The world is definitely navigating some uncharted waters at this time. The Covid-19 pandemic has literally stopped us all in our tracks, and tragically, taken the lives of many.

The opening day of The International Surface Event (TISE), including StonExpo/Marmomac, drew a countless amount of visitors who eagerly waited in a seemingly endless line to register for the stone, tile and flooring exhibition.

With more than 4,850 employees throughout 37 countries, the Cosentino Group has grown by leaps and bounds since it was founded in 1979. In addition to being a natural stone producer, the Cosentino Group has developed and promotes the brands of Silestone, Dekton and Sensa.

Safety should always be at the forefront – whether in the fabrication shop or on the jobsite. Manufacturers continue to develop products that not only make handling slabs and other large stone pieces safer, but also help to increase production and installation efficiency.

In the past two years, Australia had its first reported fatality from silicosis. In response, the Australian government has been advocating for change and protection for fabricators. Silicosis is a form of occupational, non-reversible lung disease caused by inhalation of silica dust over a long period of time. Silica is a highly common, crystal-like mineral found in sand, rock, and quartz. It can have deadly consequences for people who work with stone, tile, concrete, glass, or other forms of rock.

The New Wilson Heavy Duty Plunge Cut Saw is becoming a favorite among Wilson Industrial’s limestone customers. It has double the horsepower of the company’s regular heavy-duty saw and a new drive system that is proving to be a beast at cutting stone.

How important is leadership? Time and time again, I’ve seen teams that were once high performing —a generating best-in-class results — fail under new leadership. Same team, yet dramatically different results. Why?

The threat of silica exposure is not a new story. However, these reports are a strong reminder that stone companies must be diligent about reducing the risks to workers. The Natural Stone Institute recommends the following.

The 2020 edition of the Xiamen Stone Fair marks the exhibition’s 20th anniversary, and it is planning a series of special events to celebrate. Show management is requesting past attendees to send in photos of their favorite show memories from previous years. Those that are selected will be used in the show’s anniversary promotions.

This Stone of the Month is supplied by Brothers in Granite. Technical details provide a frame of reference only. Because stone is a product of nature, testing to determine specific physical qualities should be repeated for each project.