The international marathon of events organized by Veronafiere officially made its mark in the United States with a successful edition of “We Speak Stone”, held in Houston, Texas from May 5 to 7, 2025. Marmomac—the world’s leading trade fair dedicated to natural stone and associated processing technologies—led a delegation of ten top companies from the techno-stone sector in a three-day initiative aimed at strengthening ties with the Texan architecture and design community.
The event served as a dynamic platform for Italian and European companies to connect directly with architects, designers, and contractors involved in luxury construction and design projects. The delegation featured renowned firms such as Basaltite Guidotti Battaglini, Cancian Pavimenti, Grassi Pietre, RED Graniti, Marcolini Marmi, Moca Stone (Portugal), Fauske Marble by Moser (Denmark), Porfido Trentino – cave famiglia Pisetta, Domos Marmobon, and Elite Stone.
Business-to-business meetings were hosted on-site at major architectural and design studios, including Intexture Architects, Gensler, Gala Design Studio, Jacobs, BeDesign, Perkins&Will, and Goree. One of the highlights was a fast-paced “speed dating” networking session held at the American Institute of Architects (AIA) offices in Houston, followed by further interactions at the Houston Design Center.
The choice of Houston underscored the strategic relevance of the United States for the natural stone industry, particularly for Italian exports. In 2024, Italy confirmed its position as the top exporter of stone products to the U.S., with total exports valued at €702 million—marking a 29% increase over the past decade. Among U.S. states, Texas emerged as the leading importer of Italian stone processing technology and equipment and ranked fourth nationally in imports of processed natural stone, accounting for 10% of the total.
Marmomac’s initiative not only highlighted the versatility and elegance of natural stone but also reaffirmed the industry’s commitment to international outreach and collaboration, particularly in a key market like the United States.
