The 56th international natural stone exhibition closed today in Verona

Marmomac: 47,000 operators from 132 countries attended the event at Veronafiere (+49% over 2021).

Verona, 30 September 2022 – International scope, business, innovation and sustainability: an enthusiastic restart for the natural stone value chain at Marmomac. After four days – in the new midweek slot – the world’s leading natural stone exhibition closed its doors at Veronafiere after attracting 47,000 professional operators (+49% than in 2021). International attendance from 132 countries accounted for 63% of this result, posting an increase of 97% in absolute terms compared to the previous edition.

“This result all but returns the event to pre-pandemic figures in 2019, following the special online edition in 2020 and the restart show in 2021,” said Federico Bricolo, President of Veronafiere. The natural stone sector returned to Marmomac with impressive impetus: 1,207 exhibiting companies set up their stands in the 10 show halls and the four outdoor areas (60.5% international from 47 countries). Inasmuch, Veronafiere has resumed its role as a driving force at full steam for the international development of this industrial supply chain, while also generating economic returns for its home city and the local area as a whole.”

More than 1,200 varieties of stone material were on show, embracing unhewn blocks, slabs and processed stone. Highly innovative technology for quarrying, cutting, processing and transport was also showcased thanks to 700 machines, systems and equipment – not to mention more than 800 other products including tools, abrasives and chemicals.  A unique trade fair offering for buyers, importers, contractors, architects and designers.

“Marmomac this year have witnessed an impressive great quantitative and qualitative return of operators from target countries such as the United States, Brazil, India and Turkey,” said Maurizio Danese, CEO of Veronafiere, “posting figures that virtually returned to the results for pre-Covid editions. The figure posted for international attendance is all the more impressive when bearing in mind the down-scaled presence of China, Russia and Ukraine in the wake of well-known health and geopolitical issues. Investments to promote incoming international delegations of top buyers, in collaboration with ICE Trade Agency, the Ministry for Foreign Affairs and Confindustria Marmomacchine, also contributed to the international calibre of this edition.”

The attention focused on product culture, experimentation, design and professional updating staged in “The Plus Theatre” once again ensured significant added value to the event. This venue hosted exhibitions, conferences and workshops informing visitors about the incredible functional and aesthetic potential of natural stone.

Marmomac 2022 also launched a new green approach for the Italian natural stone production chain, with the presentation of the 10-point planning document in the Authentic Natural Stone, Sustainability Manifesto signed by companies belonging to the PNA Network, of which Veronafiere is also a member.

This project seeks to create an environmental declaration for natural stone products, involving a commitment by companies in the sector to adopt a certified and circular production cycle to ensure increasingly lower environmental impact affecting air, water and overall CO₂ emission levels.

Following the trade show attended in person over the last four days, the activities of exhibitors and visitors alike will now also be capitalised and promoted thanks to the Marmomac Plus virtual portal, the most advanced digital tool developed to support the evolution of the natural stone industry 365 days/year, with a view towards the  next edition of Marmomac scheduled 26-29 September 2023.