Family-owned timber manufacturer Archwood Group has cut production time for by 50% following a machinery upgrade at its Chirk site in North Wales.
The business, which operates the Richard Burbidge and Atkinson & Kirby brands, replaced its Maka ME machine with a Masterwood CNC machine as part of wider investment in manufacturing technology and automation.
The upgrade has created additional production capacity, supporting more flexible manufacturing and the development of products that would previously have been difficult or impractical to make.
Alongside the Masterwood machine, Archwood has invested in a Comec Top XXL and an Intorex TMC 5-axis machining centre. These allow the business to manufacture more complex timber components, giving its product development team greater scope to explore new designs.
Archwood is also using 3D modelling to identify design and manufacturing issues before producing physical prototypes. This enables the team to work with customers earlier in the development process, refining how a component can be manufactured while preserving its intended design.
Josh Burbidge, Managing Director of Archwood Group, said: "Automation has never been about replacing people with machines. It is about giving our people better tools to solve harder problems, create better products and help our customers grow.
"Capital investment shouldn't only make today's range faster; it should make tomorrow's range possible."
Workforce skills remain central to this approach. As machinery handles more repetitive tasks, Archwood sees opportunities for employees to develop their expertise in CNC programming, technical problem-solving and process improvement, building on the team's existing knowledge of working with timber.
The investment programme also includes upgrades to existing equipment. Working with machinery specialist JJ Smith, Archwood has retrofitted auto-feeders to selected profilers, improving production capability while extending the working life of equipment that continues to meet its needs.
By combining new machinery with targeted upgrades, the business aims to address production challenges and support future product development across its manufacturing operations.
