Hampshire stone company stoneCIRCLE has a new GMM Litox five-axes saw thanks to support from the Leader programme, which is partly funded by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development.

The new machine replaces a 22-year-old manual saw. Its 1000mm saw blade is the largest in the stoneCIRCLE factory.

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 masonry, artwork and solid stone cantilevered stairs.

Because the saw can be programmed and does not need to be supervised, this releases the mason to carry out highly skilled finishing work on the projects as they come off the saws.

It will also reduce the amount of grinding and rubbing the masons do by hand, reducing the amount of dust created and 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 more than 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.