Jeff Apter

Marble interior specialist Marbrerie Crepet Agencement (Stand 1054) is exhibiting for the first time at an EBACE show. Established almost 100 years ago as a part of the funeral industry, the French company has turned its hand to private and business aircraft for the past 15 years, working with marble, granite, rare and semi-precious stones and new composite materials including quartz.
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The company was sold to Fabien Bancel in February 2010 and since then a team of eight craftsmen has been producing high quality made-to-measure galley countertops, lavatory vanity tops, tables, stone floors and wall coverings for aircraft cabins. Its aim is to combine years of experience and skill with modern technologies to provide unique interior fittings, Bancel told AIN.
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Master marble craftsmen work with both decades-old proven tools and state-of-the-art technology. “We are the only company of its kind in France and all our production is unique,” Bancel claimed. “We work directly with aircraft manufacturing professionals as well architects, designers and decorators. Everything we produce has to take account of the aircraft’s weight and its ability to resist turbulence.”
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Marbrerie Crepet’s clients are involved in interior completion and about 80 percent of them are designers working for companies such as Dassault Aviation, Jet Aviation, Gore Design, M&amp;R Associates. In the near future, Bancel said, it expects to work with Geneva-based <a href="http://www.bjtonline.com/uploads/media/Completion_Refurb_Centers_2009.pdf">Burnet Interiors</a>.
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; According to Bancel, apart from a few companies in the U.S. and Italy, there are few competitors in the sector because stone is rarely used in business and VIP aircraft. “But designers agree that for certain interior furnishings there is no other choice,” he said. The company installs its products and maintains them mostly through cleaning and polishing. Bancel said the materials practically never require repair.
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; As it looks forward to its centenary in 2013 Marbrerie Crepet aims to expand the client base, partly by moving into the business-class cabins of airliners. Investment this year will amount to 20 percent of revenues and rise to more than 40 percent in 2012. Spending will go toward new equipment and a new marble factory.&nbsp;

Rare Stones a Speciality for First-time Exhibitor


&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Marble in