Marmomacc Gets Foreign-Visit Boost
VERONA – The 2016 version of Marmomacc finished another record-setting run last month, thanks to international interest.
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Non-Italian attendance grew by 5% from 2015, making up 60% of the event’s 67,000 specialist operators walking the aisles at Europe’s large stone trade show.
“The 51st edition set new records, starting off with +10% of exhibitors for a total of more than 1,650 companies from 53 countries,” said Maurizio Danese, president of show producer Veronafiere. “The show covers the entire value chain, combining products, machinery and culture in a unique event with a strong history that continues to evolve.”
Marmomacc sold out its exhibition area, with all 12 halls and outside areas occupied, for a total show area of more than 80,000 m² (861,112 ft²) besting the previous year by more than 4%.
“Marmomacc,” said Giovanni Mantovani, CEO & Director General of Veronafiere, “is today the b2b and promotion platform for the sector thanks to more internationalization than ever. o mention the astonishing 45% increase for Chinese operators and an equally significant increase of 11% from Great Britain.”
Attendance figures also include more than 300 new international top-buyers and architects selected as members of official trade delegations arriving from 32 countries, with debuts for Nigeria and Mozambique. This is due to Veronafiere’s continuous investment in incoming activities, in collaboration with the Ministry of Economic Development, ICE-Italian Trade Agency, Confindustria Marmomacchine and, for the first time, the Veneto Region, through Veneto Promozione.
The four days of the trade fair not only hosted business but also paid close attention to initiatives and events dedicated to the world of design and training.
“The Italian Stone Theatre” – a Hall set up with the contribution of the special Made in Promotion Plan – outlined the interaction of stone, design and technology, while the International Stone Summit saw the main worldwide trade associations take stock of the natural-stone sector, its future development and the relationship with the ceramic industry.
Marmomacc 2016 also staged two events resulting from new partnerships with Architectural Record magazine and the Archmarathon design competition.
The 52nd edition is scheduled at the Veronafiere exhibition grounds in Verona on Sept. 24-27, 2017. Next year’s event will also feature a new “Marmo+Mac” logo introduced during the 2016 show.
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