Ahead of Marmomac 2017, it is reported that marbles and granites in 2016 saw an increase of 3% in quarrying, while global trade came to €22 billion.
The 52nd edition of Marmomac 2017, being held from 27-30 September in Verona, Italy, is the most important and complete international exhibition dedicated to natural stone, from semi-finished and finished products to machinery, technology and processing accessories, along with the latest applications in architecture and design.
Marmomac accompanies and reflects the evolution in a sector that in 2016 produced 145 million tonnes of marble and granite.
Pointing out that all data about the world stone market comes from the 28th World Stone Report edited by Carlo Montani and published by Aldus, it says that even though market balances have shifted over the last 20 years, increasingly focusing on Asia, thanks to China, India and Turkey that together account for over 55% of global stone production, the guiding role as regards business, culture, training and experimentation is “still identified with Marmomac in Verona.”
Organisers, Veronafiere, say that the show has developed into one of the largest stone processing districts in the world and an expression of the excellence of Made in Italy. Even though Italian stone exports in 2016, after six consecutive years of growth, slipped back by 4% to €2.1 billion, the added value of materials processed by Italian companies set a new record on achieving a price of €60/m² compared to the average for competitors of €32/m².
Much the same can be said for dedicated machinery and technologies in a field led by Italy thanks to a 38% share of total sales and a price per tonne up from €1,112 euros in 2015 to €1,184 last year, even though, once again in this case, exports in 2016 totalling €680 million fell back by 11%.
“Marmomac at every edition strengthens its leadership as a global platform for business, training and innovation in the natural stone sector,” says Maurizio Danese, President of Veronafiere.
“This role has also been acknowledged by the Italian government that since 2015 has included it among the strategic events within the scope of the Special Made in Italy Promotion Plan implemented by the Ministry for Economic Development and ICE-Italian Trade Agency.
“This edition will also continue the development of the event which will equally be further strengthened by the recent conversion of Veronafiere into a joint-stock equity company, the new business plan envisaging investments totalling €100 million through to 2020 and related digital transformation.”
The organisers say that Marmomac's success lies in its ability to combine business with culture for a product that has traditions going back thousands of years in Italy but nonetheless now looks to the future.
This concept at Marmomac 2017 finds expression in The Italian Stone Theatre, a 3,500m² hall set up in collaboration with the Ministry for Economic Development, ICE-Italian Trade Agency and Confindustria Marmomacchine, that will host three exhibitions: Territory & Design; Virtuous Machines, and Soul of City, narrating the natural stone, processing technology, experimentation and design through cutting-edge projects by famous architects and designers.
At the 2016 Marmomac 64% of 1,670 exhibitors and 60% of 67,000 visitors were from some 145 countries.
“Figures 2017, albeit not yet definitive, once again this year indicate an increase in international companies with new attendance from Argentina, Georgia, Ireland, Mexico and Slovenia, while group attendance by buyers already confirmed especially involve countries such as Iran, the fifth largest producer of natural stone in the world, and South Korea, the third largest importer of materials in Asia that posted boom figures of +24% in 2016,” says Giovanni Mantovani, CEO of Veronafiere.
Action to promote incoming operators from abroad in 2017 sees Marmomac continue its cooperation with ICE and Confindustria Marmomacchine within the scope of activities involved in the Special Made in Italy Promotion Plan.
Verona will also see the arrival of selected trade delegations as the protagonists of b2b meetings, technical training events and visits to local companies.
The third edition of the International Stone Summit also finds space, the World Conference dedicated to natural stone attended by the leading international associations in the marble sector.
Following its debut in 2016, the Icon Award will be held again to identify one of the works exhibited within The Italian Stone Theatre that will become the image of the Marmomac 2018 communications campaign.
Marmomac & the City will take the stage for the sixth year running, bringing 12 works and installations in natural stone to the streets and courtyards of the historic centre of Verona, thereby ensuring further promotion of company projects exhibited during the last edition of The Italian Stone Theatre.
The Best Communicator Award returns with its 11th edition. This award promotes attention and originality dedicated to exhibit design by exhibiting companies.
