PHOTOnews - TILE Edizioni

Transcription

ISSN2039-8301
Cersaie
2012
Cersaie - Hall 15 D31
Cersaie - Hall 16 B31
glsdesign.it
Advertising
Maximum is here, the first technical porcelain slab with extraordinary dimensions: 1.5 metres wide,
3 metres long and a choice of thickness between 3 mm or 6 mm. Maximum tiles are flexible, resistant,
lightweight and environmentally friendly, providing limitless possibilities for your projects and complete
architectural sustainability.
CERSAIE 2012, Pav. 25, booth A122-B123
www.edilgres.it
www.edilcuoghi.it
Advertising
Available also in 12mm thickness
standard
laying
raised
laying
laying on sand
and gravel
laying
on grass
wire
natural
in.out
Advertising
July / September 2012 - N. 3
Publisher:
Tile Edizioni S.r.l.
Via Fossa Buracchione 84 • 41126 Baggiovara (Modena) • Italy
Tel. +39 059 512 103 • Fax +39 059 512 157
[email protected] • www.ceramicworldweb.it
Codice Fiscale / P. IVA: IT02778050365 - Capitale Sociale: 51.400,00 €
R.E.A. 329775 - Iscr. al Registro delle Imprese di Modena
Periodico trimestrale registrato presso il Tribunale di Modena
al n. 1828 in data 21/02/2007 - Iscrizione ROC n. 9673
Editor and Publishing coordination:
Chiara Bruzzichelli
• Contributing editors:
- Luca Baraldi
- Silvia Bertolani
- Christian Brunsmann
- Sara Falsetti
- Paola Giacomini
- Paolo Palmas
- Ron Treister
• Secretariat: [email protected]
• Translation:
- Geoff Day
- John Freeman
Advertising:
• www.tiledizioni.it/subscription
• Each copy: Euro 4
• Subscription:
- Italy, 1 year: Euro 50
- Abroad, 1 year: Euro 70
- Italy, 2 years: Euro 70
- Abroad, 2 years: Euro 90
Spedizione in a.p. presso la
Filiale di Modena. L’IVA sugli
abbonamenti, nonché sulla
vendita dei fascicoli separati, è
assolta dall’Editore ai sensi dell’art
74 primo comma lettera C del
DPR 26.10.72 N. 633 e successive
modificazioni.
© 1989 Tile Italia
• Tile Edizioni
ms. Paola Giacomini
ms. Elisa Verzelloni
Tel. +39 059 822 337
Fax +39 059 826 803
[email protected]
[email protected]
• mr. Alberto Tolomelli
Tel/Fax: +39 051 381 939
Mobile: +39 335 594 8681
[email protected]
• Studio Mitos
mr. Michele Tosato (Triveneto)
Tel. +39 0422 892 368
Fax +39 0422 891 055
Mobile: +39 348 8732626
[email protected]
• Graphic Layout:
Sara Falsetti
• Print:
Arbe Industrie Grafiche S.p.A.
Via Emilia Ovest, 1014
41123 Modena - Italy
• Photoliphie:
Vaccari Zincografica
Via E. Salgari, 61
41123 Modena - Italy
Tile Edizioni srl, in conformità al “testo unico sulla privacy”, garantisce la riservatezza dei dati usati
per gli abbonamenti e per gli scopi tipici della stampa specializzata e la possibilità di modificarli o
cancellarli (art. 7 del D.L. 196/2003) a mezzo richiesta scritta.
Tutti i diritti di riproduzione e traduzione degli articoli pubblicati sono riservati. E’ vietata la
riproduzione anche parziale senza l’autorizzazione dell’Editore. L’Editore non assume responsabilità
per opinioni espresse dagli autori dei testi redazionali e pubblicitari.
Entire contents Copyright Tile Edizioni srl
All right reserved.
Opinions expressed by writers are not necessarily those held by
the publisher who is not held responsible.
TILE EDIZIONI ALSO PUBLISHES:
7
Advertising
‡Flag indicates LATICRETE headquarters.
A-5176-0812
Snap for more information.
LATICRETE is a global manufacturer of installation materials and methods
for tile and stone. For over 50 years architects, engineers, and contractors
in over 80 countries across the globe have relied on the proven performance
of LATICRETE technology. From underlayments, waterproofing, sound and
crack isolation, to floor warming, tile adhesive and grouts, LATICRETE offers
the products, systems, warranties and technical support to ensure projects
become a success.
www.laticrete.com | +1.203.393.0010
For Low VOCs
Globally Proven
Construction Solutions
Come see us at Cersaie
Stand 36 Area 45
Advertising
Visit us at Cersaie 2012 - Area 45, Booth 49
Advertising
PATENTED
Contents
13 - Editorial
Cersaie celebrates 30 years of blazing its own trail STARLIKE
Defender
Antibacterial
by Chiara Bruzzichelli
PHOTOnews
14 - Tagina for Altamarea Beach Village in Cattolica
16 - Gazzotti for i.lab by Richard Meier
18 - Acid-stained flooring for Beauty Pharm
20 - Tilefax
In the Spotlight
32 - Saudi Ceramics maintains steady growth
36 - No shutdown for Ceramica Sant’Agostino
40 - Growt for Rondine Group
44 - Home Design, high-end distribution in Israel
Economic&Market
48 - The world’s top tile and sanitaryware manufacturers
54 - 2011 USA ceramic tile industry update
by Paola Giacomini
by Chiara Bruzzichellii
by Paola Giacomini
by Luca Baraldi
by US Commerce Dept
ISSN2039-8301
Cover picture by:
ANDRETTO® DESIGN - DI PIÙ srl - www.dipiusrl.com
Advertiser’s list: page 107
Subscription order form: www.tiledizioni.it/subscription
Translations:
Geoff Day / John Freeman
LTi
A
ia
med
kills 99,9%
of the bacteria
mu
99,9%
Cersaie
2012
This logo
indicates that
there is multimedia contents
for your tablet
Advertising
56 - Contract Suppliers
by Chiara Bruzzichelli Project
80 - Bringing new comforts to an old house
84 - Porto Mirabello and the Gulf of La Spezia
88 - Laticrete soars to new heights with the Al Hamra Tower
92 - Gold LEED rating for GEL in Shanghai
by Christian Brunsmann
by Paolo Palmas
by Ron Treister
96 - Art&Culture
Patrizia Garavini: the ceramic artist from the low plains
by Sara Falsetti
Cersaie
104 - Cersaie celebrates 30 years of blazing its own trail
110 - Franco Manfredini, Confindustria Ceramica:
recession is a reality, despite the strength of the cluster
112 - The Gallery
134 - Exhibition Calendar
Cersaie
25-29 SePTeMBeR 2012
for tablet and
2012
smartphone
free
download
PAT ENT ED
Advertising
A New Kind of Martini at Cersaie!
Our Martini offers a new twist in glass mosaic shape, derived
from that of a classic martini shaker.
Martini-shaped tiles from the AGATE Collection in “Pisa” with pearl finish.
Visit us at Cersaie 2012 at Hall 16 C 48! You’ll see tile creations
with colors, sizes and shapes that will stir your senses.
Editorial
Cersaie celebrates 30 years
of blazing its own trail
to look up. Where has this wind
come from? What’s happening? What’s going to happen? It
made us realise that it was time
to reflect on the present and
study the past, in order to imagine the future.”
The gusts of wind are as powerful as ever, and the difficult mental exercise of imagining the future is widely practised and as
transnational as the recession itself. And Cersaie has been
measuring itself against customers and visitors from all
around the world for 30 years.
“Building, Dwelling, Thinking”
was conceived for the purpose
of extending the debate beyond the realms of commerce,
getting right to the heart of the
building world and addressing
the topics debated by architects, which ultimately extend to
emerging life-styles and the new
requirements of dwelling.
The knowledge that the Bologna-based trade fair is still the
leading international showcase
for the sectors it represents, however, is obviously not enough to
calm the nerves of people working in and around the construction industry, so in this respect,
what do the latest figures tell us?
- In the United States, the National Association of Realtors announced that sales of existing
homes rose by 2.3% in July to a
total of 4.47 million units, as
against a forecast figure of 4.5
million. As for new homes, the
Trade Department recently reported a fall of 8.4% in June
(sales amounted to 350,000
units on an annualised basis, as
against 375,000 units forecast
by analysts). In May, however,
sales of new homes in the USA
reached 382,000, their highest
level since April 2010.
• According to figures released
by Eurostat in July, construction industry production rose
in May by 0.1% in the euro
zone (16 states) and by 1.6%
in the Europe of 27. Eurostat
specifies that, on an annual
basis and compared with May
2011, construction industry
production fell by 8.4% in the
euro zone and by 6.9% across
the EU 27. Among member
states, the most substantial increases were recorded in the
United Kingdom (6.3%), Romania (5%) and Portugal (3.6%),
whereas the largest falls were
reported in Slovenia (-17.5%),
Hungary (-4.1%) and Spain
(-3.3%).
• In China, according to Reuters,
house prices saw a return to
growth in June and July (+0.1%
in July compared with the previous month). In May, prices
rose in 48 of China’s 70 largest
cities, and in June rose in 25 of
the country’s largest cities. This
figure may prompt the Chinese authorities to step up
their commitment to stemming the rise in house prices,
even though, on an annual
basis, house prices are reckoned to be still falling.
5
A
mu
ia
13
med
This NEW logo indicates that multimedia content
is available for your tablet
LTi
While a 30th birthday is an important milestone in the life of a
person, it’s even more important
in the life of a trade fair. And Cersaie, in this 30th edition, needs to
show that it has gained the necessary maturity to tackle the difficulties caused by the recession,
which is still weighing on the
world economy.
While consulting the Cersaie
website in connection with the
articles about the trade fair published from page 104, I found
myself re-reading the introduction to “Building, Dwelling, Thinking” - the title is borrowed from
the German philosopher Heidegger - and it seemed to be a
perfect description of the process of growth and transformation undergone by the world’s
leading ceramic trade fair. Here
is an extract from it: “Building,
Dwelling, Thinking” came about
from sniffing the air, which in
2009 reeked of the odour of recession. A powerful gust of wind
blew our hats off and forced us
Tile International 3/2012
PHOTOnews
-
PHOTOnews
Tagina for Altamarea Beach Village
in Cattolica (ITALY)
The Altamarea Beach Village in Cattolica has
chosen Woodays by Tagina for the renovation of
its swimming pool.
The project is particularly interesting because it
uses Compact 2cm, a thick-gauge tile that can
be installed without the use of adhesives, even
for difficult outdoor applications, such as on
sand, gravel or grass.
-
PHOTOnews
At the Altamarea Beach Village, for example,
Tagina was able to tile the flooring around the
outdoor swimming pool and in the gymnasium
area by laying the two-centimetre thick tiles
directly on sand.
The border was then tiled with the same
material as used for the flooring, in other words
Woodays, in the colour Pickled Oak, in sizes
61x61 and 15x92.
14
-
PHOTOnews
-
PHOTOnews
-
PHOTOnews
-
PHOTOnews
15
-
PHOTOnews
-
PHOTOnews
-
PHOTOnews
-
PHOTOnews
-
PHOTOnews
LTi
mu
ia
med
A
More contents on your tablet
GAZZOTTI FOR I.LAB BY RICHARD MEIER
Vintage Gazzotti, in Natural Oak, was recently
chosen as the floor covering for the offices of
i.lab, the new Research & Innovation Centre of
Italcementi, designed by the architect Richard
Meier and recently inaugurated by the Italian
Minister for the Environment, Corrado Clini.
The floors of the offices and lobby of the
research centre, situated in the “Kilometro
Rosso” Science and Technology Park, were
covered with the smooth version of Vintage
Gazzotti Natural Oak in the X Large 14 format.
Vintage was chosen because of its high ecocompatibility, attractive looks and outstandingly
natural feel. Richard Meier’s project meets the
most stringent energy-saving requirements,
and all the materials used are environmentally
sustainable. Such attention to environmental
considerations earned the project “LEED
Platinum” (Leadership in Energy and
Environmental Design) certification, the world’s
16
foremost energy and environmental certification
for the construction industry.
The flooring of i.lab involved the use of over
2000 sq.m of Vintage Natural Oak X Large
(smooth version), whose chain of custody is
FSC-certified. A small area of floor (about 100
sq.m) was covered with American Maple with
Vintage finish, specially made by Gazzotti for
this exclusive project.
-
PHOTOnews
-
PHOTOnews
-
PHOTOnews
-
PHOTOnews
-
The Gazzotti authorised dealer
for the project was Ceramiche
Signorelli of Calcinate, in the
province of Bergamo, Italy.
17
PHOTOnews
-
PHOTOnews
-
PHOTOnews
-
PHOTOnews
ACID-STAINED FLOORING
FOR BEAUTY PHARM
From a technical point of view, acid-stained
flooring consists of reinforced concrete
made with special fibre additives. Its surface
is then treated with acid stains made from
penetrating, reactive, metal salts (produced
by Ideal Work), which permanently modify the
colour of the flooring, giving rise to iridescent
patterns and unique effects.
Subsequent treatments then make its surface
18
scratch-resistant and easy to wash.
The installation cycle ends with the application
of an acrylic wax, with either a gloss or satin
finish, which makes the flooring strong and easy
to maintain.
The special chemical reaction that generates
the coloured surface offers two advantages.
On the one hand, it ensures that each floor
is a unique, one-off creation, which can
-
PHOTOnews
-
PHOTOnews
be customised to taste and made to blend
perfectly with its surroundings; on the other,
it completes the integration of Ideal Work’s
stains into the surface, so that they are no
longer subject to dissolution, denting, flaking or
peeling.
This has obvious benefits for durability and
abrasion-resistance, which are in fact superior
to those of concrete floors coated with acrylic
-
PHOTOnews
stains or other types of resin.
Acid-stained flooring is safe, non-toxic and nonallergenic, and emits no harmful substances:
once the staining process is completed, the
acids become inactive and the treated surface
is no longer subject to chemical reaction.
Acid-stained flooring provides architects,
19
-
PHOTOnews
-
designers and decorators with countless
original ideas for designing the widest
imaginable diversity of interior and exterior
environments.
Ideal Work operates through an extensive
network of highly qualified installers, who
receive ongoing training from Italian and
international specialists.
Tilefax
Companies,
News & Markets
LB SpA hands over to
next generation
partment, with a view to consolidating the technical leadership that LB
has always enjoyed in the
Korzilius continues to invest
in the future
Forty years since its foundation in
field of porcelain tile.
For the third year running, Korzilius is pursuing its
1973 by Ivanno Ligabue and
The reassuring revenues
plan to modernise its Mogendorf plant in Ger-
Ermes Bigi, LB SpA, of Fiorano
reported in 2011 confirm
many, with the introduction of state-of-the-art
Modenese, is passing the baton
the validity of the expan-
technologies. With an investment of 600,000 eu-
to Matteo Bigi, aged 39, who has
sion process undertaken
ros, the year to date has seen the installation of
spent 19 years working at LB, and
by the company, which
a grading line and a packaging line, which will
Emilio Benedetti, aged 42, the
will also be taking part in
help optimise logistics and production flows;
son-in-law of Ivanno Ligabue
Tecnargilla 2012 with an
two decoration lines for trim pieces (steps) and
and a manager of proven expe-
unprecedented range of
terrace tiles, not to mention a sophisticated pro-
rience in industrial engineering
technologies,
duction control system.
and automation for the ceramic
dry grinding technology
The first results of this latest round of investment
industry. LB SpA thus remains an
with micro-granulation of
will be unveiled at the upcoming Cersaie and
independent,
ceramic bodies, which is
subsequently at the Bau trade fair in Munich in
with a strong commitment to pur-
revolutionising
January 2013.
suing the prestigious path em-
production processes, es-
barked upon by its founders.
pecially
LB SpA is focusing its investments
where energy-saving and
in two main areas: first, on
environmental considera-
family
business,
in
including
ceramic
countries
strengthening the sales network, with a view to
tions are a decisive factor in the choice of pro-
expanding international market share by ap-
duction technologies; and a series of important
pointing new technical sales agents with expe-
innovations in dry colouring systems for spray-
rience in the ceramic industry; and second, on
dried bodies (LB patent) and in press feeding
reinforcing the Research & Development de-
systems for the production of porcelain tile.
Cerdisa Ceramiche:
new web site now on-line
tions, photos, catalogues and thumbnails.
company’s commitment to qualitative and
From the home page you can access the
aesthetic excellence, which also extends to
various sections of the site, which include a
the eco-sustainable aspect of every phase in
From today, all it takes is the click of a mouse
section dedicated to product categories,
the production process, with particular atten-
to discover the world of Cerdisa Ceramiche,
where you can display a list of the compa-
tion to emissions and energy consumption,
the historic brand belonging to the Ricchetti
ny’s collections, and the Collections section,
and the recycling of waste materials.
Group, a leading manufacturer of single-
where you can search for products by name,
An entire section of the site is dedicated to
fired and porcelain floor and wall tiles for in-
colour or size (an absolute first), according
the certifications obtained by the company.
door and outdoor applications.
to your specific requirements.
Adhering to the general outline of the latest
In the Catalogues section, you can display
Cerdisa catalogue, the new website www.
and download, free of charge, all the cata-
ceramichecerdisa.it is an intuitive, graphical-
logues for the individual collections, with
ly attractive tool designed to help you con-
specific technical information about each
sult the site’s contents easily and dynamical-
product to help you choose the best solu-
ly, and download any material of interest
tion.
directly to your PC, including display installa-
The new look of the Cerdisa site reflects the
20
Tilefax
Duravit appointed official
supplier of Toro Rosso
world of Formula One in the past, and won the
to Friul Mosaic relates to the dome, as well as
2009 “race” in Abu Dhabi for the contract to sup-
2000 sq.m to be tiled in enamel and gold mosa-
ply the bathrooms for the new Yas Island circuit
ics reproducing a work by the artist Claudio Pas-
Duravit Italia and Scuderia Toro Rosso have
designed by Herman Tilke.
tro, which will require the continuous input of a
signed an agreement under which Duravit will
With almost 200 years of history behind it, Durav-
total of eight people, including mosaic artists,
supply sanitaryware and shower trays for the
it is one of the leading brands in the bathroom
designers and installers. The Aparecida Mosaic
Faenza headquarters of the Formula One team.
furnishing industry, has played a key role in the
has to be completed by 2015, and is expected
On completion of the supply of sanitaryware
transformation of bathrooms into havens of well-
to cost over 3.5 million euros, including the di-
and shower trays, Duravit will benefit from the ti-
being, and has always adhered to the motto
rect purchase of materials (which are of strictly
tle of Scuderia Toro Rosso official supplier for
“Living Bathrooms”. The company now supplies
Italian origin and supplied by Orsoni of Venice)
2012 and 2013, in addition to major marketing
an extensive range, which includes ceramics,
by the client, and the production and installa-
and corporate hospitality operations. In fact, the
vanity units, accessories, bathtubs, shower trays
tion of the mosaic by Friul Mosaic.
agreement will enable Duravit to show key cus-
and wellness products.
“This order from Brazil is the result of our compa-
tomers around the new Toro Rosso headquar-
ny’s constant commitment to upholding its
ters and invite them to the Italian Grand Prix in
unique standards of excellence on a large
Monza.
scale,” explains Barbara Bertoia, who has long
With its long-standing interest in the world of
been involved in the running of the company,
sport, Duravit is now turning its attention to For-
together with her sister Tiziana and the mosaic
mula One, to the considerable satisfaction of
artist in charge of the workshop, Natalina Que-
Ivo Giachi, Managing Director of Duravit Italia,
rin. The Aparecida shrine is not the only work of
who is delighted to be able to offer his backing
sacred art undertaken by Friul Mosaic. The com-
to a “home” team. The Italian headquarters of
pany recently completed the covering of the
both companies, in fact, are located in the prov-
semi-dome of the church of the Benedictine Sis-
ince of Ravenna.
ters in Rome, with a reproduction of Raphael’s
But Duravit and Toro Rosso have more than just
“Transfiguration of Christ”, and will shortly start
geographical roots in common: both are dy-
work on the orthodox church of Voroniz, in Rus-
namic outfits, ready to take on all comers and
sia.
rise to all challenges, whether on the Formula
One circuit or in the bathroom furnishing indus-
Friul Mosaic makes
Brazil debut
try.
Duravit has already enjoyed contact with the
Friul Mosaic of San Martino al Tagliamento, in
the Italian province of Pordenone, has been selected to create the mosaics for the large dome
of the National Shrine of Our Lady of Aparecida
in the state of Sao Paolo, Brazil. With a covered
area of over 18,000 sq.m, the Aparecida shrine
The long-standing staff of Friul Mosaic. From
left to right: Natalina Querin, Rosanna Gasparotto, William Bertoia, Paola Deganutto, Tiziana
Bertoia and Barbara Bertoia.
is the largest Marian shrine in the world. It can
accommodate up to 70,000 pilgrims and has
hosted three papal visits.
Numerous other Italian and international companies were involved in the tendering process,
but in the end, Friul Mosaic – founded in 1980 by
William Bertoia – won the contract, which represents about three years’ work. The task assigned
21
Tilefax
☞
Also read on www.CeramicWorldWeb.it
Del Conca Group: the
importance of research
stone of our company policy, are making us
with the Ghibli, Fun, Marble Hill, Satin and Green-
competitive on the market. We are confident
way series by Naxos.
that DUE, the through-body porcelain tile with a
Second place went to the Ambio Creative Cent-
In view of the attractive opportunities currently
thickness of 20 mm, and the revolutionary, new,
er in Beijing (China), a facility designed to host
available in the remodelling segment, the Del
patented Del Conca FAST system, will be win-
events and training courses for architects and
Conca Group has launched an innovative new
ning products in these times of recession.”
construction industry professionals. This project
product called FAST.
Ceramica Del Conca’s best results for the first
made use of the Enigma series by Monocibec
After two years of work in its own Research & De-
half of 2012 are from Europe: Eastern Europe,
and the Marble Hill, Sunset, Ghibli and Samar-
velopment laboratories, Del Conca recently pre-
headed by Russia, has reported an 11% in-
kanda series by Naxos.
sented the revolutionary new product to its sales
crease in turnover, while Germany, Austria and
Third place went to the Streamlight Building in
force. Del Conca FAST is a ceramic flooring sys-
France have reported a 17% rise.
London (UK); fourth to the Anthemus Sea Beach
tem for dry installation without the use of either
Hotel & Spa, Sithonia (Greece), and fifth to a
adhesives or grout.“With this system, you can lay
project entitled “Volumi ad incastro” (snap-to-
a new ceramic floor in just a few hours, without
gether volumes) relating to the remodelling of a
actually having to move out of the house, but
house in Montereale (L'Aquila, Italy).
just by moving the furniture,” explains the Group’s
The jury elected to shortlist and assess the pro-
CEO, Enzo Donald Mularoni. “The resulting sur-
jects was made up of Vittorio Borelli, Managing
face is stable, continuous, free from joints and
Director of Fincibec SpA; Aldo Colonnetti, Scien-
can be walked on immediately. If you then leave
tific Director of the European Design Institute;
your property, you can take up the entire floor or
Laura Rinaldi, an architect; Alessandro Lolli, Edi-
parts of it, reuse the tiles elsewhere and restore
torial Director of Ottagono, and Sofia Cortellini
the previous flooring.”
Klein, Managing Director of KleinRusso.
First prize is a Fiat 500, and the prize for the en-
The Del Conca group produces 11.6 million
Fincibec Group: The 2nd
Quinquennial Tile Award
tries placed second
The second Quinquennial Tile Award, organised
toia,
Conca Fast patent) and Due, the ideal series for
by Fincibec Group in conjunction with the mag-
Knoll. All candidates
raised flooring, with a thickness of 2 cm.
azine Ottagono, showcased an array of interna-
who had entries ac-
“The outstanding performance achieved on
tional projects, including submissions from Lon-
cepted for the com-
several markets in 2012 so far,” explains Mularoni,
don, Lebanon and Greece. All the projects
petition will receive a
“confirms that innovation and technological in-
represented the evolution of contemporary ar-
year’s free subscrip-
vestment, which have always been the corner-
chitecture, and were realised between 2007
tion to Ottagono.
and 2011 using materials from the Group’s three
A prestigious, invita-
commercial brands: Monocibec, Century and
tion-only,
Naxos.
event to be held dur-
First prize went to the La Reine tower in Beirut
ing the course of Cer-
(Lebanon). Situated on the sea-front of the city
saie 2012 will provide
known as the Pearl of the Middle East, the La
the backdrop for the
Reine residential complex is characterised by
official awards cere-
imposing volumes, circular shapes and cascad-
mony, and an oppor-
ing balconies (see photo). Style, elegance and
tunity to find out more
privacy are the hallmarks of all the indoor areas,
about the third Quin-
including the bathrooms, which were made
quennial Tile Award.
sq.m of tile per year, of which 70% is for export,
and invests 6% of its revenues.The company had
to install new lines for the production of Monte
Napoleone Fast (the first application of the Del
22
to fifth is a Diamond
Chair by Harry Berproduced
by
evening
PH. ANDREA FERRARI
Advertising
Marazzi. Your space.
TreverkHome, the new porcelain stoneware
with an incredible wood effect and ColorUp,
a light, glossy wall-covering collection by
Marazzi.
www.marazzi.it
Tilefax
Mapei at London 2012
Frank Richter, Chairman of the Board of Direc-
porcelain tile and glass and the colourful, ab-
tors. Exports accounted for a total of 78% of the
stract Stripes panels.
With its renowned products, Mapei contributed
Group’s sales. One of its most successful mar-
to the construction of numerous Olympic facili-
kets was Central Europe – with particular refer-
ties used in the 2012 London Olympics, includ-
ence to Germany, Italy, Spain, United Kingdom
ing:
and France – not to mention Egypt, the United
• Olympic Stadium, London
States, the Middle East and a number of Asian
• Olympic Tennis - Wimbledon, London
countries, including China, which reported sig-
• Olympic Football - St James' Park Stadium,
nificant growth.
Newcastle-Upon-Tyne
Over the course of 2011, the Duravit group,
TEK Arredamenti
at Cersaie 2012
• Olympic Football - Wembley Stadium, London
which has 31 subsidiaries operating in 119
• Athletes Village, London
countries worldwide, also increased its human
• Olympic Volleyball Courts, Earls Court, London
resources, and now employs 5684 people (as
TEK Arredamenti, which has been designing
• Olympic Sailing Club, Weymouth, Dorset
against 5415 in 2010).
and producing display systems and showrooms
• Olympic Training Base - Plymouth Life Centre
for over 30 years, is living proof that a company
• Olympic Training Facilities, Basildon Sporting
can combine progressive technological evolution with unique Italian craftsmanship.
Village
Reporting constant growth both on its home
Mapei was also involved in several other major
projects, such as a John Lewis store, the Westfield Stratford City Shopping Centre and the
Cutty Sark Museum in London, and the McLaren
and export markets, TEK Arredamenti will be
Sicis opens new showroom
in Madrid
Sicis has put down roots in Madrid, with a new
needs of dealers wishing to display large for-
single-brand showroom of about 250 sq.m
mats and a wide range of loose samples (60x60,
spread over two storeys.
60x120, 80x80 cm etc.).
Managed by the company’s Spanish partner,
The new Display series, which prioritises design
Estudio Arqué, which supports Sicis on the artis-
and functionality, will be unveiled both directly
tic, design and technological front in the field of
at Cersaie (area 44 – stand 83) and in the com-
interior design and architecture, the showroom
pany’s showroom in Via Regina Pacis 286/288,
is situated in Calle Lagasca 71, in the heart of
Sassuolo (Modena, Italy), with the aid of a cata-
the Salamanca district – the nerve centre of
logue and the new binder containing technical
Madrid’s luxury goods market.
data sheets to facilitate prospective customers
The new showroom is a 100% Sicis environment,
in gaining a clear overview of the company’s
in which the Italian company presents a com-
many solutions.
plete selection of its products by means of an
appealing collage of different styles, designs
Duravit closed 2011 with revenues of 353.3 mil-
and creations, all of quintessentially Italian
lion euros, representing an increase of 7.7% on
quality.
the previous year.
The artistic patchwork on display in Sicis’s Ma-
“Our partnerships with world-famous designers,
drid showroom includes panels made with the
and the high level of quality of our products
mirror-effect Colibrì collection, PixAll panels fea-
and manufacturing processes underpin the
turing the geometric effects generated by digi-
positive results that we have achieved both na-
tal art techniques, Flower Power panels, Cosma-
tionally and internationally,” commented Dr
ti marble floor coverings, the Basic collection of
saie, with particular reference to its latest display
systems, specifically designed to meet the
Technology Centre in Woking, Surrey.
Duravit revenues
up 7.7% in 2011
showing its new merchandising systems at Cer-
24
Tilefax
☞
Read also on www.CeramicWorldWeb.it
Eurobaustoff: a German
economic powerhouse
er selector, wall-mounting system and slide-rail
cause it can be extracted and moved by means
set in various sizes to fit the large 190 mm show-
of an extension hose, which also serves the pur-
erheads and an integrated shower system.
pose of directing the water jet. The hose, which
Eurobaustoff, a builder’s merchant, was recently
Available in a length of 450 mm, the angle-ad-
is covered by a Nobili patent, houses the power
ranked as one of the leading powerhouses of
justable shower arm adapts perfectly to shower
supply and water delivery sections in separate
the German economy by the Axel Springer pub-
cabins and traditional bathtubs, but also to
conduits. This means that the light can remain
lishing house.
much larger installations.
on even if you pull the head out without turning
With 2011 turnover of 4.98 billion euros, Eu-
on the water, for even greater ease of work at
robaustoff is highly placed in the league table
the sink.
of Germany’s top 500 companies, which is
headed by Volkswagen AG, with revenues of
159.3 billion euros. Ranked 136th in 2011, Eurobaustoff has climbed several places since
2010, when it was placed 153rd, and is the highest ranked company in its field.
Top Awards for Grohe
Power&Soul™ Shower Systems
Cutting Tiles the
Ferrari & Cigarini way
Grohe’s Power&Soul™ shower systems were recently singled out for a Red Dot Design Award
2012 and an iF Product Design Award. The two
awards, which are among the most sought-after
accolades in the world of international design,
Luce by Nobili Rubinetterie
were established in Germany in 1953, and are
The Compact line, a compact, easy-to-use tile
cutter, designed for multi-disc cutting and edge
profiling, has aroused considerable interest
given each year to over 2000 products of differ-
Equipped with LED technology, the Luce mixer
among ceramic manufacturers and dealers.
ent types. The Power&Soul™ shower systems are
tap by Nobili Rubinetterie is designed to illumi-
With Compact line tile cutters, you can make
equipped with an extremely handy control that
nate your kitchen sink.
high-quality installations with a minimum of per-
enables you to select four different spray pat-
The idea is simple but smart, and involves add-
sonnel and no bulky equipment.
terns: Rain, for a rain-like effect; Grohe Rain O2,
ing a light source to the outlet of the mixer tap,
The Compact line is ideal for ceramic and natu-
for a water jet enriched with oxygen; Jet, for
so as to focus the lighting on the inside of the
ral stone showrooms and dealerships, because
soothing tense muscles; Active Massage, for a
sink. The LED technology for this product uses 36
it enables them to offer their customers ma-
toning massage effect; and seven different
white diodes (six on the surface and 30 inside
chines capable of cutting strips, mosaics, skirt-
types of mixed spray pattern. The heart of the
the head), which act independently of water
ing boards, trim pieces, mitre cuts, straight-
Power&Soul™ system is Grohe DreamSpray®
delivery, so as to ensure safety and energy-sav-
edged
technology, which channels the water uniformly
ing. The light is operated by means of an inde-
bullnoses, etc..
to all the nozzles, thus providing well directed
pendent control switch, and switches off auto-
jets. The same systems are also equipped with
matically
GROHE EcoJoy® water-saving technology. GRO-
operation. The minimal energy consumption
HE Power&Soul™ showers, which are available
and the ability of the LEDs to emit light without
in Cosmopolitan and Contemporary versions,
generating heat, mean that the head remains
are equipped with selectors in 115, 130 and 160
at ambient temperature.
mm sizes, offering a choice of 11 different spray
Unlike lamps installed above the work surface,
patterns. The range comes complete with show-
Luce does not leave any area in shadow, be-
after
30
minutes
25
of
marble
plinths, full
bullnoses, half
continuous
Tilefax
☞
New web site for Coem
from the Grohe brand, which they can then use
lapped porcelain tile, which protects surfaces
to transform their bathrooms into a fully fledged
and restores their lustre.
Coem's website is evolving in step with the latest
home spa. The first floor, meanwhile, will host the
A starring role at Cersaie 2012 will also be taken
on-line trends. It is simple to use and has an at-
Grohe bathroom, kitchen and project collec-
by the finalists in the fifth edition of the “Treated
tractive layout that reflects Coem's policy of giv-
tions.
Like a King” competition, which offers prizes to
ing maximum emphasis to products and trends
the best projects undertaken by Fila Treatment
as well as the issues of greatest interest to the
Specialists and Master Treatment Specialists us-
public, who are increasingly accustomed to us-
ing Fila products. The jury will be assessing 24
ing web-based tools to obtain information and
projects, making the competition a big success
make decisions.
in terms of participation, and the most wide-
The site provides a wealth of information and
ranging since its inception in 2006.
features a comprehensive and highly detailed
Fila on show at Cersaie
product section. Extensive coverage is also giv-
Good 2011 for Pamesa
en to green issues in the section “Eco-sustaina-
This year, once again, Fila Surface Care Prod-
ble thought”, which has already prompted
ucts will be taking part in Cersaie (Bologna)
much interest amongst visitors. Another key sec-
from 25 to 29 September.
With consolidated turnover of 233 million euros
tion, entitled “The language of design”, features
During the event, the Italian company, which
(+22.3% on 2010), net profit of 8 million euros
a selection of projects that use Coem tiles.
has been producing solutions for the cleaning
(+18%) and a 28% increase in productivity com-
and treatment of coverings for over 60 years, will
pared with 2007 (+10% on 2010), Pamesa Group
be presenting its latest developments, including
appears to have left its troubles behind.
its partnerships with over 190 manufacturers of
All this has been achieved thanks to a series of
floor and wall tiles, which recommend Fila prod-
strategic decisions implemented since 2009,
ucts and treatments; the finalists of the “Treated
when the company reported heavy losses,
Like a King” competition, which is now in its fifth
which include close attention to productivity,
edition; and the developments of the Fila Green
cost control, outsourcing and production effi-
Action project, with GEV – EMICODE certification
ciency.
Grohe, a leading international manufacturer of
(low VOC emissions).
These positive results have also impacted on the
taps and shower systems, recently opened its
Above all, however, Cersaie is an opportunity for
Group’s employment figures. Over the course of
first Grohe SpA showroom in Italy. Milan thus
Fila to unveil its
2011, the company created 69 new jobs, to
joins the exclusive list of cities hosting Grohe
latest
reach a total of 787 employees.
showrooms, which includes New York, London,
derived from the
Commenting on these latest results, Fernando
Paris, Singapore and Mumbai.
Research & De-
Roig, Chairman of the Spanish Group, said:
David J. Haines, CEO of Grohe AG, explained:
velopment
con-
“Strong expansion into export markets has been
“After London and Paris, this new store in Milan
ducted
the
another major driver of growth: exports, in fact,
equips us with another strategically crucial lo-
company’s
own
accounted for 64% of our total turnover in 2011.”
cation in Europe, where both professionals and
technical labora-
The forecasts are bright for 2012 too: the Group
end-users can come and see our products for
tories: The prod-
expects to double its net profits and increase
themselves.”
uct in question is
turnover by 12%, to a figure of approximately 263
Distributed over two storeys, the new showroom
FILAPD15
million euros.
occupies a total area of 800 square metres, with
tured), an anti-
display windows overlooking the central Via
dirt and anti-stain
Crocefisso.
protection agent
Here, on the ground floor, visitors will be able to
specifically
for-
see and feel for themselves the latest releases
mulated
for
Grohe opens
first italian showroom
26
product,
by
(pic-
Advertising
Tilefax
Deutsche Fliese: latest
products from German
ceramic industry
es 33x33, 45x45 and 30x60 cm – and Voyage, a
C-Wood and C-Stone series, which draw inspira-
matt finish single-fired porous wall tile with differ-
tion from concrete, while also incorporating nat-
ent relief structures and flat surface options in
ural elements such as wood and stone.
size 25x75 cm.
Under the aegis of “Deutsche Fliese” (German
Ceramic Tiles), Germany’s ceramic manufacturers will be presenting an array of innovations at
Cersaie 2012.
Deutsche Steinzeug, Kerateam, Klingenberg De-
Cutter presents “Fully”
koramik, NordCeram, Norddeutsche Steingut,
Steuler, Ströher and Villeroy & Boch Fliesen will all
be exhibiting their latest collections at the Bolo-
“Fully” is a new manual tile cutter, designed with
gna-based international trade fair from 25 to 29
installers and construction sites in mind, for cut-
September. As well as renowned quality and
ting ceramic, porcelain tile, stone and marble. It
technological value, these manufacturers also
stand out for the elegance, harmony and design of their products, which provide an exten-
Kale Group among exhibitors
at Cersaie 2012
sive range of solutions for architects, developers
features a quick-release cutting head; fixed
head for single passes and mobile head for
subsequent passes; 45° adjustable carriage for
mitre cuts; protractor for angular cuts; and fold-
and private customers.
As well as its historic brands Çanakkale Seramik,
away feet for compact stowage during trans-
On the basis of the Environmental Product Dec-
Kalebodur and Kale, Kale Group will be taking
port. Cutter SrL, which was founded on the
laration (EPD) of the Institute of Construction
part in Cersaie 2012 with the Italian brands Edil-
strength of the Ferrari & Cigarini Group’s experi-
and Environment, member companies can pro-
cuoghi and Edilgres, which it acquired last year
ence in the design and manufacture of ma-
vide their customers with
and which bring the Group a vast range of top-
chines and systems for the ceramic industry, has
sustainability certification in
end products, enabling it to tackle the import
set itself the goal of meeting the need of ceram-
accordance with the inter-
market in both Turkey and Italy.
ic dealers, builders’ merchants and tile installers,
nationally recognised ISO
Çanakkale Seramik will take the opportunity of
for speed, flexibility and quick delivery.
14025 and ISO 21930 (envi-
the Bologna-based trade fair to showcase
“Fully” is a one of a new series of machines spe-
ronmental declarations for
about 20 new collections, including Maison Na-
cifically designed to speed up the cutting of
construction products).
turel and Maison Romance; the bathroom se-
tiles, marble and brick, for the production of trim
ries Illusion, Bohemia and The Cities; and the
pieces, such
new 30x90 format.
as
The Kalebodur brand, meanwhile, offers innova-
boards,
Dali, Equinox, Atrium, Alba and Hollywood are
tive solutions for architects and professionals,
plinths
the latest collections produced using ink jet
while Kalesinterflex – the largest, thinnest and
profiles. Cut-
technology that Ege Seramik, a well known Turk-
most flexible 100% glazed porcelain sheet avail-
ter SrL is an
ish tile manufacturer with 30 years’ experience
able in Turkey – is ideal for premium environ-
Italian brand,
behind it, will be presenting to an international
ments, both indoors and outdoors. The natural
which guar-
audience at Cersaie 2012. Ege offers innovative
inspiration of the Kalebodur collections is plain
antees safe-
formats too, with single-fired tiles in sizes 25x75
to see. Anti-bacterial and suitable for outdoor
ty,
cm and 33x99 cm, and glazed ceramic tiles in
applications, these tiles replicate the appear-
low
operat-
size 60x120 cm.
ance of natural stone and wood, in a range of
ing
costs
The new products on show at Cersaie will also
new sizes and colours.
and
short
include the Canyon series – a matt finish digital
Another important alternative for architects and
delivery
glazed porcelain line with multiple phases, in siz-
professionals is to be found in the Cement 2.0,
times.
Ege Seramik at Cersaie 2012
28
skirting
and
reliability,
Tilefax
☞
Read also on www.CeramicWorldWeb.it
INTRODUCING
PROXIMA TENDENZE CERAMICHE
Message of vitality from
Emilceramica Group
A Drop of Lenny Kravitz for
Lea Ceramiche
Proxima Tendenze Ceramiche is the new brand
Ten new col-
A partnership between Kravitz Design and Lea
belonging to Gtiles srl, under which the collec-
lections
for
Ceramiche has given rise to “Goccia”, meaning
tions produced by the latter’s Chinese partner
Cersaie 2012
“drop” in Italian, a new collection of wall tiles
Lola will be distributed.
and a branch
that offers a personal and contemporary inter-
The two converging arrows in the logo represent
in Brazil: with
pretation of three-dimensional decoration.
the exchange and coming together of two forc-
this
powerful
The collection consists of a module produced in
es – Italian design and Chinese production –
message of vi-
various three-dimensional shapes, based on an
thereby highlighting the concept of proximity
tality,
Luca
interplay between solid and hollow forms, strictly
and convergence.
Majocchi, the
in black and white. Raised geometrical patterns
Proxima’s strengths include a logistics facility in
new CEO of
are enhanced by the judicious use of glazes
Sassuolo, where the company’s marketing man-
Emilceramica
and graniglia powder in the final phase of pro-
agement is also based, from which it can reach
Group, assert-
cessing. “I designed a product that creates a
the entire European market with ease, and pro-
ed his adher-
texture which brings dynamism to the surface of
vide comprehensive, tailored services.
ence to the strategy that saw the launch of 13
a space,” explained Lenny Kravitz, President of
In Lola, Proxima, whose products derive from
collections in 2010, 12 in 2011, and major growth
Kravitz Design Inc.
partnerships with the Italian ceramic cluster’s
on international markets. “Emilceramica has the
Goccia adds to the already rich catalogue of
most prestigious graphics studios and pigment
whole of Europe as its domestic market, and
wall tiles produced by Lea Ceramiche over the
producers, has found the ideal partner for the
70% of its Italian production remains in Europe.
years, by introducing an unconventional ap-
production of innovative collections based on
This is backed up, however, by impressive growth
proach to the use of ceramic and bringing the
digital technology and the latest market trends.
rates in North America, Russia, Brazil and the Far
material into environments outside the tradition-
Established in 1993, the Lola Group generates
East.”
al domain of kitchens and bathrooms.
turnover of about 100 million USD with annual
“The Sassuolo cluster has been through a diffi-
growth rates of more than 20%. With over 500
cult patch, but this must not make us lose sight
sales outlets in China, and production facilities
of the strategic importance of our presence
covering a total area of 650,000 sq.m, the com-
here,” continued Majocchi. “[…] We invested 2.5
pany has production capacity of 70,000 sq.m
million euros in 2012 in reinforcing our produc-
per day.
tion facilities in Fiorano, with a view to further rais-
Lola is currently one of China’s top manufactur-
ing production efficiency and standards. […]
ers, with a strong focus on exports, and market
The current market situation is complex and
share spanning Europe (17%), North and South
challenging, but our results are encouraging:
America (22%) and the Middle East (15%). It
the products we launched in 2011 have been
now intends to consolidate its presence in Eu-
very successful and we expect them to account
rope by means of its already proven partnership
for over 20% of our turnover this year, while our
with Gtiles srl.
exports are forecast to account for 80% of Italian
output. We are proud to make our contribution
to the worldwide spread of Italian goods, and to
uphold the standards of style and quality which
are their hallmark.”
29
In Tile International No. 2/12, a photo was published
on page 50 in relation to the presentation at the Saloni
di Milano of the collection Hello Kitty ceramic tiles,
the ownership of which was specified incorrectly. We
would like to point out that the first ceramic collection
featuring Hello Kitty, the world’s best-loved fashion icon,
was developed under an international licence between
Gamma Due, with headquarters in Sassuolo, and
Sanrio, the proprietor of the Hello Kitty brand.
Tilefax
☞
major agreement between
Negev Group and Olympia
activity provides us with hope for further expansion of our production volume in additional
countries.”
Negev Group, Israel’s largest ceramic
manufacturer,
recently
signed an important, five-year
agreement with Olympia, a Cana-
Emac celebrates
25th anniversary
Emac, which has specialised in the production of
Paradyz Group appoints
Łukasz Kardas as new
President of the Board
trims and complements for ceramic floor and wall
tiles since 1987, celebrated its 25th anniversary in
Valencia (Spain) during the weekend of 25-27 May.
The event saw the participation of over 100 guests
dian company which is one of the
world’s largest distributors of ce-
On 26 July 2012, Łukasz Kardas was appointed
of various nationalities, who had a chance to find
ramic tiles and sanitaryware. Un-
as President of the Board of Paradyz Group, a
out more about some of the company’s future pro-
der the agreement, Olympia is ex-
leading Polish ceramic tile manufacturer. He
jects and growth strategies, while enjoying the
pected to purchase porcelain
started his career at Paradyz nine years ago,
magnificent climate and natural beauty of Spain.
stoneware products for a value of
when his work involved communication, market-
Nuria and Emi Biox, Emac’s directors, took the op-
some 400 million shekels (about 1
ing and trade marketing projects. Since 2010,
portunity to highlight the strong performance of the
Specifically, the Toronto-based
Kardas has served as Vice-President of the
company, which has shown sound judgement in its
company, with 13 subsidiaries across Canada
Board, responsible for the trade area. Under his
operational decisions and development plans,
and the USA, undertakes to purchase the Novo
leadership, despite the profound crisis in the ce-
based on the excellence of both product quality
series for distribution to stores, contractors and
ramic industry worldwide, Paradyz Group has in-
and customer service, while also investing decisive-
directly to developers in the markets it covers. Avi
creased its sales by about 10%.
ly in research, development and innovation. Over
Motola, CEO of Negev Group, explained: “The
Kardas is a graduate of the Technical University
the past five years, in fact, Emac has grown on all
huge deal we announced today serves as evi-
of Lodz(Organization and Management Facul-
fronts, including facilities (currently over 5000
dence that Negev is a leading company in the
ty) and the Warsaw School of Economics (post-
square metres), human resources (over 50 employ-
tile manufacturing market, not only in Israel but
graduate studies in strategic marketing).
ees), production (a range of over 3000 articles),
also worldwide, in its high quality, unique de-
Under the leadership of Łukasz Kardas, the new
quality of service, number of customers, positioning
signs and technological advancement. [...] I
board of Paradyz Group intends to continue the
on national and international markets, and reve-
believe that this deal has the potential to ex-
strategy adopted and implemented in recent
nues. Emac operates in over 110 countries world-
pand in the coming years and we will work to-
years. The strategy focuses on gaining leader-
wide, and established a subsidiary in Miami (United
wards that. [...] In the past years Negev has exe-
ship in the European tile market and on main-
States) in 2003, through which it serves the entire
cuted an extensive strategic procedure that
taining growth on the domestic market. Other
American continent directly. October 2011 saw the
mainly focused on utilising our knowledge and
important priorities include developing sales in
inauguration of the Company’s Italian HQ in Sassu-
experience for global expansion. We are current-
strategic export markets, investing in new tech-
olo, the heart of the world’s leading ceramic cluster.
million USD).
ly at the end of an investment process of 40 mil-
nologies
lion USD in the establishment of the new plant in
modernising
Yeruham to triple the existing production capac-
production
ity, which will enable us to meet the require-
plants. Under this
ments of large deals such as the one an-
strategy,
nounced today with Olympia. We have invested
company
a great deal in technology in order to meet the
tends to contin-
highest international standards. [...] Olympia as-
ue
sessed our capabilities for a long period of time
combination of
and chose us as its leading vendor. In this way,
top quality and
Canada and North America joined our global
world-class
activity basket, which previously included Russia,
sign within a sin-
Philadelphia, New York, Romania and Africa. This
gle package.
30
to
and
the
offer
ina
de-
Advertising
Schlüter ®-BEKOTEC-THERM
The ceramic thermal comfort floor · Der Keramik-Klimaboden

Low construction height
Geringe Konstruktionshöhe

No screed joints
Fugenloser Estrich

Quick reacting radiant
heated floors
Schnell reagierende
Fußbodenheizung

Even distribution of heat
Gleichmäßige
Wärmeverteilung

Low supply temperature
Niedrige Vorlauftemperatur

Low heating cost
Geringe Heizkosten
visit us , Italy
a
Bologn 012
e
i
a
s
r
.2
Ce
- 29.09 10
25.09.
Stand
Area 45
Schlüter-Systems KG · Schmölestraße 7 · D-58640 Iserlohn · Tel.: +49 2371 971-0 · Fax: +49 2371 971-111 · www.schlueter-systems.com
In the spotlight
by Paola Giacomini
Saudi Ceramics maintains
steady growth
Abdul Karim Al-Nafie

Founded in 1977 to
serve the booming
Saudi Arabian construction market, Saudi Ceramics
Company is the country’s largest ceramic tile and sanitaryware producer. The company is
listed on the Saudi Stock Exchange and owns and operates eleven factories for tiles,
sanitaryware, electrical water
heaters, frit, industrial mineral
grinding and plastic parts and
fittings, all located in the industrial city of Riyadh, 45 kilometres
south of the capital.
Saudi Ceramics Company has
a workforce of 3,400 employees
and in 2011 reported a turnover
of 245 million euro, 15% up on
the previous year. It has
launched an intense programme of investments for the
period 2012-2014. In the tile sector, Saudi Ceramics is also increasing its production capacity from the current 150,000
square metres per day to
190,000 square metres per day
in 2013.The company also has a
plant producing decorated tiles,
which will undergo a substantial
increase in capacity this year.
Managing director Abdul Karim
Al-Nafie described to us a company that is undergoing further
development in the booming
Saudi market.
Tile International: What factors
have enabled you to achieve
your current position?
Abdul Karim Al-Nafie: “Saudi
Ceramics has succeeded in leveraging its resources of good local raw materials, reasonable
energy costs, and experienced
work force to invest in the latest
technologies and produce high
quality products at competitive
prices.
One of the milestones in the
company’s expansion was its diversification into the water heater manufacturing business in
1998, a sector in which it is now
a global supplier with two modern plants with an annual capacity of 1.5 million porcelain
coated boilers. Switching supply
to natural gas in 2003 was another milestone. Entering the
fields of clay pipes and red
bricks are also two major developments in the company’s efforts to diversify its operations,
while maintaining its focus on
the building materials sector”.
Tile International: Could you
describe your latest investments?
A. Al-Nafie: “In 2011, Saudi Ceramics achieved a record performance in output, revenues,
and profits. In the tile sector, fol-
Saudi plant
32
lowing current expansion in production capacity we expect to
exceed an output of 50 million
square metres in 2012. We anticipate reaching 90 million square
metres per year in the next five
years.
Saudi Ceramics has been a pioneer in introducing new technologies in the region, including
laser guided vehicles, automatic surface inspection systems,
digital printing and, in the sanitaryware sector, robot spraying
and high pressure casting machines.
To maintain our competitive
edge, we believe in being at the
forefront of modern technologies. We have spent millions of
euros on modernising our plants
with the aim of improving quality and quantity and achieving
the best returns for our shareholders”.
Tile International: What is your
evaluation of new digital decoration technology?
A. Al-Nafie: “We currently own
In the spotlight
17 digital printing machines
and plan to gradually increase
this number to cover all our 43
production lines. Digital printing
has allowed us to produce
unique modern designs with
added value”.
Tile International:What is your
approach to environmental protection?
A. Al-Nafie: “Environment protection is a major concern, both
for our country and our company. We can’t afford not to invest
in protecting the environment,
it’s the only option. All our plants
have built-in mechanisms to
control dust, recycle materials
and keep the environment
healthy and clean. All our products are environment friendly”.
Tile International: What is your
approach to marketing?
A. Al-Nafie: “We sell through
many channels, from direct
sales for projects to distribution
through the wholesale trade. We
also own 30 showrooms throughout the country. Just 14% of our
Saudi ceramic tile collection
33
In the spotlight
tile production is exported,
mainly to the Middle East and
North Africa.
Our target is to expand our retail
operations to cover every town
and village in Saudi Arabia,
while also expanding our product range to cover other complementary products”.
Tile International: How do you
see today’s economic environment in Saudi Arabia and in the
Middle East in general?
A. Al-Nafie: “The economic situation in Saudi Arabia and the
Gulf region is excellent. We are
lucky to enjoy growth and pros-
perity. Building construction in
Saudi Arabia is booming. There
is real demand driven by demographics, government spending, and funds surplus. The rest
of the region has great potential
but is influenced by various political factors. We hope that
sooner or later they will also
have the chance to rebuild and
develop”.
Tile International: How is the local ceramic industry organised
and how do you deal with internal and foreign competition, especially from Asia?
A. Al-Nafie: “Along with Saudi
Ceramics, there are another two
sanitaryware producers and five
tile producers with a total production capacity of around 50
million sq.m/year. Other new
companies are on the way.
Competition in itself is healthy,
provided it is fair and that standards and specifications are respected. Today competition is
strong, both from local and regional producers and from
cheap imports, mainly from China, which remain very high. It is
a question of increasing demand versus limited local supply. It also indicates that the
Saudi sanitaryware collection
34
market is price sensitive, and this
is one of the reasons why Saudi
Ceramics is continuing to expand to fill the gap and provide
customers with better local alternatives”.
Tile International: How do you
see Saudi Ceramics in 5 years
from now?
A. Al-Nafie: “We will continue to
do what we have been doing in
the past, and hopefully better. I
see continued growth. We have
grown six fold in the last nine
years, and we can build on that
to learn from our experience for
a better future”.
5
Advertising
BOLOGNA
ITALY
25 - 29 SETTEMBRE
PAD 36 - STAND D16
Strada Statale 467, n.142/E 42013 S.Antonino Casalgrande (RE) Italy
Tel. +39 0536 824805 - Fax. +39 0536 822633 - E-Mail. [email protected]
www.gtiles.it - www.proximatiles.it
In the spotlight
No shutdown for
Ceramica Sant’Agostino
ny’s presentation at Cersaie
2012 of the new product lines
designed by Philippe Starck, the
internationally renowned star of
architecture, with whom Ceramiche Sant’Agostino has embarked upon a promising partnership.
Filippo Manuzzi

In early August, barely
two months after the
earthquakes
that
struck the Emilia region of Italy, we met
Filippo Manuzzi, brand manager of Ceramica Sant’Agostino.
One of the eight ceramic manufacturers affected by the earthquake, Ceramica Sant’Agostino
was undoubtedly the worst-hit.
The company suffered serious
material damage, but that was
as nothing compared with the
loss of life of two of its employees- Leonardo Ansaloni and
Nicola Cavicchi- who were
killed when the factory building
they were working in collapsed
during the nightshift.
The company has shown absolute commitment to rising up
from the rubble, and on 23 July,
just two months after the quake,
it restarted the kiln for doublefired tiles, which is now running
continuous shifts to achieve daily production of 3500 sq.m of
tile, equating to approximately
100,000 sq.m per month.
The recovery is in full swing, and
this is borne out by the compa-
Tile International: What happened in the first two months after the earthquake?
Filippo Manuzzi: “We kept relations with the market going: 10
days after the quake, we had already started making deliveries
again. Now we are also reorganising our automation, and we resumed production of doublefired tile on 23 July.”
Tile International: What direct
damage did the earthquake
cause?
F. Manuzzi: “Three of the four
kilns for the production of porcelain tile collapsed: fortunately,
these were the least strategic
lines. To give you an idea of the
force of the tremors, the lines in
question actually shifted from
their original location by a distance of 70 to 80 cm. The largeformat porcelain tile line remained partially intact, and the
double-fired tile line was left unscathed, because although it
was located in the oldest hangar, the structure in question is
made of steel and was therefore
flexible enough to absorb the
stresses of the quake. All the
same, the direct damage sustained by the company has
been valued at a minimum of
50 million euros.”
Tile International: How did you
36
organise yourselves?
F. Manuzzi: “The output of
Sant’Agostino’s factories is now
25% of total capacity, but since
we are the majority shareholders in Coem and Fioranese, we
have moved our digital printing
machines into their buildings,
and transferred 30 production
staff to their works.
On 23 July, when the kiln for double-fired tiles returned to continuous operation- generating output of 3500 sq.m of tile per day,
for a total of 100,000 sq.m per
month- production for that specific type returned to 100%.
Tile International: And what
about your warehouse?
F. Manuzzi: “Two thirds of the vertical warehousing system was
destroyed and 650,000 sq.m of
material were affected by the
In the spotlight
collapse. The operations involved in recovering the material were also highly complex, because
with
the
vertical
warehousing system out of service, everything had to be done
by hand, so we re-assigned
about 30 people to logistics duties.
Tile International: What are
your employment levels at the
moment?
F. Manuzzi: “Of our 350 employees, 200 are now back at work,
plus the 20 who have been temporarily transferred to Coem
and Fioranese, while 130 have
been temporarily laid off because the presses and glazing
departments are still out of operation. But before we can go
ahead and demolish the four
hangars irreparably damaged
by the earthquake, we have to
make them safe and empty
them… In the first four days after
receiving authorisation to access the buildings again, we recovered 170,000 sq.m of material… And we’re very lucky to have
so much space at our disposal
around the factory, because
storing all this material outdoors
is no easy task! This represents
an incredible work rate, which
we have achieved with the extraordinary help of everyone,
but the costs are enormous, so
we need to know, as a matter of
the utmost urgency, how much
state aid is going to be made
available. However much or little
such contributions might be, we
need definite figures to work
with… And I can’t over-emphasise the speed with which state
aid needs to be quantified and
assigned.”
Tile International: Is bureaucracy still a big problem?
F. Manuzzi: “Very big. The further
you get from the site, the more
uncertain the situation becomes:
the
mayor
of
Sant’Agostino is an exceptional
person, but he has no spending
power; the provincial council
has no decision-making powers;
the regional council is an effective institution, but Errani, who
was appointed Extraordinary
Commissioner,
has
limited
spending powers; the Civil Protection organisation has no experience of dealing with the
needs of businesses, and the
Decree Law passed by the government has many questionable sections, with particular reference
to
the
legislation
governing reconstruction…”
your forecasts for the short-tomedium term?
F. Manuzzi: “We expect to be
able to restart all our production
of porcelain tile between November and December, and
theoretically we’ll be able to produce the same volumes that we
were producing before the
earthquake, but we’ll be operating with a completely reorganised company and a simplified
product range. Many of these
changes were in the pipeline already, before the earthquake
struck: the market has changed
Ceramica Sant’Agostino @ Home & Spa Design,
I Saloni (MIlano Design Week 2012)
37
In the spotlight
and requires more streamlined
production- quality still has to
be of the highest standard, because that’s what the markets
expect from Italian manufacturing- but product ranges need to
be less fragmented and the variety of trim pieces needs to be
reduced.”
Tile International: How did your
customers react to your difficulties?
F. Manuzzi: “I have to say that
the reaction of our customers
both in Italy and abroad was
amazing. In the immediate aftermath of the earthquake, our
export customers actually increased their orders by opting
for full pallets. And even some
Italian customers placed orders
per pallet, instead of tailoring
their orders to the exact quantities requested by their custom-
ers. Now that we are able to start
shipping orders on a “quantitysold” basis again, however, we
are seeing a worrying drop in
demand from Italy, as a result of
recession on the domestic market.”
Tile International: What percentage of your production do
you export?
F. Manuzzi: “In 2011, with output
of three million square metres of
tile, our sales were still equally divided between the domestic
market and export markets, but
now in 2012, the domestic market already accounts for only
40% of sales, with exports filling
the remaining 60%; and this
trend is set to increase.”
Tile International: What can
you tell us about your partnership with Philippe Starck?
F. Manuzzi: “I met Philippe Starck
for the first time in his Paris studio
on 4 March 2011, after trying to
get an appointment with him for
two years. By then, Starck was already shifting the focus of his attention from the design of objects, towards a vision more
specifically dedicated to architecture. As part of this vision, he
was taking an increasing interest in ceramic coverings in particular, which, in his opinion, offer
new levels of ductility, thanks to
the ongoing research into the
material undertaken by ceramic
manufacturers. To cut a long story short, having taken a close
look at five ceramic tile manufacturers, Starck decided to enter into a partnership with Ceramica Sant’Agostino.
Tile International: When did he
inform you of his decision?
F. Manuzzi: “Just a few days after
our meeting in Paris, and at the
time, the agreement envisaged
presenting his first collection at
the 2013 Saloni. In the wake of
the earthquake, however, we
looked at the possibility of bringing forward the presentation of
his first collection to Cersaie
2012, and thanks to his cooperative attitude, we received the
first drawings in July.
So at Cersaie, we are dedicating 200 sq.m of our stand (out of
a total of 750) to the presentation of Flexible Architecture.
But that won’t be the only new
development: we will also be
presenting the Wild and Aspen
series- two collections previewed at Coverings in Orlandoa new collection of double-fired
tiles, and two ‘research prototypes’ for new series of porcelain
tile.”
5
PHILIPPE STARCK BIOGRAPHY
BY JONATHAN WINGFIELD
“Subversive, ethical, ecological, political, humorous... this is how I see my duty as a designer.” Philippe Starck
The thousands of projects - complete or forthcoming - his global fame and tireless protean inventiveness should never distract from Philippe
Starck’s fundamental vision: Creation, whatever form it takes, must improve the lives of as many people as possible. Starck vehemently
believes this poetic and political duty, rebellious and benevolent, pragmatic and subversive, should be shared by everyone and he sums it up
with the humour that has set him apart from the very beginning: “No one has to be a genius, but everyone has to participate.”
His precocious awareness of ecological implications, his enthusiasm for imagining new lifestyles, his determination to change the world, his
love of ideas, his concern with defending the intelligence of usefulness – and the usefulness of intelligence – has taken him from iconic
creation to iconic creation...
Philippe Starck
From the everyday products, furniture and lemon squeezers, to revolutionary mega yachts, hotels that stimulate the senses, phantasmagorical venues and individual wind turbines, he never stops pushing the limits and criteria of contemporary design. His dreams are solutions,
solutions so vital that he was the first French man to be invited to the TED conferences (Technology, Entertainment & Design) alongside renowned participants
including Bill Clinton and Richard Branson.
Inventor, creator, architect, designer, artistic director, Philippe Starck is certainly all of the above, but more than anything else he is an honest man directly descended
from the Renaissance artists.
38
Advertising
Goal: big dimensions
MONSTER300
The biggest
manual tile cutter
of the world ...
www.montolit.com
In the spotlight
Growth for
Rondine Group
ciated with the Saint Gobain
Group, a world-leading ceramic
distributor.
We took the opportunity to ask
Rondine’s chairman, Lauro Giacobazzi, to talk us through the
Group’s latest marketing plans
and product innovations.
Lauro Giacobazzi
Luca Bevini

Just before the summer
break, we paid a visit to
Rondine Group’s headquarters in Rubiera to
meet
the
Group’s
chairman, Lauro Giacobazzi,
and its new export director, Luca
Bevini.
They had two main pieces of
news to report: firstly the Group
has acquired 100% of the capital of Spray Dry, a supplier of raw
materials for the ceramic industry, in which Rondine Group had
already held a majority stake
since 2005; and secondly, Rondine Group made its first appearance as an approved partner at the 10th edition of the
Marseille exhibition, dedicated
exclusively to companies asso-
Tile International: What prompted you to complete your acquisition of Spray Dry on 12 July?
Lauro Giacobazzi: “We decided to purchase the remaining
49% of Spray Dry, owned by the
Baroni family, for various reasons.
One of these is that the move
represents a vertical integration,
which is strategic to our business, and relates to the production of ceramic tiles. What’s
more, Spray Dry, has been producing spray dried bodies for
porcelain tile 20 years now and
has deep roots in this area.
I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Finesind, another company owned by the
Baroni family, for the work it has
done in recent years and the
professionalism it has always
shown. The 100% takeover of
Spray Dry fits perfectly into the
expansion plans that we embarked upon some years ago,
and which led to the signing of
a five-year rental contract, in
2010, for Ceramiche Sadon, a
leading Italian manufacturer of
skirting boards and outdoor tile
formats.”
your current sales and marketing strategies?
Rondine Group headquarter
Spray Dry headquarter
L. Giacobazzi: “We’ve invested
heavily in our underpinnings.
As far as product innovation is
concerned, the fact that sales of
new series and formats produced in the past nine months
account for 30% of our turnover
so far this year, speaks volumes.
In fact, we have added 12 new
collections, and these major efforts on the product front mean
that within two years we will
40
have completely renewed our
catalogues. What’s more, these
sales volumes absorb our full
production capacity, and we
closed the first half of this year
with an increase in turnover, in
line with our goal of increasing
our export sales.”
Tile International: Have you
seen any variation in your ratio
of domestic-to-export sales?
Luca Bevini: “The work we’ve
In the spotlight
Monolith, black version
done to reinforce our sales network on international markets,
by appointing local resources,
with a view to improving our
brand visibility, has borne fruit:
the ratio of domestic-to-export
sales was 48% to 52% in 2011,
but export sales already accounted for 60% of total sales by
the end of the first half of 2012.
Exports to Russia and Eastern
Europe as a whole have been
particularly gratifying, with the
Baltic States topping the league
table. Germany and the United
States have also reported strong
performance. The goal established in our three-year plan is to
ramp up exports to 75% of total
turnover, with domestic sales accounting for the remaining 25%.
At present, we’re on target to
achieve this.”
Pietra Luserna
41
Tile International: What about
turnover?
Lauro Giacobazzi: “The results
so far are very promising: we
closed the first half of the year
with a 14.73% increase in turnover on export markets, compared with the same period last
year. That really is a good result,
especially when compared with
the average performance of the
industry as a whole… To achieve
this, we’ve made major investments in technology (over 1 million euros) and product research, which has led to the
introduction of two new formats:
a 34x68 tile, produced as an alternative to the 30x60 format,
which has been particularly
successful in Germany (where it
meets the latest standards governing weight in relation to installation specifications), and
an all-new 15x100 format that
we’ll be presenting at Cersaie
as part of a show installation entitled La Foresta di Gres.”
Tile International: And how
about your affiliation with Saint
Gobain Group?
Luca Bevini: “At the beginning
of the year we reached an
agreement with Saint Gobain, a
world leader in ceramic distribution, under which we were appointed as an approved partner. The appointment enabled
us to take part for the first time in
the Marseille exhibition, which
was held at the end of June and
is dedicated exclusively to Saint
Gobain Group’s strategic partners.
In the spotlight
in distribution for the construction industry. This was an important
international
meeting,
which served to strengthen the
long-term commercial understanding between the Saint
Gobain Group and its strategic
partners.
Tile International: And what
about Cersaie?
L. Bevini: “At Cersaie we’ll be in
Hall 16 again as usual, but this
year we’ve managed to bring
the Rondine SpA and Sadon
stands together, to create a
completely updated 400 sq.m
stand. On the Sadon stand,
we’ve
even
set aside a
special area
for displaying
our 15x21 collections and
the new, pressed 15x100 format.
This area, entitled La Foresta di
Gres, provides a complete overview of our stylistic interpretations of wood flooring. The instal-
lation was specifically designed
to highlight how our pressed
porcelain tiles are capable of
providing the
perfect
combination
between floor coverings and skirting boards, in a package that
represents excellent value for
money.”
5
ADVERTISING
A
approach
NEW
There we presented previews of
the new products that we’re
now showing at Cersaie: these
include four collections in the
new, pressed 15x100 format,
made with digital technology,
three new collections in size
34x68, and the Betonage series,
which replicates formed concrete and comes in three colours and four sizes. The event
also gave us the opportunity to
meet the various Saint Gobain
teams that operate worldwide
to learning
Industry online training
www.iiea-school.it
Advertising
In the spotlight
by Paola Giacomini
Home Design, high-end
distribution in Israel
Avi Motola

Now owned by the AFI
Group
investment
fund, Negev was established as a ceramic tile manufacturer in 1969. Over the years it
has expanded its activities into
the fields of import and distribution of floor and wall tiles, bathroom furnishings and finishing
products for home design and
is now Israel’s largest retailer in
the sector. The company has a
factory in Yeruham along with
20 stores, including 13 in Israel
and 7 in other countries around
the world. Alongside its own
products it also markets some of
the
leading
international
brands, including tiles from Atlas
Concorde, Fap, Caesar, Marazzi,
Ragno, Cerim, Floor Gres, Versace, Kale and Villeroy & Boch,
taps from Grohe, Zucchetti, Art
Design and Webert, sanitaryware from Keramag, Simas, Viega and Kale and adhesives
from Mapei.
The company has achieved
strong growth over the last 5
years. Its turnover has more than
doubled since 2008, reaching
139 million euro in 2011. It is ex-
pected to report 40% growth in
2012 to reach around 200 million euro, well above the expectations at the beginning of the
year.
Over the last two years, the
group has adopted a number
of new growth strategies that will
culminate with the start-up of
the new plant in 2014. We spoke
to Avi Motola, managing director of Negev since 2007 and
CEO of Africa Israel Industries, a
subsidiary of AFI Group.
Tile International: How are your
distribution activities organised?
Avi Motola: We operate in the Israeli market through three retail
chains which are highly differentiated in terms of product type
and target market. The high-end
Home Design chain is today the
country’s top retailer in terms of
turnover volume. In 2011 we embarked on an expansion policy
that involved the acquisition of
two brands that were already
operating in the market: Via
Arkadia in the premium segment, which has been operating as an importer since 1994,
and Super Ceramic in the lowend range. The same year we
also acquired Orgal, the exclusive importer of Grohe and Elgal.
We have a total of 20 stores, including some abroad in the
USA, Canada, Romania and
Russia. We plan to open a further 20 showrooms in 2013.
The Home Design and Via Arkadia stores stock our own Novo
brand products as well as some
of the most prestigious international brands.
Tile International: What are the
main innovations you have introduced in your stores this
year?
A. Motola: The need to set ourselves apart from the many
competitors in the home design
sector, especially in the ceramic
tile segment, prompted us to
carry through a number of initiatives with the aim of creating innovation, adding value and
strengthening the brand’s posi-
44
tion. We have launched a new
retail concept in the Home Design flagship store in Bnei Brak,
dividing the space into four different design areas: Classic, Vintage, Fashion and Urban. Each
of these features different
shades, textures, materials and
complementary products. In the
centre of the store a “green wall”
was built to emphasise how important the brand considers the
issue of protecting the environment.
Another important new devel-
In the spotlight
and the AFI Palace Mall in Romania. We also signed an
agreement recently with one of
Canada’s largest distributors,
Olympia, to supply around 8 million sq.m of Novo brand tiles
with a total value of around 80
million euro over a five year period.
Tile International: What are the
most important new developments regarding production?
A. Motola: 2010 and 2011 were
opment was the introduction of
the 3D Negev Vision simulation
system at all our stores. Whereas
customers previously had to rely
on their imaginations in the
planning process, this new service features a computerised
simulation system that enables
them to view the final result created by the chosen floor and
wall tiles, bathroom furnishings
and accessories and to make
any necessary changes.
For the Via Arkadia brand, we
are about to open the new
2,120 square metre concept
store in Bnei Brak with architecture inspired by the Venetian Arsenal, the venue of the Venice
Biennale. The new store will offer
all-round design solutions, specialist consulting and an exclusive product range tailored to
the needs of architects and designers, including Casa Mood,
Bisazza Bagno, Momo Design,
Catalano, Keramag and collections created by well-known designers such as Marsel Wanders,
Jaime Hayon, Antonio Cittero
and Karim Rashid.
Tile International: How are
your sales divided up amongst
your various distribution channels?
A. Motola: We generate 51%
in the retail segment, 38.5% in
the contract segment and 9%
through distributors. Exports
still account for just 1.6% of
our turnover, although we can
already boast important credits including construction of
the Moscow Mall, one of the
largest retail projects in Russia,
45
In the spotlight
the years of the transition to digital tile printing and decoration
processes. We have made large
investments to equip the Yeruham facility with the necessary
machinery and technology. This
made it possible to expand the
production range with the introduction of materials that are impossible to produce with conventional
systems
(stone,
marble, concrete and wood),
while at the same time launching the new Novo Imagine
brand devoted to custom production of ceramic and porcelain tiles. Novo Imagine delivers
increased decorative flexibility
thanks to a wide colour range
and the possibility of digitally
printing individual pieces and
checking them prior to firing.
Tile International: You mentioned your awareness of green
issues. What are the important
aspects of your environmental
commitment?
A. Motola: In recent years we
have invested more than 8 million euro in technological upgrading with the aim of making
our factory a fully green facility,
from raw materials preparation
through to the production pro-
cess, logistics, marketing and
sales. We recycle around 96% of
raw materials, production waste
and all packaging materials,
while our water recovery system
has enabled us to make water
savings of 50%. We do not use
toxic or polluting raw materials
or substances. We meet very
strict standards and all Novo
brand tiles display the green label certifying approval by the
Standard Institute of Israel.
We have also joined the Israel
Green Building Council as a
“platinum” founding member.
46
your forthcoming development programmes?
A. Motola: We have just signed
an agreement to supply a new
production plant, which will
raise tile production from the
current 2 million sq.m per year
to 6 million sq.m/year. The new
factory will be built in 2013 and
production will begin in 2014.
The overall investment will involve around 30 million euro.
The new factory will likewise be
built according to criteria of
maximum energy efficiency
and reduction in consumption
during every stage of the process. It will be able to recycle
100% of the raw materials used
and will be equipped with a
plant for recovering heat from
the kilns and dryers.
By tripling our production capacity we will be able to cut
our production costs by 40%.
5
Advertising
Economy & markets
by Luca Baraldi
The world’s top tile and
sanitaryware manufacturers

On the following pages we
are publishing the results of
our 2011 annual survey of
the world’s top tile and sanitaryware
manufacturing
groups
ranked by output volumes.
The tables are simple to interpret
and require no in-depth commen-
tary. We will simply point out the
most significant new aspects
compared to the same rankings
drawn up for 2010.
In the tile sector, the most interesting changes are in the upper levels of the rankings, with the Thailand-based Siam Cement Group
gaining the top spot after overtaking RAK, and the Mexican firm Lamosa rising from fourth to third position.
The Turkish group Sogutsen has
entered the top 25 rankings for the
first time, while the merger discussions (announced in December
the
2011) between the two
Brazilian giants Eliane and
Portobello – which would
have created a group
with an output of 60 million sq.m/year – came to
nothing.
After 4 months of negotia-
best
companies
of 2011
tions, the two companies
decided not to proceed
with the operation.
The rankings of top ceramic sanitaryware producer
groups are similar to those
of previous years and
have always been dominated by large multinational groups.
In general, the quantities
produced remained stable or fell slightly with respect to the 2010 volumes,
with the sole exceptions of
Roca, which rose to 35 million pieces, and Toto (up
48
t
1
Economy & markets
from 11 to 12 million pieces).
As in the past, the survey does not
consider the Chinese ceramic tile
and sanitaryware producers given
the difficulties in obtaining reliable
production figures, although there
are several Chinese tile producers
with capacities in excess of 30 million sq.m/year.
The turnovers of the
largest groups
The following few points will help
readers interpret the table of turnover figures of the world’s largest
ceramic production groups.
For groups operating in a number of different areas of the ceramic industry (indicated in the
column of the main sectors of activity), the turnover data refer to
the group turnover and include
revenues generated not just from
the production and sale of tiles
but also from activities in other
segments such as sanitaryware,
tableware, bathroom furnishing
and raw materials, or through direct distribution.
We have therefore differentiated
the groups graphically according to their core activities: in light
blue groups whose turnovers are
generated prevalently or solely
from sanitaryware (Roca, Sanitec,
Duravit), in green those with turnovers derived mainly or solely
from activities in the tile segment.
For example the leading group in
this segment, Marazzi Group, generates 92% of its turnover in the
tile segment.
The table therefore does not allow a direct comparison to be
made between companies with
a number of different business
activities and those that operate
solely in the tile sector, or between output volumes and values.
What it does do is provide a comprehensive overview of the various players in the world arena.
5
follows » »
ADVERTISING
Economy & markets
The top ceramic tile MANUFACTURERS in volume IN 2011
Groups
Production
(mill. sq.m)
Production
Capacity
% Exports
Number of
factories
Locations
1
Siam Cement Group
www.scg.co.th
127
150
13
22
17 Thailand, 4 Indonesia, 1 Philippines
2
RAK Ceramics
www.rakceramics.com
117
119
85
15
10 UAE, 1 Bangladesh, 1 Sudan, 1 China,
1 India, 1 Iran
3
Lamosa Grupo
www.lamosa.com
104
120
20
9
Mexico
4
Ceramica Cleopatra Group
www.cleopatraceramics.com
96*
103*
43*
8*
Egypt
5
Marazzi Group
www.marazzigroup.com
95
95
80
12
Italy, France, Spain, Russia, USA
6
Cersanit
www.cersanit.com
68*
68*
40*
3*
1 Poland, 1 Russia, 1 Lithuania
7
H&R Johnson India
www.hrjohnsonindia.com
62
72
2
10
India
8
Majopar
www.majopar.com.br
61
68
2.5
1
Brazil
9
Prime Group
www.ceramictiles.com.vn
58.4
69
2
8
Vietnam
10
Incefra
www.incefra.com.br
58
60
8
3
Brazil
11
Dynasty Ceramics
www.dynastyceramic.com
57.4
60
2
2
Thailand
12
Kale Group
www.kale.com.tr
56.5
67
25
23
22 Turkey, 1 Italy
13
Mulia
www.muliaceramics.com
55
(estimates)
76
(estimates)
n.a.
7
Indonesia
14
Saudi Ceramics
www.saudiceramics.com
45.5
45.5
14
5
Saudi Arabia
15
Lasselsberger
www.lasselsberger.com
45
47.5
n.a.
12
5 Czech Rep., 1 Slovakia, 2 Hungary, 3
Romania, 1 Russia
16
Vitromex
www.vitromex.com
44.8*
55.6*
24
5
Mexico
17
Roca Grupo
www.rocatile.com
40*
50*
n.a.
5
2 Spain, 3 Brazil
18
Gruppo Concorde
www.gruppoconcorde.it
38*
n.a.
n.a.
12
10 Italy, 1 France, 1 Russia
19
Arwana Citramulia
www.arwanacitra.com
38
41
1
3
Indonesia
20
Interceramic
www.interceramic.com
37.4
38
31
4
3 Mexico, 1 Usa
21
Ceramic Industries
www.ceramic.co.za
36.5
42
18
5
4 South Africa, 1 Australia
22
Eliane
www.eliane.com
36.4
38
10
6
Brazil
23
Sogutsen
www.sogutsenseramik.com.tr
36
36
15
3
Turkey
24
Corona
www.corona.com.co
34.5
40,2
20
5
Colombia
25
Vitra Group
www.vitra.com.tr
33.3
37
50.4
7
2 Turkey, 3 Germany, 1 France, 1 Russia
* 2010 Data
Copyright: Tile Edizioni
50
Economy & markets
The top SANITARYWARE MANUFACTURERS in volume IN 2011
Groups
Production
(mill. pieces)
Production
Locations & Brands
Capacity
1
Roca Group
www.roca.com
35
n.a.
Roca (Spain), Roca Brasil, Roca Sanitaryware (China), Roca Bathroom Products (India),
Roca Santekhnika (Russian Fed.), Roca Portugal, Roca Polska,
Roca Maroc, Roca Argentina, Roca Bulgaria, Roca Malaysia, Roca Obiecte Sanitare
(Romania), Laufen Austria, Laufen CZ (Czech Republic), Keramik Laufen (Switzerland),
Inker (Croatia), Santek Keramika (Russian Fed.), Gravena (Egypt, 50% joint venture),
Ugrakeram (Russian Fed.), Aquaton (Russia)
2
Kohler Group
www.kohler.com
21*
n.a.
Kohler Wisconsin Pottery, Kohler Brownwood, Kohler Spartanburg, Kohler Sanimex
(Mexico), Kohler Brive (France), Kohler Zaragoza (Spain), Kohler Tanger (Morocco), Kohler
Dole (UK), Foshan Kohler (China), Kohler Zibo (China), Kohler Thailand, Kohler India
3
Sanitec Corporation
www.sanitec.com
12.2
15
Allia, Selles (France), Ido (Finland), Ifö (Sweden), Keramag (Germany), Kolo (Poland),
Porsgrund (Norway), Pozzi-Ginori (Italy), Sphinx (the Netherlands), Twyford (UK), + Bath &
Showers brands
4
Toto
www.toto.co.jp
12
12
TOTO (Japan), Beijing TOTO (China), TOTO Vietnam, TOTO East China (China), TOTO
U.S.A, Taiwan TOTO (China), TOTO Mexico, TOTO Beijing (China), TOTO Manufacturing
Thailand
5
Ideal Standard International
www.idealstandardinternational.com
10*
13*
EMEA - EUROPE, MIDDLE EAST & AFRICA:
Employees: approx.12,000 • Facilities: 30 facilities in 11 countries CENTRAL &
SOUTH AMERICA - INCESA: Employees: approx.1,300 • Facilities: 3 in Costa Rica,
Nicaragua, Guatemala
6
Duratex
www.deca.com.br
9
13
Deca: 6 plants in Brazil, Duratex: 4 in Brazil
7
Corona
www.corona.com.co
8.4
9.7
Corona, Mancesa, Mansfield
8
Inax (Lixil Corporation)
http://global.inax.lixil.co.jp
8
10.02
9
Villeroy&Boch
www.villeroy-boch.com
5*
7*
15 plants in Europe, Mexico, Thailand
10
Cersanit
www.cersanit.pl
5
6
1 plant in Poland, 1 in Romania, 1 in Ukraine
11
Eczacibasi VitrA
www.vitra.com.tr
4.5
5
1 plant in Bozüyük (Turkey)
12
Lecico
www.lecicoegypt.com
4.3
6.7
3 in Egypt with Lecico brand, 1 in Lebanon with Lecico brand,
1 in France with Sarreguemines Sanitaires brand
13
Rak Ceramics
www.rakceramics.com
4.3
4.5
3 plants in UAE, 1 in Bangladesh, 1 in India
14
Cisa
www.cisaholding.com
3.9
4.5
Briggs (USA), Fanaloza (Chile), Edesa (Ecuador)
15
Duravit
www.duravit.com
3.3
3.3
Duravit Egypt (Egypt), Duravit Yapi Ürünleri San. VeTic. (Turkey), Duravit (France)
Duravit Sanitaryware (China), Duravit Sanitärporzellan Meissen (Germany),
Duravit Tunisia (Tunisia), Duravit India (India)
16
Lamosa Grupo
www.lamosa.com
3.1
3.6
2 plants in Mexico
17
Saudi Ceramics
www.saudiceramics.com
2.5
2.5
1 plant in Saudi Arabia
2.4
n.a.
The Civita Castellana district represents half of the total Italian sanitaryware production
and generated a turnover in 2011 of 200 mill. €
1.2
1.5
Eldorado Sanitary, Ceramica Cleopatra Sanitary 10th of Ramadam
Civita Castellana District
(Italy)
18
19
Ceramica Cleopatra Group
www.cleopatraceramics.com
Inax Vietnam Co. LTD (Vietnam), Suzhou Inax Building Material (China) , American
Standard Vietnam (Vietnam), A-S (Tianjin) Pottery (China), A-S (Shanghai) Pottery
(China), PT American Standard Indonesia (Indonesia), American Standard B&K (Thailand)
* Estimates
Copyright: Tile Edizioni
51
Economy & markets
The top ceramic tile & SANITARYWARE GROUPS’ TURNOVER 2011
Turnover generated with both Ceramic Tiles & Sanitaryware
Turnover generated mainly with Ceramic Tiles
Turnover generated mainly with Sanitaryware
Groups
Ceramic sector
turnover
(mill. Euro)
Employees
Main sectors of activity
1
Roca Grupo
Spain
1,551
21,100
Sanitaryware , Ceramic tiles, Distribution
2
Corona
Colombia
1,267
10,000
Sanitaryware, Ceramic tiles, Tableware
3
Vitra Group
Turkey
845.1
6,250
Ceramic tiles, Sanitaryware, Bathroom furniture, Faucets
4
Marazzi Group
Italy
832.5
6,000
Ceramic tiles, Sanitaryware, Distribution
5
Sanitec
Finland
771
7,200
Sanitaryware
6
Siam Cement Group
Thailand
601
7,327
Ceramic tiles, Sanitaryware
7
RAK Ceramics
UAE
590
8,500
Ceramic tiles, Sanitaryware, Tableware
8
Concorde Group
Italy
551*
(only Italian group’s
companies)
2,300
Ceramic tiles, Raw materials, Body compound, Special pieces
9
Lamosa Grupo
Mexico
548
5,110
10
Fiandre - Iris Group
Italy
500
(not Group turnover)
1,825
Ceramic tiles
11
Ceramica Cleopatra
Group
Egypt
486*
15,000
12
Villeroy&Boch
Germany
462
8,000
Sanitaryware, Bathroom & Wellness division
13
Porcelanosa
Spain
450
(estimates)
4,000
Ceramic tiles, Sanitaryware, Raw materials, Distribution,
Bathroom furniture
14
Duravit
Germany
352
n.a.
15
Interceramic
Mexico
328
4,000
16
Cersanit
Poland
326*
5,980
17
Kale Group
Turkey
307
3,265
Ceramic tiles
18
Florim Group
Italy
304.6
1,313
Ceramic tiles
19
Panaria Group
Italy
294.1
1,741
Ceramic tiles
20
Casalgrande Padana
Italy
292.3
1,095
Ceramic tiles
21
Eliane
Brazil
281
2,730
Ceramic tiles
22
Coop Imola
Italy
266.4
1,821
Ceramic tiles
23
H&R Johnson India
India
262
1,600
24
Lasselsberger
Austria
250
3,000
Ceramic tiles
25
Saudi Ceramics
Saudi Arabia
245
3,400
Ceramic tiles, Sanitaryware, Frits
* 2010 Data Copyright: Tile Edizioni
52
Sanitaryware
Advertising
Economy & markets
by Source: U.S. Commerce Dept.
2011 Usa ceramic tile
industry update
U.S. tile consumption for
2011 was 2.04 billion sq. ft.
(+1.8% vs. 2010).

Imports:
In 2011, 1.41 billion sq. ft. (131.0
million sq. m) of ceramic tile arrived in the U.S. This was an increase of 1.1% from 2010, in
which 1.39 billion sq. ft. (129.6
million sq. m) of ceramic tile
were imported into the U.S., and
a 5.8% increase from 2009.
Although imports still comprise
the majority of U.S. consumption, import penetration has fallen in each of the last five years
and in 2011 was at 69.2%, the
lowest it has been since 1998.
Mexico remained the top exporter to the U.S. in 2011 (in sq.
ft.) with a 29.9% share. China
held the second position, making up 27.8% of imports (in sq.
ft.). Italy was in third place with
a 17.1% share.
On a dollar basis, Italy continued to hold the top exporter position in 2011, making up 34.3%
of U.S. imports.
The next two highest shares belonged to China and Mexico,
which had 22.6% and 18.0% of
the $ value of U.S. imports, respectively. The $ value/sq. ft. of
all tile imports rose from $0.91 in
2010 to $0.94 in 2011.
U.S. Shipments:
Domestic shipments were at
672.6 million sq. ft. in 2011, up
3.6% from 2010.
The top five countries from which tiles were imported in
2011 based on total U.S. $ value (including
duty, freight, and insurance) were
Exports:
U.S. exports in 2011 were at 45.3 million sq. ft., up 7.7% vs. 2010. The vast
majority of these exports (in sq. ft.)
were to Canada (47.2%), China
(19.0%), and Mexico (10.4%).
5
COUNTRY
Tab. source: U.S Commerce Dept.
$ VAL 2011
$ VAL 2010
2011/2010 %
Change
2010/2009 %
Change
Italy
455,055,219
454,447,747
0.1%
5.8%
China
299,519,656
258,682,812
15.8%
19.6%
Mexico
238,182,912
213,044,823
11.8%
3.9%
Spain
106,538,076
98,410,437
8.3%
-5.3%
Brazil
56,364,685
61,410,415
-8.2%
-13.9%
U.S. tile shipments, imports, exports,
and total consumption in thousands of sq. ft.
Year
U.S.
Shipments
Imports
Exports
Total
Consumption
% Change in Consumption
from Previous Year
2011
672,587
1,410,194
45,278
2,037,502
1.8
2010
649,057
1,394,779
42,044
2,001,792
7.7
2009
571,255
1,333,252
45,555
1,858,952
-18.1
2008
634,374
1,685,532
50,512
2,269,394
-15.2
2007
544,988
2,178,258
47,478
2,675,768
-19.3
The top ten countries from which tiles were imported (based on sq. ft.) and their percentage
of U.S. imports for 2011 were
Country
M2 2011
Sq Ft 2011
% of 2011
Imports to the
U.S.*
% of 2010
Imports to the
U.S.
% of 2009
Imports to the
U.S.
Mexico
39,185,333
421,787,414
29.9%
27.8%
28.1%
China
36,417,871
391,998,701
27.8%
24.6%
21.9%
Italy
22,340,364
240,469,677
17.1%
17.9%
17.6%
Brazil
8,105,518
87,247,070
6.2%
6.4%
8.1%
Spain
6,860,854
73,849,618
5.2%
5.1%
5.7%
Peru
3,805,906
40,966,431
2.9%
2.6%
2.0%
Colombia
3,597,975
38,728,281
2.7%
4.3%
4.2%
Turkey
2,902,315
31,240,259
2.2%
2.2%
1.8%
Thailand
2,227,904
23,980,959
1.7%
4.2%
5.9%
Hong Kong
1,364,820
14,690,800
1.0%
0.6%
0.2%
*Note: The imports from these ten countries represent 96.8% of tile imports to the U.S.
54
Economics&Markets
The top ten countries from which tiles were imported in 2011 based on total U.S. value
(including duty, freight, and insurance) were
Total Val
2011 (in $)
Country
Total Val
2010 (in $)
Total Val
2009 (in $)
2011/2010 %
Change
2010/2009 %
Change
Italy
455,055,219
454,447,747
429,686,411
0.1%
5.8%
China
299,519,656
258,682,812
216,275,919
15.8%
19.6%
Mexico
238,182,912
213,044,823
205,035,537
11.8%
3.9%
Spain
106,538,076
98,410,437
103,952,505
8.3%
-5.3%
Brazil
56,364,685
61,410,415
71,287,697
-8.2%
-13.9%
Turkey
28,117,008
28,455,294
21,171,080
-1.2%
34.4%
Colombia
24,139,468
31,675,094
32,313,630
-23.8%
-2.0%
Argentina
20,426,628
19,277,284
19,785,609
6.0%
-2.6%
Peru
19,258,732
17,250,574
11,973,467
11.6%
44.1%
Thailand
14,810,017
32,423,498
42,499,065
-54.3%
-23.7%
The average values of tile from the top ten countries (based on sq. ft.)
from which tiles were imported in 2011 were
Country
Tot Val
2011 (in $)
Sq Ft 2011
Value per Sq Ft
2011
Value per Sq Ft
2010
Value per Sq Ft
2009
Mexico
421,787,414
238,182,912
$0.56
$0.55
$0.55
China
391,998,701
299,519,656
$0.76
$0.75
$0.74
Italy
240,469,677
455,055,219
$1.89
$1.82
$1.83
Brazil
87,247,070
56,364,685
$0.65
$0.69
$0.66
Spain
73,849,618
106,538,076
$1.44
$1.39
$1.36
Peru
40,966,431
19,258,732
$0.47
$0.47
$0.45
Colombia
38,728,281
24,139,468
$0.62
$0.53
$0.57
Turkey
31,240,259
28,117,008
$0.90
$0.92
$0.87
Thailand
23,980,959
14,810,017
$0.62
$0.56
$0.54
Hong Kong
14,690,800
14,656,604
$1.00
$1.08
$0.86
1,410,194,123
1,325,207,665
$0.94
$0.91
$0.90
All Countries
The top ten countries from which tiles were imported in 2011 based on sq. ft. were
Country
M2 2011
Sq Ft 2011
M2 2010
Sq Ft 2010
2011/2010 %
Change
2010/2009 %
Change
Mexico
39,185,333
421,787,414
36,016,492
387,678,293
8.8%
3.6%
China
36,417,871
391,998,701
31,874,246
343,091,529
14.3%
17.4%
Italy
22,340,364
240,469,677
23,234,363
250,092,602
-3.8%
6.5%
Brazil
8,105,518
87,247,070
8,319,526
89,550,633
-2.6%
-16.7%
Spain
6,860,854
73,849,618
6,568,423
70,701,917
4.5%
-7.7%
Peru
3,805,906
40,966,431
3,422,378
36,838,170
11.2%
37.7%
Colombia
3,597,975
38,728,281
5,564,735
59,898,309
-35.3%
5.8%
Turkey
2,902,315
31,240,259
2,858,944
30,773,417
1.5%
25.9%
Thailand
2,227,904
23,980,959
5,386,406
57,978,792
-58.6%
-26.0%
Hong Kong
1,364,820
14,690,800
815,910
8,782,382
67.3%
194.6%
55
Contract Suppliers
Contract Suppliers

When
people
talk
about the “contract
sector”, they’re generally referring to the
sector that supplies goods and
services for major hospitality
projects, such as hotels, residential developments, museums,
theatres, cruise ships, railway
stations, airports, etc..
Within the contract sector, however, there are two distinct types
of player:
- General Contractors, who offer
a complete, turnkey service, and
take care of every aspect of a
project’s realisation, from organisation to production and logistics;
- and Contract Suppliers, whose
role in the realisation of contract
projects is confined to the supply of one or more types of product, including custom products.
This latter category includes an
increasing number of companies specialising in the supply of
floor and wall coverings and in-
terior furnishings.
Operating in the contract sector
is extremely demanding, however, because it requires dedicated units, not just in the General
Contracting segment but in the
Contract Supply segment too.
Working in the contract sector, in
fact, means specialising in
large-scale teamwork, setting
up dedicated departments capable of monitoring the opportunities that come up all over
the world, and employing highly
skilled project managers to
keep a firm grip on the oversight
of complex operations. This undoubtedly means fostering relations with investors and specifiers, but also requires an ability to
coordinate the work of your own
company with the requirements
of a string of other companies,
all called upon to interact for
the sole purpose of bringing the
project to a successful conclusion.
Events for the Contract sector in 2012
05.06.2012
10.09.2012
14.09.2012
20.09.2012
27.09.2012
11.11.2012
24.11.2012
Project Lebanon - Biel expocentre - Beirut - Lebanon
EQUIPOTEL - Anehmbi Exhibition Hall - Sao Paulo - Brazil
Arc Middle East - Abu Dhabi - Qatar
IIDEX/NEOCON Canada - Direct Energy Centre - Toronto - Canada
Arc interiors - San Diego, CA - USA
Equip Hotel - Paris Expo - Paris - France
SIA GUEST - Rimini Fiera - Rimini- Italy
56
Contract Suppliers
MEXICO:
ACCOR INVESTS IN HOTELS
Tuesday 24 April 2012
NEW TOWN UNDER
CONSTRUCTION IN WEST BANK
Thursday 5 April 2012
Work has started on the first
phase of the Rawabi project,
which will see the construction of
a new town 9 km from Ramallah,
promoted by the Palestinian
government in conjunction
with the Qatari Diar Real Estate
Investment Company.
The town will be built according
to the most advanced
DUBAI INVESTS IN CULTURE
Wednesday 28 March 2012
The government of Dubai has
announced the construction of
a museum of modern art and
an opera house, with a view to
increasing the influx of cultural
tourism.
The new district will be located
in the Downtown area, built by
Emaar, and will include a number
of galleries, art hotels and design
studios, as well as the new
museum and theatre.
Emaar Boulevard, where the Dubai
Modern Art Museum and the
Opera House District will be built,
overlooks the famous fountains
at the foot of the Burj Khalifa, the
world’s highest building.
According to Emaar, the
construction work is due to start in
the near future.
(ICE Dubai)
ABU DHABI INVITES TENDERS
FOR NEW LOUVRE
Wednesday 28 March 2012
After a series of postponements,
the government of Abu Dhabi is
now seeking contractors for the
construction of a branch of the
Louvre Museum in Abu Dhabi.
The government-owned Tourism
Development & Investment
Company (TDIC), published a call
for tenders in the local press for
the main construction works for
this new branch of the renowned
Parisian museum.
The Louvre marks the first in a
series of high-profile projects,
including a branch of the
Guggenheim, to be built on
Saadiyat Island at a cost of 27
billion USD.
The fate of the project was called
into question when TDIC rejected
a construction contract in October
2011.
TDIC has since announced that
the Abu Dhabi Louvre will open in
2015, and the Abu Dhabi branch
of the New York Guggenheim will
open in 2017.
It also announced that the Zayed
National Museum will open in
2016.
All three museums were originally
due to open between 2013 and
2014.
Abu Dhabi, the capital of the UAE,
plans to invest billions of dollars in
tourism, infrastructure and industry,
with a view to diversifying its
currently oil-based economy.
(ICE Dubai)
HUNGARY: NEW NATURAL
SCIENCES RESEARCH CENTRE
Monday 26 March 2012
to completion due to financial
problems. The Academy of Sciences
has been granted national funding
for the modification of the original
architectural project, and intends
to build a modern research centre.
The building will achieve high
levels of energy-efficiency through
the use of solar panels and special
thermal insulation.
By operating in conjunction with
the ELTE University and the BME
Polytechnic, the Academy of
Science will make the new Natural
Sciences Centre a focal point of
both research and teaching. The
complex will include chemical and
biological research laboratories,
a lecture theatre, offices and a
restaurant.
Work on the centre is due for
completion in 2013. Going by the
name MTA-Q2, the investment
forms part of a state project aimed
at renewing the infrastructures at
the disposal of the Academy of
Sciences.
(ICE BUDAPEST)
KUALA LUMPUR: PRIVATE
HOSPITAL SECTOR ATTRACTS
INVESTMENTS
Thursday 22 March 2012
Seventeen new private hospitals
are due to come on-stream in
Malaysia by the end of 2015,
The Hungarian Academy of Science thanks to a total investment of
(MTA) has given the go-ahead for
more than one billion euros,
the construction of a new Natural
expected to create 4500 beds.
Sciences Research Centre, which
Three other private hospitals are
will accommodate six distinct
planning to expand, to generate a
institutes in Budapest. The total
further 770 beds.
cost of the project amounts to 9.5 There is a growing market for
billion florins (approximately 32.7
healthcare services for foreign
million euros).
patients. About 1900 of the new
For the purposes of the project,
beds will be earmarked for this
the Academy of Science has
purpose.
purchased a building under
(ICE KUALA LUMPUR)
construction from the Polytechnic
of Budapest (BME). Construction
of the facility, located in Buda,
was started under a private/public
partnership, but never brought
57
• from www.contractitaliano.it
Accor is betting heavily on
Mexico.
The European hotel group has
announced the opening of 13
new hotels in the country by the
end of 2015, to add to its 10 IBIS
hotels and two Novotels already
operating there.
The Group’s expansion plan
envisages the imminent opening
of one hotel in San Luis de Potosi
and a further two in the Alameda
and Tlalneplanta districts of
Mexico City, all under the IBIS
brand.
According to Jean Philippe
Clare, the Group’s top manager
in Mexico, the opening of a
140-room hotel requires an
investment of about six million
dollars.
Accor sees Mexico as one of
the world’s largest markets,
with accommodation capacity
of half a million hotel rooms,
thus exceeding Brazil, and a
differentiated offering of hotels
in urban centres and coastal
resorts.
(ICE [the Italian foreign trade
institute] MEXICO CITY)
architectural and environmental
criteria, and the spirit of the slogan
“Live, Work, Grow”.
The project envisages the
construction of 5000 dwellings
designed to accommodate a total
of 40,000 people.
The project is expected to cost
around 800 billion USD and
take five years to complete, thus
opening up attractive opportunities
for companies interested in
supplying works, goods and
services.
(ICE AMMAM)
the international contract sector
The latest news from
Contract Suppliers
The latest news
of operating in Belarus, and has
earned the confidence of investors
with its competitiveness, flexibility
and good references (construction
of the Peter I Hotel in Moscow and
the Minsk sub-station).
Riko is inviting partners from
Slovenia, Belarus and other
countries to take part in the
project, with reference to both
the construction process and the
supply of materials.
(ICE LJUBLJANA)
has a total of 5100 sq.m of space
for hosting events.
With 1608 rooms, furthermore,
the hotel will offer more
accommodation than any other in
MEXICO:
Dubai, and is just 26 metres lower
ACCOR INVESTS IN HOTELS
than the Empire State Building in
Friday 9 March 2012
New York City.
“There is enormous potential for
Accor is investing in the growing
meeting the growing demands of
Mexican market.
customers, and we believe that the
The hotel group has announced
hotel will fill a gap in the market
an investment of 80 million
that’s been overlooked for a long
dollars for the opening of 13 new
time.
hotels in Mexico over the next
It will be capable of
four years.
RESIDENTIAL BUILDING
accommodating groups, meetings
Accor Mexico has already
PROGRAMME FOR ARA GROUP
and conventions of up to 1000
opened six hotels in the past
IN MEXICO
people all in the same place, under
two years, and now intends to
Thursday 23 February 2012
a single roof,” explained Rupprecht
expand its operations through
Queitsch, the hotel’s Managing
local partners.
The ARA group is investing in
Director.
The European group already
residential construction in Mexico. Until now, there was nowhere of
controls 12 hotels in Mexico:
The group, which specialises in real this size in Dubai to accommodate
10 under the Ibis brand and
estate development, will launch
this type of clientele.
two under the Novotel brand.
21 new projects in 2012 for the
The hotel will have nine
The planned expansion in Latin
construction of 38,000 dwellings.
restaurants, five events halls and
America will involve a total
The projects will absorb a total
a 1500 sq.m spa for the use of
investment of about one billion
investment of 4 billion pesos and
guests.
dollars for the opening of 101
will be implemented in various
Bearing the Marquis name reserved
hotels.
states of the Mexican federation.
for the highest level of the Marriott
(ICE MEXICO CITY)
At present, the ARA group is
chain’s international portfolio, the
involved in the realisation of 53
new hotel will be the first to be
projects in Cuernavaca, Veracruz
opened under this brand outside of
SLOVENIAN COMPANY RIKO
and the metropolitan area of the
North America.
D.O.O. INVESTS IN MINSK
capital.
(ICE Dubai)
Friday 24 February 2012
The economic and demographic
growth of this north-American
The Slovenian company Riko
MEXICO: TOURIST INDUSTRY
country is prompting the largest
d.o.o. (www.riko.si) is set to build operators in the real estate sector
ATTRACTS INVESTMENTS
a multi-purpose complex in
Monday 13 February 2012
to make major investments in
Minsk, the capital of Belarus, at a residential and social construction.
total cost of 100 million euros.
Mexico is becoming a superpower
(ICE MEXICO CITY)
The complex will consist of the
in the world of tourism. Between
Kempinski five-star hotel (22,765
2007 and 2011, the private sector
sq.m) valued at 57 million euros, WORLD’S TALLEST HOTEL DUE TO invested 17.3 billion dollars in the
81 private apartments (14,431
tourist industry.
OPEN IN DUBAI
sq.m), a series of commercial
Tuesday 14 February 2012
Despite uncertainties in the world
units (14,926 sq.m), car parking
economy, several hotel chains
facilities and additional areas
The world’s tallest hotel will open in are preparing to make major
(23,411 sq.m).
Dubai in the last quarter of 2012,
investments in this large northThe hotel is due for completion
according to the hotel chain JW
American country over the next
by the end of 2013, and the
Marriott.
three years.
commercial and residential units At a height of over 355 metres, the AM Resorts, Intercontinental Hotels
by the end of 2014.
JW Marriott Marquis Dubai is the
Group (IHG), Grupo Posadas,
Riko has a decade of experience world’s tallest dedicated hotel, and City Express, Iberostar Group and
58
La Quinta Inn & Suites have all
announced investment plans for
the next three years.
AM Resorts will invest 400 million
dollars in the opening of three
hotels in Puerto Vallarta and
Cancun; IHG, which owns the
Holiday Inn and Intercontinental
brands, will invest 500 million
dollars in the opening of 47 new
hotels throughout Mexico; and
the Posadas group is preparing
to invest 500 million dollars in
50 projects under the Fiesta
Americana, Fiesta Inn, One, Aqua,
Caesar Park and Caesar Business
brands.
City Hotels plans to open 15 new
hotels in 2012 in various Mexican
states.
The Iberostar Group resumed the
construction of the first of four
hotels planned for Litibu in the
state of Nayarit.
La Quinta Inn & Suites announced
the opening of the first part of
the La Quinta resort in Cancun,
focusing on health tourism and the
business segment.
Lastly, Jose Cuervo, the Tequila
company, is investing 10 million
dollars in construction in the city of
Tequila, in the state of Jalisco.
(ICE MEXICO CITY)
DUBAI:
13,349 NEW HOTEL ROOMS
Monday 13 February 2012
Dubai has a total of over 13,300
hotel rooms under construction.
According to the latest data from
STR Global, the Emirate of Dubai
has a total of 13,349 rooms under
construction, while Abu Dhabi,
the world’s second largest market
for hotel construction, has 5298
rooms.
The December issue of the
Construction Pipeline Report
from www.contractitaliano.it
59
www.rako.eu
AM Resorts is betting on
growth in the tourist industry in
Mexico and Central America.
Alejandro Zozaya Gorostiza,
President of the hotel company,
has announced a large-scale
investment programme.
AM Resorts, which already
has 26 hotels, is set to invest
400 million dollars in the
construction of two new luxury
hotels in Puerto Vallarta and a
third in Cancun, on the Mayan
Riviera.
The Mexican entrepreneur also
announced the opening of two
hotels in Costa Rica and the
Dominican Republic.
In 2011, negative perceptions of
safety levels in Mexico adversely
affected the influx of tourists from
the United States, especially on the
Pacific coast.
(ICE MEXICO CITY)
NEW 24‘ HOURS COLOR SYSTEM
revealed that Riyadh in Saudi
Arabia, with 2687; Cairo, in
Egypt, with 1977; and Amman, in
Jordan, with 1507, are the other
main markets, with over 1500
rooms under construction in the
Middle East and Africa region.
Total construction growth in
the region included 496 hotels
with a total of 133,438 rooms,
according to last month’s bulletin
from STR Global.
Dubai’s hotels managed to
keep their earnings up in 2011,
despite a sharp increase in the
number of rooms available,
reported Ernst & Young.
According to a report on the
hotel industry in the Middle
East and North Africa, the
Emirate has proved that it has a
“magnetic attraction as a tourist
destination”.
(ICE Dubai)
Zur richtigen Zeit am richtigen Ort:
Fliesen mit Stil und technischem Know-how!
ADVERTISING
NEW INVESTMENTS FOR AM
RESORTS
Tuesday 7 February 2012
Contract Suppliers
Gazzotti
To renovate the flooring of the Grand
Hotel Villa Medici in Florence (Italy),
Tori Stefano e Bernardo & Associati, a
firm of architects, decided to use the
Chimera line by Idee & Parquet, with
the Castello di Valenzano design, in
natural oak.
Idee & Parquet is an internationally
renowned brand of premium wood
flooring owned by the Gazzotti Group,
which offers a complete custom
design service. As well as a string
of luxury hotels, Idee & Parquet’s
customers include the headquarters
of Gucci, Pitti and Prada.
For the renovation of the flooring of
the Grand Hotel Villa Medici, Idee
& Parquet’s specialists decided to
subject the wood to targeted sanding,
and then use a wax finish, which is
significantly easier to maintain, so is
ideal for areas subject to high levels
of pedestrian traffic such as the lobby
and reception rooms of the Grand
Hotel.
The flooring was finished and treated
before laying: this minimised the
installation time (taking just four days
to lay 250 sq.m), while the decision
to opt for floating installation on a
60
closed-cell membrane ensured that
the existing flooring in green marble
remains undamaged.
The Grand Hotel Villa Medici, located
in the heart of Florence a stone’s
throw from the historic centre, the
River Arno and the smartest shops,
occupies a magnificent 18th Century
villa that blends seamlessly into
the urban fabric of the Santa Maria
Novella district, near the ancient Prato
gate. Converted into a luxury fivestar hotel, it retains the elegance and
tradition of its era, combined with
modern technology and efficiency.
Contract Suppliers
Project name: Copperhill Mountain Lodge
Year and place of construction: 2008, Åre, Sweden
Architectural design: Peter Bohlin,
Bohlin Cywinski Jackson
Construction: Markus Ochs - Silgmann
Floor and wall coverings: 30x30, 30x60 Absolute
Stone, green; Absolute Stone Palladiana
(fragments available in 12.5 kg bags), green
GARDENIA ORCHIDEA GROUP
designed Bill Gates’s private villa and the Apple
Stores in London, Paris, San Francisco, New York
and Tokyo, has created a lodge in a modern
alpine style. Copperhill Mountain Lodge is a
five-star hotel consisting of 112 rooms, two
restaurants, two bars, a conference hall for 450
people and a spa centre that draws inspiration
from the traditional treatments used by the Sámi
For a relaxing holiday in the snow, you can go up people. The contemporary design of the hotel
to the top of Mount Förberget, 730 metres above blends into the natural setting, thanks to the use
sea level and a short hop from Åre, Sweden’s
of materials such as natural stone and wood,
best-known ski resort. Here, Peter Bohlin, an
and extensive glazed areas that offer a 360°
American architect of Swedish extraction, who
view of the Jämtland mountains.
61
The structure also owes its relaxing,
sophisticated atmosphere to the materials
produced by Gardenia Orchidea Group, with
particular reference to the Absolute Stone
collection, in sizes 30x30 and 30x60, and
the Absolute Stone Palladiana collection, in
shades of green, which adorn the swimming
pools, relaxation area, wellness area,
bathrooms, showers, massage area, sauna
and changing rooms. The materials and
colours used generate a sense of continuity
between the interior and the exterior, in true
Bohlin style.
Contract Suppliers
RONDINE GROUP
Beneath the streets of Singapore,
there’s a new underground railway
network, which was designed in such
a way as to meet two contrasting
needs, namely to blend the access
points to the network discreetly into
the greenery of the surrounding
landscape, while at the same time
making them clearly visible to users of
the underground railway service.
For the construction of the Bras Basah
Stadium Station, which originated as a
pilot project for a model station of the
future at the request of the Singapore
government, WOHA Architects availed
themselves of the services of Rondine
Project name: Singapore Underground Railway
Year and place of construction: 2008, Singapore
Designer: WOHA Architects
Floor and wall coverings: Dualtech series (16,297 sq.m)
62
Group, and chose Dual1, a technical
product from the Dualtech collection,
in black, in size 30.5x60.5. The
collection belongs to Rondine’s range
of unglazed tiles (UGL), which are
uniform throughout their thickness,
with no differences or divisions
between surface and body.
Advertising
Contract Suppliers
LISTONE GIORDANO CONTRACT
The Listone Giordano CONTRACT Division was
formed in 2008 to provide its partners in the
retail, commercial and hospitality sectors with
an efficient, turnkey service encompassing
technical consulting, design, support, supply and
installation of wood coverings.
Listone Giordano’s international CONTRACT
division focuses on a wide range of business
areas, including residential construction, the
hotel and catering sector, boutiques and
showrooms, museums and public premises,
and marine applications. Within these fields, the
division is called upon to combine its capacity
for innovation and production flexibility with the
search for aesthetic perfection and the constant
monitoring of quality levels for which the Listone
Giordano brand stands out.
On the strength of its credentials as a qualified
supplier for the luxury construction sector,
Listone Giordano offers its specific know-how
1
Benz Museum in Stuttgart, Listone Giordano
to the most prestigious firms of architects, and
created an impressive “stage” effect on
has already achieved major results in Germany.
which to exhibit the German manufacturer’s
In the powerhouse of the European economy,
most prestigious models.
Listone Giordano
After
long negotiations with the Mercedes
highlights the success of its promoters with
design
team, the designers opted to
some of the best designers and specifiers, who
create
the
flooring with a Listone Giordano
use Germany as a base for their worldwide
classic,
known
as Plank, which combines
design and construction work.
high
technology
with the beauty of wood,
The three projects outlined below represent key
enhanced
by
a
series
of refined finishing
references for the Listone Giordano CONTRACT
systems.
Division in Germany:
- Marc Cain (photo 3): from Germany to
- Nespresso (photo 1): for the exclusive, worldAsia, Listone Giordano CONTRACT recently
famous brand of coffee, Listone Giordano
produced the flooring for the imposing
produced the flooring for the company’s shops
headquarters of the Marc Cain brand in
in Berlin, Düsseldorf, Hamburg, Frankfurt,
Düsseldorf and for its fashion boutique in
Munich, Hanover, Cologne, Stuttgart and
Hong Kong. For this trend-setting temple of
Nuremberg.
fashion, the designers opted for the famous
To develop the interior concept, the designers
Medoc1 flooring product designed by
of Cronauer + Romani Innenarchitekten chose
Michele de Lucchi, which has won a string
Plank Cabreuva Km 31 Natif, made with a
of awards, including an ADI Compasso
South American species of wood characterised
d’Oro Mention of Honour and the “Award of
by its soft, warm colouration and velvety feel.
Awards”.
- Mercedes Benz (photo 2): for the Mercedes
3
2
64
Advertising
Contract Suppliers
Project name: Grand Hotel Liberty
Year and place of construction: 2011, Riva del Garda (Trento)
Designer: Luigi Zanoni
Floor and wall coverings: Pavè Evolution by Sichenia
Nestling on the shore of one of Europe’s
most beautiful lakes, in the heart of Riva
del Garda (Italy), the Grand Hotel Liberty is
a complex of three buildings, first built in
the early 1900s by the Zontini family, and
converted into a hotel in the late 1960s.
The latest round of remodelling work has
SICHENIA CERAMIC GROUP
initiatives by identifying “naturally inviting
access” to the various environments as the
further upgraded the Grand Hotel by adding leitmotif of the project, and interconnecting
new doubles, singles, suites, rooms equipped the various parts of the relaxation area.
specifically for guests with disabilities, and
The sense of “naturally inviting access” is
a wellness and relaxation area, which is the enhanced by the harmony and fluidity of
icing on the cake of the recent building work. the colours of the coverings, which include
Luigi Zanoni, of Riva del Garda, has adhered tiles from the Pavè Evolution collection by
to the spirit of previous architectural
Sichenia. Pavè Evolution is a collection of
porcelain tiles, which puts an innovative
slant on the traditional concept of ceramic
and its characteristic strength, by optimising
the aesthetic and chromatic appeal of the
surfaces.
66
Contract Suppliers
IDEAL WORK
Project name: House Bar and Restaurant
Year and place of construction: 2011, Limassol, Cyprus
Designer: Sidetoside
Floor and wall coverings: Microtopping by Ideal Work,
colour Grey
To a design by Sidetoside, the owners of the
House Bar and Restaurant decided to create the
flooring using Ideal Work’s Microtopping System,
The House Bar and Restaurant is a brand-new
made of strong, durable, low-maintenance
venue in Limassol (Cyprus), located close to
concrete, which can be laid in minimal
the heart of Cypriot night-life, and characterised
thicknesses.
by an architectural essence that appeals
Microtopping Ideal Work is a two-component
particularly to people who love juxtapositions
cement- and polymer-based covering, which
of ancient and modern. Occupying part of a
offers a thin, totally continuous surface without
judiciously restored historic building that adheres necessarily requiring demolition of the existing
to the typical architectural dictates of the island
covering. The absence of joints and the low
of Cyprus, the House Bar and Restaurant stands
thickness (2 to 4 mm) make it possible to reout for its painstakingly designed interiors and
design volumes, lines and spaces with the
highly distinctive furnishings, which make it
utmost creativity, and create an appealingly
unlike any other venue in Limassol.
velvety effect. Since Microtopping can also be
67
used on walls, the designer of the House
Bar and Restaurant decided to eliminate the
boundaries between horizontal and vertical
surfaces, give a sense of continuity to the
interior and bring the different areas into
communication with each other.
The floor and wall coverings of the House
Bar and Restaurant were created using
Microtopping in grey, for a total area of 195
sq.m, divided between 100 sq.m of flooring
and 95 sq.m of wall coverings. The work was
completed in just four days, thus speeding
up the venue’s overall remodelling time by
a considerable amount. The project was
completed in December 2011.
Contract Suppliers
FRIUL MOSAIC
For over 30 years, Friul Mosaic has been
conceiving, designing and producing
mosaics, thereby projecting an ancient,
indestructible art into the modern age.
With the Classic collection, Friul Mosaic
revives the discerning culture of classic
mosaic. Ideal for interiors and exteriors
alike, this collection adds value to any
environment: Friul Mosaic products are
an ideal solution for decorating and
embellishing relaxation and transit areas,
which would otherwise remain undervalued.
The classic connotations and elegant
juxtaposition of small mosaic pieces give
the environments they adorn a refined,
distinctive and extremely attractive
appearance.
The magical atmosphere that only mosaic
can generate, finds its ideal expression in
hotels, spa complexes and private houses,
because each room is enhanced with
precious mosaic, made with love and care
68
by expert hands.
Friul Mosaic has used its magnificent Classic
mosaics in major contract projects such as:
- Grand Hotel Des Iles Borromees, Stresa
(Italy)
- Grand Hotel Majestic, Verbania (Italy)
- Grand Hotel Duchi d’Aosta, Trieste (Italy)
The Classic collection is divided into
Ornaments, Borders and Surfaces.
Contract Suppliers
TAGINA
Project name: Spa, Hotel Incontro
Year and place of construction: 2011 Ariano Irpino (Avellino)
Designer: Simone Micheli Laboratory
Engineering and Construction: Mioblu Special Wellness
Floor and wall coverings: Wire System by Tagina,
Sunlight version.
which were developed by Tagina in partnership
with Micheli himself, with a view to creating
environments with a high degree of multisensory input.
Specifically, the designer opted for the Sunlight
The Hotel Incontro in Avellino (Italy) has decided version of the Wire System collection, which
stands out for its ability to bring new functional
to offer its customers a new opportunity for rest
and recuperation by building a modern wellness and symbolic features to architecture, while
providing an increasingly discerning worldwide
centre characterised by surreal shapes and
brilliant colours. The task of designing the interior market with effective solutions in terms of both
aesthetics and performance. The Hammered
was given to the architect Simone Micheli, who
opted for coverings by Tagina Ceramiche d’Arte, format was chosen because it gently massages
69
the bare foot as it comes into contact with
the floor, while also offering high visual
impact when used as a wall covering.
The wellness centre has two entrances,
which lead the visitor into a reception area
characterised by soft, innovative lines. The
centre also includes a relaxation room, a VIP
Room, five treatment rooms, a nail-café for
manicures, and a “Pediwellness-spa”.
Throughout the centre, touch and vision
come together in the form of Tagina
Ceramiche d’Arte coverings.
Contract Suppliers
INCONTROARDITO
Project name: Le Camp Spa&Resort
Year and place of construction: 2011, Padua
Architectural design: Domenico De Palo
The historic centre of Padua, Italy, plays
host to an outstandingly elegant structure
designed by Domenico De Palo and built
with premium materials manufactured by
Ceramica Incontro.
Le Camp Spa&Resort extends over two
levels: the spa is characterised by plays of light,
shade, warmth and curious chromatic effects
on the “bubble” wall. The Resort, meanwhile, is a
paragon of elegance and refinement.
For the construction of the spa, the designer
chose to incorporate “Bolla” (meaning bubble),
a project developed in 2007 by Domenico De
70
Palo for Incontroardito – a brand owned by
the historic Ceramica Incontro.“Bolla” is a
wall that looks as though it has come out of
a dream, in which matter fuses with light. The
effect generated by the fusion of stone and
glass explores fresh, new synergies between
different materials.
glsdesign.it
Advertising
A wall is like a landscape. Don’t let anything interrupt it.
Maxfine is here, the first technical porcelain slab with extraordinary dimensions: 1.5 metres
wide, 3 metres long and a choice of thickness between 3 mm or 6 mm. Maxfine tiles
are flexible, resistant, lightweight and environmentally friendly, providing limitless
possibilities for your projects and complete architectural sustainability.
www.irisfmg.com
Contract Suppliers
The access route to the building, which
consists of shops on the ground floor and
Villa Nesi, an old residential building recently homes and office suites on the upper floors,
starts with a strip of bright red paving that
extended and remodelled by Archisbang,
runs between the lawns of the garden,
an emerging Turin-based collective, stands
before suddenly rising vertically into a
within the complex architectural context of
three-dimensional ribbon of colour, which
the historic city of Ivrea, in the province of
accommodates the staircase and expands to
Turin, where the relationship between past
envelop the top floor of the building.
and present remains an open debate.
The ironic, provocative solutions adopted by The work is completed by a large eyelike feature serving as a viewing point and
the group of designers, using materials by
emphasising the contrast between the
Marazzi Tecnica, run strictly counter to the
typically Piedmontese restraint of the existing
current conformism of local building.
Project name: Villa Nesi
Year and place of construction: 2011, Ivrea (Turin, Italy)
Architectural design: ARCHISBANG LAB and Ing. Roberto
Floor and wall coverings: SistemA series by Marazzi Tecnica
72
marazzi
building and the imaginative language of
the new addition.
While ostensibly intrusive, in reality the
project is discreetly moderated in its
proportions, in the pattern of its cladding and
in the cut of its apertures.
The building’s high-tech ventilated outer skin,
made with SistemA crystallised porcelain
tile by Marazzi Tecnica, in red elements
measuring 60x120 cm, also makes the
project stand out from a textural point of
view, thanks to the Lux finish, which makes
its surface especially bright and attractive.
Advertising
Contract Suppliers
COOPERATIVA CERAMICHE D’IMOLA
Andel’s Hotel, in Germany, is situated just
outside Berlin, 15 km from the central
railway station. The area now marked by the
new designer hotel, was previously occupied
by a colossal, decommissioned commercial
complex. Designed with elegance and
wellbeing in mind, the hotel encompasses
3800 sq.m of floor space for public events:
the 1500 sq.m “Ballsaal” is complemented
by a further 15 halls, all characterised
by a simple structure that lends itself
to personalisation by exhibitors. For the
coverings of the spacious white hall, the
designers opted for the Time collection by
Imola Ceramica, in the form of 60x120 cm
sheets of through-body porcelain tile.
The ground-floor lobby is designed in such
a way as to offer guests a sequence of
surprises as they pass through it. Intriguingly
contoured and perforated walls delimit more
compact micro-areas; the bright colours of
the seating and social areas contrast with
the predominant white, and as you reach
the reception area, your gaze is drawn
by the exterior view revealed through the
high glazed area. The scene is sealed by a
Project name: Andel’s Hotel
Year and place of construction: 2009, Berlin, Germany
Architectural design: Seeger Muller Architekten, Berlin
Designer: Jestico Whiles, London
Floor and wall coverings: Time by ImolaCeramica, for 2000 sq.m;
lobby and first-floor staircase
74
strong sense of volume generated by the
scaly effect of the coverings, which replicate
organic shapes that break up the rationality
of the structure. Overall, the environment is
reminiscent of the surface of a high-tech
pool of water.
Located in the Europa Park, adjacent to the
velodrome, the swimming pool and the
indoor sports stadium, Andel’s Hotel is an
interesting structure, whose accommodation
space lends itself perfectly to the major
corporate events held in the area by the
pharmaceutical, automotive, fashion and
design industries.
Advertising
Contract Suppliers
GRANITIFIANDRE
The Manhattan-Nord fitness centre in the
Heiligenstadt district of Vienna, Austria,
has been offering wellness services to
suit all tastes for over 20 years. In 2010,
the centre added a new department built
with extensive use of tiles produced by
GranitiFiandre using the Active Clean Air
& Antibacterial Ceramic™ method. This
exclusive production technique involves the
high-temperature application of micrometric
particles of titanium dioxide (TiO2), and
uses photocatalysts activated by natural
or artificial light to produce “eco-active”
ceramic floor and wall tiles with genuine
anti-pollution and antibacterial properties.
The effectiveness of Active has been certified
by the Tile Council of North America (TCNA)
and the Bologna Ceramic Centre, which
proved that 1000 square metres of Active
material reduces the quantity of airborne
nitrous oxides (NOx) as much as 20 mature
trees. Furthermore, the Centre Scientifique
et Technique du Bâtiment (CSTB) awarded
Active Clean Air & Antibacterial Ceramic™
its Pass’Innovation, which represents
authoritative testimony of its innovative
value.
With her design for the Manhattan-Nord
fitness centre, the Viennese interior designer
Alice Koller set out to create a wellness
“wonderland”, using products which are
both intelligent and environmentally sound:
Active Clean Air & Antibacterial Ceramic™
Project name: Manhattan-Nord Fitness Centre
Year and place of construction: 2010 Vienna, Austria
Architectural design: Alice Koller – Wonderland Design
Construction: Markus Ochs - Silgmann
Floor and wall coverings: Marfil Select Extreme Active;
Mosaico gold; Dorata Exte; Listel MWoods; Listel Crema
Marfil Select by GranitiFiandre
76
by Graniti Fiandre, in fact, can be sanitised
without the use of chemical detergents.
The Manhattan-Nord fitness centre is a
private enterprise, which has been operating
in Austria’s fitness market for 20 years, and
is particularly sensitive to the health-related
side of its work.
The entire project for the wellness centre
revolves around the idea of the transition
from dawn to dusk, and as such, even the
lighting design is intended to deliver health
benefits. The wellness centre offers various
types of sauna and showers, and various
other solutions for the health of its guests,
such as infrared cabins, which provide
effective therapy for joint problems, and
crash-ice for controlling the circulation.
Advertising
Contract Suppliers
Project name: Uptown Palace Hotel
Year and place of construction: 2011, Milan
Designers: Studio THDP of Turin, Nicholas Hickson and
Manuela Mannino
Floor and wall coverings: floor tiles: Katmandù and Kubica 3d by Venis; wall tiles: Moon by L’Antic Colonial; curtain
wall: Stonker Java and Ironker Cobre by Porcelanosa; construction system: Butech by Porcelanosa.
Porcelanosa Group supplied the products
for the construction of one of the most
significant hotels recently built in Milan, Italy.
A stone’s throw from the cathedral, the
Uptown Palace Hotel is an exclusive
establishment, whose design choices have
inspired an “all day” design concept.
From Porcelanosa Group’s extensive product
range, Nicholas Hickson and Manuela
Mannino of the firm THDP in Turin, identified
products offering extremely high aesthetic
PORCELANOSA
impact, 3D effects and large formats.
The designers eventually plumped for the
Katmandù collection, in sizes 60x60 and
33x100 cm, and the Kubica 3d collection
in size 33x100 produced by Venis by
Porcelanosa. The wall tiles are from the
Moon series by Antic Colonial, and are made
of glass in four different colours.
The supplies of floor tiles, wall tiles and
bathroom furnishings for the entire hotel
amounted to a total of over 9000 sq.m of
ceramic and 180 bathrooms, complete with
taps and furniture.
From a technical point of view, however,
the design of the facades was the most
significant aspect, and Porcelanosa
provided the customer and specifiers with
78
an engineering study including verifications
for the installation of the façade and the
executive plans for the site.
The exterior curtain wall, which reflects
the interior tiling in terms of colours, also
constitutes a high-tech envelope thanks
to an impressive system of insulation and
soundproofing.
The attention of the owners and designers to
the comfort of guests has made the hotel’s
rooms climatically pleasant and completely
soundproofed. As well as the Butech
construction system by Porcelanosa, use
was made of 60x120 porcelain tiles from the
Stonker Java series at the top of the building,
and the Ironker Cobre series on the cladding
of the first three storeys.
Advertising
Project
by Christian Brunsmann
Bringing new comforts
to an old house
before & after

Thanks to a complete
renovation with the ceramic thermal-comfort floor,
an old manor house turned into
comfortable,
energy-efficient
senior housing
TV shows often document how
ruined buildings are given a new
life, but Dirk Meißner has successfully accomplished the creation of a fully renovated, comfortable
and
energy-efficient
building without any media attention. As the developer and
master tile installer, Meißner took
a manor house built in the years
1820 to 1840 and turned it into a
model of energy efficiency with
nine apartments for seniors and
two common rooms - not an
easy undertaking, as it turned
out, since the house has three
floor levels, a basement, and a
large yard and garden. “The
building substance was in poor
condition when I purchased the
house in 2008, which also had to
do with some unprofessional renovation work done in the years
1985 to 1991," Meißner recounts.
Nevertheless, the original idea of
turning the house into a seniorliving facility in a quiet yet central
location between the German
towns of Halle (Saale) and Bitterfeld became a reality in February
2012 with the official opening of
the apartment complex. The ceramic
thermal-comfort
floor
Schlüter®-BEKOTEC-THERM
80
played a key role in this process for a number of reasons, as
Meißner, a Schlüter-Systems contractor, explains.
“First of all, assembly height was
an important matter. We only
had an available assembly
height of 120 mm, of which 47
mm were taken up by fire protection and sound insulation panels
that were necessary because of
the existing wooden beam ceilings.” In addition, the floor assembly of course had to meet the
technical and static requirements of a timber-framed house
with wooden beam ceilings and
contractors faced the challenge
of installing the floor assembly
over mineral-fiber insulation panels, namely sound insulation
panels of type TPE 20-2. “A substrate that takes some getting
used to,” as Meißner notes.
Project
Pictures on left:
Prior to the start of
the renovation work,
the former manor
house was in a state
of decay.
The renovated
manor house was
turned into nine
apartments
for senior living.
The ceramic
thermal-comfort
floor ensures a
pleasant room
climate and also
saves energy,
an important
component of l
ow-energy homes.
Pictures on bottom:
Bekotec: The renovation
of the floor relied on the
ceramic thermal-comfort
floor BEKOTEC-THERM, which
has a low assembly height
thanks to its minimal screed
volume. The assembly also
included fire safety and
sound insulation panels.
81
Demanding
requirements and low
assembly height
As it turned out, the ceramic
thermal-comfort
floor
Schlüter®-BEKOTEC-THERM
was up to the challenge.
The BEKOTEC panels of type
EN 2520 P are easy to install
on even the most difficult
substrates. They are simply
installed over the existing
substrate and then connected, for which purpose
the panels have a special
tongue-and-groove
connection mechanism.
The only condition is that
the substrate must be level
and even. In a next step, the
heating pipes are tightly secured between the specially designed studs, while the
low volume of screed with a
coverage of just about 8
mm over the pipes keeps
the assembly height of the
system to a minimum.
As an added advantage,
the installation of the bonded uncoupling membrane
DITRA 25, which is part of
the system, can begin as
soon as the screed is ready
to bear weight. This accelerates the construction process considerably in comparison with other floor
heating systems, since there
is no need to wait for the
screed to cure. Furthermore,
the shrinkage that occurs
while the screed cures is absorbed by the studded pattern of the screed panel.
As a consequence, the installed screed can no long-
Project
er buckle and no tensions arise
from shrinkage so that no dummy joints or movement joints are
required in the screed.
The ceramic tiles are then installed directly on the uncoupling membrane with the thinset method. Thanks to the
interconnected air channels,
heat is well distributed and the
floor assembly makes optimal
use of the good thermal conductivity and storage capacities
of ceramic tiles.
“Good heat release and thermal distribution is a great plus,
particularly when it comes to
building senior housing,” notes
Meißner. “In addition, the floor
heating system is easy to regulate. Since we wanted to build a
low-energy house, the low supply temperatures of the system
were an ideal match.” Supply
temperatures for the system are
just around 30° C, which saves
considerable energy compared
to conventional heating systems.
Thanks to the low assembly
height of the BEKOTEC system - in
this case, 55 mm - the entire floor
space is easy to heat up evenly.
The tile covering over DITRA added another 18 mm of height and
consisted of different tile designs
by Villeroy & Boch, Interbau and
natural stone pavers made of
Jurassic marble in the dimensions 70 x 35 cm, 70 x 40 cm and
60 x 30 cm.
“This combination represented
an assembly that was technically feasible, met all building code
requirements in terms of static
design and fire safety, and also
was a great fit for an old structure with timber framing and
wooden ceilings.
The weight of the heating system and the tiles also had to be
considered in the engineering
phase, and the system stood out
in that regard as well. Compared
to conventional floor heating
systems, it has only half the area
weight. While a standard floor
The stairwell design features JOLLY and
RONDEC profiles by Schlüter-Systems.
structure weighs approx. 136 kg/
m2, the Bekotec assembly
comes in at just around 57 kg/
m2. The crack-free screed and
reliable uncoupling also ensure
the durability of the floor covering, which was another important
concern,”
summarizes
Meißner with satisfaction.
Healthy and
comfortable living
Creating a healthy and comfortable living environment is a high
priority for remodeling apartments for seniors. Again, the ceramic thermal-comfort floor is
ideal for this purpose. Since the
floor heating system distributes
heat with great evenness, there
are no cold spots on floors or
walls. These typically occur with
conventional heating systems in
places the heat cannot reach,
which favors the formation of
mold colonies if such cold building components are exposed to
moisture. Evenly distributed heat in
floors and walls minimizes this risk, and
the surface structure of ceramic tiles
offers few places
where mold spores
can settle permanently and grow. In
addition, tiles can
be cleaned quickly
and easily and the
fact that they are
made of inorganic
materials prevents
82
microbial growth that may occur in floor coverings such as
carpet or PVC.
Accordingly, the ceramic thermal-comfort floor is perfectly suited for creating energy-efficient
and attractive floor assemblies
even in difficult circumstances,
such as the aging structure with
timber framing described here.
The system easily overcomes
challenges such as low assembly height or unusual substrates,
while the low energy consumption of the floor system makes it
an attractive choice for low-energy houses or the use of renewable energy sources.
In addition to the ceramic thermal-comfort floor, the apartment
complex in Brehna also features
a number of Schlüter profiles.
Meißner
chose
aluminum
Schlüter®-JOLLY profiles for finishing the wall coverings in the
stairwell, while the edges of the
same covering are protected by
stainless steel RONDEC profiles.
The use of the ceramic thermalcomfort floor and the profiles of
Schlüter-System made a significant contribution to modernizing the old manor house and
helped turn it into a comfortable
living space for seniors in spite of
difficult building requirements,
safely and efficiently.
5
Advertising
Project
by Paolo Palmas
Porto Mirabello and
the Gulf of La Spezia

The Gulf of La Spezia, also
known as the Gulf of Poets,
is a beautiful cove cut
deep into the Tyrrhenian coast
of Italy, between Lerici and Portovenere.
The gulf is a natural arena for
sail-sports because the hills that
surround it create the perfect climatic conditions for the constant breezes that make sailing
a pleasure.
Its geographical location also
makes the gulf an ideal base for
motor cruising, because it’s within reach of some of the Tyrrhenian’s most attractive destinations, such as the Tuscan
Archipelago, Corsica, Sardinia,
the Cinque Terre, Portofino and
the Ligurian Riviera.
Nestling in this wonderful setting
is Porto Mirabello, which has
been transformed into a new
benchmark for Italian yachting,
thanks to major investments
(about 120 million euros) by Industrie
Turistiche
Nautiche
S.p.A..
Built to a design by Studio Zacutti of La Spezia, the port has 700
berths for small pleasure boats
and 470 berths for craft exceeding 14 metres, of which 100 are
reserved for super-yachts measuring 25 to 100 metres in length.
Despite its imposing size, the
new facility blends harmoniously into its surroundings, and includes a series of 34-metre
quays and a central square bordered by bars, restaurants, a
shopping centre, outdoor swim-
84
Project
ming pool, suites, a wellness spa,
heliport and office tower.
The square
The central square opens up towards the quays as though welcoming incoming sailors with
open arms, and the majority of
the materials used in its con-
struction were produced by Ceramiche Piemme.
The design team opted for the
Ecowood series, a line of fine
porcelain tiles in an edgeground,
board-type
format
measuring 11x90 cm, with a
wood-effect appearance and
outstandingly high technical
specifications, including absorp-
tion of less than 0.004%.
Ecowood thus shows itself to be
the ideal material for contexts in
which top-level design requires
the backing of outstanding performance in all weather conditions, all the year round, with
minimal maintenance and high
resistance to humidity, saltwater
and UV radiation.
85
Project
The fitness area and
swimming pool
For the ultimate in relaxation and
wellbeing, Porto Mirabello is
equipped with a wellness spa, fitness area and 25-metre swimming pool.
All the floors in the wet area were
tiled with Piemmegres materials
from the Natural series, a state-ofthe-art, through-body porcelain
tile in a 30x60 cm format.
The special surface finish of the
Natural series gives it the appearance of dressed stone, while providing a slip-resistance rating of
R11-R12, top-level comfort for bare
feet, and the high quality of design that characterises the area
as a whole.
This was made possible by the
wide range of different colours
and surface finishes, which
helped fulfil the designers’ desire
to mark a change in design language between the swimming
pool area and the adjacent
open-lounge area.
The shopping centre
The two-storey shopping centre
features a magnificent vaulted
roof in glass and steel, and accommodates 60 shops distributed around internal access balconies. All of the walkways in this
area were tiled with Piemmegres
tiles from the Ardesia Multicolor
series, a through-body porcelain
tile whose special surface finish
makes it ideal for the intense
stresses associated with a highly
frequented commercial environment.
For the shop interiors, meanwhile,
the designers opted for the warm
86
Oregon
Project
ADVERTISING
TIMELESSLY ELEGANT
tones and satin-finish surfaces of Piemmegres’s
Absolute and Mediterraneo collections, in various colours and formats.
The boat storage
and maintenance
area
Progetto Mirabello Shipyard SRL manages the
site dedicated to boat repairs, maintenance, slipway
haulage
and
launching (with travel lifts
of 160 tonnes and up to
500 tonnes in the immediate vicinity), two fuel
stations (one with highcapacity pumps for super-yachts), 300 garages
and 1000 outdoor parking spaces, providing
parking for a total of 1300
cars.
Large formats and
metallic glitter effects for representational floors
C
The new “Oregon” series for use in public areas
(format 598 x 298 x 11 mm) combines outstanding
technical properties with a special timeless look.
A harmonious colour range, stair tiles with modern,
grooved edges and matching skirting tiles round off
the range.
M
Y
CM
The strong points of the Oregon range include its
high slip resistance (R10), good wear resistance
(4 to 5) and barefoot slip - resistance (class A/B)
in wet areas.
MY
CY
CMY
K
***
Porto Mirabello is a highly
prestigious project.
By supplying over 11,000
sq.m of material for its realisation, Piemme has
demonstrated the full
flexibility of its architectural ranges and the immense versatility of its surfaces and finishes for
indoor and outdoor applications.
Specifically
developed to meet the
most wide-ranging design requirements, they
ensure that the quality
and appearance of the
final layout are second to
none.
5
87
Korzilius GmbH Krugbäckerstraße 3 D-56424 Mogendorf www.korzilius.com
Project
by Ron Treister
LATICRETE soars
to new heights with
the Al Hamra Tower

The soon-to-be-completed Al Hamra Tower will
not only be Kuwait’s tallest building at 412.5 meters (1,353.346 feet); it will be
the world’s tallest sculpted building when slated to be completed in late 2011. Offering a massive construction area consisting
of 180,000 square meters
(1,937,504 square feet), the integrated, mixed-use development
is being built at a cost of $950
million US in the center of Kuwait
City. The building will have 75
state-of-the-art stories dedicated
for offices, in addition to a mammoth mixed-use complex featuring a mall with three basements,
three shopping floors and a cinema floor containing nine IMAX
theaters.
88
Having an exterior facade covered with 258,000 square meters
(2,777,089 square feet) of limestone, (covered with 258,000
square meters of limestone,
enough to tile NYC's Central
Park's paved areas) Al Hamra
will become the tallest direct-adhered stone-clad structure on
this planet. During the lengthy
planning of the building's construction, there was an understandable concern over the
structural integrity of the spiral
cantilevered concrete shear
walls if clad with thick, mechanically attached stone panels.
Rather than changing the design aesthetic, engineers and architects developed a creative
solution. Their solution: to install
limestone tiles on the exterior
Project
walls of the lower floors and a
mesh-mounted trencadis-style
limestone tile system on the exterior walls of the higher floors,
achieving the same “look” at a
fraction of the weight. The
LATICRETE® System was ultimately selected to make this design
solution come to fruition.
Richard Goldberg, AIA, CSI, a
consulting architect with Professional Consultants International,
and one of the world’s foremost
experts regarding direct-adhered exterior tile and stone wall
cladding, was contracted to provide technical consulting services to both Ahmadiah Contracting & Trading Company, Kuwait
and SOM Architects, New York
City. “Our engineers conducted
cutting-edge computer modeling of the tile cladding assembly using finite element analysis.
We utilized Abaqus FEA® commercial
computer
software,
commonly used in the aerospace industry, now economically feasible in architectural
building design,” Goldberg stated, “This software provided accurate, robust simulations of the
behavior of the proposed directadhered composite stone cladding assembly under extreme
thermal expansion, concrete
89
shrinkage, and wind loading
typical of the unique geographic location. Most important, this
technique allowed us to confidently specify the adhesive mortar and grout products with the
necessary physical properties.
“We were also asked to analyze
and review a number of directadhered stone façade installation systems,” Goldberg continued. “After a highly detailed
Project
evaluation process, we selected
the LATICRETE System. There were
many reasons for this which included the quality of the products to be used, the strong warranty program which LATICRETE
offers, and most important, the
fact that the LATICRETE materials
offered certified product test
data of key physical characteristics which enabled us to conduct computer modeling simulations.
According to Sujit Singh, General Manager of LATICRETE RAK
CO LLC, “This was a very challenging project for us due to the
fact that it was going to be the
tallest structure on the globe
with direct-adhered stone exterior cladding. We had many meetings with
the architects, contractors and
façade specialists. The finite element analysis was conducted
before a final decision on the
LATICRETE products was an-
nounced… there were many
other competitive product manufacturers vying to get this
unique project. One key to
LATICRETE being awarded the
contract was our commitment in
assuring the quality by training
and inspection during installation. There were many challenges on this project including the
building’s extraordinary height
and also, having installation occur during hot weather where
the mercury reached as high as
50⁰ C (122⁰ F)!”
The Trencadis Gaudi limestone
was bonded to the exterior concrete walls of Al Hamra Tower
with LATICRETE® 254 Platinum
(white), a one-step, polymer fortified, thin-set mortar.“We selected
this product for many reasons,
one being its high shear-bond
strength and balanced shear
modulus properties,” added
Goldberg.
Once the thin-set cured, the sub-
sequent grouting process on the
Al Hamra Tower’s exterior was implemented with LATICRETE 1500
Sanded Grout, a premium, factory-prepared product designed
to be mixed with water. Formulated from a blend of high-strength
Portland cement, graded aggregates, polymers and color-fast
pigments, LATICRETE 1500 Sanded Grout provided The Tower’s
outside walls with grout joints
that were dense, hard and highly durable… made from a product that could withstand the incredibly high heat index existing
in Kuwait City.
Singh
commented
that
LATICRETE 1776 Grout Enhancer
was used in this project, as well.
“LATICRETE 1776 Grout Enhancer
is used in place of water to provide a dense, colorfast grout
joint that inhibits stain causing
bacteria, mold and mildew
growth with Microban®. This was
necessary for the Al Hamra Tow-
90
er’s limestone cladding, as it
works perfectly with LATICRETE
1500 Sanded Grout.”
The Al Hamra Tower is without
question, a world-class, signature architectural project. When
it is completed and can be seen
from miles outside of Kuwait City
either inland or from the Arabian
Gulf, people will comment on
how its initial appearance seemingly curves to its highest point
like a “curled newspaper."
Visitors and tenants will be welcomed by a soaring, 20-plus meter high lobby, which frankly, will
have to be seen firsthand for
one to experience its awesome,
futuristic designs. Very soon, The
Tower’s facilities will be open,
which will include six levels of retail; a rooftop garden positioned
atop the retail sector; the largest
business center in Kuwait; the
very posh, Sky Lounge restaurant; 40 rapid elevators to reach
those very high floors; two “refuge floors” designed to be used
in case of an emergency… and,
a multi-story parking facility, as
well. All of this, housed within a
building that has an exterior professionally covered via the largest and quite possibly the most
spectacular
direct-adhered
limestone-cladding
project
found to date on this earth.
“We at LATICRETE are proud to
be able to contribute to a project as ambitious as the Al Hamra Tower,” stated Erno de Bruijn,
President, LATICRETE International. “Some of the world’s premier
architects, engineers, consultants and contractors were
called upon to make this construction dream a reality. We
know it will stand tall as a major
architectural statement for decades to come. Because of that,
we are very confident that the
LATICRETE products which were
specified for The Al Hamra Tower
will perform at optimal levels as
long as the building is in use.”
5
Advertising
Project
Gold LEED rating for
GEL in Shanghai

A ceremony was held on
19 May to mark the inauguration of the Green Energy Laboratory (GEL) at
the Jiao Tong University in
Shanghai.
The new building was constructed on the Chinese university’s
campus according to an Italian
design, using Italian technology,
and is dedicated to study and
research relating to the energyefficiency of buildings.
Inaugurated in the presence of
Corrado Clini, Italy’s Minister for
the Environment, the Green Energy Laboratory meets extremely
high standards of energy-efficiency and is the first university
building in China to obtain LEED
Gold certification.
Designed by the Archea firm of
architects, under the guidance
of by Marco Casamonti and
with the support of the engineering firm Favero&Milan for the
structural part, the building has
a total volume of 27,000 cu.m.
The GEL is equipped with photovoltaic and thermal solar panels
of various types, which take care
of both winter heating and summer
cooling;
cogeneration
92
plants (by Energifera of Imola)
with geothermal heat exchange
(Clima Veneta); innovative climate control systems in the walls
(Merloni Termo Sanitaria) and
floors (Pavimenti Italiani); and a
lighting
system
(iGuzzini)
equipped with a smart grid capable of managing the entire
system supplied from renewable
sources, including a “wind fan” in
Project
mu
LTi
ia
med
A
the garden.
The project
The Green Energy Laboratory,
which is the outcome of a cooperation agreement signed in November 2007 between Shanghai Jiao Tong University and
Italy’s Ministry for the Environment, is thus a major centre for
the research, analysis and transfer of low-carbon technologies
for the commercial and residential construction industry.
The building was conceived by
Archea as a compact body
equipped with a central courtyard covered by a large skylight,
which can be opened or closed
according to the season. This solution was adopted on the
strength of its functional characteristics in terms of energy distribution and optimisation.
The façade, which is surrounded
by access balconies and has a
second skin made of sun breaks,
takes the form of a void capable
of optimising energy consumption, by operating as a storage
heater on sunny winter days,
and as an extractor flue for inter-
93
nally generated hot air in the
summer.
The buildings has three storeys
offering a total of 1500 sq.m of
overground floor area, and a
maximum height of 20 m.
The first two floors accommodate the laboratories, meeting
rooms, a control room, lecture
theatres and an exhibition area,
and each room benefits from a
Project
double outlook, both towards
the exterior and towards the internal courtyard. The third floor
accommodates two sample
apartments, simulating a tworoom and a three-room dwelling,
covered by a pitched roof fitted
with photovoltaic panels, built as
a platform for conducting tests
on residential units and tests on
high-energy-efficiency construction systems and materials.
The orientation of the building
and its rectangular shape, together with the façade and
glazed internal courtyard, are
designed to maximise natural
ventilation and control of exposure to sunlight, in order to optimise interior comfort and minimise energy consumption.
The façade
The façade, which is the salient
feature of the external volume,
94
Project
consists of a double skin: one internal layer made of glazed cells
that provide waterproofing and
insulation, and one external layer in the form of a terracotta sun
break produced by the Italian
company Ceipo, based in Montallese, for modulating exposure
and lighting within the work areas. The HVAC system is based on
a design involving one main
plant (CHPC/WHP) backed up
by other, smaller, dedicated
plants, which can be switched
with each other according to
the requirements of the research
and testing being conducted in
the various laboratories.
Silvano Cei, the proprietor of
Ceipo, explains that the form
and design of the sun break was
developed exclusively for the
Ceipo, which is headquartered in Montallese di Chiusi (Siena, Italy),
produces roof tiles and sun breaks in terracotta and glazed porcelain,
and exports them worldwide, especially to the Middle East and
Central America.
Its references include the following:
new building at Jiao Tong university: “The design of the sun break
replicates the Chinese ideogram for Green Energy Laboratory. We specialise in the design
and production of sun breaks,
which are a typical feature of
Tuscan architecture, and have
been used for centuries to
screen the apertures or façades
of buildings, in order to limit solar
radiation, create attractive plays
of light and restrict visibility from
the outside.
The sun breaks produced for the
GEL are made of porcelain
stoneware with a white glaze,
which gives each piece and the
overall structure a distinctive vitreous effect, reminiscent of the
translucence of porcelain.”
5
• Mecca Mosque; Mecca, Saudi Arabia
• Medina Mosque; Medina, Saudi Arabia
• Presidential residences; Kuwait
• Presidential palace, Baghdad, Iraq
• The Pearl Project, Qatar
• Hyatt Regency Hotel; Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt
• Government buildings, Brunei
• PWD Projecty-Statal Building, UAE
• Rahimtullah Trust Tower; Nairobi, Kenya
• Hotel Excelsior; Ischia, Italy
95
Art & Culture
by Sara Falsetti
Patrizia Garavini: the ceramic
artist from the low plains

If you go to Gazzotti's
summer party at Villa
Beccadelli, you’ll find
a farmhouse in the
nearby municipality of Sala Bolognese, right next to the Samoggia River, between the fields of
Barabana (although it’s not
easy to find in this landscape
without landmarks). This is the
home and studio of the ceramic
artist Patrizia Garavini.
We were put in touch with Patrizia by Nicolò Riguzzi and Alessandro Betocchi of the Art To Design Gallery in Bologna, after
spotting some of her works at
the Gazzotti atelier. Her studio
here in the low plains of Bologna, is so close to the epicentre
of the earthquake that struck
the Emilia Romagna region on
20th May, that the event dedicated to African culture due to
96
be held in the garden of Patrizia’s studio on the 20th itself had
to be cancelled. It was then
held with considerable success
on the 24th of June, by which
time the worst of the earthquakes appeared to have subsided.
Art & Culture
mu
LTi
ia
med
A
Patrizia Garavini welcomes us into a splendid workshop set up in an outbuilding that was originally used
as a tool shed, right next to the farmhouse in which she
lives. The origins of the house itself date back to the
17th century.
You can see at once that the studio nestling in the
Padana countryside is a primary source of inspiration
for the artist, as too are the house itself and the sur-
97
Art & Culture
www.patriziagaravini.it
rounding landscape, which is
dotted with dykes, crop plantations, copses, reed-beds and
herons.
But there’s more to it than that,
because Patrizia’s work appears
to be profoundly inspired by a
primordial femininity, the concept of Mother Earth as the giver of life, and the search for an-
cient
memories
expressed
through ethnic symbols and ancient cultures.
Ceramic plays the leading role
in her work, but it’s also backed
98
up by other materials such as
copper and iron, which serve to
“lift the ceramic and bring it
closer to the sky… My works are
like me: they keep their feet firm-
Art & Culture
ly on the ground, but they look
up to the sky and play with the
wind.”
The technique she uses most
frequently is that of Raku ceramic, but on a simpler level, she
also uses clays and oxides for
coating and decoration.
99
Patrizia is originally from Forlì,
and she has the typical strength
and determination that such a
background offers: “I work like a
man: deep snow never stops
me, nor do the demands that a
country garden makes on you
from the beginning of spring to
Art & Culture
WHAT IS RAKU?
the end of autumn. Even my
own work requires a certain
toughness: you need to be part
ceramic artist, part blacksmith,
part bricklayer… and a host of
other things besides… but I’m
delighted to have realised that
my hands can tell stories and
give shape to thoughts and
dreams.
Having the freedom to manage
your own time is an enormous
plus, even when you end up
working late into the night,
sometimes in the cold, to finish a
piece that can’t wait until the
next day, because you can’t put
ceramic on pause, and your
own thoughts can change from
one moment to the next anyway.”
Patrizia is also a fine exponent of
Emilian cuisine: “I produce works
of ceramic art, but no two pieces are ever the same. It’s the
same when I cook: I open the
fridge, see what’s in there and
base my recipes on what I’ve
got, what mood I’m in, and
whatever I feel like at the time. I
like to change and experiment,
even though the experience of
eating traditional home-made
tagliatelle is unforgettable. It’s total pleasure: for the hands, the
eyes, the nose and the taste
buds. And like art, it’s a pleasure
best shared with others.”
5
100
History - Raku has its roots in the ancient culture of the Far East and is
permeated by Buddhism and Zen philosophy.
In 16th century Japan, the master potter Chojiro began to produce a series of
Raku works - probably cups for the tea ceremony - which found their way to
Europe. We know for a fact that knowledge of the technique of Raku dates
back even further, but evidence of its origins has been lost.
We do know, however, that Raku is the surname of one of the most authoritative families of master potters - probably descendants of Chojiro - who were
granted a feudal seal by the Emperor to produce teapots and other utensils for
the homes of Japanese princes and nobles.
The tea ceremony - which is still a key feature of Japanese culture today
- has always been an important ritual, first among the monks, as a break
between Taoist and Buddhist meditations, and then among the leading families
of Japan’s noble and warrior classes. This prompted the masters of tea
ceremonies to select ceramic artists who were capable of producing the best
and most attractive teapots and cups, imbued with the right degree of
mysticism. It was only in the last 50 years that Raku was imported into the
West, where it first spread through the United States and thence to Great
Britain and Australia. In the 1960s, especially in the United States, groups of
young artists, including Paul Soldner, started to diffuse this ceramic technique
through the art departments of American universities, while also innovating
- with interesting creative results - on the classic traditional Japanese
procedure, particularly certain phases of it.
Method - The creation of a Raku object is divided into four phases: shaping
of the clay; drying; firing; and reduction. The first two phases are self-explanatory: during shaping, either by hand or on the wheel, the artist’s creative idea
comes to life, and drying then completes the first firing of the object.
The second, and decisive, process for firing pieces decorated with glazes and
pigments takes place in various types of kiln. The firing process is spectacular,
to the extent that it is a major event for ceramic enthusiasts.
The firing temperature oscillates between 800 and 950°, depending on the
results that the artist is trying to achieve.
After firing, the pieces are removed from the kiln immediately, because it is
vital to retain their incandescence so that the thermal shock to which they are
then subject generates the cracked effect on the glaze, which is blackened by
smoke. The fired pieces then rapidly undergo reduction, in other words, cooling
in an oxygen-free atmosphere, which is another spectacular and important
phase from a technical and artistic point of view.
If the ceramic artist is sufficiently experienced and knowledgeable, the reaction
of the glazes can now be directed towards achieving high-gloss metallic and
iridescent effects of extraordinary intensity, which cannot be achieved with
other ceramic treatments. For effective reduction, use is made of various types
of oxygen-absorbing fuels, which also emit intense smoke, inside closed
containers. These differ according to the materials used, for example, sawdust,
wood chips, paper, grass (preferably damp) etc.. The piece is immediately
immersed in cold water, to break the chemical reaction of the glazes, and then
washed.
As you can see, the Raku process is influenced by a wide range of variables.
A judicious blend of these, combined with knowledge and experience, and
sometimes by a spirit of experimentation, yields relatively consistent results,
not least because surprise and novelty are key requirements of this ceramic
technique.
Advertising
[email protected]
www.futureceramic.com
for tablet and
smartphone
ISSN2039-8301
free
download
Cersaie
2012
keep
App
-to-date
with
www.tiledizioni.it
2012
ARMANDO TESTA
Grazia Piccininno for Cersaie 2012
University of Genova, Architecture Faculty
Cersaie
www.cersaie.it
Organized by EDI.CER. spa
Promoted by ConfInDustRIa CERamICa
In collaboration with
show management: PROMOS srl - P.O. Box 37 - 40050 CENTERGROSS BOLOGNA (Italy) - Tel. +39.051.6646000 - Fax +39.051.862514
Press office: EDI.CER. spa - Viale Monte Santo 40 - 41049 SASSUOLO MO (Italy) - Tel. +39.0536.804585 - Fax +39.0536.806510
Cersaie-A4-GB 2012.indd 1
31/01/12 10.01
Cersaie 2012
ARMANDO TESTA
Cersaie celebrates
30 years of blazing its own trail
www.cersaie.it
31/01/12 10.01

“Building, dwelling,
thinking” came about
from sniffing the air, which in
2009 reeked of the odour of recession. A powerful gust of wind
blew up. Where has this wind
come from?
What’s going to happen? It
made us realise that it was time
to reflect on the present and
study the past, in order to imagine the future.
Italian entrepreneurs are good
at producing things, and whenever ceramic manufacturers
have felt changes in the air, they
have always been ready to explore new avenues. And at Cer-
saie, they have been measuring
themselves against customers
and visitors from all around the
world, for 30 years.
“Building, Dwelling, Thinking” was
conceived as a forum, within the
industry’s world-leading trade
fair, for extending the debate beyond the realms of commerce,
getting right to the heart of the
building world, and addressing
the topical themes being debated among architects, which ultimately extend to emerging lifestyles and the new requirements
of dwelling.
The title “Building, dwelling, thinking”, borrowed from the German
philosopher Heidegger, emphasises the need to start from humans and their requirements if
we are to interpret the major
changes that have been impacting on all areas of life in recent years, and consequently
the meaning of building and
dwelling too.
Past editions of “Building, dwelling, thinking” have involved
speakers of worldwide renown,
such as Renzo Piano, Mario Botta, Enzo Mari, Cino Zucchi, Alessandro Mendini and Kazuyo Sejima, from the world of design
and architecture; and Francesco Dal Co, David Childs of
104
SOM, Fulvio Irace, Karim Rashid,
Michele De Lucchi, Aldo Schiavone, Luigi Zoja and Giuseppe
Culicchia, from the world of human sciences.
And once again, a cycle of seminars and conferences will be
held, in an attempt to assemble
a choir of many voices.
So to mark the 30th anniversary of Cersaie, “Building, dwelling, thinking” will be offering a
top-level programme of events
for 2012 that cannot fail to
arouse the interest of anyone
wishing to reflect upon our
changing approach to dwelling.
5
Cersaie 2012
Building, Dwelling, Thinking.
Cersaie events / CALENDAR 2012
» TUESDAY 25 SEPTEMBER:
- 1.00 pm: Official opening of the exhibition “Young Architects
Scrape the Sky”
- 2.00 pm: “Design goes Sci-Fi” – Speakers: Cini Boeri, Bruce
Sterling; chaired by Stefano Mirti, project coordinator of
Interaction Design Lab in Turin and lecturer in design at the
Bocconi University in Milan
- 5.00 pm: Materials design: between performance and
appearance – Designing function and perception of coverings
- In conjunction with ADI Emilia Romagna; chaired by Claudio
Branzaglia, Chairman of ADI Emilia Romagna
- 6.30 pm: Ceramic Tiles of Italy International Press ConferenceOpen to Italian and foreign journalists only; after the
conference, prize-giving for the Ceramics of Italy Journalism
Award
» WEDNESDAY 26 SEPTEMBER:
- 10.00 am: Conference with Shigeru Ban - In conjunction with
the Aldo Rossi Faculty of Architecture, University of Bologna
- 12.00 noon: Historic and artistic heritage in Emilia Romagna
after the earthquake - Speakers: Giovanni Chiaramonte,
photographer - Carla Di Francesco, superintendent of art
assets for the Emilia Romagna region. Chaired by Fulvio Irace,
Professor of History of Architecture at Milan Polytechnic
- 2.00 pm: Ceramic Architecture. The genesis of an idea. Presentation of the projects realised in the course of the
workshop held in conjunction with the DNA Cultural
Association and the Faculty of Architecture of the University of
Florence; followed by the projection of a film about the
workshop, entitled “Ciak Ceramica”- Speaker: Paolo Di Nardo
of DNA
- 3.00 pm: Design conference: ‘Poetic engineering’ In
conjunction with Bologna Water Design - Speaker: Alberto
Meda, Industrial Designer
- 4.30 pm: Aperitif with the architect Andrea Maffei - Speaker:
Andrea Maffei
» THURSDAY 27 SEPTEMBER:
- 12.00 am: “Ceramic and design” Conference and awards
ceremony - Speakers: Cino Zucchi - Sebastiano Brandolini Michele Capuani
- 2.00 pm: New Bauhaus Museum in Weimar. A position
between Historism and Modernism – Speaker: Heike Hanada
- 4.00 pm: Technical conference in conjunction with ASTER
(Emilia Romagna high technology network)
» FRIDAY 28 SEPTEMBER
- 10.00 am: Press conference with Eduardo Souto De Moura –
open to journalists only – Speakers: Eduardo Souto de Moura Francesco Dal Co
- 1.00 pm: Awards ceremony, Beautiful Ideas – Third edition
- 3.00 pm: The architecture of João Luís Carrilho da Graça –
Speakers: João Luís Carrilho da Graça - Francesco Dal Co
» SATURDAY 29 SEPTEMBER
- 10.00 am: The right economy – In conjunction with Comitato
Amici di Edmondo Berselli
- 11.00 am: A choice of format – Confindustria Ceramica and
the Order of Architects of the Province of Modena present a
model of Advanced Industrial and Creative Training – Speaker:
Claudio Gibertoni, Chairman of the Order of Architects of the
Province of Modena
- 12.00 am: Awards ceremony for the competition “Piazza
Martiri Partigiani”, Sassuolo, in conjunction with the Municipal
Council of Sassuolo – Speakers: Luca Caselli - Claudia Severi Franco Manfredini
105
Cersaie 2012
Building, Dwelling, Thinking.
L
Cersaie events / CALENDAR 2012
A
R
U
M
A
R
T
EX ENTS
EV
Inaugural Economic Conference
Palazzo dei Congressi – Europauditorium
Mirti, Architect and Professor of History of Architecture at Milan
Polytechnic.
***
TUESDAY 25 SEPTEMBER, 11.00 AM
Keynote Lecture
by Edoardo
Souto De Moura
Palazzo dei
Congressi
The subject of the conference is “Starting again from Made in
Italy”, which will be discussed in the presence of Giorgio Squinzi,
Chairman of Confindustria, and Franco Manfredini, Chairman
of Confindustria Ceramica.
The conference will be chaired by Duccio Campagnoli,
Chairman of BolognaFiere.
***
Cersaie 30th Anniversary Evening
Teatro Comunale Bologna
WEDNESDAY 26 SEPTEMBER, 8.00 PM
Invitation-only dinner and show for exhibitors and their customers.
The event will include the prize-giving for the Confindustria
Ceramica Distributor Awards and the Cersaie Awards for the
show's best stands.
***
Lesson in reverse
with Elio Caccavale
Palazzo dei Congressi
THURSDAY
27 SEPTEMBER,
10.00 AM
Elio Caccavale studied
Product Design at the
Glasgow School of Art
before going on to the
Royal College of Art to
complete
a
masters
degree in Design Products.
He is the founder of the
Elio Caccavale Design
Studio, which is engaged
in a wide variety of
projects.
The studio has worked with an extensive portfolio of clients,
including: Mattel, Dmagic Mobile China, Orange, France
Telecom, PBJ Japan and LG Electronics. - Chaired by Stefano
FRIDAY
28 SEPTEMBER,
11.00 AM
Portuguese
architect
Eduardo Souto de Moura
studied architecture at
the Oporto School of
Fine Arts, from which he
graduated in 1980.
In 1974 he joined the
architectural practice of
Noé Dinis.
From 1975 to 1979 he
worked with the Álvaro Siza firm of architects.
From 1981 to 1991, he was an assistant professor at his alma
mater, and later became a professor in the Faculty of Architecture
at the University of Oporto.
In 1980 he established his own firm, which has remained active
ever since. He has been a visiting professor at the schools of
architecture of Paris Belleville, Harvard, Dublin, ETH Zurich and
Lausanne. He has participated in numerous seminars and
given many lectures both in Portugal and abroad.
His work has appeared in various publications and exhibitions.
In 2011 he received the Pritzker Prize.
The lecture will be introduced by Francesco Dal Co, Architect
and Lecturer in History of Architecture at the IUAV
***
Aperitif in Piazza della Cineteca, Bologna
Via Riva di Reno, 72
FRIDAY 28 SEPTEMBER, 8.00 PM
In conjunction with Bologna Water Design (see box)
106
Cersaie 2012
Cersaie 2012 sponsors
Bologna Water Design
For the first time, Cersaie, the international
ceramic and bathroom furnishing trade
fair, is sponsoring an event to be held in
the heart of Bologna, aimed at raising the
profile of design dedicated to water and
outdoor applications, and acknowledging
the importance of this complementary line
of business. Scheduled for the evenings, so
as not to overlap with the trade fair itself,
this initiative undoubtedly makes a major
contribution to Cersaie’s depth. Water,
which has played a leading role in the
history of Bologna, is thus interpreted by
some of the best-known international
designers, who are taking part in the
initiative alongside manufacturers, with a
series of events and exhibitions to be held
in places of artistic and cultural interest.
Broad, transverse and contemporary, the
theme of the event spans coverings,
innovative materials, bathrooms, wellness
solutions, outdoor furniture, tableware, food
and designs aimed at promoting
sustainable water consumption.
The installations are dotted along a route
around the city, which takes in some of its
most prestigious locations.
The designers involved in Bologna Water
Design include: Michele De Lucchi,
Kengo Kuma, Mario Cucinella, Lorenzo
Palmeri, Philippe Daverio, Roberto
Palomba Ludovica Serafini, and Diego
Grandi, who will be creating their
installations in partnership with major
interior design companies from Italy and
abroad. The prestigious Bologna locations
that will play host to the various
installations include: the Giardino del
Cavaticcio, the Mambo (Museo d’Arte
Moderna di Bologna), the Cineteca, the
Museo della Musica, the Ospedale dei
Bastardini and the L.UN.A. (Libera
Università delle Arti di Bologna).
Forming part of
Building, dwelling,
thinking, Bologna
Water Design is
promoted through
the respective
websites (www.
cersaie.it and www.
bolognawaterdesign.it), catalogues and
other communication channels. A guide
to Bologna Water Design will be distributed
in all the locations involved in the event, in
order to keep visitors constantly informed
of the activities taking place.
The agreement between Cersaie and
Bologna Water Design is an important sign
of cooperation between complementary
initiatives, aimed at creating a system – a
rarely achievable goal in Italy. As such, it is
a major step towards effectively promoting
the activity of the trade fair and the
involvement of the local area.
Advertiser's list
Novabell73
Bien Seramik
Granitifiandre1
Paradyz27
Iiea42
Progress Profiles
Cevisama135
FMG71
Raimondi 63
Cotto4-5
Kajaria53
Saudi Ceramics
79
Ctw127
Kale
Schlüter Systems
31
II cover
117
65
Korzilius87
Sigma49
Desvres109
Lasselsberger-Rako59
Stile136
Dural119
Laticrete International
Tagina6
Eco Design
Litokol10-11
Tecnografica
Edilcuoghi-Edilgres2-3
Lunada Bay Tile
Tek Arredamenti Ege Ceramic
83
Marazzi23
Tls Europe
Eiffelgres129
Marocchi77
Topcer47
Del Conca
121
8
12
IV cover
115
9
Ferrari & Cigarini
75
Montolit39
Turkish Ceramic Federation 43
Future Ceramics
101
Negev Unicera7
German Ceramic Tiles
123
Niro131
III cover
107
A
ia
91
Cersanex133
mu
LTi
G-Tiles35
med
Azulev113
This NEW logo
indicates that
there is multimedia contents
for your tablet
Cersaie 2012
“Città della Posa” (Tile Fitting City)
Thomas Gugger, who won the gold medal in the “Wall and Floor
Tiling” category at WorldSkills 2011 in London, where he
represented the Swiss Tile Association, will
be in Hall 34, in the “Città della Posa”, to
give demonstrations of his skill and
creativity in the installation of ceramic
tiles.
The Scuola Edile ESPE di Lecco (a building
trades training school), also in the “Città
della Posa”, will be holding an advanced
training course lasting 40 hours (from
Wednesday to Saturday), which will be attended by a number
of young tilers who have already successfully completed the
basic tiling course run by the same school.
This advanced course forms part of the Tile Fitting Project
promoted by Confindustria Ceramica and Formedil, which has
already delivered training sessions in six cities in Italy, and will do
so in several more in the weeks to come,
including Reggio Emilia, Lecce, Savona,
Verona, Modena, Ragusa and Rimini.
Five work yards have been set up to
accommodate the advanced course, as
well as a theatre-type seating structure to
facilitate comparing, discussing and
examining aspects of tile fitting and
vocational training with attendees.
During Cersaie, also in Hall 34, a group of professional tilers
selected and co-ordinated by master tiler Graziano Benazzi will
be producing an array of pieces dedicated to the most
advanced applications of ceramic tiles.
1st edition of “Ceramic and Design”
The first Italian ceramic architecture competition, entitled
“Ceramic and Design” will be announcing its winners during
Cersaie 2012.
The projects taking part in the competition were completed in
Italy between January 2010 and January 2012, using ceramic
tiles made by Italian manufacturers subscribing to the
Ceramics of Italy mark.
The competition consists of three architectural categories:
residential architecture; commercial and hospitality; institutional
and urban furnishing. New constructions, remodelling projects
and architectural restorations are all eligible for entry.
The entries will be judged by a high-profile jury made up of the
architects and designers Sebastiano Brandolini, Michele
Capuani and Cino Zucchi.
Sebastiano Brandolini, who graduated in 1982 from the
Architectural Association of London, built the first passive house
in Italy in 2001. He now lectures at the Polytechnic of Zurich and
has an architecture practice with Alba Gallizia in Milan.
Michele Capuani has produced projects for the automotive
and household goods industries, residential architecture and
theme parks. Capuani was director of the IED Research Centre
and of the Masters in Transportation Design at Domus Academy,
as well as one of the founders of Cumulus. He is currently
academic director of the IED Group.
Cino Zucchi, who gained a B.S.A.D. from M.I.T. in 1978, is currently
a lecturer in Architectural and Urban Design at the Polytechnic
of Milan. He has taken part in the organisation of four editions of
the Milan Triennial, and his works have been displayed at three
editions of the Venice Biennial.
108
Advertising
Pietra Basaltina
La ceramica interpreta la pietra. Da Abitare
Cofrac Italia
Via Socrate 3 - 42048 Rubiera (RE) - Italy
tel. +39 0522 262 587 - fax +39 0522 621 490
by Desvres
www.desvres.com
Cersaie 2012

Franco Manfredini, who
is now serving his second term as Chairman of Confindustria Ceramica, is also
Chairman of Federazione Confindustria Ceramica e Laterizi,
which was formed as a result of
the merger of Confindustria Ceramica and ANDIL, the Italian
heavy clay industry association,
with a view to achieving major
synergies in the many areas of
shared interest (energy, environment, communication, studies
centre, R&D, etc.), and in national and international promotional campaigns.
We asked Franco Manfredini,
who also runs Casalgrande
Padana, to talk us through the
latest figures reported by the ceramic industry, and give us his
views on possible developments
in the sector.
Franco Manfredini, Confindustria
Ceramica: recession is a reality,
despite the strength of the cluster
of 2012 reflect GDP figures and
the performance of the construction industry in our various
target markets. Exports are therefore enjoying robust growth in
markets outside Europe, which
have seen average growth rates
of 13% by value.
North America is performing
particularly well (+18%), thanks
in part to the return to a more favourable exchange rate; and
Australia and Asia are also in
vigorous health (+11%).
These are large increases, albeit
from a relatively modest starting
point, generated in areas with
growing economies, unlike Europea, which is currently stagnant.”
Tile International: Are you disappointed by the industry’s results in Europe?
F. Manfredini: “Europe is static
pretty much everywhere.
Even France and Germany,
where our exports increased in
2011 by both volume and value,
are now at a standstill: France, in
particular, is struggling to keep
the pace, and saw a 3% fall in
value and a 7% fall in volume in
the first half of this year.
Over the same six months, Germany reported a 9% increase in
value, but only a 1.7% increase
in volume.
Exports to Scandinavia remain
strong. The construction industry
there has remained more buoyant, and GDP has shown stronger growth.
Outside the EU, Russia is enjoying double-digit growth: +15%
by volume and +14% by value,
which is an entirely physiological discrepancy, when you consider that Russia is still the mar-
Tile International: How are Italian tile manufacturers performing on export markets? What
were the results for the first half
of 2012?
Franco Manfredini: “Exports of
Italian ceramic over the first half
110
ket with the highest average
price per square metre. Poland
is growing too, as is the Gulf, the
Far East and North Africa.
Overall, the first half of 2012
closed broadly in line with the
previous year, despite a slight
fall in quantity.”
your expectations for the coming months?
F. Manfredini: “I am sometimes
accused of undue optimism,
but I still believe our capacity to
gain market share in all the major world markets is substantial.
Our widespread and densely
distributed presence enables
Italian businesses to take the opportunities that arise, regardless
of geographical location.
In fact, we are taking advantage
of growth in demand wherever it
occurs, including in the emerg-
Cersaie 2012
ing markets of China and India.
It is also significant that exports
already exceed 75% of our total
sales, and are fast approaching
80%.
Italy is a great manufacturing
country and the only one, apart
from China and Spain, that exports its products all over the
world. The difference is that we
have a worldwide presence because the quality and innovation of our products is universally recognised, whereas the
others are only recognised for
competitive pricing. If we are witnessing falls in sales, it is a result
of shrinkage in the construction
industry in individual areas, rather than because we have lost
market share to our competitors:
that is our strength.
And if the state helps us, in terms
of energy prices, bureaucracy,
payroll costs and infrastructures,
we can reasonably expect to recover market share in those are-
as where demand is growing,
thereby keeping productivity
high within our cluster.”
Tile International: Is the concept of the cluster still important?
F. Manfredini: “Whenever people talk to me about crisis in the
clusters, I say the same thing:
the clusters are not in crisis, but
the crisis exists despite the clusters. Italy’s ceramic cluster is not
just a manufacturing hub and
invaluable research centre, it is
also an important logistics platform: the ceramic cluster in Emilia Romagna exports its products all over the world, and owes
its logistical efficiency to the fact
that it is a cluster. It played a key
role in making us market leaders, and we now need to
strengthen its fabric: now that
work has started on the Campogalliano-Sassuolo road link,
we need to start thinking about
the rail links that will enable us to
transport materials by train – I
am referring to the completion
of the rail link between Dinazzano and Marzaglia.
The Association plays a vital role
in influencing decision-making
on infrastructure projects, and in
negotiations aimed at containing energy costs. In this regard,
and especially since the nuclear energy plan has been
dropped, I cannot stress enough
the fact that Italy needs to build
regasification plants so as to increase the sources of supply of
natural gas and to enable manufacturers to purchase it at more
competitive prices.”
Tile International: In what
shape do you think the ceramic
industry will emerge from the restructuring process that is currently taking place?
F. Manfredini: “In a market economy, it is the market and market
forces that decide who survives
and who leaves the field, and
that is what determines the
shape of the industry as a whole.
We need to understand the
change that is taking place and
reposition ourselves by restructuring our companies on the
basis of that change.
It is also imperative that our cluster continues to invest in innovation, both in terms of products
and technological processes, if
it is to retain its leadership. We
need to support and defend
this leadership in partnership
with the plant engineering companies that are currently exhibiting at Tecnargilla. Together, we
need to continue to believe in a
green approach to manufacturing, in the potential for innovation that ceramic for construction purposes still has, in the
opportunities for new product
applications and in unique the
qualitative and aesthetic characteristics of our product.”
5
2012
ADVERTISING
Cersaie
keep
App
-to-date
with
for tablet and
smartphone
free
download
ARMANDO TESTA
Cersaie 2012
Companies showcased
www.cersaie.it
Edilcuoghi
31/01/12 10.01
»» Name: moodboard_05 San Paolo, Sandstone
(floor) and Shard (wall) collections
»» Material: Sandstone: technical porcelain
stoneware; Shard: monoporous white paste
»» Colours: Sandstone: GY303, GY305, GY317;
Shard: BG102, GY305, BL601
»» Sizes (cm): Sandstone: 60x60 (10 mm
thickness), 30x60 (10 mm thickness), 100x300
(3,5 mm low-thickness), 100x100 (3,5 mm
low-thickness), 50x100(3,5 mm low-thickness);
Shard: 26x75 (10 mm thickness)
Litokol
»» Name: Starlike Decor
»» Description: the sealant becomes a
decorative levelling layer for wall surfaces.
Decorative walls similar to the grouting
thanks to the DECOR additive, combined
with the Starlike sealant, that allows
achieving a mortar easily applicable as a
levelling layer. It is therefore possible to line
walls with the same material and the same
colour of the grouting, creating colour
combinations between grouted coating
with Starlike and the surrounding wall
surfaces
112
Advertising
Cersaie 2012
Azulev
»» Name: Scabos
»» Material: ink-jet-decorated
porcelain tile
»» Colours: silver, beige, walnut
»» Sizes (cm): 45x45, 30x60, 60x60,
22.5x22.5, 22.5x45
Montolit
»» Name: Monster 300
»» Description: manual tile cutter
consisting of a linear rail in
aluminium alloy, which acts as a
track for the sliding carriage,
complete with scoring system
and lever-operated, progressive,
double splitting system; a base
frame and four support tables.
All quick to assemble and
disassemble
Bien Seramik
»» Name: Eramosa, winner of an A
Design Bronze Award
»» Material: ceramic tile
»» Colours: brown, mink, ivory
»» Sizes (cm): 21x63 (wall), 40x40 (floor)
114
Advertising
Cersaie 2012
Progress Profiles
»» Progress Profiles
»» Name: Proleveling System
»» Description: an innovative, patented levelling
system for the installation of medium and
large ceramic floor tiles and slim tiles,
consisting of a leveller and cap only.
»» The unique removal system prevents any tile
movement or widening of joints. Levels cross
intersections and T-intersections with a single
piece
Korzilius
»» Name: koraTER, Selva
Antigua e Selva Naturale
series, for indoor and
outdoor
»» Material: porcelain tile
»» Colours: nine colours
»» Sizes (cm): 40x60, 35 or
22 mm thickness
(Selva Antigua)
Cotto
»» Name: Curva
»» Material: the plain one:
double firing ceramic wall tile;
the decorative one: third firing
»» Colours: white, grey
»» Sizes (cm): 30x90
116
Advertising
www.progressprofiles.com
Our glance always at the future
WE lIkE TO lOOk aT yOU dIrECTly IN ThE EyES…
… and tell you that every single product has been specially designed for you.
NEW
Proskirting
Only Progress Profiles offers you
the possibility of such a choice.
Proskirting Flat and Proskirting Channel are
two of the latest skirting boards designed with an
integrated system for plasterboards and devised to
create a skirting flush to the wall with decorative inner
grooves, with or without cable channel.
They are available in stainless steel, anodized
aluminium, polished, brushed or varnished in several
colours, in order to create the desired effect of
contemporary touch.
Proskirting Flat
Proleveling System
Lippage is a huge issue
It’s our turn to help
Proleveling System is a revolutionary and innovative
system that facilitates and quicken the laying process
with only two elements: (leveler and cap).
A complete range of levelers of 1, 2 and 3 mm
for floorings and coverings from 2 to 40 mm
thick. Thanks to the pressure applied vertically and
not transversally, the exclusive removal system allows
to avoid the movement of the tiles and the widening
of the joints.
Lay
Proskirting Channel
PATE
NT P
EN
Multi
ple s diNg
olutio
ns
Turn
remove
Kicking the clip in the
direction of the joint.
studioverde.it
Through the energy of our ideas,
The drive of the most innovative technology
The passion for great challenges.
The innovation is in our sight.
Progress Profiles SpA
Certified UN EN ISO 9001:2008
cer
saie
2012
Bolo
2
5
gn
-29
Area/
Hall 4 Septemb a
er
5 S
tand
40
Cersaie 2012
NovaBell
»» Name: Avant (indoor and
outdoor)
»» Material: color-body porcelain tile
»» Colours: silver, basalt, desert, bone
»» Sizes (cm): 60x60, 30x60,15x60,
30x30, 15x15
Ceramika
Paradyz
»» Name: Silvia/Silvio
»» Colours: bianco, brown, grafit
»» Sizes (cm): wall: 20x60;
floor: 40x40
çanakkale
Seramik
»» Name: Victoria
»» Colours: milk, anthracite, rose,
lilac, sky blue
»» Sizes (cm): 20x60, 33x33
118
Advertising
r
ov
rem e
osition
p
e
r
ov
v
rem eremo e
sition
o
p
e
t
i
i
o
s
r
n
o
ep
add
add
add
Cersaie 2012
Tagina
»» Name: Woodays
»» Colours: sicomoro grigio,
rovere decapato, anice
stellato, noce, faggio
rosato, castagno medio,
larice biondo
»» Sizes (cm): 61x92, 20x92,
15x92, 10x92, 20x90, 15x90,
10x90, 30x30, 61x61- indoor
thickness: 12 mm; outdoor
thickness: Compact 20
format
Laticrete
»» Name: SpectraLOCK® PRO Premium Grout
»» Description: patented, high-performance epoxy grout,
which offers excellent colour uniformity, durability, stain
protection and beautiful full-grout joints in an easy-touse, non-sag formula. Available in 40 Lifestyle colours
and 220 Dazzle options. It is certified low VOC and can
contribute points towards LEED and LEED for Homes
certification
Rako
»» Name: Manufactura
»» Material: majolika tiles
»» Colours: white, cream,
brick-red, light grey,
grey-blue and turquoisegreen
120
Advertising
Cersaie 2012
Edilgres
»» Name: StoneLab_Pietra del Belgio
»» Material: porcelain tile, indoor
and outdoor
»» Colours: 2 colours
»» Sizes (cm): 30x60, 60x60, 45x90
Ragno
»» Name: Smart
»» Material: white-body
single-fired porcelain
»» Colours: white, beige,
orange, brown, blue,
green
Rondine
»» Name: Monolith
»» Material: colored-body
porcelain tile
»» Colours: 4 multigraphic colours
122
Advertising
Cersaie 2012
Kalebodur
»» Name: Natural Stone
»» Colours: beige (brera creme,
travertino classico, crema marfil,
leccese light sand), black (pietra
blue, mocha perla), brown (bronze
amani, pulpis, eramosa, travertino
noce), grey (leccese dark sand,
leccese grey, pietra grey), white
(brera white, limestone, calacatta,
carrara)
»» Sizes (cm): 45x90, 60x60, 30x60
TopCer
»» Name: Victorian
Designs & Borders
»» Material: unglazed
porcelain tile
»» Colours: brussels
(new, in the picture),
amsterdam, vienna
& hong-kong
»» Size (cm): 30x30
(with components
10x10 and triangles
9,3x9,3)
Lunada Bay Tile
»» Name: Tozen
»» Material: glass tile
»» Colours: 17 tones
»» Sizes (cm): 30.48x30.48 (12”x12”) paperfaced repeating sheets; sizes of tile:
2.54x2.54 (1”x1”), 1.27x2.54 (1/2”x1”),
2.54x10.16 (1”x4”)
124
Advertising
14,000 people
do it better!
They read daily www.CeramicWorldWeb.it
Fallo meglio! Leggi CeramicWorldWeb.it
14.000 professionisti si aggiornano con www.CeramicWorldWeb.it
*Absolute Unique Visitors from Google Analytics Reports
Cersaie 2012
Raimondi
»» Name: Free-Cut
»» Description: professional cutting-guide for porcelain slabs up to 3 meters length
(10’). Dismountable in two bars of 1.5 meters each (5”) for the ease of transport
and when cutting slabs up to 1.5 meters (5”)
Negev
»» Name: Ecostone,
Novo Collection
»» Material: digital
porcelain tile
»» Colours: midnight,
dust, lace, almond,
camel, siena
»» Sizes (cm): 60x60,
35.5x33.5
ImolaCeramica
»» Name: Vein
»» Colours: almond, beige, bianco, tortora,
marrone scuro, grigio scuro
»» Sizes (cm): 45x90, 45x45, 60x60, 30x60, 15x90
126
Advertising
Cersaie 2012
G-Tiles
»» Name: i Legni
»» Material: porcelain tile,
monocaliber squared and
rectified
»» Colours: walnut snow, walnut
sun, walnut autumn, walnut
ground
»» Sizes (cm): 20x120, 15x90,
15x60, thickness 10 mm
Marocchi
»» Name: technical area for architets and
interior designer (C. Bergmann showroom in
Vienna)
»» Description: technical area consisting of a
drawer unit surrounded by modular walls
complete with removable, interchangeable
accessories. The walls can be freely
combined and are equipped with a vast
range of accessories designed to meet the
needs of every customer
Val-Tile
»» Name: Venis
»» Material: Chio slate with
strips of wood, laser
engraved
»» Colours: slate: black,
glano, white – wood
laths: teak, wengè
»» Sizes (cm): slate:
trapezius – wood laths:
2.5x60
128
Advertising
PRODUCTS AND IDEAS FOR ARCHITECTURE
Alternative ways.
There are only two certainties in a
project: the start and the end. In
between there are an infinite number
of alternative paths. This is why
Eiffelgres designs and produces
technical porcelain stoneware with
a high creative content, in which the
material is only the starting point for
an idea to be made reality.
Your idea.
Pillart COMP4 by Mauro Bellei
Positivo Aspera
Negativo Aspera
www.eiffelgres.com
ufoadv.com
CERSAIE | BOLOGNA | ITALY | 25 - 29 SEPTEMBER 2012
PAD. 25 | STAND A164 - B165
Cersaie 2012
TLS Europa
»» Name: ceramic levelling system
»» Description: the levelling system for
ceramic tile now has a hole in the
base to allow adhesive to pass
through it, thus ensuring perfect
adhesion of tile to substrate; a key
consideration when using ultra-slim
and hence more fragile materials
(3-4 mm thick).
Campani
»» Name: I Legni
»» Colours: vintage dark, vintage
dove, vintage grey, shabby
bianco, shabby beige, quercia
naturale, quercia tinta,
Rex
»» Name: Taiga
»» Material: fine porcelain tile
»» Colours: host, sommer, var, vinter
»» Sizes (cm): 15x90, 15x60 (grip), 15x45
130
Advertising
Cersaie 2012
Gardenia
Orchidea
»» Name: Vanitas (Versace
Home)
»» Material: double-fired whitebody tile (wall); glazed
porcelain tile (floor)
»» Colours: beige, gold, walnut
»» Sizes (cm): 39.4x39.4 (wall),
60x60 (floor)
Fiandre
Architectural
Surfaces
»» Name: DataUni Maximum
»» Colours: ice, champagne, lime,
choco, pepper, cloud
»» Sizes (cm): 300x150, 150x150,
150x75, 75x75, 75x37.5
thickness 6 mm
Ergon
»» Name: Wood Talk
»» Colours: white smoke, beige
digue, grey pepper, brown flax
»» Sizes (cm): 22.5x90, 15x90
132
Advertising
C
M
Y
CM
MY
CY
CMY
K
Exhibition Calendar
More exhibitions on www.CeramicWorldWeb.it
TECNARGILLA (Ceramic production machinery and technologies)
Rimini (Italy) - 24/28 September 2012
CERSAIE (Ceramic tiles and bathroom furnishing)
Bologna (Italy) - 25/29 September 2012
MARMOMACC (Natural stone and processing machinery)
Verona (Italy) - 26/29 September 2012
MADE EXPO (Building)
Milan (Italy) - 17/20 October 2012
SAIE (Building)
Bologna (Italy) - 18/21 October 2012
ABITARE IL TEMPO
Verona (Italy) - 21/23 October 2012
HONG KONG INTERNATIONAL BUILDING AND DECORATION
Hong Kong - 27/29 October 2012
THE BIG 5 SHOW (Building)
Dubai (UAE) - 5/8 November 2012
DOMOTEX MIDDLE EAST (Floor and wall coverings, finishings)
Istanbul (Turkey) - 8/11 November 2012
BAU (Building)
Munich (Germany) - 14/19 January 2013
SURFACES (Floor and wall coverings)
Las Vegas, Nevada (USA) - 29/31 January 2013
BUDMA (Building)
Poznan (Poland) - 29 January / 1 February 2013
CEVISAMA (Ceramic floor and wall coverings, bathroom furnishing)
Valencia (Spain) - 5/8 February 2013
BAUTEC (Building)
Berlin (Germany) - 21/25 February 2013
REVESTIR (Ceramic floor and wall coverings)
Sao Paulo (Brazil) - 6/9 March 2013
ISH (Building and refrigeration, energy technology, bathrooms)
Frankfurt (Germany) - 12-16 March 2013
MOSBUILD (Building)
Moscow (Russia) - 2/5 April 2012
I SALONI
Milan - 9/14 April 2013
134
Advertising
Discover the new collection
of scraped wood floors.
One size: 15x180
One wood species: Oak
One finish: Bona Traffic Uv
Six new colors
www.stile.com
STILE PAVIMENTI LEGNO S.P.A.
via dei laghi 18 Bivio Lugnano
06018 CITTA’ DI CASTELLO (PG)
tel. +39.075.86.47.61
e-mail: [email protected]
Numero Verde 800.217.630
www.stile.com
Advertising
graphic design & photo: www.gruppobento.com
LEGEND

technology is nothing without design
we are waiting for you at
25-29/09/2012
design and digital technologies
for a new concept of ceramic decoration.
Palazzo dei Congressi
Piazza Costituzione 4/A
24-28/09/2012
Rimini Fiera - Hall B1
(as Sacmi partner)
Since 20 years Tecnografica has been thinking, running and working hard for ceramic
tile industry. Thanks to its dreams, passion and great teamwork, Tecnografica is
constantly creating and developing the design and the new techniques for the most
modern ceramic technologies.
Italia Tecnografica S.p.A.
Brasil Tecnografica Brasil
España Tecnografica Iberica Design S.L.
India Tecnografica India Pvt. Ltd.
w w w.tecnogr af ica .net