The Wilhelm Process

The Wilhelm Process is the process by which Silexius, or "Stone Slab" can be mass produced. While Stone Slab can be created by hand using crafting techniques, the Wilhem Process improves on these.

Wilhelm Industries is therefore one of the largest corperations in New Crewmandy, as it's product is in very high demand for expansion and repair of Stadtholm.

Basic Process
The Old process of producing Stone Slab was to take Slag or cobblestone from the earth (mining it), and then burning it to restore it to it's smooth state. Then one would carefully pound and shape it, while applying Rubium Oxide (netherrack), until it became white, smooth, and 1/2 the size of smooth stone. This is the final product, often then applied with oils and glazes.

Wilhelm Process
Wilhelm improves on the process in several ways. Firstly, through large-scale mining, large quanities of cobble are transported to a refining area which heats the cobble to a semi-smooth state (it takes on the appearence of smooth stone at this point). It is then transported via magnetic conveyor belts to the factory floor. It is then compressed through a piston system, duing which it cracks and takes the appearence of a cobble stone slab. It is extremely brittle at this point, although quite hard. It is then carefuly transported to a molten lava trench, where it is mechanically dipped in the lava. The extreme heat (and large quantities of melted Rubium in the forulated mixture), smooths the stone further and when it exits the lava, it has become Silexius.

The Process Second
While slabbed silexius is very desirble and beautiful, for tensile purposes, while quite good, it lacks the tensile strength of iron bars. This can be rectified.in the Process Second.

Two stone slabs are affixed on to one another using the standard means used everywhere. It is then covered in Rubium Oxide and Cobblestone. It is then melted in another lava mixture then quickly quenched. The Rubium and Cobble are then vigoriously removed.The stone slabs become a superior tensile material, but lose much of their harness and distinctive white color. Indeed, it is hard for a layman to discern Silexius from Smooth Stone, for it looks and breaks the same when stuck. The only way to know which is which is to note the capacity in which it is being used.