SCM Supefici for Muskoka Cabinet Company: when automation becomes a strategic choice

In an industry such as woodworking and furniture manufacturing, traditionally characterized by manual processes and high labor intensity, Muskoka Cabinet Company chose a different path: making automation the driving force behind its industrial evolution. A journey that began more than forty years ago and that today finds one of its most advanced expressions in the automated finishing solutions developed together with Superfici and SCM Group.
“If you have a vision, if you want to take inspiration from other industries where automation has been successfully adopted, the woodworking industry is ready to embrace those models and technologies more than people may think!”, says Luke Elias, president of the Canadian company.
Based near Ottawa, Muskoka specializes in custom residential furniture manufacturing and has built over time an industrial model based on advanced machinery, process integration and workforce development. Automation has never been considered simply an investment in machinery, but rather a strategic tool to make the woodworking industry more competitive and attractive.
“If we look at other industrial sectors, we already find examples of automation, organization and advanced working environments”, Elias continues. “There is no reason why all this cannot also be applied to woodworking. The key is automation”.

HIGH TECHNOLOGY TO GROW, NOT TO REPLACE
A clear principle has guided Muskoka since the early stages of its technological journey: automation should not eliminate jobs, but improve work itself. “From the very beginning we established one rule”, explains Elias. “We would never lay anyone off because we introduced a robot or improved a process. We did it to grow. And we have respected this rule for 35 years”.
This vision is also shared by the company’s second generation. Mathieu Elias, executive vice president, emphasized how technology has changed the skill profile required within the company: “Many young people no longer want repetitive manual jobs on the shop floor, but they are very interested in engineering, programming and automation. These are rewarding and well-paid jobs. Automation allows us to reduce the heaviest tasks and create new professional opportunities”.
The company’s goal is threefold: quality for customers, well-being for employees and stability for the business. “We want to offer a high-quality custom product at industrial production prices”, explains Mathieu Elias. “At the same time, we want to guarantee high-level salaries and benefits. And for the company, automation means adaptability and profitability, especially during market downturns”.

FINISHING AS A STRATEGIC STAGE
Within this production model, finishing has taken on a central role. Traditionally complex and labor-intensive, it was identified as the area where automation could generate the greatest impact.
This led to the collaboration with Superfici, the finishing brand of the SCM Group. “When the Superfici team visited us, including management from Italy, we understood they were not just looking at our finishing processes”, recalls Luke Elias. “They were interested in the entire company, in what we were doing and where we wanted to go”.
The result, the company explained, was the development of a custom closed-loop finishing line designed specifically for Muskoka, featuring a “compact 3 hy” spraying machine, suitable for a wide range of coating requirements, from small to large batches while maintaining high spraying quality at reduced costs. The spraying system is integrated with an air-blade hood equipped with IR lamps, the uv dryer “Poliedra” and a line supervisor system.
“The Superfici line stands out for its level of automation and the integration of the different process stages”, comments Elias. “The system allows continuous management of the different operations, from coating to automatic panel flipping, color changes and recipe management. Adjustments are automated, making it possible to maintain operational continuity even with high production volumes”.

A NEW AUTOMATED SOLUTION
One of the main objectives of the project was the complete conversion to uv finishes. For this reason, the company also integrated a five-station automatic sanding machine, the “dmc system”, combining belt units and abrasive brushes. The combined action of these units makes it possible to achieve high-quality results on both flat and shaped surfaces, such as cabinet doors.
Compared to manual sanding, the use of this machine significantly increases productivity while ensuring extremely consistent and high-quality finishes. In addition, compared to manual sanding benches, dust emissions in the working environment are dramatically reduced, bringing clear benefits to working conditions.
“We wanted to eliminate manual sanding as much as possible, and with this closed-loop system we have almost completely achieved that”, Elias commented. “And the numbers show the impact of the investment: before, we had thirteen people dedicated to the finishing line. Today, we only need three”, he adds. “The line operates autonomously for hours, while people can be reassigned to higher value-added activities”.

A MORE ADVANCED WORKING ENVIRONMENT
The benefits of automation go beyond productivity. Bruce Lamontagne, panel processing manager, highlighted the human value of the transformation: “What impressed me from the beginning was the way Muskoka integrated advanced technologies into every stage of the process. It is a privilege to develop your skills on these systems”.
Increased automation has also made work more stimulating and specialized, as Lamontagne adds. “Solutions like these allow you to learn, contribute and grow. And that is what makes work interesting in the long term”.
The collaboration between Muskoka and Superfici also continued during the installation phase of the system, completed on schedule with the technical support of the Superfici team. “The line start-up was managed with great attention to organization and planning”, notes Luke Elias. “This facilitated both the transition activities and staff training”.
For Muskoka, the choice of Superfici and SCM technologies was mainly linked to the possibility of developing a solution aligned with the company’s production goals and growth plans for the coming years.
The installation was carried out by Superfici America, the group’s North American division specialized in finishing automation solutions and integrated finishing lines for the industrial market.

scmwood.com/superfici

Hall 14, booth A01