Although the recession is over, the marketplace for natural stone remains extremely competitive. Worldwide capacity for slab production is greater than ever, so even as international consumption of stone increases, individual companies are fighting harder than ever for their share of the business. As a result, successful stone producers are becoming more specialized as they focus on adding value over producing in volume. An example of this is Girasole Pietre Naturali srl, which is based in Volargne di Dolcé, Verona, Italy. Using some of the most advanced resin technology in the field, the company has given itself a competitive edge by processing new and different stones than what is typically found in the industry.
Girasole specializes in exotic, high-end materials, such as onyx and unique varieties of marble, limestone and travertine. “The large-quantity business is down, but we’re seeing many high-quality, high-standard houses, where people are coming here with their architects and selecting material,” explained Enrico Barbessi of Girasole.