How a spontaneous visit can lead to optimization in production

After seeing a video posted by Table du Sud on LinkedIn, Mark Dorssers thought, "We can work more optimally there. Mark is Region Manager at Leitz Service and came to the position after an internal application. "I have a heart for engineering, with a specialization in optimizing CNC machines," he explains. "When I saw that things could be better at Table du Sud in Heeze, I took the plunge and just walked in, without an appointment." Co-owner and founder of Table du Sud, Evert Antonissen, took his time with Leitz Service and was quickly convinced. Meanwhile, Table du Sud enjoys an optimized production process. We speak to Mark and Evert in Heeze, in the heart of the action.

'Output can always be higher'

It's a famous saying from Mark. "Table du Sud is a young company, where many things could still be optimized. However, I also come to 50-year-old companies, even there the output could always be higher. Since Leitz Service does not stand still when it comes to innovation, there are always tools and ways of working that help make things even better."

Table du Sud took good advice and ordered new HeliPlan planer heads, Marathon scrub light cutters and HeliCut milling heads from Leitz Service. "With our router, Table du Sud can now format table tops (from square to round or ellipse) in one step, instead of three," Mark calculates. A time savings of 60%. "Finish machining of tabletop edges has also been optimized with our Marathon-coated full carbide slip cutter. There the machining time has been reduced by 65%!"

The milling of facet edges on tabletops also goes better with HeliCut; tool life and feed rate have almost doubled. "From 6 meters per minute to 11 meters per minute," says Mark. The HeliPlan planer head has also caused a positive change. "On the four-sided planer, the HeliPlan performs with greater removal and less noise, due to better distribution of cutting pressure (spiral placement instead of straight blades). The end result has hardly any visible marks in the cutting edge overlap, only minimal bulging."

Seeing is believing

Evert was convinced by the field tests of Leitz Service's tools. "When you are told that production processes can be faster and more efficient, of course you listen. As a young company, we have a focus on change anyway, trying new things and of course our urge to keep innovating. So, we were open to the suggested tests. Meanwhile, we are reaping the benefits of optimization!"

About Table du Sud

Table du Sud was founded by Evert and his brother Teun. "It started in 2014 from the barn, when Teun wanted a table for his new apartment. I made it and it was so beautiful that we put it on Marketplace for fun. There it sold in no time, which resulted in the plan to make more custom furniture. In 2015, we rented our first production space in Leende. By mid-2015 we were already able to move to a larger hall. We saved up the earnings and, with help from the bank, were able to build this building in Heeze in 2017, including a beautiful showroom. Over the years we have expanded several times in terms of surface area. Meanwhile, we also bought a building across the street. Private individuals walk straight in here to sample the atmosphere and pick out a table, but interior designers also know where to find us. We are still growing and the fact that Leitz Service showed us the way to optimization is very welcome," says Evert.