ISFA's Countertops & Architectural Surfaces Vol. 11, Issue 4 - Q4 2018 by The International Surface Fabricators Association (ISFA)

Sink Spotlight Page 18

CNC Saw vs Sawjet Page 26

Top OSHA Violations Page 28

Cultivating Sales Staff Page 31

Improving Corporate Culture Page 33

PROFILE: BOND INTERIORS Amazing work from UAE fabricator Page 22

CREDITS

Letters to the Editor

Countertops & Architectural Surfaces welcomes Letters to the Editor. If you have questions about the magazine, or would like to make a comment, or voice an opinion about the magazine, ISFA or the industry in general, please feel free to write to us.

Please send letters to editor@isfanow.org or to Letters, ISFA, PO Box 627, Ingomar, PA 15127, attention: Editor. Include a telephone number and address (preferably an email address). Letters may be edited for clarity or space. Because of the high volume of mail we receive, we cannot respond to all letters. Send queries about Countertops & Architectural Surfaces to editor@isfanow.org or mail to ISFA, PO Box 627, Ingomar, PA 15127, attention: Editor.

Contacting ISFA

Phone: (412) 487-3207 editor@isfanow.org www.isfanow.org

About This Magazine

Countertops & Architectural Surfaces (ISSN 2372-983X) is published quarterly by the International Surface Fabricators Association (ISFA), with a fifth “Buyers Guide” issue publishing in September. Individual copies of Countertops & Architectural Surfaces are available at the nonmember “newsstand” price of $14.95. Countertops & Architectural Surfaces is also available by individual subscription at the following rates: ISFA nonmembers, one year (five issues) $30.00; ISFA members, one year free with every membership renewal.

Special rates and charges apply for orders outside of the United States. Call for details. To subscribe, call (412) 487-3207. Printed in the United States of America. Copyright © International Surface Fabricators Association 2018. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reprinted or otherwise reproduced without the publisher’s written permission. Countertops & Architectural Surfaces and The International Surface Fabricators Association assumes no responsibility for unsolicited manuscripts or photographs.

Materials will be returned only if accompanied by a stamped, selfaddressed envelope. For change of address, please include old label with new information, including both old and new zip codes. Allow 3-6 weeks for address change to take effect. Periodicals postage rate is paid at the Ingomar, Pa., post office as well as others. Opinions expressed by writers in this magazine are not necessarily the opinions of Countertops & Architectural Surfaces or the International Surface Fabricators Association, but rather those of the individual writers.

Postmaster: Send address changes to LSC Communications, Care of Countertops & Architectural Surfaces magazine, 121 Matthews Drive, Senatobia, MS 38668.

Photography

Photos in this publication may not depict proper safety procedures for creative purposes. ISFA and Countertops & Architectural Surfaces support the use of proper safety procedures in all cases and urge readers to take steps to institute such procedures.

Photography/graphics provided by: Bond Interiors, Park Industries, Kirk Heiner and Paul Max Le Pera.

Magazine Credits

Publisher & Editor: Kevin Cole

Proofreader: Karen Peterson

Design: V2 Marketing Communications

ISFA Officers of the Board

Kate Dillenburg, President

Adam Albee, Immediate Past President

Augie Chavez, Vice President

Mike Langenderfer, Treasurer

Matt Kraft, Secretary

ISFA Directors

Kelly Montana, Director

Steve Stoddard, Director

Adam Albee, Director

Paul Max Le Pera, Director

Jessica McNaughton, Associate Member Representative

Jim Callaghan, Associate Member Representative

ISFA Staff

Amy Miller, Executive Director

Kevin Cole, Communications Director and Magazine/Website Publisher & Editor

Carol Wilhite, Operations Manager

Paul Wisnefski, Account Representative

Amy Kyriazis, Program Manager

Chris Pappenfort, Trainer

Fred Hueston, Trainer

Cover Photo

The Intercontinental Hotel in Dubai is one of many prominent solid surface projects Bond Interiors based in the United Arab Emirates has handled. In this case, the material used was Avonite Surfaces. Bond Interiors performed solid surface work throughout the hotel, including wall cladding, flooring, bath tubs, sinks, wash bowls and shower trays, as well as cladding in the lobby and corridors. Read more on Page 22.

18 Sink Spotlight

The latest on this critical countertop accessory

22 ISFA Fabricator Profile: Bond Interiors

International interior design contractor expands the boundaries of solid surface capabilities and regional use

26 CNC Saw vs Sawjet for Cutting Stone

A deeper look at the efficiencies of each in the fabrication process

28 Top 10 OSHA Violations

Last years most common troubles for hard surface fabricators

31 Developing a Winning Sales Team

Four fundamentals for focusing sales success

33 Improving Corporate Culture

Servant leadership and the essence of corporate well being

Departments

8 From the Editor

10 Calendar of Events

12 Education Connection

14 Industry News

35 From the Executive Director

35 ISFA News

41 ISFA Fabricator Directory

46 Product News

49 Classifieds/Ad Index

50 From the President

From the Editor

From the desk of Kevin Cole, Editor & Publisher, and ISFA Communications Director

People Aren’t Words

Since last I wrote to you, I had an opportunity to attend a most wonderful industry event. I was fortunate enough to go to ISFA’s Annual Conference. And, as personal interaction with industry peers and associates is known to do, it had a profound effect on me. It left me with a renewed feeling of endearment for the industry and the people who make it what it is.

The operative word there is “people.”

As those of you who have seen me speak publicly can probably attest to, public speaking is not my strongest suit and I will be the first to admit it. However, one-on-one, I can talk to just about anyone, and enjoy doing so. I absolutely delight in intelligent conversation or small-group social situations. But, I must admit that if you put me in front of a keyboard, my true strength emerges. Words will flow from my fingers as quick as thoughts flow from my head. And, I find myself editing what I just wrote while putting down my next sentences.

While practice makes perfect, I have to give much thanks for this gift to my creator.

I took my first writing and editing job at a literary magazine more than 25 years ago, but long before that, back in grade school, I felt the call of words through a love of reading. With all of the wisdom of a third-grader, I declared I was going to be a writer.

Over the years, my keyboard became my closest confidant, and as typewriters moved to word processors and then to computers, the power behind them has grown. You can now connect with just about anyone, anytime and at any location around the world by firing up your laptop and checking into social media or sending a flurry of emails.

However, it can be easy to forget that people aren’t just words on a social media site or an email that pops up on your computer (or phone). We are far more complex. Seeing words on a page or hearing

a voice through a phone does not a person make. At ISFA’s conference, I was reminded that when you take the time to truly interact with others through a direct, face-to-face conversation without an artificial interface, it makes a big difference.

The way someone lifts an eyebrow, tilts their head, wrinkles their brow, nods, laughs or smiles provides social cues that aren’t available in email or even on the phone.

I have interacted with thousands of “contacts” through email and phone calls over the years, and these relationships are highly valuable. However, lasting friendships develop largely through direct personal interactions and shared experiences, whether it’s at a conference, over a cocktail or on the golf course.

But, do we need friendships in our business dealings? The answer is unequivocally “yes!”

When I sit down with someone over a cup of coffee or cool libation, I learn much more about them and really find out who they are as a person. I get a feel for their sense of judgement, their humor, their passion about life and their career. And I subsequently get an impression of what they really know about and what things they may simply be speculating about. I develop an understanding of their character, which I think we can most all agree really means something. These are the foundations of long-lasting friendships that go beyond business contact or acquaintance.

Of course, we all have bad days or even weeks, and so we can’t completely trust one interaction to develop our full opinion, but when you get involved in events of both a social and business nature, you see many facets of the same person. And, over time, you will run into those same folks. That can paint a picture in deeper shades and, frankly, help you sort the bull from the beauty.

Whether you start off with a casual social media, phone or email relationship, and that leads you to a personal relationship and hopefully

friendship, or you first meet in person, you must not devalue the benefit that comes with interacting with someone in the real world. We all know how valuable our time is and how fast the world moves today. So, when you actually give a person some of your time while they give you some of theirs, it really means something.

Some of my dearest friends in this world started as business acquaintances and lead to true relationships that will last my entire life. These are the people I feel good turning to when I need an honest opinion or an alternate viewpoint, work or otherwise. These are people, not just words on a screen, and I wouldn’t trade these friendships for anything.

I hope you too understand the value of developing true, honest friends within the industry and don’t just settle for words. If you fall into that trap, not only will you miss business opportunities, but you will be missing out on one of the most rewarding aspects in life.

I am thankful that I had the opportunity to reconnect with some great friends at the recent ISFA Annual Conference and also lay the foundations for developing new friends to last our lives through.

No matter what outlet you choose, my wish for you going into the new year is that you too will get involved in some face-to-face events that will help you forge lifetime bonds, and also help you to remember people are not words.

As always, I look forward to your feedback.

Sincerely, Kevin

Cole, Publisher & Editor kevin@isfanow.org

Special SectionCALENDAR OF EVENTS

Interior Design Show

Jan. 17 – 20

Toronto, ON Canada (416) 512-3835

Home + Remodeling Show

Jan. 18 – 20

Chantilly, Va. (888) 248-9751

World of Concrete

Jan. 21 – 25

Las Vegas, Nev. (972) 563-6328

TISE 2019

Jan. 22 – 25

Las Vegas, Nev. (866) 860-1975

Visit ISFA at Booth 15D

Cevisima 2019

Jan. 28 – Feb. 1

Valencia, Spain

+34 96 386 14 92

ISFA Solid Surface Training

Hosted by GECKO SSS

Feb. 5 – 7

San Antonio, Texas (412) 487-3207

info@isfanow.org www.isfanow.org

ISFA Industry Roundtable

Hosted by CaraGreen and Rockin’teriors, Sponsored by Moraware, Cosentino and Marva/ Neolith

Feb. 5 – 7

Raleigh, N.C. (412) 487-3207 info@isfanow.org www.isfanow.org

CCI Ultimate Concrete Countertop Training

Feb. 11 – 15

Raleigh, N.C. (919) 275-2121

Vitoria Stone Fair

Feb. 12 – 15

Serra, Espirito Santo

Brazil +55 27 3337-6855

NTCA Regional Training Program

Feb. 13

Houston, Texas (906) 361-8821

NAHB International

Builder Show (IBS 2019)

Feb. 19 – 21

Las Vegas, Nev. (202) 266-8109

KBIS 2019

Feb. 19 – 21

Las Vegas, Nev. (877) 267-4662

Park Industries Digital Stoneworking Expo

Feb. 20 – 21

Sacramento, Calif. (800) 328-2309

NTCA Regional Training Program

Feb. 28

Columbia, S.C. (906) 361-8821

Natural Stone Institute

Summit

Feb 28

Dallas, Texas (440) 250-9222

CCI Professional GFRC Training

Feb. 28 – March 1

Raleigh, N.C. (919) 275-2121

ISFA Spain Trip

Hosted by Cosentino

March 5-8

Madrid, Spain (412) 487-3207 info@isfanow.org www.isfanow.org

Cabinets & Closets Conference & Expo

March 6 – 8

Charlotte, N.C. (847) 226-7969

Wood Pro Expo

March 6 – 8

Charlotte, N.C. (847) 226-7969

Xiamen Stone Fair 2019

March 6 – 9

Xiamen, Fujian, China +86 592-595-9691

Regent Stone Quartz/ Granite Countertop Fabrication Course

Sponsored by ISFA

March 12 – 13

Virginia Beach, Va. (866) 233-4877

Regent Stone Quartz/ Granite Countertop Fabrication Course

Sponsored by ISFA

March 14 – 15

Virginia Beach, Va. (866) 233-4877

CCI Ultimate Concrete Countertop Training

March 18 – 22

Raleigh, N.C. (919) 275-2121

Natural Stone Institute Summit

March 21

Ceres, Calif. (440) 250-9222

Coverings 2019

April 9 – 12

Orlando, Fla. (571) 313-5801

www.coverings.com

AEC BuildTech

April 30 – May 2

Rosemont, Ill. (844) 644-7449

Natural Stone Institute Summit

May 2

West Valley City, Utah (440) 250-9222

NTCA Regional Training Program

May 10

Louisville, Ky. (906) 361-8821

Regent Stone Quartz/ Granite Countertop Fabrication Course

Sponsored by ISFA

May 14 – 15

Virginia Beach, Va. (866) 233-4877

Regent Stone Quartz/ Granite Countertop Fabrication Course

Sponsored by ISFA

May 16 – 17

Virginia Beach, Va. (866) 233-4877

Interzum

May 21 - 24

Cologne, Germany

+49 1806 077 050 www.interzum.com

Natural Stone Institute Summit

May 23

East Haven, Conn. (440) 250-9222

AIA National Convention and Design Expo

June 6 – 8

Las Vegas, Nev. (800) 343 4146

Natural Stone Institute Summit

June 13

Valley View, Ohio (440) 250-9222

CCI Ultimate Concrete Countertop Training

June 17 – 20

Raleigh, N.C. (919) 275-2121

Stone + tec

June 17 – 20

Nuremburg, Germany +49 9 11 86 06-49 96

Natural Stone Institute Summit

July 11

Overland, Mo. (440) 250-9222

AWFS

July 17 – 20

Las Vegas, Nev. (800) 946-2937

Natural Stone Institute Summit

July 25

Norfolk, Va. (440) 250-9222

ISFA Gen 2 Event Sponsored by Moraware

August Detroit, Mich. (412) 487-3207 info@isfanow.org www.isfanow.org

ISFA Industry Roundtable Hosted by Precision Countertops

September Portland, Ore. (412) 487-3207 info@isfanow.org www.isfanow.org

2019 Healthcare Facilities Symposium & Expo

Sept. 17 – 19

Boston, Mass. (603) 471-0877

Natural Stone Institute Summit Sept. 19 Royal Oak, Mich. (440) 250-9222

Regent Stone Quartz/ Granite Countertop Fabrication Course

Education Connection

Avoid These Four Mistakes When Writing Copy for Your Brochure or Sales Letter

By Ted Janusz

Do you need to write copy for a brochure or sales letter?

Brochures and sales letters can play an important role in boosting your business and making a statement to clients and potential clients. The idea is to effectively communicate the value of your business and what it does with your customer base.

However, putting one together can be easier said than done. I teach a copywriting workshop, so just for fun, I signed on to edit and write brochures and sales letters as a freelancer on Fiverr.com (handle tjanusz), and it has been a blast! I have had the enjoyable opportunity to work with fun individuals all over the world, from a health and wellness practitioner in Ireland to a tour operator in Russia.

These professionals know their business, as I am sure that you do, too. But, contrary to how it sounds, that might actually be a detriment when trying to explain to others what you do.

When composing a brochure or sales letter to describe your organization, avoid these four mistakes:

1. Being “you” focused rather than “they” focused. Of course you understand your

business and are anxious to tell others everything about what you do. But, guess what? They don’t care! (At least, not yet.) The first thing you need to do is to write text that relates to them. (Notice how I did that from the first sentence in this article.)

2. Providing too much detail. With a brochure, provide just enough information so that the future customer will want to contact you to get more details. One of the best ways to do this is to start with a story. And make the story be about them, such as structuring the brochure or sales letter with: Is this happening to you? If so, here is the solution.

3. The Curse of Knowledge. You can be too close to your operation, meaning that you cannot unlearn what you already know. In some cases, the only way you can explain what you do is through the use of intimidating jargon. However, what you need to do is use simple language instead. Adults do not like to admit when they do not understand something, and a confused mind will never buy.

4. Not “chunking” the information. When they go to the Internet, about 79 percent of your prospects and customers do not read: they scan instead. So for a brochure or sales

letter, it is important not to write lengthy prose. Use short paragraphs, bullet points and lots of white space.

One of the exercises in my workshop, is to write a random nine-digit number. Then I ask the class members if they could remember that number a week from now. Most of them say they could not. But then I ask them to insert a hyphen after the third and the fifth digit. Now, rather than a nine-digit number, they have a Social Security number, which only has three “chunks” of information, making it far easier to remember. The same theory applies to sales copy.

If you avoid these four mistakes when composing your brochure or sales letter, you have much better odds of achieving the results you desire.

About the Author

Ted Janusz, MBA, facilitates workshops, and has presented more than 5,000 hours on relevant business-related topics internationally. Janusz can be reached at ted@ januspresentations.com.

Janusz to Speak Again at 2019 ISFA Conference

Event to be held at mountain resort in Scottsdale, Ariz.

Janusz recently spoke at the ISFA 21018 Annual Conference held October 23 to 26 in Cancun, Mexico on “Creating Strategic Relationships: Here and Now” to much fanfare. You can read more about the event on Page 36.

He will be returning to speak on business improvement and communications at the 2019 ISFA Conference that has been slated for October 20 to 23 at the Mountain Shadows Resort in Scottsdale, Ariz. Various educational and networking events will be held along with the ISFA Annual Meeting and 2019 ISFA Awards Presentation at the conference, along with opportunities for some fun and relaxation. You can find out more about the event as details become available on the ISFA website at www.isfanow.org.

In the Industry

Additional Duties on Chinese Quartz Imports Announced

On Nov. 20, the U.S. government published their preliminary determination that another round of tariffs, this time anti-dumping duties, were warranted to be placed on Chinese quartz imports. These duties were the highest so far, since Cambria petitioned for the tariffs in April. The new duties were set as follows (from lowest to highest): Suzhou Colorquartzstone

New Material Co., Shanghai Meiyang Stone Co. and CQ International Ltd. will be set at 242.1 percent; Guangzhou Hercules Quartz Stone Co. will face 262.43 percent in fees; non-individually examined exporters receiving separate rates will face 263.67 percent fees; and all others will face 314.1 percent fees. These fees are retroactive up to 90 days if they are “unliquidated,” basically meaning if customs has not already processed them (which can take up to 300 days). Final determination must be issued by April 4.

These are in addition to the preliminary countervailing duties set on Sept. 17 which will be 34.38 percent on most quartz products entering the United States from China and 178.45 percent on two particular companies – Fasa Industrial Corp. Ltd. and Foshan Hero Stone Co. Ltd. Final determination must be affirmed by January 19.

Additionally, President Trump placed tariffs on numerous Chinese goods as a separate action. These tariffs, which are compounded with the new Chinese quartz anti-dumping duties and the countervailing duties also affect some tile, stone and stoneworking equipment, in addition to quartz products. The initial tariff was 10 percent, but is slated to rise to 25 percent.

The USITC calculated Chinese quartz imports at more than 5.6 million sq. meters with a value of almost $460 million. While it is unknown how these additional fees will affect the U.S. quartz market, researchers have postulated overall prices will rise for everyone. Additionally, some manufacturers speculate there may be supply shortages or a push for alternative surfacing options. In reaction, MSI has lead development of a petition against the duties and has created a website at www.SaveFabJobs.org where interested parties can sign onto it under the name of the “American Quartz Worker Coalition.”

Cosentino Opens New Center in Salt Lake City

Cosentino opened a new Cosentino Center in Salt Lake City. The opening marks the brand’s first expansion into Utah, reflecting its continued expansion in North America, which now makes up more than 60 percent of the company’s global sales. This is the latest of 43 Cosentino Centers in North America. The 5,000 sq. ft. showroom boasts stunning kitchen areas and a gallery display of full slabs showcasing the

Park Industries Announces Next Digital Stoneworking Expo

Park Industries® announced the date of its next award-winning Digital Stoneworking Expo™, which will be held Feb. 21 in Sacramento, Calif. (with a fabricator bus tour the day before). Countertop fabricators from across North America will come together to discuss top-level content. Park Industries was honored with the 2018 Envision Award from the International Surface Fabricators Association (ISFA) in recognition of its expos. This award attests to the vast amount of knowledge, technology and valuable discussion that is packed into this event. Key topics include the impact of the labor shortage, evaluating shop performance and digital fabrication, with demonstrations from Laser Products, Slabsmith and Moraware.

latest colors. The Selection Center features a state-of-the-art LED sample viewing program complete with augmented reality technology so guests can envision products in an array of applications. An expert team will offer personalized assistance and information to customers using interactive technologies that enhance the product selection and customization experience.

MSI Updates Website Domain from MSIstone.com to MSIsurfaces.com

MSI updated its domain name to represent the company’s diverse selection of surfacing products: Msistone.com is now msisurfaces. com. Founded as a natural stone business more than 40 years ago, MSI has grown into a complete surfacing company. Its product inventory not only includes an array of natural stone, such as granite, travertine and marble in slabs, tiles and stacked-stone, but also hundreds of manufactured hardsurfacing products. Along with wide-ranging porcelain, ceramic, and glass tile collections available in a variety of styles and sizes, MSI offers several other product lines, including Q Premium Natural Quartz, Stile Porcelain Slabs, Arterra Premium Porcelain Pavers and its newest product offering, Everlife Luxury Vinyl Tile (LVT).

In the Industry

Braxton-Bragg Expands West Coast Presence, Hires Joe Torres as Regional Sales Manager

After many years of emphasis on inside sales, Braxton-Bragg beefed up outside sales by naming Joe Torres as West Coast Regional Sales Manager, following hiring Vice President of Sales & Marketing Jeff Dykstra. Torres brings years of CNC, stone, tile and concrete tooling sales experience with stints at Diamut, GranQuartz and Hard Rock Tool. Torres manages the 10 western states, with an immediate focus on key accounts throughout the territory, and general coverage of Southern California.

PORCELANOSA Opens New Showroom

PORCELANOSA, which manufactures and distributes luxury tile, kitchen and bath products, opened a new showroom in Chestnut Hill, Mass., located six miles west of Boston. The facility has 5,200 sq. ft. of exhibition space, showcasing three full-size kitchen displays and 35 full lifestyle bathroom vignettes, all featuring some of the company’s top products, in addition to an extensive tile library with hundreds of tile samples. It is the second showroom the company has opened in Massachusetts, with the first one located at Boston Design Center. In the new showroom, customers and industry professionals can meet with dedicated in-store design consultants to select products and take home free tile samples for residential renovation projects. Industry professionals, including architects, developers and builders can also

schedule meetings with personal Architectural & Design Sales representatives that work on larger commercial projects. PORCELANOSA currently has 30 showrooms in the United States, including newly opened showrooms in the Miami Design District and San Diego. The company is slated to open another showroom in Toronto, ON, Canada, in the near future.

In the Industry

Oneida Air Systems Relaunches Website

Oneida Air Systems, a supplier of high quality dust collection systems, has relaunched its website at oneida-air.com. The new mobile-friendly site includes features such as the ability to compare products side by side, create and share a wish list, flip through the virtual catalog and much more.

BLANCO Partners with 2020

BLANCO has published its catalog on 2020 Cloud, a leading kitchen design software. 2020 helps professional designers, retailers and manufacturers in the interior design industry plan and visualize designs in real-time. 2020’s software allows designers to create kitchens with 3-D renderings. Currently featuring more than 90 percent of its most popular sink and faucet products, BLANCO’s growing catalog content is available to dealers and designers in the United States. BLANCO has received the 2020 Accredited Manufacturer logo and the 2020 Certified Content logo.

NBMDA Announces 2018 Award Winners

The North American Building Material Distribution Association (NBMDA) recognized 2018 NBMDA award recipients at its recent annual convention. Bill Delaney, from Distribution Services Inc., received the NBMDA Growth Award for making outstanding contributions in furthering NBMDA growth from increasing engagement with current members, growing support from industry partners and exceptional efforts in member recruitment. Michael Donnelly, from Metro Hardwoods, who served as the organizations president from 20172018, received the NBMDA President’s Award for his dedication, energy and enthusiasm that contributed to the association’s accomplishments over the year.

Hanwha Surfaces Names Michael Talbot Product Design Manager

Hanwha L&C Surfaces hired Michael Talbot as Product Design Manager. Talbot is an NCIDQ licensed Interior Designer and LEED Accredited Professional with a diverse background in commercial and residential interiors as well as product design. Holding previous design positions at Beauflor, Restoration Hardware and Shaw Industries, he brings extensive knowledge of design and science of the build environment to his new role. At Hanwha Surfaces, Talbot is responsible for market trend analysis and recommendations for new product design and development of colors and textures for the company’s portfolio of surfacing solutions, including HanStone Quartz and Hanex Solid Surfaces.

Lapitec Earns Innovative Material Iconic Award 2018

Lapitec® full-body sintered stone has earned the title of “Innovative Material” with an Iconic Award 2018: Innovative Architecture prize, an independent, international architecture and design contest founded by the German Design Council. With five historical categories (Architecture, Interior, Product, Communication and Concept), this year the award was enriched by a new section, Innovative Material, which recognizes the development of sustainable materials that are energy efficient and multifunctional by design. The jury is composed of architecture and design experts. The potential and merits of full-body sintered stone are seamlessly wed with applications as façade claddings: the material is humidity and UV-ray resistant, self-cleaning, and its extreme hardness makes it resistant to the elements and pollution.

BLANCO

The NEW BLANCO SILGRANIT® mobile color app allows you to view the company’s sinks with many common countertops to help choose the perfect color combination. In addition to its SILGRANIT sinks and exclusive fabricator-only sinks, the company has also included select stainless steel and fireclay sinks. Users can upload custom countertops and save a library of their own countertop choices and favorite sink/ countertop combinations. An image gallery is provided for inspiration and design ideas, as well as a dealer locator. Users can click for directions to a local showroom, on the fly from an iPhone, iPad or Android device. Learn more about the app on the company’s website.

For more information, go to isfanow.org/info and list RS #45

Bocchi

The Contempo 36D farmhouse, apronfront, fireclay double-bowl kitchen sink from Bocchi is available in a variety of colors like white, matte black, sapphire blue and matte dark gray. The apron-front installation offers reversible application. Thanks to the extreme heat used during the firing process and Bocchi’s special glaze coating fused with the fireclay body, the sinks are nonporous, uniform, scratch and stain resistant.

For more information, go to isfanow.org/info and list RS #46

Sink Spotlight

Braxton-Bragg

Braxton-Bragg is now offering its exclusive line of Envy surgical-grade 316 stainless steel sinks. This chromium, nickel and molybdenum alloy of steel is strong and corrosion-resistant. These new surgical-grade stainless steel sinks hold up to heavy use, look good in any new or remodeled kitchen, are easy to maintain and clean and are available at a price point to position them as a true moneymaker for fabricators.

For more information, go to isfanow.org/info

Chemcore Industries

Chemcore Industries has added a 33-in. 50/50 style kitchen model to its upscale Romano Italian line of Fireclay sinks. It is available as model number 3318. Baked at a very high temperature, Romano Italian Fireclay sinks are high quality and durable. Available in white, the sinks feature a smooth front and traditional rounded corners for a classic look that will complement any kitchen. The company is a premier wholesale-only nationwide sink, faucet and accessories provider, with convenient same-day shipping from 6 warehouses in Los Angeles, Atlanta, Chicago, Austin, New England, and Southern Florida.

For more information, go to isfanow.org/info and list RS #48

See our ads on Pages 34 and 47

Domain Industries Releases Renewed Fireclay Farm House Sink Collection

Crestwood artisan-crafted fireclay sinks from Domain Industries are a blend of durability and versatility drawing upon techniques passed down through generations. Fireclay is a unique type of ceramic which requires a high temperature firing process to fuse the glaze to the clay, improving the strength and integrity of the nonporous material to resist staining, chipping and fading. The result is a very hard and durable sink with a luxurious appearance

that is suitable in traditional and modern kitchens. They are available in several reversible styles (most single bowls and one double bowl): a 24-in. version with smooth or fluted design; a 30-in. version with smooth, fluted or casement design; a 33-in. version with smooth, fluted or casement design; a 36-in. version with smooth or fluted design; and a 33-in.double-bowl version with smooth or fluted design.

For more information, go to isfanow.org/info and list RS #49

Franke

Franke has launched its Crystal Collection, a product from its European offering, within the U.S. market. Forged from an integration of Franke stainless steel and glass, the collection’s sinks boast a striking aesthetic and provide added cabinet space under the sink through a corner drain. The sink design includes a shatterproof glass panel — available in black, white or stainless steel — which discretely obscures the drain and pairs with the stainless-steel basin to make residual water virtually disappear. Additional sink features include a line-free draining board to let water run off gently and a zero-radius basin. The Crystal sink is available in a single- or doublebowl design and provides the opportunity to install the single-bowl sink with a right or left side drain. Each stainless-steel sink is prefinished with a Silk Finish to ensure durability of its attractive shine, and all Crystal sinks correspond to a matching faucet.

For more information, go to isfanow.org/info and list RS #50

Gemstone

Gemstone Sinks continues to innovate for the healthcare market by listening to designers and architects for what is needed. For that reason, Gemstone has released a line of healthcare

sinks with offset drains from its most popular vanity sink models. New to Gemstone in 2018-2019 are the: 1812-HVO, 1613-HVO, and 1514-VOR. The 1514-VOR is the righthanded drain option for previously released and popular 1514-VO (with the drain on the left side). Visit Gemstone’s newly updated website for more information and to view its new interactive digital product catalog.

For more information, go to isfanow.org/info and list RS #50

Karran

New for 2019 are five quartz farmhouse sinks from Karran. They come in three configurations including a large single bowl, a double equal bowl and a large/small bowl design with low divide. All six of Karran’s farmhouse quartz sinks are available in six rich colors. QA model sinks come with a 9-in. deep apron. For those looking to retrofit a farmhouse sink into an existing standard sink base cabinet, then the QAR version with its 6-½-in. apron height is a suitable choice. The new QAR-750 in White is pictured here.

See our ad on Page 9

For more information, go to isfanow.org/info and list RS #51

KitchenZip.com

KitchenZip.com offers wholesale prices on a variety of sinks, including stainless steel sinks, granite composite sinks, apron sinks, zeroradius sinks, porcelain sinks and quartz stone sinks. The company also provides the top brands products like Blanco, Vigo, Revere and Lottare. The company also offers faucets and sink accessories. Visit the company’s website for more information.

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KOHLER

KOHLER offers sinks featuring Neoroc composite material designed for durability and functionality. Neoroc is a proprietary material that is colored all the way through and is resistant to scratches and stains, and is impact- and heat-resistant to 750 F. It has UV inhibitors to prevent fading and the matte finish is a great complement to any countertop. The sinks are available in various configurations, including bar sinks, and both large and small single- and double-bowl sinks. Some designs come with a sink rack for added protection. The variety of designs make it very versatile and there are both top-mount and undermount options with these highly durable sinks. They are manufactured to the highest standards and most have limited lifetime warranties.

See our ad on Page 24

For more information, go to isfanow.org/info and list RS #53

Lenova

Lenova‘s latest addition to its Ledge Series is the Ultra Ledge, a prep and clean-up station and a professional-grade work area. Available in 46- and 58-in. models, the sink offers generous proportions and is notable for its dual levels of accessories that facilitate easy food preparation. Engineered platforms allow the user to slide in optional accessories as needed, including a colander, cutting boards and roll-up grid racks. The design transforms the kitchen sink into an efficient station for chopping produce, draining pasta, drying

dishes and soaking pots and pans. The Ultra Ledge Sink features a streamlined design crafted from durable 16-gauge 18/10 stainless steel. Standard features include an easy-toclean satin finish, sound baffling pads and removable splash guards and strainer baskets. For more information, go to isfanow.org/info and list RS #54

Meganite

The new Meganite sinks and basins range is specifically designed for commercial spaces as well as residential applications. The 17 specification-driven models combine natural

stone patterns with elegant yet functional shapes to create a breakthrough series. Designers and home users are no longer limited to solid whites. Now hygienic spaces can be created with today’s top trending colors. The company’s sinks are crafted from carefully thermoformed sections of Meganite, providing all of the hygienic properties and benefits of solid surface. The company made every trough sink healthier by designing rounded inside edges to eliminate dirt buildup. This adjustment is a much more hygienic design than traditional straight seams. The TF-004 Sink in M007 Mt. Carrara is pictured here.

For more information, go to isfanow.org/info and list RS #55

MR Direct

Usually seen only in commercial venues, MR Direct has a heavy-duty series of sinks for the home kitchen market. Ten models in its ¾-inch, corner radius collection of stainless steel sinks are available in a bold, 14-gauge thickness. These sinks boast maximum work space, with tight, but easily cleaned, rounded corners. They were initially introduced in 18-gauge; then a 16-gauge option was added. Now, for

residential kitchens, industrial level, 14-gauge sinks are also available. The density of these basins muffle sounds and do not dent easily, improving satisfaction.

For more information, go to isfanow.org/info and list RS #56

Pablo

The SER91003 apron stainless steel singlebowl kitchen sink from Pablo can be used in kitchens for houses, villas, hotel apartments and more. It is recommended that the minimum width of the kitchen countertop is 600mm. Nanotechnology is used for surface treatment to avoid fingerprint residue. Self-cleaning

function along with the special surface makes beads flow down to the drain cleanly, helping to ensure the sink is clean and hygienic. For more information, go to isfanow.org/info and list RS #57

Sink1.com

Sink1.com has thousands of sinks under one roof. Most orders ship the same day and every sink offered including all brands and every model are in stock. Competitively priced, retail pricing is displayed for your consumer, while wholesale pricing is hidden for sellers. Featuring Transolid’s stainless steel, granite and fireclay sinks, the company offers style at affordable prices. Transolid’s innovative

SinkPocket® features a patented sink storage pocket in standard sized undermount and farmhouse stainless steel sinks. River’s Edge sinks feature affordable luxury in 14- and 16-gauge thicknesses and brands such as BLANCO, Swan, Franke, Elkay, Sterling, Moen and Rohl are all offered at value pricing. Visit the company’s website to see the complete line of sinks available.

For more information, go to isfanow.org/info and list RS #58

TOTO

TOTO’s new Kiwami Rectangular Lavatory with LinearCeram technology exemplifies its innovative prowess in materials science. By designing a thin-walled, yet highly functional

lavatory, TOTO enhances the elegance of the bathroom with a new dimension in beauty. Eye-catchingly thin-walled, the new rectangular lavatory is extremely strong. Along the thinnest part of the lavatory’s frame, the LinearCeram is approximately half the thickness of a conventional basin wall. However, the material has a very high tensile strength. The new Kiwami Rectangular Lavatory features CeFiONTect glaze, TOTO’s nano-technology glaze to prevent debris from sticking to surfaces and ensuring easy cleaning. CeFiONTect also offers durability for long-term use. Available in two sizes – 23-⅝ in. and 19-11/16 in.

For more information, go to isfanow.org/info and list RS #59

ISFA FABRICATOR PROFILE: bond interiors

Bond

Interiors is not your typical fabrication company.

Not only is the business extremely diverse in its offerings, but it also is going out of its way to expand the boundaries of solid surface both in taking on high-profile advanced projects, but also operating in some of the largest and fastest growing markets in the world. It is also sustainable-minded, offering LEED services and energy-saving designs.

Primarily based out of Dubai in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the company has more than 2,000 employees and operates in seven international markets. In addition to Dubai, one of the seven Emirates that makes up the UAE, the company also operates in two of the other Emirates, Abu Dhabi (which serves as the capital of the UAE) and Sharjah, as well as the Philippines, India, China and Italy.

Additionally, the company offers a very wide range of products and services, and considers itself an “interior fit out” business, which is an appropriate term for the company, as it is a large and standout example of a world-class, one-stop interior design business. Not only does it template, fabricate and install several international brands of solid surface as well as its own brand of solid surface called ALBA, the company also does joiner/millwork, mechanical, electrical and plumbing (MEP), glassworks, decorative metal fabrication and sign making, as well as manufactures furniture, complete with an upholstery division. It also templates and installs quartz surfacing, granite and its own brand of 100 percent recyclable sustainable hard surfacing material called ALBA Stone. The product, which the company describes

as a “crystalized marble” made mainly from abundantly available natural material, sounds akin to the compact surfacing that’s making waves in the U.S. market, in that it is durable enough to work for horizontal applications such as flooring and outdoor cladding because of its color stability in UV light.

The company is always looking for ways to add value to its operations and further benefit its clients, which is among the reasons the business has expanded in such a variety of directions to much success. For example, Bond’s projects benefited from adding a paint shop to it’s in-house facilities. Combining solid surface and paint matching reduces costs on vertical surfaces for customers. Du, a large phone company who hired bond to update its furniture and wall panels at its retail locations, is a primary example of a client that saw savings.

And although the company is involved in a lot of various products in the realm of interior contracting for the benefit of its clients, it also understands the value of partnering with other companies. For instance, while Bond offers natural stone, quartz and other hard surfacing products (such as its ALBA Stone mentioned previously) and will template and install them, it subcontracts out the fabrication of these

Bond’s work on the iconic Jumeirah Beach Hotel in Jumeirah, Dubai, UAE, included complete fit-out of 46 suites, public areas, lobbies and leisure club, as well as turnkey fit-out of a restaurant including mechanical, electrical and plumbing. A large amount of Avonite Solid Surface was used in the project.

products. That has allowed it to focus most of its surfacing work on solid surface, and to great effect. However, before discussing the upscale projects, world-class capabilities of the company and where it is headed, it is important to get an understanding of the how the company began and how it got the status it boasts today.

The Background

The company was founded in 1986 by Managing Director Saad Moaswes. The business started as a very modest small business with a total of five staff and the market was very slow. “I had recently lost my job as a civil engineer and fit out was a small market at the time with very few professionals available,” said Moaswes. “The required start-up cost was low and all of our jobs were subcontracted.”

However, the company soon realized it was difficult to find reliable subcontractors and once it had grown enough capital, the group started setting up its own teams and workshops. “This was the best way to have hands-on control over quality and delivery dates,” Moaswes explained. “As business was growing, these workshops were developed into serious production facilities.”

Bond Interiors Founder Saad Moaswes’ background in construction management in civil engineering (he has degrees from the University of Southern California), along with his philosophy of ethics, expertise and customer service has driven the company’s success.

In 2018, Bond completed a 550,000-sq.-ft. facility that houses most of its divisions to improve its ability to complete amazing feats of design and fabrication. The new building is sustainable minded with green energy systems, water recycling and a bio-diesel petrol station, among other initiatives.

The company focused its efforts on putting in place solid programs for training new workers, buying the best machinery available, establishing best practices for systems to run the business and utilizing quality products. These areas of focus were instrumental in the company developing a respectable list of clients over the years. And because the company had concentrated on providing its service and products in a way that was dedicated to superior outcomes, the clientele it developed was made up of higher-end clients that were interested in quality products and attentive service that can propel a business forward.

Another reason the company grew was because it worked to quickly identify market trends and adapt to them to stay on the edge of what was developing in interior design. Part of their ability to do that was because they had taken key pieces of the business in

house where they could be controlled. “We picked up versatile skills and we shifted with the market as it shifted from retail to hospitality to corporate and to healthcare,” said Moaswes. “When recession hit, we maintained our high quality and reduced cost in different ways. We improved our systems and set up overseas offices to make use of skilled staff at lower cost. We practically doubled the size of our operations during the recession.”

The Company Today

With the loyal base of prestigious customers and a growing operation, the business continued to expand in size, competencies

The solid surface shop in the Bond Interiors facility combines modern technology and highly-trained workers to produce and integrate intricate solid surface work with numerous other aspects of full fit-out of interior designs.

and capabilities which led to broader business opportunities and increased skill sets.

In the 30 years the company has been in business, it has grown from that initial five-man operation into a company that employs more than 2,000 staff and handles projects in the Middle East, Asia and Europe.

As Bond got larger, they invested in bigger, better more advanced equipment in all of the various divisions of the company. Their solid surface operation includes CNC machinery, thermoforming equipment that ranges from ovens to vacuum presses, v-grooving machinery and high-end saws, just to name

bond interiors

some of the equipment. This investment in equipment is in addition to more manpower than dozens of solid surface shops combined. And to protect the health of its workers, the company has a dust extraction system that is able to filter 112,000 cubic meters of air per hour.

As another testament to the company’s successful growth strategy, in 2018 it completed construction of a sustainable purpose-built, integrated 550,000-sq.-ft. facility that consolidates most of its production divisions all in one place. That’s a building that is equivalent in size to about 10 football fields.

“This facility broadens our ability in producing unique and custom design features to stretch as far as a creative mind can travel,” said Moaswes.

And with all of the different aspects of the interior contracting business the company is involved in, solid surface work is only a small

Intercontinental Hotel in Dubai Marina required a lot of solid surface work. Avonite Solid Surface was used inside the restrooms, including wall cladding, flooring, bathtubs, wash bowls and shower trays. The lift lobby corridor walls were also clad in Avonite.

percentage of the total business the company does. However, that small percentage comes out to be around to be around 8,000 sq. ft. of solid surface work every month, mostly performed for use in innovative high-end commercial projects, to the tune of about 80 percent, with just 20 percent in residential work. In regards to the company’s focusing its surfacing fabrication mainly on solid surface, Moaswes said “With one material, the possibilities may seem limited through an inexperienced eye, but Bond’s ability to extract the positive element of the material to produce unique design features is renowned because of our investment in state-of-the-art technology in our integrated facility.”

Because of its reputation for intricate, quality work and an ability to bring together and closely control a variety of different aspects of its projects, Bond gets about half of its surfacing business from interior contractors, with another 40 percent divided between

interior designers/consultants and hotel operators, with the remaining 10 percent being via direct sales.

A Philosophy for Success

Bond Interiors’ dedication to the highest quality in interior contracting, furniture manufacturing and joinery works, has led it to have a veritable who’s who list of clients in numerous areas of commercial works including 5-star hotels, restaurants, retail outlets, banks, office buildings, airports, and many more locales over its more than 30 years in business.

These high-end projects in well-known businesses have required a scope of work well outside the typical solid surface fabricator. As a high-end fit-out contractor, Bond has developed the expertise to create intricate design features and produce highly decorative interiors that are unique and timeless. Of course, this puts the company’s abilities to the test in numerous ways.

“Obstacles and challenges are frequent occurrences in most of our projects as each project is unique in design and fit out and the deadlines are always tight,” explained Moaswes. “Fortunately, Bond’s skilled workers along with the company’s expertise that exceeds three decades convert these complications to favorable outcomes every time.”

“Our philosophy is simple: Focus on commitment and hard work in a direction that benefits all stakeholders,” he continued. “Throughout all of our time in operation, it was our business ethics, love of people and keeping clients in our focus that were our driving forces.”

The company has come a very long way since its inception and the momentum doesn’t appear to be stopping anytime soon. It is certainly fair to say that Bond Interiors successes certainly speak for themselves.

For more information about Bond Interiors, visit www. bondinteriors.com or email info@bondinteriors.com.

CNC Saw vs Sawjet FOR CUTTING STONE

A deeper look at the efficiencies of each in the fabrication process

By Darren Mehr Co-Authored by Rachel Scheck

According to the U.S. Bureau of Statistics, the unemployment rate in October was at 3.7 percent, which hasn’t been seen since the 1960s. We continuously hear from fabrication shops of the trouble they are having finding reliable, trainable workers, and so they are looking at taking advantage of technology to help ease the labor demand.

A variety of efficient technologies have been developed to improve any number of areas for stone fabrication businesses, from templating and installation to job management and inventory systems. Of course, the fabrication process itself has not been overlooked. Automation of the cutting process is a valid option for some companies to decrease their need for additional labor.

That leads to the question, what technology is right for a given fabricator?

As such, comparing a CNC saw to a sawjet can be helpful.

A saw blade is the most efficient and costeffective tool for dimensioning hard surface countertops. This efficiency does come with limitations however. The roundness of a blade doesn’t allow it to cut an inside corner completely out, nor cut an oval sink or other similarly tight radius work. Utilizing a waterjet to cut stone is more expensive than a CNC saw blade, but it does allow you to complete the areas that a blade cannot. A sawjet combines both of these tools to achieve the efficiency of a blade with the flexibility of a waterjet. It will use the saw blade for any straight cuts it can, and only utilize the waterjet where the blade can’t reach.

Most stone fabrication shops have the same two items fill the cost buckets the quickest – material and labor.

CNC saws will cut the brunt of stone countertop materials in the neighborhood of 100 to160 inches per minute. These machines shine the brightest when dimensioning standard-sized, straight-lined shapes where it’s possible to line up the cuts like a grid. For example, a lineup of nine 36-in. vanities placed three wide by three tall in a single slab

would be an ideal setup for the CNC saw. A CNC saw is capable of having those parts dimensioned in less than 10 minutes. When operating a CNC saw with this type of work, it is safe to expect to fabricate around three to four slabs per hour. With production ramped up to three to four slabs per hour, the next step would be to figure out how to cut out 36 sinks in an hour to keep up with that rate of production.

A CNC saw is fully capable of other work as well, but this is where inefficiencies often appear. In a typical production environment, not all pieces are the same size nor do all the cuts line up. A CNC saw is fully capable of cutting those types of projects but it might require leaving more material in between pieces, or utilizing an operator or vacuum lift to move parts around mid-cycle.

A move during mid-cycle increases cycle time and creates a potential accuracy issue if additional cuts are needed in the moved piece. When cutting out sinks with a CNC saw, multiple step cuts are required around the sink profile while using an incremental router bit. This adds an additional 15 minutes average per vanity sink. If you don’t have any other automated cutting solutions for sink cutouts, this can be a great option provided you don’t need the machine time for dimensioning parts. In many cases, these all may be acceptable

tradeoffs depending on your production needs and cost and quantity of material you’re using.

A sawjet marries the efficiencies of a CNC saw blade with the powerful waterjet, which minimizes the cuts that are hard to make using a blade on its own. The waterjet is capable of cutting 90 degree inside corners and any shaped sink a designer can dream up. The same vanity sink that will take 15 minutes on the CNC saw, will take less than 5 minutes with the waterjet. The waterjet will only be used if the blade is unable to easily execute a specific cut, utilizing the strengths of each cutting solution to the fullest.

Most stone fabrication shops have the same two items fill the cost buckets the quickest – material and labor. A CNC saw can surely decrease the labor portion, but when it comes to material, there will be little to no savings. However, a sawjet is capable of decreasing both of these costs.

It is difficult to calculate an exact increase in material utilization across the board because there are so many factors at play, but we’ve often heard from owners that their monthly material costs went down by 10 to 20 percent after introducing a sawjet into their production. This is mostly attributed to not having to worry about the overtravel of the blade when doing layouts, allowing for much tighter nests.

The questions to ask yourself include how big of a step is your shop ready to take and what are your shop’s plans for future growth.

A sawjet will also decrease labor because it has the ability to cut sinks and radius work in an efficient manner, in addition to producing more complete pieces to be passed on in the fabrication process. This will ease the workload on the fabrication process downstream.

Now there’s no question the initial financial investment of a sawjet will be greater than that of a CNC saw alone. In addition to the initial price, there are consumables related to waterjet cutting. The big question is, will the benefits of increased material utilization and decreased labor, offset these added costs.

Another factor that we often hear is that the additional expense of operating a sawjet is worth it because of the ease of setting a slab down, walking away and returning to a nearfinished product all while gaining great material utilization.

Every stone fabrication business will run its operations differently according to its level of production needs. When considering which

machine, CNC saw or sawjet, makes sense for your business, it is advised to make sure you understand the areas in which you need assistance.

A CNC saw is a great step in the direction of automating a shop. The questions to ask yourself include how big of a step is your shop ready to take and what are your shop’s plans for future growth. It is important to make sure that the sawing solution you choose to add to your shop will not pose restraints on future growth.

Stone can be cut with a CNC saw or a sawjet. When is the right time to use each method? Assess the needs of your shop and choose the solution that will provide the most benefit today and into the future, based on your calculations. The most value is gained when you are using the machine that is best suited for your shop.

About the Author

Darren Mehr is a Sales Application Engineer for Park Industries, a supplier of various machinery and equipment for the fabrication of stone. More information about Park Industries is available on its website at www.parkindustries. com.

Co-Author Rachel Scheck is the Communications Specialist for Park Industries

A sawjet can decrease labor and material costs because it allows for tight nesting and cutting radius work with a waterjet while performing longer straight cuts with a saw.

A CNC saw will perform at its highest rate of production when dimensioning standard-sized, straight-lined shapes where it’s possible to line up the cuts like a grid.

Every fall the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) releases a list of the most frequently cited safety and health violations for the past fiscal year. This list allows business owners and safety personnel to see where OSHA is focusing its efforts in your industry, identify where similar businesses have received OSHA citations and to compare your own safety programs to the issues OSHA is most interested in. The following article identifies and discusses the most frequently cited standards in the Cut Stone and Stone Product Manufacturing industry (NAICS Code 327991) for this past fiscal year (October 2017 through September 2018).

This past year, the top 10 areas that received federal citations were as follows:

1. Respiratory Protection

2. Hazard Communication

3. Occupational Noise Exposure

4. Powered Industrial Trucks

5. Lock out/Tag out

6. Complying with the Z tables listing acceptable levels of air contaminants

7. Wiring methods, components and electrical equipment

8. Personal Protective Equipment

9. Overhead and Gantry cranes

10. Machine guarding for power transmission

1: Respiratory Protection

The Respiratory Protection Standard was cited more frequently than any other regulation. The most common way chemicals and hazards enter your body is through inhalation. Surface fabricators may be required to use respirators to protect themselves from inhaling grit and dust from dry-cutting quartz, stone or masonry, and from exposure to silica or chemicals released when sawing, routing, drilling or sanding synthetic sheet goods. Adhesives and other chemicals

OSHA TOP 10 Safety Citations for the Hard Surface Fabrication Industry

By Mary Malotke

used to assemble, fabricate or clean surfacing products may also produce hazardous fumes. You must prepare and adhere to a written respiratory protection program with specific worksite procedures. Update this program as necessary to reflect changes in workplace conditions that affect respirator use.

To determine if a respirator is needed, you must first calculate the employee exposure for each chemical or particulate in the workplace. If the exposure exceeds the Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL), select a NIOSH-approved respirator with a protection level based on the chemical concentration the worker is exposed to.

Before using a respirator, a physician must assess the employee and verify it is safe for that employee. Working while using a respirator can be difficult, and may place a physiological burden on an employee that varies with the type of respirator worn, workplace conditions and the medical status of the employee. Each employee must be fit tested using the specific type of respirator they are assigned to use.

Each employee must be trained on the respiratory hazards they are potentially exposed to, the proper use of their respirator, any limitations on their use, and proper procedures for cleaning, disinfecting, storing, inspecting and otherwise maintaining their respirator. Extra training, especially on cleaning and disinfecting, must be done if employees will share a respirator.

Lastly you must designate a program administrator who is qualified by appropriate training or experience to oversee the respiratory protection program.

2: Hazard Communication

The second most common citation was violating the Hazard Communication Standard. Employers must include all chemicals that you use and store in a comprehensive Hazard

Communication program. In 2012, OSHA modified the Hazard Communication Standard by adopting the Globally Harmonized System (GHS) of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals. GHS is an internationally agreed upon system that replaces the various classification and labeling standards used in different countries. Your chemical safety program must include the following:

■ A written program that includes a list of all chemicals used and stored at your workplace

■ Safety Data Sheets (SDS)

■ Updated GHS labels for all chemicals

■ Safe handling and storage procedures for each chemical

■ Adequate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

■ Comprehensive training program for employees

■ Quick drench showers and eye wash stations (as required, such as for the fork truck battery charging area)

3: Occupational Noise Exposure

The third most frequently cited standard was noise exposure. Cutting, shaping, and similar tasks involved in surface fabrication work can generate significant noise. Once you have noise-induced hearing loss, it is permanent and irreversible. However, it is 100 percent preventable so OSHA requires employers to assess noise levels, and set up a hearing conservation program when safe limits are exceeded.

OSHA’s hearing conservation program has six components:

1. Initial noise measurements (monitoring) at each work area.

2. If initial monitoring shows noise levels at work stations could be at or above 85 dbA, then monitoring must be performed on an ongoing basis to assess the noise levels in the workplace

and calculate the time-weighted average.

3. All employees at risk of noise-induced hearing loss must be trained on their risks and how your program protects them.

4. Audiometric testing must be done to measure changes in hearing capability. A baseline audiogram must be done within one year of first exposure. Additional tests must be done annually to show if there is any loss of hearing ability at any frequency.

5. All feasible noise controls, such as isolation, job rotation or engineering controls, must be implemented to reduce sound levels as much as possible.

6. When engineering and administrative controls cannot reduce sound levels to acceptable limits, hearing protectors such as ear plugs must also be used. Hearing protector attenuation levels vary, so employers must ensure each employee’s protector reduces their noise exposure to a safe level.

4: Powered Industrial Trucks

Another frequently cited standard was the Powered Industrial Truck regulation. The use of powered industrial trucks for handling of slabs and finished products is common at surface fabrication shops. The majority of fork truck accidents are caused by lack of safe operating procedures and safety rule enforcement, as well as inadequate training. ALL personnel who work with or around forklifts must be trained on potential hazards and safe work practices. Operators must be trained specifically on the type of truck they will use and the working conditions encountered. Refresher training, including an evaluation of each operator’s performance, must be conducted at least every three years. Other material handling citations last year included slings and overhead and gantry cranes.

5: Lock out/Tag out

The purpose of a lockout/tagout program is to control the release of hazardous energy when servicing or maintaining equipment. Proper lockout/tagout procedures safeguard workers from hazardous energy releases of electrical, mechanical, hydraulic, pneumatic, chemical, thermal or other energy sources. Poor lockout/tagout procedures can lead to crushing, electrocution and amputations. Each employer must develop a site-specific energy control program for their workplace. Each type of machine and equipment must have specific lockout procedures when it is being maintained or serviced. This is generally done by affixing the appropriate lockout or tagout devices to energyisolating devices and by de-energizing machines and equipment.

You must have a formal written procedure for shutting down and locking/tagging out each piece of equipment to be serviced. All sources of energy must be identified and controlled.

You must provide the appropriate locks and tags. Use only lockout/tagout devices authorized for the particular equipment or machinery and ensure that they identify the individual users.

Use lockout devices for all equipment that can be locked out. Lock out plug-connected equipment by enclosing the plug. When acquiring new equipment or overhauling current equipment, ensure that it is capable of being locked out. If machines or equipment are not capable of being locked out, tagout devices may be used in lieu of lockout devices. The tagout program must provide protection equivalent to a lockout program.

Only the employee who applied a lockout/tagout device is permitted to remove it, except in specific special circumstances.

Provide training for all employees authorized to apply locks and tags. Training must include elements of the energy control procedure relevant to the employee’s duties or assignment. Employee training must be documented.

Inspect energy control procedures while they are in use at least annually.

6: Air Contaminant levels (the Z tables).

The Z tables list acceptable levels of air contaminants for a wide variety of hazardous chemicals. Employers must review the Z table list, as well as the 1910.1000 through 1910.1053 specific detailed Air Contaminant regulations. (For example, silica dust, generated by cutting or polishing granite, has a specific regulation 1910.1053 under the air contaminants standard).

The air contaminants regulation (1910.1000) also relates to both Hazard Communication and Respiratory protection programs listed above. OSHA requires you to determine which chemicals are released into the air at your workplace and how it compares to the safe limit for each air contaminant present. Then you must use all feasible engineering controls, such as substitution or ventilation, along with administrative controls, regulated areas and safe housekeeping procedures, to reduce levels as much as possible. If these controls don’t achieve compliance, personal protective equipment must also be used to keep the air contaminants exposure of employees within safe limits. The hazard communication standard requires that you train your employees on the hazards they are exposed to at work. If respirators are required, you must

implement a full Respiratory Protection Program (as outlined above).

7: Electrical Safety, Wiring methods, Electrical Components/Equipment

Electrical hazards was number seven on the list of most frequently cited issues. An average of one worker dies from electrocution on the job every day. Even low voltage or low current (amperage) can cause serious harm or death.

Use of flexible cords must be in accordance with OSHA regulations, must be inspected before each use and may not be substituted for more permanent wiring. Cords used in a wet area must be protected by a GFCI device. Electric poweroperated tools must either be of the approved double-insulated type, or grounded through the ground wire. Never use electric cords for hoisting or lowering tools.

Wiring methods, components and equipment for general use must be of the proper classification and current carrying capacity. Surface feeder and branch circuits must be marked with their capacity rating. Only trained electricians can be allowed to work “hot” or in hazardous (classified) locations. Electricians must follow safe work practices and have the appropriate safeguards for personal protection.

8: Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

Employers are required to conduct a hazard assessment to identify hazards that do or could require PPE, including heat exposure, sharp edges, noise, vibration, dangerous equipment, dust and chemicals. When exposure to these hazards cannot be completely eliminated through safe work practices and engineering controls, you must provide adequate protective clothing and equipment at no cost to each employee. This may include gloves, goggles, hearing protection, face shields, respirators and hard hats, depending on the situation. Steel toe shoes and prescription glasses must also be provided by the employer if the employee is required to leave these items at work.

Employees must be trained how to use and maintain their PPE. If employees are allowed to provide their own protective equipment, it is still the employer’s responsibility to assure its adequacy, maintenance and sanitation. PPE must be reasonably comfortable, must have the proper fit and must not overly interfere with the movements of the wearer. It also must be durable and easily cleanable.

It is the responsibility of the employer to ensure that PPE is worn when required and that it is kept clean and in good repair. PPE citations last year

included eye and face protection, hand protection and foot protection.

9: Overhead and Gantry cranes

Cranes take many forms but this past year’s citations focused on the overhead and gantry crane category. This year inspectors cited lack of frequent and periodic inspections, the use of electrical components and pendant controls that did not fully comply with subpart S (the electrical code requirements), a lack of a comprehensive preventative maintenance program and failure to inspect slings and hoist rigging prior to use. The crane section also was the subject of two 5a citations related to failure to secure the slab prior to lifting, exposing the employee to potential crushing injuries if the slab were to slip in its slings.

10: Machine Guarding for Power Transmission and Point of Operation

The number 10 most cited safety issue was with machine guarding. Machine guarding citations this year focused on power transmission and point of operation. Employers must evaluate and use the most effective means of machine guarding. There are three basic means of machine guarding; Fixed

or barrier guards, guarding by location (where controls are away from the point of operation) and guarding by device (such as a light curtain). According to regulations, one or more methods of machine guarding shall be provided to protect the operator and other employees in the machine area from hazards such as those related to the point of operation, in-running nip points and rotating parts.

Walking and Working Surfaces

Although not among the most cited problems.

Did you Know?

Did you know that ISFA offers a full suite of Safety Training Videos and Manuals for meeting OSHA Requirements? Everything from a full Federal OSHA Compliance Manual to a specialized video on the new Silica Requirements are available. All video options also include handouts, a quiz, and a certificate of completion document. Prices range from $90 to $150 depending on the content provided. Are you interested in learning more or obtaining a copy for yourself? Just send ISFA a quick email and we will provide you with a full safety product offering to review at info@isfanow.org.

Employers should note there was a significant change to the “Walking and Working Surfaces” section of the OSHA code. This expanded code includes specific requirements for fall protection if the employee will work more than 4 feet above ground level, unless working from a secure ladder. We anticipate that this area of the code will see increased citations over the 2018-2019 year.

Ultimately it is the responsibility of the employer to provide a safe workplace, and an effective safety program not only benefits workers, but also increases productivity and reduces costs, including reductions in workers’ compensation premiums. While it takes plenty of effort, it’s a winning proposition all around.

About the Author

Mary E. Malotke is Senior Engineer for TechneTrain, Inc., and reviews new general industry regulations and provides updated OSHA training to students at the University of Cincinnati through OSHA’s Great Lakes Training Institute. TechneTrain has a full line of safety training programs and reference manuals designed for the surface fabrication industry, including a turnkey employee training program for the new airborne crystalline silica regulations. These products are available from ISFA at discounted prices. For further information visit www.technetrain.net or call (800) 852-8314.

Developing a Winning Sales Team

Four fundamentals for focusing sales success

By Kirk Heiner

BUILDING A STELLAR SALES STAFF ISN’T EASY. BUT IT CAN BE SIMPLER.

Creating a winning team takes a laser focus, deep understanding of people and commitment to the cause. There are several simple steps you can take to quickly improve both your team and the results they’re getting.

If you have a sales staff that is not generating the results you want, there are some methods that work.

There are four fundamentals that affect nearly every aspect of sales success. These four factors are driving your results, and as a manager keeping them front and center will give you the ability to tap in to your team’s true potential.

Fundamental 1 – The Right People

Having the right people on your sales team is the first critical factor affecting your sales success. Many people involved in sales shouldn’t be. In fact, it’s been estimated that up to 80 percent of people in sales should be in a different line of work.

You can’t make a winning team from flawed candidates. Lackluster sales reps and designers will cause you to struggle to achieve your sales goals. You need people who want to succeed and are willing to do what it takes to win. Everyone wants success, but only a handful are willing to dedicate themselves to working to make it happen.

There are only three types of people you can hire to build your sales team: Winners, losers and potential winners.

1. Winners - Winners don’t need much. They are out to win and will achieve great results with limited support and effort. They love the thrill of victory. They constantly work to gain greater knowledge and understanding so they can be better. You’ll find them reading articles, asking questions and searching for tips on how they can become a superior sales person.

The best salesman I ever employed would often have a new book on sales on his desk, even though he was already the best salesperson on the team. Winners seek to improve.

2. Losers - Losers will zap your energy, frustrate your staff and create a negative environment within the organization. They are toxic. They talk about improvement, but actually resist it at every turn. They aren’t willing to do the hard work that makes selling easy. They can drag the entire team down if kept on.

Not everyone who brings up issues are losers or negative. Sometimes you must truly listen to what your salespeople have to say and address important problems. Don’t put someone in the loser category just because they point out areas of trouble.

We don’t pay our staff simply to agree with us or to ignore the obvious. But if they are just plain negative and not working hard to improve your business, then you must get them out of the organization as quickly as possible. It may not be easy, but if they aren’t diligent in positively affecting your business and are simply sowing the seeds of negativity, they can ruin what is otherwise a potentially great sales team.

3. Potential Winners – These people are diamonds in the rough. They are your big moneymakers of the future. However, you must nurture and develop these treasures. They don’t yet possess the knowledge and skills they need to consistently succeed. It’s your job to hone and polish their skillsets.

This is especially important at a time when unemployment is low and jobseekers are not plentiful. Every salesperson you are able to convert into a winner is a big step toward a more successful sales team.

You must make it a priority to invest the time to give them the training they’ll require to be dynamic sales superstars.

All Star teams are made up of top talent. Developing a winning team requires letting go of anyone who is unwilling to commit to creating success. It also means filling your roster with winners and developing potential winners.

Having the right psychology is the next critical key. How your people think affects their performance and the atmosphere within your organization.

How they view their position, the company and their future are the critical components. If they feel they’re not gaining ground and heading towards a positive future, they will not be able to move your company’s agenda forward.

An old proverb says, “Above everything else, guard your heart. For it affects everything else.” This is profound.

What your salespeople think, feel and believe makes a difference.

Believe it or not, YOU play a major part in all this.

As their leader, you can dramatically impact their psyche, and as such their performance. These are critical factors affecting your sales numbers. Don’t miss this big difference-maker.

Often sales managers seem to have a blind spot when it comes to the little things affecting their team’s morale. Here’s the key.

When someone feels empowered, they become unstoppable. But when they feel frustrated, neglected or unsupported, they will fall short of reaching both their goals and yours.

In sales, a vital word is “courage.” You have the power to encourage or to discourage your people. A simple comment from leaders can make them feel fantastic or disheartened.

Everyone on your team can be filled with either confidence or insecurity. This affects their ability to go out and win.

You want to also beware the impact others are having upon your sales team. It can be your accountants, HR, production staff, support personnel or anyone who interacts with your salespeople. You can’t let other staff beat your workhorse. You don’t need to walk on pins and needles here. However, you do want to be aware of what may be affecting your team’s psyche.

It’s been said, “A sale is nothing more than a transfer of enthusiasm.”

Most companies have no plan in place to keep their sales people empowered and enthusiastic. Your people need it to win. Don’t let others steal this valuable asset from your sales team’s tool chest. And let me tell you, it’s easily stolen.

Build your people up. Their psychology is a powerful tool that you will need to create winning

Most companies have no plan in place to keep their sales people empowered and enthusiastic. Don’t let others steal this valuable asset from your sales team’s tool chest. And let me tell you, it’s easily stolen.

results. Ask any winning coach if psychology affects performance and you’ll only hear one resounding answer: “Absolutely!”

Fundamental 3 – The Right Skillsets

The right person with the right attitude can accomplish little without the right skills to get the job done.

Many people who sell products or services for a living have no training on the sales process.

About 90 percent of all sales people have never read a single book on the subject. And 95 percent haven’t attended a seminar on sales to hone their skills over the course of the past three years. You must stay sharp if you want to win. Professionals in every industry train and practice to be the best at what they do. Winners train to be the best. They don’t neglect carving out time for improving their game.

Sales managers must grasp the fact that untrained sales people cost them money. Salespeople without proper selling skills cannot be expected to get great results.

Common Challenges

Often, the new sales manager was given the job because he or she had the highest sales numbers. That doesn’t always translate into being able to inspire, develop and manage other salespeople.

Sometimes the best salesperson is unable to lead others.

Many managers feel they can’t take the time to spend coaching their sales team. They may feel unequipped in the area of teaching and training. If you don’t feel comfortable conducting training sessions, you’ll struggle to create a winning sales team. Here are two options.

1. Learn To Coach – You can take a deep dive into understanding the coaching process. Spend time educating yourself not just in the area of sales, but also in best practices of adult learning.

2. Outside Help – You can bring in a professional to train your team. It can be an in-house event followed up with weekly or bi-weekly sessions to embed good habits. There are also some great online courses you can employ to help you make the most of your sales team.

Fundamental 4 – The Right Actions

What activities are your people busy doing throughout the day? If they are doing too many non-sales actions, it will be almost impossible to achieve victory.

Take a look at where your sales people are spending most of their time. If they are constantly doing low-payoff clerical duties or data input, they can’t make you any real money. Even worse is if they are chatting around the water cooler, where no work is getting done.

The only time sales people are making you money is when they are contacting, talking to and meeting with prospects and clients. That means regularly getting in front of new prospects, giving sales presentations, quoting jobs and following up to close the sale.

Having a handle on their main activities through the day will help you see what may be holding them back. Right actions bring right results.

Here’s the BIG takeaway.

As a sales manager, there are 101 areas in which you could place your efforts. That’s the problem. But, it’s not about what you could do, it’s about what you should do. These four factors hold the key.

If you focus on these four fundamentals, your sales success will be simple, strategic and inevitable.

About the Author

Kirk Heiner has more than 30 years’ experience in the kitchen & bath Industry. He helps showroom owners and managers increase market share by becoming radically customer driven. He’s conducted training events and seminars for corporations like Lowe’s, DuPont, Danze, Stock Building Supply, AWFS, KBIS, the National Kitchen & Bath Association and many more. For more information or to contact him, visit www.KBShowroomSales.com.

Corporate Culture –The Genesis Servant leadership

and the essence of corporate well being

By Paul Max Le Pera

What could be a company’s greatest asset (or liability) is difficult to quantify. It exists, but you cannot touch it; you can see its effects in the form of things like attitude, décor, spirit, protocol, communication and relationship, but you cannot directly see it. But, it can have positive or negative effects, depending on how it is nurtured.

The effects most demonstrably manifest themselves as employee turnover, trust, relationships, job satisfaction, productivity and end-user satisfaction. While it affects every department and employee, it is rarely actively managed. It tends to be dismissed as a “given” or something that just exists that people must conform to. However, there are steps that can be taken to build a quality foundation.

There is a special style of leadership known as “servant leadership” that best establishes the foundation for a healthy corporate culture. Servant leadership focuses primarily on the well-being and paths to grow for its team. Servant leaders will share power, not use it to dominate; they put the needs of others first to help them develop and to become more productive and most willingly so. Essentially, the servant leader is servant first, which instills a sense of self confidence, healthy autonomy and a feeling of appreciation within their team’s sense of self.

With this understanding, it becomes apparent why servant leadership also requires a relatively higher emotional intelligence. Emotional intelligence is critical to a leader’s ability to stay calm under

pressure, readily understand the needs of the team and deliver on them so as to optimize the cohesion and by doing so, help optimize performance.

Every individual adds a component to corporate culture. However, this input is often shaped by the values a company possesses, the degree to which they are shared and enforced, the behavior demonstrated by its leaders and how well downstream management is aligned and consistently demonstrates the values of servant leadership.

When in harmony, a cohesive team can be one of the company’s most powerful assets. This positive energy among employees is contagious and self-perpetuating. Therefore, servant leaders, at all levels within an organization, serve as the pillars that anchor the corporate culture. It starts at the top and trickles down, permeating every spoken and unspoken variable of the company’s existence.

The healthy change I see growing is that many of today’s leaders focus on establishing and maintaining a healthy corporate culture – they see this as non-negotiable in their duty. They realize that the very thing they are challenged to do, which is deliver results, profits, ROI and happy customers, is best achieved by maintaining happy healthy employees and the very atmosphere that many people devote a significant portion of their waking hours.

You, or outside specialists, can analyze, assess, evaluate and make necessary changes to support positive outcomes, growth, morale and lower turnover, and yet, if the symptoms are fixed but not the root cause, relapse to a declining atmosphere is inevitable.

So when trying to fix chronic tardiness, end high turnover or increase customer satisfaction ratings, for example, the source for these problems must also be identified and fixed, which can be a much more daunting task.

If the leadership primarily looks out for themselves, always needs to look good and be right, fails to lead by example, and/or practices a finger pointing/ blaming style of accountability, problems are likely to persist. Outdated narcissistic leadership styles can be a source for negativity, self-centeredness and even apathy of team members.

Targeting those behaviors without targeting how the leader serves or fails to serve may be a colossal waste of time, energy and money. If the executive is the fulcrum to solving the problems, but is also the root of them, by their very nature, they may not be willing or humble enough to hear or believe they are part of the problem.

Corporate culture is more than just employee attitude, it is also the reinvesting in employees, and showing appreciation, empathy and a degree of servitude by the leaders. As a whole, these items create an atmosphere of safety, a willingness to go the extra mile and a sense of belonging among employees. What ensues tends to be increased productivity, more job satisfaction, decreased turnover and increased customer service. If you can develop a spirit of community, employees are more willing to help one another and pitch in, when they see that their efforts are supporting a greater good than just their weekly paycheck.

A leader’s dream should be to have “superperforming” employees because the leader gave them their time, respect and a caring safe place in which to park a large percentage of their lives.

While corporate culture is an intangible asset that can’t be physically touched or seen, its effects can be certainly be felt and observed.

Building a solid corporate culture is also a critical way a leader can remain successful. Although there are many contributing factors to this dynamic, one core truth remains: “Happy employees make happy customers” and therein lies the magic of investing in the emotional and financial well-being of your people.

Foreign-owned companies that establish domestic operations must add successful cultural integration as well as leadership style to create a healthy corporate culture. This dynamic is very powerful and often discarded, for example, under the guise of ignorance or sadly, egotistical bravado by management. Sometimes, the deadly belief pervades that the product, not its people, defines the company. Both are needed and both are of equal importance, with employees often tipping the scale of what is the key driver to company sustainability.

While the United States is a melting pot of many cultures, collectively we have American customs, ideals, morals, ethics and core values around teamwork, religion and interpersonal relations, to name a few. They can be different than much of the world. American-owned and operated businesses have set a standard with respect to working hours, general demands, manner of being addressed and spoken to and expectations of what are “normal” working conditions. Foreign-owned companies who attempt to set foreign

values here, disregard the importance of playing by some of the most widely held norms here and may fail to successfully culturally integrate well.

The failure of foreign-owned companies to culturally integrate is pervasive and a dynamic that has played out repeatedly here in the United States. The failure to culturally integrate also stems back to the leadership style and core values. Essentially, servant leadership requires humility, in which there is little room for ego. If the leadership is not mentally tough, emotionally intelligent and, to some extent, spiritually evolved, they may not have the tools to serve others. A genuine care for others, putting others first, rolling up your sleeves and helping, talking to the lowest level employee as often and with the identical respect as the highest are all elements that make servant leadership the single most important KEY to establishing a healthy corporate culture.

Here are just a few questions that can help identify items which negatively affect corporate culture:

■ Are there gender or other biases in the manner and tone management speaks to their teams?

■ Does management do anything to acknowledge their teams around key holidays?

■ What does the office environment look like? Is it a dark and quiet, almost sweatshop like atmosphere?

■ Do leaders fail to acknowledge the contributions by their employees and need to take the accolades all for themselves?

■ Does the leader hire good people and tell them what to do instead of hiring good people who can offer insight to the management about what they should do?

■ Does the management provide a safe environment to contribute and provide constructive feedback or is constructive feedback seen as disloyalty, or even insubordination, to the leadership?

One of my favorite definitions of corporate culture is by Louis V. Gerstner, Jr., former CEO of IBM, who said, “Until I came to IBM, I probably would have told you that culture was just one among several important elements in any organization’s makeup and success ... I came to see, in my time at IBM, that culture isn’t just one aspect of the game, it is the game. In the end, an organization is nothing more than the collective capacity of its people to create value.”

While corporate culture is an intangible asset that can’t be physically touched or seen, its effects can certainly be felt and observed. Establishing and maintaining a healthy corporate culture IS the end game. Once your teams are emotionally vested in their leader, the company and its values, you create super-performing people who feel safe and appreciated. The common attitudes and beliefs of a company’s greatest asset, their people, significantly determine a company’s success. Corporate culture is an asset that requires re-investment and whose ROI is seen as lower turnover, productivity, sense of teamwork, total contribution, and more satisfied and retuning customers. Don’t overlook this important concept if you want a truly successful business.

About the Author

Paul Max Le Pera is president of Global Surfacing Alliance, LLC, a global consulting and product sourcing firm. He can be reached at PMax@GlobalSurfacingAlliance.com.

Here.Now.News.

From the

Desk of Amy Miller, Executive Director

The Gift of Presence

As we approach the holiday season, I can’t help but think about gifts. I love to spend time thoughtfully considering what to give my friends, family and co-workers. There is a sense of anticipation and excitement associated with gift giving. “Will they like it? Will it touch their heart? Is it the right size?” When we truly care about someone, and we take the time to think, look and select the perfect gift, it says so much more about how we feel about them. A carefully selected gift says that we care about the other person, we notice them, we’ve studied them, we really “get” them and they are worth more to us than a gift card from the local gas station.

On the flip-side, it’s also fun to be on the receiving end. It’s fun to be surprised, noticed and recognized. Even if you truly don’t want or need a thing, it always feels nice to receive a well thought out gift.

This year, I’d like to suggest that you give each and every person on your list the same gift, and while you’re at it, I suggest you give this gift to yourself, too!

The gift is presence.

There is no greater gift that you can give another human being than the gift of your undivided and whole-hearted attention and presence. Big screen TVs, diamond rings, the latest I-thingy or even a Mercedes-Benz with a big red bow on top can’t hold a candle to the gift of time.

Time is what we all want more of, but we can’t buy. It’s our most precious commodity, and nothing says, “I care” more than the gift of uninterrupted attention. I think it’s also safe to say that this precious resource has become even more valuable throughout the last 10 years. With the advent of smart phones, personal electronics and social media (all designed and intended to save us time and draw us closer together), we’ve actually decreased our “free” time available, making it even more precious and rare.

So, how can you give someone else (and yourself) the gift of presence this year? It’s actually very simple (albeit difficult) to do.

Pull the plug.

That’s it. Just pull the plug on your electronic devices and sit back and watch the magic happen. Don’t believe me? Give it a try! Below are five ways to give yourself (or someone you love) the gift of presence this Holiday Season. Consider it my gift to you...

1. Take a walk outside. (This one works well alone, or with another person, and the weather doesn’t have to be perfect for it to be enjoyable. You might be surprised how great cold and rainy can be!)

2. Read a book. (Again, this one works well alone, or with another person! Just don’t use a kindle or a device. Pick up a good old-fashioned hardbound book.)

3. Start a gratitude journal. (You can journal about how you’re grateful for someone else and give it to them as a gift, or it can be an exercise just for you.)

4. Bake or cook. (There’s something about creating something to be enjoyed that is both relaxing and rewarding.)

5. Take a drive. (Whether alone or with another, a nice drive is an excellent opportunity to be alone with your thoughts, or to have a meaningful conversation.)

I hope you’ll consider both gifting and accepting the gift of presence this year.

Wishing you a multitude of blessings,

Amy Miller ISFA Executive Director AmyM@isfanow.org

ISFA Events & Training

For additional information and registration options, please visit www.isfanow.org, or email amym@isfanow.org. Personalized training options are also available. Email carol@isfanow.org for more information.

ISFA at TISE Jan. 24 – 25 Las Vegas, Nev. ISFA Booth #15 D

Solid Surface Training

Hosted by GECKO SSS Feb. 5 – 7 San Antonio, Texas

Industry Roundtable

Hosted by Rockin’teriors and CaraGreen Sponsored by Moraware, Cosentino and Marva/Neolith Feb. 5 – 7 Raleigh, N.C.

ISFA Spain Trip

Hosted by Cosentino March 5-8 Madrid, Spain

Gen 2 Event Sponsored by Moraware July Detroit, Mich.

Industry Roundtable Hosted by Precision Countertops September Portland, Ore.

ISFA 2019 Annual Conference Oct. 20 – 23 Scottsdale, Ariz.

Industry Roundtable

Hosted by INDEKO December Guadalajara, Mexico

ISFA Wraps Up Successful Year Annual Conference ISFANews

ISFA held its 2018 Annual Conference Oct. 23 to 26 in Cancun, Mexico, which included numerous educational sessions and networking events, along with its 4th quarter board of directors meeting, annual member meeting and awards dinner.

Around 50 industry professionals spent the better part of a week interacting, sharing ideas, participating in presentations and both formal and informal discussions. The results from the 2019 ISFA Board of Directors Election were also announced at the event.

“This was an opportunity for businesspeople and professionals in all areas of the surfacing industry to learn and share ideas as well as best practices,” said ISFA Executive Director Amy Miller. “Some of the best and brightest people in the industry came together and really got to know each other and spend some productive time further educating themselves in an enjoyable atmosphere.”

Speakers and presenters included Aaron Crowley, of Crowley’s Granite Concepts and author of the well-received book Less Chaos More Cash; Ted Janusz, business speaker and communications expert, Geoffrey Gran, owner of The Countertop Factory Midwest, a large, Chicago-based and fully-automated fabrication shop that handles solid surface, granite, quartz; as well as various other equipment experts, suppliers and manufacturers, all to talk about business improvement and the latest advancements in the industry.

ISFA Annual Award Winners Announced

At the Annual Meeting and Awards Dinner, ISFA announced the 2018 ISFA Awards winners, as voted on by the association members.

The ISFA awards are chosen by association members, and given to those in the industry that stand out as the very best.

The Fabricator of the Year Award was given to Rockin’teriors (Laura Grandlienard), a world-class fabricator of a variety of hard surfacing products located in Raleigh, N.C. The Fabricator of the Year is awarded to a fabricator member company that in the past year has best exemplified the ISFA ideals of quality, innovation, character and

exemplary service to ISFA and/or the decorative surfacing industry, with overall excellence. The company earned the award for focusing on quality and ethics, while also making sure to leave every customer happy. Rockin’teriors is also committed to eco-friendly fabrication, installation and materials. They recently weathered Hurricane Florence, and they will be a vital part of North Carolina’s rebuilding. Shop Manager Omar Salazar attended the conference and proudly accepted the award on the company’s behalf.

The other honored winners are:

The Innovator Award is for the member firm or individual who goes outside the box to create a product or system that enhances the life or elevates the role of the surface fabricator. The 2018 Winner is CREA DIFFUSION (Thierry and Laurent Delles). Based in France, the company has consistently pushed the boundaries of solid surface, and still does, coming up with unique ways to use it in thermoforming applications, cladding and decorative patterns, as well as getting it placed in very high-profile locations such as the Palace of Versailles and the recent exterior application on an entire building in downtown Paris. They are among the top solid surface innovators in the world, never saying “that’s

not possible” but rather saying “let’s make that possible” and succeeding.

The Associate of the Year Award is given to an associate member company that in the past year has best exemplified the role of servicing the needs of fabricator member companies, and who has best supported ISFA in all activities. This year’s winner is CountertopResource.com, which works closely with ISFA to regularly disseminate information about its programs and projects. Additionally, the company serves ISFA members and the industry by providing daily news and product updates, as well as articles, editorials and events. It also offers a monthly newsletter to the industry (that generally includes upcoming ISFA events, news and information). And it has a secondary website, GreenSurfaceResource.com, dedicated to green building, which is becoming more important to the future.

The Envision Award is given to the manufacturer member that excels in creating something imaginative and special for the surfacing industry. The 2018 winner is Park Industries. The company developed and implemented a traveling Digital Stoneworking Expo to help fabricators take their business to the next level and has been putting on these events now for 10 years, and growing

Omar Salazar, Shop Manager of Rockin’teriors (center), accepted The 2018 ISFA Fabricator of the Year Award from incoming ISFA President Augie Chavez and Executive Director Amy Miller on behalf of the company.

ISFANews

programing each year. During these live events, participants learn about new technologies, the digital fabrication process, and metrics for better management, and they are educated through machine demonstrations, fabricator presentations and shop tours. These events help fabricators to meet their production and labor demands.

ISFA’s founder Mike Duggan was inducted into the ISFA Hall of Fame, joining a long list of esteemed industry professionals. The Hall of Fame Award is given to the individual who has, in the course of his/her career, made significant contributions to the decorative surfacing industry, and has demonstrated leadership and commitment to the ideals of ISFA. Duggan’s drive, intelligence, creativity and hard work were the key elements to founding the organization. He was the original catalyst that brought together the founding members of the association more than 20 years ago and pushed them to work together with him to create ISFA (ISSFA), which has done so many good things for the industry and fabricators over the years.

ISFA 2019 Board of Directors Announced

Also at the ISFA Annual Conference, the results of the 2019 ISFA Board of Directors election as well as 2019’s officers were announced. The new board convenes January 1. Augie Chavez of GECKO SSS in San Antonio, Texas will take over as ISFA President, and 2018 ISFA President Kate Dillenburg of Bisley Fabrication in Gresham, Wis., will move to serve as Immediate Past President, as well as taking on the Board

Secretary in 2019. Paul “Max” Le Pera, of Global Surfacing Alliance in Cranbury, N.J., will serve as Vice President, and Mike Langenderfer of The Countertop Shop in Monclova, Ohio, will continue to serve as the Treasurer.

Leaving the board having fulfilled their service periods are Ryan Miller of VT Industries in Holstein, Iowa, who served as ISFA President in 2017; and Jessica McNaughton of CaraGreen in Carrboro, N.C., who served as an Associate Member Representative.

New to the board are Steve Mast of Precision Countertops in Wilsonville, Ore., as Director, Austin Maxwell of Maxwell Countertops in Farmer City, Ill., as Director, Eric Tryon of Premier Surfaces in Alpharetta, Ga., as Director, and Joe Connolly of SASSO as Associate Member Representative.

“We are so thankful for the great work Ryan and Jessica put in on the board,” said incoming President Augie Chavez. “We will miss their

PRESENTING SPONSOR

2018 and Beyond

Also at the annual meeting, Executive Director Amy Miller reviewed the year in ISFA, including putting on four successful regional Industry Roundtable Events, six On-Site Training sessions, 240 CEU presentations, adding 70 new members, and putting out this quarterly publication, Countertops & Architectural Surfaces, plus our annual Buyers’ Guide and four quarterly Surfacing News email newsletters. Plus, she announced some of the association’s plans for 2019, including a trip to Cosentino’s facility in Spain, and additional regional events and training opportunities, as well as the location of the 2019 ISFA Annual Conference to be held at the Mountain Shadows Resort in Scottsdale, Ariz., Oct. 20 to 23.

For more information about the annual meeting or any of ISFA’s upcoming events, visit www.ISFAnow. org, email info@isfanow.org or call the ISFA office at (412) 487-3207.

Augie Chavez of GECKO Solid Surface Solutions in San Antonio, Texas, will serve as the 2019 ISFA President.

ISFANews

ISFA Completes Texas Solid Surface Training

In September, ISFA put on its first Solid Surface Total Fabrication Training class at a new location – Gecko Solid Surface Solutions in San Antonio, Texas.

Eight people took the inaugural course held at this new location for training, with four participants being handson fabricators and four being observer participants.

The 2-½-day class ran Sept. 11 to 13, and was conducted by experienced ISFA Solid Surface Trainer Chris Pappenfort. Participants of the class learned the ins and outs of solid surface fabrication and all participants were awarded certificates of completion with several being new members of ISFA.

Another Solid Surfacing Total Fabrication Training Program has been scheduled at the same location in February.

In addition to this training program, the association also offers ISFA On-Site training for both solid surface and quartz/granite, in which the trainer travels to shops to help them set up viable fabrication operations. More information on ISFA training programs is available a www.ISFAnow.org or by emailing carol@isfanow.org or calling (412) 487-3207. (More information about the upcoming training class in article to the right.)

THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS

ISFA Trip to Cosentino in Spain

ISFA Fabricator Members have been invited to visit and tour Cosentino’s headquarters and quarry in Spain from March 5 to 8. Trip participants are responsible for airfare only, as Cosentino has graciously volunteered to cover the costs for the hotel and food. The trip is limited to 15 attendees, and is first come, first served, so those interested should contact ISFA as soon as possible.

Interested individuals should contact ISFA Executive Director Amy Miller at amym@isfanow.org or by phone at (567) 239-2102.

ISFA to Offer Next Solid Surface Fabrication Training Class in February

DID YOU KNOW:

■ There is a newer more efficient technique for heat generating (cooktop) cutouts in solid surfaces?

■ Different solid surface manufacturers have different requirements for reinforcing seams?

■ Support requirements vary for different solid surface brands?

■ Minimum thermoforming bend tolerances are allowed with different solid surface brands?

■ ISFA keeps up-to-date on fabrication/ installation requirements for the Top 10 solid surface brands?

Learn about all of these topics and much more at our Solid Surface Fabrication Training Class!

ISFA will once again be offering its Solid Surface Total Fabrication Training class from Feb. 5 to 7 at Gecko Solid Surface Solutions in San Antonio, Texas.

The class represents an opportunity for fabricators to send new employees to be trained or to pick up an entirely new skill set for their businesses.

The 2-½-day event provides an equal amount of hands-on training and in-class learning.

The ISFA Solid Surface training program is designed to meet the needs of surfacing businesses. The course takes students through the essentials of solid surface fabrication and installation, and is approved by all major solid surface manufacturers.

The training program includes product knowledge, handling, inspection, safety, tooling, shop layout, templating, material layout, cutting, seaming, edge treatments, sink & bowl mounting, cutouts, backsplashes, thermoforming, finishing, basic repair, installation, support, overhangs and inlays.

The training program also includes an observer option for those who do not need to actually fabricate solid surface, but could benefit from an understanding of the process, such as sales and office workers. Learning

the ins and outs of fabrication will help these staff members better sell and support fabrication work.

The class is taught by highly-skilled training professional, Chris Pappenfort. Chris has more than 30 years’ of industry experience, including a stint as the Technical Services Manager for a DuPont Surfaces distributor for 25 years. During his tenure, he obtained instructor certifications from numerous solid surface manufacturers and suppliers. In addition, he helped upgrade DuPont’s fabrication and installation manuals and has conducted ISFA solid surface training, both in regional facilities and on-site, since 2014.

The class is $995 per person, and ISFA membership is required to participate in the training class. Lunch and shuttle to and from a specified hotel with a room block discount (Holiday Inn Express) is included, but other meals and hotel must be paid for separately.

In 2019, all those completing the full session will receive the following benefits:

■ A certificate recognizing they are an ISFA Certified Professional Solid Surface Fabricator.

■ Show/auto window clings designating the trainee as an ISFA Certified Professional.

■ Recognition in Countertops and Architectural Surfaces magazine as an ISFA Certified Professional.

■ Acceptance by ALL major brands of solid surface as having met training requirements set by many distributors and manufacturers.

For more information or to register, visit www. ISFAnow.org or contact Operations Manager Carol Wilhite at carol@isfanow.org or (412) 487-3207.

Industry Roundtable Event Held in Austin

Alpha Granite and Tile hosted ISFA’s final Industry Roundtable for 2018 at its facilities in Austin, Texas. The gatherings are designed to bring together smaller groups of fabricators (15 to 20) from a variety of companies to share experiences, common concerns, best practices and ideas in a close-knit, semi-structured environment.

The Austin event took place Dec. 4 to 6, and included networking, presentations, moderated discussions, facility tours and open information sharing over the course of a few days. Over the course of the event discussion included New Surfaces, Building the Right Team/Culture, Cyber Safety and Data Protection, Labor Issues and the Changing Workforce, Sales and Marketing Best Practices, New Tools, Philanthropy in Business, and Hiring Best Practices.

There were also tours of both Alpha Granite and the Austin Cosentino Center, and plenty of time for participants to discuss industry trends, as well as enjoy the Austin night life.

With the success of Industry Roundtables in 2018, which were also held in Nashville, Tenn., Kohler, Wis., and Lincoln/Omaha, Neb., the program will continue in 2019, with the next event planned for Feb. 5 to 7 in Raleigh, N.C. and hosted by CaraGreen and Rockin’teriors (see below for details). Additional Industry Roundtable Events are planned for September at Precision Countertops in Portland, Ore., and Guadalajara, Mexico, at INDEKO.

Visit the ISFA website at www.ISFAnow.org or contact the ISFA office for more information at (412) 487-3207 or email info@isfanow.org.

THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS

Next Industry Roundtable in Raleigh in February

The next Industry Roundtable will be hosted Feb. 5 to 7 by sustainable materials distributor CaraGreen and Rockin’teriors in Raleigh, N.C. It is sponsored by Moraware, Cosentino and Marva/Neolith.

THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS

ISFA 2020 Booster Club

ISFA launched a booster club for members who want to contribute extra to growing ISFA membership and its programs. Financial gifts received from the ISFA 2020 Booster Club will be used to fund ISFA growth through new educational programs and events. 2020 Booster Club Members will receive special recognition both electronically (email and website) and in Countertops & Architectural Surfaces magazine. In addition, club members will be invited to participate in quarterly conference calls with the ISFA Executive Director and President.

2020 Booster Club Sponsorship for Suppliers is

These events allow the industry to share experiences, common concerns and best practices. Discussions at the event will focus on items like sustainable materials and growing high-end clientele for residential work as a business strategy.

In addition to discussions and presentations, it will include tours of CaraGreen and Rockin’teriors, and a chance to have a bit of fun with industry peers.

For more information or to register, visit www.isfanow. org or contact the ISFA office by phone at (412) 4873207 or email info@isfanow.org.

ISFA Board of Directors

Kate Dillenburg President Bisley Fabrication 700 Industrial St. Gresham, WI 54128 (715) 787-4410 kdillenburg@bisfab.com www.bisfab.com

Ryan Miller Immediate Past President VT Industries 1000 Industrial Park Holstein, IA 51025 (712) 368-4381, Ext. 236 RMiller@vtindustries.com www.vtindustries.com

Augie Chavez Vice President 4630 Sinclair Rd. San Antonio, TX 78222 (210) 227-3100 augie@geckosss.com www.geckosss.com

Matt Kraft

Secretary Custom Marble Inc. 850 S. Mulberry Millstadt, IL 62260 (618) 476-7501 matt.kraft@custom marble.net www.custommarble.net

Mike Langenderfer Treasurer The Countertop Shop 9300 Airport Rd. Monclova, OH 43542 (419) 868-9101 mike@countertopshop.net www.countertopshop.net

Adam Albee Director Counter Culture 5012 Rentworth Dr. Lincoln, NE 68516 (500) 531-5078 adam@thetopculture.com www.thetopculture.com

Kelley Montana Director Humboldt Countertops & Surfacing 70 W. 4th St. Eureka, CA 95501 (707) 442-5918 kmontana@humtop.com www.humtop.com

Steve Stoddard Director

Advanced Surfaces, Inc. 130 Plastics Rd. Corry, PA 16407 (814) 663-0369 sstoddard@advanced surfacespa.com www.advanced surfacespa.com

Paul Max Le Pera Director Global Surfacing Alliance 106 Melrich Rd. Cranbury, NJ 08512 (908) 358-5252 pmlp33@gmail.com

Jessica McNaughton Associate Member Representative CaraGreen 109A Brewer Ln. Carrboro, NC 27607 (919) 929-3009 Jessica@caragreen.com www.caragreen.com

Jim Callaghan Associate Member Representative Gran Quartz 3950 Steve Reynolds Blvd. Norcross, GA 30093 (248) 660-391 callaghan@granquartz.com www.granquartz.com

$5,000 and Fabricators is $1,000. They will also receive the following:

■ Recognition/Advertisement.

■ “Clickable” Logo with recognition in each weekly ISFA Member Newsletter.

■ “Clickable” Logo on www.isfanow.org Booster Page (live Jan. 1).

■ Bold and notated recognition in Countertops & Architectural Surfaces (Fabricator Directory for Fabricator Members and the Buyers Guide for Associate Members).

■ Invitation to participate in the quarterly program development conference call.

ISFA PO Box 627 Ingomar, PA 15127 (412) 487-3207 www.isfanow.org

Executive Director Amy Miller (567) 239-2102 amym@isfanow.org

Communications Director

Kevin Cole

Magazine/Website Publisher & Editor (815) 721-1507 kevin@isfanow.org

Operations Manager

Carol Wilhite (412) 487-3207 carol@isfanow.org

Account Representative

Paul Wisnefski (262) 498-4184 wisnefski@sbcglobal.net

Program Coordinator Amy Kyriazis (412) 487-3207 amy@isfanow.org

Solid Surface Fabrication Trainer

Chris Pappenfort (417) 598-2390 chris@isfanow.org

Quartz/Stone Fabrication Trainer

Fred Hueston (321) 514-6845 fred@isfanow.org

Fabricator Directory Fabricator Directory

Companies in blue are Certified Professionals. For more information on the ISFA Certified Professional Program, visit ISFAnow.org/certified-pro.html.

ALABAMA

Cutstone Co.

117 Cloverdale Dr. Alabaster, AL 35007 205-624-3538 www.cutstoneco.com

ALASKA

Cook Inlet Housing Authority

3510 Spenard Rd. Anchorage, AK 99503 907-793-3047 www.cookinlethousing.org

Housewright Construction PO Box 1541 Kodiak, AK 99615 907-539-2444

Vision Construction 17 Adak Ave. Fairbanks, AK 99701 907-479-0380 www.visionunited.com

ARIZONA

La Casa Bella Builders

401 N. Broad St. Globe, AZ 85501 928-425-2450

LCBbuilders.com

ARKANSAS

Qualserv

7400 S. 28th St. Ft. Smith, AR 72908 479-459-5892 www.qualservsolutions.com

CALIFORNIA

Fischer Tile & Marble 1800 23rd St. Sacramento, CA 95816 916-452-1426 www.fischertile.com

Humboldt Countertops & Surfacing 70 W. 4th St. Eureka, CA 95501 707-442-5918 www.humtop.com

Pacifica Wholesale Tile and Stone 620 East Ball Rd. Anaheim, CA 92805 310-497-3511 www.pacificastone.com

The Countertop Factory

2470 E. Coronado St. Anaheim, CA 92806

562-944-2450 www.thecountertopfactory.net

COLORADO

The Top Shop Inc.

3300 E. 43rd Ave. Denver, CO 80216 303-996-6026 www.tshopinc.com

DELAWARE

Troy Granite Inc. 711 Interchange Blvd. Newark, DE 19711 302-292-1750 www.troygranite.com

FLORIDA

Beverin Solid Surface 1108 Palmetto Ave. Lehigh Acres, FL 33972 239-368-9444 www.beverin.com

Delorie Countertops & Doors Inc.

2140 N.W. 18th St. Pompano Beach, FL 33069 954-970-7661 www.deloriectd.com

Mill-Rite Woodworking Co. 6401 47th St. N. Pinellas Park, FL 33781 727-528-6305 www.mill-rite.com

NSM Florida Enterprises, LLC

1050 Central Park Dr. Sanford, FL 32771 407-774-0676 www.nsmotif.com

Sterling Mfg. 8293 Consumer Circle Sarasota, FL 34240 941-955-8787 www.sterlingmfg.com

GEORGIA

Atlanta Kitchen Inc. 196 Rio Circle Decatur, GA 30030 404-378-3220 www.atlanta-kitchen.com

Counter Fitters LLC 1026 Lynes Ave. Savannah, GA 31415 912-231-0103 www.counterfitterssav.com

Countersync 2014 Westside Ct. Augusta, GA 30907 706-828-7544 www.countersync.net

Craftmark Solid Surfaces Inc. 2772 Simpson Circle Norcross, GA 30071 770-242-8469 craftmarkcountertops.com

Premier Surfaces 845 McFarland Pkwy. Alpharetta, GA 30004 678-614-7111

www.premiersurfaces.com

Stone Center 1325 Oakbrook Dr. Ste. C Norcross, GA 30093 770-446-5155

www.stonecenteratlanta.com

HAWAII

Honolulu Tile & Marble Inc. 1602-B Auiki St. Honolulu, HI 96819 808-845-3775

Montage Decor LLC 94-117 Malakeke Pl. Unit #102 Waipahu, HI 96797 808-200-7868 www.montage-decor.com

ILLINOIS

4-D Construction of IL, Inc. 1107 E. Cemetery Ave. Chenoa, IL 61726 815-867-2196 www.4-Dconstruction.com

Custom Marble Inc. PO Box 306 Millstadt, IL 62260 618-476-1345 www.custommarble.net

Marble Works 1601 N. LA Fox South Elgin, IL 60177 874-742-9222 www.marble-works.com

Maxwell Counters Inc. PO Box 234 Farmer City, IL 61824 309-928-2848 www.maxwellcounters.com

New Age Surfaces 1237 Naperville Dr. Romeoville, IL 60446 630-226-0011

Pierce Laminated Products Inc. 2430 N. Court St. Rockford, IL 61103 815-968-9651 www.piercelaminated.com

Solid Surface Creations Inc.

403 S. Sycamore Villa Grove, IL 61956 217-832-8207 www.ssctops.com

Stalwart Systems 7797 N. Caldwell Ave. Niles, IL 60714

847-972-1193

www.stalwartsystemsusa.com

Stevens Industries Inc. 704 W. Main St. Teutopolis, IL 62427 217-857-7100

www.stevensind.com

The Countertop Factory Midwest 869 S. Route 53 Addison, IL 60101 630-606-8055

www.tcfmidwest.com

INDIANA

A. I. A. Countertops LLC 201 S. Huntington St. Syracuse, IN 46567 574-457-2018

www.aiacountertops.com

Laminated Tops of Central Indiana Inc. 711 E. Dillman Rd. Bloomington, IN 47401 812-824-6299

www.rakesolutions.com

IOWA

Solid Fabrications Inc. 2515 Murray St. Sioux City, IA 51111 712-255-5319

www.solidfab.com

StoneHouse

Quartz & Granite 3901 100th St. Urbandale, IA 50322 515-512-5188

www.stonehousegranite.com

Top Crafters 811 Iowa Ave. Marshalltown, IA 50158 641-752-2465

VT Industries 1000 Industrial Park Holstein, IA 51025 712-368-4381 www.vtindustries.com

KENTUCKY

Granite America 1121 St. Louis Ave. Louisville, KY 40241 502-419-0713

Louisville Lumber & Millwork 1400 Lincoln Ave. Louisville, KY 40213 502-459-8710

www.louisvillelumber.com

Fabricator Directory

Companies in blue are Certified Professionals. For more information on the ISFA Certified Professional Program, visit ISFAnow.org/certified-pro.html.

StoneMark Granite LLC

989 Logan St. Louisville, KY 40204 502-315-5100

www.stonemarkgranite.com

Surfaces Unlimited Inc. 1272 Hwy. 490 E. Bernstadt, KY 40729 606-843-6891 www.surfaces-unlimited.com

MAINE

Bangor Wholesale Laminates

355 Target Industrial Circle Bangor, ME 04401

207-945-5928

Shad’s Custom Countertops Inc. 11 Collins Pond Rd. Windham, ME 04062 207-893-3445

www.getshad.com

MARYLAND

Carefree Kitchens Inc. 2910 Strickland St. Baltimore, MD 21223 410-233-4900

www.carefreeindustries.com

Creative Surface Interiors Inc.

8393 Ardwick Ardmore Rd. Landover, MD 20785

301-386-4654

www.creativesurfaceinteriors.net

SolidTops LLC

505 South St. Easton, MD 21601 410-819-0770 www.solidtops.com

MASSACHUSETTS

Jack’s Custom Woodworking/ JCW Countertops 3 Aberjona Dr. Woburn, MA 01801 781-935-1907 www.jcwcountertops.com

Sterling Surfaces 76 Leominster Rd. Sterling, MA 01564 978-422-3321 www.sterlingsurfaces.com

Sterling-Miller Designs Inc. 1079 N. Montello St. Brockton, MA 02301 508-894-6999 www.sterlingmillerdesigns.com

MICHIGAN

Paxton Countertops & Showers PO Box 174 Grand Ledge, MI 48837 517-719-0146 www.paxtonsurfaces.com

MINNESOTA

Innovative Surfaces Inc. 515 Spiral Blvd. Hastings, MN 55033 651-437-1004

The Pinske Edge 119 Main St. Plato, MN 55370 320-238-2196 www.pinske-edge.com

MISSISSIPPI

Alexander Counterwrights

3803 Old Mobile Ave. Pascagoula, MS 39581 228-938-6484 www.alexandercounter wrights.com

MISSOURI

Premier Surfaces 4525 NW 41st Street, Ste. 400 Kansas City, MO 64150 816-767-2075 www.premiersurfaces.com

NEBRASKA Counter Culture

5012 Rentworth Dr. Lincoln, NE 68516

500-531-5078 www.thetopculture.com

Lincoln Laminating Inc.

5010 Rentworth Dr. Lincoln, NE 68516

402-434-6009

www.lincolnlaminating.com

Lycos, Inc.

2445 Deer Park Blvd. Omaha, NE 68105 402-201-2283 www.lycosfinish.com

Stone Concepts, Inc. 10802 Sapp Brothers Dr. Omaha, NE 68138 865-523-0967 www.stoneconceptsomaha.com

NEVADA Carpenters Int’l. Training Fund 6801 Placid St. Las Vegas, NV 89119 702-938-1111

NEW JERSEY

Marvic Corp. 2450 Lorio St. Union, NJ 07083

908-686-4340 www.countertopsofnj.com

Spaulding Fabricators Inc.

1136 Industrial Pkwy. Brick, NJ 08724

732-840-4433 www.spauldingfabricators.com

NEW MEXICO

American Countertops

PO Box 10482 Albuquerque, NM 87184 505-897-3141

www.americancountertops online.com

Jaynes Structures 2906 Broadway N.E. Albuquerque, NM 87107 505-344-8589 www.jaynescorp.com

OGB Architectural Millwork

3711 Paseo del Norte Albuquerque, NM 87113 505-998-0000 www.ogb-am.com

NEW YORK

JG Associates PO Box 14 Pt. Lookout, NY 11569 516-897-9200

Marker Systems Inc. 940 River Rd. North Tonawanda, NY 14120 716-695-1102

Modern Home Distributing PO Box 395 Nunda, NY 14517 585-468-2523

Penn Fabricators Inc. 30 Platinum Ct. Medford, NY 11763 631-205-0282 www.pennforcorian.com

NORTH CAROLINA

Atlantic Countertops 4250 Old Wake Forrest Rd. Raleigh, NC 27613 919-981-0163 www.atlanticcountertops.com

A Top Above The Rest 121Wilkie St. Forest City, NC 28043 828-382-0174

BloomDay Granite & Marble 3810 Indiana Ave. Winston-Salem, NC 27105 336-414-0842 www.bloomdaygranite.com

Carolina Custom Surfaces 100 Landmark Dr. Greensboro, NC 27409 336-215-5518 www.carolinacustom surfaces.com

Majestic Kitchen & Bath 104 Jeffrey Way Youngsville, NC 27596 919-376-5941 www.gomajestic.com

Metro Woodcrafters of NC, Inc. PO Box 669488 Charlotte, NC 28266-9488 704-394-9622 www.metrowoodcrafter.com

Onslow Stoneworks 1661 Hwy. 58 PO Box 1239 Swansboro, NC 28584 252-393-2457 www.onslowstoneworks.com

ROCKin’teriors

230 Hampton Woods Ln. Ste. 100 Raleigh, NC 27607 919-577-0207 www.rockinteriors.com

Stoneworks 18623 Northline Dr. Cornelius, NC 28031 704-936-8340 www.stoneworksltd.com

OHIO

Cutting Edge Countertops Inc. 1300 Flagship Dr. Perrysburg, OH 43551 419-873-9500 www.cectops.com

L. E. Smith Co. 1030 E. Wilson St. Bryan, OH 43506 888-537-6484 www.lesmith.com

Laminate Shop, Inc. PO Box 1218 Marietta, OH 45750 740-749-3536

The Countertop Shop LTD 9300 Airport Rd. Monclova, OH 43542 419-868-9101 www.countertopshop.net

Top Advantage Surfaces Inc. 12989 Market Ave. N. Hartville, OH 44632 330-877-2138 www.topadvantage.com

Top Shelf Laminated Products

400 Dietz Rd. Warren, OH 44483 330-393-1289

Tower Industries 2101 Ninth St. S.W. Massillon, OH 44647 330-837-2216

www.towersurfaces.com

OREGON

Crowley’s Granite & Quartz 10100 S.W. Herman Rd. Tualatin, OR 97062

503-850-2496

Oregon State University

601 S.W. 35th St. Corvallis, OR 97333

www.oregonstate.edu

Precision Countertops Inc. PO Box 387 Wilsonville, OR 97070

503-692-6660

www.precisioncountertops.com

PENNSYLVANIA

A.S.S.T.

350 South St. McSherrystown, PA 17344 717-630-1251

www.asst.com

Advanced Surfaces Inc.

130 Plastics Rd. Corry, PA 16407 814-663-0369

Eurofins Lancaster Laboratories

2425 New Holland Pike Lancaster, PA 17601 717-656-2300

Indoor City Granite and Marble 1284 Loop Rd. Lancaster, PA 17601 717-368-5604

www.indoorcity.com

Kauffman Kitchens

270 Commerce Dr. New Holland, PA 17557

717-355-9906

www.kauffmankitchen.com

Kramer’s Fabrications Inc. PO Box 41 Bernville, PA 19506 610-488-6213

www.kramershowerbases.com

Pence Countertops Inc. 124 Ellis Woods Rd. Pottstown, PA 19465

610-326-6609

www.pencecountertops.com

Pittsburgh Troy Granite

1060 484 Lowries Run Rd. Pittsburgh, PA 15237 412-446-1060 www.troygranite.com

SOUTH DAKOTA

DFC-Dakota Fixture & Cabinet Co. 45753 237th St. Madison, SD 57042

605-256-3707 www.soliddfc.com

TENNESSEE

Alexander Brothers

Tile & Marble Inc.

1446 S. Cooper St. Ste. 101 Memphis, TN 38114

901-278-9626

www.alexandermarble andgranite.com

Countertops of Memphis 301 W. Olive Ave. Memphis TN 38106 901-602-7115

www.countertopsofmemphis.com

Creative Countertop Solutions Inc. 919 4th Ave. S. Nashville, TN 37210 615-915-0718

www.creativecountersolutions.com

Kitchen Tops Inc. 1300 Ault Rd. Knoxville, TN 865-523-0967 www.kitchentops.net

TEXAS

Alpha Granite 915 W. Howard Ln. Austin, TX 78753 505-814-5354 www.alphagraniteaustin.com

Cirrus Asset Management

5347 Spring Valley Rd. Dallas, TX 75254 661-857-0722 www.cirrusami.com

Classic Counter Tops 2325 Executive Dr. Garland, TX 75041

972-840-1234

Counterscapes, Inc. 2228 Deerbrook Dr. Tyler, TX 75703 903-581-5676

www.counterscapes.com

Countertop Solutions LLC PO Box 82087 Houston, TX 77282 713-204-0080

Dirk Foster 921 Morton St. Mineral Wells, TX 76067 206-898-8163

Gecko Solid Surface Solutions

4630 Sinclair Rd. San Antonio, TX 78222 210-227-3100

www.geckosss.com

Gunckel Architectural Stoneworks, LLC

5085 Elm Creek Rd. Seguin, TX 78155

830-303-0688 www.gastonework.com

Legacy Granite and Marble

6214 Keyko St. Houston, TX 77041

True Blue Granite 3626 Binz Engleman Rd. San Antonio, TX 78219 210-281-5520

www.tbgranite.com

W.R. Watson Inc. 12902 Mula Ln. Stafford, TX 77477 281-495-3664

www.wrwatson.com

UTAH

Plastic Specialties Inc. 1640 S. Redwood Rd. Salt Lake City, UT 84104

801-746-1212

www.psitops.com

VERMONT

Vermont Solid Surface PO Box 602 852 Portland St. St. Johnsbury, VT 05819 802-535-4986 www.vermontsolidsurface.com

VIRGINIA

Ellis Page Co., LLC 10481 Colonel Ct. Manassas, VA 20110

703-346-9404 www.ellispageco.com

Metro Stone Works LLC 9115 Digital Dr. Unit 12 Manassas Park, VA 20111 703-396-866 www.metrostoneworks.com

Mid Atlantic Surfaces 2559 Turkey Creek Rd. Oilville, VA 23129 804-798-7462 www.midatlanticsurfaces.com

Surface Link Corp. 4200 Lafayette Center Dr. Ste. A Chantilly, VA 20151 301-482-1717 www.surfacelinkcorp.com

TRINDCO 1004 Obici Industrial Blvd. Suffolk, VA 23434 757-539-0262 www.trindco.com

WASHINGTON

FloForm Countertops 22445 76th Ave. S. Kent, WA 98032

253-639-4567 www.floform.com

King County Library System

960 Newport Way N.W. Issaqua, WA 98027 425-369-3300 www.kcls.org

WISCONSIN

Bisley Fabrication Inc.

700 Industrial St. Gresham, WI 54128

800-424-7539

www.bisleyfabrication.com

The Kopfmann Co. Inc 3142 W. Mill Rd. Milwaukee, WI 53209 414-352-7870 www.kopfmanntops.com

McDermott

Top Shop LLC

200 A Main St. Sullivan, WI 53178 262-593-2456

ARUBA

Office Systems Aruba Frankrijkstraat 10 Oranjestad Aruba 011-297-583-8373 www.officesystemsaruba.com

CANADA

Elite Food Equipment

4 Fielding Ct. Ajax, ON L1T 4W5 Canada

FloForm Countertops

125 Hamelin St. Winnipeg, MB R3T 3Z1 Canada 204-474-2334 www.floform.com

FloForm Countertops

10-710 Cynthia St. Saskatoon, SK S7l 6A2 Canada 306-665-7733 www.floform.com

FloForm Countertops

7630 Yellowhead Trail Edmonton, AB T5B 1G3 Canada 780-474-7999 www.floform.com

PF Custom Countertops Ltd. 14017 174 St. N.W. Edmonton, AB T5S 1H1 Canada 780-484-0831 www.pfcustom countertops.com

Shape Industries

10 McPhillips St. Winnipeg, MB R3E 2J7 Canada 204-947-0409 www.shapeinc.com

Summum Granit Inc. 460 Principale St. Saint-Sebastien, QC G0Y 1M0 Canada 819-625-2333 www.summumgranit.com

Fabricator Directory

FRANCE

CREA Diffusion

ZA Le Cheval Blanc Solgne F-57420 France 38-764-6923 www.crea-diffusion.com

INDIA

Infini Hybrid Pvt Ltd 904, Bwing, Kanakia Western Edge II, Western Highway Borivali East Mumbia 400066 Maharashtra India +91-966-464-1442 www.infinihybrid.com

ITALY

Legnopan SPA

(Starkryl Solid Surface) Via Dell’Industria 13-15 Piovene Rocchette, VI, 36013 Italy 39-0445-551500 www.legnopan.com

MEXICO INDEKO

Boulevard de los Charros 1500 Col. Belenes Ind. Nte. Zapopan, Jalisco Mexico 45150 52-3310287863 www.indeko.com.mx

NEW ZEALAND DOMANI BENCHTOPS

5 Rylock Pl. Pakuranga, Auckland 2014 New Zealand 006495767241 www.domanibenchtops.com

RUSSIA AKRILIKA HOLDING

Svobody St. 29 Moscow Russia 125362 +7(495)782-84-75 http://akrilika.com/en

UNITED ARAB EMIRATES Bond Interiors PO Box 15758 Dubai U.A.E. 04 2711727, 06 5343222 www.bondinteriors.com

UNITED KINGDOM

Interfab LTD

Unit 9 Willersey Business Park Willersey, Nr. Broadway Worcestershire WR12 7RR United Kingdom 441-386-858100 www.interfab.co.uk

Sheridan Fabrications Limited

New Sheridan House, Don Pedro Ave. Normanton, West Yorkshire WF6 1TD United Kingdom 448-456-182800 www.sheridan-uk.com

Product News

Fifth Gear Technologies Introduces SPEEDlabel

Fifth Gear Technologies (FGT) specializes in solutions that were developed by fabricators for fabricators. The FGT team collectively has more than 80 combined years of industry experience. Its newest product SPEEDlabel is a labeling program designed to work with a fabricator’s project management software. This program creates labels for each part and piece of a job to allow for better shop organization, easier loading process and more thorough quality control. Additionally, the company offers the SPEEDdraw product designed to expedite the process of turning digital measuring files into completed shop drawings and program ready files.

For more info, go to isfanow.org/info and list RS #30

are not in use. All of the ovens are designed to heat materials all the way through quickly and uniformly using both infrared and convection technology, without overheating just the bottom of the material. Additionally, cycling turns the emitters on and off at intervals allowing a soaking effect though the material via an easy to use adjustable thermostat. The hood, or lid, of the ovens are made for easy access by opening like clam shells, and to reflect the infrared heat all around the inside of them. This design is also great for adding and removing small parts or strips as they are ready. Viewing windows are conveniently located in the front of the ovens for checking materials, and users can also point an infrared thermometer gun through the windows. The company also builds custom ovens to meet customers’ requirements.

For more info, go to isfanow.org/info and list RS #31

BVC Group Introduces Manifold Vacuum Cup

The new Manifold Cup from BVC Group Inc. allows users to clean up the spider web of vacuum lines going across their tables. As many as 10 vacuum cups can be fed with these green suckers. They are now available in 105, 150 and 200mm heights, as well as custom heights between 90 and 180mm. The manifold comes standard with 16 fittings and four plugs to block unused ports.

For more info, go to isfanow.org/info and list RS #32

Schultz Forming Products Redesigns Thermoforming Ovens

Schultz Forming Products has redesigned its most popular thermoforming oven models. The SSO12 is 153 in. by 34 in. inside and the SS08 is 103 in. by 34 in. inside and both are capable of handling a full sheet of solid surface. The Strip Oven is 153 in. by 8 in. inside. All three models are now made form galvanized steel to offer more durability from tough shop environments, and have a more streamlined look to them. The temperature controllers have been relocated to the end of the ovens where they are less likely to be damaged. They come with heavy gauge steel legs that are easily removable for storage when the ovens

Laser Products Industries Launches ClearCut Optical CNC Tool Measuring System

ClearCut from Laser Products Industries is a new high-resolution optical device that was exclusively developed for the stone industry.

It was designed to easily capture images of a fabricator’s entire CNC tool set directly on any CNC machine to allow for maximum repeatable results. The product is made to initially set up tools for maximum precision cutting and usage. It also lengthens existing tool life to reduce rework caused by calibration issues and reduces guess work to optimize a CNC machine’s efficiency.

For more info, go to isfanow.org/info and list RS #33

Alpha Professional Tools Introduces Beveling Base Starter Kit

A new Starter Kit is now available from Alpha Professional Tools and is specifically designed for the beveling auxiliary base to assist in precision grinding of mitered edge applications.

The kit contains a beveling auxiliary base, carriage assembly, guide rail set (with 4-, 7- and 12-ft. rails) and surface protection tape. The components assist in creating a precise edge, whether mitered, beveled or straight, with the use of a wet polisher or variable speed grinder with a 5/8 to 11-in. spindle. The use of water is mandatory with this kit. In addition, it is made to reduce operator fatigue and improve the finish quality and processing speed. According to the company, the beveling auxiliary base will provide a secure angle between 15 to 90 degrees, and will provide control of the cutting depth and angle.

For more info, go to isfanow.org/info and list RS #34

Meganite Adds to Movement Series

Meganite added five new colors to its award winning Movement Series. Two new colors have been added to the Marble Collection: Mt. Cremo Carrara, with soft free-flowing yet consistent veins on a saturated white background that is embodied with subtle

deep brown veins breathing across the surface; and Mt. Grigio, characterized by its dramatic swathes of white veins against grey. Additionally, three new designs were added to the Concrete Collection: Shadow Concrete, a soft grey pattern with contrasting veins and particles across the surface; Taupe Concrete, a bold and straightforward design with neutral colors; and Charcoal Concrete, a dark pattern interspersed with a palette of fine particles.

For more info, go to isfanow.org/info and list RS #35

Cosentino Launches New Dekton Collection

Comprised of six new hues, Cosentino’s new Dekton Stonika Collection draws inspiration from natural stone materials. Adjustments in the manufacturing process allow for sharper designs and in turn, an ultra-realistic appeal. The collection also offers solid resistance to thermal shock and impact. It includes the following six colors, bringing the total to 53: Olimpo, Bergen, Arga, Taga, Sogne and Korso. Additionally, three new colors were added to the Dekton Industrial Collection, now comprised of seven colors.

For more info, go to isfanow.org/info and list RS #36

WEHA Offers New Diamond Resin Cupwheel

WEHA has introduced the Pitbull Diamond Resin Cupwheel, which is a hybrid resin polishing pad with a harder bond to perform like a resin-filled diamond cup wheel. The new resin cupwheel will grind and shape with zero chipping on the material, reports the company. It comes on a lightweight rigid aluminum back. The cupwheel can run wet or dry on all materials including granite, marble, quartz, engineered stone, porcelain, ceramic, cultured marble and concrete. It can also quickly remove fiber mesh off the back of stone and will create a bevel, round over, or larger radius very quickly. It is also suitable for breaking a polish to create a hone from a polished surface and smoothing out the underside of countertop overhangs. It is available in 30, 50, 100 and 200 grits.

For more info, go to isfanow.org/info and list RS #37

Lapitec and Vimar Create Sintered Stone Total Touch Kitchen Worktop

Lapitec® and Vimar, working together, have created a touch kitchen worktop made of sintered stone. Vimar developed three different technology applications: two on the horizontal worktop and the third on the countertop backsplash. Through this partnership, the technology will allow for the activation or deactivation of lights, blinds or any other electronic devices connected to the kitchen by simply touching the Total Touch surface. This technology makes it possible to interface the touch kitchen worktop with a home automation system by assigning specific functions to the touch controls. It will allow an even more minimal aesthetic effect in the kitchen, with completely flat and clean surfaces that are free from plates and switches, complimentary to the large dimensions of the Lapitec slabs. This minimal approach is a concept that can unite an entire Lapitec kitchen, linking digital innovations with and the aesthetics of compact sintered surfacing.

For more info, go to isfanow.org/info and list RS #38

Product News

Atlantic Machinery Has Fravol Edgebanding Machines

Atlantic Machinery Corp. now carries the complete line of Fravol edgebanding machines. In addition to their automatic, single-side edge processing machines for both straight and curved applications, the line offers a variety of options for small to large shops. They can process thin tape, 3mm PVC, HPL, aluminum and solid wood strips up to 16mm thick. The Fravol line also has semiautomatic edgebanders and trimming machines for edging round or curved parts.

For more info, go to isfanow.org/info and list RS #39

Acrylic Adhesives Launches New Hybrid Adhesive Line

Ninja Glue HY by American Acrylic Adhesives is a new hybrid glue designed for all solid and hard surfaces. Created by fabricators, it employs new technologies to provide a low viscosity with semidripless features, meaning it’s easy to dispense, wets out and spreads easily to fill chips and nicks in miter folds, laminations and deck seams, while not running and dripping. It’s strong and dries with a matte finish, but can be polished, and is capable of nearly invisible seams.

For more info, go to isfanow.org/info and list RS #40

Router Bits

RouterBitsNow.com went beyond the ½-in radius sink bit, improving the alignment of the bearing to the cutter and introduced a contemporary 1/8-in. radius profile router bit for solid surface sinks. Fabricators no longer need to hand sand the radius onto the sink for an 1/8-in. profile. The new bit can save 20 minutes a bowl sanding time. It comes in a 10, 15 and 20 degree draft option.

For more info, go to isfanow.org/info and list RS #41

Ad Index Classifieds

FOR SALE:

Two (2) 2008 Becker Vacuum Pumps

Model VTLF250SK

Came off of a Cosmec Conquest CNC. Both have recently been inspected and have replaced vanes.

$3,500 EACH

Call (901) 614-0200 Ext. 3 or email billy@countertopsofmemphis.com

Fabricators!

ISFA Fabricators, do you have used equipment you would like to sell? Looking to fill a key position? Why not submit a FREE classified ad? That’s right, relevant classifieds in this publication are free to ISFA fabricator members! Just send us the text you’d like to run and we’ll do the rest.

Email us today at editor@isfanow.org. For those of you who are not fabricator members, email kevin@ isfanow.org or call (815) 721-1507 to get a quote.

ISFA Events & Training

For additional information and registration options, please visit www.isfanow.org, or email amym@ isfanow.org. Personalized training options are also available. Email carol@isfanow.org for more information.

ISFA at TISE Jan. 24 – 25 Las Vegas, Nev.

ISFA Booth #15D

Solid Surface Training Hosted by GECKO SSS Feb. 5 – 7 San Antonio, Texas

Industry Roundtable Hosted by Rockin’teriors and CaraGreen

Sponsored by Moraware, Cosentino and Marva/Neolith Feb. 5 – 7 Raleigh, N.C.

ISFA Spain Trip Hosted by Cosentino March 5-8 Madrid, Spain

Gen 2 Event Sponsored by Moraware July Detroit, Mich.

Industry Roundtable Hosted by Precision Countertops September Portland, Ore.

ISFA 2019 Annual

Oct. 20 – 23 Scottsdale, Ariz.

Industry Roundtable Hosted by INDEKO December Guadalajara, Mexico

From the President

From the Desk of Kate Dillenburg, ISFA President

To a Great Year and Continued Success

What a year 2018 has been for ISFA. We have made some great strides forward in this year. I cannot wait to see what next year and beyond holds for ISFA. We have increased the number of CEO roundtables, our On-Site Training has traveled all around the world and our membership has grown. Overall, attendance has increased at all our events.

We started the year out with a new executive director, Amy Miller, who joined ISFA in November 2017. She and her team have been busy this year with growing ISFA membership as well as what we have to offer the industry. She has focused on increasing what ISFA provides to our members and making sure all our events have the right amount of content, learning and fun. Everyone on our entire staff and the ISFA Board of Directors have all done a great job and hats off to them for working hard to give us a great year.

A large focus this year was to increase the number of events we put on for our members. We ended the year with four Industry Roundtables, six On-Site Training events, 240 CEU presentations and our Annual Conference in Cancun. All these events had great attendance, but more importantly I think that everyone who attended these events left with more knowledge and a few more tools in their tool belt. I know that I personally learned a lot from attending these events and have left with so much more knowledge to benefit my business, but also I always left feeling excited to get back to work and implement the new ideas.

Another focus this year for ISFA was to grow our membership. We all made a strong concerted effort to make this happen, staff and

board alike, and worked diligently on that goal. I believe we have done a great job in meeting it for 2018, and over the course of the year ISFA has added 70 new members. I welcome all these new members, and I look forward to continuing to add new members in 2019. I believe ISFA has a lot to offer individuals throughout the surfacing industry and these new members will benefit from that. The amount of knowledge and information that lies in the collective experience of those in the association is amazing. I also believe a unique quality of those belonging to our association is their willingness to share their expertise with one another. I am always amazed at how much I learn from other members and their eagerness to openly share that knowledge and experience with me. That is truly invaluable.

Looking forward to 2019 ISFA has four roundtables around the country planned, a solid surface training class in San Antonio, Texas, a Gen 2 event in Detroit for members who are taking the reins of a business as second generation owners, a trip to Cosentino’s facility in Spain, programming at TISE and our Annual Conference in Scottsdale, Ariz., just for starters. As our calendar fills up, I am very much looking forward to meeting new people and learning new things. As I have said before, there hasn’t been an ISFA event that I haven’t learned something or met someone who has positively changed my business or how I approach a problem. If you haven’t been involved in the past or it has been a long time, please join us for one of our events and see how ISFA can change you and your business for the better.

I would also like to introduce Augie Chavez from Gecko Solid Surface Solutions of San Antonio, Texas, as the incoming president for 2019. His teamwork approach and cando attitude makes him a great asset to the ISFA Board of Directors, and will make him successful as our new board president. Augie brings not only years of experience and expertise to the table, but he also has a broad knowledge of products and applications. His company works with solid surface, quartz, granite, compact sintered surfaces, recycled materials and more, giving him a strong, well-rounded background. I am certain he will continue to prove to be a valuable leader for the association.

Lastly, I want to thank everyone who has been involved in ISFA over the past year for helping to make it such a success. I am very honored to have served as president, and I look forward to 2019 and what Augie, Amy and the rest of our leadership team has in store.

I hope to continue building the relationships with those I’ve met over the past year, and look forward to seeing many new faces in the year to come.

Kate Dillenburg, ISFA President kdillenburg@bisfab.com