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 Joe Fazio is Chief Creative Officer and Director of Photography at space+style™ by Marco Joe Fazio Ltd, where he leads visual storytelling, photography, cinematography and content strategy for clients across hospitality, food & drink, fashion, architecture and design.

Born and raised in Tuscany, Italy, Marco discovered photography at an early age through traditional film and darkroom printing. Before becoming a full-time photographer, he spent two decades working in architecture, interior architecture and lighting design, founding an award-winning practice and leading multidisciplinary teams on projects for international fashion brands.

After moving to London in 2008, Marco became a Chartered Architect with the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA), combining his architectural background with a distinctive photographic approach that connects people, spaces and brands through visual storytelling.

His work has been recognised with the Fellowship of the British Institute of Professional Photography (FBIPP), together with the prestigious Peter Grugeon Award for Best Fellowship of the Year in 2016. He is also a member of the Association of Photographers (AOP).

Today, Marco specialises in creating strategic visual content for luxury hospitality, boutique hotels, restaurants, drinks brands, interior designers and manufacturers. His work combines commercial photography, cinematography and brand storytelling to help businesses communicate their expertise, craftsmanship and identity through compelling visual narratives.

Alongside his visual practice, Marco brings more than a decade of experience in music composition and sound engineering, enabling him to create bespoke soundtracks and immersive sound design that complement his film productions.

Education and mentoring remain central to his professional practice. He founded the telling [fashion] stories workshop series and lectures in photography and visual communication at London South Bank University (LSBU), supporting the next generation of creative professionals.

The combination of architecture, photography, filmmaking and music gives Marco a distinctive multidisciplinary perspective, allowing him to create work that is visually refined, emotionally engaging and strategically aligned with each client's brand.

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