The name STONA is synonymous with the entire Natural Stone and Allied Industries of India. It has, since its inception, been accepted as the largest single show window and greatest International Fair of Exotic Stones of India; granites, marble, slates, sandstone, quartzite and other decorative ornamental and building stones. In addition, anything directly or indirectly connected with Stone Trade and Industries of India.
The 8th International Granites and Stone Fair STONA 2008 was held from February 6-10, 2008, at Palace Grounds in the City.
With the distinction of being the first ever stone fair held in 1987 in the whole of Asia and with 6 Stone fairs successfully completed — STONA — the largest stone fair of its kind in the world, was certainly a one-stop shop for people connected with stone.
Global interaction
The exhibition offers a unique platform to meet buyers, sellers, architects, civil engineers, interior decorators, builders, developers, machinery makers, diamond tools and abrasive makers and other consumables for the stone industry. This is also a unique opportunity for interaction between key stakeholders to manifest into large volumes of transactions.
For the overseas visitor, this serves to showcase India’s large resources of ornamental and decorative building stones. In fact, most modern quarrying and processing activities are taking place in India in very large volumes regularly.
Stona also seeks to showcase the capacity and the capabilities of Indian entrepreneurs.
Readymarble tiles
This year, the principal sponsor of the event was Florina Marbles, that showcased its products in the largest stall occupying 12,000 sq ft. Using Stona 2008 as a platform, SVIL Mines Ltd, introduced to customers Floriana Marbles, as a first of its kind in India — pre-polished and cut to size marble.
Says Rajan Kaicker, Executive Director, SVIL Mines, “ Floriana Marbles will be equivalent to the glaze of mirror and will be unmatched by any other marble brand for its gloss, thinness, weight and applications. The group will offer the perfect ambience and purchase experience that include advice from trained experts in architecture and interior design to assist customers in making the right choice and the support of providing trained masons to lay the marble.”
One just buys the marble and it will be laid and ready for use in three days as against about 20 days now. The company has also introduced ‘Convinio’ marble in the country. This is basically natural thin marble combined with various other thin materials like glass, steel and aluminum honeycomb for various innovative applications.
Certain applications that are possible with these products are partitions, wall cladding, furniture and ceilings. The marble is being introduced in tile format of 450mm x 450mm as well as 600mm x 600mm with desired thickness from 3mm onwards to 20mm, desired for ease of handling and speed of laying. SVIL Mines Ltd will open a chain of boutique stores called Café Floriana shortly.
Unity in harmony
Amman Granites, a 100 percent EOU industry located in Harur, Tamil Nadu, showcased its masterpiece symbolising society. Explains their spokesperson, “Our masterpiece ‘The Lotus & Dolphin’ symbolises a societal memorial for ‘Unity & Harmony’. The Lotus — a living flora, significant for its endurance and purity, and the Dolphin — a living fauna, significant for its friendliness and intelligence, remind all of us that the living or non living, the mighty or weak, the known or unknown, all are the gift of the Supreme Power,” he explains. The exhibition was home to major processors and exporters of stones, worldwide.
The exhibit range included granite, marble, tiles, special-shaped material, slabs and blocks, stone-carved crafts, tombstones, garden stones, artificial stone products, stone-mine exploitation equipment, stone processing machinery, polishers, crocuses and abrasives, chemical technologies and equipment for stone maintenance, scientific research, and professional magazines.
All India Granites and Stone Association (AIGSA) has been working since 1983 toward their progress and scientific development. Apart from stones, related products like resins, adhesives and other chemicals were also on display. Shilpagram Artisan Village, a special area was demarcated where the Stone Artisans actually demonstrated their skills. This apart, seminars on geology, mine safety, and environment were also held. And if you thought this was just about stones, think again, this was a certain eye-opener.
