Just like his father, Siegfried Jörg Jr. is a passionate carpenter. Founded in 1981 by Siegfried Jörg senior, the carpentry company Zimmerei Siegfried Jörg from Rettenberg in the Allgäu region still offers all kinds of timber construction work. “We decided not to specialize in anything in particular. Instead, we always do our best to meet all of the customer’s wishes,” Siegfried Jr., who has been the head of the company since 2016, explains. The range of services includes the construction of classic roof trusses and terraces, renovations of old buildings as well as the construction of agricultural halls and complete residential buildings. “Even if someone comes to us for a single fence picket, they’ll get it,” Jörg says, giving an insight into the company’s philosophy.
Paradigm shift
Machine operator Konrad Ness (left) and master carpenter Siegfried Jörg are very happy with their Robot Drive joinery machine © Günther Jauk
Up until a year ago, Jörg and his team of eight did all the joinery work by hand. Although the master carpenter values his craft beyond all measure, he has been toying with the idea of investing in a CNC joinery machine for some time. “When you look at the competition, the cost-effectiveness of such a machine and the future in general, you just can’t do without a joinery machine,” Jörg says about the paradigm shift, which was anything but easy for him at the time.
Contract joining, on the other hand, was not an option for the Allgäu-based carpenter: “It was important to me to keep the work and added value in my own company and not become a carpentry business which only does assembly work. Also, we can only react quickly and flexibly with our own joinery machine.”
Flexible all-rounder
“Fun stuff”, such as this lettering, is no problem for the Robot Drive
Choosing the manufacturer was much easier. “Of course, we also looked at other CNC machines, but Hundegger was the best option right from the start,” Jörg tells us. Eventually, the master carpenter ordered a Robot Drive 650.
The tool changer can hold 18 tools, offering enough space for all milling, drilling and sawing tools © Günther Jauk
Hundegger’s Robot-Drive models are highly flexible, universal machines developed specifically for small to medium-sized timber construction companies. The six-axis robot unit does all the processing. The tool changer can hold 18 tools for extensive milling, drilling and sawing work. Jörg opted for a 65-cm-wide machine table. Hundegger also offers the machine with a working width of 1.3 meters. “With its basic equipment, the Robot Drive 650 is tailored exactly to the requirements of a company of our size and pays for itself even without contract joining. Also, we can add an additional unit, such as a saw unit, to the machine at any time,” Jörg explains. For him, this possible upgrade was one of the key decision-making criteria.
Reaching the goal together
Following a major fire in 2020, Jörg decided to build two new halls instead of just one. In addition to a warehouse, the company was able to create the ideal space for the new joinery machine.
Siegfried Jörg was in close contact with Hundegger already when planning the new joinery hall © Günther Jauk
“We were in close contact with Hundegger already when we were planning the joinery hall,” Jörg tells us. He is extremely satisfied with the cooperation with and the support from Hundegger: “The chemistry was just perfect right from the start. Hundegger took all of our concerns seriously and answered all of our questions. Together, we found the ideal joinery solution for our company.”
Successful start
Long-time employee Konrad Ness is responsible for operating the Robot Drive. “I asked Konrad to do it because he is great at manual joining – and he immediately said yes,” Jörg recalls, adding that it was a decision that he did not regret to this day. Ness attended several training courses and was also supported by Hundegger’s 24-hour service hotline which includes remote maintenance as well. “The experts from Hawangen actively supported us while we familiarized ourselves with the joinery machine. We were able to work with it from day one and had excellent command of the machine after six months.”
Saving valuable time on the construction site
Today, Ness can do the work of three carpenters thanks to the Robot Drive. This frees up capacities that Jörg can put to good use on the construction site. Initial concerns that the company would have to grow because of the joinery machine turned out to be unnecessary: “The machine is ideal for a company of our size and I can now deploy my staff in the best possible way. If necessary, we can also do the joining for individual projects of our colleagues.”
Jörg particularly appreciates the flexibility his company gained, something that was simply not possible with manual joining. “Whenever something is missing on the construction site, I simply call Konrad, who then prepares the construction elements for us. They are usually ready the next morning and we don’t lose valuable time on the construction site.”
