Initially, Stone Tech International of Bangalore, India, was created by Bhadravathi Devaraj in 1989 to serve as a consultant to Export Oriented Units (E.O.U.) in India that were looking to purchase state-of-the-art machines for processing stone blocks. Today, Devaraj owns the company with his son Arvind Devaraj, and it recently established its own 100% E.O.U. for processing blocks.
Established in 1988 as a full E.O.U. (Export Oriented Unit), Madhucon Granite Ltd. of India produces a number of granite materials using state-of-the-art equipment throughout its several facilities. Over the past 19 years, the company has created a unique niche in India as well as overseas, and today it enjoys excellent credentials and expanding clientele across the globe. According to the company, Madhucon is poised to “emerge as a strong force in the international granite market.”
By now, a lot of you know that I am not at all ashamed to share my “screw-ups” and mistakes with the readers of Stone World Magazine. This also transcends to the attendees of Stone World’s Stone Fabrication Workshops, which take place throughout the year across the U.S. (www.stoneworld.com/fabworkshops). Mistakes can occur because a fabricator is improperly prepared and informed, or because they have simply made the wrong choice. However, all mistakes are opportunities to learn from. As the saying goes, “If we don’t learn from it, we are bound to repeat it.”
In the seminar “Working with Engineered and Natural Stone Countertops,” which was held during StonExpo East in Atlanta, GA, earlier this year, Duane Naquin of Stone Interiors and Jessica Rose of G&L Marble, Inc. provided facts on the pros and cons of each material as well as diminishing any myths about each. They spoke to a full room of fabricators, who listened intently and asked questions.
During an OSHA seminar titled, “A Safe Shop is a Productive Shop - Safety and Health in the Workplace,” which was held during StonExpo East in Atlanta, GA, presenter Jonathan Worrell, Compliance Assistant Specialist from OSHA’s Atlanta East Area Office, discussed the basic ways to prepare for an OSHA visit.
Committed to rebuilding New Orleans, IMC Stone - a division of Industrial & Mechanical Contractors Inc., a commercial HVAC and plumbing company - was established in 2006 and continues to flourish, as demands in the area remain strong. Todd Heidingsfelder, Vice President of the family-owned company, heads the new division, which fabricates an average of 10 to 15 kitchens per week.
Tile Market of Delaware, Inc., an importer and distributor of ceramic tile and natural stone as well as a custom stone fabricator, has continually grown and expanded its operation since it was established in 1996. Today, the company’s production stands at 20 to 25 kitchens per week, but owner John Watson plans to add a second shift to the shop in hopes of more than doubling the company’s current output. “Tile Market of Delaware’s growth has averaged greater than 15% annually since inception, and we continue to explore new opportunities to tap into other markets,” the owner said.
As more and more new stone fabricators began opening in the Philadelphia, PA, Metropolitan Area over the past few years, Tony Diguglielmo of Buzzelli Contractors said the company had to make a choice. “We had to decide whether to follow the trend of lowering prices, or that we would emphasize quality,” he said. “We went with quality.”
Spectrum Stone of Tucson, AZ, fabricates and installs residential kitchen countertops as well as large commercial projects in granite, quartz, limestone and marble, for a total of 3,000 square feet of production per month throughout the southern region of Arizona. Owners Craig Green and Jeff Spiri, principals of the company, became partners in 2003 when they decided to start their own company. “Together, Jeff and I have a total of 15 years in the stone business, and we have seen building in both residential and commercial continue to grow throughout the Southwest,” said Green, who got involved in the industry by first importing stone, then installing it.
I recently had the opportunity to go out on a rather unique project inspection, with some totally unexpected scenario conditions that I just had to share with everyone. Hopefully, for the majority of our readers, this has not happened to you, but I’m sure that a few of my fellow fabricators will shake your heads in agreement.
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