Stone World articles from September 2003

Stone World archives from September 2003

MIA introduces new money-saving benefits for members ...(Newsline)(Marble Institute of America )
September 1, 2003... U.S. Members of the Marble Institute of America (MIA) can expect to realize significant savings of up to 60% on energy and freight costs as a result of new alliances announced today by the leading natural stone association. Through MIA's new...

Tile, stone and flooring industries voice support for coverings ...(Newsline)
September 1, 2003... The five sponsoring organizations of Coverings are in daily contact as they work together to support Coverings 2004. These organizations have announced the following goals for Coverings 2004: 1) increase attendance from the designer and...

StonExpo expands attendee marketing to enhance exhibitor return ...(Newsline)
September 1, 2003... Citing the need to provide enhanced customer satisfaction, StonExpo has announced dramatic increases to its marketing efforts for this year's show in Atlanta and for the future. Since its inception, StonExpo has served as the leading business...

Industry remains committed to Surfaces 2004 ...(Newsline)(trade show will take place in Las Vegas, Nevada)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... Surfaces 2004 is set to take place from January 28 to 30 at the Sands Expo & Convention Center in Las Vegas, NV, and it is already 80% sold out. Organizers state that almost 10% more exhibiting companies are currently on board for the event...

One liners ...(Newsline)(stone industry news briefs)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... Brazil Stone of Carlstadt, NJ, is now introducing several new stones from their quarries in Brazil, including Verde Riviera, a green granite with hints of mauve. The company can be reached at 201-964-1940. The Royal Institute of British...

Worth the trip.(Stone Column)(CarraraMarmotec trade show)(Column)
September 1, 2003... In June of this year, CarraraMarmotec took place in the historic stoneworking center of Carrara, Italy, marking the 24th year that the show has taken place in that locale. As an international trade magazine for the stone industry, we have been...

Statistics.(stone industry imports and exports, May 2003)(Illustration)(Industry Overview)
September 1, 2003... IMPORTS TO THE U.S. MAY 2003 Customs value in dollars does not include or freight FROM GRANITE MARBLE COUNTRIES U.S. $ TONS U.S. $ TONS ARAB...

Award presentation in Verona.(News)(Edilgraniti s.r.l.)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... VERONA, ITALY -- This year at Marmomacc 2003, which will be held from October 2 to 5, Edilgraniti srl will present the Edilgraniti Outstanding Associate Award 2003. The award is a sign of appreciation that is intended to recognize the merit of...

LuxStone establishes U.S. warehouse.(News)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... DELRAY BEACH, FL -- LuxStone has set up a warehouse in Delray Beach, FL, to better assist its clients needs. As of September, the company will have granite blocks in stock at its new U.S. location. This will enable the Brazilian firm to offer...

Obituary.(News)(Helmut Moeller, founder of Stone Care Products)(Brief Article)(Obituary)
September 1, 2003... HMK[R] Stone Care Products traces its roots to 1976, when founder Helmut Moeller launched Moeller-Chemie in Kehlheim, Germany (HMK stands for Helmut Moeller Kehlheim). By introducing innovative stone care products and demonstrating their...

Appoints sales manager.(News)(Michael Sawicki is the new national sales manager for Miracle Sealants Co.)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... ARCADIA, CA -- Michael Sawicki is the new national sales manager for Miracle Sealants Co. He has over 25 years of experience in sales and marketing of construction products. Most recently, he worked at Laticrete as Vice President of Marketing,...

New market development representative.(News)(Scott Conwell has been appointed Market Development Representative)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... CHICAGO, IL -- The International Masonry Institute (IMI) announced that Scott Conwell, AIA, has been appointed as the Market Development Representative to the Tile Marble Terrazzo Labor Management Craft Committee of the International Union of...

A successful start.(News)
September 1, 2003... ROCHESTER, NY -- Ismail Cakir of Metropolitan Granite & Marble Inc. is excited about his new operation, which opened only a few months ago. The company already has a full schedule of orders from all over New York, including Manhattan. "The...

An innovative force in New York sandstone: in less than 10 years, the owner of Devonian Stone of New York, Inc. turned a discovery of an inactive quarry on his property into a valuable resource for New York sandstone.(Re-Emerging U. S. Stone Industry)
September 1, 2003... When Robert Bellospirito sold his construction business on Long Island and purchased 40 acres of land in upstate New York over a decade ago, he had no idea that the stone quarry soon to be discovered on his property would be the start of his...

Architects roundtable: Stonehill & Taylor; architects at Stonehill & Taylor in New York discuss some of their latest uses for natural stone as well as issues they face with the stone industry today.(Panel Discussion)
September 1, 2003... Located in Manhattan's trendy SoHo district, Stonehill & Taylor has been designing new construction and renovation projects since 1963. The firm's design process focuses on attention to its clients' needs and ensuring that its work is...

Alony Marble--the source for quality Jerusalem stones.
September 1, 2003... Alony Marble, the largest importer and producer of marble, granite, and stone in Israel, is proud to bring to you the Holyland Collection of exquisite Jerusalem stone. Available in six outstanding colors--from the famous Jerusalem Gold, through...

Expectations exceeded at Stone+tec 2003; given the state of world affairs, including the threat of SARS, show organizers were pleased when attendance at this year's exhibition in Nurnberg, Germany, was greater than initially anticipated.(Report from Europe)
September 1, 2003... With concerns about the difficult economic times that have hit worldwide--particularly in the Central European building industry--and the fear of SARS circulating in the period leading up to the exhibition, show organizer NurnbergMesse was...

A union among German limestone producers: created in 1986, the JMS Group illustrates how seven companies can successfully work together to market their product to the international market.(Report from Europe)
September 1, 2003... In the mid 1980s, several quarriers of German limestone came to the realization that they would be more profitable if they pooled their resources and worked as a team. This led to two years of negotiations to formulate a plan of operation. In...

Standing out among the crowd; with a collection of unique materials from around the world to complement their granite and marble collection, International Italmarmi has a broad lineup of natural stone products.(Report from Europe)
September 1, 2003... Located in Massa, Carrara, Italy, International Italmarmi finds itself in the very heart of the natural stone industry, with other stone producers at every corner. So to make itself stand out from its competition, the company has brought in a...

Italian slab producer opens new resin plant; following a trend that has become very popular in Europe as well as the U.S., Bruno Lucchetti is supplying resin-treated slabs from a new facility in Massa, Italy.(Report from Europe)
September 1, 2003... Already one of the Carrara region's leading international stone producers, Bruno Lucchetti Marmi e Graniti S.r.l. recently added to its production by establishing a new facility to apply resin to marble and granite slabs. The new facility...

Advanced quarry saw extracts premium Italian marble: at the underground Ezio Ronchieri quarry near Carrara, Italy, the owners extract premium Statuario, Carrara P, Calacatta and Arabescato marble with the help of a state-of-the-art mobile chainsaw.(Report from Europe)
September 1, 2003... Deep within the Apuan of Italy--where CAI Mountaineering trails cross the quarry road--Ezio Ronchieri extracts some of the Carrara region's finest materials. The underground, multi-level quarry produces Statuario, Carrara P, Calacatta and...

Playing a key role in international stone architecture: with state-of-the-art facilities in Italy, the companies of the Campolonghi Group have supplied stone for some of the world's most impressive architectural works.(Report from Europe)
September 1, 2003... Sitting in his offices in Montignoso, Massa, Italy--near the very hear of the world's stone industry--Campolonghi Group President Vando D'Angiolo proudly points out that virtually every city in North America has a skyscraper that was designed...

Italian stoneworking center hosts CarraraMarmotec 2003: taking place in the renowned stoneworking region of Carrara, Italy, CarraraMarmotec, the 24th International Marble, Machinery and Equipment Fair was held from June 4 to 7, 2003.(Report from Europe)
September 1, 2003... The 2003 edition of Carrara Marmotec--the 24th International Marble, Machinery and Equipment Fair took place from June 4 to 7 in Carrara, Italy. The event featured exhibits of natural stone, machinery and stone installation and maintenance...

Turkish marble producer strives for quality: with a well-trained staff and modern technology, Tem-Mer marble is steadily advancing as a producer of Turkish marble.(Report from Europe)
September 1, 2003... With a factory in Afyon and a Main office in Istanbul, Turkey, Tem-Mer Marble refers to itself as a "symbol of quality" in the industry. Equipped with technologically advanced machinery, an experienced professional staff, a variety of quarry...

Italian producer adds state-of-the-art gangsaws.(Report from Europe)
September 1, 2003... Recently, Simec S.p.A. completed the installation of two new gangsaws for granite-Model Record Due/600/36/200-at Boschetto Graniti in Chiampo (VI), Italy. Since that time, the sheer size of the saws, with a usable working width of 6,000 mm and...

Working together to produce quality material: to achieve success in the global marketplace, Granitex S.p.A. of Verona, Italy, functions as a network of companies, allowing it to span more territories and maintain a large inventory of high-quality products.(Report from Europe)
September 1, 2003... Started more than 40 years ago by Agostino Falzi, who strongly believed in the market and application of natural stone, Granitex S.p.A. of Verona, Italy, is currently comprised of a network of companies, which are capable of meeting the demand...

Continuing tradition at Marmomacc 2004: in Verona, Italy, a tradition for the natural stone industry and leading members of the design community to interact, share ideas and experience the latest developments in technology will soon take place for the 38th year.(Report from Europe)
September 1, 2003... Marmomacc, the International Stone and Technologies Exhibition, is a successful event due to the large number of exhibitors who attend year after year. This year's event, scheduled for October 2 to 5 in Verona, Italy, already has more than...

Creating specialty divisions within one enterprise: expanding on the foundation set by two generations before them, the owners of the Simonelli & Partners' Group of Carrara, Italy, realize that finding several niches within the market will help to achieve stronger growth.(Report from Europe)
September 1, 2003... In 1936, the Simonelli family opened a small fabricating company in the prosperous stoneworking region of Carrara, Italy. Over the years, this business has evolved into the Simonelli & Partners' Group, which includes a total of seven companies....

Church is renovated with a classic design: a beautiful sanctuary in Bloomfield, NJ, has recently been renovated with a new marble design.(Renovation & Restoration)(Sacred Heart Church)
September 1, 2003... Located in Bloomfield, NJ, the Sacred Heart Church was constructed from mottled brick and terra-cotta with brownstone trimmings. It was completed over a period of two years, and on October 19, 1890, it became the permanent home for the parish....

Restoration of combination floors.(Technical Forum)
September 1, 2003... Question: Lately we have seen a lot of stone flooring patterns that combine marble and granite together. How do we refinish these materials together? What diamonds do we use and what is the procedure? Answer: You are correct. There are a...

A modern reopening with stone: after the September 11 attacks, the Millenium Hilton hotel in New York was nearly destroyed, but after a full renovation--including new and replaced natural stones--the hotel has reopened to the public.
September 1, 2003... The 55-floor, 561-room Millenium Hilton hotel, located in Manhattan, was severely damaged in the September 11, 2001, attacks on the city. Soon afterwards, Stonehill & Taylor Architects of New York, was retained to redesign and renovate the...

The revival of a statuesque church: a mix of Carrara marble and Ubatuba granite reinvents the Bakers Memorial United Methodist Church, developing a fresh appearance to an aged building.(Renovation & Restoration)
September 1, 2003... A few miles outside of Chicago, a white church stands large and monumental in the heart of St. Charles, IL. Located on a grassy hill, it presents its prestigious stature to the corner of Fifth St. and Main St. The intricate architecture of this...

Natural Stone Council case for support.(Forum)
September 1, 2003... One of the industry's most pressing challenges is creating a proactive stance to position natural stone as the premier product in its category of quality construction materials. Imitation engineered products are being aggressively promoted with...

Calendar.(Calendar)
September 1, 2003... 2003 October 2-5 Marmomacc, the International Exhibition of Marble, Stone and Technology and Building Materials Show, Verona, Italy. Contact: Veronafiere, 0039 045 8298275, 8298279, 8298274; Fax: 0039 045 8298221. November 11-14...

HMK S42 Exterior Color Enhancing Impregnator.(New Products)
September 1, 2003... The new HMK S42 Exterior Color Enhancing Impregnator from HMK Stone Cure' Products was developed to give the same protection as HMK S34 Silicone Impregnator, as well as the color enhancing affect from HMK S35 Stone Sealer Matte Finish. The...

Calibrate natural stone.(New Products)
September 1, 2003... Brachot-Hermant has created an advanced production process to calibrate natural stone slabs to a thickness minimum of 10 mm with its Calibrato[R] collection. Slabs are uniformly calibrated to thicknesses from 10 to 78 mm, ensuring that each...

Custom Building Products has recently announced two new product innovations.(New Products)
September 1, 2003... Custom Building Products has recently announced two new product innovations. Rapid Setting Mortar System is a new two-component system for high-end commercial use, and CustomFlex Premium Flexible Mortar System is a combination of two existing...

Architectural stone products.(New Products)
September 1, 2003... Fuzhou Boyan Stone Co., Ltd., which has been exporting stone from China since 1995, is offering a range of architectural stone products to the North American market, including countertops, vanities, monuments, sculptures and spheres in various...

The Omag Profiler.(New Equipment)
September 1, 2003... The Omag Profiler, which is now available from Bergman Blair Machine Corp., is a computer-controlled routing and engraving machine designed for materials such as marble, granite, limestone and glass. It is capable of working in 3 axes...

Auto Force.(New Equipment)
September 1, 2003... The Auto Force is a new tool designed to make tile cutting easy. Created by the North American Tile Tool Co. (NATTCO), the Auto Force is a one-piece galvanized carbon steel-based tile cutter. With preset scoring pressure for floor and wall...

LTH Straight Horizontal Edge Polisher.(New Equipment)
September 1, 2003... Marmo Meccanica has introduced the LTH Straight Horizontal Edge Polisher. The standard model is named LTH 721 M. The machine is comprised of several mandrels: The Calibration Mandrel to gauge thickness at an adjustable depth--maximum 6 cm....

Line of granites.(New Literature)
September 1, 2003... A new booklet of its line of granites has been published by Brasil Quarries. With a full page devoted to each different type and color, customers can get a better look at the intricacies of the stone. With a range of colors highlighting...

Book of its stone mosaics.(New Literature)
September 1, 2003... Granite and Marble Resources has issued a new book of its stone mosaics. The company boasts a variety of colors of marble, travertine, quartz and onyx mosaics in polished and tumbled surfaces. The mosaic patterns are available in tile sizes of...

Gravestones and other monuments.(New Literature)
September 1, 2003... Gem Granites shows some of its best work in its new pamphlet, featuring gravestones and other monuments. It offers a wide variety of dimensional blocks for monuments, polished random slabs, cut-to-size slabs for projects, calibrated tiles and...

Machine of the month.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... Launched in 1996, Thibaut reports that the T108 is the most widely distributed multifunction stoneworking center in the world, with 530 units sold to date. Thibaut's "brainchild" has continually been improved over the years, both in terms of...