Park Industries® began providing full-service solutions to the stone industry in 1953. Today, we’ve grown to become North America’s largest manufacturer of stoneworking equipment.
Park Industries® has invested in an infrastructure focused on providing world-class customer services and support. 22% of associates are dedicated to customer support roles.
Ryan Sjostrom maximizes the efficiency of his lean fabrication shop in Alaska, utilizing just three employees and Park Industries® machines. “The sky’s the limit” for his company, Rino’s Tile & Stone, after partnering with Park and eliminating labor pains with machines.
Rino’s Tile & Stone
While working in tile with his dad, Ryan was first introduced to stone fabrication and found himself enjoying his job the most when the task at hand was a granite job. In 2003, Ryan opened his own shop and started Rino’s Tile & Stone.
Fabricating in Anchorage, Alaska comes with its own challenges, such as remote installs. There have been times when installing across the inlet or on an island when they’ve had to get creative with the delivery method – using a landing craft or a pontoon boat. Shipping is a challenge as well. In such a remote location, they cannot count on their slabs making it on the boat every time, so they really appreciate dependability, an area “Park Industries shines at.”
Read their story! Expand the sections below to learn more about their story and partnership with Park Industries®.
Park Partnership
Strong Customer Service
In 2018, Ryan purchased a TITAN® CNC Fab Center after a poor experience with an Italian CNC machine that claimed they had US support. When deciding which manufacturer to use next, other fabricators shared overwhelmingly positive feedback about Park’s customer service with Ryan. He now echoes their comments, “The support and customer service Park provides speaks volumes. We value the strong local support and our USA-made machines.”
Machine Review
VOYAGER™ XP
The number of commercial projects on Ryan’s schedule that require miters and waterfall edging, were starting to create a bottleneck at Rino’s Tile & Stone. This called attention to the fact that it was time to “level up” and add another machine to the labor force. The VOYAGER™ XP CNC Saw, installed in July 2022, immediately filled the additional cutting needs and allowed their TITAN® Fab Center to focus on polishing and finishing parts. The new CNC saw has been easy to program and operate. Ryan and his employees have enjoyed the freedom to walk away and work on other tasks while the VOYAGER™ XP cuts.
Ryan finds the TightCut option on the VOYAGER™ XP to be one of the most beneficial features. They have had a huge reduction in material waste and do not need to worry about moving pieces out of the way. “The VOYAGER™ XP allows us the ability to miter a large variety of materials, including those that are more susceptible to fractures. We simply lay our pieces out and let it cut. We have eliminated any extra handwork,” Ryan continues, “The speed of this saw blows our minds with how fast it can cut. The VOYAGER™ XP doubles the speed of our previous bridge saw in its sleep.”
TITAN® Fab Center
This two-in-one machine was the necessary first step towards a digital shop for Rino’s Tile & Stone. The TITAN® Fab Center has made a strong impact on the shop’s production with its ability to cut miters, sinks, and polish on just one machine. It is currently used primarily as a router and a backup saw if ever needed. Ryan shares, “The TITAN® Fab Center is the main component of our workforce. If we focus on feeding this machine, the sky’s the limit.”
Owning and operating the TITAN® Fab Center to its fullest capabilities was the reason Rino’s Tile & Stone was able to grow to where they could afford more specialized machines. Without it, they wouldn’t have been able to add the VOYAGER™ and FASTBACK® II to increase production even further.
FASTBACK® II
The FASTBACK® II Edge Polisher is an upgrade from their previous Italian backsplash machine. They were unable to run small pieces through the old machine. Now windowsills and smaller jobs shoot right through the FASTBACK® II.
Ryan explains his excitement about this machine, “The edges come off flawlessly polished on the FASTBACK® II. On our old edge machine, we had to work hard with a lot of finessing to get high quality edges. With the FASTBACK® II we just ‘set it & forget it’… well we can’t forget it, because it’s coming out so fast!” The FASTBACK® II is three times faster than the previous machine. They have been happy to find the polish unbeatable and the machine to be simple to operate as well.
Results
No More Labor Pains
The machines at Rino’s Tile & Stone have allowed them to grow without adding much to their labor force. Ryan shares just what it has meant for his business, “The machines have allowed us to branch out into the commercial market and the high volume of production that comes with that territory. We are producing up to 10 kitchens a week, the machines can easily handle a higher amount of production, and we are not forced to hire a whole new crew to keep up.”
They now have a healthy mix of custom and commercial jobs. The newest machines, the VOYAGER™ XP and FASTBACK® II can handle a large volume of cutting and edging which will really help with the commercial side while the TITAN® Fab Center helps with the custom side of the business. Ryan further explains, “Customers can throw any challenge our way & it is not a big deal – we are set up and equipped to handle it. We can better serve our customers with our Park machinery.”
Ryan reflects on life before his machines, “It is a night and day difference. Our employees’ health and attitudes are much better. Everything comes out right the first time.” 100% of their overtime has been eliminated. Machines have given Ryan the flexibility to easily adjust the schedule to fit tight turnarounds or new jobs.
Skilled Service & A True Partnership
Night & Day Difference
The exemplary service Rino’s Tile & Stone has received from Park Industries is a stark contrast to the poor experience they had with the Italian company. As a shop owner, Ryan truly appreciates Park’s customer service techs’ willingness to troubleshoot an issue in a swift and friendly manner.
Ryan elaborates, “Park’s service has been great. There is always someone to not just answer the phone, but truly willing to help find a solution.” Ryan is happy they chose to partner with Park. He shares, “Park Industries® stands behind their machines. I appreciate their reliability and customer service. From beginning to end – the whole process of partnering with Park and bettering my shop has been great.”
The support and customer service Park provides speaks volumes. We value the strong local support and our USA-made machines.
Ryan Sjostrom
Rino's Tile & Stone
Park Industries® stands behind their machines. I appreciate their reliability and customer service. From beginning to end – the whole process of partnering with Park and bettering my shop has been great.
Ryan Sjostrom
Rino's Tile & Stone
The edges come off flawlessly polished on the FASTBACK® II. On our old edge machine, we had to work hard with a lot of finessing to get high quality edges. With the FASTBACK® II we just ‘set it & forget it’… well we can’t forget it, because it’s coming out so fast!
Ryan Sjostrom
Rino's Tile & Stone
The TITAN® Fab Center is the main component of our workforce. If we focus on feeding this machine, the sky’s the limit.
Ryan Sjostrom
Rino's Tile & Stone
The speed of this saw blows our minds with how fast it can cut. The VOYAGER™ XP doubles the speed of our previous bridge saw in its sleep.
Ryan Sjostrom
Rino's Tile & Stone
The VOYAGER™ XP allows us the ability to miter a large variety of materials, including those that are more susceptible to fractures. We simply lay our pieces out and let it cut. We have eliminated any extra handwork.
Adding the right machinery provides real results. Understand the impact at these shops.
