Page 15 - Demo

Slippery rock Gazette
Margraf Installs New Resin Coating Line at Chiampo Facility
January 2020|15
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Due to the growing demand in inter- national markets for superior Italian marble, Margraf has boosted the production capacity in its Chiampo facility (near Vicenza) and invested in a new robotic resin coating unit for slabs (which enhances the quality of the materials by improv- ing their durability and flexibility).
Simec produced the fully- automated resining unit. It can be used to coat materi- als on both sides, and fea- tures no fewer than three drying and catalysis ovens, automatic resin distribution and spraying systems, a re- inforcement mesh roller and a tray return system.
At the heart of the unit are three ovens, which guar- antee high productivity and keep the quality of the
The robotic resin coating system produced by Simak can treat process multiple slabs at one time with an automated resin spraying and oven curing system.
output high in all weather conditions, while also re- ducing energy use.
The materials go through the ovens in a cyclical pro- cess. Consequently, they can remain inside until the drying or catalysis process is completed without slow- ing down the unit’s produc- tion speed.
Significant energy sav- ings are made thanks to a combination of meticulous insulation solutions and an efficient circulation sys- tem for the air, which is extracted and put back into the ovens.
Please turn to page 21
Our Language is Nothing to Mess With
words like ours when they speak. Presidential candidates, for in- stance. I have listened to many presidential debates. The only thing I ever learn is that hot air is a great source of energy.
Both sides sling ridiculous numbers, sizzling accusations, and bold declarations like they’re working the chow line on corned beef hash day. As soon as they hush, fact-checkers swing into action, proving the just-spoken ridiculous numbers, sizzling accusations, and bold declara- tions have less substance than pocket lint. So why worry about precision?
The first candidate who ac- knowledges we have a “mess” of debt on our hands, solvable only by a “right smart of changes” in the tax code and an end to a “pas- sel” of wasteful spending gets my vote.
Sam Venable is an author, stand-up comedian, and humor columnist for the Knoxville (TN) News Sentinel. He may be reached at sam.venable@outlook.com.
MY
street a few days ago and, know- ing I sometimes speak the mother tongue of Southern Appalachia, posed several questions:
“What constitutes a ‘mess’ of anything? How much is a ‘mess’? Is ‘mess’ a noun? A verb? An adjective? Is ‘mess’ something you’d wear to church? Do you make a ‘mess’ if you eat a ‘mess’ sloppily?”
This all started, Wilbur ex- plained, when he purchased a mess of green beans at the farm- er’s market. He shared some of his bounty with a neighborhood newcomer from foreign lands (north of Union County), who wanted to know the specifics of the word “mess.” He’d been hear- ing it spoken in many forms and was confused. The new neighbor went on to say he was so swept up in deep thought about the prob- lem he didn’t watch where he was
Sam Venable
Department of Irony
walking and stepped in fresh dog doo, which messed up his good shoes something awful.
Typically, this is something I wouldn’t mess with.
But the more I thought about it, the more I realized “mess” is one of those Southern Appalachian words that (a) flows off the tongue smooth as honey, (b) cov- ers a wide variety of sins, and (c) defies quantitative analysis.
In other words, “mess” can mean anything you want it to mean.
The “mess” of fish you gave to your cousin can be as few as five small bluegills or an eighteen-foot johnboat filled to the gunnels with four-pound catfish. It all depends on whether he needed enough to feed himself or supply the main ingredient for his Optimist club’s annual cookout.
ol’ buddy Wilbur
stopped me on the
What’s more, it doesn’t mat- ter if your cousin is rich or poor, Republican or Democrat, com- pletely lucid or nutty as a pecan tree, funny or stoic, friendly or grouchy, etc. Whatever the case, it is permissible to describe him as a “mess.” (Which can be pro- nounced “MAY-yess” for posi- tive or negative emphasis.)
Additionally, it is OK to decline Cuz’s kind offer to attend his club’s cookout because the doctor said you shouldn’t “mess” with
fried foods until a few pounds evaporate from your waist.
Nobody asks for an explanation. Everybody comprehends. Simple as that.
“Mess” shares much in common with “passel,” “tad,” “smidgen,” “right smart of,” “nigh ’bout,” “fair to middlin’” and other in- exact—yet perfectly logical and easily understood—figures of Southern Appalachian speech.
Frankly, I wish people in other parts of the country would use