Many attempts have been made over the years to produce a compact, usable, cost effective finishing machine. Standard made a poor attempt with the barely mourned “Puma” finisher. Whitfield Wylie faired a little better with the “750SP”, which at least lasted a decade before being rendered both obsolete and un-loved.
The lack of success generally resulted from the machines being produced by Engineers on a brief from the upper echelons within their Companies to produce such a machine with little or no thought for the operators.
The outcome of these endeavours is that whilst technically, all the boxes were ticked; the machines were inherently difficult to work on for the operator. Too many compromises were made in order to achieve the brief.
We have spent the past 12-months developing a new addition to the ever-popular “700 Series” of finishers. They have investigated the possibility of producing a more compact, cost effective, higher performing machine. This time, instead of setting out to re-invent the wheel, our MD Keith Malyon, with his previous shoe repair experience, took the approach that the one sacred element of the NEW machine was to be ‘no compromise on the working areas around the tooling’.
Keeping the needs of the operator well to the fore, any development would be based upon the using “proven finisher DNA” as a base. This would mean using arguably the World’s bestselling finisher, the 710, as a model. The 710, of course being based upon the tried and tested 700.
The new Model 730 is our answer for servicing the lower volume, High Quality, shoe repair service sector. It is clear, that over the last 30 years or so, that shoe repairing has changed, both in volume and materials. Recognising this, we set out to address these changes by modernising their most popular machinery. The nett result of this 5 year exercise has been the top selling 710 Finishing machine and the more unique top of the range 720 model. Both machines having made a huge difference to both the Trade and operator’s alike, offering increased performance and increased usability whilst keeping costs reasonable.
However, whilst these changes benefitted all who have purchased the above machines, there is a growing demand for the “Holy Grail” of lower noise and increased extraction performance.
To try and achieve this, we went to work on the NEW model 730. Given the challenging brief of creating a better extracting, quieter, and cheaper (!) finisher, more information was needed from customers and engineers alike.
It soon became clear, that there was to be NO compromise on the size of the machine, namely width. When it came to trimmers, scouring bands and brushes, operators liked the tooling to remain where it was. No-one was hankering for a return to scouring wheels rather than scouring bands, or a single shaft of brushes and pads.
Any reduction in machine width would almost certainly compromise the extraction system and therefore negate any gain in performance. In addition, the depth is set by the layout of the bands and mode of operation, so no depth reduction either.
We looked to the mechanicals, mainly electrics, to see if more performance could be achieved in this area. Sure enough, we found more efficient, stronger motors and moved the electrics, saving 20cm in the height of the machine and a 10kg weight saving. Neither saving to be sniffed at!
Next was to address the Naumkeag placement which is always a controversial subject. With most repairers doing less and less leatherwork nowadays, the decision was taken to move this tooling option to the site of the breaster, thus turning it into an accessory. The major upside of this, apart from safety, was that the naumkeag extraction “chimney” could be removed, allowing the system to become more efficient, a major plus point.
The re-design has also shown the following benefits: -
We have achieved in increase in extraction, measured in M.P.S. of more than 40% over previous models.
We have lowered the noise levels by 5dba, an insignificant sounding number, but a major difference in how the machine sounds.
Another gain was the reduction in power consumption by using more efficient motors; they estimate it to cost 10% less to operate per annum!
The machine is now lighter, by some 20+kg, over the more common 710 models. If no-one else feels the benefit of this, Big Kev, our machinery delivery guy will!
The new motors offer more Torque for less consumption and will be offered in either single or three phase for use in all outlets without the requirement for expensive digital Inverters.
Safer for operators with a better placed Naumkeag.
The NEW 730 Finisher will be ideal for the low to mid-range shoe repair outlets and is a more than capable replacement for the many under-performing older machines still used in the Trade today. If you need more detail, please contact [email protected].
