For example, what Harri has said as far as specializing in a field, we have companies that use 20' by 8' gantry saws whose whole tanks are actually being changed at a time. Cutting 2" and 3" steel, those companies are not interested really in doing a foyer design, and all they are doing is referring all that work through to people who specialize in that specific field and vice versa.

So we are seeing a definite polarization and specialization within the industry through all the companies where they only provide specific waterjet services. As a result of such project referrals, a higher quality and standard of work is being expected through out the different waterjet fields and obviously in the stone industry itself.

Gannon: One of the neat things noticeable about stone as an architectural surface product is that we're doing more and more with it. Projects are being combined with stone and ceramic tile and porcelain all the time along with some hybrid metals as well.

And it is unique. In other words, I think that abilities with the abrasive waterjet are changing the design and fabrication facets of the industry. Campbell: what I’d like to do now as we come down the backstretch of this conference is talk about recent waterjet projects. So let's start with you Harri.

Aalto: Well, I’m involved in a half dozen right now. One of the projects I’m doing is a mansion where I’m doing the great hall. I'm doing the design itself, I’m choosing the stone. I've started cutting it, it's programmed and it’s running through here.

Roundtable Conference: Waterjet Technology - Continued

Continued from

Some of the things intarsia delves into, for example, is looking at joint sizes. It is a 1/16" joint that is the standard, we shoot for 1/32" or 1/64" joints or even virtually no joint at all. That's part of the excitement in seeing what can be done within the trade that we're in the stone field to say "how do we pioneer a new standard for these architectural elements." whether its the flexibility due to cad or creativity on the front end, whether it's the use of the machine as a cutting tool, or whether it's the finishing in terms of how the product is assembled and delivered to market, it's a very exciting time.

Ferguson: I think Jonathan and Harri are on the big ideas here: you start with that manufacturing piece, which is one piece of the business, and then we've alluded here to the artistic end.

I think there's another step beyond that which is customer service, marketing and good business practices. You need to put all three of those pieces together in some package to have something that's viable for many of the end users.

Manufacturing is not enough by itself. Design is not enough by itself. You really do have to follow up with good business practices.

Ward: As you know, we've got water jet connection, which is really a network of between 20 and 30 companies around the states. In making up waterjet connection, we have every type of waterjet service that has ever been conceived. And we are finding exactly what is being discussed here today.