Stone World articles from March 2008

Stone World archives from March 2008

Stemming the tide.(STONE COLUMN)(Editorial)
March 1, 2008... OK, I finally admit it, the stone fabrication market is down. It is not "perceived to be down," as I have repeatedly argued with my publisher; it is not "up and down." It is simply "down." Now, with that being said, the question I have is how...

Digital Templating "Shoot-Out" is planned ...(NEWSLINE)(The Stone Fabricators Alliance )
March 1, 2008... STUART, FL -- The Stone Fabricators Alliance will be holding a Digital Templating "Shoot-Out" on April 26, 2008. This event will be held in an existing orthodontics office, which offers many of the typical challenges faced by fabricators. There...

MIA adds Grande Pinnacle Award to stone architecture competition ...(NEWSLINE)(Marble Institute of America)(Brief article)
March 1, 2008... The Marble Institute of America is pleased to announce the addition of a new award for 2008. The prestigious Pinnacle Awards competition, which honors the best in genuine stone projects and craftsmanship from around the world, will add a Grande...

Independent granite fabricators launch granite brand with lifetime warranty ...(NEWSLINE)
March 1, 2008... The Artisan Group[TM], an independent organization of the country's premier granite fabricators, has launched Artisan Stone Collection[TM], which, according to the company, carries the industry's first comprehensive lifetime warranty. ...

Omax[R] Corp. recently announced the launch of an enhanced corporate Web site located at www.omax.com.(ONE LINERS ...)
March 1, 2008... Omax[R] Corp. recently announced the launch of an enhanced corporate Web site located at www.omax.com. The Web site was designed to provide in-depth, informative content that aids customers in finding the best products to suit their abrasivejet...

Statistics: November 2007 / Imports to the U.S.: customers value in dollars does not include insurance or freight.
March 1, 2008... STATISTICS November 2007 | Imports to the U.S. Customers value in dollars does not include insurance or freight COUNTRY GRANITE MARBLE * U.S. $ TONS U.S....

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

Bonsal American, Inc. makes expansions.(NEWS)
March 1, 2008... CHARLOTTE, NC -- Bonsal American, Inc. recently expanded its marketing department with the addition of Art Henson, marketing coordinator. Henson will handle graphic design for all of Bonsal American's brands, including Sakrete, ProSpec and...

Universal Granite & Marble expands with new Omaha, NE, facility.(NEWS)
March 1, 2008... OMAHA, NE -- Universal Granite & Marble (UGM), one of the largest importers and wholesalers of natural stone in the U.S., has announced the grand opening of a new 18,000-square-foot facility in Omaha, NE, as UGM continues to expand and gain...

New marketing manager at Grein Italia.(NEWS)
March 1, 2008... VERONA, ITALY -- Alexandra Aster has been managing Grein Italia's Market ing department since the beginning of the new year. A native of South-Tyrol, Aster aims to expand the "Grein" brand awareness. The event management graduate gained her...

Amazing Stone, Ltd. celebrates its 1,000th slab produced.(NEWS)
March 1, 2008... REPUBLIC OF MAURITIUS -- Amazing Stone, Ltd. celebrated its 1,000th slab produced at its Mauritian facility on Friday, January 25, 2008. In honor of this special occasion, Amazing Stone chose a rare and brilliant stone, which was entitled,...

New England fabricator delivers well-crafted architectural pieces: with an architectural stone fabrication operation in Barre, VT, Granite Importers Inc. is a high-volume producer of cubic work and other customized stone furnishings.(RE-EMERGING U.S. STONE INDUSTRY)
March 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] In 1971, Granite Importers Inc. of Barre, VT, was established as an importer of granite from South America for the monument industry. Through the years, the company evolved into a full-scale plant for architectural...

Taking an analytical approach to stone fabrication: the owner of Globe Marble & Granite Stone Fabrication, Inc. of Wood-Ridge, NJ, has successfully applied his Wall Street background to the stoneworking sector.(Fabricator Case Study)
March 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Although a quick glance at the facilities of Globe Marble & Granite Stone Fabrication, Inc. in Wood-Ridge, NJ, reveals a traditional fabrication shop, a more in-depth look details the level of calculation that goes...

Capitalizing on a favorable market: located in one of the top housing markets in the country, Universal Stone of Charlotte, NC, has grown to a production rate of 25 to 30 kitchens per week.(Fabricator Case Study)(Universal Stone)(Company overview)
March 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Established three and a half years ago, Universal Stone of Charlotte, NC, has seen its sales rise steadily each year--mostly by word of mouth as it has placed an emphasis on quality and customer service. Today, the...

Strategically choosing locations to process stone: Tabernacle Granite & Marble, Inc. of Tabernacle, NJ, and Harbinger, NC, has set up shops in two areas with minimal competition--making for a successful stone fabrication business.(Fabricator Case Study)(Tabernacle Granite & Marble, Inc)(Company overview)
March 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Twenty-five years ago, Guy Baptiste, president of Tabernacle Granite & Marble, Inc., ventured into the stone fabrication business with only $300. Although production was slow at first, today his company has grown to...

What's the REAL business climate for stone fabricators? In this Stone World Forum, conducted at www.StoneAdvice.com, fabricators around the country offer candid insight on the stone fabrication market, and how they are dealing with a changing market.(Fabricator: ISSUES & SOLUTIONS)(Company overview)
March 1, 2008... Q: What is the REAL situation out there for stone fabricators? I visit some shops that tell me they're as busy as can be, and yet there seems to be very little work going on. Others tell me they're "dead," and the shop seems to be bustling. I...

Making true radius cuts: in this question-and-answer session, fabricators address the issue of making true radius cuts without the use of a CNC machine.(Fabricator: ISSUES & SOLUTIONS)
March 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Q: How do you make true radius cuts without a CNC machine? Right now, I use a grinder and get them close, but they are not near perfect. I explain this to my customers who want a radius before we go ahead. This is...

Fading issues with black granite: when a dark stone material is dyed to achieve the desired color, it can present a host of problems for stone fabricators.(Fabricator: ISSUES & SOLUTIONS)
March 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED] I have received numerous calls lately concerning the fading of dark granite countertops. The most common complaints seem to be on Absolute Black, Black Galaxy, Zimbabwe Black and a few others. I have heard many...

Coverings 2008 returns to Orlando: coverings, the leading trade show for tile, stone and related machinery and products, is set to take place at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, FL, from April 29 to May 2.
March 1, 2008... The 2008 edition of Coverings returns to familiar turf this year, as it will take place in Orlando, FL, at the Orange County Convention Center from April 29 to May 2. The move back to Orlando will mark the 10th appearance of Coverings in that...

Coverings 2008 seminar schedule.(Calendar)
March 1, 2008... FABRICATOR CONFERENCE SESSIONS TUESDAY, APRIL 29, 2008 4:30-5:30 P.M. Maintenance and Problem Solving 101-- What to Use, What to Know and Why Given the tremendous growth and popularity of tile and stone today, using a sealer...

Interior stonework characterizes homeowners' personality: revealed in more than 21,000 square feet of home, stone not only serves as an upgrade to a private residence in Alpine, NJ, but it also signifies the owners' disposition.(Stone in the Residence)
March 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Seeking a casual, elegant look for the design of their interior space, the owners of an Alpine, NJ, home chose stone that would be reflective of their personal character. Therefore, when it came to selecting...

Stone patterns connect indoor/outdoor spaces: in order to create a smooth shift from indoor to outdoor spaces, a private residence in California was designed with a variety of natural stone in flowing patterns.(Stone in the Residence)
March 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] For the design of his 3,500-square-foot private residence in Newport Coast, CA, Kap Malik, a Design Principal at Gensler, transformed the inwardly focused space into an indoor/ outdoor environment that maximizes...

Rustic stone house blends with mountainscape: travertine served as the primary building material for both exterior and interior features of a rustic-looking private residence located in the Moreno Valley of New Mexico.(Stone in the Residence)(Cover story)
March 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Sitting at an altitude of almost 10,000 feet on the mountainside of Angel Fire village in the Moreno Valley of New Mexico, is a 2,600-square-foot, rustic-looking stone house designed to blend in with its environment....

Stone suppliers maintain a presence at Surfaces 2008: with a crowd of over 35,000 on hand, stone suppliers at Surfaces 2008 in Las Vegas, NV, were able to present their wares to a broad audience.
March 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Considered to be the leading trade exhibition for floor covering professionals, Surfaces 2008 took place at the Sands Expo & Convention Center from January 30 to February 1. And while suppliers of stone and related...

Miracle sealants races into Surfaces 2008.
March 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED] Miracle Sealants Corp. carried a high profile at Surfaces 2008 in Las Vegas, NV. In addition to introducing new products 511 H20 + "water base" and 511 Grout Sealer Aerosol, the company kicked off its 2008 "Win a...

Calendar.(Calendar)
March 1, 2008... March 31 to April 3, 2008 Stone World Fabrication Management Clinics, St. Louis, MO (March 31), Chicago, IL (April 1), Minneapolis, MN (April 3). For more information, call 1-888-530-6714 or visit www. stoneworld.com/managementclinic. ...

511 H2O+ Sealer.(NEW PRODUCTS)
March 1, 2008... In an effort to meet the increasing demand for a water-base impregnating sealer, Miracle Sealants Co. has introduced 511 H2O+ Sealer. 511 H2O+ is free from harmful PFOS and PFOA that are found in many water-based impregnators/sealers on...

Laticrete[R] 125 anti-fracture mortar.(NEW PRODUCTS)
March 1, 2008... Laticrete, a global leader in the manufacturing of innovative systems for the installation of ceramic tile and stone, has announced the launch of Laticrete[R] 125 anti-fracture mortar, a lightweight, superior crack prevention mortar that passes...

Next-generation stiffening device.(NEW EQUIPMENT)
March 1, 2008... The next-generation stiffening device by Omni Cubed protects finished stone pieces from breakage during lifting, moving and installation. This USA-made product works great for curved or "bump-out" countertops, and can be combined with the...

Smart-Cut S/NC 500.(NEW EQUIPMENT)
March 1, 2008... Breton S.p.A. has released the Smart-Cut S/NC 500, a precise and sturdy bridge saw with a rotating head and a fixed worktable. Capable of both fully programmed and manual axis control through a joystick, it is ideal for high-speed cutting of...

2007/2008 Membership Directory and Buyers Guide.(NEW LITERATURE)(Directory)(Buyers guide)
March 1, 2008... The National Tile Contractors Association (NTCA), one of the largest tile contractor associations in the world, is launching the premier issue of its 2007/2008 Membership Directory and Buyers Guide, an official industry directory and resource...

2008 collect.(NEW LITERATURE)
March 1, 2008... Turquoise Stone has released a full-color brochure detailing its 2008 collect ion. The literature features images and measurements for its split-face three-dimensional mosaics, regular mosaics, tight composition mosaics, borders and tumbled...

Machine of the month.
March 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The Denver Job is a 3-axis CNC fully automated router and polisher from VIC International. Small in size but big in performance, the Job's open gantry structure with side apertures allows positioning of large slabs...