What are Stonex India’s new developments for the Indian market for high quality interior building products?
Stonex India offers a wide collection of stones that includes Marble, Semi Precious Stones, Granite, Travertino, Onyx, Limestone and Composites. Launched in 2001, the brand has been largely credited with bringing transparency to the highly disorganized marble sector. Stonex India is also a pioneer in bringing the Stone Reinforcement System into India, wherein we have developed a unique end-to-end process for bringing the highest international quality standards in marble processing and polishing, using advanced technologies like robotics, the highest quality materials like Epoxy Resin as against General Purpose Resin, currently in use in India, and the world’s most advanced Resin Line Machine STNX 1 that has been specifically designed and developed for Stonex India by Prometec SRL Italy, the world’s leading manufacturer of marble processing machines.
As a leading player in the industry, Stonex India is committed to setting new and higher benchmarks in the category. With our Stone Reinforcement System, we believe that we have redefined the quality parameters of the marble industry and have raised the bar once again, pushing other brands to up their game
Gaurav Agrawal, Stonex India
What is the concept behind the Stone Reinforcement System (SRS), and the processes?
SRS, a first-of-its-kind system, combines the best technologies and most efficient global practices to ensure longer life and protection to our marble. The highest quality marble blocks are sourced from the finest quarries across the world, and each block is moved to our state-of-the-art facility in Kishangarh, Rajasthan. Here, each block undergoes a special Block Vacuum process, whereby it is packed with high quality epoxy resin to remove cracks and to strengthen it for further processing.
The prepared blocks then move to the Gangsaw Machine where computerized instructions ensure that the stones are cut precisely and as per the international standard in slabs of 18-20mm thickness. In India, it’s normally 15-16mm.
Robotic arms ensure that the Italian resin is applied precisely on both surfaces for deeper penetration and for double strength. Besides this, the best imported organic fibre mesh is used for backing; which being completely dissolvable, does not have to be removed before installation, which further minimizes chances of chipping or cracking of the stone.
In the final stage, the slabs go through stringent quality checks before dispatch. Each slab is passed through a scanner that can spot even the most miniscule of defects that the human eyes could miss, and in the rare instance of any stone being found with even the smallest defect, the whole process is repeated. Finally, each slab goes through a high-speed lamination machine to ensure added care and protection during transportation.
What benefits does SRS provide the end-users?
Stones such as marble can be used on external as well as internal surfaces and are well suited for high traffic areas like hospitals, malls, hotels etc, as the chances of wear and tear in marble is almost negligible. The marble produced through SRS is significantly stronger, more durable, and better suited to resist the harshest of conditions.
How has Stonex India raised the standard of marble production in India?
Stonex India is the only brand in India to use Organic Fiber Mesh for this process, and the first to practice the block vacuum process, which strengthens the stone before it is even processed. We are the only company to pre-calibrate the slabs before application of Italian Epoxy, and the first in India to practice epoxy application on both sides of the marble to ensure longer life of every slab. Italian Epoxy Resin is the highest quality resin in India presently. Unlike the Polyester Resin, Epoxy Resin almost matches the viscosity of water to penetrate even the finest of fissures and pores, making the final processed slab significantly stronger and better suited to resist any adverse condition that could arise.
