Tile International 1/2017 by Kairos Media Group (div. ceramics)

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ISSN2039-8301

Batimat Russia & Coverings USA

2017

Interviews, news, projects & much more...

Schlüter®-KERDI-BOARD-N Fertigelemente für Nischen und Ablageflächen Prefabricated components for niches and shelves

Schlüter®-KERDI-BOARD-N sind vorgefertigte Einbauelemente aus KERDI-BOARD zur Errichtung von Nischen und Ablageflächen für Wandbereiche aller Art. In Verbindung mit dem Schlüter®-KERDI Abdichtungssystem können die Nischen als Verbundabdichtung ausgeführt werden. Die Elemente in vier Abmessungen ermöglichen eine kreative und individuelle Wandgestaltung und können in eine Ständerwerkkonstruktion eingearbeitet werden. Schlüter®-KERDI-BOARD-N are prefabricated installation components made of KERDI-BOARD for creating niches and shelves in wall areas of all kinds. Niches can be integrated into the Schlüter®-KERDI waterproofing system as a bonded waterproofing assembly. The components are available in four dimensions for creative and individual wall design and can be incorporated into a stud structure.

406 mm

305

51 mm

305

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

711 mm

89 mm

89 mm 51 mm

813 mm

305 mm

406 mm

508 mm

305

610 mm

89 mm

406 mm

152 mm

254 mm

305 mm

89 mm

406 mm

SINCE 1974 INNOVATIONS FOR THE TILE SETTING PROFESSIONAL

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THE MOST COMPLETE RANGE OF EQUIPMENT FOR LARGE FORMAT TILES THE “FREE-CUT” GUIDES PERFORM PERFECT CUTS ON SLABS UP TO A MAXIMUM LENGTH OF 426 cm (14’). FURTHERMORE, BY APPLYING ON THE “FREE-CUT” GUIDES THE SPECIAL CUTTING UNITS WITH ANGLE GRINDER (“FREE-FLEX”), EVEN THE MOST DIFFICULT CUTS ARE NO LONGER A PROBLEM. THE “FREE-FLEX” ALLOW TO PERFORM CUT (WITH DIAMOND DISCS) AT 90° OR AT VARIABLE ANGLES FROM 35° TO 45° NOT ONLY ON THIN SLABS (3 TO 6 mm - 1/8” - 1/4”), BUT ALSO ON REGULAR THICKNESS MATERIALS (UP TO 25 mm - 1”), WHETHER THEY ARE IN PORCELAIN OR NATURAL STONE. FOR HANDLING LARGE SLABS THE “TMOVE” AND “EASY-MOVE ADV” SYSTEMS OFFER THE IDEAL SOLUTION FOR EVERY NEED WHILE THE MODULAR TROLLEY “CAM ADV” IS PERFECT FOR CONVENIENTLY APPLYING THE ADHESIVE ON THE BACK OF THE SLABS AS WELL AS FOR TRANSPORTING THEM WITH EASE.

BOOTH 2628

CUT

HANDLING

LEVELLING

THE MODULAR BENCH “BM180” HAS BEEN INSTEAD DESIGNED TO PROVIDE AN EASY TO TRANSPORT AND EFFICIENT WORKTOP. IN ADDITION TO THIS, WE HAVE DEVELOPED OTHER SPECIFIC TOOLS FOR THE INSTALLATION AND PROCESSING OF THESE INNOVATIVE CERAMIC MATERIALS SUCH AS THE RUBBER FLOAT TO EXPEL THE AIR BELOW THE SLAB AND IMPROVE THE BOUNDING OF THE ADHESIVE, THE DEVICE TO ACCOST SLABS (“CLOSER”) AND A LINE OF DIAMOND TOOLS FOR FINISHING AND POLISHING THE EDGES AND SIDES AFTER CUT, FOR HOLE CUTTING AND FOR BULLNOSING. TO COMPLETE THE RANGE, OUR R.L.S. LEVELLING SYSTEM, WITH PROVEN EFFICACY, IS THE IDEAL ALLIED TO ELIMINATE LIPPAGE WITHIN SLABS.

TOOLS

TR3ND. CHARACTER WITH STYLE

Tr3end project. Wood Cement and Majolica in 8 colors. Discover the collection on www.emilgroup/ergon. Wood Taupe 20x120 - Concrete Taupe 120x120.

PROFILPAS DESIGN

TRENDY PERSPECTIVES Profilpas presents Trend Color Stone, the profiles with warm tones that resemble the shades of the earth and the stone. Realistic to the touch. Ten new finishes for floors and coverings characterized by a modern design.

Profilpas Spa, Via Einstein 38, 35010 Cadoneghe (PD) Tel. +390498878411 - Fax. +39049706692 Info@profilpas.com - www. profilpas.com

ADVERTISING

N. 1/2017

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

Advertising:

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

• Secretariat: info@tiledizioni.it

• Translation: Geoff Day / John Freeman • www.tiledizioni.it/subscription • Each copy: Euro 4 • Subscription: - Italy, 1 year: Euro 50 - Abroad, 1 year: Euro 70 - Italy, 2 years: Euro 70 - Abroad, 2 years: Euro 90 Spedizione in a.p. presso la Filiale di Modena. L’IVA sugli abbonamenti, nonché sulla vendita dei fascicoli separati, è assolta dall’Editore ai sensi dell’art 74 primo comma lettera C del DPR 26.10.72 N. 633 e successive modificazioni. © 1989 Tile Italia

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Contents 9 - Editorial

Shifting sands in the world of construction

by Chiara Bruzzichelli

PhotoNews 10 - Topcer: new victorian patterns back mounted in modular sheets 12 - C-bonded by Duravit 14 – Tilenews In the spotlight 34 – “The future starts today, not tomorrow”, talking with Giorgio Squinzi (Mapei) 38 – Progress Profiles keeps growing 42 – New plants on-stream at Original Parquet 46 – Andrea Castrignano for Ceramica Rondine Economy & markets 52 – 2016 Ceramic Tile Market Update 56 – The Russian building market 64 – Confindustria Ceramica’s data for 2016

by Andrew Whitmire, TCNA

Statistics 66 – 2015: vigorous growth in profitability for Italian tiles 70 – World sanitaryware production and exports 74 – The big players in the sector

by ACIMAC Research Department

Trends 78 – From IDS17, top 2017 Design Trends forecasted 84 – What's new? Projects 100 – P. Barclay and the Oratorio di Santa Caterina in Palermo 104 – Museo dell’Opera del Duomo, Florence 108 – Palazzo Rasponi in Ravenna

Cover picture: Emilceramica - www.emilgroup.it/emilceramica Picture by Giancarlo Pradelli @ Cersaie 2016 Subscription order form: www.tiledizioni.it/eng/EcommerceRiviste.aspx Translations: Geoff Day / John Freeman

34 38 42 46

BOOTH #2135

DORÈ

BRUNE

CENDRE

THICKNESS 10 mm / 2/5” LEFT - RIGHT

Glazed Porcelain Stoneware

BRUNE+DORÈ

7,5 cm x 45 cm 3” x 18”

CENDRE

Rondine s.p.a. - Via Emilia Ovest 53/A 42048 Rubiera (RE) - Italy +39 0522 625111 - www.ceramicarondine.it

Chevron 7,5 cm x 40,7 cm 3” x 16”

DORÈ

Editorial by Chiara Bruzzichelli

Shifting sands in the world of construction Todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s world is characterised by shifting sands and complex scenarios: wars are still claiming thousands of victims and triggering an exodus of biblical proportions, while tectonic changes threaten the balance that we have long taken for granted. Such changes have inevitable repercussions on a world economy that has only just emerged from its most serious crisis of the century. Against this backdrop, two of the biggest international events for the construction industry and the ceramic tile sector are fast approaching: in Russia, Batimat will be held in Moscow from 28 to 31 March, and in the USA, Coverings will take place in Orlando from 4 to 7 April. So with the aid of the data compiled by Prometeia, letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s take a look at construction industry performance worldwide and in the specific areas where the two trade shows are to be held. The global construction industry reported an approximately 2% increase in the value of investments in 2015,

marking a fall on the figure of +3% recorded in 2014. This was due to a slowdown in the Far East (from 4.7% to 3.8%), consolidation of the upturn in North America (+2.4%) and Western Europe (+1.1%) and downturns in Latin America (-3.6%) and Eastern Europe (-1.5%). In Asia, India reported growth of over 5% in 2015, thus taking first place from China, which remained on +4%.

area. Estimated 2016 figures for Western Europe point to accelerating investment in Germany, driven by residential building and civil engineering works, and a gradual upturn in France. There is still uncertainty in the United Kingdom as a result of Brexit. After the initial panic that put several real estate funds in difficulty, however, we cannot rule out the possibility that the loosening of fiscal conditions announced by the British government might even give a boost to infrastructure programmes.

2016 saw a re-consolidation of investment in the construction industry, albeit at differing rates, with estimated worldwide growth returning to around +3%. Performance in Eastern Europe again ran counter to this general trend in 2016, with a slight downturn caused mainly by the continuing recession on the Russian market (although the situation is gradually improving) and the discontinuation of public works in Central Europe (with the EU Structural Funds for the 2007-2013 programme now all used up). Favourable conditions for an upturn in residential building, however, still exist in this

In the USA, the positive trend in residential building continued in 2016. Estimated at around +6%, it was underpinned by the continuation of favourable conditions, such as rising incomes and employment levels, and an upturn in the real estate market. Non-residential construction remained weak, however, due to its greater exposure to difficulties in the US manufacturing sector, but the new President is expected to take initiatives in 2017 aimed at boosting investment in this

segment too. Among the emerging economies, the definitive figures for 2016 include a negative forecast for Latin America, in the wake of the downturn in Brazil, where the first signs of recovery, however, are expected to appear this year. Growth is also forecast in the Gulf region, where the declining vigour of the Saudi Arabian economy is expected to be offset by improvements in the Iranian market due to the lifting of international sanctions. North Africa is also expected to report growth in every country except Libya, where the trend remains negative. In Asia, conditions are set fair for continued development in India, both in the residential sector and in public works. Strong growth in infrastructure spending is also forecast in South-East Asia (Indonesia, the Philippines and Malaysia). In China, which remains the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s largest market with a 25% share, growth is continuing at a more modest pace than in the past. 5

Discover the e-magazine of Tile International 9

Tile International 1/2017

PHOTOnews

TOPCER: NEW VICTORIAN PATTERNS BACK MOUNTED IN MODULAR SHEETS Topcer is pleased to announce that to its large and unique collection of Victorian Designs and Borders has been enlarged with 7 new patterns: Sydney, Bruges, Monaco (photos

Tile International 1/2017

attached), Auckland, Nice, Greenwich and Stockholm. Topcer website was updated to a more user-friendly version.

PHOTOnews

PHOTOnews ISSUU

Nice

multimedia

Sidney

Bruges

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PHOTOnews

C-BONDED BY DURAVIT To satisfy the most discerning tastes in bathroom furnishing, Duravit has developed a unique and innovative process, in which the ceramic of the console washbasin and the wood of the base unit under it are fused into a single entity. The result is a completely new aesthetic, achieved by means of an innovative production technology known as c-bonded, which joins the console washbasin to its base without any visible joints. This perfect fusion

Tile International 1/2017

of ceramic and wood gives rise to a uniquely seamless tactile sensation between the smooth, cool feel of the ceramic and natural feel of the wood. But c-bonded technology is about more than just looks and feel: because the special patented DuraCeramÂŽ ceramic offers high precision and low thickness, as well as outstanding strength. Pictured: c-bonded technology applied to the Darling New design series in conjunction with the L-Cube series of cabinets.

PHOTOnews

PHOTOnews ISSUU

multimedia

Tile International 1/2017

Tilenews

Companies, News & Markets MARAZZI: NEW INVESTMENTS IN SASSUOLO In 2015, Marazzi embarked on a programme aimed at doubling the production capacity of its Fiorano and Finale Emilia facilities.With this programme now completed, the company has signed off a new series of investments aimed at the historic Sassuolo plant. The work will involve the construction of over 8,700 square metres of production and research space, which will bring production capacity up to 10 million sq.m of porcelain tile per year. Production will be highly flexible in terms of formats and finishes, so as to remain adaptable to market requirements and offer the best customer service. The new Sassuolo plant will be equipped with comprehensive, state-of-the-art production lines, with new low-energy, lowemissions kilns, new heat extraction and recovery systems and new waste water purification and recovery systems. The installation of the new plants is already under way and will continue step by step without interrupting production. The work is due for completion in 2018.

CLAUDIO MARANI APPOINTED NEW GENERAL DIRECTOR OF SACMI GROUP Claudio Marani, an engineer born in 1951, has been appointed as the new General Director of Sacmi Group. Monari will take over from Piero Cassani, who has been appointed Managing Director of Marchesini Group in Pianoro. Monari started his career with Sacmi in 1981, taking various roles on export mar-

Tile International 1/2017

kets, before being appointed Sales Director of Sacmi Impianti’s Milan plant in 1997 and later becoming General Director of the Ceramics Division. In thanking the Board of Directors of the Cooperative for their confidence in him, Monari emphasised his top priority in office: “To continue with the ongoing policy of investment and innovation that has made the Sacmi Group a truly world-class manufacturer”. The Group reported record turnover of 1.354 billion euros in 2015, and is expected to exceed the 1.4 billion euro mark in 2016, thanks to turnover growth of 5.5%.

CERSAIE TO STAY IN BOLOGNA UNTIL 2020 BolognaFiere and EdiCer SpA - a subsidiary of Confindustria Ceramica - have signed a four-year agreement under which Bologna will remain the venue for Cersaie until 2020. One of the key conditions of the agreement entails a commitment to invest in

the redevelopment of the Bologna trade fair complex. “The last edition of Cersaie,” explained Vittorio Borrelli, Chairman of Confindustria Ceramica, “confirmed the strategic importance of the Bologna location for our national and international customers alike, and with great confidence, we have signed this agreement, which comes at a time of major innovation in our event. Exhibitors’ investments are growing, and the need to redevelop the trade fair complex is increasingly necessary.” Requiring an investment of 60 million euros, the redevelopment works will increase the exhibition space to a total of 210,000 square metres. The first phase, due to start next September, will see the modernisation of halls 29 and 30, while major restyling work will be carried out on the North, West and Piazza Costituzione entrances to the trade fair complex. The project also includes new multi-purpose areas and the redevelopment of the conference facilities, which will be better connected to the halls, thereby facilitating the interconnection of the exhibition areas.

Tilenews

http://www. .com

The

LITOKOL ACQUIRES STAKE IN RUSSIAN COMPANY ESTIMA KERAMIKA Just before Christmas 2016, Litokol S.p.A acquired a 21% shareholding in Estima Keramika, a leading manufacturer of porcelain tile in Russia. Litokol, based in Reggio Emilia and specialising in the production of adhesives, sealants and building and interior decoration materials, has thus concluded an important acquisition in partnership with Global Contract srl, another company headed by the entrepreneur Luciano Cottafavi. The two companies have acquired shareholdings of 14% and 7% respectively, for a total holding of 21% in Estima Keramika. Present in 100 countries worldwide, Litokol operates directly with trading companies or production facilities in strategic markets such as Russia, Ukraine, Armenia and China. The Russian market has therefore been one of Litokol’s strategic targets for many years: as early as

2002 Litokol Russia opened a production plant in Noginsk (50 km from Moscow), in an industrial area neighbouring Estima. Litokol has a long-standing partnership with Estima Keramika in Russia, where the two companies have carried out many joint projects over the years, giving rise to a far-reaching distribution network that covers the whole country. This investment is therefore of primary strategic value for Litokol, because it complements the company’s adhesive and sealant business with a prominent partnership in the ceramics sector. Estima Keramika has been operating on the Russian market since 2001, with turnover of over 80 million euros and 1,500 employees working in the two production plants in Noginsk and Samara, the headquarters in Moscow, the nine commercial branches and the 14 showrooms open to the public in various cities across Russia. Estima’s production in its two plants is estimated to be in the region of 15 million square metres at full capacity.

WEB MAGAZINE

lay P o! e d i v

Tilenews

ABK, 25 YEARS OF INNOVATION AND CREATIVITY To celebrate its 25th anniversary, ABK is updating its logo and publishing its Easy Living room-configurator on-line. ABK started 2017 with its 25th anniversary celebrations, at which it presented its restyled logo, in which the colour magenta is used to characterise the innovative style of one of the major Italian ceramic brands – in just three letters. The new logo reflects the company’s history of growth and consolidation, based from the earliest days on creativity and the ability to renew itself without turning its back on its roots. The anniversary celebrations also saw the unveiling of ABK’s Easy Living configurator, in which the prospective client can design and view innumerable installation options for ABK products in a series of virtual rooms. The user can combine and compare the realism of wood-effect tiles with the elegance of marble and natural stone, to discover the combination most suited to his personal taste and lifestyle.

Tile International 1/2017

Easy Living allows the user to view the final effect of the installation in his room, rendered in realistic high definition, and can be launched by simply clicking on “configure” on the company’s webpage (abk.it).

ZUCCHETTI KOS: NEW SITE NOW ON-LINE The new Zucchetti.Kos website is now on-line, organised to appeal to both professionals and end clients. The new site, developed with responsive web design technology, which adapts webpages to any browser, is characterised by clean, elegant graphics and a practical, highly functional interface. The site is organised into three sections – Zucchetti, Kos and Corporate – each of which hosts detailed content. While the Zucchetti and Kos sections are dedicated entirely to product, the Corporate section, which integrates both brands, is dedicated to the world of Zucchetti-Kos, with a summary of the company’s 88 year history, its collaborations with designers, its international awards

and prizes, big projects from around the world, events and communications.

SHOPPING ITALIAN STYLE: MARAZZI ACQUIRES EMILCERAMICA On 20 January this year, Marazzi (part of the Mohawk Industries Group since 2012) acquired 100% of the capital of Emilceramica, an operation which is now only awaiting approval by the antitrust authority. With a 2015 turnover of more than 150 million euros (more than 90% in exports), two plants in Italy and a workforce of 500, Emilceramica is one of the largest ceramic companies in Sassuolo, and one of the 10 biggest ceramic tile companies in Italy. Founded in 1961, the company has grown continuously, partly due to its strong policy of acquisitions. Large investments in innovation and a major reorganisation over recent years have enabled the company to position itself in the high end of the market with its Emilceramica, Provenza, Viva and Ergon brands, now present in more than 5,500 showrooms in 70 countries worldwide. In the North American market, where Emilceramica is particularly active, it has four logistics hubs and a dedicated workforce. With this major new investment, Mo-

Tilenews

hawk Industries, the world leader in the flooring industry (more than 8 billion dollars turnover in 2015, with 3 billion in the ceramic segment) has consolidated its commitment to its Italian business, as confirmed by Mauro Vandini, CEO of Marazzi (pictured): “We initiated a policy of growth and investment in the ceramic cluster together with Mohawk three years ago, and we believe that this latest operation reinforces both our leadership and our ability to innovate in ceramic products.” The CEO of Emilceramica, Sergio Sassi, agrees: “Becoming part of a larger group, with its strong international presence, is the best route to ensuring a future of development for our company. Emilceramica is a company of undoubted value, which is perfectly in synergy with Marazzi’s own industrial and commercial strategies. Our team is eager to be a member of the number one group in the world, and to continue the growth trend we have been enjoying in recent years.”

NAIVE BY LEA WINS SPECIAL MENTION IN THE GERMAN DESIGN AWARD 2017

GOOD DESIGN AWARD 2016: BIG SUCCESS FOR ITALIAN PRODUCTS

In the wake of careful selection of a range of products incorporating outstanding technical and design solutions by an International Jury, Naive Slimtech, produced by Lea Ceramica and designed by Patrick Norguet, was awarded a Special Mention in the Materials and Surfaces category of the 2017 German Design Award. The official awards ceremony for the German Design Award was held in Frankfurt on 10 February. At Cersaie 2016, the same collection also won a 2016 Good Design Award, which is an international accolade established in 1950 by the Chicago Athenaeum in conjunction with the European Centre for Architecture, Art, Design and Urban Studies. The distinctive character of Naive derives from a state-of-the-art technology capable of producing a large-format panel - measuring 3x1 m with a thickness 5.5 mm - with an almost three-dimensional surface texture.

900 new products from more than 46 countries won prizes in the 2016 Good Design Awards, an international accolade established in 1950 by the Chicago Athenaeum in conjunction with the European Centre for Architecture, Art, Design and Urban Studies. The aim of the initiative is to make an annual selection of the most innovative industrial design projects. For the last edition, the awards ceremony was held on 27 January. The winners included a wide range of Italian products, first and foremost Naive Slimtech, the collection from Lea Ceramiche designed by Patrick Norguet. The distinctive character of Naive derives from a state-of-the-art technology capable of producing a large-format panel measuring 3x1 m with a thickness 5.5 mm - with an almost three-dimensional surface texture. The other winners included Quadrat, an indoor/outdoor mini infinity pool designed by Studio Ludovica+Roberto Palomba for Zucchetti. Kos; Origami by Alberto Meda, a designer radiator for Tubes (pictured), inspired by the forms of the iconic partition; Android by Antrax IT, a decorative radiator with high thermal efficiency and a sculptural appearance, designed by Daniel Libeskind.

Tile International 1/2017

Tilenews

PIERRE CHARPIN FOR CERAMICHE PIEMME The designer, artist and set designer Pierre Charpin will be designing several new collections for Ceramiche Piemme in 2017, as the company, under the leadership of Managing Director Massimo Barbari, continues to focus on creative partnerships as a means of brining innovation to its range of floor and wall coverings. This far-sighted decision has already borne fruit in the form of the 2016 ADI Ceramics Design Award for the Bits and Pieces collection designed by Gordon Guillaumier, which heralds an interesting range of new products for the Fuorisalone to be held during the forthcoming Design Week in Milan. Charpin says that he makes “no distinction between working for a gallery, a collector or a company”. He is equally capable of applying his creativity to industrial products, exhibition stands and artworks, and was voted

Tile International 1/2017

Designer of the Year 2017 by Maison&Object for his “poetic form” made up of bold colours. The distinctive character of his work has also been recognised by the many companies with which he has collaborated, including Alessi, Ligne Roset, Venini, Zanotta, Hermes Maison and Wrong.London.

FARRELL AND MCNAMARA TO DIRECT THE 2018 ARCHITECTURE BIENNIAL At the proposal of the Chairman Paolo Baratta - following in the footsteps of Pritzker Prize winner Alejandro Aravena Yvonne Farrell and Shelley McNamara will take on the creative direction of the 16th International Architecture Exhibition to be held in Venice from 26 May to 25 November 2018. The two designers live and work in Dublin, where they graduated from the University College School of Architecture before establishing Grafton Architects in 1977. The firm took part in the 2002 Architecture Biennial and won the Silver Lion at the 2012 Architecture Biennial. They also took part in the 2016 Architecture Biennial with the project “The Physics of Culture”. Farrell and McNamara have designed and built many schools and buildings for institutions and universities, especially in Ireland - including the Dunshaughlin Civic Offices, the shops and offices of Dublin City University, the Parson’s Building, Trinity College in Dublin, the Government Department for the Office of Public

Works in Dublin - while in Italy, they designed the new building for the Bocconi University in Milan. They have won numerous international competitions, including: School of Economics of the University of Tolosa; Kingston University Town House; Institute Mines Telecom campus, Saclay, Paris. In partnership with Shaffrey Associates, they won the competition for the new Dublin Library and were chosen to design the new faculty of the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) in Holborn, London. As well as receiving the Architectural Association of Ireland award for several years, the firm won the World Building of the Year award in 2008 for its design of the New Campus for the Bocconi University in Milan. In 2016, they won the RIBA International Award for UTEC University in Lima, Peru, and the Irish Design Institute President’s Award, while the previous year they won the Jane Drew Award. They have both taught at University College Dublin since 1976, and hold the Chair of Architecture at the Mendrisio Academy.

abk.it Brand of ABK GROUP, Made in Italy

160x320_160x160 cm 120x240_120x120 cm

SUPERSIZE SLABS

Tilenews

TRIPLE FOR GARBELLOTTO AT INNOVATION@DOMOTEX For the third year running, Garbelotto has won INNOVATIONS@DOMOTEX, an award run by the Domotex trade fair in Hanover (held from 14 to 17 January) for new materials, innovative solutions and creative design. This string of successes, one after the other, is a tribute to the Italian parquet manufacturer’s constant commitment to R&D. The winning product for 2017 was ClipUp System, a revolutionary system of wood flooring, patented by Parchettificio Garbellotto and consisting of prefinished wood floorboards and steel clips, which allow quick floating installation without the use of adhesives or magnets, and make it possible to replace either a single floorboard or the entire floor, and reposition it with complete freedom. The winners of the 2016 and 2015 editions were, respectively, Hi-Tech, a black PVC profile for use with all Garbelotto prefinished and solid products to create

Tile International 1/2017

marine-style flooring, and Spina Modulare, a rhomboid prefinished wood module that fits together perfectly in a wide range of patterns.

BIGMAT INTERNATIONAL ARCHITECTURE AWARD 2017 On 16 January, entries opened for the 2017 edition of the Bigmat International Architecture Award, which awards prizes to the best projects that have contributed to the development of architectural culture, completed between 1 January 2011 and 1 January 2017. Dedicated to professionals from Italy, Belgium, France, Portugal, Czech Republic, Slovakia and Spain (the seven European countries in which the BigMat brand operates), the initiative has complemented the traditional national awards with six new awards categories, namely: Sustainability and innovative use of material, Architecture, city and landscape, Remodelling, Ephemeral architecture and Interior architecture. From the works selected in the first phase

(15 per country), the jury, chaired by Jesús Aparicio, will select a short-list of finalists to compete for the 13 awards divided between various categories: 6 awards for the BigMat ‘17 categories (1,500 euros each.); 6 national awards (5,000 euros each) and one International Grand Prix (30,000 euros). The closing date for entries is 4 May. To find out more, visitwww.architectureaward.bigmat.com

“4 SERVICED APARTMENTS 4 ORIGINAL PEOPLE”: THE FUORISALONE OF SIMONE MICHELI During the Milan Fuorisalone from 4 to 9 April 2017, the Ventura Design District will be animated by an exhibit conceived by the architect Simone Micheli, entitled “4 serviced apartments 4 original people”, which will present a new concept for the hospitality sector. With a curious eye towards the possible future of the world of hospitality, the exhibition will provide an overview of the changes that have taken place in recent years as a result of the significant increase in non-hotel hospitality: 4 models of serviced apartments designed to suit 4 different locations - seaside, mountains, countryside and city - will be designed on the basis of the real needs of guests. They will be comfortable, welcoming spaces, but also interactive places and real homes for everyday life, capable of bringing together different functions based on different contexts and different types of user, thanks to high-grade technological equipment and versatile furnishing systems, ideally supplied by companies in the sector.

Tilenews

*Where: District of Lambrate - Milan - via Sbodio 9/via Massimilano 6

7TH FILA “TREATED LIKE A KING” COMPETITION: THE WINNERS The winners of the 7th edition of “Treated Like a King”, the biennial competition for surface treatment specialists, which gives awards for the best works done using Surface Care Solutions by Fila. - First prize went to Ezio Caffaro of Caffaro Trattamenti, for his work on a prestigious villa in San Pietro Val Lemina in the province of Turin. - A silver medal went to Angelo Martino, who undertook the treatment of the “cementine” at the Teatro del Collegio di S. Adriano, in San Demetrio Corone in the province of Cosenza; - Third place was awarded for the work done at an 18th Century mansion in Castellana Grotte in the province of Bari, by Damiano Ettorre of Leviga Service. In addition to the top three selected by the jury chaired by Paolo Colombo, Chairman of Assoposa, and which included Paolo Zuliani, Head of FilaConsulting and FilaService, FILA awarded two special mentions dedicated to the

memory of Diego Mizzi, a treatment specialist who died prematurely, and had already distinguished himself for his professionalism in the early editions of the competition: the first of these mentions was for the work done by Giuseppe Aiello at Palazzo Scroffa in Ferrara, which was recognised for the judicious choice of the treatment plan and the FILA products used in the work phases; and the second went to the Andrioli brothers for their work on a private house in London, which was particularly complex in terms of site management. “This edition of the competition showed an outstanding level of technical prowess,” announced Beniamino Pettenon, Chairman of Fila. We have seen prestigFirst prize

ious modern and historic coverings that form part of our artistic and cultural heritage restored to their original glory, and for us, this is the real success of the Treated Like a King competition. And it’s a success that has involved the entire company ever since the first edition in 2006, because it is the result of teamwork - from the technical laboratory to the treatment specialists - aimed at finding the best solutions for treating even the most precious materials, many of which have suffered degradation over the years.”

2nd prize

3rd prize

First prize

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Tilenews

STEFANO BOERI DESIGNS NEW SCHOOL CANTEEN IN AMATRICE After just 30 days of construction work, the new school canteen in Amatrice the central Italian town that was almost totally destroyed by an earthquake in August - was inaugurated on 23 December. Designed by Stefano Boeri Architetti as part of the “Amate Amatrice” territorial reconstruction plan, the canteen has an anti-seismic structure made entirely of wood, and was built thanks to contributions from many sources, including Artemide, Electrolux and the member companies of the Friuli wood supply chain association. The canteen is the first in a series of buildings, all built with prefabricated modules in wood, intended to constitute

a new catering industry hub that will help revive the local economy. Inaugurated in December, the new building has 490 sq.m of floorspace, and also includes a large, multi-purpose hall with magnificent views over the Sibylline Mountains. The building consists of prefabricated elements in wood for the outer envelope and load-bearing structures, modular elements in insulated sheet sheet for the roof, aluminium and double glazing for the perimeter walls housing the doors and windows, internal partitions in dryinstalled materials, indoor and outdoor flooring made of concrete tiling, and porcelain tile for the toilet facilities and kitchen.

PATRICIA URQUIOLA DESIGNS NEW LAUFEN SHOWROOM IN MADRID Laufen Bathrooms has opened a new showroom in Madrid, designed by Patricia Urquiola, one of the most high-profile designers on the international stage. Spread over two storeys of an early 20th Century villa, the showroom is designed to create a welcoming atmosphere marked by a strong link between the design and the collections displayed by the renowned Swiss company. “The idea was to create a multi-purpose environment and a new breed of showroom, where people can actually work,” explained Urquiola. “An elegant, rigorous space, featuring premium materials of the type most commonly used in bathroom design, such as marble mixed with onyx, glass, resin and oak.” Marc Viardot, Laufen’s Product and Marketing Director, explained: “Patricia has interpreted the spirit of our company

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perfectly. Working with her gave us a unique opportunity to exchange ideas, and proved to be an exciting challenge that met our highest expectations. We asked Patricia to represent the evolution of consumers’ tastes and requirements in the field of bathroom design: functionality is no longer enough in today’s market, people want iconic pieces that deliver aesthetic appeal as well as practicality. Patricia has given us a masterclass in how to express this search for emotion, which is such a vital skill for designers.” The result is a special venue for architects and professionals, built around the need to offer them a place where they can not only see our products but also create tailor-made ideas.

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FROM PORCELANOSA: 10TH EDITION OF THE ARCHITECTURE & INTERIOR DESIGN AWARDS

cation of Porcelanosa materials. The deadline for submission of projects is 27 March 2017.

Entries are now open for the 10th edition of the Architecture & Interior Design Awards by Porcelanosa. The initiative pits young designers and established architects and interior designers against each other with the twofold aim of providing a platform for young talent - Future Projects awards - and disseminating the best international projects - Completed Projects awards - made using materials manufactured by the Spanish Group. The 2017 challenge to promising newcomers, with the Future Projects awards, involves designing a workspace with an area of 250 to 500 sq.m, either for newbuild use or for the remodelling of an existing or imagined space. For architecture produced by internationally renowned names, the jury will assess works completed between January 2014 and February 2017. As usual, the jury will be looking for harmony of form, attention to environmental sustainability and innovative appli-

RAK CERAMICS REVEALS NEW BUSINESS STRATEGY AT CERSAIE

Tile International 1/2017

The multinational RAK Ceramics, one of the world’s largest ceramic manufacturers, with 17 production facilities, an-nounced the launch of its new brand at Cersaie, which will seal the merger of all its subsidiaries worldwide. The new strategy comes into effect in the United Arab Emirates immediately, and will be extended to the other group companies over the course of 2017. Rak presented the plan in Bologna, at the ceramic industry’s foremost trade show, and also gave a preview of the new Rak logo, which clearly represents Rak’s vision “Room for Imagination”, which was also highlighted by the display of the company’s Maximus MegaSlab series, the largest porcelain ceramic panel manufactured in the Middle East & North Africa area. CEO, Abdallah Massaad, said: “RAK Ceramics has 25 years of experience in the ceramic industry. Alongside our wide product range, focus on continuous innovation and commitment to the highest quality, this experience is one of the four pillars that underpins our vision. Our products already feature in some of the most architecturally significant buildings, and the launch of our new branding strategy reflects our ambition to become the world’s leading manufacturer of lifestyle solutions.” Andrea Mensitieri, VP Marketing and Product Development of RAK Ceramics

added: “For Rak Ceramics, Cersaie 2016 marks the first stage of a new journey, which we embarked on in 2015 with a major rebranding plan, and which we are now extending with a global campaign and a new logo”. “‘Room for imagination’ is the claim of this campaign, aimed chiefly at discerning designers and consumers on the look-out for the ideal way of bringing their concept of living-space to life,” concluded Marco Borghi, Senior Product Communications Manager.

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EARTH BY CASALGRANDE PADANA WINS GERMAN DESIGN AWARD 2017 The German Design Award 2017, organised by the German Design Council, which has been assessing and rewarding international design excellence since 1953, recently announced its latest winners. Over 4000 entrants took part in the latest edition, whose awards ceremony was held on 10 February in Frankfurt, with products and projects from 50 countries, with the result that international entrants accounted for 37% of the total, representing a rise of 5% on the 2016 edition. Among the winners of the prestigious award in the “Materials and Surfaces” category, was the ceramic project entitled Earth, spawned by a partnership between Casalgrande Padana and Pininfarina. The project won the award for the way it combines the know-how of two different sectors - ceramic and industrial design - to create a collection in which tactile three-dimensionality is obtained through a conceptual fusion of three different materials: glass, leather and fabric. The combination of aesthetics and technical performance even extends to sustainability: Earth is also available in Bios Antibacterial Hydrotect and Bios Self-Cleaning versions, which are totally eco-compatible. The collection works

Tile International 1/2017

perfectly in the most diverse environments, because of its rich colour palette and wide range of formats. Mauro Manfredini, Chairman of Casalgrande Padana, explained: “We have always manufactured advanced ceramics that strike the right balance between sustainable use of natural resources, care for the environment, technological progress, economic growth and social responsibility. To create the Earth collection, we decided to combine the strengths of two top-flight companies: Casalgrande Padana and Pininfarina, the best-known name in Italian industrial design. The result is an unprecedented product, light-years from the countless imitations of natural materials currently on the market.”

IRIS CERAMICA GROUP LAUNCHES SAPIENSTONE, THE KITCHEN WORKTOP BRAND Iris Ceramica Group’s new SapienStone brand of gres porcelain kitchen worktops, previewed at the 2016 Fuorisalone in the form of SmartSlab Table, saw its official market launch at the latest edition of Cersaie. Iris presented the brand at Cersaie by means of a multimedia installation entitled “Dress your kitchen”, which also provided an opportunity to announce its new partnership with the Spanish company TBP Top Porzelanik Barcelona®, the manufacturer of TPB tech®, an innovative worktop that uses SapienStone porcelain stoneware to offer the direct possibility of induction cooking. The product features latest-generation inductors and touch-controls integrated into the work-

top, thus eliminating the use of glass plates and transforming the work surface into a cooking area. The Italian holding company’s new brand has thus shown how it can harness its technical know-how in the ceramic arena, and deploy it in residential and commercial kitchen applications. Designed to meet the most stringent requirements in terms of strength, hygiene and durability, SapienStone kitchen worktops deliver a winning combination of high performance and good looks. Available in Basalt Black, Basalt Cream, Urban Anthracite, Urban Argento, Uni Ice, Malm Black, Malm Grey, Bianco Lasa, Calacatta Statuario and Calacatta, the material reinterprets premium marble, concrete and natural stone, in large-format porcelain panels (320x150 cm) with a thickness of 12 mm (standard) or 20 mm on certain variants. Made with through-body colours and vein patterns, the worktops offer a realistic effect and undiminished appearance over time. The line is also suitable for outdoor use because of its high performance in terms of resistance to sunlight and weathering.

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FLOW EDITION BY BAUWERK AMONG WINNERS AT 2016 ICONIC AWARDS Flow Edition, the new “invisible” parquet developed by the Swiss companyBauwerk, was among the winners in the flooring section of the Product category at the 2016 Iconic Awards. The international competition, which promotes projects and products that incorporate outstanding architectural innovation, recognised the innovative nature of Flow Edition and singled it out for a “Best of the Best” award. Flow Edition is a two-layer floorboard that gives the finished floor surface a seamless look with no apparent interruptions.

Completely unchamfered, Flow Edition floorboards cover the floor without any visible joints, and the classic, staggered installation pattern gives interior space a sense of continuity. The only surface “movement” that meets the eye is provided by the natural grain patterns of the wood. Made with two layers of ash on a larch base, Flow Edition is available in the Trendpark format (1450x13x11 mm) with protective treatment and imperceptible B-Protect. Because they are slim, furthermore, the floorboards are well suited for use with underfloor heating.

LXO BY LIBESKIND FOR OIKOS ON TRACK FOR COMPASSO D’ORO AWARD The “LxO” colour palette, designed by Libeskind for Oikos, was selected for inclusion in the ADI Design Index - an annual publication produced by ADI, which presents the best Italian products from the design sector. The company’s inclusion entitles it to take part in the prestigious Compasso d’Oro award. The “LxO” line remains faithful to the philosophy of Oikos, which has always

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sought to forge partnerships with major names in international architecture, with a view to exploring new eco-colours and eco-materials aimed at tailor-made contemporary interiors. The LxO - Libeskind for Oikos - palette consists of 33 intense chromatic solutions in which light and colour blend harmoniously. The collection is rooted in a fusion of artisanal stylistic research and industrial production, both oriented towards sustainable architecture. The jury’s decision was also based on the collection’s special presentation: a multicoloured orographic reinterpretation of the natural process of canyon erosion, in which colours become threedimensional and are added and subtracted according to the complex geometries that are typical of Libeskind’s approach to design.

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THE WINNERS OF THE ADI CERAMICS DESIGN AWARD 2016 At Cersaie 2016, the ADI Ceramics Design Award picked six winners and awarded one mention of honour through a panel of experts made up of the designer Silvia Stanzani, Oscar G. Colli and Carlo Branzaglia, Chairman of the Emilia-Romagna Delegation of ADI. The award, established in collaboration with ADI (Associazione per il Disegno Industriale) within the framework of the cultural programme ‘Building, Dwelling, Thinking’, promotes the most innovative products of the Italian ceramic industry, by selecting those that show the highest degree of originality, technology and innovation. The six winners in the floor and wall coverings sector are as follows: - First and foremost, Ceramiche Piemme’s Bits&Pieces collection designed by Gordon Guillaumier. The complete originality of the concept derives from the inspired decision to borrow decorative subjects from the past and introduce them into the latest production processes, thus succeeding in making artistic use of “waste” and transforming it into a precious texture and pattern. - Next is the Viva collection by Emilceramica, which impressed the judges with its “L’H” surface, designed by Giancarlo Macchioni - Ornamenta also won an award, thanks to the product Oplus+ made in collaboration with Alessio Zanzarella, which originated from a competition held by Centro Edile Quartarella in Altamura, relating to the decoration of large-format panels.

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In the bathroom furnishings sector, awards went to the following: - Bertocci Bathroom Accessories for Fly, designed by Studio Menghello, Paolello Associati; - Gruppo Tre S, for the functional and innovative concept of the Muse / Scuretto tray and shower products, designed by Marc Sadler; - Verum Italy, with Adriano Design, which designed Due Acca, an original and innovative bathroom tap. A Mention of Honour went to Simas’s Sharp collection of washbasins, designed by Anzellini Simone, for its unusual use of vitrified china in a wide range of colours. “This really is a great opportunity for the award-winners,” announced Carlo Branzaglia, Chairman of ADI Emilia-Romagna, “because the products identified in this context are pre-selected for the 2017 ADI Design Index, our annual publication that presents a selection of the best Italian design and includes products and product systems of different types.” “Design is increasingly important for ceramic manufacturers,” said Emilio Mussini. “There is an increasing understanding that Italian ceramic has more chance of standing out on the world market if it continues to focus on this aspect, especially if it does so through collaborations with expert designers.” Piemme

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In the spotlight

“The future starts today, not tomorrow”

Giorgio Squinzi Mapei celebrates its 80th birthday this year! Many happy returns to the company that was founded on the outskirts of Milan in 1937 and now operates worldwide through 81 associate companies, and has established its position as one of the major players on the world market for building products. From its foundation to the present day, Mapei has contributed to the construction of countless works, both small and large: from architecturally advanced projects requiring extreme technical prowess, to infrastructure programmes, sports facilities, high-prestige museums, the redevelopment of historic buildings and the construction of dwelling houses.

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Tile International: Dr. Squinzi, the expression “The future starts today, not tomorrow” was coined by Pope John Paul II, and is very dear to you. Could you tell us why? Giorgio Squinzi: “Because the fundamental ideas on which Mapei was founded and built are generated by a combination of creativity and innovation, and without new ideas today that spawn other new ideas tomorrow, it is impossible to achieve that virtuous circle that leads to innovation, and ensures top-flight business performance. The idea of thinking “urgently”, acting transparently and embracing a high ideal of the social function of companies are perfect-

In the spotlight

ly summed up in those words: “The future starts today, not tomorrow.” Tile International: 80 is a pretty considerable age even for a company: what are your first thoughts about that? G. Squinzi: “My first thought is that Mapei has never failed to fulfil its vocation as a “leading innovator” on which my father, Rodolfo, courageously and tenaciously founded the company. He deserves full credit for realising, in what was still quite a pioneering age, that the march of progress and improvement would soon reach auxiliary materials for building and industry (Materiali Ausiliari Per l’Edilizia e l’Industria) from which the acronym Mapei derives.” Tile International: Yes, even in the specific field of ceramic tile installation, Mapei played a leading role in the transition from the traditional system to the adhesive-based system of laying tiles, didn’t it? G. Squinzi: “The formulation of adhesives for the installation of ceramic tiles and natural stone coverings dates back to the 1960s and marked the first major milestone in the company’s growth. But even if you only look back over the past 10 years, a string of outstanding achievements come to mind. And in the course of those years, the construction market has seen profound changes all over the world: in some countries,

such as Italy and France, it has shrunk, while in others it has expanded.” Tile International: How has Mapei responded to this profound transformation? G. Squinzi: “Mapei has shown great adaptability. It has retained its market share in Italy, where the overall size of the market has fallen by half, while increasing its business on foreign markets from 62% to 82% of total earnings, by winning new market shares and making new acquisitions. Throughout this process of adaptation and growth, Mapei has never changed course. It has continuously expanded its vast product range and adhered decisively to the three pillars that have always underpinned its success: specialisation, internationalisation and constant commitment to Research & Development. From a purely entrepreneurial point of view, I should add that we have stepped up our competitiveness by opening a string of new plants worldwide, and extending our commercial coverage in many countries.” Tile International: Your success is certainly borne out by the figures… G. Squinzi: “Over the past 10 years, thanks to start-ups and acquisitions, the Group has grown considerably. We now have 81 associate companies, 18 major Research & Development centres, including 1 corporate centre, and

Tile International 1/2017

In the spotlight

73 production plants operating in 33 countries, each equipped with its own quality control laboratory. These enviable figures tell the story of a process that began in the 1970s and has never stopped since.” Tile International: Your revenues bear further witness to this success... G. Squinzi: “The growth of our revenues over the past 20 years is directly attributable to the process of internationalisation: in the early 1990s, the turnover of Mapei Italia was around 150 billion lire; by 2001, consolidated turnover had reached 725 million euros, 75% of which was generated outside Italy. In 2006, we had 9 product lines, whereas now we have 16. Our total number of employees, meanwhile, rose from 500 in the 1990s to 4,800 in 2006, and now stands at

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around 10,000, 12% of whom are engaged in research.” Tile International: Which are the busiest areas of the world at present? G. Squinzi: “Our biggest success stories at the moment are North America, Great Britain, Poland, Scandinavia and the vast Asia-Pacific region.” Tile International: What would you say are the cornerstones of such rapid growth? G. Squinzi: “Growth has always been my obsession. Healthy, balanced, steady growth that leaves the foundations for further progress in its wake. Growth achieved by means of a self-perpetuating process of internationalisation, country by country. Growth built on sustainability and research aimed at the formulation of products that deliver ever higher performance.” Tile International: Could you

explain your concept of sustainability to us? G. Squinzi: “For Mapei, sustainability and respect for the environment constitute an allround commitment, based on the belief that you can’t describe a product as ecosustainable if it comes from a company that’s not eco-sustainable. Building sustainably also means saving natural resources - including water, energy and non-renewable raw materials - and reducing emissions and solid and liquid waste.” Tile International: Would you say that part of a company’s sustainability lies in an awareness of its higher social function? G. Squinzi: “For me, an awareness of the importance of the social role played by the company is a plus-point that enhances the Group’s competitiveness: we have never

recorded a loss or a decline in revenues, we have never put any of our employees on short-time, we have never dismissed anyone to reduce staff numbers, while at the same time we have always been committed to supporting artistic, university and sporting initiatives with substantial funding. It is this all-round vision of the role of business that has yielded such outstanding results, which we have achieved thanks to an exceptional team that’s currently made up of almost 10,000 people. On this special occasion of our 80th anniversary, I would like to offer them all my sincerest thanks. Their everyday contribution plays a vital role in sustaining that combination of creativity and innovation, because “The future starts today, not tomorrow". 5

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In the spotlight

Progress Profiles keeps growing

Dennis Bordin Progress Profiles, a major Italian manufacturer of technical and decorative finishing profiles, with a proven track-record of creativity and professionalism, has closed 2016 with an increase in revenues of over 25%, and exports accounting for 34% of total turnover. Having fully renovated its Dubai site in 2015, Progress Profiles opened a new subsidiary in Melbourne, Australia, in 2016, bringing its total number of foreign subsidiaries to three. Dennis Bordin, Chairman of Progress Profiles, is fully committed to further increasing the company’s worldwide market share, and says: “We keep re-inventing ourselves so as to grow and meet the needs of the most discerning customers, by focusing on a high level of

Tile International 1/2017

specialisation, technological research and innovation, and always giving top priority to the use of high-quality materials, that represent the highest standards of Italian manufacturing.” Tile International: So you are still pursuing your policy of expansion on international markets? Dennis Bordin: “Definitely: Progress Profiles will carry on growing on international markets, with exports now reaching over 60 countries. This has proved to be a successful strategy over the years, thanks to our ongoing commitment to technological research, creativity and the quality of the material we use. In 2008, we became the first company in our industry to open a subsid-

In the spotlight

Australian subsidiary Progress Profiles headquarter in Asolo (Italy)

iary in Dubai, which we completely renovated in autumn 2015, before recently adding an extra warehouse and showroom. We opened our American headquarters in New Jersey in 2012, and PPA Inc has become our top performer at Group level. Most recently, in October 2016, we opened a new site in Melbourne, Australia, which will play a key role in improving our service to the Asian markets of New Zealand, Indonesia and Japan. Our goal remains that of expanding the Group worldwide, and making it a focal point for everyone looking for installation systems and finishings that incorporate authentic Italian design, which is a perfect blend of el-

Prodeso Heat Grip

Prodeso 39

Prosupport Profile

Proskirting Channel Tile International 1/2017

In the spotlight

Progress Profiles headquarter in Asolo (Italy)

egance, innovation and material quality.” Tile International: But after opening your new headquarters in Asolo, you carried on making investments in Italy throughout 2016, didn’t you? D. Bordin: “Our new HQ in Asolo, which we opened in 2015, is a paragon of green building and incorporates many of the most innovative architectural and construction concepts. Built using raw materials that meet REACH* requirements, the building incorporates highly advanced architectural and construction concepts that combine eco-sustainability with aesthetic impact and class-A occupant well-being. Although our new HQ offers over 13,500 sq.m of floor space, we found we needed to put up another, adjacent building in 2016, to give us an extra 2,500 sq.m to use for au-

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tomated warehousing and production purposes. The total floor space of our Asolo facility now amounts to 16,000 sq.m, and the photovoltaic systems we have installed there generate 800 kWh of electricity.” Tile International: What are the latest additions to your product range? D. Bordin: “Every year Progress Profiles launches new products, born of technological research that sets new trends and combines high-quality design with innovation. -Our new profiles for coverings include Prolistel Channel and Proterminal Int, both of which are made of aluminium. Prolistel Channel has a special F-shaped section and can be used as a track for installing glass fixtures on floors and walls, while Proterminal Int creates an internal corner and protects the external corners

of coverings and their perimeter closure. -For raised flooring in ceramic, wood and composite material, we have developed and patented a new system called Prosupport Profile, for use with the Prosupport System: the new system protects and finishes the outer edge, so that risers can be fixed, with or without decorative elements, without using unsightly clips and mountings. -For exterior use, we have developed Proside Walk, a perimeter profile in painted aluminium, designed to protect the edges of tiles laid along pavements. -Our skirting boards include Covecap and the Procap profile, both made of co-extruded, non-toxic, flexible vinyl resin, which are ideal for vinyl flooring and carpet because they provide coving and pe-

rimeter closures that facilitate correct installation.” Tile International: How is Progress Profiles responding to the question of vocational training for tile setters? D. Bordin: “Our company has always paid close attention to the technical updating of trade professionals, and we firmly believe in people and training as a cornerstone of our development policy. That’s why we have made substantial investments and equipped our HQ in Asolo with a Progress Profiles Training Centre. This includes a 150 sq.m showroom with a further 200 sq.m specifically designed to receive architects, engineers, surveyors, designers, contractors and installers. We are also still successfully running the Progress Profiles Training Academy, which offers a wide range of free technical workshops and

In the spotlight

seminars, both at our headquarters (where we bear the cost of accommodation for participants) and all round Europe and Italy’s major cities. The courses are certified by the National Council of Architects, and in recent years, we have met over 3,000 professionals and visited over 60 cities, including foreign capitals such as Beirut, Kiev, Krakow and Madrid. These courses include practical demonstrations, in which participants gain hands-on experience under the guidance of our technical personnel, and theory sessions covering certifications and regulations. The course entitles Italian participants to 6 training credits, which is the maximum number laid down by the order of architects.” Tile International: How are your end-of-year results looking? D. Bordin: “Progress Profiles has recorded growth of more than 25% in 2016. Our exports are now reaching over 60 countries and account for a substantial 34% of turnover. At the

same time, our home market, with 66%, is still growing strongly and steadily. This is a major achievement and it derives from our constant commitment to investing in technology and specialised training, backed up by highly qualified, well managed staff, comprising directors, area managers and a first-class sales network.” Tile International: What are your forecasts for 2017? D. Bordin: “This year, as well as expanding our Australian market with the aid of our new Melbourne facility, we are planning to step up our investments in the American market and the Middle East, both of which are enjoying continuous growth. As for products, we’re putting in a lot of work on membranes. Our Prodeso membrane is still earning widespread acclaim thanks to its special characteristics. As well as providing a waterproofing and decoupling layer, it ensures adhesion to the substrate and floor covering, facilitates optimum vapor managment, drastically reduces construction times

and uniformly distributes the load and heat of any heating system that may be installed. We have also just developed a new membrane for the Prodeso Heat system: thanks to its new shape, Prodeso Heat Grip ensures better anchoring of the adhesive, higher tear resistance and a higher vapour venting capacity. Our skirting boards are still among our key products too, especially the models with contemporary design, which can now be applied to plasterboard walls thanks to the integrated system they incorporate. Our best-selling products include Proskirting Flat and Proskirting Channel, two elegant flush-mount skirting boards with or without internal decorative channel. For

our entire range of aluminium and steel skirting board, we will provide internal/external angles, joints and caps made of metal (aluminium with various surface treatments) as well as plastic, so as to make them durable and, above all, elegant and attractive. Lastly, thanks to new machinery, we can now create exactly the nuance of wood that customers want for their specific requirements, from light and bright birch to cherry,oak and maple for our Skirting Line 7011/7016 and Proinsert System Line. So yes, we expect 2017 to be another year full of challenges and success stories, and we will carry on investing in research and new technologies, with a constant eye to the future”. 5

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Prodeso Membrane

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Tile International 1/2017

In the spotlight

New plants on-stream at Original Parquet – to best effect.” Tile International: Has this process also involved obtaining specific certifications? R. Ballardini: “Yes: the process of training and reorganisation necessary for obtaining ISO 9001 certification is now under way. And having already obtained FSC cer-

Roberto Ballardini Based in Alfonsine di Ravenna, Original Parquet SpA is one of the best-known Italian manufacturers of wood flooring on the world market. Over the years, the company has earned a reputation for offering a wide range of different treatments and finishes for its wood flooring, and in 2014 it decided to return almost all of its production processes to Italy. To do this it invested about one million euros in latestgeneration, all-Italian processing machinery and technologies, as Roberto Ballardini, the company’s CEO, was proud to tell us in our interview with him. Tile International: Have you now completed the process of installing new machinery at your Alfonsine plant for the produc-

Tile International 1/2017

tion of your latest collections of pre-finished wood flooring? R. Ballardini: “Yes, we have finally finished assembling all our new plants, which are latestgeneration, Italian-made machines. This has enabled us to return the majority of our production to our own plant, so that we have direct control over it and minimise our recourse to outsourcing. Original Parquet embarked on this process in 2014, to make it an allItalian brand once again, because I am convinced that keeping close, constant control of the entire production cycle is the only way we can give full expression to our creativity, and play our trump cards – globally recognised design and quality

tification, we are now in the process of obtaining PEFC certification too. Our aim is to develop top-end products that are instantly recognisable as belonging to the cream of Italian manufacturing.” Tile International: How did you approach the task? R. Ballardini: “We planned in-

In the spotlight

vestments in processing machinery and technology â&#x20AC;&#x201C; exclusively from Italian manufacturers â&#x20AC;&#x201C; worth approximately one million euros. We have installed one new latest-generation press for the fully automated construction of sandwich products (pre-finished flooring). This is capable of operating with 2-layer and 3-layer technology and produces flooring that can also be laid on heated subfloors. We have also installed a profiling machine, for making the tongue and groove on our engineered flooring, making it ideal for both floating and bonded installation. And we have purchased an in-line electronic cut-off saw/ profiling machine for the production of made-to-drawing flooring and individual geometric shapes. We have also upgraded our extractor system in line with current regulations of course, and set up stabilisation chambers for the 2- and 3-layer sandwich products needed for the production of our prefinished flooring. On the personnel front, we have employed an engineer tasked with managing the Quality Assurance Laboratory and testing all products at the various processing stages and on completion. Furthermore, we have installed a Taber testing machine for testing the abrasion-resistance

Tile International 1/2017

In the spotlight

Original Parquet @ Cersaie 2016

of our various surface finishes, and reorganised our warehouse, under the management of a newly appointed inventory and goods handling manager.” Tile International: Which new product ranges did you present at Cersaie? R. Ballardini: “At Cersaie, we presented the result of an in-depth design study conducted by Original Parquet and its technicians, aimed at re-introducing geometric design in wood flooring. We have made the product

Tile International 1/2017

available both in individual pieces and pre-mounted compositions on 120x120 cm panels. In essence, we have extended the benefits of large formats to the world of wood flooring. In keeping with Original Parquet’s long-standing tradition, we offer a very wide range of surface finishes, including a completely new one: this is an extremely high-strength finish (with a sheen of 3 gloss units and hence with a decidedly matt appearance) that is maintenance-free despite being a

water-based product with natural waxes and UV-protective oil.” Tile International: How would you describe your company’s 2016 performance? R. Ballardini: “Having the courage to re-establish our all-Italian brand identity again has yielded results beyond our expectations: after closing 2015 with a 15% rise in turnover, and reporting a further 14% we have achieved almost 30% in two years” Tile International: Do exports account for the lion’s share of your revenues? R. Ballardini: “Yes, the domestic market accounts for just 5% of Original Parquet’s turnover, and this rise in

export orders confirms the high esteem in which Italian design and manufacturing is held worldwide. We have achieved our best results in Europe, starting with Switzerland, France, Germany, Spain, the United Kingdom and Ireland, but we are also reaping the rewards of the work done in previous years in Eastern Europe, in the form of particularly impressive results from Kazakhstan. We have also increased our turnover in Lebanon and in the Middle East in general. China has seen strong performance too, and we are expecting major developments in the coming months.” 5

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In the spotlight

Andrea Castrignano for Ceramica Rondine

Andrea Castrignano with Lauro Giacobazzi Andrea Castrignano is an interior designer, real estate consultant and a master of tailor-made solutions. He has worked in Italy since 1997, following his early studies and work experience in the United States, where he learnt the Anglo-Saxon culture of design that characterises his work both in real estate and in the creation of turnkey projects. Castrignano is the creator of “Cambio Casa, Cambio Vita!” (“Change your home, change your life!”), a TV format which has enjoyed a successful run since 2011 on La5. It’s a reality TV programme which covers the progress of restoration projects commissioned by real-life clients from his interior design team.

Tile International 1/2017

From his first studio, in Piazza del Liberty, close to the Duomo, Castrignano moved to his new open-plan office and living space in Via Adige 11 in 2013: a location in which he can meet clients and discuss and design solutions to their requirements. The ground floor of Via Adige 11 also houses a large display area, called ID Consulting, which hosts important initiatives, including Fuorisalone events. The key to the success of Castrignano’s studio and his TV programme has been the construction of a network of collaborators consisting of carefully selected suppliers, contractors and craftsmen of tried and tested ability, who contribute to the realisation of his projects.

In the spotlight

Urban & Color

Tile International: How did your collaboration with Ceramica Rondine come about? Andrea Castrignano: “I first contacted the company in 2015 and at that year’s Cersaie I was the ambassador for the Brick Generation line: porcelain tile reproductions of exposed brickwork. This material has always appealed to me; indeed I have used it frequently, despite its fragility and tendency to accumulate stains and dust. Ceramica Rondine’s ceramic version, on the other hand, not only makes it highly practical and robust, but also offers the option of varying its aesthetic impact, especially in the use of colour… This is what really convinced me, and in 2016, in agreement with Lauro Giacobazzi, the president of Ceramica Rondine, we presented a range of new colour versions at Cersaie.” Tile International: What characteristics must a company have to become a partner of your design studio? Andrea Castrignano: “I follow my clients very closely, in every step of the process, including painting, wall coverings, floors, furnishings and accessories. So for me it is essential that suppliers are able to support me not only in terms of style – with a product range that offers me all the colours and surface finishes I require to realise the concept of a given project – but also logistically: they must be able to meet precise

Tile International 1/2017

In the spotlight

BRICK GENERATION BY RONDINE GROUP Brick Generation is a modern reinterpretation of classic exposed brick, made in porcelain tile and suited to use on both walls and floors, indoors and outdoors. The collection reproduces the surface, feel and roughness of brick, in a vast range of colours, and offers 6 collections of tiles in 2 sizes (10 mm thick by 6x25 cm and 13x25 cm): Bristol, London, New York, Tribeca, Venice, Urban Color – for a total of 35 colour tones. at last year’s Cersaie – namely Urban&Color, Woodie and Squary, all made by Ceramica Rondine – are these the continued expression of your fascination with colour? Andrea Castrignano: “Certainly; I love colour and I always try to get my clients to think in terms of it. Their homes must make use of the colours that best express their character. This is why we developed these new collections in 2016. Urban&Color is a brick-effect tile in size 6x25cm, which features delicate powdery colours in a variety of dark and light blues and brown. Woodie, on the other hand, is a completely new version of Italian walnut, with nuances of warm and classic colours in combination with colder, more modern tints, for a

Woodie delivery deadlines, as well as provide on-site assistance and after-sales service… and there’s no doubt that Ceramica Rondine has never failed to come up to the mark.” Tile International: How important is it, for your minimal baroque style, to have a wide range of colours? Andrea Castrignano: “It’s essential. My reputation is largely based on my ability to define the character of a home with the use of colour. This is why a rich range of colours – like the ones offered by the Brick Gen-

Tile International 1/2017

eration collection – is so important to me.” Tile International: What other aspects of Brick Generation do you find particularly valuable? Andrea Castrignano: “The collection is inspired by the past, we’re all used to seeing exposed tile walls; but the use of ceramics opens up new applications for the look, from domestic settings to commercial installations, both indoors and outdoors. Another very important feature is the re-introduction of

small sizes, which can be used as if they were furnishing elements. Finally, porcelain tile is unaffected by freezing temperatures, is very strong and extremely practical in use, so that the material is very versatile: it suits bathrooms and kitchens, and the variety of available colours means that different areas can be differentiated from each other in, say, the living room and bedroom.” Tile International: The three new projects you presented

In the spotlight

CAMBIO CASA, CAMBIO VITA! Cambio Casa, Cambio Vita! is a TV programme, launched in 2011 on La5 channel and created by Andrea Castrignano. The reality TV series narrates the progress of restoration projects commissioned by real-life clients from Studio Castrignano. The clients commission Andrea Castrignano and his team to redesign and completely make over their homes. very pleasing play of colours. Woodie is available in the 7.5x40.7 Chevron, 24x120 and 7.5x45 formats. Squary is a triumphant expression of rhythm and colour and, with its new geometric decoration, it perfectly complements Amarcord, the terracotta/concrete-effect porcelain tile collection.” Tile International: After Color Inside, presented at Via Adige 11 as a 2016 Fuorisalone event, what are your plans for the next edition of the exhibitions? Andrea Castrignano: “Color Inside, which was presented at the 2016 Fuorisalone, was based on the use of colour with the aim of transporting

visitors, with its five separate installations, into a fully immersive sensory experience: sight (colour), touch (material), smell (perfume), hearing (sound) and taste (in the sense of “taste” of the creative process). For the 2017 Fuorisalone, we have developed a project dedicated to pre-assembled construction. A wooden house which combines nature, aesthetics and energy-efficiency to optimise comfort and a total harmony of the elements and materials. We’re really looking forward to opening this new exhibit to our guests – we are sure they’ll be fascinated by this completely new mood!” 5

Urban & Color

Squary 49

Tile International 1/2017

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Economy & markets by Andrew Whitmire, Tile Council of North America ew Whitmire

2016 Ceramic Tile Market Update Strengthened by steady growth in the housing and construction markets, the U.S. economy continued to expand in 2016, helping lift the U.S. ceramic tile market to a seventh straight year of growth. In the residential market, new home starts rose for the seventh consecutive year and were at their highest point since 2007. The 1.17 million units started in 2016 represented a 4.9% increase from the previous year (Fig. 1). Even so there is still a long way to go to reach the prerecession peak level of 2.07 million units set in 2005. Single-family new home starts, which comprised two-thirds of total home starts in 2016, increased 9.3% from the previous year to 780,900 units. Multi-family starts, however, fell

3.0% from 2015 to 385,500 units. There is optimism the growth in housing starts will continue in 2017, as well. The National Association of Homebuilders (NAHB) forecasts that in 2017 total new housing starts will rise to 1.24 million units, a 6.0% increase from the previous year. New single family home sales increased for the fifth consecutive year and were at a total of 563,000 units, up 12.2% vs. 2015 (Fig. 2). While this recent growth is encouraging as the U.S. continues to put the recent recession behind, new home sales were still down 56.1% from the alltime high level of 1.28 million units reached in 2005. U.S. existing home sales were up for the second straight

year. According to the National Association of Realtors, a total of 4.84 million existing units were sold, up 4.1% vs. the previous year. Existing home sales especially impact remodeling, as buyers commonly look to update their newly purchased home. According to the NAHBâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Remodeling Index, remodeling confidence has remained positive for fifteen consecutive quarters. This is of particular interest to the ceramic tile industry, as the two rooms most commonly remodeled in the U.S. are kitchens and bathrooms, which also happen to be the two rooms in which tile is most frequently used. Foreclosure filings, which are a key indicator of the U.S. housing marketâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s health, declined by 13.9% in 2016 to 933,000

Source: U.S. Census Bureau

Graph. 1 New housing starts (thousands of units)

Tile International 1/2017

units. This was the sixth consecutive year-over-year decline and the lowest annual foreclosure total since 2007 (source: Realty Trac). The 30-year fixed mortgage rate decreased from 3.85% in 2015 to 3.65% in 2016, the lowest annual rate on record. The U.S. unemployment rate in 2016 was 4.9%, down from 5.3% in 2015 and the lowest annual rate since 2007. In 2016 U.S. construction spending (includes both private and public residential and non-residential construction) was $1.16 trillion, a 4.5% increase from the previous year and the fifth consecutive annual increase. U.S. gross domestic product (GDP) in 2016 increased 1.6% from 2015. This was also the seventh consecutive year of U.S. economic expansion.

Economy & markets

U.S Ceramic Tile Consumption Through 3Q 2016 U.S. ceramic tile consumption was 2.19 billion sq. ft. (203.7 million sq. m), up 4.6% vs. 3Q 2015 YTD (2.10 billion sq. ft./194.8 million sq. m), according to figures from U.S. Dept. of Commerce & Tile Council of North America (tab. 1). Based on the data available to date, TCNA estimates 2016 U.S. ceramic tile consumption to be 2.90 billion sq. ft. (269.5

million sq. m), up 5.9% vs. 2015. For perspective this would make 2016 the fourth highest level ever reached by the U.S. ceramic tile market, topped only by the pre-recession boom of 2004-2006, when consumption was more than three billion sq. ft. annually (over 300 million sq.m/year).

Imports Through 3Q 2016, 1.51 billion sq. ft. (140.2 million sq. m) of ceramic tile was brought in to

the U.S., a 5.0% jump from 3Q 2015 YTD (1.44 million sq. ft./133.6 million sq. m). Through 3Q 2016 imports comprised 68.8% of U.S. tile consumption (in volume), up slightly from 68.7% in 2015. Based on available data, TCNA projects U.S. imports for the year 2016 to be 1.99 billion sq. ft. (184.7 million sq. m.), up 5.7% from 2015. China remained the largest ceramic tile exporter in volume to the U.S. (3Q 2016 YTD), comprising a 29.2% share of

U.S. imports. Mexico was in second place, making up 23.7% of imports, followed by Italy with a 19.3% share. Spain (9.2% share) and Brazil (5.0% share) rounded out the top five (table 2). In spite of the pesoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s recent record low against the U.S. dollar, tile imports from Mexico have declined significantly over the last two years. Of the ten countries from which the U.S. imported the most tile (in volume), Spain

Source: U.S. Census Bureau

Graph. 2 New single family home sales

Del Conca "Fast" 53

Tile International 1/2017

Economy & markets

TAB. 1 - U.S. Ceramic tile shipments, sales and consumption (values in million sq.m) US Shipments (incl. Exports)

Year 2016 (est)

Imports

Exports

U.S. Consumption*

% change in consumption y-o-y

84.8 (+1.6%)

184.7 (+5.7%)

n.a.

269.5

5.9%

3Q 2016

66.1

140.2

2.5

203.7

4.6% (on 3Q 2015)

2015

83.4

174.8

3.8

254.4

9.9%

2014

75.8

159.1

3.4

231.5

0.5%

2013

73.8

160.2

3.7

230.2

12.9%

2012

69.5

138.6

4.2

203.9

5.4%

2011

66.7

131.1

4.2

193.6

4.0%

2010

60.3

129.6

3.9

186.0

7.7%

2009

53.1

123.9

4.2

172.8

-18.1%

2008

58.9

156.6

4.7

210.9

-15.2%

2007

50.6

202.4

4.4

248.7

-19.3%

2006

58.5

253.8

4.2

308.1

1.8%

2005

61.1

245.1

3.4

302.8

3.5%

Shipments include exports. Consumption = Shipments - Exports + Imports. Source: U.S. Dept. of Commerce & Tile Council of North America (+41.2%) had the highest percentage increase in exports to the U.S. (3Q 2016 YTD vs. 3Q 2015 YTD), and Thailand (-18.0%) had the largest percentage decrease over the same timeframe.

Through 3Q 2016, the value of imports was $ 1,589 million, up 3.9% vs 3Q 2015 YTD. Italy ($ 567 million, up 8% vs 3Q 2015 YTD) was once again the largest exporter to the U.S. on a dollar basis, comprising

35.7% of U.S. imports. China (-2.6%) was second with a 24.5% share, and Mexico (-9.9%) was third with a 12.8% share (table 3). The $ value/sq. ft. of all tile imports decreased slightly from

TAB. 2 - Top of U.S. Ceramic Tile imports by country of origin, in volume (million sq.m) 3Q 2015 and 2016 Country

3Q 2015 YTD sq.m

2015/2014 % Change

% on total Q3 2015 imports

3Q 2016 YTD sq.m

2016/2015 % Change

% on total Q3 2016 imports

China

38,944,032

13.1%

29.2%

40,982,234

5.2%

29.2%

Mexico

37,015,205

1.6%

27.7%

33,299,611

-10.0%

23.8%

Italy

24,120,697

14.0%

18.1%

26,999,103

11.9%

19.3%

Spain

9,168,873

29.9%

6.9%

12,949,415

41.2%

9.2%

Brazil

5,890,117

18.7%

4.4%

7,074,873

20.1%

5.0%

Turkey

6,305,893

19.6%

4.7%

6,830,974

8.3%

4.9%

Peru

3,726,895

29.1%

2.8%

4,256,497

14.2%

3.0%

Colombia

2,055,733

8.7%

1.5%

1,714,031

-16.6%

1.2%

Thailand

976,082

17.2%

0.7%

800,236

-18.0%

0.6%

Portugal

651,257

18.6%

0.5%

703,458

8.0%

0.5%

Source: U.S. Dept. of Commerce Tile International 1/2017

$1.06 in 2015 to $1.05 through 3Q 2016. (11.3 $/sq.m). Table 3 also shows the average values of tile (including duty, freight, and insurance) from the ten countries from which the most tiles were imported through 3Q 2016. Italian tiles confirm their highest value, 21 $/sq.m.

U.S. Shipments Through 3Q 2016 U.S. shipments of ceramic tile were on pace to increase for the seventh consecutive year. Based on data available to date, U.S. shipments in 2016 will set a new all-time high of approximately 912.6 million sq. ft. (84.8 million sq. m), up 1.7% from 2015. Through 3Q 2016, domestic shipments (less exports) were 683.9 million sq. ft. (63.5 million sq. m), up 3.7% from 3Q 2015 YTD.

Economy & markets

TAB. 3 - U.S. Ceramic Tile imports by country of origin, in value (USD) 3Q 2015 AND 2016 Country

3Q 2015 YTD (US$)

% on total 3Q 2015 imports value

3Q 2015/2014 % Change

3Q 2016 YTD (US$)

3Q 2016/2015 % Change

% on total 3Q 2016 imports value

Average price 3Q 2016 ($/sq.m)

Italy

525,077,118

11.3%

34.3%

567,080,265

8.0%

35.7%

21.0

China

400,510,553

16.2%

26.2%

390,040,431

-2.6%

24.5%

9.5

Mexico

225,859,058

-2.4%

14.8%

203,520,323

-9.9%

12.8%

6.1

Spain

142,140,990

18.4%

9.3%

185,957,676

30.8%

11.7%

14.4

Turkey

73,467,889

21.2%

4.8%

80,869,856

10.1%

5.1%

11.8

Brazil

45,075,990

20.7%

2.9%

48,468,704

7.5%

3.0%

6.9

Peru

20,324,280

34.3%

1.3%

22,118,970

8.8%

1.4%

5.2

Japan

11,269,523

17.9%

0.7%

11,291,666

0.2%

0.7%

n.a

Colombia

12,190,782

6.6%

0.8%

10,468,542

-14.1%

0.7%

6.1

Portugal

9,597,019

24.4%

0.6%

9,513,659

-0.9%

0.6%

13.5

1,529,597,523

12.5%

100.0%

1,589,348,671

3.9%

100.0%

All Countries

Source: U.S. Dept. of Commerce

In dollar value U.S. FOB factory sales of domestic shipments (less exports) through 3Q 2016 were $1.02 billion, up 5.2% vs. 3Q 2015 YTD ($965.6 million). TCNA figures show that the per unit value of domestic shipments (less exports) increased from $1.46 sq. ft. (15.7 $/sq.m) (3Q 2015 YTD) to $1.49 sq. ft., or 16.06 $/sq.m (3Q 2016 YTD).

Exports U.S. exports through 3Q 2016 were 27.2 million sq. ft. (2.5 million sq. m), a 13.6% decrease vs. 3Q 2015 YTD. The lionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s share of these exports (in volume) were to its North American neighbours, Canada (64.4%) and Mexico (9.4%). The value of U.S. exports fell 15.4% from $37.4 million (3Q 2015 YTD) to $31.6 million (3Q

2016 YTD), according to figures from U.S. Dept. of Commerce.

ada. This was a decrease of 1.3% from 3Q 2015 YTD, in which 314.7 million sq. ft. (29.2

Canadian Market Update While the U.S. ceramic tile market has recently experienced several strong years of growth, the tile market in Canada has not followed suit, with consumption virtually flat each of the past two years. Based on currently available data, we estimate 2016 Canadian ceramic tile consumption will be 415.0 million sq. ft. (38.6 million sq. m), down 1.3% from the previous year and down 0.4% from 2014. As there is no significant ceramic tile production in Canada, imports approximately equal consumption. Through 3Q 2016, 310.7 million sq. ft. (28.9 million sq. m) of ceramic tile arrived in Can-

million sq. m) of ceramic tile were imported into Canada. 5

TAB. 4 - Top of U.S. Ceramic Tile imports by country of origin, in volume (sq.m) 3Q 2015 YTD (sq.m)

3Q 2016 YTD (sq.m)

3Q 2016/2015 % Change

% on total 3Q 2016 YTD Imports

China

11,075,640

9,800,523

-11.5%

34.0%

Italy

7,213,050

7,176,320

-0.5%

24.9%

Turkey

5,457,811

5,463,553

0.1%

18.9%

USA

1,731,115

2,542,778

46.9%

8.8%

Spain

Country

1,683,777

2,044,190

21.4%

7.1%

Mexico

558,785

321,880

-42.4%

1.1%

Brazil

131,686

257,320

95.4%

0.9%

Portugal

240,338

203,412

-15.4%

0.7%

Thailand

163,649

160,663

-1.8%

0.6%

Israel

149,716

118,809

-20.6%

0.4%

29,232,426

28,864,613

-1.3%

100.0%

All Countries

Source: U.S. Dept. of Commerce

Tile International 1/2017

Economy & markets

The Russian building market Despite remaining in recession, the Russian economy began to show the first signs of improvement in 2016 (GDP -0.6% following the sharp -3.7% downturn in 2015). According to figures published by Rosstat (Russian national statistics institute) and the World Bank, the economy is expected to return to positive territory this year (+1.5%) and consolidate this growth in 2018 (+1.7%). The measures put in place by the Government and the Central Bank to offset the

negative impact of lower oil prices and economic sanctions have begun to have an effect. Inflation has more than halved in the space of a year, falling to below 6% by the end of 2016; the banking sector appears to have stabilised; and unemployment has reached an almost all-time low of 5.6%. The strategy of reducing reliance on imports by boosting domestic production while at the same time expanding exports has brought good results, especially in the agricultural sector, although the

figure for industrial production is also positive (+1.1% in 2016 according to initial estimates). By contrast, private consumption has continued to fall, dropping by 1.9% in 2016 following the dramatic 9.4% slump in 2015, but is likewise expected to recover in 2017 (+1.3%).

The construction industry The macroeconomic environment has naturally affected the construction industry,

fig. 1 - Construction output *in Russia (y-o-y % change)

Tile International 1/2017

which continued to contract throughout 2016 following a downward trend that began in December 2013. According to the preliminary Rosstat figures reported by the agency PMR, in 2016 Russian building production fell by 4.3% year on year compared to -4.8% in 2015 (Fig 1). This contrasted with a slight growth in value (+0.6%), up from 6,148.4 billion roubles (â&#x201A;Ź 96.37 billion) in 2015 to 6,184.4 billion roubles (â&#x201A;Ź 96.94 billion) in 2016 (Fig. 2). Analysing the monthly trend (Fig. 3), the figures show that

Economy & markets

Fig. 2 - Construction output in Russia (billions of roubles)

fig. 3 - Construction output in Russia (%, y-o-y) - January 2014/December 2016

Tile International 1/2017

Economy & markets

the sector continued to contract through to November, when it recorded the first upturn since December 2013 (+1.5% year on year), followed by a further fall in December (-5.4% compared to December 2015).

The worst monthly performance was in June (-10% year on year).

Residential building The new residential building segment maintained weak

growth through 2015 but finally fell into negative territory in 2016 (Table 1). The number of new homes dropped by 3.2% from 1,195,000 units in 2015 to 1,156,500 in 2016 (PMR puts the estimated decline at

1.1%). The contraction was greater in terms of floor space of homes completed, which fell from 85.3 to 79.8 million sq.m (-6.5%). The sector reported a downturn in all months of the year except for the summer

Table 1. - Housing completions in Russia, number of units and floor space

Fig. 4. Flats completed in Russia (millions of sq.m of space and y-o-y change)

Tile International 1/2017

Economy & markets

months (June, July and August) which saw 5.8% growth over the same 3 months of 2015 (Fig. 4). In greater detail, the total floor space of homes completed was 15.6 million sq.m in the first quarter (-16.1% compared to the first quarter of 2015), 15.9 million sq.m in the second (-1.2%), 18 million sq.m in the third (+1.8%) and 30.3 million sq.m in the fourth (-7.9%). The largest volumes completed in the new residential building segment were in the Moscow region (6.7 million sq.m between January and November 2016), followed by the Krasnodar region (4.05 million sq.m) and the city of St. Petersburg (2.4 million sq.m). Next came the Republic of Bashkortostan (2.3 million sq.m) followed by the capital Moscow (2.28 million sq.m), then the Republic of Tatarstan and the St. Petersburg region (both with 2 million sq.m).

Growth prospects in the Moscow region

604,000 sq.m of retail space and 112,000 sq.m of offices), while 2.7 million sq.m of floor space had already been put into use (60% more than in the same period in 2015).

Construction activity in the Moscow Region is expected to remain high in coming years. According to the agency ITA (Italian Trade Agency), a housing programme has been approved that will involve the construction of 7.5 million sq.m of new homes per year for the next ten years, complete with services and infrastructures. A total of 28.6 billion roubles will be allocated to the programme, including 18.6 billion roubles granted by the regional government. The Moscow region is also one of the most active in terms of commercial building construction. In the first 8 months of 2016 permits were issued for the construction of around 3.02 million sq.m of commercial properties (795,000 sq.m of warehouses, 645,000 sq.m of manufacturing facilities,

Russian construction materials production The downturn in the building sector also impacted domestic construction materials production, which dropped by 6.7% year on year during the period January-November 2016. As reported by the company PMR (based on Rosstat data), all the main production segments saw contractions (Table 2): cement production fell by 11% in the first 11 months of the year, clay bricks by 18% to 5.15 billion units, and bricks made of cement, concrete and artificial stone by 31%. Ceramic tile production suffered a smaller 6% decline, falling from 158.2 million sq.m to 148.8 million sq.m to November 2016.

Green building According to a study carried out by Jones Lang LaSalle (JLL), real estate services firm specialising in commercial property management, leasing, and investment management, the green building market in Russia has almost doubled in the last two years, growing by more than 1.7 million square metres to a total of more than 3.6 million square metres. According to the study, peak growth was in 2015 with total construction of about 1.1 million sq.m, while the surface area of certified and registered structures amounted to 627,000 sq.m in the first nine months of 2016. The Moscow region ranks first in terms of numbers of certified buildings with a total of more than 2.2 million sq.m (54 buildings), followed by St. Petersburg with 310,000 sq.m (13 buildings). Half of the green buildings

Table 2 - Production of selected building materials in Russia (January-November 2015 and 2016) jan-nov 2015 Cement

mill. tons

jan-nov 2016

% var

58.9

52.4

-11.0

Heavyclay bricks

mill. standard bricks

6,293.1

5,152.6

-18.1

Bricks made of cement, concrete and artificial stone

mill. standard bricks

3,533.8

2,438.8

-31.0

Ceramic floor tiles

mill. m2

85.4

81.8

-4.2

Ceramic wall tiles

mill. m2

69.8

-8.3

Tiles for exterior usage

mill. m2

2.9

0.6

Source: PMR based on Rosstat, 2016 Tile International 1/2017

Economy & markets

constructed in the first nine months of the year (around 370,000 sq.m) consist of commercial buildings, especially shopping centres. But despite this considerable growth, the green market still makes up only a small portion of the total commercial segment. In Moscow just 5% of all offices are certified as green buildings, warehouses 6%. In St. Petersburg the figure for offices is below 7% and virtually non-existent for industrial buildings.

The property market According to a recent study by the firm JLL, real-estate investments in Russia totalled US $4.2 billion in 2016 (74% up on 2015). This was largely driven by ris-

The residential segment also benefited from the growth in investments in 2016, with the share of the total increasing from 1.7% to 7.6%.

ing oil prices and the stronger rouble, which reduced market uncertainty and boosted speculative investor activity. As in the period following the crisis of 2008-2009, the construction investment sector was the quickest to react to the upturn in the economy. Based on these observations, experts from JLL expect this positive trend to continue in the near future and are forecasting an investment volume of $4.5 billion in 2017. In 2016 the majority of the investments (80%) were in Moscow. Offices remained the most attractive category for investors with an almost 60% share of the total, while industrial and commercial activities made up respectively 5.7% and 13.3%.

The Russian ceramic tile industry In 2016 the Russian ceramic tile industry managed to limit the decline in its end-ofyear production to just -5.5% with respect to 2015, dropping from 170.4 to 161.1 million sq.m (Table 3). The biggest contraction was in the wall tile segment, where output fell from 75.1 million sq.m in 2015 to 69.3 million sq.m in 2016 (-7.7%). The floor tile segment suffered a modest decline during the first 9 months of the year, followed by a recovery

in the last quarter to bring overall production to 91.85 million sq.m (down 3.6% on the 95.3 million sq.m of 2015). Exports are estimated to have risen to around 24 million sq.m in 2016, 9-10% up on 2015, and as in the past were mainly shipped to the markets of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Belarus, Ukraine and Uzbekistan. Domestic consumption is estimated to have fallen by a further 10% from 194.6 million sq.m in 2015 to 175 million sq.m in 2016. The biggest fall was once again in imports, estimated at below 38 million sq.m (down 18.2% following the 35.6% contraction seen in 2015). With the exception of Germany and Belarus, all the other exporter countries suf-

Table 3 - The Russian ceramic tile industry and market (values in million sq.m) 2005 Production

2006

100

115

2007 135

2008 147

2009

2010

117

2011

126

136

2012 154

2013 166

2014

2015

2016 est

% var. 16/15

166

170.4

161.1

-5.5

Wall tiles

75.1

69.3

-7.7

Floor tiles

95.3

91.8

-3.7

Exports

9.1

Imports

46.2

37.8

-18.2

Domestic consumption

131

153

176

191

139

158

181

213

230

220

194.6

174.9

-10.1

Local production on consumption (%)

70.2

69.9

68.8

67.0

72.7

67.7

65.2

66.2

65.2

66.8

76.3

78.4

Imports on consumption (%)

29.8

30.1

31.3

33.0

27.3

32.3

34.8

33.8

34.8

33.2

23.7

21.6

Source :â&#x20AC;&#x153;World Production & Consumption of Ceramic Tilesâ&#x20AC;?, Acimac November 2016 and estimates for 2016 Tile International 1/2017

Economy & markets

fered between 13% and 50% losses by volume (Table 4). As a result, imports as a share of domestic consumption fell to 21.6%. Kerama Marazzi (Mohawk Group) confirmed its position as the largest Russian producer, closing 2016 with an output of 31 million sq.m and double-digit revenue growth. Its results were also boosted by the expansion of its operations in the bathroom furnishing sector. On 16 January the company started up the new Continua+ line from Sacmi for the production of large ceramic panels and at Batimat Russia 2017 (Moscow, 28-31 March) will be unveiling its first 30x180

cm wood effect tiles and new 60x120 cm marble and stone look tiles, including a variety of honed surfac-

es and new materials produced using the double-filling technique. 5

Table 4 - Russian imports of ceramics tiles (values in million sq.m ) 2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016 est

% var. 16/15

% share 2016

1. Belarus

8.2

7.7

9.2

10.9

14.1

14.4

15.8

12.9

-7.9

34.1

2. Ukraine

1.3

1.9

2.8

5.7

6.2

10.1

13.8

20.5

15.2

11.2

-19.6

23.8

3. Spain

7.9

10.1

11.2

13.9

7.1

9.3

10.4

13.1

7.5

5.8

-22.7

15.3

4. Poland

4.4

4.6

7.4

5.5

2.7

3.4

3.9

4.6

4.9

4.5

3.1

2.7

-12.9

7.1

5. China

6.8

11.7

12.5

13.9

4.8

7.4

10.6

10.8

14.9

12.8

4.5

2.6

-42.2

6.9

6. Italy

4.9

5.6

6.1

6.3

3.5

4.7

5.8

5.6

5.1

2.8

2.5

-10.7

6.6

7. Germany

0.4

0.5

0.6

0.9

0.5

0.6

1.2

1.5

1.7

1.1

1.3

18.2

3.4

8. Turkey

1.7

1.3

0.8

0.4

0.7

1.3

1.8

1.5

0.6

0.3

-50.0

0.8

Other countries

3.3

2.8

4.8

4.6

1.9

2.9

5.5

3.6

1.4

0.7

-50.0

1.9

38.9

46.2

55.4

62.8

38.1

51.4

62.9

72.2

80.5

73.0

46.2

37.8

-18.2

100.0

TOTAL

Source :“World Production & Consumption of Ceramic Tiles”, Acimac November 2016 and estimates for 2016 63

Tile International 1/2017

Economy & markets

Confindustria Ceramica’s data for 2016

Vittorio Borelli The ceramic tile industry is reporting solid growth in 2016, with sales volumes of 416 million square metres (+4.6%), exports up 4.4% and a long-awaited turnaround in Italy (+5.5%). Considerable uncertainty persists on the international stage, however, in connection with the award of Market Economy Status (MES) to China and the review of the Emissions Trading System. 2016 saw an upturn in overall sales (+4.6%), finally boosted by an increase in demand on the Italian market (+5.5%), after years of decline, as well as a further increase in exports (+4.4%). On the strength of a

Tile International 1/2017

5.4% increase, production climbed back above 415 million square metres. This trend is expected to consolidate in the period 2017-2018, resulting in a further rise in Italian production over the next few years. These are the main data for 2016, which Confindustria Ceramica presented at its End-of-Year Conference. The conference also saw the presentation of a study of the Italian industry’s economic and financial profile by BPER. This included an examination of the 2015 financial statements of the ceramic industry as a whole, which revealed a number of positive indicators.

The sample studied by BPER points to EBITDA of 13.4% across the industry, and sufficient profitability to generate good levels of current cash flow (469 million euros in the sample analysed). The ratio of working capital to revenues fell by three percentage points to 35.3%, thanks to efficiency gains in inventory levels and the selection of commercial credit. This has improved levels of capitalisation in the industry, which now stand at around 84% of invested capital.

Ceramic tile performance in 2016 Pre-definitive estimates for 2016 point to sales of 85 million square metres of Italian ceramic tiles on the national market (+5.5%) and exports in the order of 331 million square metres (+4.4%). Growth was reported in all export regions, as follows: NAFTA +5%, Gulf States and Balkans +4.7%, Far East +3.3%, Central & Eastern Europe +2.7%, Latin America +2.1% and North Africa +1.7%. Among the largest countries, Russia saw a more modest downturn than in previous years, amounting to 10%. Growth in 2016 looks stronger in the NAFTA, Gulf and Balkan states, although political and economic uncertainty in several areas may affect these forecasts. There was an upturn in Italian ceramic production, which rose to 416 million square metres

(+5.4%) in 2016, representing a rise of some 50 million square metres compared with the trough of 2012.

The Chairman’s view “The past year has seen solid performance on international markets – the United States in particular, but others too – and a turnaround on the Italian market. These results have been made possible by the substantial investments in innovation that the industry has been making for years, and which have enabled us to sharpen our competitive edge on various markets.” The Chairman of Confindustria Ceramica, Vittorio Borelli, then outlined two major risks facing the Italian ceramic industry in 2017: “On 11 December, the European Commission rightly refused to grant Market Economy Status (MES) to China, on the grounds that China has not fulfilled the five requirements laid down in its WTO accession agreement. We fully support this decision, but are not in favour of the European Commission's proposal for new regulations establishing a less stringent definition of antidumping duties than the current one. On behalf of the parties we represent, we trust that the European Parliament will oppose the amendment in the course of parliamentary debate.” The second cause for concern is also connected with corporate competitiveness, both in and

Economy & markets

Tab. 1 - The Italian ceramic tile industry 2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

% var 16/15

Production

559

512

368

387

400

367

363

382

395

415

+5.4

Total sales

547

506

408

413

382

389

395

397

416

+4.6

Domestic market

168

151

127

124

115

+5.5

Exports

379

355

281

289

298

289

303

314

317

331

+4.4

outside the ceramic industry: â&#x20AC;&#x153;To date, the Emissions Trading System has led to a major increase in the number of bureaucratic hurdles facing even our industry, despite

the fact that ongoing investment has significantly reduced emissions. We hope that the review currently under way and due to take effect in 2020 will increase

the protection for those industries which have already done so much in this direction, and that any further erosion of competitiveness will be avoided.â&#x20AC;? 5

The Italian ceramic tile industry 2015

2014

2015

2016

Value mln. sq.m

2017

2018

Variation %

Sales in Italy

-6.6

-0.6

5.5

2.2

2.0

Total exports

317

3.6

0.9

4.4

3.3

3.8

Western Europe

159

5.3

1.9

4.9

2.7

3.3

Eastern Europe

-2.2

-17.3

2.7

3.4

3.6

Balkans

4.9

5.0

4.7

3.8

NAFTA

2.5

5.9

5.0

3.3

3.8

-5.4

-4.8

2.1

5.0

6.3

Gulf States

-1.5

4.9

4.7

4.8

5.1

North Africa - Middle East

-4.2

-8.6

1.7

3.1

3.7

Far East

8.5

14.3

3.3

4.8

5.2

Rest of the world

12.9

8.1

4.1

4.8

5.0

Total sales

395

1.4

0.6

4.6

3.1

3.4

Production

Latin America

382

5.0

3.4

5.4

3.4

3.7

National consumption

-3.3

1.6

6.0

2.4

2.1

Imports

18.2

13.0

8.3

3.3

2.5

Source: Prometeia, Forecasting Report for the ceramic tile industry - December 2016

Tile International 1/2017

Statistics by MECS, Acimac Research Department - studi@acimac.it - www.mec-studies.com

2015: vigorous growth in profitability for Italian tiles All the trends highlighted by our Studies Centre for the past year (see Tile International 1-2016 page 56) in relation to the sales and profitability of Italy's ceramic tile industry have been confirmed: the pace of growth in the industry has literally doubled in just one year, as witness the financial statement data for the year ended 2015, and is rapidly regaining the ground it lost in the decade-long recession that we are now leaving behind. What's more, the trend does not seem to be running out of steam: according to analyses conducted by the Acimac Studies Centre, sales are growing at a faster pace than in the world's other major manufacturing countries. Of course

this enviable position of leadership on the growth front is particularly evident in comparison with the prevailing stagnation of sales in Asian markets (Italy +8.6% as against +2.9% for our sample of Asian countries, equating to a difference of almost six percentage points in Italy's favour). But it is also pretty marked against Spain (+6.3%) and even more so against the rest of Europe (+ 5.2%). The samples of businesses at international level (300 companies) available for sectoral analysis by the Acimac Studies Centre not only cover all Italian production, but also offer significant coverage of other European manufacturers. Although less comprehensive,

even the coverage of Acimac's Asian samples enables it to determine trends with a considerable degree of accuracy.

Sales boom The Italian result clearly points to a fully fledged sales boom, which can be reasonably assumed to have continued into 2016. While total turnover stood at approximately 5.4 billion euros at the close of 2014, it had grown to almost 6 billion euros by the end of 2015 - the last year for which definitive figures are available. There are no signs that this spurt will diminish, over the next two years at least, because it is underpinned by structural factors

such as the major restructuring of the organisation of labour within companies, the marked technological improvements in both products and processes, caused in turn by substantial investments in production facilities and R&D, and the significant average progress of managerial and production efficiency at all levels. More specifically, 2015 saw a continued increase in production efficiency achieved by means of investment in production and optimisation of employment. Industrial capital investments showed overall growth of 2.5% in 2014. But there was an imbalance in this growth: while investment in tangible fixed assets, i.e. plant

GRAPH 1 % CHANGE IN EMPLOYMENT AND TURNOVER 2015/2014

Source: Acimac Research Dept. - www.mec-studies.com

Tile International 1/2017

Statistics

and machinery, other capital goods and production equipment, grew at emerging-economy speed (+25%), investment

in intangible fixed assets (trademarks, patents, etc.) stagnated. In 2015, the balance of investment in fixed as-

sets was redressed, in terms of composition, and overall growth in such investment rose to 4.4%, in other words more

than 1.5 percentage points higher than both Spain and Asian manufacturers (which also recorded growth of al-

Tile International 1/2017

Statistics

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Machinery Economic Studies

TABLE 1 AND GRAPH 2 SELECTED FINANCIAL STATEMENT INDICATORS BY GEOGRAPHICAL AREA Italy 2015 ROI

Spain

Average 13-15

2015

Other Europe

Average 13-15

2015

Asia

Average 13-15

2015

Average 13-15

4.21

3.16

3.80

3.48

6.21

5.10

6.51

6.53

Value added/Turnover %

31.96

31.29

30.78

31.14

30.10

28.88

27.32

Value added per employee

91.02

83.89

67.91

64.96

33.52

33.18

21.54

20.71

Labour cost/Turnover %

19.93

20.68

20.11

20.45

18.66

18.80

12.27

10.91

EBITDA %

10.59

9.39

9.31

9.30

11.33

9.88

13.39

13.37

EBIT %

5.45

3.94

4.86

4.73

6.73

5.79

7.93

7.99

Profit/Loss %

4.51

2.74

3.96

3.43

4.61

3.09

4.62

5.00

Labour cost per employee

54.92

53.08

42.31

41.94

20.62

19.93

10.82

9.76

413.78

395.07

321.38

310.50

117.43

123.27

144.44

143.91

Leverage

3.18

3.17

2.51

2.60

2.90

2.73

2.44

2.55

Gearing

99.67

107.27

84.31

79.17

59.52

73.33

79.66

83.92

Capital per employee

Source: Acimac Research Dept. - www.mec-studies.com

most 20%). It is worth emphasising that, in the recent experience of industrial restructuring of Italy's

Tile International 1/2017

tile manufacturing industry, the increase in investments in know-how, new technologies and production equipment

was greatly facilitated by the fact that ceramic manufacturers and manufacturers of plant and machinery for the

ceramic industry are located close to one another as part of an economic cluster. Such economies of proximity repre-

Statistics Read more »

4 EDITION th

year 2016

WORLD PRODUC TION AND CONSUMPTION OF CERAMIC TILES

sent a plus for every member of the cluster, not only in terms of greater access to direct consulting advice on plant design, but above all in terms of the intensity and reciprocity of technology transfer to new and more efficient manufacturing methodologies. In other words, the geographical proximity between tile manufacturers and manufacturers of capital equipment for the ceramic industry gives rise to a network of long-term, mutually beneficial relations. The system creates and feeds a fertile culture of wide-ranging industrial know-how, in which technological progress is promoted and transformed into real competitiveness. Another of the factors mentioned above relates to the organisation of labour: the restructuring of employment patterns in the industry, in the face of investments at least partly aimed at introducing labour-saving technologies, has continued, resulting in a further fall in total employment in Italy's ceramic tile industry (-1.6%).

Rising profitability indicators The boom in Italy's ceramic industry is not only about sales, however. Every indicator of profitability, in fact, has shown considerable improvement, with return on investment (ROI) growing by more than one percentage point (from

3.1 to 4.2%). Value added has also shown further growth, both in relation to turnover and in the form of gross industrial productivity (value added per employee), pointing to improvements in production efficiency: one of these improvements is the leaner management of inventory, as borne out by the fall in average stock levels across the industry in 2015. Value added/ turnover, which is the first upstream indicator of gross margin in the value chain, increased by a further half a percentage point in the Italian ceramic industry between 2014 and 2015, and now stands at 32%, which is well above the level of Spain, which has stood at 30.8% for many years, and also that of Asia (just under 29%). Italy's level of gross industrial productivity reflects the Italian industrial model that has emerged from these years of restructuring: the substantial capital investments per employee and the containment of labour costs have brought about two distinct but equally positive phenomena. On the one hand, Italy has become the undisputed world leader in terms of labour productivity (value added per employee exceeds 91,000 euros, as against 68,000 euros in Spain, our closest European competitor). The second effect derives from the high intensity of investment associated with the reorganisation of labour: capi-

tal per employee has risen to almost 414,000 euros, and increased by over 50,000 euros per employee in just two years. Total investment per employee in Italian ceramic manufacturers is therefore higher than in any other tile manufacturing country (Spain's average investment per employee is almost 100,000 euros lower, at 321,000 euros; while Asian manufacturers are not entirely comparable due to the highly labour-intensive industrial model they generally adopt). Conversely, the cost of labour per unit of output in Italy fell by almost one percentage point in 2015, to less than 20%. This is the most accurate indicator of the competitiveness of Italian tile manufacturers in terms of labour costs: although the cost of labour per employee is distinctly higher than that of its competitors, and rising, the higher level of capital intensity and the high productivity of the workforce more than compensate for the effect of Italy's salary adjustments and tax burden. It should be emphasised, however, that Italy's greater competitiveness manifests itself in its most significant market, i.e. in those high-quality/high-price segments where there is less competition from Asian and East European manufacturers, who still enjoy marked advantages in terms of labour costs.

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Machinery Econom ic Studies

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Italian ceramic tile manufacturers are seeing further improvements in their cash flow and EBIT, thus achieving a greater balance between economic and financial performance. Improvement in the financial performance of Italian manufacturers is also borne out by the stability of leverage and the marked reduction in gearing (both of which are indicators of companies' degree of capitalisation). Finally, the other indicators of profitability (ROE and ROS - return on equity and return on sales respectively), as well as the other profit margin indicators further downstream of value added, continued to show significant improvements in 2015, to reach outstandingly high levels in medium-to-large companies (between 40 and 100 million) and large companies (over 100 million). The downstream profitability indicators (EBITDA, EBIT and net profit, all in relation to turnover), grew by more than one percentage point, were distinctly higher than the gross operating margins and profits reported in Spain, and came close to parity with those of Asian companies. 5

Tile International 1/2017

Statistics by MECS, Acimac Research Department - studi@acimac.it - www.mec-studies.com

World sanitaryware production and exports World ceramic sanitaryware imports/exports grew by 78% from 1.6 to 2.9 million tons over the period 2005-2015, corresponding to an annual compound growth rate of 6%. The trend has remained almost constantly positive over the years, the only real downturn occurring in 2008 (-7.3%). This however was followed by a rapid recovery in 2009 that brought levels back to above previous years’ figures. A second slowdown in 2012 was likewise followed by two years of strong expansion in exports, again however interrupted in 2015 due to the sluggishness of the world economy. Sanitaryware exports consequently rose by just 1.1% with respect to 2014. Interestingly,

the ceramic tile sector saw a similar slowdown in world import/export growth in 2015 with just a 1.5% increase over the previous year.

Mexico, while non-EU European countries likewise performed strongly (+4.2% to 186,000 tons) in spite of the slowdown of Turkey. By contrast, South America remained in negative territory (-12%, 72,000 tons) following four years of contraction and Africa saw its first downturn in 6 years (-5%, 84,000 tons). Looking at the ten-year period as a whole gives a very clear picture of how exports have evolved in each region. Particularly evident is the exceptional growth of Asia, whose exports have risen from 388,000 tons in 2005 to 1.6 million tons in 2015, an overall increase of 329% (CAGR +15.7%). Asia saw its percentage share of global exports

ports, it closed the year with a 0.7% contraction against 2014 (1.67 million tons), after the previous year’s 22% growth. This negative result did not include the three large Asian exporters (China, India and Thailand), all of which reported growth in 2015. By contrast, the European Union, the world’s second largest exporter region, further improved on its 2014 growth rate to reach 569,000 tons (+7.4%). This result was attributable to the strong performance of the five largest exporter countries in the EU, an area that boasts five of the top ten world exporter countries. Exports from North America (NAFTA region) also rose by 3.3% to reach 340,000 tons thanks to the growth of

The 2.9 million tons of sanitaryware exports represent a significant share of the estimated world production of around 350 million pieces/year. In practice, around 40% of global output was sold outside the country of production in 2015 (compared to 29% in 2004). The analysis of 2015 exports by geographical area of production reveals a heterogeneous trend. While Asia remained the world’s largest sanitaryware manufacturer with a 57% share of world ex-

TAB. 1 - EXPORTS OF SANITARYWARE BY AREA (TONS) 2009

388,497

511,432

984,529 1,099,915 1,243,615 1,216,562 1,369,859 1,677,617 1,666,455

-0.7%

15.7%

57.1%

577,669

614,475

508,031

522,109

532,637

523,104

519,884

530,116

569,433

7.4%

-0.1%

19.5%

155,024

148,553

125,198

132,132

145,787

169,188

171,264

178,482

185,960

4.2%

1.8%

6.4%

NAFTA

270,208

271,946

262,666

268,401

303,537

290,715

320,345

329,677

340,565

3.3%

2.3%

11.7%

South America

202,737

125,625

86,711

100,043

108,848

102,328

88,800

82,515

72,548

-12.1%

-9.8%

2.5%

39,903

47,152

35,660

35,860

37,232

68,672

73,777

88,519

84,034

-5.1%

7.7%

2.9%

4,035

1,971

2,061

1,960

1,063

875

608

847

902

6.5%

-13.9%

0.0%

1,638,073 1,721,154 2,004,856 2,160,420 2,372,719 2,371,444 2,544,537 2,887,773 2,919,897

1.1%

6.0%

100.0%

European Union (28) Other Europe (Turkey included)

Africa Oceania TOTAL WORLD % var y-o-y

-7.3

16.5

7.8

2011

2012

9.8

Source: Acimac Research Dept. on BSRIA and ITC data

Tile International 1/2017

-0.1

2013

7.3

2014

13.5

2015

1.1

% 15/14

% on 2015 world exports

2008

Asia

2010

CAGR 15/05

2005

Statistics

rise from 24% in 2005 to the current 57%, winning shares from all the other regions. The EU, which suffered an overall 1.4% decline with respect to the volumes exported in 2005, saw its share of world trade contract from 35.3% to 19.5%. The NAFTA regionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s share fell from 16.5% to 11.7% despite overall 26% growth in exports over the decade. South America, which in 2005 accounted for 12.4% of world exports, has dropped to 2.5% following a 64% slump in volumes in 10 years (CAGR -9.8%). The other European countries have grown by 20% overall during the period in question and now control a 6.4% share compared to 9.5% in 2005. Africa is an exception to the trend with

110% growth in sanitaryware exports between 2005 and 2015 (CAGR +7.7%), raising its share of world trade from 2.4% to 2.9% and enabling it to overtake even South America.

firmly at the top of the rankings with an increase in exports from 149,000 tons in 2005 to 1.33 million tons in 2015 (+795%!), corresponding to a compound annual growth rate of 24.5%. The year-on-year increase in 2015 was 4.3%. China alone accounted for 80% of Asian exports and 45.7% of world exports. Mexico, the second largest exporter country with a 10% share of global exports, reached 295,000 tons (up 6.7% on 2014), maintaining the upward trend of the last two years. The only country in negative territory was thirdplaced Turkey, which saw a 3.7% fall to 120,000 tons. India reported the same export volumes (120,000 tons), and while remaining stable in 2015 at

The rankings of the top 10 exporter countries remained unchanged in 2015 with respect to the previous year apart from the entry of Italy in ninth position. The fact that nine out of the ten countries saw an increase in sanitaryware exports with respect to the previous year is a positive sign. This performance further boosted the overall share of world exports held by the top 10 exporter countries, up from 76% in 2014 to 78% in 2015 (compared to 57% in 2005). China remained

2014 levels marked up the highest CAGR 2015/2005 after that of China, +9.1%. As mentioned above, there are now five EU countries amongst the top 10 world exporters, namely Portugal, Poland and Germany (the only three of the top ten to record double-figure growth rates in 2015), followed by Italy and Bulgaria. Italy has entered the rankings following its 7% growth in exports (57,601 tons), although this figure still falls far short of the 80,000 tons of 2005. As a result, Italy was the only country in the top ten to report a negative CAGR 2015/2005 (-3.2%), compared for example to Germany with a CAGR of +3.7% over the same period (the best performance in Europe).

TAB. 2 - THE TOP EXPORTING COUNTRIES (TON) 2009

2010

2011

2012

China

149,220

244,769

768,129

901,962

958,533

918,750 1,015,513 1,280,270 1,335,212

4.3%

24.5%

45.7%

Mexico

233,672

227,734

223,709

226,569

245,964

237,954

268,502

276,984

295,439

6.7%

2.4%

10.1%

Turkey

117,915

101,195

84,933

94,354

101,350

113,445

119,602

125,256

120,613

-3.7%

0.2%

4.1%

India

50,322

82,511

70,354

15,076

90,611

118,226

134,255

119,626

119,752

0.1%

9.1%

4.1%

Portugal

88,392

85,538

78,297

75,049

65,552

67,251

68,525

78,360

87,434

11.6%

-0.1%

3.0%

Thailand

75,911

71,949

52,857

57,189

58,712

56,976

68,107

75,794

79,242

4.5%

0.4%

2.7%

Poland

56,007

85,167

59,327

67,572

70,342

66,723

70,890

69,913

77,048

10.2%

3.2%

2.6%

Germany

45,759

66,058

58,722

63,742

68,291

66,712

56,560

58,343

65,734

12.7%

3.7%

2.3%

Italy

80,151

79,016

57,174

52,921

54,616

52,815

54,895

53,871

57,601

6.9%

-3.2%

2.0%

Bulgaria

44,112

45,042

35,833

40,566

47,969

51,911

53,094

55,728

56,183

0.8%

2.4%

1.9%

% on total world exports

2014

2015

% 15/14

% on 2015 world exports

2008

TOTAL

2013

CAGR 15/05

2005

941,461 1,088,979 1,489,335 1,595,000 1,761,940 1,750,763 1,909,943 2,194,145 2,294,258 57.5

63.3

74.3

73.8

74.3

73.8

75.1

76.0

78.6

Source: Acimac Research Dept. on BSRIA and ITC data

Tile International 1/2017

Statistics

TAB. 3: IMPORTS OF SANITARYWARE BY AREA (TONS) % on 2015 world imports

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

237,308

286,742

429,387

478,300

618,296

582,609

659,174

847,355

792,223

-6.5%

12.8%

27.1%

647,944

663,567

663,492

692,242

712,756

667,798

665,631

729,744

788,686

8.1%

2.0%

27.0%

95,287

122,982

91,631

96,487

107,822

115,890

124,113

124,274

89,730

-27.8%

-0.6%

3.1%

520,594

454,223

576,612

620,863

606,975

626,568

703,772

748,784

807,998

7.9%

4.5%

27.7%

South America

60,483

80,759

91,217

119,957

139,156

147,494

134,075

136,408

146,436

7.4%

9.2%

5.0%

Africa

55,955

89,755

122,529

111,881

146,841

190,945

212,389

247,590

234,367

-5.3%

15.4%

8.0%

Oceania

20,502

23,126

29,988

40,690

40,873

40,140

45,383

53,618

60,457

12.8%

11.4%

2.1%

1,638,073 1,721,154 2,004,856 2,160,420 2,372,719 2,371,444 2,544,537 2,887,773 2,919,897

1.1%

6.0%

100.0%

Asia European Union (28) Other Europe (Turkey included) NAFTA

TOTAL WORLD % var y-o-y

-7.3

16.5

7.8

9.8

-0.1

7.3

13.5

% 15/14

CAGR 15/05

2005

1.1

Source: Acimac Research Dept. on BSRIA and ITC data

TAB. 4 - THE TOP IMPORTING COUNTRIES (TON) % on 2015 world imports

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

USA

463,530

388,228

477,431

500,029

495,803

508,056

584,436

623,077

682,192

9.5%

3.9%

23.4%

91,031

93,234

98,383

103,730

107,933

106,439

115,142

138,182

145,532

5.3%

4.8%

5.0%

Germany

80,932

94,541

100,140

107,509

114,714

111,368

111,505

128,532

142,383

10.8%

5.8%

4.9%

Korea Rep.

14,353

19,534

69,880

84,543

105,416

94,980

99,658

115,816

132,361

14.3%

24.9%

4.5%

Canada

52,245

58,207

84,545

104,680

92,441

105,658

104,119

109,558

104,119

-5.0%

7.1%

3.6%

France

94,573

102,426

111,245

115,108

118,930

118,078

107,792

104,078

101,812

-2.2%

0.7%

3.5%

Spain

129,129

104,902

82,378

83,634

84,827

70,252

70,741

82,755

88,245

6.6%

-3.7%

3.0%

30,674

33,921

45,770

33,592

48,346

63,797

71,593

71,623

83,934

17.2%

10.6%

2.9%

Singapore

3,797

6,479

18,907

23,467

29,444

29,855

21,620

52,294

64,323

23.0%

32.7%

2.2%

Nigeria

3,866

11,272

24,452

28,484

40,676

46,309

50,728

61,427

59,138

-3.7%

31.4%

2.0%

Saudi Arabia

TOTAL

964,130

% on total world imports

58.9

912,744 1,113,131 1,184,776 1,238,530 1,254,793 1,337,334 1,487,343 1,604,039 53.0

55.5

54.8

52.2

Source: Acimac Research Dept. on BSRIA and ITC data

Tile International 1/2017

52.9

52.6

51.5

54.9

% 15/14

CAGR 15/05

2005

Statistics

MORE INFO? www.mec-studies.com!

The analysis of 2015 imports in the various continents and regions also reveals a heterogeneous trend. With 8% growth over 2014 to 808,000 tons, North America (NAFTA) became the biggest importing region with a 27.7% share of world imports. Asia dropped to second place (27.1% of world imports) following a 6.5% fall in imports with respect to 2014 to 792,000 tons. The European Union held a similar 27% share following 8% growth in imports to 789,000 tons. Other regions that saw growth in imports were South America (+7.4%) and Oceania (+12.8%), while Africa (-5.3%) and non-EU European countries (-27.8%) suffered declines. Observing the import trends in each region over the period 2005-2015, we find that the highest percentage variation was in Africa with growth in volumes from 56,000 to 234,000 tons (+319%, CAGR 2015/2005 +15.4%). Asia achieved similarly strong growth (+234% on 2005, CAGR +12.8%), as did South America (from 60,000 to 146,000 tons, +142%, CAGR +9.2%) and Oceania (from 20,000 to 60,000 tons, +195%, CAGR +11.4%). The first eight countries amongst the top 10 sanitaryware importers in 2015 maintained their positions with respect to the previous year. Seven of the ten countries saw an increase in exports with respect to 2014, in several cases with double-digit growth. In

2015, the imports of the top 10 importers made up 55% of world sanitaryware imports, a share that has remained virtually unchanged since 2005. The United States remained the world’s biggest sanitaryware importer in 2015 at 682,000 tons (up 9.5% on 2014). The USA accounted for 23.4% of world imports, well ahead of all other importer countries, as well as almost all (86%) of imports to the NAFTA region. This is a longstanding record considering that in 2005 the USA imported 463,000 tons, 28% of world imports. The UK and Germany, in second and third positions, imported respectively 145,000 tons (up 5.3% on 2014) and 142,000 tons (+10.8%) in 2015. Both have maintained a 5% share of global imports and have seen a similar growth trend over the last decade (UK’s CAGR 2015/2005 +4.8%; Germany’s +5.8%). The fourth largest importer in the world and the biggest in Asia is North Korea, which imported 132,000 tons in 2015 (+14% on 2014), confirming its position as one of the countries with the highest annual growth rates in imports over the period 2005-2015 (+25%). By contrast, import volumes fell in 2015 in Canada (104,000 tons, -5% on 2014) and France (102,000 tons, -2.2%), the latter seeing a contraction since 2012. Spain on the other hand reported import growth for the second year running to reach 88,000 tons in 2015 (+6.6% on

2014). Saudi Arabia saw strong growth (+17% on 2014), as did Singapore (+23%), while Nigeria suffered a slight contraction (-3.7%). Singapore and Nigeria, both of which entered the rankings of top 10 importers for the first time in 2015, did not open their markets to international trade until the last decade (imports were virtually non-existent in 2005), since when they have maintained average annual compound growth rates of more than 30%. Last but not least, it is interesting to analyse the origin of sanitaryware imports to each region or continent. This shows China’s position as the largest exporter to almost all regions of the planet. China is the country of origin of 64% of imports to Asia (India, Vietnam and Thailand trail far behind with shares of between 5% and 7%) and 71.5% of imports to Oceania (secondplaced Malaysia makes up just 11%). Even outside its own regional market, China accounts for 52% of total imports to Africa (India is in second place with just 20.2%) and to North America despite the presence of Mexico, the local big player with a share of 35.6%. China is likewise the top exporter to South America with a 48% share (compared to 37.7% in 2014), while Colombia, the second largest exporter country, has seen its share contract from 23% to 16%. Despite the presence of strong local play-

MECS

Machinery Economic Studies

ers, China is also the top exporter to the European Union with a 20% share, followed by Portugal, Turkey, Poland and Germany with shares of between 6% and 9%. Chinese exports are in second position only in non-EU European markets with a 13.6% share of total imports, compared to the 16% held by the leader Ukraine. Consequently, the analysis of main target markets of the largest exporter countries confirms that only a small number of them have significant export shares outside their own geographical regions. As mentioned, one of these is China whose exports are divided up 38% to Asia, 31.6% to North America, 12.7% to Europe, 9% to Africa, 5.3% to South America and 3.2% to Oceania. Likewise, India sells just 48% of its exports in the Asian continent, while 39.6% is shipped to Africa and 6.6% to North America. Thailand sells 56.5% of its exports in Asia and Oceania and 37.2% in North America. The other large exporter countries are much more closely linked to their regional markets: 97.4% of Mexican exports are sold in North America; 99% of Polish exports remain in Europe, as do 93% of Bulgarian exports and between 83% and 86% of exports from Portugal, Germany and Italy. Turkey’s geographical position spanning Europe and Asia is reflected in the fact that Europe is its largest market with 68.4% of its exports and Asia the second largest with 20%. 5

Tile International 1/2017

Statistics

The big players in the sector

Exports %

Country

Production (mill. Pcs.)

Group

ers (large multinationals, groups or individual companies) updated to 31 December 2015.

Installed capacity (mill. Pcs.)

To round off the international trade figures for the sanitaryware sector, we are presenting the key figures for the big play-

Where available we also provide the figures for turnover generated purely from sales of sanitaryware.

This allows for a more uniform comparison between large groups which often operate in multiple segments.

Total group turnover (mill. €)

Sanitaryware plants / Location

Roca, Laufen, Celite, Incepa, Parryware, Jika, Ying, Santeri, Santek Kohler, Jacob Delafon, Sterling, Ann Sacks

Main Brands / Companies

Roca

Spain

n.a.

35.4

1,717.0 (sanitaryware, tiles, distribution)

75 (total group). Sanitaryware plants in Spain (9), Portugal, Switzerland, Austria, Croatia, Poland, Czech Rep. Bulgaria, Russia, Brazil, Argentina, Morocco, Egypt, Malaysia, India, China

Kohler Group

USA

22.0*

18.0*

n.a.

12 in USA, Mexico, Brazil, France, Morocco, Thailand, India, China

Sanitec (Geberit Group)

Switzerland

14.0*

12.0*

n.a.

n.a. (2,394.0 Geberit Group)

Sanitaryware plants in Finland, Swe- Kolo, Keramag, Ido, Ifo, Colomden, Poland, Germany, Switzerland, bo, Koralle, Selles, Allia, Pozzi France, Portugal, Italy, Ukraine Ginori, Porsgrund, Sphinx

Toto

Japan

11.0

4,300.0 (bathroom, tiles, other)

16 in Japan (4), China, Taiwan, Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, India, TOTO USA, Mexico

Corona

Colombia

13.9

10.9

474.0 (283.0 sanitaryware, 191.0 tiles)

Lixil Corporation

Japan

1012*

7-8*

n.a.

6,969.0

Duratex

Brazil

9.8

n.a.

1,061.0 (338.5 sanitaryware, 722.5 wood panels & metal fittings)

Rovese

Poland

7.4*

6.0*

n.a.

416.0 (tiles, sanitaryware, other)

Ideal Standard

Belgium

6.0*

n.a.

713.0

2 in Italy, 1 in Czech Rep., 1 in Bulgaria, 1 in UK

Egypt

6.7

4.8

159.7 (83.7 sanitaryware, 76.0 tiles & other)

3 (incl. tiles) in Egypt, 1 in Lebanon

RAK Ceramics

UAE

5.0

4.8

755.0 (490.0 tiles, 109.0 sanitaryware, 156.0 tableware and other)

2 in UAE, 1 in Bangladesh, 1 in India

12 Eczacibasi Vitra

Turkey

5.5

4.5

710.0 (tiles, sanitaryware, other)

1 in Turkey, 1 in Russia

Germany

4-5*

3.5

432.3

3 in Germany, 2 Egypt, 2 China, 1 France, 1 Turkey, 1 Tunisia, 1 India

10 Lecico

13 Duravit

Tile International 1/2017

7 in Colombia (2), USA, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Mexico

Corona, Mansfield, Incesa Standard, American Standard, Ecoline, Lamosa, Vortens

10 in Japan, China, Vietnam, Indonesia, Thailand, South Africa

AS, Lixil, Inax, Grohe, Vaal Sanitaryware

5 in Brazil

Deca

10 (total group), 4 sanitaryware Cersanit, Opoczno plants in Poland, Romania, Ukraine Ideal Standard, Jado, Armitage Shanks, Dolomite Lecico

RAK, Elegance

VitrA Duravit

Statistics

MORE INFO? www.mec-studies.com!

Ecuador

4.5

Exports %

14 CISA Group

Country

or in some cases were based on estimates or obtained from public sources. 5

Production (mill. Pcs.)

Group

over. The figures were supplied directly by the companies themselves

Installed capacity (mill. Pcs.)

To provide a more complete picture of group size, we also include total or consolidated turn-

Total group turnover (mill. €)

Sanitaryware plants / Location

3.3

106.0 (85.0 sanitaryware, 6.0 tiles, 15.0 other)

2 in Chile, 1 in Ecuador

Main Brands / Companies

Edesa, Briggs, Fanaloza

Saudi Ceramics

Saudi Arabia

n.a.

2.5

416.4 (sanitaryware, tiles)

2 in Saudi Arabia

Saudi Ceramics

Villeroy & Boch

Germany

3.5*

2.4*

n.a.

803.8 (496.9 sanitaryware, 306.9 tableware)

14 (total group) in Germany, Mexico, Thailand

Villeroy & Boch

17 Ferrum

Argentina

n.a.

2.4*

n.a.

144.0

2 in Argentina

18 Trebol

Peru

3.0

2.3

n.a.

1 in Peru

Thailand

2.8

2.2

907.0 (755.0 tiles, 93.0 sanitaryware, 59.0 fittings)

2 in Thailand

Egypt

2.5*

2.0*

n.a.

2 in Egypt

19 SCG Group

Ferrum Trebol, Barcelona

COTTO

Ceramica Cleopatra

Ceramic Industries

South Africa

2.3

2.0

148.0 (117.0 tiles, 31.0 sanitaryware)

2 in South Africa

Kirovskaya Keramika

Russia

2.0

45.5 (31.8 sanitaryware, 13.7 tiles)

1 in Russia

Kirovskaya

Iran

1.3*

n.a.

12 in Iran

Golsar

345.0 (278.5 tiles, 22.0 sanitaryware, 44.5 bathroom products)

1 in Turkey

Kale

100.0 (50.0 sanitaryware, 50.0 bathroom furniture & fittings)

1 in Turkey

Creavit

23 Golsar Fars

24 Kale Group

25 Creavit

Turkey

1.6

1.2

1.1

1.0

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Machinery Economic Studies

Cleopatra, Eldorado Betta, Bettabath

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integratedsystemsforcommunICation

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Trends

Azure Trade Talks Speaker Nika Zupancâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s collaboration with Qeeboo

From IDS17, top 2017 Design Trends forecasted

With 19 consecutive years as one of North Americaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s leading design conferences and as the one of the first global design fair of the year, the Interior Design Show (IDS17) is an annual catalyst to discover the latest design trends and innovations.

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While hundreds of international talents were preparing their novelties to show at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre (January 19-22), the Exhibition curators have forecasted some of the top trends for 2017 inspiring the direction of design for the current year. 5

Trends

Inspired by the Aurora Borealis, th wifi-controlled Nanoleaf Aurortransforms light into living paint

Innovative Lighting Experts are shining a spotlight on lighting as the true showstopper for commercial and residential spaces. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not just fresh interpretations of shapes, but also the incorporation of interesting technology from LED and beyond that make this trend new and innovative.

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Trends

Urban Retreat In an age where homes are smaller and lives are busier, the city retreat becomes more important than ever. As an extension of the living area, creating an outdoor urban oasis will be the perfect addition to any home or condominium. In 2017 expect to see mixed materials work their way into outdoor spaces.

IDS17 MAKER, Morgan Clayhillâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s handmade wooden Graffiti Cabinet

Natural Landscape Group maximizes outdoor space through innovative seating

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Gweilo architectural lighting by PARTISANS 80

Trends

Maxe by Ceragres

Material Matters Mixed materials continue their domination in 2017. Floors, ceilings, and surface areas will be adorned with interesting materials, tiles, and patterns to create an eye-catching statement. Designers will play with strategically placed tiles mixing into other patterns to create an unconventional focal point.

Tech & Design From Smartphone to Smarthome, this is modern like youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve never seen it before. This year, home dĂŠcor will take a futuristic trip to introduce avant-garde lighting and appliances for the savvy homeowner who refuses to sacrifice style for convenience.

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Trends

Maker Movement This yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Maker class embodies the essence of international craftsmanship: quality and style while using local raw materials to design unique pieces. The Maker movement speaks to consumer trends towards personalization, one-offs and supporting local and independent design.

Remnant Rust by Hannah Vaughan

Classics Revisited Old will meet new in 2017, as we witness traditional furniture structures reimagined with a modern edge. New materials, colours, and textures will revamp even the most dated of styles for a playful and referential approach to design.

Altea Furniture Tile International 1/2017

Trends J & M Republic rug ok

Rugs as art Area rugs will be the go-to trend for homeowners looking to make a rapid impact. A mix of size, colour, style and texture creates endless possibilities to complement an existing room or make a complete transformation. From floors to walls, rugs become art with rooms being built around them as opposed to on top of them.

Kitchens and Baths Stylish kitchens and bathrooms will never go out of style. Year after year these rooms act as a perfect â&#x20AC;&#x153;splurgeâ&#x20AC;? for homeowners looking to renovate. With the introduction of wood panelling and technology, a fusion of classic design with modern sensibilities will be popular this year.

AVANI furniture 83

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What's new?

Buzon Pedestal International New developments are in the pipeline at Buzon Pedestal International, which will officially form a new company in March under the name of Buzon South Europe srl, with registered offices in the Italian province of Venice. The new company will take care of design, sales and after-sales

service throughout the southern Europe area, which encompasses Italy, Spain, Austria, Slovenia and the Balkans, Greece, the Middle East and North Africa. Over the course of 2017, Buzon will further extend its product range with the introduction of new accessories designed to

simplify the work of installers and improve their finished results. These are aims which the Belgian group Buzon Pedestal International has been pursuing for 30 years, with considerable success in terms of market positioning in various parts of the world. The Buzon range of adjustable pedestals for raised flooring is divided into three segments: - PB for small and medium projects; - PDH for major public projects; - BC for special urban furnishing projects, such as fountains.

Emilceramica EVO-Q by Emilceramica is a quartzite that reworks current trends and expresses understated taste through its natural stone colours (white, sand, light grey and dark grey). Available in a wide variety of formats, finishes and textures, it is the ideal accompaniment to a broad range of different environments. The series includes rectangular formats, such as 80x180 cm, which are the perfect vehicle for showcasing its vein patterns. Its distinctive character lies in its skilfully crafted, chiselled and bush-hammered surfaces, that highlight the white content of the material, giving it a three-dimensional appearance.

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What's new?

More on MaterialiCasa.com highlighits!

Italgraniti Mega is a new collection of through-body porcelain tile produced in an innovative 240x120 cm format with a thickness of 6 mm. These magnificent large-format porcelain panels faithfully replicate the best-known varieties of natural marble. Available in eight colours, they offer unrivalled visual impact, by drastically reducing the number of joints and thus giving the impression of a single, seamless surface.

Their slim gauge facilitates made-to-measure cutting, and their stainresistant surface is suitable for use in all areas and on worktops. In addition to the 240x120 cm format, the collection is available in sub-multiples measuring 120x120 and 60x120, all edgeground.MEGA is available with a choice of two surface finishes: Natural (Sands Experience) and Lapped (White Experience, Beige Experience).

Del Conca SuperFace is Del Concaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s latest line of through-body porcelain dedicated to large-format panels and large floorboards, which are ideal for continuous flooring applications. Two series in particular are designed for interior use: - Orto Botanico offers a wood effect in three different shades (grey, beige and walnut) in sizes 20x180 and 26.5x180 cm. - Pandora draws inspiration from industrial environments, and borrows their concrete effect (in dark grey, mid-grey and white) for a modern, minimalist aesthetic.

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What's new?

Dural

Durabase CI++ is a multi-purpose polypropylene membrane produced by Dural for decoupling surfaces, insulating them from humidity and reducing noise from footfall. The productâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s structure consists of three layers, which are not merely glued together but co-extruded. The three-layer structure of the polypropylene membrane comprises the following: 1. Base fabric for optimum adherence to the substrate (even if still wet) 2. Central waterproof layer incorporating a structure with spherical protrusions that reduce the consumption of adhesive and compensate the pressure of rising vapour, thus considerably reducing installation times 3. Surface reinforcement mesh which, as the main source of adherence for the floor covering on top of it, ensures effective decoupling action and a load capacity to DIN 1055-3. Thanks to its high capacity to protect against shearing/fracture force, Durabase CI++ is able to absorb and neutralise stresses in the substrate: the decoupling membrane compensates for small cracks in the substrate and prevents them from propagating to the surface.

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Benefits of Durabase CI++: - Versatility: suitable for interior and exterior use (balconies, terraces, loggias), problematic surfaces, recently laid mineral bases, plastically deformable surfaces, and floors comprising large-formats of sufficient thickness (no slim tiles). - Rapid installation: on calcium sulphate and fresh concrete screeds (within a few days rather than the usual four-to-five weeks) or on recently laid concrete (within approximately two months rather than the usual six months) - Reduced consumption of adhesive thanks to the spherical protrusions, which improve coverage by about 20%. - Load capacity of 5.0 kN = 500 kg/sq.m (as against the 2.0 kN load capacity of other panels in fibre, plastic foams or fabrics for

tiles). Load capacity to DIN 1055-3 - Effective protection against shearing/fracture force, because the membrane intercepts and compensates stresses in the substrate - Improved adherence: the thickness and texture of the underside of the fabric ensure a secure grip and provide a particularly large adhesive surface. - Insulation of footfall noise: Durabase CI++ reduces footfall noise by 7 to 8 dB. - Coverage of damaged areas: can be used to cover/repair surface fractures - Suitable accessories and edges: the â&#x20AC;&#x153;edgingâ&#x20AC;? improves vapour pressure control, which plays a very important role in wooden structures, for example, while also decoupling and waterproofing joints between floors and walls and/or plinths.

What's new?

More on MaterialiCasa.com highlighits!

The Art.Ceram Extensive research into colour and texture has prompted The.Artceram to inject a fresh dose of dynamism into one of the areas of the home most influenced by design trends. On the coverings front, the company explores unprecedented textures and brilliant tones across its range of bathroom furnishings

designed by Meneghello Paolelli Associati. So velvet, and sand and cement in the form of eco-mortar, combine the practicality of ceramic with the visual impact of colours such as zync yellow, orange cameo, blue sapphire and grey olive.The programme of new washbasins is all about saving space. So they are small,

compact, balanced and streamlined, with slim borders, to meet a range of practical requirements as well as saving space. Towel is a fun-chic new washbasin that takes its name from its unusual form, in which a slim layer of ceramic lies on the surface of the top, covering it like a fabric before falling away to the side.

Ardeco

Sinuous, curved lines or simple, rigorous design. Ardeco presents a series of new bathroom furnishings, each with its own precise styling, to suit every context. Detailing and finishes are among the strengths of the range, from the special treatment of the material used for the tops, to the designer profiles on the unit drawers and doors. New additions to the range include the Wector collection of complements, which stands out for the original design of the handle and channel, designed to create an interplay of solids and voids. The whole collection is available in stained oak for a natural, lacquered or melaminic look, eco-mortar for a more textured finish and painted metal for an industrial feel.

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What's new?

Montolit Following the introduction of Flash Line, the innovative panel cutting system for all formats, whose precision and ease of use has revolutionised the way ceramics and porcelain stoneware are cut, we are now proud to introduce Moto FL, a motorised version of Flash line, specifically designed for all ceramics formats up to 2 cm thick (dry use). The basic design of this internationally patented sys-

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tem is the same as that of the superb manual machine, making it safe, practical and adaptable. The operating principle is elementary: all the operator needs to do is lay the bar on the panel and slide the motor unit along the rail. The astonishing power of the electric motor (1600W) combined with the 150 mm ultra-sharp diamondtipped blade (TCS150) make it possible to cut all

types of ceramic and porcelain with complete ease, high speed and an excellent finish. The lightweight, high-precision extruded aluminium bar can be split into three independent pieces of 120 cm each, thanks to the use of quick connectors. To work in optimum conditions, the Moto Flash-line is equipped with a socket on the crankcase to which a dust extractor system can

be directly connected. Moto Flash is available in Full Kit form (with motor unit and rails) or individually for users already in possession of Flash-line. The motor unit is easy to adapt for use with classic Manual Flash-Line Rails. Moto-flashâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s features make it the best product of the year for large-formats tiles For further information, see the General Catalogue on www.montolit.com

profilitecexport@profilitec.com

Leveltec: Click and Level System Saves 50% installation time compared to other systems Tool-free Fast and easy installation - with just one click! Tie base ejects automatically from the cap Simply rotate the reusable cap to perfectly level the tile Designed for 3,5 to 20 mm (1/8’’ to 3/4’’) tile thicknesses Tie base available in 3 shapes - linear, “T” and cross Suitable for 1, 2, 3, 5 mm (3/64”, 5/64”, 1/8”, 13/64”) tile joints Excellent for large format tile

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What's new?

ABK Sensi Wide is a constantly evolving collection of marble-effect, large-format ceramic panels which ABK intends to expand in the future with the addition of new types of surfaces. The company has used the revolutionary CONTINUA+ technology to recreate the unique appeal and elegance of marble on a ceramic panel with a thickness of just 7 mm and a record size of 160x320 cm. A classic of interior design, Statuario Ultra stands out for its luminous white surface traversed by characteristic veins. Pietra Grey provides exceptional elegance thanks to the contrast between the dark background and the purity of the contrasting veins, while the Arabesque Silver surface inspired by Orobico marble comes in

Marazzi

Powder is a reinterpretation of urban concrete in porcelain ceramic. Featuring a soft surface finish, its random, nuanced graphics and subtle ring marks emphasise the imperfection of the material. The

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collection is available in five colours (three warm: Sand, Crete and Mud, and two cold: Smoke and Graphite) and three formats (75x150, 75x150 edge-ground and a hexagonal tile measuring 21x18.2. The trim

a trendy grey colour. Amongst the selection of warm colours, Onice Beige is ideal for highly decorative use, especially in the 160x320 cm size BOOK MATCH version. The elegant ivory colour of Calacatta Gold is enhanced by the characteristic gold vein, while the sophisticated shade of Sahara Cream allows this surface to be combined with both warm and cool colours to create interesting light-shade contrasts suitable for different kinds of spaces. The Sensi Wide range includes the Enigma mosaic and the new Rombo and Trapezio accents, which can be used in conjunction with other ABK products to create surprising contrasts of colours, materials and surfaces.

pieces include a DecĂ˛ accent, a composition of hexagonal tiles in warm and cold variants, a Liberty accent in size 75 x75 cm also in the two colour variants, and a 30x30 mosaic in the full range of colours.

What's new?

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Iris Ceramica A fusion of artisan craftsmanship and ceramic technology. This is the concept that lies at the root of the new Maiolica collection, in which tradition takes centre stage again and inspires a contemporary new look. Made of porcelain gres, Maiolica comes in a rich palette of warm, vivacious colours: its texture is enhanced by imperfections and nuances that give the impression of a hand-made product. Maiolica is available in modular sizes 10x30, 20x20 and 60x20 cm, with a polished finish.

Polcart OverSize is a new series of display systems for large formats, such as 60x120, 75x150, 100x100, 120x120, 120x240, 100x300 and 160x320, specifically designed for sales showrooms. Equipped with reinforced structures with high load capacity, they display the full height of the products, allow easy changeover of items and offer vertical and horizontal sliding solutions.

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What's new?

Eco Design ECO Design is an Italian manufacturer of furnishings and fittings for exhibitions and showrooms and other displays of floor and wall coverings, doors, sanitaryware and bathroom furnishings. The main focus of Eco Designâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s work is the production of metal systems for the display of ceramic samples of all sizes. The company also has considerable experience in the production and outfitting of exhibition spaces, for a wide range of different types of product, primarily for trade fair stands and showrooms. Pictured: examples of merchandising systems that can be fully customised according to the needs of customers.

Gs Luxury Group Tonino Lamborghini Tiles & Style is the exclusive collection produced by GS Luxury Group under the Lamborghini brand. Twelve prestigious series of floor and wall coverings, ranging from mosaics to highthickness 25x25 cm tiles and 120x120 cm large formats, reflect the Lamborghini lifestyle. The project extends to taps and sanitaryware, and in partnership with Formitalia (which also holds the licence to the Aston Martin brand), includes furnishings, thus giving rise to a comprehensive Lamborghini Home project. The success of the formula is borne out by the many distribution agreements that have been reached worldwide with major companies, which have built prestigious showrooms for the Lamborghini Home project. A long series of shop-in-shops is also due to open in many different countries around the world.

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What's new?

Gruppo Romani Gruppo Romani has unveiled a host of new products, including the following: - the Cerasarda Design Collection (left) makes its dĂŠbut with Abitare la Terra, in glazed porcelain and doublefired white body variants, designed by Maria Luisa Brighenti, who makes judicious use of typically Sardinian colours

Kale Group The various Kale Group brands recently launched new collections: - Edilgres presents Lin Side, featuring a fabric effect that evokes the texture of linen, and mixes it with a concrete base - Wornwood (pictured), sold under the Edilcuoghi brand, draws inspiration from traditional hand-crafted wooden floorboards - LeTavole are sold under the Campani brand and replicate large-format 20x120cm wooden floorboards.

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and textures to put a fresh, rich slant on small-format tiles; - Newport 2.0, a new product sold under the Serenissima brand, makes its mark by trading on wood effects and sheer simplicity. Available in two sizes (30x120 and 20x120 cm) and a wide range of wood effects.

What's new?

Impertek Impertek, which has been manufacturing construction materials for over 30 years, is continuing its journey of innovation with the development of MegaPro, a web application for the design of floating flooring for outdoor ap-

Ergon

Concrete, wood and majolica, in a ton-sur-ton pattern, are the inspiration behind Tr3nd, a new collection by Ergon that represents a formal

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plications using Martinetto and MegaMart pedestals. By logging into their own special reserved area, customers can use MegaPro to access a work space where they can design pedestal-mounted flooring according to their own, fully customisable technical drawing. The available tools replicate the functions of real ones, such as line marking, ruler, zoom, editing etc., and ena-

and functional expression of elegance and coherence, involving countless possible juxtapositions and evocative movements.

ble you to display the heights of each point. The pedestals are selected from the entire Martinetti and MegaMart range, and it only takes a few seconds to set the characteristics of your floor. Another key function is that MegaPro enables you to save your projects and generate a technical specification for each one, showing the details of the pedestals used. With its characteristically keen eye for technological evolution, Impertek has provided its customers with valuable support, in customised, easy-to-use form, which revolutionises the concept of on-line quotes.

Tr3nd is a versatile, totally ontrend project that offers disparate aesthetic solutions and gives free rein to the creative flair of designers, thanks

to a range of eight modern nuances â&#x20AC;&#x201C; four warm and four cold â&#x20AC;&#x201C; and a wide range of formats, that all harmonise with each other.

What's new?

Piemme A winner of the ADI Ceramics DesignAward 2016, the Bits&Pieces collection, developed by Piemme in partnership with Gordon Guillaumier, features graphic subjects that pay tribute to tradition, while putting a contemporary slant on it. Playing upon the material and a variety of styles, Guillaumier replaces square marble with split wood in Bits, while using square marble accents that evoke the traditional Palladian style to offset the polished graniglia field tiles of Pieces.

Tile International 1/2017

What's new?

More on MaterialiCasa.com highlighits!

Raimondi EASY-MOVE ADV & CAM ADV are Raimondi SpA’s latest devices for handling large formats. - EASY-MOVE ADV is a new line of frames for handling large formats. All models feature variable extension and are suitable for handling panels measuring 180 to 320 cm in length. Available with various types of suction cups, includ-

ing “vacuum” cups (ideal for textured surfaces) equipped with a vacuum gauge that gives a precise indication of when the vacuum needs to be restored. - CAM ADV is a new trolley: in conjunction with EASY-MOVE ADV, it constitutes the ideal kit for handling large-format panels.

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Project

P. Barclay and the Oratorio di Santa Caterina in Palermo Six years after his first experience of Palermo - an “oil room*” set up in the hall of Palazzo Costantino - the internationally renowned photographer Per Barclay is back in his much beloved Sicily. Barclay has chosen a highly evocative location for his new installation, namely the Oratorio di Santa Caterina d’Alessandria, in the heart of the old town. Built on the original singlenave layout dating back to the 16th century, the current form of the Oratory is strongly influenced by the modifications that have been made to it since the late 1700s. The most striking features include the plaster and marble stucco-work, attributed to Procopio Serpotta - son of the more famous Giacomo - and the numerous frescoes in the vault, which depict scenes from the Saint’s life. The task of creating Barclay’s installation in the Oratory involved flooding the entire floor with 6,000 litres of milk, pumped out of a tanker by means of a hydraulic pump, to form a highly unusual reflective mirror. By transforming the entire nave into an expanse of translucent white, capable of absorbing and reflecting

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Project

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*OIL ROOM:

In 1989, the Norwegian artist Per Barclay (born in 1955 in Oslo) created his first “oil room”, by flooding a gallery in Breda, Holland, with engine oil before immortalising it in a spectacular series of photographs. That first “oil room” was followed by others, which experimented with the reflections generated by various liquids. Engine oil was the most common of these, but they also included water, wine and occasionally milk. Although Barclay still does not consider himself to be a photographer in the strictest sense, his photographs are carefully calibrated in their composition and focus on detail, and reveal a full understanding of the medium, in which nothing is left to chance, from exposure time to choice of lens.

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Project

light and shade at the same time, the photographer immortalised an estranging vision of the oratory that also reveals the purity of the photographic image, combined with the beauty of the architecture and the overall aesthetic perfection obtained by the artist. On this occasion, the images were produced “white-onwhite”, which is why the photo exhibition curated by Agata Polizzi and held at the Panta-

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leone Gallery of Contemporary Art in Palermo (1 October - 26 November 2016) was entitled Bianco Palermo.

German multinational manufacturer of systems for the installation of ceramic and natural stone, which became the project’s technical sponsor.

Creating the tank How was it possible to create the installation in the first place? Creating the tank containing the milk required close collaboration between the architect Ignazio Mortellaro and Enzo Guarino, the local agent of Schlüter-Systems, a leading

The entire floor of the nave was therefore covered with a fully waterproofed tank to prevent any leakage from damaging the delicate and historic flooring beneath it. The tank was made using the Schlüter®-KERDI membrane a CE and ETAG certified sys-

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tem with a proven worldwide track-record spanning more than 25 years - more commonly used to waterproof the floors and walls of showers and bathrooms before laying ceramic or natural stone tiles: to facilitate removal at the end of the initiative, Schlüter®KERDI was laid on a simple sheet of nylon placed over the floor of the nave and fixed to the edges by means of a wooden structure 10cm high serving as a side wall. The top edges of the sheets of

Project

Schlüter®-KERDI and the sealing strips around the perimeter were fixed with Schlüter®-KERDI-COLL-L, a two-component, waterproofing adhesive. Lastly, to improve the seal of the critical areas near the corners of the tank, the installers also used Schlüter®KERDI-FIX, an elastic adhesive containing an MS polymer that polymerises on contact with liquid and moisture.

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Since the entire waterproofed system is classified as VOC-free, it was possible to lay it in a poorly ventilated, enclosed area without any adverse effect on the works of art. By safeguarding the historic Oratory, Schlüter-Systems enabled the artist to work safely and with complete peace of mind, and put on a memorably evocative event for the city of Palermo. 5

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Project

Museo dell’Opera del Duomo, Florence On 29 October 2015, the new Museo dell’Opera del Duomo in Florence re-opened after undergoing two years of renovation work. Located to the north-east of the piazza that surrounds Santa Maria del Fiore, also known as the Duomo di Firenze, this museum is a must for anyone visiting the Tuscan capital. This unique museum houses the world’s largest collection of mediaeval and Florentine Renaissance sculptures, consisting of over 750 statues and reliefs in marble, bronze and silver, including masterpieces by the greatest artists of the era, such as Michelangelo, Donatello, Arnolfo di Cambio, Lorenzo Ghiberti, Andrea Pisano, Antonio del Pollaiolo, Luca della Robbia, Andrea del Verrocchio and many more. Visitors can also view over 200

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works that have recently been restored and put on public display for the first time, such as La Maddalena by Donatello, the North Door for

the Baptistery by Lorenzo Ghiberti and panels embroidered in gold and silk to a design by Andrea del Pollaiolo. The museum’s new exhibition

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rooms are also finally exhibiting a number of works which have been held in the vaults for many years and never displayed before.

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The challenges facing the contracting authority The renovation of the Museo

dell’Opera del Duomo presented a huge challenge for the contracting authority – Opera di Santa Maria del Fiore – which invested 45 mil-

lion euros in the project. The architectural design was developed around an interplay of minimalist solutions, and thanks to the light, the

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materials used and the choice of neutral colour tones for the walls and floors, it provides a highly effective showcase for the works concerned. The project also involved a major extension of the exhibition space – from 2,500 to almost 6,000 square metres – and the remodelling of all the historic buildings that make up the complex.

A multi-pronged approach Within the complex, the work took a variety of forms, according to the areas concerned. Several areas were repurposed, while the addition of new structures enabled the architects to create new galleries, new levels and a number of rooms below ground level. The museum now boasts 25 rooms arranged over three floors, including the spectacular new Sala dell’Antica Facciata, which houses a lifesized model, made of resin and marble powder, of the historic façade of the Duomo di Firenze designed by Arnolfo di Cambio but never constructed. The designers left a large empty space in the room, while the roofing was completely rebuilt, leaving the metal lattice structure with skylights in it, so as to light the room from above. Two new staircases were added to the existing historic staircase, to improve access and

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facilitate the evacuation of the museum in the event of an emergency. By modifying the existing architectural volumes, the architects also succeeded in creating a large linear gallery.

Quick, precise installation of the stone coverings The modifications to the existing materials were introduced harmoniously. This posed a considerable challenge in

such a historic and delicate setting. The finishings also required precision, technical prowess, speed and compliance with deadlines, without compromising on quality. For the floor coverings, the architects opted for Bedonia natural stone, from quarries in the Emilia Romagna region of Italy. Also known as Carniglia, this is a sandstone with a uniform grey colour, which is suitable for both indoor and outdoor use. For the floor

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coverings (2,000 sq.m), the architects opted for large-format stone tiles (80x120cm, thickness of 2-3cm) with a polished surface. The tiling contractor expressed a preference for Mapei products, and requested on-site support from the company’s technical support team. Mapei’s technicians recommended the use of Ultralite S1 Quick, a lightweight, quick-setting, quick-hydrating, two-component, cementbased adhesive, which offers

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MUSEO DELLâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;OPERA DEL DUOMO, FLORENCE

high coverage and good spreadability, and is ideal for ceramic, porcelain stoneware and natural stone coverings. The coverings were grouted with Keracolor GG, a highperformance, cement-based mortar modified with polymer. The joints were sealed by first inserting a layer of Mapefoam closed-cell polyethylene, and then topping it with Mapesil LM neutral cross-linking silicone sealant. The same type and size of stone was used for the cover-

ings of the staircases, including the monumental staircase. For the installation of these, Mapei Technical Support recommended the use of Keraflex Maxi S1, a highperformance, deformable, cement-based adhesive with zero vertical slip, long open time and low-dust technology, which is recommended for ceramic and porcelain stoneware tiles and ideal for large-format natural stone. Keraflex Maxi S1 adhesive has low emissions of volatile or-

ganic compounds. The end result fully met the expectations of the architects, the contracting authority and the contractor, which succeeded in handing over the completed work on schedule. 5

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Contracting authority: Opera di Santa Maria del Fiore Duration: 2014-2015 Architects: Natalini Architetti, Guicciardini & Magni Architetti Museological Design: Mons. Timothy Verdon Director of Works: Adolfo Natalini Directors of Architectural Works and Outfitting: Piero Guicciardini and Marco Magni Contractor: C.M.B. Soc. Coop. Cooperativa Muratori e Braccianti di Carpi Project Leader: Claudio Cammellini; Site Technical Director: Tommaso Cacciaguerra Installation of coverings: Edilposa Srl Input from Mapei: supply of products for the installation of the stone floor coverings and the coverings on the monumental staircase and two new staircases Mapei Dealer: Ribo Ceramiche Srl Mapei Coordinators: Davide Demicheli, Carlo Alberto Rossi, Massimo Lombardi, Roberto Aiazzi (Mapei SpA)

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Palazzo Rasponi in Ravenna Among the many noble residences built in Ravenna, Palazzo Rasponi dalle Teste stands out for its grand scale and decorative prestige. The building was started in the final decade of the 17th Century by Giovanni Rasponi, and continued over the next two centuries, on the basis of the original layout. With its wealth of classical and late manneristic features, the building’s façade is marked by a grand doorway that spectacularly frames the church-like, doubleheight, three-nave entrance hall, and bears witness to the transition from Baroque to Rococo.

Historical background The imposing building underwent numerous modifications over the 19th and 20th centuries. The most radical change to Palazzo Rasponi, however, derived from the gutting of the area in front of it, which included its gardens, a structure of medieval origin and the remains of a Byzantine church. The complete clearance of the area, to make way for a market square – today’s Piazza Kennedy – changed the appearance of the façade of the building, which consequently underwent a radical change of image. The building had been designed to be viewed from

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Pier Luigi Cervellati, is an Italian architect and town planner, and a professor of Restoration, Recovery and Urban Rehabilitation at the University of Bologna and at the faculty of Architecture of the University of Venice. He has contributed to the development of major recovery projects in the historic centres of Modena and Bologna. Between 1964 and 1980, he was also Commissioner of Public and Private Building and Town Planning for the city of Bologna. His recovery project for the former Oratorio San Filippo Neri in Bologna, which was destroyed by bombing in 1944 and rebuilt between 1998 and 1999, remains one of his best-known works. the front elevation at all times, and always from the bottom upwards, by means of focal points intended to assert the primacy of the mansion and the Rasponi dynasty over every other household in Ravenna, but the modification of the area in front of it removed that play of perspective. Then came the bombing

raids of the Second World War, which damaged the main floor of the building and destroyed the vault and many exterior decorations. Finally, in 1977, the last heir of the Rasponi family sold the mansion to the Municipality of Ravenna, which remodelled it in the 1980s and 1990s, to accommodate the University of Ravenna.

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The restoration Between 2011 and 2014, thanks to the contribution of the Fondazione del Monte di Bologna e Ravenna, the building underwent a major programme of restoration coordinated by Studio Cervellati of Bologna. The aim of the work was to replicate some of the fea-

tures of the original building, while adapting it to current technical and fire-safety requirements, with REI inspection. The structural anti-seismic work was based on the principle of minimum intervention, and involved upgrading the resistance of the existing structures (including the floor slabs, roofing and

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walls) without replacing or radically altering them. The plans included the following main works: • construction of a channel around the foundations to accommodate the technical systems and improve protection against damp; • consolidation and reinforcement of the entrance hall pillars, by laying foundations that did not previously exist; • restoration of the flooring of the entrance hall (involving the survey, numbering and cleaning of the ashlars before dismantling them), maintenance and inspection of the historic, vaulted foundation structures, the construction of iglooshaped structures with a ventilated crawl-space beneath them, a reinforced screed, and the refitting of the stone ashlars in their original position; • consolidation and REI inspection of the wooden floor structures, with the insertion of metal connectors anchored to a reinforced slab; • demolition of a steel-andbrick floor slab and its replacement with a slab of the same type as the original building would probably have had, i.e. with a brick-built vault (with the insertion of metal linkages to absorb the horizontal thrust

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of the vault); • consolidation of the existing brick-built vaults with carbon-fibre; • consolidation of the damaged masonry by injecting lime grout into it to restore its cohesion all the way

through; • construction of new stairs and lifts with a steel structure; • consolidation and restoration of the landing of the main staircase leading to the main floor, by installing

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stainless steel tie-rods; • reconstruction of the roofing of the former stables building, using the ventilated roof system, and the refitting of the existing tiles; • recovery of the original terracotta flooring – where its

Project The following products were used:

mance, and the production of new fixtures in harmony with their existing counterparts; • restoration of the original and 19th Century decorations discovered beneath various layers of plaster, and restoration of the coffering and decorations found in the wooden floor structures. The following specific additional works were carried out on the façade: • restoration and plastering of the exterior; • making safe all precarious parts by means of injection with acrylic resins in emulsion form and hydraulic mortar with added micronized aggregates; • disinfestation and cleaning of all coverings; • filling cracks and damaged or missing areas, using materials of the same colour and particle size; • all coverings were given a final protective treatment.

reconstruction to identical specifications was not possible – and installation of underfloor heating; • recovery of the existing doors and windows, including the installation of glass with higher thermal perfor-

mortar; • removal of stucco work and/or incongruous additions; • the final stage of the work saw the application of a protective product, carefully matched to the substrate in terms of composition and consistency. The following Fassa Bortolo products were used in the course of the restoration: products comprising NHL 3.5 (natural hydraulic lime) from the EX NOVO Historical Restoration line, KF4 fire protection plaster, and Special wall B 550 M from the concrete restoration system line. The Palazzo Rasponi dalle Teste restoration project also took part in the 2015 Fassa Bortolo Domus Award for Restoration and Conservation conceived and organised by

• Bio Rinzaffo 720, EX NOVO line, Historical Restoration • Bio Intonaco 700, EX NOVO line, Historical Restoration • Bio Intonaco Macroporoso 717, EX NOVO line, Historical Restoration • Bio Finitura 750, EX NOVO line, Historical Restoration • Bio Finitura Idrofugata 756, EX NOVO line, Historical Restoration • KF4 fire protection plaster (Italian ministerial decree 16/2/2007) • Special wall B 550 M, for reinforcement and restoration of historic masonry

Fassa in conjunction with the University of Ferrara. In the same edition of the award, the project took part in the new “Fassa Bortolo Special Prize” category for works undertaken using Fassa solutions. 5

In addition, the following work was done on the interior decoration: • removal of inconsistent deposits; at the pre-consolidation stage, all moving parts were made safe using specific adhesives or consolidating products; • consolidation of loose surfaces by injecting acrylic emulsion and hydraulic

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