Stone-machinery and -tooling vendors form new trade group; U.S. imports of hard surfaces are at the highest level since August 2018; Cambria halts sales of Brittanicca™ copy; and much, much more.
This episode is underwritten by Marmomacc Talks, a digital event on May 24-27 that will involve top names in the sector in discussions and comparisons about the present and future of the natural stone industry. Learn more at https://www.marmomac.com/marmomac-talks.
Radio Stone Update is presented on the first and third Wednesdays every month at 9 a.m. everywhere on Earth with the latest news and insights in hard surfaces. Check our archives at www.radiostoneupdate.com.
Stone-machinery and -tooling vendors form new trade group; U.S. imports of hard surfaces are at the highest level since August 2018; Cambria halts sales of Brittanicca™ copy; and much, much more.
This episode is underwritten by Marmomacc Talks, a digital event on May 24-27 that will involve top names in the sector in discussions and comparisons about the present and future of the natural stone industry. Learn more at https://www.marmomac.com/marmomac-talks.
Radio Stone Update is presented on the first and third Wednesdays every month at 9 a.m. everywhere on Earth with the latest news and insights in hard surfaces. Check our archives at www.radiostoneupdate.com.
K. SCHIPPER: Hi, I’m K. Schipper with the latest from Radio Stone Update
00:09
More than 40 U.S. and European-based machinery and supplies vendors unveiled the Stone Equipment and Supply Alliance – SESA -- at the end of last month with a stated goal of “communicating a unified voice regarding industry events and tradeshows.” Representatives of the two main hard-surface shows in the United States, the International Surface Event or TISE, and Coverings, said they’ll be meeting with the group soon.
The SESA initial board of directors, headed by Mike Schlough of Park Industries as president, also announced that it has hired Jon Lancto of Big Fish Consulting to facilitate communications. According to Lancto, some of the companies now in SESA have discussed forming a group for several years. However, disruption of the normal cycle of tradeshows due to COVID-19 led the group to take action. After having its regular show in January last year, TISE 2021 is currently scheduled for mid-June in Las Vegas. Coverings, which didn’t hold a show in 2020, moved its 2021 show from April to early July in Orlando.
Lancto says the tipping point was the scheduling of the Coverings show right after the TISE show and on dates requiring move-in over the Independence Day holiday weekend. Other issues raised by SESA members include location and coordination of stone-related vendors at the shows and associated costs involved in the movement of equipment and materials to booth spaces.
A call was scheduled last week between SESA and Informa Markets, the owner/producer of TISE. Taffy Events Strategies, the producer of Coverings has also indicated it will be meeting with SESA. Vendors traditionally play a large role in trade events. A previous stone-machinery trade group, the North American Stone Machine Association, formed in late 2003 and endorsed a rival stone-industry event. The International Tile and Stone Show, or ITSS, flourished in the mid-2000s, but fell victim the Great Recession later in the decade.
02:23
The Spanish-based hard-surfaces provider Cosentino last week unveiled a new look for its Silestone brand of quartz products. Eduardo Cosentino, CEO of Cosentino North America, says the new look is designed to give context to how the company works with the rapidly evolving consumer landscape. He explains that it’s not enough for a company to offer a beautiful product because today homeowners prioritize brands with values that respond with them on a deeper level.
The rebranding will allow the company to shift from being product centric to one that celebrates people, experiences and everyday life. That includes a particular emphasis on sustainability, as Eduardo Cosentino notes that the company desires to set a precedent for the industry by revolutionizing how Silestone is formulated and manufactured with its HybriQ® technology.
HybriQ uses a new hybrid formulation of mineral raw materials, that boasts equal or better performance than quartz, synthetic minerals and materials of recycled origin. The new production process also uses 99 percent recycled water and 100 percent renewable energy, and will also have a carbon-neutral offering later this year.
As part of the rebranding, Silestone also introduces a new logo which is described as bringing a new, vibrant color palette, more symmetry and a softer, more friendly font face that leans into the brand’s more emotional identity. Still to come with the rebranding will be the identification of global alliances and partnerships; Silestone has already joined forces with companies such as Kohler Co., Patagonia and Camper.
04:06
EMERSON SCHWARTZKOPF: This is Emerson Schwartzkopf. It’s still a booming market for hard-surface imports in the United States, with more than $391.1 million of natural stone, quartz surfaces and porcelain arriving at ports-of-entry in March. That’s up 17.2% from February and 27.3%from March 2020 – and the best monthly total for hard-surface imports since August of 2018.
Quartz slab stoked much of the March import growth, with the $143.3 million sent to the United States showing a 46.1% gain from the previous year. Granite also showed some strength, with its $65.2 million bettering March 2020 by 30%. And, remember those numbers from last year reflect what was still a pre-pandemic market
There’s still no sign of a shipping slowdown through this year’s first quarter, but there’s a real potential for change – and you’ll be able to find out more late this month in an exclusive article in the next edition of Stone Update Magazine late this month. And, don’t forget that the latest Hard-Surface Report, with all the import numbers, will be available later this week.
05:25
K. SCHIPPER: How far would you go to help fight cancer? Ernie Avino is willing to go more than 13 miles dribbling a basketball. Avino is the executive vice president at Marmol Export USA in Miami. He’s also the father of a son, EJ, who was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic lymphoma in 2014. EJ is doing great, according to his father, who’ll be part of the Bounce Back from Cancer™ fundraiser this week.
The virtual marathon dribble is a partnership with the Miami HEAT pro basketball team and the Baptist Health South Florida healthcare organization in Coral Gables, Fla. Avino will do the 13.3 miles solo during the week of May 10. To restrict large gatherings, participants will track themselves via smartphone or fitness tracker and upload the data. The event is the second dribble/walk fundraiser in the Miami area to secure funds for the Miami Cancer Institute. Avino also participated in the inaugural event two years ago.
Anyone can help sponsor Avino by visiting his event page at https://fundraisers.hakuapp.com/ernesto-avino-1. Donations of any size are welcome.
06:44
Le Sueur, Minn.-based Cambria Company LLC scored a victory last month when Raphael Stone Collection Inc., agreed it will no longer offer the design it calls Calacatta Blois, and which Cambria alleged to be an unauthorized copy of its highly popular Brittanicca™ quartz surface design.
The matter ended up in federal district court in Camden, N.J., in early 2020 after Cambria filed suit against Lodi, N.J.-based Raphael and Quartz Master LLC for producing a product with its Brittanicca design without authorization. Cambria cited its patent on the design, which was granted by the U.S. Patent Office in February 2017.
The suit was dismissed after Cambria got Raphael Stone to withdraw the look-alike product. U.S. District Court Judge Renee Marie Bumb noted that Cambria and Raphael Stone settled all claims and disputes and dismissed the lawsuit with prejudice. Terms of the settlement weren’t made public, but Rebecca Shult, Cambria executive vice president and general counsel said, “We’re pleased to have resolved this dispute regarding the copying of our Brittanicca design. Cambria will continue to defend its intellectual property rights and invest in innovative designs and technology.”
In other news from around the industry…
08:13
The Natural Stone Institute announces the addition of two new members to its board of directors: Blake Christensen and Amit Gupta. Christensen is the owner and CEO of Valley View Granite in Tremonton, Utah, which he founded in 2003. Gupta is the chairman and CEO of TAB Amsum & Ash in Jaipur, India, which he founded with his brother to manufacture natural stone products and has grown into a global operation. They replace Bruce Knaphus and Josh Zhang who had completed their terms.
08:48
Florim’s “Sensi of Casa dolce casa” collection of ceramic slabs received a Green Good Design Award for 2021 from the Chicago Athenaeum: Museum of Architecture and Design. The Green Good honors the environmentally friendly version of the historic international Good Design Awards and celebrates sustainable design. Designed by Matteo Thun & Partners for Florim, Sensi is the only ceramic product in the Green product/Graphic Design category and received recognition for the ability to combine design and beauty with a close focus on sustainability, environmental protection and saving energy.
09:28
LATICRETE launches a new program – ProjectSafety™ -- to help lower construction-worker injuries and job-related ailments. The new company-wide initiative aims to provide access to safety education and alternative installation techniques in the construction industry, where workers daily handle tasks ranging from carrying heavy loads to performing repetitive tasks to safely navigating often chaotic jobsites.
In phase one, ProjectSafety is focused toward educating construction workers in all trades, at all levels of projects and general contractors about the risks associated with respirable crystalline silica and volatile organic compounds, as well as best practices for back, knee, hand and eye safety in the workplace. Phases two and three will add content to LATICRETE University covering health and safety best practices.
For the latest in industry news, you can also visit our online newsletter, Slab & Sheet, which is available on alternate Wednesdays. For notes on this episode and a full transcript go to our new website at www.radiostoneupdate.com
I’m K. Schipper for Radio Stone Update and we’ll see you here again soon.