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.
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