The Natural Stoneshow 2013 / 30th April - 2nd May 2013
News
Natural Stone Show, ExCeL, London
11-13 March 2008 - Take a fresh look
The biggest Natural Stone Show yet opens at ExCeL, London, in March. This is a first look at some of the attractions:
Looking for innovative ways of using stone? Then the Natural Stone Show at ExCeL, London, 11-13 March is a good starting point. One of the developments on show is a lightweight stone curtain walling system that has just 10mm of stone on a 20mm backing of lightweight aerated clay concrete.
It is called Alsecco Airtec Stone and allows the unique properties of natural stone to be combined with modern faade technology to produce a material that weighs just 33kg per square metre - nearly 60% less than solid stone.
Made in Germany, it is being introduced to the UK by Caparol of Stone in Staffordshire. It will be sold by Telling Architectural in Wolverhampton to complement their terracotta and porcelain rainscreens in Argeton, a material made by extruding twin-skinned clay tiles.
The Alsecco Airtec Stone is made in Netzschkau in Germany, where 2,500 different types of natural stone from all over the world have so far been used to make these panels for use on buildings.
They say there is no reason why any building stone could not be used.
The manufacturing process involves making 2m thick blocks of the aerated clay concrete that are cut into panels 20mm thick. The stone is bonded to the panels with an adhesive and mechanical fixings put into the back of the concrete to hold the wall on to the frame. And it has all been thoroughly tested by Taylor Woodrow at Leighton Buzzard.
Panels up to 3m2 can be hooked into the special aluminium frame of the ventilated curtain faade without any visible fixing elements. Special fair-faced edges can be created for a monolithic impression at the corners of a building using resin mixed with stone dust. Decorative false joints are also easily achieved.
But the Germans are not alone in offering new ways of using stone on facades. Two of Britain's largest stone quarry companies, Stancliffe and Realstone, who are also exhibiting at ExCeL, have their own systems.
Realstone are using the Natural Stone Show to launch their new stone rainscreen system called Genesis.
This involves a patented Techlever vertical aluminium rail and clip substructure that allows granite, sandstone and limestone as thin as 30mm to be used in a rainscreen. Their system has also been thoroughly tested at the Taylor Woodrow centre.
In addition, Realstone will be showcasing another of their innovations, Flexastone. This is a thin (1-3mm) flexible sheet of real stone up to 3m long. It can be mounted on any solid, dry and dust free surface. It can be curved around mouldings and takes the use of stone in interior design to a new dimension.
Flexastone is also available on rigid, lightweight honeycomb panels suitable for exterior cladding.
And Stancliffe's system is called Pan Ash, which is curtain walling with an outer skin of their sandstone, a ventilated gap and a waterproof backing wall.
The product was developed by a team from four companies and Stancliffe's Ian Robottom says: "Technology has increased the means and knowledge to build with natural sandstone."
Also on show, on the Inter Marmi stand, will be a new 'glass stone' from 6mm up to 30mm. Natural Stone & Building Conservation Conference
If you want to know more about developments in curtain walling, stone on precast and other off-site manufacturing techniques using stone, it would be worthwhile attending the Stone In Modern Architecture - Offsite Manufacture session of the Natural Stone & Building Conservation Conference that is held at ExCeL in conjunction with the Natural Stone Show.
This session, in the morning of 13 March (there are morning and afternoon sessions on each day of the Show), explores the versatility of stone in modern methods of construction and how developments in the offsite manufacture of lightweight and precast panels can remove stone from the critical path on fast track projects.
The conference has become an important event in the stone calendar in its own right.
The morning sessions concentrate on issues regarding new build and the industry in general while the afternoon sessions are run by English Heritage and focus on conservation.
The conference provides an opportunity to network, learn and profit from the knowledge of some of the leading figures in the industry.
The conference takes place in the conference rooms reached from the rear of the exhibition hall.
As well as the offsite manufacture of stone units, subjects being covered this time include best practice and standards in a session called Setting the Standard on the morning of 11 March. And in case you are finding it hard to keep up with the new standards, Dr Richard Harris will discuss the requirements of the new BS 8298 regarding the specification of stone.
The Conference offers accredited CPD for RIBA members. The full conference programme can be found at: www.stoneshow.co.uk/visitors/conference.htm
The Latest in Machinery
Apart from the innovations in cladding, there are plenty of other new developments on show at ExCeL, not least in fixing (both mechanical and adhesives), treating and processing stone.
Masons visiting the Show will be well aware of the competitive pressures that make it vital to invest in productivity-improving machinery and the stone show offers an unparalleled opportunity in the UK of seeing the latest innovations from the major machinery companies.
The latest from Thibaut will be shown in conjunction with their UK representatives BWS Group (the rebranded Bryan Waters Stone), who will also be showing a range of other new products they have added to their ranges in the past year, including Massimo Piraccini chemical treatments for finishing, enhancing and repairing stone of all types. Particularly interesting is the water-based range. BWS say it is fully user friendly, economical and efficient.
Pisani's Stone Processing Supplies Division will have the latest bridge saws from GMM and CNC workcentres from Intermac that they have added to their offering since the previous Show.
Harbro hope to have a Robostone robot on show like the one they sold last year to masons J Rotherham for their Yorkshire factory.
A J Lopez & Co will be showing a selection of machinery and tools from the companies they represent, including Achilli, Bellinzoni, Coor & Kleever, Donaton, Diamond Steel, Elephant, Fantini, Fraccaroli & Balzan, Montresor and Terzago.
Accurite are now representing the whole range from Ghines, as well as having introduced an own-brand range of saws fabricated in China but fitted out with all the electrics in this country. The basic saw starts at £25,000 and has options such as automatic, profiling and lathe.
The additional ranges complement the Denver and Pedrini ranges that Accurate have represented in the UK for many years and will again be on show this year.
Kolb's saws will be seen on the Combined Masonry Supplies stand, Helios Automazione CNC workcentres, dropped by Pisani when they started selling the Intermac range, will be at the show this time with a stand of their own and Steinex croppers from Stone Industry Supplies in Ireland are also exhibiting.
There are some new names on the machinery front this time as well, including D Zambelis, the Essex wholesalers who have just taken on the agency for Spanish company Gisbert (see page 31) whose saws and workcentres will be on show in London for the first time.
ScandInvent, who have already made quite an impression on the UK market with their CNC workcentres and edge polisher, will also be making their debut at the Natural Stone Show.
They will be showing two machines - the C4 milling and engraving fully automatic CNC workcentre and the SX5 fully automatic CNC 5-axis saw. They will also be introducing some new software that they have developed themselves.
Previously ScandInvent have serviced the UK market from their factory in Sweden but can now also supply both sales and service support from within the UK.
On the tooling side, innovation continues to make the processing of stone ever more efficient and there will be plenty of companies showing their latest developments, including DK Holdings, who promise a host of new products, and Encor Diamond, who developed the tooling to cut the 15,500 names into the new Armed Forces Memorial at the National Arboretum.
More to See Than Ever
This year's Natural Stone Show is the 8th in the series. Each one has seen growth and this one is no different, with extra space having to be taken at ExCeL to accommodate the 250 exhibitor displays.
The Show has grown along with the stone industry in the UK as the natural, hard wearing beauty and diversity of stone continues to attract an ever wider audience for domestic and commercial buildings, for exteriors and interiors, for hard landscaping and roofs, public art and the memorial market.
Show Director Richard Bradbury says: "We guarantee that whatever your involvement with the stone industry you'll find something at our show that you've never seen before; something new that your business will profit from for many years to come."
"It could be a new material, it could be the latest technology to overcome technical barriers, or it could be valuable knowledge accrued from our conference programme and the specialist advice areas to help you successfully resolve a problem."
Exhibitors from across the board, both from UK and overseas, representing some of the best of the stone industry worldwide are showing a vast range of stone, fixings, sealants, adhesives, cleaning materials and other treatments, machinery, tools, consumables and stone related services.
There is granite, marble, limestone, sandstone, travertine and slate for use in all types of work - flooring, cladding, hard landscaping, kitchens, bathrooms, roofing, fireplaces and sculpture.
Demonstration Zone
To provide a better understanding of some of the latest processes involved in working with stone, a programme of up to 10 demonstrations a day is planned for a special demonstration area within the Natural Stone Show.
The demonstrations will show latest products for tasks such as fixing cladding, tiles and worktops, pointing and paving, and the use of underfloor heating.
Backed by the Industry.
Stone Federation Great Britain represents the interests of the architectural stone industry in the UK and counts among its members many of Britain's leading stone producers and contractors as well as some overseas companies working in the UK.
It has a 'Village' within the stone show where its members exhibit on specially designed stands that give the Village its identity. They will also be on hand to answer questions about stone at an information desk.
Reflecting the rapid growth of the use of stone in Britain, the Stone Federation Village has expanded again this year with even more of the Federation's stone supply, contracting and consultant members taking part.
British stone quarrying and mining members within the Village include Albion Stone Quarries, who will present for the first time the Portland stone from their recently acquired Jordans Quarry.
Stancliffe display for the first time the stones of Darney, High Nick, Talkin Fell, Bank End (St Bees) and Doddington, having taken over the operation of the quarries last year to add to the nine quarries they already ran.
As mentioned earlier, Realstone are using the show to launch their new stone rainscreen system, 'Genesis', while Johnston Quarry Group are showcasing the 'Clear Blue' limestones they have added to their range since the previous exhition.
Also taking centre stage will be the award winning 'Stoke Ground Bath Stone' from the Bath Stone Group together with a selection of fine Yorkstones and gritstones from Johnsons Wellfield Quarries.
And let's not forget the memorial masons, who, through the National Association of Memorial Masons (NAMM), continue to support the Stone Show as they have since it was first launched at Wembley.
Conservation Area
As well as having an important role in new build, hard landscaping and interior design, stone also plays an important role in the £3.5billion conservation sector that has a thriving community of specialists committed to safeguarding the UK's built heritage.
This side of the stone industry is represented at the show through a dedicated conservation area co-ordinated by English Heritage and other organisations including Historic Scotland, the Institute of Conservation, the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings, and the Institute of Historic Building Conservation.
Visitors can seek free advice from experts in this area as well as attending the conservation sessions each afternoon at the Natural Stone & Building Conservation Conference.
Other Highlights
Other exhibitors include Forest of Dean Stone Firms, who recently joined forces with the company that has so successfully established their stone as Royal Forest Pennant paving (see page 42 of this issue). Caithness Stone from Scotland and Wessex Dimensional Stone will also be exhibiting.
Leading stone and tile wholesalers and retailers will also be showing their latest ranges. They include Pisani, Stone Age, Beltrami, B-Stone, Stoneworld, Mediterranean Stones, Goss Marble, Marble Flooring Specialists and Stonecrest Marble.
On the hard landscaping side are Hardscape and URB Concept.
For composite and engineered stone pick from Arenastone or Veronastone by MFS, Ceasarstone by Ebor, Cimstone, MNM Solutions and Interfloor UK.
Sample Alphacam's world class CAD/ CAM software for the stone industry and solve technical issues by meeting face to face with the experts at the consultancies including Sandberg, Harrison Goldman, PGW & Associates and STATS who are exhibiting.
Consult stonemasonry specialists including Stoneguard, Stonewest, Rattee & Kett, St Blaise and Group Monument - all master stonemasons able to offer clients responsible for new build, ecclesiastical and historic buildings, extensive in-house knowledge and trade expertise on a diverse range of projects.
Find stonecare protection, cleaning and maintenance solutions through Lithofin, Stonecare Europe, Delta Research, Carrs Paints, Apex Grange, Tikko Stone Care, Massimo Piraccini and Guard Industry.
Secure natural stone coverings with the high performance grouts, mortars and adhesives available from Ardex and discuss the latest in fixing systems for facades and cladding from Halfen and Haz International.
Stone From Around the World
Of course, it is not just companies from the UK who exhibit. Stone is an international industry and some of the leading companies from around the world who supply the UK - or would like to - will be showing their wares at the Natural Stone Show.
There will be an astounding selection of stone and tiles from more than 45 countries to help you produce any ambience, mood or environment that even the most demanding client can demand.
And nowhere is the true beauty and incredible diversity of natural stone better illustrated than on the stand of Italian giants Antolini Luigi.
The company processes more than 1,000 materials from all over the world - including the Irish Green marble from Connemara displayed alongside the likes of Onice Fantastico, Labradorite Blue Australe and Azul Imperiale.
Other distinguished names from the Veronese stone industry exhibiting in London include Grein Italia, Cremar, Cereser Marmi, Bindi Paolo e Leone and Edigraniti.
Bruno Lucchetti Marmi will display their Bianco Carrara and both GMC and Sagevan will exhibit the fine grained Statuario, as sculpted by Michelango. Also from Carrara, Byblose Stone and Bernardi Marmi will be at ExCeL.
From others areas of Italy, Fratelli Poggi will present an impressive Roman travertine range and Marmi-pedrotti return with their serpentine collection. Marble and Granite Services launch a selection of super-thin (7mm) stone, Cave Gontero a unique Barge quartzite and CLPL display basalt from the volcano at Mount Etna.
Toscana Pietra show sandstone and limestone from the region of Firenzuola. And completing the range of fine granites and marbles from Italy are Milano Marble design, Tiger Stone and Marmi Graniti Favorita.
German stone will be shown by Stiegler and the Solnhofen Group, promoting their Jura and Solnhofen limestones. Vetter will display fine grain Rottbacher, Bucher, Schonbrunner and Sander sandstones as well as the celebrated Burenbruch limestone.
Hofmann Stone present to the UK market for the first time a range of exclusive German sandstones, limestones and granites. They also offer a complete service package with a provenance of projects that includes the British Embassy in Berlin.
For interiors, check out the collaboration between Spiral Construction and Wachenfeld Naturstein-werk to offer a range of spiral and helical stone staircase designs.
From Portugal come the limestones and marbles of Dimpomar and MVC, Branco Coral and Branco Micaela granites by Transgranitos and a decorative range by Britafiel Agregados e Ornamentais.
Spanish giants Levantina continue their expansion into the UK and from among the many materials they have on offer will be showing the Mistral marble that has been used to such stunning affect in the Terminal 4 building at Madrid airport. Also from Spain are Minera De Rocas, Pavestone and Areniscas.
Eye-catching white marbles from Greece are being showcased by FHL Kiriakidis Group.
Peru is represented for the first time through Gallos Marmoleria and Minera Deisi. Both companies extract travertine from their own quarries in the Andes. Brazilian slates will be presented to the UK market by Ardosia Slate.
Turkish travertines continue to find a ready market in the UK for floors and Efesus Stone will be displaying 13 different travertines and their new Castellinea tumbled collection. Travertine Bros return to the Natural Stone Show to display a wide range of Turkish marbles and travertines along with Haydarbek, Medas, Delta and Kaynak Marble.
Karamehmet will feature their Mediterranean stone and HP Marble introduce Harmankoy beige from their new marble quarry.
Impressive mosaic designs will be presented by Terramar and Marmiro stones by Turan Bekisoglu.
A diverse assortment of marbles from North Africa will be promoted by Egyptian exhibitor Sinai International.
The Chinese Fujian and Minmetals International pavilions will also return in 2008 with companies selling granite memorials, worktops, tiles, fireplaces and stone garden furniture.
Chinese stalwarts East Raise Stone, Xiamen Dayi and Xiamen Jetboat return with their polished granite tiles, vanity units, sinks, roofing materials.
Major paving projects in granite, sandstone or slate can be organised through Indian companies Malbros, S B Granites, Bhasin, S R Export, Eurro Export and Associated Stone Industries.
A range of popular black granites for worktops will be available from Rashi Granites and Oriental Granite & Marble, including Black Galaxy, Absoluto and Super Black.
Pre-register now for your visit to the Natural Stone Show by filling in the form that came with this issue of Natural Stone Specialist or by going to the website address at the top of this page.
And while you are on the Stone Show website, don't forget to pre-register as a visitor to get the (free) entry tickets in advance for yourself and your colleagues and guests who will be visiting the Show. Pre-registering will mean you don't have to join the queue at ExCeL and will be able to walk straight in.
Natural Stone Show. Tel: +44 (0) 115 945 3889. Email: stoneshow@qmj.co.uk. www.stoneshow.co.uk
Press Information
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