Fabricator Profile: Mainland Stoneworks Uses Automation to Improve Processes and Cut Costs

2Mainland Stoneworks in Alvin, Texas, was founded as Mainland Custom Marble by Johnny Helpenstill and Darwin Miller in 1982. The company began as a manufacturer of cultured marble, but the owners took advantage of the growing demand for natural stone countertops by turning it into a full-service fabrication shop.

In 2006, Kevin Bertelsman, a 15-year veteran of Dow Chemical Company, purchased the business and put to use his vast knowledge of manufacturing and installation. In 2009, Mainland Stoneworks acquired Countertops Unlimited and is now one of the leading fabricators in the Houston metropolitan area.

Like many other countertop fabricators, over the past several years sales volume has gone up for Mainland Stoneworks and profit margins have fallen. Bertelsman  explained that superior customer service, excellent communication, fast response time and prompt scheduling are all required for a business to survive on lean profit margins.

In order to overcome the escalating demand and shrinking margins, Bertelsman turned to automation so he could increase productivity and efficiency and bring down costs. He said that he would not be able to stay in business with fewer people or without automated equipment, upgraded software systems (which have allowed him to shorten quoting jobs from 30 to 5 minutes) and other improved processes.

Read more of this Fabricator Profile here: Mainland Custom Marble