AFAG Messen, a Germany-based small private exhibition organiser, is to take on management of the next edition of specialist stone industry trade fair Stone+tec, although the new show date has not yet been published.
Last held in 2018, the show, according to some in the industry’s own trade press, had probably become too small for the NürnbergMesse, which had previously organised the long-standing event.
The new management team has said it will keep the trade fair at the Exhibition Centre Nuremberg, which it has been since 1979.
The exhibition has traditionally catered for the stone industry in Central Europe, offering products and services for all aspects of natural stone used in construction, gravestones, monuments and design.
“The new organiser, AFAG Messen und Ausstellungen GmbH, is a long-standing and highly valued partner to NürnbergMesse,” said Petra Wolf, member of the Executive Board of NürnbergMesse. “That means we are handing Stone+tec over to an experienced, professional trade fair organiser, and we are very pleased that the event can continue on familiar ground in Nuremberg.”
The trade fair usually takes place every second year, although the last edition was in 2018.
“We offer our thanks to all the industry representatives, exhibitors and visitors for their lengthy and top-level collaboration, and wish AFAG and Stone+tec every future success. We look forward to meeting again in Nuremberg,” said Elke Harreiss, Exhibition Director Stone+tec at NürnbergMesse
AFAG Messen has been operating out of Nuremberg since 1947, and from Augsburg since 1991 and has organised almost 800 trade fair events for a wide range of industries and sectors. Its current portfolio comprises 20 events, including both international trade fairs and nationwide exhibitions. The company also organises special-interest exhibitions and conferences.
There had been talk of integrating Stone+tec in the past into the GaLaBau, although the fears were raised that Stone+tec’s important gravestone section could have withered if folded into the huge gardening-oriented event. Moreover, GaLaBau is held annually.
Stone+tec has lost some of its importance in recent years due to various reasons, including some wholesalers in Germany attracting many stonemasons as customers which made it more difficult for international suppliers – especially from Italy – to come to Nuremberg to present their stones to the stonemasons. Many manufacturers of machines, tools and accessories have developed their own in-house exhibitions and competition from the internet has increased the pressure.
