Adapting a workspace to transform Solid Surface requires careful planning of the workshop layout and the equipment to be used. Depending on the type of installation you have, whether it is a carpentry or marble workshop, the specific requirements may vary. In general, a carpentry workshop could be more easily adapted to working with Solid Surface, as many of the tools required, such as saws, milling machines and sanders, are similar to those already in use. However, a marble workshop, due to the nature of the heavier and more specialised stone tools, will require additional adjustments. Nevertheless, the fundamental principles for working with Krion® remain the same.

What will you learn in this article?

• Key tips on layout and organisation for working with Solid Surface.
• Equipment needed to ensure high-quality cutting, milling and finishing of Solid Surface.
• Recommendations on how to handle Krion® correctly, from storage to handling during the transformation process.
• What you need to consider to ensure a complete and effective adaptation of your workshop or facility.

What do you need to know before adapting your workshop to work with Krion® Solid Surface?

Before completely adapting your workshop to work with Solid Surface, it is essential to understand certain key factors that directly influence the quality of the work and the safety of the operators. One of the most important aspects to consider is the proper management of airborne dust. This point, although often underestimated, is crucial both for maintaining a clean and safe working environment and for ensuring that the final result meets the quality standards required by the material.

Airborne dust: a critical factor in adapting your workshop

When working with Solid Surface, controlling airborne dust is essential. Although Krion® does not contain silica, the dust produced is still extremely fine and can affect both the quality of the work and the health of operators if not managed properly, as we will see later.

At the same time, airborne dust can contaminate surfaces and affect joints during the bonding process. Even if the workspace is clean, dust generated by nearby tools or other activities (such as cutting metal or wood and MDF boards) can affect the quality of the adhesive joints, compromising the final finish. It is therefore essential to take a number of recommendations into account:

• Use of extraction systems on tools that may generate dust: ensure that tools are equipped with these systems to reduce dust in the environment.
• Clean space for bonding: the bonding area must be kept free of dust to prevent contamination of the joints.
• Strategic schedules: if dust control is difficult, carry out bonding at times when there are no other dust-generating activities.

Initial preparation of the workshop

Proper preparation of the workshop is essential for working with Solid Surface. This includes not only the correct layout of the space and the necessary tools, but also the proper handling of the material during storage and transport, as well as the necessary safety considerations to ensure both the quality of the work and the health of the operators.

 

Transport and storage of Krion®

The proper transport and storage of Krion® sheets is essential to ensure that they do not become deformed and to maintain the quality of the material. Upon receipt, the sheets are delivered on stable pallets, completely straight, which ensures their integrity during transport. It is important to preserve the pallet and place the sheets on a level floor inside the workshop to avoid any deformation.

If space is limited, the sheets can also be stored on vertical shelves inside the workshop, always ensuring that they are well separated to avoid contact between them, which could cause marks or damage. However, if the material is stored outside the workshop, in an external warehouse, its temperature must be taken into account before processing. Krion® has a thermal expansion coefficient, which means that the sheets must be acclimatised to the ambient temperature of the workshop before being worked. If the sheets are at extreme temperatures (e.g. below 10°C or above 40°C), it is essential that they are tempered before cutting, otherwise this will slightly affect the dimensions and fit of the individual pieces. If this is not done, the material may expand slightly when it reaches working temperature, which may affect the measurements and fit of the pieces.

To avoid this situation, it is recommended to store Krion® in an environment with temperatures similar to those of the workshop, between 15°C and 24°C. This ensures that the sheets do not experience expansion or contraction that could affect their shape and dimensions during handling.

If this is not possible, it is advisable to transport the sheets to the workplace 24 hours before cutting and processing.

Safety in the solid surface workshop

Although no special protective equipment is required to work with Krion®, standard workshop safety measures must always be observed. This includes wearing protective goggles and gloves when necessary, as well as keeping the work area clean and well ventilated. When working with adhesives, it is important to follow the manufacturer's safety recommendations.

You may be interested in -> Krion: the importance of working with a material with safety guarantees

 

Essential machinery for working with solid surface

To work correctly with Krion®, it is necessary to have a variety of specialised tools and machinery to ensure precise cuts, perfect finishes and efficient handling of the material. Below, we describe the main machines and equipment essential for processing Krion®.

Basic equipment for cutting and milling Krion®

To cut Krion® accurately, table saws equipped with tungsten carbide (hard metal) blades are essential. These blades, especially those with triple teeth, are the ideal choice for working with Solid Surface, as they have a tooth geometry that improves blade durability and reduces friction during cutting, which prevents the material from overheating. This allows for clean, crack-free cuts, minimising tool wear and improving cut quality.

Milling is another key process for working with Krion®. This is a machining technique using rotating cutting tips (milling cutters) at high speed (from 15,000 to 28,000 rpm). Milling is necessary for complex details, reliefs and precise finishes, as it allows Krion® to be cut with greater precision. The best machinery for this process is the CNC (Computer Numerical Control) milling machine, which allows the process to be automated with great precision. Manual milling machines are the most commonly used, especially when the edges of the pieces to be joined need to be milled to ensure that the adhesive joints are imperceptible. This type of milling machine allows for more direct and manual control.

Specialised machinery for thermoforming

Thermoforming is a key process for shaping Krion® and creating curved or complex geometric pieces. To carry out this process, industrial ovens and vacuum presses are required, which allow the material to be moulded at high temperatures without losing its properties.

Industrial ovens must be capable of producing a constant and uniform temperature throughout their entire range between 130°C and 165°C, which is the optimum temperature for thermoforming Krion®. Precise temperature control prevents Krion from overheating and ensures a correct and consistent result. Forced convection or aluminium heating plate ovens are the most recommended, as they ensure even heat distribution.

Once the Krion® has reached the right temperature, it is transferred to a vacuum press. This press, equipped with a silicone membrane, applies vacuum pressure that helps the material take the shape of the mould.

Sanding and surface finishing

The final sanding or finishing of the Krion® surface is carried out with orbital sanders, which are ideal for finishing work on small or curved surfaces, as they allow for smooth and controlled sanding without leaving marks.

The sanding process begins with coarse-medium grit discs (100 to 180) to remove imperfections or adhesive bead from the joints, and then progresses with a series of medium-fine grit discs up to 320 or higher to achieve the final finish.

For medium or dark Krion® colours, it is recommended to continue sanding with a progression of fine-ultra fine grit discs up to 1000 or higher.

It is also possible to polish the surface to finishes of 9000 or higher (mirror-like), using 5000 and 9000 abrasive paste applied with a polisher. When applying this paste, it is recommended to reduce the speed of the polisher to avoid overheating the material.

This superfine finish is not recommended for work surfaces; it would be more suitable for vertical or decorative elements.

Auxiliary equipment and other tools

In addition to the main tools, auxiliary equipment is essential to ensure precision and quality finishes when working with Krion®.

Sturdy, perfectly flat work tables are essential to ensure that the pieces remain stable during cutting, milling or gluing, preventing deformation and ensuring precise work. Clamping systems, such as clamps and pressure jacks, are essential for holding the pieces firmly in place, especially during the gluing process.

This is crucial, as the adhesive used to join the pieces must have time to cure without the pieces slipping or becoming misaligned. In addition, the use of measuring and calibration tools ensures that the pieces fit together precisely and that the joints are perfect.

Krion®'s special adhesive is also an essential tool. Krion® offers a two-component adhesive specially designed to ensure strong, invisible bonds between Solid Surface pieces. This adhesive is used not only to join large pieces, but also for repairs and fine adjustments. It is essential for ensuring the aesthetics and durability of the pieces, as it allows for seamless, visible-mark-free joints, preserving the integrity of the material and providing a strong, long-lasting bond.

To guarantee quality when working with Krion®, the Affinity programme is the best option for transformers. It offers continuous training and personalised technical support, ensuring that workshops are fully trained in the proper handling of Krion®. This programme helps workshops meet the highest quality standards in every project, guaranteeing exceptional results when working with Krion Solid Surface.