Protecting People & Companies. Guarding Machines. Leading with Care.
At BACA Systems, our mission is clear: we don’t just protect machines- we protect our people as well. In the world of stone fabrication, where high-speed robotic saws and waterjets are the norm, we’ve made safety and guarding systems an integral part of every machine we build.
Whether it’s a Gantry-based Saw Jet or a Robotic Saw Jet cutting at up to 60,000 PSI with a waterjet, these machines operate with intense force. Saws slicing through dense stone at high RPMs can present significant hazards when not properly guarded. Without proper safety measures, workers are vulnerable to airborne silica dust and flying stone fragments- both of which can lead to serious injuries or long-term illness.
Silica Exposure: A Real and Growing Problem
During the fabrication of quartz countertops, cutting, grinding, and polishing release crystalline silica dust. This invisible threat, when inhaled, can cause Silicosis, an irreversible and potentially fatal lung disease.
Silicosis is often underdiagnosed but increasingly recognized in stone fabrication shop workers of all ages. It leads to symptoms like chronic cough, fatigue, and shortness of breath, and significantly increases the risk of lung cancer, COPD, and kidney disease.
What are Guarding Systems?
At BACA Systems, our safety/guarding systems are steel barrier enclosures that surround our robotic cutting cells or work areas. They are engineered to:
- Help reduce an operator’s silica dust exposure by reducing the operator’s proximity to the source.
- Provide a hard and reliable barrier to contain flying debris like stone fragments that may chip off during high-speed cuts.
- Provide a physical barrier between robotic arms and human operators.
- Help maintain a clean, organized work environment- without compromising on productivity.
Our M Series Robo Saw Jet will only begin cutting after the safety guarding is fully closed, the interlocks are engaged, and the operator activates Auto Start. This setup helps contain a significant portion of overspray and stone debris inside the workspace, reducing the need for constant cleanup outside the cutting system, saving time, cost and increasing safety in your facility.
What’s more, the doors that are part of the guarding system aren’t just for safety, they play a crucial role in increasing efficiency too. In a dual-table M-series Robo Saw Jet configuration, once the worker activates the ‘Auto Start’ mode the robot automatically moves to the second table after finishing the first, provided the doors are shut and interlocks are latched. This eliminates the need for the operator to manually trigger the next cycle, allowing them to focus on other tasks or projects – saving valuable labor hours and boosting shop productivity.
The M Series isn’t just known for its productivity. It’s a high-performance robotic system built for cutting accuracy, consistent quality, precision, and exceptional mitering, executed with both the saw and the waterjet. And all of that is delivered within a properly guarded and secure environment.
At BACA Systems, we make these guarding systems available because safety and efficiency should never be an afterthought.
OSHA and Beyond
BACA Systems works with its customers to assist with their compliance obligations under the Occupational Health and Safety Act (“OSHA”). Guarding systems are part of a multi-layered safety strategy recommended to employers by OSHA to reduce silica exposure and mechanical hazards in the shop area. OSHA’s recommendations for reducing silica exposure and addressing mechanical hazards include:
- Guarding enclosures around machinery
- Demarcating regulated areas
- Wet cutting
- Dust collection and proper drainage system
- Local exhaust ventilation
- Respiratory protection
At BACA, Safety is Engineered In
At BACA Systems, we’ve designed the M Series Robo Saw Jet with all of these safety features, because your team’s health and well-being are always top of our mind.
To every shop owner, operator, and fabrication professional: the risks of silica dust and machine-related injury are real, but they can be significantly reduced. With the right equipment built with worker safety in mind, you’re not just investing in better fabrication. You’re investing in your team, your brand, and your future.
At BACA Systems, we lead with innovation and compassion, because we care about everyone in the stone fabrication industry- not just the machines, but also the employees and businesses that rely on them.