User report: Cutting ceramics and tiles with STM waterjet cutting systems

Investment in the future. Waterjet cutting opens new doors for tile specialist Geisler.

In 2001 the company Geisler Fliesen und Ofenbau was founded in Maria Alm in the beautiful Pinzgau. The steadily growing Salzburg-based company, which now has more than 13 employees, specializes in renovations, tiling, and every type of natural stone in the bathroom, living room, and garden areas. Since July 2020, the STM waterjet cutting system has opened up completely new possibilities.

For meanwhile 20 years Geisler tile and furnace construction in Maria Alm in the Salzburger country is specialized in tiles, granite, marble and all kinds of natural stones in bath and living areas as well as in gardens and in Wellness zones of the domestic hotel trade. In addition, an important area in the portfolio includes the implementation of renovations and bathroom refurbishments, including the coordination of all relevant trades. The company has long been successful in the private household sector as well as in the hotel industry.

Large 12 mm ceramic tiles and tiles in large formats of up to 160 x 320 cm are fully in the company’s focus as materials. And this expertise in large-area ceramics is also a key factor why Geisler opted for the PremiumCut waterjet cutting system with a 68° cutting head from STM in July 2020.

New machine – new possibilities

“The STM PremiumCut waterjet cutting system really opens new doors for us,” explains Managing Director Markus Geisler, “it offers completely new possibilities, especially when it comes to large-format panels.” Washstands, washbasins, stove cladding, furniture such as tables – each piece is unique, but kitchen worktops are also among the core elements in the Salzburg company’s range. With the new machine, we can now also offer a new range of products. “Because 12 millimetre ceramic tiles can no longer be processed manually. Now we finally have the perfect system in place”.

Competitive advantage through precise STM prefabrication

The company can now also work much faster and much more flexibly with the STM PremiumCut when cutting fine stone slabs, natural stone slabs as well as Rigole in 2 or 3 cm for the terrace. Communication between the operator on the shop floor and the team on the job site is smooth, fast and digital. Due to the exact and precise prefabrication, components then also no longer have to be machined on the construction site. This results in a shortened construction time, which is a not insignificant cost factor in competition.

“With the new machine, you are no longer dependent on the material, metal plates, shims – everything is possible to cut cleanly and without material distortion,” says Markus Geisler enthusiastically. So much is possible, including engraving logos, individual texts or family crests in tiles. “Hotels simply come to us with their wishes and we engrave or cut their logo exactly. Quickly and without any problems.”

Since waterjet cutting is a classic cold-cutting process, there is no heat generation and resulting microstructural changes. This also results in no hardening at the cut edges with simultaneously clean exact chamfers. With waterjet technology, almost any material, whether metal, stone, glass, plastic can be processed without changeover effort, without thermal influence and with high cutting edge quality.

“New ideas can be implemented easily and reliably”

Markus Geisler is also absolutely delighted with the training that took several days to get started, the intuitive software, and the quick and easy service options. “We haven’t had a serious problem with the system yet. It runs like a charm.” And in case of technical questions, which of course can always arise at the beginning, there is a service hotline and the possibility of remote maintenance with a simple digital diagnosis and assistance. Due to the close proximity to STM, there would also be no problem for him – if the worst came to the worst – to quickly get hold of a required spare part.

And for the tile specialists from Maria Alm, the STM PremiumCut waterjet cutting system is in any case currently also a regional unique selling point. With the advantage of being one of only a few tile-laying companies to operate a premium waterjet cutting system behind them, he and his team also continue to think about applications and opportunities that the new system offers them.

“There are enough ideas – we definitely want to make the most of the new opportunities for our customers.”

Since 2001, Geisler Fliesen- und Ofenbau in Maria Alm in the province of Salzburg has specialized in tiles, granite, marble and all types of natural stone in bathrooms and living areas as well as in gardens and in wellness areas of the local hotel industry. In addition, an important area in the portfolio includes the implementation of renovations and bathroom refurbishments, including the coordination of all relevant trades. The company is successful in both the private household sector and the hotel industry.

Photos: (c) Peter Kuehnl