Marmomacc 2016: World Stone Trade Center
MILAN, Italy – The 2016 edition of the mammoth Marmomacc stone trade event in Verona, Italy, this fall, will be the biggest … and that’s guaranteed.
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Event officials, at a Milan press conference today, noted that the expo on Sept. 28-Oct. 1 at Veronafiere will expand in sheer size, growing another 2,000 m² (21,528 ft²) to more than 78,000 m² (839,534 ft²).
Officials also noted growth as the hallmark of the 51st Marmomacc, detailing other expansions and innovations.
“Today, Marmomacc is the landmark international trade fair for operators in the natural stone value chain,” said Maurizio Danese, Veronafiere president. Thanks to the added value of the Verona Marble District, over the years we have created a promotional platform at the service of the global stone trade.”
Marmomacc 2016 comes in the wake of huge success at the 50th anniversary show last year, which attracted 1,524 exhibitors (936 international from 55 countries) and 67,000 professional visitors (3% more than in 2014).
“Marmomacc is the trade show that always made internationality one of its strengths,” said Giovanni Mantovani, CEO & Director General of Veronafiere. “In 2015, foreign buyers travelling from 150 countries accounted for 61% of visitors, an increase of more than 24% over the last three years.
“This is especially thanks to the format combining b2b, design and training occasions, as well as the events we organize in the United States, Brazil, Egypt and Morocco with the aim of strengthening and promoting the network between companies and professionals in the global natural stone community.”
Promotion outside Italy this year again included work with ICE-Italian Trade Agency and Confindustria Marmomacchine as part of the Made in Italy Promotion Plan, coordinated by the Ministry of Economic Development.
Hall 1 during Marmomacc for the second year will consequently be transformed into “The Italian Stone Theatre” hosting three exhibitions by world-famous designers narrating the interaction between natural stone and technology, while the Forum area will be home to Lectio Magistralis and conventions.
Verona will also see the arrival of selected trade delegations as the protagonists of b2b meetings, technical training events and visits to local companies. The second edition of the International Stone Summit also finds space as the world conference dedicated to natural stone attended by the leading international associations in the marble sector.
Marmomacc has always promoted ever broader use of natura- stone products applied to design and architecture and the 2016 show proposes three new initiatives moving in this direction.
The event will welcome the Conference “Global Trends in Design and Sustainability” organised in collaboration with the U.S. magazine Architectural Record to outline the future for works in natural stone, together with major international architecture studios.
This year, Marmomacc also involves Archmarathon, the architecture exhibition bringing together 42 design studios, with the creation of the new “Stone Award”. Another new event is the “Icon Award”: it will identify one of the works on show in Hall 1 as the campaign image for Marmomacc 2017.
Marmomacc & the City will be staged for the fifth year in the streets and courtyards of the historic centre of Verona to display works and installations in natural stone developed by exhibiting companies through a full-scale open-air exhibition highlighting the versatility and beauty of this material.
Lastly, the Best Communicator Award returns with its 10th edition: this Marmomacc Award promotes attention and originality dedicated to exhibit design by exhibiting companies.
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