EQUINOX HIGH-TECH TILES
Technical Solutions for Floors & Walls
HighState-of-the-art porcelain stoneware tiles offer a genuine alternative to natural stone and timber. These high-tech marbles, high-tech stones and high-tech woods are aesthetically exceptional, environmentally friendly, and technically superior in terms of durability, buildability and ease of maintenance. Stone created by natural geological processes and wood growing and maturing in nature are both characterised by variation in terms of structural imperfections and chromatic differences. Advanced electronic management of the production process guarantees consistent structural quality and innovative technical solutions creating randomchromatic variations, avoiding repetitive products. In this way each slab of high-tech marble, stone and wood is unique – different from all others – but each has a totally consistent structure. The technical characteristics of these products make them superior to quarried stone and natural timber, making them ideal for any use or application (interior and exterior floors, floating floors, internal and external walls, ventilated walls, decorations and mosaics). The tile structure and finish will not deteriorate over time. The material thus obtained has superior wear and abrasion resistance characteristics, while
the extremely low absorption rate guarantees an increased resistance to frost, stains and chemical substances. The raw materials used (feldspar, kaolins, quartz sands, clay) are naturally abundant and the whole extraction and production process is shaped by the need to minimise emissions. These tiles earn credits for projects under the LEED and various national green building initiatives. Raw materials are recompressed through pressing (at 5,000 tons) and fired at extremely high temperatures producing a tile that has superior wear and abrasion resistance characteristics (making it suitable for heavytraffic areas), while the extremely low absorption rate guarantees an increased resistance to stains and chemical substances. Being so compact, tiles can be very large but still relatively thin (9 or 10mm depending on product). High-tech stone and marble is 60% lighter per square metre than typical quarried stone. This makes installation faster and easier, saving time and money.
Tech Innovation
High-tech stone Pietre Pece 60x60 tiles for pool deck.
Quick Guide u SUPERBLY NATURALISTIC: EACH TILE HAS UNIQUE APPEARANCE. u UNIFORMLY HIGH QUALITY & CONSISTENCY. u ENVIRONMENTALLY SENSITIVE CUTTING-EDGE PRODUCTION PROCESS. u MORE DURABLE THAN STONE BUT 60% LIGHTER. GREAT BUILDABILITY. ALL PRODUCTS CAN BE USED ON INTERIOR OR EXTERIOR FLOORS AND WALLS. u ALMOST ZERO WATER ABSORPTION. EASY TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN. u RESISTANT TO STAINING AND TO CHEMICAL ATTACK. IMPERVIOUS TO WEATHEING. u MANY FORMATS... HIGH-TECH MARBLE & STONE IN 150x75cm, 90x90, 90x45, 120x60, 60x60, 45x45, 40x40, 60x30, 30x30, 30x15, 15x15, 60x15, 90x9; HIGH-TECH WOODS IN 120x30cm, 120x20, 120x10, 60x10, 90x22.5, 90x15, 90x11 u FULL RANGE OF SPECIAL PIECES (STEP EDGES, SKIRTINGS & GRADIENTS) + GREAT CHOICE OF MATCHING MOSAICS.
Chiaro high-tech wood in 900x150mm format.
u HIGHEST TECHNICAL RATINGS UNDER EN (Europe), DIN (Germany), ANSI (America) and ISO (International) REGIMES.
Dark Emperador high-tech marble in polished and pre-polished
Like high-tech marble (“Marmi”) and stone (“Pietre”), the high-tech wood series (“Legni”) is homogeneous throughout the entire thickness of the material. This makes is extremely durable; suitable for interior or exterior applications; light-duty or heavy-duty.
Shown here are: Biondo floor and crosssection and Antico floor and cross section. Some high-tech wood tile products are offered in 900x110mm, 900x150mm, 900x225mm; others are offered in 1200x300mm, 1200x200m, 1200x150 and 600x100.
Both the technical and the aesthetic characteristics of high-tech marble are homogeneous throughout the entire thickness of the material. This means it can be polished and worked, just like quarry marble. Top: Botticino quarry marble pictured above high-tech Botticiino tile.
Below: Innovative Slabs Grigio dei Carpazo, Rosso Alicante and Bianco Paonazetto. Innovative Slab format are 1500x750mm, 750x750mm, 750x375mm and listellos at 750x90mm.
Rosso Alicante Innovative Slabs at 1500x750mm
Rovere Reale high-tech wood: mixed width layout of 1200mm long pieces.
Because all tiles are squared, rectified and monocalibre, the installation can mix surfaces: high-tech marble and wood, for example [photo below of Schloss Hotel Switzerland]. As well as being available in many formats, each tile is supported by an array of
special pieces (step treads, bullnose skirtings, etc) and mosaics made from identical material. The technical specification is bullet-proof: exceptionally hard, scratch-proof surface; fully vitrified homoegeneous mass is impervious to weathering, and
extremely durable; zero emissions of VOCs and 100% fire resistant; environmentally sensitive production process means maximum LEED/BCA credits; precise dimensions and monocalibre system makes for fast and easy installation; Class 5 (best) ratings for ease of cleaning. What does all this mean in practice? It means high-tech marble, stone or wood tile can be used in wet areas (some products have R11 A+B+C grip ratings which means they are good for fully wet areas, pool decks, etc). Being lightweight and impervious to weathering they are also suitable for exterior wall cladding. And now there are super-lightweight options available in the shape of the High-Tech 4.7 range [see later] and the new Ultra range. Cutting edge production processes mean tiles can be very large without any bowing or wedging. Some high-tech stones go up to 600x1200mm at only 10mm thickness while the Innovative Slabs range of high-tech marbles goes to 750x1500mm. The new ‘90-90’ range, comprising Thassos and Travertino Navona high-tech marbles in polished and prepolished finishes plus Limra and Black Ardesia high-tech stones (in satin and structured finishes respectively) at the unusual large format of 900x900mm.
High-tech stone Crema Europa structured finish 600x600mm on the floor; 300x600mm on one wall, ‘Modulo Random’ mosaic on the other wall.
High-tech wood wall cladding.
High-tech wood ‘Tundra’ installation.
High-tech wood Chiaro and Nero in El Corte Ingles restaurant, Toledo.
High-tech stone on steps and walls.
High impact design mall floor in high-tech wood, stone and marble.
High-tech tiles are impervious to weathering, whether the climate is arctic or tropical. Sea salt in the air affecting buildings near the ocean has no effect, in contrast to the deterioration it can cause over time in quarry stone.
Installation of Bianco Paonazetto high-tech ‘Innovative Slab’ honed & polished, using 1500x750mm on the walls and 750x750mm on the floor. Each tile shows unique, full-body veining.
High-tech tiles are so compressed that they are fully vitrified. Water absorption is virtually zero, which means it is quite possible to use them in submerged applications. Crema Europe 300x600mm is used here.
High-tech stone Ardesia Bordeaux: 300x600mm on the walls, sometimes using steel inserts. Ardesia Bordeaux mosaic on floor of water feature.
Pietre del Reno satin finish 600x600m gives a classic, understated look to this room.
Pietre di Barge structured finish at 600x600mm offers a real ‘resort’ look and subtle variation.
Pietre del Reno satin finish 600x600m gives a warm, understated look to this space. Pietre di Barge with inserts of Porfido at the pool deck: International Hotel, Caorle, Italy.
Boutique hotel lobby has hightech stone Pietra di Luserna on the floor and wall.
Black Ardesia high-tech tile has a split-face surface. Each tile shows a unique patina.
Pietre dell’Esterel effectively mimics the rich red stone of the French Riviera. This installation shows 600x600mm and 300x300mm on the floor with Modulo Brick mosaic on the wall.
High-tech opens up limestone applications The same subtle look and surface feel and even tonality as quarry stone but without any of the porosity problems, high-teck Silk Limestone tiles open up new possibilities for architects and designers. There are four colours, three surface finishes and many formats to choose from. Silk Limestone is a porcelain stoneware tile range with highly advanced technical properties, It gives the subtle look and soft, silky polish of quarry limestone but solves the age-old problem of the natural stone porosity, which leads to staining and poor performance in wet areas and exteriors. There are four beautiful Silk Limestone tones: Nozay, Montjuc, Samarcand and Colombina. Three finishes are offered: silk polish, pre-polished and an anti-slip surface boasting an R12 grip rating. Available size formats are 60x60cm, 30x60, 15x60, 10x60, 45x90 and 22.5x90, together with a complementary range of skirtings, step treads, and mosaics. As with other high-tech tiles, Silk Limestone tiles are made up of select minerals which, thanks to patented innovative technologies and extremely high kiln temperatures, form a single, compact and non-absorbent mass that maintains its beauty and absolute quality throughout the material.
The surface is more resistant to scratching and abrasion than hardened steel so, as well as being a good aesthetic choice for the home, they can be used in heavy-traffic areas including those subject to wheeled trolleys,such as airports and shopping malls.
The style of Silk Limestone is subtle and understated, with a very even tonality, just like quarried limestone. Variation can be achieved by mixing surface finishes, as is done with the Downtown mosaics, which blend silk and pre-polished finishes.
Monjuc installation... Silk polish 300x600mm tiles on the walls, mosaic in the shower stall, and pre-polished tiles on the floor.
Detail image shows the silky polished finish and even tonality of high-tech Montjuc.
High-tech Silk Limestone on top; natural quarry limestone underneath, showing the dense mass of the tiles and the porous structure of the natural stone.
Silk Limestone Downtown mosaics are supplied on 30x30cm mesh sheets. The pieces are 3x15cm, 3x10cm and 3x5cm, alternating between silk polish and pre-polished finishes.
Colombina Silk Limestone pre-polished floor: subtle but extremely durable and resistant to staining and chemical attack. Water absorption is virtually zero.
Installation showing Nozay Silk Limestone silk polish on floor and Downtown mosaic on feature wall above fireplace. High-tech tiles are unaffected by heat.
Super-thin high-tech tiles for renovation and cladding Using patented production technology, high-tech tiles can be manufactured to a thickness of just 4.7mm, even at 60x60cm format, retaining the structured surface of full thickness tiles. This super-lightweight material is a good solution for renovation works and for wall cladding. The 4.7 range comprises all four Silk Limestone colours at 60x60cm and 30x60cm; four high-tech stones (Black Ardesia, Cream Europa, Pietra Piasentina and Limra) at 60x60 and 30x60; and four high-tech woods (Moka, Biondo, Antico and Naturale) at 22.5x90cm, 15x90 and 11x90 - all of these with associated mosiacs at super-thin 4.7mm thickness. 4.7 is intended for use in renovation works, as the tiles can be laid directly on top of the existing surface (assuming a hard, relatively flat surface - e.g. tiles or finished quarry stone). There is no need to think about raising door heights, etc., because the tiles are so thin. They are also a great option for wall cladding, both inside and outside.
Standard thickness high-tech marble and stone are already about 60% lighter than quarry stone. The 4.7 range extends this advantage to more than 80%, making wall cladding installation rapid and easy, an no need to costly steel sub-frames. The tiles are full vitrified and therefore impervious to weathering. Even though they are so thin, 4.7 tiles show the same surface finishes as the 9 and 10mm tiles: the wood still has a ‘grain’; the Black Ardesia 4.7 still has a split-face texture. 4.7 tiles can be applied on floors as well as walls, with the exception of truly heavy-traffic areas taking wheeled trolleys. For these we can recommend 4.7 on the walls and full thickness tiles on the floor.
This is a meaningful ‘green’ option, as 4.7 products use only about half as much raw material as full thickness tiles, so their impact is halved in terms of materials consumption, transport and waste. The entire production process is certified to be as sustainable as possible in terms of materials sourcing, production waste and pollution. 4.7 will soon be augmented by the ground-breaking ‘Ultra’ range of super-thin high-tech surfaces, which will be 3 metres by 1.5 metres in size - equating to 4.5m2 per tile! Even so, thickness will be only 3mm or 6mm, depending on application. Ultra will be available later in 2012... Ultra Size, Ultra Light, Ultra Technology.
4.7 is designed to be laid directly only existing stone and tile floors, obviating the need for hacking up.
30x60 piece of Black Ardesia 4.7 shows retention of splitface surface. four high-tech woods are offered in 4.7 thickness. This image shows standard 9.5m thick Moka under a ‘plank’ of Moka 4.7.
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MINIMISES renovation costs. Can be laid on existing floors and walls. SAVE TIME AND COST OF demolition and disposal of old materials. Easy to CUT (USE GLASS CUTTER) AND install. Exemplary technical performance. Excellent wear resistance. Easy to clean and maintain.
The high-tech ‘Greenstone’ range is aptly named, as the tiles in this range are up to 100% recycled. The are two finishes structured and semi-polished - and five full body colours. Quartzite Bianca is 50% recycled, Sintra [below] is 70% recycled, while Silver Grey, Ardesia Antracite and Cadappa Black are 100% recycled.
Greenstone tiles are available in 10x60cm, 15x60, 30x60, 60x60 and 60x120, square and rectified at 10mm thickness. Suitable for interior or exterior application.
High-tech wood is great for flooring and wall cladding. This installation show Scuro on the floor and Decape on the feature wall. High-tech tiles are fully resistant to even intense heat (thermal expansion and contracrtion is almost nil) so they are well suited to applications near to heat sources, such as fireplaces and cooking appliances.
Cardoso high-tech stone has a bush-hammered surface despite being only 10mm thick.
Smart mall floor in a combination of high-tech marbles... Fior di Bosco, Nero Marquinia, Botticino and Statuario.
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