MAINLAND STONEWORKS
charts a NEW COURSE using robotics Mainland Stoneworks isn’t afraid to try something new. After charting a new course to survive the crash of the housing market in 2006, the business is again reinventing itself through the latest robotic automation technology available for the stone industry.
Success Brings Challenges
Dual-Table Advantages
The shop became a victim of its The heart of the Robo SawJet More production, own success, and Bertelsman is durable KUKA Robotics began looking for a technological less overtime, and industrial robot, equipped way out. “We had gotten to with a high-pressure abrasive increased accuracy and where we were maxed out with waterjet and a 26HP directefficiency in the field. 25 percent overtime and turning drive saw. It is dual-table down work,” he said. “If we wanted system, allowing a slab to Changing Course to move forward, we needed to do something be cut on one table while another is being more efficient. We began to look for a loaded. “Once it was installed, we were Beginning life as a producing that very same week,” Bertelsman When the housing digital solution and came across BACA.” small cultured marble said. “It is efficient.” market crashed, we had operation with three A Robo SawJet was installed at the to do something different Mainland’s 20,000-square-foot facility employees and a few The Robo SawJet had another advantage over pieces of equipment, to survive. in Alvin, Texas, on July 31, 2017. The competing technologies. It could actually fit in Mainland grew into one investment has significantly increased the Mainland facility. Other machines required of the leading producers in Houston. In 2006, the company’s profitability, Bertelsman said. too much room to be feasible. that began to change after Mainland President “Once we did the cost analysis, it was a noKevin Bertelsman and his wife, Kristi, acquired brainer. More production, less overtime, and “The ultimate decision was the footprint the company. increased accuracy and efficiency in the field. required by the other machines,” Bertelsman More yields from slabs. It has saved us money said. “The footprint of the Robo SawJet “When the housing market crashed, we had to across the board. We can go out and sell.” was ideal, and we felt like it was the latest do something different to survive and started and greatest technology that was the most doing granite with one table and a rail saw,” Through the years, Mainland had moved to efficient.” he said. the use of bridge saws in the shop but they simply could not keep up with production Granite countertops quickly became the demand, he said. “The bridge saws were slow. mainstay of the shop’s production. In 2013, We were always having to repair them. You Increased Productivity the Bertelsmans shut down the cultured can’t nest. If you wanted to nest something, marble operation in favor of more lucrative you’ve have to almost cut it by hand. Now, A Robo SawJet can cut a standard 40-squarenatural stone, engineered stone, and solid we’re not having to. With multiple holes and foot kitchen countertop with sink hole from a surface countertops. cut angles, it comes in and fits like a glove.” slab in half the time of other machines. It can finish a job within 15-18 minutes. The cutting speed is paying dividends for the shop.