We caught up with Symon Eyre at Panel Production Machinery (PPM) to learn more about how changing market demands are shaping the company’s high-quality edgebanding machine offering.
As manufacturers across the furniture and joinery sector face increasing pressure to deliver higher quality, greater efficiency and faster turnaround times, edgebanding technology has become a key area of investment. Symon Eyre explains that evolving design trends and rising customer expectations are reshaping what fabricators now require from their edgebanding equipment.
“Across kitchens and bedrooms, we’re seeing strong demand for decorative panels, media walls and clean, slabstyle door finishes,” says Symon. “These designs leave very little room for error, so edge quality has become more important than ever.”
He adds that the commercial sector is also influencing machine requirements. “The growing variety of grains, textures and surface effects has significantly increased the need for high-quality edgebanding. With designers now working from such a broad palette of finishes, the standard of edge quality has become highly competitive.”
Alongside aesthetic demands, ongoing growth in both new-build and renovation projects continues to place pressure on manufacturers to deliver faster turnaround times and competitive pricing. According to Symon, this is driving a stronger focus on efficiency and value.
“There’s constant pressure on cabinetmakers to deliver speed, efficiency and competitive prices,” he explains. “That’s why customers are increasingly looking for machines that offer a clear return on investment, rather than simply the most complex or feature-heavy option.”
He notes that edgebanders are among the most demanding machines in a panel processing environment. “They’re some of the most complicated machines to operate and maintain, which naturally increases running costs. That’s why we’re seeing strong interest in high-quality machines that are also cost-effective and straightforward to run.”
Within PPM’s portfolio, demand has been particularly strong for Huahua’s HH-506R and HH-688RLK edgebanders, which handle all coiled material up to 3mm thickness and apply edging up to 60mm in height.
“These machines are built with heavy-duty, industrial-grade units throughout,” says Symon. “They offer top-tier durability and performance, but at a price point that makes sense for manufacturers who want quality without over-investing.”
The performance and productivity benefits of modern edgebanding technology are already being seen in the field. At a recent installation at Mark Wilson’s workshop, PPM supplied and installed a new edgebander to help address long-standing production bottlenecks and improve overall throughput. The new machine has significantly increased edging speed, helped streamline workflow and removed edging as a constraint on production, delivering clear operational and return-on-investment benefits.
After-sales support is another key factor for customers investing in edgebanding technology. PPM operates an in-house engineering team, supported by a network of affiliates, providing comprehensive service coverage and direct links back to the manufacturer.
“We’re fortunate to have experienced senior engineers who pass their knowledge down to the next generation,” Symon adds. “That’s invaluable in ensuring customers benefit from both deep expertise and long-term, reliable support.”
Crucially, PPM takes an engineering-led approach to machine specification and sales. “We’re not just salespeople trying to sell what’s on the floor,” Symon concludes. “Every recommendation is based on engineering practices to make sure customers get a machine that will do the job properly, rather than becoming a costly mistake.”
