
Stone Wholesale, Inc. of Fort Collins, CO, which operates two sandstone quarries and one moss rock quarry behind the foothills of northern Colorado, is currently in the process of obtaining two additional quarry sites.
While difficult economic times are causing many stone industry professionals to put a halt on expansion and equipment investments, Stone Wholesale, Inc. of Fort Collins, CO, is proceeding optimistically with steady growth. “When I began in this business in the early 1980s, the economy was in recession, just as it is now,” said Jim Striggow, company president. “Despite the recent downturn, Stone Wholesale is carefully moving forward with plans of new quarries and retail-showcase facilities.”

The company uses two 330 Hitachi excavators with hydraulic thumb and detachable hydraulic hammer to produce sandstone from two distinct strata of the quarry, which are called “Brownstone” and “Cherokee.” “Both layers feature a range of colors and textures bearing a rustic, earthy appeal,” said Striggow.
“The permit area for Stone Wholesale’s current Brownstone quarry, located near La Porte, CO, increased in August 2008 from 9.9 to 58.75 acres,” said Striggow. “In addition, I am finalizing plans for two new quarries, including finishing the required state and county mining permit applications. Though the process to obtain the permits takes approximately two years, I think the timeframe is worth it. At 640 acres apiece, and within 10 miles of the existing quarry, each new site will diversify Stone Wholesale’s product line with a variety of colors of high-quality sandstone, helping to insure the company’s longevity.”

Among recent equipment investments are several Volvo loaders with detachable bucket and forks. These loaders cut down on the expense of fuel dramatically, according to Jim Striggow, president of Stone Wholesale.

Five miles down the road from the sandstone quarries, which are located in La Porte, CO, is the company’s moss rock quarry. The site produces large stone pieces such as this 47-ton boulder.

Stone Whole Corp. utilizes four Cee-Jay Tool Chris Cutter hydraulic splitters in its production process. “The Chris Cutters and V30 thin veneer saw not only are high-quality pieces of equipment, but the company provides personable service and complete parts availability at our back door,” said Striggow.

A V30 Cee-Jay Tool thin veneer saw was one of the newest additions to the company’s facility. “The saw was engineered to be safe and efficient,” said Quarry Manager Justyn Hamilton. “I’m amazed with the square footage we get per hour, and it even adapts to cut veneer corners on the same machine.”
Striggow went on to explain that the company is fortunate to be within 20 miles of the Cee-Jay Tool factory. “The Chris Cutters and V30 thin veneer saw not only are high-quality pieces of equipment, but the company provides personable service and complete parts availability at our back door,” he said.

A Pellegrini Pentawire saw can cut from two up to five stone slabs simultaneously, with blocks measuring a maximum of 3.5 x 2.1 meters.
“As markets and trends of the stone industry have changed, so have we,” said Striggow. “It’s an exciting and ever-changing adventure. ‘Make good things happen’ has always been my goal.”

Products are all on display at the company’s retail showcase, which is named “The Rock Garden.”
According to Striggow, the company produces sandstone from two distinct strata of the quarry, which are called “Brownstone” and “Cherokee.” “Both layers feature a range of colors and textures bearing a rustic, earthy appeal,” he said. “A formal precision approach is achieved when Brownstone is sawn to dimension. After the sawing process, Brownstone is called ‘Watermark Buff’ because the blocks are quarter-sawn to expose the watermark patterns.”

“In creating ‘The Rock Garden,’ Stonehenge was an inspiring point of departure,” said Striggow. “The Rock Garden is not intended to be an exact model of Stonehenge, but an impressionistic use of monoliths and lintels.”

Thin stone veneer, as used for this building’s exterior facade at The Rock Garden, is a large market for Stone Wholesale.

In addition to thin stone veneer, the company also produces many custom-made stone products such as water features, fountains and furnishings.
The Rock Garden is an expression of creativity with stone, according to Striggow. “In fact, the facility’s tag line is ‘Rock Solid Inspiration,’” he said. “Geometric works with representative titles such as the ‘Helix,’ ‘Orb’ and ‘Pyramid,’ are made from Brownstone and Cherokee and can be converted to water features.”

Squared veneer in the Brownstone variety clads the exterior of this building in Aspen, CO.
“Another hot Rock Garden product is the ‘Boulders of Fire,’ a decorative outdoor fire pit constructed with a gas flame,” said Striggow. Because of the variety of stone bases from which they are carved, including moss rock boulders, ‘Boulders of Fire’ are custom made and one-of-a-kind.”

Thin stone veneer is also ideal for interior applications such as residential accent walls.
“I’m continually amazed by the excitement that the garden generates,” said Striggow. “But, the public reaction is natural - given the excellent ideas our people continue to come up with and the new types of stone that will soon be available to us.”