STONEREPORT News for your business


		June 2000

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Spain:
Exports still growing

Stone and stainless steel:
powerful partners

Stone markets in Europe: The future is down on the ground

Stone+tec 2001 in Nuremberg:
getting under way

The Stonereport briefs natural stone companies on the major markets

Spain: Exports still growing

Spain remains the number 2 natural stone country in Europe, but is closing up on the market-leader Italy. The Spanish natural stone branch achieved a turnover of 483 billion pesetas (2.9 billion Euro) in 1999. This meant Spain was able to clearly consolidate its position as number 2 natural stone country in Europe. Exports, which have continuously increased for years, reached a value of 117 billion pesetas (approx. 703 million Euro) in 1999. This is over nine percent more than the year before. The major customers were France, Germany, the USA, England, the Far East countries and Italy. Natural stones from 695 quarries in Spain are currently processed in 1431 stone processing works. The number of direct employees is almost 19,000. In addition, there are about another 3,000 small firms with some 15,000 employees, which mainly make gravestones.

One of Spain's main customers: Germany
Natural stone imports from Spain in 1999
	tons	value in million pes.
Marble raw	1,366	36
Marble worked	3,068	334
Granit raw	12,886	713
Granit worked	44,316	3,801
Slate raw	903	51
Slate worked	140,510	11,738
Total	203,049	16,673

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Stone and stainless steel: powerful partners

The anchor dowel is today's modern partner for natural stone in rear-ventilated outside wall claddings. The connection between the partners usually consists of three or four holes of 8 to 12 millimeters diameter drilled in the edges of the natural stone panel and steel anchor dowels of 5 to 8 millimeters diameter fed at least 25 millimeters into these holes. These dowels are in turn connected by metal brackets to the load-bearing wall or a base construction. The advantage of this connection results from the material properties of the stainless steel. The steel can bear very high loads with relatively small dimensions and, in contrast to natural stone, is insensitive to deformation. For all types of fixing, it is necessary to ensure that unrestricted deformation of the natural stone slabs is possible. In rigid fixing systems, such as the newly developed rear-cut systems, which do not permit any deformation at the fixing points in the natural stone panel, the possibility of movement must be provided by mounting a base construction.

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Stone markets in Europe: The future is down on the ground

The euphoria in the European natural stone markets in recent years has meanwhile rather faded away. For many international natural stone companies, however, Europe is still one of the most interesting markets. Europe as a natural stone market has grown in importance through the opening up of Eastern Europe. Consumption in the traditional West European natural stone markets continues to rise. In the building sector, natural stone consumption is concentrated mainly on interior floors. It is, however, conspicuous that alternative natural building materials also have unusually high growth rates to show in this area: a chance for stones as well. A natural stone floor cladding does not sell itself, but must be put across to the customer. The end customer, whether architect or developer, expects an extensive range of stones and services. This means joint marketing concepts must determine the relationship between the natural stone industry and end customers in the future.

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Stone+tec 2001 in Nuremberg: Getting under way

Getting under way: The preparations for Stone+tec 2001 in the Exhibition Centre Nuremberg from Thursday to Sunday, 24 - 27 May 2001 are in full swing.

NürnbergMesse as organizer of this top event for the international natural stone industry again expects over 1,100 exhibitors. A gross display area of some 90,000 m² is available. »Structuring the complete range of products into three large theme blocks - natural stone for indoors, façades and outdoors, the spacious display of products for graves and monuments (processed and unprocessed natural stone, grave decorations, grave design and accessories), and the extensive range of natural stone technology - stood the test at the '99 exhibition and will be further optimized«, says Project Manager Roland Kast. The application forms for Stone+tec 2001 will be mailed in the coming weeks.

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The Stonereport

Stonereport, an informative interactive medium based on Internet requirements that briefs international natural stone companies on the major markets for semi-finished and finished natural stone products every month. One key area is the market in Central Europe.

Stonereport gives today's globally operating natural stone producers and processors useful information and facts for fast application in everyday practice.

Stonereport is published jointly by NürnbergMesse and Callwey, publisher of the trade journal

STEIN.