Yorkshire-based stone processor Lapicida has installed two Parker Hiross Hyperchill industrial process chillers from Thorite that it says are saving it £3,000 a month.

To provide precision cooling during stone cutting and shaping, each of the two Hyperchill machines has an air flow of 4,400m³/h. They cool the vacuum system that holds stone to the bed of a Breton CNC workcentre. The process previously generated temperatures above boiling point and used a constant flow of fresh water to cool it. The new system not only saves money but also ensures accuracy.

Thorite worked closely with Lapicida in developing the new system, which now enables marble, granite, limestone, sandstone and other stones from around the world to be efficiently cut into floor and wall tiles or shaped into statuary, baths, basins and countless other beautiful objects using CNC shaping technology. Each piece is then finished by hand.

Milo Cherrington, Lapicida's Production Manager, is impressed with the performance of the Hyperchills. "The two machines recommended and supplied by Thorite are performing perfectly and have contributed significantly to both increasing our production efficiency and reducing our carbon footprint," he says.

"This fits well with Lapicida's core values of having total respect for the planet and underpin our responsibilities which run right through our business. This includes forging strong relationships with equally respectful international stone suppliers and being incredibly particular in where our stone is sourced.

"Environmentally, Lapicida aspires to be carbon neutral and self-sufficient energy wise, and the Hyperchills fit well with these aims."

Lapicida now has showrooms in Harrogate, London, New York, Oslo and Mallorca.

For more about Parker Hiross Hyperchill industrial process chillers, check out the website: www.thorite.co.uk