S-LAB – FOR THE CREATORS
Words: Tim Baker / Video and Photos: Jarrason Bitton
A new custom, computer shaping service at S-Lab on the Gold Coast offers the opportunity for any shaper to upscale production and grow their market
In a non-descript industrial enclave in North Burleigh, on the Gold coast, a quiet revolution is under way.
Actually, it’s not that quiet. The near constant whirring of a shaping machine from 8 am to 10 pm is the soundtrack to this particular revolution which aims to empower local surfboard shapers to upscale production and reach new markets.
S-Lab is a new contract, computer shaping service where any shaper can get their boards produced on an APS 3000 shaping machine, in whatever volume they require.
S-Lab’s mantra is “for the creator” and allows shapers to send computer design files from anywhere in the world to their North Burleigh facility, and a planned network of similar facilities around Australia and internationally.
“We’re going to cut for the big brands and for the individual and everyone in between,” says S-Lab general manager Justin Cook, a surf industry veteran and ex-pro surfer, with a background at Billabong, O’Neill, Firewire and FCS. “We’re for the creator and will offer the same service standard from the small to the big customer.”
This isn’t the only contract shaping machine service out there, but the surfboard industry can be a tricky, political beast, and many machines are owned by larger players servicing their own labels and filling capacity when there’s space. Smaller players get bumped by larger customers or the owner’s own needs.
S-Lab aims to be the Switzerland of the surfboard business, neutral, unaligned and treating all comers equally. “We’re just going to be non-political and non-judgemental of who comes through the door and focus on our service standards,” says Justin.
To that end, S-Lab’s avowed pillars are service, accuracy and productivity, offering a quality service at competitive pricing and on-time. S-Lab has one APS 3000 machine, affectionately dubbed Bobby, running double shifts, 8 am to 10 pm, allowing them to cut around 200 boards a week. Bobby will soon have company, a second machine already nicknamed Betty, which will double production.
“We allow 25 minutes per board, 12 minutes for the top, eight minutes for the bottom and five minutes for loading,” says S-Lab manager Connor Clark. “We’re doing it slower than most other productions, making it more accurate rather than going for volume. We can also pickup blanks and drop them off.”
Shaped blanks require only a light sand to finish and S-Lab plans to eventually offer a contract glassing service to become a true one-stop shop. “We’re focussed on operational excellence, the same service standard is offered to everyone,” says Justin. “We care and we’ll treat everyone the same if you’re doing one or 101.”
And that’s just the beginning. S-Lab have big plans for the future that stand to benefit the industry and customers alike. Stay tuned.