Albemarle Stoneworks

In the heart of Central Virginia, Albemarle Stoneworks is thriving in the high-end custom stone market, able to deliver any challenge with all types of materials.

Wes Carter, owner of Albemarle Stoneworks, relies on a skilled team and precise Park Industries® machines, including two new saws, to efficiently deliver luxury work to their customers. 

The integration of Park machines into their operations has significantly boosted their efficiency and ability to meet the highest standards of quality.

From Bathtubs to Solid Surface to Stone 

Wes’s first job was working for his mom, who started a bathtub refinishing company. Wes recalls, “This taught me how to be in someone’s home, speak with customers, and fix things. I also remember meeting countertop installers on the job site and thought to myself, that’s what I want to do.” 

Wes began his countertop journey in the late 90s with solid surfaces and as the demand for these products declined, he saw the potential in stone and decided it was time for a change. 

In 2003, Wes opened up Albemarle Stoneworks. Today, they focus on medium to high-end residential work in the form of exotic materials, floor-to-ceiling fireplaces, and more. Wes shares, “There is a great market for this type of work here. It’s interesting work that pays well, so we have high expectations of our team but pay them well for it.”  

Over Twenty Years of Partnership 

Park Industries® and Albemarle Stoneworks first joined forces in 2003 on Wes’s very first piece of machinery: a used YUKON Bridge Saw. Soon after he also found a used PRO-EDGE Edge Polisher. 

Since then, Wes has remained an all-Park shop buying a variety of machines over the last two-plus decades. Wes shares, “Park Industries® has helped my shop grow since day one. They helped me go digital and have been a consistent partner for my business.” 

Park Industries’ machine quality, 24/7 customer service, next-day parts, and the fact that they are an American manufacturer, all stand out to Wes. 

Albemarle’s Machine Lineup 

In addition to having a great team, Wes has relied on digital fabrication to bring their artistic vision and high standards to life in a profitable manner. 

Albemarle Stoneworks relies on a JAVELIN CNC Sawjet, VOYAGER XP CNC Saw, two TITAN CNC Routers, FASTBACK Edge Polisher, and a SlabVision Slab Scanner. 

making a Major Sawjet Upgrade to the javelin

Upgrading to the JAVELIN CNC Sawjet was a pivotal decision for Wes at Albemarle Stoneworks, as it replaced his beloved FUSION®, which had served the shop faithfully for a decade.

“We’re more than thrilled with the new JAVELIN,” Wes shares. “We chose it for the mitering waterjet and the blade changing library, which we use every day. The margin over the length of the cut is just .003 to .004 inches, which is something we could never get before.”

This upgrade has boosted their capabilities while supporting Albemarle Stoneworks’ reputation for exceptional craftsmanship. The JAVELIN’s precision and advanced features help reduce waste, make the most of every slab, and keep clients consistently impressed.

Versatility & Accuracy with the VOYAGER XP  

Why did Albemarle Stoneworks get the VOYAGER XP CNC Saw? Versatility and accuracy.

“We bought this saw for a different reason than a lot of shops would.” Wes says, “The main reason was for its ability to leather and hone slabs. Looking back on our costs, we needed that capability in-house. It’s also our primary saw when we need to cut tricky materials or require miters with perfect accuracy.” 

He concludes, “We also love the ability to run it in CNC mode or manual mode, as our custom work requires special manual cuts and passes. Lastly, it’s great knowing we can still run full production on it whenever needed.” 

Albemarle can rely on the VOYAGER XP and its precision to meet a variety of their shop’s specific needs.

TITAN CNC routers that Just Run and Run 

With two TITAN CNC Routers, this side-by-side duo delivers clean, crisp, and smooth finishes. Whether it’s a simple eased edge or an intricate profile, the TITANs deliver outstanding results and is highly efficient. 

“Our TITANs always put a great edge out and we haven’t had to do much work to them or put a bunch of money into them – which I love. They just keep running,” says Wes.

Wes relies on his TITAN’s durability and precision, also enjoying their large tables to load up when necessary.

The FASTBACK = No Brainer 

The FASTBACK Edge Polisher is one of Wes’s favorites.  

He simply shares, “What’s not to love about the FASTBACK? I’ve had it for over 10 years and it still delivering perfect backsplash at fast rates. When this machine is finally ready to be replaced, I will buy another FASTBACK, it’s just a no-brainer.” 

Smarter Layouts with the SlabVision Slab Scanner

The SlabVision Slab Scanner has streamlined their digital process by capturing high-resolution images of slabs for precise layout and planning. Wes expresses, “We love the PDFs we can send to clients or design teams so they can see how everything is going to come together before we cut it.” He adds, “The inventory side is easier to manage than what we were used to, and it’s created a lot of really nice projects coming out of our shop.”

SlabVision ensures clients can visualize their finished pieces in advance, adding confidence and accuracy to every job.

Counting on Consistency 

Reflecting on the value of the machinery in his shop, Wes shares, “I can now count on consistency in our work that has very high expectations. Everything comes out accurate and the same on our Park Industries® machines, which is huge in our type of work. Plus, they can easily ramp up when needed.” 

With Park’s machines and Albemarle’s skilled team, Wes has confidence in their ability to get the work done well and can “kick out early” most days, something freeing as a shop owner. 

Wes concludes, “Having Park’s exceptional support behind my business, has been demonstrated time-and-time-again over the years, is huge.”