Sponsors
The PLATINUM Sponsors of DESIGNING WITH STONE PORTUGAL 2025, who will be participating with us all week, are:
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Regina Vitorio
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Mike Picco
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Established in 1999, LSI Stone first started as INOVOPEDRA, when Regina Vitório and Pedro Vazão joined forces to combine their families’ inheritance and years of experience in this sector.
With a well-kept and nurtured know-how gathered throughout the years, LSI Stone started its growth built on the tradition, deep stone understanding and on smart and structural investments. With a high purity grade, LSI limestones are extracted from the best Estremadura quarries, located in the most important limestone repository in Portugal. “Our stone quality is unmatched”, assures Regina while explaining that “turning stone into artwork” is an exciting yet arduous always evolving activity that demands a “continuous investment in technology and solutions”. |
PICCO is proud of our 30-year legacy for delivering quality services to our global customers and partners. We honour them by promising to continue our leadership in stone, structures, and residential engineering with new initiatives into 2022. We will focus on making the connection between education, people, and the impactful creative experiences that define our relationships with all of you. Growing our technology capability even more, sharing our communication excellence and endeavouring to support sustainable businesses and practices—will fulfill our purpose for ‘Shaping Progress’ at PICCO.
Mike Picco Mike is the driving force behind PICCO ENGINEERING's continued success, with more than 25 years experience in stone consulting and structural engineering. Mike remains active in project sponsorship and is a much sought-after speaker and subject-matter expert on stone cladding and anchoring systems. Mike earned his Bachelor of Engineering degree from McMaster University and is licensed in various jurisdictions. In 2017 he was honoured with the McMaster University Top 150 Alumni. He is an active member of the Ontario Home Builders Association, a safety consultant for the Residential Framing Contractors Association of Metropolitan Toronto and vicinity, an member of the Canadian Standard Association technical committee on Masonry Design S304.1, and Consultant to The Terrazzo Tile and Marble Association of Canada, serving on their Dimension Stone Guide committee. He served as the President of the Natural Stone Institute (NSI) , and was awarded Person of the Year for 2021. |
Aire Limestones
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Licinio Cordeiro
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AIRELIMESTONES IS A PORTUGUESE COMPANY ENGAGED IN QUARRYING, PROCESSING AND TRADING OF NATURAL STONE.
"AIRELIMESTONES has vast knowledge and experience in the extraction and transformation of Portuguese limestone and marble. A company of family origin with the wisdom of several generations in the stone industry, our values follow a line of sustainable responsibility with extreme respect for the environment and human work. A down-to-earth posture, loyalty, integrity and collaboration remain deep-rooted in all our team. The continuous bet on the best technology and the training of our collaborators allows AIRELIMESTONES to stand out in the natural stone sector with our high-quality products and services. Leading technology combined with the know-how of our team gives us a privileged position to execute the most challenging and ambitious projects. Our greatest asset is the high level of detail and perfect finishes of our products, and our dedicated team has the sensitivity and experience to work those small details that lead to the best result. Join us in the discovery of the sophistication of nature." Licínio Cordeiro CEO |
THE HISTORY OF GRIDWORX & THEIR STONE PANELIZED CLADDING SYSTEMS
While working as a stone broker I began selling stone cut for stone panelized cladding systems. Typically, the stones are 3 cm thick weighing 15 pounds PSF. With thin stone cladding systems, architects are able to build stone buildings once again. Stone buildings constructed with mechanically attached curtain wall systems were not well recognized in the construction industry. It was easy to see why. I came to realize the cladding systems in the market were cumbersome and most of all – inefficient. One example is – none offered a solution for removing and replacing a damaged panel without disassembling the entire wall section. Another is – none provided the ability for the non-sequential setting of the stone. DESIGNED AND PRE-ENGINEERED TO MEET OR EXCEED INDUSTRY SPECIFICATIONS Surely there must be a solution to these problems. And, this was the beginning. The next three years were consumed with meetings with architects, engineers and patent attorneys. After considering many concepts, a two-part attachment system integrated with a rotational engagement L-bracket became the obvious solution. This invention overcame both of the problems listed above. Doubtless, it would be the most efficient mechanical attachment cladding system ever. Simultaneously, these years were consumed with developing a team to help perfect this concept. Initially, our staff included an installation department to perform project installations and train other masons and carpenters. It was important for other installers to understand the ease and efficiency of the Gridworx system. We employed an architect with curtain wall construction experience to deliver clear communications with project architects as well as create shop drawings and other project details. Next, a production team was required to fabricate system components, perform modifications and coordinate the delivery. Additionally, over this period we acquired fabrication equipment, developed an office and a shop facility. Our team was consumed with biweekly meetings. These included curtainwall engineering companies, followed by visits to stone quarries, aluminum extrusion factories, contractors, architects and patent attorneys for filing multiple patents. As the entire system was designed and pre-engineered to meet or exceed industry specifications, attracting the attention of project architects was made more accessible. Soon Gridworx was being specified on multiple projects across the country. |
Global Stone & Tile
Vineyard, Utah |
Dan Nelson
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Polimagra
Moimenta da Beira, Portugal |
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Bringing over 25 years of experience to the table, Global Stone & Tile leads the field in experience. With capabilities in everything from commercial work to residential work and hotels and resorts to religious buildings. We successfully fabricate and install the most ornate stone and tile finishes in over seven countries.
Quality is everything over at GS&T. We've established a company goal to only provide the best high-end services at a competitive price. Not only do we strive for excellence, but we have a tried and proven quality assurance monitoring system, which continues to exceed our clienteles expectations with every job we take on No job is too big or too small for Global Stone and Tile. We take on everything from countertops to exterior stone cladding with pride and assurance that you'll be satisfied with our work. |
Polimagra is a Portuguese company specialized in the processing and marketing of stone products, namely granite products. Polimagra started its operation in 1999, in Moimenta da Beira, district of Viseu, a plentiful granite region.
Frome its very beginning, Polimagra’s strategy has been to identify and focus its offer in market segments that prize the features of local granites. Therefore, the outdoor projects have been a market segment that get special attention from Polimagra Based in state-of-the-art technology, skilled labor and strategic partnerships, Polimagra has been able to develop a value-added competitive offer (product + service. In a short time, Polimagra has become a European reference in the stone business. Nowadays, Polimagra has a wide international approach, spreading its offer worldwide. Through an integrated management (from quarries to processing), Polimagra offers a complete range of outdoor products, from pavement facades to urban furniture. |