Radio Stone Update
Radio Stone Update
Marmomac Draws More Than 58K; TISE 2025 Online Registration Opens
00:00 Brought to You By Quantra
00:23 Intro
00:33 Marmomac Draws 58,000
02:02 Cersaie Brings in 90,000+
03:25 A Word from Quantra
04:37 Masters of Stone - All Women
05:48 Coldspring's Hermans First Lundh Award Honoree
07:08 Coverings Design, Young Leader Awards Seek Entries
08:35 Online Registration Opens for TISE 2025
10:13 Italians Decry Unfair Tile Imports
11:31 Cosentino Group Promotes Four in North America
12:23 Weber Joins NTCA Staff
12:55 Outro
12:24 Brought to You By Quantra
Radio Stone Update is presented on the second and fourth Wednesdays every month at 9 a.m. everywhere on Earth with the latest news and insights in hard surfaces. Check our archives at www.radiostoneupdate.com.
00:23
Hi, I’m K. Schipper with the latest in hard surfaces industry news from Radio Stone Update.
00:33
Last month’s Marmomac trade show in Verona, Italy, drew more than 58,000 attendees in its 58th edition. Two-thirds of the trade show’s attendance came from outside Italy, with 140 countries represented.
The event also drew almost 1,500 exhibiting companies from 55 countries. The show encompassed almost 800,000 ft2 in 12 show halls and four outside areas of the Veronafiere complex.
“Marmomac is the absolute landmark for the entire global natural stone industry,” said Maurizio Danese, Veronafiere managing director. He noted that with international attendance the top five countries of origin showed mixed results. While Germany and France showed a downturn from 2023, Spain and the United States reflected “consolidation” and Indian increased its number by 10 percent.
During the show Veronafiere and Confindustria Marmomacchine signed the framework agreement between the two groups for joint international promotion of the Made in Italy natural stone system until 2029. That agreement is joined by the launch of Marmomac Brazil, a new trade fair platform that will debut in Sao Paulo in 2025.
Marmomac also included more than 40 conferences and workshops. Marmomac 2025 is scheduled for next Sept. 23-26.
2:02
During the same week as Marmomac, and a short train ride away in Bologna, Italy, the 41st annual Cersaie international trade event brought more than 95,000 people to revel in all things tile. As impressive as the number sounds, though, it represented four percent fewer attendees than the 2023 show.
Italian visitation declined 6.7 percent, while out-of-country attendees showed only a one percent drop from 2023. Even so, slightly more than 600 companies exhibited at the show, with 230 of them coming from 25 different countries.
Augusto Ciarrocchi, chairman of show organizer Confindustria Ceramica, said exhibitors were particularly impressed by the quality of the show’s attendees, which included distributors, architects and real estate operators. He also spoke highly of the Italian ceramic industry, which remains a world leader, although he also cited aggressive product dumping by a number of countries.
Both Ciarrocchi and Antonio Bruzzone, CEO of BolognaFiere, the show’s venue, expressed frustration at the strikes by Bologna airport workers and taxi drivers during the first two days of the event. However, Bruzzone said he was delighted with the success of this year’s Cersaie.
Next year’s Cersaie is scheduled for Sept. 22-26.
04:37
When this year’s Masters of Stone honors were presented at Marmomac, it was more than a bit surprising that the four chosen were all women.
The award, which dates back more than 700 years when the Ancient Free Guild of the Art of Stone was born in Italy, involves the presentation of a cube of red Verona marble, a bronze tile and a silver chisel.
This year’s recipients are all successful entrepreneurs involved in promoting and enhancing the economy and culture related to the stone sector with their businesses. They are: Franca Conti of RED Granite in Italy; Brazilian designer Vivan Coser; Elena Pelligrini, Italian owner of her namesake stone-technology company, and Janina Mathiasz, who’s worked to strengthen international relations through trade shows.
The honors were presented at Marmomac by Veronafiere President Federico Bricolo , CEO Maurizio Danese and General Manager Adolfo Rebughini. In making the presentations, Bricolo noted, “Marmomac is a perfect international stage to amplify the message that skills and passion know no gender distinctions….”
05:48
Frank Hermans has been named the inaugural recipient of the Thor Lundh Quarrier Award.
Hermans, the Milbank #3 Supervisor for Coldspring, received the award during the Tucker Design Awards ceremony at the Natural Stone Institute (NSI) Study Tour banquet in Salt Lake City in late August.
During his more than 54 years in the industry, Hermans has displayed exemplary leadership, an extraordinary work ethic and an unrelenting commitment to the betterment of his community. He has mentored new quarriers to ensure their safety and efficiency, supplied material on short notice and in difficult conditions, and leads by example.
The Thor Lundh Quarrier Award recognizes an NSI member who has made an extraordinary contribution to quarrying natural stone. The ideal candidate has demonstrated successful and notable achievements through a professional career in quarrying natural stone, while contributing to furthering the careers of other professionals in the quarrying field.
The award is named for Thor Lundh, founder of Lundhs AS, the largest natural stone producer in Northern Europe and a man instrumental in transitioning quarry operations from manual to industrial production. Nominations for the 2025 Thor Lundh Quarrier Award will open early next year.
07:08
Coverings announces that it’s now accepting submissions for its 2025 Coverings Installation and Design (CID) Awards, and nominations for the 2025 Coverings Rock Star program. Submittals for both are due December 20.
The CID Awards recognize projects featuring tile and stone that showcase beautiful design and impeccable installation. Multiple entries are accepted and there is no cost to enter.
In addition to having their winning projects featured onsite at Coverings 2025, CID winners are recognized at the CID Awards Ceremony and Reception, receive bonus coverage in industry publications and websites, and a one-night hotel stay in Orlando, Fla.
Coverings Rock Stars are talented industry members who must be 35 years of age or younger and currently working in the industry.
Those selected will receive a $200 gift card to attend Coverings 2025, recognition at the Rock Star Awards ceremony, and unique professional development opportunities and invitations to Young Professionals events at Coverings.
Coverings 2025 will be held April 29-May 2, at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando. For more information on the show and on entries for both categories, go to www.coverings.com
08:35
Registration is now open for The International Surface Event (TISE), which is scheduled for Jan. 28-30 at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas.
The show is expected to encompass more than 400,000 ft2 and include more than 700 exhibitors from around the world. Industry leaders in 25 categories will showcase new products and provide a platform for business growth and advancement.
The TILE + STONE neighborhood on the show floor presents a collection of exhibitors, features and events designed to cater to the industry’s unique requirements. Specialty features include the TISE LIVE Demo Stage, an equipment and machinery pavilion and the Manufactured Surfaces Pavilion.
Other specialty pavilions include the Stone Equipment and Supply Alliance (SESA), Italian Stone and Technology, Natural Stone, and Cover Connect. Tool Alley will feature essential tools and machinery.
Available until Dec. 8, TISE’s early-bird pricing for the Expo Pass for exhibit-hall entry is $75 for members of industry associations and $100 for non-members; the Premier Package, including more than 120 education sessions, is $250 for association members and $325 for non-members.
For a full exhibitor list or to register for the event, go to www.intlsurfaceevent.com
In other news from around the industry…
In other industry news:
10:13
Confindustria Ceramica, the Italian tile-industry association, renewed its call for stricter control on what it considers unfair-trade tactics by Indian exporters. The trade organization issued a statement at the start of Cersaie, urging the European Union to check the flow of goods from India, possibly with stronger tariff action.
The statement noted that India increased its shipments to the EU by 235 percent since 2018, while European ceramic tile consumption grew by two percent. Over the last decade, India’s ceramic tile production capacity increased by 2.5 billion m2.
The EU enacted ceramic-tile tariffs in Feb. 2023 of up to 8.7 percent, although Indian exports to the EU increased 67 percent since that time. Confindustria Ceramica recognized the recent action by U.S. tile producers to seek tariffs of up to 589 percent on India’s ceramic tile exports.
“The European ceramic tile industry is urging the new European Commission to likewise implement adequate measures to combat unfair competition at the EU level,” the statement concluded.
11:31
Cosentino Group announces the promotions of four principal executives within the company, strengthening its commitment to the North American market.
Gary Andler has been promoted to vice president of retail channels at Cosentino. With 19 years of experience with the company, he most recently spent two years as a senior advisor.
Ignacio Paniagua, who joined Cosentino in 2016, has been named executive director of kitchen and bath in North America. He will work closely with Andler to focus on local representatives.
Alvaro Chomon is the new executive director of commercial accounts. He will be responsible for commercial, high-end residential and direct accounts.
And Massimo Ballucchi has been promoted to vice president of institutional relations at Cosentino North America.
12:23
And Angie Weber has joined the National Tile Contractors Association – the NTCA -- as its new digital advertising and membership specialist. She started her new job Oct. 1.
Weber comes to the position with extensive experience in interior design and a strong background in the tile industry. She has worked on NTCA’s TileLetter, where she translated articles into Spanish. She also currently manages NTCA’s social media platforms.
12:55
Remember, the September-October issue of Stone Update Magazine is now available online at www.stonemag.com. For a transcript of this broadcast, go to www.radiostoneupdate.com. For Radio Stone Update, I’m K. Schipper and we’ll see you here again soon.