For those interested in memorials, there were a mere(!) 110 stands in hall three, including an exhibit by Arkay Glenrock, a joint venture between the Indian company Arkay Rock and the Pisani-owned UK memorial wholesalers Frank England.

Block Stone, the sister company of Realstone, have become regulars at Stone+tec and were once again showing the various sandstones they produce which have found a market in germany and elsewhere on the Continent.

Director Gill Gregory-Drake said: Professional visitors showed an interest in all our stones, not just the main one - Peak Moor.

We try very hard to promote all the colours, especially as some of them are close matches to the German sandstones. We had several of the actual stone suppliers from Germany on the stand. We are aware that some are suffering, either with supply or the continued problems of ever increasing environmental restrictions placed on them, so inhibiting the long term supply.

On the Block Stone stand was a picture of the new National Radio Station in Prague, clad in dark red Cumbrian sandstone from Block Stone. And Realstone, in a joint venture with a Czech firm met at the 1999 Stone+tec, are currently bidding to supply another 6,000m[2] of red sandstone for development overlooking the River Vltava. If they win it, this will be their fourth project together.

Other UK exhibitors were Bluewinton, who sell Azul Bahia and Juparana in the UK, although they were apparently unrepresented on a joint stand with Sao Sebastiao, and Diamond tool companies DK Holdings, KGS Swiflex and D-tec.