ISSFA today named industry veteran, Russ Lee, executive director of the fabricator trade association. The move comes on the heels of a unanimous vote by the ISSFA Board of Directors to recommend its membership adopt a change in focus to embrace all decorative surfacing products.

The California Resource Recovery Association today named Vetrazzo, the original company to use recycled glass for countertop surfaces, winner of their annual “Outstanding Closing the Loop Commitment” award, reports Business Wire.

The program asked for by over 75% of the members is back! By partnering with our fabricator shop members who generously support ISSFA and their fellow members, we are able to bring you this intensive, hands-on, full day program again in September, 2008.

An innovative clamping method has been developed by The Pinske Edge to solve a common fabrication problem associated with v-grooving and cove backsplash corners. Click to read and see more.

Wilsonart International executives reinforced the company’s commitment to the Solid Surface market at the annual distributor meeting in Dallas, July 14.  Bill DiGaetano, President of Wilsonart North America, reported that the Wilsonart Solid Surface program is an integral part of Wilsonart’s evolution into a surfacing solutions provider to both residential and commercial markets.

Beginning August 2008, all ISSFA members in good standing receive a brand-new benefit: The Key Employee Program, with full access to www.issfa.org! This a FREE member benefit, added at the request of our dedicated fabricator, distributor, supplier, and manufacturer members!

At the 2008 ISSFA Day at the EXPO, Todd Werstler talked about the power of “We” as ISSFA. In his article in the premier issue of this magazine he wrote about a town hall meeting he attended in Boston late in 2007. “After a lively discussion, WE hammered out some outstanding program ideas that are coming to life in 2008. WE, the ISSFA AWI Document Committee, are going to develop a detailed solid surface fabrication and use guideline section for use in the AWI manual.”

Colonial Saw brings you the latest development from the Swiss engineers at STRIEBIG.  An automatic travel version of our extremely popular STRIEBIG Compact and Compact Plus vertical panel saws.

For some time now we at ISSFA have felt the increasing need to expand upon the Business Journal and publish a full-fledged magazine more applicable and useful to our solid surface and quartz fabricator member base. The desire for a publication that would more directly meet their needs was communicated to us... and we listened!

In the true spirit of giving back to the industry, ISSFA Member Kerry Keyes of Wooden-It-Be-Nice in 29 Palms, California, has announced the establishment of an annual scholarship. Kerry came up with the idea of a scholarship while attending ISSFA training last November.