By Paul Dunwell, writing for EasyFrame
© Copyright EasyFrame 2019
What this article is about
In mid-May EasyFrame took delivery of the A + AUTOMATION T2400, a state-of-the-art machine that automates important parts of the framing process.
Hungry for other game-changing technology, Rob Zanna, a partner at EasyFrame, explains here how the business is going to be the first in the UK to test another device. It's a high-end automated mount-cutting machine called the Novex, made by the Swiss, who have a bit of a reputation for great engineering. It hasn't even been launched yet, though it will hopefully be at work in EasyFrame's factory before the end of 2019.
That explains why Rob has been over to the Swiss Alps. And therein, as they say, lies a story!
A history of working with the Swiss supplier
Gunnar (www.gunnar-int.com/home/) is the market-leading maker of high-end automated mount-cutting machines, known in the industry as CMCs or 'computerised mount-cutters'. (The US English term is 'mat-cutter'.) EasyFrame is already on its second Gunnar CMC, the AiOX. See www.aiox.me or www.gunnar-int.com/products/the-aiox/ if you're curious.
Before the AiOX, which EasyFrame will keep running after the third machine arrives, the business owned an F1 Hybrid, also made by Gunnar. So Rob has a good working relationship with Gunnar's UK support staff and their colleagues at the head office in Altstätten, St Gallen. He trusts Gunnar, and Gunnar knows EasyFrame's high volumes and technical abilities. That track record gives Rob direct access to Gunnar's support and technical staff, which thrills him, and it has advantages for Gunnar too, as I'll explain.
Why the Swiss have a head start as engineers
A digression. Anyone who knows the Swiss, and I do, having lived in Switzerland for years, is aware of their ability to design and build great devices.
The Swiss speak four national languages, but the most widely used, certainly in the canton of St Gallen, is their own variant of German. German bolts components together to make words. A classic example is 'Donaudampfschiffahrtsgesellschaftskapitän', which means 'Danube steamship company captain'. There is supposedly an even longer word meaning 'association of subordinate officials of the head office management of the Danube steamboat electrical services', though in truth it was invented by Austrians as the name of a pre-war night club, which shows that German speakers can poke fun at themselves.
The Swiss are also well educated. Switzerland's GDP per head dwarfs ours (an estimated ,583 in 2018, 2nd in the world, against our ,177 in 19th place), so the country can afford to spend generously on education. With 2 of my own children schooled there and 2 here, I can testify to the results. Most school-leavers go on to well-paid, lengthy and superbly funded apprenticeships. So a Swiss citizen who says he's an engineer is likely to be very well trained, and Gunnar benefits from an impressive heritage.
How EasyFrame had a small hand in development
One reason Gunnar's sales director, Lars De Tomasi, could justify inviting Rob to Switzerland, and kindly organise an excursion into the Alps as well as to St Gallen itself, is that EasyFrame has taken an active part in developing the Novex. Rob is pleased to describe it.
"EasyFrame raised the possibilities of adding options to the Novex that would enable it to cut acrylic and MDF sheets. And Gunnar listened. But they did more than that. They acted on my suggestion. Then Lars was kind enough to invite me over to tour their factory and personally run a number of tests on the new machine to satisfy myself that now it could indeed now cut both acrylic and MDF in addition to picture mounts. Was I impressed? Of course I was! That's why EasyFrame will be first picture-framer in the UK to have the Novex. And this is going to be great for customers who will benefit because the finish of the acrylic and MDF edges will be greatly improved when compared to the edges which hitherto we'd cut on a sliding table saw."
Benefits will outweigh costs
Such purchases are always weighed on costs and benefits, but Zanna is pretty sure EasyFrame will quickly achieve payback with the Novex.
Gunnar's forthcoming Novex. Poetry in motion, of sorts. Rob Zanna and his staff cannot wait to get theirs and put it to good use. (And, admittedly, play with it!)
"Sure this is another very significant capital investment for EasyFrame. The Novex isn't a cheap machine, with the all singing/all dancing model costing around 3 times the price of our current AiOX machine. Yet we've never regretted a purchase from Gunnar and this will be yet another asset that will do more than repay its costs. Hopefully that will happen before I go to St Gallen to look at the fourth machine!"
Conclusion
EasyFrame doesn't muck around, and the Novex is further proof of that.
If you are framing something precious, it's always worth going straight to a professional framer like EasyFrame for advice. When the Novex arrives, you'll be sure of cleaner cuts of acrylic and MDF than was previously possible. To see more of the Novex and what it could do for you, watch this video.
EasyFrame is on 01234 856 501 and sales@EasyFrame.co.uk.