Area Margraf, the new industrial logistics hub which recently opened in Gambellara, Vicenza, is home to over 50,000 tiles made from materials including the finest marble, granite, onyx, natural stone and a range of technical materials such as ceramic and quartz. The hub – which spans a total of 162,490 square metres – is now the largest facility in Italy for the display and distribution of marble and is located in a position of strategic importance on the A4 motorway between Milan, Venice and Brenner.
It was a necessary step for Margraf, which has been specialising in the extraction and processing of marble and natural stone from all over the world for over 100 years, and one that cements the brand’s role in the area.
Other first-rate companies such as Ebara, Diquigiovanni and Perlini Machinery are based at the facility, which is the result of a forward-thinking regeneration project involving the former Area Perlini and a push to boost employment across the Vicenza province – something that Margraf president Silvio Xompero was extremely keen on. It will soon see the addition of a bistro restaurant complete with meeting rooms.
The opening of the facility sees Margraf redouble its focus on materials, research and technological innovation, all of which it tackles with the passion that has allowed it to become a leading player in the architecture and design sector. Margraf has proven itself to be capable of meeting the needs of designers thanks to its bespoke products and fusion of craftsmanship and hi-tech automation. In the process, Margraf has become an ambassador for Italian savoir faire around the world, creating spaces that symbolise the country’s culture in five continents. One example of this can be found at the new Arcolitico industrial logistics hub. Designed by Raffaello Galiotto, a huge parabolic arch standing 14.5 metres tall represents a symbolic bridge between past and future.
It’s made from Fior di Pesco Carnico marble (Margraf owns the only cave in the world where the marble is found), designed by the latest parametric computer software and cut using a numerical-control frame. The installation is also environmentally friendly, something mirrored by Margraf’s entire production process. Indeed, the company has long invested in measures designed to reduce damage to the environment, ranging from hi-tech equipment to land recovery projects and investment in energy saving and renewable resources. And of course, the brand’s many certifications mean its standards of excellence are guaranteed.
