Here at the Slippery Rock Gazette we love to hear stories about everyday folks who have combined their love of stone and an unfortunate occurrence to create something special. Simmering everything just long enough in a potful of life experience, they have added sufficient perseverance and belief in themselves to bring the mix to a boil. The end result can be an exciting new product; The Polishing Pro System is definitely evidence of that.
When Steve Anneker was a young boy in Idaho, taking trips with his grandmother and examining and collecting every rock he could find, little did he know how far his love of petrology (the study of rocks) would take him. "I did my research early," he said, referring to all the studying he did while learning about his favorite hobby.
Following in his family's footsteps is not always easy, especially when many of them are involved in some aspect of the construction industry. Fortunately, they have chosen complimentary areas of specialization, so there is no direct conflict with each other. He has had four uncles engaged in contracting. "My uncle Don Cadotte is a commercial contractor, my uncle Dave Cadotte is a home improvement contractor, my uncle Marvin Browning was a plumbing contractor, and my uncle William Browning was an electrical contractor." His cousin and brother have also been active in the industry, with the former as a masonry contractor, and the latter as an award-winning sheet metal worker. So he comes by his interest and abilities naturally. Currently he is a partner in Precision Surface, a company that both fabricates stone countertops and imports completed pieces from overseas facilities. They ship finished products all over the United States.
While serving in the Navy, he finished a degree in Engineering, which was very useful in teaching him to approach problems in a structured and analytical manner. "I approach an issue from multiple directions and then use a system of elimination until I have viable solution directions." But even during his military and university years, he still managed to carry on his love affair with stone.
Steve, who now lives in Oregon with his wife and seven children, has carried his love of stone into his current business, Precision Surface. But it was an accident that occurred almost ten years ago that started him on the path to creating Polishing Pro. He was working on an installation project with a fellow fabricator, when a grinder was set down on a freshly finished piece of Black Galaxy granite. He had just finished warning the co-worker to be careful when the grinder was picked up incorrectly and gouged a large scratch in the beautiful stone counter. I'm sure you can imagine the amount of emergency work that ensued to repair the damage. This inspired him to begin his investigation: what would it take to create a product which would have simplified the nightmare they just experienced? Eight years later, after a great deal of compound element research, he was able to perfect his formula, and then arrange to have alloy oxides synthesized. It took a total of over ten years to realize his dream of producing Polishing Pro, but Anneker was a patient and persevering man.
Above, from left: Partners Tim Parker and Steve Anneker formed Polishing Pro Systems to market Steve's product to fellow stone fabricators in the industry. Below: In his how-to demo video, Steve gouges a deep scratch in a granite tile with a turbo diamond blade in a demonstration of a jobsite accident. Steve began developing the Polishing Pro System some 10 years ago after witnessing a similar incident while his crew was installing a costly Black Galaxy countertop.
Anneker is a great example of how an entrepreneur doesn't have to have wealthy backers to bring a new product onto the market. "I did not have an investor, so I had to (just) pay as I went," Anneker said, ruefully. Every spare minute he could afford from his fabrication business was spent in research and development of the perfect scratch removal system for stone. His system is a combination of a polishing compound of his own invention, and a uniquely-shaped polishing pad, whose curved radiating ridges concentrate the compound and move it back into the middle of the pad, reducing the amount needed for a job.
His product is produced in the U.S., and the pads have a serged edge for strength, and are all finished by hand.
He has tried his product on many surfaces: "...I'm not scared of any stone!" When he tested his system on another piece of scratched Black Galaxy, he found he could completely restore the stone to its original polished finish in under eighteen minutes.
Financial difficulties were not the only setbacks Anneker encountered while working toward his goal. He had the ill fortune of experiencing a crushed foot when a falling stone struck it. Since remaining at home was out of the question during a stone installment, he used his problem-solving skills to create a solution, and showed up riding a skateboard. He got some "priceless" looks, but was able to finish the job and keep food on the table, as well as getting back to his research. "Ever tried bullnosing while sitting on a skateboard? It's quite tricky!"
Anneker has carried his engineering skills into his current business, which mostly handles projects in hotels and other commercial properties. "We train all of our people to hand-fabricate stone, in order to teach what to look for and what not to do with stone." He also instructs his fabricators to inspect each other's work to ensure quality. "We call this the `Second Set of Eyes' Program." Along with businesses, they continue to fabricate for residences as well, with 30% of their work going into homes. They currently utilize CNC equipment and waterjet machines in their shop, as well as equipment for on-site work. "But the most important tool to us is not a tool at all; it's our people."
His partner and business manager, Tim Parker, has helped him greatly by handling the sales, shipping and administrative end of the business, leaving Steve to do what he does best: new product development and improvements to current projects. "Without Tim, I wouldn't have nearly enough time to do what I like to do!"
His future plans include perfecting a polishing system for engineered stone. This involves a different compound formula and usage, geared specifically for ES. With his analytical mind, and his drive to create solutions, we have no doubt Steve Anneker will achieve his goals.
Polishing Pro Systems is offered exclusively by Braxton-Bragg. For more information or to place an order, call toll free, 1-800-575-4401, or visit their website at www.braxton-bragg.com.You can also contact Tim Parker at 541-915-7094 or email him at tim@polishingprosystems.com .
For more information about Precision Surface of Eugene, Oregon, please contact Steve Anneker at swanneker@yahoo.com .
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