5 Everyday Products You Didn’t Know Were Made Using Water Jet Cutting

When you think of water jet cutting, your mind probably leaps to chunky industrial parts, complex engineering jobs, or heavy-duty aerospace components. And you’d be absolutely right. But here’s the twist — water jet cutting also plays a surprising role in producing a range of everyday items you’ll find around the house, on the street, or even on your plate.

So if you thought water jet tech was all sparks, steel and factory floors, buckle up. Here are five things made using water jets that might just surprise you…

⸻

1. Pizza (well… the slices)

Let’s start with a tasty one. Yep, commercial food production uses water jets too. Those pre-cut frozen pizzas you chuck in the oven? There’s a good chance the slices were portioned by high-pressure water jets. Why? It’s clean, fast, and doesn’t gum up or squash the base like a blade might. And because there’s no cross-contamination, it’s great for factories working with allergens.

Same goes for cakes, pastries and even delicate layered desserts. Turns out, water’s not just for boiling pasta.

⸻

2. Car interiors

Next time you hop in your car, take a look around. Door panels, dashboards, insulation, carpeting — they’re often cut with precision water jets. Materials like foam, rubber, and composites can all be cleanly sliced with water, without the heat or friction that could cause damage or warping.

This is a big one for electric vehicles too, where tight tolerances and non-metallic materials are increasingly common. Who knew your floormats had such high-tech beginnings?

⸻

3. Phone components

Smartphones are sleek, clever and, whisper it, a bit fragile. That glass screen? Likely cut to shape with a water jet. It’s quick, accurate and doesn’t create heat stress, which is ideal when you’re dealing with brittle materials like Gorilla Glass.

Some manufacturers also use water jets to shape internal parts, especially when prototyping or dealing with unusual composite layers. So next time you drop your phone (again), remember: it started life with a very clean cut.

⸻

4. Signage and branding

Those cool metal shop signs, architectural logos on buildings, and even some house numbers — many are cut using water jet technology. Whether it’s brushed aluminium, stainless steel or even granite, water jets can create crisp, detailed lettering and intricate designs.

It’s also a popular choice for one-off custom pieces, thanks to the flexibility and minimal setup needed. Bonus points for not scorching the edges like traditional plasma or laser cutters might.

⸻

5. Tiling and flooring

From patterned floor tiles to intricate mosaics, water jet cutting is the go-to method when you need sharp corners and tight shapes in hard materials. You can get beautifully detailed cuts in ceramic, porcelain, marble, or stone without risking breakage — and all without dulling saw blades.

It’s used in commercial buildings, high-end homes and even art installations. So the next time you’re admiring a fancy floor in a hotel lobby, you’ll know there’s water jet tech underfoot.

⸻

So there you have it…
Water jet cutting isn’t just for the big stuff. It’s slicing up your pizza, shaping your car’s insides, giving your gadgets their sleek lines and even helping you find your hotel room number. Versatile? Absolutely.

And if you ever want to chat about how water jet cutting could be useful for your own project — whether it’s industrial, decorative or somewhere in between — please just get in touch.