2025/07/04   |   Beeston, Nottingham   |   United Kingdom

SEV UK, a specialist in high-end bespoke joinery, has enjoyed years of success as a result of precision craftsmanship and first-rate service. Working with designers, shopfitters, and contractors to transform commercial, retail, and hospitality spaces, the Nottingham-based company places a strong emphasis on quality and detail. 

Such a commitment to quality requires investment in the latest and greatest machinery; when SEV’s edge banding operation began falling behind, it was clear an upgrade was needed.

A workhorse shares its load

“We had an existing HOMAG Optimat KDF 440 C, which we’d been using since 2014,” explains Gary Pearce, Managing Director at SEV. “It’s been a real workhorse – very reliable – and it still produces a good finish. 

With several large-scale projects on the horizon, the SEV team knew they needed to act in order to meet the increase in demand. Initially, the plan was to replace the current KDF 440 C entirely. But the machine’s core reliability meant it earned a place alongside its successor, supporting the new edge bander during peak workloads.

A trusted partner

SEV has worked with HOMAG for over two decades, having purchased its first HOMAG machine more than 20 years ago. “We’ve stayed loyal to them ever since,” Gary says. “We have a beam saw, two CNCs, a DRILLTEQ, and of course our previous edge bander. They’ve all been fantastic machines so it was a very natural choice to stick with HOMAG for this investment.”

That investment was the EDGETEQ S-300 – a model SEV had first considered a year earlier before delaying the purchase due to unforeseen costs. “We’d already done the research and even had a demo. So when we were ready to move forward a year later, we revisited HOMAG at Castle Donington, had another demo, confirmed it was still the right machine for us, and purchased it shortly after.”

Smooth installation and training

Installation was, in Gary’s words, “very well organised and well executed.” Training followed immediately, delivered on-site across three days to three of SEV’s operatives. “The training was thorough and left our operatives feeling confident to use the EDGETEQ S-300 at its maximum potential. Three months in, we’ve had no issues at all.”

Speed, efficiency, and a higher-quality finish

For SEV, the benefits of the EDGETEQ S-300 were felt almost immediately, particularly in terms of efficiency. “One of the biggest improvements is how quickly and easily we can change tapes and calibrate the machine,” says Gary. “Changing from a 1mm to a 2mm tape is now just a touch-screen operation. It’s massively improved our changeover speed and removed the need for manual adjustment.”

The airTec system has also opened new possibilities. “We don’t use it on every job, but when we need a higher-quality aesthetic, we can switch to airTec and achieve a seamless, glueless edge. That level of finish is perfect for our luxury projects. The best part is how easy it is to switch between airTec and standard edge banding.”

The new machine has also delivered on reliability. “Downtime issues we used to experience with the older machine have been substantially reduced. That reliability makes a big difference to our day-to-day operation and, crucially, keeps the cash flowing.”

Smooth service, every step of the way

SEV’s long-standing relationship with HOMAG is built on trust and service as much as machine performance. “They’re great at answering questions and giving you reassurance throughout the process,” says Gary. “During the selection stage, they made sure we had all the information we needed – extraction requirements, electrics, pneumatics etc. They’re friendly, thorough, and extremely well organised. Things always run smoothly with HOMAG, and this time was no exception.”

Future-ready

With SEV continuing to grow and take on high-profile projects, the EDGETEQ S-300 has already proven to be a valuable asset in meeting demand. “The benefits of upgrading this machine have been plain to see,” Gary concludes. “When the time comes to upgrade our other machines, we know we’ll always find the best possible solution at HOMAG.”

For more information or a demonstration of HOMAG’s machinery and software, please contact HOMAG UK on 01332 856500, option 4 for the sales department. Or email info-uk@homag.com.