Recently, Simec S.p.A. completed the installation of two new gangsaws for granite -- Model Record Due/600/36/200 -- at Boschetto Graniti in Chiampo (VI), Italy. Since that time, the sheer size of the saws, with a usable working width of 6,000 mm and 210 blades -- has caused enormous interest among the stoneworking operators in the area.

According to Simec, the company has invested heavily in the development and design of a product that would be a leader in the sector of gangsaws. "The results are fully validating the achievement of that goal by obtaining a high rate of production," the company stated, adding that no attempt has thus far been made to exploit the machine at its fullest potential. "It has only been observed under conditions of normal use, to verify its performance. Currently, just one of these new gangsaws is able to do all the work of the entire old stone-cutting plant it replaces, with a considerable overall reduction of overhead costs."

Simec reports that there are several advantages to this type of machine, which can house three standard-sized blocks of granite under its blade-holding frame (or four slightly smaller ones). These are not limited to production increases, as they also make it possible to save on personnel and reduce the consumption of blades, metal grains and power, thanks to the entire redesign of the masses and dynamics of the gangsaw. Simec Record Due gangsaws are the only machines in the world equipped with curved columns and a double connecting rod transmission system, according to the company.

The curved geometry of the columns adopted by Simec on the entire line of granite gangsaws has the advantage of accompanying the blade-holder frame on its cutting run in a perfectly natural manner with respect to the length of the connecting rods.

On the Record Due model, considering the large size of the blade-holder frame, a double connecting rod transmission system has been used. In this specific type of configuration, the curved columns offer a further very important advantage: the two connecting rods -- with their fixed dimension -- are, by nature, perfectly synchronized with each other and do not require any complicated and often unreliable mechanisms to compensate for their movement.

"With masses of this size, the smallest displacement of movement of the two connecting rods would cause dangerous vibrations of the blade-holder frame and tremendous stress on the entire structure of the machine," Simec states.

In view of the results obtained with the new machines, Simec is already thinking of future models with a cutting width up to 10,000 mm.

Side Bar
Boschetto Graniti / Simec Record Due gangsaw characteristics

  • Usable cutting dimensions: width 6,000 mm; length 3,600 mm; height 2,250 mm
  • Maximum number of blades: 210
  • Maximum tension applicable to each blade: 8,000 kg
  • Stroke: over 800 mm
  • Radius of rotation (distance from center of rotation of rocking arms to point of contract between blades and material): near 2,500 mm
  • Power of main engine: kW 132
  • Flywheel diameter: 4,500 mm
  • Weight of machine: 190,000 kg
  • External dimensions of installed machine: width 8,950 mm; length 19,200 mm; height 7,060 mm