Coverings 2023

Date: April 18-21, 2023
Location: Orange County Convention Center, Orlando, FL
More info: To register and for more information, visit the Coverings website.
Visit NSI in booth 4092

Save the Date: Coverings Happy Hour

Join us at Coverings to celebrate a successful show!
Wednesday, April 19
5:30pm-7:00pm
N310 and the North Concourse Foyer

Education Sessions

Tuesday, April 18

9:30 am – 10:30 am

State of the Stone Industry
What is the current state of the natural stone industry? Learn first-hand how industry leaders and peers are addressing matters ranging from government regulation, competing product challenges, and forecasting market growth. Don’t arrive expecting a PowerPoint presentation as this session is entirely focused on great discussion and responding to your questions.

Room S230C
11:00 am – 12:00 pm Trending Natural Stones
What natural stone colors, textures, and finishes are trending this year? Join us as a panel of stone distributors discuss what natural stone is selling and how best to plan for your customers’ needs Learn how to effectively set expectations and diversify your offerings while expanding your customer base in this timely session.

Room S230C
11:30 am – 12:00 pm Natural Stone Seaming Demonstration
This session covers three types of seams: gluing miters face down with clamps, gluing miters face up with tape, and deck seams & butt joints. Learn how to perform each specific seam and answer related questions to each technique. Review basic color matching theory and seam finishing and gain a better understanding of how to utilize each seam on the jobsite.

Fabricator Stage

2:30 pm – 3:30 pm Fabricator Trends Tour: New and Innovative Products from the Marketplace
Explore the show floor while learning how to best evaluate stone products and machinery. Learn how to ask focused questions to get the answers you need to ensure that products or machines perform as anticipated and will provide the expected results.

NSI Booth 4092
3:15 pm – 3:45 pm Stone Identification & Characteristics
One of the most important aspects of fabrication is knowing how a material will perform when cut. Are you confident that the material you are cutting was correctly identified in the specification? During this session, we will perform basic stone identification techniques that will help you confirm materials before you start fabrication. Come away with a plan to confirm the geology of materials you are cutting and installing every time.

Fabricator Stage

4:00 pm – 5:00 pm Quartzite Revisited
Quartzite is a beautiful building material. With that beauty comes unique fabrication and installation techniques. During this session, we will discuss the geology, fabrication, and installation practices that provide the best product application of this natural material. We will also review ways to set expectations with customers to ensure successful installation and a happy client. Leave with a plan to maximize the value of quartzite to both your company and your customer.

Fabricator Stage

Wednesday, April 19
8:00 am – 9:00 am

Achieving Green Building Goals with Natural Stone
Natural stone is nearly complete as a building material in its natural state and has proven its durability over the centuries. Combine these attributes with knowledge that the industry has committed to lowering impacts, being socially responsible, and aligning with green building programs. Most design teams already agree that natural stone is inherently a great solution for projects with green building goals. This session will elaborate on why and show you where to find the documentation needed to check more boxes than you might have realized were possible with natural stone.

Room S230E
11:00 am – 12:00 pm Fabricator Forum
This interactive forum is an excellent opportunity to discuss with your fabricator colleagues many of the challenges involved in the market. The session will include three breakout groups (Technical, Business Administration, and Marketing) where fabricators will discuss top challenges in each area. Participants will then reconvene for a facilitated discussion to recap each topic group. All attendees are encouraged to participate by presenting a problem or sharing a solution. Bring your topics and we will provide the forum.

Room S230C
12:00 pm – 12:30 pm The Chemistry of Adhesives
This presentation will compare the many adhesives chemistries used in the stone fabrication and restoration industry, including epoxy, polyester, and acrylic. Newer chemistries including polypoxy, urethanes, and urethane hybrid systems will also be covered. Learn the comparative properties of these chemistries as we highlight the pros and cons of each. We will also discuss some of the “Do’s and Don’ts” when using these adhesives.

Fabricator Stage

1:00 pm – 2:00 pm Block Talk: Women in Stone’s Live Stone Chat at Coverings
As an expansion of their successful virtual event series, Women in Stone is hosting a Block Talk session live and in person at Coverings 2023. Join your peers in the industry as we discuss one of our favorite topics: Leadership in a Male Dominated Industry.

 

Attendees will benefit from attending by establishing new connections to expand your professional network and learning more about the stone industry to gain the confidence and skills needed to be successful in your career.

Room N312
2:15 pm – 2:45 pm Natural Stone Seaming Demonstration
This session covers three types of seams: gluing miters face down with clamps, gluing miters face up with tape, and deck seams & butt joints. Learn how to perform each specific seam and answer related questions to each technique. Review basic color matching theory and seam finishing and gain a better understanding of how to utilize each seam on the jobsite.

Fabricator Stage

2:30 pm – 3:30 pm Tour: Building Your Installation Truck
Installers are often your last opportunity to guarantee success on a project. They frequently encounter job sites and situations they may have never seen and having a properly stocked truck will make or break your ability to complete the job. Learn about the tools and technology available to make an installer’s life easier on the road. Come away with a checklist and templates that will ensure you are prepared for any installation challenge that may arise.

NSI Booth 4092
4:00 pm – 4:30 pm Color Mixing and Matching Demonstration
Using adhesive to install natural stone is a necessary truth. How do you create an adhesive color that minimizes the sight of a seam while providing strong adhesive qualities? During this session, we will review basic color matching theory and work with adhesives to closely match the product to materials. Leave with a template on how to quickly and correctly match adhesives to materials.

Fabricator Stage

Thursday, April 20
11:15 am – 11:45 pm

Color Mixing and Matching Demonstration
Using adhesive to install natural stone is a necessary truth. How do you create an adhesive color that minimizes the sight of a seam while providing strong adhesive qualities? During this session, we will review basic color matching theory and work with adhesives to closely match the product to materials. Leave with a template on how to quickly and correctly match adhesives to materials.

Fabricator Stage
12:00 pm – 12:30 pm

Stone Identification & Characteristics
One of the most important aspects of fabrication is knowing how a material will perform when cut. Are you confident that the material you are cutting was correctly identified in the specification? During this session, we will perform basic stone identification techniques that will help you confirm materials before you start fabrication. Come away with a plan to confirm the geology of materials you are cutting and installing every time.

Fabricator Stage
12:30 pm – 1:30 pm

Managing a Family Business
Working in a family business can be a challenge. Why are some businesses successful, while others struggle? What are the best practices? Join a panel of stone professionals from three different family businesses as they share their experiences. Plan on joining this robust Q&A session.

Fabricator Stage
1:30 pm – 2:30 pm

Quartzite Revisited
Quartzite is a beautiful building material. With that beauty comes unique fabrication and installation techniques. During this session, we will discuss the geology, fabrication, and installation practices that provide the best product application of this natural material. We will also review ways to set expectations with customers to ensure successful installation and a happy client. Leave with a plan to maximize the value of quartzite to both your company and your customer.

Fabricator Stage
4:15 pm – 4:45 pm

The Chemistry of Adhesives
This presentation will compare the many adhesives chemistries used in the stone fabrication and restoration industry, including epoxy, polyester, and acrylic. Newer chemistries including polypoxy, urethanes, and urethane hybrid systems will also be covered. Learn the comparative properties of these chemistries as we highlight the pros and cons of each. We will also discuss some of the “Do’s and Don’ts” when using these adhesives.

Fabricator Stage

Learn more at www.coverings.com.

 

Coverings is a natural stone conference and exhibition that takes place yearly in North America. It features exhibitors from over 30 countries.

The Natural Stone Institute's role at Coverings:

In addition to exhibiting at the event, the Natural Stone Institute provides speakers for a variety of Coverings educational seminars, conducts committee meetings, and hosts meetings with other stone associations. Every year NSI also hosts an onsite Member Happy Hour, giving members the opportunity to network with industry leaders from around the globe.
 

WEBSITE SPONSORS

Use Natural Stone

Genuine. Versatile. Unique. Durable. Sustainable. Easy to Maintain.