The Full Frontal Tile & Stone Expo, April 17-19, Sydney Showground> will feature a variety of new glass materials including blocks, mosaics and tiles.

"Trend Q" by Trend Mosaics (centre) will feature prominently on the Belmondo Tiles stand A14.

Ezarri's recycled glass mosaics will shine on Renaissance Tiles stand G25. Ezarri's Iris Pearl collection of anti-slip glass is available in 4 attractive shades of colour (left).

Glass tiles and mosaics will be displayed by a number of companies including Artistic Stone, Decoramics, Everstone, Silkstone, Southern Cross Ceramics and Ocean & Merchant ( stand D2 ) which will launch the superb Enchanted series (right).

Pacific Surface Technologies will present a range of contemporary glass blocks

Look out for 600 x 600 mm recycled glass tiles, a huge variety of glass, ceramic and natural mosaics, including Everstone's fabulous new composite products which feature a variety of elements.

Andrew Mackenzie	Bostjan Vuga	Ian Moore	Stephen Varady

View a vast collection of new products released by leading European, Asian and Australian suppliers of tile and stone.

The Full Frontal Tile & Stone Expo will take place at the Dome, Sydney Showground from Thursday, 17 April to Saturday, 19 April.

In conjunction with Architectural Review magazine the organisers will present a host of related seminars which will address the challenges of designing and constructing in tile and stone. Acknowledged industry authorities and leading architects including Bostjan Vuga of Sadar Vuga Arhitekti, Stephen Varady and Ian Moore will participate.

The line up for the seminars can be found at http://www.fullfrontal.com/seminars.php Attendance at the seminars is free.

Full Frontal Tile & Stone Expo will also hold an Architects Reception on the expo floor on Thursday, 17 April at 5 p.m. where drinks will be provided. Bostjan Vuga and Architectural Review Editor-in-Chief Andrew Mackenzie will make short presentations at a 2 course Architects Luncheon on Friday 18 April. For more information visit http://www.fullfrontalexpo.com/events.php

Architects who attend any of the Full Frontal Tile & Stone Expo seminars may claim them as informal Continuing Professional Development.

A number of exhibitors' stands will display coloured Architects Angles which signify the presence of a product or technology of note. This time saving innovation will enable visiting architects to quickly find what they need, by referring to the Buyers Guide, or the on floor signage.

Full Frontal Tile & Stone Expo is fortunate to have Gary Distelhorst, CEO of the Marble Institute of America, as one of its keynote speakers. Gary will chair a panel of industry authorities who will answer questions from the assembled press and members of industry who gather in the Southee Complex adjacent to the Dome on Thursday April 17 at 12.30 to enjoy a 2 course lunch, while they learn about local and international developments in the tile and stone industry.

MIA is the international trade association for the natural stone industry. MIA has as its mission to promote the use of natural stone and be the authoritative source of information on standards of workmanship and practice and the suitable application of stone products. Gary joined MIA in 2002 and has launched several new initiatives designed to expand the association's membership, influence, and image. Under his leadership, the MIA membership has grown by over 250% to 2,000 companies globally, and revenue has increased by nearly 400%.

In his address, "Helping an Industry Succeed", Gary will explain why and how he and his staff supported by volunteer leaders managed a major transformation of the association, pushed for and developed an industry accreditation program for fabricators, and positioned the association for future growth. It is a compelling story.

Joining Gary on a panel will be:

- Canadian keynote lecturer Patti Fasan, who focuses on improving technical expertise in the design and tile installation community through inspirational education and training. Patti is well versed in the challenges facing the growth of the US ceramic tile market. Immediately prior to the lunch she will present "Environmental Ceramic Tile - Sustainable Facts";

- Barry Bulmer, President of the Australian Tile Council (NSW) and chair of the Training Subsidy subcommittee's significant initiative;

- Gail Silman, NSW Education and Training Advisor, Australian Industry Group; and

- Richard Mackenzie, Director, Australian Stone Advisory Association

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Register to attend FFTSE Here. Follow the prompts to book seats at the FFTSE Press Luncheon. The cost is $45.

View the Press Lunch Menu

More about Patti Fasan

While the Full Frontal Tile & Stone Expo (FFTSE) will showcase many new products released by major manufacturers and distributors of tile and stone, the show will also have a heavy emphasis on education in relation to new standards, technologies and installation techniques.

FFTSE will feature concurrent programmes of tile and stone, and architectural seminars which will feature 32 speakers, from eight countries including international keynote speaker architect Bostjan Vuga, the CEO of the Marble Institute of America Gary Distelhorst, and Patti Fasan an acclaimed authority on marketing. Patti regularly presents papers at Qualicer, the World Congress on Ceramic Tile Quality.

Acknowledged experts in the fields of tile and stone selection, adhesives, ventilated facade systems, access audit principles, slip resistance, surface treatment, sealing, waterproofing new tile and stone standards, industry development, intelligent tiles, efflorescence and sustainability will provide specifiers and members of industry with a comprehensive overview of industry.

Petar Johnson (Good Environmental Choice Australia) will present a paper on GECA's new Hard Surfacing Standard No. 40, Petar will be joined by Suzie Barnett (Green Building Council of Australia) and nine leading Australian architects including Paul Van Ratingen (Johnson Pilton Walker), Phillip Vivian (Bates Smart), Stephen Varady (Stephen Varady Architecture) and Ian Moore (Ian Moore Architects). The Architectural seminars will be co-presented with Architectural Review magazine. Architects who attend any of the FFTSE seminars may claim them as Continuing Professional Development.

In addition an on floor Installation Showcase will provide exhibitors with opportunities to present information on vital new products. Visitors can also attend presentations covering tricky issues like 'Optical Hazing of Polished Porcelain'.

Visit FFTSE to discover new products and vital information for those involved in the specification, sale, installation, or maintenance of tile or stone.

Register now on-line and book your seat at the FFTSE seminars which are filling fast, or call 1300 551 416.

In addition to the most comprehensive series of industry related seminars ever presented in Australia, the organizers of the Full Frontal Tile & Stone Expo (FFTSE) will present an Installation Showcase located on the expo floor.

A variety of companies will make informative presentations related to new products and technologies including Ardex Australia, ASA/Bostik, Cinajus, Davco Construction Products, Global Safe Technologies, Innvotech Solutions, Laticrete, Mapei Australia and RLA Polymers.

In addition, Colin Cass will attempt to shed light on the tricky subject of optical hazing and polished porcelain tiles, which is of particular concern to a number of tile retailers. Colin will tackle this issue at 3 p.m. on Saturday, 19th April in the Installation Showcase located next to Stand O7.

FFTSE will feature displays from many leading international manufacturers of tile who are exhibiting directly or in conjunction with their local distributor, including ABK, APE, Ascot, Bode, Ceramiche D'Imola, Ceramiche Lea, Cerim, Charisma, Cotto D'Este, Edilcoughi, Ezarri, Fiordo, Floor Gres, Florim, Gardenia Orchidea, Ilva, Iris, Italgraniti, Keope, La Fabbrica, La Faenza, Panaria, Provenza, RAK, Rex, Romax, Saicis, and local majors Artistic Stone, Decoramics, Everstone, Eureka Tiles and Southern Cross Ceramics.

Significantly, all the materials on display, including classic collections of marble, granite, sandstone, bluestone, limestone, slate, travertine and quartzite presented by local suppliers or international majors like Poggi Bros and Abirochas (the Brazilian granite producers association) are available for specification or purchase in Australia.

On the adhesive front Ardex, ASA/Bostik, Davco, Laticrete, Mapei and RLA Polymers will present a number of new products.

Every kind of machinery for processing and cutting tile or stone will be displayed by B.A.T. Trims, Breton, CDK Stone, Diamant Boart, Germans Boada, Husqvarna, Montresor and Techni Waterjet.

Aqua Mix will demonstrate sealing and polishing techniques. Acoustic membranes, waterproofing, trims and tiling tools - every element associated with the successful installation of tile and stone will feature at FFTSE.

Look out for TracLoc ™ a thoroughly green dry lay tiling system which will feature prominently on many stands.

FFTSE will stage the most comprehensive series of tile and stone seminars ever presented in Australia. International guest speakers will include Patti Fasan, Ascer, Spain; Gary Distelhorst, CEO of the Marble Institute of America; Art Mintie, Laticrete International; Francesco Stronati, Mapei; Bill Walters, Ceram Research, UK; and architect Bostjan Vuda of international award winning architects Sadar Vuga.

The Architectural and Sustainability seminars will be presented in conjunction with Architectural Review, the independent journal of architecture. Additional speakers will include architects Ian Moore; Stephen Varady; Paul van Ratinjen; Petar Johnson, Good Environmental Choice Australia; and Suzie Guthridge, Green Building Council of Australia.

The seminars will be presented in two theatrettes located within the Dome. All presentations are free with the exception of Gary Distelhorst’s paper which will be delivered at a press lunch located in the adjacent Southee complex.

The Royal Australian Institute of Architects have determined that architects who attend Full Frontal Tile & Stone Expo (FFTSE) seminar sessions may claim them as informal continuing professional development.

If you wish to attend FFTSE register here. Once you have completed the simple registration process you will be able to access the seminar registration page.

Multi-award winning Australian architect Stephen Varady has designed a special tile and stone showcase which will feature at the Full Frontal Tile & Stone Expo (FFTSE). The exhibit covers a 120 square metre floor space, and a substantial area of wall tiling.

Stephen Varady admits that the FFTSE exhibit presented a very real challenge. "Two years ago, I was fortunate to win the Dalski Stone Award and I have designed other special exhibits of tile, but never on this grand scale."

Our exhibit features tiles produced by some of the world's leading manufacturers, including Italian majors Iris, Italgraniti and Cotto D'este and a blend of Australian natural stone products.

The floor tiling will be installed using Innvotech Solutions Tracloc product, an innovative dry lay tiling system, which has been Eco labelled by Good Environmental Choice Australia.

Click here to see the full animated version of the exhibit designed by Stephen Varady

Cerim, Floor Gres and Rex products will be exhibited at the Full Frontal Tile & Stone Expo under the Florim banner, in association with Di Lorenzo Pty Ltd. Florim has a presence in all major markets and is a global leader in the ceramics industry.

Florim join the growing ranks of Italian majors, which include Cotto D'Este, Iris, Graniti Fiandre, Gardenia Orchidea, La Fabbrica and Piemme who will participate independently at FFTSE or in conjunction with a local wholesaler or retailer.

Visit www.fullfrontalexpo.com/seminars.php to view our tile and stone seminar programme. The seminars are free with the exception of two papers.

The content of our concurrent Architectural Seminar programme co-hosted with Architectural Review the independent journal of architecture will be published on or before 15th January. Bookings for both programmes can be made from that date.

If you pre-register to attend FFTSE now, you will automatically receive an email on 15th January 2008 reminding you to book seating at our seminars.

Opportunities to exhibit at the Full Frontal Tile & Stone Expo (FFTSE) are shrinking every day. Recent additions to the floor plan include Italian major Iris and Everstone.

Promotion of FFTSE is about to enter a new phase, as advertisements and editorials appear in major design and construct journals, including a 2-page feature in Architectural Review (AR) (PDF - 183 kb), the independent journal of architecture.

FFTSE will be promoted extensively in New South Wales on Radio Stations 2UE and 2GB. Promotion will include a 15-minute Q&A session on 2UE, with Colin Cass covering listeners' questions on tile and stone.

2UE will also broadcast a live 30-minute broadcast from the venue on Friday, 18th April 2008.

The finalised line-up for the architectural seminars will appear online at www.fullfrontalexpo.com/seminars.php on 15th January 2008. Bookings for both programmes, which are free (with the exception of two sessions), can be made online from that date. Naturally you first need to register to attend FFTSE. If you register before 15th January 2008, you will receive an email on that date prompting you to reserve seating at the seminars.

The tile and stone seminars will be held in the Dome Theatrette located in the foyer of the building; the architectural seminars will be held in the Somerville room, situated on the Mezzanine gallery overlooking the expo floor.

The prime objective of FFTSE is to present exciting displays of the very latest ceramic tiles released by manufacturers, wholesalers and retailers who have an established pathway to market.

Artistic stone will exhibit the acclaimed Versace Palace range by Gardenia Orchidea and the Valentino collection by Ceramiche Piemme.

Gardenia Orchidea and Piemme have joined a growing list of Italian tile manufacturers who will exhibit directly, or in conjunction with a local wholesaler. The list includes: ABK, Ascot, Ceramiche D'Imola, Ceramiche Lea, Cotto D'Este, Fiordo, Granitifiandre, Iris, Italgraniti, La Fabricca, La Faenza, Panaria, Provenza, and Saicis.

FFTSE will feature an extensive programme of tile & stone industry seminars, and a 2 day architectural/environmental seminar programme hosted in conjunction with Architectural Review, the independent journal of architecture.

A host of leading local and international speakers will participate.

In association with Tradevent, the Full Frontal Tile & Stone Expo (FFTSE) has launched a radical registration process. Simply complete the registration form and nominate your preference to receive your registration by email or an SMS to your mobile.

If you receive your ticket via SMS bring your mobile phone/ticket to the show and hold your backlit mobile against one of the bCODE screens and your registration badge will print in a matter of seconds. If you receive a bCODE registration via email, simply print your email, bring it to FFTSE, hold it against the bCODE screen and your visitor badge will print swiftly.

View the latest FFTSE press release, sent to more than 700 media outlets.

We are pleased to announce that Good Environmental Choice Australia (GECA) is in the process of establishing a technical working group for the development of Hard Flooring Standard.

The proposed standards committee will involve members of the Australian Stone Advisory Association (ASAA) and representatives of the Tile sector. Plus representatives appointed by GECA. Initial funding for the development of this important standard was donated by the Full Frontal Tile and Stone Expo (FFTSE). FFTSE, Australia’s first dedicated tile and stone expo, is focused on the development of sustainable tile and stone industries.

Please click here to read the Eco- labelling article published in Tile Today Issue no: 56

The Full Frontal Tile & Stone Expo (FFTSE) Commercial Tiling Awards will be displayed on large concept boards that will be placed on the mezzanine level of the Dome, which directly overlooks the expo floor at the Sydney Showgrounds. Each board will feature actual tile samples, images of the project and a textual description.

The entry that is deemed to be the best by our panel of judges formed by architects and members of the Australian Tile Council (ATC) and the Australian Stone Advisory Association (ASAA), will win the Premier award.

Category winners will each receive a special award. The FFTSE Premier Award-winning architect will win a trip to Italy to visit Cersaie in Bologna and Marmomacc in Verona, the world’s number one tile and stone shows respectively.
Click here to see more details.

Please visit the following link to view a range of accommodation, travel and car hire options provided by the Lido Group.

Note that the Novotel and Ibis hotels are located across the street from the Dome, Sydney Showground.

Visitors or exhibitors staying in town can catch a fast train from Central station. The train journey takes approximately 15 minutes. Sydney Olympic Park station is located directly opposite the entrance to the Dome.

Rydges Parramatta provide a shuttle bus that will journey to and from the venue three times per hour during specific time frames.

The road journey from the centre of town will take approximately 30 minutes. The best route is via Anzac Bridge, Victoria Road and City West Link Road, which skirts around the back of Lilyfield and Haberfield into Dobroyd Road this leads to the junction of Parramatta Road. Turn right into Parramatta Road, exit on to the M4 and take Exit 3 to the Showground. Go right into Homebush Bay Road, left into Australia Avenue. Abundant parking is available in P6 or P1.

Sydney Showground, the venue for the Full Frontal Tile & Stone Expo (FFTSE), Australia's first dedicated tile and stone show was admitted into the Meetings & Events Australia Hall of Fame, for being named Australia's top venue for catering for the third year running. In 2006, Sydney Showground served more than 650,000 people at more than 350 business events.

FFTSE will feature a variety of breakfasts and lunches, an exciting Gala dinner and an Architect's Reception. The majority of these exciting events will be held in the adjacent Southee complex. The Architect's Reception will be held on the floor of the Dome.

Exhibitors and visitors will have an opportunity to sample the venue's award winning cuisine at:
• An opening breakfast with guest speaker.
• A press club lunch featuring leading industry figures.
• An Architect's Reception on the expo floor.
• FFTSE and Architectural Review, the independent journal of architecture invite architects who attend FFTSE and the seminars, which will be held in the Dome, to enjoy a superb 2-course lunch.
• A fabulous Gala Awards dinner where the FFTSE Commercial Tiling, the Australian Stone Archithectural, Best New product, and Best stand awards winners will be announced. The award winning architect will attend Cersaie, Bologna and Marmomacc, Verona, the world's leading tile and stone expos.
• Tile fixers and suppliers of ancillary materials who participate in our FFTSE Tiling Competition, which will take place during the expo, can attend the Tiler's Buffet in external area 1822 where entrants can enjoy a beer and receive their awards.

All of these enticing events can be sponsored. A number of additional sponsorship opportunities will be announced in due course.

Contact Anthony Stock on +61 3 9888 3459 / 2246 for more information.

The Full Frontal Tile & Stone Expo (FFTSE) has expanded and moved into the Dome, the architectural jewel in the crown of the Sydney Showground. The Dome, one of the largest clear space venues in Australia, measures 97 metres in diameter and 42 metres in height.

We elected to move from the adjacent halls 2 and 3 when the Dome became available. Our original floor plan was 4,800 square metres. The spacious Dome (7,200 square metres) is one of Australia's truly spectacular venues, for events on a grand scale. Click here to view a current floor plan

The Dome is located directly opposite Olympic Park railway station. Parking is easy with 10,000 car parking spaces

SPECIAL EXHIBITS

FFTSE will feature a number of special exhibits that display natural stone, glass mosaic and revolutionary 3 mm Kerlite porcelain in intriguing settings created in partnership with leading Australian architects.

There will be an installation showcase and a proprietary product demo area, plus a major 'breathing wall of tile' exhibit that demonstrates contemporary mechanical tile fixing techniques.

SEMINARS

FFTSE will be conducting a series of concurrent architectural, sustainability and tile and stone seminars located in two theatrettes within the Dome that each seat 150 people. The seminars on specification and sustainability will be co-hosted with Australia's leading independent journal of architecture Architectural Review. Future editions of Architectural Review will contain thousands of invites to FFTSE.

WHO WILL ATTEND?

The organisers envisage that a significant number of architects and interior designers will visit FFTSE where they will learn about the latest Australian standards relating to tile, stone, installation, slip resistance and waterproofing. Copies of the standards will be available at the seminars.

Support from leading industry journals Tile Today and Discovering Stone should ensure a strong attendance by industry.

A major promotional campaign in the Sydney Morning Herald and the Home on Sunday segment of the Sun Herald which has 1.5 million readers, supported by exposure on broadcaster 2UE will attract the public, who can attend during two designated 4-hour periods.

As part of the 'Ultimate Tiling Experience' visitors to FFTSE can collect coupons from exhibitors that they must hand in when they purchase tiles at participating retailers' stores, or at stores designated by wholesalers who exhibit at FFTSE. The coupons must be handed in by 5 p.m. on 18th May 2008.

Each exhibitor must determine if they attach a special offer or discount to this promotion. When retailers return the validated entry coupons to FFTSE we will draw the winning coupon. The winner will receive a fabulous 14-day holiday in Vietnam.

Architectural Review (AR), Australia's leading independent journal of architecture, will co-host and present a series of architectural seminars at FFTSE. The August and November '07 and February '08 editions of AR will feature articles on tile and stone and FFTSE. Invites to attend FFTSE will be inserted in each edition of AR reaching thousands of architects.

Anthony Stock said, 'Promotion of FFTSE in our industry publications Tile Today and Discovering Stone should ensure that manufacturers, importers, resellers and fixers of tile and stone attend. Extensive promotion of FFTSE on radio and in print media in New South Wales will entice members of the public to attend during two designated periods. Our association with AR and widespread promotion to builders and interior designers will promote our architectural and industry seminars, which will be key elements of the FFTSE, Australia’s first dedicated tile and stone expo.'

Approximately two-thirds of the floor space has been sold contact Anthony Stock for more information.

Less than two months after the launch of Australia's first dedicated tile and stone expo, the organisers are delighted to announce that they have released an additional 1,200 square metres of floor space to cope with demand.

FFTSE will feature a variety of special exhibits that partner architects with specific products. The FFTSE seminars will feature a variety of local and international speakers who will focus on standards, installation, maintenance and radical new products and technologies. The show will be held at the Sydney Showground, 17th-19th April 2008.

FFTSE will naturally promote tile and stone as contemporary 'green' materials, which boast favourable lifecycle analysis characteristics and highly valued sustainability.

The Australian Tile Council (ATC) and the Australian Stone Advisory Association (ASAA) have announced their support for the Full Frontal Tile & Stone Exposition (FFTSE).

With additional support from leading international tile and stone associations, FFTSE will focus squarely on the merits of ceramic tile and natural stone as 'green' materials.

FFTSE is being organised by Anthony Stock the publisher of Tile Today, Discovering Stone and Creative Tiling magazines, in partnership with Richard Bowman of Intertile Research Pty Ltd who has chaired the Standards Australia Committee on fixing of ceramic, and natural and reconstituted stone for over 20 years.

Financial members of the ATC and ASAA will receive a 6% discount from the published floor space rate.