Last month, I attended a session of the Marble Institute of America/Stone World education series in Boston, MA, where I also moderated a Fabricator Forum.
In this exclusive Stone World interview, Artisan Group
Executive Director Chad Seiders shares some insight on
stone industry market conditions — now and in the future.
I know it is a strange headline for an editor's column, but I am looking to draw attention to Stone World's new Web site -- www.StoneWorld.com -- because I think it is the most comprehensive source for stone industry information that you can find.
Over the course of the past decade, the Vitória Stone Fair in Brazil has made a name for itself as a major international event. The country’s vast natural stone resources - centered in the State of Espírito Santo, where the fair takes place - have made it a draw for attendees around the world.
Each year, the May issue of Stone World publishes the year-end import and export statistics from the U.S. Department of Commerce. It takes a few months for the government to relay these figures to us, but it is worth the wait, since the import totals offer an excellent snapshot of how our industry is faring - especially compared with the figures from previous years.
Founded six years ago, Imetame Granitos of Linhares, Espirito Santo, Brazil, has developed into a major exporter of natural stone in Brazil. Not only does it process stone with the modern stoneworking technology from Italy, but it also maintains a high degree of precision and organization in its operations.
Slated to take place from June 22 to 25, Stone+tec Nürnberg 2011 will feature a solid lineup of stone and machinery exhibitors - thanks to strategic agreements by the organizers and a general upswing in Europe’s economy.
Already a leading supplier of slabs in Brazil, Granitos Itapoama Ltda. has expanded its operations in Rio Novo Do Sul, Espírito Santo, with the addition of three state-of-the-art multi-wire diamond wire saws from Italy. The machines were all purchased from Bideseimpianti, and they include three different versions.
Despite all of the information out there on shop safety, we are still hearing about way too many accidents - often fatal accidents. My question is this: How are your businesses addressing the issue of safety in the workplace? How formalized is your safety program? Do you hold regular safety meetings? Have you changed or expanded your approach to workplace safety in the past few years?
Over the past few years, countertop fabricators across North America have expanded their business into sectors such as tile, sinks, fireplaces and even cabinetry in order to provide a more complete buying experience for their customers.