While today’s sophisticated glass tile designs add a decidedly modern flair to any space, the use of glass tile dates back to ancient times. New technology is emerging to enhance the appearance, functionality and durability of glass tile; however, much of the tile used in design today is still manufactured by employing time-tested, centuries-old production techniques.
United Breweries (Holdings) Ltd., has developed the largest mixed-use project -- UB City -- in the heart of Bangalore, India. UB City is located at the corner of Vittal Mallya Road and Kasturba Road, just steps away from Bangalore’s commercial hub, M.G. Road. And to distinguish the project’s modern, streamlined architecture, the design called for extensive use of Indian granite, quarried and fabricated by Pokarna Limited of Secunderabad, India.
Joe Vinci’s experience in the quarrying business dates back to his childhood, when he used to help his father at his stone-producing company in Marriottsville, MD. He remembers making trips to the Butler Stone Quarry in nearby Butler, MD, and being impressed with the thriving business back in the 1960s and 1970s. Vinci never abandoned his dream of owning the historic quarry, and in 2005, he made it a reality. After dedicating two years to cleaning up the site, Vinci and his team at Vinci Stone Products are eager to have the quarry once again running at a successful production capacity.
With all the high-tech advancements in stone fabrication equipment today -- from high-pressure waterjet cutting equipment with accuracy tolerances less than 0.2 mm to advanced CNC machining centers -- it seems as though we may have reached the glass ceiling in high-tech automation in our industry. But as I always find in the stone business, if we look hard enough, we’ll always seem to find just one more area of the process we didn’t think of automating before, and alas, technology comes to our rescue.
Technistone was established in 1997 as a joint-stock company between Sindat, s.r.o. of the Czech Republic and Technistone USA, Inc. of Houston, TX. The manufacturing plant, which produces a composite product consisting of 93% natural material, is located in Hradec Králové, Czech Republic. Utilizing the latest Breton technology, the company manufactures its material that it exports to more than 60 countries across five continents.
Since it was established in 1997, CogswellStone has shown steady growth. The company’s owners, John and Lisa Cogswell, initially operated a company that provided installation services for tile and natural stone. They relocated their business from New York to Virginia in 1993, and the increasing demand for natural stone countertops pushed them to open a fabrication shop. Today, they are still experiencing positive results.
Located in Sheridan, WY, just south of the Wyoming/Montana border, Big Horn Granite and Marble, a high-end fabricator and installer of natural stone and engineered stone, was founded by Kyle Williams in 2001. With the shop’s latest edition of a Komo Summit CNC stoneworking center, production has continued to flourish and help keep the company at the forefront of its competition.
Whether you are a stone fabricator, installer or supplier, it is critical to understand the products that are on the market today for cleaning and sealing natural stone. Manufacturers of these products are continually developing new formulas for cleaners and sealers -- often resulting in products that offer greater efficiency and less environmental impact. The following is a look at some of the latest product introductions in sealers and cleaners.
The six-story Radisson Lackawanna Station Hotel, an historic landmark located in Scranton, PA, recently underwent a multi-million dollar renovation to honor the past while also giving the hotel an inviting, yet timeless appeal. The redesign included the addition of granite flooring and countertops -- which were fabricated in India -- in guest rooms as well as for private and public restrooms throughout the hotel. Hindustan Granites, Inc. of Hauppauge, NY, supplied over 20,000 square feet of various types of granite for the project.
When working on the home of a prominent developer in North Carolina, Len Malavé of Granite and Marble by Malavé in Greensboro, NC, knew that the stonework would have to be innovative and unique, with top-notch craftsmanship. In the end, the design utilizes a range of complex, one-of-a-kind stone applications, anchored by a striking kitchen countertop made from Indian granite.
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