The third edition of the Stone Fabricators Alliance (SFA) MegaWorkshop is set to take place from October 10 to 12 at the Nashville Convention Center in Nashville, TN, and it has an extensive agenda of demonstrations as well as hands-on and classroom education, along with an exhibit hall filled with stoneworking technology and accessories.

Exhibits at the SFA MegaWorkshop will include a full range of stoneworking machinery, including bridge saws, CNC stoneworking centers, edgers, surface polishers and more. Suppliers of accessories such as tooling, sealers, adhesives, sinks and templating equipment will also be on hand in Nashville.

Following its model of the previous years, much of the machinery on display at the SFA MegaWorkshop will be in full operation, processing actual workpieces. As of press time, equipment will include a Northwood FabCenter, a Montresor Luna 740 with a V Groover, a GMM Brio CNC bridge saw, a GMM line machine and a GMM Sirio bed polisher. Additionally, CMS will be offering the North American debut of its new Speed CNC stoneworking center.

In addition to the equipment demonstrations, attendees at the SFA MegaWorkshop will have a chance to try out a range of tools for themselves in “The Cage,” a unique concept where tooling, pads, etc. can be tested on stone materials in a “real-life” environment. “The Cage” also has an extensive hands-on education schedule.

The following is a look at some of the action that will be taking place in Nashville.

“The Cage” Demo Schedule

Wednesday, October 10 at 10 a.m.

Setting and Dressing Seams

Wednesday, October 10 at 11 a.m.

Top Polishing

Wednesday, October 10 at 1 p.m.

Mitering

Wednesday, October 10 at 3 p.m.

Texturing/Antiquing/Honing


Thursday, October 11 at 10 a.m.

Surface Scratch Repairs

 

Thursday, October 11 at 11 a.m.

Texturing/Antiquing/Honing


Friday, October 12 at 10 a.m.

Setting & Dressing Seams

Friday, October 12 at 11 a.m.

Top Polishing)

Friday, October 12 at 1 p.m.

2012 Fabricator Olympics

“Restoration Cage” Demonstrations

• Tool Reviews

• Diamond Floor Refinishing

• Filling Floors

• Marble Countertop Refinishing

• Granite Refinishing

• Chip and Crack Repair

• Polishing Marble with Powder

• Granite Repair

• Sealers

Classroom Seminar Schedule

Wednesday, October 10 at 10 a.m.

Room 1 - Sealers, presented by Tenax USA

Room 2 - Glues, presented by Integra

Room 3 - Material Handling, presented by Omni Cubed and the SFA

Wednesday, October 10 at 11 a.m.

Room 1 - Sales for People Who Hate Selling, presented by Eclipse Stainless

Room 2 - Partnering with a Professional, presented by VT Industries, Mark Merieux

Room 3 - Restoration, presented by Ted McFadden and Cameron DeMille

Wednesday, October 10 at 1 p.m.

Room 1 - Social Media Advertising, presented by Joe Durfee, Anna Almonte

Room 2 - Material Handling, presented by Weha

Wednesday, October 10 at 2 p.m.

Room 1 - Texturing, presented by Tenax USA

Room 2 - Sustainable Design, presented by Kohler

Room 3 - Importing, presented by Matt Rickard, Eric Rolseth

Wednesday, October 10 at 3 p.m.

Room 1 - Restoration, presented by Ted Cameron

Room 2 - Engineered Stone, presented by OHM International


Thursday, October 11 at 10 a.m.

Room 1 - Going Digital, presented by Moraware

Room 2 - Glues, presented by Bonstone

Room 3 - Lean Manufacturing, presented by Bob Hall

Thursday, October 11 at 11 a.m.

Room 1 - Sales Management, presented by Mark Lauzon

Room 2 - Photography Roundtable, presented by Rey Rodriguez

Room 3 - Importance of Color, presented by Kohler


Friday, October 12 at 10 a.m.

2012 SFA MegaWorkshop Exhibitor List

Alpha Professional Tools

Artisan Sinks

Braxton Bragg

Breton

Brothers in Granite

Consentino

Continental D.I.A./Terminator

Coverings

DeFusco Supply

Diamax/Cyclone

Eclipse

Ghines

GMM

GranQuartz

Granite City Tool

Integra Adhesives

IPT

Kohler

Laser Products

Marble Institute of America

Moraware

MR Direct

Northwood

OHM International

Omni Cubed

Park Industries

Pearl Abrasive

Pelican Sinks

Quail Leasing

Regent Stone Products

Rockstar

Salem Stone

StonExpo

Stone World

Tenax

VT Industries

Weha

Room 1 - Importing, presented by Dan Riccolo

Room 2 - Glues, presented by Tenax USA

Friday, October 12 at 11 a.m.

Room 1 - Programming EasyStone Roundtable, presented by CMA, Justin Qualey

Room 2 - Programming AlphaCam Roundtable, presented by Northwood, Park Industries, Alpha Cam

Room 3 - Programming Omag Roundtable, presented by Jerry Kidd

The Ultimate Stone Romance

New for 2012, attendees at this year’s MegaWorkshop will have the opportunity to attend a presentation by the industry’s leading supplier and processor of natural stone, Antolini Luigi of Verona, Italy. This three-hour program, entitled “Antolini: The Ultimate Stone Romance,” will encompass all aspects of processing striking and exotic natural stones — from quarrying through to the final installation.

In conceiving the event, Antolini acknowledges the unique role of the stone fabricator as the one who typically presents the finished products to customers — whether they be architects, designers or homeowners. The goal is to empower fabricators with the insight and education required to inspire the customer to buy on emotion. Antolini will deliver a detailed and professional lecture about processing, polishing and the selection of stone — with the ultimate goal to help attendees successfully market higher-margin natural stone products to the high-end consumer community.

“Antolini: The Ultimate Stone Romance” is scheduled for October 11th at 1 p.m., followed by a dinner hosted by OHM International, where the Antolini Signature Collection will be on display. The SFA is arranging bus transportation to and from the convention center.

For more information on the 2012 SFA MegaWorkshop, visit www.stonefabricatorsalliance.com .