As one of leading companies in the international stone industry, Bermarmol, S.A. of Novelda, Alicante, Spain, extracts more than 100,000 cubic meters of marble and limestone from its own quarries each year. And the company, which has factories in Novelda as well as La Alguena, Alicante, Spain, continues to grow each year.

The factory in Novelda has an annual production of 1 million square meters. To optimize efficiency of production, the plant is constantly being upgraded with the most advanced machinery on the market. One of the most recent investments took place earlier this year, when the company purchased a Levibreton tile line, manufactured in Italy by Breton, S.p.A. This line, which features 18 polishing heads, improved the quality of tile processing and increased the production rate.

Growth is also taking place at the company's factory in La Alguena. To upgrade production at this facility, the company invested in six new blockcutters from Pedrini S.p.A. of Italy, which represent the latest generation of the machinery available in the marketplace.

But even with the investments in new technology, Bermarmol reports that its real strength lies in its human workforce. "The people at Bermarmol are part of the company for generations," said Luis Molonos of Bermarmol. "Fathers transmit their knowledge, devotion and love for stone to their sons. National stone is a tradition in Bermarmol where the technique and the artistic component have the same real value. People from Bermarmol live stone lives since childhood."

Export oriented

In addition to the domestic market in Spain, Bermarmol's marketing efforts are directed towards export. The company's stone has been shipped to 70 different countries across five continents. To maintain long-term relationships with its customers, Bermarmol sales representatives are continually travelling around the world to meet clients' needs. High-profile projects completed by the company have included:

* Regal Hotel, Shanghai, China

* Venetian Hotel and Casino, Las Vegas, NV

* Ritz-Carlton Hotel, Singapore, Malaysia

* Nikko Hotel, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

* Palace Hotel, Madrid, Spain

* Versace Hotel, Brisbane, Australia

* Sheraton Maria Isabel, Mexico

* Palace of Congresses and Exhibitions, Valencia, Spain

In the U.S., Bermarmol has established a subsidiary, with branches in Los Angeles, CA, and Houston, TX, and it also has representative offices in Shanghai, China, and Istanbul, Turkey.