COMPANY JETSTONE
Difficult material cutting
At the same time, machine technology and materials have expanded in many stone processing companies. The technology of water jet cutting has made the strong growth spurt in mineral slab materials possible in the first place, but has also made it easier to process natural stone, which is problematic in terms of its composition. Recently, manufacturers have also been offering special systems for the superficial treatment of materials - with surprising results. We present the latest developments in technology and report on the use of water jet systems at various companies.
Almost all stone processing companies are united by their love of natural stone; this is evident from the fact that an enormous number have the name stone or natural stone in their company name – including the companies presented in this report. However, they are examples of a growing group of companies that not only process natural stone, but increasingly also artificial stone and ceramics. These companies are characterized on the one hand by a concentration on slabs and on the other hand – and the trend is rising – by one or more water jet systems.
Successful in the kitchen market with waterjet technology
The Dutch company Jetstone now has no fewer than nine waterjet machines. Two of them are integrated into the fully automated production line that went into operation in 2018 and is used exclusively to process quartz composite slabs (we reported on this inSTEIN 4/2019). While there is only one machine with a 2D waterjet head in the oldest machine hall, which is reserved for processing natural stone and quartz composite slabs – a special machine from Burkhardt-Löffler that can also mill rebates for flush cut-outs – the ceramic slabs from one of the leading companies for kitchen worktops are all cut using 3D waterjet systems. Jetstone has a standalone PowerJet machine, a PowerJet Twin with two basins and, more recently, two single PowerJet machines side by side. There are also two older machines from another manufacturer. As Jetstone Operations Manager Han Verberne reports, two new waterjet cutting machines from Burkhardt-Löffler have already been ordered to replace these. Verberne explains that there are arguments in favor of both the double table machines and two identical single machines side by side: while the former is slightly cheaper overall and offers a speed advantage thanks to simultaneous cutting as well as loading and unloading, two machines would provide the company with greater production reliability. According to Verberne, if one machine were to break down, production would still be able to continue.
Despite the coronavirus pandemic and the war in Ukraine, Jetstone continues to show signs of growth. For example, the company has invested in a second automatic loading bridge from Duivestein for loading and unloading the area warehouse in front of the fully automated production line. Thanks to the investment in the slab warehouse, the company, which is based in Deurne near the German border, currently has no problems with the procurement of raw slabs, even if they have become somewhat more expensive. Although Han Verberne admits to difficulties in procuring electronic parts, business is going well overall. A clear sign of this is the very spacious new hall currently being built roughly halfway between the two existing production sites.
