General

Armand-Thierry Pedrós Esteban

arpedes@esc.upv.es

The granite water memorial to Diana, Princess of Wales, which was unveiled in London in July 2004, was produced using ground-breaking 3D technology and production techniques previously available only to the automotive industry. This technology means that for the first time, the architectural world can now create mass-produced stonework quickly, and in any combination of complex shapes and textures.

Xoan Martínez

In the last six months the world of international marine transport has suffered important tensions on a world scale that has directly affected the main sectors of our economy.

Since last December 2003, the logistical problems and, fundamentally, the increase in marine freight, has penalized exports and imports of companies dedicated to natural stone.

Ester Nelly Castro, Graciela Castro, María Angélica Matar, Juan Carlos Perucca

In the province of San Juan there are important deposits of marbles which have an intermittent production since many decades, in three well defined districts:

- District San Juan Centre (Pie de Palo-La Laja)
- District San Juan Sur (Divisadero / Cieneguita)
- District San Juan East (Valle Fértil)

One distinguishing quality about Central Europe that never fails to impress foreigners is the traditional emphasis on technical training. One reason the world is so enthusiastic about the economic possibilities of the countries that have entered the European Union only two years ago, is not just the lower labour costs, but the generally very high quality of manpower. This technical training is not something that was imparted to the population in the last few decades, there is a long tradition of it.

Robert Mächtel

Even objects which are a functional requirement, can be designed in an attractive way. In the Saxon town of Schkeuditz, in Germany, a plain support for a slope has been built as a gigantic sofa made of granite, which invites one to sit down, linger and enjoy.

The concern about climate change is leading to all kinds of investigations that could help to mitigate to the extent possible, the consequences of this problem.