(November 2009) Printing sandstone instead of stonewalling. The world’s biggest 3D printer has been introduced by the British d_shape Company used to produce entire houses. The printer applies sand in layers which is then hardened with the help of an inorganic glue. The layers are applied with the help of a print-head attached to scaffolding and which is carried back and forth. After a day of hardening the wall is purportedly as stable as sandstone according to d_shape.

An unusual ceramic idea was presented at this year’s Cersaie trade fair in Bologna by the Japanese producer Inax: Micropores in his „Ecocarat“ line help regulate environmental moisture and odours. Odd since the sealed surface of ceramic was hitherto thought to be an asset relative to porous stone surfaces.

„Stonepedia“ is the name the US company Marble and Granite Inc gave their new app for iPhones. Users can gather information on the company’s offers or get help for installing natural stone products.

The Coverings Trade Fair is scheduled to take place in 2011 in Los Angeles. With it the fair is migrating westward. During the previous years it alternated between Orlando (Florida) and Chicago. In 2010 the fair will be held in Orlando.

The TechniPierre trade fair will not take place in Liège in Belgium in 2010. It has been rescheduled for March 31st to April 3rd 2011.

Berlin’s famous Green Head can be seen once again since the New Museum has reopened after restoration. The famous sculpture (1, 2) stems from Egypt 400 B.C. and is made of grey wacke. Unusual for the time, it depicts a particular person not merely a general face. Nefertiti can also be seen once again. Recent reports have it that a second limestone portrait with wrinkles and not as beautiful was concealed below its plaster exterior. Latest examinations doubt this theory.

Video of the month: The Swiss now even clean their mountains according to a webvideo (German) by the local tourist office. The idea became a market niche (German): tourists are now cliff-hanging to remove loose chunks of stone and or are filling cracks with earth to prevent land slides.