Production Methods for Dimension Stone
| Reference number | |
| Coordinator | Stenindustrins Forskningsinstitut Aktiebolag - StenForsk AB |
| Funding from Vinnova | SEK 200 000 |
| Project duration | November 2013 - March 2014 |
| Status | Completed |
Purpose and goal
The goal of the feasibility study was to identify and propose project areas aiming to increase productivity, leading a long-term competitiveness and sustainability of the dimensional stone industry. By improving existing technology and introduce new solutions, the yield of the process and workplace safety to increase as energy and consumption of resources decreases. A future project will contribute to make the industry more competitive while ensuring required safety, environmental and energy requirements.
Results and expected effects
Five main areas of the associated sub-projects have been identified: - Technology and Process (best practice, primary block planning, automation, optimization) - Environment (safety, ergonomics, noise and social aspects) - Energy (fuel and electricity consumption) - Logistics (modelling and simulation of the process flows) - Products (dimensional stone, residual stone, aggregates) The improvement potential for increased yield and productivity is estimated at 20-30%, while the proportion of residual materials, resource and energy consumption is reduced.
Approach and implementation
During the feasibility study, the project partners have worked systematically to identify strengths, opportunities and areas that need to be streamlined in the production of dimensional stone. Excursions in pits and visits to machine manufacturers, workshops and teleconferences have been implemented. The material from the workshops has been compiled and developed into a project definition with objectives, scope and activities for an upcoming project. In addition to the identified project areas project management and information dissemination are also planned.