Founded in 1965 as a marble producer in the Verona region of Italy, Cereser Marmi S.p.A. today offers a broad collection of stone materials from every corner of the world, and they are meticulously organized at the company’s facilities.

Cereser Marmi was originally established by Gianluigi Cereser in Domegliara as a marble producer, and it moved to its current location in Rivoli Veronese in 1978. This facility has continually been upgraded over the years, and it now features a working area of more than 430,000 square feet - with over 160,000 square feet of covered space.

Although Gianluigi Cereser still helps with marble block selection and also monitors the marble processing operations, Cereser Marmi is now run by his son, Dr. Domenico Cereser, who serves as President of the company.

Cereser Marmi has separate processing facilities for marble and granite, and it also processes a vast range of onyx, travertine, quartzite and other materials.

In terms of marble, the company carries all of the Italian staples, such as the many varieties of Carrara White marble, Rosso Verona and Breccia Oniciata, among many others. It also processes Roman and Navona travertine from Italy. Marble is also imported from European nations such as Spain, Turkey, France and Greece as well as countries outside of Europe, including Iran, Egypt and India, among others.

Blocks of granite materials from around the world are also processed at Cereser Marmi, including varieties from India, Brazil, Africa and Europe and other regions. These include traditional granite as well as more exotic varieties.

Also fueling the demand for unique products, Cereser Marmi has a vast array of onyx materials from many different nations, including translucent onyx varieties that can be backlit for a dramatic effect.

All production starts with blocks, and the company has block inspectors at sources in India, Brazil, Africa, Europe and other locales where its materials are quarried.

Equipment used for slab processing includes Levibreton polishing lines from Breton S.p.A. of Italy, and these lines feature automated material loading and unloading.

Cereser Marmi’s plant also includes a full-scale line for resin treatment from Breton. This line includes large heating and drying units, which are used to prepare slabs for the most efficient resin application and curing steps.

When applying resin to the slabs, Cereser uses a translucent resin product from Tenax that is particularly adept at accommodating a polished finish.

In addition to polished slabs, Cereser Marmi has been offering textured material for its clients, including flamed and brushed surfaces as well as a new “Careza” finish, which is achieved through a combination of honing, brushing and polishing. In all, approximately 30% of the material processed at Cereser Marmi carries a textured finish, and that figure continues to grow. “It used to strictly be for black stones, but it is now also for colored material,” explained Domenico Cereser.

To assist in the production of textured material, Cereser Marmi has invested in a surface finishing system from Maema srl of Italy.

An organized facility

Given the large variety of materials on hand at Cereser Marmi, the company has dedicated a great deal of effort to creating warehouse areas that are extremely organized. These warehouse spaces feature wide concourses and ample lighting, and they are divided into several designated areas that are classified by color - black, beige, blue, green, yellow, etc. - as well as new products, special offers and textured finishes. Due to these measures, visitors to the facility have a comfortable viewing experience, and they can also better remember and organize their visit.

The majority of Cereser Marmi’s sales are granite, although there is an increasing preference for marble, onyx and travertine - particularly the exotic materials. Additionally, 70% of slab production is 3 cm material.

In all, the company has 33 workers in the factory and sales office, in addition to agents located in different export markets. Cereser Marmi produces 100 containers of material per month, and virtually all of it (99%) is exported. Much of the exports are shipped to markets within Europe, such as Germany as well as Eastern European nations such as Poland and Russia.

Cereser Marmi began working with the American market around four years ago, and today, approximately 10% of Cereser Marmi’s exports are shipped to the U.S. “We are working to establish relationships in the U.S. market,” explained Domenico Cereser. “It is going okay, and the high-level products are doing well in America.”

Speaking on the international economic crisis, Domenico Cereser expressed hope that the company’s deep inventory and diverse product selection will serve as a benefit. “For sure, it will not be an easy time, but I think that the companies that are able to invest in stock and have material ready to be shipped will do best,” he said. “People aren’t willing to wait for material right now. We are also seeing more people invest in exotics, even if it is in small quantities.”

Although exports to America are only a portion of Cereser Marmi’s business, they are still affected by the American buying trends, according to Domenico Cereser. “If the U.S. market suffers, other markets around the world suffer because competition increases elsewhere,” he said.

To help stand out among the competition, Cereser Marmi is emphasizing the personal aspect of the firm in dealing with customers. “We are not a big company,” explained Domenico Cereser. “We are young people with an open mentality, and we follow our client like a person and not like a number. We make sure that we follow up in a proper way and establish good relations that are based on quality and service.”

Part of this emphasis on service is offering a range of materials for a customer - even within a single order. “Flexibility is important,” said Domenico Cereser. “In one container, we can load anything from one slab of a certain material to a full container of one material.”

Also with the goal of better communicating with customers, Cereser is frequently updating its Web site - www.ceresermarmi.com - with new information. “We see the Web site as something that is not static, but moving - with continual updates,” said Domenico Cereser. “We are always showing new materials and uploading high-quality photos of our inventory so our clients can see exactly what is here.”

Sidebar: A world of stone materials at Cereser Marmi

A walk through the warehouses at Cereser Marmi allows visitors to explore a myriad

of stone varieties from around the globe - including traditional materials as well as exotics.

The following is just a small sampling of the materials on display at the company: