Iran is emerging as the largest producer of travertine and onyx blocks as well as polished slabs.  Mahallat in Nimvar is important as it represents almost 70% deposits of whole Iranian travertine.  There are 700 quarries  in its neighbourhood with 4,000 stone processing factories. 400 quarry contractors in Nimvar and over 2,000 quarry contractors all over Iran produce a sizeable quantity.  Nimvar is famous for its travertine quarries.  

 

Some important facts about Iranian Stone Sector are the following:

 

Mahallat, Nimvar (300 stone processing factories and 64 quarries); Isfahan (1,500 stone processing factories, 196 quarries);  Orumiyeh (254 quarries); Tariz (104 quarries); Tehran (342 stone processing factories, 14 quarries); Zanjan (76 quarries); Zahedan (29 Quarries); Shiraz (115 quarries); Qom (84 factories, 16 quarries); Sanandaj (stone processing, 87 quarries); Kerman (95 quarries); Kermanshah (64 quarries); Khoramabad (103 stone processing factories, 145 quarries); Hamedan (327 quarries); Yazd (256 quarries); Kashan (145 stone processing factories, 15 quarries)

 

Most of the machines have been supplied by Italian  manures.  Diamond tools and polishing abrasives both for quarry and processing are being imported from Italy.  Turkish manufacturers and lately Indian manufacturers of machines, diamond tools and polishing abrasives have started supplying. 

 

In order to promote travertine from Mahallat, first Iran Stone Expo was held in 2008 wherein blocks, slabs, tiles, technology, tools and polishing abrasives, chemicals, quarrying and processing machinery etc. were displayed. 

 

Iran Stone Expo 2017 held from 17 -20 October, 2017 had 85,000 sq m of floor area, 380 exhibitors, 40,000 visitors including 1,000 overseas visitors and exhibitors from 10 countries.  More than 8,000 tonnes of blocks from 150 quarries of Iran were displayed.  

 

Mr. Vikrant Vikram Rastogi, Editor, Stone Panorama, participated in the exhibition with their own booth and provided technical and commercial information about Indian manufacturers of machines, diamond tools, polishing abrasives as well as exporters of granite and marble to Iranian importers. 

 

11th Iran Stone Expo shall be held at Mahallat in Nimvar in Markazi Province of Iran from 11th to 14th October, 2018.