Our Visit to Cosentino in Almeria, Spain

The Background

Cosentino are a family-owned business, much like Ian Dunn Woodwork & Design. Their journey began in 1940 with Eduarda and Eduardo Cosentino, quarrying small amounts of marble in Macael (Almeria, Spain). Not long after, the second generation of the family joined – Francisco, Eduardo and Jose Martinez-Cosentino – opening a small warehouse in Barcelona, Spain, stocking the Macael Marble.

1980

2005

2010

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2014

During the ‘80s, Cosentino expanded over Europe and quickly realised they had no limitations. They diverted away from Macael Marble and became innovators with Silestone in the ‘90s. Without fail they have continued to release ground breaking materials:
 
- ECO – recycled surface
 
- SENSA – granite surface with anti stain protection
 
- DEKTON – ultra-compact surface

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The Facts

‘ 7 production factories, 12 natural stone quarries and 13 processing centres around the world
 
7 production factories (6 in Almeria, Spain and 1 in Brazil)
 
15 kitchen worktop and bathroom surface processing centres (12 in the USA and 1 in Germany)
 
1 intelligent logistics platform (Spain)
 
2 distribution hubs (USA)
 
90+ Cosentino centres (Worldwide)
 
Current employment – 3,450 people worldwide – 1,750 of them are in Spain ‘

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The Trip

It was a privilege to have been invited to Almeria, Spain this November by The Cosentino Group who are recognised for their 3 lines – Silestone, Dekton and Sensa (available at IDW&D).
 
Our first stop was the quarry, hidden among the mountains of Macael, unearthing the Macael Marble or White Macael. Arriving at this beautiful landscape, it was clear to see from the viewing platform the vast scale of the quarry.

Look closely and find the man in a yellow high vis by a digger. At this point you realise the scale.

Our guide, Jan delves into the history of Cosentino on our way down the mountains to our next destination, the largest marble mortar and pestle in the world, as featured in the Guinness Book of Records – standing at 3.29 metres and weighing 30.95 tons.

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After admiring the marble sculpture, Jan took us to the Cosentino headquarters. We soon realised from the quarry, pestle and mortar, The Cosentino Group don’t do anything small. This became more apparent over the course of the factory tour.

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We arrived at the industrial park, encompassing 1 million square meters. We entered their central office and showroom hub encased within a beautifully spacious glass-roofed atrium. The pyramid showcased tall Dekton slabs, a wall dedicated to Sensa granite and a sample room including Silestone, Prexury (the luxury precious stone line) and Scalea (natural stone line).

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Dekton

Jan enlightened us with the pioneering Sinterized Particle Technology during our excursion across the factory.
 
We already know Silestone is an extraordinary material – constantly improved - however there are downfalls. Silestone is not a material suited for the outdoors or on facades. Fortunately with 6 years of research and development Cosentino have something a recipe of 20 different natural minerals – carrollite and feldspar, just to name a few as the formula is a fiercely guarded secret – then mixed with pigments and colours. Most of these minerals travel from around the world – Asia, South America, North America and Europe.

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Dekton Facts

Dekton is highly resistant to scratching, extreme high and low temperatures and ‘almost completely impervious to liquids’
 
A completely inorganic material, which will not decay over time
 
Slabs colouring will remain stable over long periods of time and ‘when ‘exposed to ultra violet radiation’

For more details about the Dekton process and video, click here

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We would like to thank all of Cosentino for the opportunity to visit their headquarters.

Credit & Images
The Background: Cosentino