Combining stone with technology
N ow in its 54th year, Marmomac continually expands upon its programs in keeping up with the evolving stone industry
Living in the digital age with technology at the forefront, Marmomac 2019 is stepping it up to offer attendees a virtual experience. It will be debuting its new app at this year’s exhibition, which is slotted for September 25th to 28th in Verona, Italy. Visitors will be able to save their favorite exhibitors, as well as voice and text memos, and exchange digital business cards all from a touch on their smartphones. Additionally, Marmomac’s online catalog is increasingly interactive with content such as Marmomac Plus +people+products+projects, which focuses on profiling companies and their project portfolios. Marmomac 2019 will also offer B2in, an online platform for matching supply and demand where Italian and international companies and buyers have the chance to meet each other, organize appointments at booths and manage daily agendas.
Another new component to this year’s exhibition will be B2B meetings targeted by segment and type of use of natural stone materials. Veronafiere, the show’s management, defines this as an educational project for interior designers — expanding digital developments and promoting networking among international industry members. There will be a “speed dating” format focusing on three areas: luxury, slabs and tools — each with specific targets, including architects, distributors, stone producers and installers, from countries such as the U.S., Canada, the United Kingdom, Russia, China, South Africa, Australia, Germany, Mozambique, Turkey and Iran.
“Marmomac is now the landmark meeting platform for international natural stone professionals, where Italy plays a leading role,” said Maurizio Danese, president of Veronafiere. “Veronafiere’s goal is to consolidate the leadership of this brand thanks to the guidelines in the new business plan through to 2022 which envisages investments of 105 million euros that also focus on the growth of our most successful formats.”
Business opportunities involving natural stone will remain at the heart of the exhibition. “Internationality is one of Marmomac’s development assets,” said Giovanni Mantovani, CEO of Veronafiere. “Starting from the event in Verona, we have since created a global community linked with natural stone products that today boasts roots in the U.S. with StoneExpo and Brazil thanks to Vitória and Cachoeiro Stone Fair. This is a continually expanding network which we are now also keen to test even in Asian markets, with new initiatives in Shanghai and Beijing.”
According to Veronafiere, Marmomac has a high international profile, as confirmed by figures from the 2018 edition. A total of 62% of the 1,616 exhibiting companies and 68,000 attendees were from 150 countries worldwide. This result is also the outcome of collaboration with ICE-Italian Trade Agency, Confindustria Marmomacchine and the Veneto Region, as in regards to international buyers.
The theme for the 2019 edition of Marmomac is “naturality” — the naturalness of stone in its purest form which enhances uniqueness and geodiversity, as emphasized by sustainability, alluding to the link between plant and mineral worlds. The exhibition will once again showcase The Italian Stone Theater in Hall 1 and the Brand & Stone 2.0, the exhibition where major furniture and design brands create specific projects for companies in the natural stone sector. The international stone exhibition will also offer additional programs and awards.
To learn more, visit www.marmomac.it.
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