Manufacturer of composite stone slabs containing mixed waste paper joins LinkUp program

Tiger Mountain Innovations, Inc., a company that recently developed a durable yet lightweight stone slab known as Squak Mountain Stone, is the newest partner in King County's LinkUp program. LinkUp was developed to encourage businesses to use more recycled materials in the products they make.

Squak Mountain Stone is a cement-based composite that uses 35 to 50 percent recycled material, primarily mixed waste paper fiber and pulp as well as granite dust and fly ash recovered from local manufacturers. The granite dust is used instead of sand to increase the density of the slabs. The end result is a product that weighs 50 percent less than traditional concrete slabs of similar size, but is as strong and durable as concrete.

The composite slabs can be used for countertops, tables or kitchen islands. Because it is cement-based, it can be cast into various shapes designed to fit most conventional modular millwork. Countertop slabs range from 2 to 8 foot lengths. Slabs for tables and kitchen islands are available in a wider assortment of sizes. All slabs are 1 ½ inches thick.

Squak Mountain Stone contains no rebar or other reinforcing steel, so it can be easily cut on the job site for a custom fit using standard stone or tile-working tools. The product can be further customized by adding 100 percent recycled glass aggregate or Squak Mountain Stone pebbles that are recovered from the company's own manufacturing process.

Visually, Squak Mountain Stone appears to have the same depth and characteristics of natural stone. It is available in six rich hues -- natural, red, brown, tan, green and plum -- created with a powered pigment derived from iron oxides to distribute the color evenly throughout the slab, so scratches or nicks to the surface are less noticeable. The slab is then sealed with a water-based impregnating sealer so it can be used in wet or dry locations.

Tiger Mountain Innovations, located in Issaquah, Wash., was established last year by entrepreneur Amee Quiriconi, an environmental consultant specializing in "green building" applications. Quiriconi's initial research centered on "papercrete" (a combination of paper, cement and water) which is used to cast building blocks and other products and is popular in the southwestern U.S.

From there, she began exploring how paper pulp affects the strength of concrete. Much of the product testing was done in spring-form baking pans, using biodiesel to keep the slab from sticking. From that simple beginning, she developed Squak Mountain Stone. For more information, visit www.tmi-online.com.

The LinkUp team will help Tiger Mountain Innovations with product and material testing. The team may also provide marketing assistance to support the product launch.

LinkUp was launched in 2000 to encourage manufacturers to incorporate more recycled materials into their products. The program, sponsored by the King County Solid Waste Division, offers free, customized technical and promotional support to eligible businesses.

LinkUp works with three to five new businesses each year. For more information about the LinkUp program, contact Kris Beatty at 206-296-3740 or visit the program Web site.