Hurst builds composite door capacity with six-figure investment

Hurst Doors has built on its composite door manufacturing capacity while simultaneously also driving up quality, with the addition of a new beam saw and two edge-banders to its state-of-the-art manufacturing facility.

Installed in the summer, the new beam saw moves door cutting-to-size to a dedicated process, freeing up capacity across Hurst’s three pre-existing CNCs, also reducing wear and tear on parts.

The two new automated edge-banders, further improve quality and support product development including the addition of the SFS Dynamic 2D-C Hinge, to Hurst’s composite door ranges.

Kevin Wheatman, General Manager, Hurst Doors explained: “We currently cut all our composite doors, including our fire door range, down to size using the CNC as part of a single process in addition to machining window apertures, lock and hinge pockets.

“That generates a lot of aggressive dust which gets into the spindles and the bearings of the CNC, which overtime has meant we’ve had to replace parts, losing time and capacity in the factory and increasing overheads.

“The introduction of the beam saw to cut slabs to size, takes pressure off our CNCs and increases capacity but provides better quality.

“The edge-bander builds on that further, allowing us to improve our quality and finish, and provides a foundation for the evolution of our product offer, with the addition of the SFS easy-adjust Dynamic 2d-C Hinge.”

Alongside its PVC-U panel business Hurst Doors manufactures more than 500 composite doors each week, while it’s also a fully accredited manufacturer of composite fire doors.

It’s standard composite door offer includes a range of different door styles including Classic, Cottage, Contemporary and Hurst’s new premium Designer Collection, which will be available later this year.

With an OTIF of 99% or above across both its’ PVC-U panel and composite door ranges, it’s trade offer also includes comprehensive marketing support.

Automation of composite door edging means that in addition to standard white, edging will be offered in five different stock colours, plus any RAL colour on special order.

The addition of the PAS24 Dynamic 2D-C Hinge from SFS as standard, delivers enhanced aesthetics plus greater tolerance in installation with lateral adjustment of +/-3mm and vertical adjustment of +6mm/-2mm, with a load capacity of 40kg per hinge.

Mark Atkinson, Sales Director, Hurst said: “Service and product quality on composites is key to our business and customers, the changes that Kevin and his team are making in the factory allow us to build both increased capacity into our composite door lines but also enhanced product quality.

“With new sales and marketing tools on the horizon, it’s a great time to switch to composite door supply from Hurst. “