Commercial Architecture September 2017 - 5

EDITOR'S

notebook

Craftsmen At Work

T

ouring manufacturing facilities is great
fun for me. I thoroughly enjoy learning how products are made and talking

with people about their continuous quest to increase efficiency, improve product quality, and
maximize resource usage. Along with that is my
fascination with seeing how automated equipment and the associated computer systems
eliminate tedious functions and help improve
overall productivity. It's also intriguing to see
examples in which automation isn't and proba-

that massive factory and watch skilled people

bly never will be a solution.

standing at, in many cases, conventional saws,

I ran into one of those situations recently

drills, and lathes, working and shaping wood.

when I had the privilege of visiting the Kolbe &

The smell of cut wood and a hint of sawdust was

Kolbe Windows & Doors facilities in Wausau,

almost intoxicating. (The "hint of sawdust" is all

WI. Obviously, I knew going in that the compa-

that you see because the majority is sucked up by

ny makes primarily wood windows and doors

a giant vacuum system and recycled).

and specializes in custom work, so I was most

I spoke briefly with one craftsman who was

curious to see how the 70+-year-old company

repairing a chipped piece of wood in a very large

manufactures its products in 2017. In other

arch so the whole piece wouldn't have to be

words, I was excited to see how robots and other

scrapped. I wanted to stand there and watch him

automated machinery were being used to cut and

finish the repair, but the tour had to move on.

assemble custom windows and doors at a

Later on, we passed him again and he was work-

blinding rate while supervisors stood by watch-

ing on something else. We didn't have time for

ing computer screens.

me to ask to see the repaired piece, but I'm con-

Didn't get that. Actually, with a couple of mi-

fident you could study that spot for a couple of

nor exceptions, I didn't see anything of the kind.

hours and not be able to tell it was repaired. I

I have always had a love for old architecture

got, from just a few moments with him, a true

and beautifully crafted and finished wood ob-

Top right. Craftsmen at Kolbe & Kolbe aren't just men. There are
plenty of women in that facility who know how to bring out the
best in wood windows and doors.
Above. This custom piece is in its final manufacturing stages.

sense of pride in his work.

jects. You put a piece of solid-wood furniture in

I'm gushing a bit, but it was a huge departure

front of me with beautiful grain and a perfect

from the norm and an absolute treat to see high-

finish and I'll stop immediately, enjoy it to ex-

ly skilled woodworkers at all levels crafting wood

cess, and express my utmost respect for the

windows and doors that are going to be installed

craftsperson who made it.

in today's modern buildings. I'm not selling any-

When I walked onto that Kolbe factory floor

one else short. I've seen many operations (and

looking for robots, what I found was not one

did that same day) that maximize automation,

craftsperson, but an entire facility full of them.

use far fewer workers, and produce products of

True craftsmen. People who know how to take

equal quality. It was a refreshing couple of hours

wood sticks and assemble them into something

spent watching skilled craftsmen use their hands

that will last for decades and always be pleasing

and simple power tools to make high-quality

to the eye.

products out of our most sustainable building

It was an absolute pleasure to walk through

Top left. If this piece is going in your building, I'm confident you'll
never see the chipped-wood repair.

material. CA

Gary L. Parr
Editorial Director
commercialarchitecturemagazine.com

SEPTEMBER 2017

COMMERCI A L A RCHI T EC T URE

5


http://www.commercialarchitecturemagazine.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Commercial Architecture September 2017

The Architects
Healthcare Sustainability
Exterior Restoration
Aluminum Updates Buildings
Foam Blocks Solve Mountainous Problem
Exteriors Products
Ceiling Design Evokes L.A. Magic
Green Welcome For Car Buyers
Interiors Products
Heat Pumps Upgrade School HVAC Efficiency
Doors Optimize Appearance, Customer Appeal
HVAC & Plumbing Products
Renovation, Adaptive Reuse Anchor State Complex
Windows & Doors Products
Lighting Control Is A Boon For Stargazers
Lighting Up The Arts Community
Logistics, Lighting, Efficiency
Lighting & Electrical Products
Building Technology Products
Showcase
Index
Portfolio
Commercial Architecture September 2017 - Cover1
Commercial Architecture September 2017 - Cover2
Commercial Architecture September 2017 - 1
Commercial Architecture September 2017 - 2
Commercial Architecture September 2017 - 3
Commercial Architecture September 2017 - 4
Commercial Architecture September 2017 - 5
Commercial Architecture September 2017 - The Architects
Commercial Architecture September 2017 - 7
Commercial Architecture September 2017 - Healthcare Sustainability
Commercial Architecture September 2017 - 9
Commercial Architecture September 2017 - 10
Commercial Architecture September 2017 - 11
Commercial Architecture September 2017 - 12
Commercial Architecture September 2017 - 13
Commercial Architecture September 2017 - 14
Commercial Architecture September 2017 - 15
Commercial Architecture September 2017 - Exterior Restoration
Commercial Architecture September 2017 - 17
Commercial Architecture September 2017 - 18
Commercial Architecture September 2017 - 19
Commercial Architecture September 2017 - 20
Commercial Architecture September 2017 - 21
Commercial Architecture September 2017 - Aluminum Updates Buildings
Commercial Architecture September 2017 - 23
Commercial Architecture September 2017 - 24
Commercial Architecture September 2017 - 25
Commercial Architecture September 2017 - Foam Blocks Solve Mountainous Problem
Commercial Architecture September 2017 - 27
Commercial Architecture September 2017 - Exteriors Products
Commercial Architecture September 2017 - 29
Commercial Architecture September 2017 - 30
Commercial Architecture September 2017 - Ceiling Design Evokes L.A. Magic
Commercial Architecture September 2017 - 32
Commercial Architecture September 2017 - 35
Commercial Architecture September 2017 - 36
Commercial Architecture September 2017 - 37
Commercial Architecture September 2017 - Green Welcome For Car Buyers
Commercial Architecture September 2017 - 39
Commercial Architecture September 2017 - 40
Commercial Architecture September 2017 - 41
Commercial Architecture September 2017 - Interiors Products
Commercial Architecture September 2017 - 43
Commercial Architecture September 2017 - 44
Commercial Architecture September 2017 - 45
Commercial Architecture September 2017 - Heat Pumps Upgrade School HVAC Efficiency
Commercial Architecture September 2017 - 47
Commercial Architecture September 2017 - Doors Optimize Appearance, Customer Appeal
Commercial Architecture September 2017 - HVAC & Plumbing Products
Commercial Architecture September 2017 - 50
Commercial Architecture September 2017 - 51
Commercial Architecture September 2017 - Renovation, Adaptive Reuse Anchor State Complex
Commercial Architecture September 2017 - 53
Commercial Architecture September 2017 - Windows & Doors Products
Commercial Architecture September 2017 - 55
Commercial Architecture September 2017 - Lighting Control Is A Boon For Stargazers
Commercial Architecture September 2017 - 57
Commercial Architecture September 2017 - Lighting Up The Arts Community
Commercial Architecture September 2017 - 59
Commercial Architecture September 2017 - Logistics, Lighting, Efficiency
Commercial Architecture September 2017 - Lighting & Electrical Products
Commercial Architecture September 2017 - 62
Commercial Architecture September 2017 - Building Technology Products
Commercial Architecture September 2017 - Showcase
Commercial Architecture September 2017 - Index
Commercial Architecture September 2017 - Portfolio
Commercial Architecture September 2017 - Cover3
Commercial Architecture September 2017 - Cover4
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