As soon as I approached the entrance to this month's “Re-Emerging U.S. Stone Industry†subject - Vangura Surfacing Products of North Huntingdon, PA - I knew this was not going to be a typical fabrication shop article. To begin with, the facilities of the company were quite imposing, with multiple large-scale buildings and its own private roadway leading from the highway. Driving past several loading bays and warehouse/manufacturing facilities, I ultimately reached the main lobby - an inviting, two-story space that showcases a broad range of finished stonework. This, of course, was just the introduction to a state-of-the-art fabrication plant that has no less than eight CNC stoneworking centers as well as a complete range of advanced equipment and ample slab storage. Stone countertops were being fabricated in an environment reminiscent of an assembly line, and the operation appeared to be a model of efficiency.
Moving beyond the fabrication plant, Vangura is even more proud of its showroom space - which includes multiple levels where visitors can peruse finished stone applications ranging from kitchens and bathrooms to living rooms, fireplaces and bar areas. The showroom even features a glass-enclosed children's activity area that not only enables visitors to maintain parental supervision while making product selections, but it is also a showcase of Vangura's Vanite, engineered with Silestone, in bright primary colors. Customers can also oversee work in the fabrication plant from a “creation operation center†with two observation decks, and the slab storage area allows customers to view materials in an open, comfortable environment.