Contest winners. The contest was cosponsored by the Surface Fabrication & Design Expo and Surface Fabrication magazine: • Best Residential Kitchen – Gene McDonald, Refresh Interiors Inc. • Best Freestyle Art (small) (also Best of Show – small) – Florian Tolksdorf, Rosskopf & Partner AG • Best Green Application – Gene McDonald, Refresh Interiors Inc. • Best Commercial/Institutional – Studio ABK, Sterling Surfaces * Best Residential Bath – Dave Drees, Fabricators Unlimited • Best Freestyle Art (large) (also Best of Show – large) – Michael Morris and Yoshiko Sato, DuPont (also fabricated by Sterling Surfaces)
for any typical router, which sprays a very fine mist of lubricant onto the router bit when edge profiling solid surface materials. According to the company, the water attachment allows a typical router to cut an edge profile in one pass that is clean enough to greatly reduce or even eliminate the need for edge sanding. The system also reportedly prolongs the life of bits and reduces bearing issues. Performance Abrasives showed off an array of abrasive equipment, among which was a recently developed and patent pending Wavy Edge Scuff & Buff Ball. Made with non-woven material and available in grits from 60 to 600, the ball is made from a stack of individual wavy edge discs that are interchangeable and replaceable. They mount into collets or drill chucks and can be used to sand or polish radii in sinks and bowls. An interesting highlight of this year’s show was the “concrete pavillion,” a new feature at the show that allowed a showcase for the rapidly advancing concrete countertop technologies. There was an obvious excitement as solid surface and stone countertop fabricators mingled with concrete countertop manufacturers, sharing ideas and insights into both the art and the business of countertops.
But the ingenuity at the show wasn’t limited to fabricators alone, several companies showcased new products. Karran previewed a new line of sinks it will be carrying that consist of stainless steel bowls that are near-integral with solid surface countertops. The sinks also has a model designed to do the same with laminate. Although the company would not divulge the specifics at this time, the new sinks are expected to be available by mid-summer. Another new sink to be viewed at the show was one offered by Gemstone, which showed off its new vanity bowl, the 1714-VIO, which has an integral overflow. Specialtytools.com displayed a new attachment they are offering
Top: This reading lamp, titled ‘Snatch’, was fabricated by Rosskopf & Partner, and designed by Florian Tolksdorf. It took Best Freestyle/ Art Small and Best in Show Small at the SF Achievement in Design Contest. Bottom: Fabricated by Sterling Surfaces, Sterling, Mass., and designed by Michael Morris and Yoshiko Sato, this DuPont Corian entry into the Surface Fabrication Achievement in Design Contest titled “LightShowers II” took Best Freestyle/Art Large and Best in Show Large.
In addition to ISFA, the Marble Institute of America had a presence at the show participating in various conferences, as did the Stone Fabricators Alliance. And, The Fabricator Network once again broadcast the show live via the Web from its booth. New Beginnings Though small, there seemed to be a general feeling of unity at the show with everyone well aware of
International Surface Fabricators Association • Vol. 2, Issue 2, 2009 • 55