Hervé Andrieu, CEO, and Paul Smithers, Business Development Executive, at VetiGraph answer two common questions furniture factories have been asking.
There is an unfortunate misconception in the furniture and upholstery manufacturing industry that modern technology is only accessible for the biggest companies. “This couldn’t be further from the truth”, says VetiGraph’s Hervé Andrieu, CEO.
“If a factory wants to be more versatile by designing quicker, cutting faster, controlling costs, and reducing waste, there are cost effective solutions available.”
In fact, two common questions the business sees often asked are: ‘I know there must be a better way to cut, but I don’t know where to start. What options are there?’ And: ‘We want technology but can’t afford to invest in digital cutting, so what can we do?’
One solution is VetiGraph. The company has been supplying Computer Aided Design and Manufacturing (CAD/CAM) solutions for over 35 years. During that time, they have developed design and cutting solutions which are utilised by over 1,500 businesses in the UK and worldwide.
“The days of having hundreds of cardboard templates hanging up in the factory are long gone,” Paul Smithers, Business Development Executive, said. “VetiGraph CAD design software is a cost effective, quick and easy way to digitally create templates with pinpoint accuracy.
“The system provides the added peace of mind that templates, which are the intellectual property of the business, are safely stored and protected away from any potential damage.”
One of the biggest advantages of using CAD is the ability to produce lay plans and cut markers more quickly, instantly saving time and money by improving fabric consumption as the software nests the templates in the most efficient way possible. “Costings and fabric usage are instantly available, which is particularly useful for custom products and to improve lead times,” adds Hervé.
“The advanced nesting and marker software can work as a standalone solution with a marker plotter for the smaller factory which may still prefer to cut by hand.”
VetiGraph also offers a comprehensive range of CNC auto-cutters for factories looking to scale up their production. This technology offers high precision, high-speed cutting to suit every operation.
“The furniture industry has many layers of complexity such as leather cutting and dealing with the irregular shape and faults in the hides, pattern matching with complex fabric designs and bespoke products,” says Paul.
“These complex manufacturing challenges can be overcome with software and hardware solutions which are so quick and easy to use that they cannot be ignored anymore.”
VetiGraph will be displaying their solutions and latest products at the Furniture Components Expo this month, with both Hervé and Paul welcoming all to visit them. “We look forward to showcasing our latest products at the Expo and invite you to come and see us. We can’t wait to show our technology and answer any of your questions.”
