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There is no doubt natural stone is on the rise when it comes to customer demand. Researchers peg growth in the kitchen and bath countertop market at as high as 20 percent. So, we took a look and are bringing you a taste of what we found amongst the natural beauty of stone.

Architectural Granite and Marble (AG&M) provides customers with quality service, a vast inventory and high slab quality. Headquartered in Austin, Texas, AG&M also has sales offices and slab yards in San Antonio; Oklahoma City; Nashville, Tenn.; and Birmingham, Ala., and has a large fleet of trucks to service its local and regional fabricators specializing in bulk distribution to fabricators across the U.S. AG&M provides over 120 colors of natural stone in slabs from Brazil, India, China, Europe and others. Please circle 46 on Reader Response card

Big Stone Granitos Ltd. is a Brazilian stone company specializing in prefabricated counter and vanity tops. It offers prefinished granite countertops, manufacturing with materials like, Ubatuba, Saint Cecilia, ornamental and exótics. The company has a team of architects, decorators and builders and includes geologists, experts on marble and granite and restoration consultants. It provides services ranging from the legal opinions on petrography and technological analysis to professional counseling on the quality (porosity, wear, water absorption, etc.) and best use of each stone. Please circle 47 on Reader Response card

DuPont Surfaces offers a natural stone surface — Granite Certified by DuPont. Available in 15 core colors with an expanded retail channel offering based on regional market needs, Granite Certified by DuPont is protected by an advanced proprietary sealant that fills in natural cracks, helps repel spills and maintains the stone's natural hue. Please circle 48 on Reader Response card

Crystal Granite & Marble (P) Ltd. is an ISO 9002 accredited company and large manufacturer and exporter of granite slabs of Indian and foreign origin. It has two factories in India equipped with Italian machinery, combined together running 13 gang saws, three automatic polishing lines and all the associate machinery required to provide clients with world-class granite slabs, cut-to-size panels and tiles, and provide clients with the full range of Indian granite as well as imported varieties such as Blue Pearl, Emerald Pearl, Tropic Brown and Labrador Antique. Please circle 49 on Reader Response card

Granitex offers a variety of natural stone, including 200 choices of granite, vintage marble, onyx and semiprecious stones. The company's slabs and tiles are cut to size by the latest machinery: 12 jumbo gang saws; four slab polishing lines; one line with ovens; seven multidisc block cutters; and three lines for tile processing. All varieties of stone are offered in 24 colors, ranging from the dark Vogla Blue Extra to the lighter African Ivory. Please circle 50 on Reader Response card

Green Mountain Soapstone offers soapstone available in both Original and Ice Flower styles. The product has a durable, dense surface and is inert, meaning acids and alkalis won't etch it. The product is also impervious to temperature changes. It is available in exceptionally long and wide slab sizes, and standard 30-in.-wide slabs. Seams can be made tight, smooth and inconspicuous. Sinks are also available in three styles: Chicago Wright, Boston Williams and New England Double Bowl. Please circle 51 on Reader Response card

Group GI is an Indian manufacturer and exporter of various natural stone slabs and tiles. The range of product line, good quality and competitive prices have made Group GI one of the fastest growing companies of its kind in India. Group GI produces an exotic range of natural stones that suit almost every application including flooring, countertops, vanity tops, landscaping, siding, fireplaces, bathrooms and tabletops. Please circle 52 on Reader Response card

International Italmarmi is a stone producer, selling high-quality materials all over the world. For 30 years the company has supplied marble, granite, onyx and semiprecious stones, such as Sodalite Blue, White Onyx, Red Damasco, Lemurrian Blue and Spectrolite Brown. These are available in all forms: slabs, tiles, cut-to-size for architectural projects, special workings, cladding and flooring. The company makes it a priority to help the customer get acquainted with the many kinds of new stones to match any need. The company has the quality system certification ISO 9001:2000 for design, production management and sales of marble, granite and travertine slabs and products. Please circle 53 on Reader Response card