The International Surface Event (TISE) West, scheduled from January 19 to 22, 2016 at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Last Vegas, NV, will greet attendees with a new show floor. The convention center has been renovated and now the annual exhibition, which is designed for the floor covering, stone and tile industry, will have exhibitors all on one floor instead of two. Comprising The International Surface Event- Surfaces| StonExpo/Marmomacc Americas |TileExpo, the four-day event will be a display of the newest products, hands-on demos, inspiring trends, key manufacturers, industry suppliers, and education and networking.
“We are excited to host the global floor covering, stone and tile professional community at The International Surface Event 2016,” said Amie Gilmore, show director for TISE. “Attendees are expected from across the entire U.S. and over 90 countries in the world. Additionally, our second annual partnership with Design & Construction Week will offer a unique expanded opportunity to view products and services for remodeling professionals.”
Throughout the duration of the exhibition, the show floor will be a platform for many live product demonstrations, as well as other events. On Thursday, January 20, from 3:30 to 5 p.m., the Natural Stone Council (NSC), the Marble Institute of America (MIA) and the Building Stone Institute (BSI) will be hosting a “Stone Pavilion Block Party.” At 4 p.m., Stone Worldwill also be presenting its annual Fabricator of the Year Award.
In addition to the new floor layout, other new highlights of TISE West 2016 will be the “TISE Living Magazine,” which will convert the Trends Hub into a sleek modern “living magazine.” Attendees will have the experience of taking a 3D walk through a magazine experience, featuring the forecasted trends and colors for interiors for 2016 and 2017, product samples and interactive social media and trends sessions.
Once again, TISE West will include a comprehensive educational component. The Ignite education program has been specifically developed for 2016 — allowing participants to learn best practices and the latest technology to help increase their bottom line and network with industry leaders and get answers to the challenges faced in their business.
MIA offers education at TISE West
The Marble Institute of America (MIA)will provide several free education sessions at TISE West, The International Surface Event- Surfaces|StonExpoMarmomacc Americas|TileExpo, which will take place Tuesday, January 19 to Friday, January 22, 2016, at Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas, NV. The schedule is as follows:
wednesday, january 20
Women in Stone Discussion Panel
9:45 to 11:15 a.m.
Topics of discussion will include ways that age, gender and other factors impact dynamics in a family business; different management styles and how they are interpreted; and building relationships with customers, colleagues and coworkers.
Benchmarking in the Stone Industry:
Measuring the Metrics that Count
9:45 to 11:15 a .m.
This session will define business benchmarking and discuss what metrics should be measured to ensure a company’s success. Resources for finding industry benchmarks so a company can measure its metrics against others will also be discussed.
Safety in the Stone Industry:
Limiting Risk in Your Workplace
1:45 to 3:15 p.m.
Put your company in a position to mitigate risk and increase safety for employees. This session will discuss tools and resources employers can use to create safety plans, track success and prepare for a possible voluntary or involuntary OSHA inspection.
Thursday, January 21
ANSI Dynamic Coefficient of Friction
Test for Natural Stone Surfaces
9:45 to 11:15 a.m.
Attend this session to learn how the issue of slip/fall liabilities could be addressed by adopting the ANSI A137 DCOF test method.
The Art of Specifying Natural Stone
2:15 to 3:15 p.m.
Designed to give architects and designers an overview of specifying natural stone, this session will help attendees get the resources needed to ensure the chosen stone meets the standards and design intent set for the application.
For a full list of MIA events scheduled for TISE West
and to register for the event, visit www.tisewest.com.
Stone-specific seminars
at TISE West 2016
The International Surface Event (TISE) offers a new and unique educational conference called Ignite. The program is designed to spark knowledge, growth and profits among attendees. Ignite at TISE will provide learning opportunities that will help fill business toolboxes with new ideas, positively impact the bottom line, make a business more profitable and boost a person’s career to the next level.
The Ignite program will offer 55+ sessions, featuring the hottest topics and industry experts. As an added bonus, most sessions qualify for continuing education credits with AIA, IDCEC, ASID, IDC, IIDA, NKBA, AIBD and/or IICRC. The following are among the stone-specific seminars that will be offered during the exhibition:
Tuesday, January 19
8:30 a.m.
Maintenance and Restoration Forum: Real Talk, Real Solutions
Islander (North Convention Center — Lower Level)
Join your fellow stone and tile maintenance and restoration professionals to share challenges and solutions. We’ll start with a discussion of sealers and cleaners, and then move into the business side of natural stone restoration, including selecting the jobs that create the most profit.
Tuesday, January 19
8:30 a.m.
Turn Your Showroom into a Captivating Customer Experience!
Islander (North Convention Center — Lower Level)
Together we’ll take a look at a retail showroom through the eyes of a consumer, while focusing on four aspects: Product Offerings, Marketing, Staff and Showroom Design.
Tuesday, January 20
10:20 a.m.
Exit Strategy: Succession Planning & Preparing for the Next Generation Workforce
Islander (North Convention Center — Lower Level)
Mark Fernandes, the company’s Chief Leadership Officer, will discuss how Luck’s succession plan came to be, the process for implementation and key learnings. He will also share how this critical work can help companies of all sizes across all industries and geographies prepare their own organizations for a seamless transition to the next generation workforce in the ever-changing, ever-advancing future of work.
Tuesday, January 20
10:20 a.m.
The 3 Minute Diagnosis: Quickly Assess that Stone Restoration Problem!
Islander (North Convention Center — Lower Level)
This session is designed to help stone restoration and maintenance specialists identify a customer’s stone issue with just a few simple questions, whether remotely (e-mail or phone) or on location.
Tuesday, January 20
10:20 a.m.
Do You Know Your Customers? Insights into Serving Your Diverse Customer Base
Islander (North Convention Center — Lower Level)
This interactive session will focus on why changing demographics and diversity are business opportunities and how these changes affect you and your business.
Tuesday, January 20
12:10 p.m.
Business Charisma: How to Engage and Win Customers Again and Again
Islander (North Convention Center — Lower Level)
Charisma is the ultimate marketing tool. In this entertaining and information packed session, you will discover eight elements used by successful companies like Disney, Apple, Harley-Davidson and others that make them magnetic. We will then discuss how businesses of any size can utilize these same elements to make them more magnetic to customers and improve their profitability.
Tuesday, January 20
12:10 p.m.
Insider Secrets to Finding High-Impact Sales Training
Islander (North Convention Center — Lower Level)
In this workshop, you’ll learn how to use five critical questions before you invest significant time or budget in training programs to select the right programs.
Tuesday, January 20
2:00 p.m.
Adding Value with Stone: Aesthetics, Performance & Heritage
Islander (North Convention Center — Lower Level)
This session is the introduction to how to add and maintain value when designing with natural stone. During this session, we will introduce the basic knowledge that an architect needs to have in order to design, select, specify and install with dimension stone.
Tuesday, January 20
2:00 p.m.
The Journey from a Small Manual Job Shop to an Expanding Digital Fabricator
Islander (North Convention Center — Lower Level)
Take a look inside the manual to digital transformation of Majestic Marble & Granite in Orlando, FL. Learn from Scott Hanes, president of Majestic Marble & Granite, about the challenges and successes they have endured over the last three years.
Tuesday, January 20
3:50 p.m.
Advertising & Marketing for the Small Business: Limited Dollars = Maximum Results
Islander (North Convention Center — Lower Level)
This session will focus on what you need to know to effectively build a solid advertising and marketing plan. The discussion will touch on many areas, including social media and internet marketing, core media options and costs, identifying your unique selling proposition, and producing your message.
Tuesday, January 20
3:50 p.m.
Turn the Tide: Create New Streams of Customers for Your Business
Islander (North Convention Center - Lower Level)
Attend this hands-on session to explore new opportunities to market to your existing customers, as well as ideas for bringing in new customers.
Wednesday, January 20
8:00 a.m.
Price Matters to Everyone, Why Pretend it Doesn’t?
Islander (North Convention Center — Lower Level)
This session will help everyone work price to their advantage. When times are tight, businesses cut their prices, but cutting prices is how many businesses fail.
Wednesday, January 20
8:00 a.m.
Attracting, Developing & Retaining
Top Talent
Islander (North Convention Center — Lower Level)
Perceptions about construction, new internet opportunities, and more jobs than people all add up to your biggest headache – and opportunity. This is not about jelly beans and foosball in the break room. It is about selecting and developing the right talent and creating a place where they want to work and do superior work when they are there. You will leave this session with key tools and techniques that you can implement immediately to help you stress less and produce more.
Wednesday, January 20
8:00 a.m.
Laws of Attraction: Merchandising Your Showroom to Become a Designer Magnet
Islander (North Convention Center — Lower Level)
Build a better retail experience — and they will come! Attracting designers and becoming a valued resource for them is an important way to expand your business and reach qualified customers. Designers can bring high-budget business right to your showroom. Re-designing or simply using creative merchandising techniques can turn your retail flooring showroom into a designer magnet.
Wednesday, January 20
8:00 a.m.
Fabricator Forum: Real Talk, Real Solutions
Islander (North Convention Center — Lower Level)
This open forum will offer insight on important issues challenging countertop fabricators today. The topics will change depending on questions from the audience, but will include areas such as: fabrication methods, equipment, sales strategies, importing slabs, compliance and liability, ultra-compact materials, legal issues, OSHA, design, the commercial market and managing customer expectations.
Wednesday, January 20
9:00 a.m.
The Cage Live Action Demos
The Cage - Bayside (Level 1)
Experience live action demos first-hand to see how the latest tools seam-set, texture and polish natural stone products.
Wednesday, January 20
9:45 a.m.
Women in Stone Discussion Panel
Islander (North Convention Center — Lower Level)
This discussion will focus on building relationships with customers, colleagues and co-workers. We’ll discuss common struggles of a family business, including how age, gender and other factors affect the relationship dynamic.
Wednesday, January 20
9:45 a.m.
Benchmarking in the Stone Industry, Measuring the Metrics that Count
Islander (North Convention Center — Lower Level)
This session will define business benchmarking and discuss what metrics should be measured to ensure a company’s success. The session will also discuss resources for finding industry benchmarks so a company can better measure its metrics against others in the industry.
Wednesday, January 20
12:00 p.m.
The Science of Cleaning Stone & Tile - Don’t Take it for Granted!
Islander (North Convention Center — Lower Level)
Upon completion of this session, participants should be able to:
• Explain the chemistries used for the care and cleaning of stone and tile
• Identify when and where to use specific families of cleaners
• Describe proper cleaning chemistry application and use techniques
• Demonstrate safe working habits when using specialized cleaning products
Wednesday, January 20
1:00 p.m.
Stone Fabricators Alliance (SFA) MegaWorkshop
Tradewinds D (North Convention Center — Lower Level)
This four-hour workshop, brought to you by the Stone Fabricator’s Alliance (SFA), focuses on maximizing your margins and increasing your profits, straight from experienced business owners. Topics include: branding, production efficiency, business planning, the buying experience, diversifying and profit.
Wednesday, January 20
1:45 p.m.
ANSI Dynamic Coefficient of Friction Test for Natural Stone Surfaces
Islander (North Convention Center — Lower Level)
In our litigious society, perhaps nothing in the stone industry carries the level of liability of public walking surfaces, and with the 2014 withdrawal of test method ASTM C1028, stone suppliers and specifiers do not even have a test method available to document the safety of their surfaces. The MIA technical department has recently completed a comprehensive study on using the ANSI A137 DCOF test method, which was written for use on ceramic products, on natural stone surfaces.
Thursday, January 21
9:00 a.m.
The Cage Live Action Demos
The Cage — Bayside (Level 1)
Experience live action demos first-hand to see how the latest tools seam-set, texture and polish natural stone products.
Thursday, January 21
9:45 a.m.
Safety in the Natural Stone Industry — Limiting Risk in your Workplace
Islander (North Convention Center — Lower Level)
Risk is inevitable in any workplace. The goal is to put your company in a position to mitigate risk and increase safety for your employees. This session will discuss tools and resources employers can use to create safety plans, track success and prepare for a possible voluntary or involuntary OSHA inspection.
Thursday, January 21
12:00 p.m.
Marble Institute of America (MIA) Awards Luncheon
Meeting Room TBA
Join the Marble Institute of America (MIA) for their awards luncheon and annual meeting. Lunch will be served. Open to members and non-members. Registration is required.
Thursday, January 21
2:15 p.m.
The Art of Specifying Natural Stone
Islander (North Convention Center — Lower Level)
This one-hour session, presented by the Marble Institute of America, is designed to give architects and designers an overview of how to specify natural stone.
Thursday, January 21
3:30 p.m.
Stone Pavilion Block Party
NSC Booth
Thursday, January 21
3:45 p.m.
Exponential Business Growth: How Retailers Can Maximize Sales & Minimize Overhead
Islander (North Convention Center — Lower Level)
This session will focus on new tactics that can be implemented to increase sales, including technology, relationship management and even untapped resources for building a new client base all while reducing the overhead costs typically associated with the industry.
Thursday, January 21
3:45 p.m.
Building Your Brand Locally - Differentiating your Business from the Competition
Islander (North Convention Center — Lower Level)
Your local brand can be just as powerful in your hometown as worldwide giants like Walmart and Home Depot, but to do so, you have to take a page or two out of the big guys’ playbook. Attend this interactive session to learn many of the mega-competitors’ secrets and how to apply them to your business.
Friday, January 22
9:00 a.m.
The Cage Live Action Demos
The Cage - Bayside (Level 1)
Experience live action demos first-hand to see how the latest tools seam-set, texture and polish natural stone products.
The Marmomacc International Pavilion at TISE 2016
At this year’s The International Surface Event, the Marmomacc International Pavilion will host leading stone and machinery suppliers from France, India, Italy, Portugal, San Marino and Turkey. The following are the exhibiting companies, along with a brief profile.
AIREMÁRMORES - EXTRACÇÃO DE MÁRMORES LDA – Portugal
Established in 1983, Airemármores is an extraction and transformation company of Portuguese limestones and marbles. It is one of the largest exporters of limestone and has increased its participation in national and international projects. To further expand its range of products, Airemármores is constantly investing in new technologies and in the latest stone processing equipment.
AKRITI JEWELCRAFTZ. PVT. LTD – India
Jewelcraftz is a dream workshop where most of its clients’ exquisite ideas, inspiration and drawings are converted into treasured possessions. As Jewelcraftz, Akriti has been working for several years catering to the niche market of high-end semi-precious stone and shell products. By merging its extensive experience with the latest technology, age-old technique and world standards of quality, Akriti brings to its clients products that enable them to wrap themselves in nature’s splendor from floor to ceiling.
ANIET – Portugal
ANIET is the Portuguese national association for the extracting and manufacturing industry, which represents several companies in the natural stone mining sectors.
Co-Exhibitors: AIREMÁRMORES – Aljubarrota, Portugal; GRANITES PARDAIS – Alpendurada, Portugal.
ARTISTIK IC VE DIS TIC. LTD. STI. – Turkey
Artistik is a Turkish marble company, founded in 2003, specializing in manufacturing the highest quality tiles and design products thanks to the most advanced technologies in the tile industry. It has already established a well-reputed name on the international market for its commitment to quality and for its exclusive creations. The product range includes: tiles, borders, mosaics, corner shelves, saddles and sills, and moldings.
BELLINZONI – Italy
Bellinzoni was founded in 1937 in Milan, Italy, to produce chemicals for natural stone. It started with the “Special Preparation Paste Wax” — still available today – and the company now offers more than 70 specialty products, such as cleaners, anti-stain, adhesives and waxes for marble, granites, other stone materials, terracotta, ceramic and for construction. Now, and in the future, Bellinzoni is and will be synonymous with guarantee and quality.
BRETON – Italy / USA
Breton USA provides sales and technical support of the full catalogue of Breton SpA products, which includes machines for Stone Fabshop, 5-axis CNC machine tools for general industry and aerospace, and traditional and engineered stone plants and equipment — throughout the U.S., Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean.
CERESER MARMI S.p.A. – Italy
For 50 years, Cereser Marmi S.p.A. has specialized in the selection and sale of marble and granite. It is one of the leading companies on the international market in stone working, combining industrial production logic with the human aspect of client relations. Cereser selects marble, granite, onyx, travertine and quartzite from the finest quarries; the testing of blocks is entrusted to purchasing managers who collaborate closely with technical specialists to maintain the utmost in quality standards.
CT KESME TEKNOLOJILERI VE MAK SAN TIC LTD STI – Turkey
CT Kesme is a company of 30 employees and has been in the stone industry since 1998. The company produces CNC-controlled waterjet-cutting machines and provides contract cutting services. CT Kesme is a market leader in Turkey in the production and sales of waterjet-cutting machines with a national market share of 70%.
DIMER MARBLE – Turkey
Founded in 1987, Dimer Marble specializes in the quarrying and processing of Turkish marbles and natural stones. It owns three quarries in Diyarbakir, Adiyonos and Mersin with an annual production capacity of 1 million square meters. With 500 employees and 200,000 tons of exported materials, Dimer Marble is, day by day, consolidating its position among the world’s most powerful companies in the stone sector.
EMMEDUE USA LLC – San Marino / USA
Emmedue USA LLC, based in Florida, coordinates the distribution of the largest range of bridge-saws with 3/4/5 axes, CNC work centers, and manual saws and also offers technical support, spare parts and service in all U.S. states, as well as Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean.
FERRARI & CIGARINI SRL – Italy
Since 1969 Ferrari & Cigarini has specialized in the design and manufacture of machinery and plants for the cutting, chamfering, profiling, forming, squaring and gluing of single- and double-firing products, porcelain, glass, marble, granite and natural stone. Robotized palletization and depalletization are used to supply production lines.
FILA SURFACE CARE SOLUTIONS – Italy
For more than 70 years, Fila has developed and offered solutions for the treatment and care of all surfaces, supplying its clients a range of highly performing products and a professional technical assistance.
GRANITES PARDAIS – Portugal
Granites Pardais is a 40-year-old company that manufactures all kinds of granite products, primarily focusing on kerbs, tiles, slabs, paving, cubes, steps, cladding and urban furniture. Ownership of three quarries and many years of experience — combined with the latest technology — enable Granites Pardais to make high-quality products and to have a large production capacity.
HARTEK MERMER GRANIT INS. MAK. VE EKIP. SAN. TIC. LTD. STI-HRK DIAMOND TOOLS – Turkey
Established in 2001, Hartek is a Turkish company specialized in producing diamond tools for marble, granite and concrete, diamond segments, beads for marble and diamond wires. Equipped with high technology production units, Hartek is constantly upgrading the quality of its products and services, in order to offer the most convenient stone processing solutions. It is the only Turkish company manufacturing plastic-coated multi-wire products up to 6.3 mm in diameter. Its R&D department cooperates with technical universities, as well as scientific and academic institutions.
IMIB - ISTANBUL MINERAL EXPORTER’S ASSOCIATION – Turkey
Istanbul Mineral Exporters’ Association (IMIB) is a professional non-profit association dealing with all export activities in the minerals sector. IMIB was founded in 1976 and currently has 2,425 members. Turkey is among the world’s oldest natural stone producers with 4,000 years of production history and more than 400 different colors texture and patterns of natural stone (marble, travertine, granite, onyx, limestone, basalt, andesite, slate stone and diabase).
ITALMECC NORTH AMERICA – Italy / USA
Italmecc produces and sells water clarification plants, filter presses, sump pumps for abrasive water, boosting pumps, and chemicals. With offices in Canada, the U.S., Italy and UK, it is a leading company in the sector for dust-control systems with water or dry technology.
KLINDEX – Italy
Founded by Ercole and Enio Bibiano in 1988, Klindex designs and manufactures floor machines, diamond tools and equipment, as well as products for grinding, polishing and cleaning natural stone surfaces and any kind of floor. The company distributes its products in more than 70 countries around the world. To facilitate distribution of Klindex products on the U.S. market, in 2014 it created Klindex America Corp., with a branch office in Brooklyn, NY, and a stock facility in Dayton, OH.
LES CARRIÈRES DE BONTEMPS – France
Hard colorful limestone for tiles, pool coping, fireplace, sinks and wall cladding are supplied from the company’s own quarry. Les Carrières de Bontemps is a French company that has been extracting stone in the heart of Périgord since 1998, from a limestone quarry dating from the middle Jurassic period, and offers a wide variety of colors, from pale cream to dark gray, with nuances of ochre and blue in the most recently exploited layers.
MEH INDIA OVERSEAS, PVT. LTD. (M STONE) – India / USA
M Stone Stone & Tile is a family-owned and operated International distributor of a wide variety of natural stone products. With three generations and over 40 years of combined experience, it has created an expansive product line that encompasses every aspect of natural stone application, be it commercial or residential, interior or exterior, contemporary or vintage, high end or low end.
MARMOMACC / VERONAFIERE – Italy
Veronafiere is the leading direct organizer of exhibitions in Italy, second in terms of turnover and a leader within Europe. Veronafiere’s mission is to serve as a natural hub for the international promotion and for the excellence of “Made in Italy” by providing facilities and high value-added services to its clients — visitors and exhibitors alike. Marmomacc – the International Exhibition of Stone, Design and Technology – is the leading international event for the stone sector. It is the global event for stone professionals to see the latest products and learn the most recent trends affecting all segments of the stone trade and is the only trade fair specialized in offering certified continuing education to professional architects and interior designers. In 2016, Marmomacc is scheduled from September 28 to October 1.
OMAR CRANE SRL – Italy
Omar Crane has been in the construction equipment sector since the 1970s. It is specialized in designing and producing customized mobile cranes for loading/unloading marble and granite bundles into/from box containers and general stockyard use. Omar Crane machines are innovative, powerful and ensure high performance.
PROGRESS PROFILES SPA – Italy
Progress Profiles is a leading company in the field of finishing and technical profiles for interior and exterior environments, expansion joints, membranes and baseboards, with more than 30 years of experience and a future-oriented vision. Its 100% Made in Italy brand is exported to more than 50 countries and is internationally represented through branches in the U.S. and Russia. The company manufactures more than 12,500 items in stainless steel, aluminum, brass and PVC.
STEINEX S.R.L. – Italy
Since 1976 Steinex has been a leading international company specializing in the design, manufacturing and distribution of hydraulic splitting machinery for every type of natural stone and concrete. Steinex machine models include: Igloo – Cubes and wallstones; Menhir – Large stones and primary splitters; Broadway – Tiles and sawn stone; Windstar – Machines with four blades.
TAGLIO SOFTWARE HOUSE & STONE TECHNOLOGY CENTER – Italy
Taglio Software House is a leading company established in 1982, whose products are based on full in-house development, thus guaranteeing the total and lasting intellectual and operational property of the solution provided to the customer. With over 30 years of experience, Taglio Software House has always aimed to introduce innovative technologies in all industrial fields requiring highly accurate, efficient and qualitative material cutting, modeling and sculpting.
