Equipment in the shop: Efficient layout

The shop at Hoover Canvas Products, Fort Lauderdale, Fla., has production steps arranged in a logical order around the room and provides ample workspace, light and access to materials, machinery and tools.

Click on the image below to enlarge it.

1. Sinclair Spec automatic 1-inch hot wedge welder

– For both vinyl and acrylic fabrics
– Runs on a 40-foot track

2. Wolf Pacer electronic knife

– 35 years old
– Great for cutting stacked fabrics

3. Eastman M9000 automated static cutting machine

– Cuts 95 % of custom and production run jobs

4. Computer (the “brains”) for the Eastman cutting machine

– Linked to network servers

5. Miller Weldmaster T300 Extreme Seam machine

– 1-inch and 2-inch hot wedge and hot air fabric sealer
– Used in production of tension structures and large awnings

6. Munro pneumatic grommet machine

7. Pfaff 1245 electric sewing machine

– There are six Pfaff machines around the perimeter of the table

8. Geo Knight & Co. Inc. heat press label machine

No more stitching in labels. Now they’re heat transferred to vinyl and acrylic fabrics

9. Kabar RF heat-sealing machine

– With heated bars and laser guides
– Used for both vinyl and acrylic material
– 4-inch-long by 1-inch-wide bar

10. Chevy 2500 HD extended cab

– Installation truck with load racks for transporting framework

11. Extra fluorescent lighting for a well-lit shop

12. Consew binding machine

13. Formica topped 1-inch plywood table

Jim Carroll Jr. of Hoover Canvas Products Co. was the subject of the June issue “Perspective” interview.