Perspectives
Natural Energy
Stone Associations Collaborate to Bring More Stone to StonExpo
All photos courtesy Natural Stone Institute
By Jim Hieb Chief Executive Officer Natural Stone Institute
The fastest growing area on the exhibit floor at StonExpo – the B2B stone event under The International Surface Event (TISE) brand – is the Natural Stone Pavilion. “The pavilion now represents exhibitors from around the globe – Italy, Greece, Portugal, Brazil, the United States, and beyond,” says Dana Hicks, show director. “Our StonExpo sponsor, the Natural Stone Institute, is the anchor booth within the pavilion positioned in the center of StonExpo. NSI is joined by associations from Brazil, Greece, Italy, and Portugal.” These associations have formed a strategic alliance to expand the relevance of StonExpo, as well as several other key initiatives. As a result of the combined work of the associations, at StonExpo you’ll see:
Brazil
CENTROROCHAS will be present with an institutional booth, created by a Brazilian designer, in which 40 materials from 12 different geological types will be on display. Created in two environments, the booth is intended to receive visitors and promote the appreciation of the stones, with a charming atmosphere that reminds us of Brazil. Visitors will see different applications, textures, and various thicknesses, proving the versatility of the uses of Brazilian stone.
Fabio Cruz Vice President Centrorochas
Julie Chaida President Association of Marble Companies of Macedonia-Thrace, Greece
Greece
The Greek Marble Association is bringing 8 companies. You’ll have the opportunity to get to know some of the most iconic and world famous Greek marble varieties and connect directly with some of the strongest companies of the sector. The Greek Marble booth will be an immersive and interactive experience (onsite sculpture) where we invite you to witness the creation of a piece of art and learn more about the great potential Greek marble brings to any project.
Italy
Italy will be present at StonExpo with a governmental delegation, with the Confindustria Marmomacchine association and with 45 of Italy’s biggest sector brands, 15 of them producers of natural stone and 30 makers of machinery, equipment, installations, and tools.
Flavio Marabelli Honorary President Confindustria Marmomacchine
Nelson Cristo Director, International Affairs and Project Manager ASSIMAGRA
Portugal
ASSIMAGRA, the Portuguese Association of the Mineral Resources Industry, will participate with 2 companies with different types of granites and limestone.
U.S. / Canada
Surrounding the NSI booth will be nearly 30 quarriers/suppliers of natural stone, many of whom are returning as a result of the success they had exhibiting in the natural stone pavilion last year.
The origin of the natural stone pavilion started with the Natural Stone Institute two years ago when it started recruiting North American natural-stone material suppliers to showcase at StonExpo.
StonExpo was well known as the premier showcase for equipment, tooling, and technology suppliers. The opportunity to create the Natural Stone Pavilion was a logical step to add more natural stone materials, making StonExpo a complete trade show. Collaborating with international stone associations was the right recipe to advance the amount of stone at StonExpo.
Flavio Marabelli, honorary president of Italy's Confindustria Marmomacchine, notes the importance of some of the most important trade associations coming together. “We created the Natural Stone Strategic Alliance for the purpose of dealing together with the issues and undertakings of strategic importance for the entire international stone sector," he says. “One of the first decisions this alliance took was to focus its attention on the U.S. market – the top market globally for the ornamental stones sector – and on the opportunity for developing synergetic projects in the tradeshow context in North America.
“TISE/STONEXPO is a showcase that could soon put natural stone at the center of attention among sector stakeholders, architects, designers, interior designers, and American operators in the home furnishings and building sectors.”
Brazil’s Fabio Cruz, Centrorochas vice president, agrees. "The decision to participate in this strategic alliance is fundamental for the Brazilian natural stone sector,” he said. “Being side by side with the main world powers guarantees an exchange of information and a unique possibility to enhance the value of the ornamental stone in a joint and innovative way.”
“Our attendees (architects, designers, distributors, fabricators, and installers) come to StonExpo to source tools, machinery, stone, software and more," Hicks adds. “The priority of the Natural Stone Strategic Alliance to StonExpo compliments the commitment made previously by the Stone Equipment and Supply Alliance (SESA). These partnerships deeply enhance the StonExpo experience.”
Dana Hicks Show Director The International Surface Event
Visitors to StonExpo are encouraged to:
- Visit the Stone Fabricators Alliance (SFA) CAGE area (#4525) which offers valuable fabrication, installation, and restoration demonstrations.
- Stop by the Natural Stone Institute booth (#4711) to purchase tickets for the Natural Stone Foundation’s Mission Possible fundraiser for an opportunity to win three cash prizes (totaling $6,000) and/or a week’s use of a Ferrari with support from Cleveland Marble Mosaic and Poseidon Industries.
- Participate in the Women in Stone’s Amazing Race in the Natural Stone Pavilion on Wednesday afternoon.
- Attend the presentation of the “Fabricator of the Year” at 3 p.m. on Wednesday during an NSI in-booth reception.
- Learn from educational sessions in the Natural Stone Theatre (#5023) in the heart of the Natural Stone Pavilion) each day of the show.
- Walk through the pavilion on your own schedule and/or sign-up for one of the guided tours.
To learn more about StonExpo, visit www.intlsurfaceevent.com. For a full list of NSI’s planned events, and to access a discount code for free member registration, visit www.naturalstoneinstitute.org/TISE.