The new British Standard for memorials, BS 8415, requires rigid fixing systems to withstand a hortizontal force of 150kg for a minute. To demonstrate just how difficult it is to produce a force of 150kg, The Blast Shop is setting up a test rig on its stand at the NAMM Tradex exhibition taking place 20-21 June at the Warwickshire Events Centre and inviting visitors to try to pull a resistance of 150kg for a minute. For anyone who can do it, there's a prize of a Goldmann gritblaster.

Rob Critchley, who runs The Blast Shop, does not believe anyone will be able to do it but says the offer of a gritblasting system to anyone who succeeds is genuine.

The point is to demonstrate just how strong memorial fixings systems are. Even progressive failure systems, which prevent catastrophic failures but will allow a headstone to tilt gradually, are required to resist 100kg and most people could not achieve that and hold it for a minute - but you are welcome to try.

The British Standard was revised last year and the National Association of Memorial Masons (NAMM) set up a test centre to re-test all the fixing systems it had previously assessed using the new requirements for a dug pit filled with sand and gravel. Any previously tested anchors were re-tested free earlier this year.

The Blast Shop will be showing its range of BS 8415 safety fixing systems. It will also show a new, high torque pneumatic polishing system and a new piece of software created in conjunction with The Blast Shop to modify CorelDRAW specifically for the design of memorials.

This is the third Tradex run by NAMM as a stand-alone event, but this time the British memorial wholesalers have decided not to participate. They ended both the previous shows saying they wanted a three year gap between shows, but NAMM says most exhibitors want it every two years. The wholesalers have decided not to attend this time because they say introducing new ranges every two years is too onerous and too expensive. They also say the market does not want new designs every two years.

So the show this time will consist largely of tools, equipment, consumables and ancillary products.

The exhibitor list so far is:

• B I Crawshaw Ltd 
• Bridge Insurance Brokers Ltd 
• CCA Fixings 
• Combined Masonry Supplies Ltd 
• D2 Bio UK Ltd 
• DoroTape UK Ltd 
• Fotoplex Grigio Ltd 
• Harbro Supplies 
• Honister Slate Mine 
• JKH Drainage Units 
• Lapidaris UK Ltd 
• MGB Easy Handling 
• Nettlebank Fixings 
• Odlings MCR Ltd 
• PFM Design Consultancy 
• Davis Memorials / Pro Tec Arts 
• Sharcon Monumental Ltd 
• SNA Software Systems 
• The Blast Shop 
• Thorverton Stone Company Ltd 
• Wincilate Welsh Slate