SFA: Heading to Miami
MIAMI_BEACH, Fla. – The Stone Fabricators Alliance is ready to go with competition, education and plain ol’ swapping between stone folks at The International Surface Event (TISE) East here at the Miami Beach Convention Center later this month.
The best of the trade face off in the SFA’s Fabricator Olympics on Oct. 20 at 1:30 p.m. within the confines of The CAGE, the demo/hands-on area on the exhibit-hall floor of TISE East. First off, there’s the final qualifying round (sign up by 1 p.m. to enter) where contestants show their skills at flat-edge polishing, shaping/polishing a demi-bullnose edge and top-polishing a scratch to blend into the existing polished finish.
At 4 p.m. on Oct. 20, the top competitor from the final set of open trials will join winners from other qualifying heats at SFA events this summer will square off to determine the best of 2014 – and earn cash prizes.
Before the big competition, the SFA seeks to sharpen industry minds with its MegaWorkshop on “Maximizing Margins” on Oct. 20 from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. in Meeting Room: D229/D230 (Level 2) of the convention center. The four-hour workshop focuses on increasing your profits with advice straight from experienced business owners. Topics include branding, production efficiency, business planning, the buying experience, diversifying and profit.
The SFA will also offer watch-and-learn sessions at The CAGE during for the remainder of TISE East.
On Oct. 21, there’ll be demonstrations on dressing and setting seams for a chip-free, next-to-invisible seam from 1:30-2:30 p.m; techniques on top polishing a seam and face polishing from 3-4 p.m.; and mitered tips, tricks and techniques from 4:30-5:30 p.m.
On Oct. 22, the demo on on dressing and setting seams for a chip-free, next-to-invisible seam is from 10:30-11:30 a.m.; top-polishing and repairing quartz is from noon-1 p.m.; and antique finishing of face and edge detail is from 1:30-2:30 p.m.
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