Macael marble quarries have been exploited since ancient times, but it is not until the middle of the last century that it starts to – for an industrial complex involving extraction, processing and marketing. Several local development plans were carried out in the 1980s to modernise and boost this sector by making it an international reference point for ornamental stones. The sector has undergone a major change in its configuration from a mining agglomeration to an industrial district, which has made it very dynamic and resilient. It has also changed its competitive position from being based on comparative advantages to competitive advantages. A non-dal company (Cosentino) has emerged internally and has become a world leading multinational company.