2017 FEBRUARY I ISSUE 16
Archidex 2016
Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre
District 21 Challenge 2016 Niro Ceramic Group
Rust
Zirconio New Product
Homedec KLCC
Always Innovative
Cersaie 2016
The Power of Two
Long Service Employees Niro Ceramic Group MOMENTS
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Content 15 19
05 25 29
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44 45 57 16
01 Passion for
Extraordinary Performance
03 A Niro Vintage Soirée 05 Zirconio New Product – Rust 07 One-stop-center for Niro Granite, Zirconio and Orin Home Leader Sdn Bhd
09 Niro Granite Dealer, Seong Trading
11 Tile Technical Workshop at Ranjanas Ceramic Pvt Ltd, Sri Lanka
13 Niro EduTour – INTI College 15 Archidex 2016 - The 17th International Architecture, Interior Design & Building Exhibition, Malaysia
19 Cersaie 2016 –
The Power of Two
23 HOMEDEC KLCC Part 1, 20 to 23 October 2016
25 Niro Ceramic Group
District 21 Challenge 2016
35 HOME + Love Exhibition 37 FLOW Bar & Lounge – A New Elite Retreat in South Jakarta
39 Neo SOHO – An Elevated Degree of Retail Therapy
41 Central Department Store @ Neo SOHO Mall
43 Expanding Its Distribution
Network in Northern Vietnam: Niro Ceramic Takes a Big Step to the Future
44 SUP CARO + Zirconio 31 Aman Central Mall by
Belleview Group – the new landmark in Alor Setar
45 Westvlaams Tegelhuis
Annual Reception Event
47 Westvlaams Tegelhuis visits Zirconio
49 One of the Top 50 Real Estate Companies in China - Times Property Group Visit to Niro Granite China’s Showroom
27 The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf
51 Da Chang Supermarket,
28 Hatten Square Suites
53 The 28
@ Seremban Gateway and Shoppes
29 Peugeot Showroom – Butterworth
31 Aman Central Mall by
Belleview Group – the new landmark in Alor Setar
33 SOULed OUT @ Imago, Kota Kinabalu
Jiangmen, Guangdong, China
China International Ceramic & Bathroom Fair (CeramBath), China th
55 Chandigarh Showroom India 57 Expansion of NCNI Factory 59 Recognition for Long Service Employees
69 A Retirement at
Niro Ceramic España
NIRO ALPHA
- THE BEGINNING OF MOMENTS
Special stories, news and milestones from Niro Ceramic Group.
NIRO HEART
- IT IS ALL ABOUT PRODUCTS
Sharing everything about our products, which are at the heart of the company.
NIRO PLUS
- IT IS ALL ABOUT OUR SERVICES
All about the sales and marketing services that we provide to architects, dealers and other partners, ensuring hand-in-hand growth.
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NIRO STAR
- IT IS ALL ABOUT EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES
Highlights of events and activities that celebrate the bond between Niro Ceramic and its partners.
Editor-In-Chief Audrey Michelle Johnson Editor Helena Suit Writers Winnie Leong Yenny Kong Ingrid Lasmaria Alice Low Tan Seow Wuay Joann Loo Jocelyn Yong Nguyen Ngoc Quang Eva Sancho Art Director Lee Chai Ling Graphic Designer Farid Yunus Photography Ganisan Santhra
NIRO CELCIUS
- IT IS ALL ABOUT BEING INSPIRED
The latest Niro news that’s nothing short of inspiring.
H2ORIN
- IT IS ALL ABOUT ORIN
A section dedicated to Orin, our sanitary-ware brand, from reports of new products to penetrating different markets.
NIRO INFINITE
- IT IS ALL ABOUT NIRO GROUP
This section is all about our group of companies. We bring you special highlights, features and activities within the group.
NIRO OMEGA
- IT IS ALL ABOUT SHARING
Omega marks the end of Moments where we share special write-ups that will leave a lasting impression.
Contributing Editor Dean Evans Publisher Niro Ceramic Sales & Services (M) Sdn. Bhd. Lot 2, Persiaran Sultan, Section 15, 40200 Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia Tel: (6 03) 5033 9333 Fax: (6 03) 5033 9323 Printer Percetakan Lai Sdn. Bhd. No 1, Persiaran 2/118C, Kawasan Perindustrian Desa Tun Razak, Cheras, 56000 Kuala Lumpur. Tel: (6 03) 9173 1111 Fax: (6 03) 9173 1969
For suggestions and comments or futher enquiries about MOMENTS, please contact moments@nirogroup.com All rights reserved. Copyright 2017 by Niro Ceramic Group.
Words of Editor Audrey Michelle Johnson, February 2017 Editor-In-Chief
2017 for all Nironian started with a great Big Bang. A well-known motivator
Gateway. We move up north of Malaysia to Peugeot Car Showroom in
trainer, Dr. Lawrence Walter Ng was invited by Niro Ceramic Group for
Butterworth and the new shopping mall at Aman Central, Alor Setar.
“Passion of Extra-Ordinary Performance”. It was our intention that we get
Moving across the sea to East Malaysia, Niro Granite tiles the Megalito
our sales teams and supporting teams for the whole of Niro Ceramic Group
collection was installed at SOULed OUT Café.
to be prepared for a Challenging 2017. The project covered by our Indonesian team were in West Jakarta, Neo What does it take to have the extraordinary performance? You need to
Soho, a new elevated degree of retail therapy set in the island of Java. A
be mentally tough, stay focus, never give up and push your limits, and
new modern designed combined with Niro Granite polished collection and
ultimately face the challenge. Year 2016 was tough and difficult, hence in
Natural Wood. Check out the Central Department Store at Neo Soho, the
2017 all Nironians will have to be mental warriors.
tile designs were custom-made to fit the style and concept.
Niro Ceramic Group ended the second half 2016 with three major annual
Moving to China, the Yura, Cementum and EcoForesta were supplied
exhibitions which were Archidex 2016 at KLCC, Malaysia; Cersaie 2016
to one of the most popular Da Chang supermarket in the Jiangmen,
at Bologna, Italy and China International Ceramic & Bathroom Fair at
Guangdong province.
GuangZhou, China. We are also gratified that we have now a new showroom by our distributor in At Archidex 2016, our booth design won the best booth design. The main
Inida, Golden Tiles at Chandigarh. Both Niro Granite and Zirconio collection
feature and attraction of the Archidex booth design was the wall mock of
were displayed in the showroom of 2,000ft2. The opening ceremony was
I’Pietra GIP07 60x120 format, and the collection of Petra Antiqua decorative
witnessed by 200 Architects, Interior Designers and customers.
natural stone. In this Moments edition, we recognized all our long service employees Cersaie 2016 received many visitors from all over the world, and our key
in the Group. These are the employees who have served with heart and
customers from Taiwan, Thailand, Korea, Philippines, Pakistan, Germany
passion for more than 20 years in our organization. We are truly honoured
Belgium, UK, Canada and Australia. Together with Niro Ceramic Espana,
to have these employees who have dedicated their youth and have grown
both sales teams for Malaysia and Spain closed record sales during the
with the organization. Congratulations.
exhibition. Zirconio launched many new and interesting collections. Look out for the new Timber and Brick collections coming soon! Niro Granite
As we said good-bye to the mischievous monkey year 2016, we are
launched two trendy collections - ClayArt and SonoSand. These new
faced with a new awakening of the Fire Rooster year. It is said that the Fire
collections will be launched very soon in 2017.
Rooster will blaze forth with a strong start, and chart its way as it gains momentum throughout the year. Hence, let’s Stay Focus, Never Give Up
At the 28th China International Ceramic & Bathroom Fair, Niro Granite was awarded the “Top 10 Outstanding Exhibitors”. This achievement recognizes the innovation displayed by the NCBM team. Flip through Moments, and read about the projects that we have supplied in many countries. From the cities in Malaysia we walk through Malacca City Square and ended up at The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf at Seremban
and Push our Limits.
Passion for Extraordinary Performance
PASSION FOR EXTRAORDINARY PERFORMANCE BY WINNIE LEONG
Learning never stops for Niro-ians as they participated in a two-day intensive workshop held on 13 to 14 January 2017, conducted by Dr. Lawrence Walter Ng at Niro Ceramic Group’s headquarters in Shah Alam. The workshop was targeted to the sales force of the group and also executive level for non-sales, nominated by the Head of Department.
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Themed “Passion for Extraordinary Performance”, participants were divided into eight groups which comprises of staff from different entities and departments. Each team also had a leader to lead and motivate the team members and participants were required to complete the tasks and activities together as a team. Participants were thrown into different situations and scenarios to challenge their perseverance and being able to react to difficult situations by changing own mindset and strategy. The workshop ended with a commitment statement by all Niro-ians which pledges - “We are committed to extraordinary results with Passion”. All Niro-ians will continue to stay focus and strive to deliver extraordinary results to keep us ahead of the game in this competitive environment.
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BY WINNIE LEONG
Nironians were treated to an evening of eating, drinking and making merry at the Niro Ceramic Group company dinner, held in their headquarters at Shah Alam. Styled with “A Niro Vintage Soirée” theme, everyone arrived dressed in old vintage outfits, which dated back to the 1920s and 1950s. The showroom was transformed into a cozy garden, with twinkling fairy lights running across the ceiling and small potted plants on every table, which guests could take home. Mr. Bong Kuan Shin, Managing Director of Niro Ceramic Group, said that the dinner was specially organised as a thank you to all Niro staff for their efforts in making 2016 a remarkable year for the company. It was a night for everyone to enjoy and celebrate the achievement together.
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The “Niro Voice” was the highlight of the night, inviting talented Nironians to compete with each other to win awards for the top three performers. There were also prizes for the Best Dressed Male and Female on the night, as well as lucky draw prizes. The night ended with fun and laughter and it was certainly a memorable soirée for everyone.
A Niro Vintage Soirée
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Zirconio New Product – Rust
Zirconio New Product – Rust BY TAN SEOW WUAY
Inspiration for the new RUST series can be found on metallic sheets that have become oxidised through the passage of time. This results in a unique blend of orange and ochre shades. Metal is a main component utilised in construction. While it deteriorates in appearance as time goes by, it can reveal some beautiful characteristics once restored. The RUST series features a contrast of matt and lappato finishes and, along with its multiple tonalities, it creates an original and authentic finish.
ZRS01 OXIDE | Lappato . Matt 60x120cm
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ZRS02 NICKEL | Lappato . Matt 60x120cm
ZRS03 STEEL | Lappato . Matt 60x120cm
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One-stop-center for Niro Granite, Zirconio and Orin – Home Leader Sdn Bhd
One-stop-center for Niro Granite, Zirconio and Orin
HOME LEADER SDN BHD BY JOCELYN YONG
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SMP GOH WEI GHEN
HOME LEADER is the one-stop-center for Niro Granite, Zirconio and Orin. Located at Melaka’s prime industrial estate in Krubong, the new showroom exhibits a wide range of household building furnishings and products to inspire unique style solutions for every home and office. The showroom features a generous space, which measures 5,578ft² and is dedicated to the display of Niro Granite and Zirconio tile collections. The entrance is tiled with Niro Granite’s Bloomsbury GBB04 60x120cm floor tiles, while the main showroom floor is laid with Travertine Marble GTX01 60x120cm. The full range of tile series can be viewed on a custom-made island display, where customers can conveniently access product information and technical specifications, making selection of tile much easier. The showroom also features illustration pieces from the Elmina series, as well as mosaic seed designs from the Touch Stone series. Both are used in the display to demonstrate the different combinations of designs and concepts.
Showroom & Office HOME LEADER SDN BHD
No. 1E, Jalan PK 8, Taman Perindustrian Krubong, 75260, Melaka, Malaysia. Tel: +606 3322 509 / 545 Fax: +606 3322 646 Email: homeleader_05@yahoo.com.my Business Hours: Monday to Friday 8.30 a.m to 5.30 p.m Saturday 8.30 a.m to 3.00 p.m
For more information, please visit www.homeleader.my
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Niro Granite Dealer, Seong Trading
Niro Granite Dealer
SEONG TRADING
BY JOCELYN YONG SMP GOH EE WEI
The SEONG TRADING COMPANY specializes in Tiles, Marble, Sanitary Ware and Building Materials. Its showroom is located at Nibong Tebal, the largest town in the Southern of Seberang Perai district, Penang, Malaysia. You will find the showroom at the junction between the North South Highway and the expressway (Jawi Exit). The Niro Granite corner is located on the first floor of the showroom and consists of a 2,600ft² space. Bloomsbury GBB02 60x120cm floor tiles are laid in the corridor and staircase area, while Stockholm GSK02 60x120cm covers the first floor. The corner itself features six mock up displays, arranged in the middle of the showroom. In addition, there are two Soho ambience window displays nearby, showcasing Niro Granite’s collections (Belleza Porcelana, Brooklyn, Elminia, Marbre, Pozzo, Softwood, Step, Stockholm and Touch Stone), plus glass mosaics on the vanity counter and wall. The impressive décor wall is decorated with an attractive combination of Brooklyn, Deco B – GBN01, 02 and 03 tiles.
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Showroom & Office SEONG TRADING COMPANY
54, Jalan Besar Taman Cenderawasih Indah, 14300 Nibong Tebal, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia. Tel: +604 593 6677 Fax: +604 593 6672 Email: seongtrading@yahoo.com Business Hours: Monday to Friday 9.00 a.m to 6.00 p.m Saturday 9.00 a.m to 5.00 p.m
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BY HELENA SUIT
Tile Technical Workshop at Ranjanas Ceramic Pvt Ltd, Sri Lanka The focus on providing service excellence to our customers worldwide has been embedded as part of Niro-ian culture. One of the value-added efforts that Niro Ceramic Group (NCG) has been participating in, is sharing valuable knowledge with our customers through an engaging learning platform. On Sunday, 26 June 2016, which was a rest or family day for most people, the staff of Ranjanas Ceramic Pvt Ltd (Ranjanas) gave up their own time to attend a Tile Technical Workshop at their showroom. This workshop was conducted by Mr. Sazmi Bin Zakaria, Technical Manager of NCG, together with Mr. Tay Keng Chong, Senior Manager – Business Development of International Division of NCG. Around 60 sales personnel crowded into the showroom, hoping to expand their technical knowledge across areas that included: different types of tiles, the tile production process, common defects in the tile industry, as well as installation and maintenance guidelines. At the end of the workshop, there was a live demonstration on measurements, followed by a Questions & Answers (Q&A) session. Please visit our Exclusive Niro Granite Concept Store in Sri Lanka:
Niro Granite I-Space
Address: 132, Nawala Road, Nugegoda, Sri Lanka. Contact: 011 2 890 381
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Tile Technical Workshop at Ranjanas Ceramic Pvt Ltd, Sri Lanka
“The Technical Seminar conducted to our staff by Niro Ceramic was one of the best confidence builders for our team,” said Mr. D. Vigneshwaran, Managing Director of Ranjanas. “We could really see the conveyance of what they learned has been rightfully shared with our customers as well. So it is my sincere recommendation to my co-importers to extend the same to their teams as well. I wish all the very best to the Niro Ceramic Technical Team for their positive gesture.” “In today’s competitive environment, selling is not just about product and price anymore. A productive sales associate must not only meet the customer’s expectations for top quality service [and provide a] competent, pleasant sales experience, but they must also display a professional knowledge about the technical aspects of tiles. The Technical Workshop conducted by Niro Ceramic was indeed an excellent initiative,” said Mr. Y. Sreeram, Chief Operating Officer of Ranjanas. Overall, it was a successful and engaging workshop between NCG and Ranjanas. We look forward to organise similar activities with other customers.
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Niro EduTour – INTI College
Niro EduTour BY WINNIE LEONG
This was a rewarding and informative session for a group of 35 students who are pursuing a Diploma in Interior Design from INTI College Subang Jaya. The students paid a visit to the Niro Ceramic Group (NCG) headquarters in Shah Alam.
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Upon arrival, the students were greeted by the Marketing team and were taken to the auditorium on level four for a presentation by Ms. Sally Cheng, General Manager – Key Accounts and Projects. Ms. Cheng introduced NCG and its key brands – Niro Granite, Zirconio and Petra Antiqua. The session continued with a lecture on Design Trends by Ms. Tan Seow Wuay, Senior Executive – Product Marketing. In this informative talk, students were given an overview of current interior design trends, which covered colours, shades and sensory atmospheres, all of which are translated into NCG’s tile collection designs. The later part of the session carried on with a talk by Ms. Alice Low, Assistant Manager – Design Centre. She shared her working experience to date and gave the students an insight into how to choose a career in the interior design field. The excitement then continued with a video presentation that showcased the tile manufacturing process and students were briefed on the correct methods for tile jointing and installation. This was conducted by En. Sazmi, Technical Manager of NCG.
Moving on, the EduTour continued with a focus on material study, which involved Ms. Kasuree and Mr. Edmund Lee from Lead Development Team explaining the different types of tile surfaces and application areas. The students were able to see and touch various tile samples and were taught how to identify the specifications and information from product catalogues. Afterwards, the students were taken on a tour of the Designers’ Room where they could see our team of designers hard at work. The learning session concluded right before lunch time, when students were taken for a showroom tour. Here they could view tile mock ups, so that they could see how all the processes they’d experienced earlier came together in the final products. Overall, it was a successful event and we enjoyed seeing the excitement and active participation of these young and future designers.
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BY WINNIE LEONG
Niro Ceramic Group (NCG) once again participated in this annual exhibition, which is regarded by the industry as one of the largest and widely recognized trade events in Southeast Asia. The four-day trade show was held at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre Malaysia from 19 to 22 July 2017. Over 1,200 exhibitors took part, with stalls and booths that stretched over nine halls. With a theme of “Future Communities�, the exhibition was one of the main pillars of the Kuala Lumpur Architecture Festival. This event is now in its 17th year, along with DATUM PAM Conference and PAM Design Forums, both of which were held at the same time. The conference and exhibition attracted about 35,000 professionals and trade visitors from all over the world.
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Archidex 2016 - The 17th International Architecture, Interior Design & Building Exhibition, Malaysia
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Archidex 2016 - The 17th International Architecture, Interior Design & Building Exhibition, Malaysia
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NCG’s presence in this exhibition has once again proven to be a great idea, as it is an inspiring platform for architects and interior designers. With an area measuring 36m², our booth’s design in Hall 4 featured a combination of various elements with artful displays to complement and showcase the latest tile collections. One of the focus areas for NCG at the show was the Petra Antiqua collection, a series of handcrafted natural decorative stones by Italian artisans. Sixteen exquisite designs were carefully selected and displayed on eight revolving panels, giving them an exclusive look and feel. The different types of cuts and laying patterns of Petra Antiqua were also displayed. Furthermore, NCG introduced new designs from the Niro Granite collection - Pietra Piasentina, Remix and I’Pietra (with new sizes) and the new Stockholm decoration piece. Zirconio’s latest collections also made an appearance – Peak (available in 60x60cm and 60x120cm) and Rust (available in 60x120cm), plus Chalk, Peak and Idea all in formats of 25x66.6cm. One of the highlights during the exhibition was a live performance by Kenny Chan, a Malaysian-based saxophonist who was engaged to perform at the booth. He attracted many visitors and, thanks to a unique combination of various design elements, we won a Bronze Award for Best Booth Design in the 37m2 and above category. The success of this exhibition was certainly a motivation for NCG to continue experimenting with new things. It suggests another way forward too, not just being a trendsetter, but also producing tiles in greater dimensions.
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Cersaie 2016 – The Power of Two
2016
The Power of Two
BY HELENA SUIT
Bologna in Italy is a city of a thousand faces just waiting to be discovered, and from 26 September to 30 September 2016, it is home to the famous annual ceramic fair, Cersaie 2016. This year, it attracted more than 100,000 visitors from 174 countries and more than 850 exhibitors with 156,000m2 of exhibition space. On top of that, 797 journalists attended the fair to cover the latest news from the industry.
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Niro Ceramic Group (NCG) once again surpassed its objectives and participated at Cersaie 2016 with the theme “Everlasting Passion”. Teams from Niro Granite and Zirconio were aggressive and dedicated to achieve sales targets and worked hand-in-hand to make the fair a great return-on-investment for the company. The power of these two teams showcased the highest level of service excellence, from planning to booth design, display concept and production of new collections to engagement with customers and visitors.
and Swantantra. We also expanded our current collections with additional colours, sizes and deco, such as I’Pietra, Pietra Piasentina, Remix, Nu Stone and Estilo. Since the focus of Niro Granite is on large tile sizes, large panel displays were used to show them to best effect. The ambience created was spacious, with a premium feel and the collections were easy to view for visitors.
At Cersaie 2016, NCG released numerous exciting collections to exhibit in a booth that measured 240m2. These new collections are the expression of our desire and ability to fulfill the needs and demands of our customers and markets. From Niro Granite, the new collections were Clay Art, Sonosand, Graywood, Grain
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Cersaie 2016 – The Power of Two
From Zirconio, the new collections at Cersaie 2016 were Timber, Brick Wall, Daroca, Ellora, Duna, Trendy, Alfar, Creta and Loza. We also showcased some of our current favourite collections such as Sonora, Imperium, CA Marmo, Process, Antique, Chalk, Idea and others. All of these products were thoughtfully displayed with decorative items. These enhanced the concept of the individual collections and brought out the creative ambience of the booth. On the second day of the show, NCG invited our international customers to a special dinner at Ristorante Garganelli. Prior to the dinner, there was a cocktail reception in the courtyard of the Savoia Hotel. We can report that it was a successful evening, attended by more than 100 customers from around the world. As night fell, a special cake was served to all of our customers as a token of appreciation, while the dinner ended with a cheerful toast from all the employees of NCG. In summary, this five-day exhibition has been thoroughly worthwhile and effective for NCG and we look forward to Cersaie 2017.
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October. One of the highlights was the HOMEDEC 3-Gen Living & Design Show Home. This life-sized show unit was built onsite to combine elements of functionality and practicality that demonstrate the possibilities of housing different generations all under one roof.
KLCC Part 1, 20 to 23 October 2016 BY YENNY KONG
This is a partnership between Niro Ceramic Group (NCG) and Fourbest Tile Sdn. Bhd. Fourbest forged closer ties at the recent Home Decoration Exhibition (HOMEDEC) Part 1, which took place at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre from 20 th to 23rd October 2016. HOMEDEC - the award-winning annual home décor show that brings fun and inspirational home décor ideas to Malaysia homeowners - was held for two consecutive weekends in
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The exhibition was divided into Part 1 and Part 2. Part 1 of the exhibition, themed “Design + Renovate”, featured products relevant for huge renovation projects. Held from 20 to 23 October, it showcased permanent fixtures such as bathroom fittings and sanitary ware, custom-built wardrobes, floor and wall finishes, kitchen cabinets and appliances, kitchenware and houseware. The exhibition continued with Part 2 (27 to 30 October). Themed “Furnish & Decorate”, Part 2 encouraged homeowners to continue shopping for all their home interior needs. During the exhibition, NCG proudly showcased a few of its popular series of Niro Granite tiles, featuring EcoForesta, Softwood, Elmina, Nikto, and not forgetting the new exclusive series: Remix, Hardrock and Graywood. Within a 36m² space, the booth design was made up of a combination of metal and wood materials, based on a concept of ‘mixed
HOMEDEC KLCC Part 1, 20 to 23 October 2016
elements’. The concept was effectively carried out through proper space planning with two mock ups, plus a mix-andmatch corner to demonstrate different design elements like stone, wood, marble and cement. This year, NCG also sponsored the floor tiles for the HOMEDEC 3-Genhome, covering areas such as the hallway, elderly bedroom and bathroom, as well as the bathrooms for adults and kids. These areas needed extra attention, especially when safety is concerned. Niro Granite tiles were selected to meet these requirements. The four-day exhibition received a great response from many of the visitors who attended and we give thanks to the excellent team work and efforts from both parties.
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Niro Ceramic Group District 21 Challenge 2016
NIRO CERAMIC GROUP
DATE 3 December 2016 TIME 9.30 a.m to 2.00 p.m
CHALLENGE 2016
VENUE District 21, IOI City Mall, Putrajaya
BY YENNY KONG
Following the success of the Go Kart Tournament last year, Niro Ceramic Group (NCG) continued to improve its customer relationships by organising another exciting event – the Niro Ceramic Group District 21 Challenge 2016. The event involved a total of 92 customers, including architects and interior designers. The participants arrived at District 21, IOI City Mall, Putrajaya, where they were welcomed and enjoyed the friendly hospitality of NCG’s staff. Ms. Winnie Leong, the emcee for the day, greeted everyone with a warm welcome. This was followed by an opening speech given by NCG’s Executive Director, Mr. Ian Kok. After that, customers were given a warm-up session and a safety briefing conducted by the event crew of District 21. The challenge itself officially kicked off at 11.00 a.m with an exhilarating start and lasted through until the afternoon. Team TR Hamzah were crowned champions, earning themselves RM1,000 worth of gift vouchers and a trophy. Second place went to team NWKA, and team Archimatrix in third place. Team DWP and team KDI were placed fourth and fifth respectively. The event ended with a prize giving ceremony and a delicious lunch for all participants. It was an amazing day, and a great way for us to give a little something back to our customers. We received a great response from the participants and believe that this event brings us closer to the hearts of our fellow architects and interior designers.
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The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf @ Seremban Gateway
The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf BY YENNY KONG SMP JUSTIN GOH
@ Seremban Gateway Coffee and tea are two of the world’s most popular drinks but some fans need more than just a cup. They also want a place where they can unwind, work on a computer, sit in a corner to read, or just have a conversation with someone. These are the reasons that make cafés such popular places for many people, a relaxing destination where they can enjoy quality beverages handcrafted by skilled baristas. With its commitment to excellence and quality, it is no wonder that the Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf is one of the largest, and much-loved, family-run coffee and tea companies in the world. Founded in California in 1963 by Herbert B. Hyman, The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf has established itself as a pioneer in coffee and tea culture, offering a vast array of freshly brewed coffee and flavourful tea, as well as a delightful selection of foods. To date, The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf has many outlets serving the best coffees and teas in major cities of Malaysia, while the first Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf in Seremban, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia, opened in April 2016. Located inside Seremban Gateway, a popular mall catering to the needs of the surrounding neighbourhood, the newest café offers a natural and minimalist setting. Niro Granite is proud to have been involved in the café’s design. Walk into the store and you will find that the floor is tiled with GCT02 Black Concrete 60x60cm tiles for a seamless and classic effect. It is perfectly complimented with Ecoforesta GDW15 Rosso Albero tiles in both 15x60cm and 15x90cm sizes. The minimalist appearance of these stylish tiles helps to create a cosy ambience, the perfect space for coffee or tea drinkers and for those who love to spend some ‘me’ time at a café.
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Hatten Square Suites and Shoppes
Hatten Square Suites and Shoppes BY YENNY KONG
Hatten Square Suites and Shoppes is located right in the middle of Malacca City Centre, a four-storey shopping mall that combines hotel suites and retail floors. Occupying the bottom levels of this massive mixed development complex, the shopping mall is the latest addition to the growing number of modern shopping sites in the historically rich World UNESCO Heritage City. With a location so strategic, it is set to be one of the most popular landmarks of Malacca. Hatten Square Suites and Shoppes is a vintage-styled but trendy shopping mall that hosts plenty of international brands.
SMP JUSTIN GOH
Niro Granite had the privilege of dressing up the impressive building with its exclusive range of products. Specifically, the walls and floors of its public restrooms are laid with Granite Stone GGS14 Bleu 30x60cm tiles, which are notable for the fine veins that pattern the natural stone.
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Peugeot Showroom – Butterworth
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Peugeot Showroom BY WINNIE LEONG SMP LIM CHIN WEI
Butterworth
Officially represented by CS Euro Auto, the authorized distributor for Peugeot is one of the preferred 3S (Sales, Service, Spare Parts) showrooms in Butterworth, Penang, Malaysia. With a focus on providing the best ownership experience and delivering quality customer service, the company has chosen Niro Granite to enhance the look and feel of its showroom. Our charming Marmo GMA25 Blanc 60x60cm tiles cover the ground and first floors, bringing out the brilliance and spaciousness of the showroom. The polished finish of the Marmo tiles is not only aesthetically elegant but easy to maintain.
In addition, the toilet floor in the showroom is covered with matt Cementum GCM01 White 30x60cm tiles to create a clean, non-slip surface. In contrast, the walls are covered with Cementum GCM04 Grey 30x60cm and, to add a fun dĂŠcor touch, the mosaic seeds of GCM04 Grey 30x30cm are used as an eye-catching feature. We are proud that the combination of these collections were able to convey the essence of the French car brand to customers in the Northern region of Malaysia.
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Aman Central Mall by Belleview Group – the new landmark in Alor Setar
Aman Central Mall by Belleview Group
the new landmark in Alor Setar
BY WINNIE LEONG SMP YEOH BOON TEIK
Strategically located in the heart of Alor Setar, Aman Central Mall is expected to serve as the prime shopping mall, attracting shoppers living within the state boundaries such as Sungai Petani, Jitra, Kepala Batas, Kangar and all the way up to the south of Thailand.
With a total built-up area of 1.25 million ft² and a net lettable area of 780,000ft², this mall features 330 units for retail shops and 60 units for mini shops spread across six levels. Winner of the Highly Commended Development Award 2015-2016, the mall features a distinct concept of ‘contemporary meets sophistication’, two elements that are combined to showcase an architecture landmark right in the heart of Kedah. Its primary focus is to redefine the retail landscape in the area, bringing a whole new shopping and lifestyle experience.
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Niro Granite is proud to have been chosen to help define this award-winning retail mall. Our involvement starts with the connecting floors of the basement car park, which are tiled with polished Estilo GEA05 Carla to suggest classic beauty and timeless elegance. The ground, first and second floors meanwhile, are tiled with polished Wenge GMA61 White and GMA63 Grey, both in 60x60cm sizes to provide an effortlessly spacious outlook. A mix of polished Regal GMR94 Olive 60x60cm creates contrasting patterns.
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SOULed OUT
@@ Imago, Kota Kinabalu BY YENNY KONG
SOULed OUT is now in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah. It is SOULed OUT’s fourth outlet in Malaysia and is strategically located in the prestigious Imago Kota Kinabalu Time Square Shopping Mall. SOULed OUT has always been known for its ever comforting and lip-smacking food, and the presence of four kitchens – Western, Asian, Northern Indian and Italian – are always ready to serve an array of international and fusion cuisine to diners.
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Niro Granite had the privilege to tile one of the most important areas of the restaurant – the dining area. Being an area with the highest movement and congregation of people in the entire restaurant, the dining area is tiled with Niro Granite’s Megalito range, a product that embodies strength, dignity and durability. With 30x60cm structured surface GSM04 Megalito Grigio on the floor, the space exudes a natural and minimalist style. It is the perfect choice to complement the ambience of the restaurant, which aims to provide the best dining experience in town.
SOULed OUT @ Imago, Kota Kinabalu
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Exhibition BY JOANN LOO
The HOME + Love Exhibition is a one-stop location for homeowners to go shopping for their home renovation, refurbishment and decoration needs. Many visitors came seeking great deals on quality products and services for their own home renovation and improvement projects.
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HOME + Love Exhibition
The HOME + Love exhibition was held at Putra World Trade Centre (PWTC) from 25 to 28 August 2016. ORIN participated in this exhibition, a joint endeavour with our top dealer Ga Hing Trading Sdn Bhd (Ga Hing). Ga Hing is one of ORIN’s most supportive dealers and they actively participate in most home and renovation exhibitions in Malaysia. Other than bathroom wares, Ga Hing also offers complete home solutions, from kitchen appliances to floor tiles.
Attractive promotions were also introduced during the four-day event to boost sales and the HOME + Love exhibition ended with a show of exemplary team work from our staff, ORIN and our dealer, Ga Hing. We look forward to serving customers with show-stopping displays again in the future.
Wooden elements and green hues from plants were used to create a simple, open and welcoming concept for our 36m² booth. Our main products, and new collections of WCs and basins, were displayed at the front of the booth to attract passers-by. A live WC with bidet seat and a whirlpool bathtub were also displayed to showcase the product features and functionalities. Live units never fail to capture the interest of visitors and encourage them to find out more. It often turns into a great sales opportunity.
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FLOW Bar & Lounge – A New Elite Retreat in South Jakarta
FLOW Bar & Lounge A New Elite Retreat in South Jakarta
BY INGRID LASMARIA
Situated in the new office building of Menara BTPN at Lingkar Mega Kuningan, FLOW Bar & Lounge adds to the list of Jakarta’s cool dining destinations and music venues with its naturalistic décor, enthralling refreshments and glowing hospitality. The décor and ambience of FLOW was conceptualised to reflect five elements – Earth, Fire, Wood, Steel and Water. The entire space of this vibrant venue was completely furnished in Niro Granite’s tiles of Gray Wood GGW05 Redwood, Stockholm GSK03 Grey Knight, Cementum GCM03 Brown, Fossil Wood GFW01 Neutral and Bloomsbury GBB03 Lignite. Mr. Dicky Agustiady, Marketing Director of FLOW Bar & Lounge shared his experience of working with Niro Granite. M=Moments DA=Mr. Dicky Agustiady M: First of all, congratulations on the opening of FLOW! How did you guys end up opening your new bar and lounge in Lingkar Mega Kuningan area? DA: Actually, we have gone through a long process. We started off designing for a speakeasy hidden bar. We were searching for a venue in the Senopati area, then near Pacific Place Mall in the SCBD Area, then at some malls. We were also offered a few places in the Lingkar Mega Kuningan area, such as the old Blowfish, Menara DEA, even Noble House. But then we felt that Menara BTPN has the advantage of accessibility and visibility. So, we changed the concept to fit into what the location has provided for us. M: How do you differentiate FLOW with other resto/ café/ bar/ lounges that are also located in the Lingkar Mega Kuningan area? DA: From the beginning, we designed our place to provide an accessible and affordable lounge that has a sophisticated feel without breaking the bank. I am very sure that our pricing is very competitive compared to other F&B establishments in Lingkar Mega Kuningan. All of us (the shareholders) aren’t pretentious. We don’t want to overcharge our consumers just because our place looks nice and trendy. We just want everyone to have a good time and enjoy themselves. Eat good food. Drink a proper drink. And have fun. That’s all. In addition, from the beginning our lounge is actually designed to cater for live music and DJs. So it’s not like an add-on feature like some of the other venues. That’s why we call ourselves a cocktail bar and music venue. M: How do you think great food and great interior design are linked? DA: I think when we designed FLOW, we went by our gut feelings. It has to be comfortable first and foremost, and not overly furnished to the point of being tacky. I think great interior design pulls the consumers in the first time. But great food will bring them back in again. And great pricing will make them regulars.
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M: What challenges do you think are unique to F&B space design nowadays? DA: There are a few challenges that are unique to F&B, such as toilets (which we didn’t think were needed, but we do need them) and storage areas (storage for so many thing such as food, equipment etc.). But more importantly for us is the comfortable design that can create a relaxing but fun ambience that makes people want to come back again. That is the hardest thing to design or create. M: Tell us about the idea behind the design of FLOW. What is concept of design for FLOW? DA: When we hired my friend’s design company Ai Associates, the first thing I told them is that I don’t want a speakeasy design (even when at first we wanted to build a hidden speakeasy bar). I felt that it has been done to death and overused everywhere here in Jakarta. Our designer came up with the five elements concept. It is very subtle but obvious. The bar area represents the Fire element, the dining hall is Wood, the middle area is Earth and the back is Steel. Lastly, the Water (liquid) that ties up the whole place is represented by the good cocktail and drinks that we serve. M: What made FLOW choose Niro Granite tiles for its first establishment? DA: Niro Granite’s tiles in terms of design are very nice and the prices are also very attractive. We have to use Niro Granite based on market comparison. M: How would you describe your experience in doing business with us? DA: Stellar! A+ from me and the team. You guys have supported us tremendously! It was a great experience to have Niro Granite as one of our suppliers.
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Neo SOHO BY INGRID LASMARIA
An Elevated Degree of Retail Therapy
Jakarta is not just famous for its Monumen Nasional (Monas) landmark, it is also well-known for its shopping centres. In fact, the city has over than 170 malls spread throughout the main districts. On September 2016, Jakartans welcomed a new shopping and entertainment destination to that number. Nestled in the Podomoro City complex in West Jakarta, Neo SOHO is a new, lavish retail centre that encompasses urban entertainment with affordable luxury fashion through the concept of a ‘store within a store’.
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Neo SOHO – An Elevated Degree of Retail Therapy
As a part of the SOHO at Podomoro City, a superblock owned by Agung Podomoro Land, the nine-storey establishment is an extension mall from the infamous Central Park Mall. Whilst Central Park has a larger area, Neo SOHO is smaller, more urban-segmented, youthful but a perfect fit for the family as well.
250m bridge named Eco Sky Walk, connecting Neo SOHO Mall to Central Park Mall. This beautiful architectural work of art, which is illuminated at night, enables mall visitors to walk through both malls and to enjoy the beautiful panoramic sight of the surrounding Podomoro City skyline.
Carrying a ‘So New, So Bold’ tagline, Neo SOHO represents a lifestyle destination with creative concepts that revolve around seven tenants: So Posh (fashion), So Essential (Accessories), So Glam (Beauty), So Smart (Gadgets & Technology), So Fit (Sport), So Fun (Family Entertainment) and So Yummy (Food & Beverages). From extravagant fashion to legendary local and international delicacies. It is all served in a lavish shopping haven.
The chance to be part of this fascinating project allowed Niro Granite to display some of its most beautiful and exquisite collections. Estilo GED00 Ines, Estilo GEA00 Elda, Cristallo GN762 Zenna, GG210 Splash White, GG200 Bianca, Rockwood GRW01 Weathered Grey, Rockwood GRW04 Wedgewood and Natural Wood GNW22 Beech are all used to spectacular effect in the mall area. With our tiles, an aesthetic of comfort and a modern feeling of being at one with the environment is perfectly achieved.
There are so many things that people can enjoy in this new mall. There are premium fashion outlets with local and international brands, including Central Department Store from Thailand; an Open Kitchen and All-Day Dining Court, a food court area nicely designed to resemble a premium café located on the fourth floor; and Jakarta Aquarium, an indoor sea aquarium located on the LG and LGM levels. Thoughtfully designed to stand out amongst Jakarta’s shopping centres, Neo SOHO mall also has an iconic
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Central Department Store
BY INGRID LASMARIA
@ Neo SOHO Mall
Best known as the largest chain and No.1 department store in Thailand, Central Department Store opened its second store in Neo SOHO Mall, West Jakarta. Occupying 18,000m2 of space, the six-storey store brings with it new retail concepts that do not appear in the flagship one.
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Central Department Store @ Neo SOHO Mall
Since the opening of its first store in Grand Indonesia in 2014, Central Department Store has caught the attention of many fashion lovers in Jakarta. With a commitment to always bringing the finest quality and the broadest selection of merchandise and services, the second store will be a home for Indonesian and international designers, along with curated Thailand designer collections that are only available at Central Department Store, Jakarta.
The male and female toilet areas both feature Niro Granite’s customized tiles on their floors. Printed on Niro Granite’s I’Pietra GIP01 Borgogna White, the special motifs created by Central Department Store’s design team will catch everyone’s eyes with their artistic patterns and distinctive colours. Niro Granite surely adds an extra touch of class to the new Central Department Store.
Niro Granite is greatly honoured to once again lend its expertise in key areas of Central Department Store. In the women’s fashion area on the second floor, for example, Zeolite GZL01 Mist with matt surface in a size of 60x60cm is laid out to give a nice touch. The usage of tiles here exudes a modern, cosmopolitan feel with a true sense of elegance.
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Expanding Its Distribution Network in Northern Vietnam: Niro Ceramic Takes a Big Step to the Future
Expanding Its Distribution Network in Northern Vietnam Niro Ceramic Takes a Big Step to the Future
Ask any tile providers, local and foreign alike, about likely venues for expanding their business into Vietnam and the answers would be major cities like Ho Chi Ming City (HCMC) and Hanoi. The competition among providers in such wealthy localities is harsh, as everyone is aware of the great opportunities in those locales. But if a business wants to secure a firm foothold in the Vietnamese construction material market, the big cities are where they need to be. Based in HCMC since 2010, Niro Ceramic Vietnam (NCV) – with its relentless efforts to bring more convenience and easier access to Swiss-Quality tiles – is now taking a big step forward. It is extending its reach to Hanoi and the Northern market via an exclusive distribution partnership with H88 Hanoi Co.,Ltd. H88 is a company with vast experience in distributing products in Northern Vietnam, which will allow NCV to reach more consumers and drive increased sales. The agreement was signed between NCV and H88 in June 2016. It has led to an opportunity to open up greater opportunities for customers to purchase Niro Granite and Portino products from approximately 40 construction material outlets across Hanoi.
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BY NGUYEN NGOC QUANG
Beyond Hanoi, H88 also distributes to key provinces and cities in Northern Vietnam like Hai Phong, Quang Ninh, Thai Nguyen, Ninh Binh, Hung Yen, Ha Nam, Vinh Phuc, Nam Dinh, Thai Binh, Thanh Hoa, Nghe An, Phu Tho, Tuyen Quang, etc. The purchasing power of people in these provinces and cities is increasing and Mr. Nguyen Van Hung, Director of H88, shared that each province has only signed retail partnerships with one or two key outlets. The network expansion would help them maximise sales effectiveness within a province, especially in the early stages. Now, H88 has major plans for the Northern market. In the near term, they will complete the retail system in Hanoi and 15 key provinces and cities with the total of more than 70 outlets. Mr. Hung also shared that his long-term vision is to make a more sustainable push. “Our vision for the coming years is to continue to grow together with Niro Ceramic. We believe that thousands and thousands of Niro Ceramic products will be sold in this market,” Mr. Hung said.
SUP CARO + Zirconio
SUP CARO + ZIRCONIO BY EVA SANCHO
SUP CARO was founded by Mr. Suarez Albert in April 1992 as a humble trading business specialising in tiles, marble, natural stone, wood, outdoor flooring as well as sanitary wares. Today, SUP CARO has become the industry leader in France and it has three outlets managed by Suarez Albert’s sons – Mr. Corinne Suarez and Mr. Patrick Suarez. Being reputable with high quality products and excellent customer service, SUP CARO earns the credibility and confidence of customers. The proof is in the wide range of repeat clientele that it has. With such an upright reputation, Zirconio has been fortunate to shelter under the wings of this big conglomerate for more than ten years. This protection has allowed both brands to build and maintain a great business relationship. The outside façade of both outlets - SUP CARO Mediterranée and SUP CARO Litoral are covered with Zirconio Basis Light Grey 60x120cm. These contemporary concrete tones capture the essence of minimalism, yet they are beautifully simple and effective. We would like to thank Mr. Patrick Suarez and Mr. Corinne Suarez for their partnership on this project and also extend our appreciation to the French sales team – Mr. Martin Robles and Mr. Nicolas Parede – in choosing Zirconio for both outlets.
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Westvlaams Tegelhuis Annual Reception Event
BY EVA SANCHO
Our Belgian Partners Westvlaams Tegelhuis hosted their annual reception event at their showroom in Roeselare, Belgium on 10 November 2016. They did so in partnership with Bouwunie, the Belgian Association of Construction. This B2B event gathered together over 500 Architects, Prescribers, Promoters, Tilers, Installers and many other tile industry professionals under one roof. Ms. Roshni Samtani from Spain attended the event as well, representing both Zirconio and Niro Granite. The evening started off with a welcome reception, followed by a speech given by Mr. Filip Vankeirsbilck, Owner and CEO of Westvlaams Tegelhuis. A second speech was given by the President of Bouwunie, Mr. Filip Verkest. The event also received support from the Belgian Authorities and was covered by local media. The evening continued with a fashion show, which took place on a runway tiled entirely with a selection of premium Niro Granite tiles selected earlier this year. This annual get-together represented a great opportunity to exchange ideas and network with other professionals in the tile Industry. Chatter, food, music and laughter complemented this great evening. We must say a big thank you to the Westvlaams Tegelhuis team for allowing Niro Ceramic Group to be present during this event and making sure that all of us had such a great time! We are excited and looking forward to being there again next year!
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Westvlaams Tegelhuis Annual Reception Event
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Westvlaams Tegelhuis visits Zirconio
WESTVLAAMS TEGELHUIS visits ZIRCONIO BY EVA SANCHO
Zirconio welcomed Westvlaams Tegelhuis and a group of ten top residential project developers and architects to spend a day with them in Villarreal and Valencia. The group arrived at Zirconio’s headquarters in the morning, where they were welcomed with a short presentation about the company. This was followed by a factory tour, led by Mr. Juan Rambla, who showed off our production process – from pressing machines to classification. The group also toured the Sales & Marketing department, including the laboratory where the group showed a keen interest in seeing how the different quality control tests and procedures were carried out.
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Later on, the group embarked on a showroom visit, where they saw the complete Zirconio range, including some of the collection that were being produced on the production lines earlier during their factory visit. After the tour ended, the group enjoyed a traditional Spanish meal in Villarreal before heading to Valencia for a guided bike tour of the city. They certainly had a great time enjoying the scenic views of the beautiful Valencian Capital. The group were treated with a cocktail reception and dinner at the Panorama Restaurant, located in the well-known Port area of Valencia. The group relaxed and unwound at the end of the day, remembering all the nice moments they spent with Zirconio.
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One of the Top 50 Real Estate Companies in China - Times Property Group Visit to Niro Granite China’s Showroom
One of the Top 50 Real Estate Companies in China
Times Property Group Visit to Niro Granite China’s Showroom BY YENNY KONG
On 3 June 2016, Niro Ceramic Building Materials Trading Co. Ltd (NCBM) welcomed Times Property Group, who paid a visit to the Niro Granite showroom in Foshan, China. The group, which is one of the top 50 real estate companies in China and listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, is always on the look-out for high-quality products with designer aesthetics. The one-day visit was attended by Mr. Song - Design Director of Times Property, Mr. Tang - General Manager, Tendering Department of Times Property, and Mr. Qu - General Manager, Landscape Department of Times Property. They were joined by the famous Chinese design firm – S.P.I. Landscape Group, together with more than 20 of their employees.
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The visitors were taken on an exclusive showroom tour, where they were introduced to all of the current Niro Granite and Zirconio corners and mock up units. The visit continued with an overview of Niro Granite and Zirconio product specifications, while representatives from NCBM’s Engineering Department, Quality Assurance Department, and a group of technical crew, were on hand to answer questions. The session came to an end with a tile-laying demonstration in the product laboratory. This day was a great opportunity for the Times Property team to gain a better understanding of our core products.
Niro Granite has always adhered to the concept of “Passionate about Life”, and pays close attention to our customer’s experiences. All of our products not only meet designer aesthetic value, but also fulfil other requirements, such as slip resistance, abrasion resistance, safety and quality. NCBM is proud that Niro Granite is one of their preferred brands and it offers further proof that Niro Granite is the best choice when it comes to high-quality living.
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Da Chang Supermarket, Jiang Men, Guang Dong, China
Da Chang Supermarket, Jiangmen, Guangdong, China BY WINNIE LEONG
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Da Chang Supermarket is one of the most popular supermarkets in Jiangmen City, Guangdong Province. The chain has six outlets covering an area of more than 3,500m² with the aim of providing high-quality service, a good reputation, and first-class quality for a vast number of consumers, giving them convenience and access to fresh products. Since the introduction of Niro Granite at Jiangmen City in 2012, the brand has become well-known to local consumers and designers. This is evident through their preference for trendy design, quality and services; all of which are widely loved by the locals. The rapid increase of brand influence and visibility have led Niro Granite to be the preferred tile brand for their newly established stores. The main floors in each store are covered with matt Yura GMY04 Tobacco, giving them a non-slip, elegant, yet modern feel to complement the array of organised display shelves. GMY04 also creates a warm welcoming atmosphere for Da Chang shoppers, giving them a better, happier shopping experience. In addition, the floors in other sections of the stores are tiled with EcoForesta and Cementum series tiles to create a cozy feel.
For over 37 years, Niro Granite has placed a great emphasis on product design and development, improving product quality whilst keeping up with the latest innovations to create beautiful pieces of art. With a commitment to provide quality service and a comfortable shopping environment, Da Chang Supermarket has earned its strong reputation and won the hearts of many locals. The seventh store will be opening soon and we are proud that Niro Granite tiles will convey the Da Chang experience to local consumers. Furthermore, the group has also selected Niro Granite tiles for its brand new office building, which covers several thousand square meters. We look forward to continuing to create a high-quality and convenient shopping experience together with Da Chang Supermarket, right here at Jiangmen City.
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The 28th China International Ceramic & Bathroom Fair (CeramBath), China
The 28 China International Ceramic & Bathroom Fair (CeramBath), China th
BY YENNY KONG
The 28th China International Ceramic & Bathroom Fair took place from 18 to 21 October 2016. The biannual CeramBath event is regarded as the most prestigious and influential ceramic and bathroom exhibition in China with around 750 leading manufacturers of ceramic tiles and bathrooms in attendance. The three major exhibition halls attracted thousands of professionals worldwide, including architects, interior designers, developers, builders, distributors, dealers, as well as the key media in the industry. Niro Ceramic Group once again participated in this exhibition and with a unique booth design, as well as new and fascinating tile collections, we impressed and delighted show visitors. The booth design was simple and incorporated industrial design elements that combined both Niro Granite and Zirconio product displays. This made it easier for visitors to view and to mix-and-match the tiles easily. Niro Granite and Zirconio brands showcased during the exhibition were accentuated with prominent visuals and enthralling decorations, each one designed to make a good impression and to inspire potential customers. Niro Granite’s latest series – Remix and Gray Wood, as well as the Chalk and Idea series from Zirconio – were the latest collections to be introduced during the exhibition. The four-day exhibition was a huge success, characterised by good teamwork from our staff and we were pleased with the positive feedback we received about the uniqueness of our collections.
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10 Outstanding Exhibitors Award This marked an extraordinary achievement for Niro Granite, as we were recognised as one of the ‘Top 10 Outstanding Exhibitors’. This award is evidence of hard work and innovation displayed by Niro Granite in the ceramic industry as well as a solid teamwork from the staff.
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Chandigarh Showroom India
Chandigarh Showroom India BY ALICE LOW
Further to our first showroom opening in Mumbai, India in 2015, we had successfully extended the Niro Granite and Zirconio brands to Chandigarh - India’s first planned city by SwissFrench architect Le Corbusier, and internationally known for its architecture and urban design. Chandigarh has been rated as the “Wealthiest Town” and the richest city in India. According to a 2014 survey, Chandigarh is ranked fourth in the top 50 cities identified globally as “emerging outsourcing and IT services destinations”. This ranks it ahead of much bigger cities like Beijing. All the above has brought us to Chandigarh to set up our first distributor showroom, with a built-up area of 2,000ft2 and a 10,000ft2 warehouse. It is a project in partnership with Mr. Dalbir Singh, owner of Golden India Tiles Co (P) Ltd. The showroom is strategically located in the bustling business district, which is next to the BMW showroom, yet right in front of the Hyatt Regency Chandigarh and the Elante Shopping Mall. The Niro Granite brand is presented through the interior concept of a home. Upon entering the foyer, the floor is tiled using our most sellable and well-known outdoor tiles - EcoForesta. Other areas, such as the living room, dining hall and the kitchen are
tiled with large format tiles – Elmina in 60x120cm, plus Concrete and Stockholm decoration series respectively. The bedroom and bathroom, meanwhile, are tiled using Megalito and Traces to create a harmonious and cosy atmosphere. The essence of the brand, Zirconio, is displayed at the entrance to the showroom, where it demonstrates how the different designs can bring up a space to a whole new level. For example, SV Stone in the reading corner goes well with fabric materials that soften down the whole area. While Kalahari is used in the living room to create the art of living with timber. In addition, Brezo and Dolomite are used in the bar area to show off the uniqueness and individuality of Zirconio’s stone designs. On the 30 November 2016, a launching ceremony was held at the new showroom to officially recognise the partnership between Niro Ceramic Group and Golden India Tiles. There were approximately 200 visitors, consisting of professional architects, designers, end users and business partners, who were all invited to attend and witness the occasion. The event started at 11.00 a.m with a ribbon cutting ceremony by Mr. Ian Kok, Executive Director of Niro Ceramic Group and Mr. Dalbir Singh from Golden India Tiles. This was followed by traditional blessings from everyone. After the ceremony, guests were invited to tour the new showroom and to view the different design concepts translated using our tiles. We strongly believe that this partnership will open up more opportunities and we stand ready to serve upcoming projects both residential and commercial, in accordance to our core value of Service Excellence.
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Expansion of NCNI Factory
Niro Ceramic Indonesia’s Factory Expansion Niro Ceramic Indonesia (NCNI) has continued to expand its portfolio and technology improvements over the past few years. The aim is none other than to strongly grow the company and to produce more excellent products with high quality consistency, in addition to delivering great services to its customers.
BY INGRID LASMARIA
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The company itself has been acknowledged as the national leader in porcelain tiles. Investment in new technology and equipment, people and high quality products has made its main brand, Niro Granite, synonymous with quality and innovation. NCNI displays clear enjoyment for the business, priding itself on the demands of architectural and interior design. As part of the accelerated growth strategy, NCNI expanded its factory in October 2014. Originally, the factory had a built-up area of 39,000m² and featured two Kiln lines that were able to produce 1,700,000m² per year. Kiln 1 was dedicated to rotocoloured tiles only, for example, Megalito and Nordik Stone. While Kiln 2 used high-definition printing technology to produce various patterns and designs on Niro Granite tiles. The production capacity was reconsidered when the management saw the need to expand the facility for future development and to produce more tiles to meet the demand. With that, a new Kiln 3 has been set up with a line measuring 250 meters, making it one of the longest lines so far in the South East Asia region. This capacity expansion has enabled NCI to produce tiles in various sizes and surfaces along with the usage of high-definition printing technology. Now, with the total factory area of 47,933m² and three Kilns running every day of the week, the factory is capable of an annual production capacity up to 5,300,000m², for both Niro Granite porcelain tiles and Portino stoneware tiles.
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Recognition for Long Service Employees
Recognition for Long Service Employees BY HELENA SUIT & JOANN LOO
Long service recognition are a cornerstone of reward, forming part of a long term recognition strategy to show employee appreciation, reinforce best behaviours and highlight achievement. Niro Ceramic Group is very proud of its employee retention and is honoured to recognise its employees who have showed strong dedication and commitment to the company. Congratulations and thank you to all the employees, especially to those who has been with the company for 20 years and above!
, Bong Kuan Shin, Rohaizad Mahmood From left to right (Back): Chang Kew Yong son, Zaleha Shafii John elle (Front): Audrey Mich
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There are many good reasons to stay with Niro Ceramic for many years, but I have always been inspired by the challenges of growing a small business to one with operations in many countries and the opportunity to help all the Niro Ceramic colleagues to grow in their career. My wish is to build Niro Ceramic in such a way that the lives of our people are enriched by what the company offers. One of the most memorable experience is to establish Niro China. Niro China turned us into an international player and opened the opportunity for us to improve and grow. Bong Kuan Shin, Managing Director, 23 years with Niro Ceramic Group
My story with Niro Ceramic started even before the company operates. At that time, I just graduated and worked with the company who constructed the building for Niro Ceramic Malaysia (NCM). When NCM started operation in 1991, I joined NCM as an office boy. Later there is career advancement and have grown my skills from a few departments. There are many memorable experience working in Niro Ceramic, and the most memorable one is to have meet my wife! Rohaizad Bin Mahmood, Senior Executive Designer, 25 years with Niro Ceramic Malaysia
Niro Ceramic is an organization that values and appreciate its people. The company gives us opportunities to grow, and a chance to learn from mistakes and improve. I have grown to love many people in the company, made many good friends that have guided me and shall never forget their kindness. Audrey Michelle Johnson, General Manager – Marketing, 25 years with Niro Ceramic Malaysia
I enjoy the work I do and I love the people that I work with. My job fits well with the other areas of my life and I also feel connected to the organization. In Niro Ceramic, my job gives me the opportunity to make a difference. Zaleha Bte Shafii, Group Finance & Accounts Manager, 25 years with Niro Ceramic Malaysia
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We are like a family working under one umbrella, support each other, being a mentor and mentee kind of relationship, and enjoy the people that we work with. There is a culture of fellowship with the company and we are bonded and feel hard to leave the friends. We trust the company and it has never fail to show concern and compassion over employees’ welfare. Azizah Bte Awang, Human Resource Manager, 26 years with Niro Ceramic Malaysia
I like the working environment in Niro Ceramic. We work together, we argue, but still we are so close and we support each other. For example, during the implementation of GST in 2015, we’ve invested a lot of time to work out the amount of sales tax claim back. It was a terrible and a good experience, “no day no night”, but we managed to work before the submission date line with support from other departments. This is Niroan’s spirit! Mr. Bong is like our big father, he makes everyone work together with him to achieve the company’s goal. I am also fortunate to have the support from my boss, Kak Ha, which is the main reason that make me stay at Niro for so many years. I really learn a lot from her and I like her working style. Chang Gek Peng, Senior Manager – Finance & Accounts, 22 years with Niro Ceramic Malaysia
When I joined Niro Ceramic, there is only one factory and office in Pasir Gudang, Johor. Now after 25 years of working, I am very proud that the company has a few subsidiaries over the world and many retails outlets in Malaysia. I learn many things, gaining more experience and working here is like one family. Throughout the years, I became more confident and can work independent with minimal supervision. Zuraini Bte Nordin @ Aziz, Senior Executive – Planning, 25 years with Niro Ceramic Malaysia
I joined the company in 1991 and started as a Shipping Assistant. Now I have more responsibilities as an Assistant Manager with nine staff under my supervision. From just one entity, now Niro Ceramic has more subsidiaries to deal with Export shipment. I have the opportunity to guide all subsidiaries staff related to Export shipment whereby we exchange knowledge and experience with them. I remembered the fun moment when we used to have a netball team and won third placing in the Pasir Gudang, Johor tournament. Rosilah Binti Jamal, Assistant Manager -Shipping, 25 years with Niro Ceramic Malaysia
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Recognition for Long Service Employees
From left to right (Back): Zuraini Nordin @ Aziz, Ch ang Gek Peng, Zalina Bin (Front): Azizah Awang, Ros ti Chuchiman ilah Jamal
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From left to right :
Hamdan Sapia n, Devan Nair Da modaran, Maslee Md Nor, Azham Yusof,
andang, hamsudin S ali Sarijan, S az R ad am in Jamil, Moh ohd Zainod h Buang ht (Back): M rig at, Rashida m to ft Ju le ah iz From am H ): nt (Fro
Working in Niro Ceramic is like one family! Maslee Bin Md Nor, Maintenance Mechanic, 21 years with Niro Ceramic Malaysia
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Abd. Latif Arsh ad,
Rahman Semiro no
iwon Othman Kal
Happy to see the company growth. When I join as an Operator, there are many manual job, but now the production has evolved. My experience and knowledge has also grow throughout the years with the company. Azham Bin Yusof, Finishing Supervisor, 23 years with Niro Ceramic Malaysia
Recognition for Long Service Employees
The company is very good and flexible. If there is any problem, can be discussed with HR department.
All the friends here is multiracial, 1-Malaysia. Working here is best!
Abd. Latif Bin Arshad, Maintenance Supervisor, 20 years with Niro Ceramic Malaysia
Rofia’ah Binti Said, Storehand, 23 years with Niro Ceramic Malaysia
All the while working here very happy with the management team that supports our job and there is career advancement for me since I joined the company in 1991. I started as an Operator, promoted to Foreman, then Supervisor and now is an Executive. Devan Nair A/L Damodaran, Polish Executive, 25 years with Niro Ceramic Malaysia
It is very comfortable to work here. In Malay we call it “selesa” environment. Hussain Bin Yusof, Q.C Inspector, 24 years with Niro Ceramic Malaysia
K Ibrahim uddin S in a Z K aad, S oslan S Yusof, R in a s s u samy, H rayama aran Na h w s lla a u n d k b Said, Vic , Khairuddin A ofia’ah d u R a , n D a i Zulkifl ji Ram ustapa, nah Kon ): Jamu mimin, Azhar M k c a (B t ft to righ ront): Rosli Sa From le (F
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From left to right (B ack): Cast illo Benag e (Front): M iguelez Go s Guillermo, Valentín nzalez Ca Alegre G talina, Ma rtinez Mart urillo, Vicens Bellm u inez Jesu s, Estall M nt Juan ontoliu Jo aquin Felix , Galdon M achado G onzalo
apella Alberto nt, Albalate C Penadés Vice n uí aq Jo e, avarro Jorg , Manirque N Jee Hai Peng s, le ar a C cí ar ria G nf íguez lado Fo ta, Manel Rodr ht (Back): Col ores Font Cos From left to rig (Front): Mª Dol
I stayed with Niro Ceramic Group even after the acquisition of Zirconio because in this company I have had great experiences. I feel much identified with the company and I consider it an extension of my home. I have been linked to the company in different positions of responsibility for many years, also being a very important part of my life. Manel Rodríguez García, General Manager – Niro Ceramic España, 30 years of service
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The acquisition by Niro Ceramic Group of the Zirconio Company was a very important and emotional moment for all of us. For me has been a great joy to have been growing in this company since 17 years old. I have stayed with Niro Ceramic Group even after the acquisition of Zirconio because there is teamwork, continuous training and demand, respect from my supervisors and partners, and the good work of the Oven Section Team make my work easier to perform every day. Galdon Machado Gonzalo, Head of Section (Kiln) – Niro Ceramic España, 44 years of service
Recognition for Long Service Employees
I feel very identified with the company for the years I’ve been working on it. The most memorable experience working with the company is to keep the company running during the creditors’ competition, the 2 years prior to the acquisition and the incorporation with Niro Ceramic Group. Joaquín Penadés Vicent, Account Administrative – Niro Ceramic España, 30 years of service
After the acquisition of Zirconio, I worked for Niro Ceramic Group because I am satisfied with my job, the companionship and good working environment that is breathed. Valentín Alegre Gurillo, Laboratory Worker – Niro Ceramic España, 32 years of service
I like my job and there has always been a good working environment, even after the acquisition of Zirconio by Niro Ceramic Group. Mª Dolores Font Costa, Account Administrative – Niro Ceramic España, 27 years of service
From left to right (Back): Miravet Ribes Vicente, Pascual Puchades Manuel, Estrada Perez Jose, Ferrer Fortea Roberto, Almela Rubert Pascual (Front): Martinez Escudero Francisco, Ibanez Garcia Angel
te ntonio Jose Vicen Piris Juan A all Montoliu st Rodriguez E l, , ue te ig en M ic Serrano Carda V o, Moreno do, Nicolau rge Francisc Cortes Cardo Fernan Jo t or B t en , io : Torr Jose Anton right (Back) edo Lopez From left to (Front): Olm MOMENTS
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I think Niro Ceramic is a very big company and there is well synergy between employees and the company. During my work at Niro, from the beginning until now there are a lot of knowledge and lessons learned and it is very valuable for me. Niro Ceramic is a different company compares to the other building materials company which has a very good management team in taking care of its employees. Thanks a lot for Management Team of Niro Ceramic for everything! Dyah Agustin Astronita Wulandari, Assistant Manager - F & A, 19 years with Niro Ceramic Indonesia Since the first time I joined this company, I know that Niro Ceramic Indonesia is a big multi-national company. In my first 10 years of experience, I see that Niro Ceramic Group is managed professionally, that very concerned in developing the potentials of the employees, and also giving appreciations or chances to develop their employee’s career. I joined as Legal Officer in 1995, and today I am a Senior Manager. I know this is not the part of “I’m lucky”, but this is really Niro’s strategy of developing the employee’s career. In the next phase, we all know that Niro Ceramic grow to be the strongest brand in Indonesia. So today, to be a part of Niro Ceramic Group is a PRIDE for me. Maju Terus, NIRO.....we proud of you…. Ali Djamal, Senior Manager - HR, Legal, Security, Safety & Environment, 21 years with Niro Ceramic Indonesia
At 1996, I challenge myself to find a better company to improve myself as a person. When I walk not far from my house, I found “NCNI” factory and I wondered myself: “is this the one?” At the time, the laboratory is still not permanent. The situation is much different from what I have in mind but my colleagues are so nice that I immediately feels at home. Niro Ceramic has provides me a place to explore and actualizing myself. I love the moment when we launch the new products and when we achieved the KPI as a team success. Sometimes other teams gave us compliments to our work as a team. It makes me love my job more. Thank you Niro for letting me be part of your big warm family! Vera Agnes Sitorus, R&D Manager, 20 years with Niro Ceramic Indonesia
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Recognition for Long Service Employees
From left to right (Back): Abdi Peran gin, Iwan Setiawa n, Dody Panaha (Front): Puji Panja tan Simanjutak, itan, Eli Nurmala Abdul Kholil, Hu wati, Ali Djamal, sni Tanamas, Pe Dyah Agustine, ndi Puji Rahayu, Vera Agnes
I stayed for many years in Niro Ceramic is because I believed Niro has a bright future ahead and after 20 years with the company Niro has proved to be the best company I have ever work for and I really love the friendship and there is no gap between manager and team. We can always talk about anything and we solve our problems together, we all are so close like family. Should there any complains, the company also had responded it very well and immediately. I believe in Niro there is hope for a better future. Abdi Perangin Angin, R&D Supervisor, 20 years with Niro Ceramic Indonesia
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A Retirement at Niro Ceramic Espana
A Retirement at
Niro Ceramic España Mr. Galdon Machado Gonzalo, known as Gonzalo is the Head of Section (Kiln) of Niro Ceramic España. Gonzalo started working at 17 years old in Zirconio factory in 1973, and has worked for 44 years in the company. He has spent his youth and grew together with the company through its ups and downs. Gonzalo’s job is the key ingredient to making the factory floor spotless and dust free, as his responsibility is to ensure the floor is super clean and meets the Zirconio brand image and standards. In February 2017, a farewell lunch was organized to honour him for his dedication and passion towards the 44 years in the company. Gonzalo gave his speech in
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BY MICHELLE JOHNSON
Spanish, and the direct translation of what he said is shared on next page. Gonzalo now aged 61 years of age with two sons, retires from the company and will use his retirement time to build a new home for his family. Thank you, Mr. Gonzalo and you will always be remembered by Niro Ceramic España and Niro Ceramic Group.
“Good afternoon, buddies, If I may, I will dedicate a word to you on such a special day for me and my family. I entered in the year 1973, made a child with just 17 years of age. As you see, time doesn’t pass in vain for everyone. During this time we have lived in the company very good times, like when in Cevisama we got the “Alfa de Oro” awards. Also difficult and very bad times for all of us between the years 2008 and 2012. Starting in 2013, the Niro Ceramic Group arrived in Zirconio. They decided to buy the company. I think they saw in us good wood to make the boat, that boat that with effort of all of us, has to carry us to good port. It is none other than to achieve the objective of being what we were, a leading company in the sector. I want to say my colleagues, that this Group has bet heavily on us, with great enthusiasm. Although some do not know, Mr. Bong, Mr. Jee, and Mr. Manel, are struggling to instill the values of the Group, follow our day-to-day problems within the company, to support us in everything we need. Their human quality is impressive. Companions, I would ask you to continue with the same effort, paddling all in the same direction, working in team and fellowship. In this way, it will be easier to achieve the goal that we all crave. Say goodbye, it’s not goodbye, it’s just forever. I take a pleasant memory of all. I want you to know that I felt at home. For the good treatment received I thank, in my name and my family, all of you. For my part you will always have a friend. Before I say goodbye, I’d like us to give a strong applause to Mr. Bong, Mr. Jee and Mr. Manel. Thank you for your attention.”
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