Stone Expo drew an impressive 7056 professional visitors. A striking aspect here was a distinct increase in the number of foreign visitors, primarily from the Netherlands (12% of the total) but also from France, Italy and Germany. Initial responses from the exhibitors and visitors already indicate that it met with a very positive reception. In addition to the quality of the visitors, which was highly appreciated, the increased size of the fair (with ten per cent more floor area) made this edition a success.