In 1960, John Hoffmann set out on a mission to build a stone operation that was characterized by quality workmanship and “hometown” customer service. While the company, which was named Dixie Cut Stone & Marble, Inc., started out small, it has continued to thrive in the more than 45 years that it has been in business. Today, the company is comprised of about 100 employees, who operate out of three primary locations throughout Michigan. And as of 2002, it has been a part of Oldcastle Architectural Products Inc. - one of the world’s leading building materials companies.
Through the years, business continued at a steady growth. “In the mid-’80s - as tooling improved vastly - Dixie started to venture into granite countertop production,” said Hoffmann. “Uncle John took on additional partners in the ‘80s, Kim and Keith Keufner, Steve Aspin and Jim Vanwormer, and the business took off. Dixie became known as a stone leader in Michigan. Uncle John always says, ‘If you do things right and keep the customer happy, everything else will fall in line.’ Now we do fireplaces, tub decks and everything possibly imaginable.”
“Uncle John felt strongly that this could help us down the road, and it would help Dixie grow beyond its current resources,” said Hoffmann. “Our long-term intention is to be represented nationally.”
Countertop production
Dixie Cut Stone & Marble, Inc. operates out of three locations in Michigan - Bridgeport, Novi and Petoskey. The 200,000-square-foot facility in Bridgeport, which is the city where the company first anchored its roots, is its headquarters and includes a 5,000-square-foot showroom as well as the company’s fabrication operation. “It combines all of Dixie’s products,” said Hoffmann. “There is a limestone/granite staircase that twists - it’s all three-dimensional carvings. It’s just beautiful.”The shop where granite countertops are processed is equipped with four bridge saws, of which three - a Prodigy, a Jaguar and a Yukon II - were purchased from Park Industries of St. Cloud, MN. Additional machinery from Park includes two Pro Edge II computer-controlled edge shaping and finishing machines and a Wizard radial arm workstation.
The newest piece of equipment to be added to the marble and granite shop is a Faro digital templater. “We just got it two months ago,” said Hoffmann. “We started to use digital templates in the Petoskey market. It helps us service our customer better. We can send the CAD files daily [electronically] instead of waiting two days in transit. It’s great.”
Approximately 90% of the granite shop’s production is custom homes. “We produce an average of 2,000 square feet a week,” said Hoffmann, adding that the typical size kitchen is about 65 square feet. “Our principal markets are Detroit and Petoskey, and we are stretching into Toledo, [OH]. ”
In addition to granite, Dixie Cut Stone & Marble, Inc. started carrying Dupont Zodiaq quartz surfacing and set up a shop to fabricate Corian countertops. “There is a call for that product,” said Hoffmann. “You have to be willing to diversify your business to service the customer’s needs.”
The limestone division
And while production of granite countertops has proven successful for Dixie Cut Stone & Marble, Inc., the company still runs a strong limestone division on the same site in Bridgeport. “The limestone department fabricates all types of architectural elements - both commercial and residential,” said John Hess, lead stone carver and project manager for Dixie Cut Stone & Marble, Inc. “We design and fabricate everything - from a simple hearth or sill to a fireplace or door surround.”The limestone shop houses a Jaguar saw and two profilers - all from Park Industries - as well as an Omag Mill / CNC machine. “We use the CNC for small parts that we need to detail,” said Hess. “We also run an Omag lathe for columns, and we have a small lathe - one that was converted from use on steel to stone - for small stuff like balusters.”
“[Also], we tried Faro [technology] on ramps and twists, and incorporating it into CAD,” said Hess. “It really comes in handy.” The shop also includes seven finishing booths and one booth for sandblasting, which all run with four Tri-mer air filtration systems to keep dust down.
Currently, the limestone division employs 16 workers, according to Hess. “We have room to double that and add a second shift to really go to town,” he said. “I think the whole economy has slowed down a bit. If for some reason a big job comes along though, we are all set up and ready to go.”
Those in the limestone division are skilled craftsmen who offer detailed customized work for both residential and commercial projects. “I started carving for Dixie in 1997,” said Hess. “Our limestone team really takes great pride in what we do.”
According to Hess, Dixie Cut Stone & Marble, Inc. continues to grow. “We offer hand designs and carvings as well as one-of-a-kind craftsmanship. Limestone is timeless. It really makes a statement.”
Dixie Cut Stone & Marble, Inc.
Bridgeport, MI
Type of work:granite countertops and vanities as well as customized carved marble and limestone architectural elements for both interior and exterior applications in both residential and commercial designs; some restoration workMachinery:(in granite shop) a Prodigy, a Jaguar and a Yukon II bridge saw, two Pro Edge II computer-controlled edge shaping and finishing machines and a Wizard radial arm workstation - all from Park Industries of St. Cloud, MN, a Marmo Meccanica LCV 711M flat edge polisher from Marmo Machinery USA of Southfield, MI, two Maxima CNC machines from CMS North America / Brembana of Caledonia, MI, a Faro digital templater from Faro Technologies Inc. of Lake Mary, FL; (in limestone shop) a Jaguar bridge saw and two profilers - all from Park Industries, an Omag Mill / CNC machine, an Omag lathe, two Rockford planers, Trow & Holden pneumatic hammers, chisels and hand tools, Hilti hammer drills and Chicago pneumatic hand tools
Number of Employees:100
Production Rate:an average of 2,000 square feet a week, with the typical size kitchen measuring about 65 square feet (granite shop)