In the beginning it was the BVNI (Association of German Natural Stone Industry), the predecessor association now known as MIRO (Association of German Mineral Raw Materials), who backed the fledgling steinexpo show. The European Aggregates Association (UEPG), the Construction Machinery and Building Material Plant Association of the Association of German Machinery and Plant Manufacturing (VDMA) and the Association of the Construction Industry, Environmental Technology and Mechanical Engineering (VDBUM) later added their support. Below are comments from associations stressing what steinexpo means to them and their members.

“MIRO has been the conceptual sponsor of steinexpo from the very beginning. Immediately after the fall of the (Berlin) wall, representatives of the former BVNI (Federal Association of the Natural Stone Industry) and the owner of the Stein-Verlag of the time, Wilhelm Jösch, put their heads together and ‘invented’ steinexpo. The idea was that companies from the East and the West in the natural stone industry and the supplier industry should come together at an ‘industry event’. The BVNI working group on Mining and Mineral Processing Technology, a body in which natural stone companies and the associate members of the association have been working together since 1981, welcomed this idea of a ‘performance show’ at German level. Showcasing exhibits in a large quarry, i.e. ‘on site’, and of course the demonstrations of the machines were particularly fascinating.

Despite the numerous brands that are now represented, you feel at home and every exhibitor invites you to talk shop, even just for small talk, by the way, because people from the industry know each other;  it’s like a get together of the big family ‘Stone’. Six long years have passed since the last steinexpo. We expect that there will be a lot of new equipment to see. It will also be of interest to see how the push towards digitisation initiated by Covid-19 has been implemented in practice and how it is being accepted. Energy efficiency and its implementation will also be a hot topic. And, of course, lots of handshakes with old acquaintances and new friends again,” explained Walter Nelles, MIRO.

“The steinexpo is an extremely well organised demo fair where those interested in the industry can see and get close to the machines in real life. We promote this event in our network and organise a supporting programme in close coordination with Geoplan to make steinexpo attractive for visitors and to present the construction machinery sector for what it is: an exciting industry of the future. We started working together in 2008, and the decisive factor at steinexpo is of course its live character. This is where practical experience meets. There is an awful lot happening right now when it comes to the digitisation of the machines, and we are very excited to see what useful features we will be shown at the event,” commented Joachim Schmid,VDMA.

Dieter Schnittjer of VDBUM Service GmbH, added, “We have been supporting (show organiser) Geoplan’s impressive concept for organising and running steinexpo for two decades. We have an on-site information stand on the safe use of machines and equipment in the construction process. We very much look forward to the professional networking discussions on site at the event with trade exhibitors and all other interested parties – to find out which services we as association can use to meet the challenges of the industry together with our members.”

Dirk Fincke from UEPG reinforced these points: “Together with our German member, the Federal Association of Mineral Resources (MIRO), we would like to strengthen the European component of steinexpo and the potential for this. We have been present at the opening for several years. And the president of our association even had the honour to give an opening speech. It is especially in times like these that we need innovative solutions for more energy and material efficiency, recycling, biodiversity, electrification of machines, renewable energies and alternative fuels. Not only does the steinexpo offer solutions by offering catalogues and machines on exhibit, but also the opportunity to directly test machines and equipment in practical conditions. The newly acquired official partnership of steinexpo with IMA Europe (Industrial Minerals Europe, Brussels) represents another milestone in successful international industry cooperation.”

Ignacio Gentiluomo, of IMA Europe, concluded: “IMA-Europe is looking forward to take part in the steinexpo 2023. As the voice of the European Minerals Industry in Brussels, we want to get closer to our members and the industry as a whole. The steinexpo is a great opportunity to set an example for cohesion in our industry and showcase the best of the European mining industry. The industrial mineral industry stands more for sustainability, responsibility, occupational safety, and the implementation of ecological, technical future visions than many ascribe to us. The steinexpo is a place to make this more visible to everyone and for scientific exchange and interesting networking at regional, European, and international levels. We want to support this and contribute through our partnership. As the decisive EU voice of industrial minerals producers and importers, we couldn’t miss this chance to meet with companies, authorities, and the broader value chain. We look forward to seeing everyone in August, demonstrating how we are helping and representing industrial mineral companies from Brussels.”