As labor markets continue to dwindle and the need to run a safer shop is more important than ever before, Egon Hinss, the national sales manager of Breton USA, explains how fabricators can start the automation process in their shop. Hinss has 20 years of experience in the industry and has been with Breton for the past six years.

EH: The world is changing and finding skillful and reliable employees to work in the stone environment is getting harder and harder every year. Also, the workforce is changing. People are more tech savvy. You can almost say automation is the new hand grinder. As companies grow, it’s not always the solution to just add more employees. If you need to get more production, adding equipment is a smart way to go and it’s a safe way. With automation, you are removing that human element — making this a safer industry.