Tile International 3/2013

ISSN2039-8301

Cersaie

2013

ENCOUNTER THE EXCEPTIONAL AT CERSAIE.

Hall 14 B31-C32

kale.com.tr

Hall 16 A22-A34 B21-B31

NEW

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Industry online training

www.iiea-school.it

Schlüter®-LIPROTEC Lebensräume gestalten – mit Licht und Keramik.

Designing living spaces– with light and ceramic tiles 2013 Bologna IE A S R E C / 13 – 27 / 09 23 / 09 / 13 -No. 10

Area 45,

neue Dimension der Lichtgestaltung –  Eine aus der Wand.

A new dimension of light design – from within the wall. sparende Lichttechnik für  Energie nachhaltiges Bauen. Langlebig. Effizient.

Energy-efficient lighting technology for sustainable construction. Durable and efficient.

Lichtgestaltung.  Dynamische So individuell wie der Mensch.

Stand

und indirektes Licht per  Direktes Streuscheibenauswahl.

Direct and indirect light created by various diffusing lenses. homogenes Lichtbild  Besonders durch hochwertige LED-Streifen.

Particularly homogeneous light reflection with high-quality LED strips.

Lichttypen - Sie haben die Wahl.  4Four types of light - the choice is yours.

Dynamic light design. As individual as people.

Schlüter-Systems KG · Schmölestraße 7 · D-58640 Iserlohn · Tel.: +49 2371 971-0 · Fax: +49 2371 971-111 · www.schlueter.de

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BLAST An Extraordinary Multi-stone and Concrete Blend

M I LO M A N A R A , L E S TA N Z E DEL DESIDERIO Exhibition and Collection CERSAIE 2013 BOLOGNA HALL 36 BOOTH A/16 - A/14

Milo Manara for Del Conca 2013

www.delconca.com

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Contents

15 - Editorial tile international

Increasingly international flavour for Cersaie, and for tile industry

by Chiara Bruzzichelli

f r e e

PHOTOnews 16 - Cotto d’Este wins new award at Architecture Competition

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“Ceramics and projects” Percorsi Extra by Ceramiche Keope

20 - Tilefax In the Spotlight 38 - Rondinegroup embarks on a joint venture with Seramiksan 4 2 - Bien Ceramics continues to grow 46 - Bauwerk-Boen, Europe’s second-largest parquet manufacturer 50 - NuovoCorso = biomatter 54 - Serenissima Cir invests in Italian technology

by Milena Berbardi

by Chiara Bruzzichelli

by Sara Falsetti

54 38 42 46 50

Economic&Market 58 - Turkey continues its growth 66 - The 2012 turnovers of italian ceramic tile manufacturers

by Chiara Bruzzichelli

by Luca Baraldi

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Cover picture by: andretto® design - di piu' - www.dipiusrl.com Advertiser’s list: page 114 Subscription order form: www.tiledizioni.it/subscription Translations: Geoff Day / John Freeman

Tile International 3/2013

by Silvia Bertolani

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Contents

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download Project 78 - Ceramic Art City / Liling, China 82 - Bringing new comforts to an old house 88 - The “thin tile over tile�system at the Hilton Times Square 94 - A restoration centring on wellbeing and the environment

by Chiara Bruzzichelli

by Christian Brunsmann

by Ron Treister

by Sabino Menduni

98 - Art&Culture

Anna Maria Lorimer, Arteinterra

by Sara Falsetti

104 - Exhibition Calendar

98 78 82 88 94

Cersaie 2013 108 - CERSAIE welcomes rise in foreign exhibitos for 2013 116 - In his own words: Vittorio Borelli, Chairman of Confindustria Ceramica 118 - Companies showcased

108 Tile International 1/2013

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PH. ANDREA FERRARI

Marazzi. Your space.

SistemN, new dimensions and surfaces for timeless stoneware.

The perfect combination of design and high technology by Marazzi. www.marazzi.it

Editorial

In July, with two months still to go before the opening of Cersaie 2013, a total of 872 exhibitors had already booked a stand, of which one third - 296 to be precise - were from outside Italy.

The ceramic tiles sector accounts for the largest share of foreign exhibitors, with 219 bookings out of 476 (over 54%), but the bathroom furnishing sector also accounts for a significant share (29.2%).

The 296 foreign exhibitors, amounting to 34% of total exhibitor numbers, are from no less than 35 different countries, as far afield as Australia, China, the United States and Saudi Arabia - a fact which bears witness to the increasing internationalisation of the event.

Italian ceramic industry which is a worldwide benchmark for innovation and product quality - to manufacture outside Italy products worth 1.2 billion euros in 2012, on top of the 4.6 billion euros’ worth produced in Italy. Exports in 2012 accounted for over 75% of the Italian ceramic industry’s total revenues, and in the first half of 2013, continued to reflect the prevailing situations in the various target markets in relation to construction activity and GDP. Exports are therefore rising in markets outside Europe, where growth in value is running at over 10%. North America is performing particularly well (with growth of just under 15%), thanks in part to an upturn in construction activity following the paralysis caused by the sub-prime mortgage crisis. Australia and Asia are performing at similar levels too.

creases were recorded in Slovenia (+10.5%), Poland (+5.3%), Germany (+1.6) and the Czech Republic (+1.3%).

These positive figures certainly do not make up for the downturn reported by the industry on an annual basis though, which show a fall in construction output of 3% in the Eurozone and 1.5% in the European Union as a whole.

• In China, meanwhile, house prices are still rising, to the extent that an interest rate cut - which was recently recommended by Jian Chang, an economist at Barclays Hong Kong, to boost the faltering growth of the Asian giant - is now causing concern precisely because of its capacity to inflate the dangerous housing bubble that the central bank has sought to contain in recent months.

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A this logo

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But what’s the message from the latest data on the housing market in various parts of the world?

• In the United States, the National Association of Real-

tors published the data for Existing Home Sales, which rose 6.5% in July, representing the largest increase since November 2009. The figures exceeded the expectations of analysts, who were forecasting an annualised rate of 5.15 million units.

As well as individual dwelling homes, the figure includes cooperatives and condos, which is a promising sign for the US economy as a whole.

• According to the latest report from Eurostat, construction output in the 17 Eurozone countries in June saw an increase of 0.7% on May (which in turn was 0.5% up on the previous month). The figure for the EU 27 was even better, at +0.8%. On a monthly basis, the construction of buildings rose by 0.3% in the Eurozone and 0.5% in the EU as a whole, while the construction of civil engineering projects was up by 1.3% in the Eurozone and 1.5% across the EU. The most substantial in-

med

Cersaie has thus reinforced its undisputedly international character due to the globalisation of markets and as a result of an economic crisis that has compelled us all “to reflect on the present and study the past in order to imagine the future.”

This exercise prompted the

Increasingly international flavour for Cersaie, and for tile industry

mu LTi

by Chiara Bruzzichelli

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Cotto d’Este wins new award at Architecture Competition “Ceramics and projects” On 1 July, against the magnificent backdrop of the MAXXI Museum of Contemporary Art in Rome, the awards ceremony was held for the second edition of the architecture competition “Ceramics and Projects”.

For the second year running, Cotto d’Este was among the protagonists, and was voted winner of the institutional

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category for the prestigious Pietro Barilla Children’s Hospital project in Parma by the Policreo firm of architects.

The jury, made up of the architects Michele Capuani, Sebastiano Brandolini and Cino Zucchi, assigned an award to the project, which centred upon the use of Cotto d’Este’s 14 mm thick porcelain tile and 3 mm

Kerlite.

The judges’ explanation was as follows: “The project put ceramic at its heart, and deployed to best effect all of its aesthetic, construction and performance-related qualities for the benefit of a special healthcare facility, with full respect for harmony of expressive language.”

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Percorsi Extra by Ceramiche Keope For the paving of the exterior courtyard of UCI Cinemas Certosa di Milano, the client chose the In&Out line of the Percorsi Extra collection, in size 30x60 cm, in the colour Pietra di Barge with a textured finish.

The collection offers excellent performance in terms of resistance to abrasion, breakage, pedestrian traffic and slipping

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(slip coefficient R11), thereby guaranteeing the highest levels of safety in high-traffic areas, where products need to meet the stringent standards governing outdoor construction.

Percorsi Extra is endorsed by the GreenThinking mark, testifying to Ceramiche Keope’s tangible commitment to environmental integrity, and by the Made In Italy mark.

Tile International 3/2013

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Companies, News & Markets LISTONE GIORDANO AT CERSAIE 2013 Listone Giordano is looking forward to presenting the latest international developments in its new multi-sensory concept stores at Cersaie 2013 (Hall 22, Stand A90).

The new stores are based on a design concept that embraces all three of the company’s defining characteristics: Classical (original DNA and pure technology), Natural Genius (contemporary design and creativity), and Atelier (tradition and craftsmanship).

The store concept, conceived and developed by Listone Giordano’s own design team in collaboration with architect Filippo Raimondo of ADBR in Rome and Marco Tortoioli Ricci, CEO of BCPT Graphic Studio, is the result of research that began in the 1990s to support the Alleanza retail project. Today, that research is increasingly focused on expansion outside Europe and on support for Tuttoparquet and Spazioparquet stores and corners all over the world.

The idea is to turn points of sale into familiar spaces, characterised by natural look, touch and warmth, where customers can experience the magic of wood for themselves. The concept is Listone Giordano’s practical response to the market’s growing call for solutions that are tailored to meet specific needs but also respect those of man and nature.

Customer service and satisfaction form the keystone of Listone Giordano’s approach. Spaces within its concept stores are therefore arranged along a logical path that also supports selling dynamics. Warm turtle dove hues and the fascinating aroma of natural wood welcome customers into an environment rich in tactile and visual experiences and accompany them through an “educational” area designed to promote the cul-

Tile International 3/2013

ture of wood before leading on to areas dedicated to individual products.

The new stores also serve the needs of professionals, and provide a well stocked library and sample collection covering different wood types and textures as well as a “sensorial wall” that offers the chance to experience ideas in practice.

Listone Giordano’s new concept stores not only create a distinctive and original image but represent a significant and sustainable competitive advantage.

Listone Giordano is the leading brand in premium wood floors, and a member of the Margaritelli Multi-business Group.

The company boasts an extensive network of retail partners, currently consisting of 650 Tuttoparquet and Spazioparquet outlets in some 30 countries around the world, including 350 in Italy alone. Listone Giordano produces over 2 million square metres of parquet flooring a year, in various varieties.

The company’s success is built on the passion for wood and technical innovation that the Margaritelli family has transmitted from generation to generation for over a hundred years.

PROTECTION OF CERAMIC DESIGNS: AGREEMENT BETWEEN ACIMAC AND CONFINDUSTRIA CERAMICA Confindustria Ceramica (the ceramic section of the Confederation of Italian Industry) and Acimac (the Association of Italian Manufacturers of Machinery and Equipment for Ceramics) have

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signed a protocol of understanding to be adopted by all members regarding the protection of confidentiality and original ceramic designs. The new protocol is of particular significance as it forms the basis for the first ever agreement on this highly strategic theme. Italian ceramic tile manufacturers view their intellectual property and ceramic design know-how as important assets in need of protection, and as key competitive advantages on the domestic and export markets. For this reason, the ceramic design studios associated with Acimac have agreed to handle the graphic designs and files developed for their ceramic manufacturing clients with maximum confidentiality. They have also undertaken to stop unauthorised copying and processing by implementing internal procedures to prevent the acquisition of graphic designs by employees, suppliers and contractors , etc..

The design studios will also ensure that customers enjoy exclusive rights over the graphic designs they purchase.

For their part, Confindustria Ceramica members will apply maximum confidentiality to all information received from design studios and will refrain from diffusing or reproducing designs or products supplied by design studios for viewing only. It is hoped that the new protocol will help put an end to the troublesome phenomena of copying and forging that plagues Italian ceramic manufacturing and make it more difficult to reproduce the ideas created by Italian design companies.

Raimondi Levelling System

R.L.S. NEW “3D” CLIP

just one clip for any installation layout (patented)

cersaie area 44 - booth # 81

R.L.S. (Raimondi Levelling System) the leveling system which revolutionized tile installation, enhances thanks to the innovative “3D” clip (patented).

Indeed, the new “3D” clip in addition to level (“lippage” removal) it creates the joint (both with “+” and “T” layout) in both orthogonal sides of the tiles.

Thanks to the retractable “spacing fins”, the “3D” clip is suitable to be positioned both in the tiles intersections (both “+” and “T” layout) and on the tiles sides.

EXAMPLE OF CROSS LAYOUT. USE ON BOTH TILES INTERSECTIONS AND SIDES.

Its flat configuration reduces volumes by nearly 50% (in comparison with the standard R.L.S. clips) Prior to use, with a simple and fast movement, put the “3D” clip bridge in vertical position.

The “3D” clip accepts the same wedges and pliers of all other R.L.S. clips. It works on tiles thickness from 3 mm up to 12 mm (1/8” – 1/2”). It creates a joint of 1,5 mm (1/16”).

Raimondi: since 1974 we are committed to create innovation. Not to emulate it.

EXAMPLE OF “T” LAYOUT. USE ON TILES INTERSECTIONS.

SINCE 1974 INNOVATIONS FOR THE TILE SETTING PROFESSIONAL

headquarter: Via R. Dalla Costa 300/A registered office: Via dei Tipografi 11 41122 - Modena - Italy tel.: +39 059 280888 raiutens@raimondiutensili.it

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CUTTER PRESENTS NEW MODELS AT CERSAIE Cutter by Ferrari&Cigarini will take the opportunity of Cersaie 2013 to showcase its new Fully and Bull-Cut2 manual cutting and edge-profiling machines, designed for machining large-format tiles (up to 120 cm) to obtain strips, mosaics, skirting boards, trim pieces, mitre cuts, and polished marble plinths with straight, bullnose and half bullnose edges, etc..

Thanks to its second grinding motor, Bull-Cut2 allows you to perform edgeprofiling of skirting boards with two diamond-tipped grinding discs with different grit size, one after the other, to obtain a finished product ready for installation in a single machining cycle.

Because of the interchangeable heads, what’s more, you can perform two different types of machining (cutting and edge-profiling) with just one machine, by buying a Bull-Cut head and switching it with the Fully head. The entire line of machines is compact, manual, simple to use and height-adjustable, and has been designed for the specific purpose of speeding up the cutting and production of trim pieces, with a view to providing the speed and flexibility required by installers, construction sites

Tile International 3/2013

and ceramic, marble, stone and other building material showrooms and sales outlets.

ABK GROUP’S NEW WEBSITE GOES ON LINE Fast, functional, user-friendly and with an eye-catching interface, the ABK Group’s new website is now on line, offering plenty of practical services as well as brand new structure and content.

The new multilingual site, http://www. abk.it/, features new graphics and is packed with information and services.

Floor and wall tile collections are presented in detail in the form of easy to follow data sheets and catalogues, all downloadable from a dedicated area.

The new site’s content is managed directly by the ABK Group using a CMS (Content Management System), and is designed to inform and to serve as an effective working tool as well. The site comprises a “Media” section linked to a YouTube channel, where users can view

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product presentation videos, televised interviews, services dealing with special events, and additional content. A “News” section contains news items and press releases providing the latest information on products, the company, exhibitions and events. The site provides links to all the main social networks, which have become essential channels for communication and offer direct contact with internet users. Last but not least, the site can be accessed on all major mobile platforms, including Android, iOS and Windows Mobile.

Climatica Ceramiche retains innovative approach to handcrafting Climatica Ceramiche, the young, Sassuolo-based, ceramic start-up, is continuing its project to put a modern slant on a historic design, by means of technological innovations such as die-extrusion of porcelain tile, a patented insulating bio-ceramic and a new concept of Sicilian terracotta that is strictly handmade but offers unique technical features. This stylistic mission is winning hearts and minds in many foreign markets, as further testimony to Italy’s rich ceramic culture and craftsmanship.

You can see Climatica’s latest developments at Cersaie in the Lab Store in Via Marsala 25/A in the heart of Bologna, at an event organized in collaboration with L.UN.A., The Free University of the Arts. To find out more, visit: www.climaticaceramiche.it

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FMG Maxfine at the Venice Biennial International Art Exhibition “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved on the face of the waters. And God said: ‘Let there be light!’ And there was light.” (Genesis 1:1; 1:3) These words describe the beginning of the world, and its origins from the essential elements: earth, water and light - the same elements that inspired Studio Azzurro’s installation at the 55th Biennale International Art Exhibition in Venice, which runs in the Giardini dell’Arsenale and various other locations around the city from the 1 June to the 24 November.

The pavilion created by Studio Azzurro in collaboration with FMG Fabbrica Marmi e Graniti interprets Genesis through an interactive video-installation in which FMG Maxfine tiles represent the primordial element of earth as it receives lifegiving light.

“Fabbrica Marmi e Graniti considers it an honour and a privilege that Studio Azzurro chose our MAXFINE tiles for their Pavilion of the Holy See,” declared Federica Minozzi, the company’s CEO. “This latest application is a great way to remind us of our beginnings, of how everything comes from earth and fire, and how everything is formed by natural materials. Our own products are created in the same way, to provide a high performance, ecological alternative to the precious materials offered by nature. By producing accurate imitations of marble and other types of stone, Fabbrica

Tile International 3/2013

Marmi e Graniti is helping to preserve our country’s valuable natural resources while offering a fascinating, high-tech, and versatile product capable of stimulating creativity.”

characteristics. SanMarco has carefully selected the best clays to ensure that MAAX satisfies the latest specifications for thermal insulation and domestic comfort.

- Clay is a natural and bio-compatible material. San Marco has implemented rigorous controls throughout the supply chain, and turned worked-out extraction sites into natural oases in order to make its use even more ecological and sustainable.

With its new MAAX range, SanMarco is confirming its commitment to the construction of environmentally friendly, healthy, energy-efficient and low-impact buildings.

MAAX by San Marco: innovation born of evolution SanMarco’s new MAAX (Mattone Artistico e Architettonico eXtralarge – eXtralarge Artistic and Architectural Brick) range has transformed terracotta into a modern, versatile and highly characteristic material suitable for use in the most innovative and unconventional architectural designs. With its unique nuances and variations in tone, MAAX represents a whole new way of adding style and character to interior and exterior environments.

The stylish and innovative MAAX range draws its inspiration from the directions taken by modern rather than traditional architecture, and offers designers a chance to benefit from the expressive potential of terracotta while satisfying the technical requirements demanded of the latest materials.

- Terracotta is a material with naturally excellent thermal and mechanical

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NEW GROHE SHOWROOM IN BARCELONA Building on the success of its Milan showroom, which opened to the public in April 2012, Grohe recently opened a new GROHE Live! Center in Barcelona.

Grohe, which is Europe’s largest manufacturers of designer sanitaryware and one of the largest worldwide, chose a prestigious location on the Avenida Sarrià. The opening of this latest showroom also celebrates 40 years of relations between Grohe and the city of Barcelona, with particular reference to its architecture firms, which will be deeply gratified to have a new point of contact on their doorstep. With this in mind, the showroom is equipped with areas intended for workgroups and the organisation of seminars on topics relating to bathroom design.

To provide professionals and private customers with a stimulating experience, the 500 square metres of display space are made up of a series of perfect replicas of real bathrooms, designed to interact with other parts of the home.

Iris Group at Cersaie 2013 At this year’s edition of Cersaie, Iris Group will be displaying the fruit of months of research in Hall 26 – Stand A188-B189, where visitors will be able to see the Iris Ceramica floor and wall tile collections, together with the latest large-format tiles for contemporary architecture from Maxfine FMG-Fabbrica Marmi e Graniti.

This heterogeneous series of products

by Iris Ceramica meets the most disparate needs. The display starts with a range of collections inspired by natural raw materials, such as Pietra di Basalto and Shire, influenced by quartzites, and the French Woods collection, featuring the magnificent knots and grain patterns of natural wood, perfectly replicated using state-of-the-art technology. The Calx collection is a reinterpretation of

Nordic taste with a retro style achieved by combining textured square and rectangular mosaics.

The opulent style of the Iris Italian Design collections is best represented by the Melt (pictured) and Muse collections, which give voice to the most classic and elegant surfaces. The Iris Ceramica range is enriched by the Blooming collection, featuring luxury and branch motifs, and the Balance collection – a triumph of colour that plays upon the juxtaposition of gloss and matt surfaces to breathe life into wall surfaces.

FMG, meanwhile, continues its research into matter, in a new selection of hightech marbles in the traditional 120x60, 60x60 and 60x30 cm formats, while further enhancing the Maxfine line with new materials and formats. In addition to Maxfine Travertino, Onice Oro and Onice Perla in size 300x150, FMG offers two new formats, namely 300x100 and 100x100 cm in the Calacatta and Marfil versions.

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Piemme: 1962/2013, 50 + 1 years of history Ceramiche Piemme has written many chapters in the history of Italian ceramics. The company was the first to produce hand-decorated flowers, Valentino tiles, and large tiles. Today, as protagonists in cutting-edge architectural designs, the company is celebrating its 50+1 anniversary.

In collaboration with its most faithful international customers, Piemme is organising an exclusive event to coincide with the Cersaie exhibition. The company is celebrating its 50+1 anniversary in the splendid setting of Palazzo Isolani in the heart of Bologna. Piemme knows full well that the road ahead is long but is determined to continue the journey without forgetting its origins and without taking its eyes off the most distant horizon.

Fontanot raises profile in UK Following the launch of a new online store for the United Kingdom and a new range of products, Fontanot, a leading Italian manufacturer of spiral staircases,

Tile International 3/2013

is enjoying unprecedented success.

On the back of its participation in Grand Designs Live last year, Fontanot has focused its energies on growth in Europe and on improving the online experience of its UK customers. The new UK website takes full advantage of the flexibility of the e-commerce processes offered by the Magento platform, thus offering a more intuitive purchasing experience.

From its online store, Fontanot offers a vast range of steel and wooden staircases for indoor, outdoor and spacesaving applications, and provides an innovative configurator which enables customers to design spiral staircases with made-to-measure kits and pricing.

The new Techne collection is arousing particular interest in Fontanot’s Rotherham showroom in South Yorkshire, UK. The company’s Marketing Director, Laura Fontanot, explained: “We are delighted that our company is flourishing on the British market. Our passion for innovative design is meeting with considerable success, and customers appreciate the quality of our solid and conceptually modern products.”

The Techne collection is made from techno-polymer reinforced with glass fibre. This is the first time such a material has been used in the production of staircases, and it offers the benefit of a lightweight but extremely durable product.

Available in green, white and red, these staircases undergo a state-of-the-art process during which the pigment is added directly to the blend of technopolymers, making the material resistant to ultraviolet light and therefore suitable for both indoor and outdoor installation.

The company’s products are on display at Grand Designs Live 2013, from 4 to 6 October, at the NEC in Birmingham.

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Sacmi is key promoter of design and prototyping skills To train professionals specialised in industrial and artistic ceramic, while giving new impetus to the culture of knowhow that has underpinned the prosperity of this area (now under threat from the severity of the economic crisis): these are the goals that have led to the establishment of the Tonito Emiliani Higher Technical Training Institute, with Sacmi playing the role of active partner together with other leading local companies. The course in question will last two years, and has 25 places available to both Italians and foreigners in possession of a high school diploma. Over 30% of the total number of course hours will be set aside for in-company work experience “with the extraordinary opportunity” states Giovanni Savorani, President of Gigacer and Board Member of Confindustria Ceramica,“to gain experience at Sacmi’s pilot plants.” Based on direct relationships with the world of work and specific professions, these outstanding vocational courses represent a valid alternative to traditional university qualifications and are sponsored by the Region of Emilia-Romagna. Hence the decision to name this new Faenzabased institute after Tonito Emiliani, the long-standing Head of the Ballardini Institute and a pioneer of that ceramic excellence for which Faenza is famed, not to mention the esteemed author of ceramic technology textbooks. This is the first time in Italy that a free higher education course for the ceramic sector has been made available, and the town’s vice-mayor, Massimo Isola, believes it could provide “a welcome boost

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to the ceramic system.” The Tonito Emiliani Higher Training Institute will open at the beginning of academic year 20132014. Students wishing to attend the course must apply by 7 October 2013: the necessary forms can be downloaded from www.fitstic.it.

Ceramica Sant’Agostino unveils MUCHmore Ceramica Sant’Agostino will be unveiling the fruit of its continuing research at Cersaie, in the form of 13 captivating new collections, plus the evolution of Flexible Architecture by Philippe Starck.

By encapsulating the concepts of transversality, innovation and environmental sustainability, MUCHmore is the pay-off

chosen by the company to introduce its 14 new releases at the world’s most important ceramics trade fair, ranging from traditional products to the most innovative design-led collections.

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COTTO CANTOIA AT SCIN GALLERY IN LONDON Cotto Cantoia by Danilo Ramazzotti ItalianHouseFloor has been selected for display at the prestigious SCIN Gallery in London.

The terracotta on display at the gallery, in its Bianco Variegato Azzurro version, was presented to a pool of international architects attending an exhibition entitled “Riding the Crest of the Wave”. The event also looked at the theme of the sea, with a particular focus on materials that draw inspiration from it, and it was here that the sky-blue variegation of Cotto Cantoia stood out for its uniqueness and exclusivity.

With four floors of exhibition space in the heart of the City, the SCIN Gallery researches and promotes materials from all round the world, which stand out for the highest standards of quality and innovation. Cotto Cantoia was selected not only for its design, but also for its breathability and low absorbency, which make it unique, practical and perfectly suited for underfloor heating.

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Dornbracht on the podium of German luxury brands A long-standing commitment to Culture Projects, combined with exclusivity, international scope, popularity and internet presence, earned Dornbracht secondplace among the top 50 German luxury brands.

The accolade was given to the Iserlohnbased company by INLUX – Institute for Luxury – and by the magazine “Luxury Business Report” on the basis of the verdict of a group of experts, whose explanation emphasised “the ability to operate with the highest levels of quality and professionalism” thereby confirming that it is “possible for a family business to achieve international success and win recognition as a leading innovator. This fact, combined with the company’s policy of promoting transparency of information, makes Dornbracht a significant climber in the league.”

In addition to Dornbracht, the league table includes Montblanc (3rd place), Meissen (10th), Porsche (24th), Hugo Boss (42nd) and Thonet (44th), while first place was taken by Leica Camera.

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COEM: JURA STONE, ECO++ PORCELAIN TILE The idea behind the ECO++ production process and Jura, the first series of tiles produced with it, was to re-use waste raw materials (over 30% of recycled glass plus some 10% of recovered preconsumer materials) while simultaneously reducing firing temperatures and therefore CO2 emissions.

The ECO++ process generates two major benefits: savings for the producer and end customer and greater respect for the environment thanks to lower use of noble raw materials transported from far afield and lower energy consumption during the firing cycle.

In practice, COEM wants all aspects of the porcelain tile production process to be more ecological. By using recycled raw materials and lower firing temperatures, Jura tiles offer a saving of 40% in methane consumption compared to equivalent Ecolabel certified products.

ECO++ products are certified to LEED® standards and use over 30% post-consumer waste and 10% pre-consumer waste. Though they offer exactly the same physical and mechanical properties, these new porcelain tiles are lighter in weight. For the same size and thickness, ECO++ tiles weigh 12% less than normal porcelain tiles.

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NEW COMPACTLINE MODELS UNVEILED AT CERSAIE 2013 Ferrari&Cigarini’s CompactLine of automatic machines is continuing to win plaudits from ceramic manufacturers and dealers worldwide. Designed for multi-disc cutting, edge-profiling and edge-grinding, these machines make it possible to produce high-quality products in relatively little space and with relatively few staff, who do not even need

high levels of expertise.

CompactLine is ideal for ceramic, marble and natural stone showrooms and sales outlets, because it offers a rapid, additional service to customers, by enabling you to cut strips, mosaics, skirting boards, trim pieces, mitre cuts, and polished marble plinths with straight, bullnose and half bullnose edges, etc., quickly and easily.

The following new CompactLine models with be unveiled at Cersaie 2013:

- TMC3 high-performance, 3-head, automatic, multiple cutting machine; - SBF skirting board glazing line; - MSG machine for 45° bevelling of strips of porcelain tile, marble and stone for step applications.

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Mapei Group doubles production in Russia Mapei S.p.A., global leader in chemical products for the construction industry with over 1,400 different products and over 55,000 customers in 31 countries and on all 5 continents, inaugurated a second production plant in Russia on 30 July this year. The new plant is the company’s 63rd in the world. The new factory is located in Aramil, in the Sverdlovsk region to the south-east of Ekaterinburg and will provide locally manufactured products to the markets of the Urals, Siberia and Kazakhstan. The Aramil factory complements Mapei’s existing production plant in Stupino. Located to the south of Moscow and occupying a total area of 8,800 sq.m., including over 900 sq.m. of offices, this first plant was opened in 2007 and boasts an annual production capacity of 100,000 tons of product. ZAO Mapei’s sales, administration and technical offices are located in the centre of Moscow but are easily accessible by road: the nearby M4 motorway leads directly to the factory and the main Stupino distribution warehouse.

Mapei’s Moscow offices are also home to a large technical assistance department that offers seminars and training courses for construction sector designers and operators. Between its two production plants, head and regional offices, Mapei Russia employs over 130 people. “ZAO Mapei’s development strategy is to serve the needs of rapidly expanding local markets which have different characteristics from one region to another of this vast country”, explains managing director Luciano Longhetti, who is assisted locally by deputy MD Valentina Rosi and sales director Yuri Marti-

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rosov. “We are very proud of the fact that we have doubled our presence on a market as strategic as Russia,” declares Veronica Squinzi, the Mapei Group’s Internationalisation and Development Manager.“The countries associated with and served by Russia have tremendous potential for growth. Mapei now has a consolidated presence in Russia, where the market is continuing to grow and is extremely interested in high-tech and innovative products. By improving building techniques, our products also improve the quality of life.

The Mapei Group is expanding in a competitive way and is ready to take on new challenges, even in the more difficult regions like Siberia and the Urals.”

Mapei’s chairman, Giorgio Squinzi, adds: “Developments on the Russian market are not over yet. We are already planning further expansion in production capacity.”

The Mapei Group began internationalising in 1978, and the process has been directly responsible for growth in turnover over the last 20 years. In 1990, aggregate turnover topped 150 billion Lire; in 2012 it exceeded 2 billion Euros, with 70% coming from exports.

As turnover has grown, so too has the number of Mapei subsidiaries and production plants. Among the most recent investments are a new factory in India, a third plant in France and a second in Poland. In the early months of 2013 the Mapei Group finalised its acquisition of Wallmerk Construction, thus entering the Turkish market. It also inaugurated a new factory at Barcin in Poland.

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DEL CONCA USA GOES SHOPPING IN ITALY It’s full steam ahead for the construction work on the new Del Conca USA facility in Tennessee, and 330 containers and special convoys laden with Italian high technology have already been dispatched. For the Italian ceramic industry’s supply chain, this is a big order, worth some 30 million USD, which includes extremely high-tech plants (presses, kilns, digital colouring machines, etc) that are vital for the production of high-quality tiles. The assembly work will start in September and will involve about 100 people, many of whom are Italian specialist technicians.

“Thanks to our long history in the ceramic industry,” explains Del Conca Group CEO Enzo Donald Mularoni,“Italian technology is now capable of meeting every operational requirement at international level, and supporting manufacturers with complete engineering for the production of the most sophisticated items.”

Under an agreement finalised in December 2012, Del Conca Group purchased a building lot of 110,000 square metres, which will accommodate the 30,000 square metre production facility and a 1000 square metre unit housing a showroom and administrative offices. In the meantime, the Tennessee Department of Transport is building the road that leads to the site, which will be called Del Conca Way, testifying to the welcome extended by local institutions to foreign investors.

The recruitment plan is also underway, with a first step of 100 professional postholders, and when production comes on stream, which is scheduled for early 2014, the company will be able to re-

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spond rapidly and flexibly to orders from its American customers, who are already numerous.

Exports, in fact, account for 75% of Del Conca Group’s global revenues of 121 million euros, a significant slice of which comes from the United States. As for Del Conca Group’s performance in the USA, the first half of 2013, saw an increase of 8% on the same period last year.

This substantial investment by Del Conca Group is justified on two fronts: firstly,

it will enable the company to cover the local market at close quarters, and secondly, the positive signs emerging from the US construction industry are very promising. Housing starts, the key indicator for new construction work, are expected to increase by 30% this year and 20% in 2014. Sales of existing homes, meanwhile, are forecast to see a healthy 11% increase compared with 2012. The ceramic market, in particular, is showing distinct signs of recovery, and is expect-

ed to record an increase of 10% by the end of the year.

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Aurora 490 by Kale This series was inspired by the northern lights, which can only be observed in close proximity to the poles when the magnetic storms on the Sun reach the Earth. Composed of 490 colours, including products with metallic surface effects, the system is compatible with the RAL colour chart and is offered in 3 and 10 mm thicknesses, and dimensions ranging from 30x60 cm to 100x300 cm.

Furthermore, it has the means to manufacture 1 sq.m of every colour in this 490 colour range upon request. Aurora 490 “Coloured porcelain tiles” is a colour system in which a nanocomposite structure, which is composed of colour pigments that are placed between nanometals and nanominerals, is applied to the tile surface using special application methods, to obtain matt and metallic finishes. The materials used in surface coating are specially developed to be completely harmonious with porcelain tiles. Metals and minerals reduced to nanometric sizes (smaller than 100 nm), form very strong bonds with each other and the surface to which they are bonded: the atoms do not leave the surface for decades because of this colour structure’s strength.

Thus, its endurance is the same as that of a porcelain tile. It’s impossible for dirt, bacteria, or mould to adhere to the surface, thanks to its special surface morphology, and its photocatalytic feature makes organic dirt decompose under sunlight or ultraviolet light. This colour system can be applied to the facades and wall coatings of buildings’ interior and exterior spaces either adhesively or mechanically (by construction). Thanks to its porcelain-based structure, its water

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absorption is low and it is resistant to frost. Its surface hardness is 6 Mohs (the same as many natural stones and marbles) so it can endure the natural external elements that can affect applications on interior and exterior facades.

LITOKOL PRESENTS “CREATIVE SPATULAS”, THE FIRST ON-LINE COMMUNITY FOR TILERS Litokol has updated its web presence with the restyling of two sites and the formation of a new community, for sharing creations produced using the Starlike® line.

For 2013, Litokol has focused on updating its communication both on- and offline, and has set up the new Creative Spatulas section on its Starlike site.

Starlike.it is dedicated to Litokol’s flagship range, and plays host to a wealth of images and downloadable content.The most popular features with customers and installers include the site’s video tutorials, which provide a step-by-step guide to the various phases of application of the Starlike® range.

A few weeks ago a new section opened up on the site, dedicated to the tilers

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worldwide with whom the company has a direct, everyday relationship. Even in the Decor version, which offers a wide range of finishes, a product like Starlike® leaves plenty of freedom of expression for tilers and decorators. Creative Spatulas was set up for the specific purpose of providing a platform for the company’s most creative customers, who want to share their creations with the public on the web. The section is also designed for people who are simply looking for new ideas and suggestions on how to decorate and coordinate their home. To join this community, send photographs and accompanying descriptions of creative applications featuring Starlike®. Posts published on Creative Spatulas can also be shared on social networks.

After the restyling of www.starlike.it, Litokol’s institutional site now also has a new identity. This new space is userfriendly and has a very contemporary style, with plenty of information and other content. The site also includes videos and an area dedicated to technical analysis. The site has also been optimised for viewing on a tablet.

glsdesign.it

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FILA AT CERSAIE AND MARMOMACC: 70 YEARS OF INNOVATION FILA Surface Care Solutions will be present, as usual, at the two main trade fairs for the industry – Cersaie and Marmomacc – with new products, adaptations of existing products to cover new applications, and solutions for the treatment of surfaces. This testifies to the vitality and capacity for self-renewal shown by the company, which this year celebrated the 70th anniversary of its foundation.

Fila’s close focus on ecological solutions has led to the extension of the Fila Greenline, with new solvent-free protective products, offering high performance and environmental integrity thanks to VOC-FREE water-based formulations.

For shower cabins and other glass surfaces, meanwhile, Fila offers FILANODROPS, a new anti-drop protective detergent for showers, mirrors, glazed ceramics and glass mosaics, which Fila will be presenting at Cersaie. Also at Cersaie, Fila will be presenting a new application for FILAPD15, the protective treatment for polished porcelain tile launched last year, which is now also ideal for natural, textured porcelain tile laid either indoors or outdoors.

At Marmomacc, meanwhile, Fila will unveil a new professional crystallizing agent for marble, which restores a high sheen to worn surfaces.

Other new developments relate to communication tools for sales outlets, a new Fila smartphone app designed both for people working on construction sites and for dealers, who will thus be able to identify more easily the most appropriate product for their customers, and Fila

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Service, the FILA division dedicated to manufacturers, specifiers and contractors, which offers a turnkey site management service, with a specific focus on surface treatment.

As well as marking its 70th anniversary this year, Fila reached another significant milestone in 2013, when it became the only producer of solutions for surface protection and maintenance to win the recommendation of over 200 international manufacturers of ceramic and natural stone floor and wall tiles: an indisputable guarantee of reliability, quality and effectiveness.

Silver Prize for Frame

by Refin Ceramiche Refin’s Frame collection, designed by Studio FM Milano, won the Silver Prize at the European Design Awards, an annual award for the best graphic design, illustration and digital design in Europe.

Frame is an unprecedented interpretation of total integration between porcelain tile and the graphic language of the latest digital technology, which finds expression in highly decorative surfaces that draw inspiration from materials, objects and evocations from times past, to generate an all-new concept of ceramic flooring.

“Frame is a graphics project and a design project at the same time, so doesn’t

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in fact meet the criteria of pure Graphic Design for eligibility for the award. Despite this, the jury not only accepted its entry, but also awarded it a Silver Prize,” explained Barbara Forni of Studio FM Milano. “The jury recognised its special qualities, with particular reference to the large number of graphic subjects made possible by new digital technologies, which enhance aesthetic content while retaining industrial economies of scale.”

The European Design Awards committee is made up of representatives of the leading European design publications and, to ensure impartiality, an observer appointed by the International Council of Graphic Design Associations, the worldwide organisation for visual communication professionals.

“The Frame collection was also presented as a case history at the Belgrade Design Week 2013, an international product design event that plays host to a series of invitation-only conferences held by leading European designers, and which this year, for the first time, included a day dedicated to graphic design. The project won a particularly good reception from the specifiers and journalists present. Studio FM was invited to the event in its capacity as European Design Leader, an accolade reserved for an exclusive selection of multi-awardwinning European graphic design studios,” announced Barbara Forni.

graphic design & photo: www.gruppobento.com

MULTIPLO 110/180/240 The new dimensions of beauty.

Discover the new Stilnovo Multiplo on 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: stile@stile.com Numero Verde 800.217.630

www.stile.com

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Niro Granite acquires Spanish ceramic manufacturer Zirconio On May 20th, the Niro Ceramic Group, (Niro Granite), an international tile manufacturer headquartered in Malaysia underscored its ambition to be a global player with its acquisition of Zirconio Spain, one of the leading Spanish manufacturers of ceramic wall and floor tiles.

This is the first time an Asian tile manufacturer is buying a European tile manufacturer making Niro Granite one of the few players in the industry globally to have manufacturing facilities in both Asia and Europe. The value of the purchase was 9 million Euros and, according to Managing Director, Bong Kuan Shin (pictured), the acquisition “fits well with our strategy to expand our business globally.” “This translates into almost a doubling of our production capacity and provides a customer base not only in Spain and Europe but in the Americas as well”, said Bong. “We are very proud of the fact we have bought a premium tile manufacturer with a beautiful collection that will complement our own.

This will be a ‘one plus one equals more than two’ kind of acquisition because of our synergies.” As a result of the purchase, Niro Granite will be considerably more competitive in Europe and North America and products produced in Spain under both the Zirconio and Niro Granite brands will be available to the company’s customers in Asia.

Niro Granite had established a sales and marketing office in Spain three years ago with a view to expanding its business in Europe. The company plans to retain all 116 workers at the Zirconio plant.

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“We are confident Zirconio will have a significant positive impact on the Niro Ceramic Group within 2 years and we will hit our RM1 billion (about 230.3 million Euros) annual turnover target in 3 to 5 years,” Bong added.

Niro Ceramic Group was incorporated in Malaysia in 1988 as a porcelain tile manufacture. It has its roots in Switzerland and till today carries the Niro Granite brand and tagline “Swiss-Quality Tile.”

It has manufacturing plants in Malaysia, Indonesia, China and distribution in Vietnam and Spain. It sells its tiles and bathroom products under the brand name ORIN in 70 countries. Among its customers in Malaysia are major property developer players like SP Setia, Gamuda and Dijaya. Niro Granite has won numerous awards including The Brand Excellence Awards (Merchandise) from MITI, awarded by the Prime Minister of Malaysia and The Brand Laureate – SME’s Best Brand Award in 2011.

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New showrooms for Porcelaingres In the past two years, Porcelaingres has raised its market profile with two new showrooms. The first, in keeping with the brand’s North European origins, is in Berlin, while the second, to be inaugurated during the course of Cersaie 2013, is at the company’s site in Castellerano, Italy.

The Berlin showroom is situated in the city’s Kreuzberg district, in the Sarottihöfe complex, which consists of six distinct courtyards that accommodate a combination of studios, workshops, offices and agencies. The experience of working with various partners in the field of architecture, business and art proved useful during the design process, in which it became possible to explore new avenues and examine new approaches that represent a fresh departure from the standard paradigms.

This provocative approach is intended to increase curiosity about the brand and enhance its appeal.

The industrial charm of the rooms that make up this original showroom generates a stark contrast with the modern display elements, thereby drawing attention to the inherent creativity of the environment. Since the designers decided not to add any new elements to the architecture of the premises, so as to retain the authentic character of the building, old brick walls and wooden floors cohabit with the display of largeformat porcelain tiles. This somewhat eccentric decision is designed to highlight the care taken in displaying the company’s own materials, and the equal care taken in expressing respect towards those people who have filled this space with life, energy and creativity.

In the spotlight

by Chiara Bruzzichelli

Rondinegroup embarks on a joint venture with Seramiksan

From left: Bilgehan Demirdover (Seramiksan Chairman), Lauro Giacobazzi (Rondinegroup CEO), Akan Demirdover (Seramiksan CFO)

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In late July we met Rondinegroup’s chairman and CEO Lauro Giacobazzi.

During the conversation we discussed the agreement signed on 17 June with Seramiksan in which the leading Turkish group acquired the 50% stake in Rondinegroup that had been held by the private equity fund Progressio SGR since 2006. For its part, Rondinegroup has maintained complete managerial autonomy and confirmed Lauro Giacobazzi as the Group’s chairman. At the same time it has embarked on an internationalisation process alongside a leading partner based in a growth market that would be difficult for an Italian company to penetrate. Lauro Giacobazzi commented: “This marks the

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beginning of a new phase in Rondine’s history. The process of economic globalisation requires a fresh approach, which we have chosen to pursue alongside a leading ceramic industry partner in Turkey and worldwide.”

Tile International: The partnership with Seramiksan covers production, but will it also extend to distribution and marketing?

Lauro Giacobazzi: The agreement between Rondinegroup and Seramiksan is strategic in many respects. Before going on, however, I must introduce our new partner. Seramiksan has an annual production capacity in the ceramic industry of 28 million sq.m of tiles and a million pieces of sanitaryware. It is owned by the Demirdover family, which has inter-

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In the spotlight

Salvage

ests in a range of industrial sectors including heavy clay, insulators and floor and wall tile adhesives. This joint venture is a major new opportunity for Rondinegroup given that the Turkish tile market is more than twice the size of the Italian market with annual sales of 190 million sq.m. Furthermore, it is a market where Seramiksan has a strong presence with 230 brand or company-owned stores.

On the other hand, having “made by Rondine� branded

collections is a big advantage for Seramiksan in markets where Italian design has strong appeal.

Tile International: Besides Turkey, what other countries are covered by the Seramiksan brand’s distribution system?

L. Giacobazzi: Seramiksan has distribution logistics in several countries neighbouring with Turkey and in the Middle East, including Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, Kurdistan, Iran and Iraq. These are all countries with a growing GDP where the

Georgette

Del Conca "Fast" 39

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In the spotlight

Seramiksan brand enjoys a very strong presence but where it would be very difficult for an individual Italian company to penetrate the market.

Tile International: Do you have specific collections in mind for these markets?

L. Giacobazzi: Rondine will enter the world of polished tile, which will enable us to fulfil demand for “glossy� tiles throughout the entire Middle East region that until now was met by Chinese exports. We present new collections in 60x60 cm and 60x90 cm sizes, naturally with Italian design even though they are physically produced in Turkey, using cutting-edge nanotechnologies.

Moreover, the two companies have decided to maintain complete operational autonomy regardless of their numerous collaborations in the field of distribution, research and new product development or the creation of new business opportunities in international markets. By establishing a partnership on equal terms with a local company we hope to set an example for other Italian companies looking to pursue internationalisation as an essential process in a globalised economy while exploiting the perceived value of high-end Italian products.

This will enable our companies not just to survive but to actually grow.

Tile International: How are you set for Cersaie?

L. Giacobazzi: We are upbeat and positive because the first

Tile International 3/2013

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In the spotlight

Georgette

Salvage

Georgette

half of 2013 surpassed our expectations. After recording a turnover of 63 million euro in 2012, including 85% from sales of tiles, this year we expect to reach 78 million euro independently of the agreement with Seramiksan. This is due to exports in our established markets, which account for more than 50% of our sales in value and have shown strong appreciation for all the new collections we have unveiled over the past year.

Tile International: So your Foresta di Gres collection has been very successful?

L. Giacobazzi: Foresta di Gres, and above all the Legni series, has won over the market. At Cersaie we are presenting a further two series in the new

15x100 cm size: Salvage, which imitates a wet wood, and another series which reproduces fossil wood. In all, the Foresta di Gres range now comprises 7 series, and without false modesty we can now say that we are seen by the market as “the ceramic wood manufacturer”.

Tile International: How has the percentage breakdown between Italian and international sales changed?

L. Giacobazzi: I would say that the efforts to strengthen the sales network in international markets and the introduction of local resources to enhance our brand’s visibility have given positive results. Whereas the ratio between Italian and international sales was re-

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spectively 48% to 52% in 2011, the percentage attributable to exports rose to 60% in 2012.

The first half of 2013 has also gone well, with 25% turnover growth relative to the same period last year and a 70% share of exports. Exports to France, UK, Germany, Russia and Israel were particularly strong and the US and Canadian market also performed well. In the three-year plan drawn up in 2011, we anticipated a turnover made up of 75% exports and 25% domestic sales. To date we have kept to these expectations.

Tile International: What other new products and innovations are you presenting at Cersaie?

L. Giacobazzi: As for new products, Rondine will also start production of traditional wall tiles. We are presenting 4 new collections in 20x60 cm, 25x75 cm and 30x60 cm sizes.

We are also unveiling the new outdoor line with an extralarge 2 cm thickness, which is suitable not only for conventional installation but also for dry installation on top of gravel, sand or grass.

As regards the locations, we are occupying the same spaces in hall 16 as at last year’s show, although the two Rondinegroup and Sadon stands have a new design and layout in keeping with the exhibit design created by the Agostini architecture practice and by the interior designer Milesi Silvia.

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In the spotlight

by Milena Bernardi

Bien Ceramics continues to grow

ď ‘

With a production capacity of 23 million sq.m, a workforce of 1,100 people and a turnover of US $130 million, Bien Ceramics is one of Turkey’s largest ceramic tile manufacturers. It was acquired in 1997 by Ercan Corporate Group, which along with ceramic tiles has also been operating for almost half a century in the tourism, construction and LPG gas distribution segments. Bien Ceramics owes its growth largely to significant manufacturing investments, most recently the new large-format tile plant at the Bozuyuk facility which was concluded in June 2013.

Ten years after purchasing the Bozuyuk plant, one of the very first ceramic factories in Turkey, the Ercan group acquired the Serel facility in Bilecik in 2007 and combined the two plants under the newly-created Bien brand name. In the seven years since then, Bien Ceram-

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Metin Savci ics has achieved enormous growth considering that it had an initial capacity of 14 million sq.m, a workforce of 608 people and a prevalently domestic turnover of just US $31.8 million. We discussed the company and its growth with CEO Metin Savci.

Tile International: What activities have enabled you to achieve such rapid growth?

Metin Savci: In 2007 we began a series of technological investments to modernise the two facilities at Bilecik and Bozuyuk. We were the first company in Turkey to integrate digital decoration for wall tile production at the Bilecik plant and in 2009 decided to increase its production capacity. We then made an investment in sanitaryware production at the Bozuyuk facility to create a new yet complementary production area and later updated the floor tile production technology.

The latest project is the con-

Asya Onix tile 42

In the spotlight

Catena Decor tile - Harmony sanitaryware

Emperador tile

Alto tile - Lotus sanitaryware

struction of the new plant in Bozuyuk for the production of glazed porcelain floor tiles, which became operational in June. This investment has raised our annual production capacity to 23 million sq.m and extended our product portfolio to large sizes up to 120x120 cm.

Tile International: Why did you decide to build this new plant?

M. Savci: The project will enable us to implement our five-year growth

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and investment plan, which is currently in line with our group’s strategic target of annual 25% growth.

We are now operating in a global market in which it is essential to maintain a competitive edge by constantly updating products and technology to meet consumer demands. Bien is a relatively young company that owes its success to the high quality, aesthetics and inDel Conca "Fast" novation of its entire product range.

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In the spotlight

Fracture, tile and sanitaryware

Our current product range consists of 850 different designs and we add 20 to 30 new designs each year, including floor tiles, mosaics, decors, listellos and wall tiles in sizes from 9.7x9.7 cm to 60x120 cm. The new plant is planned to begin technical granite production in 2014 and will expand our floor tile range with new sizes including 50x50 cm, 61x61 cm, 45x90 cm, 60x120 cm and 120x120 cm.

Tile International: How have you organised marketing and promotional activities?

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M. Savci: Some 65-70% of our output is sold on the domestic market, where our market share stands at 7%. We serve the Turkish market through 120 authorized dealers and 3,000 points of sale. Our sales actions are backed up by a series of marketing activities, including an analysis of market demand based on trends, product positioning, TV commercials, meetings and seminars with tile fixers, architects and builders, periodic meetings with distributors and participation in trade fairs such as

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Saba tile - Infinitium sanitaryware

In the spotlight

Tulle tile

Unicera.

We also export to 55 countries and take part in international exhibitions such as Coverings, MosBuild and Cersaie. Last year we focused on three regions, the Caucasus, Scandinavia and Iraq. In Iraq in particular we take part in the local exhibition and have showrooms in Erbil.

The exhibition Unicera in Istanbul also plays an important role in terms of international promotion.

This year, for example, we have acquired new customers and

received orders from Macedonia, Greece, Bosnia Herzegovina, Moldavia, Palestine, India, Saudi Arabia and UAE. These are significant steps towards our goal of making Bien a global brand.

Tile International: What are your plans for the future?

M. Savci: Our growth target for the next few years is 20% in the domestic market and 30% abroad. We aim to increase our market share to 10% and our turnover to $150 million in the next five years.

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Optik tile - Lotus Ceramic sanitaryware

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Tile International 3/2013

In the spotlight

by Chiara Bruzzichelli

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At the end of March, the Swiss company Bauwerk Parkett, a leading European producer of two-layer parquet, announced a merger with the Norwegian group Boen AS. After getting the green light from Europe’s competition authorities on 12 June, the transaction was finalised, giving rise to Bauwerk Boen Group, Europe’s second-largest manufacturer of wood flooring, with revenues of almost 225 million euros, 1400 employees and production capacity of over 8 million square metres.

As well as yielding major industrial synergies in terms of purchasing power and product range, the operation is aimed at strengthening the sales network by extending it to the Eastern European and Mediterranean countries.

Headquartered in Zürich, the Group is led by Klaus Brammertz, Bauwerk Parkett’s CEO until the merger with Boen.

Brammertz is supported by

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Bauwerk-Boen, Europe’s second-largest parquet manufacturer

Klaus Brammertz Boen’s former CEO, Thorleif Hals.

We asked Klaus Brammertz a few questions.

Tile International: Could you talk us briefly through the aims that led to the formation of the new group and the main synergies that will derive from it?

Klaus Brammertz: “The main objective of the new BauwerkBoen Group is to become the market’s top-ranked business in terms of revenues. Bauwerk and Boen are largely complementary companies, which are well established in the twolayer and three-layer parquet segments respectively. The two companies also complement one another in terms of distribution channels: Bauwerk relies chiefly on installers, whereas Boen distributes the majority of its products through specialist dealers and wholesalers.

There is very little territorial overlap too, because Bauwerk operates predominantly in

Villapark - Natural Oak effect Planed 46

In the spotlight

Trendpark - Ash Purple Heart extra glossy

Switzerland, Germany, Austria and the Netherlands, whereas Boen’s main markets are in Norway, Germany, Sweden, France, the United Kingdom and the Baltic states.

Bauwerk and Boen will continue to market their products under their own names, but will now be able to offer their new and existing customers access to a wider range of products and services.”

Tile International: What is the new Group’s market share?

47

K. Brammertz: “The BauwerkBoen Group holds significant shares of the European wood flooring market, to the tune of 37% in Switzerland, 25% in Norway, 16% in Austria and 10% in Germany.

Out of total group production, two-layer parquet accounts for 40%, three-layer parquet 45%, mosaic 10%, flooring for sports facilities 3% and solid wood flooring 2%.

The merger of the two brands Del Conca "Fast" also brings major benefits

Tile International 3/2013

In the spotlight

from an organisational and logistical point of view, in the form of new economies of scale in the purchase of raw materials, and enhanced management of certain production phases, resulting in the streamlining of costs, which will impact on selling prices.”

Tile International: Do you think you will be able to overcome the adverse conditions currently affecting the European wood flooring market?

K. Brammertz: “The European wood flooring market has been subject to severe downward pressure on prices for several years now, partly due to excess capacity and partly because of low-cost imports.

Bauwerk Parkett’s strategy, which will be carried forward by the new Bauwerk-Boen Group, has always been to tackle the situation by investing, first and foremost, in quality and the optimisation of production processes all along the supply chain. As a result, the Bauwerk-Boen Group enjoys an enviable position in the high-margin premium segment, along with plenty of potential for growth. As for the standard wood flooring segment, however, pressure on prices remains high, because increasing numbers of manufacturers are operating from low-income countries or importing low-quality or very lowquality materials.

The newly formed BauwerkBoen Group intends to re-

Tile International 3/2013

spond to this increasingly fierce competition on the price front by shifting the production of its “basic” lines to Kietaviskes in Lithuania, where we have an ultra-modern facility designed for highly flexible manufacturing. This will enable us to meet the requirements of the market in real time, by streamlining all those logistical processes that have a major impact on costs.”

Tile International: How will production be reorganised in your other European plants?

K. Brammertz: “Apart from the changes scheduled for the Salzburg plant in the next few months, which are directly linked with the reorganisation of the Kietaviskes site in Lithuania, the majority of our manufacturing will stay at the historic St. Margrethen site in the Canton of St. Gallen, Switzerland. Our research and development work into new lines of parquet will also carry on here.

This configuration will reduce production costs considerably, so that the Bauwerk-Boen Group as a whole will be able to operate with sustainable levels of competitiveness.”

Tile International: What activities will be left at the Salzburg site?

K. Brammertz: “The planned reorganisation will lead to a gradual reduction in production staff numbers from the current figure of 154 to about 40. By then, the Salzburg site will be focusing exclusively on

48

Unapark - Strong

In the spotlight

Unapark - American Valnut

The top players on Europe’s wood flooring market Kahrs/Karelia (SE): 375 million Swiss francs Bauwerk-Boen Group (CH):

275 million Swiss francs (divided as

follows: Bauwerk 145, Boen 130) Barlinek (PL): 192 million Swiss francs 130-140 million Swiss francs Tarkett (F): Hamberger (DE): 120-130 million Swiss francs Weitzer (AT): 70 million Swiss francs Parador (DE): 72 million Swiss francs

Master Edition Studiopark

the commercialisation and sale of Bauwerk products on the local market, with a view to safeguarding the remaining 40 jobs in Austria. Negotiations with social partners and the local authorities are already underway, so as to ensure that the staff cuts are made as prudently as possible and according to socially acceptable criteria.”

Tile International: What are the prospects for the European wood flooring market?

K. Brammertz: “The European wood flooring market has enjoyed good levels of stability in recent years, and wood flooring’s share of the total floor coverings market has risen from 5% to 6%. Following the downturn in the construction market that chiefly affected southern Europe, current forecasts point to a growth rate across Europe as a whole of 1% to 2% per year, which is in

49

line with average GDP growth for the Eurozone. According to Euroconstruct data for the period 2011-2015, the Northern European countries, headed

by Norway and Germany, will be the main drivers of recovery, with increases of 12% and 10% respectively, while estimated growth in Switzerland and Austria stands in the region of 1% to 2%. The Group’s efforts, however, will be distributed across all European markets, bar none, because there are clear differences in sales channels from one country to the next, and none of these must be neglected. The Group’s strength also means that, even in times of recession, we can invest in product research and marketing activities targeted at the various markets: this is a major advantage that we have over fragmented small and medium manufacturers.”

5

Tile International 3/2013

In the spotlight

by Sara Falsetti

NuovoCorso = biomatter reliable installation, even for large formats.

We interviewed NuovoCorso’s Managing Director, Fabio Ferrari, and Production Director, Antonio De Marco, at the showroom which the company opened in Solignano di Castelvetro early this year.



NuovoCorso, whose head office and production plant is in Carpineti, in the Italian province of Reggio Emilia, has made innovations to the porcelain tile production process and perfected a technology

Tile International 3/2013

Antonio di Marco e Fabio Ferrari for unfired extrusion. This latest development has spawned a large-format, extruded porcelain tile with outstanding cohesion, which combines enviable solidity with exceptional flexibility. Both of these physical properties ensure simple,

Tile International: Mr. Ferrari, you joined NuovoCorso in May 2012 and the company started producing this new extruded porcelain tile in October of the same year: could you briefly talk us through those first months of intensive work?

Fabio Ferrari: “The production technology for extruded porcelain tile is indeed totally innovative, and we owe its de-

50

velopment to the experience of Antonio De Marco, who, using the new plants available at Carpineti, succeeded in optimising production.”

Tile International: What are the main characteristics of the product?

F. Ferrari: “The extruded porcelain tile produced by NuovoCorso stands out for its exceptional flexibility, which is greater than that of any other type of porcelain sheet, while still retaining all of the material’s classic characteristics of strength. This flexibility makes the sheets particularly easy to cut and drill, as well as making it extremely ductile during installation. Thanks to their weight, what’s more, these sheets are self-levelling on the floor, so you can even lay them offset by 50% of their length, which is inadvisable for porcelain sheet made with more traditional technologies.”

Tile International: What are the distinctive features of this production process?

Antonio De Marco:“The key feature of the process is that it’s totally lean and clean: there is no production waste or waste water, and we can adjust the traditional body with 20% of unfired waste, sand and clay. So the production cycle is completely closed, but that’s not all: in partnership with the Ministry of Economic Development, we are conducting a research programme aimed at using powders originating from in-

In the spotlight

cinerators for up to 3% of the mix. Our efforts are in tune with a valid concept of sustainable production. We are also conducting experiments aimed at developing a system for “printing with glazes”, in which the quantity of glaze needed is dictated directly by the digitalised image, and which, although modifying the traditional glazing phase, enables us to restore to ceramic products the decorative “depth” that has been lost with digital technology as generally used.”

Tile International: So you are aiming to achieve a kind of digital glazing process?

A. De Marco: “Basically we want to develop a new concept of glazing, that replaces the old booths for the application of conventional glazes, with digital machines capable of “drawing” overlaid layers of various glazes, both coloured and neutral. This would bring substantial benefits, not just because the glaze would be used in a totally controlled manner, thereby eliminating all waste, but also because of the quality of the image, whose depth would no longer be merely visual but also tactile.”

Tile International: So you have set up a Research & Development laboratory to handle this research?

Fabio Ferrari: “The organisation and launch of the Research & Development laboratory absorbed most of our efforts in that first year of

Del Conca "Fast" 51

Tile International 3/2013

In the spotlight

work… But it was an absolutely necessary effort if we were to achieve the goal that prompted both De Marco and me to join NuovoCorso. When De Marco and me decided to take on this new challenge, we were absolutely clear that we wanted to produce something new, something niche, in small volumes for the top segment of the market - we expect production to stabilise at around 3000 sq.m/day of floor tiles - offering the best properties of porcelain but something extra too, in terms of aesthetic versatility and ductility of installation.”

Tile International: Let’s move on to those aesthetic characteristics then….

Antonio De Marco:“Given that we developed our process of unfired extrusion to make a natural product that re-uses all waste and can in turn be re-used, thereby increasing the percentage of recycled material, consuming less energy and generating lower emissions, it goes without saying that we dedicated considerable efforts to aesthetic research too.

Basically, exceptional levels of care for the environment went hand-in-hand with equally high levels of aesthetic research for this product.

What’s more, it is actually the slowness of the process that minimises imperfections, such as differences in tone, and enables us to produce singlecalibre sheets with outstand-

Tile International 3/2013

52

ing cohesion and solidity. We currently produce 6 series (Biolegni, Biolegni New, Essenze and Fossil in sizes 30x180 and 20x180 cm; Inimitabile in sizes 66.5x200 cm - 33.1x200 cm and 66.5x66.5 cm; Betontech in sizes 60x180 cm- 30x180 cm and 20x180 cm) in a wide range of colours and finishes, all with a good selection of trim pieces.

At Cersaie this year we will be in a position to present a 300x130 cm format, with a thickness of 13 mm, which can be used for kitchen worktops and furnishing applications in general, as well as elongated tiles with dimensions that have not yet been achieved by anyone, such as 200x60 cm with a thickness of 10 mm.”

Tile International: How are you organised on the sales front?

F. Ferrari: “We have covered the areas of most interest with three area managers, who take care of the Italian market, the German-speaking countries and the francophone world. We are focusing our efforts on raising awareness among architects and specifiers: it’s a tough challenge, especially at a time of widespread recession, so we have taken the decision to work only with insured customers.

This is a slightly unusual policy for Italian companies in the industry, but we intend to stick to it because, at present, we are Del Conca "Brera" satisfied with the results 5

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In the spotlight

by Silvia Bertolani

Serenissima Cir invests in Italian technology

ď ‘

The severe crisis that has long been raging in the international markets has not discouraged Serenissima Cir Industrie Ceramiche, which on 27 June presented to its employees the new facility in Rubiera, acquired from Impronta Ceramiche in 2011 and now completely renovated.

In this trend-bucking initiative, the Casalgrande-based ceramic group has chosen to invest in Italy and in Italian technology with a state-of-the-art plant costing a total of around 18 million euro.

Paolo Romani, the Group’s CEO together with his brother Giorgio, told us about the goals that the company aims to achieve with this major investment in monoporosa wall tile and large-format glazed porcelain floor tile production.

Tile International: Following the start-up of the new plant, how is the Serenissima Cir

Tile International 3/2013

Paolo Romani Group positioned today?

Paolo Romani: We are certainly stronger and more competitive. We set ourselves a number of goals when we embarked on this investment with the overall aim of promoting Italian products and technology. Firstly, this new facility will complement our existing three sites in Roteglia (Reggio Emilia), Filo di Argenta (Ferrara) and Olbia (Sardinia) and will enable us to expand our product range with the introduction of large formats.

This will strengthen the positioning of our brands in the international markets where we already have a presence and will also enable us to be more competitive in important but still relatively unexplored areas such as the BRIC countries.

Tile International: What products will the new plant manufacture?

P. Romani: Monoporosa wall tiles in medium-large sizes and glazed porcelain floor tiles in sizes up to 80x80 cm

54

CAPRI - Royal Onyx

In the spotlight

CIR - Fusion

SERENISSIMA - Metropolis

SERENISSIMA - Quintana

and 60x120 cm, with potential for further size increases.

The plant is already fully operational and has a production capacity of 5.5 million sq.m/ year. This amounts to more than 50% of the group’s total capacity, which this year is expected to exceed 9 million sq.m/year.

Tile International: How did Serenissima Cir perform in 2012 and what are the forecasts for 2013?

P. Romani: The past year has

55

certainly been challenging, but we have tackled the difficulties with resolve and determination.

We felt it was important to look for new openings in areas that are still to be explored commercially and to expand our export offerings.

At the same time we have maintained a focus on Italy, a market that is still showing signs of uncertainty but continues to be an important part Del Conca "Fast" of our history and success.

Tile International 3/2013

In the spotlight

SERENISSIMA - Ice The operations we have conducted have aimed to support our local area and promote the qualities for which Italian manufacturing is renowned the world over.

Tile International: Which markets are showing the strongest demand for your products?

P. Romani: The European Union, particularly Germany and France, accounts for the largest portion of our turnover, followed by North America (USA and Canada) and Russia. In spite of the obvious difficulties, Italy remains a very important market for us and is beginning to show tentative signs of re-

Tile International 3/2013

covery.

Tile International: An 18 million euro manufacturing investment in Italy at a critical time for the ceramic sector sends out a strong message.

Do you see this as the way forward for addressing the challenge posed by markets?

P. Romani: Yes, we do. Besides expanding our range, one of the aims of this new plant is to achieve greater manufacturing and corporate efficiency and consequently increased competitiveness.

From a technological standpoint, we have chosen to adopt innovative plant engi-

neering solutions capable of optimising costs and resources using green, energy-saving technologies that protect people and the environment. The facility also sets new standards in terms of workplace safety and comfort, guaranteeing larger and more ergonomic spaces for the various processes and the utmost attention to detail.

Tile International: Cersaie is due to begin shortly in Bologna. What do you have in store for visitors?

P. Romani: I don’t want to reveal too much, but what I can say is that this year’s Cersaie

56

will be an opportunity for us to send out a new message to our customers and partners.

As always, the group will be showcasing all its brands, but focusing in particular on its new product identity and versatility. We aim to highlight the potential of a company that has made brand synergy one of the cornerstones of its philosophy and offers cuttingedge solutions for every need.

We were favourable to Cersaie’s new Monday to Friday opening formula as we believe it will offer fresh incentive to Italian and above all international visitors.

5

BOLOGNA ITALY 23. – 27. Sept. 2013

AREA 45 · STAND 44

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Economy & markets

by Luca Baraldi

Turkey continues its growth

ď ‘

Unicera 2013, the pre-eminent Turkish exhibition of ceramics for the building industry held in Istanbul in February, confirmed the excellent health of the Turkish tile and sanitaryware industries.

In 2012, tile production rose to a new record level of 280 million sq.m (7.7% growth, higher even than the 6% of 2011). Domestic sales also reached a record figure of 180 million sq.m (9.1% up on 2011), as did domestic consumption which was almost entirely met by local production (imports totalled 4.5 million sq.m) and far exceeded pre-crisis levels at approximately 184.5 million sq.m (up 9% on 2011).

Exports too grew for the third year running, rising by 5% in volume to reach 91.7 million sq.m. Export growth in terms of value was even higher (+10.4%), marking up a record value of $586.7 million.

Germany remained the top export market for Turkish tiles in value, although turnover

Tile International 3/2013

The Turkish ceramic tile industry and market % Var 12/11

unit

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

Production capacity

Mill. sq.m

325.0

360.0

360.0

360.0

406.0

413.0

432.0

+4.6%

Output

Mill. sq.m

275.0

260.0

225.0

205.0

245.0

260.0

280.0

+7.7%

Exports

Mill. sq.m

93.2

104.0

91.9

67.3

84.0

87.3

91.7

+5.0%

Exports

Mill.

USD

406.0

475.0

525.4

400.7

478.6

531.3

586.7

+10.4%

Domestic sales

Mill. sq.m

165.0

156.0

125.0

135.0

150.0

165.0

180.0

+9.1%

Imports

Mill. sq.m

7.0

4.5

4.3

2.7

4.7

4.4

4.5

+2.3%

Imports

Mill.

USD

87.9

63.7

67.3

42.5

68.2

73.1

77.1

+5.5%

Domestic consumption

Mill. sq.m

172.0

160.5

129.3

137.7

154.7

169.2

184.5

+9.0%

Source: Turkish Ceramic Federation dropped from US $75 million to $64 million (-11.9%) due to the fall in export volumes (8.4 million sq.m, 2.5% down on 2011) and the sharp decrease in average selling price (down from $8.7 per sq.m in 2011 to $7.9 per sq.m last year).

Following constant growth in recent years, Iraq has seen further strong expansion to become the largest market for Turkish tiles in terms of volume (10.8 million sq.m, up 55.7%) and the second largest market in value (US $60.7 million,

58

up 57.8%), with an average price of $5.6 per sq.m.

As in 2011, Israel, the UK and Azerbaijan maintained their positions amongst the top five markets.

In general, all the main Turkish tile export markets showed

Economy & markets

The Turkish sanitaryware industry and market % Var 12/11

unit

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

Production capacity

ton x 000

326.8

330.0

315.0

305.0

310.0

310.0

330.0 (22 mill.pcs)

+6.4%

Output

ton x 000

253.8

260.0

230.0

195.0

220.0

245.0

260.0 (17.3 mill pcs)

+6.1%

Exports

ton x 000

125.4

120.4

103.7

86.4

94.5

109.4

113.5 (7.5 mill.pcs)

+3.7%

Exports

Mill.

USD

197.2

203.7

180.2

142.6

159.7

182.3

186.8

+2.5%

Domestic sales

ton x 000

128.3

139.5

125.5

105.0

120.0

135.0

142.5 (9.5 mill.pcs)

+5.5%

Imports

ton x 000

2.0

2.5

2.2

2.3

2.9

2.5

1.8

-28.0%

Imports

Mill.

USD

7.3

8.6

9.4

6.4

8.9

8.3

7.5

-9.6%

Domestic consumption

ton x 000

130.3

142.0

127.7

107.3

122.9

137.5

144.3 (9.6 mill.pcs)

+4.9%

Source: Turkish Ceramic Federation positive year-on-year growth in terms of both volumes and value. The largest increases were in Canada (+33% in both volumes and value), the USA (+50% in volumes and +60% in value following a rise in average price to $7.1 per sq.m)

and Russia (+53.7% in volumes and +41.5% in value). Although the average selling price in Russia dropped to $8.4 per sq.m, it was still the highest of all export markets.

The Libyan market is in a unique situation: after falling

to virtually zero in 2011 due to the war, sales recovered strongly last year to reach US $13.7 million and 3.8 million sq.m.

In the sanitaryware sector, Turkey retained its place at the

Uptown by Vitra

top of the European rankings as the largest producer country in 2012 in spite of a slight slowdown relative to the double-figure growth of 2011.

Nonetheless, production rose to 260,000 ton, corresponding to around 17 million pieces

Country In&Out by Kale

59

Tile International 3/2013

Economy & markets

remained the largest foreign market for the sanitaryware sector, although with the same turnover as 2011 ($25.5 million) and a 3% fall in exported volumes. Next came France, which remained the top market in terms of export volumes with further 15% growth on 2011 but with a sharp fall in average selling price. Sales in the UK and Italy fell in terms of both volumes and value, whereas exports to Iraq soared by 59% in volume and 25% in value. With the exception of Spain and Australia, all the other major export markets

(up 6.1% on 2011). Domestic sales (effectively equal to domestic consumption given that imports fell almost to zero) reached 142,500 tons (about 9.5 million pieces, up 5.5%), exceeding the record figure of 2007. Exports also performed strongly and recovered for the third year running, although still remaining slightly below the peak levels of 2006-2007. The total figure was 113,500 ton (around 7.5 million pieces, 3.7% up on 2011) and a value of US $187 million (+2.5%).

In terms of value, Germany

saw good levels of growth relative to 2011.

We discussed the Turkish ceramic industry’s current situation and future prospects with Ahmet Yamaner (pictured), vice chairman of the Eczacibasi Group’s Building Products division and as of the end of May newly-elected Chairman of the Turkish Ceramics Federation, taking over from Zeynep Bodur Okyay.

Tile International: Although Turkey still has a fairly low plant utilisation level, the tile industry is continuing to make substantial new investments. How do you explain this?

Main export markets for the Turkish ceramic tiles 2011 Quantity (m2)

Value ($)

% var.

2012/2011

2012 Unit Price ($/m2)

Quantity (m2)

Value ($)

Unit Price ($/m2)

Quantity

Value

Germany

8,575,784

74,867,926

8.7

8,362,251

65,927,419

7.9

-2.5%

-11.9%

Iraq

6,940,763

38,478,279

5.5

10,806,581

60,704,600

5.6

+55.7%

+57.8%

10,720,689

56,146,932

5.2

10,708,495

58,209,250

5.4

-0.1%

+3.7%

UK

8,616,221

47,102,259

5.5

9,153,744

54,091,194

5.9

+6.2%

+14.8%

Azerbaijan

6,209,202

32,690,076

5.3

7,485,306

34,559,754

4.6

+20.6%

+5.7%

Canada

4,312,105

25,392,764

5.9

5,721,943

33,787,318

5.9

+32.7%

+33.1%

France

4,122,082

27,893,546

6.8

4,378,576

28,493,056

6.5

+6.2%

+2.1%

USA

2,433,371

16,148,509

6.6

3,644,016

25,895,502

7.1

+49.8%

+60.4%

Georgia

4,680,027

20,033,439

4.3

4,725,665

21,867,359

4.6

+1.0%

+9.2%

Russia

1,269,029

11,594,269

9.1

1,950,028

16,402,629

8.4

+53.7%

+41.5%

Romania

2,867,067

14,979,504

5.2

3,393,013

16,078,798

4.7

+18.3%

+7.3%

164,216

1,361,823

8.3

3,830,867

13,705,483

3.6

+2,232.8%

+906.4%

Belgium

1,894,826

12,224,154

6.5

2,015,404

11,898,613

5.9

+6.4%

-2.7%

Greece

4,135,604

14,303,018

3.5

2,370,031

9,990,963

4.2

-42.7%

-30.1%

Turkmenistan

2,110,067

10,688,174

5.1

2,021,735

9,632,901

4.8

-4.2%

-9.9%

Israel

Libya

Source: Turkish Ceramic Federation

Tile International 3/2013

60

Economy & markets

Ahmet Yamaner: It is largely due to the presence of old kilns that are no longer used for production. But it is true that the industry is continuing to make investments with a view to increasing product quality and plant efficiency, this is perfectly natural. Our aim is to establish new highquality products in the US and European markets and to sell the industry’s sizeable output of low-end products to less demanding markets such as the Middle East.

Tile International: What are the main driving forces be-

hind domestic demand for ceramic tiles?

A. Yamaner: The main driving force is certainly new residential projects, especially social housing promoted by TOKI, the housing development administration of Turkey. Commercial building investments are going very well, whereas the tourism sector is growing very slowly. As of next year we will see the effects of the implementation of the new law on antiseismic renovation.

Tile International: How do you explain the fresh growth in Turkish tile sales in internation-

al markets?

A.Yamaner: On the one hand we have seen huge growth in demand in neighbouring countries such as Iraq and Azerbaijan, as well as in Libya, although demand is strongest for low-priced products. I believe that the Iraq market will continue to grow, whereas the future of Libya’s market depends on its political situation.

The increase in Turkish tile exports to North America is much more interesting and confirms both the recovery of the US market and the ability of Turkish suppliers and their

wholesalers to establish themselves competitively in the market.

Tile International: How do you explain the fall in sales in your largest export market, Germany?

A. Yamaner: Like the rest of the European market, Germany too is beginning to face some economic issues.

Tile International: Do you think that Turkey’s exports to Europe are benefiting from the EU antidumping measures applied to Chinese exports?

A. Yamaner: No, I don’t think that’s the case, as our export

Main export markets for the Turkish sanitaryware 2011 Quantity (ton)

Value ($)

% var.

2012/2011

2012 Unit Price ($/ton)

Quantity (ton)

Value ($)

Unit Price ($/ton)

Quantity

Value

Germany

13,344

25,552,376

1,915

12,959

25,578,965

1,974

-2.9

+0.1%

France

12,097

19,406,467

1,604

13,918

19,166,892

1,377

+15.1

-1.2%

UK

18,068

18,300,055

1,013

10,487

17,797,470

1,697

-42.0

-2.7%

Italy

12,74

20,287,916

1,592

11,079

16,945,631

1,530

-13.1

-16.5%

Iraq

6,078

10,185,215

1,676

9,688

12,741,061

1,315

+59.4

+25.1%

USA

3,950

7,049,633

1,785

4,536

8,256,446

1,820

+14.9

+17.1%

Bulgaria

3,017

5,043,627

1,672

3,976

6,582,982

1,656

+31.8

+30.5%

Russia

1,886

3,546,531

1,881

3,687

6,544,283

1,775

+95.5

+84.5%

Israel

3,858

5,829,917

1,511

4,266

6,140,413

1,439

+10.6

+5.3%

Libya

596

866,429

1,454

4,843

5,767,579

1,191

+712.7

+565.7%

Azerbaijan

2,381

5,558,863

2,335

2,527

5,767,014

2,282

+6.2

+3.7%

Spain

3,096

6,738,039

2,176

2,345

4,410,312

1,881

-24.3

-34.5%

Turkmenistan

1,149

2,680,893

2,332

1,361

3,017,416

2,218

+18.4

+12.6%

Sweden

1,242

2,541,816

2,047

1,289

2,663,928

2,066

+3.8

+4.8%

Australia

1,187

2,776,101

2,338

1,060

2,288,391

2,159

-10.7

-17.6%

Source: Turkish Ceramic Federation

Tile International 3/2013

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Economy & markets

figures to this area show.

Tile International: What are the main challenges facing the Turkish ceramic industry today?

A. Yamaner: Europe is Turkey’s biggest export market for sanitaryware and the crisis in the region is affecting exports. Fortunately this is compensated by strong demand in our domestic market.

As for tiles, the high cost of energy (gas prices in Turkey are similar to those of Europe) and the government’s low exchange rate policy are adversely affecting companies’ profits.

Tile International: Do you think that the Turkish ceramic industry will follow the example of the largest groups and continue the process of internationalising production?

A. Yamaner: I don’t think this will become a widespread policy. In any case, the most important thing is to have personnel capable of handling international business.

Tile International: What are your forecasts for 2013?

A. Yamaner: In general, I expect exports to remain more or less stable at 2012 levels, but the domestic Turkish market will grow rapidly due to new government measures to promote housing for low-income families.

5

Tile International 3/2013

Unicera celebrates 25th edition with record figures First held in 1987, when it had just 32 exhibitors and a floor space of 1,300 square metres, Unicera achieved record figures at its 25th edition in 2013 (Istanbul, 27 February – 3 March).

Exhibitor numbers were up by 30% and the show occupied a floor area of 86,000 sq.m inside the Tüyap Fair and Convention Center, 15% more space than in 2011.

Compared to 236 companies from 14 countries in 2012, this year there were a total of 310 companies from 21 different countries (Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, China, Egypt, France, Germany, UK, India, Italy, Poland, Singapore, Slovenia, Spain, USA, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Ukraine and Vietnam, as well as the host country Turkey). This year’s exhibition also featured a new section devoted to raw materials and glazes, machinery, machinery spare parts and components.

Organised by Tüyap Fair in association with the Ceramics Federation of Turkey and the Association of Plumbing and Construction Materials Suppliers (Timder), Unicera is a unique showcase for the Turkish ceramics and bathroom furnishings industry, reaching out to a professional audience of Turkish construction firms, contractors and distributors and increasingly appealing to international professionals and buyers.

This year’s show was attended by a total of 65,526 visitors and confirmed the growth trend in international attendance, attracting 4,982 foreign professionals from 91 countries compared to 3,530 in 2011 and 4,306 in 2012.

These positive results rewarded the organisers’ promotional efforts aimed at broadening the show’s international appeal.

Foreign delegations from a number of European countries, as well as Russia, the Middle East, North Africa and the Balkans, took part and organised bilateral business meetings.

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Economy & markets

The 2012 turnovers of Italian ceramic tile manufacturers

ď ‘

TILE INTERNATIONAL is publishing its customary preview of the turnovers of the top Italian ceramic tile manufacturers.

In keeping with the trend of the last few months of 2011, the industry remained firmly in the doldrums in 2012 due to the progressive stagnation of the domestic market. In response, companies sought to boost exports with the aim of raising export share from 60% to 75%.

Nonetheless, these efforts were insufficient to make up for the severe losses experienced in the domestic market, or for that matter even to maintain the quantities exported the previous year. But thanks to the increase in average selling prices, they did succeed in bringing export turnover back into positive territory, up 2.6% on 2011 to 3.66 billion euros.

The overall output of the 159 companies operating within Italy in 2012 also dropped by 8.3% (367.2 million square metres compared to the 399.7 million square metres of 2011), reaching the lowest point since the onset of the financial crash triggered by the sub-prime mortgage crisis.

This also highlights the fact that the subsequent economic recession driven by Italy’s national debt has been even more severe than the original financial crisis.

The

2012

turnover

Tile International 3/2013

results

therefore paint a rather bleak overall picture, mitigated in part only by the results achieved by the 20 manufacturing facilities owned by Italian ceramic groups but operating outside Italy. In 2012 the sector reported a total turnover of 4.58 billion euros (2.8% down on 2011), a 3.4% drop in employment (21,355 employees compared to the 37,058 of 2012) and a decline in the number of companies in business to 159 (4 fewer than in 2011).

The rankings of the top companies Marazzi Group remains firmly at the top of the rankings with a 2012 turnover of 857.7 million euros, 3% up on 2011. Following the death of Filippo Marazzi in November 2012, the company was acquired by Mohawk Industries, Inc. in April 2013.

Although it has not yet released its 2012 figures, Concorde Group has certainly maintained its second place ranking following 2.9% yearon-year growth in 2011 generated by the Italian ceramic tile brands alone (i.e. not including the turnovers of Novoceram, France; Italon, Russia; the ceramic body producer Meta, or the raw materials producer Svimisa). In third place is the combined turnover of the Fiandre - Iris Group, which was formed on 1 May 2011 when GranitiFiandre leased the in-

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Economy & markets

dustrial and commercial division of Iris Ceramica. In fourth place comes Finfloor Group with 3.5% growth, largely attributable to direct sales in the US market, bringing its consolidated turnover to 315.3 million euros. Panariagroup, in fifth position, closed 2012 with a turnover of 280.8 million euros.

Casalgrande Padana has also maintained its position with a consolidated turnover of 275.05 million euros. In seventh place, Cooperativa Ceramica d’Imola is the last of the group of companies turnovers above 200 million euros.

The rankings of the top seven manufacturers have remained unchanged, but only 2 of the 6 (the estimate for the Concorde Group turnover cannot be compared with the others because it consists solely of the Italian companies and refers to 2011) have seen a clear increase in turnover, and even then only as a result of their capacity for internationalisation.

Next comes the central group

made up of companies with turnovers of between 100 and 200 million euros. Up until 2011 this group consisted of six companies, but only four remain in 2012 following the exit of ABK Group and Gold Art Group. Of the four remaining companies, the most significant figure is the positive turnover growth (+4.8%) of Emilceramica, once again due to the growth in sales of Zeus Ceramica, the factory it owns in Ukraine.

Groups with turnovers below 100 million euros are showing signs of stress, with on the whole stable results relative to the previous year but also with widespread falls in turnover.

Gresmalt is an exception with 8.2% growth, the biggest growth in the entire rankings.

Coem likewise posted good results, following up the excellent 8.31% growth in 2011 relative to 2010 with further 1.8% growth in 2012. Cerindustries and Novabell also performed strongly with 7.0% and 7.2% growth respectively.

5

Entire contents Copyright Tile Edizioni srl All right reserved

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Tile International 3/2013

Economy & markets

THE FIGURES FROM CONFINDUSTRIA CERAMICA The importance of internationalisation

The ceramic tile industry In 2012 the 159 ceramic tile producers operating in Italy (4 fewer than in 2011) produced a total output of 367.2 million sq.m (down 8.3% on 2011). Sales dropped to 382.2 million square metres (-7.5%) as the combined result of an 18.9% fall in domestic sales, down from 114.9 million sq.m in 2011 to 93.2 million sq.m in 2012, and a much smaller contraction in exports (-3.1%), falling to 289 million sq.m. In terms of value, domestic sales fell by 19.8% to 919 million euros, while the increase in average selling price brought export turnover into positive territory at 3.66 billion euros (up 2.6% on 2011). Total turnover was 4.58 billion euros (-2.8%).

The workforce also contracted by 3.7% to 21,355 workers.

But in spite of the difficulties in terms of revenues, investments in innovation remained strong, marking up a further 2.8% growth over 2011 to reach 255.5 million euros (more than 5.5% of annual turnover).

Ceramic tiles: excellent results for Italian-owned companies operating abroad The results of the tile manufacturers operating in Italy were complemented by

Tile International 3/2013

the outstanding performances of companies controlled by Italian ceramic groups but located outside Italy (North America, Europe, Poland and Russia).

The 20 manufacturing operations located outside Italy employed 7,500 people, produced a total of 139.6 million sq.m (14.7% up on 2011) and made sales of 141.5 million sq.m (+11.1%).

The Italian tile industry is continuing to internationalise its manufacturing operations with a view to being more competitive in its target markets (United States, Russia, France, Germany, Poland, Spain and Portugal). 82% of output, a total of 116.1 million square metres, was sold in the country of production, while 25.4 million sq.m was exported to third countries (+17.6%).

The 2012 turnovers of the 20 foreign companies totalled 1,195 million euros (+14.3%), of which 983.4 million euros consisted of domestic sales (+13.4%) and 211.7 million euros exports (+18.73%).

Ceramic tiles: first quarter of 2013 Continuing the 2012 trend, the first quarter of 2013 brought a further slowdown in the European economy and a worsening of the Italian real-estate sector. This contrasted with the buoyant performance of non-European markets where the Italian tile industry reported a 9.6% rise in turnover, including doublefigure growth in Russia, the United States,

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Africa and Australia.

This was offset by a fall of a few percentage points in EU markets and a further sharp decline in sales in the Italian domestic market (11.5% with respect to the first quarter of 2012) on the back of the big losses already suffered in 2012.

The forecasts for 2013 continue to give grave cause for concern. Initial estimates suggest a fall of 12% in Italian sales and 6% in exports to Western Europe. The areas that may offer the greatest growth potential for Italian companies are North America, Russia (and the rest of Eastern Europe), Latin America and North Africa.

Ceramic sanitaryware The number of industrial level ceramic sanitaryware manufacturers operating in 2012 remained at 41, including 36 located in the Civita Castellana area (province of Viterbo), which at the end of last year employed a total workforce of 4,041 (down 3.7% on 2011). 2012 output totalled 4.12 million pieces (-10.4%) while sales dropped to 3.88 million pieces (-13.4%). Turnover fell to 337.7 million euros (-10.7%), consisting of 125 million euros of domestic sales (-21.69%) and 212.7 million euros of exports (-2.67%), the latter accounting for 56.4% of turnover. According to figures published by Istat, Italy’s National Institute of Statistics, sanitaryware imports slumped to 85.4 million pieces (down 13% on 2011).

Biarritz

EXTREMELY

FASCINATING www.cir.it CERSAIE 2013 Hall 16 - Booth B5

Economy & markets

2012 turnovers: MARAZZI GROUP

€ 857.7 million (consolidated)

2003: Euro 750.0 mil. - 2004: Euro 777.0 mil. - 2005: Euro 903.2 mil. - 2006: Euro 964.1 mil.

2007: Euro 984.0 mil. - 2008: Euro 976.8 mil. - 2009: Euro 801.0 mil. - 2010: Euro 818.3 mil.

2011: Euro 832.5 mil.

The Group's turnover was generated by the following companies and/or brands: • MARAZZI (All markets) • MARAZZI TECNICA (All markets) • CERABATI (France)

• RAGNO (All markets) • KERAMA MARAZZI (Russia) • HATRIA (Sanitaryware)

Production

97 million sq.m (increase in production capacity of facilities in Russia: 2 million sq.m), estimates by TILE ITALIA Internationalisation Marazzi Group has production facilities in Spain, France, Russia and the USA. Exports 81% of non-Italian sales Employees more than 6,400 In June 2012 Marazzi Group opened new showrooms in Hamburg and Paris. In April 2013 it opened a new showroom in Milan. Marazzi Group has been part of Mohawk Industries, Inc. since April 2013.

CONCORDE GROUP

€ 567.8 million*

* The published data refer to 2011, originate from public sources and include only the Italian brands

2003: Euro 378.2 mil. - 2004: Euro 425.9 mil. - 2005: Euro 525.0 mil. - 2006: Euro 581.0 mil.

2007: Euro 651.0 mil. - 2008: Euro 669.0 mil. - 2009: Euro 544.0 mil. - 2010: Euro 551.3 mil.

The Group's turnover was generated by the following companies and/or brands: • CERAMICHE ATLAS - CONCORDE (Atlas Concorde - Keope - Supergres): Euro 207.401 mil.

• MIRAGE GRANITO CERAMICO: Euro 97.565 mil.

• CERAMICA MARCA CORONA: Euro 74.422 mil.

• CERAMICA REFIN: Euro 59.969 mil.

• CERAMICA CAESAR (Caesar - Fap - Minerva): Euro 128.398 mil.

Production 38 mil. sq.m .- 2010 data Internationalisation 2 factories in Europe (1 in France, 1 in Russia) Exports 65% (by value) Employees 2,300 * The consolidated turnover does not include the turnovers of: Novoceram (France), Italon (Russia), Meta (ceramic body), Svimisa (raw materials).

Tile International 3/2013

70

180 cm 20 cm

The new dimension of design By improving the raw extrusion technology, nuovocorso developed a line of edge-ground porcelain stoneware floors featuring slabs up to 200 cm long, provided with amazing cohesion and strength, as well as outstanding flexibility.

This extruded material ensures a quick and flawless laying of nuovocorso floors.

Once installed, they level out by themselves and are perfectly flat despite the remarkable size of slabs, meeting the requirements of the modern living design. nuovocorso, a new perspective for the living dimension.

VISIT US AT CERSAIE 2013 23rd-27th September - Pav. 15/Stand D1

www.nuovocorso.it

Economy & markets FIANDRE-IRIS GROUP

€ 420.0 million

The Group's turnover was generated by the following brands: • GRANITIFIANDRE • TECHNORIUNITE • PORCELAINGRES (Germany) • STONEPEAK CERAMICS (USA) • SAVOIA CANADA • TECNOMIX • IRIS CERAMICA • FMG - FABBRICA MARMI E GRANITI • EIFFELGRES • ARIOSTEA • MATIMEX • ARCAREL • LA CERAMICA Production 25 mil. sq.m Internationalisation 2 factories: Stonepeak in the United States and Porcelaingres in Germany Exports 70% Employees 1,600 As of 01/05/2011, GranitiFiandre SpA leased the industrial and commercial division of Iris Ceramica to create the Fiandre-Iris Group.

In 2011 Granitifiandre began production of Maximum, a large-format ceramic sheet with an innovative 300x150 cm size and thickness of 6 mm.

The same year the Active Clean Air and Antibacterial Ceramic line became established on the international market. In May 2013 Fiandre opened its new Maximum showroom, an open space of more than 250 sq.m in the Megastore in Castellarano (RE).

FINFLOOR GROUP

€ 315.3 million (consolidated)

2003: Euro 286.3 mil. - 2004: Euro 308.1 mil. - 2005: Euro 343.7 mil.

2006: Euro 355.2 mil. - 2007: Euro 343.4 mil. - 2008: Euro 330.6 mil.

2009: Euro 259.7 mil. - 2010: Euro 273.8 mil. - 2011: Euro 304,6 mil.

The Group's turnover was generated by the following companies and/or brands: • CERAMICHE PANARIA • LEA NORTH AMERICA (USA) • CERAMICHE LEA • FLORIDA TILE (USA) • FIORDO INDUSTRIE CERAMICHE • MARGRES (Portugal) • COTTO D’ESTE • LOVE CERAMIC TILES • BLUSTYLE • GRES PANARIA PORTUGAL Production

Exports Employees

14.8 mil. sq.m (floor tiles 88% - wall tiles 12%) - 2010 figures 71% (by value) 1,741 - 2010 figures

Panariagroup, a ceramic group listed on the Milan stock exchange, closed 2012 with consolidated net profits of 1.6 million euros and a gross operating margin of 21.1 million euros. In 2012 Panariagroup completed installation of a second production line in the Florida Tile facility, enabling the Group to increase its competitiveness in the USA, now its largest market. The JVC - Joint Venture Company, a company owned 50%

by Panariagroup and 50% by Asian Graniti India Ltd., was also set up in India in 2012.

CASALGRANDE PADANA

€ 275.05 million (consolidated)

2003: Euro 134.0 mil. - 2004: Euro 146.0 mil. - 2005: Euro 162.0 mil.

2006: Euro 178.3 mil. - 2007: Euro 294.0 mil. - 2008: Euro 295.9 mil.

2009: Euro 275.6 mil. - 2010: Euro 283.0 mil. - 2011: Euro 292.3 mil.

The Group's turnover was generated by the following brands: • CASALGRANDE PADANA Spa Euro 185.130 mil • NUOVA RIWAL CERAMICHE (Alfa Lux, Saime-SanProspero, Eurodomus, Riwal): Euro 89.9 mil.

The Group's turnover was generated by the following companies and/or brands: • FLORIM CERAMICHE (Floor Gres - Cerim - Rex - Casa dolce Casa - Casamood) • FLORIM USA Inc. and subsidiaries

Production

Production 22.0 million sq.m (floor tiles 94%, wall tiles 6%) Internationalisation 1 factory in Tennessee (USA); 2 logistic centres: 1 in Georgia (USA) and 1 in Paraná (Brazil) Exports 68.2% (a figure calculated on total turnover, including that of Florim USA) Employees 1.313

A total of 5.2 million euros was invested in new production plant in the Casalgrande Padana Group’s production facilities, all located in Italy. Also in 2012, Casalgrande Padana acquired a further 20% shareholding in the subsidiary Nuova Riwal, bringing its total stake to 80%.

Florim has adopted the procedure laid down in the Sustainability and Social Responsibility Report, which involved allocating 25 million euros of investments (including 13.6 million euros for environmental management).

The results are clear as the Group closed 2012 with 3.5% growth in consolidated turnover with respect to 2011, with a gross operating margin of 59.6 million euros (53.3 million euros the previous year) and net profits of 26.1 million euros (17.8 million euros in 2011). A crucial contribution was made by Florim USA. The American subsidiary is pursuing the same principles of sustainability as its Italian parent company and made investments of US $4.2 million in 2012.

PANARIAGROUP

€ 280.8 million (consolidated)

2003: Euro 212.4 mil. - 2004: Euro 235.5 mil. - 2005: Euro 247.2 mil.

2006: Euro 351.5 mil. - 2007: Euro 354.4 mil. - 2008: Euro 328.0 mil.

2009: Euro 289.9 mil. - 2010: Euro 285.2 mil. - 2011: Euro 294.1 mil.

Tile International 3/2013

23.3 mil. sq.m (14,529 mil/mq Casalgrande Padana + 8,8 mil/sq.m Nuova Riwal) Exports 70% Employees Casalgrande Padana: 597 - Nuova Riwal: 461

COOP. CERAMICA IMOLA GROUP

€ 256.6 million (consolidated) 2003: Euro 358.3 mil. - 2004: Euro 369.1 mil. - 2005: Euro 386.4 mil.

2006: Euro 385.6 mil. - 2007: Euro 384.5 mil. - 2008: Euro 370.6 mil.

2009: Euro 278.7 mil. - 2010: Euro 274.9 mil. - 2011: Euro 266.4 mil.

The following companies and/or brands belong to the Group: • COOPERATIVA CERAMICA D’IMOLA Sc Euro 247.0 mil. (net of infra-group transactions) • IMEX TOP 32, Polonia Euro 1.5 mil.

• COOP. CER. IMOLA North America Euro 4.4 mil.

• IMOLATECNICA Euro 3.7 mil.

Production 20.2 mil. sq.m (floor tiles 72% - wall tiles 28%) Exports 75% Employees 1,800 The company ImolaTecnica was consolidated for the first time as of

72

Economy & markets FAETANO-DEL CONCA GROUP € 121.2 million (net of infra-Group transactions)

31/12/2012.

Coop. Ceramica d’Imola has obtained the voluntary certification AEO Economic Operator Certificate as well as AEO - Customs Simplification and Safety.

RICCHETTI GROUP

2003: Euro 113.5 mil. - 2004: Euro 121.3 mil. - 2005: Euro 130.7 mil.

2006: Euro 155.3 mil. - 2007: Euro 155.3 mil. - 2008: Euro 145.3 mil.

2009: Euro 128.0 mil. - 2010: Euro 124.0 mil. - 2011: Euro 122.1 mil.

€ 188.6 million (consolidated)

The Group's turnover (net of infra-Group transactions) was generated by the following companies and/or brands: • CERAMICA DEL CONCA Spa • DEL CONCA USA Inc. • CERAMICA FAETANO SA (Rep. San Marino) • PASTORELLI Spa • PRODUCO Srl

2003: Euro 306.4 mil. - 2004: Euro 291.6 mil. - 2005: Euro 281.3 mil.

2006: Euro 282.3 mil. - 2007: Euro 271.0 mil. - 2008: Euro 241.0 mil.

2009: Euro 194.5 mil. - 2010: Euro 196.7 mil. - 2011: Euro 190.5 mil.

The Group's turnover has been consolidated in accordance with IFRS since 2004.

Production Exports

The Ceramiche Ricchetti Group includes the following companies:

During 2012 Faetano del Conca Group invested more than 4 million euros in the Group’s Italian factories. The funds were allocated in particular to increasing production of Del Conca Fast, the patented dry installation method for ceramic floor tiles. At the end of 2012, Del Conca Group announced that it will build a factory in Tennessee, USA for the production of porcelain tile. Production is due to start up in 2014.

• GRUPPO CERAMICHE RICCHETTI (Ricchetti - Cisa - Cerdisa) • EVERS AS (Denmark) • KLINGENBERG DEKORAMIK GMBH (Germany) • CC HÖGÄNÄS BYGGKERAMIK AB (Sweden) • CINCA SA (Portugal) • OY PUKKILA AB (Finland) Production

Internationalisation Exports Employees

10.7 mil. sq.m (floor tiles 90% - wall tiles 10%) 72%

SERENISSIMA CIR IND. CERAMICHE GROUP

€ 109.2 million (consolidated)

13.6 mil. sq.m (floor tiles 85% wall tiles 15%) - 2010 figures factories in Portugal, Finland and Germany 83% (by value) 1,646 (of whom 1,071 outside Italy) - 2010 figures

2003: Euro 75.1 mil. - 2004: Euro 85.0 mil. - 2005: Euro 94.1 mil.

2006: Euro 100.4 mil. - 2007: Euro 105.0 mil. - 2008: Euro 104.0 mil.

2009: Euro 92.8 mil. - 2010: Euro 100.3 mil. - 2011: Euro 117.0 mil.

The Ceramiche Ricchetti Group has been listed on the Milan stock exchange since 1996.

The Group's turnover was generated by the following companies and/or brands: • CIR • SERENISSIMA • CAPRI • CERCOM EMILCERAMICA GROUP • CERASARDA • MOMO DESIGN CERAMICS € 170.0 million (consolidated)

• EXE • ISLATILES

2003: Euro 169.5 mil. - 2004: Euro 173.5 mil. - 2005: Euro 190.0 mil.

Production 7.8 mil. sq.m (floor tiles 88% - wall tiles 12%) 2006: Euro 206.0 mil. - 2007: Euro 210.5 mil. - 2008: Euro 190.0 mil.

Exports 49% 2009: Euro 131.4 mil. - 2010: Euro 155.9 mil. - 2011: Euro 162.2 mil.

Employees 577 The Group's turnover was generated by the following companies and/or brands: • EMILCERAMICA (Emilceramica - Ergon - Acif - Demetra - Provenza) • CAOLINO PANCIERA (raw materials) • EMILAMERICA (USA) • CERAMICHE VIVA • ZEUS CERAMICA (Ukraine)

In May 2012 the Group acquired the Islatiles brand, which it manages through a commercial company. During 2013 it is due to complete a major refurbishment of the Rubiera facility.

ABK GROUP

Production 7.2 mil. sq.m (floor tiles 94% - wall tiles 6%) Internationalisation the Group has three logistic centres and a manufacturing joint venture with Dal Tile in the United States. It operates in Ukraine with Zeus Ceramica, which produced 4 million sq.m in 2012.

Exports 77% Employees 545

€ 96.9 million

2003: Euro 78.9 mil. - 2004: Euro 80.6 mil. - 2005: Euro 87.9 mil.

2006: Euro 92.5 mil. - 2007: Euro 102.2 mil. - 2008: Euro 105.1 mil.

2009: Euro 90.1 mil. - 2010: Euro 89.9 mil. - 2011: Euro 104.8 mil.

The Group's turnover was generated by the following companies and/or brands: • ABKSIR Spa • FLAVIKER-PISA • ARIANA

On 31/12/2011 the Viva brand merged with the parent company Emilceramica Spa. During 2011 major investments were made for the purchase of new digital printing machinery and for a new kiln for large-format tile production (80x80 cm and 60x120 cm).

Production 4.4 mil. sq.m (floor tiles 78% - wall tiles 22%) Exports 49% Employees 325 In 2011 the Group invested more than 3 million euros in digital printing

73

Tile International 3/2013

Economy & markets technology, a grinding plant, energy recovery from the kilns and spray dryer, and a digital vision sorting system.

investment has included major actions aimed at strengthening the brand and sales network and thereby reaching out effectively to the top players in the international market.

GOLD ART CERAMICA GROUP GAMBINI GROUP IND. CERAMICHE

€ 96.7 million (consolidated)

€ 67.7 million (consolidated) 2003: Euro 63.1 mil. - 2004: Euro 64.4 mil. - 2005: Euro 72.3 mil.

2006: Euro 75.2 mil. - 2007: Euro 79.6 mil. - 2008: Euro 90.5 mil.

2009: Euro 77.7 mil. - 2010: Euro 88.2 mil. - 2011: Euro 100.0 mil.

2003: Euro 70.4 mil. - 2004: n.a. - 2005: Euro 72.3 mil.

2006: Euro 66.0 mil. - 2007: Euro 77.0 mil. - 2008: Euro 65.7 mil.

2009: Euro 64.2 mil. - 2010: Euro 67.7 mil. - 2011: Euro 70.24 mil.

The Group's turnover was generated by the following companies and/or brands: • GOLD ART CERAMICA/ENERGIEKER • IL CAVALLINO CERAMICA ARTISTICA • MANIFATTURA COTTO TUSCANIA • GOLD ART POLSKA • CERAMICA MANDRIO CORREGGIO

The Group's turnover was generated by the following companies and/or brands: • EPOCA • ELLE-GI CERAMICHE • MANIFATTURA EMILIANA • CERAMICHE TEMPRA • MEG (France) • PAREFEULLE (France) Production Exports Employees

Production 14.0 mil. sq.m (floor tiles 90% - wall tiles 10%) Exports 60% Employees 368

GRESMALT

FINCIBEC GROUP

€ 80.2 million

The Group's turnover was generated by the following brands: • MONOCIBEC • NAXOS • CENTURY

The Group's turnover was generated by the following companies and/or brands:

Production Exports Employees

€ 67.3 million (consolidated)

2003: Euro 93.8 mil. - 2004: Euro 98.8 mil. - 2005: Euro 96.8 mil.

2006: Euro 100.2 mil. - 2007: Euro 99.8 mil. - 2008: Euro 85.2 mil.

2009: n.a. - 2010: Euro 70.8 mil. - 2011: Euro 70.6 mil.

2003: Euro 46.4 mil. - 2004: Euro 47.9 mil. - 2005: Euro 54.7 mil.

2006: Euro 59.3 mil. - 2007: Euro 68.3 mil. - 2008: Euro 65.0 mil.

2009: Euro 63.4 mil. - 2010: Euro 67.0 mil - 2011: Euro 74.1 mil.

• SINTESI CERAMICA • ABITARE LA CERAMICA

8.8 mil. sq.m (floor tiles 90% - wall tiles 10%) 86% 306

• CERAMICHE DI FRASSINORO • GRESMALT

Production 4.6 mil. sq.m (floor tiles 78% - wall tiles 22%) Exports 70% Employees 431

11.5 mil. sq.m (floor tiles 100%) 55% 321

Following completion of the Jano factory, production began on 1/4/2012.

The Frassinoro facility has been divested through the sale of the company division.

In 2012 a major investment was made at the Roteglia facility which involved doubling the grinding, honing and polishing department; renovating the storage and handling system; installing a new sorting line for large sizes and large strips; installing a new press and dryer for large sizes; installing 3 new digital decoration systems.

INDUSTRIE CERAMICHE PIEMME

GARDENIA-ORCHIDEA GROUP

€ 79.9 million

2008: Euro 89.5 mil. - 2009: Euro 71.6 mil. - 2010: Euro 80.3 mil.

2011: Euro 80,4 mil.

2003: Euro 102.2 mil. - 2004: Euro 98.0 mil. - 2005: Euro 98.0 mil.

2006: Euro 100.3 mil. - 2007: Euro 79.4 mil. - 2008: Euro 83.23 mil.

2009: Euro 70.2 mil. - 2010: Euro 70.8 mil. - 2011: Euro 69.8 mil.

The Group's turnover was generated by the following companies and/or brands: • INDUSTRIE CERAMICHE PIEMME Spa • VALENTINO • PIEMMEGRES • CLUB • SICED Production Exports Employees

The Group's turnover was generated by the following companies and/or brands: • GARDENIA ORCHIDEA • GARFLOOR • VERSACE HOME • CRYSTALKER Production 3.7 mil. sq.m (floor tiles 55% - wall tiles 45%) Exports 69% Employees 340

7.7 mil. sq.m (floor tiles 87% - wall tiles 13%) 77% 336

Gardenia Orchidea is continuing its research into innovative eco-friendly processes. The efforts, which began in 2009 through participation in the Emilia Romagna regional projects for technological clusters with the support of the European Commission and consulting from the Department

The approximately 27 million euro investment plan approved in 2010 has been completed. This has led to a profound modernisation of production technology, allowing the company to manufacture highly innovative light body monoporosa and porcelain tiles, including large sizes. The

Tile International 3/2013

€ 64.2 million

74

Economy & markets of Materials Engineering and the Environment of the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, have to date led to the development of 4 projects for environmental sustainability.

CERAMICHE SANT’AGOSTINO

• ASCOT • DOM Production 5.9 mil. sq.m (floor tiles 67% - wall tiles 33%) Exports 68% Employees 276

€ 63.5 million*

*The published data relate to 2011 and are from public sources.

In 2012 the Group also produced 2.5 million sq.m of Bitech white body of various sizes.

2003: Euro 61.7 mil. - 2004: Euro 71.3 mil. - 2005: Euro 73.0 mil.

2006: Euro 80.0 mil. - 2007: Euro 80.7 mil. - 2008: Euro 68.3 mil.

2009: Euro 66.0 mil. - 2010: Euro 65.4 mil.

COEM

Ceramiche Sant’agostino, based in the province of Ferrara, was the company in the sector most severely affected by the earthquake that struck the Emilia region in the spring of 2012. The company’s determination to continue was demonstrated when the double firing kiln was restarted on 23 July 2012. It resumed continuous operation with a daily output of 3,500 sq.m of tiles, corresponding to a total of around 100,000 sq.m a month. The company’s complete recovery was confirmed by the launch at Cersaie 2012 of the new product lines designed by Philippe Starck, with whom the company has embarked on a high-level collaboration.

RONDINE GROUP

2003: Euro 48.0 mil. - 2004: Euro 53.0 mil. - 2005: Euro 54.8 mil.

2006: Euro 61.8 mil. - 2007: Euro 62.2 mil. - 2008: Euro 52.4 mil.

2009: Euro 43.0 mil. - 2010: Euro 50.5 mil. - 2011: Euro 54.7 mil.

The Group's turnover was generated by the following brands: • CERAMICHE COEM • CERAMICA FIORANESE Production 5.8 mil. sq.m Exports 58% Employees 260

€ 62.8 million (consolidated)

The company is continuing its R&D investments for new graphic designs produced by digital printing. Major investments are being made to renew production plant and in the production of large sizes. Production also includes 1.7 million sq.m of body to be glazed.

2003: Euro 58.8 mil. - 2004: Euro 58.0 mil. - 2005: Euro 60.0 mil.

2006: Euro 75.0 mil. - 2007: Euro 71.0 mil. - 2008: Euro 67.0 mil.

2009: Euro 46.8 mil. - 2010: Euro 56.3 mil. - 2011: Euro 63.3 mil.

The Group's turnover was generated by the following companies and/or brands: • RHS (Rondine - Hilton - Sassolgrande) • SPRAY DRY (ceramic bodies) • SADON

Production 6.7 mil. sq.m (floor tiles 100%) Exports 56% Employees 286

SICHENIA CERAMICHE GROUP € 51.7 million (consolidated)* *The published data refer to 2011.

2003: Euro 70.2 mil. - 2004: Euro 72.6 mil. - 2005: Euro 73.3 mil.

2006: Euro 75.1 mil. - 2007: Euro 70.2 mil. - 2008: Euro 67.1 mil.

2009: Euro 54.0 mil. - 2010: Euro 53.0 mil.

The Group's turnover was generated by the following companies and/or brands: • SICHENIA € 47.026 mil.

• PHORMA € 4.461 mil.

On 1 March 2010, Rondine Group signed a five-year lease for Ceramiche Sadon, the largest Italian skirting manufacturer and also owner of the Maioliche dell’Umbria brand specialising in small tile sizes, with the option to purchase the company’s sales and manufacturing divisions.

On 17 June 2013 an agreement was signed with the large Turkish group Seramiksan, which acquired the Rondine Group shares held by the private equity fund Progressio SGR since 2006. This has enabled Rondine Group to begin an internationalisation process with the support of a major industrial partner. Under the terms of the agreement, the Giacobazzi family and Seramiksan will each hold 50% stakes and Lauro Giacobazzi will stay on as Chairman and CEO of Rondinegroup. The two groups will also maintain their complete management, operational and commercial autonomy, although there is plenty of scope for synergies in distribution in various markets and in new product research and development.

ASCOT GROUP

€ 55.7 million

Production 3.8 mil. sq.m (floor tiles 82% - wall tiles 18%) Exports 56% Employees 330

CERINDUSTRIES

€ 50.3 million (consolidated)

2003: Euro 61.0 mil. - 2004: Euro 68.7 mil. - 2005: Euro 65.5 mil.

2006: Euro 67.0 mil. - 2007: Euro 75.0 mil. - 2008: Euro 58.0 mil.

2009: Euro 50.3 mil. - 2010: Euro 52.0 mil. - 2011: Euro 47,0 mil.

€ 58.7 million

The Group's turnover was generated by the following brands: • CERDOMUS • L’ASTORRE • PORCELLANA DI ROCCA

2003: Euro 51.5 mil. - 2004: Euro 55.0 mil. - 2005: Euro 56.0 mil.

2006: Euro 61.5 mil. - 2007: Euro 66.0 mil. - 2008: Euro 63.0 mil.

2009: Euro 52.0 mil. - 2010: Euro 59.0 mil. - 2011: Euro 62.6 mil.

Production 3.5 mil. sq.m (floor tiles 100%) Exports 81% Employees 229

The Group's turnover was generated by the following companies and/or brands:

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Economy & markets POLIS MANIFATTURE CERAMICHE

The company has made further investments in new Colorjet inkjet digital technology, in new cutting and polishing machinery and in the production of large sizes.

C.B.S. (BARBOLINI) GROUP

€ 37.4 million

2003: Euro 46.2 mil. - 2004: Euro 47.7 mil. - 2005: Euro 46.0 mil.

2006: Euro 59.0 mil. - 2007: Euro 54.6 mil. - 2008: Euro 42.6 mil.

2009: Euro 37.8 mil. - 2010: Euro 40,0 mil. - 2011: Euro 41,5 mil.

€ 44.6 million

2003: Euro 62.0 mil. - 2004: Euro 63.5 mil. - 2005: Euro 63.5 mil.

2006: Euro 73.5 mil. - 2007: Euro 79.0 mil. - 2008: Euro 74.0 mil.

2009: Euro 62.0 mil. - 2010: Euro 64.0 mil. - 2011: Euro 55.8 mil.

Production Exports Employees

3.8 mil. sq.m (floor tiles 70% - wall tiles 30%) 40% 217

ALTAECO

€ 36.6 million

The Group's turnover was generated by the following companies and/or brands: • CERAMICA LA GUGLIA e KIS CERAMICHE 32.0 mil. Euro • ALTRI MARCHI SATELLITI 12.6 mil. Euro

2003: Euro 50.2 mil. - 2004: Euro 51.2 mil. - 2005: Euro 51.2 mil.

2006: Euro 53.6 mil. - 2007: Euro 55.0 mil. - 2008: Euro 48.3 mil.

2009: Euro 39.7 mil. - 2010: Euro 42.5 mil. - 2011: Euro 42,5 mil.

Production 4.4 mil. sq.m (floor tiles 60% - wall tiles 40%) Exports 36.7% Employees 216

The Group's turnover was generated by the following companies and/or brands: • CERAMICA VOGUE • APPIANI • CERAMICA BARDELLI • GABBIANELLI

The Ceramica La Guglia factory in Sassuolo has been upgraded with the installation of a new Sacmi plant for the production of glazed porcelain tile for large and medium sizes. The facility at Cà Del Bosco Sopra (RE) has been closed down.

Production 1.9 mil. sq.m (floor tiles 30% - wall tiles 70%) Exports 41% Employees 358

NOVABELL CERAMICHE ITALIANE

TAGINA CERAMICHE D’ARTE

€ 44.5 million

2007: Euro 42.0 mil. - 2008: Euro 41.8 mil. - 2009: Euro 32.0 mil. 2010: Euro 33.6 mil. - 2011: Euro 33.6 mil.

2003: Euro 41.1 mil. - 2004: Euro 44.3 mil. - 2005: Euro 45.6 mil. 2006: Euro 47.0 mil. - 2007: Euro 48.0 mil. - 2008: Euro 46.0 mil.

2009: Euro 39.0 mil. - 2010: Euro 41.5 mil. - 2011: euro 41.5 mil.

Production Exports

Production 3.5 mil. sq.m (floor tiles 85% - wall tiles 15%) Exports 85% Employees 173

1.2 mil. sq.m (floor tiles 85% - wall tiles 15%) 70%

SAVOIA ITALIA

During 2012, the year in which Novabell celebrated its 25th anniversary, a major project was completed to refurbish its logistics/deliveries department with the aim of optimising management times and costs.

The company also registered the new trademark Abita Ceramiche Italiane and began to produce and market several dedicated series of products.

During 2012 it continued its investments in R&D with the aim of diversifying and consolidating its product range.

CERAMICHE CCV CASTELVETRO

€ 31.1 million

2008: Euro 35.6 mil. - 2009: Euro 33.6 mil. - 2010: Euro 35.0 mil. 2011: Euro 31.1 mil.

The Group's turnover was generated by the following companies and/or brands: • SAVOIA • ALCO Production Exports Employees

€ 40.7 million

2003: Euro 54.8 mil. - 2004: Euro 56.1 mil. - 2005: Euro 47.4 mil.

2006: Euro 52.0 mil. - 2007: Euro 55.7 mil. - 2008: Euro 47.9 mil.

2009: Euro 39.1 mil. - 2010: Euro 42.8 mil. - 2011: Euro 42.5 mil.

3.1 mil. sq.m (floor tiles 100%) 46% 142

Savoia Italia Spa made major technology investments in 2011-2012 when it introduced a new press, refurbished its digital printing lines and adopted a plant for recovering heat from the kilns to the dryers. It also completed the transition to a new SAP enterprise information system.

Production 4.0 mil. sq.m (floor tiles 100%) - 2011 data Exports 70% Employees 200 The company produces glazed porcelain tile, body to be glazed and spray-dried body.

Entire contents Copyright Tile Edizioni srl All right reserved

Tile International 3/2013

€ 32.1 million

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www.progressprofiles.com

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A complete range of levelers of 1, 2 and 3 mm for floorings and coverings from 3 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.

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Project

by Chiara Bruzzichelli

Ceramic Art City / Liling, China



Who better to explain the concept behind Ceramic Art City, than its architects, Studio Archea? “The idea for the Liling project derived from our client’s desire to build a museum and a hotel on an industrial area associated with ceramic manufacture.

The importance of the ceramic industry for the county of Liling is reflected in the decision to allow typical ce-

Tile International 3/2013

ramic products to dictate the forms and volumes of which the project consists. The various functions of the complex are located within circularbased volumes, or modules that can be geometrically circumscribed. Either way, the number of volumes exceeds the number of functions that actually have to be fulfilled (these being the entrance, the hotel and the main building). By multiplying the num-

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ber of volumes, we create a freely organised system that delineates the open space and establishes relationships of proximity, which could be defined as “intra-spaces”.

In the light of this principle, the form and the examples of the possible volumes are not important in themselves. What is important, however, is the attention paid to the space of the “vases”, whose shape gives rise to sinuous contours, which have no sharp edges, but are always concave or convex. As can be seen from the original sketches, the “intra-space” finds expression in a line of vases that follows a rule of change and mutation, without ever transforming the end result, which is always guaranteed by the juxtaposition of the silhouettes of the vases. In keeping with the system that underpins the project, density becomes a value and a resource that makes for a close relationship with and a proximity to the historic city, and a use of land that reflects that city’s key function.”

Photos and renderings by Studio Archea 79

The city of Liling, in the Hunan region of south-east China, is a well-known centre for the production of artistic ceramic, so each of the volumes that constitute the design of the city’s Ceramic Museum embodies an elementary geometry in ceramic manufacture, spatially and plastically deformed with the utmost sim-

Tile International 3/2013

Project

Ceramic Art City / Liling, China Client: Hunan Li Ling Multicolored Under-Glaze City Development Co. Ltd Architecture: Archea Associati, Florence Project and structural models: AEI Progetti, Florence Executive project: LDI, Beijing, China Technical systems: LDI, Beijing, China Surface area: 46,000 sq.m Year of construction: 2010-2012 – under construction plicity. Large cups with diameters of up to 40 meters and heights of up to 20 meters, allocated to the work of production and decoration, are overlooked by a huge vase measuring 65 meters in height, which accommodates the hotel and is the focal point of the complex.

All the buildings feature an outer structural shell made of steel, and a central nucleus of reinforced concrete designed to hold the vertical distribution and technical systems.

The supports of the outer shell were designed on diagonal mesh structures with a double bend, created by the elements that spiral round the surfaces and hold the matrix securing the support for the modular, ceramic cladding elements.

Dot-to-Dot At the instigation of Studio Archea, and adhering to the project philosophy, which focuses attention on the space inside and outside the vases, “whose shape gives rise to sinuous contours, which have no sharp edges, but are always concave or convex”, Tagina created the Dot-to-Dot line, with which to distinguish a portion of the outer structural shell.

The Dot-to-Dot modules produced for the Liling project and designed to envelop the “vases”, by generating the appearance of an embroidered

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pattern, were made using an innovative, highpressure, porcelain tile forming technology, and stand out for their shape and three-dimensional nature.

They are neither sheets, nor flat surfaces, but fully fledged “curvilinear objects”, designed to be used as ceramic pixels in the construction of curtain walls and architectural coverings of various kinds.

5

Dot-do-Dot @ iSaloni 2013, Milano Design Week

Concise biography of Marco Casamonti / Archea Associati Marco Casamonti graduated from the University of Florence in 1990, and in 2001 was awarded tenure as Associate Professor of Urban and Architectural Design at the Genoa Faculty of Architecture. Since 1997 he has served as Editor-in-Chief of the magazine Area and, since 1999, as Joint editor-in-Chief, with Paolo Portoghesi, of the magazine Materia, both owned by the Sole 24 ORE Group. In 1988, he founded Studio Archea, with Laura Andreini and Giovanni Polazzi, and in 1999 the firm was also joined by Silvia Fabi, as associate. Archea is a network of about 100 architects, operating from seven offices located in Florence, Milan, Rome, Beijing, Dubai and Sao Paolo. In addition to design-related research, each of the firm’s associate’s also works in the Florence and Genoa faculties of architecture.

The firm’s key projects include: the Nembro Municipal Library (Bergamo), the new Antinori Winery in San Casciano Val di Pesa (Florence), the UBPA B3-2 Pavilion World Expo 2010 and the GEL (Green Energy Laboratory) in Shanghai, and the extension and redevelopment of the Perfetti Van Melle headquarters in Lainate (Milan). The firm also has the following projects under construction: Tirana Tower, Albania; “Meravigliosa Island”, World Islands, Dubai, UAE; the Changri-La Winery, Penglai and the Liling World Ceramic Art City, China.

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Project

by Christian Brunsmann

ď ‘

Thanks to a complete renovation with the ceramic thermalcomfort 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 MeiĂ&#x;ner has successfully accomplished the creation of a fully renovated, comfort-

Bringing new comforts to an old house able and energy-efficient building without any media attention.

As the developer and master tile installer, MeiĂ&#x;ner 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

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 low-energy homes.

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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 senior-living 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 played a key role in this process – for a number of reasons, as Meißner, a SchlüterSystems 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.

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.

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Project

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-andgroove 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 longer buckle and no tensions arise from

Tile International 3/2013

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

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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.

www.topcer.com

The Penny Hill Lounge, Dublin - Eire

St. Patrick’s Church, Lisburn - N. Ireland

SPA Hotel Aulanko - Finland

Private House in Oldtown, Dublin - Eire

EXPORT OFFICE: Largo da Estação, 8-2° Fte 2750-340 Cascais Portugal Tel. +351 214 844 788/9 - Fax +351 214 841 091 E-mail: lx@topcer.com FACTORY: Zona Industrial de Oiã 3770-908 Oiã Portugal Tel. +351 234 722 395 - Fax +351 234 722 397 E-mail: av@topcer.com

Singer Building, St. Petersburg - Russia

Project

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

Tile International 3/2013

has only half the area weight.

While a standard floor 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 plac-

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es 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 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 thermal-comfort floor and the profiles of Schlüter-Systems 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

Your design and Neolith.

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Wide range of colors, designs and thicknesses (3, 5 y 10 mm).

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Interior and exterior applications. www.neolith.com

Project Ron Treister

The “thin tile over tile” system at the Hilton Times Square



Exactly 109 years after the name "Times Square" came to be, Sunstone Hotel Investors, the owner of the Hilton Times Square (New York), embarked upon a major renovation of its 540 guestrooms.

According to George Hensen, Sunstone Vice President of Design and Construction, “We wanted to incorporate a timeless unique design that would have minimum impact on the occupancy of the property.”

For that reason, Sunstone contracted with Flick-Mars, a Dallas based, award-winning firm specializing in Interior Design of hospitality projects worldwide. Since its inception, the company's creative philosophy has centered on creating unique guest experiences by designing to a location's indigenous surroundings.

"We like to tell a story of the place," stated Matt Mars, Architect/Partner. "In doing so, guests will experience some of the locality's visuals and quite possibly, some of its history right in their rooms. At the same time, we want the rooms to be calming. Whereas there is so much energy and activity outside of the Hilton Times Square, the guestrooms should be a respite. For example, we want the room experience to be unique, similar to living in New York, rather than visiting

Tile International 3/2013

New York. As a result, we specified Daltile products so that guests could see and feel a true palette of New York City."

Kathy Moran, Senior Associate at Flick-Mars, was the lead designer on this project. "We were all set on selecting a very cool porcelain floor tile made in Italy for the guest bathrooms. But, we were concerned about the high cost of tile installation in Manhattan, so we decided to look for a replacement material. This hotel always has at least 95% occupancy, so we needed a tile product to be installed with a dependable installation system that would ultimately save time and money for our client.

Rooms at the Hilton Times Square simply have to be available; they cannot be 'down' during any renovation."

John Hall, Daltile's Hospitality National Account Manager stated, "I was at a mixer in Palm Springs with BITAC, and was able to sit face-to-face with Kathy Moran. She was familiar with Daltile and our products. Kathy and I talked about labor costs and the possibility of doing a 'tile over tile installation,' that’s when I brought up our Daltile SlimLite™1/8" thick Porcelain Panels. These panels can be cut to the designer’s specification from a 3'x10' sheet. The advantages of this product are numerous, from ease of installa-

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tion, minimum grout joints and endless design possibilities.

Quite possibly, the greatest advantage, is the ability to avoid demolition. Coupled with the Laticrete® System, Daltile’s SlimLite Porcelain Panels can be installed over existing tub surrounds by tiling over the original surface."

"We were asked if a room mock-up with our products could be produced," said Hall.

"We collaborated with Humphrey Rich Construction, the General Contractor for this project, who quickly built it.

With the help of Larry Rich and Kathy Moran, this mock-up subsequently was put into a model room at the hotel. It was quickly evident that our thin tile over tile system allowed the project to be completed within a very aggressive timeline and budget, while also maintaining a high occupancy rate for Hilton.

Daltile SlimLite™ was the answer. What happened in just thirty days, sometimes takes as long as two years!"

"We really liked the Daltile Slim-

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Project

Lite material because of the monolithic look we could achieve," added Moran. "We also knew that this product would be easy to clean and maintain, which would keep hotel housekeeping prices down. So the next step was to choose our installation system.

I'll admit, the first thing I did was pull out my trusty Laticrete samples to find the perfect grout color to go with the tiles selected. We knew, of course, that we had to specify a highperformance installation system that would meet the stringent demands of this project, while keeping in line with budget and timeline.�

"We know the LaticreteÂŽ System quite well," declared George Hensen of Sunstone Hotel Investors. "As a matter of fact, we had just used it very successfully at another one of our projects, the Renaissance DC. We knew that with an innovative product such as Daltile's SlimLite, we'd want to work with, as Matt Mars calls it, 'a tried and tested product.'

We knew the product line was good and that the company was professional. So Laticrete got our collective thumbsup."

The overall renovation started on floor 44 and moved downwards floor-by-floor to the lowest level, the 22nd floor. The Hilton Times Square's timetable for project completion was clicking away. Whereas the goal of avoiding demolition to

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save time, money and maintain occupancy rates was achieved, the last piece of the puzzle was still to be addressed. "This was in no way an ordinary tile installation," stated Tom McKeon, Laticrete Technical Representative. "If the large format Daltile porcelain wall panels weren't installed correctly and were

Tile International 3/2013

to break off at the corners, for example, it would be much more difficult to replace them than just removing a 6" x 12" tub surround wall tile and replacing it. This installation had to be as close to perfect as possible". The tile installation firm chosen for the Hilton Times Square Renovation was Del Turco Bros., Inc. of nearby Newark, New Jersey. Led by Paul

Del Turco, the firm's craftsmen installed both the SlimLite and Florentine material using Laticrete 254 Platinum thin-set.

Laticrete PermacolorÂŽ Grout was used for the floors, while Laticrete 1600 Unsanded Grout was called on for the tub surrounds. Both of these grouting materials have been successfully used in countless hospitality applications world-

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wide. "We were working under strong deadlines," stated Paul Del Turco. "We actually were asked to complete half of one floor per day. That was challenging. But the products were great to work with. Time marched on and by the end of April 2013, this major renovation at the Hilton Times Square was completed.�

5

Project

by Sabino Menduni



A project by the architect Giorgio Balestra, for the remodelling of a historic building in the countryside of the Marche region of Italy, on the border between the provinces of Ancona and Macerata, won a prize in the Italian Pool Awards 2013 – Outdoor Residential Category, Geometric Shape – held in Bologna during the course of Pool&Spa Expo.

The building in question is thought to date back to the late 17th Century and originally provided lodging for the customs officials assigned to look after the salt water wells that still exist in the area, along with an extensive network of streams

Tile International 3/2013

A restoration centring on wellbeing and the environment and torrents.

So the building’s close relationship with water dates back to its origins, which is why Giorgio Balestra chose to rework that relationship by adding a swimming pool – the client specified a swimming pool directly linked with the house – whose form and volume strike a perfect balance between the main volume, the contours of the land and the colours of the surroundings.

The pool was built in close collaboration with the construction company and the technical personnel deployed by Piscine Castiglione.

The challenge was to introduce a pool where none

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Photos: Roby Vannucci

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had previously existed, while at the same time adhering to the concept of “restoration”, and hence remaining faithful to the historical and architectural essence of the original site. The project succeeded because, from the design stage, the key players adopted a critical approach that yielded a top-quality end result, both in terms of creative expression and historical authenticity.

The pool The pool covers an area of 36 square meters (12x3 m), and the architect, Giorgio Balestra, designed it by modulating the square footprint of the restored courtyard, to give it a rectangular profile – as rigorous as the square base of the of the original yard – projecting towards the horizon in one direction, and the main building in the other.

The decision to set the water at a lower level than the ground floor also imposed a certain hierarchy on the project, with the result that the building dominates its “dependency”, and the water appears to rise up from the ground like in the salt water wells that punctuate the surrounding countryside.

The pool area and its entire perimeter is made of sandstone (a typical local material), like the restored building itself and many of the outdoor

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Project TECHNICAL DETAILS: Architects: Giorgio Balestra and Silvia Brocchini (bistudioarchitetti.com) Form: 12x3 m rectangle Depth: from 1.00 to 2.30 m Internal tiling: CasaDolceCasa porcelain tile; poolside finished in black ceramic tile, natural stone and teak Internal steps: masonry 3 luminaires generating 2200 lumen 6 hydro-massage jets Perimeter overflow and wall-mounted inlets

areas. The pool features perimeter overflow and wall-mounted inlets, and is tiled inside with Gres Blera by CasaDolceCasa. As well as offering versatility and ease of use, these tiles enable the water to reflect the natural colours of the surroundings without any distortion.

The seats located on both sides of the rectangular pool and the direct pool access from the patio create a perfect setting for soaking in the water or soaking up the enchanting view.

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Art & culture

by Sara Falsetti

Anna Maria Lorimer, Arteinterra

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We came across Anna Maria Lorimer, or more precisely, her works, at an exhibition held during the Christmas period of 2012 in the Fortezza Medicea in Montepulciano.

The encounter aroused our curiosity because of the unusual nature of the works on display. Most were animals, reproduced in the form of transparent interweavings of slim, drawn wire, almost

like ceramic macramé, making them ideal as lamps, when equipped with a candle inside. The theme of lamps, and of light breaking up as it passes through mesh-like structures of interwoven ceramic, also characterised her larger works on show at the same event, which mainly drew inspiration from the female form.

So we decided to go and meet Anna Lorimer in person at her “Arteinterra” workshop in

Anna Maria Lorimer and her husband Roberto Tile International 3/2013

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www.arteinterra.it

San Martino alla Palma, in the municipality of Scandicci.

Here, as well as the magnificent natural landscape that surrounds the home and workshop of Anna Maria and her husband Roberto, we discovered something of the artist’s personality and history.

After gaining a diploma in ceramic art in 1973 and a diploma in ceramic restoration in 1986, Anna took part in several editions of the Florence Craft Exhibition and a number of competitions: “I even won prizes,” explains Anna, “and then I decided that I wanted to work for myself, free from conditions and deadlines. Earth, in the form of clay, is the material with which I express myself best, and I felt the need to use it in my own time, while also

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MORE PICTURES on Facebook: Arteinterra reconciling my working life with the day-to-day commitments of looking after children and family.”

Then: “Six or seven years ago I started producing ceramics on a professional basis again, but turned down the offer of a conventional job, which would have forced me to go into town every day… I told Roberto that I didn’t like it, because giving up my freedom felt like too big a sacrifice. So we rented a workshop in Scandicci and my passion for ceramic turned into a fully fledged job.”

Anna’s first efforts were directed towards finding an “original” form of expression, because she didn’t see herself as a true ceramicist: “What I mean is that I am not an expert in clays, glazes and firing; these are highly complex materials and processes, and I know I can’t compete with real ceramicists who have spent their entire lives experimenting with them. So I accepted my limits, stopped trying to second-guess other people’s tastes, stopped forcing myself to produce what I thought they might like, and started focusing on myself.”

That was when she started using the coil method to produce vases, which later sprouted clay hands and feet, and subsequently metamorphosed into female figures with expressive movements, enveloping embraces and expressions of complicity. This was when Anna also discov-

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ered the expressive potential of drawn ceramic wire and its capacity to generate unusual patterns with which to sculpt figures and structures; and this discovery released her true creative spirit. Her first works of this type were rounded objects, initially vases, wineskins and lamps, embodying vegetable forms accompanied by ever-changing geometries, which she highlighted by using clays of different colours and compositions.

Anna called her first series of female figures “Donne con le palle” (women with balls)…

Why do you only do female figures, Anna? “I never do male figures because, as a woman, I can only give expression to the female world

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Lorimer Dove flies worldwide from Taybeh

that I know.” And why do these women, who are otherwise so intense, have no faces? “That’s a question that children always ask me because they immediately spot that my figures have no faces. Women, on the other hand, don’t normally notice because they focus on the figure whose gestures best represent their own feelings, whether tiredness, joy, maternal sentiments or complicity with friends… They look for themselves; they don’t want a “doll with a face”, but a figure that represents them in a given act.”

Anna also devoted time to teaching ceramic art, and gave classes both to primary school children and adults. Her courses focused on various ceramic techniques (hand forming, coiling, soft slab, hard slab, moulds, pressing, engobing, firing, glazing and decoration) and also enabled students to learn how to use a potter’s wheel.

In May 2011, Anna Lorimer won the Perseo award at the “Artigianato a Palazzo” exhibition. In August of the same year, she won the Artigianato Vivo award in Cison di Valmarino in the province of Treviso.

In November 2011, she then won the 49th Cardo d’Argento in Florence.

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As part of a cooperation project organised by the association “Coltiviamo la Pace” (let’s cultivate peace), Anna Lorimer travelled to the Palestinian village of Taybeh-Efraim in 2005 to teach the young people who work in

the local ceramic workshop. During her stay there, she made models of various original objects, including the mould for a white dove of peace, marked with the cross of the Holy Land, being launched from the palm of a human hand.

The Lorimer Dove, which has since flown all round the world from Palestine and which the artist created as a lamp to be fuelled with the olive oil produced in the same village of Taybeh, was then also replicated in a version for use with

wax candles.

The Lamp of Peace can be bought on-line from the Taybeh parish website, www.taybeh. info, in support of the Christian community of the Holy Land and to promote the peace process by developing youth employment.

garden objects, etc..

The coil method can be used to form shapes of all kinds, including large, complex ones; but it has to be used with precision and patience.

Starting with a slab of clay rolled out with a rolling pin, you cut out the basic shape.

Next you prepare the coils, by rolling pieces of clay with your hands

on a work surface until you obtain a series of long “sausages”, which you then stick one on top of the other, starting from the cutout base.

As you do this, you give shape to the object, which can be concave, cylindrical, conical, like a champagne flute, etc., and lastly you smooth the clay to give it a uniform surface.

Once the clay is dry (after a few days), the object is ready for firing in a kiln at a temperature of approximately 1000°C. What you obtain after firing is known as “biscuit”, which is ready to be decorated and then fired again to fasten the colours and make the surface impermeable.

The coil method Anna Lorimer’s output in ceramic covers a wide range of objects of various types, most of which are made using the coil method.

Her work thus takes the form of everyday objects as well as artistic sculptures or furnishing elements, such as wall tiles, lamps, mirrors, basreliefs, sets of plates,

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Exhibition Calendar KAZBUILD (Building and interior finishings) Almaty, Kazakhstan – 4/7 September 2013 CERSAIE (Ceramic tiles, bathroom furnishings, installation materials) Bologna – 23/27 September 2013 MARMOMACC (Natural stone and processing machinery) Verona, Italy – 25/28 September 2013 MADE EXPO (Building) Milan, Italy – 2/5 October 2013 SUN (Outdoor design & living) Rimini, Italy – 6/9 October 2013 ABITARE IL TEMPO Verona, Italy – 13/15 October 2013 SAIE (Building) Bologna, Italy – 16/19 October 2013 BATIMAT (Building) Paris, France – 4/8 November 2013 DOMOTEX MIDDLE EAST (Floor and wall coverings, finishings) Istanbul, Turkey – 7/10 November 2013 BUILD ASIA (Building) Karachi, Pakistan – 19/21 November 2013 BEST 5 – DECOR EXPO Algiers, Algeria – 21/25 November 2013 THE BIG 5 SHOW Dubai, UAE – 25/28 November 2013 RESTRUCTURA (Energy recovery and urban furnishing) Turin, Italy – 28 November / 2 December 2013 LIVING INTERIORS (Interior design and finishings) Cologne, Germany - 13/19 January 2014 BAU (Building) Munich, Germany – 19/24 January 2014 SURFACES (Floor and wall surfaces) Las Vegas, Nevada USA – 28/30 January 2014 KBIS – KITCHEN & BATH INDUSTRY SHOW Las Vegas, Nevada USA – 4/6 February 2014 CEVISAMA (Ceramic tiles, bathroom furnishing) Valencia, Spain – 11/14 February 2014 BAUTEC (Building) Berlin, Germany – 18/21 February 2014

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www.desvres.com Pavimento in gres porcellanato, collezione Tess, formato 20x80 mix 4 colori.

2014 22nd-26th September 2014 - Rimini , Italy

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24th International Exhibition of Technologies and Supplies for the Ceramic and Brick Industries

2013

Cersaie

Cersaie 2013

CERSAIE welcomes rise in foreign exhibitors for 2013

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With two months to go before the opening day, a total of 872 exhibitors had already booked a stand at Cersaie 2013, of which one third 296 to be precise - were from outside Italy.

And some 250 international trade operators from overseas are expected to attend the trade fair from 23 to 27 September, thanks to the Cersaie Business project, which is focusing this year on the world of architects from traditional markets, and on targeted events aimed at emerging economies, from India to Brazil.

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Of the 872 exhibitors which had already booked by midJuly, 476 are from the ceramic tiles sector, 255 from bathroom furnishing and sanitary/hygiene systems, 65 from the service sector, 48 from installation materials and 28 from raw materials.

The ceramic tiles sector accounts for the largest share of foreign exhibitors, with 219 bookings out of 476 (over 54%), but the bathroom furnishing sector also accounts for a significant share (29.2%).

The 296 foreign exhibitors, amounting to 34% of total exhibitor numbers, are from no

less than 35 different countries, as far afield as Australia, China, the United States and Saudi Arabia - a fact which bears witness to the increasing internationalisation of the event.

In the wake of last year’s success, a major promotional campaign was launched again this year aimed at attracting high-level international trade operators, with particular reference to construction companies and major architecture firms. A raft of initiatives was also aimed at traditional markets (France, Germany, United States and

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Canada) with a view to encouraging the attendance of members of the EUF (European Federation of ceramic tile installers), VDF (Bundesverband des Deutschen Fliesenfachhandels), DPHA (Decorative Plumbing Hardware Association) and Angaisa.

The show’s organisers also paid close attention to the emerging markets, inviting over 30 top buyers and key players from Brazil, Russia and South Africa to meet member companies at the fair.

A delegation of VIP operators from the Gulf area will also be attending, while the ICE (Italy’s foreign trade institute) is help-

Cersaie 2013

ing put together an initiative aimed at top buyers of ceramic tiles and marble from India, who will thus have the opportunity to make contact and exchange views with compa-

nies operating in this specific market, within the framework of a series of roundtable events.

Cersaie 2013 will also offer a

series of high-profile design and architecture conferences as part of the “Building, Dwelling, Thinking� programme, the professional training available for tile fitters in Tiling

Town and the event entitled Cersaie Designs Your Home, a free consulting initiative for private customers seeking interior design advice.

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Bathroom Excellence 1998-2012 ADI Design Index @ Cersaie 2013 A retrospective on excellence in bathroom objects and materials, promoted by Confindustria Ceramica and the ADI (Associazione per il Disegno Industriale) Cersaie 2013 will see the world premiere of over 100 products designed for the bathroom and selected by the ADI (Associazione per il Disegno Industriale).

products assessed over the years by experts and entered as candidates for the much sought-after Golden Compass Award.

The exhibition will focus on products and materials that illustrate the development of bathroom design over the last few decades, with particular reference to innovations and prescient ideas in terms of both aesthetics and the application of state-of-the-art technologies.

Displayed in a strikingly designed area of some 400 square metres, the products derive from an additional selection carried out on the 110 companies (many of which are exhibitors at Cersaie) and the respective 178 products published in the ADI Design Index.

This stroll through the history of bathroom design provides an overview of the design and industrial processes deployed between 1998 and 2012, in the form of an exhibition of products published in the ADI Design Index, the annual publication that brings together the best of Italian design, screened by the ADI Permanent Design Observatory.

The show, therefore, is a highly selective review of the best of the best of a vast range of bathroom furnishing

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Cersaie 2013

Building, Dwelling, Thinking.

Cersaie events / CALENDAR 2013 N I A M THE NTS EVE

Monday 23 September

International press conference and Cersaie evening The Ceramics of Italy international press conference will be held at 6.30 pm in the Ex Ospedale dei Bastardini, 41 Via d’Azeglio.

Emilio Mussini, Chairman of the Trade Shows and Promotional Activities Commission; Valerio Castelli, Coordinator of Bologna Water Design, and a representative of ADI and ICE (Italy’s foreign trade institute), will give a presentation on the initiatives organised to promote Italian ceramic, the show’s events calendar and the ICE’s work on behalf of Italy’s ceramic manufacturers. The event will also include the awards ceremony for the Ceramics of Italy Journalism Award, which, like last year, will be assigning a first prize and three honourable mentions to the best articles published in nonItalian publications and dedicated to Cersaie and the Italian ceramic industry.

This will be followed by the awards ceremony for Beautiful Ideas, the competition open to young Italian designers, for the creation of the poster for Cersaie 2014.

Later on, the courtyard of the Ex Ospedale dei Bastardini will play host to the Cersaie evening, a convivial event held for Cersaie’s exhibitors, their guests and local and international institutions, which will also include the awards ceremony for the Confindustria Ceramica Distributor Awards, to be given to the four European distributors (from France, Germany, Croatia and Italy) which have most distinguished themselves in their relations with the Italian ceramic industry, and the Cersaie Award, the prize for the six best stands at Cersaie 2013. ***

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Tuesday 24 September

Tuesday 24 September

Arcosanti is the name of a town with 5000 inhabitants, where cars are banned and distance is measured in terms of minutes’ walk.

This

Antón García-Abril is a multiple award-winning Spanish architect and professor at the School of Architecture of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, who is well-known for “playing” with matter, from the Cervantes Theatre in Mexico

TRIBUTE TO PAOLO SOLERI

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compact urban structure is self-sufficient, thanks to the use of green technologies.

Arcosanti is the prototype experimental town, conceived in Arizona by Paolo Soleri, an Italian architect, artist, philosopher and urban planner, who died on 9 April this year, and coined the expression “archology”, the discipline which combines architecture and ecology.

The event is divided into two parts: - projection of “Paolo Soleri: Beyond Form”, a documentary made in cinéma-verité style by the independent filmmaker Aimee Madsen, which provides a portrait of the legendary architect and philosopher whose frugal approach brought international recognition of the term “green” long before the word entered the everyday lexicon of sustainability and the green economy.

- an open roundtable with the film-maker Aimee Madsen, and Roger Tomalty, the administrator of the Cosanti Foundation, the construction site school founded by Soleri in 1961 in Arizona. Joining the debate will be the architect Michael P. Johnson and the architectural historian and journalist Chiara Baglione.

Born in Turin in 1919, Paolo Soleri moved to the United States in 1947, immediately after completing his degree in architecture.

He settled in Arizona with his family in 1955 and set up the Cosanti Foundation, a construction site school, where, with the students of Arizona University, he began experimenting with a community-based life in which the production of craft ceramic objects became a source of self-finance and enabled him to create – with his own hands – an ecological environment. The prototype for the town of Arcosanti was created in 1971, and here Soleri applied the concepts of “archology” by combining the principles of architecture and ecology.

STUDIO ENSAMBLE, THE WORKSHOP OF GARCIA-ABRIL

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City, to the Museum of America in Salamanca, via the Hemeroscopium in Madrid.

Antón García-Abril was associate lecturer at the Faculty of Architecture of the Polytechnic of Madrid for a decade, a lecturer at the Graduate School of Design of Harvard University in 2010 and at Cornell University in 2008 and has served as a lecturer at various universities and institutions in America, Europe, South Africa and China. In 2000, he founded the Studio Ensamble together with Débora Mesa, with a view to researching new approaches to architectural space and urban construction. Together they designed the Music Studies Centre and the SGAE Headquarters in Santiago de Compostela, Martemar House in Malaga, the Hemeroscopium in Madrid, the “Truffle” on the Costa da Morte (Spain), and more recently, the Reader’s House in Madrid and the Cervantes Theatre in Mexico City.

Studio Ensamble has received a number of major awards, such as the Rice Design Alliance Prize for emerging architects in 2009 and the Architectural Record Design Vanguard Prize in 2005. Antón García-Abril was curator of the Spanish Pavilion at the Venice Biennial, where he presented “Spainlab”. Also with Débora Mesa, he co-founded the Positive City Foundation in 2009 and is now in the process of creating a research laboratory at MIT, known as Poplab (laboratory prefabrication prototypes). This year he was also elected International Fellow of the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA).

Norwegian architects – built a training and education centre in Sumatra, for cinnamon growers and workers, with a view to improving their precarious conditions.

The project combined technical and organisational difficulties with a humanitarian challenge, and will be the object of a presentation at Cersaie by TYIN’s two founder members, Andreas G. Gjertsen and Yashar Hanstad.

Now located in Trondheim, TYIN was established in 2008, since which time it has taken particular interest in the social emergencies affecting Asia and beyond, implementing projects in Thailand, Uganda, Sumatra and Norway.

The solutions adopted embody an approach to architecture where everything serves a purpose and everything meets a need. By actively involving the local population in both the design and building of their projects, TYIN establishes a framework for the mutual exchange of knowledge and skills.

All materials used in TYIN´s projects are sourced close to the sites or purchased from local merchants. As such, for the project in Sumatra, the majority of the wood used was obtained from cinnamon trees, which the local people see as waste material with no value.

Although the island supplies 85% of the cinnamon consumed worldwide, production of the spice is associated with exploitation and dire working conditions for growers. The idea of creating an education centre for the local population was conceived by Patrick Barthelemy, the founder of Cassia Coop, the first cooperative to attend to the monitoring of cinnamon production. The aim is to regulate the chain of relationships between grower and consumer, so as to guarantee quality, transparency and fair treatment of the workforce.

***

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Wednesday 25 September

Friday 27 September

TYIN TEGNESTUE, SOLIDARITY ARCHITECTURE 90 days, 70 workers, 1 sawmill, 8 buffaloes and a budget of 30,000 euros.

With these limited assets, TYIN Tegnestue – a young firm of

WOMAN. ARCHITECT.

This Cersaie event will provide a female viewpoint on architecture, courtesy of three international names, in a meeting with Carla Juaçaba (Brazil), Izaskun

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Carla Juaçaba

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Cersaie 2013

Building, Dwelling, Thinking.

Cersaie events / CALENDAR 2013 N I A M THE NTS EVE

Izaskun Chinchilla

Sarah Robinson

Chinchilla (Spain) and Sarah Robinson (USA), three architects who have followed very different career paths, but share a passion for original stylistic exploration and a multidisciplinary approach.

The conference will be moderated by the American architect Michael P. Johnson.

• Born in Rio de Janeiro in 1976, Carla Juaçaba established an independent practice in 2000 and won the first edition of the international award ArcVision Women and

Architecture.

Her firm specialises in public and private projects relating to housing and cultural programmes. Carla Juaçaba has developed a particular attention to place, from the point of view of cultural continuity and phenomenological perception. She worked with the architect Gisela Magalhaesper on a project relating to Brazilian native arts and historical museums, and with the architect Mario Fraga on the project “Atelier House”.

• Izaskun Chinchilla gained a degree in architecture from the University of Madrid in 2001, since which time she has lectured in the faculties of architecture in Madrid, London, Paris and Geneva. She now complements her design activity with research projects dedicated to the social and aesthetic impact of technical solutions that take account of ecological concerns. As an architect, she subscribes to the importance of compromising with innovation. Her projects encompass multidisciplinary exercises, in which architecture – via ecology, sociology and science – breaks down stylistic boundaries and confronts the complexity of real life.

• Sarah Robinson grew up in Minnesota, and after studying philosophy in Switzerland and the United States, studied drawing and painting at the Art Students’ League in New

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York city, before completing her architecture training between Arizona and Wisconsin. Having started her own practice in 2000, she lives and works in California and is Chairperson of the Board of Trustees of the Frank Lloyd Wright School of Architecture. Her projects draw upon the transparency of modern design, but strive to provide comfort and meet spatial needs in an intuitive, functional manner. ***

Friday 27 September

ORA-ÏTO, THE IRONIC FACE OF DESIGN From form to vision is the trademark of Ito Morabito, AKA Ora-Ïto, the most ironic and irreverent French designer of the moment, who, at the age of just 36, already has a series of partnerships with major international brands under his belt.

Born in Marseilles in 1977, OraÏto started his career by creating imaginary products and pretending that they were the latest creations by top international design houses, such as Louis Vuitton, Bic, Levi’s, Visa, Nike and Apple. No-one had commissioned them, but countless customers started looking for those products for real from the design houses in question, thus cementing the success of the virtual design operation.

Ora-Ïto then moved from Marseilles to Paris, where he opened his own studio and registered his trademark. Rather than taking legal action against him, many companies started commissioning work from him. And that is what gave rise to a line of silver jewellery for Christofle, a series of lamps for Artemide, an aluminium bottle for Heineken and a plastic one for Evian, the Montre watch for Swatch, an armchair for Zanotta and a new packaging solution for Guerlain cosmetics. He also designs display spaces, such as “Rendezvous Toyota”, the Japanese carmaker’s showroom in Paris, which is the largest architectural application of Corian® ever realised.

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Cersaie 2013

“Tiling Town 2013” Top three tilers The world’s top tilers are coming to Cersaie 2013.

The three winners of the world tiling championship held in Leipzig in July will be showing off their skills at the trade fair by creating some highly elaborate panels for a live audience.

Alongside the three winners, whose craftsmanship is second to none, Tiling City will be showing off the most innovative tiling techniques developed by manufacturers of adhesives and equipment, as well as tile manufacturers, which have developed dry installation techniques.

An Advanced Tiling Course will also be held for the best trainee tilers selected from a range of builder training institutes.

On 25 September, the European Association of tile distributors and fitters, in conjunction with Confindustria Ceramica, will be holding a conference entitled “How to increase the market share of ceramic tiles in Europe” as part of an

initiative launched two years ago involving a full range of ceramic industry stakeholders, from manufacturers to distributors/dealers and installers.

As well as providing attendees with an overview of the promotional activities implemented in the various member states in support of ceramic tile consumption, the event will see the presentation of an unprecedented series of data regarding the consumption of different types of flooring materials in Europe.

Participants in the conference will include Vittorio Borelli, Chairman of Confindustria Ceramica; Jacques Vinet, Chairman of EUF (European tilers Association); Wim Kittelman, Director of VDF (German tile Distributors Association), Silvio Boschian, Chairman of the Swiss tile Association; Gerhard Reiter, Chairman of the Austrian tile Association; Klaus Kuehn, Managing Director of Eurobaustoff, one of Europe’s largest distributors of building materials, and Gerald Reus, representing Dutch tile importers and installers.

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Cersaie 2013

Cersaie designs your home Thursday 26 and Friday 27 September The second edition of “Cersaie designs your home” gets under way this year, in collaboration with 22 press titles and the show’s top exhibitors, on Thursday 26 and Friday 27 September, in the web, TV and press village in the Services Centre. The designers will be on hand to provide free design advice and consulting for private customers intending to buy or renovate a home.

The event testifies to Cersaie’s desire to address an audience of end-users, who are increasingly autonomous in their purchasing decisions.

Another new feature of this second edition of “Cersaie designs your home” is the voluntary participation in the initiative of some of the show’s exhibitors. Many of the main ceramic and bathroom furnishing brands have confirmed their willingness to take part in the initiative, by providing the services of their own qualified consultants to private customers at their respective stands on Thursday 26 and Friday 27 September.

To help private visitors intending to take advantage of the

initiative, signs will be set up at each of the five entrances to the trade fair, together with a “Cersaie designs your home 2013” ground plan, showing the locations of the press titles in the Services Centre and the companies in the exhibition pavilions.

The press titles taking part in “Cersaie designs your home 2013” are listed below: ATCasa (RCS), Quotidiano.net - Soluzioni di Casa (Poligrafici Editoriale), La Repubblica RCasa&Design, Casa&Design (Gruppo Espresso), La Stampa.it Design (La Stampa), Il Messaggero Casa (Il Messaggero), GraziaCasa and CasaFacile (Mondadori), Cose di Casa (Universo), Come ristrutturare la Casa (Il Sole 24 Ore), Il Bagno Oggi e Domani (Reed), Lavorincasa.it (Madex Editore), Case & Stili, www. leonardo.tv and Canale Leonardo TV (LT Editore), Case di montagna, La Piscina and Case e Ville prefabbricate (Di Baio Editore), Wellness Design (Wellness Design Editore), Home (Hearst), IQD (Verbus Editrice), Cer Magazine Italia (Edi.Cer.).

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Cersaie 2013

2nd Bologna Water Design Bologna immerses itself in water-related design From 23 to 28 September, during the course of Cersaie, the most interesting and evocative locations of central Bologna will be opening their doors again, for Bologna Water Design 2013, the latest edition of the exclusive fringe event dedicated to water-related design.

Following the resounding success of the first edition, which welcomed thousands of enthusiastic visitors, Bologna Water Design 2013 is again throwing open the doors on a series of thrilling installations and innovative projects intended to introduce the professional and non-professional public to the fascinating world of water-related design.

The extremely broad, transverse and contemporary theme of the event gives the designers involved considerable freedom to express themselves, within the framework of five different themes: - use of water in the home - outdoors - water and the human body - water and food - consuming less and better Like the first, this second edition of the event has the support and sponsorship of the Municipality and Province of Bologna, the Order of Architects, the ADI and Cersaie, which recognise the important cultural contribution that this fringe event makes to the city, while also complementing Cersaie itself.

Bologna Water Design will be held in some of the most captivating historical locations in the centre of Bologna, including the 15th Century building in Via D’Azeglio, known as the Ex Ospedale dei Bastardini and, for the first time ever, the magnificent cloisters of the Ex Maternità.

These splendid venues will play host to projects and installations by world-famous architects and designers, who bring us their own unique and personal interpretations – with the collaboration of leading companies from various sectors – of water, its use in design and in everyday life and its immeasurable value.

After last year’s edition, which saw the participation of a line-up of major designers, including Mario Cucinella, Kengo Kuma, Mario Bellini, Diego Grandi and Michele De Lucchi, this year’s edition will turn the spotlight on a new set of protagonists: Alhambretto, Casadei Weber, Aldo Cibic, Mario Cucinella, Philippe Daverio, Michele De Lucchi, Massimo Iosa Ghini, Claudio La Viola, Daniel Libeskind, Lorenzo Longo and Alessio Romano, Openproject, Lorenzo Palmeri, Carlo Ratti Associati, Setsu and Shinobu Ito, Studio B+O, and Victor Vasilev.

These top names, together with a host of young talent selected by Bologna Water Design, will be contributing a range of innovative content, to create an exhibition of excellence spanning coverings, outdoors, wellness, sustainability and design suggestions for contemporary living.

The event will also see the participation of Italy’s leading design schools and universities.

To inaugurate the event, on Tuesday 24 September, there will be a meeting connected with the culture of the ‘The imaginary bathroom’ project, with Philippe Daverio, Daniel Libeskind and Michele De Lucchi, which forms part of a rich calendar of events to be held each day against the prestigious backdrop of the Bastardini and the Ex Maternità.

Ahlambretto, Tailor made bathroom

Aldo Cibic, Elephountain

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Cersaie 2013

In his own words: Vittorio Borelli, Chairman of Confindustria Ceramica



Vittorio Borelli, aged 42, who has a degree in Political Science and has been Managing Director of Fincibec Group since 2008, is the new Chairman of Confindustria Ceramica for the term 2013-2015.

Borelli, who was elected unanimously, takes over from Franco Manfredini, who has put in so much work on behalf of Italy’s ceramic industry in these recent years of recession.

Borelli made it clear, what’s more, that Manfredini’s support for the Association would still be on hand in the future: “His support will remain invaluable to the Association, especially with regard to anti-dumping and energy policies.”

In the run-up to Cersaie 2013, we put some questions to the newly elected Chairman regarding the general performance of the market and the objectives

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which the Association, in his opinion, should give priority to at the moment, in order to assert and protect the interests, role and business image of the Italian ceramic, sanitaryware, tableware and refractory materials industry.

Tile International: How healthy is the Italian ceramic industry as a whole?

Vittorio Borelli: “The Italian ceramic industry generated revenues of 4.6 billion euros in 2012, employing 21,300 people. Those figures do not include the foreign subsidiaries of Italian ceramic manufacturing groups, which generated a further 1.2 billion euros of revenues in 2012, employing 7500 people.

The refractory materials industry reported turnover of 430 million euros in 2012, while sanitaryware and tableware recorded 340 million and 52 million euros respectively.

The fall in volumes, revenues and employees, which started

in 2008, has still not stopped, although we have retained a substantial share of the international market, on which we are still world leaders in terms of value of exports.”

Tile International: How did exports go in the first half of 2013?

V. Borelli: “Exports of Italian ceramic in the first half of 2013 reflect the prevailing situations in our various target markets in relation to construction activity and GDP. Exports are therefore rising in our markets outside Europe, where growth in value is running at over 10%.

North America is performing particularly well (with growth of just under 15%), thanks in part to an upturn in construction activity following the paralysis caused by the subprime mortgage crisis.

Australia and Asia, meanwhile, are performing at the same kind of levels as North America. In fact, we are seeing major increases on non-traditional markets, even as demand dries up on our home markets.”

Tile International: What is the state of play in Europe?

V. Borelli: “Things are stagnating in Europe, and now even France and Germany have been stalling since 2012.

France, in particular, is struggling to hold the line and saw a fall of 1% by value in the first half of the year. For the same half, however, Germany reported growth of a few percentage points in value terms.

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Exports to Scandinavia, meanwhile, have done better, because construction activity and GDP have seen higher increases there.

Outside the EU, Russia is continuing to record significant growth, in the order of 10%, both by volume and value. It is worth noting that Russia still has the highest average selling price per square metre. Poland is also a growing market, as too are the Gulf and the Far East. In fact, we are reaping the benefits of growth wherever we can find it, including in new markets such as China and India. Our exports have already exceeded 75% of our total output, however, and are rapidly heading towards 80%.

Italy is a great manufacturing country and the only one, alongside China and Spain, to export its products on a worldwide scale. We do it on the basis of the acknowledged innovative value and quality of our products, however, while the others remain competitive chiefly on price. If our sales are falling, that is because of slowdowns in economic activity.”

Tile International: What are your forecasts for the domestic market for the next few months?

V. Borelli: “The Italian market is giving us serious cause for concern. For years now, we have been in the paradoxical situation of being a worldclass player in international business, while suffering from an internal market in dire

Cersaie 2013

straits. The recent extension until 31 December 2013 of tax relief for building restoration and renovation work has brought a degree of confidence to the market, but the cut-off point is still too soon…

An extension until 31 December 2015 would have been more appropriate.”

Tile International: The globalisation that prompted Italian groups to set up factories abroad, in which they produce 18% of their volumes, is now prompting a number of foreign groups to acquire or forge agreements with Italian ceramic manufacturers. What are your feelings about this?

V. Borelli: “The process of inter-

nationalisation, which is not a question of off-shoring production as far as our companies are concerned, serves the purpose of meeting demand in distant markets, by producing certain categories of product locally, because it would not be competitive to export them from Italy. Foreign investments in the Italian ceramic industry – made by industrial rather than financial corporations – represent a desire to gain a foothold in some of the first-class manufacturing companies that Italy has to offer, and to open up the possibility of trading on an international scale. I don’t think that either of these global dy-

namics is weakening the Italian industry, because Italy is a field-leader in product and process innovation on the one hand, and the development of product applications and business relationship models on the other. As long as our ceramic system remains at the forefront of innovation, Italy will retain its leading role in the international arena.”

Tile International: How do you expect the shape of the ceramic industry to change in the years to come?

V. Borelli: “I believe that increased productivity, which is a prerequisite of containing production costs, represents a key lever with which to stem

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the decline in volumes in revenues and, if possible, to kickstart a resurgence. At the same time, we need further investment, but the 252 million euros invested in 2012 give a clear signal that we are working to beat the recession and carve out new and unexplored strategic development pathways. The industry needs a strong Association, capable of working effectively on its behalf in terms of communication, promotion and access to markets. But it is also imperative that the machinery of state stops hobbling enterprise, with over-demanding bureaucracy and punitive taxation.”

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Cersaie 2013

Companies showcased Bien Seramik »» Name: Fracture »» Finishing: Rectified »» Colours: White & Black »» Sizes (cm): 30x80 »» Description: Reflecting the charming image of broken pieces of glass with its free geometric forms and extraordinary lines, the series brings all the minimalism of deconstructivism to your bathroom. Exceptional with its striking design, the Fracture series won a Gold Award at the A’Design Awards organized by the Como Department of Culture.

Climatica »» Name: Ricordi di Domani »» Material: Unglazed porcelain tile »» Colours: Basalt, White »» Sizes (cm): Lozenge 7x26.5 - 2.76''x 10.44''; Listel 7x28.5 - 2.76''x 11.23'' »» Description: Rediscover the shapes and surfaces of the past, created by means of a craft extrusion process without sacrificing the unique characteristics of unglazed porcelain tile. The final result is a set of unique pieces, infinitely different from each other and destined to create an eternal design.

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Cersaie 2013

Cotto »» Name: BALZA series | COTTO ITALIA collection »» Material: Porcelain tile »» Sizes (cm): 40x80, 80x80 and 80x180 »» Description: This series of fine porcelain stoneware was created by harmoniously fusing a pattern of natural-cut granites with three chromatic granules: Chalk, Ash and Carbon. Its surface recalls the flamed natural stone slab, which imbues every environment with a delicate sense of movement and tactility.

Dural »» Name: P-Track Light »» Description: Dural presents the new light modules for its mobile "P-Track" socket system. The finished LED strips can be mounted above or below the socket profiles and provide pleasant lighting without major expenditure.

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Kalebodur »» Name: C-Extreme »» Material: Porcelain Tile »» Colours: White, Grey, Anthracite »» Sizes (cm): 30x120, 20x120, 12x120 »» Description: The C-Extreme series combines timber, travertine and concrete surfaces in a single, magnificent, matt-finished product in three long, slim, edge-ground formats: 30x120, 20x120 and 12x120cm. This series of through-body porcelain tile comes in 3 colours: white, grey and anthracite.

Montolit »» Name: Masterpiuma P 3 »» Description: Now in its third generation, the latest Masterpiuma (the Evo 3) raises the technological bar even higher. The Evo 3 retains all the key features of its predecessors, such as the die-cast aluminium "ring" frame, the single guide beam and push scoring, but has evolved to meet the requirements posed by the increasingly tough porcelain ceramics now being produced. The Masterpiuma P3 series of super-professional tile cutters consists of the following models: 44P3 (44 cm), 52P3 (52 cm), 63P3 (63 cm), 75P3 (75 cm), 93P3 (93 cm), 125P3 (125 cm) and 155P3 (155 cm).

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Cersaie 2013

Kale Banyo »» Name: Eternal »» Description: The Series combines functionality and aesthetics with its austerity and contemporary design.

The bowl-shaped sink offers comfort in a modern way with its asymmetrical position and its useful shelving unit. The washing closet and bidet add to the sleekness of the bathroom with their hidden assembly, while the silent seat cover system provides durability. The washing closet+furniture and bidet+furniture modules offer comfortable use in addition to their extraordinary appearance; the side bench cabinet makes unused areas like corners and wall edges functional; the washing closet + wellness + bidet module offers superior comfort thanks to its wellness touchscreen that brings closet and bidet functionality, sub-module illumination, music and aromatherapy features to the bathroom.

Nuovocorso »» Name: Essenze »» Material: Extruded porcelain tile »» Colours: Almond, Elm, Maple, Larch and Mahogany »» Sizes (cm): 20x180 and 30x180 - Thickness: 10mm »» Description: Essenze featuring a textured surface like natural wood, large formats (20x180 and 30x180); warm, embracing colours (Almond, Elm, Maple, Larch and Mahogany), and a thickness of 10 mm. Essenze stands out for its exceptionally cohesive structure, which combines solidity with flexibility: physical properties that ensure simple, reliable installation, even for large formats. Unlike other porcelain tile products on the market, Essenze can be laid in a regular, staggered pattern, like natural wood floorboards. NuovoCorso has made innovations to the porcelain tile production process and perfected the technology for unfired extrusion, so as to increase the percentage of recycled material used, and reduce energy consumption and emissions.

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come and see our new tile collections

Cersaie 2013

Progress Profiles »» Name: Proshower System »» Description: Proshower System is an innovative system for draining water from showers and washbasins. Proshower is a water drainage channel with a total height of just 85 mm, designed for mounting flush with the floor and made entirely of stainless steel, in five different lengths and with six different grilles, also in stainless steel. Thanks to the electro-polishing process and consequent passivation, Proshower is immune to all types of corrosion. What’s more, its low thickness and wide variety of grille designs make it the ideal solution for technical and aesthetic needs alike. This special channel is modular, so you can fit it in sequence to obtain any measurement you like. Its internal gradient, moreover, drains the water to the outlet, thus avoiding the unpleasant odours associated with standing water and making the siphon easy to clean. The product is quality-certified and made entirely in Italy, at our Asolo plant, using only top-quality, non-toxic materials, to combine refined elegance with high technology.

Rako »» Name: Unicolor »» Size (cm): 20x60 »» Colours and finishes: White with ton-sur-ton floral accent and two geometric accents. »» Description: Freshness and elegance are the watchwords of Rako’s new wall tile series. The styling and the new 20x60 cm format open up plenty of opportunities for creativity.

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Cersaie 2013

Schlüter Systems »» Name: Schlüter®SHOWERPROFILE-WS and -WSK »» Description: The new splash protection profiles are another intelligent component for a completely satisfactory shower experience. They can be embedded into the tile adhesive or subsequently adhered. Fitted with a semi-circular or upright rubber lip, they keep the water where it belongs - in the shower area. Both variants of the profile are designed to withstand wheelchair use.

Tagina »» Name: Pietra del Mondo »» Sizes (cm): 20x20 to 82x82 - Thickness (mm): 10, 12 and 20 »» Material: porcelain stoneware »» Description: Pietra del Mondo is a new collection that draws inspiration from five evocative parts of the world: Northern Europe, Israel, Arizona, Belgium and Japan. The series comes in a sophisticated range of thicknesses, consisting of 12 mm and 10 mm for interiors, and the Compact 20 mm, which is idea for outdoor applications, raised flooring, dry installation and installation on sand, gravel or directly on grass. The wide variety of sizes, from 20x20 to 82x82 cm, is available in different surface finishes, including natural, edge-ground and “broken edge”, which is a kind of aged effect that emphasises the appearance of the stone. The collection also offers excellent slip-resistance, making it suitable not only for residential interiors, but also for high-traffic commercial areas and outdoor applications.

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The professional choice

1 Shock absorber (bumper)

1

2 Reinforced frame 3 extension arm for supporting big tiles 4 Assistance incision push from 0 to 22 mm 5 Quick & easy change cutting wheel

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6 Measurement square - flips out of way if not required 7 Square rotation -45° ÷ +45° 8 Maximum precision, integrated lubrication point 3

9 Dual splitting device 10 100% recycled material, 100% Made in Italy

4

6

5

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S I N C E 19 4 6

Brevetti Montolit SpA Via Varese 4/A 21050 Cantello (VA) Italy 9

Tel. ++39 0332 419 211 Fax ++39 0332 418 444

www.montolit.com info@montolit.com

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Cersaie 2013

Verde1999 »» Name: Stark »» Material: Porcelain Tile »» Sizes (cm): 45x90 (18”x36”), 30x60 (12”x24”), 15x90 (6”x36”), mosaic in various sizes »» Colours: Beige, Taupe, Tortora, Grigio, Antracite, Bianco »» Description: The Stark collection of glazed, through-body porcelain tile is the perfect covering for any environment, whether modern, classic, rustic or industrial. Stark is available in six shades - Beige, Taupe, Turtledove, Grey, Anthracite and White - in sizes 45x90 cm (18”x36”), 30x60 cm (12”x24”) and 15x90 cm (6”x36”), as well as an infinite size range of mosaics.

Ferrari&Cigarini »» Name: BigSlim »» Description: At Cersaie 2013 Ferrari & Cigarini introduces BigSlim, a new system for cutting, profiling and gluing tiles in big formats up to 300x150 cm, both with slim (3-6mm) and standard (10/20 mm) thickness.

This innovative system is made up of:

- a cutter to cut the slabs

- a special machine to profile at 45° the tile edge

and strips, previously cut to size

- a gluing bench to glue the top and strips

together at 45° This new project has been designed to create kitchen and bathroom tops, benchtops and steps, obtained from tiles in big formats up to 300by150 cm, both of gres porcelain and marble, granite or agglomerates (okite, silestone,etc.).

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Cersaie 2013

Cutter »» Name: Bull-Cut2 »» Description: Manual machine to make different profiles like bullnose, polished edges, skirting, half taurus, taurus, on marble, granite, natural stone tiles, with size up to 90 cm. It is specifically designed for tilers and constructors. The new BullCut 2, with a second motor, is able to make the bullnose profile thanks to two subsequent diamond wheels with different grain, obtaining the final result in only one step. Other features: Profiling head with change system and adjustable height and width. Reclinable feet to reduce the overall machine size during transportion.

Coop. Imola »» Name: Cento per Cento »» Description: “Cento per Cento” (meaning 100%) is a collection of double-fired tiles with a fashionably retro look. It’s a three-dimensional, multi-sensory collection, offering soft reminiscences of the past and the century-long tradition of a company that celebrates its 100th anniversary this year. Produced in size 12x18 cm, designed for harmony with contemporary styles. Available in a wide range of colours: almond, dark grey, grey, champagne, aquamarine, yellow, brown, turtledove, violet, white.

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Showroom Forgiarini - Lampertheim

ESPOSITORI E SHOWROOM - CONCEPT, DESIGN E REALIZZAZIONE DISPLAYS & SHOWROOMS - CONCEPT, DESIGN & MANUFACTURING 23 路 27 SETTEMBRE AREA 44 路 STAND 55

Marocchi s.r.l.

Via G. Di Vittorio, 3 40020 Casalfiumanese (Bologna) Italy

Tel. +39 0542 666136 Fax +39 0542 666762

marocchi@marocchi.com www.marocchi.com

Cersaie 2013

Hatria »» Name: Abito »» Description: “Abito” = Hulls for sanitaryware in four versions: White hull, black hull, decorated white hull (white cross, gold lines, grey waves), decorated black hull (gold lines). A collection of washbasins in sanitary porcelain, designed by Daniel Debiasi and Federico Sandri. Includes two washbasin elements: wall-hung washbasin (100 cm) and free-standing washbasin (58x43cm). And two sanitaryware pieces: wall-hung toilet (56x35.5 cm) and wall-hung bidet (56x35.5 cm).

Raimondi »» Name: FREE-FLEX »» Description: The FREE-FLEX cutting units for 300 cm (10’) slabs with angle grinder are available in two versions, for 90° and 45° cuts respectively.

Once inserted on the FREE-CUT guide, they cut and bevel (with diamond disc) slim slabs (3/6 mm 1/8”-1/4”) as well as regular tiles (max 12 mm - 1/2”) up to a maximum length of 425 cm (13.9’). They are both equipped with a connection for dust extraction.

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11-14 Feb. 2014 Valencia 路 Spain Concurrent with Feria H谩bitat Valencia + Fimma-Maderalia

cevisama@feriavalencia.com www.cevisama.com

Cersaie 2013

Eiffelgres »» Name: Greigetone and Landstone »» Material: Technical porcelain »» Colours: Greigestone (Moon, Shell, Dust, Steel, Dark and Dune) | Landstone (Paper, Ginger, Shore, Chili, Tobacco, Coal) »» Description: The Tone, designed by the architect Mauro Bellei, offers a range of basic tones.

The idea derives from a desire to make the connection between art and architecture. The Greigetone collection includes six tones in two finishes (bush-hammered and natural), thus enabling customers to modulate the nuances with each other to create highly original flooring patterns. Eiffelgres will be completing its range at Cersaie 2013 with the Landstone range, a collection that draws inspiration from the warm colours of earth and nature.

GranitiFiandre »» Name: Precious Stones »» Material: Technical porcelain »» Sizes (cm): 300x150 and 150x75 »» Description: Ancient evocations have given life to the Precious Stones collection, with which Fiandre recreates the force and wonder of nature, by retaining the beauty and rarity of precious natural stones. Made to absolute perfection with the most advanced ceramic processing technology, the Precious Stones collection skilfully enhances modern architecture and brings extraordinary impact to interior designs thanks to the large 300x150 and 150x75 cm format. The resinating process adds a precious sheen and gloss finish, and with a vast range at your disposal, you can create your own design and produce unique interiors to suit all tastes and trends.

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Cersaie 2013

Porcelaingres »» Name: Grove Wood »» Material: Porcelain tile »» Colours: Ice, birch, honey, rust, grey, choco »» Sizes (cm): 90x15 and 90x22.5 - Thickness: 10 mm »» Description: Warm and embracing, the Grove Wood collection combines the high performance of technical porcelain with the natural charm of wood effects. Six colours and two floorboard formats, complemented with floor and wall accents, make this material a “passe-partout” for interior styling.

Grove Wood is a highly versatile product that blends perfectly with the most disparate furnishings and finishes and enhances their impact.

Seramiksan »» Name: Alabaster »» Material: Porcelain Tile (Full Lappato / Natural) »» Colours: Beige, Grey »» Sizes: 30x60 cm. , 30x90 cm. , 60x60 cm. , 60x90 cm.

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Iran’s Top Producers Of High Quality Ceramic

Double Fired & Rectified White Body Technical Granit & Glazed

Cersaie 2013

Top Cer »» Name: Geneva »» Material: Unglazed porcelain »» Sizes (cm): 30.3x30.3 »» Description: Geneva is the new pattern added to TopCer’s extensive collection of Victorian Designs & Borders, based on Unglazed Porcelain Tile components. This new pattern is based on modules of 303x303 mm, where the components are small pressed triangles measuring 45x45 mm in two different colours, with a joint width of 3 mm. This pattern can be also made with customised colours. The Geneva composition and its matching border and corner are supplied backsheet-mounted for easy installation and accurate joint alignment.

Sigma »» Name: Kera-Flex »» Description: With the latest trends in ceramic manufacture shifting towards large formats, the 60x120 cm tile that was a peculiarity a few years ago, is now fairly common. Manufacturers are now even producing tiles with the classic thickness of 1 cm, but with a length of up to 2 m.

The problem for installers is how to cut and shape these large formats before fitting: with Kera-Flex, Sigma has developed a versatile cutting system, that is light to transport and offers a cutting capacity of up to 3.6 linear metres and 2.5 cm of thickness, thereby solving all cutting problems that may arise on the construction site.

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RUSSIA’S LEADING BUILDING & INTERIORS EXHIBITION ARCHITECTURE • CONSTRUCTION • DESIGN • DÉCOR

MosBuild

CERSANEX

Ceramics • Stone • Bathrooms • Sanitary Equipment

April 15 − 18 2014

Moscow Expocentre Fairgrounds

• • • • • •

Ceramica Bathrooms Plumbing & Pipes Technoceramica Stonex Pool. Sauna. SPA

www.mosbuild.com

e3

Energy Efficiency Environment

Cersaie 2013

FMG

Fabbrica Marmi e Graniti »» Name: Livingstone »» Material: Technical porcelain »» Colours: Bowery, Broadway, Brooklyn, Columbia, Lexington »» Sizes (cm): 150x75 and 75x75 »» Description: Livingstone slabs have been created using cutting-edge technology and are available in two large, contemporary formats - 150x75 and 75x75 cm - offering uniformity and a sense of spaciousness. Livingstone is urban elegance to be experienced to the full: with its five captivating colours in the shades of natural stone and two surface finishes (natural, textured), it brings the charm of stone back into living and working areas. This wide range of possibilities meets the requirements of harmony, aesthetic appeal and functionality that characterise contemporary architecture, making everyday environments unique, whether residential, commercial or urban.

Marazzi »» Name: multiquartz20 »» Description: “multiquartz20” is a glazed porcelain tile decorated with ink-jet technology. It is an eco-sustainable product made using a closed-cycle production process and 23 to 25% recycled material. With a thickness of 20 mm, a textured matt finish and a 60x60 cm edge-ground or natural format, “multiquartz20” is designed for outdoor use. Private and public walkways, terraces, avenues, gardens, arcades, driveways… laid on grass, sand or gravel, or with adhesive, or as floating, raised flooring.

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www.progressprofiles.com

Delicate details between emotion and technology

With a glance always oriented to the future.

Projolly square polished stainless steel

na olog 13 B ember 0 2 saie -27 sept 22 cer 23 Stand 45 ll a H Area/ n mila 013 r po 2 5 octobe x e e 02-0 1/ B12 mad a1 Stand Pad 6

studioverde

Protermstep polished stainless steel

Profiles for steps and walls

BLACK Line Only Progress Profiles offers you a complete range of profiles for steps and walls that can satisfy any building typology. A true custom-cut cloth of excellent manufacture.

Focus on details that do the difference.

New lines enter on a wide range of finishing: the BLACK Line, that includes anodized, polished, varnished and crepĂŠ finishing for any decoration need and the tusCAny Line, that includes rustic-modern finishing to satisfy the needs of country style.

Progress Profiles spA

Certificated company UNI EN ISO 9001:2008

NE - Anodized black aluminium BN - Polished black aluminium

NS - Brushed black aluminium

tusCAny Line

03tu - Tuscany grey

05tu - Tuscany beige

20tu - Tuscany bronze

CR - Coated crepet aluminium

Cersaie 2013

Iris Ceramica »» Name: CALX »» Material: Porcelain tile »» Colours: White, Cream, Sand, Ecru, Moka, Grey and Anthracite »» Sizes (cm): 10x30 - 60x60 - 60x30 - 45.7x45.7 »» Description: Calx is a simple, captivating collection that combines the retro touch of square and rectangular mosaics with the minimalism of more modern environments. Its contemporary styling restores the welcoming warmth to family living space. With its basic colours, the collection enables you to create original patterns that juxtapose lean, essential surfaces with elegant, modern components or natural interior design styles. Ideal for both indoor and outdoor use, thanks to their high slip coefficient, neutral tones and vintage-inspired trim pieces, Calx is the perfect blend of past and present.

Ragno »» Name: Handmade »» Description: “Handmade” is a series of white-body, single-fired wall tiles with a thickness of 11.5 mm, with a polished, slightly textured surface, available in size 25x76 cm. Produced in six colours - Light, Ivory, Ochre, Buff, Aqua and Sage - with an infinite range of accents, for the most diverse combinations. “Handmade” coordinates with the Harmony, Origini, Woodstyle and Lifestyle collections of floor tiles.

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PROMOÇÃO PROMOTED BY

EVENTOS CONJUNTOS CO-LOCATED EVENTS INTERNACIONAL DE ARQUITETURA E CONSTRUÇÃO

APOIO SUPPOTED BY

The sustainable lightness of matter Porcelain stoneware greatness conquers lightness and exibility.

3x1.5 mt slabs in only 6 mm

September 23rd/27th

CERSAIE 2013, Bologna Pav. 25 - Stand A164/B165

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