(January 2012)

The bi-annual Stone Expo focuses on natural stone and ceramics. For a better overview and ease of orientation for visitors, the fair will be sectioned into natural stone, ceramics and machinery/equipment.

Geographically the fair focuses on the Benelux markets (Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxemburg). They may be small in size and population. But the per-capita consumption of stone is among the highest: on a global scale Belgium has overtaken Switzerland for first place. The Netherlands ranks at ninth position according to the statistical yearbook „XXII World Marble and Stones Report“ (by Dr. Carlo Montani, Aldus Casa di Edizioni, Carrara).

The fairgrounds are situated in close proximity to the airport and can be accessed within about one hour’s drive. The fair includes seminars in Dutch and French.

Ghent boasts an important historical city centre which a number of famous guildhalls. The city was one of the most important trade centres for the textile industry of the Middle Ages and owes much of its wealth to this branch. Today the city is an important centre for the floral industry.

Stone Expo, Ghent, 21.-23. January 2012

(December 2011)

This year’s trade fair included more than 300 exhibitors from 17 countries presenting tools and machinery for stonemasonry as well as stone of interest to architects. What with its near 4% sustained economic growth, the country’s lies well above other European countries thanks in part to the European Soccer Championships to be hosted by Poland next year in cooperation with neighbouring Ukraine.

That is the main impetus for investment in transportation infrastructure and tourism. Experts estimate that a minimum 1 billion Złoty (~ 225 million €, ~ 304 million US-$) will be invested in building hotels with about 100 new hotels opening yearly for the next years.

The trade journal Nowy Kamieniarz once again presented the winners of its design competition directed at students of the Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw and Łodz to produce every-day consumer products in stone. Companies cooperating in the project produced the prototypes.

This year saw only one winner, Jarosłav Kosek, who produced a Bee-table with a honeycomb-structure and the O-Sink, made of three laminated layers. Realization was by BW Wiśniewscy und Rogala companies respectively.

We also show several drafts which did not win. Students and participating companies can be contacted through Szymon Paz from Nowy Kamieniarz (Mail).

The trade journal Świat Kamienia also presented the biannual „Kariatyda“-Prize. In the category architecture the prize went to Pamir Company for stonemasonry in Warsaw’s Chopin-Museum.

In the sculpture category the prize went to sculptor Tadeusz Biniewicz for his statue of King Casimir the Great in Kowal. In the category gravestones the prize went to the work of stonemason Andrej Weremczuk at the Włodawa-cemetary. A special prize went to Piramida Company for its Buddhist stupa in granite situated in Greece. Contact: Adriana Czekaj (Mail).

The fair’s social highlight took place on day two when the Organizer’s new „Klaudius“-Prize was presented for the first time. Award-winners and companies are presented on the fair’s webpage.

Kamień-Stone, 2012, 7. – 10.11. (1,2)

(November 2011)

There seems to be a trend toward more lively décor in wall tiles as reflected in many ceramic products: new lines carry embossed patterns inviting beholders to a tactile experience or to follow the design optically.

Customers’ attraction to irregularities in pattern or material can be derived from the industry’s high standard in replication of natural stone or wood.

Some companies have already recognized the trend. We repeatedly reported how stone tiles now proudly present surface irregularities instead of trying to hide the natural surface properties.

„Sensual products“ could be the buzzword describing current customer wishes involving all senses.

As usual, the ceramic branch showed innovative colour creations. We noted that jazzy colours (with which the engineered stone branch originally intended to take over the market) have all but disappeared from the palette. At least for the time being. „Colour your life“ is still a motto reverberating in the fair halls.

As for formats, many new rectangles have been added. Size: 1.2 m was the maximum being produced.

Two more points are worth special mention: normal citizens were invited to participate this time again within „Cersaie downtown – le strate di design“ („Cersaie downtown – design street“) where show cases containing new products lined the city’s streets; a congress held simultaneously was dedicated to architectural themes and invited consumers to visit the stands.

See our photo gallery for products, including natural stone, as well as pictures of stands at the fair. Statistics are included at the end in a special table. As is the case in Italy’s stone branch, statistics reflect the current struggle of the Italian markets: Bologna saw fewer local visitors than foreign attendees for the first time this year.

Cersaie 2012, September 25th to 29th

(November 2011)

Drastic words of the industry’s representatives fell. „We survive, like everybody, thanks to exports, as 80% of our production is destined for abroad”, to quote Flavio Marabelli, Honorary President of the trade organization Confindustria Marmomacchine.

It would seem that a mood of crisis has spread across the market. „People haven’t got the courage to invest“, according to Francesco Antolini. The reason being fear of the Euro-crisis reaching Italy.

Conversely those enterprises producing high-end value added products are seeing a heyday. As far as design goes, „Made in Italy“ is highly esteemed around the world. Some companies in the branch are busy breaking into new markets like Russia, the Middle East and even the U.S.A.

A fitting play on words was heard at one stand: „With the help of diamond wire saws (and other new technologies) the branch can position marble to rank up with diamonds.“

But the trade organisation Veronafiere was more reticent in its press release to this year’s number of visitors and exhibitors. An increase of 8% in the number of exhibiting companies but only vague figures to other positions (see table below).

According to our own observations which showed indications that the total number of exhibitors was down considerably. The Chinese guests, formerly exhibiting in the upper-level Palaexpo-Complex, this time in hall 3, had the floor almost to themselves.

Moreover, Italian exhibitors had announced in a press release prior to the fair that they would boycott the event, many having switched to design fairs. Others were dissatisfied with the early scheduling of the event.

There was plenty of space. A plus for the organization Le Donne del Marmo (Women in Marble) who awarded their prize to a man this year, architect Mario Botta.

Some new stone types could be seen. We show „Cuarzita“ by Frontera Stone Company of Brazil (Mail, Tel: +55 85 9972-7781), a sandstone with quartzite infiltrations and a rustic appearance. Interesting also the two new presentations by Mármoles Gutiérrez Mena Company of Spain. „Corten“ marble was named after the steel which takes on a rusty patina in outdoor use. The stone has this colour from the start and keeps it. We show it in honed state. „Nero“ marble is shown here in the polished variation.

More on Marmomacc 2011 in the next issues.

Marmomacc 2012, September 26th to 29th

(November 2011)

Interesting also the two new presentations by Mármoles Gutiérrez Mena Company of Spain. „Corten“ marble was named after the steel which takes on a rusty patina in outdoor use. The stone has this colour from the start and keeps it. We show it in honed state. „Nero“ was another new marble.

Both have two different textures, „Classic” and „Touch”.

(October 2011)

The organizers will be awarding the first „Klaudius“-Prize for exceptional products in the categories natural stone, machinery and exhibition stand. The award bears the name of stone masons’ and sculptors’ patron saint.

The trade magazine Nowy Kamieniarz will be presenting this year’s award winners of their design competition, which was open to students who designed every-day products in natural stone realized in cooperation with stone producing companies.

Swiat Kamienia is showing award winning works of architecture from their biannually tendered competition.

The accompanying program includes lecture in Polish and presentations of machinery and new processing techniques for natural stone.

Poznań is situated half-way between Berlin and Warsaw. Railway travel is a pleasant alternative to flying. The fast-train takes 2.5 hour from either Berlin or Warsaw Centralna non-stop to Poznań Główny and the trade grounds are but a few steps away. The city centre is literally situated on the other side of the tracks.

Kamien-Stone

Program (in English)

(August 2011)

This year’s Stone+tec in Nuremberg saw the first presentation of the Stone+more Awards. Nomen est omen: making more out of stone is the name of the game. The idea was born by Willy Hafner, editor-in-chief of the trade journal Stein and realized in co-operation with Germany’s natural stone, tile, and stonemasons’ organizations. The awards were sponsored by the co-operative organization Naturstein Kompetenz (Gutjahr, Lithofin, Mapei, Rock and Mineral Consulting), Koenig Schmieder, and the Nuremberg trade fair.

We present some of the 19 organizations’ submissions without emphasizing award-winners.

By the way: the fact that all the projects were exhibited at the fair, provided an enormous marketing bonus for the producers – long queues could be seen at some presentations. At stands where no spokesperson was present, valuable marketing opportunities were missed.

A presentation of the projects in German and English will be available forthwith. We will update the providing a link to the website in due course.

Some of the projects were already presented in previous issues of Stone-Ideas.com (before: Businessstone.com). For these, see the links below:

Stone in motion: Kirchheimer Kalksteinwerke, Germany

„Nuance-Collection“: Lithos Design, Italy

„Kreoo-Collection“: Decormarmi, Italy

„Natura-Collection“: Antolini Luigi, Italy

Grooved cobblestones: Quirrenbach, Germany

StonExperience, 3D-Simulation: Marmi Bruno Zanet, Italy (1, 2)

An out-door kitchen was presented by Schwanekamp where not only the drawers can be opened and closed: the cover for the cooking surface is also dynamic and can be pushed aside with a simple slight of hand making the entire element weather-proof. It carries the name „Zenit“.

Schwanekamp, Germany

„Granit hoch 4“ or „Granit ⁴“ by Böck Natursteintechnik also revolves around kitchens. The fronts are made of 2,5 mm-thick stone sheets on an aluminium honeycomb-construction, giving them the lightness of wood but the durability of stone. One side of the kitchen element is unadulterated natural stone. The back-lit onyx pane is a definite eye-catcher.

Böck Natursteintechnik, Germany

Ströhmann Steinkult participated in the competition with several submissions. We present an innovative surface design and glass mountings for stone bathrooms by the name of „Keep up“.

Ströhmann Steinkult, Germany

Belgian Parnass company submitted an idea for a transportation and storage modules made of wood by the name of „Deltarack“ – not only light-weight, the elements can be assembled on site to accommodate a variety of needs. A disposable model is currently under development.

Parnass, Belgium

Two innovative ideas for gravestones were presented by Herzberg Konstruktionen. One was a tri-pod crane allowing precise manoeuvring and positioning of heavy stone blocks, which can then be mounted with the help of stainless steel bolts on a prefabricated foundation. Thus the gravestone can also be dismounted at any time ready for a new lease on life.

Herzberg Konstruktionen, Germany

Stone can also serve as protection against attacks even by heavy mortar. For this purpose it must be laminated with alternating material – a technology developed by Grein Tec soon to be presented to the public.

Grein Tec, Austria/Italy

Other submissions were:

Fully automated saw, Burkhardt, Germany

Perfect horizontal alignment of slabs: Guma-Blocks, Belgium

Fixtures for facades: Franken-Schotter, Germany

3D-modeling: Pronag, Germany

Precise joints: J. König, Germany

Photos: companies / Peter Becker

(August 2011) This year’s Stone+tec in Nuremberg saw 699 exhibitors, or 10% less than in 2009 (770). Two years prior the number was 963 and before that (in 2005) 1058 showed their goods and know-how at the fair.

Negative growth seen this year is particularly poignant as it occurred in the midst of a period of economic growth in the German economy. Some of the companies missing at this year’s fair, held from June 22nd to 25th in Nuremberg, showed at the Architect’s trade fair „Bau“ held in January in Munich instead.

Question: could the downturn at the Stone+tec be an indication of changes on the natural stone scene? Great Britain’s Natural Stone Show, Spain’s Piedra and the Beijing/Shanghai Stonetech all reported similar developments.

Admittedly: each faces its individual challenges. But let us take a look at the scene as a whole:

1) The global market has been split up between Verona’s Marmomacc and Xiamen’s Stone Fair. Further developments are awaited with suspense.

2) The next level is trade fairs in the main producing countries, i.e. Brazil’s Vitória Stone Fair, Turkey’s Marble in Izmir, and India’s Stona in Bangalore. Spain’s Piedra has all but disappeared in the midst of the current building branch crisis in the area. Notably more and more Chinese merchants are on the market for stone blocks. These purchases can be undertaken in Xiamen. Vitória is the prime trade ground for Latin America, Izmir could play the same role in the Middle East and Muslim countries of the former Soviet Union.

3) As far as the national trade Fairs are concerned, some seem to be seeking new orientation. Nuremberg’s Stone+tec could become the central market place for Central- and Northern Europe, as could Poznań’s Kamien-Stone for Eastern Europe and Russia.

4) Other trade fairs pursue different priorities: Carrara’s Marmotec is dedicated to design, as is Beijing/Shanghai’s Stonetech.

Can anything else be deduced from the current Stone+tec statistics? Indeed, and very clearly at that: Chinese exhibitors were the only group to show an increase – from 84 to 118! This was not readily apparent when touring the fair, as Chinese stands are usually small and unspectacular and because this time sales staff held back.

Note that the Chinese exhibitors overtook the Italians (117) at least by numbers for the first time. Germany’s heavy machinery and stone markets were previously dominated by Italian producers.

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Update/Reader’s opinion: (August 2011) Emerson Schwartzkopf, editor of the US-Magazine Stone Business, wrote us: „China did indeed show an increase in Nürnberg in 2011, but it’s still far, far behind the 173 Chinese companies exhibiting in 2005. Without the large Chinese contingent in the mid-2000s, Stone+tec would have posted lesser numbers, as the Italians had already begun their withdrawal. In 2003, Italian companies made up 240 of the exhibitors; in 2005, that total dropped to 179 (and almost put them behind the China contingent six years ago).”

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Our photos below show some examples of unusual stands and design ideas. The Stone+more Innovation Award winner will be presented in the 2nd August edition of Stone-Ideas.com.

Natural stone market in Germany

Consumption of finished stone products was up 5.9% by value and 8.6% by tonnage according to the Natural Stone Organization Naturwertsteinverband (DNV). Imports were up (value: +10.2% to 322 million €, tonnage: +7,6% to 796.000 t). The organization sees growth potential particularly for export markets. Local production declined by value -3.1% to 310 million €), but increased by tonnage (+8.0% to 1.22 million t).

Germany’s trade organization for machinery Verband der Maschinenbauer (VDMA) presented its figures as well: local markets are strongest in purchasing products made in Germany; a mere 60% are destined for export, low by German standards. An increase in demand is expected by the organization from Russia and the former Soviet Republics. Australia „has developed to a small but nevertheless successful market for German machinery in the last few years“, according to a press release.

Machinery for mass production or semi-automated production face sharp foreign competition. German technology is „in particular demand where efficient factory production is required“, according to the trade organization.

(July 2011) BusinessStone.com reports from the fair in Nuremberg in an Audio-Slideshow. Klick here or on photo above.

(June 2011)

But this time, we were privy to the reverse experience at the Beijing Stonetech from April 20th to 23rd on the second day. A single stone slab was making its lonesome journey – from the entrance to one of the halls where the carriers deposited it right in the middle of the path.

Martin Lee of Sino Origin Holding explains what we experienced: people of a near-by quarry had gained access to the fair and wanted to expose their goods…

But as far as the rest of the Stonetech fair is concerned, there is, unfortunately, no optimistic news to report. The fair is currently experiencing an identity crisis reflected by low visitor frequency. See figures below.

The trade grounds underscored the demise of this once leading trade fair in China: the exhibit halls are easily accessible, situated in the middle of the city but by world standards for urban trade fairs, they are run-down and in a general state of demise. The fact that the operators did not use their new city-rim site, speaks for itself.

The situation boils down to two major shortcomings: first, the Stonetech takes place just one month after the Xiamen trade fair. And second: it has no unique profile to call its own. We do not venture a prognosis as to good or harm of switching the venue from Beijing to Shanghai on alternating years.

But apparently the operators have already undertaken steps to help the fair out of its current crisis: Stonetech is being promoted as the event in stone design and architecture. To this end, Italian designer Raffaello Galiotto with Lithos Design in tag was invited. Also the fair encompassed a two-day summit by the name of „China International Stone Design Summit“ revolving around the subject. BusinessStone.com’s Peter Becker was an invited guest and held a talk.

But the marketing concept could lend credence to the thought that promotion endeavours merely played lip-service to the problem: e.g. the program could not be found on the internet despite high participant’s interest as reflected by the 80-odd visitors.

Stonetech will be held in Shanghai next year (April 25th to 28th 2012).