Over the course of the past decade, the Vitória Stone Fair in Brazil has made a name for itself as a major international event. The country’s vast natural stone resources - centered in the State of Espírito Santo, where the fair takes place - have made it a draw for attendees around the world. These visitors not only attend the fair itself, but they also take the opportunity to visit the numerous stoneworking plants across the region. The latest edition of the Vitória Stone Fair took place from February 16 to 19, and it saw increases in the number of exhibitors as well as overall attendance.
In all, a total of 410 companies exhibited at the 2011 Vitória Stone Fair, an increase of around 11% over 2010. This included 315 firms from within Brazil, including companies from the State of Espírito Santo as well as other stone-producing states, such as Bahia, Minas Gerais and Caeará.
The event also included 95 international exhibitors, and they came from nations such as China, Italy, Egypt, India, Spain and Greece, among others.
According to Milanez & Milaneze, which organizes the event, a total of 25,542 people attended the 2011 Vitória Stone Fair, an increase of 6% over the previous year. Just under 10% of these attendees (2,540) came from outside of Brazil. The U.S. had the strongest international presence at the event, representing 35.3% of foreign visitors, followed by Italy (8.5%), China (6.0%) and Canada (5.9%).
Exhibitors at the event praised the quality of attendance at the 2011 Vitória Stone Fair, and they reported solid business on the show floor. “We are receiving people at our factory, and they are selecting materials,” explained Karina Machado of Mag-Ban, a stone producer based in Espírito Santo.
Attendees at the event were able to view the full spectrum of stone materials, including marble, granite, quartzite, onyx, slate and other stones. In addition to a range of different stone materials, products could be found in a variety of formats and surface finishes - including backlit panels and brushed and textured surfaces. Products on display in Vitoria included slabs as well as tiles, mosaics, sinks, furnishings, panels and other architectural applications.
In addition to exotic materials not seen before in the marketplace, exhibitors showcased some of the classic stones of Brazil, including materials from newly opened quarry sites.
Suppliers of stoneworking technology also offered new introductions, including new resin products and application technology, which are critical in the production of many Brazilian exotics.
A tour of the 2011 Vitória Stone Fair
Once again, the stone producers at the Vitória Stone Fair used the event to showcase their latest materials, including the traditional granites of Brazil in shades of gold, green and tan. It also included a broad range of exotics with unique colors and patterning, as well as new textures and finishes. The following is a look at just some of the stones being produced in Brazil.
