Italian unions sign labour contract renewal for stone sector

Three workers unions in Spain have signed a collective agreement for the cement sector in Alava, which will include a wage rise of 1.4% in 2013 and 2014. The agreement itself, signed by the SEA Uneca, CCOO and UGT workers unions, is valid until 31 December 2016. The annual working year will be 1,716 hours while the agreement is in place. The signing of the agreement is said to guarantee labour relations between workers and companies, while also giving both parties security.

The collaboration agreement between Marmomac, the leading international stone industry exhibition, and Italian institutions has been renewed for the third year. The 2017 edition from 27-30 September in Verona, Italy, is organised by Veronafiere, and will again benefit from a major programme of initiatives, implemented thanks to the Special Made in Italy Promotion Plan enacted by the Ministry of Economic Development in collaboration with ICE (Italian Trade Agency) and Confindustria Marmomacchine). After reco

Marmomacc, one of the leading global events for the natural stone industry, will make the most of its 50th edition to become the international stage to celebrate Italian excellence in this sector, says the organisers.

This will be achieved with the support of the Ministry for Economic Development (MISE), the Italian Trade Agency and Confindustria Marmomacchine.

Using special funds set aside by MISE to promote major Made in Italy sectors through reference exhibition platforms, Marmomacc (30 September-

Federcostruzioni and Veronafiere have joined forces to support growth in the Italian earthmoving and construction equipment sector through their joint promotion of the Samoter 2017 exhibition. Confindustria-affiliated Federcostruzioni is a key champion of the Italian construction sector and Veronafiere organises the Samoter trade fair, Italy’s only exhibition covering all construction machinery sectors, staged every three years. The pair have signed a cooperation agreement ahead of the next Samoter event s

The Italian stone industry is continuing to grow on markets with exports increasing in the first half of 2017.
As Italy prepares to host the 52nd Marmomac in Verona from 27-30 September, it has also been revealed that the sale of rough blocks, semi-finished and finished materials totalled €969 million (+3.3%), while machinery and technology also performed well, posting €640 million (+26.3%) in H1.

Organisers of StonExpo/Marmomacc Americas, the most important exhibition in North America dedicated to the natural stone sector, says there are encouraging signals from the US market after the recent ninth edition of the event.

The US residential market is expanding (+25% in new projects for 2014 according to National Association of House Builders/NAHB estimates) and is keen to purchase natural stone made in Italy. In the first ten months of 2013, processed and finished marble and natural stone goods wer