New Concept Leads to New Cabinet Markets.

Innovations in particleboard technology at H.J. Scheirich Co., Louisville, produce unique cabinets at low cost, rapid rate. All in a $3 million facility.

While the total utilization of particleboard in kitchen cabinetry is not unique, a new line of cabinets by H.J. Scheirich Co. is distinctive for its innovation in laminating. This marks a fast-growing trend toward total particleboard utilization by top kitchen cabinet manufacturers.

H.J. Scheirich used the latest technology to produce a new vinyl laminated particleboard cabinet line called the Gardencourt Collection. The company built a 150,000-square-foot vinyl-laminating plant to house more than $3 million worth of machinery.

The Black Bros. automated laminating line itself was 100-feet long and 12-feet wide and required only three employees to set up and oversee it. "The line normally operates at 70 fpm but goes as slow as 15 fpm" says Scheirich. "Now we produce more than 2,000 panels in a single eight-hour shift."

Boards would run through for lamination on one or both sides simultaneously with a 6 mil vinyl overlay. Then, the laminated boards would move to the panel saw, where components for fast modular-type construction were produced.

Scheirich's Mereen-Johnson panel saw was equipped with one traveling ripsaw and seven crosscut saws. Setting the console-operated, tape-controlled machine took less than a minute. "The plant's production control is maintained by a local computer firm. The firm determines from Scheirich's specific needs just how many panels to cut and precisely the size cuttings to attain maximum yield," says Scheirich. He adds that the panel sizer system allows for a 92% to 95% yield.

Other machinery in the plant includes cutting and boring machines and a V-groover and double-end tenoner from Nash/Bell/Challoner, and a Homag double-end tenoner.

In 1970, Scheirich used more than 1 million panel feet of particleboard. It was estimated that the then-current operations might triple the particleboard demand.

Excerpted from September 1971 Wood & Wood Products