Stonereport provides monthly information and news about natural stone producers and processors, stone industry and stone exports throughout the world and about the markets in Central Europe. It is published jointly by NürnbergMesse and the STEIN journal - the magazine for the natural stone market. Free subscription and available in five languages: German, English, Spanish, Italian and Chinese. 2000~2006 Archived reports may be found here.

Free subscription and available in five languages: German, English, Spanish, Italian and Chinese.

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6th May 2007: Any questions on Stone+tec? ask-Stone+tec!

The latest company and industry information before, during and after the exhibition: The websites of Nürnberg exhibitions already register some nine million hits a year – the Internet is meanwhile the preferred medium for preparing exhibition visits. Exhibitors and visitors at this year’s Stone+tec, which takes place in the Exhibition Centre Nuremberg from 6-9 June 2007, can use a new service available for the first time: the online platform www.ask-stone-tec.com.

This new online service from NürnbergMesse is a logical improvement of Internet support for exhibitors and visitors. For the exhibitors, the new Internet service at www.stone-tec.com or www.ask-stone-tec.com is an extra marketing instrument that reinforces their success at the exhibition the whole year round: Researching, arranging appointments and downloading information can all be handled direct over this platform – even before or after the actual exhibition...more

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13th April 2007: CarraraMarmotec 2007: Positive trend of Italian marble confirmed

A time-consuming, intensive promotional campaign all over the world, the attendance of the world’s industry leaders, an industry which strengthens the positive trend of exports and a schedule of top-rank events help make CarraraMarmotec 2007 (30 May – 2 June, 2007) the landmark of the national and international stone industry. The trend in the number of exhibitors for CarraraMarmotec confirms that the 2007 fair will improve on the results of 2006, when it showcased 440 exhibitors over 23 thousand square metres, with 20,380 professional visitors (ISF-certified figures), of which 3,986 were foreigners (from 99 countries): a promising balance that the fair looks set to exceed easily.

Just a few months before the opening of the fair, over 90% of the exhibitors who took part in the fair in 2006 have already confirmed their participation; many are asking for larger exhibition areas to showcase new materials and technology, and a high number of new Italian and foreign exhibitors are sending in their applications because they want to enter the Italian market, starting from the historical Tuscan district...more

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13th April 2007: Stone+tec 2007: The special show “Natural Stone Architecture – Made in Germany”

At Stone+tec 2007 in the Exhibition Centre Nuremberg from 6-9 June 2007, companies from all over the world offer a wide variety of natural stone and the technologies for its specific application. The International Trade Fair Natural Stone and Stoneprocessing Technology with some 1,000 exhibitors is one of the biggest get-togethers for natural stone professionals at the heart of Europe.

“Made in Germany” has become synonymous with high quality throughout the world. The term, which was originally coined in the British Merchandise Marks Act exactly 120 years ago to provide protection against poor quality products from abroad...more

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11th April 2007: Turkey: Confindustria Marmomacchine At Marble 2007

Confindustria Marmomacchine stand an important reference point: In Izmir, Turkey, March 29 to 31 were the dates for the 13th edition of MARBLE, a big international show devoted to stone materials and the technologies to work them. This year too the institutional Confindustria Marmomacchine stand was an important reference point in the colorful layout of the Turkish expo and provided the customary support for its member companies.

In fact, as always the Italian techno-stone association was present at the tradeshow with its own institutional stand, at which sector companies and operators from all over the world could meet and get information on the best of Italian production and the association’s work plans for 2007...more

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2nd April 2007: Israel Stone Trade 2006: Turnover value represents higher quantities

Globalization has finally contributed to a regular pattern for the stone industry in Israel. Traditional sources and targets alike have changed. The turnover value represents higher quantities, at the same time reflecting improved product qualities due to new technologies.

Imports of dimension stone which peaked to a value of US$ 67 millions in 1996 have been steeply dropped to $49 million in 2003 to continue on that level to $48 million in 2006. This drop in imports was due to slowing down in building activities in that period and to the increased use of local stone resources, notably from Ramon in the Negev.

Lately deep excavations for underground parking in Jerusalem provide a renewed source for "Jerusalem Stone"...more

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23rd March 2007: Record participation for Marble Fair in Izmir: Number of foreign participants increased to 251

The 13th MARBLE-International Natural Stone and Technologies Fair expects the participation of 1,038 firms - 251 foreign and 787 local companies. The fair, organized at the Izmir International Fair Center, will open its doors on March 28 and remain open until March 31.

The Marble fair has become a world brand, said Dogan Isleyen, Izmir Fairs, Culture and Art Activities Inc. (IZFAS) general manager. “There is a growing interest in the fair and the indoor stands were reserved months ago and because of the demand five new prefabricated units were built,” he said.

“After the fair, the prefabricated units will be removed,” said Isleyen. He also indicated that the exhibition area, which was 38,000 square meters last year, has been expended to 40,000 square meters, consisting of 15,000 square meters open area and 25,000 square meters indoors. Preparations for the fair, which is the second largest in its field, are almost completed, said Isleyen...more

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23rd March 2007: Assomarmomacchine inaugurates its new offices: Prestigious home for the Italian techno-stone chain

To provide ever-better responses to the needs of its members and the organizations gravitating around the Assomarmomacchine universe, the Italian association of makers and user of machinery and equipment for working natural stone recently inaugurated its new headquarters in Corso Sempione, Milan.

“We had been looking for bigger office space for quite some time, in order to better organize our work”, stated Flavio Marabelli, Assomarmomacchine president, “work that lately has considerably increased due to larger membership, further endeavors and the greater representativeness that Assomarmomacchine has achieved, nationally and internationally, as the reference association for the entire Italian techno-stone chain”...more

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23rd March 2007: Xiamen and Carrara: Cooperation and synergism for fairs and promotional campaigns

The Region Tuscany, that for years has directly set out or supported initiatives for increasing investments and exchanges between Italy and China, especially in support of small- and medium-sized companies that are the productive backbone of the region, has made one further step towards integration by supporting cooperation between CarraraFiere and the Chinese Xiamen Golden Trust Exhibition in the area of fairs and exhibition.

These considerations led the Fair of Carrara and the Fair of Xiamen to sign an agreement, which has been formalised during the Stone Xiamen Fair that ended on Sunday 11th March, which also hosted a presentation of CarraraMarmotec 2007 to the Chinese operators...more

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28th January 2007: American Beauty: Stone worktops have almost completely pushed other materials out of the US market.

In hardly any other country in the world has natural stone experienced such a boom in the past years as in the USA. Although the end of the »high« is already in view, at least according to well-known market experts in Italy and Brazil, the consumption curve still points upwards. The growth rates are still gigantic, especially for stone in the kitchen.

The American kitchen – a market that Europeans can only dream of. There are various reasons for this: Living in America, which used to mean being underway in America, was an important part of the »American way of life«. Today the Americans have become more »settled« and »upgrade« their homes with coloured slabs, new colours, new structures, and always something new...more

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28th January 2007: No fear of resin: The resinating process can influence the properties of the stone.

The resinating process involves depositing certain suitable reactive resin systems in the surface of the stone. These very thin resin coatings strengthen weak points in the stone, such as crumbly, sandy areas, partial or continuous cracks and hairline cracks. Even very small and medium-size holes can be filled. Resin systems can also be used to strengthen the back of rough slabs using fibreglass mats or woven meshes.

The resin systems are designed with the lowest possible viscosity so they can penetrate into fine cracks faster. The systems are distinguished by their special capability for penetrating into sandy and earthy spots on the stone surface. The reaction time of the system also plays an important role. The material must be cured as slowly as possible to achieve a homogeneous result. Good adhesion to the surface of the stone is also a decisive factor, which means the stone must be free of moisture before resinating...more

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18th January 2007: World power Brazil: Natural stone extraction doubled.

Brazil is indisputably a world power in today’s natural stone sector. Between 2000 and 2005, Brazil exactly doubled its extraction of natural stone from 2.25 million cubic metres to 4.50 million cubic metres. In terms of volume, this increased its share of global rough block production from 3.8 to 5.3 per cent.

Brazil has expanded its position as producer of finished products and as exporter even more clearly. Together with China, India, Italy, Spain, Turkey and Portugal, Brazil is meanwhile one of the »G-7 natural stone exporters«. The production of finished products rose from 0.85 million tons to 2.04 million tons between 2000 and 2005 and the present trend clearly indicates high growth rates in the coming years, too. More than half of production is meanwhile exported...more

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18th January 2007: Sindirochas: The federation of the state of Espírito Santo promotes growth.

Aureo Mameri is the president of Sindirochas, the federation of the state of Espírito Santo.

STONEREPORT: Mr Mameri, how do you assess the present situation in the stone industry in Espírito Santo? Aureo Mameri: The natural stone sector is of key importance for Espírito Santo, as it achieves seven per cent of the gross domestic product and secures 130000 jobs. Our state is the largest exporter of natural stone in Brazil. Our exports accounted for a share of almost 62 per cent of total Brazilian exports from January to September 2006, compared with some 375 million euros in 2005. Our target is one billion US dollars (760 million euros) by 2008, which will also create new jobs...more

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18th January 2007: Vitória exhibition on the up: 10% growth compared with 2006.

The biggest Brazilian natural stone exhibition takes place in the port of Vitória from 6-9 February 2007. As in the years before, more growth is expected again for 2007. The organizers Ilson and Cécilia Milaneze forecast 32000 visitors. The exhibition in Vitória is a stone show, which can be seen from the large number of natural stone suppliers exhibiting. 320 of the 420 exhibitors are stone suppliers and the rest are machine manufacturers or service providers. The most important target group is therefore natural stone buyers, traders, developers, architects and interior designers. Because of the boom enjoyed by stones from Brazil in the USA, the exhibition is very popular among North American stone professionals. The USA with 3000 visitors – equivalent to 57 per cent – provided the main share of foreign visitors last year, followed by Europe with 32 per cent and Asia with 6 per cent...more

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12th January 2007: Euroroc meeting in Brussels: New projects for promoting the european trademark.

November 27 was the date of the Brussels meeting of EUROROC (the European Stone Industries Federation), which defined 2007 development strategies for the European stone sector.

The meeting, as usual coordinated by Euroroc secretary-general, Prof. Gerd Merke, was attended by representatives of some of the top European stone associations. Italy was represented by Assomarmomacchine – the country’s premier stone association and only one recognized in Europe – in the persons of its president, Flavio Marabelli, vice-president, Stefano Ghirardi, and general director, Raimondo Lovati...more

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12th January 2007: STONEEXPO 2006: Assomarmomacchine completes its annual American roadshow.

From November 9 to 11 the Las Vegas Convention Center was host to STONEXPO 2006, a reference event for the North American techno-stone sector as well as a premier showcase for the Italian stone industry. Assomarmomacchine, in cooperation with the Italian Trade Commission (ICE) organized a prestigious institutional stand, which also displayed the by now famous Italian Stone Exhibit featuring over 600 samples of differently worked stones representing various Italian stone districts.

The Las Vegas event was the third date on the American calendar of tradeshows where Italian stone was being promoted; the first two were Coverings 2006 in Orlando and the 2006 American Institute of Architects Convention in Los Angeles...more

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9th January 2007: The first prototype contract for stone supplies is born: “General Sales Conditions for Stone Products”

Thanks to Assomarmomacchine, “General Sales Conditions for Stone Products” are now a reality. This is a prototype contract devised by the association’s Materials Promotion Committee and a document destined to regulate and clarify relations between suppliers and buyers in a complex process, that of purchasing stone for building.

Ever a source of discussion and arguments among suppliers and final customers, the issue of a sales contract for the stone sector has now been met with a clear and exhaustive response aimed at eliminating legal controversy as far as possible by providing a simple but well-defined set of rules...more