News News Release Lee County Economic Development. LEE COUNTY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION Southern Base of the Research Triangle Region NEWS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Tuesday, November 29, 2005 CENTURY STONE OPENS COUNTERTOP FABRICATION FACILITY IN SANFORD SANFORD -- Century Stone, a startup company fabricating custom-installed kitchen countertops from fine granite and marble, has opened its new facility in the Lee County Industrial Park. The company based just outside Sanford plans to handle both commercial and residential projects, but is focusing initially on supplying high-end stone countertops for new home construction and kitchen renovations. "We're dealing in natural granite and marble materials," said Kevin Noel, who owns Century Stone. "We typically import material from Italy, Brazil and Spain, because each source has its own unique style of granite or marble." Century Stone creates custom countertops by using the latest technology to design a template before fabricating material to precise specifications. During an initial visit to the work site, Century Stone shoots a series of carefully-planned digital photographs, a process taking roughly 20 minutes, and then processes the photographs, using specialized computer software, to produce a three-dimensional model and vinyl template. The template is used to slice and mill the countertop from large slabs of granite, each one weighing well over half a ton. It's a process that produces a precise fit and saves money for customers. Noel said the traditional method required much more production time and cost more for labor, materials to produce a hand-built template and travel for more trips to the work site. Another benefit: The process is environmentally friendly. "We're a real 'green' operation," Noel said. "We recycle materials, use no chemicals and even recycle our water. We use an environmentally-friendly manufacturing process to create a natural product." Noel has already started marketing products to builders and retailers within a 100-mile radius who handle kitchen counters. The rough radius of his market, he said, is designed to make sure the company can react quickly to customers and ensure their satisfaction. But when Century Stone opens its showroom, which is currently on the drawing board, the new company will reach out directly to homeowners. Century Stone came to Lee County after Noel found success working with Stonecrafters, a similar venture owned by his brother in Maryland. While working there, Noel handled a wide variety of projects, including granite installation for the New Castle County Courthouse in Wilmington, Del. His initial goal for Century Stone was to find a solid location for business near major cities. Lee County was the ideal location, he said, because it was close to the Triangle, Triad and Charlotte. "And then the economic development people were great and Lee County was easy to get along with," Noel said. "We also looked north of here, all the way up into Virginia. But it was like the light clicked on when we came to Sanford." Initially, Century Stone has four people on its payroll, but will be expanding slowly over the next two years, when Noel anticipates having between 10 and 15 people working out of the Lee County Industrial Park facility. The Lee County Economic Development Corp. is a nonprofit organization established to attract industry, enhance job opportunities and promote sound planning across Lee County. Funding is provided by the county, as well as the City of Sanford and Town of Broadway, the county's two municipalities. New Inovations Notes or article author name can be added in this area. This page can be used as a news page, a staff page or any other page format you require. 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