Cristallina celebrates 75 years… with many surprises!

1946

In 1946, dr. Antonio Vedova (Zurich), dr. jur. Peter Halter (Luzern) and Andrea Hinnen (Luzern) founded Cristallina SA. From that year on, they began the extraction of the unique and authentic Swiss marble, Cristallina, from the quarry in Peccia, 1,200 meters above sea level. Initially, the marble was extracted at the foot of the rock face with a jackhammer. The blocks were then split with a wedge and hammer, with holes being drilled in succession every 15 cm.

1947

A year later Cristallina SA introduced helical wire cutting machines. Thanks to these, it was possible to cut larger blocks directly on the rock face without damaging them.

1980

The extraction, carried out until 1980 at an altitude of 1200 meters above sea level (m.s.m.) was moved to 1400 m.s.m.. The reason was the increasingly high mining walls and the lack of space for storage due to the incrising amount of surplus material from the cuts.

1987

Starting in 1987, diamond wire cutters were introduced. This method of extraction, which is still used today, allowed for greater flexibility and less physical effort for the workers.

2007

In 2007, a chain saw, that could make a 3.5-meter cut and extract the blocks directly from the rock face, was introduced for the first time.”

2010
In 2010, Cristallina SA was acquired by the Maurino family (Biasca), and the quarry and mining techniques were reorganized.
2011
In 2011, the hairpin bends leading to the quarry were widened to allow trucks to pass comfortably. This enabled Cristallina to transport large blocks from the quarry to the manufacturing plants in Biasca for processing.
2012
In 2012 was opened the gallery, at 1200 m.s.m., which allowed the extraction of the whitest marbles (Cristallina White Venato, Cristallina White Striato, Cristallina Black&White and Cristallina Arabescato). In the same year, a wheel loader was purchased that allowed to extract large blocks from the gallery.
2012-2020.
The opening of the gallery led to the implementation of major projects in the following years. Among them was the jewel of Cristallina that dazzles in Zurich’s Bahnofstrasse, which started in 2015 and was completed in 2019.
2021
This year Cristallina proudly celebrates 75 years, and to celebrate, in addition to the launch of a brand new website and the opening of social channels, there will be plenty of surprises for you!

On May 2, 2021, we attended the opening of the International Sculpture Center based in Peccia. For the occasion, we donated one of the first blocks extracted from the quarry in 1946 along with a commemorative slab. To celebrate the opening and the 75th anniversary of Cristallina, the block has been drilled exactly as it happened in 1946, with holes 15 cm apart. The Honorable Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis cutted the block with wedges and hammer. See the video of the inauguration HERE.