Filling a vital industry need, the third edition of the Stone World Stone Fabrication Workshops recently took place - this time in the Southwestern U.S. - and they were met with solid reviews by the fabricators and sponsors in attendance. The one-day sessions were located in areas with heavy fabricator concentrations, including Dallas, TX, Houston, TX, and Denver, CO.

The Stone Fabrication Workshops were conceived as intensive one-day seminars to deliver cutting-edge information and practical tips from respected industry experts, Kevin Padden, Keith Graves and Mark Lauzon. Attendees were educated on how to run their shop more efficiently to increase output and profits.

Topics included:

• Air/Water Purification
• Templating
• Shop Layout and Shop Safety
• Tips on Updating and Expanding the Fabrication Shop
• OSHA Requirements
• Working with Resined Slab
• Working with Engineered Stone
• Understanding CNC Technology
• The Digitally Integrated Shop
• Top/Seam Polishing

A registration fee of $195 included the full one-day workshop, all workshop meals (continental breakfast, lunch and beverages), an informational CD-ROM and other materials from Workshop sponsors.

Following each workshop, a Networking Reception allowed the fabricators to discuss issues with the speakers as well as with other fabricators. Moreover, the Workshop sponsors were on hand to discuss industry issues and needs with those in attendance.

Positive reviews

Following each session, workshop attendees were asked to review the speaker presentations and the workshop program as a whole, and the program received outstanding reviews - consistently achieving the highest possible ratings. In particular, attendees pointed to the timeliness and importance of the topics covered. “The session addressed the current state of the industry and equipment advances,” stated one attendee. “The applications were real-life examples,” wrote another.

Attendees also praised the interactive nature of the Workshops as well as the speakers themselves, with comments such as: “They make you think about the future of the stone fabrication business.” “The speakers are very knowledgeable and give very useful information for me as a stone fabrication shop manager.” “Very informative and enthusiastic!”

Attendees also expressed their appreciation for the question-and-answer sessions that followed the presentations. (Editor's Note: Industry expert Fred Hueston, who was a featured speaker at the 2005 Workshops in the West and Northeast, will be returning to the lineup, effective with the next series in September.)

Additional sessions of the Stone World Stone Fabrication Workshops are planned for later this year, and they are scheduled as follows:

Midwest Stone Fabrication Workshops

• September 11, 2006 - Chicago, IL
• September 12, 2006 - Cleveland, OH
• September 14, 2006 - Detroit, MI

Southeast Stone Fabrication Workshops

• October 23, 2006 - Ft. Lauderdale, FL
• October 24, 2006 - Orlando, FL
• October 26, 2006 - Atlanta, GA

To register for the Stone World Stone Fabrication Workshops, call 1-888-530-6714 or visit www.stoneworld.com/fabworkshops.

Links

• Stone World Stone Fabrication Workshops
• www.StoneAdvice.com