Cameron Automation’s Rack & Stack won the Challengers Award at the recent International Woodworking Fair (IWF) 2022 in Atlanta, Georgia. Cameron Automation says the Rack & Stack is the newest development of a new automated nesting and bundling machine for the flooring industry. Designed to nest and bundle flooring strips up to 5″ wide and bundles up to 7.5′ long, the company says the Rack & Stack can handle an average of 30 boards per minute, increases yield over hand nesting, and requires minimal floor space.
The Rack & Stack is designed to accurately measure each board, sort, nest, and build bundles based on a customer’s needs. According to the company, the Servo Driven Rack System is designed with a steep angle that uses gravity to its advantage. Boards are released and slide in and out of the 12 slots on the rack quickly and consistently and are assembled into rows, layers, and finally a finished bundle. Cameron Automation says most importantly, it creates bundles the exact square footage needed, increasing profits by up to 2.5 percent, and that a 2.5 percent yield savings equates to one extra bundle for every 40 shipped.
The purpose of the Challengers Award is to encourage and promote the development of innovative new technology in the field of woodworking machinery, supplies, and services for the furniture, kitchen cabinet, architectural woodwork, store fixture, upholstery, or specialty and general wood product industries. From the original field of 86 contestants, 20 finalists were selected, and seven winners were announced.