For the presentation of the new Technology Center in Rimini, Scm Group – the Rimini-based giant specializing in woodworking solutions – showed a wide range of solutions to the entire world. We have tried to make a concise review in this article.
2023 was an intensive year for SCM, the Rimini-based specialist of woodworking solutions. An intensive year with plenty of investments, a long chain of innovations and a new Technology Center officially opened in Rimini at the end of September: a space that hosts and displays all the technologies created by the group, and an opportunity to have an overview of the group’s achievements in 2023 (you can find the interview with Luigi De Vito, general manager of SCM, in the Xylon September-October issue, ed.), to anticipate future trends and to take a close look at the technological solutions on display. From sawing to edgebanding, from automation of handicraft solutions, from wood constructions to doors and windows, from assembling to finishing.
The new Technology Center presents itself as the new digital home of woodworking innovation: every detail has been designed to offer the widest range of technologies and services and provide integrated, connected, flexible, more sustainable and optimized processes at each stage of secondary wood processing.
Among the new entries there were some applied to the CNC machining centers: “Cargo”, an innovative automatic system for loading and unloading doors and panels, and the new cad-cam programming software, “Maestro lab”.
Cargo was presented integrated with the “morbidelli m200” pods&rails machining center: it is a fully automated cell that requires no operator supervision, and it is unique in the market for its ability to continuously load and unload pieces in masked time while the machine performs drilling and routing operations. This exclusive solution allows for maximum efficiency by avoiding manual work phases and their associated costs and unproductive time, in addition to an unprecedented ease of use: both the machining center and Cargo are directly managed with “Maestro active HMI” interface.
“However, if it is true that the technology remains the heart of SCM’s experience, the software and services are increasingly the guarantor element of a continuous and shared relationship with the client”, wrote the group in the press release dedicated to the event.
“Maestro lab” is the new cutting-edge cad/cam programming software for both the office and machine use. Intuitive and dynamic, it allows you to easily transform an idea into a finished product, thanks to intelligent and technologically advanced programming functions and more than 150 already integrated apps. So, from the office to the factory in a flash via an enjoyable and fast user experience.
“Cargo”.
The contextualised and continuous exchange of information from the machine to the cloud thanks to the IoT “Maestro Connect” platform means SCM can provide clients with rapid access to answers and specific advice which will support the operators and maintenance workers with their challenges and needs for autonomy when using, carrying out maintenance and programming the machine and software. A specific area created inside the Technology Center, the Control Room, demonstrates how data are transformed into bespoke assistance and advisory services of a proactive and predictive nature with a view to guaranteeing the client operational continuity thanks to the most evolved digital technologies and constant attention by the SCM Service team.
SCM continues to invest in the excellence of its customer service and, for the event, opened the doors to “Autostore”, its new automated spare parts warehouse. This innovation has allowed SCM to increase fivefold the pick-up speed of the codes and increase the number of orders handled within 24 hours by 26 percent. All this with an energy consumption of less than 0.1 kWh per robot, confirming the group’s focus on sustainability.
Sustainability which also means ergonomics and ease of use, made available to the operators of all the SCM machines by the renewed “eye-M” control panel, which makes the operator’s work easier and offers modular programming and higher computing power.
AUTOMATION, SAWING AND EDGEBANDING
SCM’s new Technology Center displayed automated and connected solutions, as well as interaction systems between humans, machines, articulated robots and AMR (Autonomous Mobile Robots) shuttles, software and digital services.
Among these, the “gabbiani gt2” beam saw with articulated robot for automatic loading and unloading: a flexible cell that optimizes shifts and promotes the needs of machining that is both “batch 1” and based on large volumes. It can be used with or without the articulated robot, with automatic switch from one modality to another. All this enhanced by the new “Maestro optiwise” optimiser.
The sizing and nesting cell is ideal for batch 1 with “flexstore” hp automatic storage and an articulated robot for unloading finished, small and discarded pieces. The “gabbiani p80” beam saw and the “morbidelli x200” nesting machining centre are both integrated into the automatic warehouse that ensures storage, labelling of the panels and direct loading onto the worktable of both machines, to protect the more delicate surfaces. Simultaneously, the “gabbiani p80” beam saw can also perform pack cutting with exceptional production levels.
The “stefani cell E” edge banding cell combines the many advantages of “stefani x” industrial edge bander in terms of productivity and quality with those of an automated and flexible interaction, thanks to the pickback gantry panel return system. The electronic touch operating units guarantee top finishing quality even on the most delicate materials, while the new hi-drive kit increases the positioning speed of the units for high productivity even in batch 1 production. All this with a simple and intuitive control thanks to “HMI Maestro active edge” software.
The “morbidelli cx220” drilling and dowelling flexible cell with robot allows to produce all furniture elements more efficiently, even with workpieces that differ considerably from one another. The cell produces one panel per minute and over 400 panels per shift, with one operator, in 50 square meters. It can be used exclusively with the robot for a continuous cycle production, or with partial operator supervision.
Sawing was a highlight at the event, where SCM exhibited “gabbiani vsi”, a vertical panel saw with independent motors for main blade and scorer with mechanical plunging designed to make horizontal and vertical cuts on different types of wood materials.
As to edgebanding, the official opening of the Technology Center saw the debut of the new “Maestro edgestore” software for centralized control of the customer’s edges: it ensures their use and position in the warehouse are always under control, as well as sharing information with software and company management systems.
Also on display was the “olimpic 500” automatic compact edge bander. Versatile use of different kinds of glue, Eva and Pur and the machining of two real radii thanks to the Multiedge devices available on all the operating units including the rounding unit.
Also making its début was the “olimpic 300”, a new edge bander for small artisan businesses. It allows to perform a wide variety of processes like the two real radii machining with simple automatic settings, 45° chamfering and the upper and lower edge finish of the panel in differentiated mode.
A completely new entry was the “olimpic 500plus” edge bander for even higher productivity, processing solid wood lippings up to 12 mm and gluing plastic edges by using hot air technology for an invisible glue line.
“Olimpic 500plus”.
ASSEMBLY
For assembly, the featured “action e” is now available with the new unloading loading system: a valuable aid for mounting the cabinet at the working height of the clamp and pushing it into the pressing area as well as vertically positioning mounted cabinets and transporting them to the next work area.
The “action p” manual loading and unloading electromechanical clamp machine has also been revamped: the new operator interface (HMI) allows for even simpler and more intuitive operation and enables import and export of work programs, production data and general database.
WINDOWS AND DOORS AND SOLID WOOD
The Grand Opening was also the opportunity to discover a world preview inside the expanded factory in Rimini, the new “system 9” integrated line for windows and doors manufacturing, which includes another absolute novelty: the “celaschi action” double-sided tenoning machine. The SCM line stands out for the rapidity in its setup change and the extreme flexibility in the management of workpieces with different dimensions, allowing the production up to 200 complete windows per working shift, even with medium-small batches. The new “celaschi action”, in particular, allows to process two elements of different lengths simultaneously, exploiting the principle of machining with moving motors and stationary workpieces. Among the pluses, the presence of 4 electrospindles each one served by a 6-position tool changer.
The Rimini factory show also featured “windorflex”, the new automatic machining cell for producing complete windows, designed to optimize production rhythms by maintaining high flexibility and excellent finishing.
News also for the “superset nt” automatic throughfeed molder, now equipped with SCM’s IoT platform “Maestro connect”, for an intelligent and connected production of profiles for windows, doors, stairs, beads, frames and furnishings.
TIMBER CONSTRUCTION
Plenty of space was also dedicated to the latest in timber construction, presented in digital mode. These include “oikos xl+”, a new CNC machining center for structural columns with a maximum cross-section of 1,250 by 610 mm, used in multi-storey buildings. The presence of an independent sawblade unit as well as the 6-axis operating unit, means that cuts can be performed even on the maximum thickness.
Also on show: the “oikos xs” cnc machining center that guarantees maximum speed of execution, precision and reduced footprint when processing glulam or solid wood beams with a maximum cross-section of 450×240 mm; “dmc system xl”, highly modular automatic sanding-calibrating machine, capable of machining CLT panels up to 3700 mm in width and 500 mm thick.
JOINERY
The most representative SCM joinery machines were also on show. Stand-alone as well as integrated solutions like those for beam saw, edgebanding and drilling of the Smart&Human Factory integrated cell dedicated to flexible and bespoke production from raw materials to finished furniture and enhanced by the integration with Mes software.
Last but not least, during the Grand Opening, SCM also presented the new solutions developed in the past two years: “blade off”, the innovative safety system applied to circular saws. Thanks to the smart sensors it prevents accidental contact between the human body and the blade. Also in evidence: the new on/off system and the automatic setup with multi-radius tools on the trimming and edge scraping units on “me 40” and/or “me 35” edge banders controlled by the “eye-S compact” control system with “Maestro active edge” interface which guarantees high performance according to the program; “startech cn k”, compact 3-axis NC machining centre ables to carry out all types of milling, decorations, engraving, signboard creation and 3D model prototyping.
