The Institute of Construction Technology (AIDICO) takes part this week in the Natural Stone Fair MARMOMACC 2009, which is being held in Verona (Italy) from today, Wednesday, until next Saturday, with the object of presenting the main technological innovations in the sector.

In the field of production and safety at work, AIDICO will present a new process for the treatment of natural stone, together with Bulma, the machinery company and the marble company, García moya. The new process is based on using water resins called Aquastone. This innovation is a result of collaborating in a research consortium, which is part of an R&D programme co-financed by the Valencian Department of Industry Trade and Innovation

Among other innovations to be shown will be the new self-cleaning materials - “Self Cleaning Stone” – which have a high capacity for sticking to the surface of the stone and act as a long-lasting, performance-proved self-cleaning system for exteriors

In the area concerning energy efficiency and sustainability, AIDICO in collaboration with the Alicante Marble Association, will disseminate the properties of a patented natural stone, “Conforstone”, among which its capacity for storing heat and behaving as a temperature conditioner for buildings stand out. This innovation was made possible thanks to the international I-stone project developed by a total of 42 partners, some of them Valencian. This new stone is suitable for outdoors on facades and for interiors, and the forecast is that this is going to mean a revolution in the application of natural stone in architecture.

The marble sector is carrying out important work to favour innovation, in that one of the best ways to combat the credit crunch is by offering novel products, which enable exports and competitiveness to be increased.

AIDICO, which belongs to the Network of Technology Institutes from the Valencian Community (REDIT), is driven by the Regional Department of Industry, Trade and Innovation.