Stone World 201005

www.stoneworld.
com
May 2010
Stone from Europe
CNC Technology
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N A T U R A L S T O N E S
VERONA - ITALY

BLOCKS & QUARRIES
Tel. +39 045 8875111 Fax +39 045 8875155

www.granitex.it
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6 May 2010 | Stone World
Member:
Publisher
Alex Bachrach, ext. 8615
alex@stoneworld.com
Editor/Associate Publisher
Michael Reis, ext. 8613
michael@stoneworld.com
Managing Editor
Jennifer Adams, ext. 8611
jennifer@stoneworld.com
Associate Editor
Alexis Fisher, ext. 8612
alexis@stoneworld.com
Production Manager
Pam Deneau, 248/244-6257
fax: 248/244-3918
deneaup@bnpmedia.com
Senior Art Director
Wendy Zaremba-Just, 248/244-6476
zaremba-justw@bnpmedia.com
Office Manager
Hilda Rowland, ext. 8610
hilda@stoneworld.com
Regional Advertising Managers
Janelle Minghine, 734/340-5211
fax: 734/340-5212
minghinej@bnpmedia.com
Steve Smith, 617/909-5973
fax: 248/283-6531
steve@stoneworld.com
European Sales
Dee Wakefield, 44 207 937 4488
fax: 44 207 792 3331
dee.wakefield@stagnito.fsbusiness.co.uk
Reprint Manager
Jill DeVries, 248/244-1726
devriesj@bnpmedia.com
210 Route 4 East, Suite 203
Paramus, NJ 07652
Phone: 201/291-9001
Fax: 201/291-9002
E-mail: info@stoneworld.com
Web: www.stoneworld.com
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Marketing Coordinator
Kevin Hackney, hackneyk@bnpmedia.com
Single Copy Sales
Ann Kalb, 248/244-6499, kalba@bnpmedia.com
Audience Development Coordinator
Cassandra Haggard, haggardc@bnpmedia.com
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Audience Audit Coordinator
Kelly M. Carlson, carlsonk@bnpmedia.com
List Rental
POSTAL
Robert Liska, List Manager, 800-223-2194
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For subscription information or service,
please contact Customer Service at:
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Corporate Directors
PUBLISHING Timothy A. Fausch
PUBLISHING John R. Schrei
AUDIENCE DEVELOPMENT Christine A. Baloga
CUSTOM MEDIA Steve M. Beyer
CORPORATE STRATEGY Rita M. Foumia
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY Scott Kesler
PRODUCTION Vincent M. Miconi
FINANCE Lisa L. Paulus
CREATIVE Michael T. Powell
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DIRECTORIES Nikki Smith
HUMAN RESOURCES Marlene J. Witthoft
CONFERENCES & EVENTS Emily Patten
CLEAR SEAS RESEARCH Beth A. Surowiec
Stone World Corporate Office
BNP Media/Stone World
2401 W. Big Beaver, Suite 700
Troy, Michigan 48084
248/362-3700
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BNP Media Helps People Succeed in
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MAINTENANCE
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Stone World | May 2010 13
May 2010 Vol. 27, No. 5
www.stoneworld.com
DEPARTMENTS
16 Stone Column
19 Newsline
22 Statistics
26 Year-End Statistics
34 News
95 Calendar
96 New Products
97 New Equipment
99 Stone of the Month
100 Machine of the Month
101 Technology Update
102 Marketplace
105 Classified
106 Ad Index
FEATURES
Fabricator Case Studies - CNC Technology Users
44 Creating a brand in the commercial marketplace
52 Leaving a lasting legacy in stone
64 CNC discussion: Volume and microshop production
72 Is your workplace clean?
Stone from Europe
74 CarraraMarmotec to draw an international crowd
78 Capitalizing on specialty stones
84 An experienced producer of Breccia Pernice
88 Fossil stone enhances high-rises desert surroundings
STONE WORLD Volume 27, Issue 5 (ISSN 1052-6994) is published 12 times annually, monthly, by BNP Media, 2401 W. Big Beaver Rd., Suite 700, Troy, MI 48084-4903. Telephone: (248) 362-3700, Fax: (248) 362-0317. No charge for subscriptions to qualied individuals. Annual rate
for subscriptions to nonqualied individuals in the U.S. A. : $104.00 USD. Annual rate for subscriptions to nonqualied individuals in Canada: $137.00 USD (includes GST & postage); all other countries: $154.00 (intl mail) payable in U.S. funds. Printed in the U.S. A. Copyright 2010, by
BNP Media. Periodicals Postage Paid at Troy, MI and at additional mailing of ces. All rights reserved. The contents of this publication may not be reproduced in whole or in part without the consent of the publisher. The publisher is not responsible for product claims and representations.
POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: STONE WORLD, P.O. Box 2144, Skokie, IL 60076. Canada Post: Publications Mail Agreement #40612608. GST account: 131263923. Send returns (Canada) to Bleuchip International, P.O. Box 25542, London, ON, N6C 6B2. Change of address:
Send old address label along with new address to STONE WORLD, P.O. Box 2144, Skokie, IL 60076. For single copies or back issues: contact Ann Kalb at (248) 244-6499 or KalbA@bnpmedia.com.
On the Cover: Specializing in the quarrying and production of Breccia Pernice,
Essegi Marmi is located in the Volargne stoneworking region of Northern Italy.
The company has supplied its unique material to high-profile projects around
the world such as Trump Tower in New York City. To extract the Breccia Pernice
from the quarry, the company uses a soft blast technique, and the remaining
cuts and trimming are made with a diamond wire saw. Story begins on page 84.
Photo by Michael Reis.
Coming Next Month: In June, Stone World will present a Focus on Waterjet
Technology. A series of articles will showcase how fabricators in different areas
of the U.S. are utilizing waterjet equipment including bridge saw/waterjet
combinations to create high-end custom work. Additionally, the next issue will
feature a Report from Brazil showcasing some of the newest stone materials
being processed, along with the advanced stoneworking technology in place.
52
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STONE COLUMN
LEAVING 2009 IN THE
REARVIEW MIRROR
Each May, Stone World publishes the year-end summary of all stone imports into the U.S., which are
recorded by the U.S. Department of Commerce. For comparative purposes, we also publish the year-end
statistics from a year before. Up to a few years ago, these summaries were an excellent way to gauge the
growth of the industry as well as the increased market share of specific stone-producing nations. This
year, however, the report (which can be found on pages 26 to 32 of this issue) is a black-and-
white illustration of just how difficult 2009 was for the stone industry.
Comparing the 2009 stone import figures to 2008, the following lowlights can be found:
Overall stone imports into the U.S. fell from $2.262 billion to $1.404 billion,
a decline of 38%
Granite imports dropped from $1.148 billion to $723.63 million, a decrease of 37%
Marble imports went from $950.75 million to $568.43 million, a drop of nearly 40%
Slate imports declined from $101.05 million to $63.11 million, a fall of 38%
Looking at specific nations that export stone to the U.S., Italy seems to have been hurt the
most by the recession perhaps because they are also the leader in supplying stone with the
most added value. Italian stone suppliers saw their exports to the U.S. decline by nearly 50%,
going from a total of $373.31 million in 2008 to $190.1 million in 2009. These drop-offs were consistent
among all materials granite, marble, slate and other stones.
Looking specifically at granite-exporting nations, India was hit particularly hard, as its granite exports
declined to $89.56 million a drop of 47%. Meanwhile, although Brazil suffered a 33% decline in its
granite exports to the U.S. in 2009, its total value of $281.79 million still places it as the world leader in
this category. The second leading exporter of granite to the U.S. China saw the least decline among
the major players, as it dipped 28% to a total of just under $193 million.
Better times in 2010
Now that all of this ugliness has been laid out in no uncertain terms, all indicators are that these num-
bers will all improve over the course of this year. A number of major distributors have told Stone World that
they are in the process of replenishing their inventories, and they have reported increases in their imports
of containers during the first few months of 2010.
Foreign distributors in markets such as Brazil have reported strong business over the first quarter of the
year, and it is hoped that the official figures from the U.S. Department of Commerce will bear this out as
they are released over the next few months.
Meanwhile, a number of large-volume stone fabricators have also reported increased activity in 2010 as
remodeling activity slowly rebounds. Some have also expanded into markets such as healthcare and insti-
tutional work, which has resulted in a number of shops that are busier now than they were a year ago.
The general consensus is that 2009 was when this lingering recession hit bottom for the stone indus-
try, and we all look forward to the a full recovery that appears to have already begun.
Michael Reis, Editor/Associate Publisher
016 StoneColumn.indd 2 4/21/10 10:13:49 AM
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NEWSLINE
SUSTAINABILITY FACTOR ADDED AS MIA CALLS
FOR PINNACLE AWARD ENTRIES . . .
The Marble Institute of America (MIA) is now accepting entries for its enhanced 2010 Pinnacle Awards competition.
The MIA has also announced a new element in the judging criteria for the 2010 Pinnacle Awards competition. This
year, judges will be evaluating sustainable design elements in addition to the traditional criteria of beauty, creativity,
ingenuity, craftsmanship and suitability of materials. If a submitted project displays superior effort, innovation and
execution towards sustainable building goals, the MIA would consider awarding its first MIA Pinnacle Award for
Sustainable Design.
The Pinnacle Awards program is facilitated by the MIA and made possible by the sponsorship of Mapei.
The 2010 Pinnacle Awards project categories will include Commercial Interior, Commercial Exterior, Residential
Interior or Exterior and Renovation/Restoration. The winners will be featured in a special presentation during an
awards event at StonExpo/Marmomacc Americas in Las Vegas, NV.
The judges will select winners in the various categories and then honor the best of the best as the Grande
Pinnacle Award Winner. The company winning this honor will then receive the elegant Grande Pinnacle Award
plus a trip to Marmomacc 2011 in Verona, Italy. The Grande Pinnacle Award for Best of Show is sponsored by
Marmomacc.
The entry deadline is Friday, August 6, 2010. The Pinnacle Awards are open to all MIA member companies, and
project teams must include at least one MIA member company.
Pinnacle Award winners receive tremendous exposure and recognition both domestically and around the world,
said Gary Distelhorst, Executive Vice President of MIA. In honoring the excellent work of MIA members, we also
help design professionals see the endless possibilities of the use of natural stone in virtually any application. The MIA
is committed to advancing green building ideals within the natural stone industry and hopes this year to identify a
worthy project for an award.
Complete entry information is available on the MIA Web site at www.marble-institute.com or by contacting MIA
at 440-250-9222.
IGM TO HOLD OPEN HOUSE AT ALL LOCATIONS ON JUNE 11 . . .
International Granite & Marble Corp. (IGM) has announced that all of its warehouse locations in the U.S. will be
conducting an Open House on Friday, June 11, from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. for all of its fabrication customers, kitchen and
bath dealers, designers and homebuilders. Each of the individual warehouses will be showcasing some of the latest
slab materials, and representatives will be on hand to discuss any current projects. There will be food and music, as
well as free giveaways of items such as T-shirts and hats. At the conclusion of the Open House, a drawing will be held
at each warehouse, and a weekend getaway for two will be awarded to one attendee at each warehouse. Destinations
will differ between locations, and they include Atlantic City, NJ, Calloway Gardens Resort in Georgia and others.
TENNESSEE MARBLE CO. AND POLYCOR FORM JOINT
VENTURE TO SUPPLY ALABAMA MARBLE . . .
Tennessee Marble Co. and Polycor have announced the formation of a joint venture for the fabrication, distribution
and promotion of Alabama marble. Tennessee Marble Co. and Polycor bring their expertise on this product in the
manufacture of slabs, tiles and cut-to-size products. Polycors knowledge of the North American market will enhance
the distribution and availability of Alabama marble to all potential customers in North America. All sales and
distribution of slab and cut-to-size work were shifted exclusively to the joint venture as of May 1. Alabama Marble
Co. will continue its operations at the quarry, coordinating all North American slab and cut-to-size supply through
the joint venture.
To our existing Polycor client family, we are pleased to offer this additional stone product to you, along with our
Georgia and Colorado white marble lines, stated Patrick Perus of Polycor. Together with Tennessee Marble Co., this
joint venture provides our current and new clients the most selection of domestic premium marble.
THESTONEBROKER.COM ANNOUNCES NEW
REMNANT LOCATING TECHNOLOGY . . .
Addressing the issue of stone remnants within the fabrication sector, Reid Lopatka developed TheStoneBroker.com
as a means to turn scrap stone into cash. From 24 years in stone tile installation and close ties to Chicago fabricators
and distributors of slabs, I would hear over and over how consumers, designers and fabricators alike wished they
didnt have to purchase a full slab when they only needed half or a quarter of one, Lopatka said. He then set out to
use technology to connect these discarded pieces with people that wanted or needed them.
The locating technology allows consumers to use a secure account to reach multiple sellers in various regions of
the country. The buyer can decide the distance they wish to travel to pick up their piece or have it delivered, and
fabricators utilizing the system have reported success. I am able to locate the type of stone I need for smaller projects
without having to cut into one of my full-size slabs in stock, said John Tithof of Tithof Tile and Marble Inc. The
019-020 Newsline.indd 19 4/21/10 10:00:35 AM
NEWSLINE
Stone Broker system also puts money in our account and reduces the amount of partial/pieced inventory we store.
The system also has a member rating platform. We believe most people have honest intentions; this platform
merely helps ensure it, Lopatka said.
For more information on remnant locating technology, visit www.thestonebroker.com.
NATIONAL SLATE ASSOCIATION ELECTS DIRECTOR, OFFICERS . . .
The National Slate Association (NSA) of Poultney, VT, has elected a new lineup of officers and one new director
for 2010. Officers elected include President Jeffrey Levine, Levine & Company, Inc., Ardmore, PA; Senior Vice
President David Large, North Country Slate, Toronto, ON, Canada; Vice President Matt Hicks, Evergreen Slate
Co., Inc., Granville, NY; and Vice President Russel Watsky, Russel Watsky, Inc., Ossining, NY. The Associations
membership elected Brian Stearns, Alpine SnowGuards, Morrisville, VT, to a three-year term as Director. In addition,
Alan Buohl, GSM Roofing, Ephrata, PA; JoAnne Baker, Camara Slate Company, Fair Haven, VT; John Chan, Durable
Slate Company, New Orleans, LA; and Craig LeGere, Mid-America Slate & Stone, Inc., Chesterfield MO, have all been
re-elected to serve an additional three-year term.
ARTISAN GROUP MEMBER DURACITE ACHIEVES
OSHA GOLDEN GATE RECOGNITION . . .
Duracite Custom Countertops of Fairfield, CA, has been recognized by the Cal/OSHA Consultation Service for
its innovative fabrication system, while implementing and maintaining an effective Injury and Illness Prevention
Program (IIPP). Golden Gate recognition was developed to provide motivation and support to employers who
proactively work with their employees and the Cal/OSHA Consultation Service.
When Duracite designed the fabrication system, its employee safety was of paramount concern. The system is
unique in that it substantially reduces the need for lifting and carrying, which is good for the employees and the
product. This, in combination with the companys relentless safety training and controls, impressed Cal-OSHA
inspectors enough to award Duracite the coveted Golden Gate achievement award.
We are one of the few custom countertop fabricators in California to receive this recognition, said Fadi Halabi,
company owner. This Golden Gate award speaks volumes about our employees because the companys safety record
is a result of our employees dedication to best practices.
Halabi adds that most Duracite employees have been with the company for more than seven years, and there is
no substitution for experience.
Duracite also recently was one of the first shops in California to achieve the Marble Institute of America (MIA)
Accreditation. To become an Accredited Natural Stone Fabricator by the MIA, a company must have successfully
completed three phases of application, including providing documents and references assuring compliance with the
10 standards of MIA Accreditation; passing a written test on fabrication, installation and safety; and a comprehensive
site visit, which includes a facility review, document review and one or more installation site visits. Artisan Group
members currently hold 16 of the 41 MIA Accreditations nationwide and have set a goal to have 100% of Artisan
Group members accredited, which would make them the first stone association to do so.
ONE LINERS . . .
Diamut, a leading producer of high-tech diamond tooling used for working stone and glass as well as in the
construction trades, announced the hiring of Michele Ragno as Diamut Sales Manager for the U.S. and Canada.
Ragno worked for several years in the same Sales Manager position for another industry player. In addition, Ragno
has extensive experience in programming CNC machines and is very familiar with design software programs, such
as AutoCAD.
Eden Stone Co. and Valders Stone & Marble, Inc. (a division of Eden Stone) were the recipients of seven separate
safety performance awards presented by MSHA (Mine Safety and Health Administration) in Washington D.C. and
the Joseph A. Holmes Safety Association. These awards honor the employees and the company for exceptional safety
performance at several quarry locations.
Stone fabricator, Structural Stone, LLC, of North Kingstown, RI, was granted Massachusetts M/WBE Certification
on April 15, adding to its DBE/WBE status in Rhode Island. Structural Stone has an 80,000-square-foot plant
strategically located in Quonset Point, RI, with rail and sea access. With a specialty in granite, Structural Stone
fabricates all types of dimension stone including limestone, marble, sandstone, brownstone and bluestone for
commercial and residential projects of any size.
Any questions regarding Newsline, contact: Newsline Editor, Stone World, 210 Route 4 East, Suite 203, Paramus, NJ
07652; Fax: 201-291-9002; E-mail: michael@stoneworld.com.
019-020 Newsline.indd 20 4/21/10 10:00:43 AM
Showroom: 2450-W Sample Road, Suite 15, Pompano Beach, FL 33073 Phone: 954-969-7272
Warehouse and Corporate Ofce: 1666 NW 82 Avenue, Doral, FL 33126 (New Location) Phone: 305-406-3600
www.compac.us info@compac.us
New colors: Vanille & Cafe
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California warehouse: 700 East Katella Avenue, Anaheim, CA 92805 Phone: 714-533-2244
Warehouse and Corporate Ofce: 1666 NW 82 Avenue, Doral, FL 33126 (New Location) Phone: 305-406-3600
Compacsw05104.indd 1 4/19/10 11:16:41 AM
ARAB EMIRATES 180,269 261
ARGENTINA 81,188 71 194,336 69 13,766
AUSTRALIA 18,266 1
BELGIUM 35,140 21 49,840 31
BRAZIL 28,001,587 32,336 87,225 122 413,209 176,312 162
BULGARIA 15,617 11 15,954
CANADA 652,547 1,583 426,473 217 172,958 559,538 3,676
CHINA 15,674,786 25,252 5,702,487 5,551 1,852,107 272,549 640
COLOMBIA 31,617 31
CROATIA 20,438 15
DENMARK 2,101 1
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC 93,452 89 144,850 292
EGYPT 6,808 22 395,828 561 2,606 13
FRANCE 808,930 530 53,572 79,394 722
GERMANY 192,417 19 346,005 128 21,957 68,640 24
GREECE 272,041 162
HONG KONG 65,786 61 18,762 6
INDIA 8,189,715 10,116 515,281 5,062 1,864,299 80,062 156
INDONESIA 277,693 311 8,880 48
ISRAEL 582,248 533
ITALY 8,472,530 6,323 4,522,180 2,000 87,515 75,670 29
JORDAN 78,981 196
LEBANON 621,815 46,367
MEXICO 34,877 27 3,259,022 3,396 2,550 143,794 1,046
NORWAY 64,811 28
PAKISTAN 377,052 254
PERU 772,174 725
PHILIPPINES 37,132 43 110,928 4,844 13,123 20
PORTUGAL 778,793 649
SAUDI ARABIA 25,466 40
SINGAPORE 43,279 52
SPAIN 1,057,942 1,048 1,957,239 1,923 121,852 259,277 8,500
SWITZERLAND 5,743 1
TAIWAN 1,496,464 1,542 87,390 45
THAILAND 10,931 8 3,248
TUNISIA 22,524 1
TURKEY 5,355 23 16,397,319 31,729 7,124 16,294 38
UNITED KINGDOM 43,457 9 125,625
OTHER 480,842 276 6,300 55 24,419 48,915 81
TOTAL JANUARY 2010 64,694,955 78,923 39,159,324 106,146 4,780,155 1,805,054 15,155
TOTAL JANUARY 2009 67,061,370 76,691 56,599,156 161,485 5,760,755 2,449,549 6,720
STATISTICS
January 2010 | Imports to the U.S. Customers value in dollars does not include insurance or freight
*includes marble, travertine, alabaster and other calcareous stone, **tonnage figures not available, ***includes dolomite, sandstone, quartzite, basalt, porphyry and other non-specific
monumental or building stone SOURCE: U.S. Department of Commerce
U.S. $ TONS U.S. $ U.S. $ TONS U.S. $ TONS
COUNTRY GRANITE MARBLE* SLATE** OTHER***
022-024 Stats.indd 22 4/21/10 10:01:17 AM
Revere
sinks enhance the beauty of countertop

materials, by creating a fluid, graceful line.
Revere undermount sinks complement a countertop
and deliver years of outstanding performance.
Dont minimize the beauty of a natural stone
countertop by choosing a low-grade sink.
Revere sinks are made of 18 gauge
stainless steel for superior durability
(the lower the gauge number the
thicker the steel).
With its graceful lines and elegant
finish, a Revere undermount sink is
an ideal match for all countertop
materials. Remember, an undermount
sink will be a permanent installation.
Choose wisely!
REVERE
STAINLESS STEEL
UNDERMOUNT SINKS
TOLL-FREE 1 (800) 458-6222 FAX: (770) 621-9771 WWW.GRANQUARTZ.COM
STOCKING LOCATIONS IN ATLANTA, CHICAGO, DENVER, HOUSTON AND MIAMI.
NOW AVAILABLE FROM
granquartzsw04104.indd 1 3/16/10 3:03:37 PM
ANTIGUA 16,250 21
ARAB EMIRATES 6,430
AUSTRALIA 287,011 86 60,000 11
BAHAMAS 40,033 22 8,330 5,000 1
BARBADOS 26,564 13 25,649 48
BELGIUM 72,754 268
BERMUDA 22,197 4 4,068 5
BRAZIL 3,100 4
BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS 11,230 2 3,100 1
CANADA 1,345,561 1,385 832,117 7,681 62,616 1,552,122 7,884
CAYMAN ISLANDS 9,178 4 15,623 3
CHILE 20,376 24
CHINA 970,700 3,575
COLOMBIA 21,935 51 15,357 24
COSTA RICA 14,709 21
CZECH REPUBLIC 3,904 1
FRANCE 8,600 4
GERMANY 12,000 1 127,924 630
GUATEMALA 3,073 3
HONG KONG 9,350 1
INDIA 21,315 42
ITALY 240,242 503 70,892 37
JAMAICA 12,216 7 32,178 19
JAPAN 11,614 4 13,080 1,147
KOREA 301,696 23
MEXICO 120,005 109 62,825 63 4,150 29,894 32
N. ANTILLES 5,335 1
NEW ZEALAND 3,188 1 9,572 23,315 35
PANAMA 3,055 6
PORTUGAL 45,397 122
SINGAPORE 135,253 428
SWEDEN 23,500 8
SWITZERLAND 11,415 1 3,846 15,822 21
TAIWAN 3,000 33
TURKEY 7,700 20
UNITED KINGDOM 163,451 14 21,440 22 11,426
OTHER 21,080 38 18,350 19 126,585 705
TOTAL JANUARY 2010 3,547,260 6,625 1,265,088 8,071 106,370 2,270,980 10,542
TOTAL JANUARY 2009 2,849,595 5,811 1,440,638 12,032 197,031 2,672,864 9,612
STATISTICS
January 2010 | Exports from the U.S. Customers value in dollars does not include insurance or freight
PRODUCT SOURCING PRODU
Check out the 2010 Online Version
of Stone Worlds Stone Guide at
www.stoneworld.com/stoneguide
MADE EASY.
SEARCHABLE COMPREHENSI VE I NFORMATI VE
022-024 Stats.indd 24 4/21/10 10:01:23 AM
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www.vulcanoexport.com.br
Brasil - +55.88.3614.5599
USA - 973.714.6376
VulcanoExport_SW0510.indd 1 4/22/10 9:02:45 AM
ALBANIA 16,351 23
ARAB EMIRATES 114,780 121 1,397,532 2,746 12,962 8
ARGENTINA 786,551 6,145 1,219,980 3,033 61,879 24,034 85
AUSTRALIA 6,352 1 22,828 4 30,000 6
BAHAMAS 22,500 672
BELGIUM 50,839 66 1,003,760 537 10,810 68,083 168
BELIZE 20,974 20
BOLIVIA 6,990 19
BRAZIL 281,790,650 440,557 1,524,485 1,237 4,398,002 2,644,163 3,457
BULGARIA 801,836 809 6,447
CANADA 17,517,259 26,138 8,884,144 15,362 2,884,792 21,606,906 125,460
CHILE 87,837 48
CHINA 192,985,965 276,637 77,234,334 98,955 27,319,046 6,445,182 10,596
COLOMBIA 16,935 27 825,014 1,183 18,783 2,833 11
CROATIA 55,191 399
DENMARK 4,202 2
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC 850,917 1,809 2,202,131 5,695 4,377 189,827 484
ECUADOR 47,941 65
EGYPT 194,369 349 5,097,878 8,487 55,666 197
FINLAND 48,593 21
FRANCE 291,042 74 12,575,558 6,520 100,798 330,129 182
GERMANY 566,363 333 3,221,710 2,238 110,419 158,908 115
GREECE 50,726 27 6,029,038 3,191 40,765 2
GUATEMALA 26,041 19
HONDURAS 197,343 114
HONG KONG 451,253 574 473,970 266 19,640 6,261 26
HUNGARY 46,057 39
INDIA 89,559,985 189,256 7,322,246 7,403 23,659,311 7,798,540 70,623
INDONESIA 40,611 75 4,309,787 5,708 78,103 199
IRELAND 80,842 35 29,196 24
ISRAEL 218,684 212 10,910,078 10,133 70,566 192,589 3,787
ITALY 101,857,853 81,261 85,457,671 57,033 906,398 1,880,220 6,084
JAPAN 22,417 7 13,021 13 6,094 9
JORDAN 204,166 301 61,069 60
KOREA 19,383 547 196,251 106 9,494 36,917 18
LEBANON 17,957 51 6,671,828 469,911 76,113 107
LIECHTENSTEIN 679,809 153
MALAYSIA 571,391 1,440
MEXICO 475,945 3,033 53,689,759 79,840 139,132 4,402,496 46,791
MOROCCO 53,694 25
NAURU 7,149 1
NETHERLANDS 13,438 8 34,561 21 3,035 36,689 17
NORWAY 299,260 323 41,080 102,484 193
PAKISTAN 225,332 29 3,043,365 1,927 13,255 8
PERU 209,788 149 11,411,946 12,108
PHILIPPINES 233,869 794 1,229,267 13,734 21,545 249,506 1,064
POLAND 3,097 1
PORTUGAL 452,086 350 16,255,584 22,903 117,587 7,724 32
ROMANIA 430,664 222
SAUDI ARABIA 194,214 130 4,100 2
SINGAPORE 6,015 3 599,559 697 5,549
SPAIN 7,707,352 45,258 30,252,485 29,052 1,736,278 442,257 1,210
SWEDEN 31,098 47 9,618 2
SWITZERLAND 6,500 1 60,237 34 106,112 4,543
TAIWAN 20,050,337 18,496 2,280,055 1,239 11,012 3,238 1
THAILAND 61,394 294 192,390 102 61,587 16,458 23
TOKELAU 18,438 68
TUNISIA 553,180 13,605
TURKEY 396,623 459 205,665,078 407,900 14,007 229,053 1,655
UNITED KINGDOM 841,939 186 634,390 1,880 1,047,388 488,735 2,676
URUGUAY 399,868 303
VENEZUELA 24,955 13 21,384 9
ZIMBABWE 1,899,021 1,007 2,787 1 325,921 849
OTHER 2,616,341 2,402 2,583,536 3,341 326,713 898,494 2,272
TOTAL 2009 723,630,035 1,097,595 568,425,393 1,291,914 63,105,675 49,145,451 283,739
2009 YEAR-END IMPORT STATISTICS
2009 | Imports to the U.S. Customers value in dollars does not include insurance or freight
026-032 Stats (year end).indd 26 4/20/10 11:53:47 AM
Insert straps under tile during
installation.
Set and align tiles. After mortar sets, remove caps
and straps.
Tighten caps and straps to
virtually eliminate lippage from
tile to tile.
1
2
3 4
800-969-5561 (U.S.A.) 800-387-0008 (Canada)
WWW.PEARLABRASIVE.COM
Passes standard industrial
(TCNA Robinson) compression test.
Very easy to learn and use at any skill level.
Prevents tiles from moving while curing.
More profitable for the installer.
Re-usable caps.
Recommended for gauged tiles 12" or larger.
Reduces installer fatigue/stress.
Virtually lippage free, flat surface drastically
reduces the need for grinding and polishing.
FEATURES and BENEFITS:
Patent pending
T
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.
For tiles of uniform thickness only (gauged tile).
2-piece system that virtually eliminates lippage during tile installation.
With
Supplied by:
pearlsw03104.indd 1 4/20/10 3:31:13 PM
ARAB EMIRATES 287,185 252 3,703,183 11,090 136,925 187
ARGENTINA 1,739,748 7,693 3,358,997 2,604 201,815 35,152 65
AUSTRALIA 71,038 36 127,240 75 9,151 1
BAHAMAS 29,000 2,268
BELGIUM 28,143 22 1,909,949 834 59,263 110,647 72
BOLIVIA 48,895 63
BRAZIL 422,476,098 490,654 3,210,488 2,566 9,539,905 2,298,968 2,971
BULGARIA 1,565,902 1,655 44,570 21,597 23
CANADA 21,822,554 23,781 12,448,640 10,895 3,387,525 30,165,467 228,604
CAYMAN 6,119
CHILE 66,123 44
CHINA 267,547,881 437,845 102,457,291 96,541 40,899,926 8,855,311 12,185
COLOMBIA 10,556 14 1,428,556 1,724 10,138 13,565 43
CROATIA 294,968 241
DENMARK 9,189 6 28,560
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC 1,289,275 2,019 4,436,349 7,723 54,659 395,019 713
ECUADOR 4,240 29 77,311 105
EGYPT 142,612 374 8,523,552 15,217 164,124 593
FINLAND 90,305 64 2,056 7
FRANCE 176,536 80 20,492,243 63,253 402,481 238,350 119
GERMANY 993,726 228 9,082,288 25,984 40,123 642,818 989
GREECE 380,083 212 10,822,852 8,658 67,896 44,837 29
GUATEMALA 34,771 190 262,697 226 5,780 1
HONDURAS 2,248 1 541,788 190
HONG KONG 978,044 1,067 950,516 470 43,632 3,749 5
HUNGARY 72,440 15
INDIA 169,933,935 411,933 11,910,951 9,482 37,857,760 7,075,669 40,151
INDONESIA 115,409 116 6,074,778 8,698 29,855 87,859 182
IRELAND 4,073 1 155,080 45 22,176 9
ISRAEL 911,032 1,904 24,660,601 63,922 395,403 502
ITALY 203,103,334 173,782 163,987,560 184,224 2,493,476 3,729,818 5,126
JAPAN 324,431 61 31,102 10 101,860 294
JORDAN 6,780 43 1,006,145 842 107,295 529
KOREA 300,303 116 283,317 100 21,339 6,767 5
LEBANON 17,720,522 488,778
MADAGASCAR 7,800 1 2,130 1
MALAYSIA 4,164 5 440,816 921 28,620 66
MALTA 3,814 2
MEXICO 1,401,841 3,195 91,062,232 127,758 287,736 3,825,506 8,916
MONACO 34,484 7
MOROCCO 3,500 1 61,216 42
NETHERLANDS 10,932 1 87,609 33 5,177
NEW ZEALAND 128,075 7 145,450 7 2,478
NORWAY 348,098 7,604 2,867 55,896 102
PAKISTAN 179,799 159 5,338,786 3,682 30,316 9,150 3
PERU 98,667 101 25,882,244 35,204 2,142 19
PHILIPPINES 160,133 521 2,384,231 3,720 7,160 278,259 1,343
POLAND 45,116 35 21,883 8
PORTUGAL 930,468 600 22,924,656 31,580 198,171 19,610 51
ROMANIA 115,757 70 59,229 73
RUSSIA 13,603 15 4,192 1
SAUDI ARABIA 297,192 297
SINGAPORE 34,602 51 556,487 624 16,403
SPAIN 13,632,938 16,798 51,161,148 127,614 2,746,159 866,008 20,253
SWEDEN 11,270 6 4,508 2 5,496 1
SWITZERLAND 73,846 86 29,166 54 48,019 23
TAIWAN 26,194,120 43,849 3,260,785 2,052 59,302 21,290 21
THAILAND 117,042 83 376,432 158 82,711 270,070 618
TOKELAU 145,845 5,294
TUNISIA 1,343,771 1,498
TURKEY 882,959 969 327,074,066 818,929 293,222 761,704 1,788
UNITED KINGDOM 6,043,830 5,842 1,396,706 4,226 1,487,172 256,358 181
URUGUAY 659,607 616 12,454 4
VENEZUELA 18,830 11 22,364 9 6,856
ZIMBABWE 172,466 114 2,601 2 59,018 178
OTHER 3,818,896 6,092 5,169,148 6,557 634,496 1,329,172 3,618
TOTAL 2008 1,148,154,317 1,639,621 950,751,230 2,176,324 101,049,268 62,620,985 332,936
2008 YEAR-END IMPORT STATISTICS
2008 | Imports to the U.S. Customers value in dollars does not include insurance or freight
Red Sea Mining Co. Ltd.
HEAD OFFICE: P.O. Box 7422, Jeddah 21462 Saudi Arabia Tel: (966)(2) 6204749 Fax: 6201648
BR. OFFICE: P.O. Box 6233, Riyadh 11442 Saudi Arabia Tel: (966)(1) 4630140 Fax: 4644854
Display of Koran in Jeddah, KSA artistically designed by harmoniously
blending some of our attractive Saudi Granite Colors.
Violetta Saudi Granite Quarry
operations at Najran
E-MAIL: sales@rsmco.com.sa and rsmcompany@hotmail.com
TROPIC BROWN GOLDEN LEAF VIOLETTA EMERALD GREEN LGB NEW BLUE HIBISCUS PINK
Red Sea Mining continues to
provide all major granite buyers
in USA, Canada, Europe, the
Far East including India, Japan,
China, Australia & many more.

TO MEET ALL YOUR GRANITE NEEDS

FROM RAW BLOCKS TO FINISHED PRODUCTS

RSM HAS IT ALL

IN THEIR MOST ATTRACTIVE
RANGE OF SAUDI GRANITES

SKILLFULLY DISPLAYING
THE NATURAL BEAUTY OF STONE
RedSeaMining_SW0609.indd 3 5/28/09 1:12:35 PM
ANTIGUA 158,044 62 137,475 72 28,196 146,609 135
ARAB EMIRATES 46,424 15 540,469 721 11,212 94,795 27
ARGENTINA 11,460 60
ARUBA 18,460 26 8,375 5 114,576 77
AUSTRALIA 1,258,994 459 39,841 11 39,671 82,898 58
AUSTRIA 1,288,867 688 4,429 1 2,885
BAHAMAS 633,048 419 1,446,628 900 119,536 529,994 662
BAHRAIN 4,398 2
BARBADOS 38,843 30 293,681 191 49,291 90
BELGIUM 326,897 1,029 27,500 1 53,137
BELIZE 43,811 48 44,224 95 7,108 2,825 2
BERMUDA 509,264 196 111,369 104 51,201 78
BRAZIL 14,401 19 7,408 21 12,235 44,438 24
BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS 136,558 74 306,622 427 4,512 234,880 438
CANADA 22,506,598 33,321 9,191,236 119,526 2,119,702 27,128,130 105,973
CAYMAN ISLANDS 323,746 178 386,904 2,365 9,220 125,601 72
CHILE 5,301 2 16,537 11
CHINA 12,275,572 36,975 341,767 954 46,790 845,882 1,883
COLOMBIA 13,500 10 68,757 49 22,000 16,974 12
COSTA RICA 19,416 31 94,712 241 112,507 102
CZECH REPUBLIC 38,344 7 3,445 1
DENMARK 25,000 21 10,632 12 40,000 13
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC 7,106 1 190,204 553 2,552 17,499 27
ECUADOR 11,734 6 39,195 47
EGYPT 11,065 22
FINLAND 31,153 3 46,480 17
FRANCE 32,711 40 685,080 468 11,169 59,628 1,479
GERMANY 94,301 96 98,303 983 7,185 1,010,085 4,779
GREECE 46,124 105
GUATEMALA 62,037 43 13,854 3
GUYANA 3,822 1 4,199 12 9,282 20
HONDURAS 88,965 46 52,528 54 27,896 44
HONG KONG 78,362 8 31,070 164,717 424
ICELAND 2,566 5
INDIA 269,636 425 48,838 18 76,823 123
INDONESIA 3,172 1
IRELAND 11,270 14 122,205 106 58,644 2,143
ISRAEL 3,000 1 177,303 95 254,187 228
ITALY 5,012,968 10,419 983,636 866 5,000 982,502 1,788
JAMAICA 17,630 16 98,944 55 8,281 23
JAPAN 127,259 170 26,303 4 11,985 486,972 712
KENYA 31,477
KOREA 324,711 246 2,639 44 1,501,649 1,008
KUWAIT 2,636 1 11,210 2
LATVIA 2,630 2 200,536
LEBANON 9,160 54
LUXEMBOURG 2,557
MALTA 46,346 19
MALAYSIA 18,550 34 3,720 1
MEXICO 1,629,833 1,846 1,356,184 1,867 174,440 756,876 3,916
MONTSERRAT 2,810 1
N. ANTILLES 77,403 62 104,025 103 3,525 41,845 50
NETHERLANDS 45,516 51 16,952 22 98,553 52
NEW ZEALAND 17,872 8 29,460 6 241,623 315
NICARAGUA 14,642 2 22,842 21 3,300
NIGERIA 45,275 61 5,305 27 73,277 57
NORWAY 30,880 4 3,000 4,000 1
PAKISTAN 361,965 123
PANAMA 14,305 21 24,007 29 46,599 14
PERU 26,105 2 29,458 7 3,465 2
PHILIPPINES 34,140 6 10,714 5
POLAND 22,991 13 5,780 1
PORTUGAL 77,915 191 29,040 420 2,592 37,865 20
RUSSIA 30,398 24
SAUDI ARABIA 4,120 1 54,082 37
SINGAPORE 243,346 686 16,460 21 2,048,065 50,763 46
SPAIN 107,986 303 66,712 49 61,098 313
SWEDEN 6,000 1 34,000
SWITZERLAND 26,426 26,506 9,750 159,336 47
TAIWAN 707,934 2,632 105,817 27 32,470 15
THAILAND 20,516 1 32,740 17
TURKEY 170,008 265 4,934 6,208 1
UNITED KINGDOM 2,036,092 650 260,148 2,468 363,315 119,037 160
VENEZUELA 43,872 77 495,873 195 74,242 87
OTHER 586,752 697 910,059 2,952 215,552 420,076 528
TOTAL 2009 51,931,066 119,195 19,438,165 137,526 5,642,208 36,800,140 128,341
2009 YEAR-END EXPORT STATISTICS
2009 | Exports from the U.S. Customers value in dollars does not include insurance or freight
saudimarblesw05104.indd 1 4/14/10 1:32:19 PM
ANTIGUA 203,977 104 108,995 32 2,700
ARAB EMIRATES 272,030 198 76,851 821 7,747 13,608 6
ARGENTINA 4,450 1 45,432 780 3,850 1
ARUBA 18,680 3 5,363 92 62,221 59
AUSTRALIA 433,150 100 51,270 81 33,124 509,008 278
AUSTRIA 813,072 236 10,000 1
BAHAMAS 615,070 630 1,817,430 6,459 80,492 672,706 1,037
BAHRAIN 20,000 10
BARBADOS 49,512 29 516,117 274 58,525 67,001 67
BELGIUM 204,445 658 502,879 56 18,799 4,457,040 5,306
BELIZE 12,530 16,289 15
BERMUDA 355,048 120 121,614 433 7,447 24,801 105
BRAZIL 119,415 111 3,000 1 91,163 22,529 51
BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS 139,829 38 1,105,139 874 2,523 15,905 67
CANADA 28,627,760 42,649 8,749,858 103,496 2,245,400 30,136,199 144,276
CAYMAN ISLANDS 676,024 840 329,379 669 61,915 264,211 688
CHILE 48,500 16 35,679 19 52,954 16
CHINA 16,376,483 43,308 473,996 1,325 186,293 382,300 129
COLOMBIA 33,638 19 27,719 33 7,914 17,251 6
COSTA RICA 68,354 68 120,956 87
DENMARK 2,600 1 4,008 10
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC 44,937 47 17,271 15 6,135 985,087 684
ECUADOR 28,611 21
EGYPT 12,750 219 3,777 20,000 10
FINLAND 10,167 2
FRANCE 43,723 172 293,624 171 13,777 51,087 183
GABON 43,616 8
GERMANY 338,570 75 88,027 47 2,580 397,180 474
GREECE 7,407 1 17,500 300 25,336 8
GUATEMALA 5,909 3
GUYANA 30,772 9 79,802 59 2,967 17,103 62
HONDURAS 99,103 1 119,082 316 22,896 3
HONG KONG 627,375 2,065 264,113 2,445 74,954 77,663 242
HUNGARY 37,917 10
ICELAND 10,292 1
INDIA 493,743 435 148,059 76 12,000 225,289 526
INDONESIA 3,446 1 30,039 18
IRELAND 44,508 20 67,298 428 134,563 345,169 1,257
ISRAEL 9,971 23 50,575 17,402 25
ITALY 8,121,159 21,247 788,725 1,382 27,952 564,266 739
JAMAICA 70,850 35 276,601 172 54,415 96
JAPAN 117,175 267 135,764 1,684 35,801 769,332 907
JORDAN 18,030 6 9,600
KOREA 77,725 115 118,112 60 28,898 4,164,666 2,285
KUWAIT 611,250 78 374,500 145
LATVIA 3,150 1
MALAYSIA 21,047 29
MARTINIQUE 17,279 18
MEXICO 4,041,100 3,209 2,632,671 6,588 218,457 1,883,413 24,059
MONACO 6,000 1
N. ANTILLES 21,342 5 153,206 114 8,505 25
NETHERLANDS 246,855 21 36,699 7,575 26
NEW ZEALAND 49,382 21 20,061 8 298,565 486
NICARAGUA 4,100 1 2,508 1
NIGERIA 19,288 39
NORWAY 395,477 21 12,175 2,882 1
PAKISTAN 46,795 23 189,625 101 38,798 25
PANAMA 7,120 1 40,766 27 271,411 207
PARAGUAY 52,857 5
PERU 8,085 22 25,435 3 5,034 461,956 195
PHILIPPINES 11,456 2
POLAND 13,537 20
PORTUGAL 50,242 812
RUSSIA 52,500 31 21,994 15,200 40
SAUDI ARABIA 109,549 205 5,570 2 30,108 3
SINGAPORE 18,541 7 13,671 2 2,598 6
SPAIN 481,984 751 256,385 305 258,572 46,759 19
SWEDEN 18,234 1
SWITZERLAND 1,782,006 6,290 20,856 59 69,883 66
TAIWAN 589,997 1,896 148,692 174,261 46
THAILAND 12,350 10 3,992 2 7,423 2
TURKEY 30,426 32 297,687 356 22,155 55
UNITED KINGDOM 5,559,124 717 110,442 34 840,386 432,267 223
VENEZUELA 95,042 45 587,923 1,178 32,057 19
OTHER 824,907 1,313 1,724,630 10,105 158,501 267,531 269
TOTAL 2008 73,499,731 128,235 23,480,507 142,771 4,920,661 49,150,796 185,694
2008 YEAR-END EXPORT STATISTICS
2008 | Exports from the U.S. Customers value in dollars does not include insurance or freight
gmmsw05094.indd 1 4/20/09 2:43:48 PM
NEWS
NEW RESIN TECHNOLOGY FOR
LIGHT-COLORED MARBLE
CAVAION VERONESE, ITALY Part
of the Alberti Group of stone companies
in Northern Italy, the Alberti & Alberti
marble plant has brought in state-of-
the-art technology for its processing
including a new resin treatment for
marble slabs.
The facility operates a full-scale
resin-application plant from Breton
S.p.A. of Italy, including an auto-
mated resin-application line with two
large-scale driers as well as Levibreton
polishing lines for honing as well as
final polishing.
One of the latest developments in the
factory is the use of Glaxs, a new resin
technology from Tenax. Considering
the fact that sun and heat tend to yellow
resin-treated material which can be
particularly evident on white or other
light-colored materials Tenaxs R&D
Department developed a new product
that offers guaranteed long-term trans-
parence. The Glaxs resin has undergone
a series of aging tests according to
ASTM standards. According to Tenax,
these results have shown a strong yel-
lowing of epoxy resins, while the Glaxs
resin has confirmed resistance to yel-
lowing with high transparency. The
product also has low environmental
impact, Tenax reports, as it contains no
solvents, is not corrosive and does not
release irritating fumes.
The Alberti Group offers a broad range of unique
materials. Marble, travertine and onyx are
processed at the groups Alberti & Alberti facility,
which has the latest generation of stoneworking
technology and treatments.
One of the latest developments at the factory is the
use of Glaxs, a new resin technology from Tenax
that offers long-term protection against yellowing
due to sunlight exposure. This is particularly useful
for use on white or other light-colored materials.
Pictured in the two photos above is an application
of Glaxs on Rhino White marble from Africa.
034-040 News.indd 34 4/21/10 10:04:50 AM
www.ArtisanSinks.com
Complies with ASME A112.19.3-2000
the Stone
Artisan Sinks
and Stone Countertops. . .
the Perfect Marriage
The New Premium Undermount
Kitchen Sink Collection
Beautiful, durable and very affordable
Heavy 16-gauge, 304 stainless steel
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artsw04104.indd 1 3/16/10 2:30:25 PM
NEWS
The Glaxs resin is applied in the
same manner as a traditional resin
after the honing application is com-
pleted and Alberti & Alberti uses it to
reinforce white materials such as Rhino
White from Africa.
When working with colored mate-
rials, Alberti & Alberti uses a range
of colored polyester resins, primarily
for filling the holes in travertine. The
company also has a line for adding
fiberglass reinforcement to the back of
the slabs as needed particularly for
travertine and other porous stones.
The resin line can produce 10,750
square meters of material during an
eight-hour shift, while the polish-
ing line can process 13,000 to 14,000
square meters of material per shift.
Among the factorys export targets, the
U.S. imports a percentage of Alberti &
Albertis marble production.
Editors note: A full-length feature on
the Alberti Group, including coverage of
its marble and granite factories, will be
published in the September 2010 issue of
Stone World.
NEW ADDITION AT IMETAME
GRANITOS
ESP RI TO SANTO, BRAZI L
Mila Romanelli has recently joined
Imetame Granitos, which is a major
e x p o r t e r o f
o r n a me n t a l
stones in Brazil.
The company
has more than
800,000 square
feet of space,
and it is located
75 miles north of Vitria, in the state
of Esprito Santo. The factory features
a range of modern equipment, and all
of its slabs are resin treated. Imetame
also provides tiles and blocks, and it
mines from several quarries, includ-
ing New Venetian Gold, Ornamental
Imetame, Brazilian Black, Portofino
Gold, Brown Imperial and more.
The company is a division of a large
group that also has interests in industries
such as oil, soldering, latex and cattle.
The companys Web site is www.
i me t a me g r a ni t os . c om. br , a nd
Romanelli can be contacted directly by
e-mail at mila@imetamegranitos.com.
br or by phone at +55- 27-9961-5738.
FIRST NATURAL STONE
GUIDE APPLICATION IS
RELEASED IN APP STORE
MIAMI, FL App House LLC has
released a natural stone reference guide
for iPhone and iPod touch, available
immediately on the Apple App Store.
Natural Stone Source provides users
a wide range of tools to navigate the
ever-expanding world of natural stone.
With Natural Stone Source, users get
a powerful guide that will always be
growing through updates. In this appli-
cation, users have access to a database
with over 2,800 different stones from
52 different countries, easily making
Mila Romanelli
034-040 News.indd 36 4/21/10 10:05:09 AM
The Difference is Black and White.
The Original Quartz Surface. Only from CaesarStone
.
Theres no grey area or comparison when choosing the nest quartz
surface. CaesarStone not only invented the technology, but perfected
the process and established the benchmark for design innovation and
customer satisfaction. Learn more at www.CaesarStoneUS.com.
Pure White 1141
caesarstonesw05104.indd 1 4/8/10 9:11:04 AM
NEWS
it one of the largest selections of natu-
ral stones available in the App Store,
reports the creator.
Everyone here is extremely excit-
ed about the release of Natural Stone
Source, said Matt Walter, App House
President and Co-Founder. Not only
is this our first application, but the
reception were already getting from
the home designing community has
been fantastic. They have been patient-
ly waiting for an application like this,
and were proud to be the ones to give
it to them.
According to App House LLC, the
Nat ural Stone Source appl ication
enables users to quickly and eas-
ily search any natural stone with the
devices built-in sample database. The
narrowed search options allow the user
to search either by most commonly
known name, type of stone, origin of
stone or color of stone. To get a more
specific result the users can search dif-
ferent stones based on just one or more
of those options.
Key features in Natural Stone Source:
Unique Search Engine offers access
to a growing database of over 2,800
different natural stone samples
along with their most commonly
known name, type, origin and color.
Users can search different stones
based on just one or more of those
options and easily browse their
search results in Standard View or
Coverflow. Once a user has found
the stone he or she is most
interested in, there are a few
additional tools to insure success in
finding the best stone. Looking
under each stones Comments
Page for what other people are
saying about that particular stone or
e-mailing the stone sample to a
designer or supplier to help track it
down are some of its features.
Spotlight features special natural
stones being offered by some of the
most reputable companies in the
business for users unsure which
natural stone is for them. Each
Spotlight has a description,
additional photos, starting price
and a direct link to make a
purchase inquiry among other
features needed to begin the stone
selection process.
Dictionary compiles all the jargon
and puts it at the fingertips of users
so they can stay well informed by
understanding what stone industry
terms mean.
News keeps users updated on all
the developments within the
industry. Whether its a new natural
stone line being introduced by a large
supplier or a change in the schedule
of a major stone fair, this is helpful
for people in the stone industry who
want to keep in the loop.
Tips is an accumulation of tips
1-800-350-1901
www.miraclesealants.com
FREE
contractor
reward
program
Back by Popular Demand!
Miracle Sealants will continue its industry
first Contractor Reward Program.
Terms & Conditions:
In order to receive rebate, contractors must
have a membership number for processing.
Go to: www.miraclesealants.com/contractor
A copy of all product receipts must be
marked with the membership number
and mailed within 30 days of purchase
to Miracle Sealants, c/o Marketing Dept.,
12318 Lower Azusa Road, Arcadia, CA 91006,
or e-mailed to receipts@miraclesealants.com
Contractors must purchase products from a
Authorized Miracle Sealants Distributor.
Program runs from January 1st to December
15th each year.
Contractor will need to renew each year and
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Start Now Go To:
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Qualified contractors will
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purchases made over
the course of the year.
034-040 News.indd 38 4/21/10 10:05:28 AM
Diarex
CNC Vacuum System

Diarex Vacuum Pods are precision manufactured in Italy to the exacting OEM specifications of the industrys
top stone machinery manufactures. Diarex vacuum pods feature anodized aluminum with vulcanized rubber
on the top and bottom plates, with double sealed replaceable rubber gaskets and a modular design for low
shipping costs, easy replacement of damaged components, and the ability to assemble custom pod solutions.
Diarex Vacuum Pods are available in a wide range of shapes and sizes; call your GranQuartz sales professional
for more details. 1-800-458-6222
Fully functioning/interchangeable vacuum
plates on top and bottom for extra holding
power and versatility (most systems feature a
simple gasket design for the bottom plate).
Modular design for lower shipping costs and
no need to ship entire pods across the country
for rework due to damage or wear.
Individual pieces can be purchased and
shipped quickly to your location.
Vulcanized rubber plates with double sealed
rubber gaskets that are easily replaceable (and
more wear resistant than foam gaskets found
on other systems.
Modular design for versatility- all
parts are available separately.
Toll-Free 1 (800) 458-6222 Fax: (770) 621-9771 www.granquartz.com
Stocking Locations in Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Denver, Houston and Miami.
gq1sw03104.indd 1 2/17/10 11:20:16 AM
NEWS
Feue:I Ycur
Free Coto|og Icccy
Ic|| Free: {8) 385-7775
V|ew |t On||ne Cn Demcnc
www.FreeDomo|nCoto|og.ccm
Our Free Coto|og
Soys |t A||.
DOMAIN INDUSTRIES INC.
MUAV
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(UAJWJ,WU=M7@AV
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F CF I HE F F CF E S S l CN/L S .
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from industry insiders to help even
the most inexperienced user feel
knowledgeable and confident, reports
App House LLC.
FAQ finds just about every answer
to natural stone questions.
Favorites stores all of a users
favorite samples. Viewing in
Coverflow is also an option.
Natural Stone Source is available
for download from Apples App Store
on iPhone and iPod Touch or at www.
itunes.com/appstore/.
BRAXTON-BRAGG ADDS MEM
TO PRODUCT LINE
KNOXVI LLE, TN Br axton-
Bragg announces the addition of
Mar moel et t r omeccani ca ( MEM)
products to its extensive line of tools
and supplies for the stone industry.
MEMs line of CNC profile wheels
includes the new SHS (Super High
Speed), which is designed to greatly
reduce fabrication time and increase
productivity. Featured in this sys-
tem is the Frangistone Pre-Cutting
Wheel, which removes material four
times faster than traditional tools,
reports Braxton-Bragg. Also featured
are the Master 3500 and the Master
2800, top-quality portable electric
routers, available with Water System
technology, providing a gliding water
film to protect the surface of the
stone. According to Braxton-Bragg,
the MEM water system was the first
developed for manual routers.
Many other MEM products will also
be included in the Braxton-Bragg line-
up, including CNC profile tooling, core
drills and more.
Marmoelettromeccanica is one of
the Italian leaders in manufacturing
diamond tool s for worki ng gran-
ite, marble and engineered stones.
It is well known in the stone indus-
try for developing innovative tools
and applying high-quality industrial
diamonds to new and patented tech-
nologies. Al l MEM products bear
the CE logo because of strict quality
control standards, which has earned
them the distinction of
ISO 9001 certification.
F o r a d d i t i o n -
a l i n f o r ma t i o n o n
Marmoelettromeccanica
product s, cont act t he
sales reps at Braxton-
Bragg. These products are
available for immediate
shipment through Braxton-
Bragg.
Braxton-Bragg has announced the addition of
Marmoelettromeccanica (MEM) products to its extensive line of
tools and supplies for the stone industry.
034-040 News.indd 40 4/21/10 10:05:36 AM
laserproductssw05104.indd 1 4/13/10 3:47:09 PM
PROADVANCED
PROTECTION
daltilesw04104.indd 1 3/24/10 9:23:17 AM
This sealer is made exclusively for Daltile by DuPont. Microban

antimicrobial technology is not designed to replace normal cleaning practices or protect users against foodborne illness. Dal-Tile
Corporation. The DuPont oval logo, DuPont
and the DuPont oval with Stain Protected Logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of E. I. du Pont de Nemours and company. All rights reserved.
Microban is a registered trademark of the Microban Products Company.
A WARRANTY THATS WORRY-FREE.
Stand with condence behind the comprehensive warranty
provided by PROADVANCED
Protection, considered to be
one of the best in the industry:
Covers pro|esslonal staln removal and replacement labor
and materials
Provides protection for all Daltile granite, more than 300
options and all marble the only program that covers
marble countertops
15-year, |ully trans|erable residential warranty
8-year, |ully trans|erable commercial/industrial warranty
|ncluoes discount pricing online for all DuPont Care &
Maintenance products for stone, tile and grout, throughout
the life of the warranty
PROADVANCED

goes above and beyond to offer your
customers a lifetime of protection on their investment.
Offer your customers peace of mind like never before, with
the PROADVANCED
Protection Program. Daltile has

partnered with industry leaders DuPont

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to develop this innovative program, to provide lifelong
protection for natural stone countertops.
PROADVANCED
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PROADVANCED
sealer is a high-performance, natural stone

sealer that provides a powerful, invisible layer of stain resistance.
Engineered by DuPont, it protects the beauty of stone against
common household stain hazards including coffee, red wine,
mustard, ketchup, cooking oil and soy sauce.
The PROADVANCED
sealer uses a water-based solution that

leaves your home free of high-VOC solvent-based chemicals.
The sealer takes less time to apply, and can be applied while the
stone is still wet. Also, PROADVANCED
is a penetrating sealer,
and wont change the color, appearance or sheen of the stone
it is applied to.
MICROBAN
TECHNOLOGY REDEFINES CLEAN.

PROADVANCED
is also infused with Microban
antimicrobial
technology to inhibit the growth of stain- and odor-causing
bacteria. This helps keep countertops cleaner between
cleanings, making ease of maintenance another great benet
customers will enjoy.
W
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daltilesw04104.indd 2 3/24/10 9:23:24 AM

Creating a brand in the
commercial marketplace
In business for more than 25 years, Surface Products of Cornelius, NC,
expanded its operations to include quartz and natural stone,
and its customer base has grown to include a range of commercial clients
by Michael Reis
L
ocated in Cornelius, NC, and
serving the Charlotte region
and beyond, Surface Products
began as a solid surface processor
and ult i mately began processi ng
quartz and natural stone including
a high volume of countertops for
production builders. Today, it uses
that same li neup of machi nery
i ncludi ng CNC technology to
fabricate stone for a range of projects
in the commercial sector.
The company, which is a member
of the Artisan Group of stone fabrica-
tors, processes natural stone as well
as Corian Solid Surface, Heritage
Wood, CaesarStone, DuPont Zodiaq,
Cambria and other materials.
Surfaces Products was founded
more than 25 years ago, and owner Jon
Lancto explained that the company
Originally established as a solid surface fabricator, Surface Products of Cornelius, NC, expanded into quartz and
natural stone. In addition to residential stone processing, it has also made inroads into the commercial sector.
Fabricator
Case Study
CNC TECHNOLOGY USERS
044-050 Surfaces.indd 44 4/20/10 9:34:03 AM
OgyuSW0509.indd 1 4/21/09 2:06:04 PM
made a natural progression into stone.
I was in the solid surface business,
and I ventured into stone based on cus-
tomer demand. More and more often,
customers were asking for stone.
In selecting machinery for stone
processing, Lancto consulted his col-
leagues in the solid surface trade who
had also expanded. I was the origi-
nal Founding President of ISSFA [the
International Solid Surface Fabricators
Association] and I had friends within
the industry that already made the
jump over to stone, so I had a lot of
help in that regard, he said.
A primary piece of equipment in
the shop is a Destiny CNC stonework-
ing center from Park Industries of St.
Cloud, MN. Lancto explained that
when Surface Products invested in
this machine, there was an adjustment
A primary piece of equipment
in the shop is a Destiny CNC
stoneworking center from Park
Industries of St. Cloud, MN. The
machine features laser projection
to assist with pod placement.
Jobs are templated using LT-55 laser templating
technology from Laser Products of Romeoville, IL
(an example of which is pictured).
The company has specially outfitted
trucks for carrying finished work to
the jobsite.
Stone is maneuvered around the
shop using a Gorbel overhead
crane system, which is equipped
with Manzelli vacuum lifters from
GranQuartz of Tucker, GA.
044-050 Surfaces.indd 46 4/20/10 9:34:15 AM
diamaxindustriessw05104.indd 1 4/13/10 10:19:26 AM
from its existing line of solid surface
technology. It is a little more compli-
cated because of the water involved,
and the tooling is a lot more expensive,
of course, he said. In solid surface, we
are working on a flat table with a vac-
uum. The stone industry has vacuum
pods, which are different, but we have
the Destiny model with laser projection,
which tells you where the pods go.
In addition to the Destiny CNC, the
stoneworking shop at Surface Products
features a Park Yukon bridge saw for slab
cutting and a Park Velocity edge proces-
sor, which can work pieces ranging from
2 to 12 feet in length and 4 to 12 feet in
width. Stone is maneuvered around the
shop using a Gorbel overhead crane sys-
tem, which is equipped with Manzelli
vacuum lifters from GranQuartz of
Tucker, GA. Jobs are templated using
Advanced technology in the shop allows Surface Products to process a wide variety of countertop shapes.
The company has processed countertops for a range of kitchen styles and layouts.
044-050 Surfaces.indd 48 4/20/10 9:34:34 AM
Sur f ace Pr oduct s i s par t of t he Ar t i san Gr oup, a
nati onal organi zati on of i ndependent grani te fabri cators
t hat have j oi ned toget her to of f er
the Ar ti san Stone
TM
Col l ecti on, the
first and only brand of granite wholly
owned by Artisan Group, which has a
comprehensive lifetime warranty. The
group al so of fers Heri tage Wood
TM
counter tops and Kohl er si nks and
faucets.
I was a founding member of Artisan,
said Jon Lancto of Surface Products. We are getting close
to 40 fabricators from across the country. It has become a
great best practices group. We trade a lot of information
because we are all working towards the same goal in non-
competitive situations.
Group members average more than
20 years of fabrication experience in
the counter top i ndustr y. Moreover,
al l Ar t i san Gr oup member s have
achieved or have begun the process
to achieve full accreditation with the
Marble Institute of America. The group
is among the first granite fabricators in
the world to be working towards this
distinction. Artisan Group also provides a complete line of
granite care products including: Firstline
TM
Sealer, Firstline
TM
Clean & Restore and Firstline
TM
Shine.
The Artisan Group
LT-55 laser templating technology from
Laser Products of Romeoville, IL.
In terms of capacity and finished
applications, Surface Products has
shifted a portion of its production to the
commercial market. We were doing 20
to 25 kitchens per week when we were
at the peak of our production builder
work, Lancto said. Since the recession,
we are more heavily into commercial
work. We are currently doing five dif-
ferent hospitals in the Southeast. On
the residential side, we are only doing
maybe 12 to 15 kitchens per week.
The company employs between
40 and 45 workers, depending on the
workload at a given time, and many are
cross-trained to work in either the solid
surface or hard surface shop. When
bringing in new employees, the compa-
ny has established a training program
to help workers learn the trade.
Speaking on challenges in the mar-
ketplace, Lancto said that it is critical to
educate customers in the residential
sector as well as commercial clients.
The biggest challenge is having cus-
044-050 Surfaces.indd 49 4/21/10 10:06:48 AM
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July 22 Denver, CO
Business Success for Fabricators Dont Let Revenue Slip Away!
Analyzing the cost of doing business
Benchmarks for financial performance
Discussion on diversifying your operations
Equipment needs
Showcasing techniques and tips for templating, fabrication, and installation
Marketing your company
Value of being an MIA accredited natural stone fabricator
Networking
Visit www.stoneworld.com/miaeducation for a complete agenda, registration, and much more!
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marbleinstitutesw05104.indd 1 4/15/10 10:29:14 AM
Surface Products
Cornelius, NC
Type of work: Fabrication of stone, quartz and solid
surface products for the residential and commercial
sector, including healthcare facilities
Machinery: Destiny CNC stoneworking center router
with laser production from Park Industries of St.
Cloud, MN; Park Yukon bridge saw; Park Velocity
edge processor; Gorbel overhead crane system
with Manzelli lifters from GranQuartz of Tucker,
GA; LT-55 laser templating technology from Laser
Products Industries of Romeoville, IL
Number of Employees: 40 to 45 (including solid surface)
Production Rate: 12 to 15 kitchens per week, plus a range
of commercial projects
Among its high-profile projects, Surface Products fabricated
countertops for the Gridiron Club inside Bank of America
Stadium, home to the NFLs Carolina Panthers.
tomers understand the product, he said. On the commercial
side, most architects dont realize the limitations of the prod-
uct. On the residential side, customers dont understand the
variations within a stone or the seam placement. So there is a
learning process on every job.
044-050 Surfaces.indd 51 4/20/10 9:34:52 AM
Leaving a lasting
legacy in stone
For nearly a quarter-century, Sigma Marble, Granite and Tile
has been installing and fabricating stone for a range of prominent
architectural works that are recognized on an international level
by Michael Reis
A
fter working as a civil engineer
in general construction for
a number of years, George
Kanaan decided to open his own stone
contracting firm in Dallas, TX, in 1986.
Over the years, Sigma Marble, Granite
and Tile has completed stonework
for scores of high-profile projects
including NFL stadiums, hotels,
commercial spaces and residences
and it also opened a second facility
i n Houston, TX. With a range of
stoneworking equipment that includes
both standard and CNC technology, the
firm continues to process and install
stone for promi nent architectural
projects in Texas and beyond.
In addition to George Kanaan,
the company Founder and President,
leadership at Sigma includes Ramzi
Kanaan, Vice President, and Simon
Founded in Dallas, TX, in 1986, Sigma Marble, Granite and Tile has completed stonework for dozens of high-profile
projects including NFL stadiums, hotels, commercial spaces and residences.
Fabricator
Case Study
CNC TECHNOLOGY USERS
052-062 Sigma.indd 52 4/21/10 1:24:01 PM
Kanaan, President of Sigma Marble,
Granite and Tile Houston which
is also a full-service fabrication and
installation facility in Houston.
George Kanaan explai ned t hat
he selected Dallas as the company
headquarters because of the citys
energy and potential for growth, and
he reports steady growth over the
years due to Sigmas status among
contractors, architects and design-
ers. We understand the needs of the
building industry, and we are able to
provide a turn-key operation by offer-
ing a full-service shop that includes:
material selection, drafting, design
services and i n-house fabricat ion
usi ng top-of-the-li ne waterjet and
CNC technology, he said.
Ramzi Kanaan joined the com-
pany in 1986 as a general partner,
and his responsibilities ranged from
measuri ng, est i mat i ng and proj -
ect management to purchasing and
accounting. In 2007, he began a high-
end residential division of the company,
with a focus on working with builders,
architects and designers specializing
in complex, large-scale homes.
Sigmas operations moved beyond
Dallas in 1991, when Simon Kanaan
began the Houston division. In 2002,
Sigma Houston was awarded t he
Rel iant Stadium proj ect, which is
home to the NFLs Houston Texans
as well as the Super Bowl, NCAA
Final Four, National Rodeo and other
national and i nternational events.
This gave the company the opportu-
nity to show its capabilities to deal
with a high-profi le, multi-mi l l ion
Austin, TX
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For advanced edge processing,
the Park Titan CNC router is
used, and it works on pieces
of all sizes. This machine was
purchased in 2007.
052-062 Sigma.indd 54 4/20/10 9:48:26 AM
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dollar commercial job that dealt with
challenging schedules and extensive
coordination of materials and fabrica-
tion from overseas.
Dallas operations
In Dallas, Sigma has worked on
high-profile commercial projects such
as Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, TX,
the Bass Performance Hall in Ft. Worth,
TX, the Winspear Opera House in
Dallas, the Emerald Grande in Destin,
FL, and countless others.
Current commercial work includes
the Peabody Hotel in Orlando, FL, Dean
Foods in Dallas, and JW Marriot in San
Antonio, TX. In the residential sector, it
has completed the stonework for grand
upscale homes owned by celebrities
and athletes. When working on resi-
dential projects, Sigmas work generally
goes beyond the kitchen and bathroom
countertops. Additional work in a
home will include slab showers, custom
Complex cutting is done using a Calypso waterjet, which utilizes a pump and cutting nozzle from KMT Waterjet Systems of Baxter
Springs, KS (pictured on the right).
052-062 Sigma.indd 56 4/21/10 1:20:46 PM
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Detroit, MI - 734.844.9990 | Houston, TX - 281.207.4500 | Miami, FL - 954.486.2379 | Phoenix, AZ - 480.763.9400 | San Marcos, CA - 760.41.8000 | Seattle, WA - 206.762.8221
Spokane, WA - 509.893.3698 | St. Louis, MO - 314.426.1466 | St. Paul, MN - 651.602.3200 | Van Nuys, CA - 818.785.1100 | Willingboro, NJ - 609.877.1008
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2010 Cosentino N.A. Silestone trademark and logo are the property of Cosentino N.A. under exclusive license from Cosentino, SA.
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cosensw04104.indd 1 3/16/10 2:43:12 PM
entryways and foyers, complex stair-
cases and other applications. Our work
has been in Architectural Digest a num-
ber of times, said Ramzi Kanaan. We
generally work on houses ranging from
$500,000 to $5 million, but even some
of the super high-end customers have
scaled back. Although they are wealthy,
they are still affected by the money they
have in the stock market. Right now,
the issue we face is pricing. We still are
competitive in terms of margins.
Typically, the production break-
down is 85% commercial and 15%
residential, and the actual rate of pro-
duction depends on the types of project
being processed at any given time. A
total of 80% of the companys work is
in Texas, and it also processes work
in locales such as Florida, Oklahoma,
New Mexico and Nevada.
The Dal l as shop operates t wo
shi f t s and it employs 20 people,
including three draftsmen and five
supervisors in addition to fabrication
personnel. It al so has a f ul l est i-
mating and CAD department. We
havent had much turnover, Ramzi
Kanaan explained. When we do hire
new employees, recruiting can be a
challenge. Some of our new employ-
ees have experience, but most are
trained in-house. We look for math
ski l l s, logic ski l l s, common sense
and a vision on how things will look
when they are completed.
John Hein, production manager
at Sigmas Dal las office, reported
that the fabrication process at Sigma
utilizes a combination of digital and
manual techniques. Square work
tends to be more standardized, while
more complex work utilizes digital
and CNC technology.
Given Sigmas diverse range of fin-
A Park Fastback processes the edges of smaller workpieces.
Straight cutting is done using two bridge saws an Accu-
Cut and a Prodigy both from Park.
A Pro-Edge II is
used for straight-
edge polishing.
052-062 Sigma.indd 58 4/20/10 9:48:42 AM
Material is maneuvered around
the shop using an overhead
crane system as well as boom
cranes, and they are fitted
with Manzelli lifters from
GranQuartz of Atlanta, GA.
Robocut
JTgXe]Xg" FTj
Robocut
JTgXe]Xg" FTj
VI M (Virtual Inventory Management)
Ve i n Ma t c h
RoboEy e s
l ower l abor cost s
s
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s
excel l ent ROI
www. usgr obot i cs. com
i nf o@usgr obot i cs. com
TEL: 800- 999- 3025
FAX: 847- 304- 1239
Guided by
Roboeyes
software,
the only true
vision system
in the stone
industry
Vei n-Match software
for the perfect seam
VI Mweb-based sl ab
i nventory system
ished products, it has equipped its
shop with a wide variety of machin-
ery. Straight cutting is done using
two bridge saws an Accu-Cut and a
Prodigy both from Park Industries
of St. Cloud, MN. Meanwhile, more
advanced cutti ng is done usi ng a
Calypso waterjet, which utilizes a
pump and cutting nozzle from KMT
Waterjet Systems of Baxter Springs, KS.
Sigmas Dallas shop also has mul-
tiple methods for edge polishing, and
equipment includes a Pro-Edge II edge
052-062 Sigma.indd 59 4/28/10 9:22:31 AM
profile polisher as well as a Fastback
straight line polisher for smaller work,
both of which are from Park.
For advanced edge processing, the
Park Titan CNC router is used, and
it works on pieces of all sizes. This
machine was purchased in 2007.
Material is maneuvered around the
shop using a Gorbel overhead crane
system from Global Crane of Irving,
TX, as well as boom cranes, and they
are fitted with Manzelli lifters from
GranQuartz of Atlanta, GA.
Templating is completed using one
of two LT-55 laser templaters from Laser
Products Industries of Romeoville, IL.
Project flow
In addition to projects completed
in-house, some of Sigmas work is fab-
ricated overseas. Whatever we can
fabricate overseas, we will. This way,
we are not shipping waste, Ramzi
Kanaan said. On all of the jobs,
though, we use the shop for something
because there are always modifications
or adjustments.
In all cases, George Kanaan said
that the flow of a project is critical to
its success. This begins with esti-
mati ng and project management,
he said. The flow of information is
very important, and thats where we
can really compete. We developed
our own technology in-house, and
all purchase orders are electronically
generated. We have one person just
working on information systems. Shop
drawings are done in-house, and the
project managers work directly with
the project engineers. Everyone has
a specialty whether it is interiors,
hotels or residential work.
This emphasis on procedure goes
beyond the shop itself. We have
Sigma also prides itself on its
hand craftsmanship. Pictured is
a workpiece in Stellar White for
a commercial project. Although
the piece looks solid, it is mitered
in two places, with a
1
/64-inch
lamination.
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052-062 Sigma.indd 60 4/20/10 9:48:57 AM
morawaresw05104.indd 1 4/15/10 10:32:19 AM
developed several programs, George
Kanaan said. We have a step-by-step
program used by all project managers,
and everyone follows the same model.
Sigma also places an emphasis on
safety, and it has an in-house class-
room to teach safety procedures, OSHA
regulations and other topics. There is a
30-hour OSHA course, George Kanaan
said. We need our employees to be as
well-versed as the general contractors.
Every job has an MSDS/PDS book that
remains on site.
The company also has a transpor-
tation manager in place and a range
of vehicles in its fleet, including box
trucks, pick-up trucks and flatbeds.
Among its recent high-profile projects, Sigma was responsible for the countertops
in the suites and public areas of Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, TX. The stone was
supplied by Stone Marketing International of Houston, TX.
Sigma Marble, Granite
and Tile
Dallas, TX, and Houston,
TX
(Dallas Facility Summary)
Type of work: large-scale contract
work in the commercial sector;
high-end residential
Machinery: Titan CNC router
from Park Industries of St.
Cloud, MN; two Park bridge
saws an Accu-Cut and a
Prodigy; Calypso waterjet,
with pump and cutting nozzle
from KMT Waterjet Systems
of Baxter Springs, KS; Park
Pro-Edge II straight-edge
polisher; Park Fastback edge
polisher; Manzelli lifters from
GranQuartz of Atlanta, GA;
two LT-55 laser templaters from
Laser Products Industries of
Romeoville, IL
Number of Employees: Varies,
depending on contracts being
completed
The company also has a
transportation manager in place
and a range of vehicles in its
fleet, including box trucks, pick-
up trucks and flatbeds.
052-062 Sigma.indd 62 4/27/10 3:23:37 PM
primesw04104.indd 1 3/17/10 9:34:42 AM
CNC discussion:
Volume and microshop
production
The CNC and digital technology in todays marketplace allows
for both high-volume and small-shop production, and representatives
from each sector recently shared their experiences with the industry
transcribed by Michael Reis
W
hen CNC technology was
first introduced to the stone
industry, a common thought
was, When will my volume reach the
point that I will need this technology?
Today, while large-scale operations are
continuing to advance their utilization
of CNC equipment, smaller-volume
fabricators are also finding that CNC
and digital technology can be the
central component of their process.
At a recent Stone Fabricators
Alliance (SFA) Workshop, two veteran
stone fabricators presented both sides
of the CNC spectrum. Scott McGourley
from Kasco Stone of Tampa, FL, rep-
resented smaller microshop CNC/
digital production, while Miles Crowe
of Crowe Custom Countertops of
Acworth, GA, discussed large-volume
production using CNC technology.
At a recent Stone Fabricators Alliance (SFA) Workshop,
veteran stone fabricators discussed using CNC and digital
technology for smaller microshop operations as well as
large-volume production. To showcase microshop production
at the workshop, a Northwood SW138-UFC Ultimate
FabCenter was brought in to demonstrate how small-scale
fabricators can utilize a single CNC machine for both
cutting and routing needs.
064-073 CNC2.indd 64 4/20/10 9:50:09 AM
California {West Coast} & Georgia {East Coast} Distribution
32"X21"X6"
www.amerisink.com
Factory Direct
ASME & cUPC CERTIFIED
East & West Coast Distribution Center
National Builder Specified Products
877.500.SINK(7465)
S25/pc
AS109
13"x13"x6.5"
A8114{18G}
32"X18"X8"/8"
A81206{18G}
S78/pc
S50/pc
A8112{18G} A8106{18G}
31"X18"X10" 32"X21"X9"7" 23"X18"X9"
S89/pc S68/pc S62/pc
A8318{16Gauge}
32'X21"X9"/7"
A8320{16G}
A83218{18G}
32'X18"X9"/9" 32"X21"X9/5"
S46/pc
A8111
A8319{16G}
33"x22"x8",20G
A8321{16G}
A8202---17"X14"X7"
S16/PC WHTE
A8204-19"X16"X6"
S18/PCWHTE,B8CUT
A82104-20"X17"X7"
S18/PC 4"&8"CENTER8ET
A8222- 18"X14'X7.5"
S25/PC A8808 S45/set
RE8TRCTON8 MAY APPLY
32"x21"x9"/7"
A8602
A8604
We make the CHANGE8l 16Gauge for Lessl S89/pc onlyl
TRENDl
A8128{18G/smart divider}
A8132{18G} A8134{18} A8135{18G}
32"X18"X8 31"X18"X9" 31"X18"X9" 31"X18"X9"
S99/pc S99/pc S99/pc S99/pc
A8606 A8603
A8803
A8601
S78/pc
Granite Composite 8ink from S138/pc, PL8 mention display speciall
A8605
amerisinksw02101.indd 1 1/18/10 11:31:03 AM
Microshop CNC production
McGourley began his presenta-
tion on microshop production with an
explanation of how many shops are ini-
tially formed. Most people start with
a rail saw or a bridge saw and then
figure it out, he said. We started man-
ual, and I was never able to do enough
to make the profit that I wanted while
also not doing hack work. Then I read
about a producer in Norway who was
cutting slabs on a four-axis machine.
At the presentation, Scott
McGourley from Kasco Stone
of Tampa, FL (left), represented
smaller microshop CNC/digital
production, while Miles Crowe
of Crowe Custom Countertops of
Acworth, GA, discussed large-
volume production using CNC
technology.
064-073 CNC2.indd 66 4/20/10 9:50:28 AM
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delsw04104.indd 1 3/16/10 2:50:05 PM
He was a one-machine shop, and he
was making it work.
According to McGourley, a micro-
shop is small in terms of size as well
as production rate, but it is equipped
with CNC and digital technology. I
consider a microshop to have 5,000
square feet of space or less, to have two
to four employees and to produce 500
square feet or less per week. I person-
ally do two slabs a day to make 400
square feet per week, he said. You
need a digital cutting solution and digi-
tal renderings, and you are bringing
everything down to the minimum. Just
having a CNC router without a separate
bridge saw is not a digital cutting solu-
tion. You still would need a saw man,
so you are still dependent on manual
labor. If youre a small manual shop
with three workers, it can be crippling
if one guy doesnt show up for work.
Meanwhile, a machine is steady in its
performance and the time to complete a
task, so the level of quality and costs are
maintained.
At Kasco Stone, employees include
Scott McGourley who does the tem-
plating and programming, and his
wife, who runs the showroom. He also
has two employees, both of whom can
run the machine, which is a Breton
Fabcenter, and one of whom can pro-
gram if needed. We also have contract
installers and a commissioned sales-
person, he said.
Addressing the investment and
costs of CNC technology, McGourley
explained how a microshop can actu-
ally lower its monthly outlay. Looking
at tooling costs, we all know that CNC
equipment is costly, but my tooling
Kasco Stone utilizes a Breton Fabcenter
for its routing and cutting operations,
and it averages 400 square feet of
production per week.
p
h
o
t
o

c
o
u
r
t
e
s
y

o
f

B
r
e
t
o
n
McGourley also stressed the need
for a digital rendering program in
a microshop operation.
p
h
o
t
o

c
o
u
r
t
e
s
y

o
f

B
r
e
t
o
n
064-073 CNC2.indd 68 4/20/10 9:50:52 AM
costs went through the floor, he said.
We only purchase CNC tooling and a
new saw blade once in awhile. A set of
CNC tools is $3,000 or even a little less,
but they last forever when youre only
doing 400 square feet per week. Our
electricity costs have gone up, but our
monthly outlay has gone down overall.
A CNC is a lot of money on the initial
investment, but when you look at our
monthly outlay, it begins to make sense.
You also have growth options. You can-
not seriously do volume in a manual
operation, but going from a microshop
to a volume shop is possible with the
addition of a digital cutting solution.
Of course, a breakdown is very bad
when youre completely relying on one
machine, so this is why finding a com-
pany with good service is key. You also
have to pick the right machine for the
right situation. This [Breton Fabcenter]
is my solution.
When operat i ng a microshop,
McGourley said that maintaining a
proper image is critical. People come
to my 3, 500-square-foot shop and
400-square-foot-showroom, and it may
not look like much, but then they see
the machinery, the digital renderings
and the imaging, and their image goes
up, he said. The digital inventory and
showroom help narrow things down.
We are able to quickly go through the
different materials and edge details.
The process at Kasco Stone also allows
McGourley to work directly with his
customers. In a microshop, the owner
controls the quality. I am the templater
right now, and that allows me to control
the process, he explained. Digital ren-
derings allow you to show the kitchen
to the customer before cutting. It is also
a way to check for errors. The customer
might say that the sink is wrong, or that
there are three faucet holes instead of
two, or something like that. You cannot
let the customer sit down and design
the kitchen, however, because they will
sit there all day tweaking everything.
If they want that, we offer the design
option for $25 an hour.
McGourley referred to Kasco Stone
as a linear flow shop in terms of its
processing. We have a five-day turn-
around from template to install, and
we do one job at a time, he said. Jobs
come in, they are quickly produced,
and they go out. We can tell exactly
how long it will take to do a particular
job. We also have the speed to quickly
fix situations. If breakage occurs, we
can re-make a top quickly.
At the time of his presentation,
McGourley said that his company is
booked two months in advance. We
are now at the point where we can
pick which customers we want to work
with, because a small volume of work
sustains our business model, he said.
We can also select customers who are
willing to pay higher margins for qual-
ity and service. We are not dependent
on the customers who are comparing
you to the guy down the street charg-
ing $29 per foot.
High-volume CNC production
Speaking on the operations at Crowe
Custom Countertops, Crowe began by
saying that he began as a much smaller
shop. I never planned on being a pro-
duction shop, he said. We were doing
two kitchens per week seven years
ago, he said. And now we are doing
40 kitchens per week.
Initially, Crowe invested in a CNC
stoneworking center from Northwood
Machine Corp. as a way to reduce his
shops reliance on manual labor. As
we grew, I got tired of people always
asking for a raise, he said. You sort
of expect to be able to get rid of every-
one when you invest in CNC, but we
were getting more and more work, so
we kept everyone on.
After establishing itself as a small, manual shop, Crowe Custom Countertops invested in a CNC stoneworking
center from Northwood Machine Corp. to reduce the shops reliance on manual labor. However, the shops volume
quickly grew after the investment.
064-073 CNC2.indd 69 4/20/10 9:51:08 AM
The next i nvest ment came i n
November of 2007, when Crowe Custom
Countertops added a dual-table SawJet
from Northwood, which provided the
shop with a digital cutting solution.
We still werent doing large volume,
but the SawJet just seemed to be a good
way to do it, he said. But that was just
when the economy tanked, so we had
to figure out a way to make everything
work. A customer came in asking for us
to complete a 100-square-foot job in two
days. We always want to say yes here,
so we did it. It was put into production
at 10 a.m. and by 5 p.m., it was sitting
on a dolly. At that moment, it occurred
to me what we really could do. Our
costs were the same, but the volume
could increase. Our whole business
model shifted at this point, and this is
why knowing our costs per square foot
were critical. We learned that profits
came from working at capacity.
With this new business model in
place, Crowes sales techniques had to
change as well. We had to find the
volume and devise creative ways to
sell, he said. We also were able to find
wholesale customers. I knew that I could
produce granite cheaper than 75% of the
shops out there, and once we got people
to understand that, we could be success-
ful. We also took over two shops, so we
picked up their volume as well.
However, Crowe stressed that the
company does not sell on the basis of
price. We truly feel like we have a
system for the most inexpensive pro-
duction, but that is not how we sell, he
said. With volume, we arent desper-
ate to sell a job. We dont have to lower
our retail prices because of the volume
we get through wholesale production.
One helps the other.
The next investment for Crowe
Custom Countertops came in
November of 2007, when it added a
dual-table SawJet from Northwood,
which provided the shop with a
digital cutting solution. When we
first added the SawJet, we were
cutting with an old saw that didnt
even have a tilting table, Crowe said.
Now with the SawJet in place, we
dont even have any layout time. It is
all done digitally. It has increased our
yield on slabs by about 10% across
the board, and it has also reduced our
hand fabrication tremendously.
064-073 CNC2.indd 70 4/20/10 9:51:23 AM
Ultimately, Crowe said that the shop succeeded because it
had the technology in place to set it apart from heavy competi-
tion in the Atlanta area during a down economy. By having
the SawJet and CNC, it turned out to be the best decision I ever
made, he said. Atlanta has gone down from 300 shops to
150, but the last two years have been awesome for us. We have
great opportunities in terms of purchasing material as well as
not having downtime. We bought the first CNC when we were
at 700 square feet of production per week, and now we are
booked out for six weeks and can do 500 square feet in a shift.
The addition of the SawJet ultimately changed the dynam-
ic of Crowes shop. Our CNC router runs 12 to 16 hours per
day, and the SawJet actually can cut more than two CNCs
could handle, he said. When we first added the SawJet,
we were cutting with an old saw that didnt even have a tilt-
ing table. Now with the SawJet in place, we dont even have
any layout time. It is all done digitally. It has increased our
yield on slabs by about 10% across the board, and it has also
reduced our hand fabrication tremendously. The inside and
outside corners are stamped out like a cookie-cutter.
For Crowe Custom Countertops, the investments ultimate-
ly presented the company with an opportunity to expand in
size and scope. My philosophy is based on growth, he said.
Weve grown because we were forced to grow and we had the
capacity to do it. But there is a point of diminishing returns
for example, when overtime or Saturdays come into the
equation to keep up. Also, selling the jobs comes with a cost.
We now have four polishers working with us, and we also
added a shop foreman and a quality control specialist.
With a relatively large staff in place on the shop floor,
Crowe said it is important that everyone is certain of all
the specific details on a job. No one in the shop can make
a decision or an assumption on something, he said. If the
type of radius isnt listed, they need to go look it up rather
than decide on their own. We have a digital sales, templating,
information flow and fabrication, and we have the Moraware
JobTracker system in place to keep track of everything.
Crowe Custom Countertops also completes fab-only
work for outside companies. Everything is sent around
digitally, and your quality-control manager is key, Crowe
said. Approximately 40 to 45% of our work is fab-only
on a square-foot basis. Of course, the revenue from fab-
only is less than that, but thats the percentage that goes
through the shop.
We have a digital sales, templating, information flow and
fabrication, and we have the Moraware JobTracker system in place
to keep track of everything. said Crowe.
The Northwood SawJet
utilizes a waterjet pump and
cutting nozzle from KMT
Waterjet Systems of Baxter
Springs, KS.
064-073 CNC2.indd 71 4/20/10 9:51:34 AM
Is your workplace clean?
by Daniel Samaniego
M
arble and granite fabrication
shops are pl aces where
cl eanl i ness i s al ways a
challenge, but it is possible to keep these
locations in excellent condition, more
importantly, less prone to accidents or
employee health issues. Our employees,
customers and visitors will be the direct
beneficiaries if we create a cleanliness
culture in our workplace.
When you t hi nk of t he nega-
tive mental impact that comes from
walking through a muddy or dusty
workplace, that depressive condition
could influence the decision-making of
your customers.
Customers who are spending thou-
sands of dollars on stonework for their
design may well want to see the shop
in which it will be fabricated, and we
need to look at the fabrication shop as
an extension of the showroom. Is every-
thing clean and organized? Are loose
scraps discarded in the shop and in the
yard? What about our offices? Are we
giving to our customers a good mes-
sage? Remember that a customer's first
impression is a lasting impression.
Dust control
Much publicity has been given to
the dangers connected to the dust that
is produced during stone processing. If
a shop is unable to work 100% wet, then
the dust needs to be controlled to not
only ensure the health of your employ-
ees, but also your machinery. Simply
using fans is not enough; controlling
this dust requires one or more pieces
of the following machinery water
curtains, filters, dust collectors, ventila-
tion, vacuums and specialized, directed
blowing systems. Many of these sys-
tems have been developed specifically
for the stone industry.
Waste and garbage
When deal i ng wit h scraps of
marble, granite and other materials,
waste should be sent to a designated
Dumpster or other receptacle, and
under no circumstances should it be
mixed with normal garbage. Recycling
is a compromise that all shops need to
make, and we need to set an example
for our employees and customers.
Hazardous garbage is not only limited
to the fabrication shop, as it also includes
toner and printer cartridges, batteries,
oil/lubricants, computers, screens, print-
ers and propane tanks. When disposing
these items, you have two options: call a
specialized company to pick up hazard-
ous material or drop it off at the nearest
municipal recycling center.
Being eco-friendly is no longer a
novelty for a stone fabrication shop; for
many customers, it is expected. A fab-
rication shop should maintain a list of
all the measures it takes to minimize
its impact on the environment, and it
could even be included in your custom-
er literature. You might be surprised
how effective it could be.
Water recycling
Many shops have also become more
conscientious in terms of their water
recycling as a means to be eco-friendly,
while also keeping a clean workplace
and reducing water bills. There are a
range of systems out there for shops of
all sizes, from three-man shops to large-
scale production shops. However, it is
critical that shop employees do not dump
consumable liquids coffee, soda, juice,
etc. into the water recycling system.
Depending on the pH of the water,
it may be necessary on occasion to add
either a bleach tablet to the clear water
tank or to completely shock the sys-
tem a gallon in the collection pit in
the floor, a gallon in the trenches and
a gallon in the clear water tank. This
may be necessary a couple times per
quarter. Many factors are involved that
may precipitate the need to add bleach.
Stagnant water can be one, along with
heat and humidity in the shop and
other trace liquids accidentally intro-
duced to the system.
Regular pH tests are recommended
A muddy floor is a serious slip-and-
fall risk in a stone fabrication shop
for your employees as well as your
customers.
Slippery areas of the shop should be
immediately cleaned, and the source of
the water should be addressed.
Cleanliness also means keeping
everything organized and storing
everything in a designated space.
Nothing should be abandoned.
072-073 CleanWorkplace1.indd 72 4/20/10 9:53:53 AM
for any closed loop system for the ben-
efit of the water quality, workers skin
and machinery components.
If you see an influx of mosquitoes
in your workplace, it may be a sign
that there is a problem with your water
treatment system, and this will only
increase in warm weather.
Clean workstations
Far too many shop floors are littered
with items such as discarded paper,
masking tape, steel wool, razor blades,
cups and other garbage. In order to
eliminate littering among shop employ-
ees, assign a specific work area to each
employee. Place a garbage can at each
workstation, and make sure each
employee knows that it is their respon-
sibility to empty it on a regular basis.
Having demarked work areas helps
establish individual responsibilities.
A bench fabricator uses blade discs,
grinding wheels or diamond cups with
pneumatic/electric tools, and this work
requires adequate space, cleanliness
and proper lighting. Make sure that
your fabricators have all of this in place
on a consistent basis.
Moreover, it is the responsibility of
the manager/owner to regularly evalu-
ate the overall process. Once a plan for
workplace cleanliness is in place, the
manager/owner needs to regularly
meet with all employees and listen to
ideas. If your workers feel they are part
of a team where their voices are heard,
overall wellness and productivity will
be increased.
Pictured is a good example of
organization. Having your slab inventory
in proper order offers the customer a clean
and safe environment to select material.
Daniel Samaniego has a back-
ground as a stone machinery
technician and industrial safety
specialist. He lives in Toronto,
Ontario, Canada.
6/, 052&.
4707 Oak Bend Road Cecil, AR 72930
(479) 667-2121
Visit our website to view our
full line of natural stone products
ZZZVOLPURFNFRP
Introduces
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Because size does matter
Specializing in thin veneer with face heights up to 22
072-073 CleanWorkplace1.indd 73 4/20/10 9:54:11 AM
CarraraMarmotec to draw
an international crowd
CarraraMarmotec will take place this month in the historic stoneworking center of
Carrara, Italy, featuring an exposition of natural stone and stoneworking technology as
well as a range of cultural initiatives for the stone industry and design community
by Michael Reis
N
ow taking place every two
years, CarraraMarmotec will
be held from May 19 to 22 in
the historic stoneworking region of
Carrara, Italy. Since its last edition,
show management has literally traveled
the globe to attract the attendance
of international delegations of stone
industry members.
The exposition will include a full
range of nat ural stone product s,
i ncludi ng di spl ays of t he areas
worl d-renowned Whi t e Car rara
marble as well as other varieties of
marble, granite, onyx and other mate-
rials in the form of blocks, slabs, tiles,
mosaics and architectural elements.
Addit ional ly, exhi bitors wi l l be
showcasing stoneworking machine-
ry such as saws, polishers and CNC
technology as well as products for
CarraraMarmotec is set to take place
from May 19 to 22 in the historic
stoneworking region of Carrara, Italy.
Stone from
Europe
074-077 Carrara.indd 74 4/20/10 9:55:54 AM
stone maintenance, installation and
restoration.
Accordi ng to show organi zer
CarraraFiere, a record number of
foreign delegations including indu-
stry members, buying agents, architects
and designers have been confirmed
to attend the fair.
[It has been] a very delicate and
Exhibits will include displays of
the areas world-renowned White
Carrara marble in block form as
well as other formats.
Marble can also be found in slab form at the event.
In addition to granite and marble, displays of exotic materials
including backlit stone will be in place at CarraraMarmotec.
074-077 Carrara.indd 75 4/20/10 9:56:04 AM
time-consuming job of organization
that we have been carrying out in
Italy and abroad together with the
ICE [the Italian Trade Commission],
t he Chambers of Commerce and
trade associations in the stone-tech-
nology industry, said CarraraFiere
Chairman Giorgio Bianchini. And
the results are concrete and visible.
We will be hosting important groups
at the fair both in terms of numbers
and make-up. The groups are compo-
sed of professionals interested in the
entire range of products on offer at
CarraraMarmotec: from materials to
technology; from design to services;
from design and engineering to pro-
cessing. The 30th year of the trade fair
comes at a very difficult time for the
industry, but CarraraMarmotec and
the entire Apuo-Versilian area still
appear to be essential for both Italian
and foreign industry players.
The e ve nt s on t he age nda
have been j oi nt l y organi zed by
CarraraFiere along with the Italian
I nst it ut e for Forei gn Trade, t he
Tuscan Regional Government, Lucca
Chamber of Commerce and Lucca
Promos, with particular attention to
the selection of delegates. Moreover,
specific programs will be tailored for
architects and also for industry mem-
bers. In all, over 500 architects and
industry representatives are expec-
ted as part of official groups and
delegations.
U.S. participation
Among the various delegations
slated to attend CarraraMarmotec,
participants from the U.S. have confir-
med their presence at the event. This
includes delegates from the Marble
Institute of America (MIA), which
will conduct its mid-year meeting of
the MIA board at the event. Another
group of 20 Restorat ion Indust ry
Association companies will be visi-
ting the fair and the area during their
Marble Week tour. A third delega-
tion composed of industry players,
architects and distributors from the
U.S., Canada and Gulf countries
30 professionals in all has already
established a full agenda of meetings
with experts and professionals from
the industry.
Beyond U. S. participation, del-
gations will represent virtually all
regions of the world. A group of 25
architects and designers will be arri-
ving from Germany, the U.K., France,
Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, Hong Kong
and China to study natural stone and
its applications.
Moreover, a group of 48 dele-
gates will be coming from Poland,
Russia, South America, Saudi Arabia,
the Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait,
Lebanon, Jordan, Egypt and Turkey
all of whom are either importers
or distributors of stone materials.
Cultural program
One of the most prominent events
in the concurrent educational/cultural
program is the Marble Architectural
A range of international
delegations of attendees will
be at CarraraMarmotec 2010,
and a number foreign stone
producers have also formed
international pavilions.
Producers will be showing cut-to-size stone
materials for architectural applications as
well as residential elements.
In addition to stone products, exhibitors will be showcasing
stoneworking machinery as well as products for stone
maintenance, installation and restoration.
074-077 Carrara.indd 76 4/20/10 9:56:16 AM
The organizers of CarraraMarmotec have long been a leader
in providing statistics regarding Italys standing in the worldwide
stone market, and they offered a synopsis of the nations stone
trade for 2009.
According to statistics processed by IMM Carrara, Italy
expor ted 2.042 mi l l i on tons of marbl e and grani te from
January to September 2009, including raw materials and fin-
ished products to a value of $1.47 billion a 14.47% drop in
quantity and a 21.27% drop in value compared to the same
period of 2008. This is a very drastic reduction, since the
2008 figures also take into consideration the months before
the serious crisis hit all markets, starting with the decline
in the U.S. real estate market which was a solid market
for val ue-added fi ni shed products i n marbl e and grani te.
Whereas raw marble materials managed to hold their ground
(increase in exports of 0. 65% in quantity, but down 3.5%
in value), the largest reductions were recorded in the fin-
ished products segments of marble (down 22% in quantity
and 21% in value) as well as finished granite (down 26% in
quantity and 27% in value).
The first nine months of 2009 were also very difficult for the
two main production areas of Tuscany-Liguria (with companies
in the provinces of La Spezia, Lucca and Massa Carrara) and
Veneto (Verona and Vicenza).
On the positive side, white marble recorded an increase in
raw material exports of 12%, both in quantity and value.
Carraras stone industry by the numbers
Awards (MAA) ceremony. The 2010
Awards celebrate their 25th anniver-
sary with a special Silver Awards
competition open to architects and
designers from all over the world.
This is an opportunity for schools and
international offices to compete in a
prestigious international competition,
which aims to promote the use of nat-
ural stone on an international level.
The winners, chosen by an inter-
national jury, will be called upon to
illustrate their work at a conference held
during CarraraMarmotec to present
the winning projects along with those
of two other competitions: the Dressed
Stone Design Award and the Innovative
Design Technology Award.
074-077 Carrara.indd 77 4/20/10 9:56:28 AM
Capitalizing on
specialty stones
In business for more than 40 years, Marmi Graniti Favorita
of Vicenza, Italy, has developed into a specialist for one-of-a-kind
stone materials, including rare varieties of granite, marble and onyx
by Michael Reis
F
ounded by Orazio Conterno
more than 40 years ago, and
still operated by the Conterno
family today, Marmi Graniti Favorita
of Vicenza, Italy, initially quarried
and processed marble typical of
the stoneworking operations of its
time. Over the years, it expanded into
the production of finished and semi-
finished products in granite and other
stones. Today, the company specialty is
processing one-of-a-kind materials. It
works with a range of unique materials
from around the world, including a
broad variety of onyx slabs as well as
unique materials in granite and sought-
after white marbles such as Calacatta.
In operation for more than 40 years, Marmi Graniti Favorita of Vicenza, Italy, now
specializes in unique materials, which it exports to a worldwide client base.
Stone from
Europe
078-083 Favorita.indd 78 4/20/10 9:58:30 AM
Currently, 70% of Marmi Graniti
Favoritas production is granite, and
30% is onyx and marble.
During the slab-production process,
stone blocks are processed on one of
four Italian-made gangsaws, includ-
ing three from Barsanti and one from
Simec. The company is also planning
to invest in a multi-wire system for cut-
ting blocks into slabs.
Raw slabs are then calibrated on an
18-head honing line from Simec, and
once calibrated, they are delivered to
the resin-treatment line as needed.
This line includes large-scale units
The production process begins
with blocks, which are brought in
from quarries around the world.
Blocks are processed on one of four
Italian-made gangsaws, including three
from Barsanti and one from Simec.
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078-083 Favorita.indd 79 4/20/10 9:58:42 AM
from Simec that allow for treatment
of many slabs at once. The calibrated
slabs first enter a drying unit, and then
resin products from Tenax of Italy are
applied either automatically or by hand,
depending on the material being pro-
cessed. The resin-treated slabs are then
placed in an automated curing unit that
can accommodate 40 slabs at once, and
after the curing process is complete, the
slabs receive their final polish on one of
two Simec polishing lines.
Among the resin products in use at
the plant, Marmi Graniti Favorita utiliz-
es an anti-bacterial epoxy resin coating
from Tenax. The treatment provides an
optimal level of resistance to bacteria,
which is particularly important for res-
idential kitchen applications.
Additionally, the plant uses a new
Tenax resin technology, Glaxs, which
The slabs receive their final
polish on one of two Simec
polishing lines.
Typically, one of the
polishing lines is for resin-
treated material, while the
other is for untreated slabs.
Raw slabs are then calibrated on an 18-head
honing line from Simec, and once calibrated,
they are delivered to the resin-treatment line
as needed. This line includes large-scale
units from Simec that allow for treatment of
many slabs at once.
The resin is either applied automatically or by
hand, depending on the material being processed.
078-083 Favorita.indd 80 4/20/10 9:58:54 AM
Marmi Graniti Favorita also
processes stone tiles, and blocks are
first processed into strips on one of
several Simec blockcutters, and the
strips are then processed into tiles on
a complete Simec tile line.
protects the material from yellowing
when exposed to UV rays. Tenax has
also developed a special formulation of
Glaxs for softer stone materials.
In all, approximately 40% of the slab
material processed at Marmi Graniti
Favorita is treated with resin.
The use of new technology is con-
sistent with the companys goal to
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for use with 4"-5" diamond cup wheels.
BD-360T Turbo Cup Wheels
These grinding turbo cup wheels employ a unique
turbo-style segment designed for fast, clean grinding
action and smooth nishes on rough stone.
BD-5000
BD-360T
Diamond polishing discs
are used to achieve a high-
quality nish on straight or
contoured edges. These
diamond discs are used
for polishing granite, hard
marble and porcelain. BD-400P
The BD-2321WR is one of the
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kind on the market for
polishing stone. Rear air
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078-083 Favorita.indd 81 5/3/10 3:24:10 PM
continually improve its production
met hods. Updated development
strategies give us new opportuni-
ties of research and investigation of
materials and processing techniques,
st at ed Mar mi Grani t i Favor i t a.
Efficient procurement of raw materi-
als and organization of the production
system have been reached thanks
to important alliances with leading
[stone technology] companies.
In addition to produci ng slabs,
Marmi Granit i Favorita al so pro-
cesses stone tiles. In this operation,
blocks are first processed on one of
several Simec blockcutters, which cut
the blocks into workable strips. The
strips are then processed into tiles on
a complete Simec tile line and pack-
aged for shipment.
In terms of market i ng, Marmi
Exotic granite varieties
include materials with
shades of blue, such as
Glacial Eyes.
Onyx varieties offered by Marmi Graniti Favorita include
Kilamanjaro and Meile, and the slabs can also be backlit.
The company maintains a large
inventory of products at its
facility, and approximately 40%
of production is resin treated.
Among the resin products in
use at the plant, Marmi Graniti
Favorita utilizes an anti-bacterial
epoxy resin coating from Tenax.
It also uses a new Tenax resin
technology, Glaxs, which protects
the material from yellowing
when exposed to UV rays.
078-083 Favorita.indd 82 4/20/10 9:59:26 AM
The company also processes
sought-after marble varieties,
including Calacatta.
A total of 100% of exotic production
is exported, and markets include
nations in Europe as well as the U.S.
Graniti Favorita is targeting growth in Italy
and beyond. The company i s st rongly
engaged, now more than ever, in a policy of
commercial expansion on the national and for-
eign markets, stated Marmi Graniti Favorita.
As evidence of the companys commitment to
the international marketplace, 100% of exotic
production is exported, and markets include
nations in Europe as well as the U.S.
078-083 Favorita.indd 83 4/20/10 9:59:41 AM
An experienced producer
of Breccia Pernice
With roots in the stone industry dating back to the 1600s,
Essegi Marmi maintains a successful quarrying and processing
operation in the Volargne stoneworking region of Northern Italy
by Jennifer Adams
W
hile the beginning of Essegi
Marmi dates back to 1963,
t he ownerships fami ly
history in the stone industry can be
traced to the 1600s. Specializing in the
quarrying and production of Breccia
Pernice, Essegi Marmi is located in
the Volargne stoneworking region
of Northern Italy. The company has
supplied its unique material to high-
profile projects around the world such
as Trump Tower in New York City.
Breccia Pernice is extracted from
t he same mountai n t hat contai ns
the Rosso Verona and Pietra della
Lessina quarries, according to Paolo
Savoia of Essegi Marmi, adding that
the higher elevations of the moun-
tai n are where Breccia Pernice i s
found. Well-maintained roadways
facilitate travel, he said. Blocks are
Essegri Marmi is a producer of Breccia Pernice, which is quarried in the Volargne stoneworking region of Northern
Italy.
Stone from
Europe
084-087 Essegi.indd 84 4/20/10 10:00:38 AM
transported to the factory on flatbed
trucks.
Savoia went on to explai n that
the translation for the Italian word
Breccia is fragmented rock. Breccia
Pernice is composed of fragments of
red, pink and white limestone, and it
is alternately referred to as a marble
or a limestone. In a sense, it is a new
material because it was discovered in
the early 19th century, he said. It is
new compared to Rosso Verona. Its
similar to the red French limestone
that was used a lot for churches at
the time. It competed with that.
Breccia Pernice is offered in three
variations, which i nclude Chiara,
Medio and Classico. While the Classico
variety is very red in color, the Medio
or Medium variety consists
more of shades of pink. Chiara, which
The Breccia Pernice quarries developed
along a large fault in the mountain
known as the tectonic zone. The
fragmented material is offered in three
variations, which include Chiara (clear),
Medio (pink) and Classico (red).
At the time of Stone Worlds visit,
Essegri Marmi was quarrying its
Medio and Classico varieties.
Blocks are cut with a diamond wire saw
in approximately one hour.
084-087 Essegi.indd 85 4/20/10 10:00:48 AM
means clear in Italian, is light in color.
The geological structure is always the
same only the color is different, said
Savoia. The only difference is the aes-
thetic value of the material.
The material consists of different-
sized fragments both small and
large. They are not round, said
Savoia. They are irregular usually
angular. And due to Breccia Pernices
low resistance to the freeze/thaw cycle,
it is better suited for interior applica-
tions, according to Savoia.
The quarry formation
The Breccia Pernice quarries devel-
oped along a large fault in the mountain
known as the tectonic zone, accord-
ing to Dott. Geol. Annapaola Gradizzi,
an Italian geologist. When you move
from the fault, which is the heart of
the quarry, the material gets lighter in
color, she said.
At the time of Stone Worlds visit,
Essegi Marmi was operating three
Breccia Pernice quarries. These quarries
sit 3,000 feet above sea level, and they
were developed in trenches along
the tectonic zone, which is 300 meters
deep. It is more difficult to quarry
this material because you have to dig
a trench, said Gradizzi. It is a really
interesting material though because of
its fragmentation.
During Stone Worlds trip to Essegi
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throughout the segment resulting in consistent,
fast cuts throughout its life.
HUSQVARNA CONSTRUCTION PRODUCTS
17400 West 119th Street Olathe, Kansas 66061 T 800-845-1805 F 800-872-1125
www.dbstone.com
Copyright 2010 Husqvarna AB (publ.). All rights reserved. Husqvarna is a registered trademark of Husqvarna AB (publ.).
The Breccia Pernice
quarries operate year
round, with between four
to five workers on site.
084-087 Essegi.indd 86 4/20/10 10:01:32 AM
Marmis Breccia Pernice quarries, the
company was not producing the light-
colored variety of the stone because it
was deep inside the mountain. On aver-
age, a typical quarry face consists of 20
meters of Classico, 50 meters of Medio
and 20 meters of Chiaro.
Extraction method
To extract the Breccia Pernice from
the quarry, the company uses a soft
blast technique. A hole is first made
with a drilling rig and then a soft blast
is put inside the hole. The rest of the cuts
are made with a diamond wire saw.
The first cut is made from the bed
up to the first bench, according to
Gradizzi. Next, two lateral cuts are
made. The final step includes making
three main cuts to produce three to
four large blocks. The spacing of the
joint is really big, so they can produce
big blocks, said the geologist.
In total, a diamond wire saw can
cut a block in about one hour. The large
blocks are then cut into smaller blocks
that are transported to the production
facility. On average, the blocks measure
between 2 and 2 meters.
Essegi Marmi operates its quarries
year round. Typically, there are four to
five workers on site. Once a quarry is
no longer used for extraction, some are
re-filled with waste and used for agri-
culture, including vineyards. Chiara, which means clear in Italian, is light in color.
While initially large blocks
are extracted from the quarry,
they are then cut into smaller
blocks that are transported
to the production facility. On
average, the blocks measure
between 2 and 2 meters.
Breccia Classico is deep red in color, and it is located in the heart of the quarry
closest to the fault.
084-087 Essegi.indd 87 4/20/10 10:01:41 AM
enhances high-rises
Fossil stone
Stone from
Europe
088-094 Freeport.indd 88 4/20/10 10:02:36 AM
Selected for the lobby of the Freeport-McMoRan
Center in Phoenix, AZ, Jura Marble creates a
cool, yet inviting atmosphere for its patrons
by Alexis Fisher
desert surroundings
As one of the first new high-rises built in eight years in Phoenix, AZ,
the Freeport-McMoRan Center demonstrates great levels of architecture
in terms of innovation, research and teamwork featuring in its lobby,
fossilized Jura Marble from the Franken-Schotter quarry in Germany.
photos by Bill Timmerman
088-094 Freeport.indd 89 4/20/10 10:02:56 AM
A
s one of the first new high-rises
built in eight years in Phoenix,
AZ, the Freeport-McMoRan
Center demonstrates great levels of
architecture in terms of innovation,
research and teamwork. Fitted with
high-speed elevators, environmentally
friendly mechanical systems and strong
structural support, it was important for
the building to make a bold statement
in the lobby which features Jura
Marble from the Franken-Schotter
quarry in Germany.
The choice to use stone in the
lobby was intended as an extension of
the effort to relate the overall building
design to our immediate environment,
said the Design Principal for the project,
Mark Roddy of SmithGroup in Phoenix,
AZ, which served as the architect. In
order to respond to the desert environ-
Beige-colored Jura Marble tiles in an 18- x 36- x -inch format were employed for the lobby floor.
088-094 Freeport.indd 90 4/20/10 10:03:18 AM
ment and keep the building cool, a series
of design strategies was implemented:
shading, an energy efficient curtain
wall system and a high performance
mechanical system. Each of the design
strategies is incorporated throughout
the entire building, beginning with the
lobby as the main threshold.
As with most lobbies, a primary
goal was to make it as comfortable and
inviting as possible, while also con-
necting to its surrounding climate and
environment. We wanted the lobby
to feel cool and inviting as a contrast
to the 110-degree summer day, said
Roddy. It was really important for
us to make it a personal connection
for the people coming in the lobby.
Often you see granite used in a class-
A office building, but we felt the stone
we selected related more to our natural
environment. Our goal was to balance
the relationships to both the urban and
desert environment.
Selecting Jura Marble
The decision to use Jura Marble
came in part due to the stones organic
feel. The particular [stone] from that
region [of Germany] has a lot of fos-
sils, something we were really taken
by, said Roddy. The fossils were a key
design element that led to the selection
of this specific stone.
For the preliminary stone selection
phase, the design team had originally
been attracted to an Egyptian limestone
that was lighter in color. We soon
changed our mi nds when we vis-
ited the factory in Germany, said
the architect. We picked a gray- and
beige-colored stone with fossils, saw
the stone in person and looked at the
feel of the stone altogether. We clearly
realized the Jura Marble from Germany
was more appropriate.
Roddy, along with the contractor
and client, traveled to Germany to hand
select the stone slabs for the project,
The concierge reception desk
is made from gray-colored
Jura Marble, as opposed to the
beige color found on the floor
and walls. The stone has the
same type of texture; one just
happens to be beige, while
the other is gray, said Design
Principal Mark Roddy of
SmithGroup in Phoenix, AZ,
which served as the architect
for the project. It made the
project more cohesive.
088-094 Freeport.indd 91 4/20/10 10:03:34 AM
paying special attention to the appear-
ance and size of the fossils contained
within each slab. We didnt think any
fossils should be larger than four inch-
es in length or diameter, said Roddy.
The cut tiles had to contain whole fos-
sils and be held from any cut edge a
minimum of one inch. We set criteria
with the manufacturer, so they knew
our expectations.
A precise installation
Beige-colored Jura Marble in an
18- x 36- x -inch format covers the
floor and walls of the lobby. Because
the stone had variation in color, the
mason did layouts of the floor and wall
before installation.
The mason laid out the individual
stone tiles for our review to insure
there werent any fossils that didnt
The material additionally extends into the elevator area to connect it to the lobby.
088-094 Freeport2.indd 92 5/3/10 3:26:15 PM
meet our criteria, said Roddy. Those were challenges we
faced, but we worked closely with the mason. They knew
what our expectations were, and we reviewed a layout prior
to [the installation].
The same material continues into the elevator floors to
enhance the feel that they are part of the lobby.
The lobby also features gray-colored Jura Marble tiles for
the base of the concierge desk, and the same color material
can be found as the countertops in the restrooms. The stone
has the same type of texture; one just happens to be beige,
while the other is gray, said Roddy. It made the project
more cohesive.
Additionally, thicker pieces of Jura Marble in a dif-
ferent texture to avoid slippage extend beyond the lobby
glass to the exterior as pavers for the entrance. This provides
a seamless visual connection of the lobby to the street, said
Roddy. The lobby experience starts before you even enter the
building.
Roddy went on to explain that everything pertaining to
the stonework was extremely precise. The stone tile joints
align with the glazing joints at the front door, he said.
Everything was very well thought out.
What it required from the design team was making
sure we coordinated with all aspects of the job, he con-
tinued. Obviously, the stone is laid out in tiles, and we
can control that. Then you have a different trade putting
up adjacent bamboo [paneling for the ceiling and walls],
Thicker pieces of Jura Marble in a different texture to avoid
slippage extend beyond the lobby glass to the exterior as
pavers for the entrance.
With a complete
installation system
comes complete
condence.
Introducing new installation
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Veneer waterproong membrane s
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Penetrating masonry sealer s
For over 40 years, Custom Building Products
has been manufacturing high quality,
innovative building materials for the
commercial and residential markets.
www.customTVIS.com
800-272-8786
Thin Veneer Installation System
088-094 Freeport2.indd 93 4/23/10 9:27:44 AM
and they dont care what the mason
is doing. We spent a lot of time docu-
menting our drawings and making
sure all of the subcontractors lined up
the joints. Everything played off the
dimensioning of the materials. It was
a challenge for the subcontractors.
The lobby was one of the last things to
get done in the building. The general
contractor got it, and became the big-
gest advocate for alignment.
Design plans for the entire project
began in August of 2005, and con-
struction was completed in December
of 2009. The lobby encompasses 3,600
square feet of the 495,000-square-foot
facility.
The client is very happy, very
proud of the project, and we are as
well, said Roddy. The building is
completely leased, so from a market
standpoi nt, its an i ndication that
people like the building.
Moreover, the Freeport-McMoRan
Center, formally known as One Central
Park East, received an American
Institute of Architects (AIA) Western
Mountai n Region Design Citation
award in the un-built category for its
simple planning and rigorous articula-
tion of facades in response to the desert
environment.
This provides a seamless
visual connection of the lobby
to the street, said Roddy of
the exterior stone pavers. The
lobby experience starts before
you even enter the building.
Freeport-McMoRan Center
Phoenix, AZ
Architect: SmithGroup, Phoenix,
AZ
Stone Supplier: Franken-Schotter,
Munich, Germany
Stone Installer: Sun Valley
Masonry, Phoenix, AZ
The decision to use Jura Marble
came in part due to the stones
organic feel. The particular
[stone] from that region [of
Germany] has a lot of fossils,
something we were really taken
by, said Roddy. The fossils
were a key design element
that led to the selection of this
specific stone.
088-094 Freeport2.indd 94 4/22/10 3:11:15 PM
CALENDAR
For all seminars and a more complete calendar of stone industry events, visit www.stoneworld.com.
May 19 to 22, 2010
CarraraMarmotec, Carrara, Italy. Organized by CarraraFi-
ere Srl, Viale Galileo Galilel 133, 54033 Marina di Carrara
(MS), Italy; Phone: +39-0585 787963; Fax: +39-0585 787602;
E-mail: info@carraramarmotec.com; Web site: http://www.
carraramarmotec.com.
June 10 to 12, 2010
American Institute of Architects National Convention and De-
sign Expo, including the Stone and Tile Pavilion, Miami,
FL. Contact: M/C Communications LLC, 380 Stuart Street,
6th Floor, Boston, MA 02116; (888) 242-1824; E-mail:
aiaexpo@mc-comm.com or visit: www.aia.org.
September 29 to October 2, 2010
Marmomacc 2010, the International Exhibition of Marble, Stone
and Technology and Building Materials Show, Verona, Italy.
Contact: Veronafiere at 39-045-829-8111 (phone); 39-045-829-
8288 (fax) or visit www.marmomacc.it/home_en.asp.
January 25 to 27, 2011
StonExpo/Marmomacc Americas 2011, Mandalay Bay Convention
Center, Las Vegas, NV. Conference sessions beginning on Janu-
ary 24. For more details on attending or exhibiting, call (866)
550-6808 or (972) 536-6440 or visit www.StonExpo.com.
January 25 to 27, 2011
Surfaces 2011, Mandalay Bay Convention Center, Las Vegas,
NV. Conference sessions beginning on January 24. Owned
and operated by Hanley-Wood Exhibitions. Sponsored
by the World Floor Covering Association. Contact: 1-800-
547-3477; International calls contact: 1-972-536-6400; Fax:
1-972-536-6401; Web site: www.SurfacesExpo.com.
February 15 to 18, 2011
The Vitria Stone Fair 2010, Carapina Expo Center, Serra, Esprito
Santo, Brazil. Contact: Milanez & Milaneze, +55 27 3337-6855;
Fax: +55 27 3337-4011; Web site: www.feiradomarmore.com.br.
March 6 to 9, 2011
The 11th China Xiamen International Stone Fair, Xiamen Inter-
national Conference and Exhibition Center; Phone: 86-592-
5959616 / 5959618; Fax: 86-592-5959611; Web site: www.stone-
fair.org.cn; E-mail: info@cxisf.com, info@stonefair.org.cn.
March 14 to 17
Coverings 2011, Sands Exposition Center, Las Vegas, NV.
Contact: Coverings/National Trade Productions, 313 S. Pat-
rick St., Alexandria, VA 22314; Phone in the U.S.: (866) 285-
3691 or International: +1-703-706-8257; Fax: (703) 836-4486;
Web site: www.coverings.com.
095 Calendar.indd 95 4/21/10 10:26:14 AM
NEW PRODUCTS
A r a nge of qua r t z - g r a i ne d
sandstone products are avai lable
f rom Mi ne ral Tech of Per u. The
material can be found in a range of
colors including shades of tan, rust
and light orange and the company
reports that it features optimal slip
resistance, weather and corrosion
resistance, high-mechanical strength,
low porosity and low absorption. It
can be used for applications such
as exterior cladding, roofing, sills,
pavers, fireplaces, countertops and
other architectural elements.
Mineral Tech reports that it is
currently extracting stone from a deep
reserve of material, and it also operates
a stoneworking facility in Peru.
www.mineraltech.com
Caesar St one, a quar t z sur f ace
manufact urer, recent ly launched
Pure White (1141). Pure White, the
Whitest White in quartz surfaces,
features a silk finish and is ideal for
hospitality designs, smart office spaces
and kitchen countertops to match
white lacquer cabinets, shower walls,
bar tops, custom-made furniture and
more, according to the manufacturer.
Since our products are made from
93% natural quartz, naturally, there are
varying shades and undertones even
in the lightest of quartz, said Arik
Tendler, President of CaesarStone.
Pure White, like all CaesarStone
surfaces, is scratch, stain, crack and
heat resistant. It is also resistant to
most household chemicals and is
nonabsorbent, nonporous and mold
and mildew resistant, reports the
manufacturer. Additionally, CaesarStone
offers a Lifetime Residential Warranty
and a 10-year Limited Commercial
Warranty.
www.CaesarStoneUS.com
A new, more efficient polishing
system is now offered by Braxton-
Bragg. Since most polishing systems
have six, seven or eight steps, the new
Viper 3-Step System cuts polishing
time by 50%, while achieving the
superior polish for which Viper is
known, according Braxton-Bragg.
The pads are made with high-quality
diamonds, which have multiple angles
and a polycrystalized internal shape.
The diamonds are easily broken during
polishing to continuously expose new
angles, giving longer life to the pad,
reports the manufacturer.
Diamond concentration is 60%
of the pad weight in the new Viper
3-Step System. This is the highest
di amond concent rat ion possi bl e
with current technology, reports the
manufact urer. Bond strength has
been increased to hold the higher
diamond concentration, i nsuri ng
that the diamonds are fully used in
the polishing process. By eliminating
hal f t he gr its nor mal ly used for
smooth polishing without scratching,
the Viper 3-Step System shortens
the polishing process by 50%.
In addition to reducing labor costs,
the Viper 3-Step System reduces
inventory complexity and simplifies
ordering. This system is available in a
wet pad design, which will achieve a
gloss meter reading of 95-98. A wet/dry
pad version is also available that will
achieve a gloss meter reading of 90-95.
The Viper 3-Step System is designed
for granite and other hard stone.
www.braxton-bragg.com
CaesarStones Pure White (1141)
The Viper 3-Step System available from Braxton-
Bragg
The material is also suitable for countertops.
Mineral Tech reports that it is currently extracting
stone from a deep reserve of material.
A range of quartz-grained sandstone products
are available from Mineral Tech of Peru and can
be used for a range of applications, including
surrounding a kitchen grill.
096-097 NP, NE, NL.indd 96 4/21/10 10:10:32 AM
NEW EQUIPMENT
To clarif y the Machine of the
Month item published in the March
2010 issue of Stone World, the Fab King
is manufactured by RYE Corp. of Lenoir
City, TN, and it is distributed by:
GranQuartz, Granite City Tool, Regent
Stone Products, Eastern Marble, Diaco
Innovations and VIC International.
The Fab King is a precision 3-axis
workstation with open gantry. This
unit is designed to produce bowl
holes fast and accurately, and it also
profiles edges using standard manual
router tool i ng. Li near guides on
gantry rails insure smooth travel of
the X and Y axis. An added feature
of this machi ne is the abi l it y to
surface polish, which allows the user
to make repairs on scratched stone.
The Fab King is driven by a powerful
3-horsepower, variable-speed (2,700
to 10,000 rpm) motor. The 220-volt,
si ngle- phase power requi rement
al lows the Fab Ki ng to be added
to any stone f abr i cat i on shop.
Moreover, the open gantry design
allows for processing of large projects.
Made in the U.S., the Fab King features
adjustable table height and water flow
with center and halo water feed. The
machine was designed to be easy to
install and operate, and it also offers
dust-free operation to help meet OSHA
requirements. Spare parts, tooling and
support are readily available.
www.rye-corp.com
The 2010 model Sink Hole Saver
TM

VCM is Omni Cubeds newest manual-
pump vac uum c up count er t op
strengthener, which protects finished
stone pieces from breakage during
l i f t i ng, movi ng and i nstal lat ion.
The product is suitable for shower
wal l s or cur ved and bump- out
countertops, and can be combined
with the original Sink Hole Saver
st r engt heni ng r ai l ( mechani cal
clamp version) for added versatility
dur i ng i nstal l at ions, repor ts t he
manufacturer. The product features
large 6-inch vacuum cups, which can
be re-pumped without removal or
loss of remaining suction. The cups
quickly slide and lock in the rail for
custom placement on shower walls
or around sink holes. All Sink Hole
Saver models are available in 4-, 6-
and 8-foot lengths.
www.omnicubed.com
Domain Industries, Inc., a nationwide
supplier of kitchen and bath products
and fabr icat ion accessor ies, has
announced that it is now a stocking
distributor for the Voodoo line of
Premium Diamond Tooling. Voodoo
adds to Domain Industries growing
line of stone fabricator tools.
Voodoo Di amond Tool i ng i s
a new era of hi gh- per for mance
diamond tooling, designed exclusively
for professional stone and granite
fabricators, said James Synnott,
Domain Industries Vice President of
Product Development. We are excited
to be the first to bring on this line of
quality tooling. The mark of distinction
with Voodoo is its use of the newest,
most innovative and cutting-edge
manufacturing technologies, combined
with high-quality raw materials and
precision industrial design to bring
fabricators a complete range of premium
diamond products.
Voodoo offers a range of options
for fabricators, including blades, core
bits, ni ne t ypes of pol ishi ng and
finishing pads, cup wheels, vacuum
brazed profilers, antiquing brushes
and backer pads.
Included in Voodoos lineup is
t he i nt roduct ion of t he Houdi ni
Col lect ion, a revolut ionar y new
pad that has been brought to life
with sophisticated interlayer metal
technology. After a multi-year R&D
effort, Houdini is an aggressive and
resilient stock removal pad hitting the
market, reports Domain Industries.
Also featured is Hex, an advanced
collection of ultra-premium turbo dry-
cutting blades, providing chip-free cuts
on granite, engineered stone and hard
marbles, featuring an 8-mm segment
height for a lengthened lifespan and a
narrow tooth design.
Voodoo Diamond Tooling can be
found in the latest Domain Industries
wholesale catalog. Fabricators can
request a free catalog by visiting
Domains Web site.
www.BelieveInVoodoo.com
www.DomainIndustries.com
Fab King by RYE Corp.
Omni Cubeds 2010 model Sink Hole Saver
TM
VCM
Domain Industries is now a stocking distributor for
the Voodoo line of Premium Diamond Tooling.
Voodoos Hex Collection of ultra-premium turbo
dry-cutting blades is now distributed through
Domain Industries.
096-097 NP, NE, NL.indd 97 4/21/10 10:54:14 AM
IS YOUR BUSINESS POSITIONED TO SURVIVE?
No matter the size of your business, by investing in the Natural Stone Council, you unify and strengthen our industry by bolstering
preference for Genuine Stone
over synthetic materials. To learn more about how you can do your part, visit naturalstonecouncil.org.
nscsw0509.indd 1 4/20/09 2:44:09 PM
Stone
T
his Stone of the Month supplied by Dimpomar Rochas Portuguesas, Lda., Vila Viosa, Portugal. 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 submit your own Stone of the Month, send a high-resolution
digital image, along with the relevant technical data, to michael@stoneworld.com.
www.dimpomar.com
Branco Rosal limestone/marble
Absorption by weight ..........................................................................................3.05%
Density ...................................................... 156 pounds/cubic foot (2,498.88 kg/cu.m)
Compressive strength ......................................................................... 10,005 (69 MPa)
Flexural strength .......................................................................... 1,450 psi (10.7 MPa)
Abrasion resistance ............................................................................................... 16.83
of the month
099 SOTM.indd 100 4/21/10 10:11:17 AM
Machine
of the month
A
s an alternative to V-grooving systems or a bridge saw with a 45-degree
inclined blade, Marmo Meccanica has recently tested a new system called
V/O cutting, with the latest version of its LCV famous edge polisher type.
Maintaining the features of an edge polisher for flat edges and chamfers up
to 60 mm thick, the new version LCV M-V/O is a simple machine that was engi-
neered for affordability. The machine can polish backsplashes in a continuous
mode, with workpiece sizes a minimum of 45 mm wide and a maximum of 30
mm thick. It can also produce narrow strips with the same dimensions ready to be
glued on L bordered kitchen tops.
www.marmomeccanica.it
100 MOTM.indd 100 4/21/10 10:11:31 AM
Technology
Update
www.dellas.it
A
s the leader in the diamond
tooling sector for over 35
year s, Del l as S. p. A. has
recently developed specific products
for CNC machi nes, particularly
for machining engineered stone.
The new CEF (Cut EasyFast) line
has been desi gned t o exceed
per for mance st andards. Del l as
repor t s t hat most user s today
prefer tools that can operate at
high cutting speeds, a feature that
normal ly does not ensure long-
life of the cutter. Addressing this,
Dellas has focused its research on
the most important tool for CNC
machines the cutting mill.
According to Dellas, this tool is
considered by many users as one of
the most critical, often seen as the
machining bottleneck. One of
the main problems is its difficulty
in reaching high cutting speeds on
artificial products such as engineered
stone.
Dellas has developed the CEF
line consisting of cutting mills
with five segments inclined at 10
degrees and correctly positioned on
the body in order to allow precise
water distribution and assist swarf
clearance. Dellas reports that testing
on the tools has shown that the new
CEF line cutting mills are able to
machine at processing speeds higher
than reference benchmarks, while
still maintaining yield.
The reduction of machining cycle
times due to higher cutting speeds
results in lowered machining costs
and added value in the finished
product, Dellas reports.
101 Technology Update.indd 101 4/20/10 10:09:29 AM
MARKETPLACE
1-866-656-7188
www.legacysink.com
LEGACY SINK INC.
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and much more, please visit our website
RATES: $1175 per six month insertion, $1950 per twelve month insertion.
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2850 Glades Circle, Suite 11 Weston, FL 33327
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sales@t-toolusa.com www.t-toolusa.com
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"Take your product to the customer." uct to the customer."
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330-262-0712
www.danroc.com
102-104 Marketplace.indd 102 4/21/10 3:17:36 PM
MARKETPLACE
Always providing a
quality product,
made from the best
materials from
around the world, at
an affordable price.
150 Industrial Avenue, Greensboro, NC 27406
Phone: 336.273.0223 Fax: 336.273.0699
len@graniteandmarblebymalave.com
www.malavegranite.com
G L A S S O S
CRYSTAL WHITE
SLABS TILES CUT-TO-SIZE
Available from stock or full containers direct
CCS Stone, INC
9-11 Caesar Place
Moonachie, NJ 07074 www.ccsstone.com
Looks like Thassos, harder t han granite Tel 201-933-1515
800-227-7785
Fax 201-933-5744
TENAX: For more than 50 years the World Wide Leader in Stone
Consumables Products: Adhesives, Sealers, Epoxy, Waxes, Sealers,
Diamond Abrasives, Calibrators, Polishing Bricks, Cutting Tools.
Tenax USA
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1408 Center Park Dr.
tenaxusa@bellsouth.net
Charlotte, NC 28217
Ph. 704-583-1173
Call for a Free Catalog | T. 800.575.4401 | F. 800.915.5501
Braxton-Bragg will offer the lowest prices and the
best service, delivered by the friendliest people
for the tools and materials that you want.
MARKETPLACE
Reserve your space
in next months
MARKETPLACE
SECTION
Call Janelle Minghine at
734.340.5211 or
for more information
1-800-350-1901 1-626-443-6433
www.miraclesealants.com
1335 Lakeside Dr.
Romeoville, IL 60446
www.LaserProductsUS.com
Toll Free 866-539-0052
PRODUCTS
L
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industries
The LT-55 Precision
Laser Templator - Visit
our website to watch
our full training video
so you can actually see
it working. We believe
in allowing our
coustomers to know
what they are buying.
Proliner, worlds leading digitizer in 2D & 3D measurement:
Measure stairs, bathrooms, swimming pool edges, formed
proles, renovation, sinks, countertops, backsplashes and
all your other 2D and 3D objects.
PRODIM USA - Sales ofce USA - Mr. John Richerts
M. +1 678 699 0732 | E. johnr@prodimusa.com | I. www.prodimusa.com
PRODIM INTERNATIONAL - Sales ofce Europe - Lage Dijk 26, 5705 BZ Helmond NL
T. +31 (0)492 579050 | F. +31 (0)492 579059 | E. info@prodim.eu | I. www.prodim.eu
ONLY THE BEST
Tel. +39/045887 51 11 Fax +39/045887 51 55
www.granitex.it
Over many years we have learned what our customers need and
we provide it. They demand consistent product quality which
is our main goal. They want personalized person to person
service so we provide Regional Sales Manager dedicated to
your account. Finally we invest in a large and well stocked
inventory so we have the product when you need it.
Please call for our monthly Special.
AmeriSink Inc, s San Leandro, CA 94577
Tel: 877-500-SINK(7465) s Fax: 510-667-3775 s www.amerisink.com
Value for Life is our goal!
MADE IN GERMANY
Own quarries! Own production!
Special for: Slabs, Floor tiles, Cut to size
www.vm-kaldorf.de

California Agent TriStone & Tile Inc., Van Nuys CA
info@tristoneandtile.com
www. ant ol i ni . i t
marble granite travertine limestone onyx and precioustone
THE FINEST PRODUCTS FOR STONE WORKING
STONE BOSS INDUSTRIES
15-01 Pollitt Dr. Unit #2
Fairlawn, NJ 07410

888-868-BOSS | www.stoneboss.com
C O R P O R A T E H E A D Q U A R T E R S
www.msistone.com
Farmers Branch, TX
Ph: 469-522-0300
Elk Grove Village, Il
Ph: 847-758-0556
Pompano Beach, FL
Ph: 954-977-8984
Austell, Ga
Ph: 678-803-0800
Braintree, MA
Ph: 781-794-0100
Orange, CA
Ph: 714-685-7500
Hayward , CA
Ph: 510-266-5200
Edison, NJ
Ph: 732-650-1815
Jessup, MD
Ph: 410-799-9631
Phoenix, AZ
Ph: 602-393-6330
Houston , TX
ph: 281-449-8822
Stone World | May105 2010 105
CLASSIFIEDS
The leading nationwide distributor of natural stone
slabs and tiles is seeking a branch manager and
outside salespeople for the South Florida region.
Experience servicing the natural stone industry in
the region is required. MSI offers an environment for
growth, a team atmosphere, competitive compensation
and a full benets package. All candidates must be
hardworking, determined, enthusiastic, a team player
and very comfortable with computers.
Please email resumes to: recruit@msistone.com
M S International, Inc.
FOR SALE POSITIONS

ON ALL 18 MONTH OLD EQUIPMENT
Total Liquidation SALE
All Machines are in Mint NEW Condition and they are located in Easton, Maryland.
ALL MUST GO. NO REASONABLE OFFER REFUSED. CALL 410-829-2352
BAVELLONI 450 EGAR CNC: brand new within 18months. Includes all tooling and spare parts. New within 18
months. Currently in operation. Showroom condition, low hours. 208 3 phase New $226,904.00 $155,000.00
You pick up. Best offer. 410-829-2352 mike@segergranite.com
CMG TAURUS INLINE EDGER PROFILER: Brand new in 18months. Robust for heavy fast edging. Showroom
condition and currently in operation. 208 3 phase w transformer New $160,000.00 $113,500.00 Very low hours.
You pick up. Best offer. 410-829-2352 mike@segergranite.com
DELL POWEREDGE 2900 SERVER with mirrored drives. 2 heavy cad and graphics work stations with 20 at screen
monitors. New computers, New Server, Full Global Stone Pro Software packages, bidding, estimating inventory,
labeling, tracking, purchase ordering, Digistat and custom digistat vertical table Digitizing Software. You pick up. New
$104,000.00 $50,800.00 410-829-2352 Best offer. mike@segergranite.com
OVERHEAD BRIDGE CRANES AND REMOTES: One crane is 5 ton and the other is 1 ton. Both are brand new.
You will have to disassemble and relocate. New both are $86,000.00. $40,000.00 Please make
Best offer. 410-829-2352 mike@segergranite.com
HEAVY DUTY 10,000LB FORKLIFT BOOM $1500.00 and industrial 10,000lb lifting bridge with 2 sets of cabled
chains $2800.00 together $4,300.00. Contact Mike 410-829-2352 or mike@segergranite.com

DIAREX FIXED WORKBENCH 2 for $700.00. Contact Mike 410-829-2352 or mike@segergranite.com

HEAVY DUTY VERTICAL STEEL RACK for setting slabs to be photographed or digitated along with global stone
pro digistat computer. Rack only is $1800.00. Contact Mike 410-829-2352 or mike@segergranite.com
IN BRAZIL
I inspect the slabs here at the
granite factories in Brazil.
So you get the quality you
need and pay for!
Call Gary at 011-55-28-3518-9559
or e-mail at garyebel@oi.com.br
AMERICAN
SLAB INSPECTOR
SERVICES
stoneworld.com sstttoonneewwoorrlllddd ccoomm sssttoonneewwoorrlldd..ccoomm s o e o d co
Seeking candidates with direct
stone/tile sales exp. Send resume to
hr@mstoneandtile.com or fax to 210-733-8850.
No phone calls please. See our website
for locations. www.mstoneandtile.com
EEOC.
Materials Marketing
Reserve your space
now for the June Issue!
Granite Outlet & the Cabinet Design Centre
is seeking Sales Professionals for several
showrooms in the DC metro area. Applicants
should be highly motivated self starters that can
successfully close and are driven by the desire
to make money. An excellent communicator,
organized and have prior sales experience
selling natural and man made stone.
For the right individuals this is a $100k + plus
opportunity. Dental, health, 401K, strong support
system, paid training, all leads provided.
Sales professional only should send
their resumes to allezua@gmail.com
or fax them to (703)842-8952.
AVANTI STONES INC.
Avanti Stones, a leading distributor of
Natural Stone in Houston, Texas, is seeking
experienced, aggressive Salespeople with a
proven track record of sales in the stone
industry for Houston, West Texas, Louisiana,
Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Mississippi.
Experience in servicing accounts in the
region is required. Must be computer literate.
Position offers competitive salary plus
commission and a full benets package.
Please send resume to: bill@avantistones.com
Call for more information!
Janelle Minghine at 734/340.5211
or minghinej@bnpmedia.com
YOUR AD CAN
BE HERE SEEN
HERE FOR THE
JUNE ISSUE
Agents to enhance sales of our Granite and
other Stone products in USA and EU segments.
Candidates having Strong channel network
with Distributors, Wholesalers and Retailers in
Granite and Stone industry need only apply.
Attractive commissions/incentives are assured.

Please Email resumes to granite_fab@yahoo.com
WANTED
Call Janelle Minghine at 734/340.5211 or
minghinej@bnpmedia.com for more information
105 Classifieds.indd 105 4/21/10 3:19:02 PM
ADVERTISER INDEX
ADVERTISER PAGE NO INTERNET ADDRESS PROMO PHONE
ABC Stone Trading 75 www.abcworldwidestone.com 516-997-9412
AmeriSink 65 www.amerisink.com 877-500-7465
Antolini Luigi 107 www.antolini.it +39 045 6836611
Anver 66 www.anver.com 800-654-3500
Artisan 35 www.ArtisanSinks.com 973-286-0080
Barranca Diamond 81 www.barrancadiamond.com 800-630-7682
Bestview International 6 www.bestviewintl.com 630-594-1816
Blick Industries 53 www.blickindustries.com 949-499-5026
Braxton-Bragg 12 www.braxton-bragg.com 800-575-4401
Cactus Stone 50a www.cactusstone.com 602-914-2202
CaesarStone 37 www.CaesarStoneUS.com 877-978-2789
Caribe International 49 www.caribestone.com 800-224-8453
Chemcore 54 www.chemcore.com 866-243-6267
COMPAC The Surfaces Company 21 www.compac.us 305-406-3600
Cosentino 57 www.cosentinonorthamerica.com 800-291-1311
Custom Building Products 93 www.customTVIS.com 800-272-8786
Daltile 42,43 www.daltileproducts.com 800-933-8453
Dellas 67 www.dellas.it +39 045 8801522
Diamax 47 www.diamaxinc.com 888-449-0502
Dimpomar 34 www.dimpomar.com +351-268-408 128
Domain Industries 40 www.FreeDomainCatalog.com 866-385-7775
Fila Industria Chimica S.p.A. 11 www.filachim.com 305-513-0708
G-Clip 95 www.braxton-bragg.com 800-575-4401
GMM S.p.A. 33 www.gmm.it +39 0323 849711
Granite Depot 7 www.granitedepot.us 904-306-0036
Granitex S.p.A. 2 www.granitex.it +39 045 8875111
GranQuartz 17,23,39 www.granquartz.com 800-458-6222
Husqvarna Construction Products/Diamant Boart 86 www.dbstone.com 800-845-1805
IGM-International Granite & Marble 108 www.igmcorp.com 800-446-2677
JMS 36 www.juramarble.com +49 (0) 8421 3061
KMT Waterjet Systems 70 www.kmtwaterjet.com 800-826-9274
Laser Products 41 www.LaserProductsUS.com 866-539-0052
Marble Institute of America 50 www.marble-institute.com 440-250-9222
Marmo Meccanica S.p.A. 77 www.marmomeccanica.com 39-0731-60999
Miracle Sealants 38 www.miraclesealants.com 800-350-1901
Mirasol Soapstone LLC 60 www.mirasolsoapstone.com 801-437-3893
Moraware 61 www.moraware.com 866-312-9273
MS International 50b,50c www.msistone.com 714-685-7500
Natural Stone Council 98 www.naturalstonecouncil.org 800-210-3916
Ogyu Manufacturing 45 www.ogyu.co.jp 81-48-222-4226
Palin Granit 51 www.palingranit.com +358 207 909 300
Pearl Abrasive 27 www.pearlabrasive.com 800-969-5561
Pokarna Limited 8,9 www.pokarna.com 91 40 2789 7722/6361
Primestone 63 www.primestone.ca 905-669-2999
Prodim 18 www.prodimusa.com 888-229-3328
Red Sea Mining 29 www.redseamining.com 996-2-620-4749
Saudi Marble & Granite 31 www.smg.com.sa +966 1 4735350
Slimrock 73 www.slimrock.com 479-667-2121
Tab India 14,15 www.tabindia.com 763-571-8400
Tekmar 3 www.tekmarble.com +90 212 3372800
Tenax U.S.A. 79 www.tenaxusa.com 800-341-0432
Terminator 50d www.ContinentalDIA.com 800-595-1237
U.S. Granite Robotics 56,59 www.usgrobotics.com 800-999-3025
Vermont Quarries 4 www.vermontquarries.com 802-775-1065
Verona Fair 55 www.marmomacc.com 011390 458 298 111
VM Kaldorf 10 www.vm-kaldorf.de +49 8423/9911-0
Vulcano Export 25 www.vulcanoexport.com.br 973-714-6376
Wilson Industrial Electric 83 www.wilsonsaws.com 706-213-6725
Windy Ridge Corp. 95 www.jetstik.com 800-639-2021
World Wide Stone Corp. 5 www.durangostone.com 602-438-1001
106 Advertiser Index.indd 106 4/23/10 9:26:01 AM
AZUL MACAUBAS I QUARTZITE
www.antolini.it
TM
antoliniluigisw05104.indd 1 4/9/10 9:54:03 AM
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Tel. +39 045 8875111 Fax +39 045 8875155

Toll-Free 1 (800) 458-6222 Fax: (770) 621-9771 www.granquartz.com

The polish quality of UHS with one

certified reshaping service available

GranQuartz is the exclusive US distributor for ADI CNC tooling.

sinks enhance the beauty of countertop

CNC Vacuum System

Protection Program. Daltile has

: THE PEAK OF PROTECTION.

sealer is a high-performance, natural stone

sealer uses a water-based solution that

TECHNOLOGY REDEFINES CLEAN.

is also infused with Microban

daltilesw04104.indd 2 3/24/10 9:23:24 AM

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