Stone World articles from April 2006

Stone World archives from April 2006

Impressing safety upon your workers.(STONE COLUMN)
April 1, 2006... We all know that the increase in natural stone consumption in the U.S. has been remarkable over the past few years. The use of stone products--particularly in a slab format--has been exploding, as homeowners are considering granite kitchen...

Homer W. Weller, founder of Rolling Rock Building Stone, Inc., is remembered.(NEWSLINE)(Obituary)
April 1, 2006... Homer W. Weller, 75, of Boyertown, PA, passed away on Tuesday, January 31, 2006 in Graduate Hospital, Philadelphia, PA, as a result of a battle with an acute form of leukemia, which was diagnosed January 10. He was the husband of Betty Mae...

CaesarStone[R] is featured in "Fine Living: 2026" at NeoCon West.(NEWSLINE)(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... CaesarStone[R] quartz surfaces were part of "Fine Living: 2026," a live/work lifestyle installation of L.A. DesignWeek[TM] during NeoCon[R] West, which took place from March 27 to 28. Produced by L.A. Mart[R] Design Center and Balcony Media's...

New firm offers help purchasing stone from Brazil.(NEWSLINE)
April 1, 2006... Lighthouse International has recently been established to assist companies looking to purchase stone from Brazil. The company is owned by Eros Assis Munari, who has six years of experience in the stone business and has participated in major...

Stonexpo announces more International endorsements.(NEWSLINE)
April 1, 2006... StonExpo announced that it has reconfirmed and added some new Official International Endorsers for the show. For the first time, StonExpo will partner with the Vitoria Stone Fair--the International Exhibition of Ornamental Stones and...

One liners.(NEWSLINE)(Global Granite and Marble appointed Nate Rowlan)(American Society of Mechanical Engineers appointed Gary Bond)(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... Nate Rowlan has joined Global Granite & Marble as a tile sales representative at its St. Louis, MO, headquarters. Rowlan brings six years of sales experience to his new position. He is responsible for representing the natural stone tile...

Statistics.(stone's export and import)(Statistical table)
April 1, 2006... December 2005 | Imports to the U.S. Customers value in dollars does not include insurance or freight GRANITE MARBLE* COUNTRY U.S. $ TONS U.S.$ TONS ARAB...

Polycor Granite selected for Memorial Garden.(NEWS)(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... ONTARIO, CANADA -- On October 16, 2005, leaders in the Jewish community, along with local public officials, attended the Pardes Shalom Memorial Garden opening. The garden features 14- and 20-foot black granite monoliths--from Polycor Granite...

Innovative stone service concept.(NEWS)(Company overview)
April 1, 2006... VITORIA, BRAZIL -- A brand new concept in stone services has officially started in the state of Espirito Santo, Brazil. Certified Supply Inspectors (CSI), a new business established in the city of Vitoria, combines knowledge in the stone...

Expansion completed.(NEWS)
April 1, 2006... ST. CLOUD, MN -- In October 2004, Park Industries evaluated industry trends and growth projections and began to plan an expansion. "After reviewing our machine sales and associate growth projections, it became clearly obvious that we needed to...

Debut of the Stone Library.(NEWS)
April 1, 2006... CHARLOTTE, NC -- The Greensboro, NC-based company, Granite and Marble by Malave, is pleased to announce the opening of The Stone Library in Charlotte, NC, where architects, interior designers, contractors and homeowners can learn about natural...

New laser-etching technology.(NEWS)
April 1, 2006... DEER PARK, NY -- East to West Architectural Products is a provider of flooring products and services that accommodate all levels of specification and design criteria to bring unique products into commercial environments. Laser Edge Designs was...

Salesperson appointed.(NEWS)(Marmo Machinery appointed Nick McDonald )(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... SOUTHFIELD, MI -- Marmo Machinery has recently appointed Nick McDonald as the sales representative for northwestern U.S. and Canada. In his new position, McDonald will be selling Marmo Machinery's line of edge polishing machines, bridge...

New sales position.(NEWS)(Regent Stone Products hired James Whalen)(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... VIRGINIA BEACH, VA -- Regent Stone Products recently announced that it has hired James Whalen for the new position of National Outside Sales Director. Whalen brings 13 years of sales and marketing experience to the Virginia Beach, VA-based...

Regional Sales Manager appointed.(NEWS)
April 1, 2006... SAINT-SEBASTIEN, QUEBEC, CANADA -- Polycor, Inc. a leading supplier of natural stone in North America, has announced the appointment of Alexandra Niedbalski to the position of Regional Sales Manager, Tiles and Slabs Distribution, for the...

From north Carolina to the world: nearly 10 years ago, Rock of Ages Corp. invested in the Salisbury Pink granite quarry in North Carolina, and today the site is a source of material for high-profile projects around the world.(RE-EMERGING U.S. STONE INDUSTRY)(Company overview)
April 1, 2006... Dating back to 1885, Rock of Ages Corp. of Barre, VT, has grown into a stone-production powerhouse--with ownership of 10 active quarries and five manufacturing and sawing facilities in North America. The publicly owned company is a leading...

Stone Fabricator Forum: issues and solutions.
April 1, 2006... This lively "Countertop Fabricator Forum," which took place at StonExpo 2005 in Las Vegas, NV, addressed a broad range of the issues facing the industry--both in the shop and in the field. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Over the past few...

Stone tower enriches religious campus: the parish of St. Hugo of the Hills in Bloomfield Hills, MI, recently added a 100-foot, limestone-clad carillon tower to its facility to match the existing church on campus.(Institutional Architecture)
April 1, 2006... The new carillon tower on the campus of St. Hugo of the Hills Catholic Church in Bloomfield Hills, MI, was recently designed using limestone to complement the existing church on campus. According to Anthony Gholz, Jr., AIA, NCARB, Vice...

Stone adds visual interest at Yale: slate and travertine were selected for the exterior of the Malone Engineering Center at Yale University in New Haven, CT, to complement the surrounding buildings on campus.(Institutional Architecture)
April 1, 2006... The 50,000-square-foot Malone Engineering Center at Yale University in New Haven, CT, was recently designed with Bursting Stone slate from the U.K. and Minnesota travertine. The five-level building houses research labs, offices and classrooms,...

Historic campus is linked with stone: The Fletcher Allen Health Care Center in Burlington, VT, recently underwent an expansion and renovation of its campus, which includes buildings that date back to the 1800s.(Institutional Architecture)(Cover story)
April 1, 2006... The Fletcher Allen Health Care Center in Burlington, VT, encompasses a total of 950,000 square feet, and includes new construction as well as older, renovated buildings that date back to the 1800s. The idea behind the venture--dubbed the...

Granite fountain creates focal point in University plaza: the redesign of Rhodes Tower Plaza at Cleveland State University in Ohio was highlighted by the installation of a unique handcrafted fountain, which was fabricated from South African granite.(Institutional Architecture)
April 1, 2006... Set in the center of downtown Cleveland, OH, and occupying 85 acres, Cleveland State University is an integral part of the city. It boasts more than 100 student organizations and 17 NCAA Division I men's and women's varsity sports. Its...

Sandstone reflects California sunshine: for the Grande at Santa Fe Depot--an upscale residential high-rise complex in San Diego, CA--the design has an exterior base of Peach Blossom sandstone to reflect Southern California's abundance of natural light.(Commercial Design)
April 1, 2006... The San Diego metropolitan area has been enjoying solid growth in the building trade--with new commercial projects being developed on a regular basis. One of the latest examples can be found at the Grande at Santa Fe Depot, an upscale,...

Colorado marble satisfies demands of high-end client: Valley Gold Vein marble was utilized in the office design of a Washington, DC, law firm--meeting the desire for an open and modern working environment.(Commercial Design)
April 1, 2006... Colorado Yule marble was a key component in creating a chic contemporary look for the law office of Thelen Reid & Priest in Washington, DC. "The direction from the client was to design a clean, light and modern space that would represent a new...

Supporting Green through testing and research.(Stone and the Green Building Movement)
April 1, 2006... Can natural stone be considered a green product? A hasty "yes" answer without substantiated facts and figures could generate antagonism from people outside the natural stone industry. A casual "no" answer might hinder the advancement and...

Running an integrated system: with a well-organized fabrication shop and an inventory of slabs from around the world, Cumar Marble & Granite of Everett, MA, has created a niche for itself in the busy Boston marketplace.(Fabricator Case Study)(Company overview)
April 1, 2006... Although Cumar Marble & Granite of Everett, MA, was founded in 1994, the history of its owner, Angelo "Ivo" Cubi, goes back farther than that. Cubi, a native of Italy, has a solid background in stoneworking, and he has developed a...

Childhood experience leads to state-of-the-art fabrication shop: while spending his summers working hard in the stone and tile industries, one young fabricator used his experiences to develop a prosperous stone-processing facility and design showroom.(Fabricator Case Study)
April 1, 2006... Adam Bauer, president of Planet Granite Inc. in Colorado Springs, CO, was first introduced to the stone industry at a young age. "I would spend my summers in high school in Aspen, working in the stone and tile industries with my father," he...

Maximizing a tight workspace: at the 3,000-square-foot facility for JT Interiors/American Countertops & Floors of Henderson, NV, material is carefully organized for optimum shop efficiency.(Fabricator Case Study)(Company overview)
April 1, 2006... When JT Interiors, LLC, of Henderson, NV, began fabricating stone for itself--in a division called American Countertops & Floors--it inherited a relatively small 3,000-square-foot space that houses the fabrication shop as well as 300 square...

Succeeding with a CNC workhorse: after years of dabbling in granite fabrication as a hobby and side job, Bob Opsal launched Ancient Stone in Northern California.(Fabricator Case Study)
April 1, 2006... What started out as a hobby for Bob Opsal eventually led to his current career as a stone fabricator and owner of Ancient Stone located in Brentwood in Northern California. Utilizing a CNC machine, the company averages eight kitchens a week,...

Striving to provide high-quality service: with a successful business in place for 20 years, Valley Stone in Eagle, CO, is fine-tuning its operation to offer more conveniences to its clients.(Fabricator Case Study)(Company overview)
April 1, 2006... Twenty years ago, Luis Perez and A.J. Garduno formed a partnership and opened Valley Stone, a fabrication shop located in Eagle, CO. And it seems that the pair's hands-on approach to business has proven successful over the past two decades. The...

Exterior stone paver applications: several factors need to be considered for a successful exterior stone paving application to be completed.
April 1, 2006... Exterior stone paving is unmatched in performance and appearance. Nothing makes a bolder statement and speaks class like a well-installed stone paving application. In order for the installation to be successful, good detailing, design and...

Surfaces 2006 draws record attendance: over 40,000 professionals were in attendance at Surfaces 2006, the floor covering trade show that took place from February 1 to 3 in Las Vegas, NV.
April 1, 2006... Attendees flooded the halls of Surfaces 2006, which was held at the Sands Expo & Convention Center in Las Vegas, NV, from February 1 to 3. In all, a record-breaking 40,588 retailers, manufacturers, distributors, architects, designers, builders...

Calendar.(stone industry)(Calendar)
April 1, 2006... April 21 to 23 The National Kitchen & Bath Show (K/BIS), McCormick Place, Chicago, IL. For more information, please phone (800) 843-6522 or visit www.kbis.com. May 10 to 13 Piedra 2006, the 6th International Natural Stone...

Custom[R] Building Products.(NEW PRODUCTS)
April 1, 2006... Custom[R] Building Products recently introduced ProLite[TM] Tile and Stone Mortar, which is formulated with Custom's proprietary CustomLite[TM] Technology. ProLite is up to 40 percent lighter than traditional mortars, and is the second...

ProSoCo.(NEW PRODUCTS)
April 1, 2006... ProSoCo's new premium Stand Off[R] Stone Polish shields honed and polished stone surfaces from most staining contaminants while deepening and enriching the natural luster and color of the stone, reports the manufacturer. [ILLUSTRATION...

Granite City Tool.(NEW EQUIPMENT)
April 1, 2006... Granite City Tool has recently introduced the highly durable Alum-100 aluminium stone saw, which weighs only 158 pounds, compared to the 264-pound steel model it replaces. The saw features a 3 hp motor--120V single phase-2800 RPM, 45-degree...

Stone-machinery.com.(NEW EQUIPMENT)
April 1, 2006... Stone-machinery.com is now featuring the world's first mobile slab cutting saw, which is manufactured in the U.S. by Forza, according to the company, who adds that set-up time is 15 minutes, and the saw is easy to transport to the shop or a...

Marmo Machinery USA.(NEW LITERATURE)
April 1, 2006... Marmo Machinery USA has published a tri-fold brochure entitled "The Guide to Production & Profit Growth," which features descriptions and pictures of the company's bridge saws, polishers, waterjet and CNC machines. Three models of bridge...

Blanco.(NEW LITERATURE)
April 1, 2006... Blanco's new booklet, "Choosing Your Kitchen Sink," is a step-by-step guide for designing this heavily utilized area. It shares the thought process necessary to decide what works with individual lifestyles, including materials, bowl depth,...

Park Industries.(Machine of the month)
April 1, 2006... Park Industries' high-production Prestige CNC stoneworking center produces curved edgework and complete sink cut-outs with touch-screen simplicity, the company reports. The machine was engineered to be a fast, easy-to-use work center, utilizing...

Riverstone phyllite.(Stone of the month)
April 1, 2006... This Stone of the Month supplied by SSQ Group, London, England. 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...