USITC Staff Report: Quartz Surfaces from India and Turkey staff report USITC | Page 24

United States. Independent fabricators contend that, taken together, the independent fabrication industry has substantial equipment, labor, and expertise. The following information details the transformation process from slab into fabricated products: A field technician gathers the dimensional measurements to create the design. Design technicians adjust the design to meet customer specifications regarding features like the type of edge, desired configuration, various cutouts and openings, and the backsplash of the surface. The file is then sent to the production facility. The design is imposed onto a quartz slab to fabricate pieces that match the desired end products. Next, machines are programmed so that the tools are assigned paths for diamondedged saw and water jet cutting. Computer networked control (“CNC”) routers are programmed to cut edges and cutouts for sinks and faucets. Quartz slabs are pulled from inventory and moved to the cutting operation. The diamond blade saw cuts straight lines and waterjets cut arcs and circles into the slab. Cut parts are removed. After the saw and waterjet cutting, the CNC router machining begins by utilizing a crane, lasers, and vacuum cups to position the section for grinding and finishing operations on the edges and cutouts. The finished product is polished and detailed to ensure readiness for installation. The fabricated product is then ready for transportation. I‐18