At the 2025 AWFS in Las Vegas, Apratim Ghoshal, Editor-in-Chief of Wood & Panel, sat down with Darren, the new Managing Director of Altendorf America, to discuss the company’s latest innovations. During the interview, Darren shared insights into the key products Altendorf is showcasing, their focus on after-sales service, and the future of machine monitoring technology in the U.S. market.
WPU: I’m here with Darren, the new Managing Director of Altendorf America, at the 2025 AWFS. How are you, Darren?
Darren McCarthy: I’m doing well, thank you!
WPU: It’s great to meet you. Could you tell us what new products you’re showcasing here at the show and which ones are most popular in North America?
Darren McCarthy: Certainly! We’re showcasing our sliding table saws, particularly the F 45. Along with that, we have the F 45 HAND GUARD, which offers enhanced safety features. We’re also featuring the Hebrock model F5 edge bander.
WPU: Apart from those, are there any other key machines or products you’re highlighting at the show?
Darren McCarthy: No, those are the three main machines we’re exhibiting here.
WPU: Are these upgraded models, or are they the same versions you’ve been showing in Europe?
Darren McCarthy: They’re the same models we’ve been showcasing in Europe.
WPU: Which industries primarily use these products?
Darren McCarthy: Our target market here includes small cabinet manufacturers, from two-man shops to around 20-man operations. Interestingly, we’ve also seen a growing interest from schools, both colleges and high schools. It’s exciting to see the trade being reintroduced to schools. It’s a positive development for the industry, as we need to inspire more people to join the woodworking business.
WPU: After-sales service is a crucial aspect. How strong is your customer support in the region?
Darren: Since joining, my main focus has been strengthening the service side of the business. We’ve been working hard to improve customer support, especially with machines that were sold before Altendorf took over direct operations in the U.S. I’ve added four new service engineers in the past three months, and it’s a growing area for us.
WPU: How quickly can you address and resolve problems, particularly with spare parts? How large is your inventory?
Darren McCarthy: We’ve made significant strides in improving our spare parts inventory. We’ve specifically focused on our high-demand parts, the top 30 selling items, and increased our stock substantially. This helps us avoid the additional cost of overnight shipping. Our efforts have been focused on ensuring quick service and better access to aftermarket parts, improving our response times to customers.
WPU: Could you tell us more about the mobile software you mentioned, which tracks machine performance and health?
Darren: That feature isn’t available yet in the U.S., but it’s on the way. In Germany, it’s already being rolled out. We’ve been prototyping it at Ligna, but it’s not yet available here in the U.S.
WPU: So, you do plan to bring it to the U.S. market soon?
Darren: Yes, it was first introduced at Ligna as a prototype. We’re definitely working on bringing it here to the U.S. market soon.
WPU: Thank you, Darren. It’s been a pleasure speaking with you.
Darren: Thank you! It’s been great chatting with you too.
