Stone World articles from January 2008

Stone World archives from January 2008

American fabricators remain relatively upbeat.(STONE COLUMN)(Column)
January 1, 2008... When I started at Stone World Magazine in 1993, the American stone industry was still feeling the effects of overbuilding within the commercial sector during the Go-Go '80s. The market for corporate office space was oversaturated, and for many...

Manu Shah of Ms International is named Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year ...(NEWSLINE)
January 1, 2008... Manu Shah, chairman and chief executive officer of MS International, Inc., was named the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year[R] 2007 national award winner in the Distribution, Manufacturing & Security Category. Now in its 21st year, the...

Coverings launches regional "boutique" edition of show ...(NEWSLINE)
January 1, 2008... Coverings--a leading international trade show for stone and tile--has announced a new regional edition. Coverings L.A. Boutique is being planned for November 19 to 20, 2008, at the Long Beach Convention Center in Long Beach, CA. "Coverings has...

New MIA safety video, funded by Dupont Surfaces and Water Treatment Technologies, tackles silicosis ...(NEWSLINE)
January 1, 2008... A new safety video produced by the Marble Institute of America (MIA), with grants from DuPont Surfaces and Water Treatment Technologies, will focus on silicosis--a disabling, nonreversible and sometimes fatal lung disease caused by overexposure...

Biesse.(ONE LINERS ...)
January 1, 2008... Biesse, a leading manufacturer of high-tech woodworking, glass and stone systems, recently appointed Jacqueline Liger to the position of North American Marketing Manager. The appointment comes at a time of company-wide growth. Third quarter...

Intermac, the leading manufacturer of machinery for glass and stone fabrication, has signed an agreement with a new Canadian dealer.(ONE LINERS ...)
January 1, 2008... Intermac, the leading manufacturer of machinery for glass and stone fabrication, has signed an agreement with a new Canadian dealer. Effective immediately, Derusha Supply Inc. will represent Intermac products in the Quebec and Maritime...

Bonanza Trade & Supply recently announced its new relationship with 3M, whose brands include Cubitron, ScotchBrite, Trizact, Thinsulate, Filtrete, Command and Vikuiti.(ONE LINERS ...)
January 1, 2008... Bonanza Trade & Supply recently announced its new relationship with 3M, whose brands include Cubitron, ScotchBrite, Trizact, Thinsulate, Filtrete, Command and Vikuiti. This addition increases Bonanza's ability to facilitate the needs of its...

September 2007: imports from the U.S.(STATISTICS)
January 1, 2008... STATISTICS September 2007 | Imports from the U.S. Customers value in dollars does not include insurance or freight COUNTRY GRANITE MARBLE * U.S. $ TONS U.S....

September 2007: exports from the U.S.(STATISTICS)(Statistical table)
January 1, 2008... STATISTICS September 2007 | Exports from the U.S. Customers value in dollars does not include insurance or freight COUNTRY GRANITE MARBLE * U.S. $ TONS U.S. $ ...

New location.(NEWS)(Lotus Exim International Inc.)(Brief article)
January 1, 2008... ELMWOOD PARK, NJ -- Lotus Exim International Inc., one of the leading sources for granite and natural stone across the U.S., has recently moved its headquarters to a new spacious location in order to enlarge its business operations. The...

New sales rep.(NEWS)
January 1, 2008... ST. LOUIS, MO -- Midwest Tile, Marble & Granite of St. Louis, MO, a supplier of granite, marble, slate and limestone slabs, tiles and related supplies in the Midwest region of the U.S., has announced Genie Wachter as its architectural/design...

Biesse appoints North American service parts manager.(NEWS)
January 1, 2008... CHARLOTTE, NC -- Biesse, a leading manufacturer of high-tech stone, glass and woodworking systems, has appointed Fabio Cardarelli to the position of North America Service and Parts Manager. Cardarelli previously served as Parts Manager for the...

The 8th China Xiamen International Stone Fair.(NEWS)
January 1, 2008... XIAMEN, CHINA -- The 8th China Xiamen International Stone Fair will be held from March 6 to 9, 2008. The event will showcase an extensive selection of natural stone. The exhibition area for Xiamen Stone Fair 2008 will cover more than...

Rugo Stone, LLC adds Thibaut machinery.(NEWS)
January 1, 2008... LORTON, VA -- Rugo Stone, LLC of Lorton, VA, a fabricator of natural and engineered stone products for the commercial and residential industries, has announced the expansion of production at its northern Virginia facility, with the addition of...

Diversifying a family-run business: to meet the demands of a changing market, Amendola Marble and Stone of White Plains, NY, has expanded its operation to ensure continued success.(RE-EMERGING U.S. STONE INDUSTRY)
January 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Since it first opened in 1989, Amendola Marble and Stone, Inc. of White Plains, NY, has certainly undergone a transformat ion. Its principals, Sergio and Maria Amendola, initially started the company as a tile...

Tacoma fabricator relies on aggressive marketing and automation: by expanding its sales staff and investing in new machinery, Forever Granite & Marble, LLC, of Tacoma, WA, has been able to grow on a consistent basis.(Fabricator Case Study)(Company overview)
January 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Forever Granite & Marble, LLC, of Tacoma, WA, has been able to grow on a consistent basis Forever Granite & Marble, LLC, a leading supplier of natural stone products for residential applications in the Tacoma, WA,...

Focusing on the details: rather than focusing on mass production, Coverall Interiors of Auburn, WA, takes on projects that require attention to detail, while also being selective when it comes to deciding on machinery.(Fabricator Case Study)
January 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED] For 14 years, Ed and Lynn Strobel have been successfully serving the stone industry by specializing in high-end construct ion. Their company, Coverall Interiors in Auburn, WA, is now a family-run business that...

Steady for 2008 and solid in the future: even though last year was the most challenging year for fabricators in quite some time, the industry is relatively upbeat for 2008, according to an exclusive Stone World study, and they have a very positive outlook for the next five to 10 years.(Fabricator Market Forecast)
January 1, 2008... For many stone fabricators, 2007 was a year like none other--and not in a positive way. After solid growth for nearly a decade, the stone fabrication sector faced a host of challenges last year. When you consider that nearly half of the...

Fabricating technology roundup: new equipment for cutting, polishing and shaping stone is continually being introduced and updated, with an eye on increased production and efficiency.(PART I-MACHINERY)(Brief article)
January 1, 2008... The lineup of machinery available to stone fabricators has shown new advances every year. From efficient sawing and polishing equipment to computer numerically control led (CNC) stoneworking centers and multi-axis bridge saws and waterjets,...

Sawing/cutting.(PART I-MACHINERY: Fabricating Technology Roundup)
January 1, 2008... AccuGlide has announced expanded cutting and shaping capabilities for its saws. All new and prior AccuGlide models may now be upgraded and used without tracks for precise 3- to 12-foot circle cuts, freeform arc and radius cutting, edge...

CNC work centers.(PART I-MACHINERY: Fabricating Technology Roundup)
January 1, 2008... The Breton NC260K series has evolved from the company's 20-year history of building machinery for longevity under extreme duty in the stone fabrication shop. Breton has released four new models of its NC260K CNC contouring center. The new...

Edging.(PART I-MACHINERY: Fabricating Technology Roundup)
January 1, 2008... The Alpha[R] Tile Bullnose Kit comes with everything needed to profile and polish the edges of stone and porcelain tiles . This hand-held application was engineered to be easy to operate and produces a professional finish every time. ...

Stoneworking.(PART I-MACHINERY: Fabricating Technology Roundup)
January 1, 2008... The Ghines Systhema combines, in a single machine, the functionality of a table saw, the versatility of a multifunctional router and the precision of an edge polisher in the honing and polishing of vertical and inclined surfaces up to 100 mm...

Surface polishing and etching.(PART I-MACHINERY: Fabricating Technology Roundup)
January 1, 2008... DITEQ-Di amond Tools & Equipment has introduced a professional-grade, hand-held polisher to the stone fabrication and construction industry. The TEQ-Shine wet stone polisher is designed to run cool and perform reliably in high-production...

Waterjet technology.(PART I-MACHINERY: Fabricating Technology Roundup)
January 1, 2008... AIM's MasterJetSaw combines a 20-horsepower, variable-speed saw with a 50-horsepower waterjet abrasive cutting system to accurately and repeatedly cut stone up to 4 inches thick in one set-up. This precise repetition increases material...

Associated Waterjet Products.(PART I-MACHINERY: Fabricating Technology Roundup)
January 1, 2008... HPA alluvial abrasives from Barton Mines Co., LLC combine cutting performance with economy. They are suited for a host of applications that do not require the extra high-performance provided by HPX crystalline garnet abrasives. Like all...

Sandstone adds quality to Manhattan bank: the First Republic Bank in New York City makes extensive use of local sandstone, providing quality to the facility as well as the community.
January 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Located at the corner of Lexington Avenue and 79th Street in Manhattan, the two-story, 3,500-square-foot First Republic Bank in New York City reflects a contemporary design that was implemented by New York-based...

Continuing to invest in success: as a leading manufacturer of quartz surfacing products, Israeli-based CaesarStone Quartz Surfaces has doubled its production in recent years as well as opening two new "million dollar" showrooms.
January 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Since its beginnings in 1987, CaesarStone Quartz Surfaces has continued to expand and evolve. Today, with over 200 employees in the U.S. and 600 worldwide, the Israeli company has more than doubled its slab...

2007 Pinnacle Awards: the Marble Institute of America (MIA) issues the annual Pinnacle Awards to member companies for excellent use of natural stone in projects worldwide.(Cover story)
January 1, 2008... For many years, the Marble Institute of America's (MIA) Pinnacle Awards have been recognized as one of the stone industry's most prestigious competitions. The Pinnacle Awards honor stone companies around the world for residential, commercial...

Straight talk on sealers and VOC compliance.(FORUM)
January 1, 2008... It is interesting to look back through the history of impregnators/ penetrat ing sealers and their importance in the marketplace. In the early days of tile and stone installation, sealing tile, grout or natural stone was not an accepted...

Technology update.(Brief article)
January 1, 2008... [FIGURE 1 OMITTED] [FIGURE 2 OMITTED] [FIGURE 3 OMITTED] [FIGURE 4 OMITTED] Laser Products of Romeoville, IL, reports that the stone fabrication industry is reaching a state "where innovation is filling in the missing links...

Calendar.(Calendar)
January 1, 2008... For all seminars and a more complete calendar of stone industry events, visit www.stoneworld.com. January 30 to February 1, 2008 Surfaces, Sands Expo & Convention Center, Las Vegas, NV. Conference Session: January 29 to February 1....

TemplatePro[TM] templating clips.(NEW PRODUCTS)
January 1, 2008... FabQuick[TM], a developer of time-saving tools for the natural stone and solid surface industries, has introduced TemplatePro[TM] templating clips (patent pending). Billed as a cost effective alternative to electronic templating systems, the...

Fila SurFit.(NEW PRODUCTS)
January 1, 2008... Fila SurFit is the new product of Fila Hydroline VOC's free line. It is water-based and does not release any noxious or ozone depleting emissions, so the user is not exposed to any risk. Fila SurFit is ideal for interior or exterior natural...

Anti-Drop.(NEW PRODUCTS)
January 1, 2008... Optimal water repellency, oil repellency, stain resistance, ease of application and mildew resistance are only a few of the benefits of the silicone free impregnator called Anti-Drop, reports VMC Technical Assistance Corp., the manufacturer of...

Fossil Fish limestone.(NEW PRODUCTS)
January 1, 2008... The Marble & Granite Gallery, a European-style showroom with a large display of marble, granite, limestone, travertine and onyx from around the world, has announced that it is now marketing a rare Fossil Fish limestone. The limestone contains...

Seam Setter.(NEW EQUIPMENT)
January 1, 2008... The American-made Seam Setter VC2 by Omni Cubed is the worry-free solution for joining seams, leveling seams and stabilizing backsplashes. The powerful, yet compact, vacuum pump maintains pressure for all cups, and it operates on AC Power or a...

New products.(NEW EQUIPMENT)
January 1, 2008... Granite City Tool has released an array of new products, including the Dia-Pro Hand-Pump Suction Cup and the Ideal Electric Engraver. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The Dia-Pro Hand-Pump Suction Cup features a new ergonomic design. This...

Master 33-43 Twin CNC machining center.(NEW EQUIPMENT)
January 1, 2008... Intermac America, a leading manufacturer of machinery for stone and glass fabrication, recently introduced the Master 33-43 Twin CNC machining center to the North American market. The new machine, introduced at StonExpo 2007 in Las Vegas,...

10-page, full-color pamphlet.(NEW LITERATURE)
January 1, 2008... DITEQ Diamond Tools & Equipment has recently released a 10-page, full-color pamphlet featuring the company's complete line of diamond blades, core bits, grinding wheels, masonry, concrete and tile saws, hand grinders, polishers, Shibuya core...

New comprehensive catalog.(NEW LITERATURE)
January 1, 2008... US Granite Machinery (USG) recently published a new comprehensive catalog featuring its line of edge polishing machines, CNC machines, gantry saws and water treatment equipment. Detailed information is given on the Experience edge profiling and...

Glass and stone storage systems.(NEW LITERATURE)
January 1, 2008... Groves, Inc. has released a new catalog for glass and stone storage systems. The publication includes photographs and descriptions of products such as display racks, stacking racks and heavy-duty transport racks. Many of the products showcased...

Collection of granite and marble.(NEW LITERATURE)
January 1, 2008... Michelangelo, a producer of Brazilian stone, has released a brochure featuring its collection of granite and marble. The literature promotes examples from the company's signature line, including from Michelangelo's own quarries; a classic line,...

A new CD on dust and fume collection equipment.(NEW LITERATURE)
January 1, 2008... Farr Air Pollution Control (APC) has published a new CD on dust and fume collection equipment for all types of industries. More than just a catalog on a disk, the CD contains a comprehensive library of technical information, case studies and...

Machine of the month.
January 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The Fusion[TM] combination bridge saw/waterjet by Park Industries of St. Cloud, MN, aids in the reduction of labor costs by approximately 50% as well as increasing material yield by over 10% and increasing...

Vulcano.(Stone of the month)
January 1, 2008... Vulcano Country of origin Brazil Specific mass 2,729 kg/cu.m Apparent porosity 0.15% Water absorption 0.05% This Stone of the Month supplied by Proton Granito, Serra (Vitoria), Espirito Santo,...