With the widespread popularity of mosaics and tumbled paving, the fabrication of small-format stone units has become an important sector of the industry. And while some smaller shops rely on basic equipment such as rip saws, others have put together automated fabrication plants, with machinery that can produce small-format as well as standard tile products.
As with many sectors of the stone industry, many pioneers in small-format stone fabrication are located in Italy. Many of these companies established themselves as a fabricator of standardized products, and adjusted their production to include specialized pieces to meet todayns trends. The following is a look at two of these companies, which are located in the historic stoneworking area of Brescia, Italy.