Hemp Board Machining: How Burmak Uses Leitz Tooling
Leitz Tooling helps bring an innovative new carbon-negative building material to life for one of Australia’s most ambitious sustainable home projects.
When Burmak Cabinets was selected to manufacture cabinetry and furniture components using an entirely new sustainable panel product, the challenge wasn’t simply producing beautiful joinery; it was helping prove that an emerging material could be machined efficiently, consistently and at scale.
Working alongside sustainability pioneer Joost Bakker and an Australian board manufacturer, Burmak was the first joinery manufacturer to put a prototype hemp board through a full-scale commercial manufacturing process, using it to produce cabinetry and furniture for Woodleigh School’s Regenerative Futures Studio.
To achieve the precision required, they partnered with Leitz.
Building a More Sustainable Future
Based in Hastings on Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula, family-owned Burmak Cabinets has specialised in premium custom cabinetry and architectural joinery for homeowners, builders and architects for more than 20 years.
Known for exceptional craftsmanship and attention to detail, Burmak has built a reputation for embracing innovation and challenging traditional manufacturing methods.
That mindset naturally aligned with Joost Bakker’s vision of creating a truly sustainable building material.
Developed using hemp fibres and fully plant-based, non-toxic resins, Plantbord has been designed as a next-generation alternative to conventional engineered panel products.
Unlike traditional timber panels, Plantbord offers:
- Carbon-negative manufacturing
- Approximately 100-day seed-to-board production
- Reduced water consumption
- Excellent strength
- Water and fire resistance
- Support for regenerative agriculture
The result is a material capable of dramatically reducing the environmental footprint of cabinetry and furniture manufacturing.
From Prototype to Global Stage
Burmak first demonstrated the potential of hemp-based board through Woodleigh School’s Regenerative Futures Studio project in Victoria, successfully manufacturing cabinetry and furniture using the new substrate.
This was an important step beyond small-scale trials, showing the material could be processed into finished cabinetry and furniture within a commercial manufacturing environment.
That experience has since helped prepare Burmak for another ambitious hemp-board project.
Burmak is now using Plantbord to manufacture cabinetry and furniture components for an ambitious off-grid residence being constructed for actor Zac Efron in New South Wales.
Designed by architect Frank Burridge and sustainability expert Joost Bakker, the project, dubbed ‘FutureCave’, aims to become one of the world’s most sustainable homes. It incorporates carbon-negative materials, biodiversity-focused landscaping and regenerative building practices.
For Burmak and Leitz, it represents an opportunity to showcase how innovative manufacturing can support equally innovative building design.
Precision Tooling for a New Material
Introducing any new substrate requires confidence that tooling can deliver reliable machining performance without compromising finish quality or production efficiency.
Working closely with the Burmak team, Leitz developed a complete machining solution for successful processing of the hemp fibre board across multiple machining applications, including nesting, panel sizing and hinge boring.
The solution included:
- Diamaster PRO Z2+2 Diamond Nesting Cutters
- Leitz Excellent Diamaster PRO Sawblades
- Leitz Solid Carbide Hinge Boring Bit
The result was clean cutting, stable machining and excellent finish quality throughout production.
More importantly, it demonstrates that Plantbord can be processed efficiently using proven Leitz tooling technology, giving manufacturers confidence to adopt this exciting new material.
“We've always believed that quality tooling is just as important as quality machinery,” says Brad Kyle, Managing Director of Burmak Cabinets.
“The Leitz Diamaster Pro routers and Diamond Sawblades have delivered consistently clean cuts, excellent edge quality and have stood up well in demanding applications. Good tooling improves efficiency, reduces rework and helps us maintain the high standard of finish our clients expect.”
Learn More: Tools for Compact Laminate
Diamaster PRO Router Cutters:
Designed for demanding CNC machining applications, the Leitz Diamaster PRO range delivers outstanding performance across engineered boards and abrasive materials.
Key benefits include:
- Premium PCD cutting edges for exceptional tool life
- Clean, consistent machining quality
- Reduced downtime through extended edge life
- Lower tooling costs across high-volume production
- Professional re-sharpening for maximum return on investment
Learn More: Diamond or Carbide? Choosing the Right Tooling for Your Workshop
Learn More: The best in TCT, HSS and Diamond tool servicing with Leitz
Leitz Excellent Circular Sawblade Diamaster PRO:
Engineered for precision sizing and panel processing, Leitz Excellent Circular Sawblades deliver outstanding cut quality, accuracy and reliability across demanding materials, making them an ideal solution for innovative substrates such as hemp fibre boards.
Key benefits include:
- Premium diamond-tipped tooth geometry for exceptionally clean cutting results
- High accuracy and excellent edge quality
- Stable, low-vibration cutting for consistent performance
- Long service life with professional re-sharpening available
- Designed to maximise productivity while minimising material waste
Learn More: Leitz Sawblades
Learn More: Leitz Premium CNC Tooling
Sustainability doesn’t end with the Board
While Plantbord delivers significant environmental benefits, Burmak recognised that sustainability extends beyond the material itself. Each manufacturing decision contributes to the overall environmental footprint of the project, including tooling.
Premium tooling plays an important role by reducing hidden sources of waste throughout production.
Longer tool life, cleaner cuts and more efficient machining all contribute to:
- Less material waste
- Reduced energy consumption
- Lower machine wear
- Fewer tool changes
- Consistent machining quality
- Reduced rework
Combined, these efficiencies support more sustainable manufacturing while improving productivity.
It’s a reminder that choosing the right tooling isn’t simply about cutting the material; it’s about helping manufacturers get the most from every sheet they process.
Learn More: Precision Tool Sharpening and Servicing Across Australia and New Zealand
Learn More: Leitz Australian Made Carbide Compression Router Cutters
A Partner to Shape the Future
For Burmak, Leitz represents more than a tooling supplier.
The ability to provide technical expertise, premium tooling solutions and confidence when processing a completely new material made Leitz a valuable project partner.
“For us, the biggest value was having Leitz work through the process with us,” says Brad. “With a completely new material, there is no established rulebook. Their tooling knowledge helped us achieve the consistency and finish we needed to move confidently from trials into production.”
As sustainable materials continue to evolve, having access to proven machining solutions will become increasingly important for manufacturers seeking to remain competitive.
Together, Burmak and Leitz demonstrate that sustainability and productivity go hand in hand.
Learn More:
Leitz Diamaster PRO Router Cutters
Learn more about Burmak Cabinets
Discover Zac Efron’s FutureCave Project here
Talk to a Leitz Representative now for tooling solutions for your projects.
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