This week, more than 1,700 businesses from around the world will gather in Orlando, Florida, to exhibit at The International Builders’ Show (IBS), hosted by the National Association of Home Builders. Among those exhibitors will be two Virginia-based companies, ActivWall Systems and Evolve Stone, who will represent the Commonwealth while showcasing their products and a growing partnership on an international stage.
For ActivWall Systems, a custom window and door manufacturer based in Martinsville, Virginia, IBS 2026 marks the company’s first time exhibiting at the show. ActivWall received funding support from the Virginia Economic Development Partnership (VEDP) to help enable the company’s international debut and continued expansion into new markets. ActivWall will unveil three new products to the industry at IBS.
“Exhibiting at the International Builders’ Show for the first time is a major milestone for ActivWall,” said Duke Ferrell, President and Co-Founder of ActivWall. “We’re proud to represent Virginia while introducing new products that reflect our commitment to innovation, performance, and thoughtful design.” He added, “Support from the Virginia Economic Development Partnership has been instrumental in helping us bring ActivWall to a larger audience, and we’re excited to showcase what’s possible when great products and great partners come together.”
Evolve Stone, a manufacturer of a mortarless, nailable stone veneer product based in Winchester, Virginia, will also exhibit at IBS 2026. This will not be Evolve Stone’s first appearance at the show. In 2022, the company earned two prestigious IBS awards, including Most Innovative Building Material and Best in Show.
ActivWall and Evolve Stone first connected through social media in 2024 and have since collaborated on multiple projects and marketing initiatives. ActivWall’s Martinsville showroom prominently features Evolve Stone products surrounding its Gas Strut Window and Pivot Door displays. Marketing Director Jennifer Doss shared, “What began as a digital connection quickly evolved into a meaningful partnership. Seeing our products used together in real spaces helps architects, builders, and homeowners better envision how thoughtful materials and innovative design can work together across both residential and commercial projects.”
Building on that success, the companies have collaborated on cross-booth product displays for IBS. This year, Evolve Stone products will be incorporated into the ActivWall booth to add texture and visual interest. Looking ahead, ActivWall will reciprocate by featuring one of its custom window products within the Evolve Stone booth at IBS 2027.
Daniel Fritz, Vice President of Evolve Stone, said, “We are honored to be featured in ActivWall’s booth at IBS as we continue a partnership that began in 2024. Both of our Virginia-based companies are dedicated to solving real-world construction challenges. While ActivWall has reimagined how windows and doors create indoor-outdoor connections, Evolve Stone has transformed the industry by introducing the first-ever face-nailable stone veneer—making this a truly unique collaboration. We look forward to showcasing their exceptional products in our own booth in the coming years as we continue to prove that Virginia manufacturing leads the way in innovation.”
