Paola Giacomini - p.giacomini@tiledizioni.it
Emilceramica starts up in India with Simpolo India is the country that Emilceramica has chosen for the international expansion of its manufacturing operations. As in the case of Zeus Ceramica in Ukraine, the formula chosen by the Italian ceramic group for its Indian start-up is a new 50-50 joint venture with the Indian tile and sanitaryware producer Simpolo, a group owned by the Aghara family and operating in the state of Gujarat. The goal of the new company, called Simpolo Emilceramica Pvt Ltd, is to commence production of large-format ceramic tiles and panels by next spring using Gea technology from System. An ultra-modern new facility is already under construction as part of an investment of more than 20 million euros. We met Emilceramica Group’s CEO Luca Majocchi, who has just returned from Morbi where together with chairman William Tioli he took part in the cornerstone laying ceremony and the traditional blessing of the new production site. “We had the privilege to attend a very moving ceremony that saw the intense participation of the whole Aghara family and the local community,” he said.
Luca Majocchi
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CWR: This is another first for Emilceramica: it was the first Italian company to begin production in Ukraine and is now the first to set up a production site in India. How did this project come into being? Luca Majocchi: Emilceramica group operates in the high end of the tile sector with brands Emilceramica, Provenza, Ergon and Viva. It has an annual production capacity of 9 million sq.m, plus the 4 million sq.m of the Zeus factory in Ukraine, and revenues of more than 180 million euros, 90% of which are generated abroad. We already have a strong presence in Europe - which is effectively our domestic market - and in the United States, a strategic market where we operate through Emilamerica distribution centres. However, it is simply not possible to envisage furLuca Majocchi and Jitendra Aghara, together with William Tioli, Sergio Sassi and close associates after signing the joint venture agreement ther growth and develop-
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Cera mic W o r l d Review INDIA 2016