Learning About Home Granite Countertop Tools at an SBA Event
There are many people who work in the fabrication industry. Some deal in crafting fiberglass or wood and others with different types of stone. There are many materials used to create both works of art as well as more practical things like countertops. There are of course different tools required for fabrication.
The Stone Fabricators Alliance (SFA)
The Stone Fabricators Alliance (SFA) finished off its work series for 2017 with sessions that took place globally. These world-wide events are hosted by various stone-working companies associated with the SFA and are of no charge to members.
The workshops are outlined to give insight and an understanding for the specific industry of stone fabrication. Topics of interest to stone fabricators are covered, ranging from techniques of hand fabrication to effective ways to run your business. Learning about the latest granite tools such as a quartzite blade and many other granite blades is just one of the many perks of attending one of these events.
Fabricators and Knowledge
The president of Mario and Son in Washington – Joey Marcella – has stated that it does not matter what level of fabricator you are, there is always something new to learn. Marcella is also on the board of directors for the SFA and has stated that the biggest blunder a stone fabricator can make is thinking there is never something new to learn.
Earlier this year, the owners of the Sugar Grove Marble and Bath facility in Kentucky hosted an event for SBA. Chris stated that throwing an event is intense work, but they were honored to be the one asked to host an event this year. He had also stated that the SFA had helped them in many different ways, and they loved having so many fabricators from all around the country visit their facility. It is definitely an eye-opening experience.
When so many fabricators with so much talent and knowledge gathered together, the amount of trade secrets that you can learn can blow you away. Not only are you learning creative techniques but also general business knowledge as well.
Joey Ganessa feels that throwing such a huge event takes an enormous amount of planning and coordination. However, at event such as this you become better at what fabricators do, and become a better businessperson in general. It’s about learning from each other, becoming better, being immersed in a good environment. The years of experience all gathered at one event is enough to make someone humbled, and he was happy that he could help in the SFA tradition.
What You Can Learn at an SFA Event
When we throw an SFA event at a participating member’s company, located anywhere in the country, you can learn about some of the latest granite tools available to fabricators. Some members already have a bit of experience using these and will speak about them, sharing their knowledge about the newest granite blades or even quartzite blade.
Attending one of these events might seem like it is a burden, taking up time out of your busy schedule. However, once you attend one of these SFA events, you will see why so many of our members go out of their way to attend. We make sure that these are worth the time you take away from your customers to learn and grow as a granite fabricator.
Ready to Attend an SBA Event with Us?
Fabrication of stone is no easy job. It takes precision and the right granite tools. The knowledge and experience to do all this makes it all come together thus making every piece unique and finely crafted to perfection.
Smart Stone Shop Safety Practices
Employment within the stone industry has posed many dangers to individuals for a long time now. It’s been an issue for individuals for years. OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) regularly adjusts its guidelines that pertain to silicosis as well. Fabricators, because of that, don’t stop putting together techniques and practices that affect this topic. They regularly stress all sorts of safety topics to their workers. They want to make sure that their employees are 100 percent well-versed in the value of full work environment safety. The people who are speaking out about this topic are:
- CCS Stone, Inc.’s Jonathan Mitnick.
- ROCKin’teriors’s Laurie Grandlienard.
- Slabworks of Montana’s Dave Scott.
- NSM Florida Enterprises, LLC’s Karen Roe.
These professionals hail from locations such as Moonachie, New Jersey, Raleigh, North Carolina, Bozeman, Montana and Sanford, Florida respectively.
Grandlienard’s shop is managed by an individual who is called Omar Salazar. He’s also the shop’s designated safety officer. Rebecca Watson, on the other hand, serves as its safety coordinator. Their pair collaborates with consultants who represent OSHA within North Carolina. They talk to the staff about any developments they learn about as well. OSHA assesses the shop’s standards with great frequency. ROCKIN’teriors receives unexpected assessments from the OSHA crew all of the time. Grandlienard is an individual who believes that safety can keep people alive. She also believes that it can conserve both time and money.
Mitnick acknowledges that stone shops are always full of potential risk. People who work in stone shops can experience major bodily injuries rapidly. They can destroy their feet or hands in the blink of an eye. They can experience bodily trauma that’s even more severe than that, too. Injuries make enjoyment in these work settings totally impossible. Mitnick’s company is equipped with accreditation from the Marble Institute of America+Building Stone Institute. The professionals who are part of this business regularly interact with other people within the industry. They take a hands-on approach to dealing with safety crews that are part of their organization of accreditation. Jim Hieb is a representative for this organization. Mitnick states that he serves as a big role model to the employees at his company.
Roe indicates that her company carefully abides by all of OSHA’s regulations and standards. She also indicates that the team members who work for her company employ many invaluable devices that are given to them by their accreditation group. Examples of these helpful devices are on-site safety training video clips, in-depth training videos in general and even Toolbox discussions. People who are new to NSM Florida Enterprises, LLC have to complete comprehensive orientation sessions. They’re all provided with pertinent details that involve the industry’s safety components as well. It doesn’t matter if an NSM Florida Enterprise employee lands a position inside of the office. He or she has to understand the ins and outs of proper safety in advance. The employees need to be fully in tune with any and all potential hazards. They need to be able to easily pinpoint hazards. If they observe them, they need to be able to alert the management crew for prompt adjustment purposes, too.
Scott says that his company has made use out of the Health Safety Handbook that was released by the Marble Institute of America+Building Stone Institute. The top objective without fail is to encourage workers to be passionate about the concepts that are part of this exhaustive handbook. Scott is an individual who believes that functioning as a role model is priceless and effective. Scott routinely tells employees that he can easily and quickly acquire brand new slabs for work purposes. He also tells them, however, that it’s totally impossible to replace human beings. This helps stone shop workers keep their needs in check. Working with granite tools, granite blades and quartzite blade can be a massive risk. People need to understand correct granite tools and granite blades applications. They need to understand quartzite blade well, too.
