Stone World articles from June 2008

Stone World archives from June 2008

Brazil digs in.(STONE COLUMN)
June 1, 2008... Ever since the Vitoria Stone Fair began taking place in the stoneworking region of Vitoria, Brazil, in 2002, the show's growth and energy has mirrored the explosive growth of Brazil's stone industry. This past edition, however, took place at a...

10th edition of AIA course on stone design to coincide with Verona fair ...(NEWSLINE)
June 1, 2008... The 10th edition of "Designing with Natural Stone" will run from October 2 to 6, 2008 in Verona, Italy, in conjunction with Marmomacc, the leading international stone trade fair. Over 150 AIA architects from all over the U.S. have participated...

Quartz manufacturer CaesarStone celebrates 20 years ...(NEWSLINE)
June 1, 2008... CaesarStone celebrated its 20th year since the company introduced the revolutionary quartz surfaces. The factory is located in Kibbutz Sdot Yam, Israel, next to the ancient Roman city of Caesarea. Since the company was founded in 1987, it...

Fire at fabrication shop offers cautionary tale on insurance coverage ...(NEWSLINE)
June 1, 2008... A fire broke out at Ancient Stone of Brentwood, CA, on May 5, causing heavy damage to the fabrication shop. According to Bob Opsal, owner of Ancient Stone, the fire began in a 150-square-foot office adjacent to the shop. The flames passed...

Stonework Symposium 2008 is set to take place in Vermont.(NEWSLINE)(Brief article)
June 1, 2008... Stonework Symposium 2008 will take place from September 11 to 14, in historic Barre, VT. The 8th annual open gathering of the Stone Foundation--a community of stonemasons and others involved with stone, stonework and stone art--offers a program...

Laticrete International, Inc. celebrated the Grand Opening of its manufacturing plant in China on April 2 at Songjiang, Shanghai.(ONE LINERS ...)
June 1, 2008... Laticrete International, Inc. celebrated the Grand Opening of its manufacturing plant in China on April 2 at Songjiang, Shanghai. Laticrete (Shanghai) Building Material Co. Ltd is a wholly-owned subsidiary of U.S.-based Laticrete International....

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

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

Amazing Stone, Ltd. offers factory direct slab collection.(NEWS)(Brief article)
June 1, 2008... REPUBLIC OF MAURITIUS -- With a goal to continue to develop strong sales alliances with top stone industry leaders and to generate new distribution chains with more diverse stone industry players, Amazing Stone's Semi-Precious Slab Collection...

MS international Inc. opens state-of-the-art distribution center.(NEWS)
June 1, 2008... HOUSTON, TX -- M S international, Inc. (MSI), a leading North American importer and distributor of natural stone, announced that it has opened a new distribution center in Houston, TX. The state-of-the-art, 180,000-square-foot distribution...

Braxton-Bragg now focusing in direct mail marketing.(NEWS)
June 1, 2008... KNOXVILLE, TN -- Braxton-Bragg has recently announced that after an intensive study, the company has decided to end its experiment with regional field salespeople and focus its efforts on direct mail marketing to the stone and tile industries....

Savino del Bene event.(NEWS)(Brief article)
June 1, 2008... VITORIA, BRAZIL -- Once again, freight forwarder Savino del Bene hosted a gala event during the Vitoria Stone Fair in February, and the party was attended by hundreds of stone suppliers and importers. The history of the company goes back 100...

Universal Granite & Marble hosts showroom launch party.(NEWS)
June 1, 2008... CLEVELAND, OH -- Universal Granite & Marble (UGM), one of the largest importers and wholesalers of natural stone in the U.S., hosted more than 130 guests at its Cleveland Showroom Launch Party on March 13, 2008, to showcase the company's new...

High-end custom shop relies on waterjet: David Allen Company's stone fabrication facility in Raleigh, NC, houses a variety of high-quality machinery, including a Jet Edge waterjet machine for intricate work.(RE-EMERGING U.S. STONE INDUSTRY)(Company overview)
June 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] In addition to serving as a commercial, industrial and institutional contractor, the David Allen Company also maintains a state-of-the-art fabrication facility at its corporate headquarters in Raleigh, NC. Among the...

Increasing capacity with waterjet technology: by adding a Fusion[TM] CNC bridge saw/waterjet from Park Industries to its lineup of machinery, FloForm Countertops of Western Canada has increased its capacity by over 30%, now producing an average of 12 kitchens a day.(Fabricator Case Study: WATERJET TECHNOLOGY)
June 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] FloForm Countertops, which has been handling business in Western Canada since the early 1960s, began as a laminate countertop and solid surface operation, and has since moved into natural stone fabrication. With...

Robotic waterjet adds efficiency in Colorado: with an average production rate of 40 kitchens a week, Denver, CO-based RocHenge relies on a range of high-end machinery, including a RoboCut saw/waterjet from U.S. Granite Robotics.(Fabricator Case Study: WATERJET TECHNOLOGY)
June 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] RocHenge of Denver, CO, operates out of a 30,000-squarefoot facility that is equipped with a variety of high-end machinery, including a RoboCut saw/waterjet from U.S. Granite Robotics of Barrington, IL, which assists...

Waterjet unit fuels company start-up: Bowstone was founded less than two years ago in northern Georgia after owner Stephen Bowker purchased a waterjet machine from WARDJet, Inc.(Fabricator Case Study: WATERJET TECHNOLOGY)
June 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Fairly new to the stone industry, Stephen Bowker, owner of Bowstone of Ball Ground, GA, has quickly learned what it takes to rise to the top, and he attributes much of the company's success to the assistance of a...

Slate enhances California library: selected for its texture and warm colors, slate from Echeguren Slate, Inc. was recently implemented into the newly designed San Jose Public Library--Pearl Avenue Branch.(Focus on Slate)
June 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The new San Jose Public Library -- Pearl Avenue Branch in San Jose, CA, includes the use of local slate from Echeguren Slate, Inc. of San Francisco, CA, and the material played an integral role in the design of the...

Slate fits into the Vermont climate: going beyond the aesthetic benefits, the use of slate to clad a private residence in Central Vermont allowed the home to withstand the harsh winter climates of the region.(Focus on Slate)
June 1, 2008... A variety of new and recycled slate was recently incorporated into the design of a 3,860-square-foot private residence in Central Vermont, providing the home with long-lasting, functional qualities, while still being aesthetically pleasing to...

A showcase of Brazilian stone in Vitoria: despite a slowdown in exports--particularly to the U.S.--the Brazilian stone industry had a positive gathering in Vitoria, Brazil, for the Vitoria Stone Fair, as companies showcased a broad range of products.(Report from Brazil: Espirito Santo)
June 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Although Brazil's granite exports to the U.S. saw a decline for the second half of 2007, the Vitoria Stone Fair still saw steady traffic on the show floor for the most recent edition, which took place from February...

Antolini opens huge state-of-the-art plant in Brazil: already a world leader in the international stone industry, Antolini Luigi & C. added to its stature with the opening of its Brazilian stoneworking plant, Antolini do Brasil.(Report from Brazil: Espirito Santo)(Cover story)
June 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] When mentioning the top stone-producing firms in the world, the name Antolini Luigi & C. is virtually always part of the discussion. Recently, the company has added a new component to its empire with the completion...

Large-scale expansion in Cachoeiro: over the past few years, the Pemagran Group of Cachoeiro de Itapemirim, Espirito Santo, Brazil, has made major investments to expand its stone production.(Report from Brazil: Espirito Santo)(Company overview)
June 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Already a major player in the international marketplace, the Pemagran Group has recently undergone an investment campaign that has resulted in a considerable increase of its operational structure. The strategy of the...

Focusing on the export market: originally founded to service the needs of Brazilian stone suppliers, Tec Tear Granitos Ltda. now exports material to a variety of international targets, including the U.S.(Report from Brazil: Espirito Santo)
June 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] When Tec Tear Granitos Ltda. was established in Atilio Vivacqua, Espirito Santo, Brazil, the main goal was to provide stoneworking services for companies across the country that were involved in the stone sector....

MIA quarry tour explores the Southwest: once again the Marble Institute of America's "Quarry Tours and More" seminar drew a crowd of industry professionals--with the 2008 edition hitting the road in Texas.
June 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] After two successful runs last year, the Marble Institute of America (MIA) set out on another "Quarry Tours and More" expedition in March 2008--this time visiting several of the many granite and limestone sites in...

SFA event takes place in North Carolina: the latest Stone Fabricators Alliance (SFA) Workshop took place at Cadenza Granite & Marble of Concord, NC, and it included hands-on demonstrations and presentations of a variety of topics.
June 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The latest Stone Fabricators Alliance (SFA) Workshop was held from March 27 to 29 at Cadenza Granite & Marble of Concord, NC, and it was attended by approximately 100 fabricators from around the country. After a...

Calendar.(Calendar)
June 1, 2008... For all seminars and a more complete calendar of stone industry events, visit www.stoneworld.com. September 15 to 18, 2008 Stone World Fabrication Management Clinics, Ft. Lauderdale, FL (15th), Orlando, FL (16th), Atlanta, GA (18th)....

Air-powered vacuum lifter-tilter.(NEW EQUIPMENT)
June 1, 2008... An air-powered vacuum lifter-tilter that features fully adjustable suction cups for handling multi-dimensional architectural panels and large metal plates is now available from Anver Corp. of Hudson, MA. The Anver AT Series Vacuum...

HTO-2/H bridge cutting machine.(NEW EQUIPMENT)
June 1, 2008... Marmo Machinery USA, one of North America's leading granite and marble fabrication distributors, has announced the availability of the HTO-2/H bridge cutting machine. The HTO-2/H is a high capacity power cutter ideal for sawing large...

DiareX[R] Pro Series[TM] Plus.(NEW EQUIPMENT)
June 1, 2008... GranQuartz launched the new Diarex[R] Pro Series[TM] Plus pattern diamond bridge saw blade at Coverings 2008. The Diarex Pro Series Plus is a fast cutting blade that uses a combination of pattern diamond technology, and voids in the segment for...

Pro-Cart AT1.(NEW PRODUCTS)
June 1, 2008... The new Pro-Cart AT1, now available exclusively from GranQuartz, provides a solution to the challenges associated with large and cumbersome countertop installation carts. The product is constructed from aluminum tubing, so it is strong and...

SHS Vacuum Cup Attachment.(NEW PRODUCTS)
June 1, 2008... The SHS Vacuum Cup Attachment by Omni Cubed, Inc. has been added to the existing Sink Hole Saver (SHS) rails to create multi-purpose, countertop-strengthening units. This USA-made accessory is constructed from a machined, anodized aluminum...

Dimension Stone Design Manual VII (DSDM).(NEW LITERATURE)
June 1, 2008... Individual chapters of the acclaimed Marble Institute of America's (MIA) Dimension Stone Design Manual VII (DSDM) are now available for download on the Internet, the association has announced. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The DSDM is the...

Machine of the month.
June 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The Breton Fabcenter is a multifunction digital workcenter for fabricating counter tops to completion, and it has been engineered to be easy to operate with minimal labor. Employing new revolutionary software,...

Molokai.(Stone of the month)
June 1, 2008... Molokai Specific mass 2,279 kg/cu.m Apparent porosity 0.15% Water absorption 0.05% This Stone of the Month supplied by Parana Granitos, Serra, Espirito Santo, Brazil (www.paranagranito.com.br). Technical...