Germans Serra Chooses Dal Prete to Optimize Water Treatment in Its Stone Workshop
In the stone processing industry, the quality of the water used in production directly affects the final result, the cleanliness of the pieces, the shine of the surfaces, and the workshop’s day-to-day efficiency. For this reason, Germans Serra, a family-owned company based in Rubí, near Barcelona, chose to upgrade its water treatment system by installing Dal Prete’s Mini Compact L 2.1 system, a compact and automated solution designed for the treatment and recycling of wastewater generated by the processing of marble, granite, and other stone materials.
The history of Germans Serra stems from a long family tradition. Albert Serra’s grandfather worked in a quarry and had in-depth knowledge of the stone industry; later, his father and uncle decided to found the company, building from scratch a business that over the years has grown to become a benchmark in its region. Today, Albert, who joined the company at age 25 and has been active in management and production for over 18 years, represents the continuity of this experience, as well as a commitment to updating production processes to meet current needs.
From an Oversized System to a Compact Solution
For many years, the company operated with a high-volume production model. The workshop was equipped with large-scale machinery, such as block cutters, frames, and wires, which generated large amounts of sludge and required appropriately sized water treatment systems. The old filter press system had initially been chosen to meet that production demand, but over time the nature of the work changed. Germans Serra gradually shifted its targets, customer base, and project types, reducing the volume of stone processed and focusing on operations more aligned with the company’s current structure.
This shift highlighted the need to replace a system that had become too large, outdated, and no longer efficient. As Albert Serra explains: “With the current volume, it was no longer necessary to keep such a large machine. It was old, didn’t work properly, and was no longer doing its job.” The choice of the Mini Compact L 2.1 system therefore stems from a very concrete need: to achieve effective water treatment, but with a system better suited to the company’s space, pace, and production scale.
One of the key factors was the balance between performance and footprint. With the Mini Compact L 2.1, Germans Serra was able to maintain a clarification process based on the well-known filter press principle, but with a much more compact, modern, and automated machine. “With limited space, we’re able to achieve exactly the same results as a machine ten times larger”, explains Serra. For a stone workshop, freeing up production space means improving internal organization, streamlining workflows, and reducing management complexity.
Cleaner water, more precise machining
The installation of the new system has brought immediately noticeable benefits to the quality of machining as well. Working with properly clarified water reduces the presence of residues during the polishing stages, improving both the surfaces and the edges of the machined parts. For Germans Serra, the difference was evident from the very first uses: when the water wasn’t perfectly clean, the surfaces could show more scratches, the edges were less defined, and the final shine didn’t meet the desired standard, especially when viewed against the light.
With the new system, water quality has helped make the process more consistent and the final result cleaner:
- the tops and surfaces come out of the machines without any sludge residue.
- require less cleaning,
- allow operators to work with greater continuity.
This aspect has a direct impact not only on the product’s appearance but also on production times: fewer defects, less rework, and fewer ancillary operations mean a more efficient workflow.
In terms of water consumption as well, the switch to a compact system represented a significant improvement. The old, larger system involved greater volumes of water, a more extensive network of pipes, and a higher number of flow points, resulting in losses due to evaporation, overflow, and accumulation.
Although the company does not have a precise quantification of the savings in liters, it has nonetheless recorded a significant reduction in water consumption, attributable both to the greater efficiency of the new system and to the drastic reduction in the losses typical of the previous system.
Automation, Simplicity, and Technical Support
One of the most appreciated features of the Mini Compact L 2.1 system is its automation. For a production facility with a lean structure, being able to rely on a machine that is easy to use and requires minimal daily maintenance is a decisive advantage. After initial training, starting up and checking the system takes only a few minutes a day, without taking time away from the lab’s core activities. “Every morning, we spend two or three minutes starting up the system and checking that all levels are correct”, says Albert Serra.
Dal Prete’s choice was also supported by the relationship of trust with Josep Pasadas, a key figure in the company not only as a mechanic but also as a supplier of machinery for the stone industry, and by the support received from Cristian Simonini, Dal Prete’s sales manager, who oversaw every phase of the project. The training, which lasted a couple of days, allowed the operators to familiarize themselves with the system, perform initial tests, and resolve any doubts under the direct supervision of the technicians. Even in the subsequent phase, the relationship with the manufacturer and distributor remained positive, with constant guidance in machine operation and monitoring activities.
Today, Germans Serra considers the installed system to be well-suited not only to current needs but also to potential future growth. The Mini Compact L 2.1 was, in fact, designed to support the laboratory’s operations and provide room for expansion should new machines be introduced.
For the company, the main benefits can be summed up in three words: space, automation, and time.
Three factors that directly impact the ability to focus on production activities and the value generated every day.
More Efficient Water Management for Stone Workshops
The Germans Serra case study demonstrates that wastewater treatment is not merely a technical necessity, but a strategic element in the management of a modern stone workshop. Replacing an obsolete and oversized system with a compact, automated solution has enabled the company to improve water quality, reduce waste, reclaim space, and streamline daily operations.
For companies working with marble, granite, and other stone materials, a system like the Mini Compact L 2.1 enables more efficient water recycling that better aligns with actual production needs. Less complexity, greater control, and simpler sludge management thus become tangible benefits, capable of improving operators’ work and the quality of the finished product.
