Margramar Granites was founded on December 18, 1986 in the city of Atilio Vivácqua, Espírito Santo (ES), Brazil. Today, the business, which is owned by Madson Hora and Ricardo Zope, operates seven quarries and specializes in exporting slabs around the world — with the U.S. comprising 80% of its market.

“From the time the company was started, Margramar Granites has been working hard and completely dedicated to the sector of ornamental stones,” said Hora. “We have partners who have grown with us.”

Margramar Granites only produces slabs. While a significant portion of its material is shipped to the U.S., 10% goes to Central-South America, 5% to Europe and 5% to Asia. The company primarily sells to distributors, importers and contractors.

All of Margramar Granites’ quarries are located in Brazil. They include the following:

• Giallo Napoleone granite, Vila Pavão, ES

• Green Butterfly granite, Vila Pavão, ES

• Nacarado quartzite, Fortaleza, CE

• Swiss Alps pegmatite, Governador Valadares, MG

• Supreme White granite, Governador Valadares, MG

• Eruption pegmatite, Governador Valadares, MG

• Supreme Gold granite, Governador Valadares, MG

There are approximately 21 workers between all of the quarries. To extract the stone at each site, the company uses diamond wire. Blocks are transported to an approximate 262,000-square-foot stone processing plant where a range of machinery is in place, including two Promilaq gangsaws, four Cimef gangsaws, a Gaspari Menotti diamond wire saw, two polishing machines and a resin line.

At the factory there are 86 workers. Margramar Granites hires employees through a recruitment and selective hiring process.

In total, the company produces approximately 1,000 cubic meters of material on a monthly basis. It currently ships 40 containers of slabs per month, and has plans to double that in the next two years. “We still work to make 50% of the sales to the Brazilian market,” explained Hora.