Trainees visit long-established German company TRACO and gain an insight into production

The trainees at BESCO went on an excursion a few weeks ago. Together, they visited TRACO Deutsche Travertin Werke GmbH in Thuringia. “TRACO has been processing the most sustainable building material in the world, namely local limestone and sandstone, in Bad Langensalza for over 100 years,” says Ulrich Klösser, Managing Director at TRACO and Managing Partner at BESCO. On site, the trainees were given an insight into the processing and were able to see the complete product cycle, from the stone in the quarry to the finished product.

As BESCO does not have its own production facility and does not have its own quarry, the visit to TRACO is the ideal opportunity for the trainees to expand their theoretical product and industry knowledge with practical knowledge at the production facility and in TRACO’s nearby quarry. The excursion enabled the four trainees, who are completing their training in wholesale and foreign trade at BESCO, to gain an even deeper understanding of the natural stone industry.

Diverse natural stone applications in the TRACO park and TRACO showroom

During a tour through the TRACO park, the result of the renaturation of an old quarry, and the TRACO showroom, the trainees were able to get to know the extensive possibilities of natural stone processing.

The company uses the TRACO park to show its customers the diverse applications of natural stone in outdoor areas. On exhibit were floor coverings, walls, water bowls, seating and special elements in various finishes. The TRACO showroom is a covered, heated and bright room in which the application possibilities of natural stone in interiors are shown. For example, bathtubs, bathroom fittings and shower floors are on display there.

Even though BESCO specializes more in the use of natural stone in outdoor areas, the company also realizes projects in indoor areas. The tour of the TRACO showroom thus broadens the trainees’ awareness of the countless possible applications of natural stone – both outdoors and indoors.

TRACO-Park shows possible applications for natural stone in outdoor areas.

Discovery tour through the production halls: Insight into the world of stone processing technology

In the production halls, the trainees got to know various machines that are responsible for cutting the natural stone blocks. TRACO in Bad Langensalza has been producing components made of travertine and other limestone and sandstone, from paving stones to Gothic tracery, for over 100 years. Thanks to this experience and the expertise that TRACO has acquired over the years, the company is the ideal point of contact when it comes to imparting knowledge from the natural stone industry.

The first machine first roughly cuts the delivered raw blocks into slabs, while the second machine works more precisely. To ensure that the machines know where to cut, a laser is set as a zero line from which the distances can be entered by computer and the slabs can be cut to the desired thickness. Another machine is capable of three-dimensional sawing and can change its required attachments independently – the arm to which the saw blade is attached can move along the x, y and z axes. This makes it possible, for example, to saw a large well shell from a single raw block.

Machines like these also make it possible for BESCO’s selected producers to meet the individual wishes of architects and planners and deliver customized natural stone solutions.

Natural stone in different sizes, colors, shapes and finishes.

 
 
Practical insights: stonemasonry and rock science at TRACO

The BESCO trainees were able to watch a stonemason embossing stones at the trainees’ practice and work stations. They learned about the different chisels used by stonemasons. They were also given an insight into the types of stone that TRACO sells. Using the example of red sandstone, Mr. Klösser showed them how large mineral veins and how varied the coloring of natural stones can be. Both TRACO and BESCO offer free sample bricks for their customers.

 
Sustainable natural stone processing

At another station, paving stones are made from large leftover pieces. The remaining stones, which are too small to be used as paving stones, are collected on a conveyor belt and sold as gravel. By learning about the complete product cycle of the stones, from the 20-tonne raw block to the end of processing as crushed stone, the trainees were made aware that natural stone can be used almost completely as a material. This makes it by far the most sustainable building material. Finally, the trainees went to a nearby travertine quarry.

Trainees visit travertine quarry.

 
 
Walk through Bad Langensalza: discovering natural stone and local sights

A former TRACO trainee then showed the trainees around Bad Langensalza. They walked through the old and small town, to parks such as the orchid park. Finally, they took a look at the town’s landmark, the Drei-Türme-Blick – a place in Bad Langensalza from which you can see the towers of the former Augustinian church, the town hall and the market church of St. Bonifacii at the same time. During the tour of the town, it was noticeable that many buildings and squares are made of travertine and were supplied by TRACO.

“The visit to TRACO was an incredibly enriching experience for us apprentices at BESCO,” says Jamie Dräger, a first-year apprentice at BESCO. “Not only did we see how natural stone is quarried and processed, but we also learned about the wide range of possible applications. This insight has deepened our understanding of the natural stone industry enormously and will certainly have a positive impact on our work at BESCO.”