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Decision in favor of a superior tool concept:

How the decision in favor of the SmartJointer airFace pays its way

The company Ruppel GmbH in Lauda-Königshofen counts on the jointing cutter SmartJointer airFace from LEUCO. In its premises, not the entire tool but only the cutting edge is replaced. With a flick of the wrist, on site. Therefore, the SmartJointer airFace is always available, thus offering extensive and large benefits.

With about 200 employees, Ruppel manufactures shop equipment and furnishings from single pieces up to series production. The production is equipped, among others, with a CNC machining center and through-feed machines which also include an edge banding machine. From trimming, drilling and milling until edge banding: all required operations are performed in-house. The machines run in 3-shift operation.

Simply ingenious and ingeniously simple: not the tool but only the cutting edges have to be replaced
The SmartJointer from LEUCO is the perfect tool for the edge banding machine of Ruppel. "We process panels with edge thicknesses from 16 mm to 60 mm. The panels most used, however, have a thickness of 19 mm. This means that the cutting edges are exposed to different wear conditions. In the past, we had to replace the cutter although only some of the cutting edges had become blunt," remembers Peter Schultz, master carpenter and production manager of the wood pro-cessing department at Ruppel.

Heiko Späth, master carpenter and the Regional Sales Manager at LEUCO responsible for Ruppel for several years, has the right idea. Why not changing the cutting edges on site if required? This can be done quickly and easily on the jointing cutter SmartJointer from LEUCO. The tool is provided with diamond-tipped segments which are screwed to the tool body. Each machine operator can loosen the segments in a few minutes and insert them again with just a few steps. Segments with blunt cutting edges can be replaced by those whose edges are still sharp or they are replaced by new ones. Since the gullet and the edges of the SmartJointer form one unit, the gullets susceptible to wear are also replaced automatically. A replacement is even possible if the cutting edges are damaged.

Since quality is the most important criterion for Ruppel: the jointing cutter LEUCO SmartJointer airFace is the tool of the future

The LEUCO SmartJointer sets new standards. The reduced machine downtimes and long edge lives of the segments which amount, at Ruppel, to a total of 30,000 to 35,000 running meters speak for themselves. Heiko Späth is impressed: "Our development department has done a great job. The best thing is the shear angle of 35° which is a class of its own". The larger shear angle allows a better cutting quality than the usual shear angle of 30°. The difference is clearly visible on the thin edges.

For Ruppel it is also very important that the tool diameter does not change after having replaced the segments. The advantage: Due to its highly constant diameter, the SmartJointer can be used immediately after segment replacement without machine adjustment. This saves time and means a consistent quality.

The LEUCO SmartJointer is ideal for the high demands of Ruppel. Different panel thicknesses and changing batch sizes are only one reason for this. Another reason is the variety of materials to be processed. These are, among others, particle boards, MDF and HPL panels and particularly abrasive fire protection panels. The top layer (decor) is also responsible for the uneven wear of the cutting edges. The LEUCO SmartJointer tackles the most demanding task. "The new edge banding machine which Ruppel wants to buy will be equipped on both sides with this tool," says the practioner Peter Schultz. This is the best recommendation the LEUCO SmartJointer can ever receive. But improvements have already been implemented: the new SmartJointers are delivered with the low-noise airFace design. airFace can be recognized by the distinctive longitudinal grooves which guide the air flow along the surface.

The SmartJointer provided Ruppel with the right solution expected by the company. This also shows: customized solutions to fulfil special customer requirements is the great strength of LEUCO. The experts listen to the customer and inform themselves on location. So they can understand what the customer needs. Thanks to its experience and competence, LEUCO is able to determine which solutions are possible and implements them. The customer has the good feeling: we can rely on LEUCO.

• Product family LEUCO SmartJointer airFace
  
• www.ruppel.de