Leader Programme funds new saw for stoneCIRCLE

processes & methods
Written By Marco Fazio

stoneCIRCLE applied for funding for a new GMM Litox saw for its Basingstoke factory via the Leader Programme, partly funded by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development.

Leader Programme funds

The new machine replaced a 22-year-old manual saw with a new larger CNC-driven saw. This takes a larger blade than any existing saws in the stoneCIRCLE factory and is fully 5-axis CNC driven.

The main motivation behind the purchase was to produce complex 3D stone pieces more accurately and faster. The 1000mm diameter blade means that the company will be able to cut blocks up to 400mm thick, which are often specified for building parts, artworks and solid stone cantilevered stairs.

GMM Litox saw

GMM Litox saw installed in our Basingtoke factory

Being CNC driven, the saw can be programmed to carry out the sawing without any operator input, which releases the mason to carry out the highly skilled finishing of the items as they come off the saws. It will also reduce the amount of grinding and rubbing the masons do by hand, reducing the amount of dust created and significantly reducing their exposure to Hand Arm Vibration from the hand tools.

 

Watch the GMM Litox installation time-lapse…

 

Basingstoke-based stoneCIRCLE has been in business since 1968 and has grown into one of the largest stone fabricators in England, employing over 50 people. The company fabricates and installs stone for domestic and commercial projects, including prestigious hotels and retail stores such as Harrods, where it is involved in the ongoing refurbishment project.

Marco Fazio

Marco Fazio is a creative director and photographer, working in fashion, lifestyle, hospitality, architecture and design.

Born and raised in Tuscany, Italy, Marco worked in architecture, interior and lighting design for more than 18 years. In 2008 he had a career change, starting his work as a photographer and designer in the UK. After years of passionate dedication, hard work and professional achievements, he was awarded the Fellowship certification (FBIPP) by the British Institute of Professional Photography and won the Peter Grugeon Award for the Best Fellowship of the Year in 2016. Subsequently, he has been admitted as a member of the highly regarded Association of Photographers (AOP).

Having achieved a stronghold in coordinated image and photography for the design and fashion world, Marco has taken his expertise into the hospitality market; the likes of luxury/boutique hotels, fine dining restaurants, drinks & beverage industry are all reaping benefits from his services.

Today Marco is leading his agency in assignments for the hospitality, design and fashion industries. Creative photography, coordinated image and brand marketing services are the core of his services. The crossover between genres and industries is a peculiar and essential factor in his work, which contributes to thinking outside-the-box and achieving a unique style rich in symbolism and contents.

https://marcojoefazio.com
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