Belgium-based De Ryck, one of the world’s largest producers of decorative stone, will make a strong debut at the Big 5 show with its range of classy and arty products in reconstructed stone.

“Some of the products that we intend to exhibit at the exhibition include reconstructed stone products sold under the brand names Murok (Classic, Rustic, Sierra and Montana), Granulit and Interfix ranges, which are available in over 50 colour selections,” says Roel De Ryck, a spokesman for the company.
“The Middle East is a fast growing market, which makes it very important for us. We believe the Gulf market has a large potential in the building and renovation area.  However, it need local input which is one of the main reasons we will use the occasion to search for a local distribution partner,” says De Ryck.
The move is part of the company’s efforts to open up new markets in the Middle East, including the Gulf and Turkey.
Elaborating on the product lines that will be promoted at the Big 5 show, he says: “One of De Ryck’s first products for interior and exterior applications was Granulit. In spite of a modest thickness of 11 mm, the Granulit 20/30 series is impact-resistant. It is a solid wall covering, frost-proof and non-flammable. It is available in eight colour variations, of which four are standard.  Also offered is the Granulit 50, which is 15 mm thick.
“The Interfix range comprises brick strips with a marginal thickness of only 7 mm, which makes installation even easier.  It is available in two formats: interFix 11-18 which measures 205 by 50 mm and InterFix 31-38, 240 by 65 mm. 
“Murok Classic features the authentic colour and structure of natural French stone and is available in two formats: 100 by 200 mm and 200 by 400 mm and a thickness of 15 mm with both left or right corner pieces. 
“Murok Rustic, meanwhile, is inspired by the stone traditionally found in the quarries of the Ardennes. It is available in seven colours, of which three are standard. Here, the corner pieces are manufactured with a preformed guide groove. 
“Murok Sierra features irregular forms and shapes, following the South-European tradition. When installing the product, it is recommended to start with the larger stones and then fill in with the smaller sizes to create unlimited possibilities. The product line is available in six colours, of which four are standard. The corner pieces are packed per linear metre. The wall can be left without filling the joints or fill with white or grey Cemix Unijoint joint-filler.
“The latest addition to the Murok range is the Murok Montana, which recreates the authentic appearance of a mountain ledgestone, offering great installation efficiency. The multi-stone components are 10 cm high and are easily installed without the need for grouting.”
Murok Montana is available in three colours.
Established in 1950, in Antwerp, De Ryck is a leading manufacturer of reconstructed stone products. The company manufactures stone veneer and brick slips that can be used to decorate and renovate interior and exterior walls. “All our stone products are lighter and less costly to install than normal stone,” he says.
“Every De Ryck product is of our own design and meets the same basic requirements: easy to install; high quality, natural materials; and is within your budget,” says a company spokesman.
He adds: “Every stone or brick strip is made of 100 per cent natural ingredients: be it the purest sands, the whitest cement, plus natural additions such as slivers of shell or quartz.”
“The actual production process is a model of craftsmanship and quality control, in which years of experience stand as guarantee of a unique final product,” he says.
“In addition, De Ryck’s stone strips are easy to install. They are handily packed per square metre to make installation easy and also that the surfaces retain their original quality appearance for years, with minimum maintenance,” he adds.
The company also manufactures the associated adhesives and pointing mortars — Cemix Uniflex and Uni-joint.
“Our reputation is important to us. It represents a guarantee of a high quality product which also totally meets the clients’ building specifications. This is why De Ryck produces its own adhesives and installation products,” says the spokesman.
The company, which has an 85-member workforce, notched sales of €10 million ($13.87 million) last year. “Business has remained steady and we are constantly enhancing our production techniques and are currently investigating sales opportunities in new markets,” says De Ryck.
De Ryck will be present at the Big 5 show at Stand 2 G 50.