Masonry Magazine July 2008 Page. 36
MANUFACTURED STONE
In addition to physical growth, companies are seeing product line expansions across the board.
installation specifications. That's probably the biggest new thing that's hit our industry, because the architects were drawing specifications that really didn't apply."
In addition to its technical participation in the ASTM and building codes, the MVMA is also working to establish valuable working relationships with national organizations such as the American Institute of Architects, the American Society of Landscape Architects, the Construction Specifications Institute, the National Association of Home Builders, and the U.S. Green Building Council.
"We saw the value of helping the entire industry by taking a step in the right direction, bringing all the major players together, really doing the research and sharing the information, and not being afraid to communicate with everybody to enhance the entire industry," Smith-Taylor says.
Continued growth
MANY MANUFACTURED STONE companies are not only surviving the economy, but also thriving in the current marketplace.
Image courtesy of Artistic Stone
RIVER
RIDCE
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APARTMENT BOWES
Pitts says architects have been essential in driving the acceptance of manufactured stone in today's building industry and have helped not only manufactured stone products grow in the marketplace, but also the companies behind the products.
"In our marketplace of Atlanta, we're seeing [manufactured stone) used on just about anything, from four-story apartment complexes to strip malls, restaurants to-obviously-residential. The acceptance of the product has been phenomenal. The architects have fallen in love with manufactured stone veneer. Luckily, we're in that business."
"We were one of those few fortunate companies that had a growth year in 107," Pitts continues. "As a matter of fact, we're going through another plant expansion as we speak. We're adding on about 100,000 square feet in warehouse space and then another 50,000 square feet in plant expansion. It was needed, and it is nice to be able to say that you're still growing."
In addition to physical growth, companies are seeing product line expansions across the board. New suites of products, such as Artistic Stone's Country Ledge, Eldorado Stone's RoughCut, and Owens Corning's Cultured Stone ProStone series, to name a few, are helping to keep designers' interests.
Companies are not only providing new variations that emulate the look of natural stone, but also creating new looks beyond the norm. While man-made stone has typically attempted to replicate traditional natural stone masonry products, some companies are finding a new path by emulating non-
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