( ASSOCIATIONS )
The role of the different associations in the stone industry is becoming increasingly important In an age of environmental awareness, multiple government authorities, complex legislation, global markets and global competition, there are so many activities which are best done only by associations to protect the interests of this fragmented industry consisting of small companies.
( PROFITS )
This year the Spanish stone industry made good profits!. Let no one complain, because if there were no profits this year, then might as well close the business.
This was the year was when for many companies China was no longer their favourite export market. It bought less machinery than ever, and also less stone, especially granite, than ever before. Moreover, it now competes all over the world in a wide range of stone products, be they granite slabs, tiles or kerbs or funerary item or slate. It still buys marble in huge quantities though.
( DOUBTS )
The same doubts are always there, and are an eternal part of life in the stone industry: Is my price too high? Will I get the job? Will the stone turn out good? Will I will be able to do the job on time? Will the client complain about that black spot on the stone which is no one´s fault but made by mother nature? Will I get paid? On time?
There is one technological advance which the stone industry has definitely made - in the use of e-mail. More and more people have realised how cheap it is to communicate by e-mail, and now all the big companies use it and many small ones too ! Train yourself to use it- there is simply no choice.
( TRAINING )
Trained personnel, or the lack of it, is now a serious problem in the stone industry. In some countries the crisis may have led to companies reducing personnel but in Spain (and other countries) the problem is just the opposite. Too many workshops have bought sophisticated, complicated machinery but do not know how to get the maximum output for lack of trained people. In too many construction projects the architects decided not to use natural stone because they could not find qualified people to install the stone. Training must become the top priority of the stone industry.
( CRANES )
Till a couple of years ago many people looked on enviously when visiting other countries because there seemed to be cranes everywhere suggesting construction going on and the order for stone followung soon. Now it seems the whole of Spain is full of cranes. Be it the coast or the interior, be it summer houses for the Spaniards or tourists, commercial centres or office buildings, there seemed to be cranes everywhere . And, logically, stone everywhere too!
( DIAMOND WIRE )
Without any doubt, the diamond wire has revolutionised the costs and productivity analysis in the stone industry. Moreover, its technological possibilities have not yet reached the limits, suggesting that in the next decade, even more changes in the cost analysis will take place.
( ITALY )
If there is any country which sets the technological and innovation standards in the stone industry, it is Italy. In spite of the fact the stone industry has developed so much in other countries, if there is any one place to go to feel the "pulse" of the stone industry, it is still Italy.
( JUST ON TIME )
Without any planning or intent, the stone industry in Spain seemed to have mastered the highly sophisticated Just- On-Time production system. With so much demand, inventory was low, non existent in practical terms. Material went from the elaboration machine straight to the waiting truck.
( KILOMETERS )
There was so much demand everywhere in Spain that, unlike previous years, one did not have to travel several kilometres to get orders. Enough activity next door meant for many the car went through less kilometres this year.
( BILLS OF EXCHANGE )
No one is complaining of lack of orders in Spain. But look at the payment date on the letras! Some of them seemed to expire well into the next millennium.
( MILLENNIUM )
The parties at the end of this year promise to be special, more extravagant, more expensive because of the end of a millennium. But will the stone industry also collect the money faster and pay their bills on time? This is the million dollar question of the new millennium.
How on earth could the prophecies of centuries ago turn out to be correct if nowadays it is impossible to predict what might happen a week ahead? Above all, in the stone industry, with so many constant changes of markets, technologies, companies ... Well, Nostradamus tried it, and so do we ... ( read pages 66 to 135 )
ÑÑunca sabemos qué poner aquí. We ñever kñow what to put here !
( FAR EAST )
The surprise of the year was the unexpectedly fast recovery in the Far East countries. Many buyers of natural stone from there started calling up old suppliers asking for quotations and even placing orders. It is unlikely though, that they will be purchase in the huge quantities of before.
( EDGE POLISHING MACHINES )
Probably the star product in Spain. It seemed to be the machine which every workshop decided it must have! Makes you wonder what were they doing before. And what will be the must-have machine in every workshop next year?
( CARAT )
When it comes to gold it is easy to define the quality - just ask how many carats is it. Why not develop a similar standard in natural stone, instead of the confusing, vague denominations that exist, or the technical data which no one really understands? The definition of the new millennium perhaps?
(RESTORATION IN ROME )
Anyone been to Rome this year? You would have not seen anything, all the monuments in stone were covered, all of them being restored, in preparation for the millions of tourists who will be coming in the millennium year.
(SURPRISE )
Surprises in the year? There were many. The Far East countries, especially South Korea, were recovering faster than ever. Americans were buying CNC machinery for elaborating stone. In spite of a dramatically bad situation, not many Italian machinery manufacturers closed down. And it always a bit of a surprise to find that so many clients actually pay up!
( TRANSFERS, CHEQUES, CARDS ...)
There are so many convenient ways of paying nowadays. transfers, cheques, credit cards, letter of credit, ... so why do people so often look for (and get away with) excuses for not paying?
( URBAN PLANNING )
One of the important application for stone this year in Spain (and elsewhere too) was in urban planning With local elections held in so many regions the politicians decided they had to lay new pavements, streets, public squares, parks..... and very frequently natural stone was used to make the cities look beautiful before voting day.
( WINE )
Wine, champagne, whisky, liquor, martini, gin, rum, beer, you name it - the stone industry will offer it to you! This industry is an expert not only in stone but also in alcohol!
The Internet invasion. Everyday it becomes bigger and bigger as more and more people find their information on the WEB. And make their deals. Stone too is finding its place on the Web.
Once the Euro comes into physical existence, we will need a calculator. How much is that stone, they will ask, and it will be - x +* - x = !!!
( DEPOSITS )
The wonders of Mother Nature can never fail to surprise us. Day after day, in some part of the world, some new deposit of natural stone is discovered, or exploited. And these deposits bring to us stones of great beauty, so wonderful to look at and contemplate. This is one of the great joys and pleasures of being in this industry, a privilege...
The year is over. One has worked as hard as possible. What more can one do? Just go to sleep, zzzzzzzzz... and wake up again for the parties welcoming the new year, the new decade, the new century, the new millennium...
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