Supplied by Planit, Cabinet Vision replaces traditional panel saw technologies.  From a production viewpoint, DK Designs had benefited from the software for several years, said DK Designs Office Manager Ms Pernille Lemming.

"The fact that Cabinet Vision allows us to execute tasks in a fully computerised environment has made production very efficient.  The software assists us with calculation of cabinet dimensions as well as optimising the materials in order to cut them in the most cost-effective manner."

"Before we purchased Cabinet Vision the work was extremely labour-intensive.  Cutting had to be completed manually and you certainly could not leave the system unattended.

"Now the need for human resources is also much less, where previously we required two people, we now require one person for two machines.  Meanwhile productivity has definitely increased."

Cabinet Vision also had the benefit of enhancing staff recruitment and training issues, she said.

"Firstly our workforce is much more streamlined, but it's also a lot easier now to recruit and train new staff.  Before Cabinet Vision, staff had to be highly skilled cutting technicians, whereas now it only takes a couple of weeks to train someone up to operate the system."

DK Designs' two showrooms in Cromer and Mosman display specially designed and finished kitchens featuring the latest materials and accessories from Italy, Austria, Germany and Scandinavia.

In each showroom the company's client service designers use the Cabinet Vision system to showcase possible kitchen designs by means of 3D computer modelling, added Ms Lemming.

"Our designers certainly like the fact that they've got access to 3D visualisation, which is much better than "top view" 2D illustrations for conveying the end result of a design to our clients."

Engineered wholly and solely for the woodworking industry, Cabinet Vision is a screen-to-machine software.  For those workshops automating their businesses with CNC equipment, Cabinet Vision is fully integrated with the Planit CNC centre, therefore providing a complete screen-to-machine solution and confirms all parts and part operations before sending data to the factory.

Cabinet Vision is easy to set-up for the building of cabinets using favourite joinery techniques.  Based on a simple wizard, it allows the creation of unlimited set-ups, mixes various settings per job and changes from one style to another instantly and allows saving of the construction methods for use over and over again.

An operator can customise cabinet sizes, shape, or any construction to suit the customer's needs.  Colours and textures can be selected for the whole room or for individual cabinets and parts.  Lighting and reflections can be controlled to bring these designs to life well before any manufacturing has begun.

Unlimited detailing includes the following:

· users can configure openings and interior parts

· placement of shelves, dividers, trays, and subassemblies.

· control of door reveals, styles, guides and other options per opening.

· materials can be changed per job, per room, per cabinet, or per part for complete control.

· cabinet shapes can be edited in plan view, elevation view or side view

· prints are made for colour or detailed line drawings.

· instant change is facilitated between various construction settings.

· Parts in part operations change instantly.