Tile International 2/2017

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ISSN2039-8301

Cersaie

2017

Interviews, news, projects & much more...

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Patent 102015000050917

DISPLAYS & SHOWROOMS - CONCEPT, DESIGN & MANUFACTURING 25 - 29 September Area 44 - 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

DUCATI LIVING CONCEPT GS Luxury Group Official Licensee

P R E S E N T A T C E R S A I E ( B O L O G N A 2 5 -2 9 S E P T E M B E R ) P A V 2 0 B O O T H B 7 1 Ducati winning tiles is the union of two road. The big experience in ceramic tiles world of GS Luxury Group and Ducati myth two realities of made in italy exellence, today together for creating a unique concept: to interpret the power and elegance of ducati brand in new project of fl oor and wall tiles, where passion runs on unpublished surfaces, design discover new borders

G S LU X U R Y G R O U P S PA , V I A C I R C O N D A R I A L E S A N F R A N C E S C O 124 - F I O R A N O M O D E N E S E (I TA LY ) • +39 0536 916511 D U C AT I @G S LU X U R YG R O U P.C O M • W W W.D U C AT I-T I L E S .I T

r u o y GR W

N. 2/2017

Publisher:

BUSINESS

Tile Edizioni S.r.l.

Via Fossa Buracchione 84 • 41126 Baggiovara (Modena) • Italy Tel. +39 059 512 103 • Fax +39 059 512 157 info@tiledizioni.it • www.tiledizioni.it Codice Fiscale / P. IVA: IT02778050365 - Capitale Sociale: 51.400,00 € R.E.A. 329775 - Iscr. al Registro delle Imprese di Modena Periodico registrato presso il Tribunale di Modena al n. 1828 in data 21/02/2007 - Iscrizione ROC n. 9673 Editor and Publishing coordination: Chiara Bruzzichelli

•

Advertising:

Contributing editors: - Paola Giacomini - Sara Falsetti - Sabino Menduni - Sabrina Tassini

• Secretariat: info@tiledizioni.it

• Translation: Geoff Day / John Freeman

MECS

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• www.tiledizioni.it/subscription • Each copy: Euro 4 • Subscription: - Italy, 1 year: Euro 50 - Abroad, 1 year: Euro 70 - Italy, 2 years: Euro 70 - Abroad, 2 years: Euro 90 Spedizione in a.p. presso la Filiale di Modena.

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© 1989 Tile Italia

FOLLOW US: 4 EDITION year 2016 th

WORLD PRODUCTION AND CONSUMPTION OF CERAMIC TILES ACIMAC/MECS - Machinery Economic Studies

MECS

Machinery Economic Studies

ACIMAC Via Fossa Buracchione 84 41126 Baggiovara (MO) • ITALY T. +39 059 510 336 info@acimac.it • info@mec-studies.it www.acimac.it • www.mec-studies.it

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Contents

11 - Editorial

42 44 60 74 80 84 88 35th Cersaie gets under way

by Chiara Bruzzichelli

PhotoNews 12 - Casalgrande Padana and Maina 14 – TopCer new victorian patterns back mounted in modular sheets 16 – Tilenews

Economy & markets 38 – Construction in Europe, 83 Euroconstruct 42 – Confindustria Ceramica data: Italian ceramic production in 2016 44 – Italian ceramic manufacturers: 2016 revenues 54 – The Spanish ceramic tile industry continues its recovery 56 – The European Parquet Market confirms and consolidates its progress rd

60 – 64 – 68 – 72 –

Special Americas:

Mapei in North America: hard work and determination Good news from North America

The building and ceramic tiles market in USA Chinese tile exports see further downturn

Cover picture: Love Tiles - www.lovetiles.com Cover picture by: Giancarlo Pradelli @ Cersaie 2016 Translations: Geoff Day / John Freeman Advertiser's list: page 20

FOLLOW TILE INTERNATIONAL E-MAGAZINE: http://www. .com

100 102 103 104 106 108

In the spotlight 74 – Ceramica Fondovalle and large-format panels 80 – Ceramiche Piemme still on upward trajectory 84 – Gruppo Romani SpA celebrates first anniversary 88 – GS Luxury Group partners up with Ducati Motor 92 - Topics

Progress Profiles: the details of the perfect shower

94 – Projects

Schlüter-Systems for the renovation of Eiffel Tower in Paris

CERSAIE 2017 100 – 35 Cersaie gets under way 102 – Building, Dwelling, Thinking 103 – Milleluci, Exhibition event 104 – Tiling Town 106 – Bologna Design Week 108 – Cersaie 2017: The Gallery th

HALL 16 STAND B42-C39

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Editorial

by Chiara Bruzzichelli

35th Cersaie gets under way The 35th Cersaie is opening its doors in Bologna, and for the fourth year running is extending its scope to marble and natural stone coverings and wood flooring.

The definitive figures for Cersaie 2016 confirm that this was the right choice and testify to the increasing internationalisation of the event, with a total of 852 exhibitors from no fewer than 43 countries.

Cersaie, the largest and most authoritative international trade show for the ceramic and bathroom furnishing industries, has thus consolidated its credentials as the world’s most important focal point for the international trade, the best showcase for spotting aesthetic

and technological trends, and a vital meeting point between manufacturers and distributors.

2016 was another positive year for the Italian ceramic industry as a whole, as witness the data presented by Confindustria Ceramica (see page 42).

With turnover of more than 5.4 billion euros, representing a rise of 5.9% on the previous year, the Italian ceramic industry is now back at its precrisis levels, since total revenues for the industry in 2008 amounted to 5.5 billion euros.

Once again, the bulk of this figure is attributable to exports. With a value of 4.6 billion euros, they now account

for 85% of total turnover.

Product innovation and higher value-added are still the driving force behind the Italian ceramic industry, and are facilitated by investments in technology, which amounted to over 400 million euros in 2016 (up 14% on 2015), as highlighted by Vittorio Borelli, Chairman of Confindustria Ceramica.

Italian ceramic tile production has also risen, as shown by the 2016 league table of the largest Italian manufacturers, first published by TILE ITALIA and reproduced here on page 44.

The United States is undoubtedly one of the biggest markets for Italian tiles and we have an extensive special re-

11

port on the USA on page 60, which includes data on construction investment and tile consumption.

The report was kindly provided for us by Mapei, which is celebrating the 80th anniversary of its foundation this year and highlighting the results it has achieved in North America to date, plus the new goals it has set itself, in line with Group’s global growth strategy.

On page 54, we shine the spotlight on the Spanish ceramic industry, while page 72 carries a survey by ACIMAC – the Italian association of ceramic machinery manufacturers – on Chinese export performance in 2016.

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PHOTOnews

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CASALGRANDE PADANA AND MAINA To mark its 50th anniversary, Maina, a renowned Italian producer of seasonal cakes and Easter eggs, inaugurated the extension of its historic headquarters in Fossano, in the province of Cuneo.

This major extension was designed by Gianni Arnaudo and features a number of products by Casalgrande

Tile International 2/2017

Padana. The architects assigned a key role to the exterior paving, which was created using the “Amazzonia” collection - Pietre Native line - in the colour Dragon Grey. For the interior floor and wall tiling, meanwhile, they opted for the “Metallica” collection - Granitoker line - in the colour Inox.

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The architects specifically chose metallic and grey shades to create a stark contrast with the red of the magnificent staircase, which represents the final “swirl” in a metaphorical red ribbon that connects the exterior to the interior of the building and is also reprised in the colours of the furnishings.

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TOPCER NEW VICTORIAN PATTERNS BACK MOUNTED IN MODULAR SHEETS TopCer is pleased to present photos of the new patterns: AUCKLAND, LOS ANGELES and MONACO, that

along with SYDNEY, BRUGES, NICE, GREENWICH, MELROSE and STOCKHOLM are the new patterns

added in 2017 to its unique and large collection of Victorian Designs and Borders.

Los Angeles

Auckland

Monaco

Tile International 2/2017

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THE mOsT cOmplETE RAngE Of EquipmEnT fOR lARgE fORmAT TilEs EVOlVEs

DiscOVER AT AREA 44 BOOTH 81 raimondispa.com

SINCE 1974 INNOVATIONS FOR THE TILE SETTING PROFESSIONAL

Tilenews

Companies, News & Markets ECOTERM MAKES CERSAIE DEBUT Ecoterm, a supplier of raw materials for the ceramic industry, including black copper oxide and chrome flour, was formed in 1992 and later taken over by Edilteco. This year, the company is making its first appearance at CERSAIE in Hall 33 Stand A21.

Ecoterm’s presence at the trade fair is set to strengthen its position on the market, by enabling visitors to see the quality of its products first-hand. This high product quality goes hand-in-hand with long experience, extensive professional know-how and high levels of care for people and the environment: these are the foundations on which ECOTERM has built its reputation.

Ecoterm offers bespoke solutions in terms of both the particle size and composition of its products: black copper oxide derives from a technological process that transforms copper flakes into a high-purity powder (CuO 99% min); chrome flour is supplied on the basis of the required particle size and a pre-ordered chrome content, in line with the specifications dictated by the type of use; and chromia Cr2O3 has a minimum

Tile International 2/2017

chrome content of 45%.

“We differentiate ourselves on the basis of high quality and a tailor-made service,” explained Paolo Stabellini, Chairman of Edilteco.“With two grinding plants, Ecoterm is the only European company that produces copper oxide by means of a thermal process, based on its own proprietary technology.” Ecoterm adheres to the procedures put in place by its parent company, which is ISO 9001 certified. It also complies with the requirements of Directive 2008/01/ EC concerning Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control.

AT 99 MAXYFLEX

BY FASSA BORTOLO AT 99 Maxyflex is a C2TE S1 cementbased adhesive specifically formulated for the installation of various types of floor and wall tiles, in small and large formats, including in swimming pools and for applications requiring high levels of adhesion and flexibility. Suitable for both indoor and outdoor use, and over existing or heated flooring.

Holding LEED and GEV EMICODE EC 1Plus certification, AT 99 Maxyflex also has the Certifié CSTB Certified - QB mark, and is listed as one of the products complying with the “Italian programme for environmental footprint evaluation” developed by the Environment Ministry, to determine the carbon footprint and consequent environmental impact of products over their life-cycle.

AT 99 Maxyflex is further testimony to the quality of the adhesives forming part of the Fassa Bortolo Installation system, and offers the following benefits: • Excellent workability • Extra-white • Excellent for floors and walls incorporating heating/cooling systems

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• Ideal for vitreous mosaic • Suitable for swimming pools • Suitable for exterior wall coverings and thermal cladding systems • Suitable for the installation of large formats and slim panels • Highly deformable • Adhesive for thicknesses of up to 15 mm • Suitable for high-traffic areas • Long open time • Resistant to vertical slip

ADVERTISING

Tilenews

TARALAY BY GERFLOR WINS I.D.A. 2017 The Taralay Impression collection by Gerflor, designed

by Gerflor’s Art director, Gino Venturelli, with the company’s Design Team, has won the I.D.A. 2017 International Design Award, which was established in California in 2007 to encourage smart, sustainable design.

Taralay Impression – which is easy to lay, 100% recyclable and easy to clean – is designed primarily for the contract sector, and enables schools, hospitals, shopping centres, retail outlets, offices, hotels and restaurants to benefit from a

high-tech floor covering, while at the same time having 21 different decorative effects to choose from.

The hyper-realism of the decorative effects is backed up by outstanding technical performance, and the collection is divided into two main groups: Taralay Impression Comfort, a heterogeneous series of soundinsulating tiles, and Taralay Impression Compact, a class U3/U4 compact floor covering.

Both groups adapt, either discreetly or more boldly, to a range of different professional environments, including healthcare, education, office space, restaurants and commercial premises.

serie

extra

Tiles for the next generations

serie

base www.rako.eu

Tilenews

DOMUS3D®: AUGMENTED REALITY BRINGS NEW SIMULATION BENEFITS The integration of augmented reality into DomuS3D® marks another step forward in the simplification of virtual simulation applied directly to real environments, enabling sales consultants to offer alternative installation solutions more quickly.

The simulation is totally faithful because you can try various solutions in their actual setting and assess the compatibility of the styling and colour.

The spread of new technologies to every corner of our lives in recent years is rapidly changing our purchasing experiences and expectations.

While online shopping for basic items can be quick, simple and economical, more complex products need to be configured within a context of variables that also involve the private and emotional dimension, where it’s not always easy to judge the final overall effect until it’s too late.

To carry on serving the sales requirements of ceramic and furnishing show-

Tile International 2/2017

rooms effectively and flexibly, DomuS3D® 2018 is set to become the must-have tool for adding value to the sales process and creating both blank-sheet designs and partial renovation projects, in which new and old have to integrate with each other in a balanced, tasteful way.

With the help of DomuS3D® 2018, showrooms are evolving into providers of advanced customised services, arousing the interest of customers and guiding them reassuringly towards better-informed choices: even the most rigorous budget ceases to be an insuperable obstacle when the proposed solution is so engaging and ergonomic that the customer can’t do without it.

The aim of DomuS3D® is to enable users to offer not only an objective furnishing solution, but a dream scenario that’s detailed, exciting, ready to go and irresistible.

18

ALL-ROUND RE-LAUNCH FOR DR TECNICA DR Tecnica, a ceramic display system manufacturer based in Fiorano Modenese, is gearing up for a major production re-launch, that has already seen a 2,000 sq.m increase in the company’s production area, to a total of 6,000 sq.m.

A new line for the production of metal display systems has come on-stream, to back up the existing production line for wooden display systems, which have been the company’s core business since its formation in 2001. DR Tecnica has also set up an internal department for the development and production of turnkey showroom outfitting systems, from design to installation.

The company’s technological upgrade has also given it the capacity to produce several new series, including: - M-LINE: an innovative line of metal display systems, which are simple, elegant and practical, and meet the display needs of both traditional and large-format products.

- SPACE WALL: a line of modular, display walls equipped with a wide range of accessories, that display products to best effect while also optimising the use of showroom space.

- HI TECH and TILE SHOP: a specific line for comprehensive showroom outfitting, with plenty of scope for customisation, including modular technical counters and tile showcases that make up a total display programme.

- W-LINE: a wood-built line, for customisation to customer specifications, for the display of more traditional products.

“Our investments in products and technology,” explained Domenico

Tilenews

D’Angelantonio, Managing Director of DR Tecnica, “form part of an expansion plan aimed at raising the profile of the brand with a more comprehensive offering, and extending and retaining our customer base worldwide, by means of communication systems that are more in tune with the needs of the market.”

With this in mind, DR Tecnica will soon be launching its new website, with updated graphics, an easy-to-consult layout and full presentation of the company’s display systems.

LEA CERAMICA FOR MARATONA DLES DOLOMITES - ENEL Lea Ceramiche, in conjunction with Panariagroup, confirmed its commitment to supporting the universal values of sport by sponsoring the 31st Maratona Dles Dolomites - Enel, one of the major races in the international cycling calendar, held against the stunning backdrop of the Italian Dolomite mountains.

For the 2017 Maratona, Panariagroup confirmed its support as a Gold Partner.

The event took place on 2 July, and saw the participation of over 9000 cyclists from 89 countries worldwide, selected by draw from over 33,500 applicants.

“Panariagroup’s decision to sponsor the Maratona Dles Dolomites,” explained

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Emilio Mussini, Chairman of Panariagroup, “is in line with our mission as an international group. It involves a perfect combination of the solid values that underpin our day-to-day lives, such as the quest for wellness and quality of life, and the universal principles of sporting passion and care for the environment, which come together in a unique pairing for this race.”

In a dedicated area of the Maratona Village, Panariagroup took the opportunity to present “Protect”, an exclusive line of extremely high-performance anti-bacterial products designed to improve health and quality of life.The exclusive anti-bacterial shield used to safeguard the “Protect” line is provided using Microban® technology, a world-leading system for the long-term and almost total elimination of bacteria.

Panariagroup also participated in the race by entering a team of customers and partners with a passion for cycling, who were given the chance to take direct part in this unique event.

Tile International 2/2017

Tilenews

Advertiser's list ABK 21 Batimat 157 Batimat Russia

121

Bora Celik

46

Buzon 79 Cerambath 63 Cevisama 137 Coretec by UsFloors

33

DR Tecnica

71

Dural 147 Eco Design

119

Edilcuoghi 123 Edilgres 151

LITOKOL IN RUSSIA

Ege 29 Elios 49 Emilceramica 41 Ferrari e Cigarini

161

Flaviker by Gr. ABK 35 Francesco De Maio

129

Gruppo Romani

98

GS Luxury Group

5

Impertek 133 Italgraniti 113 Kajaria 107 La Fabbrica

25

Lasselsberger Rako

17

Laticrete

Back Cover

Marocchi 4 Maticad 145 MLTS Europe

27

Montolit 115 NG Kuthaya

A delegation of 18 Litokol employees, from different areas of the company, took part in a trip to Moscow at the beginning of July, to mark the 15th anniversary of Litokol o.o.o Russia and consolidate the excellent relationship that the two entities have forged over the years.

On the first day of the trip, the visitors were invited to their Russian colleagues’ headquarters in Noginsk (50 km from Moscow), where they enjoyed a display of traditional Russian dancing. This was followed by a presentation of the activities in progress this year, and a visit to the Litokol o.o.o production plant, which has undergone continuous expansion over the years.

The group also took the opportunity to visit the ceramic production plant of Estima, in which Litokol acquired a shareholding a few months ago.

2-3

Niro 117 Original Parquet

36-37

Piemme 31 Pietre D’Arredo by Colmef

139

Polis 67 Progress Profiles

Inside Front Cover

Profilpas 7 Raimondi 15 Rak Ceramic

Inside Back Cover

Revestir 167 Rondine Group

10

Schlüter-Systems 1 Takceram 163 Tecnargilla 176 Top Cer

105

Unicera 175

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PROFILPAS: NEW SOLUTIONS FOR PROBLEMATIC SUBSTRATES Profilpas’s experience in the field of profiles and systems for bathrooms and the increasing demand for floor-level shower drains, coordinated profiles and waterproofing systems have prompted the company’s R&D department to find solutions for the continuous demand for waterproofing and tile-setting on problematic substrates, both indoors and out.

Profilpas has entered this sector with WPSTOP3 System, which speeds up the installation of floor coverings even on moist or uncured substrates. The system also neutralises the tensions between the substrate and the tile covering (cracked substrates), creates a waterproofing layer and neutralises the vapour pressure present in moist substrates. Unlike grout, WPSTOP3 System reduces installation errors, is non-toxic, is highly-resistant to saline, acid and alkaline solutions, and can be used in a wide range of applications.

Tilenews

ITALCER ACQUIRES ELIOS CERAMICHE Italcer, a company controlled by private equity fund Mandarin Capital, of which Alberto Forchielli is Managing Partner, has acquired 100% ownership of Elios Ceramiche and Elle Ceramica from the Levoni family.

Elios Ceramiche is the second ceramic manufacturer acquired by Mandarin Capital, following its takeover of La Fabbrica in May, as part of a plan to build a major new player in the Italian ceramic industry. Graziano Verdi, appointed Managing Director of Italcer by Mandarin Capital, is aiming to make at least one new acquisition by the end of the year, and another by the end of the first half of 2018, with a view to building up revenues of 300 million euros, in preparation for a stock market flotation by the end of 2019.

“Elios Ceramiche,” explained Graziano Verdi, “is a useful complement to La Fabbrica in terms of formats, positioning and geographical coverage. It’s a strong, well positioned brand that we

Tile International 2/2017

can successfully re-launch. In terms of industrial efficiency, furthermore, its plant is another strength, as is the know-how and experience of its workforce.”

“We’re working on finalising other acquisitions,” added Lorenzo Stanca, a partner at Mandarin Capital. “In the meantime, we’re making arrangements for coverage of the USA. Our ultimate goal is to assemble a group with turnover of 300 million euros, capable of bringing the best of Italian ceramic to the whole world, from the United States to China.”

CERASARDA ANNOUNCES WINNERS OF “LIGHTHOUSE INTERIOR” 128 projects by over 400 designers from 38 countries took part in the Lighthouse Interior contest, run by Cerasarda, a brand belonging to Gruppo Romani Industrie Ceramiche. Having drawn up a short-list of 30 finalists, the jury then picked three winning projects, and awarded four gold mentions and 10 honourable mentions.

“The projects that took part in the contest all show a high level of creativity and design input,” commented Paolo Romani, Managing Director of Gruppo Romani. “This is especially gratifying because it confirms that our brand is a focal point for ceramic design at a worldwide level.”

The contest’s organisers set entrants the task of designing a collection of ceramic furnishing complements aimed at the luxury hotel sector and drawing inspiration from the romance surrounding lighthouses and coastal watchtowers, in the wake of the recent upsurge in interest in such buildings, for re-purposing.

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First place went to a project entitled Horizon by Marta Koniczuk (Poland), who received a prize of 5,000 euros and the chance to see her work go into production under the Cerasarda Atelier brand.

Second place went to a project by Team Frost (Italy), made up of Andrea Maria Stefani and Erika Frosi, which took the form of a series of ceramic lamps; and third place went to Team Monik led by Monica Orsini (Italy), which presented a collection of lights inspired by sea sponges and coral.

The winners were picked by an international jury of high-profile professionals, including Savin Couelle, Manuel Aires Mateur, Martino Gamper, Clemente Busiri Vici, Ken Eastman, Alberto Bassi and Paolo Romani.

Tilenews

FEDERICA MINOZZI ELECTED “CEO OF THE YEAR 2017” Federica Minozzi, the CEO of Iris Ceramica Group, has been elected “CEO of the Year 2017 furnishing & design” by Le Fonti Awards, one of the most extensive international awards systems for innovation and leadership.

The awards ceremony was held at Palazzo Mezzanotte, the headquarters of the Milan Stock Exchange, at the end of June, and the jury explained their choice as follows: “For heading a leading, worldwide manufacturer of glazed ceramic and gres porcelain ceramic floor and wall coverings for residential, commercial and industrial projects. For her commitment to the principles of sustainable architecture, which finds expression in the production of ceramics in line with the requirements of green building.”

The decision to award the title to Federica Minozzi was taken by the Le Fonti Studies Centre and the Institute of Sci-

ence and Culture, taking account of opinions expressed in the affiliated magazines and newspapers World Excellence (monthly), LEGAL (monthly) and Finanza & Diritto (daily). The selection process also involved a survey of over 40,000 qualified contacts from the world of business and professional services.

“This award”, announced Federica Minozzi, “testifies to everything our Group has achieved and to the hard work that our people put into solution design, materials research and technological innovation on a daily basis. I owe this award to them and to our constant commitment to environmental integrity.”

years and is a benchmark for us on the Russian market,” explained Giovanni Bondavalli, Export Area Manager of Ceramiche Piemme. “When it involved us in this event, some years ago, we discovered a whole new world. It’s an idea that should be imported to Italy to stimulate the involvement of architects and designers in an entertaining and original way.”

Spectators were able to enjoy the competition from the grandstands of the Water Stadium. The guests included a number of famous Moscow-based architects such as Julius Borisov, Pavel Andreev and Elena Teplitskaya.

CERAMICHE PIEMME SPONSORS INTERNATIONAL ARCHITECTURE REGATTA IN MOSCOW Ceramiche Piemme was among the sponsors involved in the International Architecture Regatta held on the Moskva River in Moscow on 1 July. Now in its seventh year and organised by the company Lucido, it saw the participation of some 700 architects and designers.

Over 20 boats took part, each with its own skipper and various enthusiastic crews of designers.

“Lucido has been our partner for many

23

Tile International 2/2017

Tilenews

“CERAMIC AND DESIGN”: WINNERS OF THE SIXTH EDITION A futuristic residential complex in France; a major corporate headquarters in Turin; the new site of a renowned library in the centre of Berlin; and a new parish building, featuring innovatively symbolic architecture, in Lodi.

These were the winners of the sixth “Ceramic and Design” competition held by Cersaie and Confindustria Ceramica, to highlight the best architectural projects involving significant use of Italian ceramic tiles.

The awards ceremony was held at the Church of San Salvatore in Palermo on 4 July, on the fringe of a conference on the subject of ceramic in architecture, held by Ceramics of Italy in partnership with Proviaggi Architettura.

The jury, comprising the architects Mario

Tile International 2/2017

Cucinella, Cherubino Gambardella and Fulvio Irace, assessed the 68 projects submitted against the criteria of overall design, use of ceramic tiles, quality of installation and contribution to the environment. The winning project in the Residential category was “The Sky above Asnières-sur-Seine” in France, designed by 5+1AA Architectures, using Casalgrande Padana tiles.

The project “CPN 21”, a residential building in Milan designed by DGO_Diego Grandi Office, using Lea Ceramiche tiles, was singled out for a special mention.

MARAZZI OPENS IN LONDON During the Clerkenwell Design Week (2325 May), Marazzi inaugurated its first showroom in London, in the heart of the design cluster based in Clerkenwell.

The new, 300 square metre showroom

24

overlooking St. John Street was designed by the architects Lorenzo Baldini and Antonio Pisano, the founders of London-based firm Marcel Mauer.

The opening of the new store serves the dual purpose of stepping up Marazzi’s presence on the UK market, and strengthening its position within the community of international architects and interior designers. Distributed over three floors, the showroom displays all the latest collections from Marazzi, and gives visitors an insight into the brand’s high quality and pioneering creativity. It also showcases the uniqueness of Marazzi products and the company’s dedication to research and innovation. The top floor consists of a flexible work area that’s a cross between an artist’s workshop and an architecture studio, where a long table is strategically arranged to create suitable work spaces for both individuals and entire work teams.

From ultra-stylish ceramic tiles to extra-large slabs for architecture.

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F O L L O W

U S

Tilenews

CASALGRANDE PADANA CHECKS IN AT THE ALPIN PANORAMA HOTEL HUBERTUS A 25 metre, cantilevered infinity pool gives guests the chance to swim suspended between the earth and the sky, 12 metres above ground-level, with a panoramic view over the Dolomites.

Nothing about the pool at the magnificent Alpin Panorama Hotel Hubertus at Valdaora in Val Pusteria is ordinary.

In fact it’s a monumental structure, with

a strong emphasis on contemporary design and materials.

Designed on a bespoke basis by a team of young architects from the firm NOA, as part of a wider upgrade to the hotel, the pool is supported by four metal posts clad in wood, and stands suspended in mid-air at a height of 12 metres above the ground. Its massive shell is clad with large-format ceramic tiles from the Amazzonia collection by Casalgrande Padana, in size 60x60, in Dragon Black.

FIEMME 3000 MAKES NEW YORK DEBUT In mid-May, one month after opening its second single-brand store in China, in the city of Chongqing, Fiemme 3000, a Trento-based company specialising in biocompatible wood floor and wall coverings and furnishings, inaugurated a new “Casa Fiemme” in Manhattan, at Italian Green Design, founded by the architect Claudio Conter.

Tile International 2/2017

26

Casa Fiemme in New York is a 150 square metre studio/showroom devoted to residential and commercial interior design based on Italian products, custom-made items and sustainability.

Casa Fiemme uses an innovative distribution model built around single-brand or multi-brand showrooms, like the one in New York, that fully represent the company’s identity by means of a process of selection and advanced training for professionals whose work helps disseminate the values of a biocompatible approach.

“This latest opening marks an important milestone for us,” explained Marco Felicetti, Managing Director of Fiemme 3000. “The aim of the new ‘Casa Fiemme’ is to provide a consulting service on healthy approaches to livingspace, which have underpinned our design and production philosophy for 25 years, and to offer biocompatible wood floor coverings, wall coverings and furnishing elements with a distinctly hand-crafted character, with full scope for customisation.”

Tilenews

LOSA BY ARPA WINS INTERZUM AWARD

RAK CERAMICS WINS TTA AWARDS 2017

Losa is a new finish by Arpa Industriale, a Piedmont-based company specialising in high-end laminates, which won the “High Product Quality” prize in the “materials and surfaces” category at the Interzum Award organised by the trade show of the same name held in Cologne.

Now in its ninth edition and held every two years in conjunction with the Red Dot Awards, the competition aims to identify the most outstanding design projects in terms of innovative form and function.

The prize awarded to Losa is the third that Arpa Industriale has won at Interzum, in the footsteps of the Best of the Best awarded to the Naturalia collection in 2011 and the prize won by Fenix NTM®, a nanotechnological interior design material, in 2015.

Previewed at SICAM in Pordenone last October, Losa is the result of two years of Research & Development conducted

by ArpaLab, the company’s in-house laboratory. Losa’s structure replicates the 60° cut and is complemented by a selection of decorative pieces specifically designed to accentuate its depth.

RAK Ceramics, one of the world’s largest ceramic manufacturers, won two prizes at The Tile Association Awards (TTA) 2017 in London. The first went to the Country Brick collection, which won “Wall tile of the year”, and the second went to the Circle Wood collection, which won “Floor tile of the year”.

Andrea Mensitieri, RAK’s Vice President of Marketing and Product Development, announced: “The prestigious awards won by Circle Wood and Country Brick formally recognise the intensive work done by our product development team, headed by Paolo Saielli, and our communication team, headed by Marco Borghi; but they also testify to the effort put in by everyone at Rak Ceramics, who can be justifiably proud of their achievements. As a lifestyle solution provider, we endeavour to offer solutions that inspire designers and end-users with their high levels of functional and aesthetic content, and we strive to com-

Tile International 2/2017

28

municate the appeal of every new collection in the right way. The fact that this latest award originates from one of the countries with the highest concentration of architects and interior designers makes it all the more gratifying for us.”

The Tile Association Awards incentivises excellence in the ceramic industry and singles out the best companies in the field, in terms of design and innovation.

Tilenews

NEW SCHLÜTER-SYSTEMS SOLUTIONS AT CERSAIE 2017 At the 2017 edition of the international Cersaie fair, Schlüter-Systems KG will present new solutions for its stylish floor-level shower systems KERDI-LINE and KERDISHOWER/-DRAIN at Stand. no.10 in Area 45. Among other products, will be displayed the company’s new design series for covering linear and point drainages. The Schlüter-KERDI-TS set for safe waterproofing of bathtubs or shower trays is another practical aid in bathroom construction. It includes all required components for connection to the KERDI waterproofing system in accordance with the new DIN 18534-1.

The Iserlohn-based company will present in preview also the new profile Schlüter-FINEC. The finishing leg of this high-quality stainless steel or anodised aluminium profile features a 45° outward fold to form a stylish, narrow corner.

At the same time, it protects the edge of the covering from mechanical damage.

Moreover, Schlüter-DILEX-AHK-TS is designed to be the perfect supplement to the TRENDLINE finishing profiles. The new cove-shaped aluminium profiles, available in the attractive shades ivory, stone grey, and dark anthracite, feature a finely structured surface coating. The profiles are suitable for wall interior corners,

Tile International 2/2017

kitchen countertops, or shelves and thanks to their natural colours, they are a great fit for a number of current trends in tiling.

MARIO CUCINELLA APPOINTED CURATOR OF THE ITALY PAVILION FOR THE 2018 VENICE BIENNIAL Mario Cucinella won the selection procedure to be appointed curator of the Italy Pavilion for the 2018 Biennial headed by Yvonne Farrell and Shelley McNamara -16th Venice International Architecture Exhibition.

The result of the competition was announced by the Minister of Culture and Tourism. In line with Mario Cucinella’s design plan, “Arcipelago Italia” – the team led by the Bologna-based architect – will shine the spotlight on the inland areas of the country, as pillars of regional life, due to the breadth and depth of their history and culture.

“Our study,” explained Cucinella, “develops around a scientific reading of the territory on the basis of four transverse themes: architecture and landscape, infrastructure, society and the economy”.

The opportunities that emerged from this research are illustrated by a selec-

30

tion of about 30 projects aimed at meeting the needs of dwelling, connecting, sharing and progressing, both discretely and integrally.

Special attention will be paid to the post-earthquake emergency context of the Central Apennines, which provides the stimulus for a targeted call-to-action.

As part of its proposal, the firm also suggested that MIBACT should extend the Pavilion beyond the confines of the Biennial, and directly involve local communities, with a view to establishing bijective relations with the territory.

Cucinella is the founder of Mario Cucinella Architects. Since 2004, he has been Honorary Professor at the University of Nottingham, he is currently Scientific Committee Director of PLEA (Passive Low Energy Architecture), and is a winner of the prestigious Honorary Fellowship Award 2017 from the American Institute of Architects (AIA).

His most significant works include the Sino-Italian Ecological Building (SIEEB) in Beijing, the new headquarters of Bologna Municipal Council, the Centre for Sustainable Energy Technologies (CSET) in Ningbo (CHINA), the Guastalla kindergarten in the Italian province of Reggio Emilia, and the new Torre UnipolSai in the Porta Nuova district of Milan.

Tilenews

SCHLÜTER-SYSTEMS INAUGURATES NEW TRAINING CENTRE IN SPAIN Having extended its WorkBox in Iserlohn, Germany, Schlüter-Systems recently opened a new training centre in the heart of Spain’s ceramic cluster.

The new OrangeBox, which was created by converting the old warehouse behind the administrative building in Onda (Castellón), covers an area of 400 square metres and includes a display area showcasing the company’s product range, plus an extensive area set aside for professional training. Because it’s built around a modular concept, furthermore, the OrangeBox can also be

used in flexible units, which are potentially suitable for hosting individual events for clients and architects.

The distinctive features of the new facility include its high energy-efficiency and its totally practical, eco-sustainable approach to design, based on the company’s own solutions, first and foremost Bekotec-Therm, which manages the climate control of the entire complex.

“The new Schlüter-OrangeBox is a single, well equipped hub in which we can run in-depth training sessions on a comprehensive range of practical and theoretical issues relating to our products for dealers, installers and architects,”, explained Branch Director Jorge Viebig during the official inauguration.

INTERNATIONAL AWARDS FOR VILLEROY & BOCH Villeroy & Boch chalked up two international successes in the first half of 2017.

Finion, the company’s latest bathroom collection, won the the Free-Standing Bathrooms category in the iF DESIGN AWARD 2017 with two products - a wash-

Tile International 2/2017

32

basin with vanity unit and a toilet pan with coordinated seat; and the Red Dot Award - Product Design 2017 - for the washbasin paired with the vanity unit.

Made of TitanCeram and Quaryl®, Finion was designed by Patrick Frey and features highly contoured styling. The concept developed by the designer is aimed at achieving the utmost quality and representing a contemporary take on luxury, revolving around relaxation and wellbeing.

Ten washbasin models are available in three different colours, with a rim just 6 mm thick that makes them both elegant and versatile. Thanks to its invisible fixing with SupraFix, the WC and bidet combination blends seamlessly into its surroundings. The WC benefits from DirectFlush technology and a seat measuring just 40 mm thick, with SoftClosing, which is easy to remove for quick cleaning, thanks to the QuickRelease system.

The free-standing bath-tub made of Quaryl®, with rims just 15 mm thick, has a compact footprint of 170x70 cm, while offering lots of interior space, and can be customised in a wide range of colours.

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Tilenews

PROGRESS PROFILES REPORTS 30% RISE IN TURNOVER IN 2016 Progress Profiles, a leading manufacturer of technical and decorative finishing profiles and installation systems, is still growing: in line with the upward trend set over the past five years, the firm reported double-digit growth in turnover (+30%), to a total of 40 million euros.

Compared with the performance of the Italian construction industry as a whole, these results are astounding, and originate from investments in various areas, from technological research to increased staff numbers, and from training to the opening of new subsidiaries.

Last year saw the opening of Progress Profiles Oceania Pty Ltd in Melbourne, Australia, with 300 square metres of showroom, office and warehouse space, and a major extension was made to the company’s headquarters in Asolo, in the Italian province of Treviso, with the construction of a new 2500 square metre building to accommodate new production lines and an automated warehouse.

“Our growth should not be measured in merely quantitative terms,” explained Dennis Bordin, Chairman of Progress

Tile International 2/2017

Profiles. "The whole team, from management to staff and external partners to warehouse operators, has shown an outstanding aptitude for innovating on a daily basis to meet the requirements of the market. It also upholds our values in everything it does, and strives to achieve the highest levels of customer satisfaction. I’m especially proud of our latest investment in technological innovation: a special machine, worth 2 million euros, capable of reproducing the shades and grain patterns of various species of wood and producing an infinite range of custom effects. It’s one of just a handful in operation worldwide.”

Training is another of the Treviso-based company’s strengths. In 2016 alone, it provided training for over 4,000 operators in the form of free courses and workshops in Italy and abroad, and covered the travel expenses of architects and installers attending the courses.

On the strength of over 30 years in the business, Progress Profiles is recognised worldwide and supplies a range of 13,000 products to over 60 countries. But while export markets account for 34% of total turnover, which has been boosted by the opening of subsidiaries in Melbourne, Dubai and Randolph (New Jersey), Italy is still the heart of the business.

34

TARKETT WINS RED DOT AWARD: PRODUCT DESIGN 2017 A sparklingly eclectic collection of coverings by Tarkett was among the winners of the Red Dot Award: Product Design 2017.

The jury picked “iD Mixonomi”, a new series of modular vinyl flooring that’s perfect for creating characterful interiors, from among 5,500 entrants from 54 countries. The underlying concept is the highly distinctive combination of colours and patterns, revolving around 33 shades and 10 iconic and versatile shapes to choose from. “Receiving an award from such an influential organisation as Red Dot testifies to Tarkett’s leadership in the design sector,” commented Florian Bougault, Art Director, Tarkett Stores and Shops, Hospitality and Leisure (SSHL). “With each new collection we launch, we aim to push back the boundaries of conventional design. The iD Mixonomi line provides architects and interior designers with unlimited creative scope, enabling them to give free rein to their design flair and compose totally one-off flooring patterns”. To provide designers with a comprehensive service, Tarkett has also developed a Mixonomi digital library that they can browse through, to view models and layouts in all types of virtual contexts, using the specific online configurator.

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Economy & markets

Construction in Europe, 83rd Euroconstruct A GDP growth of 1.5% to 2% per annum in the period 2017-2019 is projected for the 19 Euroconstruct countries, almost unchanged from the previous projection in November 2016 (Barcelona).

European economy is set to follow a moderate growth path, stimulated by still relatively low oil prices, the weaker euro exchange rate and the ECB’s stimulus policy (quantitative easing).

In most countries domestic consumer demand is increasing, stimulated by declining unemployment. Investment has started to pick up, particularly since households and companies can still secure inexpensive financing, and foreign demand is developing favourably.

However, the pace of recovery remains relatively moderate due to the sluggish imple-

mentation of reforms as well as long-standing weak growth trends. In general, the European economic growth potential is lower than it was before the crisis, due to the population ageing and declining productivity growth.

The recovery of the European economy has boosted construction output growth. In 2016 construction output expanded by 2.5%, 0.5%-point stronger than was expected half a year ago.

The volume of construction output is forecast to increase by 2.9% this year and by 2.4% in 2018, both above the previous projections in Barcelona (+2.1% in 2017 and +2.2% in 2018). Thanks to the stronger economic upswing than expected half a year ago, very strong improvement in consumer confidence and the continuing loose monetary

Performance of the main segments

struction expanded by 8.8% in 2016, and this year growth is also expected to be very strong (+6.8%).

A significant slowdown will take place in 2018 and 2019.

Residential renovation and maintenance grows steadily by about 1.5% per year. It will be the first sector where the output will reach and exceed pre-crisis levels, which is projected to happen already this year.

Residential construction has expanded by 5% in 2016.

In the coming years the growth will become progressively less strong, with an expansion by 3.7% in 2017, 2.3% in 2018 and 1.7% in 2019.

The output in the sector is boosted by demographic trends, increase in household income and low mortgage rates. New residential con-

Non-residential construction grows modestly in the coming years, by 2.3% in 2017, 1.8% in 2018 and 1.2% in 2019.

The recovery in new construction began only last year, later than in other sectors.

After the initial growth of 2.5% in 2016 and 2.8% in 2017, the expansion becomes much less dynamic (1.9% in 2018 and 1.0% in 2019).

policy, construction demand develops stronger than was expected, resulting in an expansion of the construction output by 8% in 2016-2018, compared to the forecast of 6.5% in Barcelona.

Thereafter the outturn is expected to moderate in 2019 (+2%), which is slightly below the Barcelona figure (+2.1%).

1. GDP and Construction output in EC Countries Year on year to change in %

Tile International 2/2017

2. Construction output by segment (Constant price, 2013=100) Year on year to change in %

38

Economy & markets

Total construction output (% change in real terms) Forecast 2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

Outlook 2018

2019

Austria

-0.9

-0.1

-0.6

1.3

1.6

1.4

1.1

Belgium

-0.9

1.5

1.7

3.3

1.1

1.5

2.0

Denmark

-0.1

3.2

3.7

4.5

2.2

2.7

3.2

Finland

-3.3

-2.2

2.3

7.6

1.7

-0.3

-0.1

France

-1.3

-6.0

-2.0

3.3

4.4

3.8

2.5

Germany

-0.6

1.8

0.4

2.4

2.0

0.4

-0.4

Ireland

1.8

9.9

8.5

12.5

7.0

6.8

9.4

Italy

-3.4

-2.2

0.8

1.9

2.3

2.2

2.1

Netherlands

-3.5

0.5

7.6

6.8

4.1

3.9

3.3

Norway

2.3

1.4

1.4

6.6

5.6

3.6

2.6

Portugal

-14.5

-1.0

3.5

-1.5

3.0

4.5

5.0

Spain

-18.7

-1.7

2.9

1.8

3.0

4.1

3.6

Sweden

0.9

8.6

5.3

7.1

8.1

2.9

-0.3

Switzerland

3.4

3.5

2.0

0.1

1.2

2.8

2.1

United Kingdom

1.6

8.6

4.2

2.7

1.3

1.3

1.7

Western Europe (EC-15)

-2.3

0.8

1.6

3.1

2.8

2.2

1.7

Czech Republic

-7.0

4.1

7.1

-5.8

0.0

4.9

8.3

Hungary

6.0

8.4

2.9

-20.1

19.7

16.0

9.3

Poland

-4.3

4.9

4.0

-4.7

4.9

6.5

5.0

Slovak Republic

-5.2

-3.5

18.5

-11.4

4.0

1.7

0.4

Eastern Europe (EC-4)

-3.9

4.6

5.4

-7.2

5.3

7.0

6.0

Euroconstruct Countries (EC-19)

-2.4

1.0

1.8

2.5

2.9

2.5

2.0

Del Conca "Fast"

Source: 83 Euroconstruct Conference rd

39

Tile International 2/2017

Economy & markets

These growth rates are very modest given the extent of the losses during the crisis.

Despite the positive impulse from the growth of consumer demand and relatively high corporate profits, the expansion in the sector is hindered in many countries by conditions for external financing and by the financial situation of public authorities.

The subsectors where public financing plays an important role – construction of educational and miscellaneous buildings – lag behind other sectors, with average growth rates in 2017-2019 of 1% and 1.4% respectively.

Interestingly, the highest growth rates in the coming years (3% per annum on average) will also be reached in a sector with a significant public involvement – construction of health buildings.

The subsectors of new construction where the financing mainly comes from private parties increase in the coming years at remarkably similar rates of 2% per annum on average.

Renovation and maintenance expands by around 1.5% each year.

Civil engineering output, after a contraction by 1.8% in 2016, will increase by 2% this year and by 3.6% in both 2018 and 2019.

The growth rates in the Western European region are approximately 0.5%-point lower than in the EUROCONSTRUCT area as a whole, while in the

Tile International 2/2017

CEE countries civil engineering will expand forcefully (by 10% per year on average), largely due to the new round of EU structural funds.

The acceleration of the growth in 2018 and 2019 compared to 2017 is mostly brought about by the strongly improving dynamics in Spain and the UK. Road construction is the most dynamic sector in the coming three years, increasing by 5% per annum on average.

The growth of civil engineering is facilitated by the condition of the infrastructure network, by EU-, national and regional funds, by economic growth and by the environmental protection goals.

Budget imbalances in many countries and general financing conditions prevent civil engineering from expanding even stronger.

Overview by countries Hungarian construction is the stellar performer in the period 2017-2019, growing by 14.9% per year on average. In Ireland, an expansion by 7.7% on average in the coming three years will follow an even stronger growth by more than 10% yearly in 2014-2016.

Construction activity will also expand strongly in 2017-2019 in Poland (5.5% on average), Czech Republic (4.3%) and Portugal (4.1%).

The strong growth in CEEcountries follows a rather significant drop in 2016 and is driven for by a new round of

the EU structural fund in combination with strong demand for housing and, in Hungary, new government measures stimulating new residential construction. Ireland and Portugal are recovering from a very deep fall in construction output.

Despite the strong increase, construction output in Ireland will in 2019 still lie 60% under the pre-crisis level, and in Portugal 40%.

These figures indicate that in the aftermath of the financial crisis, growth rates as such do not necessarily give a correct impression of the health of an individual construction market.

This health can better be judged by a combination of the current performance relative to the historic levels and the future growth prospects.

From this perspective three strong performers can be identified: Poland, Norway and Sweden.

The construction output in these countries in 2016 is around 20% above the precrisis level, and it will increase strongly in the coming years (5.5% on average in Poland, 3.9% in Norway and 3.5% in Sweden).

40

EUROCONSTRUCT is a network of 19 European research institutes founded in 1975.

Over the years it has gained international credibility due to the high quality of the information it publishes.

Euroconstruct provides regular analysis and forecasts for the construction market in its member countries: Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovak Republic, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and United Kingdom.

The 84rd edition of the Conference will be held in Munich on 23 and 24 November 2017.

The other countries with output above or close to the precrisis level are showing average growth rates of 2% at most, while all countries which still have catching up to do expand by more than 2% per year, but none of them reaches the pre-crisis level in the coming three years.

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Economy & markets

Confindustria Ceramica data: Italian ceramic production in 2016

Vittorio Borelli At its 2017 annual general meeting, Confindustria Ceramica presented a series of statistical studies relating to the various segments that make up the Italian ceramic industry.

A total of 225 Italian manufacturers of ceramic tiles, sanitaryware, tableware and refractory materials were in business in 2016, employing 24,765 staff between them and generating total turnover of 6,193 billion euros (+6%).

Here we’re going to focus on the data relating to the Ceramic Tiles segment, which is made up of 147 companies on Italian soil (three less than in 2015), employing 18,956 staff (-1.0%), producing 416

Tile International 2/2017

million square metres of tile (+5.4%) and generating sales of 414.5 million square metres (+4.5%).

After falling for eight years running, sales volumes in Italy have finally turned the corner and gone up, to 82.8 million square metres (+3.2%), but this is still only half the size of the market before the financial crisis.

Export volumes, meanwhile, are rising, and now stand at 331.7 million square metres (+4.8%).

The total revenues of ceramic manufacturers with production based in Italy has thus risen to over 5.4 billion euros (+5.9%), of which 4.6 billion come from exports (+6.2%) – accounting

for 85% of total turnover – and 829 million from sales on the Italian market. Investments have risen for the third year running, and reached 400.4 million euros in 2016 (+14% on 2015, on the heels of a 22.7% increase in 2014).

Valued at 7.4% of annual turnover, investments in Italy’s ceramic industry are now higher than in any other manufacturing sector.

The reasons for this include the fact that manufacturers have regained competitiveness by using more advanced technologies for Italian ceramic products, and modernising their plants and production lines, thereby boosting investors’ confidence in the industry’s prospects.

Investments for the current year have also received a boost from the tax incentives made available under the “Industry 4.0” scheme, in which ceramic manufacturers are already actively engaged.

Internationalisation of production: 16 foreign-registered subsidiaries, belonging to nine Italian ceramic groups, were in business in 2016, employing 3,283 staff (+6.2%) in plants producing 85 million square metres of tile (+3.2%).

Total revenues reached 855.6 million euros (+8%), 474.5 million of which were generated from business in Europe (representing a rise of 2.6% and a 55.4% share of the total) and the remaining 381 million from sales in North America (+15.5%). 79.5% of total revenues derive from sales within the subsidiary’s home market.

42

The view of Vittorio Borelli “The ceramic industry is consolidating its structure,” explains Vittorio Borelli, Chairman of Confindustria Ceramica, “against a backdrop of substantial investment in new technologies, in order to retain its world leadership in a positive, albeit increasingly competitive, economic climate.”

“Expected growth in world GDP in 2017 (+3.2%) combined with growth in international trade (+3.1) are reassuring factors for an export-oriented industry like ours, despite the rise in interest rates in the United States.

The top item on the agenda of the Italian ceramic industry,” the association’s Chairman points out, “is still anti-dumping measures against imports of Chinese tiles into Europe, which are currently under review in order to obtain a five-year extension, in accordance with the applicable regulations. Concerns have been raised, however, regarding the proposed EU law amending existing antidumping legislation, under which the award of Market Economy Status (MES) to China could give rise to a less dependable procedure and less effective anti-dumping measures.”

Another key topic is energy. “Regarding the general costs of electrical power, we have confidence in the recent announcements of Carlo Calenda, the Minister for Economic Development, in relation to the amendment of art.

Economy & markets

ITALIAN CERAMIC TILE INDUSTRY: forecasts for 2017-2018 2016

2013

2014

2015

Mill. sq.m

2017

2018

Variation %

Sales in Italy

83

-7.2

-6.6

-0.6

3.2

1.9

1.4

Total exports

332

4.8

3.6

0.9

4.8

3.9

3.7

167

-0.8

5.3

1.9

5.0

3.7

3.5

Central & Eastern Europe

31

4.3

-2.2

-17.3

2.0

3.2

3.5

Balkans

17

0.4

4.9

5.0

5.3

2.6

2.9

NAFTA

49

11.7

2.5

5.9

8.5

4.4

3.8

4

19.8

-5.4

-4.8

-21.1

1.6

3.0

Gulf States

12

14.1

-1.5

4.9

3.2

4.9

5.2

North Africa – Middle East

11

34.1

-4.2

-8.6

2.0

2.8

2.5

Far East

19

17.3

8.5

14.3

4.8

4.9

4.4

Western Europe

39, with a view to including Trade Intensity as a parameter,” continues Vittorio Borelli. “Also on the subject of systemic competitiveness, we were very pleased to hear the announcement of Graziano Delrio, the Minister for Infrastructure, who visited Sassuolo last week and confirmed that the Additional Act is due for signature imminently, and will complete the programme for building the Campogalliano/ Sassuolo Road Link, and that the respective construction work will start by May 2018.”

“On the Italian construction market, a number of positive signs that emerged in 2016 have now crystallised, and an upturn in sales of ceramic tiles is under way,” announced the Chairman of Confindustria Ceramica, “thanks in part to the extension of tax relief on upgrades to the seismic resilience of buildings, including apartment complexes. On top of all this, the stand-space for Cersaie 2017, the Bologna-based trade show to be held in September, is now fully booked, and Cersaie 2018 will be expanding into a number of new pavilions at the BolognaFiere trade fair complex.”

“Our future competitiveness lies in the hands of the younger generations,” concludes Vittorio Borelli, “and the training opportunities offered by our Association, in conjunction with eight Higher Education Institutes in the Province of Modena, plays a key role in this; not to mention our long-standing relationships with various faculties of architecture, engineering and design throughout Italy.”

5

2016

Latin America

Rest of the world

20

9.2

12,9

8.1

8.4

6.1

5.4

Total sales

415

1.8

1.4

0.6

4.5

3.5

3.3

Production

416

-1.0

5.0

3.4

5.4

3.8

3.5

National consumption

103

-6.8

-3.3

1.6

5.7

2.3

1.1

21

-4.1

18.2

13.0

17.6

3.9

-0.1

Imports

Source: Prometeia, “Osservatorio Previsionale per l’industria delle piastrelle in ceramica” (Forecasting Report for the ceramic tile industry)

ITALIAN CERAMIC TILE INDUSTRY: Var 2016/2015 % 2014

2015

2016

Var. %

Companies (number)

150

150

147

-2.0%

Employees (number)

19,430

19,143

18,956

-1.0%

Production (million sq.m)

381.7

394.8

416.0

+5.4%

Total Sales (million sq.m)

394.6

396.9

414.5

+4.5%

80.8

80.3

82.8

+3.2%

313.7

316.6

331.7

+4.8%

… of which Italy … of which exports Investments (million euros) Total Revenues (million euros) … of which Italy … of which exports

286.2

351.3

400.4

+14.0%

4,914.0

5,117.0

5,417.1

+5.9%

804.0

799.0

828.8

+3.7%

4,109.0

4,318.0

4,588.3

+6.2%

Source: Confindustria Ceramica Research Centre

INTERNATIONALISATION OF PRODUCTION: Var 2016/2015 % 2014 Companies (number) controlled by 9 Italian Groups

2015

2016

Var. %

16

16

16

0,00

3,186

3,091

3,283

+6.2%

Production (million sq.m)

77.2

82.3

85.0

+3.2%

Total Sales (million sq.m)

80.6

82.4

86.3

+4.7%

721.5

792.2

855.6

+8.0%

Employees (number)

Total Revenues (million euros) of which 79.5% from sales in the market where production is based Source: Confindustria Ceramica Research Centre

43

Tile International 2/2017

Economy & markets

Italian ceramic manufacturers: 2016 revenues Revenues generated by ceramic tiles manufactured in Italy by Italian companies saw a year-on-year increase of 5.9% in 2016 to 5.4 billion euros – just shy of the pre-crisis figure of 5.5 billion recorded in 2008.

This is again largely due to exports, which rose by 6.2% to a value of 4.6 billion euros, equating to 85% of total turnover.

The domestic market also saw a long-awaited upturn, with sales rising to 829 million euros as against 799 million in 2015 (+3.7%).

The data reported by Confindustria Ceramica, which we cover in greater depth on later pages (see page 42), also point to a rise in national tile production, which reached 416 million sq.m (+5.4%), with sales of 414.5 million sq.m (+4.5%).

In keeping with its annual tradition, TILE INTERNATIONAL has collected the 2016 revenues of Italy’s biggest ceramic manufacturers, to compile a league table of excellence for its early summer issue.

Again this year we have decided to open with the results of Marazzi and Dal Tile, owned by Mohawk Industries Inc., but to keep them sepa-

Tile International 2/2017

rate from the league table. Following its acquisition of Marazzi Group in April 2013, however, Mohawk Industries has become the world’s largest tile manufacturer and produces a substantial part of its output at some of Italy’s largest manufacturing facilities. On 20 January 2017, what’s more, a deal was struck for the 100% purchase of Emilceramica by Marazzi.

Let’s take a look at the 2016 league table of revenues of Italy’s biggest manufacturers.

Revenues of over 200 million euros There’s no change in the rankings of Italy’s six tile manufacturing groups with revenues of over 200 million euros.

Top spot is held by Concorde Group, which remains firmly at the head of the table, although it has not yet released a preview of its figures. As early as 2015, however, it had already recorded revenues of 726.9 million euros (+6.3% on 2014).

What’s more, it achieved this result with its Italian brands only, so excluding the contribution of Novoceram, France; Italon, Russia; Landmark, USA; Meta, a producer of ceramic

body, and Svimisa, a producer of raw materials.

Iris Ceramica Group remains in second place, with turnover of 530 million euros in 2016 (+10.4% on the previous year).

In third place is Gruppo Finfloor, which has increased its consolidated revenues to 406.8 million euros (+8.7%).

Panariagroup with substantial operations in the United States market (which accounts for 37% of Group turnover) and having installed a third production line at its Lawrenceburg facility in Kentucky, closed 2016 with revenues of 377.0 million euros (+9.9% compared with 2015).

Casalgrande Padana takes fifth place, with revenues of 278.4 million euros (+1.8%) generated entirely – it should be added – by Italian-based production.

Cooperativa Ceramica d’Imola, another player with production plants in Italy only, finished in sixth place, with revenues of 248.0 million euros (+2.9%).

100 to 200 million euros The “middle order” consists of nine companies with revenues of between 200 and 100 million euros, including two

new entries in 2016, namely ABK Group and Industrie Ceramiche Piemme, with yearon-year growth of 10.7 and 8.0% respectively.

Gruppo Emilceramica took

Entire contents Copyright Tile Edizioni srl - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 44

Economy & markets

first place in this segment, with revenues of 184.7 million euros in 2016.

On 20 January, furthermore, Emilceramica signed an agreement under which it was

taken over by the multinational Mohawk, through the latter’s subsidiary Marazzi.

Ricchetti Group generated revenues of 165.2 million euros, down 8.6% year on year.

Faetano-Del Conca has achieved excellent results, in the shape of an 11.9% rise in turnover compared with the previous year, equating to 163.8 million euros.

This is due to its production of porcelain tile in the Loudon facility in the USA, which increased its production capacity from 3 to 6 million sq.m.

Gruppo Gresmalt also contin-

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Tile International 2/2017

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Economy & markets

ued the growth trend it started in 2010, reporting revenues of 117.2 million euros, up 16.8% on the previous year.

Gruppo Gold Art also put in an excellent performance, as always, and generated an impressive 52% of its revenues on the domestic market.

Rondine Group, meanwhile, reported the biggest increase in the segment, with a rise in revenues of 25.7%.

Gruppo Romani SpA also reported solid growth, having reorganised its manufacturing and logistical operations with a total investment of some 40 million euros over the past three years, over half of which was channelled into plant upgrades at its Rubiera facility.

Less than 100 million euros Like their larger counterparts, the vast majority of companies in the under-100-million segment reported year-onyear increases in revenues.

One of the most outstanding results came from Laminam: having already achieved a 26.9% increase in revenues in 2014, the company chalked up another staggering increase of 36.0% last year.

Three other companies in the “small” segment, meanwhile, reported increases of over 20%, namely La Fabbrica

with +24.7%, Ceramica Fondovalle with +23.9% and Polis with 21%.

As always, turnover of 30 million euros per year marked the cut-off point for inclusion in the TILE INTERNATIONAL survey.

Q1 2017: data and analysis Our first point applies to Italy’s largest ceramic manufacturers: the crème de la crème, occupying the top four places in the 2016 rankings and reporting revenues of well over 370 million euros per year, are all widely internationalised on the production front.

They undoubtedly account for the lion’s share of the 85 million square metres of tiles manufactured outside Italy in 2016 by 16 foreign-registered subsidiaries of 9 Italian ceramic groups, generating turnover of 855.6 million euros (+8% on the previous year), 55% of which came from sales in Europe, and the remaining 45% from sales in North America.

Our second point applies to all the companies in the 2016 rankings: of those that generated over 50% of their turnover from the Italian market in 2016, three reported strong or very strong growth (Gold Art +8.4%, Polis +21% and Sichenia +35.8%), while two re-

Entire contents Copyright Tile Edizioni srl

Economy & markets

ported a downturn (Savoia Italia -5.1%; Altaeco -1.0%).

Savoia Italia, however, was keen to point out that it suffered an inevitable slowdown in production in 2016 due to the upgrading of its plants, but reported a substantial increase in sales as soon as it was fully up and running again, in the first quarter of 2017. Altaeco meanwhile – which unquestionably produces products of impeccable aesthetic quality – still seems to lack a clear sense of direction in its communication with dealers and designers. So it’s pretty clear that product innovation on the technological front needs to be backed up by careful nurturing of relations with the world of distribution.

Because as soon as conditions pick up, the main beneficiaries are always those players that managed to keep a high profile in their target market.

Lastly, a brief word about the data regarding the first quarter of 2017 that we received directly from companies while gathering 2016 revenues figures: • all the companies that took part in the survey (over 60% of those we contacted) reported increases in orders in the first three months of 2017 compared with the same period the previous year, both on export markets (with an average of +6.5%) and on the Italian market (a shade higher on +7.0%).

• China and the Far East, the Middle East and North America (in descending order) all reported double-figure increases in demand in the first quarter of 2017.

European markets, including Russia, also generated an increase in orders, and the only bad news came from North Africa, which saw a sharp downturn demand.

5

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

2016 TURNOVERS: MARAZZI - DAL TILE MOHAWK INDUSTRIES, Inc

USD 3,175 million

(2016: consolidated, ceramic division only - data originate from public sources) 2012: USD 1,616 million - 2013: USD 2,677 million - 2014: USD 3,015 million 2015: USD 3,013 million These revenues were generated by the following companies and/or brands: • MARAZZI (All markets) • RAGNO (All markets) • DAL-TILE (North America) • KERAMA MARAZZI (Russia) • AMERICAN OLEAN (North America) • KAI GROUP (Bulgaria and Romania) Production

Internationalisation Employees

205/225 million sq.m (Marazzi production capacity: Tile International 2015 estimate) North/South America-Europe-Russia-Asia Over 37,000

CONCORDE GROUP

€ 726.9 million* * The published data relate to 2015, originate from public sources and include only the group’s Italian brands

2003: € 378.2 million - 2004: € 425.9 million - 2005: € 525.0 million - 2006: € 581.0 million 2007: € 651.0 million - 2008: € 669.0 million - 2009: € 544.0 million - 2010: € 551.3 million 2011: € 567.8 million - 2012: € 573.8 million - 2013: € 611.8 million - 2014: € 683.8 million These revenues were generated by the following companies and/or brands: • CERAMICHE ATLAS - CONCORDE (Atlas Concorde - Keope - Supergres): • MIRAGE GRANITO CERAMICO: • CERAMICA CAESAR (Caesar - Fap - Minerva): • CERAMICA MARCA CORONA: • CERAMICA REFIN:

Internationalisation 2 facilities in Europe (1 in France, 1 in Russia)

€ 277.4 million € 142.7 million € 153.8 million € 74.0 million € 79.0 million

*The consolidated figure does not include the revenues of: Novoceram (France), Italon (Russia), Landmark (USA), Meta (ceramic body), Svimisa (raw materials).

IRIS CERAMICA GROUP

€ 530.0 million (consolidated)

2012: € 420.0 million - 2013: € 440.0 million - 2014: € 450.0 million - 2015: € 480.0 million These revenues were generated by the following brands: • FIANDRE Architectural Surfaces • FMG, Fabbrica Marmi e Graniti

47

• IRIS CERAMICA • SAPIENSTONE

»»

Tile International 2/2017

Economy & markets • ARIOSTEA • PORCELAINGRES (Germany) • GRANITECH • MATIMEX • TECNOMIX • LA CERAMICA

• EIFFELGRES • STONEPEAK CERAMICS (USA) • TECHNORIUNITE • ARCAREL • SAVOIA CANADA

Production 22.0 million sq.m (floor tile 95% - wall tile 5%) Internationalisation 2 facilities: Stonepeak Ceramics (USA) and Porcelaingres (Germany) Exports 80% Employees 1,600

FINFLOOR GROUP

€ 406.8 million (consolidated)

2003: € 286.3 million - 2004: € 308.1 million - 2005: € 343.7 million 2006: € 355.2 million - 2007: € 343.4 million - 2008: € 330.6 million 2009: € 259.7 million - 2010: € 273.8 million - 2011: € 304.6 million 2012: € 315.3 million - 2013: € 325.8 million - 2014: € 329.5 million 2015: € 374.1 million These revenues were generated by the following brands: • FLORIM CERAMICHE spa (Floor Gres-Rex-Cerim-Casa Dolce Casa-Casamood-FLORIM stone) • FLORIM USA Inc. and subsidiary • MAKER SRL Production 27 million sq.m Internationalisation 1 factory in Tennessee (USA); 2 logistic centres, 1 in Georgia (USA) and 1 in Paraná (Brazil); companies in Russia and Singapore Exports 79% - data calculated based on the business carried out directly by the group, excluding the revenue generated by third party production Employees 1,324 Finfloor Group made technical investments of 53.5 million euros in 2016, the most significant of which related to: • continuing work on the Mordano plant aimed at upgrading the raw materials preparation department and doubling production capacity for traditional porcelain tile; • completing the renovation work on the raw materials preparation department at the Florim USA plant and constructing a new building to house the technical department; • modernising the production lines at the Fiorano Modenese plant.

The Group also launched two new brands on the market, FLORIM stone (aimed at furnishing designers) and CEDIT - Ceramiche d’Italia. The latter also opened a single-brand store in Milan.

PANARIAGROUP

€ 377.0 million (consolidated)* * The published data originate from public sources

2003: € 212.4 million - 2004: € 235.5 million - 2005: € 247.2 million 2006: € 351.5 million - 2007: € 354.4 million - 2008: € 328.0 million 2009: € 289.9 million - 2010: € 285.2 million - 2011: € 294.1 million 2012: € 280.8 million - 2013: € 273.0 million - 2014: € 290.7 million 2015: € 342.9 million »»

Tile International 2/2017

These revenues were generated by the following brands: • PANARIAGROUP INDUSTRIE CERAMICHE (Panaria Ceramiche, Lea Ceramiche, Cotto d'Este, Fiordo, Blustyle) • GRES PANARIA PORTUGAL (Margres, Love Ceramic Tiles) • PANARIAGROUP USA Inc. (Lea North America, Florida Tile) Internationalisation 2 facilities in Portugal and 1 in the United States Employees 1,600 Panariagroup, a stock-market-listed ceramic manufacturer, closed 2016 with EBITDA of 40.8 million euros (+32.6% on 2015) and net income from sales of 377.0 million euros (+10% on 2015). The US market accounted for 37% of total revenues in 2016. The Group made a series of investments in 2016 aimed at upgrading the technology of all its plants.

The most significant of these involved the Fiorano Modenese plant, which installed a third production line for laminated porcelain tile and a new tile polishing line; the Ilhavo plant in Portugal, which installed a new polishing line for large-format tiles; and the Lawrenceburg plant in Kentucky, USA, which installed a complete new third production line.

CASALGRANDE PADANA € 278.4 million (consolidated) 2003: € 134.0 million - 2004: € 146.0 million - 2005: € 162.0 million 2006: € 178.3 million - 2007: € 294.0 million - 2008: € 295.9 million 2009: € 275.6 million - 2010: € 283.0 million - 2011: € 292.3 million 2012: € 275.0 million - 2013: € 272.7 million - 2014: € 268.8 million 2015: € 273.7 million The Group's turnover was generated by the following brands: • CASALGRANDE PADANA Spa • NUOVA RIWAL CERAMICHE (Alfa Lux, Saime) Production 23.5 mil. sq.m (floor tile 100% - produced in Italy) Exports 75% Employees 1,062 - of which:

Casalgrande Padana spa: 650

Nuova Riwal: 412 Casalgrande Padana invested a total of 26.2 million euros in its Italian production plants in 2016.

COOP. CERAMICA IMOLA GROUP

€ 248.0 million (consolidated) 2003: € 358.3 million - 2004: € 369.1 million - 2005: € 386.4 million 2006: € 385.6 million - 2007: € 384.5 million - 2008: € 370.6 million 2009: € 278.7 million - 2010: € 274.9 million - 2011: € 266.4 million 2012: € 256.6 million - 2013: € 257.6 million - 2014: € 252.0 million 2015: € 241.0 million The following companies and/or brands belong to the Group: • IMOLA CERAMICA • LA FAENZA CERAMICA • LEONARDO CERAMICA Production

20.0 mill. sq.m (floor tile 86% - wall tile 14%) »»

Entire contents Copyright Tile Edizioni srl - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 48

Economy & markets Exports 68% Employees 1,337

2012: € 121.2 million - 2013: € 121.3 million - 2014: € 126.9 million 2015: € 146.4 million

EMILCERAMICA GROUP € 184.7 million (consolidated)

These revenues (net of infra-group transactions) were generated by the following companies and/or brands:

2003: € 169.5 million - 2004: € 173.5 million - 2005: € 190.0 million 2006: € 206.0 million - 2007: € 210.5 million - 2008: € 190.0 million 2009: € 131.4 million - 2010: € 155.9 million - 2011: € 162.2 million 2012: € 170.0 million - 2013: € 190.0 million - 2014: € 180.7 million 2015: € 185.6 million

• CERAMICA DEL CONCA SpA • DEL CONCA USA Inc. • CERAMICA FAETANO SpA (Rep. San Marino) • PASTORELLI SpA • PRODUCO Srl Production Internationalisation

Exports Employees

These revenues were generated by the following brands: • EMILCERAMICA • PROVENZA • EMILAMERICA (USA) • CAOLINO PANCIERA (bodies)

• ERGON • VIVA • ZEUS CERAMICA (Ukraine)

12.2 million sq.m (floor tile 96% - wall tile 4%) San Marino (Ceramica Faetano Spa) Loudon, Tennessee - USA (Del Conca USA) 84% 600

GRESMALT GROUP

Production

€ 117.2 million (consolidated)

9.5 million sq.m, of which 7.6 million produced in Italy (floor tile 99% - wall tile 1%) Internationalisation The group has four logistic centres in the United States. It operates in Ukraine through Zeus Ceramica.

Exports 77% (87% Emilceramica spa) Employees 790 (of which: 524 in Italy)

2003: € 46.4 million - 2004: € 47.9 million - 2005: € 54.7 million 2006: € 59.3 million - 2007: € 68.3 million - 2008: € 65.0 million 2009: € 63.4 million - 2010: € 67.0 million - 2011: € 74.1 million 2012: € 80.2 million - 2013: € 83.8 million - 2014: € 88.3 million 2015: € 100.4 million

On 20 January 2017, Emilceramica signed an agreement for the sale of 100% of the multinational Mohawk Industries, through its subsidiary Marazzi.

• CERAMICHE GRESMALT • SINTESI CERAMICA ITALIANA

RICCHETTI GROUP

These revenues were generated by the following brands:

Production Exports Employees

€ 165.2 million (consolidated)

2003: € 306.4 million - 2004: € 291.6 million - 2005: € 281.3 million 2006: € 282.3 million - 2007: € 271.0 million - 2008: € 241.0 million 2009: € 194.5 million - 2010: € 196.7 million - 2011: € 190.5 million 2012: € 188.6 million - 2013: € 184.0 million - 2014: € 185.2 million 2015: € 180.9 million

Ceramiche Ricchetti Group includes the following companies:

These revenues were generated by the following companies and/or brands: • ENERGIEKER - GOLD ART CERAMICA • MANIFATTURA COTTO TUSCANIA • CMC CERAMICA MANDRIO CORREGGIO • IL CAVALLINO CERAMICA ARTISTICA • GOLD ART POLSKA Production 14.0 million sq.m (floor tile 80% - wall tile 20%) Exports 48%

€ 163.8 million

(net of infra-Group transactions)

RONDINE GROUP

2003: € 113.5 million - 2004: € 121.3 million - 2005: € 130.7 million 2006: € 155.3 million - 2007: € 155.3 million - 2008: € 145.3 million 2009: € 128.0 million - 2010: € 124.0 million - 2011: € 122.1 million »»

Tile International 2/2017

€ 117.0 million

2003: € 63.1 million - 2004: € 64.4 million - 2005: € 72.3 million 2006: € 75.2 million - 2007: € 79.6 million - 2008: € 90.5 million 2009: € 77.7 million - 2010: € 88.2 million - 2011: € 100.0 million 2012: € 96.7 million - 2013: € 106.6 million - 2014: € 108.0 million 2015: € 108.0 million

Production 8.2 million sq.m (floor tile 72% - wall tile 28%) Internationalisation facilities in Portugal and Germany Exports 90% Employees 1,072

14.4 million sq.m (floor tile 100%) 80% 334

GOLD ART CERAMICA GROUP

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

FAETANO-DEL CONCA GROUP

• ABITARE LA CERAMICA • FRASSINORO CERAMICHE

€ 108.7 million (consolidated)

2003: € 58.8 million - 2004: € 58.0 million - 2005: € 60.0 million 2006: € 75.0 million - 2007: € 71.0 million - 2008: € 67.0 million »»

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Economy & markets 2009: € 46.8 million - 2010: € 56.3 million - 2011: € 63.3 million 2012: € 62.8 million - 2013: € 71.3 million - 2014: € 77.7 million 2015: € 86.5 million

2009: € 92.8 million - 2010: € 100.3 million - 2011: € 117.0 million 2012: € 109.2 million - 2013: € 102.5 million - 2014: € 101.3 million 2015: € 102.6 million

These revenues were generated by the following brands:

These revenues were generated by the following brands: • RONDINE spa • CERAMICA SADON • SPRAY DRY (ceramic bodies)

• SERENISSIMA • CIR • CERCOM • CERASARDA • EXE • ISLA TILES

Production 7.7 million sq.m (floor tile 100%) Exports 62% Employees 425

Production 7.3 mil. sq.m (floor tile 90% - wall tile 10%) Exports 66% Employees 291 The Group's production in 2016 included 398.7 thousand tonnes of ceramic body under the Spray Dry brand.

ABK GROUP

The company changed its name from Serenissima Cir Industrie Ceramiche Spa to Gruppo Romani Spa Industrie Ceramiche in 2016.

€ 104.0 million (consolidated)

ITALGRANITI GROUP

2003: € 78.9 million - 2004: € 80.6 million - 2005: € 87.9 million 2006: € 92.5 million - 2007: € 102.2 million - 2008: € 105.1 million 2009: € 90.1 million - 2010: € 89.0 million - 2011: € 83.0 million 2012: € 74.0 million - 2013: € 77.0 million - 2014: € 85.0 million 2015: € 94.0 million

2011: € 81.1 million - 2012: € 77.4 million - 2013: € 68.7 million 2014: € 73.3 million - 2015: € 71.8 million These revenues were generated by the following brands:

These revenues were generated by the following companies and/or brands: • ABK • ARIANA

• FLAVIKER

€ 79.0 million

• ITALGRANITI Production Exports Employees

• CASA TUA • HARDKOLL

Production 5.3 million sq.m (floor tile 92% - wall tile 8%) Exports 70% Employees 382

• IMPRONTA 4.15 million sq.m (floor tile 100%) 82% 221

FINCIBEC GROUP

€ 77.4 million (consolidated)

The merger of AbkSir and HardKoll into ABK Group reached completion in 2016. The Group also installed a new Continua+ line for the production of large-format tiles measuring up to 160x320cm with thicknesses of 6mm and 20mm.

2003: € 93.8 million - 2004: € 98.8 million - 2005: € 96.8 million 2006: € 100.2 million - 2007: € 99.8 million - 2008: € 85.2 million 2009: € 68.0 million - 2010: € 70.8 million - 2011: € 70.6 million 2012: € 67.3 million - 2013: € 69.0 million - 2014: € 71.5 million 2015: € 71.5 million

INDUSTRIE CERAMICHE PIEMME

The Group's turnover was generated by the following brands:

€ 104.0 million

2008: € 89.5 million - 2009: € 71.6 million - 2010: € 80.3 million 2011: € 80.4 million - 2012: € 79.9 million - 2013: € 85.1 million 2014: € 92.0 million - 2015: € 96.3 million

• MONOCIBEC • CENTURY

Production 5.6 mil. sq.m (floor tile 76% - wall tile 24%) Exports 63% Employees 382

These revenues were generated by the following brands: • CERAMICHE PIEMME Production Exports Employees

• NAXOS

• VALENTINO

In 2016, Gruppo Fincibec proceeded with the investment plan it launched in 2014, spending over 6 million euros last year, with a further 18.5 million in the pipeline for 2017.

7.3 million sq.m (floor tile 97.8% - wall tile 2.2%) 86% 344

COEM

GRUPPO ROMANI SPA IND. CERAMICHE

€ 103.4 million (consolidated)

€ 71.4 million

2003: € 48.0 million - 2004: € 53.0 million - 2005: € 54.8 million 2006: € 61.8 million - 2007: € 62.2 million - 2008: € 52.4 million 2009: € 43.0 million - 2010: € 50.5 million - 2011: € 54.7 million 2012: € 55.7 million - 2013: € 55.9 million - 2014: € 58.0 million »»

2003: € 75.1 million - 2004: € 85.0 million - 2005: € 94.1 million 2006: € 100.4 million - 2007: € 105.0 million - 2008: € 104.0 million »»

Entire contents Copyright Tile Edizioni srl - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 51

Tile International 2/2017

Economy & markets 2015: € 62.8 million

Laminam opened two new production plants in 2016, in Borgotaro in the Italian province of Parma, and in the Vorsino Industrial Park in Moscow (Russia).

These revenues were generated by the following brands: • CERAMICHE COEM

OPERA GROUP

• CERAMICA FIORANESE

Production 7.0 million sq.m Exports 71.3% Employees 268

2010: € 61.3 million - 2011: € 55.9 million - 2012: € 53.2 million 2013: € 52.1 million - 2014: € 58.5 million - 2015: € 59.7 million These revenues were generated by the following brands: • OPERA • BELL'ITALIA

Coem has continued to invest in the renovation of its plants with a view to increasing and improving production and customer service. Production also includes 2.6 million sq.m of body to be glazed.

Production

GAMBINI GROUP IND. CERAMICHE

€ 70.0 million (consolidated)

Production 2.6 mil. sq.m (floor tiles 80% - wall tiles 20%) Exports 65% Employees 315

10.0 mil. sq.m (floor tiles 90% - wall tiles 10%) Meg and Parefeuille (France) 86% 315

POLIS MANIFATTURE CERAMICHE

2003: € 51.5 million - 2004: € 55.0 million - 2005: € 56.0 million 2006: € 61.5 million - 2007: € 66.0 million - 2008: € 63.0 million 2009: € 52.0 million - 2010: € 59.0 million - 2011: € 62.6 million 2012: € 58.7 million - 2013: € 59.7 million - 2014: € 62.4 million 2015: € 63.3 million

Production Exports Employees

These revenues were generated by the following brands: • ASCOT • DOM

Production 3.3 mil. sq.m (floor tiles 100%) Exports 88% Employees 168

€ 68.0 million (consolidated)

2010: € 18.5 million - 2011: € 25.0 million - 2012: € 24.1 million 2013: € 29.8 million - 2014: € 39.4 million - 2015: € 50.0 million

Tile International 2/2017

€ 56.7 million*

*The published data refer to 2015

2003: € 54.8 million - 2004: € 56.1 million - 2005: € 47.4 million 2006: € 52.0 million - 2007: € 55.7 million - 2008: € 47.9 million 2009: € 39.1 million - 2010: € 42.8 million - 2011: € 41.6 million 2012: € 40.0 million - 2013: € 40.3 million - 2014: € 51.0 million

In 2015 the Group also produced 2.3 million sq.m of Bitech white body of various sizes, 18% of which was sold.

346

4.3 mil. sq.m (floor tiles 80% - wall tiles 20%) 40% 242

CERAMICHE CCV CASTELVETRO

Production 9.0 mil. sq.m (floor tiles 75% - wall tiles 25%) Exports 69% Employees 257

Employees

€ 59.5 million

2003: € 46.2 million - 2004: € 47.7 million - 2005: € 46.0 million 2006: € 59.0 million - 2007: € 54.6 million - 2008: € 42.6 million 2009: € 37.8 million - 2010: € 40.0 million - 2011: € 41.5 million 2012: € 37.4 million - 2013: € 39.3 million - 2014: € 43.2 million 2015: € 49.2 million

€ 68.1 million

LAMINAM

€ 60.9 million

2003: € 61.7 million - 2004: € 71.3 million - 2005: € 73.0 million 2006: € 80.0 million - 2007: € 80.7 million - 2008: € 68.3 million 2009: € 66.0 million - 2010: € 65.4 million - 2011: € 63.5 million 2012: € 51.4 million - 2013: € 55.8 million - 2014: € 55.8 million 2015: € 56.0 million

These revenues were generated by the following brands: • EPOCA • ELLE-GI CERAMICHE • CERAMICHE TEMPRA • PAREFEULLE (France) • MEG (France)

ASCOT GROUP

12.3 mil. sq.m (floor tile 87.5% - wall tiles 12.5%) Exports 88% Employees 240

CERAMICA SANT’AGOSTINO

2003: € 70.4 million - 2004: not received - 2005: € 72.3 million 2006: € 66.0 million - 2007: € 77.0 million - 2008: € 65.7 million 2009: € 64.2 million - 2010: € 67.7 million - 2011: € 70.2 million 2012: € 67.7 million - 2013: € 67.0 million - 2014: € 67.0 million 2015: € 70.0 million

Production Internationalisation Exports Employees

€ 64.7 million

NOVABELL CERAMICHE ITALIANE »»

€ 52.5 million

2003: € 41.1 million - 2004: € 44.3 million - 2005: € 45.6 million »»

Entire contents Copyright Tile Edizioni srl - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 52

Economy & markets 2006: € 47.0 million - 2007: € 48.0 million - 2008: € 46.0 million 2009: € 39.0 million - 2010: € 41.5 million - 2011: € 41.5 million 2012: € 44.5 million - 2013: € 50.0 million - 2014: € 49.1 million 2015: € 51.9 million

Production 3.6 mill. sq.m (floor tiles 88% - wall tiles 12%) Exports 38% Employees 210

These revenues were generated by the following brands: • NOVABELL • ABITA

CERAMICA FONDOVALLE

Production 4.04 mil. sq.m (floor tiles 88% - wall tiles 12%) Exports 87% Employees 177

CERINDUSTRIES

€ 43.6 million (consolidated)* *The published data originate from public sources

2003: € 61.0 million - 2004: € 68.7 million - 2005: € 65.5 million 2006: € 67.0 million - 2007: € 75.0 million - 2008: € 58.0 million 2009: € 50.3 million - 2010: € 52.0 million - 2011: € 47.0 million 2012: € 50.3 million - 2013: € 48.0 million - 2014: € 44.8 million 2015: € 42.6 million

€ 30.1 million

2010: € 17.3 million - 2011: € 19.1 million - 2012: € 19.9 million 2013: € 21.4 million - 2014: € 22.0 million - 2015: € 24.3 million Production Exports Employees

1.4 mil. sq.m 69.8% 91

Fondovalle implemented a major technological investment plan in 2016, for the production of large-format tiles up to 160x320 cm, in thicknesses of 6, 12 and 20 mm, and for a new logistics and cutting centre specifically for large formats.

SAVOIA ITALIA

€ 29.7 million

These revenues were generated by the following brands: • CERDOMUS • L’ASTORRE • PORCELLANA DI ROCCA

2008: € 35.6 million - 2009: € 33.6 million - 2010: € 35.0 million 2011: € 31.1 million - 2012: € 31.1 million - 2013: € 28.2 million 2014: € 28.0 million - 2015: € 31.3 million

GRANITOFORTE

These revenues were generated by the following brands: • SAVOIA • ALCO

€ 43.3 million*

*The published data refer to 2015 and originate from public sources

2010: € 35.4 million - 2011: € 34.0 million - 2012: € 34.6 million 2013: € 36.5 million - 2014: € 39.5 million

LA FABBRICA - DAFIN GROUP

€ 41.9 million

2010: € 20.1 million - 2011: € 24.9 million - 2012: € 27.7 million 2013: € 29.5 million - 2014: € 28.8 million - 2015: € 33.6 million

Production 2.45 million sq.m (floor tiles 100%) Exports 47% Employees 123 Savoia Italia completed the renovation of its plants in 2016, which involved a shutdown of production on behalf of third parties. Work resumed at the end of the year, and has led to a substantial increase in sales in Italy in 2017.

ALTAECO

These revenues were generated by the following brands: • LA FABBRICA • AVA Employees 83 The investment fund MCP kicked off 2017 by announcing a plan to acquire La Fabbrica SpA, with the support of Graziano Verdi at the head of ItalCer.

€ 28.3 million

2003: € 50.2 million - 2004: € 51.2 million - 2005: € 51.2 million 2006: € 53.6 million - 2007: € 55.0 million - 2008: € 48.3 million 2009: € 39.7 million - 2010: € 42.5 million - 2011: € 42.5 million 2012: € 36.6 million - 2013: € 33.4 million - 2014: € 30.2 million 2015: € 28.6 million

SICHENIA CERAMICHE GR. € 38.7 million (consolidated)

These revenues were generated by the following brands: • CERAMICA VOGUE • APPIANI • CERAMICA BARDELLI • GABBIANELLI

2003: € 70.2 million - 2004: € 72.6 million - 2005: € 73.3 million 2006: € 75.1 million - 2007: € 70.2 million - 2008: € 67.1 million 2009: € 54.0 million - 2010: € 53.0 million - 2011: € 51.7 million 2012: € 40.6 million - 2013: € 32.2 million - 2014: € 26.9 million 2015: € 28.5 million

Production 1.3 million sq.m Exports 46% Employees 315

These revenues were generated by the following brands: • SICHENIA • PHORMA

5

»»

Entire contents Copyright Tile Edizioni srl - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 53

Tile International 2/2017

Economy & markets

The Spanish ceramic tile industry continues its recovery the figure of 746 million euros of domestic sales is still well below 2007 values (around 60% lower).

Nonetheless, growth is expected to continue, largely due to private investments in renovation driven by the recovery of the Spanish economy and the higher spending power of households and consumers.

The strong performance of the sector (the third largest contributor to Spain’s trade surplus) has also buoyed employment and led to the creation of 500 new jobs. R&D investments in innovative materials suitable for use in architecture projects are another important factor.

Isidro Zarzoso The Spanish ceramic tile industry has completed another year of growth, once again confirming the sector’s strong bill of health.

According to figures announced by Ascer’s chairman Isidro Zarzoso, the industry closed 2016 with improvements in all its key indicators.

Total output is estimated to have reached 492 million m2, 11.8% up on the 440 million m2,

of 2015. Sales rose by 7.1% to over 3.3 billion euros, 200 million euros more than in 2015 when the industry reported a similar level of growth (up 6.8% on 2014). This growth was divided equally between exports (+4.8%) and domestic sales (+16%), with the domestic market maintaining the slow but steady recovery that began in 2014.

As Zarzoso pointed out,

Exports Despite a slight slowdown in the second quarter of 2016, exports to a total of 190 countries accounted for 77.5% of the Spanish tile industry’s total turnover at 2.57 billion euros (4.8% up on the 2,452 million euros of 2015).

Europe continues to be the largest market for Spanish tiles with a 45.8% share of total exports and sales of almost 1.2 billion euros

(up 7.7% on 2015). The growth in EU markets (990.7 million euros, +10.3%) offset the further contraction in Eastern Europe (down 7% to 151 million euros, a smaller fall than in 2015). France was the top export market with further 9.9% growth in sales. Growth continued, albeit more slowly, in the UK (third largest export market) at +5.1%, while the growth rate picked up in Germany (+8.7%).

Growth in exports to Italy continued (+12.4%). As for overseas markets, the sharp expansion in exports to the American continent continued in 2016 (383.5 million euros, +22.6%), with growth especially strong in both North America (+30.4%) and Central America (+24.7%). In particular, sales in the United States grew by 28% to 188 million euros, making it the second largest market for Spanish tiles. Spain exported around 17 million m2, of tiles to the USA (source: Tile Council of North America), an increase of 34.6% over 2015 at an average selling price of around 11 euros/ m2,.

Although the Middle East has long been one of the Spanish

Tab. 1 - Turnover of the Spanish ceramic tile industry 2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016 (forecast)

% Var ‘16/’15

Exports

2,211

Domestic sales

1,460

918

801

700

575

557

574

647

746

+16%

Total sales

3,671

2,591

2,548

2,597

2,657

2,797

2,902

3,100

3,316

+7,1%

495

324

366

392

404

420

425

440

492

+11.8%

National Production (sq.m mil.)

1,673

1,747

1,897

Values in million Euros - Source: ASCER

Tile International 2/2017

54

2,082

2,240

2,328

2,452

2,570

+4,8%

Economy & markets

Tab. 2 - Spanish exports by geographical area 2015 (mill. €) Europe

tile industry’s most important markets with a 20.5% share of total exports, the region saw a 1.1% contraction last year with respect to 2015. This was largely due to the sharp downturn in Saudi Arabia (-14.8%), which dropped from second to fourth place in the export market rankings. By contrast, sales performed strongly in Israel (+4.6%) and Lebanon (+16.8%).

Exports to Africa continued to fall in 2016 (-9%), with the majority of sales concentrated in the Maghreb region where the overall contraction was 7.1%. As in 2015, the two largest markets in the region displayed contrasting performances: in Algeria exports fell by 5.2% whereas in Morocco they grew by 13.3%.

Overall, sales in the top 10 export markets totalled 1,317 million euros, 51% of the sector’s total turnover.

5

2016 (mill. €)

% Var ‘16/’15

% of total exports

1,092.1

1,175,9

7.7%

45.8%

- EU-28

897,9

990,7

10.3%

38.6%

- Eastern Europe

162,4

150.9

-7.1%

5.9%

Middle East

532.2

526.0

-1.1%

20.5%

America

312.9

383.5

22.6%

14.9%

197.3

257.3

30.4%

10.0%

147.0

187.9

27.9%

7.3%

62.3

77.7

24.7%

3.0%

- North America - of which USA - Central America - South America Asia - Far East & South East Africa - Magreb Oceania TOTAL

53.2

48.4

-9.1%

1.9%

621.2

619.6

-0.3%

24.1%

83.1

84.8

2.0%

3.3%

402.1

365.8

-9.0%

14.2%

264.1

245.3

-7.1%

9.5%

23.9

24.9

4.4%

1.0%

2,452.2

2,569.7

4.8%

100%

Source: ASCER

Tab. 3 - Top 10 exports destinations of the Spanish industry 2015 (mill. €)

2016 (mill. €)

% Var ‘16/’15

1.

France

233.8

257.0

9.9%

2.

USA

147.0

187.9

29.9 %

3.

United Kingdom

157.5

165.6

5.1%

4.

Saudi Arabia

171.8

146.4

-14.8%

5.

Algeria

130.1

123.4

-5.2%

6.

Israel

93.4

97.7

4.6%

7.

Germany

85.9

93.3

8.7%

8.

Italy

80.7

90.7

12.4%

9.

Morocco

69.6

78.9

13.3%

10. Lebanon

65.3

76.2

16.8%

1,235.1

1,317.1

+6.6%

TOTAL top 10 markets Source: ASCER

55

Tile International 2/2017

Economy & markets FEP - European Federation of the Parquet Industry

The European Parquet Market confirms and consolidates its progress After a long period of a challenging market situation for the European parquet producers, the positive indicators of the recent past are now being confirmed and the market is steadily improving.

The consolidated data provided by the FEP (European Federation of the Parquet Industry) member companies and affiliated national associations confirm the January forecast issued at the DOMOTEX fair in Hannover, and point to a growth of the global European market by 1.7% in 2016. As in the past, the results show some variation from country to country.

Compared to 2015, the overall consumption figures in 2016 show an increase by 1.7%.

The production in FEP territory consolidates its growth by 2.5% and exceeds significantly the 65 million square meter threshold.

The European production outside FEP countries is at an estimated 14.8 million square meters.

As far as production is concerned, the strategic choices made by several producers to relocate their production in European countries outside the FEP territory was once again observed.

The total production in FEP territory rose by 2.53% to a volume of 65,603,120 sq.m. Taking into account the total production in Europe (FEP countries + EU outside FEP), this implies that production in 2016 rose by 2.32% and exceeded 80.4 million sq.m (tab. 1 and fig. 1).

The 2016 total parquet production per type remains similar to the picture already presented from 2010 onwards, whereby multilayer comes in first with 80% (compared to 79% in

Tile International 2/2017

TAB. 1 - Production and consumption of parquet in Europe (1991-2016) Production FEP Countries (***)

000 sq.m

EU Countries outside FEP (**)

y-o-y Var. (%)

Consumption TOTAL

000 sq.m

FEP Countries

y-o-y Var. (%)

000 sq.m

1991

35,294

-0.95%

35,294

47,070

1992

37,977

7.60%

37,977

52,180

1993

40,396

6.37%

40,396

52,720

1994

44,972

11.33%

44,972

57,938

1995

49,798

10.73%

49,798

62,580

1996

50,578

1.57%

50,578

64,676

1997

53,836

6.44%

53,836

63,728

1998

58,308

8.31%

58,308

68,167

1999(*)

64,774

11.09%

64,774

74,888

2000

69,812

7.78%

69,812

84,303

2001

75,621

8.32%

75,621

82,972

2002

76,741

1.48%

76,741

84,758

2003

81,039

5.60%

81,039

89,711

2004

91,453

12.85%

91,453

96,713

2005

93,977

2.76%

93,977

99,279

2006

95,911

2.06%

95,911

104,992

2007

98,334

2.53%

98,334

110,225

2008

82,724

-15.87%

82,724

99,547

2009

65,522

-20.79%

65,522

85,019

2010

68,500

4.54%

68,500

89,780

2011

69,630

1.65%

69,630

90,100

2012

66,266

-4.83%

7,000

73,266

82,888

2013

65,027

-1.87%

10,000

75,027

2.40%

80,681

2014

62,357

-4.11%

13,500

75,857

1.11%

75,404

2015

63,982

2.61%

14,600

78,582

3.59%

75,768

2016

65,603

2.53%

14,800

80,403

2.32%

77,015

(*) As of 1999, figures shown represent total market in FEP area. No distinction is made between “traditional” and “new” member countries. (**) Best estimates according to information received from FEP affiliates. (***) Please note that maritime pine and softwood are no more considered in estimations of French parquet consumption and production, time series have been revised accordingly.

56

Economy & markets

2015), being followed by solid (including lamparquet) with 18% (compared to 19%) and mosaic at 2% of the total cake (fig. 2).

In absolute production figures by country, Poland maintains its top position at 20.08%. Sweden consolidates

its second place on the podium with almost 17%. It is followed by Austria at 14.02%, while Germany comes in as fourth (fig. 4).

Consumption in the FEP area rose by 1.7% to reach 77,014,520 sq.m compared to 75,768,490 sq.m the year

before.

In terms of consumption per country, this is a status quo compared to 2015. Germany consolidates its first position with 23.65% and is followed

by France at 10.63%. Sweden completes the podium with 9.94%.

The Nordic Cluster at 8.48% takes the fourth seat.

Italy with 8.18% takes back its fifth position from Switzerland (8.05%) and is ex aequo with Austria (8.18%) (fig. 4).

As regards the per capita parquet consumption, Sweden has taken the first seat

GRAPH. 1 - Production and consumption of parquet in Europe (1990-2016)

Del Conca "Fast" 57

Tile International 2/2017

Economy & markets

TAB. 2 - Production and consumption of parquet in FEP Countries (Var. % 2016/2015) Production

Consumption

AT

1.0%

2.0%

BE

4.0%

4.0%

CH

-3.3%

-2.2%

CZ

18.3%

3.6%

DE

2.6%

2.5%

ES

0.9%

2.2%

FR

3.0%

4.1%

HU

3.5%

1.0%

IT

-1.8%

0.8%

NL

13.4%

-4.2%

PL

1.3%

1.8%

RO

-0.2%

0.0%

SK

4.0%

1.6%

DK/FIN/NO

1.1%

-1.2%

SE

4.7%

4.0%

FEP

2.5%

1.7%

GRAPH. 2 - Production of parquet per type

(0.77 sq.m) at the expense of Switzerland (0.74 sq.m), which is followed by Austria (0.73 sq.m).

In the total FEP area, the consumption per inhabitant remains stable at 0.19 sq.m in 2016.

Ash and beech remain the two other most commonly chosen species with 5.7% and 2.5% (compared to 3.8% in 2015) respectively.

Use of wood species

After several years of a subdued market situation, the trend turned positive in 2016.

The results after the first quarter of the current year point towards a confirmation and a consolidation of the growth in most of the countries where FEP members are present. It is

The usage of wood species in 2016 indicates that oak is advancing further and reaches 80.8% compared to 77.7% in 2015.

Tropical wood species use decreased slightly to 4.1%.

Tile International 2/2017

58

Outlook for 2017 & 2018

Economy & markets

GRAPH. 3 - Production of parquet in FEP Countries (% tot)

GRAPH. 4 - Consumption of parquet in FEP Countries (% tot)

59

also worth noting the positive developments observed in all Nordic countries.

As the economic picture at European level is improving and the construction sector is clearly seizing the opportunities provided by this encouraging development, the captains of the parquet industry consider that parquet should also be able to profit from these improvements.

As opposed to the brightening market picture, the growing shortage of oak as primary raw material source remains a major concern and has to be stressed once again.

The parquet industry representatives also point to the general uncertainties about the political changes worldwide, which could also have an impact on the European parquet sector.

Despite the harsh competition from flooring alternatives especially those with a wood look surface, FEP trusts that end consumers will be increasingly convinced by the inherent advantages of European Real Wood parquet products, their quality, trustworthiness, sustainable aspect and the fact that Real Wood floors are bringing nature straight into their homes thereby contributing to the mitigation of climate change.

5

Tile International 2/2017

Economy & markets: Special Americas Courtesy of Realtà Mapei

Mapei in North America: hard work and determination

Nick Di Tempora, Honorary Chairman of the Board of MAPEI Corp.

This year Mapei is celebrating 80 years in business. Mapei arrived in the North American market in the 1970s, first opening up in Canada and then in the United States.

You were part of this business venture. What was it like?

past is comparable to what I did, experienced and learned at Mapei.

Mapei’s arrival on the North American market was a real adventure, an exciting discovery of a new world that was a far cry from my own life and my previous experiences.

Until I began working with Giorgio Squinzi I had never even wondered how you install tiles!

They were just there and that was that! This business venture gave me the chance to enter unknown territory and I had to adapt, change my perspective, study all the products and begin from scratch, because nothing I had done in the

The most important factor in Mapei’s growth and expansion was most definitely… all the Italians in the country.

There is a large Italian community in Canada, which is extremely prosperous, thanks to its proud determination to show people what they can do. Lots of Italians found jobs in the building industry in Canada.

They had to overcome the mistrust of the people who welcomed them but saw them as different and strange.

They and their families went

Tile International 2/2017

What were the most important factors in Mapei Inc.’s growth in Canada?

60

through some really hard times, but they managed to integrate perfectly. These people represent the very best of Italy: they are hardworking and know that you have to be willing to roll up your sleeves and make real sacrifices if you want to overcome people’s prejudices.

Giorgio Squinzi showed this same spirit of adventure and tenacity when he was invited over to Canada in 1976 by a distributor for the Montréal Olympics.

Together we have always kept the promises we made to our customers: to provide the best product possible at a competitive price and also the best service possible.

In a nutshell, the very best of Italian skill and expertise.

The respect and trust of our customers were a direct consequence of our constant effort and determination to improve.

You are Italo-Canadian: was it a strategic decision to choose Québec as a starting point rather than other regions of the country?

There

was

no

strate-

gy and no planning in the decision to choose Québec.

It just seemed to be the right launchpad for making our dream take off and fly high: determination, hard work and confidence in our own ability.

For years, you were in charge of the Mapei Corp. in the United States.

What are the most important factors in the associate company’s growth that is still continuing today?

Mapei is growing all the time and that is the way it should be, because our standards are extremely high and our hard work is the best guarantee we can offer our customers. Mapei is not just a business, it is a philosophy of life that encompasses everything that once made Italy’s history, culture and genius so incomparable.

I know I am repeating myself when I say that excellence can only be attained by making sacrifices, working hard, gaining people’s trust and showing bravery and plenty of heart.

That is why Mapei has al-

Economy & markets: Special Americas

Mapei Corp, headquarter Deerfield Beach (Florida)

ways been seriously involved in social projects.

All this is part of a world vision that involves investment in

the community. Growing also means helping others grow, drawing on your own resources for the common good.

Rodolfo Squinzi, founder of Mapei, inaugurates the manufacturing plant in Laval (Canada) factory in 1984

Solidarity is a key value that is only too familiar to Italian immigrants. It is based in their deep sense of belonging to

Mapei factory, Laval (Canada) 61

their own community and the Italian spirit.

Expanding in the United States was more difficult than

Del Conca "Fast" Tile International 2/2017

Economy & markets: Special Americas

Giorgio Squinzi and Nick Di Tempora looking for the best location in Phoenix, Arizona, for the first factory set up in the United States in 1983

in Canada.

Mapei had to make a name for itself in a much bigger market. In the beginning, we only operated in Arizona, but then things changed when we took over L&M, North American Adhesives and the West Chicago plant in 1996. Our strategy was to grow through acquisition. Results prove that we took the right approach.

Your role is different nowadays: you are now the honorary chairman of Mapei Corp. and also in charge of real estate development. Why is this such a strategic business?

Our strategy was to grow organically through additional sales and to also grow by acquiring existing manufacturing facilities; so my aim was, first and foremost, to find good acquisitions.

Real estate is simply a consequence of our growth over the few years.

For some years now you have been in charge of Polyglass USA: what do you think of Polyglass’s operations in North America?

Polyglass is another successful Mapei project that is part of our growth strategy through acquisitions.

Initial investment in modernising the plants, adapting the sales strategies and develop-

Tile International 2/2017

62

ing new products provided the input for interesting structural growth, which was also helped along by excellent management work.

Another challenge successfully overcome and further visible proof of a winning approach in North America.

What were and what are the factors that contributed - and still contribute - to Polyglass’s growth in the United States?

Polyglass’s constant and, hopefully, unstoppable growth is something Mapei is extremely proud of. The quality of the products and sales/ marketing strategies are, and remain, a magical, winning formula. Mapei means integration, cooperation and synergic growth: the team is the same and if one person wins, we all win.

We must constantly strive to do better. If we want to call this being competitive, then healthy competition is welcome. Italian people living outside their home country have always had to work doubly hard to prove just half of what they are capable of, but we are always focused on achieving excellence: that is our ultimate target. It is an immense pleasure to work with both Polyglass and Mapei and achieve increasingly rewarding results.

5

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Economy & markets: Special Americas Courtesy of RealtĂ Mapei

Good news from North America

Mapei Americas production facility in Fredericksburg (Virginia)

Luigi Di Geso, President and CEO of Mapei Corp.

Economic Trends and Mapei Growth in North America The GDP, an indicator of the size of a country’s economy, is growing in North America. Projections by the Federal Reserve Board and Federal Reserve Bank presidents in March 2017 indicate that the U.S. GDP is growing at a rate of 2.1% and will continue to do so throughout 2017 and into 2018.

The Canadian GDP is expected to grow by 1.9% during this same period.

The construction industry in the U.S. is also showing solid growth, with an overall forecasted increase of 6.5% for 2017 vs. 2016.

The Non-Residential Con-

Tile International 2/2017

Tab 1. - U.S. Non-residential Construction Forecast for 2017-2018

struction Forecast by the Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) calls for a 5.3% increase in total non-residential construction in 2017 (Table 1), while the residential market shows a 6.4% rise in new home construction spending and a 9.6% increase in home improvement spending (Table 2).

Construction prospects in Canada have risen, too. Total construction spending for all sectors is forecast to increase by 2.4% in 2017.

New residential construction is expected to grow 2.2% Canadawide, while non-residential construction (commercial, industrial and institutional) may increase by as much as 4.5%.

Spending Put-In-Place (billions of $)

Estimated ($ in billions) 2016

Forecast (% change) 2017

2018

Non-residential Total

407.5

5.3

4.1

Commercial Total

168.2

5.8

3.4

Office

68.1

6.5

4.3

Retail & Other Commercial

73.1

5.6

3.1

Hotel

27.0

4.5

2.2

Industrial Total

75.1

6.6

3.4

164.2

4.3

5.0

Health

41.3

2.8

3.3

Education

89.8

5.2

5.5

Religious

3.7

1.8

2.5

Public Safety

8.0

-3.0

4.0

21.4

6.7

6.9

Institutional Total

Amusement & Recreation

Forecast: American Institute of Architects, January 25, 2017 Data source: American Builders & Contractors December 2016 64

Economy & markets: Special Americas

Mapei Americas facility in San Bernardino (California)

65

Tab 2. - February 2017 Construction Spending in the U.S.

Total Private Residential ($ in billions)

Multi-Family ($ in billions)

Mapei North America’s growth rate for the first quarter of 2017 is 14% above the same period in 2016.

“This is resoundingly positive news due to the fact that 2016 itself was a banner year for revenues in this subsidiary,” said Luigi Di Geso, President and CEO of Mapei North America.

“I feel strongly that the efforts we have made over the past several years to add new sales representatives, new technical representatives and new architectural representatives have enabled us to reach and service our customers better than we ever had in the past. And, our in-

novative products continue to meet the highest technological standards as we seek to provide solutions for our customers’ needs today and in the future.”

From this leadership stance, Mapei has moved steadily forward, introducing new categories of products from Mapei Group into the North American market, as well as expanding current operations and acquiring additional manufacturing capacity.

The acquisition of GRT (General Resource Technology) in 2014 helped anchor Mapei in North America as a provider of concrete admixtures. “GRT has helped increase revenues with its own products as well as those from Mapei. Another strong benefit has been

Single Family ($ in billions)

Mapei is growing faster than the economy

Home Improvement Spending

February

484.7

253.8

63.5

159.1

January

476.1

251.1

62.2

162.8

2016

455.7

248.1

58.3

149.2

M/M change

1.8%

1.2%

2.0%

2.7%

Y/Y change

6.4%

3.4%

10.6%

9.6%

Forecast: The Virginia Tech - U.S. Forest Service February 2017 Housing Commentary: Section I Data source: http://www.census.gov/construction/c30/pdf/privsa.pdf; 4/3/17 Tile International 2/2017

Economy & markets: Special Americas

that GRT has also elevated Mapei to a new level of visibility as a player in the construction business in the U.S. and Canada,” Di Geso said.

Below-grade waterproofing systems were introduced into American markets in 2016 and are now producing results.

The products in this category are manufactured from raw materials supplied in part by sister company Polyglass USA. Mapei North America is going deeper into construction with the Underground Technology Team (UTT) and its products for underground construction work.

Building on Mapei’s global achievements with this technology, the UTT team is already experiencing successes in this sector, which encompasses tunnels, mines and other underground con-

struction.

Mapei is also adding products to its portfolio that have been certified for the marine industry.

The portfolio includes products for surface preparation, waterproofing, flooring installation, sound reduction and resin deck coatings.

A complete line of Mapefloor CPU is being introduced into North America, this year.

This family of polyurethanecement mortars has been designed to provide high resistance to chemicals, making the products ideal for use in industrial applications in the food and beverage industry.

“Mapei North America has recently ramped up operations in its manufacturing facilities to support the increased production fueled by the escalation in sales,” Di Geso stated.

Additions include new pow-

der plants in Dalton, Georgia (March 2017), and Logan Township, New Jersey (April 2017).

An extensive enlargement of the plant in Chicago will be completed by the fourth quarter of this year (October 2017).

Expansions are underway to double production capacity with new production lines in Fredericksburg, Virginia (September 2017), and San Bernardino, California (June 2018).

“As operations expand in the Americas, so does the need for talented, experienced personnel. Since January 1, 70 new employees have joined Mapei North America,” commented Di Geso.

Reiterating the important role played by the sales, technical and architectural representatives, Di Geso conclud-

Discover the e-magazine of Tile International

ed, “All the new products and technologies for Mapei North America are carried to our customers by our well-trained and dedicated sales teams.

All the sales representatives came together at the beginning of 2017 in an intensely focused Mapei North America sales meeting. During the training, motivational speeches and networking between representatives from different regions, the entire sales force re-committed to the goal of generating $1 billion in annual revenues for Mapei by the end of 2020.” The products, processes and people of Mapei North America are going strong as we celebrate the 80th anniversary of Mapei. As Mapei Group CEO Dr. Giorgio Squinzi, an avid cycling enthusiast, says, “We keep on pedaling!”.

5

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Economy & markets: Special Americas Courtesy of RealtĂ Mapei

by Donato Grosser. D. Grosser and Associates Ltd., New York

The building and ceramic tiles market in USA

Rises expected in every market sector in 2017 The trend in the ceramic tiles market in the United States is closely related to the trend in new housing constructions, which accounted for approximately 30% of tiles sales into 2016.

When building work was at its peak in 2006 just before the recession, this percentage had risen to almost 40%. The correlation is shown in graph 1.

Whereas the number of new constructions has fallen by almost 70%, the drop in tiles sales has been less drastic due to the fact that other industries using tiles, such as housing renovations and constructions and non-residential redevel-

Tile International 2/2017

opments, has dropped less markedly.

The importance of the reno-

vations/redevelopments sector is shown in graph 2, which highlights how the recession

has impacted less seriously on renovations compared to the industry for new con-

Graph. 1 - New housing construction and US ceramic tiles consumption from 2002-2016

68

Economy & markets: Special Americas

structions. The renovations sector is mainly based on spending by people renovating properties (both residential and non-residential) to keep them in good repair, as well as spending by people buying old houses and adapt them to their own tastes.

Spending on renovations is expected to increase throughout 2017 due to the fact that sales of existing houses have reached an annual figure of 5.71 million units and in March 2017 they were up 5.9% compared to the same period in 2016.

According to the Harvard Center For Housing Studies, spending on renovations

will increase at a rate of approximately 6% in 2017.

The importance of the nonresidential building sector has returned to the levels it had reached before the recession. A factor negatively influencing this market segment is the decrease in the number of department stores due to the sudden boom in the online sales industry. Chains of department stores like Macy’s, Sears, JC Penney and others are reducing the number of their sales outlets, most of which are now located in suburban Malls.

The closure of hundreds of these department stores is freeing up huge empty spaces and discouraging

Graph. 2 - Spending on renovation work (in millions of dollars) in the United States from 2001-2015

Marazzi 69

Tile International 2/2017

Economy & markets: Special Americas

the construction of new retail facilities.

Tiles Sales in the United States The trend in tiles sales in 2016 has been positive with a further increase of 5.8% following a rise of 9.9% the previous year. Nevertheless, it is worth remembering that these figures and percentages are based on “apparent consumption” or, in other words, tiles entering distribution channels, like sales by American manufacturers to their customers and tiles imported by distributors and cleared through customs.

Not all tiles sold wholesale are actually bought by consumers and those left in retail-

ers’ or distributors’ warehouses also count as “apparent consumption”.

Figures about “apparent consumption” are published in the United States because there are no accurate estimates of real sales.

In 2016, ceramic tiles sales in the United States were 269 million m².

Imports of 185 million m² accounted for almost 69% of the total, while deliveries by American manufacturers were just 31%.

All leading local tiles manufacturers have seen their sales rise compared to 2015.

According to what was published in the May 2017 issue of the magazine Floor Focus, Daltile recorded sales of $1.410 million compared

to $1.133 million in 2015, a figure due to the acquisition of Marazzi’s three American factories and the opening of a new plant.

Crossville recorded sales of $158 million ($150 million in 2015).

Sales also increased for Florida Tile belonging to the Panaria Group ($128 million in 2016 and $118 in 2015), Stonepeak belonging to the Iris Group ($126 million in 2016 and $120 million in 2015) and Florim USA ($113 million in 2016 and $105 million in 2015).

No figures were published for other factories owned by the Italian companies Del Conca and the Concorde Group, which were built fairly recently, and Wonderful’s

new factory financed by Chinese backers.

In 2016, the main countries supplying tiles to the United States were, in order, China with 54 million m² at a cost of $409 million; Mexico with 43 million m² at a cost of $251 million and Italy with almost 36 million m² at a cost of $617 million.

Ceramic tiles sales are expected to rise by around 6% in 2017.

The driving forces behind these increases are new constructions and renovation work, while rising interest rates are slowing down sales if these rates should rise, property mortgages will also increase along with the cost of raw materials.

5

Graph. 3 - Trend in spending in the non-residential building industry from 2002-2017

Tile International 2/2017

70

Economy & markets

by Acimac Research Dept - www.mec-studies.com

Chinese tile exports see further downturn

Chinese tile exports have fallen for the third consecutive year. According to Chinese Customs data, 2016 marked

an even more significant decline than the previous twoyear period, with volumes dropping by 5.9% from 1.063

billion to 1.000 billion m2.

The decline affected all continents with the exception of Oceania, where Chinese tile

imports grew by 7% (from 32.4 million m2 in 2015 to 34.7 million m2).

Asian countries remained

Tab 1: Chinese tile exports by geographical area 2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

m x 000 2

Var % 16/15

Var % 15/14

% Share on total 2016 exports

Asia

584,786

569,468

572,618

590,573

583,051

-1.3%

3.1%

58.3%

Africa

193,100

236,798

250,284

230,269

197,949

-14.0%

-8.0%

19.8%

South America

118,055

129,280

103,803

89,894

80,018

-11.0%

-13.4%

8.0%

North America

73,309

82,713

82,077

88,577

78,238

-11.7%

7.9%

7.8%

Oceania

23,284

25,607

28,866

32,424

34,742

7.1%

12.3%

3.5%

European Union

31,980

26,512

23,690

19,980

15,949

-20.2%

-15.7%

1.6%

Other Europe

19,227

24,832

22,146

11,174

10,204

-8.7%

-49.5%

1.0%

1,043,741

1,095,210

1,083,484

1,062,891

1,000,151

-5.9%

-1.9%

100.0%

TOTAL

Source: Acimac research dept. on China Customs - www.mec-studies.com Tile International 2/2017

72

Economy & markets

the main outlet market for Chinese ceramic tiles. Although Chinese exports to Asia fell slightly in 2016 to 583 million m2 (-1.3%), the region’s percentage share of total Chinese exports rose from 55% to 58%. Eight of the ten top countries of export are in Asia: Philippines, South Korea and Indonesia, all of which saw significant increases (between +21% and +29.5% on 2015), Saudi Arabia, where exports fell from 64 to 49 million m2 (-23%), Thailand (-9.8%), Pakistan (+23.7%), United Arab Emirates (-14.5%) and Cambodia (+17%). Notably, India crashed out of the rankings of China’s Top 10 export markets following the

slump in sales from 31.7 million m2 to 11.9 million m2 (-62.3%). On 14 June the Indian Ministry of Commerce and Industry approved the introduction of antidumping measures on Chinese ceramic tile imports.

This will result in the application of duties for a period of 5 years on various types of tiles with the exception of fullbody porcelain and panels less than 5 mm thick.

Africa, the second largest geographical area of export for Chinese tiles, saw a 14% contraction with volumes declining from 230 million m2 to 198 million m2.

This was mainly due to the 70.9% fall in Nigeria, where ex-

ports plummeted from 52.4 million m2 to 15.3 million m2 (-70.9%).

South America also saw a fall for the third consecutive year with sales declining in 2016 to 80 million m2 (-11%).

A similar contraction occurred in North America (-11.7%), with exported volumes dropping from 88 to 78 million m2. In this case the positive results in the US market (56.4 million m2, +11%) were not sufficient to offset the slump in sales in Mexico (down from 24.5 to 9.3 million m2, -62%) following the introduction of antidumping duties in 2015.

Chinese exports to Europe continued the downward

trend of the past 5 years, again following the introduction of antidumping duties by the EU in 2011.

Last year Chinese tile imports to the EU totalled just 15.9 million m2 (down 20.2% on 2015 and 77% over the five-year period).The request to extend the measure for a further five years, an action strongly supported by the entire European ceramic industry, is currently being reviewed by Brussels.

Chinese Exports to non-EU European markets totalled 10.2 million m2 (down 8.7% on 2015), a volume that has practically halved with respect to 2014.

5

Tab 2: The largest markets for Chinese tile exports 2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

m2 x 000

Var % 16/15

Var % 15/14

% Share on total 2016 exports

Philippines

34,189

41,099

47,223

52,867

67,336

27.4%

12.0%

6.7%

South Korea

54,058

54,561

68,274

54,430

65,855

21.0%

-20.3%

6.6%

Indonesia

35,034

34,982

44,461

44,053

57,046

29.5%

-0.9%

5.7%

USA

41,219

48,155

46,789

50,757

56,363

11.0%

8.5%

5.6%

Saudi Arabia

87,397

81,439

63,404

63,985

49,179

-23.1%

0.9%

4.9%

Thailand

40,610

55,679

38,218

44,508

40,166

-9.8%

16.5%

4.0%

Pakistan

12,304

13,780

19,011

27,250

33,716

23.7%

43.3%

3.4%

Australia

19,560

22,288

25,163

28,347

30,327

7.0%

12.7%

3.0%

United Arab Emirates

36,111

35,920

33,865

34,549

29,547

-14.5%

2.0%

3.0%

Cambodia

11,959

13,371

17,420

23,429

27,443

17.1%

34.5%

2.7%

Other countries

671,300

693,936

679,656

638,716

543,173

-15.0%

-6.0%

54.3%

1,043,741

1,095,210

1,083,484

1,062,891

1,000,151

-5.9%

-1.9%

TOTAL

Source: Acimac research dept. on China Customs - www.mec-studies.com 73

100.0%

Del Conca "Fast" Tile International 2/2017

In the spotlight

Ceramica Fondovalle and large-format panels

From left: Maurizio Baraldi and Federico Tusini Ceramica Fondovalle is still reaping the rewards of the investments it has made in a

radical overhaul of its product range and brand image.

In 2014, Fondovalle installed a

Continua+ production line so as to be properly equipped to enter the high value-added,

Sahara Noir Tile International 2/2017

74

extra-large format segment.

Since then, it has renovated its headquarters in Torre Maina, set up a new logistics and end-of-line processing hub in Ubersetto, inaugurated on 28 August, and is now finishing the remodelling of its Marano production facility, which is due for completion by the end of the year. Fondovalle has reported excellent economic results too, with a yearon-year rise in turnover of 23.9% in 2016, to a total of 30.1 million euros. So we started our interview with Maurizio Baraldi, the company’s Chairman, by asking him about the company’s sales performance in the first half of 2017.

In the spotlight

Match Sahara Noir Tile International: You achieved an outstanding increase in revenues in 2016: have you managed to keep that momentum going this year?

Maurizio Baraldi: “To be honest, the first half of 2017 has been difficult for us because the start-up of our Ubersetto facility was delayed for unbelievable bureaucratic reasons. According to our plans, all the end-of-line processing cycles for our large-format panels – cutting, edge-grinding, lapping, polishing and so on – were supposed to be up and running by April. Unbe-

lievably, this was all delayed because the electricity supplies were not connected…

Despite this setback, however, we’ve still recorded sales increases in double figures and there’s still a chance we might be able to close the gap between now and the end of the year, and come close to matching our 2016 performance.”

Tile International: Which markets have you achieved your best results in?

M. Baraldi: “Our increase in sales is pretty uniform across all our markets, except the ones where political and eco-

nomic instability has triggered a slowdown. What’s more, exports account for over 90% of our turnover.

Our biggest presence is still in Europe, especially Germany and Austria, but we’ve also achieved promising results in Australia and the Far East.

Things are going well in North America, where we’ve completed a campaign to build up a client-base that’s more sensitive to the qualities of our new materials, and the situation is looking good in Latin America too.

Basically, as a direct result of presenting ourselves to the

75

market with such an innovative product as our large-format panels, we’ve won more customers, which shows that people appreciate the path we’ve taken.”

Tile International: And what about Italy?

M. Baraldi: “Before we started producing large-format panels, our sales were definitely concentrated on export markets, but now we’re shifting back into our home market again, which is strategic to us for obvious reasons, and we’re working on building up our sales here. Italy is an advanced market that’s recep-

Tile International 2/2017

In the spotlight Dream Woods

tive to high-end and top-end products, so there’s a lot of growth potential for us among architects and designers.

What’s more, marble specialists are showing increasing interest in large-format panels, as they come to appreciate the qualities of ceramic panels compared with large formats made of natural materials. The extent of this development has prompted Federico Tusini, our Sales Director, to implement a series of marketing initiatives specifically aimed at this new type of customer.”

Tile International: Is Fondovalle still producing ceramic tiles in traditional formats?

M. Baraldi: “Absolutely. We now have two kilns at Marano, one for traditional products and one for large-format

Tile International 2/2017

panels. The latter are then transferred to Ubersetto for end-of-line processing.

A new warehouse in Ubersetto for large-format panels, with indoor storage space of 10,000 square metres, on a site with a total area of 25,000 square metres, is due for completion by June 2018, and this will hugely facilitate our handling operations. We’ll also be setting up a new line in Ubersetto in 2018 for applying an additional base layer to our large-format panels in thicknesses of 12 and 20 mm. This makes the panels suitable for machining by our marble specialist and processor customers, to produce kitchen worktops and other types of top.”

Tile International: What is Fondovalle’s total output?

M. Baraldi: “Taking account of our traditional ceramics and our large-format panels, we’ve achieved a production rate of 9,000 sq.m per day, for a total of approximately 2.5 million sq.m per year. Basically, by the end of 2016 we’d already doubled our production capacity, in line with the targets we set ourselves.

We’re now channelling our biggest efforts into quality, including the aesthetic quality of our products, and we’ve started producing panels measuring 1600x3200 mm, which we’re expecting to make a big impression with at Cersaie.

We make these panels in three different thicknesses, to maximise their scope for use in interior design: so we have a 20 mm thickness for pro-

76

ducing tops of all types and for meeting the growing demand from marble specialists, but we also have thicknesses of 12 and 6.5 mm to suit the widest imaginable range of applications. As far as aesthetic finishes are concerned, I would like first of all to pay tribute to the immense ability shown by our in-house staff, who have created a string of finishes – as can be seen in the Dream, Wood, Komi, Action and Infinito collections – that have attracted extreme interest from both the Italian and international market. So the impeccable professionalism of our staff, combined with our state-of-the-art technology, is yielding truly first-class results.”

Tile International: What new products are you presenting

In the spotlight Infinito 2.0

at Cersaie 2017?

M. Baraldi: “We’ve extended and completely redesigned our stand for Cersaie this year so that we can showcase our extra-large 1600x3200 mm panels to best effect, and this too is the work of our in-house

staff. As for the new products we have on display, I would urge everyone to come and see them in person and touch them with their own hands: our new collections reflect the latest contemporary trends, so draw inspiration

from marble, wood, resin and decorative panels, produced in sizes 80x80, 120x120, 120x240 and 160x320 cm, depending on the collection in question.”

Tile International: What sales and marketing strategies has

77

Federico Tusini been putting together since his appointment as Sales Director at Ceramica Fondovalle in May 2017?

M. Baraldi: “The best person to answer that is Federico himself, because he has an

Tile International 2/2017

In the spotlight

in-depth knowledge of everything we’re organising for our different market areas.”

Federico Tusini: “I’m right behind all the plans for Fondovalle that Maurizio has just outlined to you, and I was very excited about getting to work on them right from the start.

I’m convinced that technological innovation combined with the know-how of everyone who works on our products, at all levels, are the stand-out strengths of Fondovalle. As a result of this, I feel a strong sense of responsibility to achieve sales results for the company that are worthy of the investments it has made.

We’re working on building an effective sales network that knows how to extend its reach beyond the traditional confines of the ceramic sector, by taking every opportunity to make the most of the furniture and interior finishings segment. So obviously we’re no longer talking about floor and wall tiles alone, but shifting our thinking to embrace the concept of surfaces in general, that you can make anything at all with. Every day, what’s more, I’m amazed to see our large-format panels used for entirely new applications, and this merely confirms

Tile International 2/2017

the enormous potential of this product.”

Tile International: Are there any technical aspects of the organisation and management of sales networks that you felt could be usefully imported into Fondovalle?

F. Tusini: “I’ve focused on the organisational requirements specifically associated with large-format panels, because this obviously is, and was, the company’s priority.

Primarily, this involves special training for sales personnel, because customers need to feel, and are entitled to feel, that they’ve got all the necessary support with all the technical and logistical considerations associated with large-format panels, which are completely different from the considerations associated with traditional ceramics.

I decided to give a distinct identity to our products aimed at the countertop sector by bringing them under the umbrella of the new subbrand, “My Top Fondovalle”, which we’re launching at Cersaie. This decision enabled us to target our marketing materials and sales activities, and adapt them to the needs of prospects operating outside the ceramic sector.

We’ve also just concluded an important agreement with

one of the leading worldwide players in the quarrying and machining of marble and natural stone, which has been involved in some of the most important works of architecture across five continents, over the course of its history spanning over a century. The agreement enables My Top Fondovalle to be distributed exclusively on various European markets through a sales network traditionally dedicated to natural stone.

I’m convinced that new alliances of this type, which bring different experience and markets together, now play a strategically vital role in developing the full potential of these new, large-format ceramic panels.

But let’s not lose sight of the fact that Fondovalle is not just a manufacturer of large formats. At Cersaie, we’re presenting a selection of products in sizes 40x80, 80x80, 20x180, 20x120 and 120x120 with a thickness of 10 mm, because our goal is to expand our share of the market for traditional ceramic tiles, by diversifying our formats and continuing to work hard on the stylistic distinction that has become one of Fondovalle’s hallmarks in recent years.”

Tile International: What are the main objectives you’ve set yourself in the short to medium term?

F. Tusini: “My short-term goal is to complete all the market-

78

ing activities we’ve developed in support of the new products we’re due to launch.

The company has deployed substantial resources in the marketing area too, so that we can raise our profile and equip our customers with effective means of presenting our products, and, above all, give our product range strong emotional appeal as well as making it innovative.

We’ve just launched Fondovalle into the world of social media by opening accounts on Facebook, Instagram and Linkedin, because we felt we really needed a presence on these channels. Recognising the significance of this change and succeeding in reaping the huge opportunities it can offer, if properly used and integrated with more traditional forms of marketing and communication, is a cultural challenge that companies have to rise to know if they want to increase, or even merely retain, their competitive edge on glocal markets. In the medium term, our objective is to extend our coverage of markets with high potential for ceramic sales, and strengthen customer retention both on traditional distribution channels and among marble specialists and processors.

Basically, we intend to make sure that Fondovalle evolves constantly and continuously, because it no longer pays to be ‘ordinary’.”

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In the spotlight

Ceramiche Piemme still on upward trajectory

Massimo Barbari As it prepares to mark its 55th anniversary (the company was founded in 1962), Ceramiche Piemme is enjoying new levels of success, borne out by an increase in turnover in 2016 (+8% on 2015, equating to 104.0 million euros), which is twice the size of the increase reported the previous year. As Massimo Barbari, the company’s Managing Director, explains: “These good results are underpinned by two factors: an increase in exports, which now account for 85% of our total turnover, and a substantial shift away from manufacturing on behalf of third parties, in favour of direct sales under our own brands. This shift has been going on for over two years now, with no sign of stopping, and is increasing our profit margins and establishing our brand more firmly on the market. Production on behalf

Tile International 2/2017

of other companies is still a strategic part of our business model,” continues Barbari, “but we’re moving higher up the market with it, with a view to increasing our margins.”

Tile International: How far is your move up market attributable to the substantial investments you’ve made in recent years?

Massimo Barbari: “The industrial plan that Piemme has been implementing in recent years involves one of the biggest investments made in the Sassuolo ceramic cluster, and the company is now firmly founded on efficiency and product innovation.

Since September 2016, furthermore, we’ve increased production at our Solignano plant by 500,000 sq.m to a total of 7.8 million sq.m per year, by introducing a semi-continuous cycle. Still on

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"Uniquestone", Nite

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the subject of investments in technology – it’s vital to keep up to date in order to achieve the highest quality – this year we’ve made major upgrades to our seven Durst digital printers, enabling us to achieve a range of attractive new textural effects. We’ve also brought a new cutting, splitting and edge-grinding line on-stream, and will be installing another one by the end of the year. And we installed a new grading line this year, too. But our efforts are not confined to production, as we’re also overhauling our sales and marketing strategies.”

Tile International: What is the main focus of your rebranding campaign?

M. Barbari: “The main areas we’ve worked on over the past two years are the repositioning of our brands and a much sharper focus on brand values. At last year’s Cersaie, we presented our entire product range under just two distinct brands, for which we also presented a major restyling: Ceramiche Piemme Floor and More – which encompasses Piemmegres, Studio and Club – a brand dedicated to trend-setting, design-oriented floor and wall tiles aimed at the mid-tohigh segment of the residential and commercial market; and Valentino by Ceramiche Piemme, which is an exclusively top-end brand, whose styling has shifted towards a

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more understated, western interpretation of refinement, complemented by a wealth of accents to suit the tastes of all types of customer. Now, at Cersaie 2017, we’re stepping up our rebranding campaign with the launch of five new collections, including a 120x240 cm large format.

One of these collections, developed for the Valentino by Ceramiche Piemme brand, is called “Incipit” (meaning “start” in Latin, ed.). The name highlights the fresh departure that these products represent, which will take them beyond the confines of the bathroom and extend their scope to every area of highend contemporary livingspace. The other collections we’ll be officially presenting at Cersaie under the Ceramiche Piemme Floor and More brand include Fragments by Pierre Charpin (who was voted Designer of the Year at Maison et Objet 2017), which was previewed at the Milan Fuori Salone in the spring.

Cersaie will also see the presentation of Uniquestone, an extensive new collection with a close focus on aesthetics, that draws inspiration from a truly unique blend of stones.

The collection earned plaudits at its unveiling at Coverings and we have high expectations for its success over the coming months. But that’s not all: we’ll also be presenting Fleur de Bois at Cersaie,

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In the spotlight

"Fragments", Resin Tan

which reprises the aesthetics of wood, and comes in floorboard-type formats measuring 90-120, plus a new 170 format.”

Tile International: Have you updated your stand too?

M. Barbari: “Absolutely. We’ve given our Cersaie showcase a complete makeover for the second year running, to emphasise the dynamism with which we’ve upgraded all our communication vehicles, including our trade fair stands. Our new stand at Cersaie was designed entirely by our Marketing & Communication team, and centres on a large circular area that opens onto the various spaces used to separate the different series. But as well as separating them, it brings them together in the large central piazza, whose pure lines represent the circularity of

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"Fragments", Charcoal

our ideas and our perennial ability to embrace the latest trends, rework them and relaunch them in the form of innovative collections. Image coordination is an important task and we’re working on it on every front, with particular attention to our display areas and merchandising instruments. In line with these efforts, we’ve also remodelled our company showroom, which we presented to our entire sales force on 24 September; although it might be more precise to call it a temporary showroom, because we’re seriously considering building a new, much larger showroom… but that’s something we’ll say more about at a later date.”

Tile International: Going back to the subject of the market for a moment, how important, in your opinion, is the

role of architects?

M. Barbari: “Because the restoration and remodelling of buildings accounts for an increasingly significant share of construction work, the role of architects and interior designers is now more important than ever. In order to step up our involvement with these professionals, we’ve established a collaboration with Gordon Guillaumier, the creator of Bits&Pieces, a collection that won an ADI Ceramic Design Award just a year ago. The initiative has been a great success and is still generating gratifying results. In addition to this first collaboration, we’ve also forged a partnership with Pierre Charpin, the creator of Fragments, which we previewed at the Milan Fuori Salone in April and are now presenting in full at Cersaie.

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To attract the attention of designers and architects, we also need to work on establishing a single, strong brand – which in this case is Ceramiche Piemme – with an increasingly comprehensive product range comprising fully fledged “architecture programmes” with coordinated floor and wall coverings.

We’re also taking a number of more traditional sales initiatives, which will see the start of a partnership, this autumn, with a major team of promoters on the British market, which will be targeting architecture and interior design firms.”

Tile International: Which areas account for your largest sales volumes?

M. Barbari: “France and Belgium have always been important markets for us, and our performance there is still

In the spotlight

"Uniquestone", Titanium very strong, but we’re also enjoying solid growth in Germany, Austria and the Netherlands. The most vigorous growth has come from Canada and the USA, where we’ve achieved our highest increase in turnover. After signs of an upturn last year, the Italian market fell below our expectations in the first half of 2017, but we’re upgrading our sales network here too, and I’m in no doubt that our efforts will bear fruit in the near future.”

Tile International: Has your growth in turnover remained on track in the first half of 2017?

M. Barbari: “The first half of the year has revealed a solid increase in general sales under our own brands, which reached all-time record levels in June, not to mention an increase in profitability.

As well as boosting our confidence for the months to come, this interim result gives a glimpse of solid prospects for further growth. We’re achieving some great results, and the outstandingly hard work of all our departments, bar none, is paying dividends.

Day after day, our achievements testify to the strength of our vision of “Creating value, together”.

Our belief in this vision is so strong, in fact, that we’ve had the words written in clear view on the wall at the entrance to our headquarters.”

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In the spotlight

Gruppo Romani SpA celebrates first anniversary

Mr. Lamberto Romani with his sons Paolo e Giorgio In June 2016, Serenissima Cir Industrie Ceramiche changed its name to Gruppo Romani SpA, so the new company has just celebrated its first anniversary.

The decision to change the name was taken by the company’s founder, Lamberto Romani, when he passed the management of the business into the hands of his sons, Giorgio and Paolo.

This marked an important new chapter in the success story of the company, which was formed in 1968 and has become one of Italy’s major manufacturers, with plants in Casalgrande, Rubiera, Roteglia and Olbia (Sardinia), employing over 400 staff and generating revenues of 103.4 million euros in 2016.

We interviewed Giorgio Romani, the company’s Chairman.

Tile International: What would you say are Gruppo Romani’s main achievements in its first year

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of business?

G. Romani: “Our top priority over the course of the year has been the strategic repositioning of the Group’s five brands – Serenissima, Cir, Cerasarda, Cercom and our subsidiary Isla – and we’re still working on this. We’re also driving forward a plan to make each brand a key player in a clearly defined sector of the market, with its own specific identity. Serenissima and Cir are using their distinctive credentials to re-establish themselves as benchmark brands in the industrial and dealer showroom segments, where they enjoy a long-standing reputation.

Cerasarda, our luxury brand specialising in ceramics, tableware, furnishing complements and accessories, is emphasising its tradition of fine craftsmanship, quality and luxury, and appealing to designers and a premium clientele.

Cercom is aiming at the same target market as Cerasarda, but focuses instead on innovative de-

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Cerasarda “Abitare la terra”

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Serenissima “Newport�

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In the spotlight

Cercom “Stone Box”

sign and pioneering technological and stylistic research.

Isla, lastly, is an emerging Italian ceramics brand, whose products are specifically aimed at the United States residential architecture market.”

Tile International: What were the main factors that prompted you to undertake this rebranding campaign?

G. Romani: “We decided we needed to embark on a serious re-branding campaign because that’s what the market demands: nowadays, for a company like ours, with a medium-to-high-end product range made entirely in Italy, we need to learn to interact with the world of architecture and contract furnishing in order to generate new opportunities. So we need to learn their language and establish ourselves in their communication systems. This means adopting new marketing strat-

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egies, including taking part in trade shows and events, such as the FuoriSalone and seminars for architects that we hold on an ongoing basis at our own sites and at the Casabella Laboratorio in Milan.

But it also means renovating our company showroom and collaborating with high-profile designers, such as Maria Luisa Brighenti, who designed Cerasarda’s “Abitare la Terra” collection, unveiled at the latest edition of iSaloni in Milan.

It’s a major overhaul of our marketing strategy, so one year ago, to give it the visibility it warrants, we decided to change our name to Gruppo Romani SpA, which highlights both the evolution and the underlying continuity of the Group in family hands.”

Tile International: You’ve made substantial investments in your manufacturing capability: how far have these contributed to the Group’s reposi-

tioning on the market?

G. Romani: “Since 2013, we’ve invested a total of over 40 million euros (8.5% of turnover) in production – over half of it in the renovation of the Rubiera plant – and this was one of the drivers behind our marketing campaign. Without these investments, we wouldn’t have been in a position to offer such an extensive, targeted and high-quality range of products. The programme involved the complete renovation of our Rubiera plant, with the installation of five Sacmi presses between June and December last year – three 8,200 tonne unit and two 7,500 tonne units – not to mention new glazing lines and a fourth edge-grinding line for large-format tiles.

We also did a lot of work on streamlining our company’s organisation.”

Tile International: Have you cut staff numbers?

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G. Romani: “No, we’ve managed to streamline operations without laying anyone off, by means of carefully judged cost savings, efficiency gains in logistics and increased productivity. What’s more, all our work on reducing costs and streamlining operations has had a direct impact on company performance, and increased our profitability.”

Tile International: What were your results for 2016, and what performance trends have emerged in the first part of this year?

G. Romani: “We closed 2016 with a 1% increase in turnover compared with the previous year. There are no doubt other companies in the ceramic cluster that have reported better results, but we’re satisfied with what we’ve achieved so far, partly because we’re emerging from years of major renovation work (two out

In the spotlight

of the five lines at our Rubiera plant, for example, were at a standstill due the upgrade), and partly because we’ve increased our revenues despite having had a long-standing bias towards the internal market, which – as we all know – has shrunk by 50% since the financial crisis.

In 2006/07, we generated 35% of our total sales from the Italian market and 65% from exports. That balance has now shifted, and we generate 20% of our turnover in Italy and 80% on export markets.

Because of this shift, we’ve adjusted the balance of our sales organisation too, part-

ly by re-assigning spheres of competence and partly by renewing the sales network.

Going forward, because of the way we’re changing our organisational structure, we may well be looking at setting up two distinct sales networks: one aimed at traditional distribution channels and one aimed at designers and the contract segment.”

Tile International: Which are your liveliest export markets?

G. Romani: “The USA without question: it’s our biggest market and there are good prospects for further growth. But the importance of the European market is growing too.

We saw high levels of exports to France, Germany, Switzerland, Holland, Belgium and Austria in 2016.

Russia and its neighbours are sadly missing from that list, because they’re going through a very difficult patch at the moment.

Roughly speaking, 44% of our turnover comes from Europe, 36% from outside Europe – in all continents – and the remaining 20% from Italy.”

Tile International: On the subject of the Italian market, do you get the feeling thing are picking up again?

G. Romani: “Yes, we’ve seen an upturn in these first few

months of 2017, including growth of 4% in the first quarter. But it’s still too soon to be talking about a full recovery, and in any event, there’s no chance at the moment of getting back to pre-crisis levels, which is another reason why we need to diversify our marketing strategies and step up our efforts to break into new market segments. And that’s exactly what we’re striving to do: we’re shaping four distinct keys to open the doors to four distinct markets. The strength of our Group, after all, is that we have four different product ranges aimed at four different targets.”

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Cir “Mat”

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In the spotlight

GS Luxury Group partners up with Ducati Motor

Giuseppe Pozzi GS Luxury Group’s close collaboration with Ducati Motor, presented on 20 September at a press conference held specifically for the purpose at the world-class motorcycling brand’s Borgo Panigale headquarters, is one of the big news stories of Cersaie 2017.

It follows in the footsteps of the partnership forged by GS Luxury Group with Lamborghini in 2014, but what does this latest collaboration actually consist of?

To answer to this question, we spoke to Giuseppe Pozzi, head of GS Luxury Group SpA: “As in 2014, when GS announced its collaboration with Lamborghini, we’re using Cersaie 2017 to present our first four series of porcelain floor and wall tiles dedicated to the world of Ducati. Fast, dynamic, high-tech and smart, these tile collections are designed to rep-

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resent “the Reds”. The tile division’s brand will be coupled with Ducati’s famous shield logo, underscored by the slogan WINNING TILE.” The aesthetic of the four Ducati series draws direct inspiration from the materials used and the places typically frequented by the Reds of Borgo Panigale: some of these gres porcelain tiles replicate the appearance and reflectivity of metal, and feature an embossed pattern (size 75x75 cm series), while others graphically represent the concrete flooring of the workshops (size 60x120 cm series) marked with tyre tracks. The two series of wall tiles are equally interesting, with one drawing inspiration from glass brick and the other featuring a distinctive triangular shape (20x20 cm).

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ey o, gr

id Kale

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Cemento, pattern in grey and dove

In the spotlight

So how did this collaboration with Ducati – perhaps one of the world’s most famous motorcycling brands – get under way?

“We offered our services to Ducati for the design of the floor and wall tiling of its Food Factory and Ducati Caffè line, which the world champion motorcycling brand is rolling out worldwide. The first branch, which opened in Bologna in January and was designed by the architect Giacomo Migliori of Sviluppi Urbani, is dedicated to the legendary Scrambler, a model that first saw the light of day in the United States in the 1970s, and became such a success on the world stage that it came back into production in 2015. The idea that prompted the Reds to venture into

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the restaurant business forms part of a wider project aimed at opening chains of Ducati Caffès in the Middle East, Far East and United States.”

North America.”

So these collections are explicitly dedicated to Ducati and the world of Ducati, but are they designed for use in different locations too?

“Definitely. The Ducati collections evoke the world of performance, so they’re more youthful and higher-tech than the Tonino Lamborghini collections, which are inextricably linked with luxury.

They’re aimed at different target markets too: the Russian and Chinese markets are the biggest buyers of the Lamborghini brand, whereas for Ducati we’re expecting a lot of interest from Europe and

How will they be distributed?

“While the Tonino Lamborghini Tiles&Style brand is sold through the dedicated Tonino Lamborghini Home channel, which is an all-round living system, the Ducati collections of floor and wall tiles will be made available to a wider public through shopin-shops set up on the premises of major retailers in Italy, Europe and the USA. While Lamborghini represents the pinnacle of exclusive luxury, which is reflected in the specific nature of the distribution channel, Ducati represents speed and technology, which is replicated in the incredible speed of communication of all news via our social media channels.”

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The Group’s stand at Cersaie will obviously be paying tribute to both of these distinct spirits. “At Cersaie, we have one stand – B71 – dedicated to Ducati, with a lot of bikes on display for the delectation of motorcycling fans, and another stand – A71 – dedicated to the Tonino Lamborghini Tiles&Style brand. In this area, you’ll be able to charge your smartphone by simply placing it on Wi-Tiles – the innovative tile containing an induction charger that can be used for charging mobile phones and other electronic devices – developed in partnership with EGGTRONIC Engineering to meet growing market demand for innovation.”

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cm 20x20 "Ducati" pattern

Kaleido, me

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Topics

Progress Profiles: the details of the perfect shower

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Functionality and design guarantee the best comfort.

At Cersaie 2017, Progress Profiles, Italian leader in the sector of technical and decorative profiles and membranes and fixing and laying systems for construction and interior design, proposes innovative solutions to combine features and design, to make the bathroom and shower elegant places where to relax.

Linear drain shower is a practical and elegant choice for a modern and trendy bathroom; to avoid unexpected events and inconveniences it is fundamental to choose the most innovative systems and firstquality finishes. For example the PROFOIL membrane guarantees a perfect waterproofing, ideal for floors and coverings. Moreover, to obtain a perfect slope of the shower tray, Progress Profiles has realized the isolating PROSHOWER

PANEL that, if installed earlier than the tiles, guarantees the best incline, considerably reducing the time required for coverings’ installation. To define the perimeter of the shower basis and sustain the protective glass there is the PROSHOWER PROFILE, adjustable in height, conceived for the protection of floor edges and the joining of plane tiled surfaces to inclined tiled surfaces. Finally, for a perfect water flowing towards the drain PROSHOWER DRAIN is a

water collecting duct system with floor flush, that avoids malodorous stagnation, available in 5 different lengths and equipped with 6 different stainless steel finish grids, for a touch of modern design.

Moreover, in a minimalist bathroom esthetics is essential: to avoid the presence of bulky radiators, Progress Profiles patented PRODESO HEAT SYSTEM, a revolutionary system for electrical heating in walls and floor, that heats up the bathroom in few minutes saving in energy costs ensuring a consistent steam’s outlet, thanks to the polypropylene uncoupling crack isolation waterproofing membrane.

Finally, to give a classy touch of design and enlighten the bathroom, Progress Profiles has created STONE LINE, a new range of finishes available in four different fillets’ profiles.

Stone Line creates a charming material effect following the most recent décor trends thanks to the different shades from white to sandy, grey, black and brass.

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Project

Schlüter-Systems for the renovation of Eiffel Tower in Paris Few landmarks in the world have the same recognition value as the Eiffel Tower in Paris.

Built between 1887 and 1889, the structure was inaugurated on the occasion of the World Fair to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the French Revolution.

Named after its builder, Gustave Eiffel, the tower was the world’s tallest building at the time of its construction, and maintained that status until the completion of the Chrysler Building in New York City in 1930. Still the tallest structure in Paris, the Eiffel Tower is among the most visited landmarks worldwide, attracting approximately 7 million visitors a year.

Since the 1980s, the “Iron Lady” has been restored and rebuilt regularly to offer more space and comfort for visitors.

Due to the unique properties of the building and the large visitor numbers, such work is no easy undertaking.

Thus, renovating the first level of the Eiffel Tower proved to be an extensive as well as unusual project.

The renovation project, self-financed by the operator company SETE (Société d’exploitation de la tour Eiffel) with a sum of approximately €25 million, aimed to make the platform at a height of 57 m more attractive for visitors.

It involved rebuilding the Eiffel and Ferrié pavilions as well as

Tile International 2/2017

three access structures to the elevators, along with renovating the facade of the restaurant. Overall, the work extended over an area of 4,586 m².

This also included the installation of a transparent glass floor and a glass balustrade, which gives visitors a sense of floating in open space.

A structure in motion As part of this unique construction project, the company EDM Paris was commissioned to install a natural stone floor in the Ferrié Pavilion.

In addition to 300 m² of floor space, this also comprised some 85 m² of wall coverings on sloped areas, along with covering a staircase and various structural pieces such as seating benches and counters.

The large numbers of tourists and the resulting vibrations represented a special challenge. “It made a standardized, conventional approach impossible,” explains Sebastien Sollier, project manager at EDM Paris. “We had to obtain a structural engineering report to have the material and the method for implementing the work approved. Above all, we had to take the enormous weight load into consideration: every single element that was removed from the pavilion was brought down and weighed, and the same pro-

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Project

cedure was followed for every element that was transported up. We were working under the requirement that the weight of the Eiffel Tower had to be exactly the same after the renovation as before.”

At the request of the architect, the bulk of the floor area was to be covered with natural stone panels in a size of 100×100 cm. In order to limit the weight of these panels and to avoid an assembly height exceeding 10 mm, EDM recommended the use

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of the Stone Performance technology. The panel chosen in this case is a material mix consisting of a 10-mm natural stone layer on fiberglass, which is structurally bonded across the entire surface.

The material’s installation The material was installed over a steel substrate panel in the Ferrié Pavilion.

After applying a bonding

primer, the EDM workers began to install the Schlüter-Systems uncoupling membrane *Schlüter-DITRA 25.

It not only serves to neutralize different tensions between the covering and the substrate, but also absorbs the building’s vibrations, as Sébastien Sollier emphasized: “When we were calibrating our laser leveling device, the display kept moving back and forth. The tower is constantly in motion, which is particularly noticeable at peak

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visitor hours. The level only was reasonably stable in the morning, when the tower was still closed for visitors.”

The bonded uncoupling membrane was installed with a flexible, malleable adhesive mortar by Mapei, which allowed for the installation of the panels after a curing phase of the mortar.

The bonded assembly of natural stone and fiberglass was attached to the mat with an epoxy-resin modified twocomponent polyurethane

Project

adhesive.

The Stone Performance panels, which weighed approximately 25 kg each, were set into place with suction lifters.

The entire covering area was subdivided into 40 m² segments, using movement profiles of the type Schlüter-Dilex-EKSN. These profiles, which were also installed in the door transition areas, are optimally suited to absorb the continuous movement and elongation changes caused by sunlight

within the covering.

After grouting the panels, the floor was cleaned and crystallized. According to Sollier, this process creates a lasting sheen, makes the bonded assembly more resistant, and also facilitates cleaning. The installation of large-scale panels of 5 mm natural stone on a 20 mm bonded honeycomb fiberglass material in the wall area elegantly rounded off the redesign. The reliable bonded uncoupling assembly now guarantees the

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permanently damage-free appearance of the attractive floor covering, even under these extenuating circumstances.

Overall, this extraordinary renovation project required strict organization to stay within the tight time schedule.

Ten workers were involved in the on-site installation for approximately three months, while the preparation of the construction work took half a year.

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*Schlüter®-DITRA 25 is a pressure stable polyethylene membrane with a grid structure of square cavities and an anchoring fleece laminated to its underside.

The fleece backing becomes anchored in the adhesive to the substrate. It also prevents the air channels on the underside from being filled with adhesive.

With the fleece backing, installation is accomplished using a very thin layer of adhesive.

On top of the membrane, the adhesive is anchored into the square, cut back cavities, which are only 2.5 mm deep.

Schlüter®-DITRA 25 is pressure stable and can be walked upon as soon as it has been adhered to the substrate.

Thus, no waiting time is required before setting the tiles.

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S T O N E

B O X

DAL1975

CERCOM CERAMICHE www.cercomceramiche.it

Via A. Volta 23/25 - 42013 Casalgrande (RE) Italy Tel. +39-0522-998411/911 Fax Italy +39-0522-841338 Fax Export +39-0522-996218

FOCUS ON Cersaie 2017

Cersaie 2017

35th Cersaie gets underway The 35th edition of Cersaie will get under way on Monday 25 September.

The ribbon-cutting ceremony is scheduled for 10.45 a.m in Piazza Costituzione, the main entrance to the Bologna trade fair complex. This will be immediately followed by the much awaited Inaugural Conference, to be held at Palazzo dei Congressi, in the Sala Europa.

ence – Salone delle Guardie, Palazzo Ducale, Sassuolo. The press conference will be followed by the awards ceremony for the 20th Ceramics of Italy Journalism Award, and the formal endorsement of the winner of Beautiful Ideas, the competition for young designers to design the visual graphics for Cersaie 2017.

The opening day of the 35th edi- • 8.00 pm: Cersaie Evening tion of the world’s most impor(by invitation) – Sala della tant trade show for the ceramic Cavallerizza, Palazzo Dutiles and bathroom furnishing cale, Sassuolo industry will then be punctuat- This will be followed by the ed by two evening events to be assignment of the Confinheld in the historic Palazzo Dudustria Ceramica Distribucale in Sassuolo: tor Awards to the four dis• 6.00 pm: Ceramics of Italy tributors (representing International Press ConferFrance, Germany, United

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Kingdom and Italy) that have made the most outstanding contribution to relations with the Italian ceramic industry.

al status of an event that’s set to attract even more exhibitors than last year, who numbered 852 and came from 43 countries worldwide.

Vast numbers of prospective exhibitors, from all over the world, have applied to take part. Cersaie, the largest and most authoritative international trade show for the ceramic and bathroom furnishing industries, has thus consolidated its credentials as the world’s most important focal point for the international trade, the best showcase for spotting aesthetic and technological trends, and a vital meeting point between manufacturers and distributors.

All this confirms the internation-

At this 35th edition, for the first time in its history, Cersaie has created two distinct events, one dedicated to floor and wall coverings and the other to bathroom furnishing.

• In keeping with a tradition that’s been upheld for eight years now, the ceramic exhibition poster comes from the Beautiful Ideas competition, which received 105 entries from students registered at IED in Milan, ISIA in Urbino, NABA in Milan and on the Design and Communication course at Seconda Università

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COME TO VISIT US

Enrico Montecchi - Fabrizio Mariani per Cersaie 2017

25-29 Settembre 2017

We are waiting for you!

Settori Merceologici

ingresso CALZONI

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in Naples. The winning entry, picked by a Arredamenti perup ambiente bagno - Complementi oggettistica jury made of Anna Steiner, ed Gigi Colin per il bagno - Mobili per bagno - Specchi e specchiere - Tende, tappeti e coordinati in genere - Lavelli - Piani d’appoggio - Elementi and Aldo Colonetti, was by Fabrizio Mardi arredobagno per disabili iani and Enrico Montecchi, who are Arredoceramica e Caminetti - Caminetti per arredo - Stufe in stuceramica - Cucine piastrellate dents at the Nuova Accademia di Belle Materie prime, attrezzature per prodotti ceramici - Supporto (biscotto) Coloranti, smalti e fondenti per serigrafia, Arti in -Milan.

Their work- Prodotti is entitled Polydecalcomanie morph because “ceramic is moving Attrezzature e materiali per la posa e l’esposizione di prodotti ceramici -from Macchineits ed attrezzi - Adesivi, impermeabilizzanti away traditional format eand sigillanti - Prodotti per finiture e per il trattamento delle superfici Mobili espositori, espositori per campionari, arredi per sale mostra turning into something else; developSpedizionieri ments in design and technology are Editoria tecnica - Associazioni, centri di ricerca e di informazione Servizi alle imprese projecting it towards a new future, and ceramic is in constant metamorphosis.”

• The concept behind the bathroom furnishing exhibition poster is based on two key ingredients – life and design – which spawned the headline “Water is trendy”. The image, created by Interpromex Comunicazione, is an abstract form, buzzing with energy, that provokes the imagination of everyone who sees it, and brings to mind either a dress or a piece of drapery, but always something for clothing a person or their habitat.

LIAN STYLE CONCEPT ITA

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* Settore merceologico in contitolarietà con BolognaFiere

Apparecchiature igienico-sanitarie - Apparecchi igienico-sanitari - Cabine doccia - Vasche da bagno e idromassaggio - Rubinetteria sanitaria - Termoarredo - Saune

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Mostra: MILLELUCI Italian Style Concept

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Città della posa: ampia area riservata alla dimostrazione delle nuove tecniche di installazione e posa in opera di pavimenti e rivestimenti.

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Gall. 21/22 Galleria dell’Architettura

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• Main Entrance, service centre • Pad. 26, Stand B50

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ingresso ALDO MORO

TILE EINTERNATIONAL AT CERSAIE 2016 - COME TO VISIT US!

Pavimenti e rivestimenti in materiali non ceramici* - Marmo Pietra Naturale - Pietra Ricostruita - Legno - Parquet - Laminati in Genere - Polimerici - Fibre Naturali - Compositi - Vetro - Rivestimenti in Carta

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Gall. 25-26

Pavimenti e rivestimenti di ceramica - Bicottura - Clinker - Cotto Gres porcellanato - Gres rosso - Monocottura chiara - Monocottura rossa - Mosaico - Battiscopa, listelli, tozzetti, altri pezzi speciali Frangisole e grigliati in ceramica - Pezzi speciali per piscine - Tegole ceramicate - Pareti ventilate - Pavimenti sopraelevati

Cersaie 2017

Building, Dwelling, Thinking 2017 Launched in 2009, Building, Dwelling, Thinking, Cersaie’s programme of cultural events dedicated to design and architecture, has now reached its eighth year.

Every year, the programme’s conferences are led by renowned designers and architects from all over the world, who come to present their projects and their vision of architecture and contemporary design.

From Renzo Piano to Shigeru Ban, Enzo Mari and Eduardo Souto de Moura; from Patricia Urquiola to Kazuyo Sejima; from emergency architecture to social housing, women in architecture and the

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archeosofica of Soleri; and from Italy, to Japan, Spain, China and India: five years of conferences and seminars have hosted more than 70 public meetings, almost 200 speakers and four Pritzker Prize winners.

Dates for the 2017 edition already include conferences by Sebastián Irarrázaval (26 September), Elisa Valero Ramos (28 September) and Diébedo Francis Kéré (28 September).

More information will be published over the next few weeks: stay with MaterialiCasa.com to find out all the latest updates to the programme on the Cersaie page!

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Milleluci Exhibition event Following in the footsteps of the “port” that formed the focus of the 2016 collective exhibition entitled Cer-Sail, the 4th B2B exhibition, curated by Angelo Dall’Aglio and Davide Vercelli and to be held during the 35th Cersaie, will draw inspiration – and take its name – from the Italian television programme MILLELUCI, which was broadcast by RAI in the 1970s and stood out for the originality of its format.

So the exhibition will take its cues from the television variety show hosted by Mina and Raffaella Carrà in 1974, and in the same way that Milleluci unfolded in eight episodes dedicated to specific themes, MILLELUCI will be divided into 10 thematic sets, each associated with a specific film genre, such as musical, cartoon, science fiction, horror, western or spy story.

Milleluci will be one of the main events at the third edition of Bologna Design Week, to be held in the city centre in the Quadrivium of Galleria Cavour, a historic melting pot of art, fashion and design, with two sets “La dolce vita” and “Breakfast at Tiffany’s”, which will act as gateways into Cersaie, by highlighting the link between the trade show and Bologna Design Week, of which Cersaie is the main partner.

The companies taking part in the event include: Artemide, Casalgrande Padana, Ceramica Flaminia,

Ceramiche Ricchetti, Cordivari, Danese, Del Conca, Emilgroup, Gaudi’ Decor, Hom, Julia Marmi, Lea Ceramiche, Melogranoblu, Ragno, Rubinetterie 3m, Oikos, Tagina Ceramiche D’arte and Wall&Deco.

The exhibition’s curators: Angelo Dall’Aglio was born in Bologna in 1969 and took a degree in Architecture, specialising in Industrial Design and Furnishing, at Politecnico di Milano. Since 2015, he has been organisational head of Promos srl, the Operational Secretariat of Cersaie.

Davide Vercelli was born in Varallo in the Italian province of Vercelli in 1966 and holds a degree in Engineering from Politecnico di Torino.

A designer and art director, he has been selected twice for the Compasso d’Oro and received a number of other prestigious international awards, including: Design Plus, the International Design Award, and the Good Design Award.

Design your home...

Arrive with a dream, leave with a plan The 6th edition of “Cersaie Designs Your Home” will be held on 28 and 29 September.

The 2016 edition of the initiative was a big success, and over the two days of its duration, consultants from the participating publications gave seven to 10 high-quality consultations per day.

Cersaie 2017

Tiling Town The Italian and international world of tile-setting will take centre stage in Tiling Town, in Area 49, adjacent to the Piazza Costituzione entrance to the Bologna Trade Fair Complex.

Now in its 6th edition, Tiling Town will include five work-in-progress areas, each hosting tile-setting demonstrations focusing on the profession’s classic topics (planarity, substrate preparation, bathroom preparation, applying adhesives to substrates, and floating facades/ cladding), plus a sixth area dedicated to the installation of large-format panels.

On each day of Cersaie, this last area will host a technical seminar for designers on the specific subject of large-format panels, involving a two-

hour classroom session and two hours of practical work in the tile-setting workshop, which will entitle participants to four professional training credits.

In line with the international character of Cersaie, Tiling Town will also be crossing national borders, to host a range of official and professional meetings, including meetings with the EUF (federation of European tilefixers associations) and its American counterpart, the NTCA. The programme is scheduled to include a seminar on insurance policies for tilesetters, and the General Meeting of

Construction Site Technicians.

A large space in Area 49 will be occupied by ASSOPOSA (the Italian association of ceramic tiling contractors and tile-setters), whose Master Tile-Setters will give live demonstrations of the installation of large formats, slim formats and indoor and outdoor coverings, which are open to all visitors to Cersaie.

Lastly, the outfitting of Tiling Town will be embellished with a large, visually striking sphere, with a covering of ceramic tiles, designed by the architect Valentino Scaccabarozzi.

TILE INTERNATIONAL & ASSOPOSA staff at Cersaie 2016

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ISO 9001 & ISO 14001 CERTIFIED

www.topcer.com

Visit us at CERSAIE Stand C-66 • Pav 36

Cersaie 2017

Bologna Design Week

From Tuesday 26 to Saturday 30 September Shows, design exhibitions, workshops, competitions, events, guided tours and design talks focusing on design culture, fashion & design, and design food, will bring added vitality to the evening scene in the historic centre of Bologna for five days dedicated to design culture and the cultural and creative industry. The night of Wednesday 27 September will come alive with “Design Night”, organised in collaboration with Confcommercio Ascom Bologna.

Bologna Design Week is an international event aimed at promoting design culture in the Emilia-Romagna region.

The event maps out and brings together the region’s leading exponents of culture, training, creativity, manufacturing and distribution, within a single, integrated communication project. The mapping process is carried out according to principles of co-design.

All the data collected are open-source and published on bolognadesignweek.com 2017 marks the event’s third edition, which promises to be full of new ideas and design cues, including: • the “Temporary Living Space” contest for architects and interior designers, centring on the temporary outfitting of the Salone del Settecento in Palazzo Isolani, conceived for Molteni&C|Dada; • an exhibition entitled “Scatto Libero. Dino Gavina dieci”, held in Palazzo Pepoli Campogrande, curated by Elena Brigi and Daniele Vincenzi and sponsored by Gruppo HERA. The show is a tribute to the inventor and innovator Dino Gavina (1922-2007) ten years after his death. Gavina has been described as “one of the twentieth century’s most important Italian design entrepreneurs in the field of furnishing, lighting and urban design, whose work ceaselessly explored the modern world and traced out innovative paths inspired by his relationship with poetry, free thinking and the visual arts.”

During BDW 2017, the public will have the chance to rediscover Bologna’s roots as a “city of water and silk”, by exploring watercourses, underground passages, historic

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buildings and sites not normally open to the public, as part of guided tours and events organised in partnership with Associazione Vitruvio.

An extensive programme of events will also shine the spotlight on the star performers of the local area, where the culture of food and fashion attracts constant attention through achievements of international standing.

Like last year, the main location and the info and press point will be Palazzo Isolani, whose eighteenth century rooms will host a selection of historic design companies with all-new installations, while the outdoor courtyard will feature design by the company Corradi Outdoor Living Space.

Other highlights will be the Galleria Cavour, a historic meeting point between fashion, art and design, and the 1950s interior of the former workshop of Corradi tailoring, now Cavallo Spose, designed by architect Enrico De Angeli, which will host an installation curated by the architect Lorena Zùñiga Aguilera.

Cersaie 2017

ORIGINAL PARQUET plete resistance to atThe NATURALIZZATI collectack by fluids that can tion is a result of the cause stains. Spillages unceasing commitof water and even liqment to research that uids that normally Original Parquet has leave indelible stains, upheld since its formasuch as wine and coftion, in order to supply fee, stay on the surproducts of the highest face without the slightqualitative and aesest absorption by the thetic value. wood, and can be wiped Original Parquet has creoff kitchen and bathated a floor covering room flooring with a with a surface finish slightly damp sponge. that removes all question marks over the Not only does the wood remain unstained, it everyday usability of remains free from any wood in every part of traces of residual moisthe house, from kitchture. ens to bathrooms.

So years of research and The treatment process a complex industrial consists of six stages, process have given involving the use of a rise to a wood floor range of products from covering that you can water-based wax to UV rely on in all condioil. This preserves the tions, and that has a natural look of the natural appearance wood, while giving it combined with a soft, outstanding impermevelvety feel. ability, and hence com-

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ABK sophisticated interCROSSROAD is a new play of colours with project by ABK comthe various materiprising three collecals from which they tions of coverings draw inspiration. with a minimalist flavour: Chalk, Wood Pictured: Crossroad and Brick.

Chalk Coal combined All three collections with Crossroad Wood enable interior deand Brick signers to develop a

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Cersaie 2017

ETERNO IVICA and permanently PEDESTAL is a system levelled floors, by of adjustable, moducompensating quicklar pedestals for the ly and simply for installation of safe, any unevenness and elegant and practical gradients on the supoutdoor floor coverport surface. ings. The absence of a screed significantly Protected by international patent, Pedesreduces the weight tal adjustable pedeson the structure, tals come with an while at the same exclusive adjuster time delivering high wrench for adjusting load strength. the pedestals (and Thanks to the adjustahence the flooring bility of the pedesthey support) even tals and their comafter the flooring has pensation accessobeen finished, so that ries, Pedestal sysany issues can be tems by Eterno Ivica solved without takmake it possible to ing up the coverings. achieve perfectly Tile International 2/2017

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Cersaie 2017

CASALGRANDE PADANA RESINA is a porcelain tile collection from the Granitoker line that upholds the trend for continuous surfaces by evoking the appearance of hand-spread resin coatings.

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Sizes: cm 75.5x151 and sub-multiples Thickness: 10 mm / 9 mm Colours: Dark, Pearl, Mud, Sand, Ivory Surface finish: natural Pictured: Resina in Grey

The Next Generation Ultra-thin diamond blade for all types of porcelain stoneware

montolit.com

Cersaie 2017

COLMEF GEODRY is a waterproofing system consisting of three parts: multi-layer waterproof polymer geomembranes with low thickness, high elasticity and high flexibility; specific adhesives for fixing the geomembranes, floor coverings and wall coverings; and special pieces for ensuring the safety, continuity and uniformity of the waterproofing at critical points (drains, vents, sharp edges, drainage system connections, etc.).

The technology that the materials incorporate, combined with a quick, simple installation process, minimises the risk of human error, cuts the time and cost of installation and reduces potential interference from adverse weather.

Geodry solutions are practical, durable and easy to maintain. They also open up previously unimaginable construction possibilities on all types of substrate, whether new or existing

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CIR wood.

MAT is dedicated to the expressive potential of MAT’s sophisticated colour palette consists of non-reflective surfaces.

Cold Materials (Oyster, MAT comes in two verZinc, Smoke) and Warm sions: MAT C, which Materials (Cloud, Sanreplicates concrete, and dal, Mud), which generMAT W, which pays irate attractive, cross-refreverent tribute to

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erential points of contact through two accent colours (Brichy and Sky). As well as traditional formats, the MAT range includes an 80x80 cm tile that extends the collection’s potential.

Cersaie 2017

COOP IMOLA SICILY draws inspiration from the sandstone typically found on Italy’s largest island: it’s an unusually soft, sedimentary, calcareous rock, with medium porosity, that comes in various gradations of colour, ranging

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from white to yellowish.

Technical info: Through-body porcelain tile.

Sizes: 60x120 - 60x60 75x75 - 37.5x75 - 6.5x20 cm Colours: beige, white, grey, dark grey

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FERRARI&CIGARINI The MGP/3 is a machine for creating steps and profiles in ceramic, gres porcelain, marble, granite and agglomerates.

It’s an innovative, compact, automatic model offering two types of machining: - 45° chamfer for steps.

- profiling for skirting-boards, plinths, thresholds, window sills, bullnoses and half bullnoses.

The MGP/3 consists of three motorised tool-spindles, which are angle-adjustable for 45° chamfers for steps, and vertically adjustable for profiling.

The MGP/3 is also available in a five-head version for working with five different types of grinding wheel simultaneously, in order to reduce machining times.

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COLLETTIVA Natural feelings to enjoy every day

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FRANCESCO DE MAIO This exclusive product stands out for its elegance and impeccable design.

It reveals its purebred Italian character not only in its artisanal quality but also by its allusion to Italy’s highest ceramic tradition.

Majolica and rigorously hand-made furnishing complements invoke the decorations of times gone by and reinterpret them with a modern edge.

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EMILCERAMICA The 20TWENTY collection takes its name from the archetypal tile format.

Starting in size 20x20 cm, it also comes in 20x120 and 20x180 formats

based on five special woods - vintage, industrial, board, trunk and pallet each originating from a different inspiration and treatment.

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IMPERTEK The PEDESTAL range is a ESTALS, for heights from series of products de10 to 37 mm, the MARsigned for the installaTINETTI (jacks) series, tion of outdoor raised from 25 to 392 mm, flooring. It comprises a and the MEGAMART serange of height-adjustaries, from 35 to 1020 ble floor-installation mm. pedestals and accesso- Floor installation is quick ries, which meets the and simple, technical needs of most construcsystems can be routed tion site situations, and through the space unprovides the best soluderneath it, and tion for any type of everything remains inflooring, from wooden spectable at all times. and composite decking, The height of the pedesto ceramic, concrete and tals can be adjusted at natural stone tiles. the installation stage, Impertek pedestals cover even on irregular floorheight differences ranging, and thanks to the ing from 10 mm to over new Balance self-levelone metre, with a load ling head, millimetric capacity of up to 800 height adjustment alkg, and come in differways ensures that the ent families of specific finished flooring is totalproducts: the MINI PEDly level.

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“Blu Ponti” of Ceramica Francesco De Maio

Armchair D.153.1 Molteni & C.

Cersaie 2017

Bologna 25 - 29 / September

Hall 22 - Stand A116

Via Nazionale, 5 - 84015 Nocera Superiore (SA) ITALY Phone Number +39 081 931011 – Fax Number +39 081 5142366 - Email: info@francescodemaio.it www.francescodemaio.it

Cersaie 2017

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ITALGRANITI METALINE is an innovative project inspired by the surface appearance of metals.

This vigorous porcelain tile by Italgraniti expresses three vibrant effects, embod-

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ies the full essence of the material on which it is based and offers an original covering that makes the perfect match for contemporary architecture.

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Cersaie 2017

PROFILITEC Profilitec is excited to announce the launch of SHOWERTEC, the integrated shower system.

Profilitec’s goal in the development of Showertec was to improve on existing systems by reducing installation time and complexity while improving performance. They have succeeded in this goal by pre-attaching the FOILTEC WATER-STOP membrane to the pre-formed foam trays and curbs making installation easier and significantly reducing installation time.

And, because they believe that all showers are steam showers, the Foiltec Water-Stop waterproof membrane conforms to industry vapour transmission requirements.

Foam tray and curb elements are 25% denser than most similar products.

Lastly, drain grates are produced via advanced processes resulting in an extremely attractive finished installation.

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00617 Visual Comunicazione – VE

P E D E S TAL LI N E adjustable support pedestals for outdoor floors

Ceggia · Venice MADE IN ITALY

info@impertek.com WWW.IMPERTEK.COM

25 > 29.09.2017 HALL 44 · STAND 37

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RONDINE ARDESIE is a new collection of porcelain tile that draws inspiration from natural slate, and comes in a versatile range of sizes to suit a variety of applications: 30.5x60.5, 60x120, 60x60 and 30x60 edge-ground.

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also available in a lapped version. The Ardesie collection also includes a mosaic, and comes in six shades, ranging from traditional to modern. Each shade faithfully replicates the textures, tones and variegation of slate.

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PIEMME UNIQUESTONE is the result of continuous research into materials and digital technologies. It comes with a choice of two surface finishes: natural, which replicates in detail the textural effects of the various minerals it’s inspired by; and polished, which adds elegance and sheen.

It’s available in five colours, from “silk “, the lightest, to “nite”, the darkest.

The range of sizes (30x60, 60x60, 80x80 and 60x120 cm) also includes the Chevron accent (10x53 cm), designed for creat-

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ing herringbone installation patterns.

There are also three 3D versions for wall tiling that replicates the effect of handworked stone: Level, a large format (60x120cm) featuring the four textural effects from which Uniquestone draws inspiration; Iced, which accentuates the streaked patterns of the stone with fine polishing at their crest; Maya, which features a geometric design available in ton-sur-ton or with combinations of several colours.

5-9 FEB 2018 / Valencia (Spain)

CREATE YOUR OWN REALITY #cevisama18

www.cevisama.com

Cersaie 2017

OPERA SCUDO REVOLUTION: with 10 years of success behind it, the company has developed a new look for its flagship product, which will now be produced in new version.

- New Brico Pack 10 kg, designed to optimise space and cut waste by supplying the product in an easier-to-manage format for professionals and private buyers alike; - Waterproof Bag, with a full plasticized cover and perfect valve sealing, to ensure zero leakage of powder and zero water absorption in the rain or if the bag is accidentally put down on a wet surface.

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made in the heart of Italy... ...it was in Umbria, in the green heart of Italy, that PIETRE D’ARREDO was born. Here, history, the culture of stone and with it the tradition of building, are the very core of the identity of the craftsmen of the past, who skillfully sculpting and moulding the stone. The innovative manifacturing technique make our reconstructed stone a perfect substitute for natural stone limiting extraction from quarry, thus respecting and protecting the envioronment. www.pietredarredo.com

info@pietredarredo.com

mod. ARENAL

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EDILCUOGHI make the collection ideCOLLETTIVA is a modern, al for commercial and elegant reinterpretaresidential environtion of stone, with a fine ments alike. design that combines various formats with Available in various formats, from 30x60 to soft, tactile aesthetics.

60x120, which magnify Light texturing and genthe sense of space. tly variegated effects

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EGE SERAMIK The Autumn collection of Ege Seramik consists of 30 brand new product lines that are asservite as always, with rich design options, and variety of sizes.

BOSTON: With its woodlike

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texture and concrete look, lows Boston to take that the Boston Collection will elegant look and pair it help you create sporty and with the strength and dustylish residential and rability only offered by commercial spaces. Ege porcelain tile.

Seramik’s state-of-the-art YORK: With its five different production technology alcolor options and three siz-

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es, the York Collection will revolutionize the customary style of your living spaces. Taking two tile trends and combining them into one, the York Collection offers a bal-

anced mixture of both wood and cement looks.

LONDON: Providing a felling of warmth and coziness of brick in your living spaces is easier than ever now with Ege Seramik’s Lon-

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don Collection that comes in 6x25 cm size, and with multiple color options. This product is the new alternative of brick with all the advantages that porcelain tile has to offer.

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PROFILPAS TREND COLOR LIGHT is a new range of finishes for lovers of an essential, minimalist aesthetic. Its colour palette ranges from gold and peach to the dark shades of slate.

Thanks to a special coating, these profiles express a unique feeling of lightness and a distinctly modern finish.

The external corner profiles Proangle ZV and Proangle Q ZQVN are available in the brand new finishes perla, ĂŠcru, oliva, zafferano, kaki, pesca, mogano, seppia, bistro and ardesia, with a metallic effect that lends a warm, modern, elegant tone to your habitat.

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INNOVATIVE INTERIOR DESIGN SOFTWARE

THE MOST USED INTERIOR DESIGN SOFTWARE Chosen and recommended by major tiles and furnishings producers.

Come and visit us at CERSAIE

to find out DomuS3D® 2018 new features.

DIVE IN

VIRTUAL REALITY

Give life to your projects with Virtual Reality, a real showcase for your products.

www.domus3d.com

Cersaie 2017

MOSAICO+ COLORS 10X10: Five materials and 257 colours turn this mosaic into a rich palette made to measure for all types of project.

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and a wide range are the hallmark of this new 10x10 series

by Mosaico+, which combines pieces from the Vetrina, Doro, Concerto, Perle and Metal collections in a single line.

Cersaie 2017

BUZON PEDESTAL INTERNATIONAL Over the course of 2017, BUZON will further extend its product range with the introduction of new accessories designed to simplify the work of installers and improve their finished results. These are aims which the Belgian group Buzon Pedestal International has been pursuing for 30 years, with considerable success in terms of market positioning in

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various parts of the world.

The Buzon range of adjustable pedestals for raised flooring is divided into three segments: - PB for small and medium projects; - PDH for major public projects; - BC for special urban furnishing projects, such as fountains. www.buzon-world.com

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MARAZZI MYSTONE LAVAGNA is a faithful but original interpretation of the rigorous appeal of stone, combined with the evocative patterns of sedimentary rock.

The surface, graphics and texture of the original dark stone takes on a different allure in the new white version.

Technical info: - through-body porcelain tile

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- colours: white, black - edge-ground formats on a natural surface: 75x150 75x75 - 60x60 30x60 cm in both colours - edge-ground formats on a textured surface: 60x60 - 30x60 cm in both colours Mosaics: - 3D 30x30 cm, in both colours.

- 30x60 cm “listello�, in both colours.

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MONTOLIT Brevetti Montolit’s R&D ceramic industry, its The steel core of the disc Department has just stand-out feature is the has four slots in it to recompleted the final deultra-slim diamond-coatduce noise during cutvelopment work on its ed band, which has a ting, and is reinforced CGX FRECCIA ORO cutunique geometry specifiby a special electro-weldting disc, as witness the cally designed to minied flange that gives the company’s signature mise friction and thus entire tool excellent sta‘M’ on the disc’s diaprevent chipping, dissibility even under high mond-coated crown. pate heat and attack the levels of stress.

Thanks to a third phase of material incisively.

The typical gold colouring progression in the de- Faster than any other of the DNA series and velopment of its DNA disc, it handles the most the attractive graphics technology (controlled delicate ceramic and the make it totally unique. diamond deposition), hardest gres porcelain, This latest series of diathe company has develwhile at the same time mond discs for dry use oped a product of unriguaranteeing an excelwith CGX Freccia Oro valled performance, lent finish and long life, angle-grinders is alwhich is currently the whether working with ready on the market, absolute class-leader. ultra-slim panels or and available in diameDeriving from Montolit’s tough high-thickness ters 100, 115 and 125 long experience in the tiles. mm.

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AD: IKOS

www.edilgres.it

The last generation big slabs in low thickness

Cersaie 2017

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EDILGRES slight variegaE_STREET is a modtion. The wide ern, sophisticated range of sizes ininterpretation of cludes 60x120, concrete, with a 60x60 and 30x60 surface that harformats, which moniously blends are ideal for ingraphics and colstallation in comours, to create a bination with versatile, minieach other. malist covering.

E_Street maximises Produced with a the creative freenatural finish, E_ dom of architects Street comes in 5 in a full range of colours Ice, interior and exteSand, Grey, Smoke rior design proand Graphite - all jects. of which feature

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ISLATILES The new STONE PIT and EDENROCK collections of porcelain tile interpret nature by expressing its most solid and definitive manifestation - stone - and turning it into an element of pure design.

Both collections multiply the original inspiration by offering it in four different colours, to provide a choice that has something to suit every taste and every environment.

The many formats and trim pieces, furthermore, bring a custom touch to their setting, whether public or residential.

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RAGNO The REALSTONE collection brings together all the best features of natural stone, and its four variants are an authentic expression of the materials from which they draw inspiration: Cardoso, a sophisticated Italian stone with a contemporary look; Jerusalem, a warm, distinctive calcareous stone; Quarzite, an elegantly texture Indian stone; and Rain, a limestone of Dutch origin known as Rainstone, with regular, minimalist graphics.

The collection is available in three finishes: natural, textured and the new ‘soft’.

The hexagonal mosaic is particularly attractive, because it takes all the stones and their different nuances, and blends them together.

Technical info: - fine through-body porcelain tile - colours: grey, white - three edge-ground formats (60x120 - 60x60 - 30x60) - three finishes: natural, soft and textured - size 50x100 cm, 20 mm thick (XT20 version) in all colours for outdoor installation on adhesive or dry installation on sand, gravel or grass; - mosaics: 3D 30x30 cm mosaic in all colours; 30x60 cm brickwork-type mosaic in all colours; mosaic mix consisting of hexagons that can be used in conjunction with all colours.

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COREtec by USFloors ®

COREtec® represents an all-new category in the MLF (multi-layer flooring) segment: warm and quiet, it’s installed with floating laying and requires no sound-absorbing underlay because it already incorporates a layer of cork. Its extruded core is made up of recycled wood, bamboo powder, limestone and virgin PVC.

- no need for expansion joints, even over large areas, up to 400 sq - can be laid over existing floor coverings - conceals all imperfections in the substratum - has a wear layer of 0.5mm, guaranteeing long life even in commercial use - a double layer of UV acrylic finish ensures stain-resist® ance and ease of mainteCOREtec is 100% waterproof nance and covered by a guarantee, so it’s ideal for use in wet - easy to install thanks to the use of patented L2C clic techrooms, therefore in kitchens ® nology and bathrooms too. COREtec flooring also offers the fol- COREtec® comes with a lifetime guarantee for residential use lowing benefits: and a 10-year guarantee for - exceptionally high dimencommercial use. sional stability

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POLIS TEX is a collection of indoor and outdoor floor tiles, plus wall tiles.

The floor tiles are made of gres porcelain and come in the following formats: 30x60 cm natural and edgeground - 60x60 natural and edge-ground - 90x90 edgeground - 60x120 edgeground - 60x120 edgeground with thickness of 2 cm for outdoor use.

The white-body wall tiles are produced in a 30x90 cm edge-ground format.

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MLT System

™

MLTS Europa srl, formed “Our European operaproducts for themselves, in 2013, is the manufactions have a particular so we’ve produced a turer of the MLT SYSfocus on the markets of STARTER KIT for the Ready TEM™ for tile installaEastern Europe, espeseries and a Starter KIT tion, incorporating 100% cially the Russian Federfor the Slim series. For a Italian technology and ation, where we’ve minimum outlay, these quality. The system reforged an important handy kits give you cently passed tests conpartnership with LLC everything you need for ducted by the Tile CounKerama Marazzi, a leadtile installation. cil of North America (TCing tile manufacturer. We’re also running a seNA) and the Centro CeOur largest growth, howries of company workramico Brasilero (CCB) ever, has come from the shops aimed at our diswith flying colours.

American market, where tributors, to upgrade our “Here at MLTS Europa, we our system complies persupport, training and see the results of our fectly with all the new qualification services refirst few years in busirequirements laid down lating to the use of the ness as extremely posiby the Tile Council of MLT System™. And as of tive in terms of our conNorth America (TCNA) next year, we’ll be runsolidation of export marregarding new installaning tile installation kets,” explains Enrico tion standards. courses in conjunction Bondielli, Executive Di- We want users to be able to with ASSOPOSA, of rector of MLTS Europa. test the quality of our which we’re a member.”

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SERENISSIMA from left: LE PLANCE is a collection of long PIERRE DE FRANCE, draws inspirafloorboards, measuring 26.5x180 tion from the natural stone typicalcm, that show off the full beauty of ly used in rural buildings in southnatural wood to outstanding effect. ern France.

The rich detail of natural wood also It’s a new collection with an excepprovides the inspiration for NEWtionally versatile spirit, that works PORT 2.0, a new collection that suits to perfection both in the renovation a varied range of environments, of historic buildings and in the deand combines the elegance of natusign of modern, contemporary interal wood with the practicality of riors. porcelain tile.

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RAK CERAMICS Will unveil a new range ness in the large size of novelties, inspired of 120x260cm and by vintage trends 14mm thickness in and industrial interithe super-sized or design trends from 135x305cm for counthe 1950’s. This Vintertop surfaces. tage 50 concept fo- In sanitaryware RAK cuses on minimalism, Ceramics will presstylish shapes, glossy ent a brand-new conmaterials, and shincept, RAK-MORNING. ing surfaces.

An affordable and 2018 novelties will invery wide range, with clude a new range of carefully finished deMAXIMUS MEGA tails and quality deSLABS for floor and sign to suit internawall applications as tional tastes, well as countertop Rak-Morning incorsurfaces, with seven porates the latest completely new colrimless technology lections, new sizes and has been deand thicknesses insigned to create room cluding 6 mm thickfor imagination.

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Promoted by

Supported by

Co-located Events

Brazilian Exhibition of Coverings, Sanitary Ware, Faucets and Finishing Materials exporevestir.com.br

Organization

design ps.2

13 – 16 March 2018 São Paulo, Brazil

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NG KHUTAYA For people who loves to make a difference BLUETTA. Bluetta is designed with inspiration from a rare blue stone on nature and now is demonstrating his own style in the living area with his different and eye-catching lines.

Being produced in glazed porcelain tiles and in 120x240 cm, it could be used both indoor and outdoor.

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NIRO GRANITE GRAIN, a structured tile collection that is available in three different formats, mostly an assortment of lightweight stones which are later deposited randomly along the river bed. The Grain Series aims to harness the beauty of nature by mimicking this natural occurrence.

The many rustic hues of the submerged stones and pebbles are converted into three shades of tiles - all of which appears organic and modern.

Size: 30x60cm, 60x60cm, 60x120cm Surface: Structured Colours: GGN01 Brite White - GGN02 Harbour Grey GGN03 Ebony Black 171

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RAIMONDI EASY-MOVE, adjustable extension device for handling large format tiles (up to 320 lenght) keeps on evolving and it’s now available the MkIII version.

The new EASY-MOVE MKIII is now provided with levers for quick release and lock of the suction cups units which can now be placed in every position along the aluminum profile in few seconds.

The same system is adopted for the 4 handles conferring to the product maximum ergonomics and efficacy.

In addition to that the suction cup units are free to tilt/pivot so to adapt to the tile and therefore to provide the maximum grip in every situation.

This is particularly useful when dealing with textured tiles.

Raimondi range of levelling system (R.L.S.) expands with the new R.L.S.VITE (screw). The new system consists of one cap and the clips.

Insert the cap in clip threat and with just to fingers twist it down: it reaches the tile in a second. Then tight the cap so to level the tiles (remove lippages).

The cap hollow-design allows the user to see the grout joint.

Clips creates a nominal joint of 1 mm and are available in two versions: one for tile thickness from 3 to 16 mm and the other for thickness from 16 to 25 mm. The latter is ideal also for natural stones installation.

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CERCOM creet grain patterns, and the sophisSTONE BOX is an extensive collection of ticated streaked grey of Blue stone, different types of stone, developed to which is a firm favourite in northern stimulate the creative flair of designEurope. The collection also pays tribers and fulfil the widest imaginable ute to the multiple colours and texrange of project requirements. tures of slate, which are evoked by Stone Box comprises six variants, rangthe original variegations of Multiing from the ivory tone of Brera, ancolor and Multicolor Selected. imated by the texture of the stone on which it is based, to the deep intensi- Stone Box is also available in an outdoor version with thickness of 19 ty of Lavagna, via the burnished mm. grey of Piasentina stone, with its dis-

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LONDON

“This is the room where I think, the room where I dream, the room where I design.

Now, this room is limitless.”

Erich, Architect

RAKCERAMICS.COM

Planet friendly products

New ‘cement-free’ ultra strong self levelling flooring systems.

Find out more at the LATICRETE booth Area 45, Stand 36 LATICRETE is extremely proud to announce the launch of a cement free flooring system that will revolutionise the flooring industry and help the environment.

Find out how this system works and see the beautiful results from the decorative finish it produces. See it at Area 45, Stand 36.

LATICRETE EUROPE Srl. Via Borgogna 8, 20122 Milano, Italia Tel: +39 (0) 187 897470 Fax + 39 (0) 187 896881 Email: Info@laticreteeurope.com www.laticrete.eu A-8328-0917 © 2017 Laticrete Europe Srl. All trademarks shown hereare the intellectual properties of their respective owners.

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