Marmomacc, the Italian stone show in Verona earlier this month (October), moved from Thursday-to-Sunday to Wednesday-to-Saturday this year to try to increase the number of trade visitors at the expense of the local public who traditionally flocked in on Sundays.

With the international recession, 2009 was never going to be an easy year for any exhibition, but, all things considered and with a little jiggery-pockery, Marmomacc still looked every bit the world leader and closed with more than 53,000 visitors. That was fewer than last time but showed a 10% increase in trade visitors, according to the organisers (45% international, which was also slightly up on last year).

Director General Giovanni Mantovani reported “satisfaction over results and commercial contacts”.

Among the UK agents there in support of the companies they represent there were some changes of allegiance.

Notably Pisani, who were at Marmomacc saying goodbye to two of their main agencies for the past 15 years or so, GMM and Marmomeccanica (see page 5).

GMM goes to Roccia Machinery, a new company set up by former Pisani machinery manager Derrick Fretwell while Marmomeccanica has been taken on by Andy Bell from National Masonry. He says they have a wide range of edge polishers that he will be introducing over the coming year.

He is announcing his new agency by offering a minimum of £2,500 part exchange on any existing edge polisher in any condition for anyone who buys a new Marmomeccanica. He says he will also consider profilers, bridge saws, CNC workcentres or any stone working machine in part exchange.

He plans to stock the popular models of Marmomeccanica in the UK for speedy delivery and is offering them for hire as well as sale. “We go that extra mile for clients,” says Andy.

Robot wars continued in Italy. Harbro were on the Bergamac stand with the new robot they will now be selling, the QD Stone Mill, having split with HTM after selling five of the company’s quarter-million-pound Robostones into the UK.

But the HTM robot might still be available in the UK from John Harland at MFT. One of the companies involved in HTM is Isimar and MFT sell the Isimar radial arm polisher. Isimar are now trying to persuade John to sell the robot as well.

John says he was too busy to make it to Verona this year and has now accepted that he has reached the limits of what he can do on his own. Consequently he has moved to new premises on the outskirts of Alton in Hampshire and taken on an extra person to work in the office. He is looking for another, as well as seeking a representative to cover the North of England for MFT.

Even if MFT do not sell the HTM robot in the UK there will be an alternative to Harbro’s QD Stone Mill because James King, who left Harbro and established his own company called High Technology Machines UK Ltd, and briefly represented HTM, was in Verona on the T&D Robotics stand. He is now the agent for T&D in the UK.

T&D Robotics have been created by CNC saw-makers Donatoni, who James also represents, and the Terzago brothers. They launched the Lapisystem range of robots in Verona.

Donatoni, had their own launch at Marmomacc with the introduction of their new Quadrix DG 1600 CNC saw. It has an optional tool change facility and an integrated lathe.