| With a profusion of makes available to choose from, | | | | can you rely on any problems being dealt with by the |
| there are five key areas you need to look into before | | | | supplier quickly and efficiently? An efficient after-sales |
| making the final purchase decision. These are the | | | | service is essential if unnecessary downtime is to be |
| machine’s technical specification, its cut quality | | | | avoided. |
| and accuracy, its ease of use, its durability, and the | | | | Industry Benchmark |
| after-sales back-up service provided. | | | | The Swiss-made Striebig range of vertical panel saws |
| 1 Specification | | | | is a benchmark product which meets these |
| The specification of the saw is vitally important. You | | | | requirements. |
| will need a supplier who can help you through this. Here | | | | Machines are tailor-made to suit each customer. They |
| is a short checklist to help you pick the right supplier; | | | | are suitable for cutting practically all sheet materials, |
| - Does the supplier take time to fully understand your | | | | such as wood-based panels, plaster board, plastics |
| requirements? | | | | and aluminium panels, available with a two-year parts |
| - Do they have experience of your particular industry? | | | | and labour warranty. |
| - Can they supply a machine of the right specification | | | | These include a choice of five models, nine standard |
| with a range of useful options to suit? | | | | frame sizes and a huge range of options for added |
| - Can they explain how the machine meets all current | | | | productivity. They all come with guarding, braking, noise |
| and future legislation requirements? | | | | control and dust extraction that far surpasses current |
| - Do they offer excellent after sales service? (see | | | | European health and safety legislation, and are |
| point 5 below) | | | | accurate to 0.1mm with unmatched cut quality |
| 2 Cut Quality and Accuracy | | | | Striebig users benefit from 40 years of research and |
| To guarantee accurate and clean cutting, the machine | | | | development from a company that specialises only in |
| should have as a minimum the following five elements: | | | | the design and manufacture of highly advanced |
| - A rigid braced and welded single piece saw frame. | | | | vertical panel saws. |
| - A heavy duty saw beam with twin locking. | | | | All machines have conveniently and logically grouped |
| - Slides machined to within 0.01mm. | | | | controls, and are evenly balanced and smooth running |
| - A powerful motor for consistently smooth running. | | | | with only minimal physical effort required by the |
| - A fully adjustable and vibration free saw head. | | | | operator. |
| 3 Ease of Use | | | | They are long-lasting and commonly found in operation |
| Remember, a machine that is easy to operate and | | | | after more than 25 years’ use. Add to this their |
| ‘nice’ to use will be more efficient and is | | | | high resale value and the fact that they are the most |
| less likely to be damaged through incorrect use or | | | | sought after second-hand machine of their type. |
| abuse. A good supplier will set up a “test | | | | TM Machinery provide the vital local support for |
| drive” at their premises or a customer’s. | | | | Striebig. They have over two decades of unrivalled |
| 4 Durability | | | | expertise in delivering both a sales and after-sales |
| Durability is a crucial concern. Will the machine still | | | | service. They have a large team of specialist |
| perform the job it was bought to do in 10, 15, or more | | | | Striebig-trained engineers, offer a next day spare parts |
| years’ time? The best way to tell is to look at | | | | delivery from vast UK-based stocks, with spares |
| the suppliers’ machines that are still in operation | | | | available for all machines built since 1968. |
| and the number of second-hand machines available. | | | | Please use this benchmark document to check |
| 5 After Sales Service | | | | possible suppliers of vertical panel saws to help you |
| Finally, once the saw has been purchased and installed, | | | | make an informed decision. |