Stone World articles from September 2006

Stone World archives from September 2006

The world beyond granite slabs.(STONE COLUMN)
September 1, 2006... Without question, the growth of the American stone industry today has been fueled by the explosive popularity of granite kitchen countertops. Homeowners around the country are buying granite for their residences, and it has given new life to...

Outstanding international presence at Piedra 2006.(NEWSLINE)(the International Natural Stone Fair, Piedra 2006)(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... The sixth edition of the International Natural Stone Fair, Piedra 2006, which was held from May 10 to 13 in Madrid, Spain, presented a strong international flavor and achieved some highly favorable results, organizers report. The fair, which...

Universal Granite & Marble expands into Atlanta.(NEWSLINE)
September 1, 2006... Universal Granite & Marble Inc. (UGM), the Illinois-based natural stone supplier, has launched its first stone gallery in the Southeast in Atlanta, GA. The latest stone gallery, located in Norcross Industrial Court just off Buford Highway...

Import Stone names new company president.(NEWSLINE)(appointment of John Rhineberger as president)(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... Import Stone's Chairman and CEO, Kirk Kesapyan, announced the appointment of John Rhineberger to President of the company. The company began operations in 1993 with one location in Van Nuys, CA, and today operates 10 locations in the Western...

Valders Stone and Marble is honored by MSHA.(NEWSLINE)
September 1, 2006... Valders Stone and Marble, Inc. announced that it has been a recipient of a second consecutive "Certificate of Honor" awarded by MSHA (Mine Safety and Health Administration) in Washington, DC. The award honors the employees and the company for...

The Society of CIC recognizes Marc A. Rosenkrantz, CIC, AAI, for leadership.(NEWSLINE)
September 1, 2006... Marc A. Rosenkrantz, CIC, AAI of Schechner Lifson Corp. in Summit, NJ, was recently honored for his ongoing pledge to education, commitment to excellence and dedication to the insurance profession. The Society of Certified Insurance Counselors...

BNP Media announces the launch of Site Prep magazine.(NEWSLINE)
September 1, 2006... Following three years of successfully offering Site Prep as a supplemental publication, BNP Media (Stone World's parent company) is pleased to announce the title's launch as an independent publication effective in January 2007. Site Prep will...

One liners.(NEWSLINE)
September 1, 2006... International Machine Corp. has introduced a new interactive Web site--www.internationalmachinecorp.com--where users can learn about the latest stoneworking machinery offered today. The site includes material ranging from bridge saws to CNC...

Statistics.(statistical table)(Statistical table)
September 1, 2006... May 2006 | Imports to the U.S. Customers value in dollars does not include insurance or freight GRANITE MARBLE* COUNTRY U.S. $ TONS U.S. $ TONS ARAB EMIRATES ...

New sales manager announced.(NEWS)
September 1, 2006... HAMPTON, NH--Water Treatment Technologies, manufacturer of the patented EnviroSystem, a closed loop, water recycling system for the stone industry, is pleased to welcome Scott Kochevar to its team as the company's Western Regional Sales...

Spanish training programs.(NEWS)
September 1, 2006... CLEVELAND, OH -- Aqua Mix, a Corona, CA, manufacturer of stone and tile care products and the Marble Institute of America (MIA) are teaming up once again to translate two recently released MIA safety training programs into Spanish, the...

Staff addition.(NEWS)(appointment of Jialin Charles Qi as sales engineer in Global Granite and Marble)
September 1, 2006... ST. LOUIS, MO -- Jialin "Charles" Qi has joined Global Granite & Marble as a sales engineer. Qi brings seven years of sales, marketing and engineering experience--both domestic and international--to the Global Granite & Marble team. ...

Stonework Symposium 2006.(NEWS)(conferences meetings and seminars)(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... HOOD RIVER, OR -- Stonework Symposium 2006 will take place in Hood River, OR, from September 8 to October 1. It is the sixth annual gathering of the Stone Foundation, an international society of stonemasons, stonemasonry contractors, stone...

Finding a niche in exotic stone: in less than a decade, Stone Age Tile of Anaheim, CA, has built a successful stone fabrication business by supplying unique material to the residential market.(RE-EMERGING U.S. STONE INDUSTRY)(company overview)(Company overview)
September 1, 2006... Since 1999, Stone Age Tile of Anaheim, CA, has been catering to the high-end market of Southern California. Specializing in exotic stones and upscale custom designs, the company has significantly expanded over the last several years. Its...

Fueled by a passion for stone: with a love for stone and more than 30 years of experience in the kitchen and bath design business, the owner of House of Stone in Monroe, NY, opened up shop to produce quality high-end work.(Fabricator Case Study)
September 1, 2006... With more than 30 years of experience in the kitchen and bath design industry, Ray Krok was confident that he possessed the necessary skills to run his own stone fabrication shop. Working side by side with his son, Brian, Krok considered all...

Investing in the future: already established as one of the first large-scale stone fabrication plants in the U.S., Marble Crafters of Trainer, PA, has invested in new technology and showroom facilities to ensure long-term success.(Fabricator Case Study)
September 1, 2006... As one of the first large-scale production shops in the U.S., Marble Crafters of Trainer, PA, has maintained its success despite increased competition in the marketplace over the past decade. Located in the Philadelphia metropolitan area, it...

Templating and countertop installation: in this online stone fabricators forum--conducted at www.stoneadvice.com--stoneworking professionals from around the country discussed their methods for templating and dealing with jobsite issues when installing stone countertops.(ONLINE FORUM)
September 1, 2006... Q: What templating methods are you finding to be the most effective? Does it depend on machinery in use? On production capacity? How common is the use of digital templating systems? How long is it taking to learn these systems? Are you seeing a...

Stone Fabrication Workshops continue to thrive: the third edition of the Stone World Stone Fabrication Workshops had another successful run in the Southwest, and additional sessions are planned this year for the Midwest as well as the Southeast.(Stone World Stone Fabrication Workshops )
September 1, 2006... Filling a vital industry need, the third edition of the Stone World Stone Fabrication Workshops recently took place--this time in the Southwestern U.S.--and they were met with solid reviews by the fabricators and sponsors in attendance. The...

Providing Rosso Verona for the architectural market: Cave Bonaldi's quarry for Rosso Verona produces a wide variety of colors and classifications, and these materials are used for a broad range of applications.(Creating Architectural Stonework)
September 1, 2006... In the Valpolicella wine-making region of Italy, just outside of Verona, Cave Bonaldi extracts Rosso Verona marble nearly 2,000 feet above sea level. The vast quarry site produces 15 to 20 commercial stones, including the "Nembro" variety,...

A specialist in creating marble slabs: AGV Marmi e Graniti srl of Volargne, Verona, Italy, has gained a solid reputation as a processor of marble blocks into slabs.(Creating Architectural Stonework)(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... In the Verona stoneworking region of Italy, the industry is so deep that some factories have developed in a very specialized way. One example of this is AGV Marmi e Graniti srl--part of the Testi Group--which concentrates on cutting marble...

Working to achieve the perfect finish: the Combus surface finishing plant--part of the Testi Group--uses a variety of products and methods in its slab processing.(Creating Architectural Stonework)(Combus works on marble slabs to process on a gangsaw)
September 1, 2006... The quality of a natural stone's final surface polish is dependent on many factors, including the equipment being used, the products employed during the process and the skill of the processor. And in order to maintain an optimum level of...

Supplying landmarks around the globe: the Testi Group's cut-to-size division has completed architectural stonework for prestigious clients throughout the world.(Creating Architectural Stonework)(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... An elaborate mock-up of radius-cut marble stands outside the entrance to Testi Group's main offices in the Valpolicella region of Italy as testament to the company's abilities as a producer of cut-to-size stonework. The company has supplied...

Marmomacc takes center stage in Verona: once again, the international stone industry will converge in Verona, Italy, for the Marmomacc exhibition, which will take place from October 5 to 8, 2006.(Report from Europe)
September 1, 2006... Four months before the opening of Marmomacc--the international natural stone and technology exhibition taking place in Verona, Italy--the show organizers at VeronaFiere announced that all 3.77 million square feet of gross exhibit space had...

Italian tile producer emphasizes quality: equipped with two complete tile lines, Bonotti Esportazioni srl of Montignoso, Massa, Italy, maintains a watchful eye on all steps of its marble and granite production.(Report from Europe)(emphasizing on quality of marbles and granites)(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... When visiting the factory of Bonotti Esportazioni srl in Montignoso, Massa, Italy, the most obvious aspect of the facility is the two complete Breton tile lines for marble and granite. But also noticeable are quality-control specialists at the...

Leading Italian supplier adds new tile line: one of the leading stone producers in Italy, Margraf has expanded its production capabilities with the installation of a new tile line.(Report from Europe)
September 1, 2006... Already one of the leading stone producers in Italy, the Margraf Group of Chiampo, Vicenza, Italy, recently invested in a new state-of-the-art plant for tile production. This expansion comes only two years after the company invested in a...

CarraraMarmotec 2006 sees growth: bolstered by an addition to exhibition space and a holiday that drew additional visitors, CarraraMarmotec, which took place from May 31 to June 3 in Carrara, Italy, held its most successful edition in years.(Report from Europe)
September 1, 2006... Walking through the fairgrounds at CarraraMarmotec, which took place from May 31 to June 3 in Carrara, Italy, one of the more noticeable changes was the addition of new indoor exhibition space. And to christen the new space, some of the...

Marble Architectural Awards are presented in Carrara: among the many events taking place at CarraraMarmotec 2006, the Marble Architectural Awards were presented for outstanding stone projects in Europe.(Report from Europe)
September 1, 2006... British architect Sir Norman Foster and his Chinese-American colleague, I.M. Pei, were selected among the winners of the 22nd Marble Architectural Awards (MAA 2006), the prestigious international award that is given to designers who use Italian...

Finnish stone quarrier continues to advance: with a new quarry site and increased production capacity, Palin Granit Oy has maintained its long-standing position as one of Finland's top stone producers.(Report from Europe)(company overview of Palin Granit Oy )(Company overview)
September 1, 2006... Founded in 1921, Palin Granit Oy proudly points out that it is the largest family-owned granite quarrier in Northern Europe. The company, which is based in Turku, Finland, has become one of the leading producers of granite on a worldwide scale,...

State-of-the-art limestone facility rises in France: a new limestone fabrication plant--Atelier Pierre De Bourgogne--has been established in the famed limestone-quarrying region of Burgundy, France.(Report from Europe)(Company overview)
September 1, 2006... Located in the heart of the limestone-quarrying region of Burgundy, France, Atelier Pierre De Bourgogne began production at its state-of-the-art fabrication facility in December 2005. And to ensure the long-term success of this endeavor, it...

Stone fireplace producer adds technology: Richar Le Droof of Auneau, France, produces custom stone fireplaces using a range of computerized stoneworking machinery.(Report from Europe)
September 1, 2006... Located in Auneau, near Chartres in the northwest of France, between Paris and Nantes, Richar Le Droof processes fireplaces in soft limestone (hearthstone). Recently, the company upgraded its operation by investing in CNC stoneworking...

Polish fabricator invests in high-end Italian machinery: JP Granit of Poland recently upgraded its stoneworking facility with a broad range of large-scale equipment from Italy.(Report from Europe)(Pedrini Genesis GS141 sawing machines )
September 1, 2006... Making a bold investment in stoneworking technology, JP Granit SP.Z.O.O of Ostrowiec Swietokrzyski, Poland, recently invested in state-of-the-art equipment for producing thick flooring, monument slabs, panels and other natural stone products....

Massive airport expansion in Dubai: the expansion of the Dubai International Airport in the United Arab Emirates is calling for an enormous quantity of granite, which is being quarried in Brazil and fabricated in Italy.(Commercial and Institutional Architecture)
September 1, 2006... The Department of Civil Aviation Dubai has begun a multi-phase Dubai International Airport expansion program in the United Arab Emirates, which includes construction of new terminals and concourse. And as part of this expansion, they have...

Indian granite unites local community: Indian Absolute Black granite--quarried in India and supplied by Hindustan Granites of Hauppauge, NY--was an integral part of the design of the Bronxdale Community Center in Bronx, NY.(Commercial and Institutional Architecture)
September 1, 2006... Recently, the Bronxdale Community Center in Bronx, NY, opened to area residents--providing a place for learning and recreational activities. And the use of Indian Absolute Black granite throughout the building's interior and exterior design...

German limestone complements Duke University tradition: departing from Duke University's traditional "Duke Stone" architecture, Rubenstein Hall blends elegantly into its surroundings with a more contemporary limestone facade.(Commercial and Institutional Architecture)
September 1, 2006... It is a long-standing tradition on the campus of Duke University in Durham, NC, to build with "Duke Stone," a local material with inherent characteristics of the surrounding region. Originally built in 1924, the school's architecture remains in...

Limestone creates soothing environment for art museum: a neutral palette of limestone from Francepierre International was utilized in the design of the Rubin Museum of Art in New York to establish a meditative atmosphere.(Commercial and Institutional Architecture)
September 1, 2006... The 70,000-square-foot Rubin Museum of Art (RMA) occupies what was formerly a portion of the Barneys department store in Manhattan's Chelsea neighborhood. According to The American Institute of Architects, the architectural center of the RMA is...

Using stone as an educational tool: the use of natural stone was key in the design of the Warren Skaaren Environmental Learning Center in Texas, as it served as a teaching reference to students.(Commercial and Institutional Architecture)(Cover story)
September 1, 2006... The Warren Skaaren Environmental Learning Center at Westcave Preserve in Round Mountain, TX, serves as a visitor center and classroom space for public and school programs. The building had to be able to accommodate groups of 150 or more...

Waterjet design provides upscale appeal: a skillfully crafted waterjet-cut design and premium installation products contributed to the elegant floor pattern that flows throughout a stately home in South Carolina.(Commercial and Institutional Architecture)(Waterjet cutting equipment installation)
September 1, 2006... Today's most knowledgeable designers--as well as "with-it" contractors and savvy homeowners--know something about waterjet technology. The process is a computerized, cold cutting procedure that can cut most materials into any two-dimensional...

Calendar.(calendar for conferences and conventions in stone industry)(Calendar)
September 1, 2006... September 11 to 14, 2006 Stone World's Stone Fabrication Workshops, Chicago, IL (11th); Cleveland, OH (12th); Detroit, MI (14th). For more information, call 1-888-530-6714 or visit www.stoneworld.com/fab-workshop. September 28 to 29,...

Touchstone.(NEW PRODUCTS)
September 1, 2006... Touchstone has introduced the Quik Set Lamp, a fabrication shop heat lamp for cold and wet stone. The heavy-duty, moveable lamp is designed and tested to work with Touchstone[TM] epoxies to improve cure speed and quality, reports the company....

Omni Cubed Design, LLC.(NEW PRODUCTS)
September 1, 2006... Omni Cubed Design, LLC has introduced a new Backsplash Holder, a solid-surface installation tool used to position and stabilize backsplashes and other vertical surfaces. The product offers a quick and convenient solution to achieve...

GranQuartz.(NEW PRODUCTS)
September 1, 2006... The new Diarex Pro Series Color Enhancer, available exclusively from GranQuartz of Tucker, GA, is a sealer that gives stone an aged and "wet look" effect. It can deepen the color of stone edges to match the polished surface. Perfect for...

Sure-Guide Inc.(NEW EQUIPMENT)
September 1, 2006... Sure-Guide Inc. now offers Sure-Guide--a patent pending, self-lubricating drill guide system, complete with case. The product has transformed the multi-person task of drilling holes in natural stone slabs, into a single user application,...

Richel, Inc.(NEW EQUIPMENT)
September 1, 2006... Richel, Inc. has introduced the Dardi waterjet systems, available in three standard table sizes. With the shortage of used waterjets growing and prices rising, the opportunity to supply a new lower-priced, yet high-quality waterjet, presented...

Thibaut.(NEW EQUIPMENT)
September 1, 2006... The Quick Table from Thibaut offers a simple, reliable and profitable solution to the company's CNC range, according to the company. Fabricators who have purchased Thibaut CNC centers, which are equipped with the Quick Table are fully...

Park Industries.(NEW LITERATURE)
September 1, 2006... Park Industries has developed new marketing pieces to help promote natural thin stone veneer to distributors and consumers. During the last three years, the popularity and availability of natural thin stone veneer has grown substantially,...

Salem Stone/Bergman-Blair.(Machine of the month)
September 1, 2006... The Omag Mill 4X is a numerically controlled machining center with 3 or 4 axes, available in North America from Salem Stone/Bergman-Blair. The machine, which was engineered based on Omag's 25 years of manufacturing experience, combines a high...

Oro fino granite.(Stone of the month)
September 1, 2006... This Stone of the Month supplied by Granitex S.p.A., Verona, Italy. 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....