Stone World articles from October 2007

Stone World archives from October 2007

Continuing education--critical at all levels.(STONE COLUMN)(Editorial)
October 1, 2007... No matter how long you've been in the stone industry, or what areas of expertise you have developed, you can always benefit from continuing and advancing your education. Fortunately, there is no shortage of high-quality educational...

Alpha professional tools releases educational DVDs ...(NEWSLINE)
October 1, 2007... Alpha Professional Tools[R] is pleased to announce the release of a series of educational DVDs. The first in the series, "Granite Countertop Fabrication and Installation," teaches step-by-step techniques for countertop and bathroom vanity...

Natural stone council makes final push in 2007 fundraising campaign ...(NEWSLINE)(The Natural Stone Council)
October 1, 2007... The Natural Stone Council (NSC), a collaborative organization representing business and trade associations that promote stone under the Genuine Stone[TM] brand, announced the success of its 2007 fundraising campaign, with over 35 companies...

UGM opens new facility in Illinois ...(NEWSLINE)(Universal Granite & Marble)(Brief article)
October 1, 2007... Universal Granite & Marble (UGM) recently opened its newest facility in Oswego, IL, which houses more than 350 natural stone slabs in over 50 colors at a convenient location west of Chicago. At its highest capacity, the Oswego facility...

MIA develops performance analysis report ...(NEWSLINE)(Marble Institute of America)
October 1, 2007... The just-completed 2007 MIA Performance Analysis Report provides a comprehensive set of benchmarks on financial performance in the natural stone fabrication industry. The report suggests that there continues to be major differences between the...

One liners ...(NEWSLINE)(Correction notice)
October 1, 2007... Correction: To clarify the article on Madhucon Granite Ltd. of India ("Indian granite producer establishes presence," August Stone World, page 60), the company has a total of 10 gangsaws, five from Breton S.p.A. of Italy and five from Barsanti....

June 2007: imports to the U.S.(STATISTICS)
October 1, 2007... STATISTICS June 2007 | Imports to the U.S. Customers value in dollars does not include insurance or freight COUNTRY GRANITE U.S. $ TONS ARAB EMIRATES ARGENTINA ...

June 2007: exports from the U.S.(STATISTICS)(Statistical table)
October 1, 2007... STATISTICS June 2007 | Exports from the U.S. Customers value in dollars does not include insurance or freight COUNTRY GRANITE U.S. $ TONS ANTIGUA BAHAMAS ...

Prosoco announces new sales managers.(NEWS)
October 1, 2007... LAWRENCE, KS -- Terry Tomlinson and Gary Hayes have joined PROSOCO as sales managers for the company's West Coast and Midwest sales regions. The company is an international manufacturer of products for cleaning, protecting and maintaining...

Laticrete sponsors Ivan Teper's rocky mountain ride.(NEWS)
October 1, 2007... DENVER, CO -- Laticrete[R], a world leader in the manufacturing of innovative systems for the installation of stone and ceramic tile, recently sponsored Ivan Teper in the annual Bob Cook Memorial Mt. Evans Hill Climb on July 21 in Denver, CO....

Etemplate's digital measuring and templating system added to college curriculum.(NEWS)
October 1, 2007... RALEIGH, NC -- ETemplate Systems has announced that it has entered into a partnership with Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC), Des Moines, IA, and Salt Lake Community College, Salt Lake City, UT, to provide the ETemplate Photo Digital...

BSI announces new executive vice president.(NEWS)
October 1, 2007... ELGIN, IL -- The Building Stone Institute (BSI), one of the country's oldest natural stone trade associations, has announced the appointment of Margie Lechowicz as Executive Vice President and Connie Kitzinger as Director of Education and...

O&G Industries--masonry division recruits new sales rep.(NEWS)
October 1, 2007... WATERBURY, CT -- Craig Alvarez, Assistant Vice-President of Sales and Marketing for O&G Industries--Masonry Division, has announced Scott Lockwood as the company's new Architectural Sales Representative. In this position, Lockwood will be...

From landscaping to stone quarrying: Evans Landscaping, Inc. launched Evans Stoneworks to serve as a main stone source for its own company, and this venture has developed into a major stone producer.(RE-EMERGING U.S. STONE INDUSTRY)
October 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Evans Stoneworks was launched in 2000 as a division of Evans Landscaping, Inc., a wholesale and retail landscaping business which has been in operation in Cincinnati, OH, since 1975. The idea behind the new operation...

Taking a different strategy with 2-cm counters: with a business degree and experience working with a company dealing in the Miami market, the owner of Old World Marble & Granite, Inc. of Naples, FL, was confident to start his own company and sell 2-cm countertops in a 3-cm market.(Fabricator Case Study)
October 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Marc Beaudet of Old World Marble & Granite, Inc. in Naples, FL, has taken a different approach than his local competitors to selling stone countertops in the area. While Naples is typically a 3-cm market, Beaudet's...

Newly equipped for high-tech stoneworking: when Odyssey Tops of Myerstown, PA, decided to expand its business to include quartz surfacing, it invested in state-of-the-art technology, including a CNC stoneworking center.(Fabricator Case Study)
October 1, 2007... Founded in 2001 as a manufacturer of laminate countertops, Odyssey Tops, Inc. of Myerstown, PA, recently expanded its operation to include quartz surfacing. And when it did so, not only did it move into a larger 24,000-square-foot building, but...

Focusing on quality installation and machinery: owner of Premier Surfaces in Alpharetta, GA, Eric Tryon, centers his business around sustaining intimate relationships with his installers, equipment suppliers and customers.(Fabricator Case Study)(Company overview)
October 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] When Eric Tryon started Premier Surfaces in June of 2002, he went into it having learned a lesson with his prior business that he sold. It was to have total control of the process. Drawn to the stone industry...

Achieving the optimal seam: by taking a few simple steps, stone countertop installers can create seams with minimal visual impact.(Fabricator: ISSUES & SOLUTIONS)
October 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] More and more in the stone fabrication industry, companies are looking to take extra steps to ensure that the seam is as smooth as possible. Seam polishing is one technique, although many of the seams I polished were...

Countertop installation forum: earlier this year, a panel of industry veterans got together with fabricators from around the country at StonExpo East in Atlanta, GA, to discuss some of the issues they are facing when installing stone countertops.(Fabricator: ISSUES & SOLUTIONS)
October 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] As part of the comprehensive seminar program at StonExpo East, which took place earlier this year in Atlanta, GA, a panel of industry veterans held an open "Countertop Installation Forum" with fabricators...

StonExpo 2007 preview: the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas, NV, will host StonExpo, which will be held this year from October 18 to 20.
October 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] StonExpo 2007 will take place from October 18 to 20 at the Mandalay Bay Convent ion Center in Las Vegas, NV (conference program takes place from October 17 to 20). StonExpo brings visitors face to face with leading...

Upscale steakhouse defined with stone: described as stylish and trendy, the interior of N9NE Steakhouse in Dallas, TX, makes extensive use of Mexican travertine as well as accents of granite and glass mosaics to achieve its sleek look.(Hospitality Design)
October 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Located in downtown Dallas, TX, N9NE Steakhouse was built with the intention of avoiding a traditional steakhouse feel. This was in keeping with the design goal that its owner, the N9NE Group, sets for all of its...

French-style resort built with Indiana limestone: to create new facilities during a recent renovation and expansion of the French Lick Resort Casino in Indiana, limestone details were derived from characteristics of an existing 100-year-old hotel on site.(Hospitality Design)
October 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The French Lick Resort Casino in French Lick, IN, recently underwent an extensive renovation, which included a stone restoration as well as the addition of stone in new construction areas throughout the space. The...

Bringing a Texas culture home: architect Anthony Alofsin, AIA, used stone quarried 15 miles from his home in order to preserve the feeling of his residence's surrounding areas.(Exterior Stone Applications)
October 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] When it came to building his own home in Austin, TX, architect Anthony Alofsin dedicated time to creating a unique design that reflected its natural environment, which included the use of local stone. The plan that...

Roman travertine makes medical center a "pillar of strength": Ambra Light travertine--quarried in the Tivoli region of Italy--was chosen for the exterior of the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center for its aesthetic qualities as well as the flexural strength to meet California's latest seismic safety requirements.(Exterior Stone Applications)
October 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Approximately eight years in the making, the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center is the largest building ever built in the University of California School System. The facility comprises 10 stories--eight of which are...

Reconstructing "The Granite Building" piece by piece: in order to save a 100-year-old building from being demolished, Consigli Construction Co. of Milford, MA, salvaged each granite block and slate roofing piece and moved the building to a new location, which now houses its company headquarters.(Exterior Stone Applications)
October 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The 31,200-square-foot Consigli Construction Co., Inc.'s modern headquarters, commonly referred to as "The Granite Building," in Milford, MA, is the first granite building on record in the U.S. to be deconstructed...

Stony Creek granite pays homage to veterans: a recent renovation and restoration of the Veteran's Memorial at City Hall in Yonkers, NY, was undertaken to honor local veterans as well as to commemorate those who made the ultimate sacrifice.(Exterior Stone Applications)(renovation and restoration of Veteran's Memorial at City Hall in Yonkers New York)
October 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] As a tribute to the 20,000 veterans currently living in Yonkers, NY, as well as to pay homage to those who courageously lost their lives in battle, the Veteran's Memorial at City Hall was recently commemorated after...

MIA road trip hits the Midwest: on the heels of its successful quarry tour of Vermont and Canada, the Marble Institute of America set out to Minnesota and South Dakota with a group of industry professionals to observe quarrying and fabrication processes at some of the largest U.S. stone producers.
October 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The Marble Institute of America (MIA) once again hit the road to tour some of the well-known quarries of North America. This time, the organization headed to Minnesota and South Dakota with a group of industry...

Making a name for semi-precious stone: located on the island of Mauritius, in the Indian Ocean, near the region's plentiful exotic resources, Amazing Stone, Ltd. has created a market for slabs made from semi-precious minerals.
October 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Amazing Stone, Ltd. has taken on a unique position within the stone industry. Using minerals that were originally used for jewelry, the company has developed new technology and methods created to create these...

Eight ways new media will transform your business in 2008.
October 1, 2007... Every day, it seems that members of the stone industry--like all industries--are bombarded with new options in terms of information and technology. As a customer-focused media company, BNP Media (Stone World's parent company) is committed to...

Stone industry veteran serves overseas.(FORUM)
October 1, 2007... In an age where many Americans idolize professional sports figures, who make millions of dollars to play a game, some of the real "heroes" can often be overlooked. This is especially true of some of the men and women in the Armed Forces--both...

Calendar.(Calendar)
October 1, 2007... For all seminars and a more complete calendar of stone industry events, visit www.stoneworld.com. October 17 to 18, 2007 ASCTEX (Architectural Stone & Ceramic Tile Exposition) at NeoCon East, Baltimore, MD. Contact: Phone: (561)...

DuPont[TM] Zonyl[R] 9977.(NEW PRODUCTS)
October 1, 2007... DuPont has announced the introduction of DuPont[TM] Zonyl[R] 9977, an improved waterborne fluorochemical solution that can be used in water-based penetrating sealers to provide a durable, non-film-forming, transparent barrier against oil, water...

Two cleaning products.(NEW PRODUCTS)
October 1, 2007... VMC Technical Assistance Corp. is introducing two cleaning products. Quick Clean[R] countertop cleaner is a specially formulated spray and wipe cleaner that removes stubborn dirt and oils from granite and marble countertop surfaces in a simple...

Exteriors collection.(NEW PRODUCTS)
October 1, 2007... Daltile, a U.S. manufacturer and distributor of tile and natural stone, has grouped more than 60 outdoor-appropriate natural stone and porcelain tile products into its new Exteriors collection. Natural stone offerings have been expanded to...

DITEQ Diamond Tools & Equipment has introduced a portable precision tile/stone saw--the Rocket 3600.(NEW EQUIPMENT)
October 1, 2007... DITEQ Diamond Tools & Equipment has introduced a portable precision tile/stone saw--the Rocket 3600. The Rocket is specially designed to handle the larger stone and tile slabs commonly used in commercial and upper-scale residential jobs....

Xaero suction bench.(NEW EQUIPMENT)
October 1, 2007... Ghines now offers the new Xaero suction bench, which features two different depuration systems--totally dry operating. The first exhaustion, capturing about 70% of the dust, takes place under the work surface, through the action of 10 cyclones...

VacuuMax[TM] Seam Setter Conversion Kit.(NEW EQUIPMENT)
October 1, 2007... For companies owning "thumb-pump" style seam setters, the VacuuMax[TM] Seam Setter Conversion Kit by Omni Cubed, Inc. is the solution for converting their seam setters into automatic, pressure-maintaining systems. The setter is a great way to...

Marble Institute of America (MIA) staff member James Hieb has authored a book about the sandstone quarries of Lorain County, OH.(NEW LITERATURE)
October 1, 2007... Marble Institute of America (MIA) staff member James Hieb has authored a book about the sandstone quarries of Lorain County, OH. This region, known as the "Sandstone Center of the World," has quarry beginnings in the early 1800s. During the...

"Every stone tells a story," said geologist Monica Price.(NEW LITERATURE)
October 1, 2007... "Every stone tells a story," said geologist Monica Price. "Decorative rocks can reveal evidence of ancient life forms and great global processes--from earthquakes to the formation of great mountain chains." In her sweeping, authoritative...

Machine of the month.
October 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Waterjet Powered by Mitsubishi Electric offers advanced programming capabilities that are an ideal complement to saw cutting and routing, and they enable straight-line cutting for countertops with the added...

Stone of the month.
October 1, 2007... New Ventian Gold granite Country of origin Brazil Volumetric mass 2,566 kg/cu.m Compressive strength 1,514 kg/sq.m Bending strength ...