Advanced automation: How HOMAG is transforming fire door manufacturing at Hugh Stirling

As part of a strategic expansion into fire door manufacturing, Glasgow-based construction and fit-out specialist, Hugh Stirling has invested in a HOMAG CENTATEQ P-110 CNC and EDGETEQ S-200 edgebander. This move supports the company’s growing fire door division while maintaining quality across its wider joinery operations

For more than 60 years, Hugh Stirling has built its reputation on personal pride, high standards and a collaborative approach, delivering bespoke interiors and construction projects across the commercial, hospitality and industrial sectors. The company employs around 130 skilled tradespeople and staff, combining traditional craftsmanship with advanced manufacturing technology.

The HOMAG CENTATEQ P-110 is a dedicated solution for fire door production

A growing focus on fire doors

The investment in HOMAG machinery comes as Hugh Stirling increases its fire door production capacity, as Managing Director, Brian Muslek, explains: “We’re a multi-faceted business and do everything from bespoke joinery and facilities management to full interior fit-outs – anything from pubs to power stations. Our fire door division has been growing and our existing CNC was reaching capacity with bespoke joinery work. The HOMAG CENTATEQ P-110 is a dedicated solution for fire door production.”

The new EDGETEQ S-200 is enhancing joinery operations, while the previous edgebander has been redeployed to the fire door line. Together, the machines help balance production as well as supporting increased throughput.

HOMAG quality & local support

For this investment, Hugh Stirling was keen to find a solution that delivered reliability, precision and strong local support. “Our other machines are from different manufacturers, all of which continue to serve us well,” says Brian. “One thing that drew us to HOMAG for this investment was their locality. They have a local sales and service partner in Scotland, AWMS, who have been fantastic throughout the process. Kenny from AWMS has been a great point of contact, guiding us through the process and providing technical information during the purchase and installation.

“Alongside the local support, build quality was a major factor in the decision. Our experience with other high-quality machinery meant we knew what to look for. It was clear that HOMAG’s kit would suit our needs.”

Smooth installation & early results

Despite some infrastructure adjustments on Hugh Stirling’s side, the installation proceeded smoothly, as Brian confirms: “HOMAG and AWMS were incredibly flexible; they managed the installation around us without any issue.”

Once operational, the CENTATEQ P-110 immediately began delivering results: “It’s a really impressive piece of kit,” Brian continues. “Our production team reports that features like the LED setup guides and tandem table machining are helping reduce setup times and improve throughput. We’ve seen an increase in output per hour and we expect further gains as our team fully familiarises itself.”

Hugh Stirling offers FD30/FD60 fire doors and screens that comply with applicable British and European standards, as well as the Fire Safety Act 2021

User-friendly precision

Ease of use has been another key advantage: “The woodWOP 9 software and PC 87 operating system are fantastic,” says Brian. “According to our operators, they’re intuitive, app-based and quick to learn. Some CNCs require a lot of training and experience to operate, but with woodWOP, any operator can program a job in under a minute. It’s as simple as clicking what you want the machine to do, with no fuss whatsoever.

“We also added an aggregate tool, which has halved the time it takes to run and pilot hinge holes, all in a single pass. It’s boosted both speed and accuracy and gives us the flexibility to carry more tooling options.”

Partnership & support

Brian is eager to point out that the experience of working with both HOMAG and AWMS has been extremely positive:“It’s early days, but so far, anything we’ve needed has been dealt with promptly and professionally. Between HOMAG’s quality and AWMS’ local support, we have a lot of confidence moving forward.”

Looking ahead

With the new HOMAG machinery now fully operational, Hugh Stirling is well positioned to expand its fire door production in addition to strengthening bespoke joinery operations, as Brian concludes: “It’s an exciting time for us. The new machines support our growth and help maintain the quality our clients expect. We’re looking forward to seeing the full impact over the coming months.”

For more information or a demonstration of HOMAG machinery and software, contact HOMAG UK on 01332 856 500 – selecting option 4 for the sales department – or email info-uk@homag.com.