Watermark Design Tech-nologies of Tampa, FL, is co-owned and operated by John-Paul Plazza, who grew up in the industry as his family ran a company called Tile World of Italy. Today, Plazza’s shop, which was established earlier this year with co-owner Joseph Kinsel is equipped with a variety of state-of-the-art equipment, enabling the company to produce an average of 10 kitchens a week. With the addition of new machinery in the near future, the company hopes to substantially increase its current production rate.
Since 1969, StoneCrafters of St. Cloud, MN, has worked to develop a strong reputation for itself in the stone industry. The company was started as a floor covering business by Vern Salzl, and it has evolved into a state-of-the-art stone fabrication facility, primarily serving the Twin Cities metropolitan area. And in addition to countertop production, StoneCrafters has created a prosperous niche for itself as a tabletop manufacturer - distributing its products to retailers nationwide.
The year 1977 will always be a special year,” said Spiro Xenos, owner of Acropolis Custom Marble and Granite, Inc. in St. Louis, MO, with his wife Anna. “It’s the year that I came from my homeland, Greece, to the U.S. It’s also when I started to establish my name in the Midwest as a Master Marble Craftsman/Artist.”
When it comes to knowing the basics of stone fabrication, owners of First in Counters in Zachary, LA, are well versed. The company was started by couple Brad and Deborah Parnell, and their more than 30 years of experience dates back to a period when Brad cut and installed everything by hand in a shop in their own backyard. At the time, they were averaging nine to 10 kitchens a month, but with up-to-date investments in machinery and a move to a bigger facility, they are currently able to produce 70 to 80 kitchens/units a month with a capacity for more than 100. The path taken to be where they are today, however, was not an easy one.
On September 20 of this year, the new Charles Luck Stone Center opened its doors in Richmond, VA, marking a new era for one of the country’s most venerable stone suppliers. The endeavor is a bold new retail concept from Luck Stone’s Architectural Stone Division, one of the largest natural stone suppliers in the Mid-Atlantic region, and it has been patterned after some of the most successful upscale retail and hospitality firms in the world.
As technology continues to advance, more and more fabricators are investing in state-of-the-art digital templating systems, which allow for faster and more accurate measurements, according to manufacturers.
The Marble Institute of America, a worldwide trade organization representing the natural stone industry, has filed a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission's Bureau of Consumer Protection against Home Safety
Amazing Stone, Ltd. has taken on a unique position within the stone industry. Using minerals that were originally used for jewelry, the company has developed new technology and methods created to create these products referred to as The Semi-Precious Collection of products, which can be used for kitchens, floors, bathrooms, walls and furnishings - available worldwide through Antolini Luigi & C., S.p.A.
The Marble Institute of America (MIA) once again hit the road to tour some of the well-known quarries of North America. This time, the organization headed to Minnesota and South Dakota with a group of industry professionals who were eager to see various aspects of the quarrying and fabrication business in the Midwest. The two-day event, which was held from Thursday, August 23 to Friday, August 24, 2007, provided an educational experience as well as an opportunity for industry veterans and newcomers to network.
As a tribute to the 20,000 veterans currently living in Yonkers, NY, as well as to pay homage to those who courageously lost their lives in battle, the Veteran’s Memorial at City Hall was recently commemorated after an expansion and restoration process. The project was coordinated by Stony Creek Quarry Corp. in conjunction with the Yonkers Veterans Service Agency and the Department of Engineering in Yonkers.
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