Stone World articles from October 2005

Stone World archives from October 2005

My kingdom for a tarp.(post disaster housing reconstruction)(Column)
October 1, 2005... The American Red Cross estimates that 275,000 homes have been destroyed by Katrina and the flooding that followed in Louisiana, Alabama and Mississippi. More than 1 million people have been displaced, their homes unlivable and likely to be...

Hurricane relief efforts for Gulf Coast stone companies.(NEWSLINE)
October 1, 2005... Some relief efforts have started for stone-related companies across the Gulf Coast, which was devastated by Hurricane Katrina. Stone distributors, fabricators and other industry members in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama were forced to...

MIA companies support affected companies and displaced workers.(NEWSLINE)
October 1, 2005... The following MIA Members have offered support to affected companies and displaced workers. Stone World commends MIA for initiating this industry response to the catastrophe, and these listings can also be found at www.marbleinstitute.com: ...

F. Barkow named distributor of Groves products.(NEWSLINE)
October 1, 2005... Groves, Inc. of McHenry, IL, announced that it has named F. Barkow Inc. of Milwaukee, WI, as a distributor of Groves Glass and Stone Handling Equipment. Barkow has recently published an eight-page catalog of the Groves items it will be...

One liners.(NEWSLINE)(Cesar Pelli recieves Louis Sullivan Award from the International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftmen, Contractors Association of America's Trowel of Excellence certification program and ESAB Welding and Cutting Products (Hanover, Pennsylvania)'s donations for Hurricane Katrina victims)
October 1, 2005... Cesar Pelli, FAIA, of Cesar Pelli & Associates, received the 2005 Louis Sullivan Award from the International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers (BAC). The presentation was made at the union's convention in Honolulu, HI, on October 4....

Statistics.(Illustration)
October 1, 2005... June 2005 | Imports to the U.S. Customers value in dollars does not include insurance or freight COUNTRY GRANITE MARBLE* U.S. $ TONS U.S. $ TONS ARAB EMIRATES ...

Burkhardt takes over the operation of Arbes.(Arbes Maschinenfabrik KG )(Brief Article)
October 1, 2005... BAYREUTH, GERMANY -- Burkhardt GmbH, an international machine and plant engineering company that manufactures stone-processing equipment, recently took over the complete operation of Arbes Maschinenfabrik KG in Kreuztal-Krombach, Germany. As a...

New sales managers.(NEWS)
October 1, 2005... LAWRENCE, KS -- Matt Henderson has recently joined ProSoCo--a national manufacturer of products for cleaning, protecting and maintaining stone, concrete and brick that is based in Lawrence, KS--as sales manager for the company's North Central...

Promotions announced.(Komo Machine Inc)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2005... SAUK RAPIDS, MN -- Komo Machine, Inc., an industry leader that provides custom designs and a manufacturer of industrial CNC routers, has announced several company changes, which will help prepare it for the next level as an organization. These...

New location.(NEWS)
October 1, 2005... SOUTHFIELD, MI -- Delta Diamond Tools, Inc., a leading tooling supply company to marble and granite fabricators in North America, has recently relocated to a larger facility in Southfield, MI. This move has been part of the continued growth...

"American Woman" sculpture comes to life.(NEWS)
October 1, 2005... GREEN MOUNTAIN FALLS, CO -- Francisco Sotomayor of the Marble Studio of Green Mountain Falls, CO, designed the "American Woman" sculpture--a life-sized marble masterpiece of a beautiful woman reclined atop a 10-foot-long concert grand piano....

Braxton-Bragg air polishers the new Quick-6RW & Quick-6.(Brief Article)
October 1, 2005... Braxton-Bragg Quick-6RW Air Polisher Features: *Spindle speed: 0-3,500 RPM *Air consumption: 15 cfm @ 90 psi *Rear Exhaust *Less noise: 88 Db *Weight: 3 lbs. *Length: 8" *Center water feed *5/8-11 spindle thread *Built-in water...

High-tech expansion in New Jersey: after successfully operating a plant for countertop fabrication in Long Island, NY, for five years, Selective Surfaces Inc. opened a new facility in North Brunswick, NJ, which is outfitted with state-of-the-art technology.(RE-EMERGING U.S. STONE INDUSTRY)
October 1, 2005... As a fabricator of Silestone countertops, Selective Surfaces Inc. was incorporated in December of 1999 with a large-scale facility in Wyandanch, NY, that now fabricates in excess of 6,000 kitchens per year. And in addition to growth in the New...

Achieving growth through technology: the purchase of a Zonato bridge saw from International Machine Corp. has allowed NY-based Granite Emporium to double production and reduce lead-time.(Fabricator Case Study)
October 1, 2005... Even though Granite Emporium of Farmingdale, NY, has only been in business for a little over a year, it is already fabricating and installing an average of six to 10 kitchen countertops a week. Before starting the company, owner Joseph Davi had...

Making the move to automated stone fabrication: Gerali Custom Design of Elgin, IL, developed a process-focused stoneworking shop by investing in modern technology.(Fabricator Case Study)
October 1, 2005... When Gerali Custom Design of Elgin, IL, one of North America's largest solid surface fabricators, set its sights on stone, the owners knew they required a fully automated production line to meet their goals. After years of process-focused work...

High granite production fuels growth: after eight years in countertop production, annual sales for Stone Interiors has reached $13 million between its two locations in the Southeast.(Fabricator Case Study)(Company Profile)
October 1, 2005... It was 1997 when the first kitchen from Stone Interiors, LLC left the company's loading docks. Back then the company had seven employees and 7,000 square feet in one facility. Since that time, annual sales have grown to $13 million, primarily...

Partnering for success: the owners of G.M.S.--Granite & Marble Services in Bluffton, SC, joined forces to build a solid stone fabrication business in a flourishing home production market.(Fabricator Case Study)
October 1, 2005... G.M.S.--Granite & Marble Services of Bluffton, SC, recently opened its doors in April of 2005, with Gianni Cafarelli and Karen Johanson as principal owners. And the story of how the two founders met and formed a partnership is an interesting...

Pursuing new avenues in stone production: to better serve its customers, Polycor Inc. recently opened a slab plant at its complex in Saint-Sebastien, Quebec, Canada.
October 1, 2005... Close to the border of Maine and within several hours driving distance from Montreal and Quebec City, Polycor's state-of-the-art manufacturing complex is tucked away in Saint-Sebastien, Quebec, Canada, among rolling hills and green pastures....

An outdoor arena set in stone: a new amphitheater at Sigmund Stern Grove park in San Francisco, CA, consists of almost 1,800 tons of Chinese granite--providing a place for 10,000 visitors to watch summer concerts.(Exterior Architecture)
October 1, 2005... Skilled craftsmanship is reflected in the construction of a new outdoor amphitheater on the grounds of Sigmund Stern Grove--a 33-acre public park in San Francisco's Sunset District. The 10,000-seat arena features nearly 1,800 tons of Chinese...

Local stone reflects Colorado mountainscape: although on a restricted budget, local sandstone was the primary building material in the redesign of Denver's Skyline Park.(Exterior Architecture)
October 1, 2005... Originally designed in the 1970s, the concrete and brick architecture of Skyline Park in Denver, CO, deteriorated over time due to the region's harsh freeze/thaw climate. As a result, the firm of Thomas Balsley Associates of New York was called...

StonExpo prepares for Las Vegas: the 2005 edition of StonExpo will take place at the Las Vegas Convention Center from October 20 to 22.
October 1, 2005... StonExpo, which for the first year is owned and operated by Hanley Wood, will take place from October 20 to 22, 2005 at the Las Vegas Convention Center in Las Vegas, NV. And this year, for the first time, the exhibition for the natural stone...

Bridge saw roundup: as advancements in the stone industry continue, bridge saws prove to be the number one necessity for stone fabricators today.
October 1, 2005... Whether a fabricator is operating a large- or small-scale operation, the bridge saw serves as the backbone of their processing operation. The bridge saws on the market today are continuing to advance, offering new features and benefits for...

Features and benefits to consider when choosing a bridge saw: stone fabricators investing in a new bridge saw need to weigh several factors before making their decision.
October 1, 2005... The first consideration for any countertop fabricator that wants to grow is usually deciding what type of saw to purchase. Whether manual or automatic, the heart of a shop's production is the saw. If you are not cutting enough slabs, your saw...

Jerusalem stone revitalizes Israeli resort: varying shades and tile sizes of Jerusalem Stone were implemented in the renovation of the Mizpe Hayamim Hotel and Spa in Rosh Pina, Israel.(Hospitality Design)
October 1, 2005... An example of timeless design can be found at the Mizpe Hayamim Hotel and Spa on the eastern slopes of Mount Canaan, overlooking the Golan Heights and the Sea of Galilee in Rosh Pina, Israel. The resort, which sits on 37 acres of fruit groves,...

A colossal stone achievement in the Middle East: measuring approximately 1 kilometer from end to end, the Emirates Palace in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, stands as a showcase of large-scale stonework, including granite from North Carolina.(Hospitality Design)
October 1, 2005... "It is difficult to give an apt description to the Emirates Palace. String together a host of superlative adjectives, and somehow you still feel that you have fallen short of the mark." These were the words written by the publicity department...

Elegance achieved in stone: a 5,400-square-foot residence in Livermore, CA, was recently designed with extensive use of stonework for both interior and exterior features.(Cover Story)
October 1, 2005... Mario Sosa of Sosa Granite and Marble recently designed his entire 5,400-square-foot residence in Livermore, CA, with the extensive use of stone materials. The kitchen, bathrooms, foyer area, entertainment center, game room, fireplaces and even...

Vermont Marble is highlighted on the Food Network: as the result of a recent contest hosted by the Food Network, a Michigan-based homeowner received a new kitchen renovated in Danby marble from Vermont Quarries Corp.
October 1, 2005... The Food Network recently aired a four-episode feature called the "All-Star Kitchen Makeover," during which, chefs Emeril Lagasse, Bobby Flay, Alton Brown and Paula Deen redesigned kitchens for four contest winners. The episodes take viewers...

Proper surface preparation--the start of a successful tile installation.
October 1, 2005... Proper surface preparation for residential installations of stone or ceramic tile is probably the most important phase of the work, but often the most overlooked. Even when it is recognized that it needs to be addressed, not enough time or...

Considering marble as a countertop material: when properly selected and maintained, marble can provide a novel design option for residential countertops.
October 1, 2005... While granite has been the en vogue material for counter-tops for quite some time, there is also a "new" trend in place toward marble countertops--resulting in a timeless, classic look for a broad range of residential designs. ...

Calendar.(Calendar)
October 1, 2005... OCTOBER 16, 2005 Advanced Stone Fabrication Seminar, Asheville, NC. Contact: The National Training Center for Stone & Masonry Trades, 70 Westside Drive, Asheville, NC 28806; (828) 255-4510; Fax: (828) 255-4513; Web site: www.ntc-stone.com....

Precious Stone Designs.(NEW PRODUCTS)
October 1, 2005... Precious Stone Designs of Toronto, Canada, offers an array of beautiful decorative stones for kitchen countertops, floors, bathrooms and many other applications. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]...

HMK Stone Care.(NEW PRODUCTS)
October 1, 2005... HMK Stone Care of San Francisco, CA, has recently introduced HMK P1 3-in-1 spray, a ready-to-use product which has been specially developed for daily use on kitchen countertops, bathroom vanities, table and bar tops, windowsills and other...

Park Industries.(NEW EQUIPMENT)
October 1, 2005... Park Industries has introduced the Park Discovery CNC stoneworking center--a 50-tool CNC machine that is guaranteed to increase productivity and enhance operator efficiency with a two-table set-up. While the Discovery is profiling curved...

Marmo Meccanica USA.(NEW LITERATURE)
October 1, 2005... Marmo Meccanica USA has recently published an 8-page brochure describing the company's LCH straight-line polishing machine--designed for flat or squared 1- to 6-cm-thick marble or granite edges. The machine works on a continuous process basis...

Salem Stone.(NEW LITERATURE)
October 1, 2005... Once again, Salem Stone has released The Edge, its quarterly newsletter designed for successful stone fabricators. The publication contains articles covering topics such as strategies for operating a successful business and information on new...

The Gadia PetraDAM CNC Machining Center.(Machine of the month)
October 1, 2005... The Gadia PetraDAM CNC Machining Center--available exclusively from Salem Stone--is a numerically controlled machine specifically designed for the stone industry. The main features are versatility and flexibility for work on granite and marble...

Ice green marble.(Stone of the month)
October 1, 2005... This Stone of the Month supplied by Zucchi Granite Group, Serra, Espirito Santo, Brazil. Technical details provide a frame of reference only. Because stone is a product of nature, testing to determine specific physical qualities should be...