboards and units. Even having had a clamp before, Emma said that the main advantage of the new refurbished clamp had brought was time saving. “Work that would take somebody by hand three or four days we can now do in half a day. We can do quite a lot more on this one, so it is a lot better for us.”

She continues: “If anybody is looking for anything similar in a similar sort of business, we couldn’t praise the clamp enough. The time it has saved us is incredible and the whole process of buying it was easy. You were always kept up to date.” And concerning Alan, she says, “He was really helpful, kept us informed all the time, didn’t mind us phoning up to ask questions about delivery, etc. He was really approachable and really helpful.” Asked if she would recommend Lamont, Emma replied, “Yes, definitely.”

This article first appeared in the June/July 2014 issue of Panel, Wood & Solid Surface.

Cutting lead time in half with Lamont

Gerwyn credits the clamp and woodwelder
with cutting his lead time in half!

WITH 24 years of experience in joinery and carpentry, Timberworks Wales specialises in hand crafted, bespoke kitchens, windows, doors, frame and stairs, as well as offering a fast, responsive, subcontract CNC routing and cutting service from customers’ own stock or from bought-in materials on an Anderson PTP 3013 CNC router, believed to be unique.

“Owner and creator”, Gerwyn Lloyd, has recently invested in a range of equipment to improve the efficiency of the workshop and the service he can offer, including a matrix table and woodwelder from Alan Lamont. Gerwyn credits the clamp and woodwelder with cutting his lead time from 14-21 days to 7-11 days: in other words in half!

A keen reader of PW&SS, Gerwyn had been keeping his eye open over the past year for a vertical clamping system. He says, “We are very limited for space, so we needed something on wheels that could easily move about the workshop.” Alan’s system was the one that he read about most, so Gerwyn gave him a call to find out more.

He says, “Alan was brilliant. He brought some machines down, we had a demo and we were sold! We told him what we wanted by phone and email, and he answered all our emails really fast. He tells you what the machines can and cannot do, and then lets you make your own decision: he’s not pushy at all. We have had one or two issues, but those were our fault, not the product’s, and Alan helped out with those really quickly. He is an amazing guy!”

Indeed, Gerwyn has since ordered two additional rams, bringing the total up to six, so that more products can be clamped at once.

When asked to describe the advantages, Gerwyn had a long list: “Ease of use, and it speeds up the whole clamping process: also, we don’t have a workshop full of clamps spread around, everything is in one place. It also means a safer workshop, as we don’t have to worry about people tripping over pieces of timber. We use the RF gun [woodwelder] to prepare work for the CNC because it is so efficient and fast, and means that we can keep up with the CNC! And the time-saving is amazing: it will pay for itself in months.”

And the clamp and gun is used on a wide range of products: “Stair assembly, treads and strings; furniture assembly and parts; general laminating of timber to make decorative moulds; and a lot of kitchen tops. It makes everything twice as fast as previously. It works really well!”

Asked if he would recommend it, Gerwyn replied, “Oh yes, totally! If there were room I’d have another one.”

Stop Press: since this article was written, an additional woodwelder has been indeed purchased by Timberworks Wales!