Category: 2020

K. Schipper and Emerson Schwartzkopf take a look back at the top news in hard surfaces this year, with follow-up reporting to bring everything up to date as 2020 winds down.

An Australian treatment for silicosis is showing promise with early-stage patients. Also, 2021’s trade-show schedule gets another juggle, as Coverings moves from April to July and Stone+tec decides to wait until 2022.

September Hard-Surface Imports Set Record; Silicosis Webinar on Nov. 17; 2021 Vitória Stone Show is Off.

The trial continues about an October 2017 mass shooting at a Maryland fabrication shop; Coverings Connected sets second online round for Nov. 18; more.

KBIS calls off its in-person Orlando event next February; August U.S. Hard-Surface Imports up nearly 15% from July; Dekton® Gains Carbon-Neutral Status; more.

Cosentino plans to enlarge U.S. Midwest operations with new digs near Chicago’s O’Hare International; the National Tile Contractors Association honors two tilesetters for porcelain-slab and natural-stone work; Natural Stone Institute pitches in on the 30th R.I.S.E. home for special-needs veterans and first responders.

U.S. hard-surface imports make a major step up in their own COVID-19 recovery; Caesarstone buys a majority share in a porcelain-slab plant; NSF’s new standards need your attention; and more.

TISE moves down the 2021 calendar from January to June, while Coverings Connected begins a three-episode run before its April event in Orlando. Plus, Majestic Kitchen & Bath Creations make the Inc. 5000,.

The 2020 Xiamen Stone Fair, twice-delayed, is finally off. U.S. hard-surface imports in June made a slight improvement from May, but still lags by a third from last year. And, there’s more.

A free two-day webinar for fabricators on July 29-30; name and logo changes with several industry leaders, new CEO at LATICRETE,

COVID-19’s effect on residential remodeling; Marmomac 2020 goes online; Cersaie waits to 2021

Spanish study shows continuing effect of silicosis with engineered-stone workers; LAMINAM offers new branding, logo.