The International Surface Fabricators Association (ISFA) is pleased to announce the appointment of Heather Duve as its new membership director. In this role, Heather will lead the association in driving membership growth and retention, as well as contribute to the development of events, programs, groups, resources and other initiatives.

Before joining ISFA, Duve served as the membership and development director at the Water Quality Association (WQA), an Illinois-based organization representing the point-of-use, point-of-entry water treatment industry in the United States. During her tenure, she oversaw membership recruitment and retention initiatives, facilitated member support and spearheaded sponsorship recruitment for WQA events.

“Heather comes to ISFA with the expertise that will drive growth and opportunity for the association and its membership,” said Marissa Bankert, ISFA executive director. “Her passion for association management and member services is a perfect fit for the organization, and we are excited to see how she can help us expand membership and increase engagement.

ISFA’s executive director, Marissa Bankert, joined the San Antonio training hosted at Gecko Solid Surface Solutions. It was her first opportunity to see the class firsthand and connect with some of the association’s newest members. “Most of the attendees are currently working with other materials such as stone and quartz,” said Bankert. “But considering the viability of solid surface in commercial applications, there’s a growth opportunity for these fabricators to extend their offerings.” That was the prevailing sentiment of many in attendance, along with the desire to keep up their education as fabricators overall. 

A special thanks to ISFA's 2024 Solid Surface Fabrication Training sponsors, Aristech Surfaces, Integra Adhesives, BB Industries, and especially our trainer, Aaron Davis, for being dedicated to the success of fabricators everywhere.

The next Solid Surface Fabrication Training session will be June 4-5 in McSherrystown, Pennsylvania, which will include an expanded session on thermoforming. 

New trends, innovations, and techniques are all in a stone’s throw at Coverings 2024. Coverings offers essential opportunities for stone fabricators to discover innovative equipment, products, tools and materials to keep current with the latest trends. Find sources for natural and dimensional stone products from around the globe that meet LEED criteria. Participate in complimentary demonstrations and seminars for technical and marketing know-how to improve your ability to market and sell to specifiers and dealers.

For the second year, ISFA is a proud sponsor of the Fabricator Stage in Hall C, Booth 6203, just a stone's throw away from ISFA's booth, 6306. The Fabricator Stage will focus on the most relevant topics for tile and stone fabricators, providing you with the information and ideas you need to move your business forward and complete your next project. The stage was a hit at Coverings 2023, so we’re expanding the programming and adding afternoon happy hours for 2024!

And speaking of happy hours ....

ISFA and the Natural Stone Institute are co-hosting a networking event!

When: Tuesday, April 23 — 5:00 PM-7:30 PM

Where: Hall B, 3rd Floor

All members are welcome to attend this FREE event.

Stop by to see some friendly faces and have a drink on us!

Fabricators looking for a discontinued design? SolidSurface.com is here to help with filter tools, including Overstock, that enables you to view the current sheet inventory. The company's access to this inventory is being constantly updated, so don’t miss out while supplies last.

SolidSurface.com is an online marketplace with the largest selection of discontinued solid surface material. Materials from major manufacturers Corian, Wilsonart, Avonite Surfaces, and new in 2024, now featuring LX Hausys' HIMACS Solid Surface and VIATERA Quartz. Now fabricators can find significant cost savings in the often-hard-to-find discontinued sheet material. The powerful search tools allow filtering by brand, color, pattern, size and price. 

According to KBB Review, Czech-based quartz manufacturer Technistone will stop supplying materials to fabricators who dry cut slabs, in the wake of ongoing controversy about the safety of engineered stone. The company, a subsidiary of Wilsonart, said that its new policy reaffirms its commitment to the safety of its workers and the wider industry as a whole.

Despite countries such as Australia banning the product outright, companies and organizations still stress that the material is safe and responsible to use so long as safety protocols are observed.

Following the Australian government’s decision, Caesarstone released a business update stating, “the products are safe to fabricate under safe working practices.”

Technistone has said that going forward, it will not supply its materials to those who don’t cut engineered stone slabs using wet cutting techniques. It added that this decision is in line with its commitment to safety standards within the industry. 

Join ISFA April 10-11 in Charlotte, North Carolina, for the first Fabricator Forum of 2024. Previously known as Industry Roundtables, Fabricator Forums are two-day regional events designed to create educational and networking opportunities so that you can find the information and resources you need to build upon your successes.

Day one will include presentations and roundtable discussions on:

• Silica safety in the shop.
• Tooling requirements for porcelain and Dekton.
• Using artificial intelligence to tap into growth opportunities.
• Managerial strategies that foster a strong company culture and empower emerging leaders.

On day two, we'll take the show on the road for two fabricator shop tours, including The Art of Stone, where we'll have an OSHA overview designed to identify common oversights and maintain compliance, and Harkey Tile & Stone, a family-owned company serving the area for more than 80 years. 

Take advantage of this opportunity to network with industry leaders and experts who can help you break down barriers in your business.

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