
Already familiar with the commercial sector of stone
fabrication, Italbec US of Dania Beach, FL, has taken on the recent decline in
construction by targeting more institutional projects.
As a company already familiar with the commercial sector of stone fabrication, Italbec US of Dania Beach, FL, has worked to offset the recent decline in construction by targeting more institutional projects. “Historically, Italbec has been in the tower and high-rise area of hospitality,” said Jill Poser, Director of Business Development for Italbec US. “Hotels and resorts continue because there’s renovation every few years and some new construction, but we’re looking to expand to medical and health [sectors] and senior living, as well as education.”

The Florida shop measures 7,500 square feet, including
office and warehouse, and a Denver Quota CNC stoneworking center supplied by
VIC International of Knoxville, TN, is in place inside the shop.
The U.S. location measures 7,500 square feet between office, warehouse and fabrication, and the facility in Canada is about 100,000 square feet in size. “In the U.S., we do fabrication on site, but when it’s massive fabrication for a [large-scale] project, we’ll do that in Canada,” said Poser.
“The U.S. office doesn’t concentrate on a retail showroom,” she continued. “Our focus is more commercially based. What I mean by that is we will work with developers, architects, designers, construction companies, general contractors, etc. An architect or designer can be working on a residential project that we would fabricate for, but we don’t usually go to the end user. That’s not our target audience.”

A bridgesaw featuring a laser guide is used for
cutting slabs and helping with production.
The Florida shop is equipped with a range of equipment. Slabs are cut to size as needed using a laser-guided bridge, while precision cutting is done with a waterjet. Additionally, complex edgework is completed using a Denver Quota Tech CNC stoneworking center supplied by VIC International of Knoxville, TN. The waterjet was the company’s latest investment, which Poser noted as being the biggest advancement for the shop in the past few years, along with acquiring a CNC machine.
“The waterjet was added because it would help to expand the production, give a cleaner cut and be more precise,” she said. “It has helped increase production. We’re able to have more detailed work and inlays in the floor because of the waterjet and CNC.”

A Zambon radial arm polisher is used for surface
finishing as needed. Workers at Italbec US are skilled specific for each
piece of machinery the company owns.
Overall production capacity can vary, depending on the type of work being processed. “When we do floor and walls, it’s about 1,000 square feet a day,” said Poser. “When we do countertops, it’s about 10 to 12 kitchens per day.” This includes large-format “wrap-around” kitchens, according to Poser.

Intricate slab details are completed with hand tools.
The shop is additionally equipped with a Ghines Idrodos dust collector.
Together with its Canada facility, Italbec has 48 employees, including management and labor.

Italbec US maintains a small showroom to
service its customers.
Currently, Italbec US completes many of its projects in the Northeast and the Eastern seaboard. Some of its recent large-scale projects include the W Hotel in South Beach, FL, and guest baths at the Four Seasons in Palm Beach, FL, as well as large residential installations off shore. Last year, Italbec US was honored for its work on the W Hotel with an Award of Excellence and Grande Pinnacle Award, presented by the Marble Institute of America.
Already a big name in the commercial sector, in the future, the company hopes to diversify its portfolio of services. “Our client base is facing tremendous issues,” said Poser. “Construction is hurting. What we’ve done to combat this is expand the sector of services the company provides.”

The showroom prominently displays many of the
elaborate stone materials the company works with.
In doing so, Italbec plans to do as much outreach and marketing as possible. “We want to expand the sector the company is focusing on,” said Poser. “That involves high levels of networking, strategic partnerships with firms that work with these sectors and reaching out to key architects and designers. It’s not random. It’s really focused.”

The company can produce 10 to 12 kitchens per day,
including intricate large-scale layouts as well as flooring.
Sidebar: Italbec US
Dania Beach, FLType of work: commercial fabrication and installation for stone and ceramic products
Machinery: a laser-guided bridge saw; a Denver Quota CNC stoneworking center supplied by VIC International of Knoxville, TN; a Zambon radial arm polisher from Italy; a waterjet; and a Ghines Idrodos dust collector
Number of employees: 48 (including its Canada headquarters)
Production rate: 1,000 square feet a day for floor and wall production; or 10 to 12 kitchens per day

In addition to commercial work, Italbec does high-end
residential projects, including this table for a dining area.
Additional Photos

The living room of the same residence features a stone
fireplace.

This commercial project features Rosso Levanto marble
flooring fabricated by Italbec.

For another commercial lobby, the company produced
stone flooring and reception desks.