The event will provide industry professionals with the latest technology, first-rate education and a comprehensive exhibition of stone and technology. StonExpo/Marmomacc Americas is the largest international “stone-only” show held in the U.S., averaging nearly 200 companies and over 4,000 attendees from around the world.
“The decision to co-locate Surfaces and StonExpo/Marmomacc Americas was made for several reasons,” stated Dana Teague, Surfaces and StonExpo/Marmomacc Americas Show Director. “Combining the two events will allow the stone industry and the flooring industry unparalleled education and networking opportunities as well as exposure to the largest product selection of any show of its kind. Also, moving StonExpo/Marmomacc Americas to late January gives those exhibitors who also take part in Marmomacc in Verona, Italy, the chance to catch their breath before heading to Las Vegas.”
“The Marble Institute is supportive of the decision to co-locate StonExpo with Surfaces beginning in 2011,” said Gary Distelhorst, CAE, Executive Vice President and CEO of the Marble Institute of America, also an Official Sponsor of StonExpo/Marmomacc Americas. “We feel this provides an incredible opportunity for StonExpo exhibitors to get exposure to the approximately 25,000 attendees at Surfaces, as well as a great opportunity for StonExpo registrants to visit the Surfaces trade show and meet new suppliers, see new products and obtain new knowledge.”
Show Features
StonExpo/Marmomacc Americas features a strong international presence, with exhibitors from Italy, Brazil, Turkey, China and many other countries; live, hands-on demonstrations in one central location, featuring both StoneLIVE! and the Stone Pavilion; the Stone Innovation Pavilion, featuring the latest products available to the stone industry; and The Concrete Countertop Institute (CCI)’s Concrete Pavilion and Concrete Countertop Institute Conference, featuring six classes on creating successful concrete countertops. Also, with paid admission to StonExpo/Marmomacc Americas 2011, attendees will also receive access to Surfaces 2011.Every year, StonExpo/Marmomacc Americas attracts fabricators, installers, architects, designers, builders, kitchen and bath specialists, retailers, distributors, landscape architects, restoration professionals, general contractors, quarriers and more ready to do business.
Exhibitors at the event showcase the latest in stone, stone products, alternative surfaces, concrete, machinery, tools and accessories. Companies present at StonExpo/Marmomamcc Americas 2011 will include a number of firms exhibiting for the first time, along with a full roster for returning companies. A complete list of exhibitors can be found at www.stonexpo.com.
Education
Until December 16, StonExpo/Marmomacc Americas is offering complimentary conference registration with exhibits registration. For just $15, attendees gain access to the show floor and the entire education program. Additionally, with the co-location of Surfaces and StonExpo, the total number of available sessions is 75.The 2011 General Session, “Between a Rock and a Hard Place: Overcoming Adversity,” will take place on January 25th from 8:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. The keynote speaker will be Aron Ralston, who spent 127 hours trapped by an 800-pound boulder while out hiking in a canyon. His experience inspired Danny Boyle, Academy Award-winning director of Slumdog Millionaire, to retell this story in the film 127 Hours, starring James Franco. Ralston will recount his tale and share his message of perseverance, determination, courage and goal-attaining.
With regard to classroom education, the event will offer a total of 51 AIA-approved courses created with StonExpo attendees in mind. An attendee may earn up to 14 AIA LUs by registering for and attending educational courses at StonExpo.
A complete list of sessions can be found in the “Latest News” section at www.stoneworld.com, and they include the following:
• Ronald Hannah of Cadenza Granite and Marble and Keith Graves of Marva Marble and Granite will co-present the pre-show workshop, “Developing a Cure for Those Nasty Fabrication and Installation Headaches” on January 24 from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. This is a chance to present installation and fabrication problems and tackle them as a group.
• A second pre-show workshop, “Thinking Inside the Rock - The Mineralogical Makeup of a Natural Stone,” is being presented by Chuck Muehlbauer of the Marble Institute of America on January 24 from 3:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. Attendees at this popular session will learn the basic mineralogical composition and formation of basic stone classifications, understand the typical testing regimens and quality controls within the industry. Moreover, they will know how to use the above to make informed decisions regarding appropriate applications.
• Duane Naquin of Stone Interiors, a veteran speaker on stone fabricator issues, will present “Are You Cheating Yourself? A Review of Cost vs. Price” on January 24 from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. In this session, attendees will gain a better understanding of the costs associated with operating a fabrication shop. They will also learn how to determine actual costs for raw material, labor, transportation, travel time, etc.
• Cameron DeMille from MilleStone Marble & Tile, Inc. (a first-time classroom education presenter at StonExpo) will present “Stone Refinishing and Repair: Practical Applications and How-To’s” January 25 from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. DeMille will cover tips and tricks for common repairs that many professionals are afraid to share.
• Also on January 25 from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m., Filippo Emanuel of Tenax USA will present “Resin-Treated Slabs: Why to Treat and How to Solve Associated Problems.” This presentation will examine the latest resin processing products and explain how to solve the problems caused by them.
• Focusing on the management of a stone industry operation, “Hope is Not a Business Plan” will be presented by Mark Lauzon of Denali Slab Studio on January 25 from 4:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. This session will focus on basic business planning strategies and how to manage your business in today’s market. It will help attendees analyze the strengths and weaknesses of their business, discover how to uncover hidden opportunities and learn to identify potential threats to success.
• Addressing a topic not commonly presented, Jacob Bunin of U.S. Customs and Border Protection is heading the seminar, “Know Before You Import: U.S. Customs Classification of Building Stone” on January 26 from 8:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. To plan pricing and avoid unwanted surprises, importers should understand Customs’ classification of stone. This presentation will discuss tariff classifications based on identity and degree of working of the stone. Attendees will gain familiarity with the tariff provisions and rates of duty for various building stones under the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the U.S., along with education on NAFTA and classification.
• David Bonasera of Environmentally Safe Products & Procedures and Tom McNall of Great Northern Stone will again share tips during “Walking the Fine Line Between Maintenance and Restoration” on January 26 from 8:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.
• On January 27 from 8:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m., Aaron Crowley from FabricatorsFriend will present “Less Chaos More Cash - The PROcess for Reducing Confusion and Improving Profits in Your Small Business.” In this session, Crowley will share his process-driven approach to management.
In addition to the classroom sessions, StoneLIVE! is a destination for “how-to” demonstrations on the show floor, where attendees will get up-close expert instruction on some of the industry’s most challenging stone installation and processing techniques. These complimentary demonstrations are a value add for all attendees and take place directly on the show floor. StoneLIVE! is presented by the Stone Fabricators Alliance.
The StoneLIVE! stage is combined with StonExchange, where members can listen, speak, learn, meet and exchange ideas, solutions and more. All sessions are complimentary and are open to all attendees. Look for informative sessions from leading associations, including the Marble Institute of America (MIA), Natural Stone Council (NSC) and roundtable discussions with leading industry experts.
For more information, visit www.stonexpo.com.
