Founded in 1989 by Yair Sisso, Sistone Inc. has continued to evolve over the years - investing in new equipment and diversifying its products for a broad client base. Working with both natural stone and CaesarStone quartz surfacing, Sistone processes kitchen countertops as well as flooring, vanities, tub and shower surrounds, exterior cladding, fireplaces and furnishings.

In terms of natural stone, Sistone works with granite, marble, travertine and limestone. However, approximately 80% of the company’s kitchen work is done in CaesarStone. According to Sisso, this material is preferred by customers who do not want visible veining or seams. Additionally, he said the material is easier to work with when doing built-up edges, which is a specialty at Sistone. In fact, half of the company’s space for stoneworking is dedicated to gluing and grinding built-up edge details.

The Fabrication Shop

Sistone has a 12,000-square-foot facility in Van Nuys, and it is divided equally into areas for equipment operation and edging/hand-finishing. In terms of equipment, the company has two Italian-made Tecno-MBM bridge saws, which feature laser guides for optimal precision.

It also has a Tecno-MBM 99 Combi six-head bullnosing machine. “It can also do milling, kerfing and profiling,” Sisso said. “It’s really a great machine.”

Edging is also completed using a Marmo Meccanica LCV711M from Italy, which is used for flat edges. “It’s good for backsplashes, but also for countertop work,” Sisso said. The company also has a Ghines Sector 93 hydraulic portable edge machine, a 1,500-gallon filter press from Tecnoimpianti and a rotary compressor. Tooling is supplied by KB Diamond of North Hollywood, CA.

In the near future, Sistone will be adding a waterjet, which will continue to help the company diversify its product offerings.

Production/Installation Crews

Sistone currently has 26 employees working in the shop, plus 22 installers. It produces an average of 20 kitchens per week, although this segment of the industry is only a portion of the company’s work overall. Much of the company’s business is comprised of other residential elements, such as vanity tops, fireplaces and Jacuzzi tubs, and it also works extensively in the commercial sector, including flooring, countertops and exterior cladding. In addition to slab installation, Sistone’s workers can also install cladding projects, depending on the nature of the job.

When installing a job, each project team has a lead member, who has the responsibility of monitoring the entire process - from the drawing board to the completed installation.

The company has also placed an emphasis on working closely with the customers during the process of design and stone selection. The company generally works with wooden templates, and the turn-around time from template to installation is generally about 10 days.

The bulk of Sistone’s work is completed in the greater Los Angeles area, although it also supplies large commercial projects anywhere in the U.S.           

Sidebar: Sistone Inc.

Van Nuys, CA

Type of work: using both natural stone and CaesarStone quartz surfacing, residential countertops, vanities, tub surrounds and other architectural work; commercial flooring, counters and cladding, including installation; custom stone sinks

Machinery: two Tecno-MBM bridge saws from Italy; Tecno-MBM 99 Combi six-head bullnosing machine; Marmo Meccanica LCV711M flat-edging machine from Italy; Ghines Sector 93 hydraulic portable edging machine; 1,500-gallon filter press from Tecnoimpianti; rotary compressor; tooling from KB Diamond of North Hollywood, CA

Number of Employees: 26 in the fabrication shop, plus 22 installers