www.stoneworld.comAugust 2010Stone from IndiaShop Ef ciencywww.stoneworld.comOxford GoldN A T U R A L S T O N E SVERONA - ITALY BLOCKS & QUARRIESTel. +39 045 8875111 Fax +39 045 8875155www.granitex.itOxford GoldThe Original Quartz Surface. Only from CaesarStone.Introducing Motivo the worlds rst pattern-design 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. 6August 2010 | Stone WorldMember:Publisher Alex Bachrach, ext. 8615alex@stoneworld.comEditor/Associate PublisherMichael Reis, ext. 8613michael@stoneworld.comManaging EditorJennifer Adams, ext. 8611jennifer@stoneworld.comAssociate EditorAlexis Fisher, ext. 8612alexis@stoneworld.comProduction ManagerPam Deneau, 248/244-6257, fax: 248/244-3918deneaup@bnpmedia.comSenior Art DirectorWendy Zaremba-Just, 248/244-6476zaremba-justw@bnpmedia.comOffice ManagerHilda Rowland, ext. 8610hilda@stoneworld.comRegional Advertising ManagersJanelle Minghine, 734/340-5211, fax: 734/340-5212minghinej@bnpmedia.comSteve Smith, 617/909-5973, fax: 248/283-6531steve@stoneworld.comEuropean SalesDee Wakefield, 44 207 937 4488, fax: 44 207 792 3331dee.wakefield@stagnito.fsbusiness.co.ukReprint ManagerJill DeVries, 248/244-1726devriesj@bnpmedia.com210 Route 4 East, Suite 203Paramus, NJ 07652Phone: 201/291-9001|Fax: 201/291-9002E-mail: info@stoneworld.comWeb: www.stoneworld.comMRASOL SOAPSTONE LLC - 426E 1600N - Vineyard 84057 - UTAH - USA - Tel. +1 801 4373893Mob. +1 212 9918894 - mirasol@mirasolsoapstone.com - www.mirasolsoapstone.com62$36721( at its%(67MRASOL BLACK HONED MRASOL BLACK OLEDDSTRBUTED BY:ELEMAR NEW ENGLANDelemarne@gmail.com203/7823544ELEMAR OREGONjay@elemaroregon.com 503/6928020ELEMAR VRGNAelemarusa@aol.com 703/9968314 ELEMAR BOSTONPeterL@elemarnorth.com 978/6569606GLOBAL granite & marbledavidh@globalgranite.com 314/4261466PASCUCC M&Ginfo@pascuccimarble.com248/6693800Subscribeto the FREE Stone World E-Newsletter today!A monthly E-Newsletter with highly targeted editorial to give stone fabrication shops and suppliers practical knowledge they can use in their everyday business.www.stoneworld.com/enewsIts always time to look for a better deal.Its always time to SAVE MONEY and BUY SMART!!IITITANIUMCARNAVAL UBATUBA TYPHOON BORDEAUXSOLARIUSMASCARELLOJUPARANA BORDEAUXCREMA BORDEAUXGREEN GOLDDELICATUS GOLDBALTIC BROWNDESERT STORMGOLDEN BEACHReach us at We will be happy to serve you (904) 306-0036Its time to call GRANITE DEPOT.904/306-0036Massive selection of high quality EXOTIC and basic colors from around the world.ARE YOU BUYING MORE THAN 40 SLABS EVERY 60 DAYS?!IF SO,YOU SHOULD CHECK OUT OUR PRICES AND CONDI TIONS.10August 2010 | Stone WorldClassified Ad SalesJanelle Minghine, 734/340-5211, fax: 734/340-5212minghinej@bnpmedia.comMarketing CoordinatorKevin Hackney, hackneyk@bnpmedia.comSingle Copy SalesAnn Kalb, 248/244-6499, kalba@bnpmedia.comAudience Development Coordinator Cassandra Haggard, haggardc@bnpmedia.comMultimedia CoordinatorStephanie Hunt, hunts@bnpmedia.comAudience Audit CoordinatorKelly M. Carlson, carlsonk@bnpmedia.comList RentalPOSTALRobert Liska, List Manager, 800-223-2194robert.liska@edithroman.com EMAILShawn Kingston, Account Manager, 800-409-4443shawn.kingston@epostdirect.comFor subscription information or service, please contact Customer Service at:847/763-9534 or fax: 847/763-9538, e-mail: STW@halldata.comCorporate DirectorsPUBLISHINGTimothy A. FauschPUBLISHINGJohn R. SchreiCORPORATE STRATEGYRita M. Foumia INFORMATION TECHNOLOGYScott KeslerPRODUCTIONVincent M. MiconiFINANCELisa L. PaulusCREATIVEMichael T. Powell MARKETINGHolly BanksDIRECTORIESNikki SmithHUMAN RESOURCESMarlene J. WitthoftCONFERENCES & EVENTSEmily PattenCLEAR SEAS RESEARCHBeth A. SurowiecStone World Corporate OfficeBNP Media/Stone World2401 W. Big Beaver, Suite 700Troy, Michigan 48084248/362-3700www.stoneworld.comBNP Media Helps People Succeed in Business with Superior InformationJURA LIMESTONEMADE IN GERMANYIf you want to have more information please visit our website or contact us directly:Vereinigte Marmorwerke Kaldorf GmbH|Auweg 6|85135 Kaldorf|info@vm-kaldorf.de|Phone +49 8423 / 99 11-0|Fax +49 8423 / 99 11-40|www.vm-kaldorf.de California Agent TriStone & Tile Inc., Van Nuys CAPhone (818)997-9200|Fax (818)997-9208|www.tristoneandtile.com|info@tristoneandtile.comOwn quarries! Own production! Special for: Slabs, Floor tiles, Cut to sizeCatch up on breaking stone industry news, check out exclusive videos of the latest stoneworking techniques and browse our complete magazine article archives at THE industry news source.www.stoneworld.comFind even moreindustry info atT. 800-575-4401 www. br axt on-br agg. com F. 800-915-5501 2010_048SWSameLOW PRICESEvery Day!Call and PlaceYour OrderNOW!NEW!Try NEWAqua Mix EnrichNSealfor Enriching Natural StoneNEWFULL LINESUPPLIER!Stoneagingandenhancingprod-ucts are staple items in most stone fab-ricationshops.Withsomanyenhan-cersonthemarket,whyisAquaMixthemostpreferredandthebest-selling?BecauseAquaMixEnrichNSealdoesthejobinonecoat athalftheprice!AquaMixEnrichNSeal isapremium,no-sheen,enhancingsealerformulatedtoachievetherichsurfacecolorproducedbyslabpolishingmachines at the quarry, and also some ofthe color enhancing processes applied byslab suppliers.Cost & EffectOneapplicationofAquaMixEnrichNSeal andthedifferencebetween other leading brands is obvious;within a few moments the competition isalmostinvisible,andwithtimecanfadeto nearly nothing. In fact, multiple coatsmust be applied by other leading brandstoachievearichcoloreffect.EnrichNSeal providesenhancement,however,thatotherscannotmatchinonlyoneapplication.Bettercoveragemeans less cost. Simply said, more edgescanbetreatedwithlessproduct,soyousavemoneycomparedtootherleadingbrands. AquaMixEnrichNSeal worksgreatwithcommonlyusedgraniteandequallywellwithexoticstonetheresno need to have more than one product toenhance, age or enrich stone.DurabilityWhen you treat the edge of the stonetothedesiredcolormatchwithAquaMix EnrichNSeal, you can be confi-dent it will endure. Because its UV sta-ble, it can be used indoor or outdoor. Youcan expect years of durability when youuse EnrichNSeal. Put Aqua Mix EnrichNSeal to thetest. It will become the preferred enhan-cer in your shop! Item# Description LOW Intro Price16710 Aqua Mix EnrichNSeal, Pint $32.7516711 Aqua Mix EnrichNSeal, Quart $52.8016712 Aqua Mix EnrichNSeal, Gallon $165.60 16713 Aqua Mix Stone Enhancer, Pint $23.25 17232 Aqua Mix Sealers ChoiceGold, Pint $20.9516708 Aqua Mix Sealers ChoiceGold, Quart $33.9516709 Aqua Mix Sealers ChoiceGold, Gallon $105.90 16717 Aqua Mix Penetrating Sealer, Quart $7.8516718 Aqua Mix Penetrating Sealer, Gallon $24.2516716 Aqua Mix SameDay Grout Sealer, 15 Oz. Aerosol Can $13.5016719 Aqua Mix Grout Sealer, Pint $7.2017233 Aqua Mix Grout Sealer Applicator $3.75 17234 Aqua Mix Grout Sealer, 24 Oz. Spray Bottle $10.75Browse through our website for ALL these Aqua Mix products. Cementitious sanded and unsanded porous groutjoints for ceramic tile installations Effective for interior and exterior applicationsStone World | August 201013August 2010 Vol. 27, No. 8www.stoneworld.comDEPARTMENTS16Stone Column19Newsline22Statistics26News96Calendar96New Equipment97New Products98Stone of the Month99Marketplace 101Classified 102Ad IndexFEATURESFabricator Case Studies 34Pennsylvania fabricator moves with the times46Canadian fabricator advances with CNC technology62Fabricator Forum: Increasing shop efficiencyFocus on Indian Stone70Celebrating 25 years of growth in India76Supplying Black Galaxy granite to a worldwide market82Award-winning airport renovation relies on Indian granite84Indian sandstone harmonizes with desert landscapeSTONE WORLD Volume 27, Issue 8 (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, IL60076. 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:Teak sandstone from India is featured extensively throughout the exterior and interior design of the Musical Instrument Museum (MIM) in Phoenix, AZ. The stone, which was quarried and fabricated by Tab India Inc. and supplied by the companys U.S. office, Amsum & Ash of Minneapolis, MN, was chosen for its rich tones that reflect the museums surrounding desert environment. Photo by Bill Timmerman. Story begins on page 84. Coming Next Month:In September, Stone World will present a focus on Green Design. A series of articles will illustrate how natural stone is playing a role in producing sustainable projects, as well as the eco-friendly practices involved in stone fabrication. Additionally, the next addition will include a Report from Europe taking a look at some of the large-scale stoneworking operations overseas.347082INDIA OFFICETab India, 502, Apex Mall, Tonk Road, Jaipur 302015 IndiaPh +91.141.2744200 Fax +91.141.2744500A b s o l u tNATURAL STONE PROCESSORSi nf o@tabi ndi a. comwww. tabi ndi a. comABSOLUTE BLACK CNS from TAB INDIA The Powerhouse of Black GranitesGGGGGGGGRRRAAANNNIITTTTEEMMMMMMMMMMAAAARRRRRBBLLLLEEESSSSSSSSSSSLLLLLLLLLLLAAAAAAAAAATTTTTTTTTEEEEEEMMMAARRBL MMQQQQQQQQQQQQUUUUUUUUUUAAAAAAAARRRRRTTTTTZZZZZIITTTTTTEEEEEEESSSSSSSLLLLLLAAAATTEEE SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSAAAAAAAAANNNNNNNNDDDDDDDSSSSSTTTOOONNNNNNNNEEEEEEQQQQQQQQQQQQUUUUUUAAAARRTTZZZITTEE QQQQQQQQUUUU TT ITLLLLLLLLLLLIIIIIIIMMMMMMMMMMMEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSTTTTTTOOOOOOONNNNEEESSSSSSSAAAAANNNNNNDDSTTTTONN SSSS DSTOTTTTTTTTTTTTTIIIIILLLLLLLLLLLLEEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSLLLLLLLLLLAAAAAAAAAAAAABBBBBBBSSSSSSSTTTIILLEEESS TTT SSMMMMMMMMMMMOOOOOOOOOOSSSSSAAAAAAAIIICCCCCCCSSSSSSSSLLAAAAABBBSSS SSS AAAABSCCCCCCCCCCCCCCUUUUUUUUUUTTTTTTTT TTTTTOOOOOOO SSSSIZZZZZZEEEEMMMOOOOOSAICCCCSSS M CCTab owned and operatedWe are creating scale with this quarry of ours. A very economical black keeping up with the exponential increases in market demand.An excellent value for our distributors.We will provide as much as you need for as long as you need this Absolute Black CNS.Non-stainable Inexhaustible Massive productionFrom the Powerhouse of Black Granites, Tab India offers: More nishes, More types, More options20+ varieties of BLACKS available US OFFICE30- 52nd Way, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55421Ph +1.763.571.8400 Fax +1.763.571.8600 e B l a c kSTONE COLUMNINCREASED SHOP EFFICIENCY = INCREASED PROFITSWithfabricationshopsworkingontightermarginsthaneverbefore,manyshopmanagersandownersare eliminating unnecessary cost by increasing efficiency. Recently, I conducted a roundtable on increasing shop ef-ficiency with members of the Stone Fabricators Alliance (SFA), which can be found on page 62 of this issue.Theparticipantsinthisdiscussionwereverythoroughintheirresponses,andtheyoutlinedsomeeasy-to-implement procedures that apply to large-scale production facilities as well as smaller fabrication shops. Virtually all of the fabricators who participated in the forum said that focusing on basic material staging was an immense help in increasing shop efficiency. And although this may seem to be a fun-damental part of shop procedures, it can often be overlooked when things get busy or a shop owner/manager is being pulled in another direction as is often the case.Among the steps being taken by todays fabrication shops to increase efficiency, I noted a couple of common threads. The first of these is material staging. Although it seems basic, I can tell you from ex-perience that many stone fabrication shops have not been able to make material staging an integral part of their operation. Staging materials in front of the saw can be a huge way to improve the efficiency of the sawing process, explained Matt Lansing of Stone Innovations in Plover, WI. Take the jobs for the day that need to be cut, and stack the slabs in reverse order on an A-frame next to the saw. When the sawyer finishes a slab, he can grab the next one and keep moving throughout the day. Spending 10 minutes to go around the yard looking for the slab adds up very fast.This thought was echoed by Eric Pate, Technical Director/Sales for Continental Diamond Prod-ucts, Inc. Matts saw-staging suggestion is the best thing we did while at my previous shop. This saves so much time not only in going back and forth pulling the slabs individually from outside or from a warehouse but also in terms of paperwork. Any issues can be caught immediately during that phase for all jobs, instead of run-ning back and forth for each job that might raise a question. All materials can be reviewed to the saw operator as they are being pulled. Even though we would have what we thought were great notes for the saw man, he may have had his own interpretation or even find issues we missed. This led to job staging and the review process going hand-in-hand in the mornings.Again, although it seems fundamental, the basic gist is to ensure that employees are spending most of their cutting and polishing stone as opposed to walking around the shop. All the material, not just slabs, needs to be in spots that make sense for the shop, said Joe Durfee, Production Manager of Great Lakes Granite & Marble in Redford, MI. Why take 10 steps to get material when five steps will do? By having everything close to the ma-chines, you will save a few steps and seconds for each job. It may not seem like much, but all those seconds are pennies that add up at the end of the year. Efficiency comes down to making more money.Another fundamental of shop efficiency is maintaining the proper material flow. However, as shops expand and add equipment, this is often disrupted to the point where efficiency is compromised. Our production is completely linear, explained Miles Crowe of Crowe Custom Countertops in Atlanta, GA. Although their shop has made a number of technology investments over the years, it has continuously maintained this approach, and when Crowe moved into a new facility earlier this year, he was able to ensure that material flow would be maximized. Material comes in through one end of the shop and finished product goes out the other end, he said. "Material handling has to be kept to a minimum. Work only flows in one direction. Slabs are staged for cutting and then go to the SawJet. From there, pieces go onto the CNC router and then on to finish polish by hand. Nothing is allowed to go backwards. TheconceptsImentionaboveareonlytwoofthemanypointsthatwerediscussedtoincreaseshopef-ficiency. At a time when every business is looking for an edge, it may prove invaluable to take a moment and examine the other insights that were shared in the full roundtable discussion on page 62.Michael Reis, Editor/Associate PublisherProdim International BVP.O. Box 107 - 5700 AC Helmond - The NetherlandsT: +31 (0)492 579 050F: +31 (0)492 579 059info@prodim.euP.O. Box 107 T: +31 www.prodimusa.coma product ofWe measure it all!Sales oceMr. John RichertsM: (+1) 678-699-0732johnr@prodimusa.com Service center424 4th Lane S.W.,Vero Beach FL. 32962T: (+1) 772 - 226 - 5580888 - 229 - 3328 toll freeinfo@prodimusa.comUS A L L CNEWSLINEStone World | August 2010 19FREE ADMISSION TO MARMOMACC IN VERONA, ITALY . . .Marmomacc, the leading international stone industry trade show taking place in Verona, Italy from September 29 to Saturday, October 2, is offering free admission to trade visitors who pre-register online. By pre-registering before September 23 at www.marmomacc.com/freebadge2010, attendees can print their own entry badge, thereby saving over $40.Held annually at Veronafiere in Verona, Marmomacc is the global showcase of stone materials and machinery. In 2009, more than 1,500 exhibitors from 53 countries attracted over 53,000 trade visitors including 24,000 foreign visitors from 100 countriesMarmomacc is the ideal place to see, in a few busy days, the latest stone-related machinery and technologies, to directly source stone for commercial projects and to view the full spectrum of stone materials available for residential applications. Each year, the show features a number of architectural exhibits and conferences devoted to designing with dimensional stone. For more information, visit www.marmomacc.com or contact the Consultants International Group by phone at 1-202-783-7000 or by E-mail at info@cig-dc.com.Visit www.marmomacc.com/freebadge2010 to register for a free four-day pass (one entry per day). When registering, users will be prompted to insert an ID Code and a Control Code. Please use the following codes:ID Code: 201004Control Code: 300453Users will then receive a confirmation E-mail that will allow them to print their pass. Just bring this print-out to Marmomacc to avoid long lines at the entrance to the show. There is a limit of a single registration per valid E-mail address provided. Online registration ends September 23.ARTISAN GROUP MEMBER IS FIRST IN OKLAHOMA TO BE MIA ACCREDITED . . .Artisan Group member Hoffman Fixtures is the first stone fabricator in Oklahoma to be accredited by the Marble Institute of America (MIA). Currently, only 47 natural stone fabricators in the U.S. have achieved accreditation, of which 19 are Artisan Group members.Hoffman Fixtures is now able to proudly display the accreditation logo, which symbolizes that they both are among the finest in the natural stone industry with respect to craftsmanship, safety and business practices, said Garen Distelhorst, Accreditation Manager at the MIA.Our product offering and customer service is unparalleled, and warranties are offered on all products, said Joe Hoffman, CEO of Hoffman Fixtures. Achieving accreditation from the MIA is just one more step in offering our customers the best possible finished products, while ensuring overall employee and shop safety. We are proud of this achievement because it is a reflection of the pride and dedication our employees have to the Artisan Group of premier countertop fabricators.From humble beginnings in 1949, Hoffman Fixtures has grown through four generations of leadership to become one of the most complete, factory direct suppliers of kitchen and bath products and services for both residential and commercial applications in the Tulsa area. The company also has recently acquired Phoenix Fabrication, expanding to Oklahoma City.To become an Accredited Natural Stone Fabricator by the MIA, a company must have successfully completed three phases of application.Phase One was the completion of a lengthy application that required the applicant company to provide various documents and references which ensure that the company is in compliance with the 10 standards of accreditation as laid out by the MIA Accreditation Commission. Phase Two required the companys qualifying agent (the designated company representative responsible for filing and maintaining accreditation records for the applicant company) topassa200-questionmultiple-choicetest.Theexamtestedtheapplicantsknowledgeandapplicationofmaterial usage, installation, fabrication, restoration, care and maintenance, administration, legal/contracts, and jobsite and shop safety. Phase Three was a comprehensive site visit, which included a facility review, document review and one or more installation site visits.For more information about Hoffman Fixtures, visit www.hfcountertops.com. For more information about the MIA Accreditation program, visit www.marble-institute.com/accreditation.PREPARATIONS BEGIN FOR STONE+TEC NRNBERG 2011 IN GERMANY . . . The key phase of preparations for Stone+tec Nrnberg 2011 has begun, and the event is set to take place at the Exhibition Centre Nuremberg from June 22 to 25, 2011. The get-together for the natural stone sector in Central Europe welcomed more than 34,000 trade visitors and 770 exhibitors from more than 40 countries at the last event in 2009.Following the better performance of the 2009 exhibition compared with the event two years before, we are confident that a further upward trend will be apparent in 2011, also due to the more positive signals finally coming from the world economy again, said Willy Viethen, Exhibition Director of Stone+tec at NrnbergMesse.The products and services of the exhibiting companies and a supporting program packed with information are the big attractions of Stone+tec Nrnberg, which has always reflected the sector since it began in 1979. Products on display at Stone+tec 2011 will include natural stone as well as products for the installation, maintenance and restoration of natural stone. From the technology side, there will be machinery for stoneworking and quarrying as well as accessories and diamond tooling. Another section will address monuments and funerary art.Around half the visitors at Stone+tec 2009 came from the craft trades, 19% from the industry and 11% from the wholesale trade. The share of architects and building planners was 4%.According to surveys taken after the 2009 event, nine out of 10 exhibitors reached their most important target groups and made new business connections. A total of 80% of the exhibiting companies made direct sales during the exhibition, 20August 2010 | Stone WorldNEWSLINEand 85% expected follow-up business 6% more than in 2007. Also, 95% of exhibitors welcomed visitors to their stand from countries outside Germany.Exhibitors who decide to exhibit in 2011 quickly not only profit from the quality of the event, but also qualify for the early-bird discount on stand rental for applications received by September 24, 2010. Details are available on the Internet at www.stone-tec.com or direct from the new Stone+tec exhibition team in Nrnberg, which smoothly continues the tradition of personal service, or from the worldwide representatives of NrnbergMesse.MARBLE INSTITUTE OF AMERICA ANNUAL LEADERSHIP WORKSHOP SET FOR DALLAS, TX, IN OCTOBER . . .The Marble Institute of America (MIA) announced that its annual Leadership Workshop will take place from October 18 to 19, 2010 in Dallas, TX. In just 10 hours, attendees will learn a years worth of proven strategies and ideas from the stone industrys leading experts, MIA stated.The MIA Leadership Workshop offers at least 15 practical, proven ideas to generate new business, improve efficiency and prepare for the future. It also offers knowledge on critical topics to connect with members of the architecture and design community.This gathering for senior-level stone industry executives is timely as stone companies look to rebound and thrive in todays economy, said Gary Distelhorst, Executive Vice President of the 1,700-member worldwide organization. This years topics are timely for any stone company leadership team.The event will kick-off with an evening reception on October 18, hosted by Walker Zanger.Topics for the October 19 workshop include: Positioning Natural Stone as an Environmentally Preferred Building Material Natural Stone and the Economic Recovery Perspectives Roundtable Discussion Leading the Design, Development and Launch of a Unique Style Minder Brand in the Highly Traditional Stone Industry Branding Your Business Locally: What works, what doesnt and whyThe morning program will feature the following speakers: Stephanie Vierra, Assoc. AIA, LEED AP, President of Vierra Design & Education Services, LLC, will share a close look at how the industry is working to prove that natural stone is sustainable, and therefore environmentally preferred. Vierra will draw upon her own body of research and study and also report on the current status of the industrys work through the Natural Stone Council on the development of standards and certification. Frank Anton, CEO of Hanley Wood LLC, will address natural stone and the economic recovery. Hanley Wood is one of the countrys leading companies serving the construction industry in a wide variety of media, including trade and professional magazines, trade shows (including StonExpo/Marmomacc Americas and AIA), economic and trend research, and the firm provides an excellent vantage point from which to gauge the near future. Mark Fernandes, Chief Leadership Officer at Luck Stone, will share perspectives about leading the design, development andlaunchofauniquestyle-mindedbrandinthehighlytraditionalstoneindustry.Hewilladdresshowto differentiate a company from others in the industry by seeking inspiration from best in class brands from the art, fashion, retailing, hospitality and design industries. Fernandes describes the journey and the process.The luncheon program will feature an industry panel, which will recap the highlights of the three morning sessions.The afternoon session will focus on Branding Your Business Locally: What works, what doesnt and why. Marty Gould, President of Focalize Now, will share that branding isnt just for major national companies. Every local business has the chance to build itself into a trusted brand, he said But theres a lot more to branding than logos and slogans. Learn the secrets top global and national companies use to build their brand identity and reputation and how to adapt those ideas to your local market.This workshop is a great venue to discuss strategic and visionary planning for the stone industry, said Brett Rugo, 2010 MIA President and Owner of Rugo Stone.The MIA Board of Directors, volunteer committee chairs and other industry leaders will be attending this outstanding leadership event. The event will be held at the Gaylord Texan Resort and Convention Center in Grapevine, TX. A full agenda and registration information can be found online at www.marble-institute.com/leadership.ONE LINERS . . .Have you ever seen a 250-ton quarry face come down? Or seen a robotic saw in action at a fabrication shop? How about seeing a large-scale exotic slab plant in operation in Brazil? The readers of Stone World now have the opportunity to do just that, as Stone World has launched its own YouTube Channel. The channel can be reached at:www.YouTube.com/user/StoneWorldMagazineVideo fans can also check out exclusive clips at www.stoneworld.com or www.stoneworld.com/Articles/Video_ArchiveAny 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.22August 2010 | Stone WorldARAB EMIRATES127,828209 ARGENTINA92,65075688,06164 AUSTRALIA85,616495BELGIUM48,933395,83817BOLIVIA10,0332 BRAZIL30,168,10237,304251,427164328,402184,317549BULGARIA15,6442784,607824,578 CANADA1,317,1731,628611,876574132,6081,274,0096,787CHINA14,318,50633,8825,381,2144,8501,595,03475,028634COLOMBIA9,25151 CROATIA101,04756 DENMARK4,3371 DOMINICAN REPUBLIC85,075198158,919931 ECUADOR7,7962 EGYPT14,12425569,718896 FRANCE456,39031844,135235,398165GERMANY68,9801593,61357,63235GREECE320,94118315,12034HONDURAS64,55956 HONG KONG34,1884624,06915 INDIA8,647,39429,670536,3427752,244,983204,417877INDONESIA464,1394846,4806,8253IRELAND8,90168,0842ISRAEL707,13575929,16228ITALY9,162,67141,7706,023,4043,35254,131276,9422,488JORDAN11,29524 KOREA733,2182,433LEBANON470,26745,055 MALAYSIA7,82521 MEXICO40,518355,446,9975,8307,800255,485792MOROCCO32,969263,1205NETHERLANDS4,0078 NEW ZEALAND2,0521 NORWAY27,641194,58610PAKISTAN301,075194 PERU886,126880 PHILIPPINES14,26034243,4924175,6507,32422PORTUGAL5,0804931,78869626,598 SAUDI ARABIA552,355924 SINGAPORE43,86452 SPAIN525,1951,0881,742,92211,456215,1784,63829SWEDEN12,7327 TAIWAN1,801,0241,589241,0541124,5732,2988THAILAND20,68422,7916TOKELAU46,52372 TUNISIA100,81165 TURKEY2,724216,682,18039,40113,2388,95444UNITED KINGDOM42,004953,739 VENEZUELA3,1002 OTHER199,710421166,28639512,859119,201206TOTAL APRIL 201067,046,255149,43343,527,055118,7404,774,2833,620,00315,669TOTAL APRIL 200953,215,50098,19347,826,40595,0136,146,2241,977,8459,503STATISTICSApril 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 CommerceU.S. $TONS U.S. $ U.S. $TONS U.S. $TONSCOUNTRYGRANITEMARBLE*SLATE**OTHER***NEW!ThebestperformanceandvalueforhighvolumeproductionExcellent polish quality, the fastest feed rates and the longest tool life in thestone industry. UHS tooling is the best choice for high volume production shopsand anyone who understands an investment in UHS tooling pays dividends inthe form of the lowest cost per linear meter and the finish quality of the job. Available in 120 series, 80 series, 40 series & 20 series Customized pre-set labels on each wheel Precision balanced Full water channel design More water distribution points Lowest cost per linear meter in the industry ADIcertified reshaping service availableToll-Free1(800) 458-6222 Fax:(770) 621-9771www.granquartz.comLocationsinAnaheim,Atlanta, Boston,Chicago, Denver,Houston,LosAngeles,Minneapolis,SanJoseand Miami.ThepolishqualityofUHSwithonefewerstepandalowerinitial cost!Veloce profile wheels are designed to match the polish quality and travel speedof UHS tooling but do so with low up-front costs and a fast five step process.Veloce wheels are perfect for profiles used less frequently, custom work, andstartup situations where the cost per linear meter is less important than theinitial expense. Profile in just three metal positions Available in 80 series Customized pre-set labels on each wheel Precision balanced Patented through the borewater channel design Low up-front cost ADIcertified reshaping service availableVeloceProfile WheelsUHSUltraHighSpeedMoreoptionsforCNCfabrication!WORLDS FASTESTCNC TOOLING!CALL FOR FREE CNCTOOLING CATALOG!GranQuartz is the exclusive US distributor for ADICNC tooling.24August 2010 | Stone WorldANTIGUA4,8204 ARAB EMIRATES2,537 AUSTRALIA388,258100 AUSTRIA6,000 BAHAMAS84,1958374,64058 BARBADOS7,7443 BELGIUM35,700119 BERMUDA10,04635,59012,556125BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS3,8161 CANADA2,232,1922,4231,363,49613,457175,1632,381,38510,293CAYMAN ISLANDS3,831140,148353,1501CHINA583,7551,808119,6605983,998406COLOMBIA28,86256CZECH REPUBLIC5,0001DOMINICAN REPUBLIC2,6252 ECUADOR3,5001 EGYPT22,08729 FINLAND13,02623,7751FRANCE195,00049 GERMANY2,705167,276765HONDURAS21,9008 HONG KONG11,460 HUNGARY3,3726 INDIA28,263407,3504 IRELAND24,9993 ISRAEL3,7211 ITALY233,398892 JAPAN2,70013,50012,5415KOREA63,70077148,171154MEXICO117,0219896,060702,60031,45944N. ANTILLES3,00013,8861NEW ZEALAND26,70635PANAMA31,400173,500235,43826,13145RUSSIA3,9451 SAUDI ARABIA14,08120 SINGAPORE5,493141,90813SWITZERLAND20,954 TAIWAN119,400398 THAILAND2,5796TURKEY28,31464 UNITED KINGDOM535,9251016,16127,7951OTHER37,1401380,23035510,2019,75017TOTAL APRIL 20104,746,7976,2601,921,90514,154267,0582,976,92811,969TOTAL APRIL 20093,820,0106,3441,691,1248,828332,1482,657,4169,335STATISTICSApril 2010 | Exports from 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 CommerceU.S. $TONS U.S. $ U.S. $TONS U.S. $TONSCOUNTRYGRANITEMARBLE*SLATE**OTHER***PRODUCT SOURCING PRODUCheck out the 2010 Online Version of Stone Worlds Stone Guide atwww.stoneworld.com/stoneguideMADE EASY.SEARCHABLE COMPREHENSI VE I NFORMATI VE26August 2010 | Stone WorldNEWSBRANCHING OUT IN BRAZILMASSAPE, BRAZI L Richard Sardel l i,owneroftherenowned Nacaradoquartzitequarry,soldas blocksandslabsaroundtheworld, announced that it is now being oper-ated under the name of Everest Export. Sardellihasbeenoperatingthe quarry for four years, and the entire quarrystaffandstructureremains the same. UndertheEverestname,thecom-panyplanstoexpandfurtherinto slabsales,whileseekingadditional quartzite quarry sites. It also continues operation of the Nougat quartzite quar-ry in nearby Jordao, which is available in blocks and slabs. Thecompanysphonenumbers +55-88-3614-5599inBraziland 973-714-6367 in the U.S. remain the same,andthenewWebsiteiswww.everestxport.com.br SALEM STONE APPOINTS NEW PRESIDENTWINSTON-SALEM,NCThe47 employee-ownersofSalemStoneare proud to announce the appointment of Michael Willard as the companys new President.Willard brings25yearsof glass sales manage-mentexperience withthelast11 yearsasSalems Michael Willard has been appointed as Salem Stones new President.Richard Sardelli (pictured in the center) continues his ownership and operation of the Nacarado quartzite quarry in Brazil. Now operating under the name Everest Export, the entire quarry staff and structure remains the name.Known for its distinctive patterning and coloration, Nacarado quartzite is sold as blocks and slabs around the world.PRODUCTSLASERindustriesInanonlineforumentitledTemplatingMethodsthatwaslaterpublishedinStoneWorld Magazines August, 2006 issue, fabricators from around the nation were asked how they tem-plated their jobs. Of the 17 that were digital templators, 11 of them stated they used the LT-55. That is an enormous 64%. The next closest digital templating system only had 3 users or 18%. Why does the LT-55 (and newer LT-55 XL) Laser Templating system command a disproportionate amountofthemarket?Becausewelistentoourcustomers.Over90%ofallfeaturesbeyond basic measuring were asked to be added to the system by customers. Who knows what you need betterthanyourself?Whywouldntyoubuyasystemthatiscontinuallybeingdevelopedby industry leaders? Since that publication as far as we can tell, that percentage of LT-55/LT-55 XL has only grown larger confirmingthat when people say Get the Laser they mean the LT-55 XL Laser Templator and dont even consider anything else.1335 Lakeside Dr.Romeoville, IL 60446Toll Free866-539-0052LaserProductsUS.comWorld Leader In Digital TemplatingWhen people say Get the LaserThey mean the LT-55The LT-55 XL Precision Laser Templator lets you walk off any jobsite with a CAD ready .dxf file. Produce estimates on the jobsite and have the customer sign off onanestimate. Youwillimprove yourquality,accuracyandspeedleadingto quicker installations, less errors and virtually no scrap.Sales Opportunities AvailableLaserProductsIndustries,theWorldLeaderinDigital Templatingforthecountertop,millwork and glass industries is looking for an area representative to cover the West Coast. Experience in the stone and countertop industry is a requirement. Come build an empire with us. We only want superstars who require $100k-$175k. Others need not apply. Young or old, if you have the stuff, wellknow.CandidateswouldideallybecentrallylocatedneartheSanFrancisco/Oaklandor surrounding areas. Contact Roger at 866-539-6168.28August 2010 | Stone WorldNEWSNational Sales Manager and Executive Vice President (EVP).AsEVP,Willarddirected23field salespeoplelocatedthroughoutthe U.S.andCanada,andmanagedthe companysstrategicdiversification t hroughoutt hepastdecade. Hi s ef fortsasamemberoftheman-agementteamwerei nstr umental i nsuccessf ul l ysteer i ngSal ems transitionfromaprivatelyowned company to a 100% employee-owned company. Salem showed exceptional resiliencethroughtherecentfinan-cialeventsduetosoundbusiness decisionscoupledwithacollective employee- ownersentrepreneurial spirit, the company reports. As president, Willard will focus on nurturing the ESOP ownership culture to harness the internal resourcefulness andenergyuniquetoanemployee-owned company in expanding existing markets,developingnewmarketsas well as new products. Willard believes the commitment of individual employ-eeownersisvitaltomaximizingthe opportunitiesofthecompanyforits future success. PLANETARY TECHNOLOGY FOR COUNTERTOP PRODUCTIONAURORA,COTheLegendCT fromSamichUSAwasengineeredas atrueplanetarycountertopproduc-tionmachine.Themachinebuilds ontheconceptofusingplanetary technology, as opposed to single-head technology, for grinding and polish-ingstoneinafloorrestorationand maintenance setting.Accordingtothecompany,most si ngle-headmachi nesr unat155 to250RPM,butwhenthatsame machineisfittedwithaplanetary gearbox,theRPMatthediamond canbeincreased10times.Ifthat technologycanmakeaf loorwork better, then why cant it make work-ing on countertops better too? said JoshHuseby,PresidentandCEOof Samich USA.HusebyexplainedthattheLegend CT planetary machine has an optimal levelofreliabilitybecauseitwasnot built by starting with a traditionalhandtool. Rather than trying to makeahandtooldo somethingitwasnot meanttodo,wetook the technology in our largerfloormachines and scaled it down for ournewLegendCT, he said.Themachinewas alsoengi neeredfor amaximumlevelof balance.Themotor forthethree5-inch heads is mounted cen-trally,ratherthanoff to the side of the gear box,saidHuseby. The Legend CT from Samich USA has been built on the concept of using planetary technology, as opposed to single-head technology, for grinding and polishing stone in a floor restoration and maintenance setting.30August 2010 | Stone WorldNEWSThis allows the machine to maintain perfect balance.Samichhasbeenmanufact ur-inghigh-qualitystoneandconcrete grinding,polishingandpreparation equipment and accessories for nearly 30 years, and Samich USA is an extension of that tradition. For more information, visit www.samich-usa.com.CTASC ANNOUNCES WINNERS OF U.S. STONE SURVEY CONTESTSANDIEGO,CACeramicTile And Stone Consultants, Inc. (CTaSC), a national company providing marketing research and business planning servic-es, has announced that Michele Aloe, aSalesManageratWalkerZangers LasVegas,NV,location,andGasper Naquin,ownerofStoneInteriors,a large stone fabricating company locat-ed in Loxley, AL, are the raffle winners ofanApple16GBiPhone4fortheir participationandcompletionofthe recent U.S. Stone Survey.Thewinnerswererandomlycho-sen from a record number of industry membersthatcompletedtheU. S. Stone Survey conducted in April 2010 byCTaSC.Over2,400manufactur-ers,quarries,exporters,importers, distributors, fabricators and retailers were invited to take the stone survey developedbyCTaSCusingprogres-sive online technology that ensured the confidentiality of all participants bycompi l i ngdataanonymously. Each person who completed the sur-veyreceivedafreesummaryofthe survey results.Participantsansweredaseriesof questionsbasedontheirbusiness category. Importers, distributors and retailerswerequizzedonthetypes of stone they sell, slab and tile sizes, salesbytypeofcustomersandsales bytypesofapplications.Fabricators were asked to answer questions about theirfabricationbusiness,includ-ingshopsize,equipmentandtool brands, purchase and selling price of stone, annual sales and types of fin-ishedproductsandstonetypesthat are fabricated. The 2010 U.S. Stone Survey results wi l l bei ncludedi nt heupcom-i ngCat al i na2010Nat ur al and Manufactured Stone Products Report preparedbyCatal i naResearch,a prominent research firm, and Ceramic Tile and Stone Consultants industry expertDonatoPompo,whichwere purchased in July.Thesurveyresultswillbefurther elaborateduponandintegratedinto the2010NaturalandManufactured StoneProductReport.Thiscompre-hensivepublication,whichisbeing updatedfrom2006,willprovidean i n- depthanalysisoftheU. S.and Canadianstoneindustrybasedon U.S.governmentstatisticsandmar-ket resources. Some of the topics that arecoveredincludetrendsandfore-1-800-350-1901www.miraclesealants.comFREEcontractorrewardprogramBack by Popular Demand!Miracle Sealants will continue its industryfirst Contractor Reward Program.Terms & Conditions: In order to receive rebate, contractors musthave a membership number for processing.Go to: www.miraclesealants.com/contractor A copy of all product receipts must bemarked 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 aAuthorized Miracle Sealants Distributor. Program runs from January 1st to December15th each year. Contractor will need to renew each year andcan be done simply by going back on-line.Start Now Go To:www.miraclesealants.com/contractorQualified contractors willreceive a year-end 10% CASH REBATEon all Miracle Sealants purchases made overthe course of the year. Stone World | August 201031NEWScastsforthestoneindustryandthecurrentstateofthe economy, sales by type of stone, engineered stone, manu-factured stone (made of concrete), end-use market trends and demographics, economic factors effecting demand for stone, imports and exports, installers, retailers, home cen-ters, floor covering channels and Internet sales channels. It will also have sections on quarries, processing plants and fabricators operation costs and profitability, stone industry cost structure and competitive environment, industry cap-ital expenditures and machinery costs. DonatoPompo,PresidentofCTaSC,underscoredthe importance of the information gathered from the survey by stating, In-depth information about the stone indus-try is very hard to come by. Its vital for all of us to know whatsgoingoninthemarketandunderstandhowthe current state of the economy will affect our business and our future opportunities.This is the third time CTaSC has conducted a stone survey (the first was in 2003, the second in 2006). For more infor-mation and pricing on the 2010 Natural and Manufactured Stone Product Report, contact CTaSC at 866-669-1550 or visit its Web site at www.CTaSC.com.CERAMIC TILES OF ITALY HONORS ARIZONA TILE WITH NORTH AMERICAN DISTRIBUTOR AWARDTEMPE, AZ Arizona Tile has been awarded the 2010 Confindustria Ceramica North American Distributor Award by Ceramic Tiles of Italy. One of the largest independently owned importers of stone in the U.S., Arizona Tile has set an unprecedented standard as the first company to receive the recognition for a second time in the programs 20-year history.Theawardisabadgeofdistinctionamongtile distributors/importers. Confindustria Ceramica, the association of Italian ceram-ic tile and refractory material manufacturers, is responsible for representing, supporting and communicating between member companies. Ceramic Tiles of Italy is the collective institutional trademark rep-resentingandpromoting ConfindustriaCeramicas more than 200 members.Tobethef i rstdi s-tributor to win this award forthesecondtimeisa realhonor,saidMark Huarte, Arizona Tiles Vice PresidentofOperations. At Arizona Tile, we credit this award to the wonder-fulrelationshipswehave builtovertheyearswith Italian tile manufacturers, inadditiontoourstaffs commitmenttopremium material.Arizona Tile was presented the North American Distributor Award on Wednesday, April 28, 2010 during Aperitiva Italiana Ceramic Tiles of Italys annual party at Coverings. Pictured left to right: Franco Manfredini, Confindustria Ceramica Chairman; Mark Huarte, Arizona Tile Vice President of Operations; Bob Traxler, Arizona Tile President; and Vittorio Borelli, Confindustria Ceramica Vice President of Promotional Activities.34 August 2010 | Stone WorldPennsylvania fabricator moves with the timesWith a diverse production range that includes kitchen countertops as well as elaborate commercial work, Akropolis Marble and Granite Imports of Colmar, PA, has maintained a level of success over the yearsby Michael ReisForAndyKamaratos,thepath tothefoundationofAkropolis MarbleandGraniteImports inSoutheasternPennsylvaniawas somewhat of a circular route. Born in Greece,heliterallygrewuparound the stone trade, as his father owned a marblemine.However,uponcoming totheU.S.,Kamaratoswentintothe restaurant business, and it was this line of work that ultimately led him back into the stone industry.We needed stone tabletops for our restaurant,andIreallywasnthappy with the people in our area who were sellingthematthetime,Kamaratos said.Eithertheywereraisingtheir prices,ortheycouldntdowhatthey saidtheycoulddo.Soin1996,Igot outoftherestaurantbusinesswitha plan to sell tabletops to the restaurant Originally founded in 1996, Akropolis Marble & Granite Imports now operates out of a state-of-the-art facility in Colmar, PA.Fabricator Case StudyQuality, Elegance, DurabilityYou Have Choices with Artisan Sinks!The new premium undermount KitchenSink Collection is stylish, functional andvery affordable. 13 Premium kitchen styles 22 sizes with depths up to 10"heavy 16 gauge, 304 stainless steelreverse models available with many models sink grids and faucets available8 Vitreous China sinkstraditional white and biscuitundermount and surface mountwww.ArtisanSinks.com973.286.0080Complies withASME A112.19.3-2000Complies withASME A112.19.2-2008/CSA B45.1-0836 August 2010 | Stone Worldindustry.Isawabuildingforrentin Norristown, PA, and decided to lease it.ThenIpurchasedatracksawand started making tables. From there, we moved into countertops for restaurants and then kitchens.Weaddedmachineryandmade adealtodokitchensfortheHome Depot,Kamaratoscontinued.Then in1999,IwenttoBrazillookingfora wholesaleexporterofgranite,andI endedupstartingacompanythere tosellgranite.WeweredoingHome Depots all along the East Coast up until 2007. Then we got into commercial jobs, and we did some casino work Dover Downs in Delaware, Philadelphia Park Casino,HarrahsandtheSandsin Atlantic City and others.The commercial work has kept the shopbusyduringtherecession,and todayAkropolisMarbleandGranite Imports is based in Colmar, PA, where it opened a new facility in July of 2008. The building has a 10,000-square-foot fabrication shop and 20,000 square feet of space in all, which affords the com-pany some room to grow over time.Technology investmentsOneofthelatestinvestmentsfor AkropolishasbeenaRoboCuttwin-table robotic saw/waterjet combination from USG Robotics of Crystal Lake, IL, whichrevolutionizedthecompanys production. We started running it in Januaryof2009,andifwebranched out, we would buy another, said Tom Shannon,whojoinedAkropolissix yearsago.Threedifferentpeople here can run the machine. One of our employees went to USG Robotics facil-ity in Chicago for training, but its not tough to learn.One of the latest investments for Akropolis has been a RoboCut twin-table robotic saw/waterjet combination from USG Robotics of Crystal Lake, IL.The waterjet has allowed Akropolis to fabricate large-scale waterjet projects in natural stone with an optimal degree of accuracy.For straight cuts, the RoboCut can operate with a standard circular saw.At an independent lab, the Hurricane Turbo Blade went up against more expensive blades and held its own.At a much lower cost, this blade cuts at a competitive speed and provided clean, consistent cuts.For .36 cents a linear foot,the Hurricane is an excellent value for your money.At the end of the day, you can cut 56 Lft with every 5" Hurricane Blade.That's as tall as a 5 story building.Focus on performance and value: go with the Hurricane Turbo BladeMore details available at www.diamaxinc.com/technology_bladetesting.php(all blades were tested at Environ Labs on 3cm absolute black granite)phone: 888.449.0502 | web: www.diamaxinc.comDIAMAX INDUSTRIES INC.38 August 2010 | Stone WorldTheRoboCututilizesapumpand cuttingnozzlefromKMTWaterjet SystemsofBaxterSprings,KS,andit also includes USG Robotics Vein-Match system. This program allows workers andcustomerstoseethedesignofa kitchen on PC and see how the pieces will line up according to the veining of the material.Slabsarealsocuttosizeusinga GMM Lexta 36 bridge saw, which is ser-viced by Salem Stone of Winston-Salem, NC.Forstraightedgeprocessi ng, Akropolis utilizes a Montresor Lola 40S also serviced by Salem Stone and this unit is also used for backsplashes. Curved and complex edgework is done by hand using Marmoelettromeccanica Master 3500 hand routers.Slabs and finished pieces are maneu-vered around the shop using a Gorbel The RoboCut utilizes a pump and cutting nozzle from KMT Waterjet Systems of Baxter Springs, KS.Slabs are also cut to size using a GMM Lexta 36 bridge saw, which is serviced by Salem Stone of Winston-Salem, NC.For straight edge processing, Akropolis utilizes a Montresor Lola 40S also serviced by Salem Stone and this unit is also used for backsplashes. Hand finishing remains an important component of the overall production process.40 August 2010 | Stone Worldcranesystem,whichisequippedwithvacuum lifters from Woods Powr-Grip of Laurel, MT.The vast majority of the companys projects (90%) are templated using the Prodim Proliner systemfromProdimUSAofVeroBeach,FL. The company has two templaters on staff, one of whom also completes other tasks as needed.Jobs are tracked using a Web-based program from Aegis Logistics, which allows customers to check the status of a project online. The program tracks templating, fabrication, installation and all service calls. Consistent high quality and immediateavailability of the nest raw material. Huge inventory of precision-cut slabs. Seven-day turnaround on all slab orders. Fabrication and operational assistance. Sales and marketing support for yourend customer. To order call (800) 457-4026 or visit IndianaLimestoneCompany.comIndiana LimestoneINNOVATIONSINSTONE.SLABSJoin our Distributor or Fabricator Network today. Call (800) 457-4026 for more information.Slabs and finished pieces are maneuvered around the shop using a Gorbel crane system, which is equipped with vacuum lifters from Woods Powr-Grip of Laurel, MT.NACARADOOWNED, OPERATED AND DISTRIBUTEDwww.everestxport.com.brBrasil - + 55.88.3614.5599|USA - 973.714.6376|Owner, Richard Sardelli (cell): + 55.88.9215.949942 August 2010 | Stone WorldStructure and marketingThecompanyhasaveraged1,900 squarefeetofproductionperweek in recent times, an improvement over earlierthisyear.Therearecurrently 30peopleworkingforthecompany, whichisdownfromitspre-recession peak. New construction was one-third of our business, and it just evaporated, Shannonsaid.Itisjustcomingback now.Wewereabletogetthroughon large commercial jobs. We did hotels in Manhattan, and the large casino job at Dover Downs. At the time we got those jobs, we thought they would be gravy, but thats what helped us get through.Akropolis role on the Dover Downs project included a range of waterjet-cut floor designs, including a 93-foot-diam-eterwithfourdifferentmedallions, each of which are 70 feet apart. All of the points are only 1/16 inch apart, and Akropolisdidthedesignandsizing of the pieces on CAD prior to cutting. A total of 4,000 pieces were fabricated in all, and the project required no field cutting. To enhance its services for the commercial market, Akropolis has an architect on staff specifically for high-end, intricate projects.In addition to ample indoor space, the facilities at Akropolis include a large slab yard for inventory.The vast majority of the companys projects (90%) are templated using the Prodim Proliner system from Prodim USA of Vero Beach, FL (an example of which is pictured).Stone World | August 2010 43In addition to kitchen countertops, thecompanysuppliesvanities,tile-work, thresholds and mosaics, among other architectural features. It also sup-plies large-scale waterjet-cut patterns, such as the one found at Dover Downs.Thecurrentbreakdownofsalesis 25% new construction, 50% residential remodel,10%large-scalecommercial and15%fab-onlyforinstallers.In termsofresidentialwork,Akropolis Marble sells to both kitchen and bath dealers,cabinetdealersandthegen-eralpublic.Wehaveafullmixof client types, from $6 million houses to $199,000 houses, Shannon said.A total of 80% of the companys proj-ects come within 20 miles of its location inSoutheasternPennsylvania.This includes the Allentown and Bethelem regions as well as Bucks County. Priortotherecession,Akropolis imported 75% of its material directly in containers. But since the recession hit,thedistributorsloweredtheir prices, Shannon said. That has sta-bilizedabit,andnowwehavemore containers on the water. We also send our customers out to local slab yards whentheyarelooki ngforcertai n exotics.Iwouldsaythat15%ofour work right now is in exotics.Amongi t smarket i ngt ool s, Akropolis Marble & Granite Imports hasimplementedaninteractiveWeb sitewww.akropolismarble.com which has led to a consistent amount of work. Akropolis role on the Dover Downs project included a range of waterjet-cut floor designs, including a 93-foot-diameter with four different medallions, each of which are 70 feet apart. All of the points are only 1/16 inch apart, and Akropolis did the design and sizing of the pieces on CAD prior to cutting. A total of 4,000 pieces were fabricated in all, and the project required no field cutting.Akropolis Marble & Granite ImportsColmar, PAType of work: kitchen countertops and commercial work, including intricate medallionsMachinery: a RoboCut twin-table robotic saw/waterjet combination from USG Robotics of Crystal Lake, IL, which utilizes a pump and cutting nozzle from KMT Waterjet Systems of Baxter Springs, KS; a GMM Lexta 36 bridge saw and a Montresor Lola 40S straight edge-polishing machine, both of which are serviced by Salem Stone of Winston-Salem, NC; Marmoelettromeccanica Master 3500 hand routers; Gorbel overhead crane system with vacuum lifters from Woods Powr-Grip of Laurel, MT; Prodim Proliner templating systems from Prodim USA of Vero Beach, FLNumber of Employees: 30 REMOVE EFFLORESCENCE, GROUT HAZE& RUST STAINS from acid sensitive surfaceslike marble, limestone, travertine & concreteIntroducing Skavenja

the worlds first NON-ACIDIC efflorescence,grout haze and rust mark removerFor more information on Skavenja please phone free-call: 1866 667 5119or email info@drytreat.comwww.drytreat.comHS.SW.0710Before AfterRust mark removalBefore AfterEfflorescence removalInstallers, dealers, surface maintenance professionals the proper introduction to Skavenja is to use it! So, until 31 August, 2010, for each carton of quarts or gallons you buy, well give you another for FREE*.*Introductory offer only available to legitimate retail dealers and installation or surface maintenance businesseswww.drytreat.com Introducing META CRMEThe worlds most technologically advanced impregnating sealer What does it do? Penetrates much deeper, lasts much longerleaves customers thoroughly satisfiedTo request an Information Dossier for META CRMEplease phone free-call: 1866 667 5119or email info@drytreat.comwww.drytreat.comMC.SW.071046 August 2010 | Stone World Canadian fabricator advances with CNC technologyAlready possessing a CNC saw and a CNC router, Dauter Stone Inc. of Calgary, Alberta, Canada, plans to acquire additional CNC technology, while also adding square footage to its production facilityby Alexis FisherBegi nni ngasati lebusi ness, DauterStoneInc.ofCalgary, Al bert a, Canada, i snowa successful stone fabrication facility specializing in residential countertops aswel lascommerci alcl addi ng. Theevolutionintostonefabrication hascalledforinvestinginthelatest intechnology,includingtwoCNC machinesfromCMSNorthAmerica ofCaledonia,MI,anditnowgarners room for more production space and a possible third CNC.Ther ear et hr eeowner sWol f gang, Manf redandUl r i ch Dauter,saidShopManagerBrian Leschyshyn.Theystartedoutinthe tile business. Then they started doing commercial work and got into granite. It then progressed to kitchen counter-tops as well as commercial work.Currently housing a fabrication shop and showroom under a 6,000-square foot facility, Dauter Stone Inc. of Calgary, Alberta, Canada, plans to expand its production area and equipment line. Owning multiple CNC machines from CMS North America of Caledonia, MI, the company will likely purchase a third in the near future.Fabricator Case Study48 August 2010 | Stone WorldThe6, 000 - s quar e- f oot f ac i l -ity is equipped with a CMS Brembana Falcon CNC saw, which was the com-panysmostrecentinvestment.That hasvacuummanipulatorarmsthat come down and move pieces out of the way,saidLeschyshyn.Thatsavesa lot of time.Purchasing the Falcon, which uses the Konig Plus blade from GranQuartz ofTucker,GA,hasincreasedDauter StoneInc.sproduction,accordingto Leschyshyn. Its increased the cutting capacity quite a bit, he said.Additionally, the shop is equipped withaCMSBrembanaMaximaCNC stoneworking center that utilizes tool-ing from ADI, which is distributed by GranQuartz, a T108 manual workcenter from Thibaut of France, which features radialarmsrunningalongitstrack andaFickert+Winterlingsawthat can accommodate blades as large as 2 meters in diameter.Templating in the shop is completed withanLT-55LaserTemplatorfrom Laser Products of Romeoville, IL, and GlobalStoneProsoftwarehelpsthe company maintain its job tracking.Inthepastfiveyears,Leschyshyn explainedthatobtainingtheCNC stoneworking center and going to digi-taltemplatinghavebeentheshops biggestadvancements.Whenwe firstgottheMaxima,thatbasically increased our production in the man-ner of what the CNC is capable of doing [compared to what] a human can do, he said. That was the first step. And thenwiththelastinvestmentofthe Falcon,andofcoursethetemplating thatallincreasesourabilityasa fabricator.A CMS Brembana Falcon CNC saw center was the companys most recent investment.Purchasing the Falcon, which uses a Konig Plus blade from GranQuartz of Tucker, GA, has increased Dauter Stone Inc.s production, according to Shop Manager Brian Leschyshyn. Its increased the cutting capacity quite a bit, he said.Additionally, Leschysyn explained that the Falcon has vacuum manipulator arms that come down and move pieces out of the way. That saves a lot of time.(continued on page 56)Partner Level Sponsors: Gold Level Sponsor: October 5-6 Vermont Quarry ToursVermont has long been known for its rich stone heritage. Every stone professional should experience the uniqueness of the Vermont quarries at least once in their lifetime! Tour will include visits to the E.L. Smith Quarry, Danby Quarry, Sutherland Falls Quarry (part of the Vermont Marble Museum tour), Vermont Verde Antique Rochester Quarry, Bethel White Quarry, and others. Dont miss this great opportunity!Several portions of the 2010 tour will be eligible for AIA credit. From the classroom... to the shop... to the quarry!High quality educational programming for natural stone professionals!Stone Industry Educationbrought to you byandVisit www.stoneworld.com/miaeducation for a complete agenda, registration, and much more!Save the Date!RegistrationNOW OPEN! Analyzing the cost of doing business The value of being an MIA accredited natural stone fabricator Benchmarks for financial performance Equipment needs Diversifying your operations Learning new techniques and tips for templating, fabrication, and installation Marketing your company Networking September 15 San Francisco, CASeptember 22 Minneapolis, MNNovember 10 Edison, NJBusiness Success for Fabricators Dont Let Revenue Slip Away! By attending, you will gain the following insight:2009 Vermont Quarry Tour:Bethel White QuarryNew weaponsfor your arsenalCall: (800) 595-1237sales@continentaldia.comwww.continentaldia.comNNfoPerformance ReducesOperating Spindle StressEngineeringSetupThe Intensity of Your ShineProduction by Cutting 100-250 in/minAfter much research and development, we have designed a FULL CNC line equipped to provide customers with a quality in a class all its own. Simply put, the results speak for themselves.Act Now and see for yourself!AGGRESSIVEPRECISIONQUICKBOOSTACCELERATETwo Powerful Events.One Spectacular Location.www.Surfaces.com January 25 - 27, 2011 www.StonExpo.comMandalay Bay Convention CenterLas Vegas, Nevada USA Registration Opens Soon!American Monument AssociationCanadian Ston AssociationElberton Granite AssociationNational Building Granite Quarries AssociationNorthwest Granite Quarries AssociationOfficial Sponsors:Official Endorser:Reg Code: R0156 August 2010 | Stone WorldExpectingtoexpanditsproduc-tion,DauterStoneInc.iscurrently constructing a 6,000-square-foot addi-tiontoitsfacility,whereithasplans toaddanotherCNCstoneworking center. Of course, we want to expand thebusinessonbothsideskitchen andcommercial,saidLeschyshyn. Ourcur rent 6, 000- square-f oot buildinghousestheshowroomand productionfacility.Wehaveunder construction another 6,000-square-foot facilitythatwillbethenewshow-The shop also operates a CMS Brembana Maxima CNC stoneworking center, which utilizes tooling from ADI, which is distributed by GranQuartz.(continued from page 48)Yellow DreamPerladoTuscany BrownBottachinoSoapstoneCarraraPiazza CarraraGiallo QuarryUS Warehouse LocationsAnaheim, CA - 714.520.4100|Boston, MA - 508.393.9600 |Charleston, SC - 843.928.3307|Chicago, IL - 708.780.9700|Dallas, TX - 214.256.9700|Denver, CO - 303.895.3450Detroit, 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 - 206.762.8221Spokane, WA - 509.893.3698|St. Louis, MO - 314.426.1466|St. Paul, MN - 651.602.3200|Van Nuys, CA - 818.785.1100|Willingboro, NJ - 609.877.1008CANADAOntario - 905.857.6006|Quebec - 819.876.7111|British Columbia - 604.852.8125MEXICOMxico - 011.52.55.216652022010 Cosentino N.A. Silestone trademark and logo are the property of Cosentino N.A. under exclusive license from Cosentino, SA.www.cosentinonorthamerica.comReliable and Direct Distributionis Now a Little Closer to You.M A R L I Q U Em a r b l ebycosentino58 August 2010 | Stone Worldroomandslabwarehouse.Oncethat hasbeencompleted,theoldbuilding willbeconvertedtoallproduction, andwewillbeaddinganotherCNC workcenter.Theshopcurrentlyproducesan averageoffourkitchensadayunder oneshiftinadditiontocommercial work, and employees are divided into departmentswith15inthekitch-endepartmentandaround25inthe commercial department. Quite a few workerscandoeveryaspect,said Leschyshyn. And then quite a few can only do polishing, installing, etc.Leschyshyn further explained that the staff is usually hired without expe-rience, and then Dauter Stone Inc. puts them through its own in-house train-ingprogram.UphereinCanada, theres not much in the way of training programs to send them to, he said.Theshopsmostrecentwork involvessomecommercialandinsti-A T108 manual workcenter from Thibaut of France is used for surface finishing.Stone World | August 2010 59tutional projects. Were just finishing uptheCentennialTowersindown-town [Calgary], saidLeschyshyn. We did the cladding and granite flooring, stairs, etc.About 95% of our countertop busi-nessisdoneinandaroundCalgary, and 5% of the business is in places like Canmore,Banffandtheinteriorof British Columbia, such as Invermere, he continued.Andalthoughthecompanyworks with natural stone approximately 90% ofthetime,theother10%features workthatutilizesengineeredstone such as CaesarStone quartz surfacing andQuantraquartzsurfacingfrom Pokarna Ltd. of India. Dauter Stone Inc.Calgary, Alberta, CanadaType of work: residential countertops and commercial claddingMachinery/equipment: a Brembana Falcon CNC saw and a Brembana Maxima CNC stoneworking center both from CMS North America of Caledonia, MI; a T108 manual workcenter from Thibaut of Vire, France; a Fickert+Winterling saw from Germany; tooling from ADI, which is distributed by GranQuartz of Atlanta, GA; blades from GranQuartz; an LT-55 Laser Templator from Laser Products of Romeoville, IL; Global StonePro software for job trackingNumber of employees: 15 in the kitchen department, around 25 in the commercial departmentProduction capacity: four kitchens a day, plus commercial and institutional workTemplating is done using an LT-55 Laser Templator from Laser Products of Romeoville, IL, (an example of which is pictured). Digital templating along with CNC technology are all factors in what has helped Dauter Stone Inc. advance in the last five years, according to Leschyshyn.The shop currently produces an average of four kitchens a day under one shift plus commercial work, and employees are divided into departments with 15 in the kitchen department and around 25 in the commercial department. Quite a few workers can do every aspect, said Leschyshyn. And then quite a few can only do polishing, installing, etc.LOWEST DELIVERED PRICE.GUARANTEED.SMSome of our competitors claim to offer free freight.However, they do not explain the fne print in this oIIer.These companies usually incorpo-rate a higher fat-rate price on tools purchased in small, 'non-qualiIying orders or, alternatively, they limit the offer to only high-priced tools.By contrast, our guaranty is simple.Regent offers the lowest total cost de-livered to your door anywhere in the continental U.S.A.Guaranteed. 1-8OO-624-821O-Regenlislore.con-Iax: 1-8OO-525-8481Inl. 1-757-34O-56111-757-34O-33O1Call 1-800-624-8210or go to: RegentSaveBig.comto sign up for huge savings on monthly promotions andfor your FREE Specials Catalog!62 August 2010 | Stone WorldIncreasing shop efficiency In this forum, members of the Stone Fabricators Alliance discuss methods to increase efficiency within the stone fabrication shopmoderated by Michael ReisWhat a r es omeof t he changesthatfabricators a r ema ki ngi nt he i r shopstoincreaseefficiency?Has itbeenanadjustmentinmethods, ani nvest menti nequipmentor something else?Matt Lansing, Stone Innovations, Inc.,Plover,WI:Thetopicofshop efficiency is so vast that a book could certainly be written about it, and sev-eralhavebeenregardingmostother industries.Iwillstartwithmaterialsand materialhandling.First,youneedto determine how many slabs the project is going to need. If you are going to be tight with the materials on hand, then callthesupplierandseeiftheyhave another slab from the lot available and placeaholdonit.Ifsomethingbad Among the factors involved in shop efficiency, production flow is key. Slabs are staged for cutting and then go to the SawJet, explained Miles Crowe of Crowe Custom Countertops. From there, pieces go onto the CNC router and then on to finish polish by hand. Nothing is allowed to go backwards.photo by Michael ReisFABRICATOR FORUMBLICK INDUSTRIES The AUTHORITY in Vacuum Workholding 2245 Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna Beach, CA 92651 USA Phone: 949-499-5026 Fax: 949-499-1398 website: www.blickindustries.comBLICK INDUSTRIES EVERY PRODUCT IS DESIGNED, MANUFACTURED, WAREHOUSEDAND ASSEMBLED IN THE USA THE HIGHEST QUALITY WITH THE LOWEST PRICES IN THE INDUSTRY . . . PERIOD! OUR PRODUCT IS READY TO USE RIGHT OUT OF THE BOX, NO NEED TO BUILD IT! MORE THAN 20 YEARS OF EXPIERENCE AND KNOWLEDGE AT YOUR DISPOSAL BLICK - THE NAME AND EXPERTISE YOU CAN COUNT ON!WORLDS LARGEST SELECTIONOF SUCTION CUPS IN THE INDUSTRY!MADE IN THE USAVISIT OUR BOOTH AT MARMOMACC 2010 SEPT. 29TH - OCT. 2ND HALL 4 / STANDF-1Dont be fooled by imitations, get the original!When you want the best...DEMAND the best...BLICK!64 August 2010 | Stone Worldhappens,thenyouwillnothaveto remake the entire job because you cant find matching material.Thenstagingmaterialsinfrontof the saw can be a huge way to improve theefficiencyofthesawingprocess. Take the jobs for the day that need to becut,andstacktheslabsinreverse orderonanA-framenexttothesaw. Whenthesawyerfinishesaslab,he can grab the next one and keep moving throughout the day. Spending 10 min-utes to go around the yard looking for the slab adds up very fast.Then during slab layout, always cut thelargestpartsoutofthefirstslab cut.Icantevenstarttothinkabout howmanyjobsIhavecutwherethe corner breaks, chips, falls off, or what-ever on that island, but because it was the first piece I cut, I was able to save the job by cutting several of the other smaller parts out of it. Then I can take the island out of one of the subsequent slabs. Saving the island for last to cut is just setting yourself up for trouble.Another thing to think about is try-ing to buy your materials in bundles. When you complete a job, take the rem-nants from that job almost no matter how small and stack them back with the rest of the slabs from that same lot. Odds are you can reuse some of them for the next job coming down the list in the same material. Once you finish off the bundle, you only wind up with one or two remnants from six slabs. If you purchasethreedifferentsetsoftwo slabs each, and you have two remnants leftoverfromeachjob,yourmate-rial efficiency is completely shot. Plus, whenyouthrowinthefactthatyou can buy bundles at a reduced cost, you are saving money again.These are just the basics of material efficiency. To step up to the next level, youcanstarttodiscussprogramma-ble step-cutting saws, CNC saws with rotating tables, CNC saws with rotating headsandfixedtables,andthenthe Holy Grail of combination CNC saws withwaterjettingheadswitheach step being an improvement in produc-tion capabilities and overall efficiency. Decisions on these types of purchases are not easy and involve several factors that each need to be sorted out before taking the plunge. I will leave some of these for others to talk about.Eric Pate, Technical Director/Sales, Continental Diamond Products, Inc.: Efficiency 101: First and foremost, the customer must have all information to the fabricator as soon as possible about sink and faucet selections, edge profiles and material choices, and for us, mate-rial inspection and then signoff.Then,forasmallershoplikewe had, Matts saw-staging suggestion is the best thing we did while at my pre-viousshop.Thissavessomuchtime notonlyingoingbackandforth pulling the slabs individually from out-side or from a warehouse but also in terms of paperwork. Any issues can be caught immediately during that phase The use of modern technology for material handling can also increase shop efficiency. We use an overhead crane, job carts and a jib crane to handle the material, Crowe said. One man loads and unloads the SawJet.photos by Michael Reis74 August 2010 | Stone Worldother parts of India, which it inspects andtransportsbyroadtothefactory for processing. Since we have leased outfacilitiesatBangalore,Madurai and Hyderabad, we process almost all granite from Continental India, which gives us a cutting edge in cost savings, Bakhru said.SRGMprocessesmorethan40 popularshadesofgraniteinitsfully automatic granite factory. The company has all the facilities under one roof for processing tiles, slabs, vertical panels, cut-to-sizepieces,countertops,steps, risers, skirting and more. Theproductionprocessinvolves acombinationofimportedmachin-ery from Italy and Germany as well as equipment produced in India. SRGM has a combined in-house production capac-ity of 270,000 square feet (25,000 square meters) of slabs and tiles per month.Thefactoryhasanexperienced staff and rigorous quality-control pro-tocols in place to ensure that the final productswillexceedclientexpecta-tions.ThishaswonSRGMwide appreciation from leading distributors, importers,exporters,architectsand major contractors, Bakhru said.Additionally,SRGMisafive-time recipient(2004to2008)ofhonors from Capexl, a promotional organiza-tionthatissponsoredbytheIndian GovernmentsMinistryofCommerce and Industry.SRGM markets its products at vari-ousstonefairs,throughgovernment initiatives, via its own warehouses and online at www.granimarmo.com. In the U.S., SRGM supplies material to whole-sales across the country.Among the colors of material processed at SRGM, stones include (from left): Antique Grey quartzite, Antique Yellow quartzite and Forest Brown.Red Sea Mining Co. Ltd.HEAD OFFICE: P.O. Box 7422, Jeddah 21462Saudi ArabiaTel: (966)(2) 6204749Fax: 6201648BR. OFFICE: P.O. Box 6233, Riyadh 11442Saudi ArabiaTel: (966)(1) 4630140Fax: 4644854Display of Koran in Jeddah, KSA artistically designed by harmoniously blending some of our attractive Saudi Granite Colors.Violetta Saudi Granite Quarry operations at NajranE-MAIL: sales@rsmco.com.sa and rsmcompany@hotmail.comTROPIC BROWNGOLDEN LEAFVIOLETTAEMERALD GREEN LGBNEW BLUEHIBISCUS PINKRed 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 STONE76 August 2010 | Stone WorldSupplying Black Galaxy granite to a worldwide marketSince 1992, Krishna Sai Granites Group has concentrated its efforts on being a top producer of Black Galaxy granite, and it is currently focusing on expanding its fabrication capabilities as wellby Jennifer AdamsNearly20yearsago,Krishna Sai Granites (KSG) Group was foundedbyVenkateswara RaoSidda,whoworkeddiligently todevelopnumerousquarries particularlyseveralforBlackGalaxy granite. Today, the company, which is based in Andhra Pradesh, South India, hasgrowntoincludemorethan10 quarries, a state-of-the-art fabrication facility and 1,400 employees.Thefirmwasstartedinasmall traditional family business profile, and gradually expanded its wings in quar-rying,processingandmakingsteps towards the execution of projects glob-ally, explained Bharat Sidda, Executive DirectorofKSGGroup.Today,KSG Groupisknownasthenumberone producer,processorandexporterof Black Galaxy granite.AfterstartingKSGGroupin1992, VenkateswaraRaoSiddareceived extendedsupportfromHanumantha Rao Sidda, who is a fellow member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India and has vast experience in the Krishna Sai Granites (KSG) Group of Andhra Pradesh, South India, began quarrying Black Galaxy granite in 1992. Today, it has become a large producer of the material, with six quarries in the village of Chimakurthy.Focus on Indian Stone076-081 Krishna.indd 76 8/4/10 10:00 AM78 August 2010 | Stone Worldgranite industry. He has rich and varied experience in the areas of capital mar-ket, finance and general management, said Sidda. He is well exposed to and familiar with international business. He believed raw material was the strength of the industry. After consolidating the quarrying activities, KSG went forward intoprocessingslabsundermyclose surveillance. I support the various key functions related to innovations, com-munication and client relationship.The quarriesCurrently, KSG Group owns about sixBlackGalaxyquarriesthatare located in thevillage of Chimakurthy, which is approximately 11 miles from Ongoleasmalltownthatsitsat Chennai National Highway No. 5. The closestairportisVijayawada,which isabout105milesaway.Amongthe additional granite quarries owned and operatedbyKSGGroupare:Black Pearl in Gurijepalli (V/M), Steel Grey in Ballikurava (V/M), S.K. Blue in Dontha (V/M)Srikakulam,MiracleWhitein Sithampeta(V)SrikakulamandTan BrowninKarimnagar,whichwillbe operational in a month or two with 400 to 500 cubic meters per month.Beingoneoftheearlypromot-ersofGalaxy,andnowbei ngthe biggestsourcewithunparal leled excavationofgraniteintheregion, KSGprioritizedinstickingtohigh-endandlatesttechnologiesavailable, andalwaysensuredtomatchthecli-entrequirementsbycateringtothe best-quality blocks, said Sidda. In the quarries, the company utilizes an array of equipment, including 30 excavators fromHitachi,L&TandCaterpillar; five 110 Commando drillers, three 120 CommandodrillersandtwoRangers all from Tamrock (Sandvik Mining); 25ChicagoPneumaticcompressors In the quarries, the company utilizes an array of equipment, including 30 excavators from Hitachi, L&T and Caterpillar; five 110 Commando drillers, three 120 Commando drillers and two Rangers all from Tamrock (Sandvik Mining); 25 Chicago Pneumatic compressors and 10 Atlas Capco compressors; 25 dump trucks; four derricks; 10 cranes; and 28 trailers for transporting blocks.In total, KSG produces approximately 45,000 cubic meters of rough material annually. The company maintains two processing plants only 4 miles away from its Black Galaxy sites where the blocks are cut into slabs and finished products. A total of 250 workers are employed at the stone-cutting facilities.80 August 2010 | Stone Worldand 10 Atlas Capco compressors; 25 dump trucks; four der-ricks; 10 cranes; and 28 trailers for transporting blocks.In total, KSG produces approximately 45,000 cubic meters of rough material annually.The processing plantsThecompanymaintainstwoprocessingplantsonly4 miles away from its Black Galaxy sites. A total of 250 work-ers are employed at the stone-processing facilities.After achieving its peak in quarrying, which was the pri-mary focus, KSG started to widen its vision, and it started to focus on reaching the international markets to provide cut-to-size [products] and small slabs, said Sidda.To execute this idea, Unit 1 was established in 2004 with 12blockcuttersinplacetoprocesssmallerblocks.This Unit was the first of its kind in the Ongole region with a production capacity of 120,00 square meters (1.3 million square feet) of smaller slabs annually, said Sidda. It paved footsteps to cater to the overseas requirements of the Middle East, Europe and partially to the U.S.Theincreasedrequirementsintheworldmarket,and the necessity to deliver quality slabs, led KSG to establish Unit2withstate-of-the-artmachineryfromBreton, Gaspari Menotti, Simec and GMM in 2009. The strategic geographical location of our plant enhances proximity and direct access to our quarries, said Sidda. The port is just 270 kilometers [168 miles] away.Blocks are processed into raw slabs on four Gaspari Menotti Jumbo 480 series gangsaws.A fully automatic resining line from Simec S.p.A. of Italy, which holds up to 40 slabs at one time, is used in the production process. KSG uses epoxies from Tenax of Italy on the slabs.Check out the most extensive stone and tool website on the internet!WWW.MASTERWHOLESALE.COMCALL TO PLACE YOUR ORDER NOW AT 800.938.7925SOME ITEMS ARE LIMITED TO STOCK ON HAND!!TEQ Shine Wet Polishing KitINCLUDES: Teq Shine variable speed wet polisher. 8Pc. 4 wet polishing E-Pads with 4 velcro pad holder and tool box. Comes with how to dvd.$239.00TEQ DRY RESIN POLISHING STARTER KITComes complete with variable speed grinder, 7pc. dry polishing diamond resin pads, 4 velcro pad holder, dust mask, ear protection, goggles, tool box and how to dvd.$199.00TEQ VARIABLE SPEED GRINDER-POWERFUL 750W MOTOR-VARIABLE SPEED$85.00Makita 5 Variable Speed Angle Grinder 9565CV-SJS - Super Joint System Helps Prevent Kickback. -5 stage variable speed control dial for matching the RPM to the work. -Improved 12 AMP motor design for increased output power in a more compact tool. -Larger and improved carbon brush material for longer tool life. -Includes 5 grinding wheel, lock nut wrench, side handle, lock nut, inner flange and wheel guard$149.00Stone World | August 2010 81Forslabproduction,theprocess beginsbytrimmingtheblockswith twoBideseimpiantiwiresawsfrom Italy.Theytrimtheblockssoasto obtaintheperfectsizeslabs,said Sidda.Onlyhigh-qualitydiamond wireisusedinordertogetregular trimming. All the block trimmings are carefullyinspectedbyKSGshighly experienced technicians.After trimming, the blocks are pro-cessedinaspecializedplanthousing four Gaspari Menotti Jumbo 480 series gangsaws. They are the best slab-cut-ting machines in the world, said Sidda. Theyarecapableofcuttingslabsin thicknesses of 20, 30 and 40 mm. With four gangsaws, KSG has the capacity to produce a total of 300,000 square meters (3.2 million square feet) of granite slabs annually, the company reports.Once the blocks are processed into raw slabs, they move to the slab-produc-tion line, where a fully automated and computerized 22-head KG-3000 Ultrex polishing machine from Breton S.p.A. of Italy plays an important role in the productionprocess.Beforepolish-ingthesides,theedgesaretrimmed for perfect finishing, explained Sidda, who added that tooling is supplied by Nicolai Diamant and Abrasivi Metallici. Headdedthattheuseofthistooling hasprovidedthecompanywithout-standing results in the final product.Forresin-treatedmaterial,KSG operatesafullyautomaticresinline fromSimecS.p.A.ofItaly,whichhas twolarge-scaledriersandholdsa combined40slabsatonetime.The companyusesepoxiesfromTenaxof Italy on the slabs. During the process, theslabsarefirstpreheatedinone ofthedryingunits,thentheresinis applied, and a second drier allows for optimal curing of the resin.A GMM Eura automatic bridge saw-ing machine is also in place at the plant for cut-to-size work and other applica-tions.ThismachineenablesKSGto make accurate cuts in the slabs as per the specification, said Sidda. The growth percentage of the sales intheU.S.,EuropeandMiddleEast brought us to the extent of establishing onemoreprocessingplant,Unit3, which will be operational in the com-ing year, Sidda went on to say. It will not only cater to the requirements for slabs,butalsotiles,projectexecution and even cut-to-size requirements.Packaging PracticesAccordingtoSidda,KSGplacesa specialemphasisonqualitypacking and effective shipping. Crates and pal-lets are made of expensive and quality wood, he said. Wood packing mate-rials(WPM)areasperUSDA&ISO standards.TheWPMismarkedwith anIPPClogoandISOcountrycode. This authorizes and authenticates the fumigationproceedstoInternational Standards.KSG also reports that it is equipped toloadfourcontainersatanysingle poi nti ntime.Wecanloadboth closed-topandopen-top20-footcon-t ai ners,saidSidda. Packagi ng experts with the latest C clamps with mechanizednailinggunsmakethe packaging division stand out. Slabs are inter-packed with plastic and soft foam sheets so as to reach the customers in perfect condition. We have a record of loading eight crates in a container, and apart from pallets and crates, KSG also does A-frame loading.In2009,atotalof11.43%ofKSGs granite products was exported to the U.S.,andthecompanyspresencein the market was bolstered by its invest-mentinstate-of-the-artproduction machinery.Thisenhancedhowto focus on the U.S. market, especially, said Sidda. A fully automated and computerized 22-head KG-3000 Ultrex polishing machine from Breton S.p.A. of Italy also plays an important role in the production process. Before polishing the sides, the edges are trimmed for perfect finishing, explained Bharat Sidda, Executive Director of KSG Group, who added that tooling is supplied by Nicolai Diamant and Abrasivi Metallici.In 2009, 11.43% of KSGs granite products was exported to the U.S.A GMM Eura automatic bridge sawing machine is also in place at the plant. This machine enables KSG to make accurate cuts in the slabs as per the specification, said Sidda. 82 August 2010 | Stone WorldAward-winning airport renovation relies on Indian graniteApproximately 135,000 square feet of domestic granite was used for the renovation of Terminal 1A at Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport in Mumbai, IndiaFor merl yk nownas Sa ha r I n t e r n a t i o n a l Ai r p o r t , Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport (CSIA) is the airport of Mumbai (Bombay)inIndia.Aspartofalong-range plan to expand and upgrade the airport facilities within India, CSIA has undergoneanumberofrenovations over the past few years. Among them, CSIAsTermi nal1Aunderwenta transformation that features domestic granitefromPokarnaLi mitedof Secunderabad, India.ChhatrapatiShivajiInternational Airport covers an area of 1,450 acres and is located in the Mumbai suburbs ofSantaCruzandSahar.Theair-portisIndiasbiggestInternational anddomest i chub. Theowner oft heai r porti sGVK, Ai r port s AuthorityofIndia,whiletheopera-Terminal 1A at Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport (CSIA) in Mumbai, India, recently underwent a renovation that included two varieties of domestic granite from Pokarna Limited of Secunderabad, India.Focus on Indian Stone082-083 Mumbai Airport.indd 82 8/4/10 10:01 AM92 August 2010 | Stone WorldRajasthan,India,andcustomcutat its fabrication facility inJaipur, India. The stone pieces, which have a honed finish, clad the exterior facade of the 190,000-square-footMIM.Thesand-stone was also used for interior walls, including in a 299-seat music theater. Thearticulatedsolidteak[sand-stone]wallofthetheatercontrasts withthelandscapingoftheperfor-mancecourt yard,accordi ngtoa designstatement.Protrudingstone slabssuggestmusicalnotesandthe rhythms of music.Duri ngt hesel ect ionprocess, membersofthedesignteamvisited neighboringbuildingsthatfeature thesamematerialtogetafeelfor thesandstoneslookandtext ure. This stone was used on other build-ings in Phoenix, so we visited them, saidVarda.Thespeccalledfora specificveiningdirectionandcolor continuity.Withsuchanextensiveamount ofstonebei ngusedfortheMIM, communication was the key for a suc-cessful project. According to Gupta, he metoftenwithrepresentativesfrom thedesignteamtoensureaccuracy andaddressanyconcerns.TabIndia also provided many mock-ups for the designteamtoview.Veiningwasa challenge, he said.Meeting the challengeAt first, meeting the timeframe and requestfortheextensiveamountof stone in an abundance of sizes seemed almostunobtainable,accordingto Gupta. But Tab India rose to the occa-sion,anddedicatedmanyman-hours to performing the task.TabIndiawasgivenaschedule whichwasverystringent,hesaid. Weaddedsignificantequipmentto the quarry, and thanks to many peo-ple at Tab who took this challenge and made it happen. At the end, the proj-ectwasasuccessnotjustbecauseof Tabs very extensive experience today in cut-to-size and the plants, machin-eryandinfrastructure,butbecause of Tabs people for understanding the challengeandburningthemidnight oil to deliver.In total, 29 containers of Teak sand-stoneinover800sizeswereshipped overafive-monthperiod.Thepieces variedinfivebasicthicknesses 3/8, 5/8, 1, 1 and 2 inches. This was very complex,saidGupta.Forus,itwas arecord.Mostcompaniescannot executethis.Wehadeverythingwell labeled and perfectly cut to sizes and thicknesses.Wit hsomanydi f ferent- si zed pieces involved, Tab India had to care-fullystrategizehowitcouldtackle thisproject.Planningsizeswiththe blocks and trying to optimize them to minimizewastagewouldhavebeen anightmare,saidGupta.However, computerprogramswereusedthat weredesignedin-housetofigureout how to do this, and of course, human capabilities.Wehadtonumberthese pieces so no pieces were missing. Since almost every piece size was different, ifapiecebreaks,wewouldhavehad to try to match the veining in this oth-erwise very heavy veined material as we have lost that piece in a middle of a sequence. This was a logistical chal-lenge,butwediditwithoutasingle odd piece or complaint.Installing the sandstoneAnexperiencedinstallationcrew was also necessary with a project of this magnitude.AteamfromSunValley Masonry in Phoenix, AZ, which includ-ed Don Voight, Business Development The Teak sandstone was also used for walls inside the 299-seat music theater.Photo by Bill TimmermanStone World | August 2010 93Manager;DannyAukett,General Superi ntendent;RalphDIppolito, ProjectSuperintendent;andTiffany Howard,ProjectManager,spentfive andahalfmonthsworkingonthe installationoftheTeaksandstonefor the exterior and interior applications.ThisprojectwastheonlyoneI saw, and probably the only one in my lifelikeit,saidDIppolito.Itwas unique. It took a lot of teamwork to get it together.AccordingtoDIppolito,organiza-tion was important on the jobsite. We receivedmanycontainers,hesaid. The stone pieces were marked and cut to size. We had to go through a process to prepare each piece to go on the wall.Thefirststepwastoinstall8-foot steelchannelsontopofthemasonry wall.Stainlesssteelclipsfastened the stone pieces to the steel channel, explained DIppolito. It was quite a bit of work involved to prepare the wall.DIppolitowentontosaythatthe architectsdrawingswerecarefully followedtomakesureeachstone piece was being set in the correct spot. Nothingwasthesame,hesaid.It was a random layout. Each course was different. We created more or less of an assembly line. The pieces were prepped on the ground and then placed on the wall. If one was misplaced for any rea-son, then we were in trouble.Approximatelysixtoeightwork-erswereonscaffolding,threewere on the ground prepping all the stone, and another one was on the wall doing the layout. We had two cranes on site picking up the pieces from the ground toputonthewall,saidDIppolito. Themenonthescaffoldingwere receiving the load.Interior stoneworkInadditiontotheIndianTeak sandstone,othervarietiesofstone andtilewereusedthroughoutthe MIMsi nteriorspaces.A450-foot-long central corridor named El Rio connectsthemuseumstwostories and numerous galleries. The corridor is described as a flowing, river-like formthatservesasthespineofthe museumconnectingtheexterior atrium with the interior spaces. The floorinthisareaismadeofItalian porcelain tile, which was supplied by RBCTileandStoneofMinneapolis, MN.Thefieldconsistsoftilesfrom The articulated solid teak [sandstone] wall of the theater contrasts with the landscaping of the performance courtyard, according to a design statement. Protruding stone slabs suggest musical notes and the rhythms of musi