ITSS 2005: Big Show, Big Apple
The independent three-day expo, not affiliated with a trade association or supplier, will expand to four days this year at New York’s Jacob Javits Convention Center on July 21-24, with the show hall open an extra hour for attendees each day.
ITSS organizers plan to target fabricators, importers/distributors and others involved with day-to-day work in stone, as well as architects, general/installation contractors, engineers, interior designers and kitchen/bath firms.
This year’s New York event also features a lineup of educational seminars. ITSS seminars are free and open to all attendees. Among the sessions scheduled for New York are:
• Advancements in Digital Templating for the Countertop Industry – A discussion of the various methods for templating countertops, including hard templating, photogrammetry and laser devices.
• Stone Fabrication Forum – A session designed for those new to the fabrication business or wanting to know more about the basics. Some of the topics covered will include slab selection; rodding; resin slabs; stone sealing; and setting up a new shop.
• Stone Fabrication Forum: Advanced Techniques – A panel of experts goes in-depth and takes questions from the audience on topics such as face polishing; squaring or radiusing an inside corner of a concave-edge detail; lock joints; techniques for filling blow outs; rolling the edge of a sink hole; and sink hole overhangs.
• Stone Restoration Forum – Do you know how to face polish black granite? What about polishing seams? Can granite and marble combinations be honed and polished in place? A panel of stone restoration experts will handle these questions and many more.
• To Seal or Not to Seal – The concept of sealing stone has been an ongoing argument. Learn about the use of sealers and impregnators on stone countertops, as well as flooring and other surfaces covered by stone.
• CNC- When and Why – Take a look at what’s involved in the decision to purchase CNC machinery, as well as equipment such as line polishers and waterjets. Find out about CNC performance, requirements, technical performance and innovation, as well as the best questions to ask about moving into CNC production.
• Engineered-Stone and Quartz-Surface Fabrication and Restoration — How does engineered stone differ from other stone, and can it be polished the same way? Learn some of the tricks that will help you fabricate and repair this material.
• Coming Soon to Your Shop- An OSHA Inspector – More and more stone fabrication shops are being surprised by our friends at OSHA. Will you be ready when OSHA comes knocking on your door? Know how you can perform a self-inspection of your shop, and get you ready for an OSHA surprise attack.
• Working with Resin Slabs – Are they an advantage or disadvantage? Hear the pros and cons of working with resin slabs, and see detailed procedures and techniques for repairing some of the problems associated with resin slabs.
• Designing with Natural Stone – Architects and designers will get an education on stone properties and proper installation methods, as well as the benefits of using natural stone – and also learn how to specify stone for wet areas such as kitchen and baths.
• What’s Bugging You? – Have something you’d like to discuss about the stone industry? Here’s the first roundtable discussion ever offered to let the stone industry have its say with an entertaining and upbeat discussion about industry trends and other issues.
• How to Properly Price Your Services — Wondering what to charge? Find out how to price your products and – more importantly – figure out if you’re making any profit.
ITSS hours at the Javits Center (located at 655 West 34th St.) are 10 a.m.-6:30 p.m. on all four days (Thursday-Sunday). Admission is free to members of the stone and tile industry; registration is either on-site.