Highlights from the Natural Stone Show 2017 in London at the Excel Centre.
I have been to the Stone Show before, and my first impression on arrival was that there was a bigger buzz than when I had been two or three years ago.
I can’t mention everything but my highlights from the show include the following:
Geoluxe Aliveri with 1810 sink and tap
Geoluxe
The first stand that really excited me was the Geoluxe stand. Although I had seen small samples of the Geoluxe range before, I had not seen any of it in a larger sheet, and it really didn’t disappoint. Geoluxe is a pyrolithic stone with a full bodied pattern – the grain runs right through. This is achieved by manufacturing using an extrusion process – it is made using molten materials, not made by compacting powders.  The beautiful linear grain of the Aliveri looked stunning displayed on white gloss units as a large island with mitred down-stands. which looked great with the 1810 Cavauno sink and coordinating tap. (This sink and tap combo features in our own Cosentino Dekton display here at our Charlwood showroom.)
High-end Waterjet and CNC Craftsmanship
One of the most interesting displays was by STF London who had some beautiful bespoke panels, produced using waterjet and CNC cutters. The waterjet cutter can create really intricate designs which in the display shown, have been inlayed with metal. The CNC allows intricate shapes to be cut into a three dimensional surface.
Chrome-finish inlay in waterjet cut marble
Bas-relief tulips cut by CNC
Cambria Ella with their Dragon emblem
Cambria Windermere as a vanity top
Sole UK importers for Cambria are our friends at Granite Granite; it was good to catch up with several members of their team, including Bernard, Peter and Lisa.
Cambria
The Cambria stand was one of the busiest with a beautiful array of quartz samples. This was my first sight of their new matt-finish Cambria. They had a large island showing the beautiful Ella in a really natural-feel satin finish. This was inlaid with their Cambria trademark dragon: a stunning display. Two possible new colours that really grabbed me were the Holloway, which is beautiful with greys, whites, and a bit of gold sparkle. I also liked the Windermere which was a bit more creamy but the whole range looked stunning and it was hard to pick out favourites. It was also great to meet up again with Cambria CEO and President Rodolfo Panisi and other colleagues from Cambria USA. We have been installing Cambria for nearly a year: read more about it here.
Rodolfo Panisi
Caesarstone
I spent some while talking with Guy Rawstone and Steve Gibbs on the Caesarstone stand whilst looking at new Georgian Bluffs and some of the larger samples of marble look quartz. It is always helpful to see some of the more marble look stones in a larger sheet and the island that they had on display in the Statuario Maximus was just gorgeous. Caesarstone have some of the most natural-looking stones of any of the quartz manufacturers.
Cambria Georgian Bluffs
CRL River White Quartz
CRL
I visited other stands with striking large-veined marble look materials, and my last stop was to meet up with Dave Inwood and Nick from CRL. A large part of their display was for their Ceralsio porcelain surfaces but they also had some large sheets of quartz; the Verona and River White quartzes were my favourites here, but again it was quite difficult to pick out a winner.
Once again, a worthwhile exhibition. I like the Stone Show for bringing together a lot of our suppliers under one roof, and it is always an event with much to see in new product launches and the latest in cutting technology. Â We enjoyed the day!
Naomi King, Business Manager
