OYSTER BAY, NY -- A new non-profit trade association, the North American Stone Machinery Association (NASMA), has been formed to represent the interests of capital equipment manufacturers and distributors in the stone industry. The new association was formed by executives from the following companies, each of whom will serve on the board of directors for three years:

• AGM
  
• Z. Bavelloni
  
• Bergman-Blair Machine Corp.
  
• Breton USA
  
• CMS North America/Brembana
  
• EuroStone Machine/Pyramid Supply
  
• International Machine Corp.
  
• Marmo Meccanica USA
  
• Salem Stone

John Bergman of Bergman-Blair Machine Corp. was elected president; Anthony Banchitta of International Machine Corp. was elected treasurer; and Renato Meiohas of AGM was elected secretary.

A NASMA founding principle was to present a unified front to various trade show organizers in the selection, endorsement, support, attendance and exhibition at certain trade shows. This effort is intended to bolster successful trade shows and reduce exhibition costs while increasing members' exposure and profitability. One of the board's first acts was to select and endorse the following two industry trade shows:

--International Tile and Stone Show (ITSS), to be held from March 31 to April 2, 2005 at the Miami Beach Convention Center in Miami, FL

--International Tile and Stone Show (ITSS), to be held from November 11 to 13, 2005 at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas, NV

“These shows were selected because they are the fastest growing and most beneficial shows for exhibitors (see www.itssexpos.com),” read a statement from NASMA.

“We feel that NASMA's formation is an important and necessary step in stemming the proliferation of industry trade shows. This will allow us to concentrate our collective efforts on the two most significant and worthwhile shows that will provide our members the best return on investment,” said Bergman.

Charter membership in NASMA is open to all interested capital equipment distributors and manufacturers in the stone industry meeting certain criteria. For further information on membership requirements and application forms, contact Mike Wilson at 248-789-8972.