INNOVATION
Moving with the times
A South African manufacturer has developed a versatile new sawline to add to its existing range, which is proving a hit with cash-strapped sawmillers. Editor Chris Cann hid
from the sun in the Multisaw stand at Ligna in June and got a better understanding of why the Titan Hybrid range is resonating in the market
ike many other manufacturers of hard-wearing, reliable machinery, the roots of South African saw system supplier Multisaw were seeded in the innovation of one man. Neil Murray, from a manufacturing and engineering background and blessed with an entrepreneurial spirit, developed the first Multisaw product – the One Machine Band Sawmill – for personal use after moving from Johannesburg to a timber farm outside of Plettenberg Bay in 1988. Shortly after that first machine was put into action, interest from a neighbouring sawmiller in 1990 resulted in the first order for his invention and a sawmill supplier was born. Development of a Horizontal Log
L Breakdown Saw quickly followed at the
Europe, which would be considered a fairly large operation in South Africa. The company’s products generally accept logs from 130-400 mm in diameter – though larger diameter products are made – and cater for throughputs per shift from 10 m3 300 m3
to .
Developing products and machinery with a personal touch and precision, as if we were building the machine for our own operation, is a core value within Multisaw and something that we don’t feel is particularly common in the industry – Luke Murray
request of a potential customer and that was in turn followed by a Twin Band Log Breakdown – that was 20 years ago. Since then, Multisaw has increased its product range to more than 30 machines (including saw blade maintenance), registered several patents, installed numerous sawmill lines, and established a growing portfolio of international customers. Multisaw’s focus is on small log sawmilling, catering mainly for the entry level sawmiller up to small-to- medium level industrial sawmills in
The 6LE Twin Resaw 56 International Forest Industries | OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2011
“Developing products and machinery with a personal touch and precision, as if we were building the machine for our own operation, is a core value within Multisaw and something that we don’t feel is particularly common in the industry,” Luke Murray, Neil’s son, told International Forest Industries under the welcome shade of their outdoor stand at Ligna recently. One generation on from the company’s inception, Luke has been heavily involved in the second period of major innovation for Multisaw – this time in order to continue the company’s growth in the waning markets of recent years.
After completing a diploma in Wood
Technology, Luke joined the Multisaw team in 2004. He brought to the business what others at the company described as a “fresh, young approach”, a “huge passion for current technology” and a “sharp eye for design”. Luke has made numerous contributions to Multisaw including the design and development of key products like the LG Pneumatic Cylinder international patent, a new range of LE Titan Headrigs and the LE Overhead Carriage Twinband. Luke’s biggest contribution to the company has been only recently, as the driver of the Titan Hybrid range of machines, which has maintained a steady stream of business even as capital for upgrades and technology investment in sawmills has dried up. “One of the reasons for bringing on
the Titan Hybrid line has been because of the problems the broader industry has faced,” Luke said. “What we have found over the past two years or so is
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