April 2010
LIMESTONE
Medstones Ltd., Latsia, Cyprus, introduces Caprice Limestone. The material is distinguished by its color uniformity, consistency, high density, and diversity for multiple applications.
Contact: Medstones Ltd., +357-22461585
EQUIPMENT
DIAMOND-TOOL LINE
Domain Industries Inc., Austin, Texas, offers the Voodoo line of premium diamond tooling for stone fabrication. Products include blades, core bits, nine types of polishing and finishing pads, cup wheels, vacuum brazed profilers, antiquing brushes, and backer pads. The line also features the Houdini Collection of stock-removal pads and the Hex ultra-premium turbo dry-cutting blades.
Contact: Domain Industries Inc., 866-385-7775
5 X 5 WATERJET
Jet Edge Inc., St. Michael, Minn., offers the 5’ X 5’ Mid-Rail Gantry Waterjet System, featuring 60,000psi or 90,000psi intensifier pumps. The 72” X 72” exposed-tank surface accommodates materials up to 60” X 60”. An industrial PC controller can be configured so that all three axes are fully programmable (Z optional). Critical bearing components are protected with heavy metal covers with brush seals for the U.S.-made product
Contact: Jet Edge, 800-538-3343
SLAB LIFTER
GranQuartz, Tucker, Ga., introduces the Manzelli Basic Line 12-volt vacuum lifter from Liftstyle s.r.l. of Castelnuovo del Garda, Italy. The ready-to-use unit, designed specifically for the stone industry, attaches to any forklift, with a slab-lifting capacity of up to 1,100 lbs and quick vertical/horizontal tilting.
Contact: GranQuartz, 800-458-6222
WALL-MOUNT DESSICANT DRYER
Kaeser Compressors Inc., Fredericksburg, Va., offers a line of its KADW wall-mounted desiccant dryers for capacities from 7-50scfm at 100psig. The units feature a solid-state timer, and are based on a counter-flow design that leaves the driest desiccant at the top of the bed. The dryers are in ready-to-mount cabinets, and are completely assembled, piped and wired at the factory.
Contact: Kaeser Compressors, 800-777-7873
THREE-STEP POLISH
Braxton-Bragg LLC, Knoxville, Tenn., introduces the Viper® 3-Step System for cutting polishing time by up to 50 percent. The new pads (in wet and wet/dry versions) feature diamonds with multiple angles and a polycrystallized internal shape; the diamonds break easily to continuously expose new angles and lengthen pad life. Diamond concentration is 60 percent with the pads, with increased bond strength to hold the higher concentration; the longer life allows users to shorten the number of steps.
Contact: Braxton-Bragg LLC, 800-575-4401
HOIST-BASED LIFTER
Anver Corp., Hudson, Mass, introduces the Anver VB Powered Lifter-Tilter, a hoist-based vacuum lifter for building materials and textured surfaces. The device features pneumatic-powered tilting for material handling; with lifting capacities up to 500 lbs., it can be ordered with a selection of vacuum pumps (up to 8.5 HP) and suction pads to match the surface texture and porosity of specific loads.
Contact: Anver Corp., 800-654-3500
DOUBLE-TANG BLADE
Lenox, East Longmeadow, Mass., introduces the LENOX® DIAMOND Double Tang Reciprocating Saw Blade specially redesigned for longer blade life and less waste. The new design provides high performance with less wasted cutting edge by using the portion of the brazed diamond grit edge that typically goes unused; the ability to flip the blade doubles the available cutting surface as well as the life of the blade. Materials that can be cut with the blade include marble, other natural stones, ceramic tile and laminate flooring.
Contact: Lenox, 800-713-2222
CNC VACUUM PODS
GranQuartz, Tucker, Ga., offers the Diarex® CNC Vacuum System, with vacuum pods precision-manufactured in Italy to the exacting OEM specifications of the industry’s leading stone-machinery manufactures. The units feature anodized aluminum with vulcanized double-sealed rubber gaskets on the top and bottom plates; the modular design makes the pods some of the most-versatile and easiest to repair on the market. Fabricators can also replace the individual damaged components without having to ship the entire pod back to the factory.
Contact: GranQuartz, 800-458-6222
INSTALLATION, MAINTENANCE, RENEWAL
MULTI-SEAM SETTER
Omni Cubed Inc., Placerville, Calif., introduces the new Multi-Seam Expansion Kit for the Automatic Seam Setter VCA, including two seam-setter units, coil tube, carrying/storage case, four thumb pump plungers and four cup covers. The kit enables installers to join and level two seams at the same time (up to 14’ apart), or chain-link all 4 seam-setter units together for one large seam – all with the use of one vacuum pump.
Contact: Omni Cubed, 877-311-1976
QUARTZ REPAIR KIT
Dani Designs, Rochester Hills, Mich., offers the E-Stone Scratch Repair Kit, including 40-, 20-, and 10-micron diamond discs, along with polishing, restoration and finishing solutions and a 78-minute training DVD. A Porter-Cable 7336 sander, available separately, is needed for use of the polishing and sanding pads.
Contact: Dani Designs, 248-852-9248
SEAM SETTER
Applied Diamond Tools/Toolocity.com, Chesterfield, Mo., introduces the MINI Seam Setter, featuring dual 4″ suction cups, a manual pull-tight handle and a center leveler. The simple and functional design for the less-than-4-lbs device is useful for leveling and seam joining countertop tiles and granite.
Contact: Applied Diamond Tools, 800-980-7808
FLOOR PATCH
ProSpec, Charlotte, N.C., introduces Floor Patch Pro, a polymer-modified, cement-based patching compound. The single-component product requires no priming and is designed for use over concrete, wood and cement terrazzo substrates, as well as cutback residue adhesive. It contains no large aggregate, creating an ultra-smooth finish for final floor covering; stone and tile installations can be accepted in one hour.
Contact: ProSpec, 800-738-1621
EDUCATION
ONLINE COURSE
The University of Ceramic Tile and Stone (UofCTS), San Diego, launches its newest online course, Understanding the Basics of Natural Stone. The comprehensive look at the stone industry is designed for salespeople, installers and design professionals, as well as business owners, and is available online. Topics include geology and formation, processing/fabrication, countertops, exterior veneers/interior walls, selection/design and care/maintenance.
Contact: UofCTS, 866-669-1550
PUBLICATIONS
STONE iPHONE APP
App House LLC, Miami, introduces Natural Stone Source, the first iPhone/iPod Touch app offering a reference guide for natural stone. Available through the Apple App Stone, the app connects with a database of more than 2,800 different stones in 52 countries; it also includes a glossary of terms for stone, an industry-news feed, stone tips and the ability to mark and recall favorite stones.
Contact: App House LLC, 305-297-5150
FLOORING CATALOG
ProSpec®, Charlotte, N.C., introduces a new flooring catalog featuring its complete line of surface preparation products. The publication contains the company’s Level Set® underlayments and wear toppings, as well as its patch and repair products. Also featured is a product selection matrix for easier at-a-glance product choices. As part of the selection matrix, users will also be able to determine the total number of LEED points that each product contributes.
Contact: ProSpec, 800-738-1621
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