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Marmomac 2019 sees growth in international attendance

With growth in international attendance and a positive response from its domestic market, Veronafiere reports that the 54th edition of the international stone exhibition was deemed a success

Marmomac 2019 in Verona, Italy — Marmomac 2019, the international stone exhibition held annually in Verona, Italy, reported its largest international attendance to date at the four-day event that occurred from September 25th to 28th.

**Best Communicator Awards-** CMS, an Italian-based machinery company with a U.S. operation, received the Best Communicator Award in the machinery category.

*Photos by Luca Morandini Fotografo*

**Best Communicator Awards-** Zenesis was recognized for the Best Communicator Award in the tooling category.

Italian Stone Theatre at Marmomac 2019 — Once again, Hall One was transformed into the Italian Stone Theatre – an exquisite display of the design possibilities of working with natural stone.

**Honoring the Grand Pinnacle Award winner-** Joey Marcella of Mario & Son in Liberty Lake, WA, was the winner of the Natural Stone Institute’s 2019 Grande Pinnacle Award, which is sponsored by Marmomac. A presentation held during the exhibition provided an opportunity for Marcella to discuss his award-winning project, “Aura,” that was sculpted from a block of Bianco Carrara C marble.

Natural Stone Institute hosts member reception

The Natural Stone Institute at Marmomac 2019 — The Natural Stone Institute had a large presence at Marmomac 2019, and showed gratitude to its members by hosting a reception during the exhibition.

Held from September 25th to 28th, Marmomac 2019 marked the 54th year for the Verona, Italy-based exhibition, which draws a global crowd annually to display and view a plethora of stone products, machinery, tooling and accessories, and stone care and maintenance products. This year in particular experienced a positive turnout with 69,000 attendees from 154 countries, including 1,650 exhibiting companies hailing from 61 countries.

“This 54th Marmomac has achieved all the goals we set,” stated Maurizio Danese, president of Veronafiere. “We stimulated the domestic market by focusing on training initiatives such as “Meet the Inspiration for Designers,” while also collaborating with Confindustria Marmomacchine within the PNA network to promote the unique quality of natural stone.”

A new component to this year’s exhibition was B2B meetings targeted by segment and type of use of natural stone materials. Veronafiere, the show’s management, explained that this was an educational project for interior designers — expanding digital developments and promoting networking among international industry members. There was 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. “We have worked closely with the ICE-Italian Trade Agency and the Ministry of Economic Development to consolidate international arrivals through incoming delegations and B2B meetings,” said Danese.

“Workshops and exhibitions help designers, architects and trade professionals to deeper understand how technologies and natural stone can be versatile,” said Giovanni Mantovani, CEO of Veronafiere. “Marmomac moreover, is an exhibition capable of providing high-end solutions and services. In particular, it supports companies in their approach to international markets thanks to its global natural stone community active 365 days a year.”

Marmomac’s network of events and trade missions this year also expanded into China, specifically in Shanghai and Beijing, with the new Living Italy project dedicated to design. Other focuses outside of Italy are The International Surfaces Event-Stonexpo Marmomac, which will be held in Las Vegas, NV in January 2020, and the Vitoria Stone Fair and Cachoeiro Stone Fair, which will both take place in Brazil.

Next year’s exhibition is scheduled for September 30 to October 3, 2020.