Stone World articles from January 2006

Stone World archives from January 2006

Putting their money where their mouth is.(STONE COLUMN)
January 1, 2006... For several years now, the American stone industry has been on an incredible upswing--particularly stone fabricators. In general, business has increased, and most shops seem to be busier than ever. But just how much growth have we seen in the...

Coverings show moving to Chicago for alternate years.(National Trade Production)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... Coverings, the major marketplace for tile and stone and hard surface education, will be staged alternately between Orlando and Chicago, beginning with the April 2007 show. Announcement of the added venue at Chicago's McCormick Place Convention...

Natural stone Council maps out future plans.(NEWSLINE)
January 1, 2006... Four years ago, a diverse group of business leaders and association executives came together to address several issues facing the natural stone industry. In essence, they discussed the need for better association collaboration and the creation...

Committee on "Green Certification" for stone is formed.(NEWSLINE)
January 1, 2006... The Natural Stone Council has established a committee on "Green Certification," in an effort to see how the natural stone industry can tap into this growing concern among members of the architecture and design community, as well as other end...

Trade mission to Shanghai is set for April.(NEWSLINE)(The Hudson Economics Group)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... The Hudson Economics Group is conducting a trade mission to the Stone Tech trade fair in Shanghai, China, from April 3 through 13, 2006. The group will spend two nights in both Fuzhou and Xiame, visiting building and construction stoneworking...

Ken Krebs elected president of the Marble Institute of America.(NEWSLINE)
January 1, 2006... At its annual meeting in Las Vegas last October, the Marble Institute of America, Inc. (MIA) elected Ken Krebs of Nashville, TN, as its 2006 President. Krebs has served on the MIA Board for several years and was Vice President in 2005. "I...

One liners.(NEWSLINE)(Universal Granite & Marble Inc.)(Rochebelle Inc.)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... Universal Granite & Marble Inc. (UGM) announced the acquisition of Rochebelle Inc., an Illinois-based national purveyor of limestone products. This latest acquisition has resulted in the creation of Rochebelle LLC, a UGM company. "This new...

Statistics.(trade figures)(Illustration)
January 1, 2006... September 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 ALBANIA ...

Web site offers advice on sinks.(NEWS)
January 1, 2006... LUMBERTON, NJ -- Blanco's new Web site, www.blancoamerica.com, provides a number of useful tools for specifying and designing the most commonly used space in the kitchen--the sink. Consumers, specifiers and installers will all benefit from the...

New export manager.(NEWS)
January 1, 2006... TURKU, FINLAND -- Jacek Puszkarzewicz has been named export manager of Palin Granit Oy, a leading producer of granite blocks from Finland. Puszkarzewicz has been in the stone industry for over 10 years, and he has extensive experience in...

New MIA Web site.(NEWS)
January 1, 2006... CLEVELAND, OH -- A record 851,000 hits was recorded on the new Marble Institute of America (MIA) Web site in October, according to the fast-growing natural stone industry organization, a more than seven-fold increase over the number of visits...

Sales team expands.(NEWS)
January 1, 2006... HARTFORD, CT -- One of Central Connecticut's leading masonry distributors, Stone Depot/Della Terra Showcase, has named Emily Braga the Sales Consultant for Della Terra Showcase. In addition to providing design consultation and sales support...

Breast cancer benefit.(NEWS)
January 1, 2006... SUN VALLEY, CA -- CaesarStone Quartz Surfaces has joined the fight against breast cancer by lending its support to the first "Couture Cares: A Benefit for Breast Cancer" fashion show and luncheon. Jennifer Aniston and Oscar de la Renta...

New sales manager promoted.(NEWS)
January 1, 2006... BEDFORD, IN -- Susan Morrison has been promoted to the position of Sales Manager at W.F. Meyers, a Bedford company that invented and produces some of the finest diamond cutting saws in the world. Morrison, a native of Bedford, brings more than...

Braxton-Bragg Corporation.(Advertisement)
January 1, 2006... The Terminator Xtreme The Terminator Xtreme Silent Core blade offers Patented Array Technology that has never been introduced to the stone industry, until now. These long-lasting blades have amazing, clean-cutting power! * Sandwich...

A new approach to Bluestone production: with quarry sites in Pennsylvania and New York State, Catskill Stone Limited, Inc. extracts and fabricates Bluestone into a broad range of finished products.(RE-EMERGING U.S. STONE INDUSTRY)(Northeastern Pennsylvania)
January 1, 2006... Although the Bluestone-producing region of Northeastern Pennsylvania and New York State has a deep tradition, there is still opportunity for development and expansion--both in terms of new quarry sites and in the types of products offered. An...

Fabricators predict continued growth for U.S. stone industry: following years of steady growth, U.S. stone fabricators expect the market for natural stone to continue growing during 2006, and they are investing in their businesses to meet increased consumer demands, according to an exclusive Stone World market study.
January 1, 2006... For several years now, the stone industry in the U.S. has enjoyed tremendous growth, and fabricators expect this trend to persist in 2006. Spurred by their local markets, consumer awareness and construction trends, fabricators believe that...

Fabricating technology roundup: new equipment, software and tooling for stone fabricators is being introduced on a continual basis, more effimaking the process cient and profitable.(Sawing/cutting-Stoneworking)(MasterJet 3600)(aluminum-glass-stone machinery)(Material handling and storage-Software/Electronic Templating)
January 1, 2006... The technology available for today's stone fabricators has grown tremendously over the past few years. From templating to stoneworking to inventory control, new products have entered the marketplace and have allowed fabricators to increase...

Fabricating technology roundup: new equipment, software and tooling for stone fabricators is being introduced on a continual basis, making the process more efficient and profitable.(Material handling and storage-Software/Electronic Templating)
January 1, 2006... Material handling and storage For lifting and maneuvering slabs around the fabrication shop, Anver offers a full range of vacuum lifting equipment. Included is an electric-powered vacuum generator with EZ-Tilt adapter, Offset Bale adapter...

Formulas that deliver optimal protection for specific stone types.(research of stones that is granite, marbel etc.,)
January 1, 2006... STONESPECIFIC[TM] LINE FROM CUSTOM[R] PROVIDES SPECIALIZED CARE FOR MOST POPULAR VARIETIES OF STONE Granite, marble and other types of natural stone continue to be the hottest thing in home remodels and new home upgrades, and Custom...

Prism SureColor Grout is the only grout you'll ever need.(analysis of Custom Building Products)
January 1, 2006... Since its introduction less than a year ago, Prism[TM] SureColor[TM] Grout from Custom[R] Building Products has set a new industry standard in cement-based grout performance. Known for its remarkable color consistency, Prism also eliminates...

Tips for writing successful installation specifications: by taking advantage of the specification guidelines available in the marketplace, stone users can be confident that the finished stone installation will last for the long term.
January 1, 2006... Those of us who have been in the industry for at least a few years know how challenging it can be to specify stone installations correctly and then to ensure that the specification is held through the installation process. There are several...

Equipped for optimum slab handling: to accommodate a recent surge in demand, A. American Custom Flooring opened a second location in Illinois, and it operates a revolutionary state-of-the-art slab handling/storage system.(Fabricator Case Study)(aluminum-glass-stone machinery)
January 1, 2006... Due to enormous recent growth, A. American Custom Flooring, which specializes in the fabrication and installation of granite, Zodiac and Corian, now operates out of two facilities in Illinois--one in Chicago and the newest addition in...

Meeting the demand for stone countertops: started in 1999 to capitalize on the growing natural stone market, Constrata Surface Innovations--a division of Majestic Marble and Glass--has showed significant signs of growth through the years, and continues to plan for further expansion.(Fabricator Case Study)
January 1, 2006... Majestic Marble and Glass of Raleigh, NC, is an example of a company that has capitalized on its growing market. Created in November of 1990, the company specialized in the installation of cultured marble products, shower enclosures and...

New college library continues stone tradition: the Paul Barret, Jr. Library on the campus of Rhodes College in Memphis, TN, not only reflects the institution's existing stone architecture, but creates a dramatic new "gateway" for students, faculty and visitors.(Exterior Architecture)(Company Profile)(Cover Story)
January 1, 2006... Since its early days, stone architecture has always been held in high regard on the campus of Rhodes College in Memphis, TN. The institution, which was founded in 1848, was initially located in Clarksville, TN, but moved to Memphis in 1925. At...

Rough-hewn limestone forms an award-winning residence: renowned architect Peter Q. Bohlin's design of a home in Eastern Pennsylvania earned several awards, including a 2004 Tucker Award from the Building Stone Institute for outstanding stonework.(Exterior Architecture)
January 1, 2006... Simply known as the "House in the Blue Mountains," this Eastern Pennsylvania retreat designed by renowned architect Peter Q. Bohlin, FAIA is a showcase of natural stone that has garnered a host of awards, including a 2004 Tucker Award from the...

Historic basilica maintains ties with Quebec stone supplier: inaugurated in 1934, the Cathedral Saint-Anne-de-Beaupre is still tended to by the ancestors and associates of those who supplied its original granite exterior.(Exterior Architecture)
January 1, 2006... Drawing a remarkable 1.8 million pilgrims a year, the Cathedral Saint-Anne-de-Beaupre projects a majestic presence--with massive granite steeples and intricate stone detailing. The cathedral, which is located 18 miles from Quebec City, Quebec,...

Upgrade to manufacturing. Achieve your operation's true potential with an integrated countertop manufacturing solution from Loffler.
January 1, 2006... An automated manufacturing solution can dramatically improve the productivity--and profitability--of your current fabricating operation. EuroStone Machine[R] can help you design a complete Loffler manufacturing solution that cuts costs as it...

New from Braxton-Bragg: stainless steel undermount sinks.
January 1, 2006... Braxton-Bragg is very excited to offer our customers one more reason to buy fabrication supplies from only one place! We have searched far and wide to find a superb quality, superbly designed, durable and stylish sink. These new sinks could...

Cambrian Black granite quarry continues to thrive: in operation for almost 50 years, the Cambrian Black granite operation owned by Polycor Inc. remains a strong source of material for the Canadian-based company.
January 1, 2006... With approximately 500 employees globally and 25 quarries, Polycor Inc. has established a solid name for itself in the stone industry. Headquartered in Quebec City, Quebec, Canada, the company--a large quarrier and fabricator of natural...

Establishing a signature residential space: the Trump Tower at City Center in White Plains, NY, was designed using a variety of stone as both interior and exterior features.
January 1, 2006... The 35-story Trump Tower at City Center in White Plains, NY, features marble and granite throughout its 460,000 square feet of space, which houses over 200 luxury condominium residences, encompassing a total of 440 bathrooms, 200 powder rooms...

MIA perspective perfect stone slabs: do they really exist?(Marble Institute of America)
January 1, 2006... A few large companies exist in the countertop industry with the capacity to perform both the sawing / face finishing of the stone slabs and the final fabrication of the finished countertop material. This scenario is indeed the exception to the...

ITSS-Las Vegas continues: after the fourth edition of ITSS-Las Vegas, which took place at the Mandalay Convention Center from November 11 to 13, show organizers plan for upcoming exhibitions in Miami, Rio de Janeiro and New York City.
January 1, 2006... The fourth edition of the International Tile & Stone Show-Las Vegas (ITSS) was held at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas from November 11 to 13, 2005. And while there was a fair amount of exhibitors on the show floor, attendance...

Over 40,000 expected at Surfaces 2006: the 2006 edition of Surfaces--a leading floor covering event in Las Vegas, NV--is expected to draw a solid crowd of attendees and exhibitors, including many stone-related companies.
January 1, 2006... Surfaces 2006 will take place from February 1 to 3, 2006 at the Sands Expo & Convention Center in Las Vegas, NV. More than 40,000 retailers, builders, architects, designers, distributors and installers from around the world are expected to be...

Calendar.(Calendar)
January 1, 2006... January 31 to February 3, 2006 Surfaces, Sands Expo & Convention Center, Las Vegas, NV. Owned and operated by Hanley-Wood Exhibitions. Sponsored by the World Floor Covering Association. Contact: 1-800-547-3477; International calls contact:...

Marmi Bruno Zanet.(NEW PRODUCTS)
January 1, 2006... Marmi Bruno Zanet has recently introduced 18 new stone materials, including Twister, Bordeaux and Castor Blue granite, each with special physical, color and tone features that help them meet every specific need. Twister granite is quarried in...

International Stoneworks, Inc.(NEW PRODUCTS)
January 1, 2006... Now available from International Stoneworks, Inc. of Houston, TX, is Fivextra D, a non-wax, user-friendly cream for polishing marble, travertine, onyx and terrazzo. Fivextra D cream eliminates grout haze on newly installed marble surfaces. It...

Global E-Sourcing, Inc.(NEW PRODUCTS)
January 1, 2006... Global E-Sourcing, Inc. has recently introduced a new Web-based version of its Global StonePro[TM] countertop fabrication software supporting remote activities, including lead management, quoting, sales confirmation, scheduling and order...

Blanco.(NEW PRODUCTS)
January 1, 2006... Blanco now offers an extensive line of premium quality kitchen sinks in North America, including an array of kitchen faucets, matching bar faucets, bar sinks, functional custom sink accessories and striking stainless steel lavatory sinks. Each...

Marble Institute of America (MIA).(NEW LITERATURE)
January 1, 2006... Now available from the Marble Institute of America (MIA) is a new natural stone industry management tool kit, which offers 138 job descriptions covering a wide range of operations. As part of an on-going series of management tool kits for...

Gibbs Smith.(NEW LITERATURE)
January 1, 2006... The book, "Stone by Design: The Artistry of Lew French," delves into the power and beauty of stone, celebrating both its form and function, and is now available from publisher Gibbs Smith. Using the natural shape and texture of stone, rather...

Marmo Machinery USA.(NEW LITERATURE)
January 1, 2006... A new six-page product brochure is now being distributed by Marmo Machinery USA. The tri-fold brochure, entitled "The Guide to Production & Profit Growth," features descriptions and pictures of the company's bridge saws, polishers, water jet...

GMM.(Machine of the month)
January 1, 2006... The GMM Rotex 39, available from Salem Stone, answers the need for high-speed, high-accuracy applications such as automated production lines, complex interior work, spiral staircases and other architectural pieces. This versatile saw is capable...

Silver Fiorito marble.(Stone of the month)
January 1, 2006... This Stone of the Month supplied by Polycor, Inc., Quebec, Canada. 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....