The 10th China International Stone Processing Machinery, Equipment and Products Exhibition (Stonetech) is set to take place in Beijing from March 12 to 15 at the China International Exhibition Centre (CIEC). The annual event, which alternates between the Chinese cities of Beijing and Shanghai, will take place from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day (closing at 2. p.m. on March 15).

The event is sponsored by the China Building Materials Industry Association as well as the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, and it is organized by the CCPIT Building Materials Sub-Council, the China Stone Material Industry Association and CIEC Exhibition Co. (HK) Ltd.

The exhibition will feature a total of 400 exhibitors, who will display their products over a gross area of 18,000 square meters. Organizers expect a total attendance of 10,000 visitors at the event, which features free admission, but is only open to members of the trade.

The exhibits of Stonetech cover the full range of the stone industry, including displays of tiles, slabs and blocks of marble, granite and other materials for architectural work as well as memorials. The exhibit will also showcase technology for stone quarrying and processing, including large-scale machinery as well as diamond tools and products and material handling equipment. Other stone-related materials and products will include adhesives and stone care products, specialized trade magazines, associations, Internet portals and consultants.

In order to draw quality attendance, the organizers of the event have conducted an extensive promotional campaign to all users, key decision makers and qualified attendees in the stone industry, including a direct mail program as well as trade advertising and press releases in leading stone industry magazines. Attendees will include architects, designers, engineers, government officials, builders and contractors, quarriers, fabricators, importers and exporters, and distributors and retailers.

In addition to the exposition, exhibitors at Stonetech Beijing will offer technical seminars on their products. The conference rooms are located in the exhibition center within walking distance of the exhibition halls. For more information, the English version of the show's Web site is located at: Stonetech.