The 11th edition of Marble 2005, the International Natural Stone and Technology Fair, was held from March 31 to April 3 at the International Izmir Fair Center in Izmir, Turkey. The exhibition included 900 companies from 32 countries and nearly 40,000 visitors from 65 nations, according to show organizers.
MarmolerÃa Gallos S.A., located in Lima, Peru, was formed over 140 years ago and has seen generation upon generation pass through its doors. Its continuous operation of stone quarries in South America has allowed the company to succeed as one of the leading marble producers in the Americas, with steady annual growth of over 30%. In order to achieve success, it has also invested in top-of-the-line machinery and innovative production developments, including the opening of a new state-of-the-art factory as well as quarry sites within Peru.
Driving through the hills of the Brescia region in Northern Italy, a little over an hour from Verona, visitors can see the evidence of Botticino quarry operations from decades ago as well as activity that continues today. And while time-honored methods are being used to extract materials such as Botticino Classico, workshops such as the one run by Cooperativa Operai Cavatori del Botticino are using state-of-the-art technology to transform raw blocks into high-quality finished products.
Although the family-owned and operated Sellers Tile Co. has been in the stone industry since 1959, it only began fabricating its own work in 1998. Before that, the business strictly focused on ceramic tile installations, and the fabrication of countertop jobs was outsourced. According to current owner, Jerry Sellers, the company started fabricating one or two kitchens a month seven years ago, then progressed to one or two a week.
B.M.S. and Co. was established in Ortonovo, Italy, in 1981 as a related branch of Simonelli srl, which has been in business since 1936. The company has developed as an innovator in the Carrara stoneworking region - working with architects, contractors and distributors on developing unique product lines, and it has gained a solid reputation over the years.
The second edition of the International Tile & Stone Show's New York City edition (ITSS New York) took place from July 21 to 24, 2005, at the Jacob Javits Center. This year's show saw the addition of a fourth day, Sunday, in an attempt to offer more opportunities for local fabricators and installers to attend the exhibition. However, this move did not add to overall attendance, since the size of the show was probably best suited to a three-day exhibition.
For the recent renovation of a 4,800-square-foot private residence in an exclusive area of California known as Newport Coast, a variety of natural stone, including granite, slate and quartzite, was selected to fulfill the clients desire for color variation. MS International of Orange, CA, supplied the stone for the project.
Morseletto, a family-run stone-working operation in Northern Italy, now in its third generation, was founded in 1904. Today, under the direction of Barbara and Deborah Morseletto, the company has 10 quarries and a state-of-the-art fabricating facility -- complete with a sculpting studio.
Cladding with natural stone - marble, granite, limestone - provides an architect with endless design possibilities. Storefronts, office and hotel lobbies, shopping malls and building facades are all examples of designs that can be enhanced by the elegance of stone. The use of a high-strength construction epoxy adhesive (chemical anchor), referred to as the “spot bonding†method of installation, allows the designer/architect a much wider design range and offers savings in both material costs and installation time. Traditionally, exterior facades have been installed via mechanical anchors, which have drawbacks.
Etna Granitos do Brasil Ltda. started in 2002 as a buying office for clients located throughout the northeast corridor. As demands increased, and to have better quality control over its materials, the company's principals invested in nearly 325,000 square feet of land in Serra, Brazil - near the port city of Vitoria - with the intention of building a factory.
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