OK, I realize that it seems that maybe half of my columns these days are addressing the eventual recovery of our economy, and more specifically, the stone industry. That’s probably because that is the single most frequent subject that comes up as I go about my job. It is discussed in fabrication shops, in slab warehouses, on airplanes and, of course, at trade shows.
As someone who gets paid to report on this industry, I am often the guy who starts these discussions, and I had the chance to conduct plenty of them in January at StonExpo/Marmomacc Americas in Las Vegas. To begin with, let me say that this latest edition was by far the best I have seen in quite some time. There was good energy at the show floor, with people doing business and exhibitors showcasing a range of new innovations in materials and technology (see page 56 for a full review of the show).