HOMAG Sander Helps Tatco Installations Shine
Finishing is an art which takes time and attention to detail. Even the smallest misstep can ruin a masterpiece. Tatco Installations is a specialist at not only creating, but also finishing the masterpieces they are contracted to create. As one of the premier interior finishers in New York City, Tatco needed the perfect sanding machine, and they found just that in the HOMAG SANDTEQ W-335 QCH.
Finishing is an art which takes time and attention to detail. Even the smallest misstep can ruin a masterpiece. Tatco Installations is a specialist at not only creating, but also finishing the masterpieces they are contracted to create. As one of the premier interior finishers in New York City, Tatco needed the perfect sanding machine, and they found just that in the HOMAG SANDTEQ W-335 QCH.
As a NYC Union shop with high costs of skilled labor, efficiency, accuracy and reliability are critical. Labor is scarce, so Tatco doesn’t have the time to do things more than once, and hiring additional skilled labor is not an option.
High gloss sanding and finishing is not an easy task. Each step in the process takes time, and must be done perfectly in order to achieve the perfect finish.
Tatco knows this challenge well. “When we set out to find a sanding solution, we were hoping to find something to help reduce labor in certain steps of our process so that we could help move things through our process faster. What we discovered is that we needed to rethink the whole sanding process we had in place – and that the best sanding technology available would be absolutely critical to do what we wanted to do” stated Arena.
Stiles was eager to help tackle the project and take a deep look at the process together. The solution for Tatco was a HOMAG SANDTEQ W-335 QCH. The cross belt, combi head and chevron belt, all with magnetic segmented pad technology, offered the perfect blend of versatility and capability to do the variety of work Tatco required. From calibration to veneer finish sanding, from sealer to high gloss, the machine can do it quickly with a simple belt and program change. All parameters for the variety of work are saved to ensure perfect sanding every time, regardless of which operator is running the machine, and without burning through edges, cutouts or sensitive coating layers.
“We used to do a lot of hand sanding at all stages. It is very labor intensive and is a dirty job nobody likes to do. Furthermore, it is difficult to get a consistent product free of dust when constantly fighting with sanding dust.”
The HOMAG sander has helped Tatco reduce sanding time dramatically. From start to finish, the processes at Tatco all were re-vamped to re-think sanding – and to get the finish quality and consistency only possible from sanding with a machine and with the right process.
“We used to spend hours sanding by hand. Now we spend only minutes sanding, even on surfaces like high gloss.” – Peter Arena, Tatco Installations Owner
Dramatic changes in process required re-training and changing the finishing culture, but in the end, it was well worth the effort.
“We are very pleased with our machine – but also with the training and consultation provided by Stiles Machinery. It takes a good partner to be successful with something as important and detailed as sanding can be. We are happy to tackle any job that comes our way because we know we can handle it. The HOMAG sander is now a critically important machine for Tatco – and will continue to help us shine.”