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The Stages of Artificial Stone Countertop Fabrication

When an artificial stone slab arrives from the manufacturer or supplier it has to be fabricated to needed size and dimensions in a fabrication shop prior to installation in a customer’s home. The stages of fabrication are:
Cutting: A worker referred to as a Cutter will cut the large slabs to size on a bridge saw or rail saw. This can be done by hand (unsafely) with a dry cutter, but often it is done on a large water-fed saw operated by controls or by a computer.
Fabricating: A worker described as a Fabricator is involved in most aspects of preparing a slab after it has been cut to size. Fabrication involves the use of hand-held tools (circular saws, grinders, drills). These tools may be (unsafely) dry or may be water fed. In most shops, they are operated without water. Holes are cut/drilled for sinks, soap dispensers, oven ranges, etc. The edges of the counters are rounded, beveled, or finished with another design. Fabrication as detail work, a skilled craft. How many or which of these tasks that any given fabricator actually does will depend on how the particular shop operates, the size of the shop, as well as the experience and ability of the fabricator.
Polishing: A worker known as a Polisher uses a hand-held polishing tool that is generally, but not always, water-fed.
Installing: A worker known as an Installer installs the countertop in the home. Often during an installation they find the countertops need to be adjusted to fit properly. To do this they make new cuts and/or drill new holes, which are generally done outdoors and often (unsafely) without masks. When (unsafely) done indoors, often the worker will (unsafely) use a vacuum cleaner with hose attachments to try to contain dust.
A worker known as an Assistant can help with any of these job duties, particularly if they are still learning the trade. Laborers may also move inventory and perform clean up. Some “Fabricators” perform all stages of work.