OPEN NOW: Your monthly newsletter from the International Surface Fabricators Association

Caesarstone Master of Stone Training Program

According to NPR, California is poised to become the first state in the country to adopt special measures to protect workers who make countertops and other surfaces out of engineered stone, commonly known as quartz.

A new report was published in JAMA Internal Medicine that describes dozens of silicosis cases among California's countertop fabricators. The median age of those with health complications is just 45 years old. The federal government limits how much silica a worker can be exposed to, and safety officials in California inspected over 800 countertop shops to discover that about 72% of the shops were not in compliance with silica safety standards.

As a result, California's Occupational Safety & Health Standards Board just voted to fast-track the development of new regulations to keep workers from breathing in dust while fabricating countertops from materials with a high silica content. In addition, Los Angeles County is considering a ban on quartz material.

While this news comes out of California, experts say there is no reason to assume the issue will be limited to that state. Additional silica safety issues and worker health complications are being documented nationwide.

Prioritize Safety, Minimize Risk

By Austin Maxwell, ISFA President

In the world of countertop fabrication and installation, one primary concern is the presence of respirable crystalline silica (RCS).

RCS is a common component in engineered and natural stone, and when inhaled, it can lead to serious health issues such as silicosis, lung cancer and other respiratory diseases. It’s crucial for countertop companies to implement safety measures to reduce RCS exposure in their workplaces.

Here are some ways countertop fabrication and installation companies can reduce RCS exposure and promote a safer workplace.

ISFA Members Tour Chicago: A Recap of the Fabricator Crawl + Roundtable Event

In July, ISFA members participated in the association's first Fabricator Crawl, a two-day comprehensive showcase that included five stops along a route through the suburbs of Chicago. The tour included presentations, workshops and shop tours — all covering valuable topics within our industry. The event kicked off at Stonecrafters, where owner Dave Hammerl shared valuable insights into his team's highly efficient countertop production processes. Attendees were also delighted to discover a specialized division focused on outdoor building materials crafted from Indiana limestone, which is renowned for its strength and durability.

Next, the group visited Groves Inc. where Ben Ritthaler and his team presented their latest innovations in racking products tailored to fabrication needs. They highlighted cutting-edge developments in their fire safety division, including

a purpose-built tool storage locker, an advanced racking system for remnants and small slabs, and an optimized vertical organization solution.

On the second day, the event started at GMD Surfaces, where owner Omar shared insights into their workstation optimization using wireless hub technology, which eliminates the need for hard wiring, and invisible induction cooktops.

The next stop was at Laser Products Industries for digital template demonstrations including mock-ups that addressed common challenges faced by fabricators in real-world scenarios. Their purposeful installation of imperfect mock-ups aimed to help fabricators overcome the hurdles of problematic cabinet installations.

The group then visited The Countertop Factory Midwest.

Owner Geoffrey Gran showcased the game-changing effects of ongoing machine metrics on their shop's productivity and tooling schedule. He emphasized the significance of add-on sales opportunities to boost revenue and minimize remakes.

Notably, Geoffrey's software innovation, Hot Sauce, was designed to empower templaters and increase margins. This approach elevates the earning potential of the workforce and added profitability to what is traditionally considered a low-margin aspect of countertop sales.

Geoffrey also encouraged monitoring remakes to mitigate potential margin losses whenever possible. Attendees also discussed the emerging silicosis crisis and the compliance measures being considered in LA County.

The event concluded with a leisurely round of Topgolf, fostering a friendly and collegial atmosphere among ISFA members, which further reinforces the sense of community within the industry. Overall, the ISFA's Chicago Shop Crawl proved to be an immensely valuable event, providing fabricators with insightful presentations and ample networking opportunities.

Elevate Your Success at the 2023 ISFA Annual Conference

Fabricators and other professionals within the decorative surface industry are invited to explore growth opportunities at the International Surface Fabricators Association’s (ISFA) 2023 Annual Conference, which will be held October 16-19 on the Caribbean island of Sint Maarten.

Attendees will enjoy an even mix of educational sessions, business development workshops, networking opportunities and more at the stunning Sonesta Ocean Point Resort.

This year's event kicks off with keynote speaker Rich Hubner, safety practice lead for BSI, a leading international standards body that helps clients exercise safe, secure, and sustainable practices, will present Old Dogs & New Tricks: Driving Successful Change in Safety Culture. In this presentation, Rich will explore current trends and the challenges of change within safety programs, including silica and new safety approaches, incorporating technology-friendly business practices without causing distraction, and more.

A Q&A discussion will follow: Building a Strong Company Culture.

Other agenda items include:

Optimizing Software and Systems for Improved Productivity. Topics include:

Software must-haves.
Lessons learned with implementation.
Best practices for customization and optimization of digital tools.

Implementing New Equipment in Your Shop to Increase Efficiency. Topics include:

Implementing new equipment: identifying the right equipment for your needs and best practices for employee training and implementation.
Success stories: learn the best path to success from those who have traveled the road before and understand how it increased efficiency and productivity.
Potential pitfalls: learn what to avoid when purchasing new equipment.

Plenty of downtime is built into the schedule so that attendees can network with their peers while taking advantage of the resort's amentities. Located close to Casino Royale and the famous Maho Beach, Sonesta Ocean Point Resort provides endless options for entertainment. It’s a great place to bask in the sun on a white sand beach, snorkel, kayak, paddleboard, play a round of golf, tour a nearby distillery and more.

Further Softening Expected for Homeowner Remodeling

Annual expenditures for improvements and repairs to owner-occupied homes are expected to decline at an accelerating rate through the first half of 2024, according to the Leading Indicator of Remodeling Activity (LIRA) released by the Remodeling Futures Program at the Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University.

The LIRA projects that year-over-year spending on homeowner improvements and maintenance will shrink by 2.7 percent through the first quarter of next year and by 5.9 percent through the second quarter, following a slowdown in growth that began in the final quarter of 2022.

“Home remodeling activity continues to face strong headwinds from high interest rates, softening house price appreciation, and sluggish home sales,” said Abbe Will, associate project director of the Remodeling Futures Program. “Annual spending on homeowner improvements and repairs is expected to decrease from $486 billion through the second quarter of this year to $457 billion over the coming four quarters.”

LEARN MORE ...

In this episode of Behind the Surface, Tim Saddoris, president of Grand Onyx, a firm dedicated to helping fabricators increase their revenue using proven techniques that help build more profitable and scalable businesses, joins ISFA Executive Director Nancy Busch to discuss ways in which you can set your sales team up for success. Tim will break down methods to refine your existing sales process, uncover better ways to sell, and coach your sales teams to get remarkable results.

Learn tips and tricks, including:

Using Customer Relationship Management (CRM) software.
Tracking unanswered phone calls.
Tracking sales by month and quarter.
Reviewing average order size.
Assessing close rates.
Monitoring time to close.
Harnessing missed opportunities.

Without a streamlined sales funnel, your business is going nowhere fast. Tune in to discover how you can arm your sales team with tools and strategies that bring in more jobs and keep your business running smoothly.

Silestone Introduces Two Cutting-Edge Color Collections:
Le Chic and Urban Crush

Cosentino Group adds two collections to its Silestone portfolio, Le Chic and Urban Crush, which feature innovative design processes and leading sustainable technology.

The Le Chic collection is an elegant and sophisticated offering at the intersection of fashion and design. The patterns feature expressive veins and metallic accents that stand out against neutral backdrops like cream or deep blues and blacks, obtaining designs full of depth. Altogether, the collection offers the charm of Victorian and Parisian spaces, speaking to nostalgia with a modern yet timeless execution.

Le Chic also represents an advancement in Cosentino’s surface manufacturing, as the detailed veining requires an all-new system of design. The intricate, interlocking veins are made possible by the brand’s new molding system,

giving life to particles and minerals of a wide range of sizes and creating an incredible new texture.

Eclectic Pearl: Features delicate veining, texture, and metallic accents across the whole surface, like delicate diamonds on jewelry.
Versailles Ivory: A white shade with gradient effects and defined veins hypnotize the viewer with the flickering light of its golden metallic sparkles.
Victorian Silver: Created a marbling effect with metallic sparkles. Its cold white background is a perfect canvas for dark patterns with silver tones.
Parisien Bleu: A deep bluish tone with a powerful character. Inspired by the shades seen in famous Imperial Roman stones combined with fine ochre-toned veins.
Bohemian Flame: Presents subtle sinuous veins with metallic copper inlays. It is inspired by the movement of the golden flows of lava that generate scars on volcanic soil.
Romantic Ash: Large rivers and incrustations of grains in various sizes awaken memories of a milky way visible in a clear starry sky.

The Urban Crush collection is inspired by the diverse textures of industrial and urban style. Materials such as concrete, limestone, bronze, and ash come together to replicate the feeling of a lively cityscape, achieving the perfect backdrop for an industrial, modern space.

The new Urban Crush offerings speak to an eclectic side of design as its tones beautifully complement vintage, vibrant interiors. The collection’s dusty tones are incredibly versatile when viewed up close, and the various colorways are full of life to deliver movement to a space.

The Urban Crush collection is made up of four colorways:

Lime Delight incorporates textured beige tones that bring bright, warm shades similar to Marbella limestone.
Concrete Pulse features a natural raw gray tone that plays with light and shadow.
Brass Relish mimics finely grained sandstone and blends modern and vintage design styles.
Cinder Craze is a modern reinterpretation of black sandstone, and its black, speckled tones add style, personality, and life to industrial-inspired spaces.

Both the Silestone Le Chic and Urban Crush collections continue Cosentino's mission of industry-leading eco-friendly production, as they are manufactured with the brand’s patented HybriQ+ technology, using 99% reused water and 100% renewable energy and incorporating a minimum of 20% recycled raw materials in its composition.

LEARN MORE …

SolidSurface.com Helps Fabricators Source Hard-To-Find Designs

Fabricators, are you looking for a discontinued design? SolidSurface.com is here to help! By using the filter tools on its website to select Overstock, you can view both full and partial sheets that are currently available. This inventory is being constantly updated as materials are regularly acquired.

SolidSurface.com is an online marketplace with the largest selection of solid surface material. Featuring both Corian and Wilsonart Outlets, industry professionals can find significant cost savings in the often-hard-to-find discontinued and overstock full and partial sheet material. Powerful search tools allow filtering by brand, color, pattern, size and price.

In addition to sheet material, you'll find a selection of accessories including color-matched adhesives, tooling and sinks.

SolidSurface.com is extending a Warehouse Special Price List to ISFA Fabricators only. Contact paul@solidsurface.com for your price list today.

Prodim International To Celebrate 25th Anniversary at Marmomac 2023

Prodim International, a leading provider of digital templating solutions for the stone industry, is pleased to announce its 25th-anniversary celebration and participation in the upcoming Marmomac fair, scheduled for September 26-29, 2023, in Verona, Italy.

As one of the most prestigious events in the stone industry, Marmomac serves as an excellent platform for the company to highlight its revolutionary Proliner, the Prodim Factory software, and exchange insights and ideas with industry professionals.

For 25 years, Prodim International has been at the forefront of innovation, offering cutting-edge solutions that have transformed the way stone fabricators approach templating.

LEARN MORE ...

Crossville Announces New Distribution Facility

Crossville, Inc. recently announced opened a new distribution facility in the Huntington Business Park in Loudon, Tenn. The new warehouse spans 130,424 square feet and offers the company close access to its main manufacturing facilities and to the interstate highway system.

“Being centrally located within our distribution footprint, close proximity to our primary manufacturing facilities, and competitive lease rates made the warehouse the perfect choice for our newest distribution facility,” said Barry Dayton, Crossville’s Vice President of Logistics and Studio Operations. “With this new high-quality, turn-key facility, we look forward to a successful and long-term partnership with the Hollingsworth Companies and the City of Loudon.”

LEARN MORE ...

Mark Your Calendar

This ISFA Webinar series is cohosted by Justin Shaw, founder of Stone Fabricator Elite, the new business development and sales support agency for fabricators.

Discover how you can navigate the sales process more efficiently, engage with potential customers and close more deals.

You’ll learn how to:

- Qualify prospects quickly
- Lead and guide the sale
- Create the criteria to close
- Present price/quotes effectively
- Stand firm on price and close on value
- Expedite getting contracts signed and deposits
- Apply the method to both B2C/B2B sales

Join BACA Systems for a Fabrication Seminar on August 24, near Boise, Idaho. The event offers live demonstrations of its latest equipment and brings together industry experts who will share their knowledge and insights on fabrication. Attendees will have the chance to learn about the latest industry trends, network with peers and experts, and gain valuable insights into improving productivity and profitability. Additionally, attendees can hear about BACA's state-of-the-art machinery and how it can benefit their business.

The Summer Session in San Antonio, Texas, is SOLD OUT!

Next session: October 24-25, 2023 | Chicago

This ISFA Certified Professional Solid Surface Fabrication Training program is the gold standard course for fabricating solid surface. The program is recognized by all major manufacturers and their network of certified fabricator partners.

This hands-on, two-day session provides attendees with the skills and knowledge in all facets of the fabrication process, including layout, templating, seaming, support, sanding, edges, cutouts, backsplashes, thermoforming, finishing and installation. Participants will complete a vanity application which includes an integral bowl sink, built-up edge profile, edge inlay and examples of coved as well as set-on style backsplash.