The Perfect Murphy Bed Mechanism for Cabinet Shops

11/09/2023

Murphy beds have become a popular choice for space-conscious homeowners, offering a convenient way to transform a room into a functional bedroom when needed. For cabinet shops, building Murphy beds presents a lucrative opportunity to cater to this growing demand. However, with various Murphy bed mechanisms available, selecting the right one can significantly impact your production efficiency and overall workflow.

Prioritizing Efficiency

As a cabinet shop in the USA, prioritizing mechanisms that are easy to build is crucial for maximizing productivity and minimizing production time and overhead costs. Panel beds stand out as the most straightforward option, offering several advantages that streamline the construction process. Panel beds are a variety of Murphy beds that combine a metal frame with a simple 3/4″ panel face. These beds are durable and reliable, and they reduce the time, effort, and wood materials by nearly half as compared to traditional wall beds. A great example of a panel bed is the Alpha Bed.

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The Alpha Bed – Example of a Panel Bed Mechanism
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Metal rails used for Metal Frame Support

An Overview of Panel Beds:

  1. Metal Frame Support: Panel beds eliminate the need for constructing a wooden support frame, a time-consuming and material-heavy task. The metal frame provides a robust foundation for the bed, reducing the overall woodworking effort by nearly half.
  2. Reduced Wood Consumption: By utilizing a metal frame, panel beds significantly lower the amount of wood required for construction. This translates into cost savings and a more efficient use of materials.
  3. Simplified Assembly: The design of panel beds typically involves simpler assembly procedures, making them less prone to errors and reducing the overall construction time.
  4. Variety of Options: Panel beds are an open-ended question. There are almost no restrictions that would hamper your creative prowess! This is excellent for cabinet shops because you can match your Murphy bed to specific customer preferences and project requirements. Flat panel, applied molding, raised panels, it’s all doable with these versatile Murphy bed mechanisms.

Panel Beds: A Practical Choice for Cabinet Shops

In addition to their ease of construction, panel beds offer several benefits that make them an attractive choice for cabinet shops:

  1. Durability and Strength: Panel beds are built to withstand regular use, ensuring long-lasting performance and customer satisfaction.
  2. Size Customization: Panel beds can be customized to fit any bed size, accommodating various client needs and room layouts.
  3. Design Flexibility: Panel beds can be tailored to match any décor, allowing cabinet shops to provide personalized solutions that blend seamlessly with existing interior designs.

Tips for Building Murphy Beds Efficiently

In the Murphy bed industry, and the general cabinetry industry, efficiency will make or break your business. The difference between cabinet shops that survive and thrive and those that struggle to breakeven is often efficient processes. Training, tools, systems, templates, etc. can all help, but they key is finding ways to produce your products faster. One way to produce Murphy beds faster is by investing in good mechanisms and good partnerships and getting familiar with the mechanism. You should never build a Murphy bed less efficiently than your first. Then, gradually, you’ll get a system, jigs, and memorized routines that will help you speed through your build and increase your bottom line.

Here are some other tips that can help with building a Murphy bed efficiently:

  1. Work with Good Partners: At Murphy Wall Bed Systems, we understand how partners impact business. The last thing you want is to have a job impacted because of your partner’s mistake. Find an established partner that focuses on business-to-business mechanism sales. These suppliers will have systems set up to support your business and minimize the risk that something goes awry. Buying from retail mechanism suppliers is (a) more expensive and (b) the systems are tailored to the end-user more than your business.

    Suppliers like Murphy Wall Bed Systems that only supply businesses have an ability to provide cabinet shops the best experience possible because they are not chasing down thousands of individual sales day-in and day-out. Good partnerships are about long-term relationships that benefit your business. You can only be as good as your suppliers, so choose carefully!
  2. Conduct Thorough Research: With various Murphy bed mechanisms available, carefully evaluate each option to determine the best fit for your shop’s capabilities and target clientele. Panel beds like the Alpha bed are a great option as they are versatile, simple, and easy to build.
  3. Gather Essential Tools and Materials: Ensure you have all the necessary tools and materials before commencing construction to avoid delays and disruptions. As the saying goes, if you fail to plan, you plan to fail. Have a good plan in place before the sawdust ever starts to fly.
  4. Adhere to Instructions: Follow the manufacturer’s instructions meticulously to ensure proper installation and prevent potential issues.
  5. Embrace Patience and Precision: Building Murphy beds requires patience and attention to detail. Allocate sufficient time to each project to ensure high-quality results.
  6. Seek Expert Guidance: If you encounter challenges or have specific questions, don’t hesitate to consult with experienced professionals or seek guidance from the mechanism manufacturer.

Need a Murphy Bed Mechanism partner who is dedicated to help you succeed? Give us a call at (773) 327-5516

Conclusion: Embracing Efficiency in Murphy Bed Production

By prioritizing ease-of-building mechanisms like panel beds, cabinet shops can streamline their production processes, enhance efficiency, and reduce overall construction time. Additionally, by following practical tips and seeking guidance when needed, cabinet shops can consistently deliver high-quality Murphy beds that meet the needs of their customers and contribute to their business success.