In 2017, it was recorded 150,290 visitors toured the 2 million-square-foot exhibition area, which included more than 2,000 domestic and international exhibitors from 56 countries around the world. As in the past, the 2018 event will feature national pavilions from countries including Turkey, Italy, Brazil, India, Iran, Portugal, Egypt, Spain, France and Greece. Additionally, there will be exhibitors from the U.S., Canada, Russia, Poland, Germany, Cambodia, Angola, Sri Lanka, Morocco and Nigeria. A complete list of exhibitors is available on the show’s website at: www.stonefair.org.cn.n recent years, the Xiamen Stone Fair has been building momentum as a reputable international stone exhibition, and the 2018 edition is expected to be even bigger. Now in its 18th year, the next edition is slated for March 6 to 9, at the Xiamen International Conference & Exhibition Center (XICEC) in Xiamen, China, and 22.3% of exhibiting companies will be new to the event.

Four exhibition zones will be designated: Domestic Stone, Machinery & Tools, International and Outdoor. Stone companies account for 71.8% of the total, machinery and tool companies represent 23.4%, while other services and entities are the remaining 4.8%.

Show highlights

New products will be abound during the 2018 edition of the Xiamen Stone Fair. This year, the organizing committee has upgraded the “Launch out @ XSF” presentation session into a four-day event with a special exhibiting area in Hall C3b. It will cover the entire stone industry chain with superior resources, concentrate on unveiling the latest products and technology, and speculate on the industry’s developing direction.

A new addition to the Xiamen Stone Fair will be an exhibition of innovative stone ideas entitled “Stone Infinite — Product Design Show.” This will make the Xiamen Stone Fair the hub for new marketable ideas using natural stone, reports show management. Leading designers and companies have confirmed their participation to illustrate groundbreaking ideas and products made with natural stone.

The education program

Complementing the seemingly endless displays of stone products, machinery, tooling and accessories at the Xiamen Stone Fair, will be the World Stone Congress. According to show management, strong partnerships with the Natural Stone Institute (NSI) and other industry-leading associations make this educational program, which includes more than 40 sessions, possible. Some of the world’s top master architects, designers and other experts will be presenting the most-up-to-date industry knowledge.

Among the speakers representing the NSI are: Herwig Callewier, Beltrami; Evan Cohen, Quality Marble & Granite; Blake Christensen, Valley View Granite; James Hieb, Natural Stone Institute; Tony Malisani, Malisani Incorporated; Jeffrey Matthews, Trade International; Charles Muehlbauer, Technical Director, Natural Stone Institute; Greg Osterhout, Northern Stone Supply; Karen Roe, Natural Stone Motif (Assisting with “Communication with the Private Customer”); Kathy Spanier, Coldspring; Daniel Wood, Lurvey Landscape Supply; Dan Rea, Coldspring; Jonathan Zanger, Walker Zanger; and Josh Zhang, Jianming Stone Group.

The following is the day-to-day schedule of seminars given by the NSI:

Tuesday, March 6th

The NSC 373 Standard: Meeting Architect and Designer Demands for Sustainability

Time: 2 p.m. to 3 p.m.

Room: 402

Have you heard architects and designers ask about stone quarrying practices? Many specifications now demand a sustainable material. The Natural Stone Council developed an ANSI approved standard known as NSC 373 to meet this demand. This session will provide general knowledge on the objectives and principles of the NSC 373 Standard. Gain an understanding of the sustainable production practices of natural stone, and how to differentiate these practices among different companies and products when choosing natural stone products for projects.

Learning Objectives:

• Learn why architects and designers are demanding sustainable products and materials.
• Learn about the objectives and development process of the Sustainability Assessment Standard for Dimension Stone.
• Examine the benefits of NSC 373 and how sustainable business practices help natural stone specifiers and users.

 Speakers:

• Kathy Spanier, Coldspring
• Greg Osterhout, Northern Stone Supply
• Daniel Wood, Lurvey Landscape Supply

Natural Stone Supplier-to-Buyer Manual: Creating International Standards for Importing and Exporting

Time: 3:15 p.m. to 4:15 p.m.

Room: 402

Have you ever had business disagreements about the import or export of stone? The Natural Stone Institute has joined with leading stone companies to create comprehensive standards, guidelines and procedures for communicating, understanding and executing natural stone purchase and sales agreements to the benefit of both parties.  Whether you are a supplier who has purchased for years or a fabricator looking to source for the first time, you will benefit from learning best practices as they apply to international natural stone purchases.

Learning objectives:

• Understand the process of direct stone sourcing and how your company can benefit.
• Learn the language of sales agreements and how to protect your company when selling or purchasing internationally.
• Discuss “best practices” with colleagues who have gone through the process of exporting or importing stone.
• Discuss what resources are available to someone new to the importing and exporting segments of the industry.

Speakers:

• Jeffrey Matthews, Trade International
• Herwig Callewier, Beltrami
• James Hieb, Natural Stone Institute

Panel Discussion: Commercial Installation

Time: 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Room: 402

This open discussion forum for commercial contractors is an excellent opportunity to discuss many of the challenges involved in the commercial installations market. The session will cover everything from fabrication methods, equipment needs and materials to customer expectations, personnel and sales strategies. Attendees should come prepared to share ideas and discuss opportunities and common challenges, and they are encouraged to participate by presenting a problem or sharing a solution. 

Learning Objectives:

• Understand the differences, contractually and technically, between the residential and commercial markets.
• Explain how other contractors deal with the myriad of issues involved in the stone industry.
• Discuss fabrication methods, equipment needs, materials, customer service, personnel and sales strategies.

Speakers:

• Herwig Callewier, Beltrami
• Tony Malisani, Malisani Incorporated
• Dan Rea, Coldspring
• Blake Christensen, Valley View Granite
• Charles Muehlbauer, Technical Director, Natural Stone Institute
• James Hieb, Natural Stone Institute (will serve as moderator)

Wednesday, March 7th

Promoting Natural Stone: Building the Industry Together

Time: 10 a.m. to 11 a.m.

Room: 401

The Natural Stone Institute is leading an effort to expand the promotion of natural stone with the assistance of several stone associations, including Centrorochas (Brazil), Benelux Federation of Natural Stone Wholesalers (FEBENAT), the Belgian Fabricators & Stone Masons Federation and others. This effort includes the online distribution of positive articles, blogs and social media outreach about natural stone. The goal is to reach the millions of readers who are looking for products for their home improvement or construction projects. Gain insight into this new campaign and how your company can become involved.

Learning Objectives:

• Learn about how current trends and marketing efforts of competing products contributed to why a promotional campaign is necessary.
• Learn about usenaturalstone.com and how the articles and videos posted on that website and others can be used in your company’s marketing efforts.
• Understand why leading stone companies are getting involved with this initiative and how you too can support the promotional campaign.

Speakers:

• Herwig Callewier, Beltrami
• Daniel Wood, Lurvey Landscape Supply
• Jim Hieb, Natural Stone Institute

Doing Business in the U.S.

Time: 2 p.m. to 3 p.m.

Room: 401

This session will cover what stone standards and testing requirements that govern commerce when supplying stone in North America. The session will also introduce information about a new ‘supplier-to-buyer’ manual intended to help make the commerce of supplying stone easier (outlines for purchase orders, progress reports, customs, claims, insurance, arbitration and more). This information should be used to strengthen your relationships with suppliers and buyers from around the world.

Learning Objectives:

• Understand what stone standards are most widely used to supply stone to the U.S. market.
• Learn about the new “supplier-to-buyer” manual and how it can become a guide for commerce with clients around the world.
• Gain information to strengthen your relationship with U.S. customers.

Speakers:

• Evan Cohen, Quality Marble & Granite
• Jonathan Zanger, Walker Zanger
• Josh Zhang, Jianming Stone Group
• Jeffrey Matthews, Trade International
• Tony Malisani, Malisani Incorporated
• James Hieb, Natural Stone Institute (will serve as moderator)

Understanding ASTM Standards & Stone Testing for Projects in the U.S.

Time: 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Room: 401

Most architectural specifications require that stone meet certain specified ASTM or other testing standards before it will be accepted for use. If you are doing business in the U.S., then you will want to attend this session. Be aware of the requirements of performance that will be placed on the stone at the time of installation, and in the future. Learn about how these standards also serve as benchmarks for quality limits of products.

Learning Objectives:

• Be aware of the requirements of performance that will be placed on the stone at the time of installation, and in the future
• Learn about options for having a stone tested if no testing data is available
• Gain insight into which tests should be performed
• Learn how materials standards help to prevent the use of stone products for unsuitable applications

Speakers:

• Charles Muehlbauer, Technical Director, Natural Stone Institute
• Greg Osterhout, Northern Stone Supply

Communication with the Private Customer

Time: 10 a.m.

Organized by Mr. Zou Chuansheng, former President of China Stone Material Association (CSMIA)

Speaker:

• Karen Roe, Natural Stone Motif