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Ligurian Slate at “StonExpo 2006”, Las Vegas

"Stonexpo 2006" was held at the Las Vegas Convention Center from 9 to 11 November. The annual event is devoted mainly to natural stone and its uses in building and interior architecture and is considered one of America’s most important building fairs.
The data released by the organisers indicate a 25 per cent increase in visitors over the preceding edition. There were 264 exhibitors (up 8 per cent), while the exhibition area increased by a fourth.
The participation of Ligurian slate in “Stonexpo 2006” was accompanied by a marketing plan that saw various side initiatives especially aimed at building professionals, the strategic target of the stone project in the USA, which began this year in the framework of the agreement between ICE and Liguria Region.
Among other things, for the first time the recently created “ARDESIA LIGURIA” mark was used and disseminated in the promotional material developed.
The “Lapis – La Vera Lavagna” Consortium displayed its creations for interior architecture in a 30 m2 stand. Visitors were very numerous and particularly interested in this handsome natural stone. A Service Centre that also provided interpreters was available to exhibitors and visitors for the whole duration of the event.

Slate Project in Germany, year four

Slate from Liguria at "Stone+tec" in Nuremberg

From 25 to 28 May, Stone+tec took place at the Nuremberg Trade Fair. The biennial event is dedicated especially to natural stones and their uses in architecture and is considered one of the most important building fairs in Germany.
It was an essential reference for all the operators in this sector, who could enjoy an exhibition area of 81.900 sq.m.
There were 1.058 exhibitors, coming from 49 countries; other than Germany the main countries represented were Italy, China, and Turkey. There were 40.282 visitors, coming from 81 countries.
The increase in the number of visitors coming from EU new member States was particularly remarkable. These visitors came from Central East European countries, headed by Hungary (+48%) and followed by the Czech Republic (+13%) and Poland (+7%).
Within the agreement between Ice and Liguria Region, Ligurian slate was present at Stone+tec, to present the creations concerning building and interior design realized using this fascinating and adaptable stone.
An area of 130 sq.m. housed the stands of “Consorzio Lapis” (Lapis Association) with its ideas for interior design, and of Ardesia Mangini (Mangini Slate) and M.N.V.
A services centre, with Italian-German speaking staff, was at the disposal of exhibitors and visitors for the whole period of the fair.
On May 26, at 4.00 pm, Prof. Giorgio Mor delivered a lecture entitled: “Slate: tradition and innovation of a material and its uses in architecture”, addressed to architects, designers and Journalists expert in the field.

Slate Project in Germany, year three

Slate from Liguria at Berlin's “Bautec”

From 17 to 21 February 2004 the Berlin Trade Fair played host to Bautec 2004, the International Exhibition of building, architecture and construction techniques. The biennial show, occupying a total area of 80,000 square meters, was attended by 956 exhibitors from 25 countries. There were a total of 69,500 visitors.
As part of the agreement between ICE (the Italian foreign trade institute) and the Region of Liguria, the slate sector presented its building and interior decoration products at the trade fair.
Assolapidei and Arcodoc presented their associates' products in an area of 100 square meters out of the total 200 available. Consorzio Lapis exhibited various types of flooring and a series of interior decorations, basins, sinks, shower trays and other products, including several innovative design prototypes. Great interest was shown by visitors, many of them professionals working in the sector.
A services center was also available with bilingual Italian-German staff and a small projection room showing the film “Ardesia” by German director Rainer Görß non-stop.
On 22 February, at 4 pm, a conference was organised for architects and sector journalists. Mr. Sebastian Redecke, editor of architecture magazine “Bauwelt”, opened the event with an interesting introduction. After the projection of the film, which was very well received, Prof. Giorgio Mor of Genoa University addressed the meeting on the characteristics and uses of slate, which was followed by a lively and knowledgeable debate on the subject.

Prof. Giorgio Mor's presentation entitled “The use of slate in architecture past and present” is available for download in pdf format.

Download PDF file (English language - 1,6Mb.)

Slate from Liguria at the Leipzig Baufach

From 6 to 9 November, against the extraordinary backdrop of the Exhibition Centre in Leipzig, Baufach 2003 – central Germany’s leading building sector trade fair – offered an overview of all industry sectors, from components to construction machinery.
The event was attended by 560 exhibitors from 14 countries and more than 30,000 visitors from 15 countries.
As part of the agreement between ICE (the Italian foreign trade institute) and the Region of Liguria, the slate sector presented its offering of building and interior decoration products featuring this fascinating and versatile natural stone.
In a stand area of 110 square meters, Assolapidei presented a broad range of its associates’ products, the Arcodoc Consortium its certified quality discontinuous roofing and the Lapis Consortium its interior decoration creations. Assistance for exhibitors and visitors was offered by a Service Centre with bilingual Italian-German staff.
During the trade fair, on 7 November, a conference was organised at the facility’s convention centre by ICE’s Berlin office on the subject “Wirtschaft Tag Italien”. Professor Giorgio Mor addressed the conference on slate and its uses, past and present.
The slate products presented aroused interest and curiosity with the public and numerous architects and designers who visited the stands.

Prof. Giorgio Mor's presentation entitled “The use of slate in architecture past and present” is available for download in pdf format.

Download PDF file (English language - 1,6Mb.)

Slate Project in Germany, year two

Dresden Seminar, 28 May 2002
A series of initiatives covered by the agreement between ICE (the Italian Foreign Trade Institute) and the Region of Liguria have been co-ordinated to promote the use of Ligurian slate on the German market. The project is now in its second year and will continue into 2003.

On 28 May 2002, Villa Salzburg in Dresden played host to a technical seminar on the characteristics and possible uses of slate in architecture. One of the main reasons for choosing the city of Dresden for the event is the extent of potential building restoration work here.

Trade association Assolapidei concurrently organised an exhibition of major slate projects at Villa Salzburg to mark the occasion.

German geologist dr. Detlev Hill gave a brief presentation of the origins, natural history and technical peculiarities of slate, while Genoese architect prof. Giorgio Mor illustrated the uses of slate in past and present architecture, as well as examining prospects for the future.

A hundred and sixty people took part in the seminar, mainly architects, engineers and designers selected and contacted by the Italian Foreign Trade Institute’s Berlin office from a list of professional firms operating in Dresden and surrounding areas. The event continued into the evening with the projection of "Slate", a film by German director Rainer Görß, and the presentation of “The Slate Portal”, an online website in English, German, French and Italian with links to individual company sites.

Prof. Giorgio Mor's presentation entitled “The use of slate in architecture past and present” is available for download in pdf format.

Download PDF file (English language - 1,6Mb.)