Gabbett’s Get Fenestrated

Designed to change how you think about your aluminium production workshop, Get Fenestrated Sydney 2016 sees leading industry partners come together to show you the latest advances in screen to machine technology; extrusions and hardware; workshop design and layout; materials handling; automated assembly systems and window design and manufacturing systems.

Business owners, factory managers, employees, suppliers and anyone in the aluminium industry will be able to experience first-hand the solutions, technologies and products designed to give them the edge.

Get Fenestrated will show how you can increase your manufacturing capability, not only with windows and doors but any open plan style office design, which tends to draw heavily on aluminium as a design and construction feature.

Over the course of the two day manufacturing open-house, delegates from the Australian Window Association will be onsite discussing all aspects of your industry. Industry partners include Orgadata and Softech, Capral and Alspec.

Get Fenestrated will be held on 3rd and 4th March at Gabbett’s Sydney showroom in NSW.

Weinig enjoys outstanding growth

At the 100th annual meeting of Weinig’s supervisory board in Tauberbischofsheim, CEO Wolfgang Pöschl reported that Michael Weinig AG enjoyed outstanding growth in 2015. The group registered a strong increase in orders in 2015 and expects double digit revenue growth.

“We are very satisfied with our current performance. This is all the more true in view of the prevailing global economic uncertainties in many markets,” said Mr. Pöschl.

Weinig’s new marketing strategy, Think Weinig, supports the company’s philosophy of offering complete solutions rather than one-off machines. Weinig’s Gregor Baumbusch said; “Customers think in processes: Weinig is the manufacturer in solid wood and panel processing that covers the entire value chain. This strength must be deployed even more efficiently in the market”.

Laminex Project of the Year

Laminex has announced the winners of the 2015 Laminex Project of the Year.

The vibrant Transperth Information Centre by Hart Architects and a stunning mid-century modern Sydney kitchen by Scott Weston Architecture Design have taken out this year’s awards, with each winner taking home a $10,000 business grant.

Located at the historical Perth Railway Station, the Transperth Information Centre is a light, bright space that uses colour as communication. Laminex laminates in bold colours co-ordinate with the train lines to make it easier for people to get to where they want to go, while also creating a striking visual design.

Equally impressive is the refurbished terrace kitchen located in Zetland, Sydney. Marrying mid-century modern with a contemporary architectural edge, the kitchen is refreshing in its approach to colour and materials. At the heart of the space, a custom-designed island gives a nod to 1950s colours using Laminex laminates in bright pops of colour.

Formaldehyde-free particleboard?

A Corvallis (Oregon, USA) start-up company is working to develop a formaldehyde-free adhesive used to manufacture particleboard and MDF.

The growing green building materials industry will certainly see this as a revolution with the new product in high demand world-wide. EcoPro Polymers is developing a plant-based adhesive that contains no urea-formaldehyde with assistance from Oregon State University. Oregon BEST, a non-profit organisation focused on clean technology innovation has invested $124,000 in the new technology.

The new adhesive utilises agricultural waste and is non-toxic. If successful, the new adhesive will end 60 years of formaldehyde emissions from panel products.

Furniture design off to a great start

2016 has kicked off to a successful start if imm Cologne (International Interiors Show) January 18 to 24 is anything to go by with 1,185 companies from 50 countries presenting the trends in furniture and furnishings for the coming year to around 80,000 trade visitors from 128 countries.

Rarely has the mood in industry been as positive and visitors attended with great optimism. A striking number of furniture designs were reminiscent of 1940s through 1960s design that make efficient use of materials, have delicate features, are lightweight and smaller. The trend can be explained by the smaller living spaces available in city homes, and a sense of nostalgia.