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www.stoneworld.com
March 2010
Museum of LiverpoolFabricator Issues & Solutions
Coverings Show Preview
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6 March 2010 | Stone World
Member:
®
Publisher Alex Bachrach, ext. 8615 alex@stoneworld.com
Editor/Associate Publisher Michael Reis, ext. 8613 michael@stoneworld.com
Managing Editor Jennifer Adams, ext. 8611 jennifer@stoneworld.com
Associate Editor Alexis Fisher, ext. 8612 alexis@stoneworld.com
Production Manager Jennifer Karras, 248/202-0220 karrasj@bnpmedia.com
Senior Art Director Wendy Zaremba-Just, 248/244-6476 zaremba-justw@bnpmedia.com
Office Manager Hilda Rowland, ext. 8610 hilda@stoneworld.com
Regional Advertising Managers Janelle Minghine, 734/340-5211 fax: 734/340-5212 minghinej@bnpmedia.com
Steve Smith, 617/909-5973 fax: 248/283-6531 steve@stoneworld.com
European Sales Dee Wakefield, 44 207 937 4488 fax: 44 207 792 3331 dee.wakefield@stagnito.fsbusiness.co.uk
Reprint Manager Jill DeVries, 248/244-1726 devriesj@bnpmedia.com
210 Route 4 East, Suite 203Paramus, NJ 07652
Phone: 201/291-9001Fax: 201/291-9002
E-mail: info@stoneworld.comWeb: www.stoneworld.com
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10 March 2010 | Stone World
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Stone World | March 2010 13
March 2010 • Vol. 27, No. 3www.stoneworld.com
DEPARTMENTS 16 Stone Column 19 Newsline 24 Statistics 28 News 104 Calendar 105 New Products 106 New Literature 106 New Equipment 108 Stone of the Month 109 Machine of the Month 110 Marketplace 113 Classified 114 Ad Index
FEATURESFabricator Case Studies 34 Maintaining quality through technology 44 Maintaining a well-rounded stone operation
54 Coverings 2010 returns to Orlando
Fabricator Issues & Solutions 64 Is your workplace safe? 68 Working with recycled countertop materials 72 The “microshop” is born
Institutional Architecture 78 Sandstone and limestone form distinctive courthouse design 84 New Liverpool landmark is defined by Jura limestone
STONE WORLD Volume 27, Issue 3 (ISSN 1052-6994) is published 12 times annually, monthly, by BNP Media, 2401 W. Big Beaver Rd., Suite 700, Troy, MI 48084-4903. Telephone: (248) 362-3700, Fax: (248) 362-0317. No charge for subscriptions to qualifi ed individuals. Annual rate for subscriptions to nonqualifi ed individuals in the U.S.A.: $104.00 USD. Annual rate for subscriptions to nonqualifi ed individuals in Canada: $137.00 USD (includes GST & postage); all other countries: $154.00 (int’l mail) payable in U.S. funds. Printed in the U.S.A. Copyright 2010, by BNP Media. Periodicals Postage Paid at Troy, MI and at additional mailing offi ces. All rights reserved. The contents of this publication may not be reproduced in whole or in part without the consent of the publisher. The publisher is not responsible for product claims and representations. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: STONE WORLD, P.O. Box 2144, Skokie, IL 60076. Canada Post: Publications Mail Agreement #40612608. GST account: 131263923. Send returns (Canada) to Bleuchip International, P.O. Box 25542, London, ON, N6C 6B2. Change of address: Send old address label along with new address to STONE WORLD, P.O. Box 2144, Skokie, IL 60076. For single copies or back issues: contact Ann Kalb at (248) 244-6499 or KalbA@bnpmedia.com.
On the Cover: Slated for completion next year, the new Museum of Liverpool in the U.K. is being clad with a striking facade of Jura limestone from Vereinigte Marmorwerke (V.M.) Kaldorf GmbH of Germany, featuring geometric panels that were custom cut to form an intricate pattern. Architect: 3XN, Copenhagen, Denmark. Contractor: Pihl Galliford Try — a joint venture of E. Pihl & Søn A.S. of Lyngby, Denmark, and Galliford Try of Middlesex, England. Photo courtesy of E. Pihl & Søn A.S. Story on page 84.
Coming Next Month: In April, Stone World will take a look at some of the challenges that fabricators are facing today with an in-depth roundtable, featuring candid comments by stoneworking professionals from around the country. Our next issue will also include several “Fabricator Case Studies,” with an inside look inside the shops of several firms. Others articles will focus on commercial stone projects, and a Coverings Booth Preview will round out the issue.
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STONE COLUMNSEEING GREAT THINGS HAPPEN
In this job, I spend a lot of time talking to stone industry members. These days, of course, much
of the discussion is about the economy, and how soon it will be until we really see a difference out
there. It is a tedious, but necessary chore — sort of like brushing your teeth. You do it every day be-
cause you need to, but it’s not all that remarkable.
A refreshing break from this activity is when we get to work one-on-one with stone industry mem-
bers and see what is actually happening in the field. Despite how difficult times are for
this industry, there are some intriguing developments that can be found in terms of stone
processing and applications, and some examples can be found in this issue of Stone World.
We begin with a look at two fabricators, both of which have embraced modern stone-
working technology. The first “Fabricator Case Study” showcases Myrtle Beach Granite
and Marble Inc. of Myrtle Beach, CA, (page 34), and it not only shows the company’s latest
technology investments, but also the complex finished work that the shop is able to pro-
duce — including a one-of-a-kind project combining glass with two varieties of granite.
Our next “Fabricator Case Study” focuses on Marble Tech Inc. of Crystal Lake, IL,
which serves as a prime example of a shop that blends advanced stoneworking machin-
ery in the shop with digital technology in the office and on the jobsite. The company’s
equipment selection includes modern robotic cutting technology that was still on the
drawing boards a few years ago.
Of course, advanced technology is not limited to high-volume operations, and this is illustrated in
the “Microshop” feature on page 72. Showing real-life examples of parts being processed in his shop,
veteran fabricator Scott McGourley demonstrates how the latest generation of stoneworking technol-
ogy can be effectively utilized while averaging a production rate of 200 to 500 square feet.
Our opportunities to see the accomplishments of the stone industry here at Stone World go beyond
the fabrication shop, as evidenced by the features on two completed institutional projects — the
New Mexico Court of Appeals in Albuquerque, NM (page 78) and the Museum of Liverpool in the
U.K. (page 84). Both projects utilize modern stone installation systems, with the New Mexico Court
of Appeals exemplifying the use of stone in an adhered veneer system.
Meanwhile, at the Museum of Liverpool — where construction is ongoing — computer modeling
and an innovative stone assembly/installation system have allowed for a truly unique project where
stone panels angle outward from the building, creating a three-dimensional pattern. The stone was
precisely processed by Vereinigte Marmorwerke (V.M.) Kaldorf GmbH of Germany, and the museum
serves as an example of the innovations that can be accomplished through the collaboration of the
architects, contractors and stoneworking professionals.
At a time when our industry is still reeling from the effects of a multi-year recession, it is particu-
larly gratifying to sit back and review some of the success stories developing across our industry. I
invite you to do the same.
Michael Reis, Editor/Associate Publisher
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Stone World | March 2010 19
NEWSLINESTONE WORLD AND MARBLE INSTITUTE KICK OFF 2010 REGIONAL EDUCATION SERIES . . .
The 2010 MIA/Stone World seminar series kicks off in March with an emphasis on both residential and commercial projects. “Business Success for Fabricators – Don’t Let Revenue Slip Away!” was set for March 11 in Houston, TX, while “Using Natural Stone in Commercial Projects” was slated for March 17 in Washington, DC.
The schedule also includes events in Chicago, IL (April 15), Ft. Lauderdale, FL (June 9), St. Louis, MO (June 30), Calgary, Alberta, Canada (July 20), Denver, CO (July 22), San Francisco, CA (September 15), Minneapolis, MN (September 22), Vermont Quarry Tours (October 6 to 7) and New York, NY (November 10).
All of the 2010 programs will be held in wholesale slab distributor showrooms. MS International, Walker Zanger and Amsun & Ash have already committed to host 2010 seminars. Host site sponsorships are still available.
Registration is open for all 2010 events, and attendees can register online at www.stoneworld.com/miaeducation.Limited opportunities to serve on the host committee for each city also exist. Learn more at www.marble-institute.
com/getinvolved. Host committee members receive discounts to the seminars and other incentives, including $100 of free merchandise from the MIA bookstore.
Several leading equipment and supply companies are sponsoring the 2010 seminar series including: GranQuartz, Laser Products, Northwood Machine, Schechner Lifson Corp. and VIC International. Sponsorship opportunities are still available. Learn more at www.stoneworld.com/miaeducation.
COVERINGS ANNOUNCES MOVE TO LAS VEGAS FOR 2011 . . .Coverings show management recently announced that the 2011 edition of the event will take place in Las Vegas,
NV. This year’s event will remain in Orlando, FL, at the Orange County Convention Center, and it is scheduled for April 24 to 27.
While a previous announcement named Los Angeles as the Coverings 2011 location, show organizers jumped at the chance to make the switch to Las Vegas when the opportunity presented itself. Next year’s edition of Coverings will take place from March 14 to 17, 2011 at the Sands Convention Center.
“Coverings has had its eye on Las Vegas for years, so we’re thrilled that the show will be going to this truly singular city earlier than we had anticipated,” said Jennifer Hoff, President of Events for National Trade Productions, which manages and produces Coverings. “Given Las Vegas’ unrivaled status as the number one venue for some of the world’s leading conventions and trade shows, we have no doubt that Coverings 2011 will rank as one of our most successful and memorable shows ever.”
The decision to take Coverings to Las Vegas is the latest development in show organizers’ plan to make a strategic move westward following this year’s upcoming show. Given that the West Coast is a key market for tile and stone, and also home to some of the world’s leading architects and designers, Coverings has long been keen to return to the region. The inaugural Coverings show was held 21 years ago in Los Angeles, CA, and then twice again in Anaheim, CA, in its early past.
“In Las Vegas, we have the best of everything: an incomparable resort city that’s not only an easy commute from the West Coast, but also a top draw for those from all over the country, and indeed the rest of the world as well,” said Hoff.
Coverings is sponsored by ASCER (Ceramic Tile Manufacturers Association of Spain), Confindustria Ceramica (Italian Association of Ceramics), Tile Council of North America (TCNA), Ceramic Tile Distributors Association (CTDA) and National Tile Contractors Association (NTCA).
For more information on attending or exhibiting at Coverings 2010, or for information on Coverings 2011, visit www.coverings.com or contact NTP, Coverings Show Management, at 703-683-8500.
NEW MARBLE INSTITUTE OF AMERICA OFFICERS CHOSEN . . . Brett S. Rugo, founder and president of Rugo Stone, LLC of Lorton, VA, and grandson of an Italian stone carver,
has been chosen as the new president of the Marble Institute of America (MIA).A native of Barre, VT, Rugo had more than a decade of experience in various aspects of stone industry sales and
project management when he started Rugo Stone in 1996. Rugo Stone has been widely recognized for its work, receiving over 45 regional, national and international craftsmanship awards. Rugo has served on the MIA Board of Directors for five years, and will now serve as president for a one-year term.
Other officers chosen by MIA’s Board of Directors at the association’s annual meeting in Las Vegas, NV, in October are: Vice President, Gasper (G.K.) Naquin of Stone Interiors in Loxley, AL; Secretary, Michael A. Twiss of Columbia Stone, Inc. in Tualatin, OR; and Treasurer, Jonathan Zanger of Walker Zanger, Inc. in Perth Amboy, NJ.
Zanger, a veteran of more than 30 years in the stone business, was also elected as an MIA Director. Daniel J. Rea, a Senior Vice President for Cold Spring Granite of Cold Spring, MN, was also elected to the Board of Directors. Rea has been part of the stone industry for more than 30 years.
MORAWARE USER GROUP MEETS IN LAS VEGAS . . . LAS VEGAS, NV — Moraware JobTracker held a user group meeting on February 8 as part of the International
Countertop Expo. The session served as an educational forum, where users of the system offered some insight into how JobTracker has helped their specific model.
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20 March 2010 | Stone World
NEWSLINEAn introduction by Harry Hollander of Moraware included some useful links for help and staying connected:• Answers: http://answers.moraware.com• Help: http://www.moraware.com/help• Blog: http://blog.moraware.com• Facebook: http://facebook.com/Moraware• Newsletter: subscribe by emailing moraware-news+subscribe@googlegroups.com
Following the introduction, the next presentation was “Tips and Tricks” by Roderick Bley of Fabricator’s Choice. “Roderick covered topics that are beyond the scope of how most people use the software and how we ever imagined people would use it, so it provided a great alternative to how we usually recommend using JobTracker,” Hollander said. “Roderick showed how Vaman Enterprises tracks vacations, machine maintenance, and how they deal with multiple shops that handle a huge volume of stone, solid surface and laminate jobs. “
This was followed by “How I use JobTracker” by Don Hinckley of NBC Solid Surfaces and Connecticut Soapstone. “Don went through how they track a job from start to finish: starting with a quote, turning it into a job, scheduling and tracking inventory,” Hollander said. “At NBC, Don hired a programmer to extract more detailed reports from Moraware into custom software, so he could have a very specific overview of the work in progress in his shop.”
Another “How I use JobTracker” presentation was offered by Scott Daily of Maxwell Counters. “Scott was instrumental in planning our meeting, and very clearly articulated his desire to have a community of Moraware JobTracker users,” according to Hollander. “Scott also took us on a live tour of how they manage their jobs, and though they have a business that is similar to that of the other speakers — multiple product lines servicing a large number of big dealers — their approach was very different. At Maxwell, their approach is intentionally simple. Unless they all agree that a particular addition to the software is useful, they leave it out.”
NORTHWOOD STONEWORKS SPONSORS SFA WORKSHOP . . .All stone fabricators are invited to join Northwood and the Stone Fabricators Alliance (SFA) at Crowe Custom
Countertops in Acworth, GA, (near Atlanta) from March 25 to 27 for an inside look at both a high-volume production facility as well as small workcell production.
This industry event will feature three Northwood CNC machines running real parts, for real jobs for actual customers, as opposed to a typical sales demonstration. Attendees will be given an opportunity to see the machinery operate in a “real world environment,” creating countertops and making money.
During the event, Northwood will showcase two different scenarios for countertop manufacturing. First, the updated Ultimate FabCenter (SW138-UFC) will be sawing slabs in the morning using the high-torque SmartSaw and profiling edges in the afternoon — representing a small workcell all-in-one machine facility.
The other scenario features the dual-table SawJET technology feeding parts directly to the CNC router to be profiled — producing up to 500 square feet per day.
Besides the machinery, many interesting topics will be up for discussion throughout the three-day workshop. These topics include:
• Advantages of the digital workshop • The advantages of a laser templating system • Operation of a “fab only” shop • Sales and marketing, including the use of Internet tools • Efficient small workcell production using the SW138-UFC — Ultimate FabCenter • High-volume production management of up to 500 square feet per day utilizing the dual-table SawJET and
CNC router Contact Robbie Tidwell at Northwood Machine (robbie@northwoodmachine.com or 502-267-5504) for more
information, or register online with the Stone Fabricators Alliance at www.stonefabricatorsalliance.com.
ONE LINERS . . .Hanley Wood Exhibitions announced that StonExpo/Marmomacc Americas and Surfaces have changed the dates
of the 2011 shows, to be held at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, NV. The expos will now be held from January 25 to 27, 2011, with conferences running from January 24 to 27, 2011. “There are a few reasons we decided to shift the dates,” said, Dana Teague, Show Director for StonExpo/Marmomacc Americas and Surfaces. “Most importantly, we listened to our customers who said that a Tuesday-to-Thursday show works best for their busy schedules. It is also the most economical solution in terms of travel expenses for attendees and exhibitors alike.” For more information, visit www.StonExpo.com.
The Marble Institute of America (MIA) announced that Mapei Corp., a manufacturer of products for the stone, tile, flooring and concrete repair industry — will sponsor its prestigious Pinnacle Awards competition for 2010. Initiated 10 years ago, the Pinnacle Awards program honors natural stone companies, architects and designers worldwide for exemplary work in the residential, commercial and renovation arenas, resulting in significant global recognition for winners. The call for entries for the 2010 Pinnacle Awards will be issued in March, with entries due in mid-summer.
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22 March 2010 | Stone World
ARAB EMIRATES 69,182 74 66,850 82
ARGENTINA 26,084 254 104,976 1,062
BELGIUM 39,401 64 9,320 4 8,925 1
BRAZIL 24,454,905 30,674 100,209 94 148,123 136,831 155
BULGARIA 68,951 55
CANADA 913,392 1,755 809,470 514 293,714 1,178,970 4,096
CHINA 14,572,843 19,581 5,085,873 4,690 1,745,282 515,307 754
COLOMBIA 89,020 120
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC 89,827 245 333,507 509 12,683 16
EGYPT 20,930 22 469,005 848 3,034 20
FINLAND 10,487 8
FRANCE 687,437 385 74,154
GERMANY 5,984 2 172,904 122 39,834 14,319 2
GREECE 17,946 17 459,118 415
HONG KONG 65,229 103 3,563 1
INDIA 7,267,807 9,479 906,327 1,043 1,592,688 147,040 359
INDONESIA 334,835 424
ISRAEL 891,727 876 68,547 3,600
ITALY 10,074,994 6,258 6,251,289 3,888 65,473 69,130 85
LEBANON 2,909 1 271,264 23,216
MALAYSIA 5,840 7
MEXICO 25,796 36 4,493,003 5,246 22,857 429,265 3,866
MOROCCO 23,484 2
NETHERLANDS 13,438 8
NORWAY 45,781 31
PAKISTAN 224,803 98
PERU 24,631 17 810,398 777
PHILIPPINES 63,459 157 110,697 7,169 34,243 237
PORTUGAL 1,688,661 2,780
ROMANIA 5,642 1
SAUDI ARABIA 45,164 21
SPAIN 435,055 472 2,411,164 2,362 35,519
TAIWAN 2,194,364 2,005 312,032 138
THAILAND 2,988 1 5,694
TUNISIA 30,815 21
TURKEY 15,547,038 31,895 2,090 7,550 21
UNITED KINGDOM 12,020 2 39,724 47 85,219 46,984 16
URUGUAY 38,705 39
ZIMBABWE 3,645 13
OTHER 916,749 474 251,300 391 35,122 50,129 113
TOTAL NOVEMBER 2009 61,447,082 71,799 43,073,234 89,283 4,145,769 2,726,602 13,354
TOTAL NOVEMBER 2008 94,037,155 100,864 69,202,448 128,277 7,018,712 5,670,932 11,833
STATISTICSNovember 2009 | Imports to the U.S. Customers value in dollars does not include insurance or freight
*includes marble, travertine, alabaster and other calcareous stone, **tonnage figures not available, ***includes dolomite, sandstone, quartzite, basalt, porphyry and other non-specific monumental or building stone SOURCE: U.S. Department of Commerce
U.S. $ TONS U.S. $ U.S. $ TONS U.S. $ TONS
COUNTRY GRANITE MARBLE* SLATE** OTHER***
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(tool holder not included)
1,001 Shapes of TheNinja REVEALED!(here are 3 to demonstrate the possibilities)
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24 March 2010 | Stone World
ANTIGUA 4,200 1 9,775 2ARAB EMIRATES 199,779 422 91,800 12ARGENTINA 7,640 40ARUBA 17,068 21AUSTRALIA 722,828 305 15,000 AUSTRIA 4,429 1 BAHAMAS 38,530 50 55,059 25 4,067 20,335 61BARBADOS 13,676 6 BELIZE 19,357 24 3,842 BERMUDA 56,331 54 BRAZIL 14,401 19 3,164 13 26,397 8BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS 15,050 21 CANADA 1,968,656 3,358 782,666 11,210 207,943 2,077,690 8,474CAYMAN ISLANDS 4,145 1 9,220 24,640 20CHINA 659,783 2,350 8,506 17 COSTA RICA 18,162 19 DOMINICAN REPUBLIC 110,593 249 ECUADOR 7,923 1FRANCE 3,547 9GERMANY 55,472 952 326,200 1,793HONDURAS 17,300 18 HONG KONG 35,314 14INDIA 47,241 154 INDONESIA 3,172 1IRELAND 17,568 19ITALY 433,425 1,466 15,250 1 26,578 17JAMAICA 2,705 2 JAPAN 3,700 1 16,383 2 21,171 8LUXEMBOURG 2,557 MEXICO 89,958 62 74,712 61 3,626 8MONTSERRAT 2,810 1 N. ANTILLES 23,756 9 7,692 5 2,960 20NEW ZEALAND 26,847 34NORWAY 3,000 PANAMA 12,730 12 15,992 1PORTUGAL 9,828 18 RUSSIA 7,438 2 SINGAPORE 84,200 SWITZERLAND 4,122 10UNITED KINGDOM 338,792 50 129,000 2,215 30,982 VENEZUELA 9,696 12 OTHER 7,784 2 63,779 69 12,943 19,263 40TOTAL NOVEMBER 2009 4,439,778 7,923 1,628,988 15,336 373,754 2,789,628 10,613TOTAL NOVEMBER 2008 6,017,662 11,362 1,650,637 11,872 318,997 8,651,836 18,268
STATISTICSNovember 2009 | Exports from the U.S. Customers value in dollars does not include insurance or freight
*includes marble, travertine, alabaster and other calcareous stone, **tonnage figures not available, ***includes dolomite, sandstone, quartzite, basalt, porphyry and other non-specific monumental or building stone SOURCE: U.S. Department of Commerce
U.S. $ TONS U.S. $ U.S. $ TONS U.S. $ TONS
COUNTRY GRANITE MARBLE* SLATE** OTHER***
PRODUCT SOURCINGPRODU
Check out the 2010 Online Version of Stone World’s Stone Guide at
www.stoneworld.com/stoneguide
MADE EASY.
SEARCHABLE • COMPREHENSIVE • INFORMATIVE
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26 March 2010 | Stone World
NEWSMARMO MECCANICA S.P.A. CONSOLIDATES ITS NORTH AMERICAN OPERATIONS
ROCHESTER HILLS, MI — Marmo Meccanica S.p.A. has consolidated its North American operations to better serve its customers needs. Sales, Service, Parts and Tooling will now be operated out of the company’s Rochester Hills,
MI, location. Customers can call, fax or e-mail one number for all of their Marmo Meccanica machinery needs, reports the company.
The Rochester Hills location is stocked both with machines ready for delivery as well as a wide inventory of spare parts and tools.
The staff, which is already composed
of two North American area managers — Steve Collick and Nick McDonald — is now being complemented with two additional experienced members of the original Marmo Meccanica team. Howard Garvey is managing the Parts and Tooling department, and Mike Johnson is providing technical service.
At the same locat ion, Marmo Meccanica is able to carry out com-plete overhauls of machines of its own brand. Through this central-ized operation, Marmo Meccanica reports it can guarantee, better than ever, a direct presence in the North American marketplace. Since the cus-tomer is dealing with the factory, this can ensure competitive pricing and prompt service.
SAUDI ARABIAN PRODUCER ADDS NEW TILE PLANT
SAUDI ARABIA — A new plant for the production of modular granite tiles
1-800-350-1901www.miraclesealants.com
FREEcontractorrewardprogramBack by Popular Demand!Miracle Sealants will continue its industryfirst Contractor Reward Program.
Terms & Conditions:• In order to receive rebate, contractors must
have a membership number for processing.Go to: www.miraclesealants.com/contractor
• A copy of all product receipts must bemarked with the membership number and mailed within 30 days of purchase to Miracle Sealants, c/o Marketing Dept.,12318 Lower Azusa Road, Arcadia, CA 91006,or e-mailed to receipts@miraclesealants.com
• Contractors must purchase products from aAuthorized Miracle Sealants Distributor.
• Program runs from January 1st to December15th each year.
• Contractor will need to renew each year andcan be done simply by going back on-line.
Start Now – Go To:www.miraclesealants.com/contractor
Qualified contractors willreceive a year-end
10% CASH REBATEon all Miracle Sealants purchases made overthe course of the year.
Marmo Meccanica North America’s facility is located in Rochester Hills, MI.
The Rochester Hills location is stocked both with machines ready for delivery and a wide inventory of spare parts and tools.
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The Difference is Black and White.The Original Quartz Surface. Only from CaesarStone®.There’s no grey area or comparison when choosing the fi nest quartz surface. CaesarStone not only invented the technology, but perfected the process and established the benchmark for design innovation and customer satisfaction. Learn more at www.CaesarStoneUS.com.
Pure White 1141
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28 March 2010 | Stone World
NEWS
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has been started by Yamama Granite & Marble, a large stone manufacturer located in Saudi Arabia.
Yamama Granite & Marble now has a production capacity of nearly 1.1 million square feet of granite tiles per month, one-third of which will be produced with new equipment from Pedrini of Italy, according to the company.
Investments include three “Arco Di Trionfo” multi-blade cutting centers from Pedrini, along with one finishing line for polishing and cutting modular granite elements to size. The Pedrini Arco Di Trionfo simultaneously operates vertical and horizontal cut/unload-ing operations on different blocks. The resulting strips are then delivered to the dedicated finishing line.
Pedrini reports that the new tech-nology has been engineered to obtain a low cutting cost per square foot, high productivity and the potential to pro-cess small blocks.
MAPEI SUPPLIES SYSTEMS TO VANCOUVER 2010 OLYMPIC VENUES
DEER FIELD BEACH, FL — In preparation for the Vancouver 2010 Olympics, Mapei provided 41 different products that contractors used for con-crete restoration, surface preparation, waterproofing and flooring installation in six Vancouver venues, including: • Vancouver Olympic Headquarters
(Campus 2010) • Richmond Speed Skating Oval• Olympic/Paralympic Centre• Canada Hockey Place (GM Place)• Olympic and Paralympic Village
Vancouver• East and West buildings of the Main
Media Centre at Vancouver Convention and Exhibition Centre
“Mapei supplied the building prod-ucts that helped contractors meet their deadlines to bring the Olympics to British Columbia and British Columbia to the Olympic crowds,” said Luigi Di
A new plant for the production of modular granite tiles has been started by Yamama Granite & Marble, which will include three “Arco Di Trionfo” multi-blade cutting centers from Pedrini of Italy.
Yamama Granite & Marble now has a production capacity of nearly 1.1 million square feet of granite tiles per month.
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NEWSGeso, President and CEO of Mapei Americas. “In addition, this year we have expanded our facilities in Delta to handle the requirements of ongoing construction in the province.”
Mapei has been supplying concrete restoration and flooring installation systems to Olympic venues across the Amer icas and around the world
since 1972. The company opened its first manufacturing plant outside of Italy in Laval, Canada, after export-ing Ultrabond G19 to the contractors installing the rubber surface for tracks at the 1976 Montreal Olympics. Ultrabond G19 (Adesilex G19 outside of North America) was also used on tracks at the Olympics in Munich, Barcelona,
Atlanta, Sydney, Athens and Beijing.Mapei’s role in providing materi-
als for the construction of Olympic venues in the Americas has grown over the years, embracing the Summer Olympics in Atlanta, GA, and the Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, UT. Globally, Mapei’s products were most recently used on construction sites at the Winter Olympics in Torino, Italy, and the Summer Olympics in Beijing, China. In 2009, 33 years after the 1976 Olympics, Mapei surface preparation products and tile and stone installa-tion products were used to renovate the Olympic Pool at the Centre Sportif Claude Robillard in Montreal.
Additionally, Mapei products are already being used in the construction of sites for the upcoming 2012 Summer Olympics in London, England, and the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Byelorussia.
SOUTH CAROLINA FABRICATOR ACHIEVES MIA ACCREDITATION
BLUFFTON, SC — StoneWorks, Inc. of Hilton Head and Bluffton, SC, has earned the designation of Marble Institute of America (MIA) Accredited Natural Stone Fabricator.
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In preparation for the Vancouver 2010 Olympics, Mapei provided 41 different products that contractors used for concrete restoration, surface preparation, waterproofing and flooring installation in six Vancouver venues.
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NEWSTo become an Accredited Natural
Stone Fabricator by the MIA, a company must have successfully completed three phases of application. Phase One is the completion of a lengthy application that requires the applicant company to provide various documents and refer-ences, which ensure that the company is in compliance with the 10 standards of accreditation as laid out by the MIA Accreditation Commission. Phase Two requires the company’s qualifying agent (the designated company representative responsible for filing and maintaining accreditation records for the applicant company) to pass an extensive exam. The exam tests the applicant’s knowl-edge and application of material usage, installation, fabrication, restoration, care and maintenance, administration, legal/contracts and jobsite and shop safety. Phase Three is a comprehen-sive site visit, which includes a facility review, document review and one or more installation site visits.
StoneWorks is the 35th natural stone fabricator to have achieved MIA accred-itation. “We are incredibly honored to have received this illustrious designa-tion, which is a direct reflection of the wonderful, professional staff and high standards at StoneWorks,” said John Baltzegar, III, owner of StoneWorks.
“StoneWorks, Inc. is now able to proudly display the accreditation logo, which symbolizes that they are among the finest in the natural stone industry
with respect to craftsmanship, safety and business practices,” said Garen Distelhorst, Accreditation Manager at the MIA.
StoneWorks is a family-owned com-pany established in 1987, supplying natural stone countertops and tile. StoneWorks has two showrooms in Hilton Head and Bluffton.
For further information, contact StoneWorks at 843-689-6980 or online at www.hiltonheadstone.com.
StoneWorks, Inc. of Hilton Head and Bluffton, SC, has earned the designation of Marble Institute of America (MIA) Accredited Natural Stone Fabricator.
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Insert straps under tile during installation.
Set and align tiles. After mortar sets, remove caps and straps.
Tighten caps and straps to virtually eliminate lippage from tile to tile.
1 2 3 4
800-969-5561 (U.S.A.) • 800-387-0008 (Canada) WWW.PEARLABRASIVE.COM
Passes standard industrial (TCNA Robinson) compression test.Very easy to learn and use at any skill level.Prevents tiles from moving while curing.More profitable for the installer.Re-usable caps.
Recommended for gauged tiles 12" or larger.Reduces installer fatigue/stress.Virtually lippage free, flat surface drastically reduces the need for grinding and polishing.
FEATURES and BENEFITS:
Patent pending
TIME IS MONEY.
For tiles of uniform thickness only (gauged tile).
2-piece system that virtually eliminates lippage during tile installation.
With
Supplied by:
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34 March 2010 | Stone World
Maintaining quality through technology
Staying on the forefront of new technology, Myrtle Beach Granite and Marble Inc. remains an active stone fabricator of the Myrtle Beach region of South Carolina
by Alexis Fisher
With the aid of the latest
advancements in equipment
and machinery, Myrt le
Beach Granite and Marble Inc. of Myrtle
Beach, SC, has continued a successful
course, reaping some benefits from a
slower economy. According to company
owner Joe Blackmon, the economic
downturn actually benefitted the
industry in his region.
“It has removed some of the granite
fabricators from the mix that were not
good for the industry,” he said. “They
produced low-quality countertops with
poor edgework, improperly installed
seams with improperly mounted sinks,
and [they were responsible for] many
other negative aspects that were giv-
ing natural stone the perception of an
everyday commodity material.”
Getting a start in the industry soon
Living by one of the company’s principles to stay on the cutting edge of new technology, Myrtle Beach Granite and
Marble of Myrtle Beach, SC, operates three Z. Bavelloni CNC router/edge profiling machines, including the Egar
450-4, the Egar 315-4 and the Egar 102S — all from Glaston North America of Greensboro, NC.
Fabricator Case Study
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after graduating from an MBA program
in 1988, Blackmon began working for a
company that engineered and manufac-
tured waterjets and CNC stone routing
machines along with laser, plasma and
oxyfuel cutting machines. After gaining
17 years of management and marketing
experience there, he went on to work
for Grassie Granite and Marble — now
operating as Myrtle Beach Granite
and Marble Inc, but still doing busi-
ness under its original name of Grassie
Granite and Marble. Two years later, he
and his wife, Laura — who worked as a
machine tools sales manager and later
a software-programming manager —
purchased the company in 2007.
Myrtle Beach Granite and Marble
produces countertops in all natural
stone types, quartz, solid surface, glass
and many recycled materials including
those made from glass and oyster shells.
In addition, the company produces cus-
tom pieces of furniture, tables, benches,
floor medallions, inlays, grave and other
markers and urns in stone. It also offers
laser etching and waterjet cutting for
countertops and other stone applications
as well as waterjet cutting in other mate-
rials such as all metals, plastic, wood,
etc., all of which is done in house.
To display some of its capabili-
ties, Myrtle Beach Granite and Marble
recently added two new showrooms,
giving the company a total of three.
Together they measure 8,500 square
feet in size.
Inside the shopAccording to the company, “a key
to providing the best quality and on
time delivery is to stay on the cutting
edge of new technology and having
equipment that gives us the ability to
complete large or small projects on an
uninterrupted basis.” Myrtle Beach
Granite and Marble maintains a line
Production is done under
a 16,500-square-foot shop,
which also includes a covered
inventory area.
Cutting in the shop is completed using one of three bridge saws, including one
manufactured by Pedrini of Italy.
Cutting is also completed on a Z. Bavelloni Sharp 500 saw from Glaston North
America.
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38 March 2010 | Stone World
of state-of-the-art machinery inside its
16,500-square-foot production facil-
ity, which has a covered inventory area
housing over 1,500 slabs.
Cutting in the shop is completed
using three gantry bridge saws, includ-
ing an Astra bridge saw from Emmedue
Technology of Italy, another bridge saw
from Pedrini of Italy and a Z. Bavelloni
Sharp 500 saw from Glaston North
America of Greensboro, NC — its most
recent addition. Once slabs are cut to
size, further shaping is done with three
Z. Bavelloni CNC router/edge profiling
machines from Glaston North America,
including the Egar 450-4, the Egar 315-4
and the Egar 102S.
Adding a third gantry bridge saw
and a third CNC router were among
the latest investments to the shop.
“[Those investments] were made to
increase production and give us a total
of three of each type of machine,” said
Blackmon. “They definitely increased
our production by about 30%.”
The CNC routers mainly utilize
Diamut, Diarex or Glaston North
America diamond wheels, and pol-
ishing wheels in either rubber or clay
for polishing. Terminator blades from
Continental Diamond Products, Inc. of
San Carlos, CA, are generally used for
the gantry saws, and Diarex pads from
GranQuartz for hand polishing.
Intricate laser etching is handled by
the CamTech LMS151020 laser etcher.
Complex cutting is accomplished using
an ESAB Hydro Cut PR waterjet cutter
that can handle 7- x 13-foot material
sizes and is equipped with an SL IV-50
intensifier from KMT Waterjet Systems
of Baxter Springs, KS. Blackmon
believes the waterjet has been one of
the biggest advancements for his fab-
rication shop. “Waterjet cutting allows
us to cut complex, non-linear, custom-
ized countertops and other products
such as granite, marble, quartz, solid
surface and really any material except
tempered glass,” he said.
Straight line polishing is accom-
plished using a Comandulli Speedy
System polishing machine from Italy
as well as a Marmo Meccanica LCV
711 M straight line polisher from Italy.
Meanwhile, dimensional pieces and
slabs can be top polished using a Model
10P bed polisher from Sawing Systems
of Knoxville, TN. Moreover, the shop
utilizes two overhead Gorbel gantry
lifts, three forklifts and a mobile crane
to maneuver slabs.
A water f i ltering system from
GranQuartz of Tucker, GA, was also
recently put in place in the facility to
recycle the water coming from the
company’s three bridge saws. “The
Myrtle Beach Granite and Marble
has three showrooms, which
together total 8,500 square feet.
The two new showrooms that recently opened display stone fountains, handmade
bowls, statues, pedestal sinks, outdoor furniture and other unique items.
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Stone World | March 2010 39
water recycling system was utilized in
order to reduce our water consump-
tion, which in 2007 was about 360,000
gallons per month,” said Blackmon.
“We have greatly reduced our water
consumption by 60%, adjusted for the
slower economy in 2009.”
For templating, the company applies
Luan wood template material, a Stealth
Digitizing arm (now serviced by
Touchstone Instruments, LLC) or a
Laser Products LT-55 laser templator.
The type of templating method used
is determined by the type of job being
measured. “It just depends on the situ-
ation,” said Blackmon. “For instance,
the shape of the desired countertop
and the accessibility and surrounding
area of the cabinet or structure that is
to receive the tops.”
Acquiring top personnelIn order to obtain the most top-qual-
ity employees in the area, Blackmon
strives to maintain a highly regarded
work environment. “We have estab-
lished a reputation of treating our
The third showroom features furniture vanities, powder room
pieces and much more.The countertops in this kitchen completed by Myrtle Beach
Granite and Marble feature Juparana Fantasy granite, and the
island counter is finished with intricate detailed edgework.
Knowing how to choose the right tools means enhancing your job by obtaining the best results. Tenax abrasives offer the highest performance in the industry, guaranteeing unmatched results. On top of that, the extremely long life of Tenax products ensures the lowest operating cost and a wide operational range
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GRANITE, MARBLE, TRAVERTINE, CONCRETE,
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1-800-341-0432 info@tenaxusa.com
GLASS, SANDSTONE, QUARTZ
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40 March 2010 | Stone World
employees really well by offering and
assisting in paying for healthcare, pay-
ing for 50% of the tools that installers
use on the job, a 401K program, hav-
ing a heated shop with overhead lifts,
the latest equipment that is maintained
properly and providing a safe, secure
and technologically advanced environ-
ment for employees to work. With all
of these things in place and more, the
most talented employees in the area
gravitate to our shop, and we are able to
select and retain the best artisans that
this area has to offer. We have no short-
age of applications from stoneworkers
that would like to work at our facility.”
According to Blackmon, the major-
ity of the shop’s employees are cross
trained to run multiple types of equip-
ment. “For example, any of the three
CNC edge profiler operators can run
any of the three bridge saws,” he said.
“The bridge saw operators can also
install, hand fabricate, template or run
the laser-etching machine as needed.
The install crews are also trained in
templating, so we have a lot of versatil-
ity and can move personnel around as
needed in a tight economy.”
Additionally, new workers are
trained on the job alongside more
experienced peers, which Blackmon
has found to be more beneficial than a
formal training program. “We do send
employees out for specific training to
the manufacturer for a new material,
or periodically we may have a train-
ing class internally for a new piece of
equipment,” Blackmon added.
Production capabilities and market share
By establishing the proper equip-
ment and right personnel, Myrtle Beach
Granite and Marble is able to produce
1,500 square feet of material per week.
Broken down in terms of projects, it
can do a combination of 25 commercial
condo or residential projects.
Some of its most recent commer-
cial projects include the Hard Rock
Demonstrating the depth of its craftsmanship
In order to create a unique piece of furniture for a client, Myrtle Beach Granite and Marble recently took on the task of completing a 24-foot-long granite conference table that involved a middle layer of glass. “The design goal was to make a one-of-a-kind con-ference table for the customer, Active Glass and Mirror in Myrtle Beach,” said company owner, Joe Blackmon. “The purpose of the table is to serve as a conference table for visit-ing customers and company meetings.”
The top layer of the table features 3-cm Minotauras granite, with the middle layer being ¾-inch-thick glass and the bottom layer being 3-cm Ubatuba granite. “The initial challenge was to design the table to meet the customer’s expectation while using the characteristics and boundaries of natural stone, and marrying granite up with glass,” said Blackmon. “This was overcome by offsetting the seams of the top layer from the bottom two layers. By staggering the seams, it made the table stronger so the layer could help support itself.”
Aside from the initial challenge, Blackmon explained they needed to acquire the proper pattern and coloring from the five different exotic slabs that would be used in the table, and they all had to match at the six different seam locations. “This was done by careful planning and the layout of the five large pieces of the table prior to any cutting being done,” he said.
All cutting was then done with the company’s ESAB waterjet and Glaston North America Z. Bavelloni CNC edge profile machine, which involved accurately cutting pieces of a larger size on a continuous arc and then machining the edgework so that everything lined up properly.
Meanwhile, the company used its CamTech laser etcher to etch its company logo and the customer’s logo on the center glass insert pieces. Also, the glass layer in between the granite laminates is lighted for effect.
The company’s mobile crane was used to transfer the pieces onto the second floor of the building where the table would be located. Following, the five large slabs had to be supported onto only three bases, so they could be seamed properly and to give the stone support to not break over years of use, according to Blackmon. “This was overcome by carefully selecting the mounting locations for angle iron that was bolted into the concrete table bases,” he said.
Finally, the pieces were seamed, some being as long as 6 feet, which will allow them to last and hold over time. “We used flowing at the seams with biscuits in the stone along the inside of the seams to give the strongest and surest bond,” said Blackmon.
Accenting the table within the conference room is a 30-foot-long wet bar with match-ing Minotaurus granite.
Blackmon made the first drawing of the project design on May 18, 2009 and final com-pletion of the installation took place on October 10, 2009. “The customer is very happy with the end result,” said Blackmon. “All that have seen it are impressed by its size of 24 feet long by 6 feet wide. All are impressed by the way all of the edgework from all three layers and three different materials line up all of the way down the 24-foot-long arc.”
Myrtle Beach Granite and Marble recently completed a 24-foot-long x 6-foot-wide granite conference table that involved two different layers of granite — Minotaurus and Ubatuba — and a middle layer of glass.
Additionally, etched glass inserts feature Myrtle Beach
Granite and Marble’s logo as well as the customer’s logo.
034-043 MyrtleBeachGranite.indd 40034-043 MyrtleBeachGranite.indd 40 2/22/10 10:28:36 AM2/22/10 10:28:36 AM
Showroom: 2450-W Sample Road, Suite 15, Pompano Beach, FL 33073 Phone: 954-969-7272Warehouse and Corporate Office: 1666 NW 82 Avenue, Doral, FL 33126 (New Location) Phone: 305-406-3600
www.compac.us · info@compac.us
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42 March 2010 | Stone World
Theme Park (now called Free Style
Music Park), North Beach Plantation
condominiums, Mar Vista Grande
condominium, Towers on the Grove
condominiums, Wall of Service for
the City of Myrtle Beach — for which
the company has cut and etched about
1,600 granite nameplates — and Cinza
Spa. Additionally, it has been a par-
ticipant in ABC’s television program
“Extreme Home Makeover.”
“We templated, fabricated and
installed countertops in the kitchen,
laundry room, two baths and a fireplace
surround, completed in only a 17-hour
period,” Blackmon said of the “Extreme
Home Makeover” experience.
Given the slower economy, which
has resulted in a lack of commercial
condominium work for Myrtle Beach
Granite and Marble and other fabrica-
tors, Blackmon noted that the market
is calling for versatility and flexibil-
ity. “Our market for the most part is
within a 120-mile radius of the Myrtle
Beach, SC, Grand Strand Area,” he
said. “Although, we have done jobs
as far as Virginia for customers. In
those cases, we had done their vaca-
tion home here at the beach, and they
were so pleased that they wanted us
to provide the countertops for the per-
manent residence in their home state.
With today’s economy, we probably
would not turn down a job anywhere
in the continental U.S.”
And because of this, Blackmon has
no short-term plans for expansion,
but still sees a future in maintain-
ing the most current technology the
industry presents. “Long term, we
are looking to grow and keep updat-
ing our equipment to the latest that
the industry has to offer, and to keep
providing the highest quality prod-
ucts and promoting natural stone as
the ultimate and most sought after
countertop material,” he said.
“Also long term, we are investigating
expanding by supplying cabinets [in
addition to] countertops since we have
the resources and knowledge base in-
house to do this very easily, and it is a
good fit since we are currently engaged
in a lot of remodel business,” he contin-
ued. “As long as you have something to
offer such as quality, uniqueness and
customization, and compete on levels
other than simple low cost, you will
always have a customer base.” ❑
Myrtle Beach Marble and Granite Inc.dba Grassie Granite and MarbleMyrtle Beach, SC
Type of work: countertops in all natural stone, quartz, solid surface, glass and
many recycled materials such as those made from sea glass and oyster
shells; in addition, custom pieces of furniture, tables, benches, medallions,
inlays, grave markers and urns in stone; laser etching and waterjet cutting
for countertops and other stone applications
Equipment: Three Z. Bavelloni CNC routers, including the Egar 450-4, the
Egar 315-4 and the Egar 102S — all from Glaston North America of
Greensboro, NC; three gantry bridge saws, including an Astra bridge
saw from Emmedue Technology of Italy; one manufactured from Pedrini
of Italy; and a Z. Bavelloni Sharp 500 from Glaston North America; a
CamTech LMS151020 laser etcher; an ESAB Hydro Cut PR waterjet cutter
— equipped with an SL IV-50 intensifier from KMT Waterjet Systems of
Baxter Springs, KS; a Comandulli Speedy System edge polishing machine
from Italy; a Marmo Meccanica LCV 711 M straight line polisher from
Italy; a Model 10P bed polisher from Sawing Systems of Knoxville, TN;
tooling and accessories from Diamut, Diarex/GranQuartz of Tucker, GA,
Glaston North America and Continental Diamond Products, Inc. of San
Carlos, CA; two overhead Gorbel gantry lifts; three forklifts; a mobile
crane; a water filtering system from GranQuartz; a Stealth Digitizing arm
(now serviced by Touchstone Instruments, LLC of Plaistow, NH); a LT-55
laser templator from Laser Products Industries of Romeoville, IL
Number of employees: 25
Production rate: capacity for 1,500 square feet of material per week or a
combination of 25 commercial condo or residential projects a week
In addition to countertops,
the company processes
slab work such as bathtub
surrounds.
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• • NEW PRODUCTS • •
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If you Don’t believe us, see what industry leading fabricators think... “Blick has always been a class act. Blick pods are... well are there really any other pods?!” -Miles Crowe owner of Crowe Custom Countertops in Atlanta, GA (Northwood CNC) home of the SFA workshop in March 2010. “Blick is by far the one of the best Fabricator Supply Companies in our industry” -Dustin Broadway owner of Cape Fear Marble and Tile in Wilmington, NC (Denver CNC) “We’ve been using Blick Pods and Pin Stops and they are the only suckers allowed in my shop!“ -James Donaire owner of Perfection Connection in Carson City, NV (Northwood CNC) Featured on the cover of the January 2010 Issue of Stone World Magazine *Extra fees may apply
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blicksw03104.indd 1blicksw03104.indd 1 2/17/10 9:19:16 AM2/17/10 9:19:16 AM
44 March 2010 | Stone World
Maintaining awell-rounded
stone operationWith 11 showrooms throughout Chicagoland as well as a state-of-the-art
stone fabrication facility, Marble Tech Inc. of Crystal Lake, IL, has shown serious growth in all aspects of its business
by Jennifer Adams
As the owner of Marble Tech
Inc. i n Cr ysta l Lake, IL,
Tom Gu st h a s ove r s e e n
m a ny t r a n s f o r m at io n s f o r h i s
company. Initially, the business was
based out of Barrington, IL, and
operated as a f looring contractor.
But due to the growing demand
for stone countertops in the early
1990s, Gust made the decision to
advance his company to the next
level by purchasing a bridge saw
and offering stone fabrication and
installation services. Through the
years, Marble Tech Inc. continually
evolved, and today it functions out
of a 105,000-square-foot fac i l it y
e qu ipp e d w it h s t ate - of- t he -a r t
machinery. Additionally, it runs 11
retail showrooms strategically placed
throughout the Chicagoland area.
Marble Tech Inc. of Crystal Lake, IL, utilizes 60,000 square feet of a 105,000-square-foot facility for its stone
fabrication operation.
Fabricator Case Study
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46 March 2010 | Stone World
With a staff of 50, Marble Tech has
come a long way from when it first
started with a five-person team. Of
the 50 employees, 35 are involved in
the fabrication, measurement and
installation processes, including four
installation crews. According to Gust,
the company processes residential and
commercial slab applications from nat-
ural stone and man-made material as
well as installing tile and hardwood.
“At full capacity, we can finish as many
as 25 kitchens per day,” he said.
To complete this volume of work,
the shop, which encompasses 60,000
square feet of the entire 105,000-square-
foot space, houses a full line-up of
fabrication equipment, including three
CNC stoneworking centers, three in-
line edge polishing machines, two
bridge saws, a RoboCut waterjet/saw
A key component of Marble Tech’s
stone fabrication process is a
Robocut, which was purchased
from its sister company, USG
Robotics. The Robocut — a cutting
system that integrates a waterjet
and a saw in one machine — was
engineered to minimize space
in cutting areas and to ensure
minimal waste.
Due to the efficiency
of the Robocut as well
as other machinery
in the shop, Marble
Tech has the capacity
of producing up to 25
kitchens per day.
A waterjet from
Flow International
of Kent, WA,
is also an
integral part of
the production
process.
The slab edges are
polished on one of three
in-line polishers that are
owned by the company.
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48 March 2010 | Stone World
from Marble Tech’s sister company,
USG Robotics of Barrington, IL, and a
waterjet from Flow International Corp.
of Kent, WA. The company purchases
its hand tools and accessories from
Braxton-Bragg of Knoxville, TN, and
also utilizes a JobTracker system from
Moraware of Reno, NV.
Most recently, Marble Tech added
new software — Virtual Inventory
Management and VeinMatch — from
USG Robotics. “Virtual Inventory
Management is an online database of
calibrated slab photos that allows the
sales staff from our 11 showrooms and
our customers to browse our current
inventory,” explained Gust, adding that
the company stocks about 3,000 slabs
that have all been photographed. “It
also gives our sales staff the ability to
assign material via the Internet. It has
helped us by giving our sales staff the
ability to see what material we have
in stock and allowing them to close
the sale in the showroom. We have set
up a 50-inch LCD flatscreen television
in every showroom. It has eliminated
the necessity for customers to visit the
warehouse, and the calibrated pho-
tographs give production and our
customers the ability to do full digital
layouts using VeinMatch — showing
exact placement of pieces and seam-
alignment before cutting.”
With VeinMatch, production and
the company’s customers are given a
Shop workers use hand tools,
which are purchased from
Braxton-Bragg of Knoxville, TN,
to complete finishing work.
A file of a digital drawing can be sent from the jobsite directly to the shop —
increasing efficiency of production.
Marble Tech recycles approximately 300,000 gallons of water daily using a water
recycling system that it constructed itself.
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Stone World | March 2010 49
preview of how all the pieces will look,
and how they will come together to
form the final job, according to Gust.
“As an integral part of USG Robotics, it
also ties into our RoboCut waterjet/saw
and allows us to guarantee that we cut
the pieces in the exact same position as
on the layout,” he said. “The layouts are
completed and saved before the slab
ever gets to the saw table, thus saving
the operator valuable time.”
For templat ing, the company’s
me a su r er s u s e a n LT- 55 L a s er
Templator f rom Laser Products
of Romeovil le, IL, and a Prodim
Proliner from Blick Industries of
Laguna Beach, CA. “Our shop would
not be the same without these prod-
For templating, the company’s install crews use an LT-55 Laser Templator from Laser Products of Romeoville, IL, (pictured on the
left) and a Prodim Proliner from Blick Industries of Laguna Beach, CA (pictured on the right). “Our shop would not be the same
without these products, which give us the ability to make clean and accurate files for use with all of our machinery,” said company
owner Tom Gust.
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50 March 2010 | Stone World
ucts, which give us the ability to
make clean and accurate files for use
with all of our machinery,” said Gust.
“The LT-55 is especially helpful when
it comes to f inishing f i les on the
jobsite — allowing for a good double-
check of final piece measurements.”
Presently, Marble Tech runs one
shift from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. It recycles
approximately 300,000 gallons of water
daily using a water recycling system
that it constructed itself. Moreover, the
company recycles about 50,000 pounds
of scrap material a week, which is
crushed and sold as gravel.
Marble Tech’s market spans all
of Illinois, southern Wisconsin and
northern Indiana. According to Gust,
approximately 99% of the company’s
sales come from installed countertop
applications and the other 1% accounts
for tile and fabrication-only jobs. “Most
of our recent projects come from home
remodels, but we also just remodeled
the local Kyoto Sushi Restaurant, the
bar at Chicago Prime Steakhouse, and
we are currently finishing up 50 new
local condos,” he said. “Due to a solid
customer base and referral system, we
remain stable in an obviously adverse
economy. In recent times, we have
taken an inward look at our company,
To ensure that jobs are completed
efficiently and on time, the company
utilizes a JobTracker system from
Moraware of Reno, NV (an example of
which is pictured).
Original Quarry, Everlasting
(802) 767-4421 vtverde.com
V E R M O N T
A N T I Q U EW O R L D ’ S F I N E S T S E R P E N T I N E
Beauty
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NEW REASONS TO ATTEND COVERINGS 2010
APRIL 27–30, 2010 | ORLANDO, FLORIDA, USA
REGISTER TODAY FOR FREE AT WWW.COVERINGS.COMBe sure to enter VIP Code ASW3Z when registering online to be entered into a drawing to win great prizes!
REASON #1: COVERINGS SELECTView the hottest new products and trends on the exhibit floor from this competition open to all contracted Coverings exhibitors. Only Coverings provides the latest trends and best inspiration for your tile + stone business!
REASON #2: FEATURED SESSIONSEach year, Coverings seeks out some of the best speakers in the industry and 2010 is no different. Whatever your area of interest, you’ll find a speaker to provide business-building resources and boost your bottom line!
REASON #3: INSTALLATION/DESIGN SHOWCASEThe new Installation/Design Showcase is an interactive live demonstration area where designers are paired with installers to create five custom tile + stone bathroom spaces right on the show floor!
REASON #4: GREEN CONFERENCE CERTIFICATECoverings recognizes the importance of learning about sustainable trends and products, and after attending our FREE green programming sessions, you can earn a certificate of completion.
REASON #5: HAPPY HOUR ON THE SHOW FLOORMix and mingle with other attendees and exhibitors during our new Happy Hours! Make new connections and network with peers.
REASON #6: REGIONAL DISTRIBUTOR PAVILIONThe Regional Distributor Pavilion features local distributors and will introduce you to their products and services and how they can help your business.
REASON #7: PROJECT: GREENPROJECT: Green will highlight some of the best sustainable projects featuring tile + stone. Walk away with great ideas and concepts for your next green project.
REASON #8: SHOW SPECIALSRegister today to take advantage of exhibitor show specials at Coverings and receive great deals and discounts on the best tile + stone trends and products.
REASON #9: COVERINGS CONCIERGE SERVICECoverings 2010 is pleased to present a new concierge service available to all attendees. Receive discounts and deals on dining, sports and entertainment while in Orlando.
REASON #10: THE AMBASSADOR PROGRAMBecome a Coverings Ambassador and you can win great prizes! Refer friends to Coverings and encourage them to attend the Ultimate Tile + Stone Experience.
FOR YOU. YOUR BUSINESS. YOUR SUCCESS.COVERINGS IS
And, Coverings still offers you the products, trends, networking opportunities, live demonstrations and FREE conference education that you’ve come to
expect from the Ultimate Tile + Stone Experience.
Be the strongest and smartest competitor in your market and takeadvantage of all the reasons to attend.
coveringssw03104.indd 1coveringssw03104.indd 1 2/12/10 11:14:45 AM2/12/10 11:14:45 AM
52 March 2010 | Stone World
trying to find ways to adjust to our
customers’ needs, keep the end quality
of our products high and keep unnec-
essary costs to a minimum. We hope to
see a gradual increase in home remod-
eling and commercial development,
but for now, we are simply attempting
to maintain our connections with the
community and our commercial and
home developers. As for the future, and
as it has been the case in the past, we
will always strive to continue expand-
ing and building upon our previous
success through the expansion of our
sales force, showroom locations and
fabrication throughout.” ❑
Marble Tech Inc.Crystal Lake, IL
Type of work: residential and commercial
Machinery: three CNC stoneworking centers, three in-line edge polishing
machines, two bridge saws, a RoboCut waterjet/saw from USG Robotics
of Barrington, IL, a waterjet from Flow International Corp. of Kent, WA,
hand tools and accessories from Braxton-Bragg of Knoxville, TN, Virtual
Inventory Management and VeinMatch software from USG Robotics, a
JobTracker system from Moraware of Reno, NV, an LT-55 Laser Templator
from Laser Products of Romeoville, IL, a Prodim Proliner from Blick
Industries of Laguna Beach, CA, and a water recycling system
Number of Employees: 50 (35 involved in fabrication, measurement and
installation)
Production Rate: as many as 25 kitchens a day when running at full capacity
An inventory of
approximately 3,000 slabs
is maintained at Marble
Tech’s facilities.
Approximately 99% of the company’s sales come from
installed countertop applications and the other 1% accounts
for tile and fabrication-only jobs.In addition to its fabrication operation, Marble Tech runs
11 retail showrooms strategically placed throughout the
Chicagoland area.
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www.sandvik.com
With the introduction of the RT300 series of bits for surface bench drilling and underground long-hole
drilling, Sandvik presents a new, innovative bit design that offers superior rock crushing properties, more
efficient flushing and improved impact energy transmission.
All the new bits feature the unique Sandvik XT48 cemented carbide (XT for Extra Tough), imbedded
in a face design that combines the former flat-face and drop-center to form a single, universal front design
– Uniface. To handle varying formations, the Uniface bits come in tailored design combinations with the
appropriate type of button inserts (full spherical or robust ballistic), insert patterns and the type of skirt
(regular or Sandvik’s unique Retrac).
Born to be optimally and uniformly worn, the new Sandvik RT300s up front on your drilling
equipment will reward you with outstanding performance – with up to 20 percent longer bit life in difficult
rock conditions – in addition to streamlined worksite logistics.
Boost your drilling with a facelift
The Uniface RT300 bits are available for hole diameters from Ø51 to 152 mm (2” to 6”).
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54 March 2010 | Stone World
Coverings 2010 returns to Orlando
With the largest exhibit of stone and tile in the U.S. and an in-depth seminar program, Coverings is set to
take place from April 27 to 30 in Orlando, FL
Co v e r i n g s , t h e p r e m i e r
international trade fair and
expo dedicated exclusively to
showcasing ceramic tile and stone, has
grown to be the largest show of its kind
in the U.S., featuring exhibitors from
more than 50 countries and attracting
thousands of distributors, retailers,
fabricators, contractors and specifiers,
architectural and design professionals,
builders and real estate developers.
This year’s event will take place from
April 27 to 30 at the Orange County
Convention Center in Orlando, FL.
Coverings is the stage for introduc-
ing some of the most innovative tile
and stone products in the world. For
the stone industry, Coverings offers a
product lineup that includes a range
of stone tiles and slabs, including exot-
ic materials from around the world.
National pavilions of stone-producing
companies have also typically been a
staple of Coverings, including group-
Coverings 2010 is set to take place from April 27 to 30 in Orlando, FL, featuring a large-scale exhibit of stone and
tile and an in-depth seminar program.
054-062 Coverings.indd 54054-062 Coverings.indd 54 2/22/10 10:41:32 AM2/22/10 10:41:32 AM
Revere® sinks by Elkay® enhance the beauty of countertopmaterials, by creating a fluid, graceful line.Revere undermount sinks complement a countertopand deliver years of outstanding performance.Don’t minimize the beauty of a natural stonecountertop by choosing a low-grade sink.
Revere sinks are made of 18 gaugestainless steel for superior durability(the lower the gauge number thethicker the steel).
With its graceful lines and elegantfinish, a Revere undermount sink isan ideal match for all countertopmaterials. Remember, an undermountsink will be a permanent installation.Choose wisely!
REVERE® STAINLESS STEELUNDERMOUNT SINKSBY ELKAY®
TOLL-FREE 1 (800) 458-6222 FAX: (770) 621-9771 • WWW.GRANQUARTZ.COMSTOCKING LOCATIONS IN ATLANTA, CHICAGO, DENVER, HOUSTON AND MIAMI.
NOW AVAILABLE FROM
gq2sw03104.indd 1gq2sw03104.indd 1 2/17/10 11:22:07 AM2/17/10 11:22:07 AM
56 March 2010 | Stone World
ings of companies from Italy, Brazil,
Spain, Turkey, China and other nations.
Many stone suppliers at Coverings
use the event as a platform to intro-
duce new materials to the marketplace,
including varieties of stone never seen
before. Stone can be found in slab and
tile format as well as intricate mosaics,
waterjet-cut designs and complex, cut-
to-size pieces.
On the machinery side, stone fab-
ricators can find a full spectrum of
equipment such as bridge saws, pol-
ishing machines, CNC stoneworking
centers, laser-etching equipment, water-
jets, air and water treatment systems,
material handling equipment, digital/
electronic templating systems, software
and more. Many manufacturers and
representatives of these machines rely
on Coverings for new equipment intro-
ductions. This is also true in the tooling
and accessories sector, as many suppli-
ers of blades, bits, cupwheels and other
tooling will be present at Coverings.
Also related to the stone industry,
major manufacturers and suppliers of
stone installation, cleaning and main-
tenance products will be present at
Coverings, with many companies
offering hands-on demonstrations on
the show floor.
A vast seminar programIn addition to the exposition, Coverings
also serves as a valuable resource for con-
tinuing education for all categories of
attendees — with informative, accredited
seminars and live demonstration sessions
conducted throughout the four days and
all free of charge.
This year’s featured session, sched-
The event will showcase
varieties of stone from
around the world, and many
international companies
were organized in national
pavilions.
On the machinery side, stone fabricators can find a full spectrum of equipment at
Coverings.
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Stone World | March 2010 57
uled for April 30, is “Stone in Green
Building: Moving the Stone Industry
Towards Sustainability.” It is a three-
hour workshop offering a “crash
course” in this critical subject. Led
by Jack Giebig of the Center for Clean
Products at the University of Tennessee,
it will examine the use of stone materi-
als in building applications, as well as
the industry’s ongoing effort to assess
the sustainability of natural stone.
“We’re proud of the reputation
Coverings has earned over the years
for quality educational programming,
and are excited to offer another stel-
lar lineup of sessions in 2010,” said
Jennifer Hoff, President of Client
Events for National Trade Productions
(NTP), which manages and produces
Coverings. “The professional develop-
ment opportunities presented by the
seminar sessions, coupled with the
broad array of cutting-edge products
to be found on the show floor, make
Coverings a trade show like no other.”
Also of note, outstanding and
visionary use of tile and stone in sus-
tainable projects will be recognized at
Coverings 2010 with a brand new pro-
gram, PROJECT: Green.
Coverings is sponsored by ASCER
(Ceramic Tile Manufacturers Association
of Spain), Confindustria Ceramica
(Italian Association of Ceramics), Tile
Council of North America (TCNA),
Ceramic Tile Distributors Association
(CTDA) and National Tile Contractors
Association (NTCA).
For more information on attending
or exhibiting at Coverings 2010, visit
www.coverings.com or contact NTP at
1-703-683-8500.
Coverings also serves as a valuable
resource for continuing education
for all categories of attendees
— with informative, accredited
seminars and live demonstration
sessions conducted throughout the
four days and all free of charge.
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58 March 2010 | Stone World
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
9:00 - 10:00 a.m.
Going Digital — New Operational
Metrics Gained for Natural Stone
Business Owners
You have taken portions (or all) of your
shop into the digital age: digital templating,
inventory management and accounting sys-
tems are now in place. Now, how do you use
this technology to quantify, measure and
analyze better information about the costs
of doing business? This session is geared
directly to business owners, and will explain
how to produce better cash flow, yield and
a host of other financial benchmarks which
are now possible by “going digital.”
Speaker: Paul Menninger, Capitol
Granite & Marble
1:30 - 3:00 p.m.
Challenges to Natural Stone Tile
Installations
The Marble Institute of America (MIA) is
partnering with the National Tile Contractors
Association (NTCA) and Tile Council of North
America (TCNA) to publish a supplement
to the TCA Handbook on Natural Stone Tile
Installations. In this very important session,
MIA Technical Director Chuck Muehlbauer
will present key takeaways.
Speaker: Chuck Muehlbauer, Marble
Institute of America
3:15 - 4:15 p.m.
Safety and Profitability: How Safety
Can Raise Your Bottom Line
Many contractors di l igently str ive to
maintain a profitable business during these
troubled economic times. Unlicensed com-
petitors, bidding wars, rising material costs
and price-conscious consumers all exert
pressure on profits that were more easily
gained in years past. Cost-cutting measures
such as minimizing material waste, reducing
transportation costs and utilizing time-sav-
ing practices and tools all help bolster the
bottom line. One other beneficial practice
that should not be overlooked is an effec-
tive safety program. Accidents, injuries and
illnesses reduce production and employee
morale and increase insurance premiums
and out-of-pocket expenses. This session
will discuss the importance of an effective
safety program and provide a guide to rec-
ognizing the hazards, evaluating exposure
to them and controlling their impact through
training, mitigation and leadership.
Speaker: Juan F. Garcia, Redrock Tile &
Stone
Providing CEUs to Architects &
Interior Designers For Natural Stone
Want to expand your outreach to archi-
tects and interior designers? Consider
providing CEUs (continuing education
units) to the design community. This ses-
sion will showcase how the CEU program
works and how to position your company
as the leading expert on natural stone in
your marketplace. It will also provide an
overview of the various CEU programs
(AIA, ASID, IDC, IDEC, I IDA and others)
and explain how to get started on giving
presentations, putting you squarely on the
CEU-provider path.
Speaker: James Hieb, Marble Institute of
America
Inventory Management and Pricing
Strategies
Increasing your personal wealth was one
of your goals when you became a business
owner. Achieving a higher return on invest-
ment (ROI) from your floor covering business
is the fastest way to improve your personal
wealth. In this program, Bob Langdon, CPA
and author of Managing Your Business for
Profit, will show you proven techniques to
increase gross margin, cash flow and ROI,
all while retaining your best customers. The
session covers:
• Ascertaining price sensitivity for your
products.
• Improving your ROI with better inven-
tory control.
• Evaluating when to buy additional
inventory to receive a quantity
discount.
• Selectively increasing prices, while
retaining your best customers.
• Differentiating your product and ser-
vice in the marketplace.
Speaker: Robert Langdon, CPA
Less Chaos, More Cash — Reducing
Confusion and Improving Profits in
Your Business
Many small businesses struggle to deliv-
er their products and services on time.
Owners spend their time putting out fires
instead of growing the business, and they
are plagued by costly mistakes. These
bus inesses are in chaos. Chaos exists
when important work and critical tasks
fall through the cracks as they are either
performed incorrectly, at the wrong time
or simply not at all. This happens for two
reasons: “The Fatal Assumption” or “The
Change Chain Phenomenon.” Join Aaron
Crowley as he introduces you to these
two common mistakes and the s imple
solution you can implement in your small
business to reduce confusion and avoid
costly errors.
Speaker: Aaron Crowley, Crowley’s
Granite Concepts, Inc.
Digital Templating & Much More
What are the three most common reasons
why fabricators fail in today’s market? Hear
from the perspective of a supplier who has
worked with thousands of fabricators over
the years. Learn about digital templating
(non-vendor specific) and gain insight into
best and worst practices through several
case studies.
Speaker: Dan Louis, Laser Products
Selected Conference Sessions at Coverings 2010
(Editor’s Note: The full lineup of Coverings 2010 seminars can be found at www.coverings.com.)
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60 March 2010 | Stone World
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
8:00 - 9:00 a.m.
The Forensics of Tile Failures
When it comes to what went wrong on a
job, everyone seems to have an opinion.
Some are based on assumed facts, others
based on time-honored (sometimes inac-
curate) theories. When the facts need to be
established beyond a reasonable doubt,
forensic investigation is often used to estab-
lish a quantitative basis of opinion relative to
the cause of failure. There is no hiding facts
when you use the means, methods and
equipment afforded us by the world of stan-
dards and science. This seminar will review
five typical installation failures and dem-
onstrate how scientific methodology firmly
establishes their cause.
Speaker: David Gobis, CTC, CSI, Ceramic
Tile Consultant; other speakers TBA
Proper Use and Understanding of
Medium-Bed Mortars
When do you need to use a medium-bed
mortar instead of a thinset mortar? What
are the differences between the two? What
is the new standard regarding medium-bed
mortars and large-format tile installations?
Join this session to get the answers to these
questions and more.
Speaker: Representative of the Materials
Methods and Standards Association
8:00 - 10:00 a.m.
Super Charge Your Web site: Being in
the Right Place When Customers Look
for a Stone Contractor
How are consumers finding you online?
During this fast-paced seminar, you’ll pick
up tips to help you maximize your market-
ing presence, including demonstrations of
proper keyword and tag usage and critical
insight on how to target your audience to
increase Web site traffic and obtain custom-
ers via search engine rankings. Gain new
insight into online search capabilities and
what you should be discussing with your
Web master. You’ll be better prepared to
make sure you’re in the right place on the
Web when customers are looking for a stone
contractor in your market.
Speaker: Marty Gould, Focalize Now
9:15 - 10:15 a.m.
Smart Growth Strategies: Becoming a
Fully Digital Fabrication Shop
The buzz in the industry is focused on digi-
tal technology. What does it mean to be a
fully digital shop? Is now the right time to
adopt this technology? What impact will
digital technology have on your operations
and how will it affect your bottom line? This
seminar will define what digital technol-
ogy is in the countertop industry and will
provide you with a methodology for analyz-
ing whether or not you should take the fully
digital leap in fabrication. In addition, the
seminar will help you identify any pitfalls that
may arise as a fully digital shop, so that they
can be side-stepped to ensure profitability
and succes.
Speaker: Stuart Young, The Granite Shop;
Rob Bromley, Park Industries
Transition from Countertop-Oriented
Work to Light Commercial
This session will focus primarily on natural
stone veneer installations and will help you
obtain useful information for making the
transition from countertop-oriented work to
light commercial stone work. Case studies
of actual installation failures with MIA- rec-
ommended typical installation details,
ASTM guidelines and Building Code require-
ments will be examined. This session will also
discuss the causes of failures and help you
understand the recommended remediation
anchorage and techniques. Finally, several
alternate details that can be used in lieu of
failed anchorages will be examined.
Speaker: Rodney Harvey, Curtain Wall
Design
Linear Drain Shower Systems/ADA
Compliant Showers
This seminar will address safe, design-
oriented and ADA-compliant specification
and the selling and installing of linear/trench
drain shower systems. Waterproofing meth-
ods and products for sustainable installations
will also be discussed. Bring your questions.
S pea ker : M i tche l l B . Louch , wed i
Corporation
3:15 - 4:15 p.m.
Natural Stone: Protection,
Maintenance, & Restoration
This fast-paced session will cover stone
origins and processing; coatings versus
impregnators; stone installations and vari-
ous protection/maintenance challenges;
and restoration. Gain insight from an indus-
try veteran into a subject that is critical long
after the initial stone installation.
Speaker: Joe Salvo, Miracle Sealants
Introducing Social Media into Your
Stone Company’s Marketing Plan
Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and other
social media tools are engulf ing the
world of communication today, and user
demographics show that it’s not just the
20-something age group taking advan-
tage of these networking tools. This session
will cover some “easy to implement” strat-
egies to propel your stone business into the
social media world. Several case studies will
be presented to showcase “best practices”
that will demonstrate how to get started
and manage existing and new relationships
through social media.
Speaker: Garen Distelhorst, Marble
Institute of America
Thursday, April 29, 2010
8:00 - 9:00 a.m.
Ultimate Waterproofing Techniques
This session will describe the methods used
by master installer Michael Byrne to provide
maximum waterproofing and crack isolation
protection for residential and light commer-
cial tile installations. It will cover all types of
waterproofing membranes.
Speakers: Michael Byrne, MB&A; David
Gobis, CTC, CSI, Ceramic Tile Consultant
8:00 - 10:00 a.m.
Stone Trends 2010
Gain a valuable overview of the market
and market trends by attending this 11th
annual “State of the Industry” presentation
on the dimensional stone market in America.
This session will cover information, sourc-
ing, marketing and application trends in the
stone industry over the last year, including
examples of award-winning projects that
have been recognized for their use of natural
stone. It’s especially recommended for com-
panies that hold or aspire to obtain Marble
Institute of America (MIA) Accreditation.
Speaker: Vince Marazita, Marazita &
Associates
Fabricators Forum
This open forum is designed to provide
fabr icators with answers to quest ions
or problems they may have in regard to
operating successfully in today’s business
economy. In the present economic cli -
mate, diversification is a critical step many
fabricators are taking. This panel is well
versed in both the residential and com-
mercial arenas and what it takes to excel
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62 March 2010 | Stone World
in both. Costs, stone supplier relationships,
collections, employee development and
meeting customer expectations are just a
few of the business-related topics that will
be addressed.
Moderator: GK Naquin, Stone Interiors
Speakers: Rafael Bernal, Great Lakes
Granite & Marble; Michael Twiss, Columbia
Stone, Inc.; Brett Rugo, Rugo Stone LLC,
Natural Stone & Mosaic Contractors; and
Guido Gliori, Grazzini Brothers & Co.
9:15 - 10:15 a.m.
Exterior Stone Adhered Veneer
Standards - An Industry Update
This sess ion wi l l provide an industry
update on adhered natural stone veneer
systems. As various groups debate the
merits of engineered design versus empir-
ica l des ign, indust ry-wide consensus
doesn’t appear to be in the near future.
This sess ion wil l of fer an overview of a
number of the contentious topics that are
currently stall ing development of stan-
dards for this widely used system of stone
attachment. Substrate rigidities, adhesive
contact, stone varieties and known paths
to failure will be addressed.
Speaker: Chuck Muehlbauer, Marble
Institute of America
3:15 - 4:15 p.m.
Wholesale/Slab Distributors Forum
Back by popular demand, this will be the
third annual discussion of strategic issues
critical to running successful wholesale/slab
distribution companies. This open discussion
will cover a host of operational issues, includ-
ing building strong fabricator relationships,
networking with the design community,
freight issues and many more. An update
on how distributors are supporting the gran-
ite industry on the radon/radiation front will
also be included.
M o d e rato r : S cot t La rd n e r, Ro c k y
Mountain Stone
Speakers : Jonathan Zanger, Walker
Zanger; Saket Hans, OHM International; Rup
Shah, MS International
Fabrication —
Do You Know Your Cost?
As a fabricator, do you know your true
cost of doing business? How much are
you making on each job? Can you ana-
lyze your cost by each component of your
business (template, fabrication, instal l,
overhead, etc.)? How does a new piece
of equipment affect your ultimate profit?
It isn’t rocket science, but if you haven’t
taken a course on this subject, this is a
seminar you can’t miss. Learn how to get
started so that you can get a handle on
the factors affecting your bottom line.
Speaker:GK Naquin, Stone Interiors
The Science of Sealing: What to
Know, What to Use and Why
This seminar focuses on the science
behind stone and tile types and the com-
patibility of different sealers and their overall
performance. Different stones and tile have
varying densities, porosities, mineralogy and
finishes that exaggerate these differences.
Learn how to select which sealer types
to use for optimum sealing performance,
explore the advantages of water-based ver-
sus solvent-based sealers and discover what
sealers do and what they don’t do.
Speaker: Rod Sigman, Aqua Mix
Friday, April 30, 2010
8:30 - 11:30 a.m.
Stone in Green Building: Moving the
Stone Industry Towards Sustainability
This three-hour workshop should be on
every natural stone professional’s l ist of
business critical sessions to attend. During
the presentation portion of this workshop,
you will explore the use of stone materi-
als in building applications, learn more
about the activities of the industry’s effort
to assess the sustainability of stone, obtain
information about environmental profiles
for stone materials as compared to other
material alternatives (pre-cast concrete,
aluminum, etc.) and learn more about
the results of l ife-cycle assessment that
compares common materials used for
external cladding.
During the panel discuss ion por t ion
of this workshop, you will gain perspec-
tives on why the work on natural stone
sustainabil ity is critical to the evolution
of building codes around the world, ask
quest ions and provide input into the
ongoing effort and share perspectives
from projects you have worked on.
After this sess ion, you wil l be better
positioned to speak with clients about sus-
tainability, get involved with this vital industry
initiative and position your company to be
at the forefront of this effort.
Speakers: Jack Giebig, Center for Clean
Products at the University of Tennessee;
and several members of the Natural Stone
Industry’s Sustainability Committee
9:00 - 10:00 a.m.
Trends in the Use of Tile and Stone
in the Landscape: A Showcase of
Various Landscape Works Across the
Globe that Embrace Culture, Theme
and Sustainability
This seminar will address the applications
of stone and tile in landscape architec-
ture, from hotels and resorts to campuses
and urban settings. Pools and water fea-
tures, sculptures, porte cocheres, walls
and columns and custom works are just
some of the applications in which tile and
stone will be showcased via case studies
during this presentation. Sustainability and
applications related to sustainable design,
the use of local materials in projects and
the use of recycled materials in projects
will also be addressed.
Speaker: Rob Hutcheson, ASLA, EDSA
Commencing at 10 a.m.
Your Fabrication Shop — Nuts & Bolts
Fabricators Forum
This workshop blends three aspects impor-
tant to every fabricator and concludes
with a traditional fabricator’s forum of your
industry peers responding to questions. The
presentation will focus on:
Being OSHA-compl iant and operat-
ing a safe shop environment. You’ll learn
more about the steps necessary to bring
your shop into compliance today, as well
as find out how many thousands of dol-
lars of potential f ines may be s it t ing in
your shop. A safer workplace - the goal of
every fabricator.
Identifying the right infrastructure for water
recycling. Hear about the differences in the
various water recycling systems that are
currently available and learn how you can
benefit from using the best water cycling
system that fits the needs of your shop, from
a fabricator’s perspective.
Learn how important it is to have the right
compressed air system and infrastructure
for your fabrication shop. See why so many
shops are going “all wet,” and why the right
air system enables fabricators to be more
efficient and save money on tool repairs
and energy costs.
Moderator: Kevin Padden, AZ School of
Rock
Speakers: Scott Lardner, Rocky Mountain
Stone Co.; other speakers TBA
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The general rule of diamond tools is that the faster it works the less life you’re going to get. The all new Cyclone High Speed Finger Bit is a total re-design to be the excep-tion to this general rule. Twin action segments work in tandem to remove material for faster stock removal and longer life. The leading segment aggressively cuts the stone while the trailing larger segment removes the stock left behind. At 5000rpm this process is repeated 15000 times per minute. Segments that work together are just better, longer, faster. Call your authorized Cyclone dealer today.
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64 March 2010 | Stone World
Is your workplace safe?
Most accidents in the stone fabrication shop are avoidable when an operation develops a culture of safety and prevention
by Daniel Samaniego
Working in a stone fabrication
shop is one of the jobs
that, by nature, implies
that employees wil l be working
u nder d i f f icu lt condit ion s t hat
require complete attention to detail.
Stone fabrication is a demanding
job that involves heavy equipment,
slab/material handling, electricity,
compressed air, work in high or
confined spaces and the use of blades,
grinders and chemicals. Moreover, the
environment may include dust, noise
and wet conditions.
Far too often, employees are not
aware of some of the conditions that
are safety risks to employees and visi-
tors. Often, this happens because “we
never have had an accident.” During
the eight-hour workday, shop employ-
ees are generally thinking about the
kitchen or vanity they need to finish
and not safety in the workplace.
Look for problematic conditions
We should see our stone fabrication
shop with different eyes, under another
perspective — using critical thinking
and trying to find potential risks. In
Slab organization is one of the most important aspects in fabrication shop safety — no matter what
the size of the space. One of the first steps to achieving this is to throw away material that you have
been keeping for years and will probably never use.
Fabricator ISSUES & SOLUTIONS
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StonExpo booth #1216
Slabsmith.com(315) 287 - 2877
Slabsmith™ is a product of Northwood Designs, Inc., Antwerp, NYThe slab in the background is a Slabsmith™ digital slab™ created with Slabsmith’s advanced photostation calibration.
watch the video at:
Slabsmith.comThe future is now
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66 March 2010 | Stone World
our hands are many decisions that
could be the difference.
We know the consequences that
can result from an accident offer — not
only a financial loss, but also emotion-
al impact to families. Most industrial
accidents are preventable and happen
because of the repetition of unsafe acts
or prolonged “unsafe conditions.”
Simply stated, an “unsafe act” is grind-
ing without goggles, while continually
working on a muddy/wet floor is an
example of “unsafe conditions.” Some
accidents are extraordinary, under cir-
cumstances out of the common, but
most of them are clearly preventable.
Safe machinery operationWith such a broad range of machin-
ery involved in the fabrication process
— bridge saws, cranes, vacuum lifters,
routers, edge profile machines, water
pumps, air compressors, electric/
pneumatic tools, CNC stonework-
ing centers and dust collectors — it
is the responsibility of the employer
to designate someone to ensure that
this equipment is in the best condi-
tion in terms of safety and operability.
They also need to make sure that the
safety devices for each machine have
not been removed or disabled to make
their operation easier for the user.
Equipment manufacturers design
machinery with the safety system as
a priority, and shop mangers/owners
are responsible to ensure that these
systems are not bypassed.
Asking questionsSafety implies education. It is a
culture that should be a priority. We
should ask our people in the shop
about safety, and try to identify the
risks. Some examples of questions to
ask are:
• Do we know if safety systems such
as fire extinguishers or eyewash sta-
tions are in good condition?
• Are they ready to use?
• Does everybody know how to use
them?
• Does the shop have safety signage?
• Are we having safety meetings?
• Are machine operators using person-
al protection equipment, including
steel toe boots?
• Are they actually wearing their eye/
ear protection at all times?
Steps for preventionEveryone — including owners,
managers, technicians, sales team
and clerical employees — needs to
share in the responsibility for safety.
Unfortunately, too many times, this
isn’t addressed until there is an acci-
dent. The best firefighter isn’t the one
who extinguishes the most fires; rath-
DOMAIN INDUSTRIES INC.
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Stone World | March 2010 67
Here, we see the water
channels for the recycling
system lacking a cover, which
creates a bad falling risk.
er, the one who achieves prevention.
By stressing organizat ion and
cleanliness in the shop, a shop man-
ager/owner is better able to detect the
possible risks. Some conditions are
very difficult to change (lack of space,
old equipment, etc.), but they can still
be addressed. Surprisingly, some of
the simple items in the shop — such
as electrical cords — are often in very
bad condition.
In terms of maintaining the shop
itself, slab organization is very impor-
tant — no matter what the size of the
space. One of the first steps to achiev-
ing this is to throw away material that
you have been keeping for years and
will probably never use.
The second step is to completely
clean the floor and to create “respon-
sibility areas” according to different
sections — workstations, bridge saw
1, bridge saw 2, final revision, etc. The
boundaries for these areas should be
clearly marked on the floor, and you
should also clearly demark the fork-
lift route at the same time. Once this is
achieved, it becomes the responsibility
of each employee to keep their assigned
area in the best possible condition.
This not only increases safety, but
the result is a shop that you will be
proud to show to architects, design-
ers, customers and visitors. If you are
selling beauty, you should keep your
workplace attractive and offer the prop-
er impression of your business. ❑
Although cleanliness should also be a priority in stone fabrication shops, it is often
disregarded as employees focus solely on production. By establishing boundaries for
different “responsibility areas” of the shop — and clearly marking them on the floor
— it becomes the responsibility of each employee to keep their assigned area in the
best possible condition.
Daniel Samaniego has a background as a stone machinery technician and industrial safety specialist. He lives in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
In some stone fabrication shops, the floor is always muddy and wet. The water used
during the fabrication process should always run to channels.
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68 March 2010 | Stone World
Working with recycled countertop materials
In this question-and-answer session, Cosentino explains how fabricators can work with its ECO line of
countertop materials, which features 75% recycled content
What is ECO by Cosentino?
What is it made from, and
what are the environmental
benefits of the material?
ECO by Cosentino is a revolu-
tionary new line of countertop and
surfacing material composed of 75%
recycled material. The launch of ECO
by Cosentino sets an unprecedented
standard for the green building and
sustainable design industries. The
result of a $6 million research and
development investment, this inno-
vative new product caters to the
envi ron menta l ly con sc ious a nd
design-oriented architect, designer and
consumer by providing high perfor-
mance, design and sustainability.
ECO by Cosentino is composed of
75% post-industrial and post-consum-
er recycled raw material, including
mirrors salvaged from houses, build-
ings and factories; glass from windows
and bottles; granulated glass from
consumer recycling practices; por-
celain from china, tiles, sinks, toilets
and decorative elements; and indus-
trial furnace residuals from factories
in the form of crystallized ashes.
ECO by Cosentino is a new line of countertop and surfacing
material composed of 75% recycled material.
Fabricator ISSUES & SOLUTIONS
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R e l i a b l e R o b o t i c S o l u t i o n s F o r S t o n e F a b r i c a t o r s
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in fo@usgrobo t i cs .com
TEL: 800-999-3025
FAX: 847-304-1239
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VeinMatch will change the way you do business
If you’ve had a customer ask how their seams are going to look then you need our RoboCut system.
usgrinsertsw12094.indd 1usgrinsertsw12094.indd 1 11/17/09 2:58:22 PM11/17/09 2:58:22 PM
70 March 2010 | Stone World
By utilizing these recycled materials,
Cosentino is “upcycling” products that
have reached the end of their lifecycle
— meaning that they cannot be incorpo-
rated in to any other industrial product
and would otherwise collect in landfill
sites. Each year, the production of ECO is
expected to utilize the equivalent of:
• 60 million glass bottles
• 2 million standard size bathroom
mirrors
• Approximately 540,000 square feet of
ceramics
Reutilizing this significant amount
of material prevents it from building up
at landfills year after year, and reduces
the need to mine for new resources.
Moreover, for every square foot of ECO
by Cosentino utilized, consumers are
helping to save the same amount or
more of natural resources.
How many colors are available?
At launch, ECO by Cosentino is
available in two sophisticated color
palettes — the Revive collection and
the Green collection — totaling 10 indi-
vidual designer colors, suitable for both
commercial and residential projects. It
is also available in both a polished and
a matte Leather TextureTM finish.
What is the typical slab size?
ECO by Cosentino is available in
jumbo slabs of 63 x 128 inches and stan-
dard tile sizes of 12 x 12, 18 x 18 and
24 x 24 inches. The jumbo slabs allow
for a higher square footage of material
per container, therefore minimizing
the product’s carbon footprint, and
they provide a higher yield of material
during fabrication, minimizing seams
and waste. The slabs are available in
a 1.2-cm, 2-cm and 3-cm thickness to
respond to varying market needs.
W h e n f a b r i c a t i n g E C O b y
Cosentino, what practical concerns are
required when cutting the material?
Do I need a specialized blade? Do I
need to run my saw at a specific rpm?
When cutting on a saw, ECO by
Cosentino can be cut with a regular
diamond blade at 3,500 to 3,800 rpm.
If cutting on a waterjet, fabricators
can cut at the speed rate of 40 inches
per minute.
I understand that some engineered
stone/quartz surfacing slabs “pinch”
the blade when plunge cutting. Do I
need to cut the material from the out-
side, or can I plunge cut?
Cutting the material from the out-
side is best; however, plunge cutting
is another option for fabricating, just
like with quartz surfacing. Fabricators
should plan for cuts to release tension
prior to plunge cutting.
When working the edges of the
When cutting on a saw, ECO by Cosentino can be cut with a regular diamond blade at
3,500 to 3,800 rpm. If cutting on a waterjet, fabricators can cut at the speed rate of 40
inches per minute.
ECO by Cosentino is composed of 75%
post-industrial and post-consumer
recycled raw material, including
mirrors salvaged from houses, building
and factories; glass from windows
and bottles; granulated glass from
consumer recycling practices; porcelain
from china, tiles, sinks, toilets and
decorative elements; and industrial
furnace residuals from factories in the
form of crystallized ashes.
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Stone World | March 2010 71
material, do I need to work with special
tooling or a specialized rate of speed?
Edge polishing should be treated the
same as quartz surfacing.
Will the edge of the material match
the surface once it is processed, or
does additional finishing need to take
place (as is the case with some resin-
treated materials)?
Unlike concrete-based counter-
tops, ECO is a non-porous surfacing
material and does not require seal-
ers. ECO by Cosentino matches the
sophist icated look, feel and high
performance of quartz composite sur-
faces and natural stone surfaces such
as marble and granite.
Do the slabs have any problem
with UV light, or can I store/install the
material outside in direct sunlight?
ECO by Cosentino is recommended
for indoor use only.
W hen install ing counter tops
made with ECO by Cosentino, are
there any major differences to con-
sider as opposed to installing granite
countertops?
We recommend strip decking rather
than full decking when installing ECO
by Cosentino. Also it should not be
installed tight against the wall; a small
gap of 1/8 inch should be consider for
every 10-foot run.
How smooth is the finished edge
once cut, as compared to the typical
edge of cut granite? Do the edges at
the seams need to be further treated
or “roughed up” to make them work
effectively with the seam adhesive?
Granite behaves differently —
depending on the type of granite. ECO
by Cosentino does not cut as cleanly
as quartz surfacing. It behaves more
like the most brittle granite. The type
of blade, plenty of water and the speed
of the blade are all key for a crisp cut.
Nevertheless, ECO is not going to expe-
rience heavy chipping as it behaves
much better than your typical cement-
based, recycled glass material.
What types of adhesives seem to
work best with ECO by Cosentino?
We recommend a polyester-based
resin or an epoxy, although your typi-
cal solid surface acrylic-based glues
also work well.
Do the seams at a cooktop or sink
need to be rodded, as is typical with
granite? Are there other special rein-
forcements needed?
ECO by Cosentino has a better flex-
ural strength than granite. Therefore, it
is not absolutely necessary to rod either
cut-outs or seams, although it is always
good practice to rod either. ❑
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72 March 2010 | Stone World
The “microshop” is bornWhen properly equipped with today’s technology, small fabrication
shops can produce the same amount with less manpower, and it is possible to profitably operate a “microshop” with just an owner and a helper
by Scott McGourley, Kasco StoneTampa, FL
Sometime in 2005 in Fredrikstad,
N o r w a y, J a n W a e r n e s s
contemplated a new stone
fabricat ion model. He wanted to
digitally fabricate stone in the most
efficient manner by himself; however,
there were no machines out there that
are set up for this task. After doing
some research, he decided to convert a
4-axis CNC machine with a saw blade
into what will eventually become the
FabCenter. With a little ingenuity and a
fistful of patience, he set up his one-man
shop that would evolve into the very
first “microshop.” These were the seeds
that drifted onto the Stone Fabricators
Forum at www.StoneAdvice.com, and
it set off a chain reaction of events that
would have three major manufacturers
developing this type of machinery and
dozens of microshops popping up all
over the country.
What is a microshop?While you can classify a number
of small fabrication shops in this cat-
egory, the following criteria will define
this microshop. First of all, as the name
implies, it is a small fabrication shop
— with 5,000 square feet of space or
less. The second important component
is a FabCenter (mine is from Breton of
Italy). While it may be possible to digi-
tally fabricate stone efficiently with
other types of fabrication equipment,
the added labor and material handling
— coupled with the cost of purchas-
ing and maintaining more than one
machine — excludes most combina-
A “microshop” is defined as a a small fabrication shop — 5,000 square feet of space or less — equipped with a FabCenter that
fabricates between 200 and 500 square feet of installed product per week, with occasional stints of up to 1,000 square feet.
Fabricator ISSUES & SOLUTIONS
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74 March 2010 | Stone World
tions from this model. The third major
defining factor is scope. The scope
of the business must be to fabricate
between 200 and 500 square feet of
installed product per week, with occa-
sional stints of up to 1,000 square feet.
Why is this a good idea?Those of you who already run a
stone shop know how difficult and
costly this business can be. Up to this
point, there was no middle in the busi-
ness. Either a shop can stay manual
and avoid the price tag of automation,
or they can embrace it. Manual fabri-
cation costs are more or less linear. It
costs roughly the same per square foot
to produce 100 square feet of finished
product as it does 1,000 square feet.
A typical small shop consists of
five individuals. Usually they wear
many hats and manage to fabricate
and install somewhere on the order
of 250 square feet per week. Now, if
that same shop invests in a CNC, they
still need the same number of people.
They can certainly do more work, but
will the work be there? An automated
shop can generally lower their expendi-
tures with increases in volume. Those
that invest in CNC technology usually
gravitate toward more volume because
they can, and they may quickly evolve
into a “large” shop. This is great as long
as sales meet the demands of the day.
But as evidenced by the hundreds of
shop closures in the last year, a slowing
economy can be the death blow to even
the healthiest of shops.
The microshop is able to pro-
duce the same amount with one less
worker. With the reduction of just one
full-time employee, you can pay for
more than half of your CNC payment.
This is significant when operating
in the lower-volume range. It is less
important with higher volume. In
fact, there is a point where it would be
more efficient to employ a dedicated
digital cutting solution and just run
the FabCenter as a CNC. It is possible
to profitably operate this kind of shop
all the way down to just an owner and
a helper — due to the almost complete
eradication of labor. It is also possible
to add labor as needed and run dou-
ble shifts in order to enjoy maximum
productivity for short time periods
in order to cover large contracts or
unusually high periods of sales.
Why can a microshop operate with one less employee?
This is because of the gains achieved
by utilizing a digital cutting solu-
tion, along with digital templating
and reduced material handling. With
a manual saw, usually the fabricator
has to lay his wooden templates on the
slab and try various layouts in order to
achieve the desired end. This becomes
increasingly difficult as the number
of slabs in the job increases. It is not
unusual to spend hours laying out a
difficult four-slab job. Usually these
tasks are accompanied by a crowd of
fellow workers that feel compelled to
give their input on how the layout can
work — usually to the dismay of the
guy trying to concentrate on the task
at hand. He then has to proceed to saw
manually — with a limited ability to
cut complex shapes — and then trans-
port the parts to the CNC.
Meanwhile, the microshop employs
a programmer in an air-conditioned
office who can try multiple layouts in
any weather in minutes. This allows
him to achieve better material utili-
zation because of his ability to easily
try various possibilities. Most systems
include a dynamic digital render-
ing of the completed job, which takes
some of the question marks out of the
process. The ability to digitally cut
complex shapes saves material when
the cutting is done.
FabCentering is all about quickly
splitting the slab or parts. Here
we simply run the finger across
the slab to split the two parts.
The one in the foreground did
not move, and we cut the line
on the sink cutout, leaving
1.5 mm overmaterial. On the
other part, we will finger it once
it is moved so we don’t have to
add overmaterial, then add it
again once it has been relocated.
072-076 MicroShop.indd 74072-076 MicroShop.indd 74 2/22/10 10:51:56 AM2/22/10 10:51:56 AM
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76 March 2010 | Stone World
With some systems, the parts are
not removed from the table, they are
simply “floated” apart in order to
gain tool clearance, and the routing
begins immediately. The operator
can normally accomplish other tasks
while the machine is running. It is
very easy for one man to process a
slab with the help of a vacuum lift-
er. In both cases it is troublesome to
move odd-shaped parts, and in such
cases, parts are usually left on the
table until help arrives.
Another important byproduct of
the microshop is the ability to share
critical information with only a few
key individuals. For example, the
owner can sell and template the jobs,
and the programming and machine
operation can be done by another.
Most of the key information is privy
to these two individuals. The other
employees generally do not need to
know what size radius the corners
get, what sink will be used, what
edge, how deep should the edge be
run, whether or not a piece needs
under-polishing and a seemingly
endless list of other queries. This
leads to a lot less responses that start
with “I thought.”
FabCenters seldom call out sick,
whine about overtime and will work
for very little once the payment cycle
has concluded. They are also not sub-
ject to Workers’ Compensation.
The “digital showroom”Some of the other cr iter ia for
defining this microshop is a digital
showroom. It is normally not pos-
sible for a small shop to have vast
inventory of slabs or large show-
rooms. Therefore, f lat-screens and
large computer monitors are utilized
to display slabs, remnants, examples
of various installations and consum-
er education. While it is necessary
for the client to view the actual slabs,
this process significantly reduces the
time it takes to narrow choices. This
is especially true with remnants,
as they do not show well and are
generally packed into an almost un-
viewable configuration. An overhead
crane and vacuum lifter are other
required elements for a microshop.
While there are other components,
most can be found in any fabrication
shop, so I will leave them out for the
purposes of this discussion.
The advantages of the micro-
shop are many. One is the reduced
dependence on skilled labor. Tooling
costs are also reduced over a manual
operation. A microshop can also be a
stepping stone to a large shop. A ded-
icated digital cutting solution can be
added easily — doubling the amount
of out put that can be ach ieved.
Profitability can be maintained in
just about any market condition. The
microshop appears to the customer
as a small, but highly organized and
capable modern shop. The ability to
operate in a hub spoke or in nodes for
a company with multiple locations is
another possibility. A large shop in a
busy metropolitan area — surround-
ed by a small network of microshops
— can satisfy just about any market
demand. Probably the most important
gain is the sanity that an organized
and highly automated process brings
to an otherwise insane business. ❑
With the half-slab part, you can
move it with one hand. It works
by the process of elimination;
you cut, remove scrap, pods, cut
some more, remove material, etc.
Eventually the table is empty,
and you have finished parts.
Scott McGourley is Owner/Operator of Kasco Stone in Tampa, FL. This small shop, while typical in size to the average shop found across our country, has over the past four years transformed itself from a dry cutting manual operation to a fully digital microshop. McGourley is an active mem-ber of the Stone Fabricators Alliance (SFA) embracing the group’s mission, and work-ing to raise the bar for quality in his region.
072-076 MicroShop.indd 76072-076 MicroShop.indd 76 2/22/10 10:52:09 AM2/22/10 10:52:09 AM
Reinventive Design.
Almost Endless Possibilities.
Yellow Dream
Perlado
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Soapstone
Carnelian
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US Warehouse Locations
Anaheim, CA - 714.520.4100 | Boston, MA - 508.393.9600 | Charleston, SC - 843.928.3307Chicago, IL - 708.780.9700 | Dallas, TX - 214.256.9700 | Denver, CO - 303.895.3450Detroit, MI - 734.946.4079 | Houston, TX - 281.207.4500 | Miami, FL - 954.486.2379Phoenix, AZ - 480.763.9400 | San Marcos, CA - 760.741.8000 | Seattle, WA - 206.762.8221Silver Spring, MD - 301.563.1433 | Spokane, WA - 509.893.3698 | St. Louis, MO - 314.426.1466St. Paul, MN - 651.602.3200 | Van Nuys, CA - 818.785.1100 | Willingboro, NJ - 609.877.1008
CANADA
Ontario - 734.946.4077 | Quebec - 819.876.7111British Columbia - 604.852.8125
MEXICO
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©2009 Cosentino N.A. Silestone trademark and logo are the property of Cosentino N.A. under exclusive license from Cosentino, SA.www.cosentinonorthamerica.com
The Nations Largest Stone Importer is Now a Little Closer to You.
TM®
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b y c o s e n t i n o
cosentinosw06094.indd 1cosentinosw06094.indd 1 5/14/09 10:45:40 AM5/14/09 10:45:40 AM
78 March 2010 | Stone World
Sandstone and limestone form distinctive
courthouse designThe new facility for the New Mexico Court of Appeals in Albuquerque
features a facade of sandstone and limestone -- giving it a dignified presence while reflecting the warm tones of its surroundings
by Jennifer Adams
While the design intent for
the new home of the New
Mexico Court of Appeals
was to match the architecture of its
neighbor, The University of New
Mexico (UNM) Law School, it was also
important that the design emphasize
that the structure is a government
institution. To achieve just the right
balance, the design team turned to a
palette of sandstone and limestone —
supplied by MS International, Inc. of
Orange, CA — for the exterior facade.
“Although there was a desire for
the new facility to have a connection
to the UNM Law School and fit in to
the campus, it also needed to have
its own distinct image,” explained
Project Manager Tina Sanchez of NCA
Architects of Albuquerque, NM. “It
could not be a casual relationship, with
Located next door to the University of New Mexico Law School in Albuquerque, NM, the new building for the
New Mexico Court of Appeals reflects the existing architecture on campus while maintaining a strong look
of a government institution. A palette of Teakwood sandstone and Uxmal limestone — both supplied by MS
International of Orange, CA — were chosen for the exterior design.
Ph
oto
s co
urt
esy
of
NC
A A
rch
itect
s
InstitutionalArchitecture
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80 March 2010 | Stone World
students just wandering around the
building. It was to visually look like a
court and should not be mistaken for
another campus building.”
Additionally, the architectural image
of the new Court of Appeals build-
ing needed to convey “New Mexico,”
explained Sanchez. “The image needed
to be something that is recognized —
something to do with New Mexico and
something that is dignified,” she said.
“The court facility also was to be secure
as a result of the nature of the judicial
actions that take place there.”
The selection processThe choice of Teakwood sandstone
and Uxmal limestone for the building’s
exterior facade was believed to be the
right decision to meet the design crite-
ria. “One of the main reasons behind
choosing the material was having the
warmth and the aesthetic value of a
natural stone,” said Sanchez. “Uxmal
and Teakwood have an exceptional
color palette that offers a warm and
unique pattern that blends with the
New Mexico architecture. They also
complement each other and create a
distinctive and timeless look.”
According to Sanchez, the client was
involved in the design and construc-
tion of the building every step of the
way. “During the value engineering
process, it was considered changing the
stones for ceramic tile to bring the proj-
ect to budget, but the Court of Appeals
design committee decided on cutting
down and deleting other items to keep
the stone,” she said.
A large portion of the exterior
facade of the Court of Appeals build-
ing is clad in Teakwood sandstone — a
yellowish/orange stone from India.
Approximately 20,000 square feet of the
material was supplied for the project,
with pieces measuring 24 x 24 inches.
The Uxmal limestone, which features
a deeper rust color and was quarried in
The warm colors of the stone
reflect the building’s natural
environment.
In total, approximately 20,000 square feet of 24- x 24-inch tiles of Teakwood sandstone,
which exhibit hues of yellow and orange — was utilized for the exterior facade. The
deeper rust shade of the Uxmal limestone provides a nice contrast.
The exterior stone was installed with an “Exterior Stone System” from Laticrete
International of Bethany, CT.
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82 March 2010 | Stone World
Mexico., adds a nice contrast to the front
of the building. Roughly 12,000 square
feet of 12- x 24-inch tiles were utilized
in the building’s exterior design.
The installationDue to the varying shades of color
found in each stone tile, mock-ups
were done prior to installing the stone,
according to Sanchez, who added that
the design team spent a great deal of
time on site monitoring the installa-
tion. The exterior stone was installed
with the “Exterior Stone System” from
Laticrete International of Bethany, CT.
“The system consists of Hydro-
Ban waterproofing, 254 Platinum
mortar and PermaColor grout,”
said Vice President Gerald Lucero
of Ray’s Flooring Specialists Inc. in
Albuquerque, NM, the installer for
the project. “The structure was a steel
frame with a cement board face. All
joints were taped and bedded with the
254 Platinum mortar bed.”
According to Lucero, the most chal-
lenging aspect of the installation was
the numerous windows that were
designed to fit into a 24-inch modular
design. “The design was based on an
actual 24-inch tile, but the stone was
23 7/8 inches,” he explained. “This created
a need to lay out each bank of windows
individually. We had to cut or make
adjustments to the joint width in order
to accommodate the windows. This was
made more challenging by the fact that
we were not able to lay out the whole wall
since the structure was only partially
framed when we needed to start.”
Ray’s Flooring Specialisis Inc. began
work on the stone installation in June of
2009, and it was finished in September
of that same year. The install crew
included five journeymen and eight to
10 apprentices. Overall, construction of
the almost 34,000-square-foot building
took 16 months.
“The reaction to the aesthetics and
the overall building’s appearance has
been outstanding,” said Sanchez.
“The building has brought up a lot
of interest amongst various groups
of people. We have received a lot of
requests for touring the building —
from young architects and the New
Mexico Native Plant Society to differ-
ent state agencies and UNM faculty
members.” ❑
Overall construction of the almost 34,000-square-foot building took 16 months.
New Mexico Court of AppealsAlbuquerque, NMArchitect: NCA Architects, Albuquerque, NM
Stone Installer: Ray’s Flooring Specialists Inc., Albuquerque, NM
Stone Supplier: MS International, Inc., Orange, CA
Installation Products Manufacturer: Laticrete International, Inc., Bethany, CT
078-082 Appeals.indd 82078-082 Appeals.indd 82 2/22/10 10:53:04 AM2/22/10 10:53:04 AM
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84 March 2010 | Stone World
New Liverpool landmarkis defined by Jura limestone
Slated for completion next year, the new Museum of Liverpool in the U.K. is being clad with a striking facade of Jura limestone from Germany,
featuring geometric panels that were custom cut to form an intricate pattern
by Michael Reis
When it is finally completed
in the early part of 2011, the
new Museum of Liverpool
in the U.K. represents an opportunity
for the city to be not iced on an
international level, and this fact has
not been lost on the museum’s trustees,
who expect the facility to set “the
global benchmark for museums of its
kind.” To help meet these lofty goals,
the museum is being outfitted with
a striking design that includes Jura
limestone as a key element.
Constructed at a cost of more than
$116 million (72 million British Pounds),
the Museum of Liverpool is the larg-
est newly-built national museum in
Britain for over a century. It is also the
world’s first national museum devoted
to the history of a regional city, reflect-
ing Liverpool’s “global significance”
The new Museum of Liverpool in the U.K. is being touted as a “global benchmark for museums of its kind.”
Scheduled to open in 2011, the building’s design features 70,000 square feet of Jura limestone from Vereinigte
Marmorwerke (V.M.) Kaldorf of Kaldorf, Titting, Germany.
ph
oto
co
urt
esy
of
Nati
on
al
Mu
seu
ms
Liv
erp
oo
l
InstitutionalArchitecture
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86 March 2010 | Stone World
through its unique geography, history
and culture.
The architect for the project is 3XN
of Denmark, and the firm released a
design statement that reads: “The new
Museum of Liverpool ambitions to
become the world’s leading city history
museum, showcasing social history
and popular culture and will look at
Britain and the world through the
eyes of Liverpool. It is estimated that
the new museum will attract at least
750,000 visitors on a yearly basis, and
that Liverpool, with the museum as a
symbol of Liverpool’s ongoing regen-
eration, will be elevated into the front
rank of European tourist destinations,
as well as providing a brilliant place
for local families to find out about their
own history.”
The museum is located at a note-
worthy site within Liverpool, and with
this in mind, 3XN’s design needed to
be distinctive while also fitting into the
overall context of the area. “Located
at the UNESCO World Heritage Site
between the Albert Dock and the Pier
Head, and next to a row of prominent
historic buildings dubbed ‘The Three
Graces’ the museum building is con-
ceived as inclined or elevated platforms,
gradually forming a sculptural struc-
ture,” stated 3XN. “Fully accessible, it
will contribute to the public promenade
flow along the Docks. Situated at the
Pier Head, the museum will be visible
from both the river and the city.”
Use of stoneThe exter ior of the Liverpool
Museum is characterized by geometric
panels of Jura limestone from Germany.
The design by the architects at
3XN called for the stone panels
to be cut into a range of shapes,
including elongated triangular
shapes for much of the facade.
Much of the stone cladding was
installed in a system that allows
panels to angle outward from
the building — creating a three-
dimensional pattern.
The Jura Beige limestone was taken from “Layer 17” of V.M. Kaldorf’s quarry, and it
was furnished with a “Kratzschliff” (scratched) surface finish.
In addition to the triangular pieces, the stone panels at the base and around the large
window openings were specified in a rectangular format.
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084-092 LiverpoolMuseum.indd 86084-092 LiverpoolMuseum.indd 86 2/22/10 10:57:33 AM2/22/10 10:57:33 AM
Register online at www.aia.org/convention
The AIA 2010 National Convention and Design Exposition will explore the theme of Design for the New Decade–highlighting how design knowledge, vision, and leadership contribute to creating lasting buildings and cities. Design will permeate every aspect of the convention–keynote presentations, seminars, workshops, roundtable discussions, exhibits, materials, and tours.
Join more than 22,000 architecture and building and design professionals as we address the new challenges that arise from an emerging and more modern economy. Help shape the future of the profession in the next decade by recommitting to our discipline's primary mode of thought and action–design.
AIA Convention 2010 offers value, education, and quality.
Register by April 26 and save. www.aia.org/convention
C O N V E N T I O N 2 0 1 0 J U N E 1 0 – 1 2 M I A M I
DESIGN FOR THE NEW DECADE
aiasw02104.indd 1aiasw02104.indd 1 1/13/10 3:25:42 PM1/13/10 3:25:42 PM
88 March 2010 | Stone World
The material was quarried and pro-
cessed by Vereinigte Marmorwerke
(V.M.) Kaldorf of Kaldorf, Titting,
Germany — in the heart of Bavaria’s
stoneworking region. Waldemar Ruff of V.M. Kaldorf explained that the Jura
Beige limestone was taken from “Layer
17” of the quarry, which is part of the
upper section of the site. The stone
was furnished with a “Kratzschliff”
(scratched) surface finish, and V.M.
Kaldorf supplied a total of 70,000
square feet of material for the project.
The design by the architects at 3XN
called for the stone panels to be cut
into a range of shapes, including elon-
gated triangular shapes for much of the
facade. According to Ruff, these trian-
gular pieces required special attention
during fabrication. “The technical exe-
cution in our factory to do the special
diagonal cuts at the long edges [were a
challenge],” he said.
In addition to the triangular pieces,
the stone panels at the base and around
the large window openings was speci-
fied in a rectangular format.
Installation detailsThe contractor for the Liverpool
Museum is Pihl Galliford Try — a
joint venture of E. Pihl & Søn A.S. of
Lyngby, Denmark, and Galliford Try
of Middlesex, England. “The facade is
covered with natural stone, interrupted
by some large glass panels, which elim-
inates the boundary between indoors
and outdoors,” explained architect
Mogens Hedegaard Andersen, head of
the Pihl Architectural Design Office.
“The [joint venture] project includes the
A range of installation methods
are being used by the contractor,
Pihl Galliford Try — a joint
venture of E. Pihl & Søn A.S. of
Lyngby, Denmark, and Galliford
Try of Middlesex, England.
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For the protruding sections at the upper portions of the facade, the stone pieces were
assembled onto steel trusses, which were then installed over a steel frame system.
A computer rendering was made for each assembled component, and the stone had to
be fabricated to precise specifications.
084-092 LiverpoolMuseum.indd 88084-092 LiverpoolMuseum.indd 88 2/22/10 10:57:49 AM2/22/10 10:57:49 AM
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Levantina USA - Dallas 11180 Zodiac Lane Dallas, Texas 75229 Ph: 972.488.2800 Fax: 972.488.2850 dallassales@levantinausa.com - Atlanta 2499 Newpoint Pkwy Suit 300 Lawrenceville, GA 30043 Ph: 678.436.5439 Fax: 678.376.5078 atlantasales@levantinausa.com - Baltimore 8215 Wellmoor Court Jessup, MD 20794 Ph: 301.617.2935 Fax: 301.490.9030 baltimoresales@levantinausa.com - Chicago 850 Devon Bensonville, IL 60106 Ph: 630.361.6600 Fax: 630.238.3116 chicagosales@levantinausa.com - New Orleans 25405 Hwy 40 Folsom, LA 70437 Ph: 985.796.1400 Fax: 985.796.1406 neworleanssales@levantinausa.comLevantina Spain - Autovía Madrid-Alicante, Km 382 03660 Novelda (Alicante) Spain Ph. +34 965 60 91 84 Fax +34 965 60 91 09 info@levantina.com - www.levantina.com
More than Natural Stone
levantinasw03104.indd 1levantinasw03104.indd 1 2/22/10 11:07:07 AM2/22/10 11:07:07 AM
90 March 2010 | Stone World
construction of works consisting of con-
crete foundations, steel structures and
natural stone facade cladding as well
as electrical and plumbing. The design
supply and installation of natural stone
facades is being performed by the Pihl
Architectural Design Office and the
Pihl Natural Stone Department.”
Pihl reports that it has used Jura
stone on a number of projects in
Northern Europe, and it has proven
to be resistant to environmental fac-
tors such as frost, salt, pollut ion
and other elements. The stone was
specified in a range of thicknesses,
primarily 3 and 4 cm.
Much of the stone cladding was
installed in a system that allows panels
to angle outward from the building —
creating a three-dimensional pattern.
The resulting “shadowing effect” adds
The assembled
panels were then
shipped to the
jobsite to await
installation.
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A steel frame system was used to fix the
assembled panels to the building.
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92 March 2010 | Stone World
life to the facade, as the color and tone
of each stone panel will vary depend-
ing on its placement on the wall.
A range of installation techniques
were used for affixing the stone to the
building. For the protruding sections
at the upper portions of the facade,
the stone pieces were assembled onto
steel trusses, which were then installed
over a steel frame system. Meanwhile,
the stone at the base of the building
was installed over a concrete backup
wall. Finally, the vertical stone panels
around the large window openings
were installed on a steel rafter system.
The steel framing beneath the stone
cladding contains 2,100 tons of struc-
tural steel, and the steel structure
allows the museum’s largest exhibition
spaces — which are 130 feet long x 92
feet wide — to be column free, ensur-
ing that the galleries and public spaces
are maximized.
A worldwide attraction According to the Board of Trustees,
the Museum of Liverpool will attract
more than 750,000 visitors per year,
including 100,000 learning visits, and
it will provide at least 500 construc-
tion jobs and 73 direct permanent
jobs. “The new Museum of Liverpool
will be one of the world’s leading city
history museums, setting the global
benchmark for museums of its kind
and raising social history as a muse-
um discipline to an international
scale,” stated the Board. “The muse-
um wil l demonstrate Liverpool’s
unique contribution to the world and
will showcase popular culture while
tackling social, historical and con-
temporary issues.”
Construction of the museum began
in January of 2008, and the project will
be fully completed in early 2011. ❑
photos courtesy of E. Pihl & Søn A.S.
Museum of LiverpoolLiverpool, England
Client: The Board of Trustees of National Museums and Galleries on
Merseyside, Liverpool, England
Architect: 3XN, Copenhagen, Denmark
Contractor: Pihl Galliford Try — a joint venture of E. Pihl & Søn A.S. of
Lyngby, Denmark, and Galliford Try of Middlesex, England
Stone Quarrier/Fabricator: Vereinigte Marmorwerke (V.M.) Kaldorf GmbH,
Kaldorf, Titting, Germany
The “shadowing effect” adds life to the facade, as the color and
tone of each stone panel will vary depending on its placement
on the wall.
The vertical stone panels around the large window openings
were installed on a steel rafter system.
084-092 LiverpoolMuseum.indd 92084-092 LiverpoolMuseum.indd 92 2/22/10 10:59:10 AM2/22/10 10:59:10 AM
Rugo StoneLorton, VArugostone.com
Consolidated Kitchens & FireplacesOmaha, NEconsolidatedkitchens.comDMI Tile & Marble, Inc.Birmingham, ALdmi-tmt.com DuraciteFairfield, CAduracite.com European Stone ConceptsTroy, VAeuropeanstoneconcepts.net Ferazzoli Imports of New EnglandMiddletown, CTgalleriastone.com Fine Line PacificKent, WAfinelinepacific.com GraniterraSt. Louis, MOgraniterra.netGreat Lakes Granite & MarbleRedford, MIgreatlakesgm.comInnovative Surfaces, Inc.Hastings, MNinnovativesurfaces.comJohnson GraniteMount Airy, NCjohnsongraniteinc.com
Bangor Wholesale LaminatesBangor, MEbangorwholesalelaminates.comB.C. Stone, Inc.Everett, PAbcstone.comBedrock Quartz SurfacesWest Jordan, UTbedrockquartz.comBlock Tops, Inc,Anaheim, CAblocktops.comBlume’sFreeport, PAblumes.netCapitol Granite and MarbleMidlothian, VAcgandm.com CogswellStonePalmyra, VAcogswellstone.com Creative CountertopsLas Vegas, NVcreativesurface.com
Malisani, Inc.Great Falls, MTmalisaniinc.com Marble EmporiumNorthbrook, ILmarbleemporiumchicago.comMARBLEXFairfax, VAmarblexinc.comNBC Solid SurfacesSpringfield, VTnbcsolidsurfaces.com Northstar Granite TopsMaple Lake, MNnorthstargranitetops.comPremier SurfacesAlpharetta, GApremiersurfaces.com Quality Granite & Marble, Inc.Wichita, KSqualitygraniteandmarble.comRadtke Tile & MarbleCarson City, NVradtketileandmarble.comRICON, Inc.Baton Rouge, LARocky Mountain StoneAlbuquerque, NMrockymountainstoneinc.comRozelle Stone Company, LLCEasley, SCrozellestone.com
Rugo StoneLorton, VArugostone.comSolid Surfaces, Inc.Rochester, NYsolidsurfacesny.com SolidTopsEaston, MDsolidtops.com Stone InteriorsLoxley, ALstoneinteriors.comStone Interiors EastGaston, SCstoneinteriors.comStoneWorks, Inc.Hilton Head Island, SChiltonheadstone.comSurface ProductsCornelius, NCsurfaceproducts.net Surfaces in Stone, LLCWest Hartford, CTsurfacesinstone.comTop MasterKansas City, KStop-master.com Wood Dimensions, Inc./Rocksolid Stone WorksCleveland, OHwooddimensionsinc.com
Rocky Mountain StoneAlbuquerque, NMrockymountainstoneinc.comRugo StoneLorton, VArugostone.com
DMI Tile & Marble, Inc.Birmingham, ALdmi-tmt.com Grazzini Brothers and Co.Eagan, MN grazzini.com
Booms StoneRedford, MIboomsstone.com
MIA Accreditation for natural stone fabricators and commercial contractors recognizes thosecompanies that meet the industry’s highest standards for business activities and ethics, product knowledge, safety, finance, technical expertise, fabrication and installation.The MIA only accredits the BEST in the stone industry.
www.marble-institute.com/accreditedcompanies
miaaccredsw03104.indd 1miaaccredsw03104.indd 1 2/17/10 3:31:38 PM2/17/10 3:31:38 PM
94 March 2010 | Stone World
CALENDARFor all seminars and a more complete calendar of stone industry events, visit www.stoneworld.com.
April 6 to 9, 2010
StoneTech Shanghai, Shanghai New International
Exhibition Center, China. Organizer: CIEC Ex-
hibition Co. Ltd., Shanghai, 1/F, No.6, E. Beisan-
huan Rd., Beijing, China; Phone: 8610 84600802;
84600319; Fax: 8610 84600346; E-mail: luyu@
ciec.com.cn; Web site: www.stonetech.org.cn.
April 16 to 18, 2010
2009 Kitchen & Bath Industry Show (K/BIS) & Con-
ference (conference begins on April 15), McCor-
mick Place, Chicago, IL. Contact: VNU Exposi-
tions; Phone: (800) 933-8735 or (770) 291-5409;
Fax: (770) 777-8700; E-mail: kbiscustomerser-
vice@vnuexpo.com.
April 27 to 30, 2010
Coverings 2010, Orange County Convention Cen-
ter, Orlando, FL. Contact: Coverings/National
Trade Productions, 313 S. Patrick St., Alexandria,
VA 22314; Phone in the U.S.: (866) 285-3691 or
International: +1-703-706-8257; Fax: (703) 836-
4486; Web site: www.coverings.com.
May 19 to 22, 2010
CarraraMarmotec, Carrara, Italy. Organized by
CarraraFiere Srl, Viale Galileo Galilei 133, 54033
Marina di Carrara (MS), Italy; Phone: +39-0585
787963; Fax: +39-0585 787602; E-mail: info@
carraramarmotec.com; Web site: http://www.
carraramarmotec.com.
June 10 to 12, 2010
American Institute of Architects National Conven-
tion and Design Expo, including the Stone and
Tile Pavilion, Miami, FL. Contact: M/C Com-
munications LLC, 380 Stuart Street, 6th Floor,
Boston, MA 02116; (888) 242-1824; E-mail: ai-
aexpo@mc-comm.com or visit: www.aia.org.
September 29 to October 2, 2010
Marmomacc 2010, the International Exhibition of
Marble, Stone and Technology and Building Ma-
terials Show, Verona, Italy. Contact: Veronafiere
at 39-045-829-8111 (phone); 39-045-829-8288
(fax) or visit www.marmomacc.it/home_en.asp.
September 28 to October 2, 2010
Cersaie 2010, Bologna Exhibition Centre, Bolo-
gna, Italy. Contact: P.O. Box 103-40050 Center-
gross, Bologna, Italy. Phone: 39 051 6646000;
Fax: 39 051 862514; Web site: www.cersaie.com.
January 25 to 27, 2011
StonExpo/Marmomacc Americas, Mandalay Bay
Convention Center, Las Vegas, NV. Conference
sessions beginning January 24. For more details
on attending or exhibiting, call (866) 550-6808
or (972) 536-6440 or visit www.StonExpo.com.
January 25 to 27, 2011
Surfaces 2011, Mandalay Bay Convention Cen-
ter, Las Vegas, NV. Conference sessions begin-
ning on January 24. Owned and operated by
Hanley-Wood Exhibitions. Sponsored by the
World Floor Covering Association. Contact:
1-800-547-3477; International calls contact:
1-972-536-6400; Fax: 1-972-536-6401; Web site:
www.SurfacesExpo.com.
March 14 to 17, 2011
Coverings 2011, Sands Exposition Center, Las
Vegas, NV. Contact: Coverings/National Trade
Productions, 313 S. Patrick St., Alexandria, VA
22314; Phone in the U.S.: (866) 285-3691 or In-
ternational: +1-703-706-8257; Fax: (703) 836-
4486; Web site: www.coverings.com.
094 Calendar.indd 94094 Calendar.indd 94 2/23/10 11:47:44 AM2/23/10 11:47:44 AM
IS YOUR BUSINESS POSITIONED TO SURVIVE?
No matter the size of your business, by investing in the Natural Stone Council, you unify and strengthen our industry by bolstering
preference for Genuine Stone® over synthetic materials. To learn more about how you can do your part, visit naturalstonecouncil.org.
NSC-7748-SW-SH n3.indd 1 7/23/08 11:35:58 AMnscsw0509.indd 1nscsw0509.indd 1 4/20/09 2:44:09 PM4/20/09 2:44:09 PM
96 March 2010 | Stone World
NEW PRODUCTSDomain Industries, Inc., a nationwide
supplier of kitchen and bath products, has announced the introduction of its Santa Fe Bronze Sink Collection, accentuating 14 different models with heavy-duty construction and nature-inspired design.
Santa Fe Bronze is a unique approach to bathroom sinks — fusing a rare
and rustic feel to t radit ional design. These s i n k s a r e c l a s s i f i e d a s work s o f a r t and designed t o e n h a n c e
any l iv ing space that requires a distinctive, sculptural quality sink, the manufacturer reports.
Examples include the Rios and Chalice models, both layered with texture and naturally occurring Earth-like qualities. These rugged designs contain small reservoirs and imperfect
grooves, flowing water so uniquely, as to create a fusion of both elements.
Hand crafted from Domain’s bronze foundry, each sink boasts superior casting technology that contains top-performing raw materials. Tested for strength, durability and corrosion resistance, the detailed manufacturing process al lows for easy care and maintenance, allowing the sinks to look great for years to come, according to Domain.
www.domainindustries.com
Granite City Tool has introduced several new products, including the SA Ogee Backer Pad, Rival Pads and Tornado Turbo Blades. According to Granite City Tool, the SA Ogee Backer Pad used with 4-inch diamond pads is a popular way to polish ogee edges. It has a rubber-coated edge for extra flexibility and a four-way water separator to distribute the water flow. The Velcro bottom holds the diamond
pad . I t i s 3 . 2 5 inches in diameter and has a 5/8-inch-11 female thread. Rival Pads are the latest generation o f d i a m o n d technolog y and wil l replace the company’s X-CEL, EAGLE and Dura-Plus pads. Tornado T u r b o B l a d e s o f f e r s u p r e m e per for mance in fast cutting of hard materials like stone and hard pavers,
reports Granite City Tool. Extremely smooth, clean finish to the cut, all sizes can be used wet or dry. These blades are inexpensive yet outperform blades that cost much more, reports the manufacturer.
www.granitecitytool.com
Domain Industries’ Santa Fe Bronze Sink Collection
Granite City Tool’s SA Ogee Backer Pad
Granite City Tool’s Rival Pads
Granite City Tool’s Tornado Turbo Blades
096-098 NP, NE, NL.indd 96096-098 NP, NE, NL.indd 96 2/22/10 11:06:51 AM2/22/10 11:06:51 AM
Stone World | March 2010 97
NEW EQUIPMENT
anversw10094.indd 1 9/1/09 3:37:18 PM
The Eagle Edger Jr.™ attachment for the Blue Ripper Jr. rail saw from Omega Diamond, Inc. is now being offered through Braxton-Bragg. This innovative tool gives any owner of a Blue Ripper Jr.™ manufactured after
January 2009 the opp or t u n it y to have a mini linear e d g e m a c h i n e . Indicator marks a r e s c r i b e d a t both 45 and at 0 degrees (0 degrees m e a n i n g t h e
spindle is perpendicular to the surface of the stone), but the unit is capable of being positioned at any angle between 46 degrees forward and 46 degrees back. The operator will be able to cut a perfect beveled edge, or even a bevel-miter lamination edge.
With the included 90 -degree extension and snail lock adapter, fabricators can grind and polish a
virtually flawless edge at 90 degrees for a flat profile. The extension is also capable of going up to 91 degrees for those who prefer to polish their seams. A snail-lock adapter is included, which can be used with the spindle to polish a 45- or 30-degree bevel. Standard 7/8-inch bore router bits can be mounted to the spindle to grind straight profiles
without the need for a bearing. The router bit can also be tilted to get edge profiles. Designed
for use with a Makita 9564CV or 9565CV right-angle grinder, it also includes a Water Shield and a Replacement Water Manifold for the Blue Ripper Jr.™.
www.braxton-bragg.com
The 2010 model Seam Setter VCM is Omni Cubed’s newest manual pump seam setter. The Seam Setter VCM is an innovative “three-in-one” installation tool used for joining seams, leveling
seams and stabilizing backsplashes. The product features durable hand-pump vacuum cups, which provide full-contact reliable hold, and if needed, the cups can be re-pumped without losing the remaining vacuum, reports the manufacturer. The two leveling components slide on rails for custom placement on each side of the seam, and feature non-spinning, leveling feet with vinyl caps to prevent scratching of countertop surfaces. The extended rail-ends have soft vinyl caps, which
make the tool a suitable solution f o r b a c k s p l a s h s t a b i l i z a t i o n . Made in the U.S. from long-lasting
anodized billet aluminum and stainless steel components, the product offers a reliable and convenient solution to achieve the finest seams between stone pieces, according to Omni Cubed.
www.omnicubed.com
Omni Cubed’s 2010 model Seam Setter VCM
The Eagle Edger Jr.™ attachment for the Blue Ripper Jr. rail saw from Omega Diamond, Inc. is now being offered through Braxton-Bragg.
Accessories for the Eagle Edger Jr.™
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98 March 2010 | Stone World
NEW LITERATUREGranite City Tool’s 2010 catalog
is now available and is packed with the newest, innovative equipment and supplies for stone countertop fabrication. Look for the company’s new Rival Line of products. New CNC
tooling, diamond blades, antiquing brushes and d i a m o n d p o l i s h i n g tools a re h ighl ighted th roughout the text . New saws , pol i sh i ng m a c h i n e s , l i f t i n g equipment, tables, carts
and general supplies are also featured in the catalog. Call 800-328-7094 for a free catalog.
www.granitecitytool.com
The Marble Inst itute of America (MIA) recently completed its second Per for ma nce A na lys i s Rep or t for natural stone fabricators. The survey, conducted in 2009, contains an evaluation and interpretation
of f inancia l data sol ic ited f rom fabricators. Like its 2007 predecessor, this report provides one of the most comprehensive sets of f inancia l per formance benchmarks in the natural stone fabrication industry, according to the MIA. The report is designed to provide fabrication shops with a tool to evaluate existing performance and identify new ways to create improvement.
The 17-page report contains the following sections, each designed to assist managers in specific areas of inquiry: • Executive Summary — provides an
overview of the study results, with emphasis on the difference between the typical firm and the high-profit company.
• Detailed Results — in-depth reporting of return on investment, income statement , ba lance sheet and financial and productivity ratios. M a n a ge me nt c o m me nt a r y i s
provided to focus on the importance of these operating statistics.
• Appendix — provides an overview of t he su r vey met hodolog y a nd de t a i l e d i n for mat ion on t he calculation of the financial ratios used in the report.
As seen in 2007, the Profit Planning Group, the well-regarded association profitability and compensation analysis firm, managed the survey. Members’ proprietary financial data was kept strictly confidential.
T he su r vey resu lt s and f ina l reports were provided at no cost to those f i rms that par t ic ipated in t he s t udy. T he Pe r for ma nce A na lys i s Repor t i s ava i lable to non-participants through the MIA Bookstore. MIA Members pr ice is $299.00 U.S. (non-members $549.00). For further information, go to the MIA Bookstore Web site and click on the “Business Management” tab.
store.marble-institute.com
Granite City Tool’s 2010 Catalog
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BESTSELLERS LIST
REMOVING SCRATCHES AND POLISHING
ENGINEERED STONE DVDby Fred Hueston - $79.95This new 30-minute video shows how to polish and match the factory fi nish of most engineered and quartz surface stone. This can be tricky. The techniques and polishing procedure is very diffi cult as compared to granite. This video will show you the technique as well as the type of abrasives to use. It also shows several tips including how to remove surface scratches without refi nishing and fi lling small holes and pits.
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SAVING ON YOUR STONE MAINTENANCE? By Tom McNall - $285.00Images of the destruction caused by re-crystallization of marble and stone fl oors by inexperienced technicians. Each page comes with a description of the damage and direct questions for the property owner/manager to refl ect on. Great for hotels, casinos and malls to see what can happen by taking the lowest bid. This is the same book that Tom uses to educate his commercial maintenance specifi ers on the dangers of crystallization and low budget stone care. Direct questions and vivid full color pictures help them to realize where they are sacrifi cing their investment for band-aid fi xes. Leave the album with executives and managers for one week to compare case studies with their own fl oor and they will immediately see the damage in their own buildings before their very eyes. A picture speaks a thousand words. This pictorial journey will speak tens of thousands of dollars to your bottom line. Anyone who knows what is best for stone, the customer and how to polish properly will easily see the value in this money making sales tool.
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___ Stone Refi nishing & Maintenance Bible
___ How Much Are You Saving on YOUR Stone Maintenance?
___ How to Polish & Restore Marble Flooring DVD
___ Face Polishing Granite Countertops DVD
___ Architectural Stone: Fabrication, Installation and Selection
Please send payment of total books ordered. Checks should be payable in US
dollars on a US bank.
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CREDIT CARD NUMBER: _______________________________________________
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This form MUST be signed in order to be processed.AEC STORE
SW_ToolsOfTrade_Promo.indd 1SW_ToolsOfTrade_Promo.indd 1 3/16/09 1:00:09 PM3/16/09 1:00:09 PM
Stone
This Stone of the Month supplied by La Ponte Marmi, Grezzana, Verona, Italy. Technical details provide a frame of reference only. Because stone is a product of nature, testing to determine specific physical qualities should be repeated for each project. To submit your own Stone of the Month, send a high-resolution digital image, along with the relevant technical data, to michael@stoneworld.com.
www.laponte.it
Wasabi GreenCountry of origin ...........................................................................................Iran
Specific mass ....................................................................2,750 to 2,770 kg/cu.m
Flexural strength ................................................................. 250 to 270 kg/sq.cm
Water absorption ........................................................................................ 0.10%
Compressive strength .................................................... 1,100 to 1,200 kg/sq.cm
of the monthof the month
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Stone World | March 2010 101
Machineof the month
VIC International recently announced the newest machine in its comprehensive range of stone fabrication products, the Fab King,
a precision 3-axis workstation with open gantry. This unit is designed to produce bowl holes fast and accurately, and it also profiles edges using standard manual router tooling. Linear guides on gantry rails insure smooth travel of the X and Y axis. An added feature of this machine is the ability to surface polish, which allows the user to make repairs on scratched stone.
The Fab King is driven by a powerful 3-horsepow-er, variable-speed (2,700 to 10,000 rpm) motor. The 220-volt, single-phase power requirement allows the Fab King to be added to any stone fabrication shop. Moreover, the open gantry design allows for process-ing of large projects.
Made in the U.S., the Fab King features adjust-able table height and water flow with center and halo water feed. The machine was designed to be easy to install and operate, and it also offers dust-free opera-tion to help meet OSHA requirements. Spare parts, tooling and support is readily available.
www.vicintl.com
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102 March 2010 | Stone World
MARKETPLACEAlways providing a quality product,
made from the best materials from
around the world, at an affordable price.
150 Industrial Avenue, Greensboro, NC 27406Phone: 336.273.0223 • Fax: 336.273.0699
len@graniteandmarblebymalave.comwww.malavegranite.com
1-866-656-7188www.legacysink.com
LEGACY SINK INC.BEST QUALITY. LOWEST PRICES.
18 Gauge • 304 Stainless steelO
$69AS LOW AS
LegacySink0210SW.indd 1 1/18/10 9:18:43 AM
STONE TOOLS
www.qualitystonetool.com | 908.627.3688
Polishing pads, milling bits, cutting blades, stone edge processing machines and much more. Good quality stone tools at whole sale prices
4” wet polish pad...$3.50/pc • 5” turbo blade...$9.50/pcand much more, please visit our website
QualityStoneTool_SWMarketplace1009.indd 1 9/21/09 9:27:44 AM
RATES: $1175 per six month insertion, $1950 per twelve month insertion. Call 734/340-5211, fax 734/340-5212 or e-mail: minghinej@bnpmedia.com for more information.
Your top source for high quality tool-holders for Marble and Stone manufacturing. We carry all major
brands including: Breton, Northwood, Brembana, Bavelloni, CMS, Intermac, Marmo, and Park. All our tool-holders are corrosion resistant, hardened, and
precision ground. Ask for a quote today!
T-Tool USA, LLCwww.t-toolusa.com
2850 Glades Circle, Suite 11 — Weston, FL 33327Phone: 954-358-6071 — Fax: 954-358-6073
sales@t-toolusa.comwww.t-toolusa.com
TTool_SWMarketplace1009.indd 1 9/21/09 1:24:23 PM
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Stone World | March 2010 103
MARKETPLACE
Over many years we have learned what our customers need and we provide it. They demand consistent product quality which is our main goal. They want personalized person to person service so we provide Regional Sales Manager dedicated to your account. Finally we invest in a large and well stocked inventory so we have the product when you need it. Please call for our monthly Special.
AmeriSink Inc, San Leandro, CA 94577 Tel: 877-500-SINK(7465) Fax: 510-667-3775 www.amerisink.com
Value for Life is our goal!
Proliner®, world’s leading digitizer in 2D & 3D measurement:
Measure stairs, bathrooms, swimming pool edges, formed profi les, renovation, sinks, countertops, backsplashes and all your other 2D and 3D objects.
PRODIM USA - Sales offi ce USA - Mr. John RichertsM. +1 678 699 0732 | E. johnr@prodimusa.com | I. www.prodimusa.com
PRODIM INTERNATIONAL - Sales offi ce Europe - Lage Dijk 26, 5705 BZ Helmond – NLT. +31 (0)492 579050 | F. +31 (0)492 579059 | E. info@prodim.eu | I. www.prodim.eu
Prodim1209SW.indd 1 11/25/09 10:27:25 AM
MADE IN GERMANYOwn quarries! Own production!Special for: Slabs, Floor tiles, Cut to size www.vm-kaldorf.de California Agent TriStone & Tile Inc., Van Nuys CAinfo@tristoneandtile.com
VMKaldorf.indd 1 7/8/09 10:13:24 AM
Custom Display and Sample Boards
"Take your product to the customer."uct to the customer."
d
330-262-0712www.danroc.com
G L A S S O S®
CRYSTAL WHITESLABS TILES CUT-TO-SIZE
Available from stock or full containers direct
CCS Stone, INC9-11 Caesar PlaceMoonachie, NJ 07074 www.ccsstone.com
Looks like Thassos, harder t han granite Tel 201-933-1515800-227-7785
Fax 201-933-5744
CCSStone_marketplace0909.indd 1 7/28/09 3:56:44 PM
ONLY THE BEST
Tel. +39/045887 51 11 • Fax +39/045887 51 55www.granitex.it
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104 March 2010 | Stone World
MARKETPLACE
w w w. a n t o l i n i . i tmarble granite travertine limestone onyx and precioustone
TENAX: For more than 50 years the World Wide Leader in Stone Consumables Products: Adhesives, Sealers, Epoxy, Waxes, Sealers, Diamond Abrasives, Calibrators, Polishing Bricks, Cutting Tools.Tenax USAwww.tenaxusa.com
1408 Center Park Dr.tenaxusa@bellsouth.net
Charlotte, NC 28217Ph. 704-583-1173
Call for a Free Catalog | T. 800.575.4401 | F. 800.915.5501
Braxton-Bragg will offer the lowest prices and thebest service, delivered by the friendliest peoplefor the tools and materials that you want.
Reserve your space in next month’s
MARKETPLACE SECTION
Call Janelle Minghine at 734.340.5211 or
minghinej@bnpmedia.comfor more information
1-800-350-1901 • 1-626-443-6433www.miraclesealants.com
1335 Lakeside Dr.Romeoville, IL 60446
www.LaserProductsUS.comToll Free 866-539-0052
PRODUCTSLASERindustries
The LT-55 Precision Laser Templator - Visit our website to watch our full training video so you can actually see it working. We believe in allowing our coustomers to know what they are buying.
THE FINEST PRODUCTS FOR STONE WORKINGSTONE BOSS INDUSTRIES
15-01 Pollitt Dr. Unit #2Fairlawn, NJ 07410
888-868-BOSS | www.stoneboss.com
C O R P O R A T E H E A D Q U A R T E R S
StoneBoss_Marketplace_SW0210.indd 1 1/14/10 1:31:53 PM
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Stone World | March 2010 105
CLASSIFIEDS
The leading nationwide distributor of natural stone
slabs and tiles is seeking a branch manager and
outside salespeople for the South Florida region.
Experience servicing the natural stone industry in
the region is required. MSI offers an environment for
growth, a team atmosphere, competitive compensation
and a full benefi ts package. All candidates must be
hardworking, determined, enthusiastic, a team player
and very comfortable with computers.
Please email resumes to: recruit@msistone.com
M S International, Inc.
MSInternational_SW0609.indd 1 5/20/09 3:38:43 PMFOR SALE
POSITIONS
$82,000.00 of High end slab inventory and slab racks included for sale for $38,000.00 located in Easton, Maryland you pick up mike@segergranite.com BAVELLONI 450 EGAR CNC: brand new within 18months. Includes all tooling and spare parts. New within 18 months. Currently in operation. Showroom condition, low hours. 208 3 phase New $ 226,904.00 — $ 155,000.00 You pick up. Best offer. 410-829-2352 mike@segergranite.com BAVELLONI ALPHA 315 CNC: New within 8yrs. Includes all tooling. Showroom condition and very low hours. Currently In operation. You pick up. 208 3 phase New $ 220,000.00 — $98,000.00 Best offer. 410-829-2352 mike@segergranite.com CMG TAURUS INLINE EDGER PROFILER: Brand new in 18months. Robust for heavy fast edging. Show-room condition and currently in operation. 208 3 phase w transformer New $160,000.00 — $113,500.00 Very low hours. You pick up. Best offer. 410-829-2352 mike@segergranit.com FLOW DUAL TABLE WATER-JET: 65,000 Ultra Pierce Hyper- Jet This machine is in showroom condition and has very low hours and 18months old. Less than 300hrs.Included with machine, there are two water veyers and hoppers for cleaning main tanks. Oversized Garnet hopper is included. Many spare parts and extras. Spare High pressure pump assembly. Machine is in current operation. Transformer included. You pick up. Best offer. 208 3 phas4e w transformer fr 408 New $ 270,320.00 — $160,000.00 410-829-2352 mike@segergranite.com DELL POWEREDGE 2900 SERVER with mirrored drives. 2 heavy cad and graphics work stations with 20” fl at screen monitors. New computers, New Server, Full Global Stone Pro Software packages, bidding, estimating inventory, labeling, tracking, purchase ordering, Digistat and custom digistat vertical table Digitizing Software You pick up. New $104,000.00 — $50,800.00 410-829-2352 Best offer. mike@segergranite.com OVERHEAD BRIDGE CRANES AND REMOTES: One crane is 5 ton and the other is 1 ton. Both are brand new. You will have to disassemble and relocate. New both are $86,000.00. $40,000.00 Please make Best offer. 410-829-2352 mike@segergranite.com TOYOTA 12,500LB FORKLIFT: Brand new 18 month old with dual front tires. Includes l0,000 lb lifting bar with mess chains for bundles. Includes snow plow attachment. Excellent condition. 300hours. You pick up. New $ 60468.00 — $46,500.00 Best offer. 410-829-2352 mike@segergranite.com
ON ALL 18 MONTH OLD EQUIPMENTTotal Liquidation SALE
All Machines are in Mint “NEW” Condition and they are located in Easton, Maryland.
ALL MUST GO. NO REASONABLE OFFER REFUSED. CALL 410-829-2352
MikeSeger_SW0210_LiquidationSale.indd 1 1/20/10 9:42:19 AM
IN BRAZILI inspect the slabs here at the
granite factories in Brazil.So you get the quality you
need and pay for!
Call Gary at 011-55-28-3518-9559or e-mail at garyebel@oi.com.br
AMERICANSLAB INSPECTOR
GaryEbel.indd 1 6/3/09 3:30:25 PM
SERVICES
Reserve your space in next month’s
CLASSIFIED SECTION
Call Janelle Minghine
at 734.340.5211
or minghinej@bnpmedia.com
for more information
Call Janelle Minghine at 734.340.5211 or
minghinej@bnpmedia.com for more information
TRAINING
Reserve your space now for the April Issue
105 Classifieds.indd 105105 Classifieds.indd 105 2/23/10 1:55:06 PM2/23/10 1:55:06 PM
106 March 2010 | Stone World
ADVERTISER INDEX ADVERTISER PAGE NO INTERNET ADDRESS PROMO PHONE
ABC Stone Trading 32 www.abcworldwidestone.com 516-997-9412AIA-American Institute of Architects 87 www.aia.org 800-242-3837AmeriSink 73 www.amerisink.com 877-500-7465Antolini Luigi 107 www.antolini.it +39 045 6836611Anver 97 www.anver.com 800-654-3500Artisan 4 www.ArtisanSinks.com 973-286-0080Bestview International 6 www.bestviewintl.com 630-594-1816Blick Industries 43 www.blickindustries.com 949-499-5026Braxton-Bragg 12 www.braxton-bragg.com 800-575-4401Cactus Stone 50a www.cactusstone.com 602-914-2202CaesarStone 27 www.CaesarStoneUS.com 877-978-2789Caribe International 49 www.caribestone.com 800-224-8453Carmel Stone 47 www.carmelimports.com 888-633-0669Carrara Show 83 www.carraramarmotec.com +39 0585 787963Chemcore 30 www.chemcore.com 866-243-6267Compac Stone 41 www.compac.us 954-969-7272Cosentino 77 www.cosentinonorthamerica.com 800-291-1311Coverings 51,74a www.coverings.com 866-285-3691Diamax 63 www.diamaxinc.com 404-817-3232Dipomar 71 www.dimpomar.com +351-268-408 128Domain Industries 66 www.FreeDomainCatalog.com 866-385-7775G-Clip 98 www.braxton-bragg.com 800-575-4401GMM S.p.A. 61 www.gmm.it +39 0323 849711Granite Depot 7 www.granitedepot.us 904-306-0036Granitex S.p.A. 2 www.granitex.it +39 045 8875111GranQuartz 17,23,55 www.granquartz.com 800-458-6222IGM-International Granite & Marble 108 www.igmcorp.com 800-446-2677JMS 28 www.juramarble.com +49 8421 3061Laser Products 11 www.LaserProductsUS.com 866-539-0052Levantina 89 www.levantina.com 972-488-2800Marble Institute of America 75,93 www.marble-institute.com 440-250-9222Miracle Sealants 26 www.miraclesealants.com 800-350-1901Moraware 79 www.moraware.com 866-312-9273MS International 50b,50c www.msistone.com 714-685-7500Natural Stone Council 95 www.naturalstonecouncil.org 800-210-3916Ogyu Manufacturing 81 www.ogyu.co.jp 81-48-222-4226Omni Cubed 57 www.omnicubed.com 877-311-1976Pearl Abrasive 33 www.pearlabrasive.com 800-969-5561Pokarna Limited 8,9 www.pokarna.com 91 40 2789 7722/6361Primestone 37 www.primestone.ca 905-669-2999Prodim 18 www.prodimusa.com 888-229-3328Regent Stone Products 59 www.regentistore.com 800-624-8210Resources Business Management 91 info@distcenter.com 781-706-6813Rock of Ages 21 www.rockofages.com 802-476-3121Sandvik Mining & Construction 53 www.sandvik.com +46 0 26 260000Slabsmith 65 www.slabsmith.com 315-287-2877Stone Boss/Terminator 29 www.ContinentalDIA.com 800-595-1237Stonework/Northwood 85 www.northwoodmachine.com 502-267-5504Tab India 14,15 www.tabindia.com 763-571-8400Tekmar 3 www.tekmarble.com +90 212 3372800Tenax U.S.A. 39 www.tenaxusa.com 800-341-0432Terminator 50d www.ContinentalDIA.com 800-595-1237TexaStone Quarries 25 www.texastone.com 432-354-2569The Slab Depot 45 www.slabdepot.com 888-SLAB-NOWU.S. Granite Robotics 69 www.usgrobotics.com 800-999-3025Vermont Quarries 31 www.vermontquarries.com 802-775-1065 Vermont Verde 50 www.vtverde.com 802-767-4421VM Kaldorf 10 www.vm-kaldorf.de +49 8423/9911-0Wilson Industrial Electric 96 www.wilsonsaws.com 706-213-6725Windy Ridge Corp. 98 www.jetstik.com 800-639-2021World Wide Stone Corp. 5 www.durangostone.com 602-438-1001Zucchi Granite 35 www.granitozucchi.com.br 55 27 3243-9666
106 Advertiser Index.indd 106106 Advertiser Index.indd 106 3/2/10 11:08:27 AM3/2/10 11:08:27 AM
EARTH GLITTER I GRANITE
www.antolini.it
antolinisw03104.indd 1antolinisw03104.indd 1 2/11/10 10:00:20 AM2/11/10 10:00:20 AM
igmsw03104.indd 1igmsw03104.indd 1 2/22/10 11:52:00 AM2/22/10 11:52:00 AM