Stone+tec Nuremberg on course for growth

Nuremberg – Over 250 exhibitors are expected at Stone+tec at Messe Nürnberg, with capacity having already been reached as at the previous event and Stone+tec experiencing steady demand. In the natural stone segment, 40 companies have already registered for Stone+tec 2024, including Bamberger Natursteinwerk, Franken Schotter, Magna Naturstein, Nikolaus Bagnara, Roll Natursteine, African Stone Selection and Medmar.

Tile+tec with specialist forum

For the first time, Tile+tec will accompany Stone+tec and offer products and services relating to design with tiles. Specialist lectures on all aspects of tiles and natural stone will be held on an open stage in the exhibition halls. On two days, a tile seminar will also be organised there by the trade magazine "F+P Fliesen und Platten", which is open to all visitors. Sustainability, barrier-free construction, the digitalisation of the trade and the processing of large-format tiles: Today's tilers face a multitude of challenges. This is where the forum comes in, with speakers who know the target group and their needs providing the necessary expertise.

Stable demand for machinery and tools

For many stonemasons, the information on offer in the machinery and technology hall is an indispensable highlight of Stone+tec. Despite the generally strained situation in the construction industry, a large number of stone processing companies have plenty of work and are looking for solutions to increase their productivity in the workshop and on the construction site. Franziska Petri, Managing Director of machinery and tool supplier König in Karlsruhe, characterises the current situation as challenging: “Investments are being made in a more cautious and careful way. But our industry is so diverse in what it does that there will always be areas of growth.” According to Franziska Petri, the complete range for processing the on-trend material quartzite is particularly in demand, especially the Diarex Z7 plus Quartzite Cutting Disc developed and manufactured by König in Karlsruhe. The Managing Director also emphasises the attractive new Bronze range. In addition to a comprehensive range of its own brands, König’s stand concept at Stone+tec 2024 will include products from strong partners, such as Flex with its complete range of cordless tools. In addition to live demonstrations, visitors to König’s stand will also have the opportunity to test the innovative stone processing solutions on show for themselves. A central theme will be the handling, processing and bonding of large-format, technical materials. According to Franziska Petri, visitors can look forward with particular excitement to the presentation of a world first in the field of construction site dry saws from König’s partner IQ.

Matthias Baumann, Managing Director of machinery manufacturer Burkhardt-Löffler from Bayreuth and Langenaltheim, is also looking to the future with confidence. General enquiries for new machinery are on the decline; instead, industry and tradespeople are making specific enquiries based on their specific requirements: “Users have very precise ideas about what equipment and functionality they need for their manufacturing. This is where our customised machine construction proves to be very advantageous,” explains Matthias Baumann. While the skilled trades want more and more automation due to the skilled labour shortage, even closer networking between processing stations is at the top of the agenda in the stone industry.

The increasing proportion of in-house production among stonemasons means that machinery once again needs to be more versatile and process not only sheet goods but also thicker workpieces. Burkhardt-Löffler offers the LDZ 2000 Sawing and Milling Centre for this purpose as a versatile, configurable platform from traditional cutting to a machining centre, and including lathe and tool change.

weha celebrates its 75th anniversary at Stone+tec

For the Augsburg-based tool and equipment manufacturer weha, the market has remained constant compared to the last two quarters, explains Managing Director Richard Hering: “The reluctance to make purchases has not yet been overcome, but wholesalers are gaining importance again with their product range and stockholding.” In addition to tools and consumables for the stone processing industry, weha’s product range also includes classics such as its “Gift” series of cutting discs and rotating block. Transportation devices from the company’s own production, grave decoration, engraving machinery and trucks with crane superstructures round off its range. weha will use its presence at Stone+tec 2024 to honour the 75th anniversary of the company’s founding: “We’re proud to be able to celebrate this wonderful company anniversary with our customers in a fitting manner and look forward to chatting with one another in person.” According to Richard Hering, its generously proportioned fair stand will provide an appropriate setting for this: “We’re taking the positive vibes from Verona in 2023 into 2024 and have one or two surprises up our sleeves – but we’re not revealing any more at this stage.”

About Stone+tec – international centre of excellence for natural stone and stone technology

Stone+tec+ will take place on 19 and 22 June 2024 at the Messe Nürnberg. Stone+tec is aimed at all stone processors from the construction, cemetery, monument and design sectors as well as property developers, planners and architects. Stone+tec is also accompanied by a congress, which offers an opportunity for further professional training.

For more information, go to: www.stone-tec.com 

Copy and research: Richard Watzke