Re-emerging:<br>Flourishing with state-of-the art equipment
In early 2000, Thiede had set out to find the perfect granite countertop for his newly built home. Dissatisfied by the way his situation was handled, Thiede purchased a track saw and built it himself. By the time he had finished his countertop, as well as a few others, he had fallen in love with the business. That December, he bought a bridge saw and took space in a small building in Roseville, MI, where him and two others handled operations. By the end of the year, business had picked up so rapidly that even with a larger staff of 16, Thiede decided to quit his job as a salesman for the steel industry, and concentrate full force on the business. In 2003, he relocated to a 15,000-square-foot building in Macomb Township, MI, where 50 Rock Top workers are currently employed.
For the first couple of months in business, the company used a simple Stinger hand router and a Matrix Z-Max bridge saw. Months later, Thiede saw the values and advantages of using CNC technology, and purchased a Park Industries Odyssey stoneworking center. Soon thereafter, he brought Production Manager Keith Kargol on board. The new equipment, along with Kargol's knack for artistic design, substantially contributed to the company's development.