A BASINGSTOKE company is replacing their 22-year-old manual saw with a new GMM litox saw, thanks to funding from the Leader Progamme.

The stoneCIRCLE in Kingsclere Road that manufactures stone products is getting the new saw at their Basingstoke factory.

The Leader programme, which is part funded by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development, has replaced the saw with a new larger CNC driven saw.

This takes a larger blade than any of existing saws in the stoneCIRCLE factory, and is fully CNC driven. 

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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.

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 that the masons do by hand which in turn reduces the amount of dust created and greatly reduces their exposure to Hand Arm Vibration from the hand tools.

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.