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OUR CRAFTSPEOPLE
Donzilia is in charge of oil and wax
finishing at our factory. After receiving
components that have been laboriously
sanded to a silky touch, she applies the
oil by hand, using a soft cloth to work
it into the wood fibres, and around all
contours of the many diverse shapes. She
must apply the oil in a single, even layer,
with no overlap, even on the most complex
forms. As she works, she checks the quality
of the wood surface; the oil application
reveals details of the timber that were
not previously visible, including the
intricacies of the wood grain and colour,
and any surface irregularities caused
by sanding. If she notices any issues,
she will return the item to the relevant
department to rectify it. For example, if
the orbital sander has marked the timber
surface, she will return the item to the
sanding team to resolve the issue, before
reapplying the oil.
After oiling, Donzilia passes the piece to
her assistant, who sprays the wax onto the
surface before rubbing it in by hand with a
soft cloth, also in an even layer. They have
found this distribution of responsibilities
to be the best way to maximise efficiency.
Donzilia has an enormous amount of skill
and knowledge gained over 25 years working
with a variety of different finishes. She
sees the factory as her second home, where
she gets along with everyone. It’s easy to
see why: her strong work ethic and attention
to detail are matched by her infectious
smile and easy laugh.
Oil and Wax Finishing: Donzilia
Senhor Euclides, the most senior carpenter
at the De La Espada factory, is in charge of
the assembly department. He brings together
components and sub-assemblies to create
the recognisable forms of the final pieces.
His work is varied, and includes gluing,
joinery, the application of specialised
materials, and precise hand-adjustments.
He inspects the products as he works,
rectifying any issues he may find. Once his
work is complete, he passes the assembly
on to the sanding team adjacent to his
station.
With 30 years of experience, Senhor Euclides
works with a calm confidence and engaged
focus. The greatest challenge of his job
is also what he finds the most enjoyable:
OUR CRAFTSPEOPLE
the problem solving that is required for
the development of new products. He works
closely with the product development
team to ensure every piece reaches its
full potential. This includes not only
new products, but also the continual
optimisation of existing ones.
When he’s not working, he enjoys travelling,
a bug planted in his 20s when he worked as
a fisherman in countries including Norway,
Canada, and South Africa. He often travels
to the US to visit his sons in New Jersey,
who relish the daily feasts of Portuguese
food these visits bring. Central on the
menu: fish, of course.
General Assembly: Senhor Euclides
