Radio Stone Update
Radio Stone Update
Coverings 2026 Free Online Registration Now Open
Radio Stone Update is presented on the second and fourth 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.
00:23
Hi, I’m K. Schipper with the latest in hard surfaces industry news from Radio Stone Update.
00:31
Coverings has officially opened registration for its 2026 show in Las Vegas, and it’s free … if you don’t delay.
Set for March 30-April 2 at the Las Vegas Convention Center, the keynote speaker for the event is actor and humanitarian Gary Sinise. His presence will also highlight an expanded Coverings Cares contribution benefiting the Gary Sinise Foundation, which supports the nation’s veterans and first responders.
The Coverings 2026 show is expected to encompass more than 400,000 ft2 across the North and Central Halls of the renovated convention center. More than 1,000 exhibitors from 40 countries are expected to draw nearly 25,000 visitors.
Sinise’s keynote-style conversation with attendees is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. on April 1. An accomplished actor on stage, film and television, in 2011 Sinise founded the Gary Sinise Foundation to – among other things – build specially adapted, mortgage-free homes for members of the U.S. military and first responders who were severely injured during acts of heroism.
Coverings Cares, the philanthropic program launched in 2023 to give back to the tile and stone industry, will feature the Gary Sinise Foundation at Coverings 2026. The collaboration includes a significant contribution from Coverings, with attendee donations matched in part to support and amplify the foundation’s ongoing efforts.
Free early-bird passes are available now through Feb. 1. Beginning Feb. 2, a standard advanced registration will cost $49. That rate will continue through March 29.
Onsite registration will be available March 30-April 2, and will remain $49 online, or $99 in person. Non-exhibiting manufacturers may register at any time for $299. For more information on registration policies and pricing, go to www.coverings.com/registration-information.
For more information on hotel accommodations, transportation and exhibiting opportunities, go to www.coverings.com
04:02
For the first time in the history of Marmomac, a country filled an entire hall. And, Brazil’s presence in Hall 1 at Veronafiere saw 41 companies make the most of it, generating projected sales of $141 million (U.S.) over the next 12 months.
Leading the way in the Brazilian Pavilion were 31 companies from four Brazilian states under the auspices of It’s Natural – Brazilian Natural Stone, a project of the Brazilian Natural Stone Association Centrorochas in partnership with the Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency ApexBrasil.
In turn, significant numbers translated to concrete results. It’s Natural – Brazilian Natural Stone, registered more than $8 million in immediate business deals, and projects more than $141 million over the next year.
Boosting those numbers were more than 3,000 business contacts, almost 2,000 of them new. Many international buyers were also drawn to the pavilion by the hanging gardens which marked pedestrian walkways, and a Brazilian restaurant.
Tales Machado, president of Centrorochas, says the achievement reaffirms Brazil’s place on the world’s stone stage.
“We were the spotlight on all fronts: business, innovation, sustainability and design. Brazil leaves this fair stronger and with the certainty that It’s Natural stone is known as a material of excellence in the global market,” Machado said.
05:30
Despite a 50% tariff on many of their country’s trade items – including natural stone – Brazilian officials have also been busy positioning their products as essential to the U.S. construction market.
At the end of last month Centrorochas took part in a strategic eight-day program in Washington and Orlando, Fla., aimed at strengthening relationships and promoting trade with specifiers in the U.S. market.
The trip began Oct. 20 with a lecture at the Brazilian Embassy as part of the It’s Natural – Brazilian Natural Stone – carried out by officials from Centrocochas and ApexBrasil.
The two following days featured meetings with representatives of the U.S. government, think tanks, business organizations and the media. The meetings aimed at addressing the role of Brazilian natural stone in the U.S. market. The United States imports about 85% of the natural stone used in this country, and Brazil supplies just over a quarter of that.
During the meetings, the Brazilians emphasized how that country complements, rather than competes with, the U.S. domestic sector. They also stressed how granites and marbles need to be included in the list of exceptions to the additional tariffs. Brazilian quartzite is already exempt.
The visitors also participated in the conference Forecast on Latin America and the Caribbean, promoted by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Later that week, Centrorochas participated in Bond Custom, an annual event held in Orlando, Fla. The event brings together architects and designers specializing in high-end residences.
“This mission demonstrated that there is room to expand the use of Brazilian natural stone in the United States, especially due to its quality, consistent supply and value added to the U.S. market,” Centrorochas Vice President Fabio Cruz concluded.
07:21
The International Surface Fabricators Association – ISFA – announced its 2026 board of directors. The announcement came as ISFA prepared to unveil its 2026-2028 Strategic Plan at its annual conference.
“The new board represents fabricators and partners from across the country who live and breathe this trade,” says Ted Sherritt, current ISFA president. “I’m confident this team will keep ISFA on the path we’ve built and take it even further.”
ISFA’s three-year plan focuses on five core pillars: Safety; Regulatory and Advocacy; Leadership Development; Industry Growth, and; Developing Our Community.
The new ISFA Board of Directors includes Travis McDermott of McDermott Top Shop as president; Omar Chahin of GMD Surfaces as vice president; Chad Thompson of Redding Countertops as treasurer, and; Sheri Pruitt of Alpha Countertops as secretary. The new board’s terms begin Jan. 1.
08:29
The Key Buyer Program for Xiamen Stone Fair 2026 is now open for registration. Designed for industry leaders and key decision-makers, this exclusive program is tailored to enhance the sourcing experience before, during and after the event.
The Key Buyer Program team provides access to a host of personalized services. They include:
*Year-round sourcing support including sourcing inquiries and project-related questions;
*Smart route planning to help attendees find what they need among the 2,000+ suppliers exhibiting at the show by targeting key exhibitors and making appointments in advance;
*Reserved Seating at the numerous forums, seminars and product launches during the show, and;
*Travel and hospitality services, including special hotel rates, shuttle services and visa application support.
The 26th China Xiamen International Stone Fair is scheduled for March 16-19, 2026. For more information or to register for the Key Buyer Program, go to www.stonefair.org.cn.
09:38
The National Tile Contractors Association (NTCA) honored Martin Brookes of Fireclay Tile as the 2025 recipient of the NTCA Ring of Honor Award.
The honor recognizes Brookes’ decades of leadership and dedication to elevating the tile industry. The former owner of Heritage Marble and Tile, and current leader of the installation team at Fireclay Tile, has been a respected member of the NTCA for two decades.
Since joining the organization in 2005, Brookes has served as Regional Director, Executive Committee member, and NTCA President from 2021 to 2023.
A native of Chesterfield, England, Brookes began his career after earning a City and Guilds Diploma for Masonry from Chesterfield College in 1982. He immigrated to the United States in his 30s, locating in California where he started Heritage Marble and Tile. Under his direction, the company earned several honors, including a Coverings Installation and Design (CID) award, as well as the NTCA Five-Star Residential Installation of the Year Award.
Outside his business, Brookes has served as an industry consultant, including for the California State License Board, advising on tile standards and best practices. He has also chaired the NTCA Methods and Standards Committee, and serves on the ANSI, TCNA and NTCA technical committees. In 2020 he was the NTCA Tile Person of the Year.
11:11
Caesarstone’s ICON, its sustainable countertop collection, won one of Good Housekeeping’s 2026 Kitchen Awards. ICON was recognized for its innovation and excellence.
Caesarstone ICON is a new category of surfaces. The advanced fusion countertops are crystalline silica-free, designed to reduce exposure to crystalline silica during fabrication. The collection’s patent-pending blend is made of approximately 80% recycled materials, reducing waste, conserving natural resources and making the surface an environmentally conscious option.
Caesarstone launched ICON this past July, and company officials believe it represents the next evolution in the company’s mission to create beautiful, high-performing surfaces that prioritize safety and environmental responsibility.
12:02
And, LOTTE Chemical announces a new strategic partnership with Kalacatta Stone LLC of Hialeah Gardens, Fla. Kalacatta will now be responsible for the distribution of Belenco Quartz across Florida.
The partnership brings together Kalacatta Stone’s distribution network with the performance and design of Belenco Quartz, giving homeowners, architects, designers and contractors access to LOTTE’s premier engineered quartz collections.
LOTTE Chemical officials expressed optimism about the partnership, noting Kalacatta Stone’s commitment to professional service and efficient logistics.
12:41
Just a reminder that our Hard Surfaces Report isn’t being published until the federal government reopens and reliable statistics are available. If you’d like a transcript of this broadcast go to www.radiostoneupdate.com. I’m K. Schipper for Radio Stone Update, and we’ll see you here again soon.