Biesse has wrapped up an exceptional appearance at the 50th edition of LIGNA, the world’s leading trade fair for woodworking and processing technologies, held from May 26th to 30th in Hannover. Marking a significant moment in its history, Biesse unveiled its most comprehensive product portfolio ever, showcasing lines, machines, and components - all under one roof for the first time.

At the heart of this year’s exhibition was the global debut of Biesse Technic, a new brand dedicated to integrated production lines across wood, glass, and stone. Representing the pinnacle of Biesse's innovation and engineering expertise, Biesse Technic addresses the increasing complexity of modern industrial processes. Visitors experienced the new brand through a fully operational multi-material production line, complete with live demos, digital simulations, and real-time manufacturing of finished components -offering a holistic view of real-world industrial workflows.
Biesse also reinforced its industry leadership in wood machinery, an area that continues to define its legacy, with a renewed machinery portfolio tailored to diverse market segments. Within the Biesse Machinery area, the company introduced an evolved customer engagement model featuring interactive Machinery Boxes. These immersive spaces offered digital tools, 3D content, and configuration models, empowering visitors to explore Biesse technologies in a hands-on, intuitive way.

Within the UK, Biesse has continued to invest in its growth and expansion opportunities across all materials. As of May this year, the company has appointed Mike Moran, an experienced Corporate Sales Director, to lead sales efforts across the UK and Ireland.
"We see a significant opportunity to expand our impact in the woodworking industry through our new portfolio of Biesse machinery. Wood has always been at the core of what we do, and this next chapter reinforces our long-standing commitment to supporting the industry with the latest in automation and advanced technology. With Biesse’s innovative solutions now in our offering, we're better positioned than ever to help both new and existing customers thrive. I’m excited to see the results this partnership will deliver for the woodworking community”, says Mike Moran, Sales Director UK&I at Biesse.

The interactive journey extended beyond Hannover through the Biesse Material Hub Network, which connected the LIGNA booth live with Biesse Hubs in Australia, Japan, France, Portugal, and Canada. Attendees engaged in remote demos and explored the full potential of the company's multi-material solutions from across the globe.

Further expanding its multi-material offering, Biesse presented innovations in components with HSD and Diamut, both unveiling new branding and showcasing advanced solutions tailored to various materials.
“This year’s LIGNA has been a pivotal moment for Biesse,” Colin Burke, CEO of UK & Ireland at Biesse. “From the introduction of Biesse Technic to the evolution of our core wood technologies and growing multi-material capabilities, we’ve demonstrated our commitment to driving the future of manufacturing through innovation, integration, and user-centric design.”

With this successful showcase, Biesse restates its position as one of the global leaders in machinery and solutions, continuing to shape the future of automated, connected, and sustainable manufacturing.
 

About Biesse Biesse is a globally renowned leader in manufacturing solutions for wood, glass, stone, advanced materials and metal. With a focus on innovation, sustainability, and customer success, Biesse serves industries worldwide, providing advanced machinery and automated solutions.

 www.biesse.com/gb/en

For more information, please contact:
Liz Mayne 

Marketing Manager UK & Ireland 

Biesse UK 

01327 300366 

Email: liz.mayne@biesse.com

Caesarstone, the global leader in premium surfaces, is pleased to announce the appointment of Kieta Skinner as Customer Service Team Lead, reinforcing the company’s commitment to delivering best-in-class service to its customers and partners.

Kieta joins Caesarstone with a wealth of experience in leading high-performing customer service teams, having previously held senior roles at American biotechnology and biomedical engineering firm, Boston Scientific, and life sciences measurement and tools company, LGC Genomics. With a proven track record in streamlining operations and enhancing customer journeys through process improvement, Kieta’s appointment marks another step in Caesarstone’s continued investment in elevating its customer experience.

Over the past 18 months, Caesarstone has introduced strategic improvements to better support its customers and trade partners. The brand has upgraded operational processes, appointed its first Head of Customer Service, and recently overhauled pricing - repositioning top designs into lower tiers for up to a 17% reduction and expanding bulk-purchase discounts across all customer segments. Kieta’s appointment as Customer Service Team Lead further underscores Caesarstone’s commitment to a customer-centric culture and ongoing service excellence, ensuring every interaction reflects the brand’s dedication to quality and genuine partnership.

“Excellent customer service is fundamental to how we operate at Caesarstone,” comments Edward Smith, MD at Caesarstone UK & ROI. “Every improvement we’ve made - from operational upgrades to key appointments - reflects our commitment to delivering the best possible experience for our customers and trade partners. Kieta’s leadership will play a fundamental role as we continue to evolve and strengthen our service offering, with her appointment marking another important step in our ongoing investment in customer satisfaction.”

About Caesarstone

Established in 1987, Caesarstone is a global leader in premium surfaces, specialising in designs that create dynamic and inspiring spaces. An award-winning multi-material portfolio of over 100 colours combines the company’s innovative technology with its powerful design passion. Spearheading the market for high-quality, sustainable surfaces, Caesarstone delivers timeless beauty with functional resilience – creating materials for a vast range of indoor and outdoor applications, such as kitchen worktops, splashbacks, and bathroom vanities.

Since pioneering quartz countertops almost four decades ago, Caesarstone has continued to innovate in both aesthetics and performance, expanding into porcelain, mineral, and advanced fusion surfaces. Porcelain provides bold design options, whilst its UV resistance and weatherproof qualities make it equally suitable for indoor and outdoor spaces. The brand’s mineral surfaces are crafted using up to 40% recycled materials, offering customers an eco-friendly and low-silica worktop choice that beautifully merges form and function. ICON, Caesarstone’s range of advanced fusion surfaces and the most recent addition to its portfolio, is formulated with up to 80% recycled content, resulting in superior sustainability, exceptional robustness, and remarkable design versatility.

Caesarstone holds a steadfast commitment to our planet’s wellbeing, as demonstrated in its latest Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) progress report. Additionally, Caesarstone is proud to have an Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) certification, providing transparency on the sustainability of its products. Caesarstone has also earned ISO 14001 (environmental management standard), ISO 9001 (quality management standard), and NSF (public health and safety) certification, has third-party verified Declare Label status, and offers a unique Lifetime Warranty across all residential applications.

Caesarstone UK & IE has showrooms and distribution centres in London and Dublin. The brand serves fabricators, kitchen studios, housebuilders, architects, designers, and consumers across the UK and Ireland – and on a global scale. From design selection to installation and aftercare, Caesarstone provides comprehensive support at every stage. The knowledgeable team offers expert guidance, tailored solutions, and reliable after-sales care to ensure both homeowners and professionals feel supported and confident in their surface choices.

Sterling-prize shortlisted architect and chairperson of Groupwork Amin Taha presented the keynote address at the opening session of the Stone Show on Wednesday. 

Amin has become one of the leading advocates for the adoption of natural stone by the construction sector as a principal tool in its decarbonising aims.  His 15 Clerkenwell Close project has been instrumental on showcasing just how low the embodied carbon of a stone building can be.  Amin discussed the next chapter of his efforts to deliver low-carbon load-bearing stone projects, including his latest endeavour, Finchley Road, a 10-storey, load-bearing stone structure in Hampsted.

You can find out more about delivering structural stone projects and the new Stone Federation Structural Stone Guide at the Stone Theatre at the Stone Show from 2pm today.  Click here to discover all the other CPD opportunities at the 2025 Stone Show. 

Stone Specialist catches up with Michael Sheppard, executive director of CWF

In a unique and exclusive opportunity, 18 students from the Cathedrals’ Workshop Fellowship  recently travelled to Paris to gain invaluable insights into the restoration of the world-renowned Notre-Dame Cathedral. The visit was part of a collaboration between CWF and the Worshipful Company of Masons, which generously funded the trip.

The students, all of whom are training as stonemasons at 12 cathedrals across the UK, were given access to areas of the cathedral that are typically closed to the public, including the roof. This rare chance to witness the ongoing restoration work at such close quarters was a truly inspirational experience. The students were able to observe first-hand the incredible progress made in the wake of the catastrophic fire in 2019 and to explore the impressive technical expertise involved in the restoration process.

Learning Outcomes and International Skills Sharing
The study tour was not only an opportunity to witness the craftsmanship involved in the restoration of one of the world’s most iconic cathedrals but also a valuable learning experience for the students. As stonemasons in training, the exposure to the scale and complexity of the work at Notre-Dame provided them with a wealth of technical knowledge and insight. The students gained a deeper understanding of the preservation and repair work undertaken on historic buildings, and many expressed how the trip would shape their future careers.

"Being part of this group and seeing the work being done at Notre-Dame was an incredible privilege," said one of the students. "It’s an experience that will stay with me forever and has inspired me to continue pursuing this craft with even more passion."
The international collaboration also allowed for a meaningful exchange of knowledge and ideas. The French representatives were impressed by the enthusiasm and commitment shown by the CWF students, commenting that they were "most impressed by the seriousness and enthusiasm of the CWF cohort."

Michael Sheppard, executive director of CWF, described the experience as "a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to develop skills, inspire, and enthuse the students of the UK cathedrals and see the wonderful achievements of so many craftspeople in France with this amazing effort." He added, "Our thanks go to the Worshipful Company of Masons for making this possible and for their continued support of the CWF and the next generation of heritage craftsmen and women."
 

An Unforgettable Experience for CWF Students
The visit to Notre-Dame was not just a technical learning experience but also an inspiring and unforgettable one for the students. The chance to witness such an ambitious restoration effort left a lasting impact on them, and many described the trip as "life-changing."
One student reflected, "This has been an unforgettable experience, and I feel incredibly lucky to have been part of this group. It’s given me a greater appreciation for the skill and dedication that goes into preserving historic buildings."
 

The CWF is proud to continue fostering opportunities for international learning and skills-sharing, enabling its students to gain the knowledge and experience necessary to preserve the UK's rich architectural heritage. This trip to Notre-Dame is just one example of how the CWF is helping to shape the future of craftsmanship in heritage conservation.
 

A selection of what will be on show at this year's Stone Show & Hard Surfaces exhibition