Marble Institute of America: Press Room

Contact: Nicole Buraglio
Hanley Wood Exhibitions
nburaglio@hanleywood.com
972.536.6336

For Immediate Release

StonExpo 2005 99% Sold Out!

(Dallas, Texas) There's still some time before StonExpo 2005 hits Las Vegas in October, but the show is almost sold out already! With more than 200 companies exhibiting at StonExpo 2005, the show is poised to be one of the largest in years.

Companies participating in StonExpo 2005 will be showing everything stone-natural stone tiles, slabs and bricks; travertine; marble; limestone; granite; quartz; slate; terrazzo; equipment for fabricating, edging, cutting, measuring, engraving, lifting, material handling, quarrying, polishing and restoring; cleaning equipment and supplies; safety equipment and accessories; sealants; abrasives; power and hand tools; accessories; and much, much more.

Although many of the exhibitors at StonExpo 2005 are long-time supporters of the show, more than 20% of the companies on board are new to the event. This means more new products and services for stone professionals! The industry has clearly chosen StonExpo as THE PREFERRED event for the stone industry.

StonExpo 2005 will be able to offer stone professionals one of the most comprehensive selections of stone machinery, equipment and accessories available in the industry. At the show this year, attendees will get to see demonstrations of the latest equipment and technology from companies such as AGM, Akemi, Bergman-Blair/Salem Stone, Brembana/CMS, Breton, Braxton Bragg, GranQuartz, Hard Rock Tool, High Tech Stone, International Machine Corp., Komo Machine, Marmo Meccanica, Northwood Stoneworks, Pyramid Supply/Eurostone Machine, Regent Stone Products, Stone Boss, US Granite Machinery, VIC International, Z. Bavelloni and many, many others.

This year, StonExpo 2005 will also feature many more exhibitors that will be showcasing a variety of natural and engineered stone, including A. Lacroix e Fils Granit Ltee, Ancor Granite Tile, Apache Stone, Architectural Granite and Marble, Cold Spring Granite, Dakota Granite, Executive Stone Trading, Gramar Stone Center, Indiana Limestone Company, Lueders Limestone, Margranite, Meshoppen Stone, New Mexico Travertine, Rowan Stone, Stone Emporium, Stone Mart, Structural Slate Co. and numerous other stone providers.

The show will also feature a variety of software and template systems, cleaning and restoration products, business services, tools, sealants and everything stone industry professionals will need for their businesses. For a complete list of exhibitors and products offered, visit www.StonExpo.com.

In addition to more exhibiting companies, the industry can expect a larger and more diverse attendance at StonExpo 2005. With the reach of Hanley Wood's database of hundreds of thousands of buyers in the building/construction industry, thousands of potential attendees who have never attended or been marketed to now know about the industry's most important U.S. event of the year: StonExpo 2005. Thousands of fabricators, installers, quarriers, contractors, architects, designers, builders, distributors, kitchen and bath specialists and retailers are anticipated at this year's show.

Exhibit space contracts for StonExpo 2005 continue to pour in. The show will be sold out soon, so any company interested in exhibiting at this year's event should contact StonExpo right away at 866.550.6808, 972.536.6440 or www.StonExpo.com.

For details on attending StonExpo, call 866.550.6808 or 972.536.6440 or visit www.StonExpo.com. On the web site, you will find complete information on exhibiting companies, show activities, conference program, registration, housing, MIA functions and everything you need to attend the industry's most anticipated event.

StonExpo's Official Sponsors are the Marble Institute of America (MIA) and Natural Stone Alliance. The mission of the MIA is to promote the use of natural stone and be the world's most authoritative natural stone information resource. Membership in the association is worldwide and includes nearly 1,200 natural stone producers, exporters/importers, distributors/wholesalers, fabricators, finishers, installers, and industry suppliers-all committed to the highest standards of workmanship and ethics.

The Natural Stone Alliance includes the American Monument Association, Canadian Stone Association, Elberton Granite Association, National Building Granite Quarries Association and Northwest Granite Manufacturers Association, leaders in the stone industry representing the major associations who are committed to promotion and education to the industry and general public the value and benefits of natural stone.

StonExpo's Official Endorsers are Veronafiere/Marmomacc. Founded in 1898, Veronafiere organizes 30 to 35 exhibitions annually. Marmomacc, the world's largest and most prestigious exhibition in the natural stone industry, will be held September 29 - October 2, 2005 in Verona, Italy. For complete information, visit www.marmomacc.com.

About Hanley Wood
Hanley Wood, LLC, is the premier media company serving housing and construction. Through five operating divisions, the company produces award-winning magazines and Web sites, marquee trade shows and events, rich data and custom marketing solutions. The company also is North America's leading publisher of home plans. Hanley Wood Exhibitions (Dallas) conducts 15 trade shows, including World of Concrete, one of the top 20 trade show events in the country.

Founded in 1976, Hanley Wood is a $225 million company owned by VS&A Communications Partners III, LP, the private-equity affiliate of media industry merchant bank Veronis Suhler Stevenson.

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