It is etched in stone

[Huligar]

Old family photos, important awards, wedding certificates and announcements — all the things that chronicle our lives are subject to the ravages of the passing years. They fade, crack or simply deteriorate as time and the elements take their toll.

Imagine if those photographs and documents could be transferred in all their detail to materials that would preserve them for decades, centuries or even millenniums — materials like marble or granite or aluminum. That is just part of what can be done by the laser engravers at Etchex.

After several years of showing what they can do at local fairs and establishing a showroom at their plant on West Road in Portsmouth, partners Brian Haberstroh and James Rascoe have opened another showroom at the Fox Run Mall. They hired Laurie Mantegari as their director of marketing and began increasing public awareness of just what is possible with laser etching.

"We operated a kiosk in April (at the mall) and got a great response," Haberstroh said. "Now we want to promote our larger items and show potential customers what we can do."

As an indication, the Etchex Fox Run showroom has the Empire State Building etched into the floor and running halfway into the store. Mantegari and Haberstroh have also set up stations displaying some of the possible gifts, awards and photo reproductions that can be created through laser engraving.

"We selected this location to create market awareness and found out we're actually breaking a market," Haberstroh said, meaning there is no business in the region currently doing the same kind of work.

And the possibilities are endless. Etchex can engrave a corporate logo on material that will make up the floor of the entrance way to a new building. It can reproduce a photograph of a deceased loved one in glass, acrylic, granite, marble, aluminum, stainless steel, slate, wood, leather or other materials, and then make copies for every member of the family.

A wedding certificate or announcement, an award citation or a memorial can be created that marries a picture with text in a way that makes the piece unique.

Party favors can be created in virtually any material that will retain its form for decades, or business cards can be made that will be very difficult to lose or disregard.

Haberstroh and Rascoe started Etchex by accident. Haberstroh was building a stone house, and he went to a trade show to do some research. It was there that he saw the laser etching machine and immediately called Rascoe. The two decided on the spot to purchase one.

"We sort of stumbled on it, and now it's our business," Haberstroh said.

It now seems that every day a new market for laser etching is opening up, he said. He is working with a variety of stone merchants in the area to offer buyers something special with their products. He said he is also interested in working with nonprofit and municipal cemetery committees to offer maps laser engraved in stone to locate important graves in those burial grounds.

"We're also getting orders for a considerable number of pet memorial markers," Haberstroh said.

The uses mentioned above just scratch the surface of what can be created using laser engraving and materials that last centuries, Mantegari said.

"We have something for everyone," said the marketing director. "Our goal is to put smiles on our customers' faces by creating timeless heirlooms for generations to enjoy."

	Marble MARBLE: CHARACTERISTICS This standard includes general information on the characteristics and common uses of marble and identifies typical problems associated with the material. INTRODUCTION Marble is an extremely hard, metamorphic stone composed of calcite (CaCO3). It is formed as a result of the recrystallization of limestone under the intense pressure and heat of geologic processes. The effect of this process is the creation of a stone with a very tight crystalline structure and small but definite porosity. Because of its structure, marble can take a very high polish and is a very popular decorative stone for architectural and sculptural uses. The limited porosity of marble, especially polished marble, makes it less vulnerable to the leaching effects of water. Calcium carbonate, however, of which marble is composed, is highly susceptible to attack by acidic agents. Marble is readily dissolved by acids, even very dilute acids, however the actual results of acidic exposure will vary with the nature of the acid. Chlorides, nitrates, sulfates and other chemical compounds react differently with marble and produce various by-products, which have a wide range of solubility and impact on the durability of marble. For this reason, it is always important to determine the exact type of pollutants causing marble deterioration. Marble itself can be of two types, one composed of calcite and the other of dolomite. Dolomitic marble is much more resistant to acid attack than calcite marble. The color of marble ranges from the brilliant white of calcite to black, including blue-gray, red, yellow and green, depending upon the mineral composition. TYPICAL USES Marble has many decorative and structural uses. It is used for outdoor sculpture as well as for sculpture bases; in architecture it is used in exterior walls and veneers, flooring, decorative features, stairways and walkways. The way in which the stone is used may be a factor in limiting or controlling the severity of exposure. The use or function of the marble may also affect the feasibility of applying certain treatments, but type of use is not the primary factor in the major types of deterioration and damage to which marble is susceptible.