Attending the Xiamen stone trade event offers an efficient opportunity to evaluate suppliers, confirm manufacturing capabilities, and finalize details for granite monuments and tombstone orders. Overseas monument importers, wholesalers, and funeral supply companies should plan meetings in advance with vetted stone fabricators to inspect slab quality, review production workflows, and discuss customization options. Confirming factory capabilities before travel saves time on the ground and helps prioritize visits to manufacturers that meet your technical and compliance requirements.
When scheduling factory visits, request documentation of equipment and processes. Modern memorial producers typically use CNC profiling machines, waterjet cutters, and digital engraving systems alongside traditional hand-carving and sandblasting. Ask for demonstrations of precision cutting, edge profiling, and polishing lines to assess consistency in dimensional tolerances and surface finish. Photographic evidence or short video clips of the machinery in operation can be useful preparatory material if language barriers make on-site inspection more challenging.
Material selection is central for long-lasting memorials. Inspect raw material slabs for color consistency, grain pattern, and the presence of fissures or mineral inclusions that could affect durability. Common keywords in sourcing conversations include granite supplier, black granite, natural stone, and slab grading. Clarify whether suppliers offer certified stone types and request technical data sheets for properties such as water absorption, compressive strength, and abrasion resistance. These metrics support material comparisons and help determine suitability for different climate exposures.

Customization is a frequent requirement for monument buyers. Discuss options for custom shapes, inscriptions, laser etching, and applied ornamentation, and provide vector files (DXF, DWG) or high-resolution artwork to accelerate design verification. Confirm the fabricator’s ability to produce consistent repeats for cemetery spec projects and small-batch personalized memorials. Ask about surface finishes—polished, honed, flamed, or sandblasted—and the availability of sealants and color-matching for epoxy insets. Understanding the producer’s prototyping process and sample policy will aid in quality assurance before full production begins.

Robust quality control procedures reduce the risk of costly returns. Verify inspection steps that include raw slab acceptance, in-process dimensional checks, surface flatness and polish grade verification, and final product inspection for engraving accuracy. Request tolerance metrics and sample inspection reports. Third-party testing or certification such as ISO 9001 or SGS reports can provide additional assurance when comparing international suppliers.

International shipping and logistics are critical components of planning. Clarify commercial terms—EXW, FOB, CIF, or DDP—and establish lead times for production and transit. Discuss packing methods for tombstones and monuments, including the use of fumigated wooden crates, steel strapping, palletization, and internal bracing to minimize movement during ocean transit. Confirm documentation requirements such as commercial invoices, packing lists, bills of lading, certificates of origin, and any export fumigation certificates for wooden packaging. Determine whether the supplier has experience consolidating LCL shipments or arranging full container loads (FCL) to your preferred port, and check local customs clearance practices and duties at the destination.
To make the most of the trip, set clear objectives for each meeting, prepare technical specifications and artwork files, and identify logistics partners in advance. Bringing a translator or working through a trusted agent can streamline communication on technical and contractual matters. With careful preparation focused on manufacturing capability, materials, customization, quality control, and international shipping, buyers can effectively use the trade event to establish reliable sourcing relationships and mitigate supply chain risks.