Stone World articles from September 2005

Stone World archives from September 2005

Another prime example.(STONE COLUMN)
September 1, 2005... As soon as I approached the entrance to this month's "Re-Emerging U.S. Stone Industry" subject--Vangura Surfacing Products of North Huntingdon, PA--I knew this was not going to be a typical fabrication shop article. To begin with, the...

World Wide Stone Corp. has a new face.(NEWSLINE)
September 1, 2005... In August 2005, World Wide Stone Corp.'s continuing exploration and core-drilling process revealed a beautiful new face of travertine, which looks like its past Durango Classic[TM], Durango Signature[TM] and Durango Especial[TM] products. ...

GMM opens U.S. office at Salem Stone in North Carolina.(corporate offices of Salem Stone)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... GMM, a worldwide leader in the sale of bridge saws based in Italy, has opened offices within the corporate offices of Salem Stone in Winston-Salem, NC. The company is now stocking GMM equipment as well as parts for its complete line of bridge...

Natural Stone Council confirms plans to exhibit at AIA 2006.(NEWSLINE)
September 1, 2005... The Natural Stone Council (NSC) has confirmed its plans to exhibit at the American Institute of Architects (AIA) National Convention, which will be held June 8 to 10, 2006 in Los Angeles, anchoring the Stone & Tile Pavilion in the exhibition....

MIA announces certification program for natural stone consultants.(NEWSLINE)
September 1, 2005... The Marble Institute of America (MIA) announced that in 2006 it will establish a certification program for natural stone consultants and inspectors serving the residential component of the industry, giving them an industry designation of...

New board of directors is established for Natural Stone Council.(NEWSLINE)
September 1, 2005... At the most recent board meeting of the Natural Stone Council, held in Chicago, IL, from August 1 to 2, a new board of directors was established, with staggering terms that are intended to allow for a regular influx of new members and fresh...

ITSS Expos selects Rio de Janeiro for new exposition.(International tile and stone show)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... ITSS Expos announced that negotiations have been finalized for the company to launch a trade exposition, from June 15 to 17, 2006 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Richard Caires, president of ITSS Expos, stated that the company's expansion plans are...

One liners.(Marble Architectural Award)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... Junzo Munemoto, the architect responsible for the Vangi Museum of Shizuoka--which was honored with a 2005 Marble Architectural Award by Internazionale Marmi e Macchine Carrara--has been acknowledged by the Kyoto School of Architecture. The...

Statistics.(United States' stone import)(Illustration)
September 1, 2005... May 2005 | Imports to the U.S. Customers value in dollars does not include insurance or freight COUNTRY GRANITE MARBLE* SLATE** U.S. $ TONS U.S. $ TONS U.S....

Obituary.(NEWS)(Renato Meiohas)(Obituary)
September 1, 2005... PINEVILLE, NC -- Renato Meiohas passed away on July 30, after suffering from Creutzfeldt Jakob Disease--a rare brain disease. He was born in Torino, Italy, on August 20, 1949 and lived in Italy until 1987 when he moved to the U.S. In Charlotte,...

New National Sales Manager.(NEWS)
September 1, 2005... HAMPTON, NH -- Water Treatment Technologies of Hampton, NH--the manufacturer of the patented EnviroSystem, a closed loop, water recycling system for the stone industry--is pleased to welcome John Fallon to its team as National Sales Manager....

Warehouse opened.(NEWS)
September 1, 2005... LIBSON, PORTUGAL -- Dimpomar has recently opened a new 7,000-square-foot warehouse in the Lisbon area of Portugal. The company's state-of-the-art facility houses more than 100 different materials from all over the world. Additionally, the...

Young artists create sculpture park.(NEWS)
September 1, 2005... HARTFORD, CT -- A group of talented teenagers spent part of their summer working as apprentices learning hands-on art and career training with master teaching artists and professional trainers as part of an innovative educational job program...

New hires.(NEWS)(Abrasive Technology Inc. appointed James A. McNair, Jr. and Keith Torrance )(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... LEWIS CENTER, OH -- Abrasive Technology of Lewis Center, OH, recently announced that it has appointed two new associates to its Business Development and Sales Processes. James A. McNair, Jr. has joined the Customer Communications, Sales...

CNC Specialist appointed.(Marmo Machinery USA)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... SOUTHFIELD, MI -- Phil Mularoni, President of Marmo Machinery USA,--a leading distributor of precision machinery for processing marble and granite--announced that the company has appointed Josh Bozarth as its CNC Specialist to handle the...

Operations Manager named.(NEWS)
September 1, 2005... SOUTHFIELD, MI -- Delta Diamond Tools, a leading tooling source and distributor of consumable tools and supplies to granite and marble shops, has appointed Howard Garvey as its Operations Manager. In his new position, Garvey is responsible...

Machinery supplier changes name.(name change)
September 1, 2005... SOUTHFIELD, MI -- Marmo Meccanica USA, a leading distributor of precision machinery to process marble and granite, announced that it has changed its name to Marmo Machinery USA. The name change, announced by President Phil Mularoni, is...

StonExpo nearing a sell-out.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... LAS VEGAS, NV -- As of press time, 99% of the exhibit space has been sold for StonExpo 2005, which will take place in Las Vegas, NV, from October 20 to 22 (conference begins on October 19). Companies participating in StonExpo 2005 will be...

Stonework Symposium 2005.(NEWS)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... CLAIRSVILLE, OH -- The 5th annual gathering of the stone "tribe" will take place from October 7 to 9 in St. Clairsville, OH. This event has been characterized by interesting and informative presentations, lively and knowledgeable discourse,...

A model of sophistication: with a multi-level showroom, state-of-the-art fabrication plant and immaculate slab storage, Vangura Surfacing Products, Inc. of North Huntingdon, PA, has created a one-of-a-kind utopia for countertop production and sales.(RE-EMERGING U.S. STONE INDUSTRY)
September 1, 2005... It doesn't take long for visitors to Vangura Surfacing Products, Inc. to realize that they are not at the typical stone fabrication shop. Going far beyond a standard showroom set-up, owner Ed Vangura wanted to showcase his company's countertop...

Marmomacc's 40th edition bridges stone and architecture: once again, the Marmomacc trade fair will take place in Verona, Italy, with a lively exhibition as well as several programs highlighting the use of stone in architecture.(Report from Europe)
September 1, 2005... Now celebrating its 40th edition, Marmomacc, the International Natural Stone and Technology Exhibition, will once again take place in Verona, Italy, as a leading international trade fair in the natural stone sector. And the event--which will be...

Remaining strong for three generations: with 10 quarries and a state-of-the-art fabricating facility, Morseletto has grown to become a prominent player in the natural stone industry since its beginnings in 1904.(Report from Europe)
September 1, 2005... Morseletto, a family-run stone-working operation in Northern Italy, now in its third generation, was founded in 1904. Today, under the direction of Barbara and Deborah Morseletto, the company has 10 quarries and a state-of-the-art fabricating...

Merging timeless material and modern technology: the slab production facility at Cooperativa Operai Cavatori del Botticino fabricates Botticino Classico marble with a range of state-of-the-art equipment.(Report from Europe)
September 1, 2005... Driving through the hills of the Brescia region in Northern Italy, a little over an hour from Verona, visitors can see the evidence of Botticino quarry operations from decades ago as well as activity that continues today. And while time-honored...

Searching the globe for new stone products: since its beginnings in 1958, Marmi Bruno Zanet has significantly expanded and continues to increase its collection of stone.(Report from Europe)
September 1, 2005... The operation of Marmi Bruno Zanet dates back to 1958, when a gentleman named Bruno Zanet set out to find new stones and colors to introduce to the market. The company, located in Volargne in the Province of Verona, Italy, has grown...

Turkish supplier continues to expand: headquartered in Istanbul, Turkey, with three fabricating facilities and six quarries scattered throughout the country, Tekmar has experienced tremendous growth over the recent years.(Report from Europe)
September 1, 2005... Established in 1990, leading Turkish stone supplier, Tekmar, has undergone several transformations in the past 15 years--significantly increasing its size and production capabilities. In the last two years alone, the company has expanded its...

Overseeing production of a landmark project: a broad range of stoneworking professionals at Campolonghi Italia S.p.A.--from quarrymen to plant operators--are producing the stonework that will define the new Oslo Opera House in Norway.(Report from Europe)
September 1, 2005... The design competition for the new Oslo Opera House in Norway drew 230 entries from around the world, including submissions from renowned architects such as Mario Botta, Richard Rogers and Eric Moss, among others. In the end, however, the...

Continued innovation in stone production: over the years, B.M.S. and Co. of Ortonovo, Italy, has introduced a range of unique materials to the marketplace, most recently the Venezian[R] finish for granite slabs.
September 1, 2005... B.M.S. and Co. was established in Ortonovo, Italy, in 1981 as a related branch of Simonelli srl, which has been in business since 1936. The company has developed as an innovator in the Carrara stoneworking region--working with architects,...

Attendance doubles at Marble 2005 in Izmir, Turkey: the latest edition of Marble, the International Natural Stone and Technology Fair, in Izmir, Turkey, reported a 52% increase in visitors from around the globe--exceeding organizers expectations.(Report from Europe)
September 1, 2005... The 11th edition of Marble 2005, the International Natural Stone and Technology Fair, was held from March 31 to April 3 at the International Izmir Fair Center in Izmir, Turkey. The exhibition included 900 companies from 32 countries and nearly...

Expectations met for Stone+tec 2005: despite an economic decline of the building industry in Central Europe, promising results were received at Stone+tec 2005, which took place in Nurnberg, Germany, this past May.(Report from Europe)
September 1, 2005... Stone+tec 2005 was held from Wednesday, May 25 to Saturday, May 28 at the Exhibition Centre Nurnberg in Nuremberg, Germany. And to the delight of the show's organizer, the exhibition received the anticipated number of visitors; making it a...

CarraraMarmotec 2005 sees international attendance: the 2005 edition of CarraraMarmotec in Carrara, Italy, featured over 400 exhibitors and drew visitors from around the world.(Report from Europe)
September 1, 2005... Taking place in the stoneworking hub of Carrara, Italy, the 26th edition of CarraraMarmotec was held from June 1 to 4. The event drew solid international attendance, as people were not only there to see the exhibition, but also to visit the...

Marble Architectural Awards 2005 are presented by IMM Carrara: an award ceremony for the 21st edition of the Marble Architectural Awards was held at CarraraMarmotec 2005, honoring Italian stone in architecture in the Far East.(Report from Europe)
September 1, 2005... Everyone is well aware by now that stone from China has been shipped around the world--including to the renowned stone-producing nation of Italy. However, stone also continues to be shipped in the other direction, as the headquarters of...

Florida-based fabricator is on the rise: established in 2001, Stone Crazy Inc. Marble and Granite Works handles its own stone fabrication and installations in central Florida.(Fabricator Case Study)
September 1, 2005... Although it has only been in business for four years, Stone Crazy Inc. Marble and Granite Works of Orlando, FL--a stone fabrication and installation company--continues to grow at a rapid rate. The company's three managing partners, Jake...

Moving from solid surface to granite: following an increasing trend, Fernandez Construction of Las Vegas, NV, expanded from solid surface products to natural stone fabrication.(Fabricator Case Study)
September 1, 2005... Esteban Fernandez, president of Fernandez Construction, has been a successful contractor in Las Vegas, NV, for the last 28 years--specializing in new construction and remodeling. He also has a thriving business subcontracting kitchen...

Upgrade to manufacturing. Achieve your operation's true potential with an integrated countertop manufacturing solution from Loffler.(Eurostone Machine )
September 1, 2005... An automated manufacturing solution can dramatically improve the productivity--and profitability--of your current fabricating operation. EuroStone Machine[R] can help you design a complete Loffler manufacturing solution that cuts costs as it...

Expanding business with computerized stoneworking: still in the early stages of production, Queen City Countertops of Monroe, NC, is on the fast track to success, partly credited to the recent purchase of an ETemplate System.(Fabricator Case Study)
September 1, 2005... Although still fairly new to the stone industry, Queen City Countertops is quickly on the rise of becoming a successful fabrication company. Located in Monroe, NC, the company has been doubling sales every year since opening in 2002, and has...

Steady advancement in granite fabrication: Sellers Tile Co. of Wilmington, NC, has been in operation since the late 1950s, but only began doing its own fabrication work within the past decade.(Fabricator Case Study)
September 1, 2005... Although the family-owned and operated Sellers Tile Co. has been in the stone industry since 1959, it only began fabricating its own work in 1998. Before that, the business strictly focused on ceramic tile installations, and the fabrication of...

Brazilian stone supplier adjusts to increasing demands: Etna Granitos recently opened a large state-of-the-art factory in Serra, Brazil, to comply with increasing customer demands and to have better control over its materials.
September 1, 2005... Etna Granitos do Brasil Ltda. started in 2002 as a buying office for clients located throughout the northeast corridor. As demands increased, and to have better quality control over its materials, the company's principals invested in nearly...

Peruvian marble operation continues to rise: after 140 years of quarrying experience, Marmoleria Gallos S.A. recently opened a second state-of-the-art factory in Lima, Peru.
September 1, 2005... Marmoleria Gallos S.A., located in Lima, Peru, was formed over 140 years ago and has seen generation upon generation pass through its doors. Its continuous operation of stone quarries in South America has allowed the company to succeed as one...

A new development in Jerusalem stone: blocks of Jerusalem Gold are now available from a new site, due to Alony Marble's purchase of 15 acres of land in the Mizpe Ramon area of Israel.
September 1, 2005... Even when dealing with a material as classic as Jerusalem Stone, the market and industry continues to develop. In one example of this, Alony Marble has purchased 15 acres of land in the Mizpe Ramon area of Israel. This land sits adjacent to the...

Fabricators Forum: the last edition of StonExpo included a lively Fabricators Forum hosted by the Marble Institute of America (MIA), and it focused on a broad range of countertop installation issues.
September 1, 2005... With the explosion of business in the granite kitchen countertop sector, many issues have come up with regard to fabrication techniques and methods, and they have been addressed at numerous stone fabrication forums. However, there are also many...

Wisconsin stone complements the natural environment: for the design of a residence along the Fox River in Algonquin, IL, rough-cut pieces of Wisconsin stone enhance the home's overall appearance and blend it with its surroundings.(Residential Design)
September 1, 2005... When it comes to his designs, architect Jeff Whyte of Schaumburg, IL, strives to maintain a balance between contemporary and homey. The architect combines materials such as stone, wood and glass to create unique and visually interesting...

Utilizing the adjacent landscape: the Randolph County House was designed with a variety of natural stone quarried near the site of the West Virginia property.(Residential Design)
September 1, 2005... In response to a client's wish for a more modern home, Madison Spencer Architects of Charlottesville, VA, was called upon to design the Randolph County House in West Virginia, using a variety of natural stone found near the site. The...

Natural stone palette adds variation to upscale residence: a mixture of stone materials, including granite, slate and quartzite, was selected for the recent renovation of a high-end residence in Newport Coast, CA.(StoneAge Tile Inc)
September 1, 2005... For the recent renovation of a 4,800-square-foot private residence in an exclusive area of California known as Newport Coast, a variety of natural stone, including granite, slate and quartzite, was selected to fulfill the clients desire for...

ITSS holds its second New York edition: the International Tile & Stone Show once again took place in the important New York City market.
September 1, 2005... The second edition of the International Tile & Stone Show's New York City edition (ITSS New York) took place from July 21 to 24, 2005, at the Jacob Javits Center. This year's show saw the addition of a fourth day, Sunday, in an attempt to offer...

Are all polyester adhesives the same?(ADVERTORIAL)(Advertisement)
September 1, 2005... Very simply, you get what you pay for. There is a product for every application and for every budget. Manufacturers will promote various features and benefits of their products to get you to buy from them but are you really getting what you are...

Granite defines Boston's "newest" neighborhood: a range of materials from Polycor of Canada, including a large amount of Caledonia granite, was used for various applications at the South Boston Seaport District.
September 1, 2005... The South Boston Seaport District is being called the city's "first new neighborhood in more than 150 years." The area has received a record-breaking $20 billion in public investment for infrastructure, which has transformed the little-known...

Stone cladding with "the spot bonding method".
September 1, 2005... Cladding with natural stone--marble, granite, limestone--provides an architect with endless design possibilities. Storefronts, office and hotel lobbies, shopping malls and building facades are all examples of designs that can be enhanced by the...

Calendar.(Calendar)
September 1, 2005... September 29 to October 2, 2005 Marmomacc 2005, the International Exhibition of Marble, Stone and Technology and Building Materials Show, Verona, Italy. VIP trip to Verona, contact: Veronafiere, P.O. Box 789, New York, NY 10150; (212)...

Custom[R] Building Products.(NEW PRODUCTS)
September 1, 2005... Custom[R] Building Products has added a pre-printed, dotted grid pattern to WonderBoard[R] Cement Backerboard, the industry's most popular backerboard, in order to make installing WonderBoard even easier for tile professionals. The dots are...

Aqua Mix.(NEW PRODUCTS)
September 1, 2005... Aqua Mix proudly announces the introduction of its Stone Enhancer in a new professional look. The sealer offers excellent stain protection and it contains color-enhancing properties. Stone Enhancer is an excellent, no-sheen, enhanced-look,...

Breton.(NEW EQUIPMENT)
September 1, 2005... Now available from Breton is the Combicut DJ/NC, a bridge saw and waterjet in one. The software installed on this machine automatically decides when to use the diamond disk or the waterjet for cutting the same slab. Combicut doubles...

Ghines.(NEW EQUIPMENT)
September 1, 2005... With more than 20 years of experience as a manufacturer of machinery and tooling for any kind of stone, Ghines of Italy recently introduced its newest product, GTools--a set of tool bits where each tool represents the best possible solution...

Keystone Tools Co.(NEW EQUIPMENT)
September 1, 2005... Keystone Tools Co. is proud to introduce the new Combat[TM] silent core diamond blade, which is engineered for cutting a wider variety of granite, marble and other natural stone, and can be used with low or high HP bridge saws. Available...

Pedrini.(NEW EQUIPMENT)
September 1, 2005... Pedrini has created a new Solar M945 bridge saw. This latest model, which is available in models for cutting marble and granite, features a disc with a 1600-mm diameter and a useful cut capacity in length of 4000 mm, integrating the models LUX...

WARDJet, Inc.(NEW EQUIPMENT)
September 1, 2005... WARDJet, Inc., a leader in the waterjet cutting industry, has designed a waterjet cutting system specifically for stone fabrication. The WARDJet Z-613 waterjet, built to grow and built to last, was designed to support the largest granite slabs...

Miracle Sealants Co.(NEW LITERATURE)
September 1, 2005... Miracle Sealants Co. of Arcadia, CA, continues to offer its 2005 product guide, "Tile, Stone & Masonry Care Products," which features the company's sealers, cleaners, enhancers and abrasives. The catalog opens with a letter from Miracle...

Elle Marmi S.p.A.(NEW LITERATURE)
September 1, 2005... A brochure illustrating various projects completed by Elle Marmi S.p.A. of Carrara, Italy, which has been in operation since 1926, is now available. The introduction, which explains the history of the company as well as its production, is...

International Machine Corp.(Machine of the month)
September 1, 2005... International Machine Corp. of Holbrook, NY, is offering machinery technology from Matec, and it has announced that it is the exclusive distributor of Matec equipment. Matec designs and realizes wastewater treatments and water clarification...

Cunico light.(Stone of the month)
September 1, 2005... This Stone of the Month supplied by Tekmar, Istanbul, Turkey. Technical details provide a frame of reference only. Because stone is a product of nature, testing to determine specific physical qualities should be repeated for each project. To...