Sector · Natural stone and countertops
Waterjet cutting of marble, granite and countertops
Marble, granite, compact quartz, Silestone, Dekton, Neolith. No cracks, no chips, with curved geometries impossible in sawing. The industry standard for modern countertops.
The natural stone and sintered surfaces industry has massively adopted waterjet cutting in the last decade. The reason is simple: no other technology allows cutting stone in curved geometries, with inlays and intarsia, without introducing heat or mechanical impact. Abrasive waterjet cutting is today the standard in kitchen countertop workshops, funeral headstones, architectural cladding and decorative art in marble.
With modern surfaces like Dekton, Silestone or Neolith, waterjet is even more competitive: these pieces do not tolerate thermal shock (so laser is ruled out) and are too hard for traditional mechanical methods. The water jet with 80 mesh garnet cuts these materials with millimetric precision and without risk of breaking them.
Typical cutting parameters by material
References with OMAX 55100 (50 HP pump), 1,02×76,2 mm mixing tube, 80 mesh garnet. Cutting speed quality (optimal finish):
| Material | Thickness | Speed | Garnet consumption | Ra finish |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marble Carrara | 20 mm | 420 mm/min | 0,48 kg/min | 6,2 µm |
| Black granite | 30 mm | 180 mm/min | 0,55 kg/min | 7,8 µm |
| Silestone/Quartz | 20 mm | 260 mm/min | 0,52 kg/min | 5,5 µm |
| Dekton | 20 mm | 210 mm/min | 0,54 kg/min | 5,8 µm |
| Neolith | 12 mm | 380 mm/min | 0,46 kg/min | 5,0 µm |
| Porcelain | 15 mm | 320 mm/min | 0,48 kg/min | 5,4 µm |
Typical applications
Kitchen countertops
Straight and curved cuts, cutouts for sinks and cooktops, decorative bevels. Marble workshops and kitchen factories invest in waterjet to become independent from external suppliers.
Architectural cladding
Ventilated facades, floors, outdoor pavements. Cutting large formats (Dekton 320×144 cm, Neolith 360×120 cm) in modular pieces with millimetric tolerance.
Intarsia and decorative art
Inlays of marbles of different colors (Florentine technique), corporate logos on floors, geometric mosaics customized with perfect adjustment piece by piece.
Headstones and funeral art
Letters, religious symbols and complex reliefs in granite and marble. Precision and cleanliness without the fragmentation typical of the milling machine.
Recommended OMAX models for stone
OMAX 2626
Table 1,75×0,76 m. Ideal for medium-sized marble workshops with standard countertop pieces.
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OMAX 55100
Table 3,2×1,65 m. Full countertops without joints, architectural facades.
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MAXIEM 2040X
Entry to waterjet with 3×2 m table. Attractive ROI for workshop starting out.
View specs →
Occasional countertop? Cutting service
Cortalia offers waterjet cutting of stone and sintered surfaces on demand, without machine investment. Fast deliveries in the Iberian Peninsula.
View Cortalia service →Frequently asked questions
Can marble or granite be cut with waterjet without breaking it?+
Yes, abrasive waterjet is the ideal method for cutting natural stone because it applies no mechanical load on the piece nor thermal shock. It allows curved cuts, inlays (intarsia) and complex geometries impossible with disk saws. Usual thicknesses: 20-40 mm in marble, 30-60 mm in granite, 12-20 mm in quartz/compact.
What finish does waterjet leave on marble or compact quartz?+
Matte edge type fine textured (Ra 5-8 µm), suitable for butt joint without intermediate polishing in countertops. For shiny polished edge it must be sanded later with a polisher. Great advantages: no edge cracks, no chips, and tolerance ±0,5 mm in 3 meter pieces — impossible with saw.
How long does it take to cut a kitchen countertop with waterjet?+
Standard countertop 3×0,65 m in Silestone or Dekton 20 mm with 2 holes (sink + cooktop) and straight edge: 35-50 minutes in an OMAX 5555 with 50 HP pump. With curved shapes or complex bevels it can reach 1h 30min. The included Intelli-MAX software optimizes time automatically.
Does waterjet work with modern materials like Dekton, Silestone or Neolith?+
Perfectly. Sintered surfaces (Dekton, Neolith, Laminam) and compact quartz (Silestone, Compac) are even more stable to water cutting than natural marble. Dekton's resistance to thermal shock makes it incompatible with laser or plasma, but trivial with waterjet. Typical parameters: 150-250 mm/min in 20 mm thickness.
Which OMAX model is ideal for a stone and countertop workshop?+
The most sold models for stone in Spain are OMAX 2626 (usable 1,75×0,76 m for medium pieces), OMAX 55100 (table 3,2×1,65 m for full countertops) and MAXIEM 2040X (attractive cost/performance proposition for workshops starting in waterjet). All work with submerged table to reduce noise and splash.
Do you have to change the consumable more frequently cutting stone?+
Not necessarily. Stone is less abrasive on the mixing tube than steel or titanium. Typical useful life of the mixing tube cutting marble or compact quartz is 120-180 hours (vs 80-120 h in stainless steel). The orifice (ruby/sapphire) follows the same cycle (40-120 h).
Consult your stone project
Tell us materials, thicknesses and volume. We advise you on the OMAX model and expected return on investment.