More California Silicosis Action; also, Marmomac 2023 Preview

More California action on silicosis and engineered stone; "fritted sand" considered quartz for U.S. tariff purposes; MSI, Arizona Tile unveil facility changes.

Also, learn more about Marmomac 2023 in late September with Carlotta di Colloredo of Veronafiere.

0:00 Intro
0:29 California to Fast-Track Emergency Silicosis Rules
3:24 Fritted Sand is Quartz for U.S. Tariff Purposes
5:28 A Word from TAB Quartz
6:38 MSI, Arizona Tile Offer New Showrooms
8:06 Cersaie, Marmomac Open Online Registration
9:49 Marmomac: Update with Carlotta di Colloredo
10:19 Marmomac: How Big in 2023?
11:12 Marmomac: Is There More International Interest?
11:41 Marmomac: Will China Be Back in 2023?
12:21 Marmomac: The Mix of Exhibitors
12:57 Marmomac: Interest from Europe and, of course, Italy.
13:47 Marmomac: New Experiences for 2023
14:52 Marmomac: More in 2023
15:52 Outro

Radio Stone Update is presented on the first and third Wednesdays every month at 9 a.m. everywhere on Earth with the latest news and insights in hard surfaces. Check our archives at www.radiostoneupdate.com.

Transcript

K. SCHIPPER: Hi, I’m K. Schipper with the latest in hard surfaces industry news from Radio Stone Update.

0:29

California’s workplace regulators are expanding efforts to combat silicosis among fabrication workers – with the banning of quartz surfaces still being held out as a possibility.

Cal/OSHA is now committed to fast-tracking the development of new rules to protect fabricators working with engineered stone who are inhaling silica dust that’s leading to silicosis.

Cal/OSHA officials went as far as to declare that a state ban on the use of engineered stone products may be warranted in the near future – a move that is gaining traction in Australia and is under consideration in the United Kingdom.

Silica content for most engineered stone sold in the United States is at least 90 percent. The crystalline silica dust generated by fabrication is linked to an aggressive form of silicosis after exposure to airborne particles.

During a hearing in front of the California Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board last Thursday, Dr. Jane Fazio, a pulmonary and critical care physician at Olive View-UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles, told the state board many of the men she sees with silicosis are in their 20s and 30s. Several died while waiting for lung transplants, currently the only cure for silicosis.

Fazio said she and her colleagues diagnosed more than 40 young men with silicosis in the last two years. Of the 77 silicosis cases identified among engineered-stone fabrication workers since 2019, at least 10 are dead. About 75 percent of the cases were in Los Angeles County, with another 11 percent in the San Francisco Bay Area.

However, the California Department of Public Health believes those figures are likely an undercount, as cases may not be reported or are yet undiagnosed. While silicosis has been recognized as an occupational hazard of stoneworkers for centuries, the crystalline silica in engineered stone appears to be more lethal.

The standards board ultimately voted 4-0 to direct Cal/OSHA to craft emergency rules to cover workplaces that fabricate engineered stone products with high silica content. The proposal would prohibit dry-cutting the material and require employers to provide workers with greater protections.

Officials said the new rules would take about four months to prepare before being submitted to the board for approval. Hard-surface industry representatives, along with other affected parties, will be included in the process.

The Cal/OSHA action is in addition to the proposal advanced last month by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors to ban engineered stone use in an area encompassing more than 10 million people.

KQED in San Francisco supplied information for preparation of this report.

3:24

A hard-surfaces importer’s attempt to avoid large unfair-trade duties on Chinese-made quartz products has run afoul of U.S. Customs and Border Protection – the CBP.

Oakland, Calif.-based Vanguard Trading Company LLC will be paying 300 percent-plus duties on its Luccaire® surfaces and come under additional scrutiny with future shipments, according to a CBP determination in mid-June under the federal Enforce and Protect Act – the EAPA.

The action came after a complaint filed a year ago with the CBP by LeSueur, Minn.-based Cambria Company LLC. It’s one of a number of EAPA investigations initiated through Cambria, with at least three more in process. Unlike other EAPA investigations, this one didn’t focus on alleged mislabeling of product origin, otherwise known as transshipping.

In this case, the CBP looked at the material mix Vanguard was using to make Luccaire. The company promoted its product as “artificial marble” manufactured in China under a patent-pending process that uses a mix consisting mainly of fritted sand, a by-product of mining and iron and steel production, along with quartz powder, polyester resin binder, pigments, and other materials.

In its investigation, the CBP confirmed that its fritted sand is 60 percent to 80 percent silica, and combined with its other materials, produces a surface that meets the scope of the tariffs imposed on quartz surfaces made in China.

Not only will Vanguard have to pay applicable anti-dumping/countervailing duties on all its imports of quartz surface products subject to the investigation, but it will be closely watched by CBP with future shipments.

Cambria has participated in other EAPA action concerning evasion of the China quartz-surfaces tariff. The federal statute allows companies affected by possible violations to investigate and submit evidence with an EAPA claim.

6:38

M S International Inc. – MSI –opened the doors of two newly remodeled showrooms in the northeastern United States. The Orange, Calif.-based company recently updated facilities in Edison, N.J., and Brentwood, N.Y.

Both serve different parts of the New York metro area, and both now include newly revamped slab sections, countertop and wall and floor tile showrooms and state-of-the-art distribution centers. Executives at both locations say the upgrades represent MSI’s commitment to offer a remarkable shopping experience of high-quality materials sure to inspire the next projects of both contractors and homeowners.

MSI operates 45 showrooms across North America.

Across the country, Arizona Tile has opened one of its newest locations in Reno, Nev., to service northern Nevada and the Lake Tahoe area. The new 48,000 ft2 facility includes a state-of-the-art showroom, slab viewing gallery and order desk.

It also features a wide variety of installation examples, as well as allowing shoppers to visualize different product selections in various environments by use of a visualizer on an on-site touchscreen. The Reno location offers a wide selection of Della Terra® Quartz, and more than 75 different types of natural stone, as well as an extensive collection of porcelain tiles.

8:06

It’s still July, but it isn’t too early to think about beating the lines at the ticket counters and getting your passes to this year’s late September tradeshows in Italy.

Cersaie, at BolognaFiere in Bologna, runs from Sept. 25-29. This international tile event will celebrate its 40th anniversary this year, and will feature 15 fully occupied exhibition halls and more than 640 exhibitors from around the world. Cersaie will also feature presentations and other features related to the latest trends and innovations in the world of ceramics and bathroom furnishings. Multi-day passes for the event are free, and are available at https://www.cersaie.it/en/y_biglietteria.php.

Marmomac at Veronafiere in Verona, runs from Sept. 26-29, and is on track to feature more than 1,400 exhibitors of stone and stone-processing products from around the world, in more than 860,000 ft2 of expo space. Ticket prices range from 28 euros for a one-day pass to 48 euros for all four days of the event. To register, go to marmomac.com/en/visit/?utm_source+NL#tickets.

9:49

EMERSON SCHWARTZKOPF: This is Emerson Schwartzkopf. As K. just mentioned, online registration for this year’s Marmomac is now open. For many, it’s the place to experience the full scope of the natural-stone industry, with a wide international selection of materials, machinery and tooling.

I recently spoke with Carlotta di Colloredo, the communication and events coordinator for the event in Verona, about this year’s Marmomac, to see what’s on tap for 2023.

10:19

CARLOTTA DI COLLOREDO: Thank you, Emerson, for hosting us today. And thank you to all your listeners. For 2023, Marmomac is on track to meet its goals of 80,000 square meters of exhibit space and 50,000 more or less visitors. Marmomac is the leading global hub for the industry, and we want to confirm its leadership and professionals to converge here for innovation, networking, and being face-to-face. The signasl for the sector are positive and the registration from exhibitors are showing a clear return to a pre-pandemic number. We expect a participation of 1,400 companies and we are looking forward for an increase of visitors as well.

11:12

SCHWARTZKOPF: Are there any indications of more international visitors interest this year from different regions or countries?

DI COLLOREDO: We have indications of heightened engagement from various countries both well-established markets and then growing ones. Germany, France and Switzerland, United States, Saudi Arabia, United Kingdom, Spain, Portugal, Australia, Canada, and also other countries more faraway like United Arab Emirates, Poland, Egypt, Iran, Mexico and Vietnam.

11:41

SCHWARTZKOPF: What about China? Will, Marmomac experience the return of exhibitors from China this year and what will it be like compared to events before 2020?

 DI COLLOREDO: China will indeed return for Marmomac this year, occupying Pavilion 8 as in the past. They have almost 5,000 square meters with the 10 collectives participating. This shows us a significant recovery of highest participation reminiscent of the pre pandemic conditions. China will be well recognized because we have custom-built booths so it's going to be a beautiful space also for China.

12:21

SCHWARTZKOPF: Now, last year, materials made up 56% of all exhibitors, and machinery tools, I believe accounted for about 34% Will that mix of exhibitor types changed this year in any way?
 
 DI COLLOREDO: Marmomac this year is opening Pavilion 1 that has been closed for two years with the pandemic and that will change a little bit of the mix. Material will constitute about 66% of all exhibitors, then machinery and tools will have 18% and the services will account for 4%.

12:57

SCHWARTZKOPF: Marmomac's main source of business is Europe and, of course, Italy. Is that attraction as strong this year is in 2022 or will there be more or less?

DI COLLOREDO: Italy actually holds the significant position in the stone sector and its influence extends to Marmomac, as well. The overall international interest in the event remains strong and we are witnessing a notable influx of visitors from countries deeply connected with the stone sector. With visitors, the forecast is more or less the same for 2023. It will include Germany, Spain, France, Portugal. United Kingdom, India and the United States, Turkey, Greece, Belgium and Poland. These are the top countries coming to Marmomac.

13:47

SCHWARTZKOPF: What's new this year for attendees to see and experience at Marmomac?

 DI COLLOREDO: Attendees can look forward to new experiences at Marmomac this year. As I told you already, Pavilion 1 has undergone rehabilitation in collaboration with the Hearst Group, the publishers of Elle Décor, the pavilion is going to be transformed into a market of stone. It has its own name, and it will be a commercial space, not an exhibition space as in the past, where Italian and international companies will showcase their best projects and materials emphasizing the value of natural stone in wise applications. We can say this pavilion is deeply focused on design and interior design.

Additionally, as in the past, Marmomac offers a rich cultural program. Pavilion 10, as “The Plus Theatre,”, will host exhibitions, conferences, workshops that bridge technology,,art and design, aiming to promote the heritage of natural stone and explore new trends of application.

14:52

SCHWARTZKOPF: Will there be any activities or exhibits outside of the fairgrounds? And I guess the other thing -- will returning visitors noticing really anything different about the Marmomac experience this year?
 
 DI COLLOREDO: While there won't be any activities, or exhibits outside the fairgrounds, returning visitors can expect a fulfilling Marmomac experience. Marmomac will have vibrant exhibition space, high level exhibitions and talks including those created by the "Elle Decor" Italy team. There will also be a dedicated focus on American market curated by Stone Update, who’s hosting us today for this podcast.

 SCHWARTZKOPF: What Carlotta referred to at the end is a presentation I’ll be giving at Marmomac on the hard-surfaces market in the United States. The date and time has yet to be determined, but you can always check on that --- and register for the event – at https://www.marmomac.com/en.


Remember, our latest issue of Hard- Surface Report is now available at www.hardsurfacereport.online/may23/. Our online newsletter, Slab & Sheet, comes out on alternate Wednesdays. For a transcript of this broadcast, go to www.radiostoneupdate.com
 
For Radio Stone Update, I’m K. Schipper, and we’ll see you here again soon.