Negating the apprehension of the impact of global economic slowdown, N�rnbergMesse GmbH once again succeeded in presenting a grand show of STONE+TEC 2009, the 16th international trade fair of natural stone and stone processing technology, at N�rnberg Exhibition Centre, which is known as the leading meeting place for the participating sectors in Central Europe. During the four days of the fair the general situation gave way mainly to realistic optimism and energy. New ideas and impulses were high on the agenda, aimed at maintaining the charm and tradition of the fair. There was predominantly good mood among 770 exhibitors from 43 countries who received 34,458 trade visitors. India participated with 31 companies. The share of international exhibitors was 61 per cent. Many expert and specialist visitors, including 23 per cent from foreign countries, seized the opportunity to make investment in the future.



Other than Germany, large number of trade visitors came from Italy, the Netherlands, Austria, Switzerland, Poland, The Czech Republic, Turkey, Belgium and France. Visitors from the non-European regions also came to the fair, which mainly included China, India and Korea as well as the Middle Eastern countries. Around half the visitors were from the skilled trades. 19 per cent came from the industry and 11 per cent from the wholesale trade. The share of architects, construction planners etc. was around 4 per cent.



A survey conducted among exhibitors and visitors during the fair brought to the fore that majority of both, exhibitors and visitors, was happy with their decision to come at STONE+TEC 2009.



Nine out of ten exhibitors reached their most important target groups at the fair and made new contacts. More than 80 per cent companies were able to conduct direct business deals and transactions during the fair. 95 per cent participating companies received foreign visitors, who came from different countries.

Nine out of ten trade visitors were seen involved in the purchasing and procurement decision for their respective companies.



Participants' and attendees' interest in STONE+TEC 2009 was not without solid reasons : In 2007 Germany acquired around 2.6 million tonnes of marble from overseas, composed of 16 per cent unworked stone and a much more significant 84 per cent finished stone. Demand of overseas stone increased by 6 per cent, consolidating fourth place in the world classification, after China to over 42 million sq m. This is enough to confirm high level of people's interest in the fair. Moreover it is a known fact that Germany is the second largest market in the world for worked stone products with heavy consumption in urban furnishing and funerary work.

The important thing to note at STONE+TEC 2009 was the high demand of support programme and special shows. Additional information connected with the special themes was very popular as were new ideas.

The major attraction for the trade visitors proved to be the fourth edition of the seminar series for tile layers and pavers. Over 200 participants assembled in the lecture hall in the afternoon of the fair's first day.

Beside the successful seminars held for the fourth time at the fair, this year's new meeting point for tilers in Hall 1, organised by the Regional Association of the Bavarian Construction Guilds, Regional Group Tiles and Natural Stone along with the Bavarian Construction Academy was also very much in demand as a contact point for the sector.

On the second and third day of the fair the presentation of the Peter Parler Award for outstanding restoration work along with the German Natural Stone Award in recognition of exemplary architectural achievements delighted numerous guests in the Event Area in Hall 1 at the Exhibition Centre. Here, based on specific examples, stonemasons and restorers along with architects and construction planners were able to see for themselves at first hand how natural stone is part of our culture - in history, present and future.

An additional highlight at the fair was the special presentation "places good for the soul - the future of the gravestone industry" and the complimentary presentation of a current study conducted by trend researcher Matthias Horx. Due to overwhelming response, the lecture had to be moved to another conference room to accommodate around 300 mayors and cemetery administrators from all over Germany.

The walk-in show of the cemetery culture demonstrated how grave concepts based on the needs of the bereaved can be integrated into existing and newly created open space. The modified approach to cemeteries, which focused on demand oriented grave concepts and their practical implementation, opened new prospects and business development possibilities for the trend involved with cemeteries.

The special show was supplemented with an information event which presents a current, representative fundamental study on the present mourning and burial culture in Germany.

At STONE+TEC 2009 the spectrum of products and services from the exhibition segments - natural stone, technology, grave stones and accessories, showed the entire diversity and versatility of the material and everything required for its professional processing and working.

STONE+TEC 2009 proved its importance as a key source of inspiration, specially during this period of crisis. The central location of Europe with its great culture of natural stone architecture and art made the exhibition an ideal meeting place to supply the industry with products, services and ideas to help it survive in a hard fought market. In addition to natural stone as extremely varied material for applications such as facades and high-grade interior finishing, the visitor found all the necessary equipment for the professional processing of natural stone and a unique range of products for gravestone culture.