Based in Deinze, Belgium, Brachot-Hermant is a family-run business that has been in operation since 1901. Through hard work and investment in technology, the company has continually evolved for more than a century. It has grown to include four state-of-the-art fabricating plants in India, Belgium and Poland as well as several branches and covered warehouses in Belgium, the Netherlands, France, the U.K., Germany, Poland and Italy. Additionally, Brachot-Hermant offers a broad range of products and a variety of exclusive stones from quarries throughout Argentina, Brazil, South Africa, Turkey, India, China, Portugal, Spain and Norway. Most recently, the company began quarrying Blue Pearl granite in 2000 from its own site in the Tvedalen, Larvik, area of Norway.

In 2003, Brachot-Hermant introduced a deep blue version of Blue Pearl, which it has named Blue Pearl DB (Dark Blue). This material is a distinctive bright blue granite with lustrous blue and gray crystals embedded in a dark background. This comes from a unique type of feldspar, which adds to the uniqueness of the material, according to Brachot-Hermant. Suitable for both interior and exterior applications, Blue Pearl DB is available in various finishes. Additionally, the granite is offered in blocks, slabs and tiles.

The process of extracting blocks from the Tvedalen site involves drilling, mining and sawing. Equipment in operation includes drilling machines, saws, excavators and wheel loaders as well as several specialty pieces of equipment used for quarrying. The company employs 10 workers at the quarry site, and the average block size measures 280 x 180 cm. One of the most challenging aspects of extracting blocks of Blue Pearl DB is making the most of the quarry, according to Brachot-Hermant. The company wants to be sure that it is utilizing all of its resources and not leaving much of the granite for waste. Approximately 90% of the stone quarried is suitable for building stone, reports Brachot-Hermant.

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Physical characteristics, Blue Pearl DB (Dark Blue) granite

Specific weight: 2730 Kg/m3
Compressive strength: 181 N/mm2
Tensile strength: 14.7 N/mm2
Water absorption: 0.12 %