Calgan Recliners saves by shredding its waste with the WL4 WEIMA
A Weima WL4 shredding machine reduces the cost of disposing of wood waste at Calgan Recliners, the only dedicated reclining furniture manufacturer in Southern Africa.
Garth Anderson, chief production officer of Calgan Recliners, says the furniture frame-making process generates large volumes of pine, saligna and chipboard offcuts. Much of the waste is bulky and fill the skips quickly.
“We are running at full production with 600 employees, and the inconvenience and costs of emptying the waste skips twice a week are increasing. We realised that by shredding the offcuts, we could fit more into a skip,” Anderson explains.
The company contacted the woodworking and sawmilling machines supplier, Nukor, to find a solution. “We opted for the Weima WL 4 shredder, and it is making an enormous difference,” he comments.
“The offcuts, no matter how bulky, are shredded, and the chips and flakes flow into the skips. We are saving money every month by emptying the skips about once every three weeks.”
Anderson says there are plans to add value to the waste next year. The options include separating the solid wood from the chipboard waste and selling the shredded solids to animal breeders. The other is to invest in a biomass system to generate energy. Calgan Lounge was established in Selby, Johannesburg in 1993 by Cecil Kagan. Today the family-owned concern specialises in manufacturing single-seat recliners and recliner suites for independent stores and retail furniture outlets in South Africa and neighbouring countries.
Anderson says the business focuses on international competitors and not local competition. “Furniture imports from China killed the case goods industry in South Africa, and we don’t want this happening to our upholstered furniture market. “The only way to compete with international manufacturers of cheap imported furniture is to operate efficiently. We mass-produce modular components at high volumes and serve a diversified customer base,” says Anderson.
The modular concept allows for better packaging options. Each piece is
flat-packed in its wrapping for easy handling, loading and delivery. We
offer customised options with a one-week turnaround time.”
The Calgan marking and cutting department employs a combination of expert leather workers and a fully automated fabric optimising system.
Weima MD, Andreas Mack on innovation and recycling
Every cycle has a beginning before further processing can happen. When it
comes to recycling, this is usually the shredding of waste and residues.
“Our customers expect machines that operate around the clock,” explains Weima managing director
Andreas Mack. Weima manufactures shredding and processing machines for the furniture and wood processing industries. Nukor in South Africa is the agent and service provider for Weima
in Africa.
Mack says the machines and their components process extreme loads. “One of the greatest challenges for our customers is the changing input material, which can be small or large, light or heavy. We believe a robust construction and high-quality components are the be-all and end-all of the shredding process.”
The desire for more sustainability remains a driving force of future economic development. “We provide turnkey and custom shredding and compacting options for various material flows,” says Mack.
“The worldwide focus now is on sustainability. “We believe the recycling industry will prosper, outliving industries like mining. Recycling will transform all sorts of waste products into raw materials, adding value and forming future industries,” he comments.
