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There was a record number of exhibitors at the Natural Stone Show held this month (9-11 March) in London's ExCeL exhibition centre. The show, the sixth in the series held at the industry preferred interval of two years, was 30% bigger than the 2002 event.
The use of natural stone in the UK continues to grow at an impressive rate of about 20% a year. The number of companies wanting to supply that extra demand also continues to grow, as evidenced by the Natural Stone Show at ExCeL, London, this month (March) being 30% bigger than the previous show in 2002.
Altogether there were nearly 300 exhibitors and associates from 30 countries, with special areas for the Italians, Turkish, Indians, Chinese and Jordanians. The UK exhibitors included the producers of some of the countries most famous stones, such as Portland, Purbeck and Bath.
The number of visitors who came to see them was a buoyant 4,514, contributing to a total attendance of an ABC-audited 5,452 when exhibitors and guests are included, as they are in ABC audits.
As well as the suppliers of stone, the exhibitors included major machinery and consumables companies, and contractors and consultants, creating a healthy mix for the broad
cross section of the trade and its customers who visited the exhibition.
It was a mix appreciated by Marco di Giorgi of Italian company Antolini Luigi, one of the world's biggest stone suppliers.There are tools, memorials and machinery as well as stone here, so there are many more visitors and much more business to be done.
"We're exhibiting a range of new stones (new to the UK). Lots of architects have been very excited by the range and the new colours because the UK market has previously been limited in the range of colours available to it."
Isabella Marantonio of IGM, another major Italian stone supplier who were back at their second Natural Stone Show, said:"This time it is better organised and the area is better, with more hotels to choose from. There are also more visitors this time. We've seen a good number of architects, wholesalers and manufacturers these are the people we want to meet. We got business after the last show. We hope for the same again."
Bruno Blasco of Marcal International, Brazilian granite producers, said: "I'm very impressed with the show. In fact, we are thrilled about it. There is plenty of market to be had here and we've had a good response to our stone, especially Louise Blue visitors have been really enthusiastic about that stone. The visitors we have met have been very knowledgeable. They know what they are looking for."
Anthony Marsh of Gundelsheimer Marmorwerk, a German company selling Jura limestone, said:"It's our second time here. The last one was good for us and it's the same this year. We've had enquiries from architects looking for stone for specific projects. We've even had some interesting enquiries from home owners."
The machinery suppliers were also enjoying successes, reporting plenty of enquiries and sales. It is not surprising, as stonemasons who visit the show often use the occasion to make a final decision between the various marques.
On the first day alone Ebor, UK agents for Italian manufacturers Breton and Commanduli, had taken an order for a Breton NC260 CNC miller-router and had sold the Commanduli D60 off the stand as well as taking an order for another.
Ebor director Steve Boocock said:"We have exhibited at the glass show for more than 20 years and this is a far better show. It has a better feel. There's more synergy between the customers and suppliers here than at any other show. It's a great industry to work in."
Richard Chandler, director of Combined Masonry Supplies (CMS), whose extensive range of machinery and consumables includes German Kolb saws, said:"The British market is very important for Kolb. So much so that Martin Kolb himself helped Thomas Spitz, myself and Malcolm Hellyar for the three days and not only did he attend but he sold two machines off the stand. We have signed up four machines during the show (one on the tube on the way back to Heathrow, if that counts!) and now have to sift through more than 90 enquiries."
His one criticism was that the show did not have enough memorials.It may be that there is a relative paucity of innovation in such a traditional industry, but I feel it is the backbone of the trade. Business being dynamic means that the exhibitors reflect the growth areas in the trade, which, at the moment, means the granite kitchen worktop market and all that goes with it."Overall, though, a great show. Well organised and, from the point of view of accommodation, plenty nearby."
This time a major conference was held in conjunction with the exhibition. There has always been a lecture programme running alongside the Show to help the trade's customers and specifiers to get a better understanding of the materials and their use, but this time the programme was formalised into a three day, CPD accredited event with more than 30 lectures.
The presentations were split into two streams, one for new build and one for conservation, after the initial opening session when the two streams were together. Chairman for the opening session was John Fidler, the Conservation Director of English Heritage, and the first speaker was Spencer de Grey, a partner at the architectural practice of Foster & Partners, who began by saying:"The use of natural material is an integral part of any architectural design."
He showed slides of some of the stunning stone buildings from Foster & Partners buildings like the Great Court of the British Museum in London and the Reichstag in Berlin setting the scene for three days of top level presentations, most of which attracted audiences of between 50 and 100 people.
Various new build sessions were led by the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) and conservation sessions by English Heritage, the agency responsible for heritage in the UK. Stone Federation Great Britain, the stone industry's trade association, also headed two sessions of their Stone in the City presentations, one for new build and one for conservation.
The Stone Federation had a central position in the Show itself, once again forming the heart of a "stone village" of their members, comprising stone suppliers, contractors and consultants.
The National Association of Memorial Masons (NAMM), the body representing the stone memorial trade, also supported the Show and displayed some of the winning carvings and lettering from their Craftex contest among their stonemason members.
A new feature of the Show this time was a conservation area that included organisations such as the Men of the Stones, the Collyweston Slate Trust, the Institute of Historic Building Conservation, the National Heritage Training Group, the Portland Sculpture & Quarry Trust and the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings.
Also within the conservation feature was the Natural Stone Institute, an organisation that has grown out of the Scottish Stone Liaison Group (SSLG) and aims to become the umbrella body of the SSLG, the Welsh Stone Forum formed last year, and the English Stone Forum when it is formed, probably next year.
The Institute took the opportunity of the exhibition to announce the appointment of its first President, Sir William McAlpine, a director of Sir Robert McAlpine & Sons, one of the UK's biggest construction companies, who had a chance to meet Institute members and guests at a reception held in association with the Natural Stone Show.
Sir William said:"I fully endorse the aims and objectives of the Natural Stone Institute and am delighted to have this opportunity to make a constructive contribution to its further development.This generation has a responsibility to ensure that our country's built heritage, not just listed buildings, is maintained in the most appropriate manner that's what the Institute is seeking to achieve and I'm looking forward to doing what I can in this respect."
Exhibitors from all areas of the Natural Stone Show reported sales and plenty of worthwhile contacts to follow up, while visitors also reported successful trips to ExCeL.
Exhibition manager Richard Bradbury was delighted with the results."Several companies have already provisionally booked their space for the next Natural Stone Show,"he said, adding that ExCeL has already been reserved for the next Natural Stone Show on 7-9 March 2006.
The bookings for next time include two companies that did not exhibit this time but, following a visit, felt they had missed out and wanted to ensure they are there in 2006.
There is no doubt this was the largest and best attended stone industry exhibition the UK has ever seen. The exhibitors made up a good mix of UK and overseas companies representing the stone and machinery sides of the business and the visitors represented a cross section of the stone industry and its customers.
"It was good to see so many visitors from Ireland, Scotland and the Continent, as well. It's a benefit of the City Airport, which is just a five-minute taxi ride away from ExCeL."
In fact, Robert Elliot, UK agent for Piedra Madrid, the Spanish stone show, commented:"There have been lots of visitors. I've made more international contacts than British ones. It's been a good networking exercise."
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