Innovation: The Thinnest Kerf
Before and during the 2008–09 economic crisis, WINTERSTEIGER developed three new sawing machines for thin-cutting wood: in 2006, the DSG Sonic thin-cutting frame saw; in 2007, the DSB Twinhead thin-cutting band saw; and in 2009, the DSB Singlehead 310/660 thin-cutting band saw.
State-of-the-art frame saw and ultra-thin saw blades
The DSG Sonic thin-cutting frame saw was the most advanced thin-cutting frame saw of its time, featuring play-free guides, a play-free feed system, and a servo drive. Thanks to its high stroke rate of 550 strokes per minute, the saw achieved higher feed speeds.
What really set it apart, however, was the extremely narrow kerf. WINTERSTEIGER had developed ultra-thin Stellite saw blades, making WINTERSTEIGER the first supplier in the world to offer a kerf of just 0.7 mm! The improved wood yield and an overall more economical manufacturing process contributed significantly to the great success of the DSG Sonic.
Technological Shift: The Band Saw Gains Ground
In 2007, WINTERSTEIGER marked its entry into band saw technology with the DSB Twinhead thin-cutting band saw. The primary applications included cutting wooden blocks into lamellas for multilayer boards and hardwood flooring, doors, pencil boards, and much more. With a kerf width of 1.1 mm, WINTERSTEIGER once again offered the thinnest kerf of any supplier in this technology.
The strong trend toward wide-plank flooring highlighted the advantages of the band saw: the ability to cut wet wood, more flexible production, and high performance ultimately triggered a technological shift in the market. Band saw machines came to play a dominant role.
Another band saw
In 2009, the two-module DSB Twinhead was followed by a single-module model: the DSB Singlehead 310/660 thin-cutting band saw. The 660-mm cutting width made it possible to tap into new customer groups. Innovations such as carbon guides and the continuous, solid table feed mechanism are still the gold standard today.