Friday, 30 November 2018

Scenario of Natural Stone Supply Chain of Indian Stone Industry


India is a big country and it has different dimensional stone reserves found in many states. With more than a hundred quarries in different states, the stone industry of India has developed into the production and manufacturing of a variety of stones like sandstone, marble, slate, quartzite, granite, and limestone. It consists of natural stone suppliers, exporters, manufacturers, wholesalers, and distributors. Be it a natural stone block, slab, tile, cobble, or cobble, Indian natural stone industry caters to all needs of wholesalers, importers, sourcing companies, stone agents, retailers, private customers, building companies, construction companies, architects, and designers at global level. Let’s have a look at the basic scenario of Indian natural stone industry, sources, and export associated to it. 





Supply Chain of Indian Stone Industry
The story of natural stone industry in India starts with quarries and quarry workers. Apart from quarry workers, there are two pivotal players in the industry.

  1.   Big quarry owners/ exporters/ processors/ traders
  2.  Small quarry owners


All sources in the former category supply natural stones into the local and international market as well. This category offers stone of natural stone suppliers in bulk. Local traders take stone to the local market. On the other hand, purchasing agents buy stone from big and small quarries and send it to different processing units in India. The biggest segment in the industry is big quarry owners, processors, exporters and traders who take Indian stone products in various forms to overseas. Through this channel, natural stone in the form of blocks, slabs, and tiles reaches to warehouses, processing units, retailers, and directly to customers. 

In the supply chain, most of the big quarry owners are leading sources; they also have their own processing companies and export networks for exporting stones directly to overseas customers. Both big and small quarry owners play a vital role in matching needs of local, domestic, and international markets. Natural stone can be exported at any stage of its processing in the form of raw blocks, semi-polished and polished stones. Advanced, traditional, and manual stone processing plants owned by natural stone suppliers and exporters also export stone to and international natural stone supplier and wholesale trader. These traders can store blocks or sell them to other processing units. They can also have finished products for selling to domestic and international traders.

In India, there are some leading global manufacturers that also play the role of exporters and suppliers of Indian stones. They deliver high quality natural stone materials at global level and match décor and construction needs of various players and customers in foreign countries, like UK, USA, Europe, Australia, South Africa, the Middle East, and Hong Kong.

Thursday, 1 November 2018

Five common myths you need to debunk before buying granite countertops


Without a doubt, granite is one of the most popular natural stones favored by the Western world. There are many granite varieties globally that granite sellers sell on the basis of their inherent features and applications. Nowadays, granite countertops are making their ways to all residential and commercial buildings and giving a new meaning to style and sophistication. Be it granite kitchen countertops or granite bathroom countertops, choosing the right stone will always matter the most.
Surprisingly, there are some common myths on the market that can prevent you from taking a balanced decision and making a rational purchase. If granite lovers can debunk these myths, they are likely to get the best granite countertops with the least efforts. Let’s go through the most common myths and check the ground reality. 

Common Myth # 1
Granite causes serious health issues

There is a common misconception that granite emits harmful radon gas. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), radon is "a cancer-causing natural radioactive gas that you can't see, smell or taste. Radon from granite building materials can be released over the lifetime of use but typically will be diluted by ventilation."
The truth is that radon originated in the soil underneath homes is a common problem, not radon emitted by granite building materials. Moreover, marble manufacturers don’t accept granite as a cause of cancer and they also affirm that "Radiation in granite is not dangerous." Even, the EPA expresses that granite countertops are not increasing indoor radon levels. There are also other misconceptions that granite ports bacteria and allows germs to seep into its pores.


Common Myth # 2
Granite countertops are prone to stains and cracks

Another popular misconception about granite is that it absorbs liquids like juices and discolors the surface of the countertop.
Being a porous material, it is likely that this natural stone absorbs liquids. All granite lovers need to understand that protective coatings and sealants help in making the surface of the stone quite stain proof. If the flat surface of granite countertops is coated with a resin or treated with sealers, it will naturally prevent watermarks from forming on the surface.
If you don’t understand the utility of granite properly, you better check out the physical and chemical lab report of any granite product, issued by granite manufacturer. Remember that you will get this report on demand only.

Common Myth # 3
Indian granite compromises on quality

Another misconception about the granite is that people from the Western world generally see granite products from Asia (China and India) as cheaper. They falsely think cheaper granite from India is poor on quality.
The truth is that hundreds of granite quarries in North and South India that quarry multi-colored granite rocks, blocks, and slabs. Many granite countertops selling companies deal in the selling and supplying of granite directly to foreign countries. They sell their products at the factory price as there are no middlemen involved in the process of granite delivery. That is why they sell high-quality granite at a cheaper price tag. A cheaper price tag doesn’t mean compromise on quality. When you get natural stone products at a cheaper price tag, it is also possible that the seller is reducing its profit margin.

Common Myth # 4
Granite is expensive

Some people still believe that granite is costly and they can’t afford it. This misconception is quite useless and has no relevance. It is not hard on all pockets.   
These days, granite has become one of the cost-effective alternatives for garnering solid surfaces at kitchen and baths as well. Today, you can buy a big assortment of granite products that can fit into most budgets. Only a rare variety of granite products is expensive that is not produced in a big quantity. When it comes to home renovation and choosing a cheaper natural stone alternative, homeowners favor granite as a material of choice. For some people, granite countertops are still expensive as they think their old stone supplier offers the best granite price.


Common Myth # 5
Granite demands regular maintenance

Another misconception that prevents homeowners from buying granite countertops is that granite is really hard to maintain. Moreover, this natural stone product is sensitive to cleaning products and needs to be polished regularly.
These claims are simply clueless. Granite is not sensitive to cleaning products and doesn’t leave marks on its surface. Granite is responsive to those cleaning products that contain abrasives. You will get better results if you can avoid such cleaners. For an effective outcome, you better use mild soap and water to clean white, blue, or black granite. You need not seal this stone product regularly. Just buy quality granite coated with resin. It would look polished for years to come.
So, these myths are now exposed. You simply need to get rid of them while buying natural stones. Before sticking to any decision, it is vital that you check all facts clearly and evaluate things properly. When you have all these misconceptions cleared, you can focus on the quality of the granite countertops. Remember that taking help from stone experts will make things happen in your favor.

Regatta Universal Exports, a popular and established granite supplier, manufacturer, and exporter from India, is committed to delivering global stone lovers top quality granite countertops slab and tile products in different colors. The Indian granite exporter offers you a big range of granite articles and products in more than 50 countries in all corners of the world. The natural stone company has a big client base in the US, Asia, Australia, UK, Europe, Russia, and the Middle East. Catering all customer needs properly, the company likes to stick to the factor of uncompromised quality. No matter it is a standard or a customized size granite product, all granite supplies from the brand are useful for multiple applications at a competitive price tag.