Canadian Design and Construction Report special feature
STONEX Canada, the first trade show and educational program dedicated to the stone, ceramic and tile industries, is scheduled for May 16 to 18 at The International Centre in Toronto.
The show, the result of a strategic partnership between Informa Exhibitions and the Terrazzo Tile & Marble Association of Canada (TTMAC), will bring together leading manufacturers, importers, exporters, distributors, buyers, and building professionals. Attendees are also expected to come from the architectural, designer, installer, engineer and facility manager and owner sectors.
A media release announcing the event noted: “With the growing demand for natural stones, tiles and ceramic, along with the increased presence of international manufactures in the Canadian market, Informa Exhibitions and TTMAC, have joined forces to meet the demands of these emergent industries. The event will focus exclusively on the technology and innovation in an exposition, a series of live demonstrations and an educational forum. It will offer several lucrative opportunities for businesses to grow their client base, network and develop new relationships in a dynamic environment.”
Teresa Domingues Baker, marketing and program director at Informa Exhibitions, says that over the past five years, Canadian imports for stone and tile has grown by more than 38 per cent.
She says Canadian consumers are demanding higher quality and greater selection for their ICI buildings and homes. “STONEX Canada will serve as a networking platform to enable designers, architects, contractors, owners, and property managers to source new suppliers and access a wider selection of stone and tile and equipment.”
Baker says STONEX Canada is the ideal platform for new suppliers to enter the Canadian market because it will allow them to showcase their products to the industry and to potential Canadian importers, distributors and retailers. “By providing a platform for new suppliers with new products, the show will help bring a wide variety of exotic, beautiful, and innovative products to Canada.”
She says the show will also be important in filling a networking, informational, and training gap within the industry. “The sheer existence of this show illustrates how much the industry has grown and matured in Canada. There is significant interest in participating in the show from exhibiting companies, associations, designers, and the industry at large. The high level of demand and engagement we have received from people reveals that the show will fill a need in the market.”
The educational technical symposium and demonstration aspects are intended to share information about the latest technical installation specifications and trends in new materials for building professionals.
Baker says this year’s event is expected to include more than 300 exhibiting companies from 13 countries including Canada, Brazil, China, Czech Republic, India, Italy, Pakistan, Peru, Portugal, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Turkey and the U.S. Exhibitors will showcase products, machinery and services in more than 16 product categories including accessories, advanced construction technologies, architectural design, and building exteriors/thermal and moisture protection.
Baker says organizers anticipate more than 6,000 industries professionals will register for the inaugural show.
Live demonstrations featuring installations of stone and tile, as well as the proper use of new tools and machinery, are expected to be popular. The technical symposium, Baker says, will address market updates, industry game changers, technical specification guidelines, and new trends for kitchens and baths, flooring, landscaping and building facades. “The interactive demonstrations will enable industry professionals to get a better sense of what innovative technology is available to them and what products are best suited for specific applications.”
One unique aspect of STONEX Canada is the support it has received from a large number of international pavilions and government agencies. “The majority of the stone and tile sold in Canada is processed and manufactured abroad. These international pavilions give these suppliers, both big and small, an opportunity to showcase the best and the latest innovative products from around the world to STONEX Canada attendees here in the GTA, in one convenient location over the three days of the show.”
For more information, visit www.stonexcanada.com.