The Supra Auto Cut gantry saw by Matrix Stone Products was engineered to offer high-level automation and shop floor simplicity, combined into one very powerful package. Whether a business is high-end custom fabrication or repetitive dimensional cutting for commercial projects, the Supra has been designed to deliver. Supra is designed on the field-proven Matrix Sebring platform and incorporates all of the performance features of this gantry saw.
The Denver Job is a 3-axis CNC fully automated router and polisher from VIC International. Small in size but big in performance, the Job’s open gantry structure with side apertures allows positioning of large slabs for complete cutting out, profiling and polishing of sinks, drainboards and water supply holes on any size countertop. Recessed and inclined surfaces as well as flush-mounted sinks and shower bases can be created on the Job.
I have received numerous calls lately concerning the fading of dark granite countertops. The most common complaints seem to be on Absolute Black, Black Galaxy, Zimbabwe Black and a few others. I have heard many fabricators try to blame the fading on the misuse of cleaning chemicals, acids, etc. While one should not use inappropriate chemicals on granite surfaces, this is often not the reason for the increase in black granite fading.
Q: What is the REAL situation out there for stone fabricators? I visit some shops that tell me they’re as busy as can be, and yet there seems to be very little work going on. Others tell me they’re “dead,” and the shop seems to be bustling. I guess this is a two-part question:
OK, I finally admit it, the stone fabrication market is down. It is not “perceived to be down,” as I have repeatedly argued with my publisher; it is not “up and down.” It is simply “down.” Now, with that being said, the question I have is how far down, and how is this downward trend truly affecting fabricators in the marketplace? Are many shops in dire straits? How many layoffs are taking place? Is anyone buying machinery these days?
With more than 50 years experience in milling and polishing stone, Thibaut, a French manufacturer of stone processing machines, has introduced a new CNC stoneworking center with five interpolated axes.
In May of 2006, I wrote a column for Stone World entitled, “Silicosis: Dangerous from many angles” that stressed the need for stone fabrication shops to understand the issues of silicosis in our industry, to develop proper procedures in their shop and to educate their employees on the disease. At that time, the Marble Institute of America (MIA) and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) had recently entered into an alliance to develop information to help MIA member employers and workers recognize and prevent hazards such as exposure to silica. The results of this alliance have been extremely positive, and they are continuing to develop.
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