Each year, manufacturers of tooling and accessories used during the stone production process introduce new product lines that continually increase efficiency and accuracy. The products in the roundup below are just a handful of the many technological advances in this arena that are now available.

Made with a 25-horsepower Italian-made, Saccardo spindle, the Viking III can perform complete automatic cutting cycles, fabrication cycles and hybrid cycles for both. The Viking III comes complete with an advanced, user-friendly 15-inch color touch-screen design, fiber glass carriage covers and all X & Y & Z mechanical components are protected with heavy-duty bellow covers.

Manufacturers of fabrication machinery continue to research and develop new equipment to satisfy the needs of their customers. Technology continues to become more sophisticated, which leads to innovative stoneworking machinery that results in better efficiency and less labor in the shop. The following are some of the latest fabrication machinery that is available today.

Simple patterning is not enough. Patterning technology has been around since the 1960s, however, the performance gained through even distribution of the diamond grit did not justify the added complexity in manufacturing.

The latest trend in the market is Dekton and ceramic materials. Tenax Dekton blades are approved by Dekton and specifically designed for Dekton material.

Every January, Stone World reports the statistics found in a purchasing plan survey conducted by the Clear Seas Research Department at BNP Media (Stone World’s parent company), and the results for 2019 are encouraging. The survey polled fabricators from diverse-sized shops based throughout the U.S..

As we often do at the end of the year, myself and our staff took some time to look back on 2018 to reflect on what we have done and come up with some fresh ideas for our readers. And in particular, 2019 is an important year to put some special plans into place, as we will be celebrating Stone World’s 35th anniversary.

The latest trend in the market is Dekton and ceramic materials. Tenax Dekton blades are approved by Dekton and specifically designed for Dekton material. They are available in 14 and 16 inches, with a standard 2.3mm core thickness. The feed rate for a straight cut is 16 to 60 inches per minute, depending on the thickness of the material.

Safety and efficiency have led the way for Cathedral Marble and Granite to continue to expand their innovative equipment. Starting in the mid-90s, Dave Duffy, owner of Cathedral Marble and Granite in Whitestown, IN, started his own stone business in a one-car garage with four other people.