Tile International 3/2012 by Kairos Media Group (div. ceramics)

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Cersaie 2012

Cersaie - Hall 15 D31

Cersaie - Hall 16 B31

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CERSAIE 2012, Pav. 25, booth A122-B123

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July / September 2012 - N. 3

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.ceramicworldweb.it Codice Fiscale / P. IVA: IT02778050365 - Capitale Sociale: 51.400,00 € R.E.A. 329775 - Iscr. al Registro delle Imprese di Modena Periodico trimestrale registrato presso il Tribunale di Modena al n. 1828 in data 21/02/2007 - Iscrizione ROC n. 9673 Editor and Publishing coordination: Chiara Bruzzichelli

• Contributing editors: - Luca Baraldi - Silvia Bertolani - Christian Brunsmann - Sara Falsetti - Paola Giacomini - Paolo Palmas - Ron Treister • Secretariat: info@tiledizioni.it • Translation: - Geoff Day - John Freeman

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Contents

13 - Editorial Cersaie celebrates 30 years of blazing its own trail

STARLIKE

Defender Antibacterial

by Chiara Bruzzichelli

PHOTOnews 14 - Tagina for Altamarea Beach Village in Cattolica 16 - Gazzotti for i.lab by Richard Meier 18 - Acid-stained flooring for Beauty Pharm 20 - Tilefax In the Spotlight 32 - Saudi Ceramics maintains steady growth 36 - No shutdown for Ceramica Sant’Agostino 40 - Growt for Rondine Group 44 - Home Design, high-end distribution in Israel Economic&Market 48 - The world’s top tile and sanitaryware manufacturers 54 - 2011 USA ceramic tile industry update

by Paola Giacomini by Chiara Bruzzichelli by Chiara Bruzzichellii by Paola Giacomini

by Luca Baraldi by US Commerce Dept

ISSN2039-8301

Cover picture by: ANDRETTO® DESIGN - DI PIÙ srl - www.dipiusrl.com Advertiser’s list: page 107 Subscription order form: www.tiledizioni.it/subscription Translations: Geoff Day / John Freeman

LTi

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Cersaie 2012

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56 - Contract Suppliers

by Chiara Bruzzichelli

Project 80 - Bringing new comforts to an old house 84 - Porto Mirabello and the Gulf of La Spezia 88 - Laticrete soars to new heights with the Al Hamra Tower 92 - Gold LEED rating for GEL in Shanghai

by Christian Brunsmann by Paolo Palmas by Ron Treister by Chiara Bruzzichelli

96 - Art&Culture

Patrizia Garavini: the ceramic artist from the low plains

by Sara Falsetti

Cersaie 104 - Cersaie celebrates 30 years of blazing its own trail 110 - Franco Manfredini, Confindustria Ceramica:

recession is a reality, despite the strength of the cluster

112 - The Gallery

by Chiara Bruzzichelli

134 - Exhibition Calendar

Cersaie 25-29 SePTeMBeR 2012

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A New Kind of Martini at Cersaie! Our Martini offers a new twist in glass mosaic shape, derived from that of a classic martini shaker.

Martini-shaped tiles from the AGATE Collection in “Pisa” with pearl finish.

Visit us at Cersaie 2012 at Hall 16 C 48! You’ll see tile creations with colors, sizes and shapes that will stir your senses.

Editorial

by Chiara Bruzzichelli

Cersaie celebrates 30 years of blazing its own trail to look up. Where has this wind come from? What’s happening? What’s going to happen? It made us realise that it was time to reflect on the present and study the past, in order to imagine the future.” The gusts of wind are as powerful as ever, and the difficult mental exercise of imagining the future is widely practised and as transnational as the recession itself. And Cersaie has been measuring itself against customers and visitors from all around the world for 30 years. “Building, Dwelling, Thinking” was conceived for the purpose of extending the debate beyond the realms of commerce, getting right to the heart of the building world and addressing the topics debated by architects, which ultimately extend to emerging life-styles and the new requirements of dwelling. The knowledge that the Bologna-based trade fair is still the

leading international showcase for the sectors it represents, however, is obviously not enough to calm the nerves of people working in and around the construction industry, so in this respect, what do the latest figures tell us? - In the United States, the National Association of Realtors announced that sales of existing homes rose by 2.3% in July to a total of 4.47 million units, as against a forecast figure of 4.5 million. As for new homes, the Trade Department recently reported a fall of 8.4% in June (sales amounted to 350,000 units on an annualised basis, as against 375,000 units forecast by analysts). In May, however, sales of new homes in the USA reached 382,000, their highest level since April 2010. • According to figures released by Eurostat in July, construction industry production rose in May by 0.1% in the euro zone (16 states) and by 1.6% in the Europe of 27. Eurostat

specifies that, on an annual basis and compared with May 2011, construction industry production fell by 8.4% in the euro zone and by 6.9% across the EU 27. Among member states, the most substantial increases were recorded in the United Kingdom (6.3%), Romania (5%) and Portugal (3.6%), whereas the largest falls were reported in Slovenia (-17.5%), Hungary (-4.1%) and Spain (-3.3%). • In China, according to Reuters, house prices saw a return to growth in June and July (+0.1% in July compared with the previous month). In May, prices rose in 48 of China’s 70 largest cities, and in June rose in 25 of the country’s largest cities. This figure may prompt the Chinese authorities to step up their commitment to stemming the rise in house prices, even though, on an annual basis, house prices are reckoned to be still falling. 5

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While a 30th birthday is an important milestone in the life of a person, it’s even more important in the life of a trade fair. And Cersaie, in this 30th edition, needs to show that it has gained the necessary maturity to tackle the difficulties caused by the recession, which is still weighing on the world economy. While consulting the Cersaie website in connection with the articles about the trade fair published from page 104, I found myself re-reading the introduction to “Building, Dwelling, Thinking” - the title is borrowed from the German philosopher Heidegger - and it seemed to be a perfect description of the process of growth and transformation undergone by the world’s leading ceramic trade fair. Here is an extract from it: “Building, Dwelling, Thinking” came about from sniffing the air, which in 2009 reeked of the odour of recession. A powerful gust of wind blew our hats off and forced us

Tile International 3/2012

PHOTOnews

Tagina for Altamarea Beach Village in Cattolica (ITALY) The Altamarea Beach Village in Cattolica has chosen Woodays by Tagina for the renovation of its swimming pool. The project is particularly interesting because it uses Compact 2cm, a thick-gauge tile that can be installed without the use of adhesives, even for difficult outdoor applications, such as on sand, gravel or grass.

Tile International 3/2012

PHOTOnews

At the Altamarea Beach Village, for example, Tagina was able to tile the flooring around the outdoor swimming pool and in the gymnasium area by laying the two-centimetre thick tiles directly on sand. The border was then tiled with the same material as used for the flooring, in other words Woodays, in the colour Pickled Oak, in sizes 61x61 and 15x92.

PHOTOnews

Tile International 3/2012

PHOTOnews

LTi mu

ia med

Also read on www.CeramicWorldWeb.it

major agreement between Negev Group and Olympia

activity provides us with hope for further expansion of our production volume in additional countries.”

Negev Group, Israel’s largest ceramic

manufacturer,

recently

signed an important, five-year agreement with Olympia, a Cana-

Emac celebrates 25th anniversary Emac, which has specialised in the production of

Paradyz Group appoints Łukasz Kardas as new President of the Board

trims and complements for ceramic floor and wall tiles since 1987, celebrated its 25th anniversary in Valencia (Spain) during the weekend of 25-27 May. The event saw the participation of over 100 guests

dian company which is one of the world’s largest distributors of ce-

On 26 July 2012, Łukasz Kardas was appointed

of various nationalities, who had a chance to find

ramic tiles and sanitaryware. Un-

as President of the Board of Paradyz Group, a

out more about some of the company’s future pro-

der the agreement, Olympia is ex-

leading Polish ceramic tile manufacturer. He

jects and growth strategies, while enjoying the

pected to purchase porcelain

started his career at Paradyz nine years ago,

magnificent climate and natural beauty of Spain.

stoneware products for a value of

when his work involved communication, market-

Nuria and Emi Biox, Emac’s directors, took the op-

some 400 million shekels (about 1

ing and trade marketing projects. Since 2010,

portunity to highlight the strong performance of the

Specifically, the Toronto-based

Kardas has served as Vice-President of the

company, which has shown sound judgement in its

company, with 13 subsidiaries across Canada

Board, responsible for the trade area. Under his

operational decisions and development plans,

and the USA, undertakes to purchase the Novo

leadership, despite the profound crisis in the ce-

based on the excellence of both product quality

series for distribution to stores, contractors and

ramic industry worldwide, Paradyz Group has in-

and customer service, while also investing decisive-

directly to developers in the markets it covers. Avi

creased its sales by about 10%.

ly in research, development and innovation. Over

Motola, CEO of Negev Group, explained: “The

Kardas is a graduate of the Technical University

the past five years, in fact, Emac has grown on all

huge deal we announced today serves as evi-

of Lodz(Organization and Management Facul-

fronts, including facilities (currently over 5000

dence that Negev is a leading company in the

ty) and the Warsaw School of Economics (post-

square metres), human resources (over 50 employ-

tile manufacturing market, not only in Israel but

graduate studies in strategic marketing).

ees), production (a range of over 3000 articles),

also worldwide, in its high quality, unique de-

Under the leadership of Łukasz Kardas, the new

quality of service, number of customers, positioning

signs and technological advancement. [...] I

board of Paradyz Group intends to continue the

on national and international markets, and reve-

believe that this deal has the potential to ex-

strategy adopted and implemented in recent

nues. Emac operates in over 110 countries world-

pand in the coming years and we will work to-

years. The strategy focuses on gaining leader-

wide, and established a subsidiary in Miami (United

wards that. [...] In the past years Negev has exe-

ship in the European tile market and on main-

States) in 2003, through which it serves the entire

cuted an extensive strategic procedure that

taining growth on the domestic market. Other

American continent directly. October 2011 saw the

mainly focused on utilising our knowledge and

important priorities include developing sales in

inauguration of the Company’s Italian HQ in Sassu-

experience for global expansion. We are current-

strategic export markets, investing in new tech-

olo, the heart of the world’s leading ceramic cluster.

million USD).

ly at the end of an investment process of 40 mil-

nologies

lion USD in the establishment of the new plant in

modernising

Yeruham to triple the existing production capac-

production

ity, which will enable us to meet the require-

plants. Under this

ments of large deals such as the one an-

strategy,

nounced today with Olympia. We have invested

company

a great deal in technology in order to meet the

tends to contin-

highest international standards. [...] Olympia as-

sessed our capabilities for a long period of time

combination of

and chose us as its leading vendor. In this way,

top quality and

Canada and North America joined our global

world-class

activity basket, which previously included Russia,

sign within a sin-

Philadelphia, New York, Romania and Africa. This

gle package.

Tile International 3/2012

and

the

offer

ina

de-

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In the spotlight by Paola Giacomini

Saudi Ceramics maintains steady growth

Abdul Karim Al-Nafie



Founded in 1977 to serve the booming Saudi Arabian construction market, Saudi Ceramics Company is the country’s largest ceramic tile and sanitaryware producer. The company is listed on the Saudi Stock Exchange and owns and operates eleven factories for tiles, sanitaryware, electrical water heaters, frit, industrial mineral grinding and plastic parts and fittings, all located in the industrial city of Riyadh, 45 kilometres south of the capital. Saudi Ceramics Company has

a workforce of 3,400 employees and in 2011 reported a turnover of 245 million euro, 15% up on the previous year. It has launched an intense programme of investments for the period 2012-2014. In the tile sector, Saudi Ceramics is also increasing its production capacity from the current 150,000 square metres per day to 190,000 square metres per day in 2013.The company also has a plant producing decorated tiles, which will undergo a substantial increase in capacity this year. Managing director Abdul Karim Al-Nafie described to us a company that is undergoing further development in the booming Saudi market. Tile International: What factors have enabled you to achieve your current position? Abdul Karim Al-Nafie: “Saudi Ceramics has succeeded in leveraging its resources of good local raw materials, reasonable

energy costs, and experienced work force to invest in the latest technologies and produce high quality products at competitive prices. One of the milestones in the company’s expansion was its diversification into the water heater manufacturing business in 1998, a sector in which it is now a global supplier with two modern plants with an annual capacity of 1.5 million porcelain coated boilers. Switching supply to natural gas in 2003 was another milestone. Entering the fields of clay pipes and red bricks are also two major developments in the company’s efforts to diversify its operations, while maintaining its focus on the building materials sector”. Tile International: Could you describe your latest investments? A. Al-Nafie: “In 2011, Saudi Ceramics achieved a record performance in output, revenues, and profits. In the tile sector, fol-

Saudi plant

Tile International 3/2012

lowing current expansion in production capacity we expect to exceed an output of 50 million square metres in 2012. We anticipate reaching 90 million square metres per year in the next five years. Saudi Ceramics has been a pioneer in introducing new technologies in the region, including laser guided vehicles, automatic surface inspection systems, digital printing and, in the sanitaryware sector, robot spraying and high pressure casting machines. To maintain our competitive edge, we believe in being at the forefront of modern technologies. We have spent millions of euros on modernising our plants with the aim of improving quality and quantity and achieving the best returns for our shareholders”. Tile International: What is your evaluation of new digital decoration technology? A. Al-Nafie: “We currently own

In the spotlight

17 digital printing machines and plan to gradually increase this number to cover all our 43 production lines. Digital printing has allowed us to produce unique modern designs with added value”. Tile International:What is your approach to environmental protection? A. Al-Nafie: “Environment protection is a major concern, both for our country and our company. We can’t afford not to invest in protecting the environment, it’s the only option. All our plants have built-in mechanisms to control dust, recycle materials and keep the environment healthy and clean. All our products are environment friendly”. Tile International: What is your approach to marketing? A. Al-Nafie: “We sell through many channels, from direct sales for projects to distribution through the wholesale trade. We also own 30 showrooms throughout the country. Just 14% of our

Saudi ceramic tile collection

Tile International 3/2012

In the spotlight

tile production is exported, mainly to the Middle East and North Africa. Our target is to expand our retail operations to cover every town and village in Saudi Arabia, while also expanding our product range to cover other complementary products”. Tile International: How do you see today’s economic environment in Saudi Arabia and in the Middle East in general? A. Al-Nafie: “The economic situation in Saudi Arabia and the Gulf region is excellent. We are lucky to enjoy growth and pros-

perity. Building construction in Saudi Arabia is booming. There is real demand driven by demographics, government spending, and funds surplus. The rest of the region has great potential but is influenced by various political factors. We hope that sooner or later they will also have the chance to rebuild and develop”. Tile International: How is the local ceramic industry organised and how do you deal with internal and foreign competition, especially from Asia? A. Al-Nafie: “Along with Saudi

Ceramics, there are another two sanitaryware producers and five tile producers with a total production capacity of around 50 million sq.m/year. Other new companies are on the way. Competition in itself is healthy, provided it is fair and that standards and specifications are respected. Today competition is strong, both from local and regional producers and from cheap imports, mainly from China, which remain very high. It is a question of increasing demand versus limited local supply. It also indicates that the

Saudi sanitaryware collection

Tile International 3/2012

market is price sensitive, and this is one of the reasons why Saudi Ceramics is continuing to expand to fill the gap and provide customers with better local alternatives”. Tile International: How do you see Saudi Ceramics in 5 years from now? A. Al-Nafie: “We will continue to do what we have been doing in the past, and hopefully better. I see continued growth. We have grown six fold in the last nine years, and we can build on that to learn from our experience for a better future”. 5

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In the spotlight by Chiara Bruzzichelli

No shutdown for Ceramica Sant’Agostino ny’s presentation at Cersaie 2012 of the new product lines designed by Philippe Starck, the internationally renowned star of architecture, with whom Ceramiche Sant’Agostino has embarked upon a promising partnership.

Filippo Manuzzi



In early August, barely two months after the earthquakes that struck the Emilia region of Italy, we met Filippo Manuzzi, brand manager of Ceramica Sant’Agostino. One of the eight ceramic manufacturers affected by the earthquake, Ceramica Sant’Agostino was undoubtedly the worst-hit. The company suffered serious material damage, but that was as nothing compared with the loss of life of two of its employees- Leonardo Ansaloni and Nicola Cavicchi- who were killed when the factory building they were working in collapsed during the nightshift. The company has shown absolute commitment to rising up from the rubble, and on 23 July, just two months after the quake, it restarted the kiln for doublefired tiles, which is now running continuous shifts to achieve daily production of 3500 sq.m of tile, equating to approximately 100,000 sq.m per month. The recovery is in full swing, and this is borne out by the compa-

Tile International 3/2012

Tile International: What happened in the first two months after the earthquake? Filippo Manuzzi: “We kept relations with the market going: 10 days after the quake, we had already started making deliveries again. Now we are also reorganising our automation, and we resumed production of doublefired tile on 23 July.” Tile International: What direct damage did the earthquake cause?

F. Manuzzi: “Three of the four kilns for the production of porcelain tile collapsed: fortunately, these were the least strategic lines. To give you an idea of the force of the tremors, the lines in question actually shifted from their original location by a distance of 70 to 80 cm. The largeformat porcelain tile line remained partially intact, and the double-fired tile line was left unscathed, because although it was located in the oldest hangar, the structure in question is made of steel and was therefore flexible enough to absorb the stresses of the quake. All the same, the direct damage sustained by the company has been valued at a minimum of 50 million euros.” Tile International: How did you

organise yourselves? F. Manuzzi: “The output of Sant’Agostino’s factories is now 25% of total capacity, but since we are the majority shareholders in Coem and Fioranese, we have moved our digital printing machines into their buildings, and transferred 30 production staff to their works. On 23 July, when the kiln for double-fired tiles returned to continuous operation- generating output of 3500 sq.m of tile per day, for a total of 100,000 sq.m per month- production for that specific type returned to 100%. Tile International: And what about your warehouse? F. Manuzzi: “Two thirds of the vertical warehousing system was destroyed and 650,000 sq.m of material were affected by the

In the spotlight

collapse. The operations involved in recovering the material were also highly complex, because with the vertical warehousing system out of service, everything had to be done by hand, so we re-assigned about 30 people to logistics duties. Tile International: What are your employment levels at the moment? F. Manuzzi: “Of our 350 employees, 200 are now back at work, plus the 20 who have been temporarily transferred to Coem and Fioranese, while 130 have been temporarily laid off because the presses and glazing departments are still out of operation. But before we can go ahead and demolish the four hangars irreparably damaged by the earthquake, we have to make them safe and empty them… In the first four days after receiving authorisation to access the buildings again, we recovered 170,000 sq.m of material… And we’re very lucky to have so much space at our disposal around the factory, because storing all this material outdoors is no easy task! This represents an incredible work rate, which we have achieved with the extraordinary help of everyone, but the costs are enormous, so we need to know, as a matter of the utmost urgency, how much state aid is going to be made available. However much or little such contributions might be, we need definite figures to work

with… And I can’t over-emphasise the speed with which state aid needs to be quantified and assigned.” Tile International: Is bureaucracy still a big problem? F. Manuzzi: “Very big. The further you get from the site, the more uncertain the situation becomes: the mayor of Sant’Agostino is an exceptional person, but he has no spending power; the provincial council has no decision-making powers; the regional council is an effective institution, but Errani, who was appointed Extraordinary Commissioner, has limited spending powers; the Civil Protection organisation has no experience of dealing with the needs of businesses, and the Decree Law passed by the government has many questionable sections, with particular reference to the legislation governing reconstruction…” Tile International: What are your forecasts for the short-tomedium term? F. Manuzzi: “We expect to be able to restart all our production of porcelain tile between November and December, and theoretically we’ll be able to produce the same volumes that we were producing before the earthquake, but we’ll be operating with a completely reorganised company and a simplified product range. Many of these changes were in the pipeline already, before the earthquake struck: the market has changed

Ceramica Sant’Agostino @ Home & Spa Design, I Saloni (MIlano Design Week 2012)

Tile International 3/2012

In the spotlight

and requires more streamlined production- quality still has to be of the highest standard, because that’s what the markets expect from Italian manufacturing- but product ranges need to be less fragmented and the variety of trim pieces needs to be reduced.” Tile International: How did your customers react to your difficulties? F. Manuzzi: “I have to say that the reaction of our customers both in Italy and abroad was amazing. In the immediate aftermath of the earthquake, our export customers actually increased their orders by opting for full pallets. And even some Italian customers placed orders per pallet, instead of tailoring their orders to the exact quantities requested by their custom-

ers. Now that we are able to start shipping orders on a “quantitysold” basis again, however, we are seeing a worrying drop in demand from Italy, as a result of recession on the domestic market.” Tile International: What percentage of your production do you export? F. Manuzzi: “In 2011, with output of three million square metres of tile, our sales were still equally divided between the domestic market and export markets, but now in 2012, the domestic market already accounts for only 40% of sales, with exports filling the remaining 60%; and this trend is set to increase.” Tile International: What can you tell us about your partnership with Philippe Starck? F. Manuzzi: “I met Philippe Starck

for the first time in his Paris studio on 4 March 2011, after trying to get an appointment with him for two years. By then, Starck was already shifting the focus of his attention from the design of objects, towards a vision more specifically dedicated to architecture. As part of this vision, he was taking an increasing interest in ceramic coverings in particular, which, in his opinion, offer new levels of ductility, thanks to the ongoing research into the material undertaken by ceramic manufacturers. To cut a long story short, having taken a close look at five ceramic tile manufacturers, Starck decided to enter into a partnership with Ceramica Sant’Agostino. Tile International: When did he inform you of his decision? F. Manuzzi: “Just a few days after

our meeting in Paris, and at the time, the agreement envisaged presenting his first collection at the 2013 Saloni. In the wake of the earthquake, however, we looked at the possibility of bringing forward the presentation of his first collection to Cersaie 2012, and thanks to his cooperative attitude, we received the first drawings in July. So at Cersaie, we are dedicating 200 sq.m of our stand (out of a total of 750) to the presentation of Flexible Architecture. But that won’t be the only new development: we will also be presenting the Wild and Aspen series- two collections previewed at Coverings in Orlandoa new collection of double-fired tiles, and two ‘research prototypes’ for new series of porcelain tile.” 5

PHILIPPE STARCK BIOGRAPHY BY JONATHAN WINGFIELD “Subversive, ethical, ecological, political, humorous... this is how I see my duty as a designer.” Philippe Starck The thousands of projects - complete or forthcoming - his global fame and tireless protean inventiveness should never distract from Philippe Starck’s fundamental vision: Creation, whatever form it takes, must improve the lives of as many people as possible. Starck vehemently believes this poetic and political duty, rebellious and benevolent, pragmatic and subversive, should be shared by everyone and he sums it up with the humour that has set him apart from the very beginning: “No one has to be a genius, but everyone has to participate.” His precocious awareness of ecological implications, his enthusiasm for imagining new lifestyles, his determination to change the world, his love of ideas, his concern with defending the intelligence of usefulness – and the usefulness of intelligence – has taken him from iconic creation to iconic creation... Philippe Starck From the everyday products, furniture and lemon squeezers, to revolutionary mega yachts, hotels that stimulate the senses, phantasmagorical venues and individual wind turbines, he never stops pushing the limits and criteria of contemporary design. His dreams are solutions, solutions so vital that he was the first French man to be invited to the TED conferences (Technology, Entertainment & Design) alongside renowned participants including Bill Clinton and Richard Branson. Inventor, creator, architect, designer, artistic director, Philippe Starck is certainly all of the above, but more than anything else he is an honest man directly descended from the Renaissance artists.

Tile International 3/2012

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Goal: big dimensions

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In the spotlight by Chiara Bruzzichelli

Growth for Rondine Group ciated with the Saint Gobain Group, a world-leading ceramic distributor. We took the opportunity to ask Rondine’s chairman, Lauro Giacobazzi, to talk us through the Group’s latest marketing plans and product innovations.

Lauro Giacobazzi

Luca Bevini



Just before the summer break, we paid a visit to Rondine Group’s headquarters in Rubiera to meet the Group’s chairman, Lauro Giacobazzi, and its new export director, Luca Bevini. They had two main pieces of news to report: firstly the Group has acquired 100% of the capital of Spray Dry, a supplier of raw materials for the ceramic industry, in which Rondine Group had already held a majority stake since 2005; and secondly, Rondine Group made its first appearance as an approved partner at the 10th edition of the Marseille exhibition, dedicated exclusively to companies asso-

Tile International 3/2012

Tile International: What prompted you to complete your acquisition of Spray Dry on 12 July? Lauro Giacobazzi: “We decided to purchase the remaining 49% of Spray Dry, owned by the Baroni family, for various reasons. One of these is that the move represents a vertical integration, which is strategic to our business, and relates to the production of ceramic tiles. What’s more, Spray Dry, has been producing spray dried bodies for porcelain tile 20 years now and has deep roots in this area. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Finesind, another company owned by the Baroni family, for the work it has done in recent years and the professionalism it has always shown. The 100% takeover of Spray Dry fits perfectly into the expansion plans that we embarked upon some years ago, and which led to the signing of a five-year rental contract, in 2010, for Ceramiche Sadon, a leading Italian manufacturer of skirting boards and outdoor tile formats.” Tile International: What are your current sales and marketing strategies?

Rondine Group headquarter

Spray Dry headquarter L. Giacobazzi: “We’ve invested heavily in our underpinnings. As far as product innovation is concerned, the fact that sales of new series and formats produced in the past nine months account for 30% of our turnover so far this year, speaks volumes. In fact, we have added 12 new collections, and these major efforts on the product front mean that within two years we will

have completely renewed our catalogues. What’s more, these sales volumes absorb our full production capacity, and we closed the first half of this year with an increase in turnover, in line with our goal of increasing our export sales.” Tile International: Have you seen any variation in your ratio of domestic-to-export sales? Luca Bevini: “The work we’ve

In the spotlight

Monolith, black version

done to reinforce our sales network on international markets, by appointing local resources, with a view to improving our brand visibility, has borne fruit: the ratio of domestic-to-export sales was 48% to 52% in 2011, but export sales already accounted for 60% of total sales by the end of the first half of 2012. Exports to Russia and Eastern Europe as a whole have been particularly gratifying, with the Baltic States topping the league table. Germany and the United States have also reported strong performance. The goal established in our three-year plan is to ramp up exports to 75% of total turnover, with domestic sales accounting for the remaining 25%. At present, we’re on target to achieve this.”

Pietra Luserna

Tile International: What about turnover? Lauro Giacobazzi: “The results so far are very promising: we closed the first half of the year with a 14.73% increase in turnover on export markets, compared with the same period last year. That really is a good result, especially when compared with the average performance of the industry as a whole… To achieve this, we’ve made major investments in technology (over 1 million euros) and product research, which has led to the introduction of two new formats: a 34x68 tile, produced as an alternative to the 30x60 format, which has been particularly successful in Germany (where it meets the latest standards governing weight in relation to installation specifications), and an all-new 15x100 format that we’ll be presenting at Cersaie as part of a show installation entitled La Foresta di Gres.” Tile International: And how about your affiliation with Saint Gobain Group? Luca Bevini: “At the beginning of the year we reached an agreement with Saint Gobain, a world leader in ceramic distribution, under which we were appointed as an approved partner. The appointment enabled us to take part for the first time in the Marseille exhibition, which was held at the end of June and is dedicated exclusively to Saint Gobain Group’s strategic partners.

Tile International 3/2012

In the spotlight

in distribution for the construction industry. This was an important international meeting, which served to strengthen the long-term commercial understanding between the Saint Gobain Group and its strategic partners. Tile International: And what about Cersaie? L. Bevini: “At Cersaie we’ll be in Hall 16 again as usual, but this year we’ve managed to bring the Rondine SpA and Sadon

stands together, to create a completely updated 400 sq.m stand. On the Sadon stand, we’ve even set aside a special area for displaying our 15x21 collections and the new, pressed 15x100 format. This area, entitled La Foresta di Gres, provides a complete overview of our stylistic interpretations of wood flooring. The instal-

lation was specifically designed to highlight how our pressed porcelain tiles are capable of providing the perfect combination between floor coverings and skirting boards, in a package that represents excellent value for money.” 5

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approach

NEW

There we presented previews of the new products that we’re now showing at Cersaie: these include four collections in the new, pressed 15x100 format, made with digital technology, three new collections in size 34x68, and the Betonage series, which replicates formed concrete and comes in three colours and four sizes. The event also gave us the opportunity to meet the various Saint Gobain teams that operate worldwide

to learning

Industry online training

www.iiea-school.it

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In the spotlight by Paola Giacomini

Home Design, high-end distribution in Israel

Avi Motola



Now owned by the AFI Group investment fund, Negev was established as a ceramic tile manufacturer in 1969. Over the years it has expanded its activities into the fields of import and distribution of floor and wall tiles, bathroom furnishings and finishing products for home design and is now Israel’s largest retailer in the sector. The company has a factory in Yeruham along with 20 stores, including 13 in Israel and 7 in other countries around the world. Alongside its own products it also markets some of the leading international brands, including tiles from Atlas Concorde, Fap, Caesar, Marazzi, Ragno, Cerim, Floor Gres, Versace, Kale and Villeroy & Boch, taps from Grohe, Zucchetti, Art Design and Webert, sanitaryware from Keramag, Simas, Viega and Kale and adhesives from Mapei. The company has achieved strong growth over the last 5 years. Its turnover has more than doubled since 2008, reaching 139 million euro in 2011. It is ex-

Tile International 3/2012

pected to report 40% growth in 2012 to reach around 200 million euro, well above the expectations at the beginning of the year. Over the last two years, the group has adopted a number of new growth strategies that will culminate with the start-up of the new plant in 2014. We spoke to Avi Motola, managing director of Negev since 2007 and CEO of Africa Israel Industries, a subsidiary of AFI Group. Tile International: How are your distribution activities organised? Avi Motola: We operate in the Israeli market through three retail chains which are highly differentiated in terms of product type and target market. The high-end Home Design chain is today the country’s top retailer in terms of turnover volume. In 2011 we embarked on an expansion policy that involved the acquisition of two brands that were already operating in the market: Via Arkadia in the premium segment, which has been operating as an importer since 1994, and Super Ceramic in the lowend range. The same year we also acquired Orgal, the exclusive importer of Grohe and Elgal. We have a total of 20 stores, including some abroad in the USA, Canada, Romania and Russia. We plan to open a further 20 showrooms in 2013. The Home Design and Via Arkadia stores stock our own Novo brand products as well as some

of the most prestigious international brands. Tile International: What are the main innovations you have introduced in your stores this year? A. Motola: The need to set ourselves apart from the many competitors in the home design sector, especially in the ceramic tile segment, prompted us to carry through a number of initiatives with the aim of creating innovation, adding value and strengthening the brand’s posi-

tion. We have launched a new retail concept in the Home Design flagship store in Bnei Brak, dividing the space into four different design areas: Classic, Vintage, Fashion and Urban. Each of these features different shades, textures, materials and complementary products. In the centre of the store a “green wall” was built to emphasise how important the brand considers the issue of protecting the environment. Another important new devel-

In the spotlight

and the AFI Palace Mall in Romania. We also signed an agreement recently with one of Canadaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s largest distributors, Olympia, to supply around 8 million sq.m of Novo brand tiles with a total value of around 80 million euro over a five year period. Tile International: What are the most important new developments regarding production? A. Motola: 2010 and 2011 were opment was the introduction of the 3D Negev Vision simulation system at all our stores. Whereas customers previously had to rely on their imaginations in the planning process, this new service features a computerised simulation system that enables them to view the final result created by the chosen floor and wall tiles, bathroom furnishings and accessories and to make any necessary changes. For the Via Arkadia brand, we are about to open the new

2,120 square metre concept store in Bnei Brak with architecture inspired by the Venetian Arsenal, the venue of the Venice Biennale. The new store will offer all-round design solutions, specialist consulting and an exclusive product range tailored to the needs of architects and designers, including Casa Mood, Bisazza Bagno, Momo Design, Catalano, Keramag and collections created by well-known designers such as Marsel Wanders, Jaime Hayon, Antonio Cittero

and Karim Rashid. Tile International: How are your sales divided up amongst your various distribution channels? A. Motola: We generate 51% in the retail segment, 38.5% in the contract segment and 9% through distributors. Exports still account for just 1.6% of our turnover, although we can already boast important credits including construction of the Moscow Mall, one of the largest retail projects in Russia,

Tile International 3/2012

In the spotlight

the years of the transition to digital tile printing and decoration processes. We have made large investments to equip the Yeruham facility with the necessary machinery and technology. This made it possible to expand the production range with the introduction of materials that are impossible to produce with conventional systems (stone, marble, concrete and wood), while at the same time launching the new Novo Imagine brand devoted to custom production of ceramic and porcelain tiles. Novo Imagine delivers

Tile International 3/2012

increased decorative flexibility thanks to a wide colour range and the possibility of digitally printing individual pieces and checking them prior to firing. Tile International: You mentioned your awareness of green issues. What are the important aspects of your environmental commitment? A. Motola: In recent years we have invested more than 8 million euro in technological upgrading with the aim of making our factory a fully green facility, from raw materials preparation through to the production pro-

cess, logistics, marketing and sales. We recycle around 96% of raw materials, production waste and all packaging materials, while our water recovery system has enabled us to make water savings of 50%. We do not use toxic or polluting raw materials or substances. We meet very strict standards and all Novo brand tiles display the green label certifying approval by the Standard Institute of Israel. We have also joined the Israel Green Building Council as a â&#x20AC;&#x153;platinumâ&#x20AC;? founding member. Tile International: What are

your forthcoming development programmes? A. Motola: We have just signed an agreement to supply a new production plant, which will raise tile production from the current 2 million sq.m per year to 6 million sq.m/year. The new factory will be built in 2013 and production will begin in 2014. The overall investment will involve around 30 million euro. The new factory will likewise be built according to criteria of maximum energy efficiency and reduction in consumption during every stage of the process. It will be able to recycle 100% of the raw materials used and will be equipped with a plant for recovering heat from the kilns and dryers. By tripling our production capacity we will be able to cut our production costs by 40%. 5

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Economy & markets by Luca Baraldi

The world’s top tile and sanitaryware manufacturers



On the following pages we are publishing the results of our 2011 annual survey of the world’s top tile and sanitaryware manufacturing groups ranked by output volumes. The tables are simple to interpret and require no in-depth commen-

tary. We will simply point out the most significant new aspects compared to the same rankings drawn up for 2010. In the tile sector, the most interesting changes are in the upper levels of the rankings, with the Thailand-based Siam Cement Group

gaining the top spot after overtaking RAK, and the Mexican firm Lamosa rising from fourth to third position. The Turkish group Sogutsen has entered the top 25 rankings for the first time, while the merger discussions (announced in December

the

2011) between the two Brazilian giants Eliane and Portobello – which would have created a group with an output of 60 million sq.m/year – came to nothing. After 4 months of negotia-

best

companies

of 2011 tions, the two companies decided not to proceed with the operation. The rankings of top ceramic sanitaryware producer groups are similar to those of previous years and have always been dominated by large multinational groups. In general, the quantities produced remained stable or fell slightly with respect to the 2010 volumes, with the sole exceptions of Roca, which rose to 35 million pieces, and Toto (up

Tile International 3/2012

Economy & markets

from 11 to 12 million pieces). As in the past, the survey does not consider the Chinese ceramic tile and sanitaryware producers given the difficulties in obtaining reliable production figures, although there are several Chinese tile producers with capacities in excess of 30 million sq.m/year.

The turnovers of the largest groups The following few points will help

readers interpret the table of turnover figures of the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s largest ceramic production groups. For groups operating in a number of different areas of the ceramic industry (indicated in the column of the main sectors of activity), the turnover data refer to the group turnover and include revenues generated not just from the production and sale of tiles but also from activities in other segments such as sanitaryware, tableware, bathroom furnishing

and raw materials, or through direct distribution. We have therefore differentiated the groups graphically according to their core activities: in light blue groups whose turnovers are generated prevalently or solely from sanitaryware (Roca, Sanitec, Duravit), in green those with turnovers derived mainly or solely from activities in the tile segment. For example the leading group in this segment, Marazzi Group, generates 92% of its turnover in the

tile segment. The table therefore does not allow a direct comparison to be made between companies with a number of different business activities and those that operate solely in the tile sector, or between output volumes and values. What it does do is provide a comprehensive overview of the various players in the world arena. 5 follows Âť Âť

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Economy & markets The top ceramic tile MANUFACTURERS in volume IN 2011 Groups

Production (mill. sq.m)

Production Capacity

% Exports

Number of factories

Locations

Siam Cement Group www.scg.co.th

127

150

17 Thailand, 4 Indonesia, 1 Philippines

RAK Ceramics www.rakceramics.com

117

119

10 UAE, 1 Bangladesh, 1 Sudan, 1 China, 1 India, 1 Iran

Lamosa Grupo www.lamosa.com

104

120

Mexico

Ceramica Cleopatra Group www.cleopatraceramics.com

96*

103*

43*

Egypt

Marazzi Group www.marazzigroup.com

Italy, France, Spain, Russia, USA

Cersanit www.cersanit.com

68*

40*

1 Poland, 1 Russia, 1 Lithuania

H&R Johnson India www.hrjohnsonindia.com

India

Majopar www.majopar.com.br

2.5

Brazil

Prime Group www.ceramictiles.com.vn

58.4

Vietnam

Incefra www.incefra.com.br

Brazil

Dynasty Ceramics www.dynastyceramic.com

57.4

Thailand

Kale Group www.kale.com.tr

56.5

22 Turkey, 1 Italy

Mulia www.muliaceramics.com

55 (estimates)

76 (estimates)

n.a.

Indonesia

Saudi Ceramics www.saudiceramics.com

45.5

Saudi Arabia

Lasselsberger www.lasselsberger.com

47.5

n.a.

5 Czech Rep., 1 Slovakia, 2 Hungary, 3 Romania, 1 Russia

Vitromex www.vitromex.com

44.8*

55.6*

Mexico

Roca Grupo www.rocatile.com

40*

50*

n.a.

2 Spain, 3 Brazil

Gruppo Concorde www.gruppoconcorde.it

38*

n.a.

10 Italy, 1 France, 1 Russia

Arwana Citramulia www.arwanacitra.com

Indonesia

Interceramic www.interceramic.com

37.4

3 Mexico, 1 Usa

Ceramic Industries www.ceramic.co.za

36.5

4 South Africa, 1 Australia

Eliane www.eliane.com

36.4

Brazil

Sogutsen www.sogutsenseramik.com.tr

Turkey

Corona www.corona.com.co

34.5

40,2

Colombia

Vitra Group www.vitra.com.tr

33.3

50.4

2 Turkey, 3 Germany, 1 France, 1 Russia

* 2010 Data Copyright: Tile Edizioni

Tile International 3/2012

Economy & markets The top SANITARYWARE MANUFACTURERS in volume IN 2011 Groups

Production

(mill. pieces)

Production

Locations & Brands

Capacity

Roca Group www.roca.com

n.a.

Roca (Spain), Roca Brasil, Roca Sanitaryware (China), Roca Bathroom Products (India), Roca Santekhnika (Russian Fed.), Roca Portugal, Roca Polska, Roca Maroc, Roca Argentina, Roca Bulgaria, Roca Malaysia, Roca Obiecte Sanitare (Romania), Laufen Austria, Laufen CZ (Czech Republic), Keramik Laufen (Switzerland), Inker (Croatia), Santek Keramika (Russian Fed.), Gravena (Egypt, 50% joint venture), Ugrakeram (Russian Fed.), Aquaton (Russia)

Kohler Group www.kohler.com

21*

n.a.

Kohler Wisconsin Pottery, Kohler Brownwood, Kohler Spartanburg, Kohler Sanimex (Mexico), Kohler Brive (France), Kohler Zaragoza (Spain), Kohler Tanger (Morocco), Kohler Dole (UK), Foshan Kohler (China), Kohler Zibo (China), Kohler Thailand, Kohler India

Sanitec Corporation www.sanitec.com

12.2

Allia, Selles (France), Ido (Finland), Ifö (Sweden), Keramag (Germany), Kolo (Poland), Porsgrund (Norway), Pozzi-Ginori (Italy), Sphinx (the Netherlands), Twyford (UK), + Bath & Showers brands

Toto www.toto.co.jp

TOTO (Japan), Beijing TOTO (China), TOTO Vietnam, TOTO East China (China), TOTO U.S.A, Taiwan TOTO (China), TOTO Mexico, TOTO Beijing (China), TOTO Manufacturing Thailand

Ideal Standard International www.idealstandardinternational.com

10*

13*

EMEA - EUROPE, MIDDLE EAST & AFRICA: Employees: approx.12,000 • Facilities: 30 facilities in 11 countries CENTRAL & SOUTH AMERICA - INCESA: Employees: approx.1,300 • Facilities: 3 in Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Guatemala

Duratex www.deca.com.br

Deca: 6 plants in Brazil, Duratex: 4 in Brazil

Corona www.corona.com.co

8.4

9.7

Corona, Mancesa, Mansfield

Inax (Lixil Corporation) http://global.inax.lixil.co.jp

10.02

Villeroy&Boch www.villeroy-boch.com

15 plants in Europe, Mexico, Thailand

Cersanit www.cersanit.pl

1 plant in Poland, 1 in Romania, 1 in Ukraine

Eczacibasi VitrA www.vitra.com.tr

4.5

1 plant in Bozüyük (Turkey)

Lecico www.lecicoegypt.com

4.3

6.7

3 in Egypt with Lecico brand, 1 in Lebanon with Lecico brand, 1 in France with Sarreguemines Sanitaires brand

Rak Ceramics www.rakceramics.com

4.3

4.5

3 plants in UAE, 1 in Bangladesh, 1 in India

Cisa www.cisaholding.com

3.9

4.5

Briggs (USA), Fanaloza (Chile), Edesa (Ecuador)

Duravit www.duravit.com

3.3

Duravit Egypt (Egypt), Duravit Yapi Ürünleri San. VeTic. (Turkey), Duravit (France) Duravit Sanitaryware (China), Duravit Sanitärporzellan Meissen (Germany), Duravit Tunisia (Tunisia), Duravit India (India)

Lamosa Grupo www.lamosa.com

3.1

3.6

2 plants in Mexico

Saudi Ceramics www.saudiceramics.com

2.5

1 plant in Saudi Arabia

2.4

n.a.

The Civita Castellana district represents half of the total Italian sanitaryware production and generated a turnover in 2011 of 200 mill. €

1.2

1.5

Eldorado Sanitary, Ceramica Cleopatra Sanitary 10th of Ramadam

Civita Castellana District (Italy)

18 19

Ceramica Cleopatra Group www.cleopatraceramics.com

Inax Vietnam Co. LTD (Vietnam), Suzhou Inax Building Material (China) , American Standard Vietnam (Vietnam), A-S (Tianjin) Pottery (China), A-S (Shanghai) Pottery (China), PT American Standard Indonesia (Indonesia), American Standard B&K (Thailand)

* Estimates Copyright: Tile Edizioni

Tile International 3/2012

Economy & markets The top ceramic tile & SANITARYWARE GROUPSâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; TURNOVER 2011

Turnover generated with both Ceramic Tiles & Sanitaryware

Turnover generated mainly with Ceramic Tiles

Turnover generated mainly with Sanitaryware

Groups

Ceramic sector turnover (mill. Euro)

Employees

Main sectors of activity

Roca Grupo Spain

1,551

21,100

Sanitaryware , Ceramic tiles, Distribution

Corona Colombia

1,267

10,000

Sanitaryware, Ceramic tiles, Tableware

Vitra Group Turkey

845.1

6,250

Ceramic tiles, Sanitaryware, Bathroom furniture, Faucets

Marazzi Group Italy

832.5

6,000

Ceramic tiles, Sanitaryware, Distribution

Sanitec Finland

771

7,200

Sanitaryware

Siam Cement Group Thailand

601

7,327

Ceramic tiles, Sanitaryware

RAK Ceramics UAE

590

8,500

Ceramic tiles, Sanitaryware, Tableware

Concorde Group Italy

551* (only Italian groupâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s companies)

2,300

Ceramic tiles, Raw materials, Body compound, Special pieces

Lamosa Grupo Mexico

548

5,110

Ceramic tiles, Sanitaryware

Fiandre - Iris Group Italy

500 (not Group turnover)

1,825

Ceramic tiles

Ceramica Cleopatra Group Egypt

486*

15,000

Ceramic tiles, Sanitaryware

Villeroy&Boch Germany

462

8,000

Sanitaryware, Bathroom & Wellness division

Porcelanosa Spain

450 (estimates)

4,000

Ceramic tiles, Sanitaryware, Raw materials, Distribution, Bathroom furniture

Duravit Germany

352

n.a.

Interceramic Mexico

328

4,000

Ceramic tiles, Sanitaryware

Cersanit Poland

326*

5,980

Ceramic tiles, Sanitaryware

Kale Group Turkey

307

3,265

Ceramic tiles

Florim Group Italy

304.6

1,313

Ceramic tiles

Panaria Group Italy

294.1

1,741

Ceramic tiles

Casalgrande Padana Italy

292.3

1,095

Ceramic tiles

Eliane Brazil

281

2,730

Ceramic tiles

Coop Imola Italy

266.4

1,821

Ceramic tiles

H&R Johnson India India

262

1,600

Ceramic tiles, Sanitaryware

Lasselsberger Austria

250

3,000

Ceramic tiles

Saudi Ceramics Saudi Arabia

245

3,400

Ceramic tiles, Sanitaryware, Frits

* 2010 Data Copyright: Tile Edizioni

Tile International 3/2012

Sanitaryware

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Economy & markets by Source: U.S. Commerce Dept.

2011 Usa ceramic tile industry update U.S. tile consumption for 2011 was 2.04 billion sq. ft. (+1.8% vs. 2010).

ď &#x2018;

Imports: In 2011, 1.41 billion sq. ft. (131.0 million sq. m) of ceramic tile arrived in the U.S. This was an increase of 1.1% from 2010, in which 1.39 billion sq. ft. (129.6 million sq. m) of ceramic tile were imported into the U.S., and a 5.8% increase from 2009. Although imports still comprise the majority of U.S. consumption, import penetration has fallen in each of the last five years and in 2011 was at 69.2%, the lowest it has been since 1998. Mexico remained the top exporter to the U.S. in 2011 (in sq. ft.) with a 29.9% share. China held the second position, making up 27.8% of imports (in sq. ft.). Italy was in third place with a 17.1% share. On a dollar basis, Italy continued to hold the top exporter position in 2011, making up 34.3% of U.S. imports. The next two highest shares belonged to China and Mexico, which had 22.6% and 18.0% of the $ value of U.S. imports, respectively. The $ value/sq. ft. of all tile imports rose from $0.91 in 2010 to $0.94 in 2011.

U.S. Shipments: Domestic shipments were at 672.6 million sq. ft. in 2011, up 3.6% from 2010.

Tile International 3/2012

The top five countries from which tiles were imported in 2011 based on total U.S. $ value (including duty, freight, and insurance) were

Exports: U.S. exports in 2011 were at 45.3 million sq. ft., up 7.7% vs. 2010. The vast majority of these exports (in sq. ft.) were to Canada (47.2%), China (19.0%), and Mexico (10.4%). 5

COUNTRY

Tab. source: U.S Commerce Dept.

$ VAL 2011

$ VAL 2010

2011/2010 % Change

2010/2009 % Change

Italy

455,055,219

454,447,747

0.1%

5.8%

China

299,519,656

258,682,812

15.8%

19.6%

Mexico

238,182,912

213,044,823

11.8%

3.9%

Spain

106,538,076

98,410,437

8.3%

-5.3%

Brazil

56,364,685

61,410,415

-8.2%

-13.9%

U.S. tile shipments, imports, exports, and total consumption in thousands of sq. ft. Year

U.S. Shipments

Imports

Exports

Total Consumption

% Change in Consumption from Previous Year

2011

672,587

1,410,194

45,278

2,037,502

1.8

2010

649,057

1,394,779

42,044

2,001,792

7.7

2009

571,255

1,333,252

45,555

1,858,952

-18.1

2008

634,374

1,685,532

50,512

2,269,394

-15.2

2007

544,988

2,178,258

47,478

2,675,768

-19.3

The top ten countries from which tiles were imported (based on sq. ft.) and their percentage of U.S. imports for 2011 were Country

M2 2011

Sq Ft 2011

% of 2011 Imports to the U.S.*

% of 2010 Imports to the U.S.

% of 2009 Imports to the U.S.

Mexico

39,185,333

421,787,414

29.9%

27.8%

28.1%

China

36,417,871

391,998,701

27.8%

24.6%

21.9%

Italy

22,340,364

240,469,677

17.1%

17.9%

17.6%

Brazil

8,105,518

87,247,070

6.2%

6.4%

8.1%

Spain

6,860,854

73,849,618

5.2%

5.1%

5.7%

Peru

3,805,906

40,966,431

2.9%

2.6%

2.0%

Colombia

3,597,975

38,728,281

2.7%

4.3%

4.2%

Turkey

2,902,315

31,240,259

2.2%

1.8%

Thailand

2,227,904

23,980,959

1.7%

4.2%

5.9%

Hong Kong

1,364,820

14,690,800

1.0%

0.6%

0.2%

*Note: The imports from these ten countries represent 96.8% of tile imports to the U.S. 54

Economics&Markets

The top ten countries from which tiles were imported in 2011 based on total U.S. value (including duty, freight, and insurance) were Total Val 2011 (in $)

Country

Total Val 2010 (in $)

Total Val 2009 (in $)

2011/2010 % Change

2010/2009 % Change

Italy

455,055,219

454,447,747

429,686,411

0.1%

5.8%

China

299,519,656

258,682,812

216,275,919

15.8%

19.6%

Mexico

238,182,912

213,044,823

205,035,537

11.8%

3.9%

Spain

106,538,076

98,410,437

103,952,505

8.3%

-5.3%

Brazil

56,364,685

61,410,415

71,287,697

-8.2%

-13.9%

Turkey

28,117,008

28,455,294

21,171,080

-1.2%

34.4%

Colombia

24,139,468

31,675,094

32,313,630

-23.8%

-2.0%

Argentina

20,426,628

19,277,284

19,785,609

6.0%

-2.6%

Peru

19,258,732

17,250,574

11,973,467

11.6%

44.1%

Thailand

14,810,017

32,423,498

42,499,065

-54.3%

-23.7%

The average values of tile from the top ten countries (based on sq. ft.) from which tiles were imported in 2011 were Country

Tot Val 2011 (in $)

Sq Ft 2011

Value per Sq Ft 2011

Value per Sq Ft 2010

Value per Sq Ft 2009

Mexico

421,787,414

238,182,912

$0.56

$0.55

China

391,998,701

299,519,656

$0.76

$0.75

$0.74

Italy

240,469,677

455,055,219

$1.89

$1.82

$1.83

Brazil

87,247,070

56,364,685

$0.65

$0.69

$0.66

Spain

73,849,618

106,538,076

$1.44

$1.39

$1.36

Peru

40,966,431

19,258,732

$0.47

$0.45

Colombia

38,728,281

24,139,468

$0.62

$0.53

$0.57

Turkey

31,240,259

28,117,008

$0.90

$0.92

$0.87

Thailand

23,980,959

14,810,017

$0.62

$0.56

$0.54

Hong Kong

14,690,800

14,656,604

$1.00

$1.08

$0.86

1,410,194,123

1,325,207,665

$0.94

$0.91

$0.90

All Countries

The top ten countries from which tiles were imported in 2011 based on sq. ft. were Country

M2 2011

Sq Ft 2011

M2 2010

Sq Ft 2010

2011/2010 % Change

2010/2009 % Change

Mexico

39,185,333

421,787,414

36,016,492

387,678,293

8.8%

3.6%

China

36,417,871

391,998,701

31,874,246

343,091,529

14.3%

17.4%

Italy

22,340,364

240,469,677

23,234,363

250,092,602

-3.8%

6.5%

Brazil

8,105,518

87,247,070

8,319,526

89,550,633

-2.6%

-16.7%

Spain

6,860,854

73,849,618

6,568,423

70,701,917

4.5%

-7.7%

Peru

3,805,906

40,966,431

3,422,378

36,838,170

11.2%

37.7%

Colombia

3,597,975

38,728,281

5,564,735

59,898,309

-35.3%

5.8%

Turkey

2,902,315

31,240,259

2,858,944

30,773,417

1.5%

25.9%

Thailand

2,227,904

23,980,959

5,386,406

57,978,792

-58.6%

-26.0%

Hong Kong

1,364,820

14,690,800

815,910

8,782,382

67.3%

194.6%

Tile International 3/2012

Contract Suppliers by Chiara Bruzzichelli

Contract Suppliers



When people talk about the “contract sector”, they’re generally referring to the sector that supplies goods and services for major hospitality projects, such as hotels, residential developments, museums, theatres, cruise ships, railway stations, airports, etc.. Within the contract sector, however, there are two distinct types of player: - General Contractors, who offer

a complete, turnkey service, and take care of every aspect of a project’s realisation, from organisation to production and logistics; - and Contract Suppliers, whose role in the realisation of contract projects is confined to the supply of one or more types of product, including custom products. This latter category includes an increasing number of companies specialising in the supply of floor and wall coverings and in-

terior furnishings. Operating in the contract sector is extremely demanding, however, because it requires dedicated units, not just in the General Contracting segment but in the Contract Supply segment too. Working in the contract sector, in fact, means specialising in large-scale teamwork, setting up dedicated departments capable of monitoring the opportunities that come up all over the world, and employing highly

skilled project managers to keep a firm grip on the oversight of complex operations. This undoubtedly means fostering relations with investors and specifiers, but also requires an ability to coordinate the work of your own company with the requirements of a string of other companies, all called upon to interact for the sole purpose of bringing the project to a successful conclusion.

Events for the Contract sector in 2012 05.06.2012 10.09.2012 14.09.2012 20.09.2012 27.09.2012 11.11.2012 24.11.2012

Project Lebanon - Biel expocentre - Beirut - Lebanon EQUIPOTEL - Anehmbi Exhibition Hall - Sao Paulo - Brazil Arc Middle East - Abu Dhabi - Qatar IIDEX/NEOCON Canada - Direct Energy Centre - Toronto - Canada Arc interiors - San Diego, CA - USA Equip Hotel - Paris Expo - Paris - France SIA GUEST - Rimini Fiera - Rimini- Italy

Tile International 3/2012

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MEXICO: ACCOR INVESTS IN HOTELS Tuesday 24 April 2012

NEW TOWN UNDER CONSTRUCTION IN WEST BANK Thursday 5 April 2012 Work has started on the first phase of the Rawabi project, which will see the construction of a new town 9 km from Ramallah, promoted by the Palestinian government in conjunction with the Qatari Diar Real Estate Investment Company. The town will be built according to the most advanced

DUBAI INVESTS IN CULTURE Wednesday 28 March 2012 The government of Dubai has announced the construction of a museum of modern art and an opera house, with a view to increasing the influx of cultural tourism. The new district will be located in the Downtown area, built by Emaar, and will include a number of galleries, art hotels and design studios, as well as the new museum and theatre. Emaar Boulevard, where the Dubai Modern Art Museum and the Opera House District will be built, overlooks the famous fountains at the foot of the Burj Khalifa, the world’s highest building. According to Emaar, the construction work is due to start in the near future. (ICE Dubai) ABU DHABI INVITES TENDERS FOR NEW LOUVRE Wednesday 28 March 2012 After a series of postponements, the government of Abu Dhabi is now seeking contractors for the construction of a branch of the Louvre Museum in Abu Dhabi. The government-owned Tourism Development & Investment

Company (TDIC), published a call for tenders in the local press for the main construction works for this new branch of the renowned Parisian museum. The Louvre marks the first in a series of high-profile projects, including a branch of the Guggenheim, to be built on Saadiyat Island at a cost of 27 billion USD. The fate of the project was called into question when TDIC rejected a construction contract in October 2011. TDIC has since announced that the Abu Dhabi Louvre will open in 2015, and the Abu Dhabi branch of the New York Guggenheim will open in 2017. It also announced that the Zayed National Museum will open in 2016. All three museums were originally due to open between 2013 and 2014. Abu Dhabi, the capital of the UAE, plans to invest billions of dollars in tourism, infrastructure and industry, with a view to diversifying its currently oil-based economy. (ICE Dubai) HUNGARY: NEW NATURAL SCIENCES RESEARCH CENTRE Monday 26 March 2012

to completion due to financial problems. The Academy of Sciences has been granted national funding for the modification of the original architectural project, and intends to build a modern research centre. The building will achieve high levels of energy-efficiency through the use of solar panels and special thermal insulation. By operating in conjunction with the ELTE University and the BME Polytechnic, the Academy of Science will make the new Natural Sciences Centre a focal point of both research and teaching. The complex will include chemical and biological research laboratories, a lecture theatre, offices and a restaurant. Work on the centre is due for completion in 2013. Going by the name MTA-Q2, the investment forms part of a state project aimed at renewing the infrastructures at the disposal of the Academy of Sciences. (ICE BUDAPEST) KUALA LUMPUR: PRIVATE HOSPITAL SECTOR ATTRACTS INVESTMENTS Thursday 22 March 2012

Seventeen new private hospitals are due to come on-stream in Malaysia by the end of 2015, The Hungarian Academy of Science thanks to a total investment of (MTA) has given the go-ahead for more than one billion euros, the construction of a new Natural expected to create 4500 beds. Sciences Research Centre, which Three other private hospitals are will accommodate six distinct planning to expand, to generate a institutes in Budapest. The total further 770 beds. cost of the project amounts to 9.5 There is a growing market for billion florins (approximately 32.7 healthcare services for foreign million euros). patients. About 1900 of the new For the purposes of the project, beds will be earmarked for this the Academy of Science has purpose. purchased a building under (ICE KUALA LUMPUR) construction from the Polytechnic of Budapest (BME). Construction of the facility, located in Buda, was started under a private/public partnership, but never brought

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Accor is betting heavily on Mexico. The European hotel group has announced the opening of 13 new hotels in the country by the end of 2015, to add to its 10 IBIS hotels and two Novotels already operating there. The Group’s expansion plan envisages the imminent opening of one hotel in San Luis de Potosi and a further two in the Alameda and Tlalneplanta districts of Mexico City, all under the IBIS brand. According to Jean Philippe Clare, the Group’s top manager in Mexico, the opening of a 140-room hotel requires an investment of about six million dollars. Accor sees Mexico as one of the world’s largest markets, with accommodation capacity of half a million hotel rooms, thus exceeding Brazil, and a differentiated offering of hotels in urban centres and coastal resorts. (ICE [the Italian foreign trade institute] MEXICO CITY)

architectural and environmental criteria, and the spirit of the slogan “Live, Work, Grow”. The project envisages the construction of 5000 dwellings designed to accommodate a total of 40,000 people. The project is expected to cost around 800 billion USD and take five years to complete, thus opening up attractive opportunities for companies interested in supplying works, goods and services. (ICE AMMAM)

the international contract sector

The latest news from

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The latest news of operating in Belarus, and has earned the confidence of investors with its competitiveness, flexibility and good references (construction of the Peter I Hotel in Moscow and the Minsk sub-station). Riko is inviting partners from Slovenia, Belarus and other countries to take part in the project, with reference to both the construction process and the supply of materials. (ICE LJUBLJANA)

has a total of 5100 sq.m of space for hosting events. With 1608 rooms, furthermore, the hotel will offer more accommodation than any other in MEXICO: Dubai, and is just 26 metres lower ACCOR INVESTS IN HOTELS than the Empire State Building in Friday 9 March 2012 New York City. “There is enormous potential for Accor is investing in the growing meeting the growing demands of Mexican market. customers, and we believe that the The hotel group has announced hotel will fill a gap in the market an investment of 80 million that’s been overlooked for a long dollars for the opening of 13 new time. hotels in Mexico over the next It will be capable of four years. RESIDENTIAL BUILDING accommodating groups, meetings Accor Mexico has already PROGRAMME FOR ARA GROUP and conventions of up to 1000 opened six hotels in the past IN MEXICO people all in the same place, under two years, and now intends to Thursday 23 February 2012 a single roof,” explained Rupprecht expand its operations through Queitsch, the hotel’s Managing local partners. The ARA group is investing in Director. The European group already residential construction in Mexico. Until now, there was nowhere of controls 12 hotels in Mexico: The group, which specialises in real this size in Dubai to accommodate 10 under the Ibis brand and estate development, will launch this type of clientele. two under the Novotel brand. 21 new projects in 2012 for the The hotel will have nine The planned expansion in Latin construction of 38,000 dwellings. restaurants, five events halls and America will involve a total The projects will absorb a total a 1500 sq.m spa for the use of investment of about one billion investment of 4 billion pesos and guests. dollars for the opening of 101 will be implemented in various Bearing the Marquis name reserved hotels. states of the Mexican federation. for the highest level of the Marriott (ICE MEXICO CITY) At present, the ARA group is chain’s international portfolio, the involved in the realisation of 53 new hotel will be the first to be projects in Cuernavaca, Veracruz opened under this brand outside of SLOVENIAN COMPANY RIKO and the metropolitan area of the North America. D.O.O. INVESTS IN MINSK capital. (ICE Dubai) Friday 24 February 2012 The economic and demographic growth of this north-American The Slovenian company Riko MEXICO: TOURIST INDUSTRY country is prompting the largest d.o.o. (www.riko.si) is set to build operators in the real estate sector ATTRACTS INVESTMENTS a multi-purpose complex in Monday 13 February 2012 to make major investments in Minsk, the capital of Belarus, at a residential and social construction. total cost of 100 million euros. Mexico is becoming a superpower (ICE MEXICO CITY) The complex will consist of the in the world of tourism. Between Kempinski five-star hotel (22,765 2007 and 2011, the private sector sq.m) valued at 57 million euros, WORLD’S TALLEST HOTEL DUE TO invested 17.3 billion dollars in the 81 private apartments (14,431 tourist industry. OPEN IN DUBAI sq.m), a series of commercial Tuesday 14 February 2012 Despite uncertainties in the world units (14,926 sq.m), car parking economy, several hotel chains facilities and additional areas The world’s tallest hotel will open in are preparing to make major (23,411 sq.m). Dubai in the last quarter of 2012, investments in this large northThe hotel is due for completion according to the hotel chain JW American country over the next by the end of 2013, and the Marriott. three years. commercial and residential units At a height of over 355 metres, the AM Resorts, Intercontinental Hotels by the end of 2014. JW Marriott Marquis Dubai is the Group (IHG), Grupo Posadas, Riko has a decade of experience world’s tallest dedicated hotel, and City Express, Iberostar Group and

Tile International 3/2012

La Quinta Inn & Suites have all announced investment plans for the next three years. AM Resorts will invest 400 million dollars in the opening of three hotels in Puerto Vallarta and Cancun; IHG, which owns the Holiday Inn and Intercontinental brands, will invest 500 million dollars in the opening of 47 new hotels throughout Mexico; and the Posadas group is preparing to invest 500 million dollars in 50 projects under the Fiesta Americana, Fiesta Inn, One, Aqua, Caesar Park and Caesar Business brands. City Hotels plans to open 15 new hotels in 2012 in various Mexican states. The Iberostar Group resumed the construction of the first of four hotels planned for Litibu in the state of Nayarit. La Quinta Inn & Suites announced the opening of the first part of the La Quinta resort in Cancun, focusing on health tourism and the business segment. Lastly, Jose Cuervo, the Tequila company, is investing 10 million dollars in construction in the city of Tequila, in the state of Jalisco. (ICE MEXICO CITY) DUBAI: 13,349 NEW HOTEL ROOMS Monday 13 February 2012 Dubai has a total of over 13,300 hotel rooms under construction. According to the latest data from STR Global, the Emirate of Dubai has a total of 13,349 rooms under construction, while Abu Dhabi, the world’s second largest market for hotel construction, has 5298 rooms. The December issue of the Construction Pipeline Report

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www.rako.eu

AM Resorts is betting on growth in the tourist industry in Mexico and Central America. Alejandro Zozaya Gorostiza, President of the hotel company, has announced a large-scale investment programme. AM Resorts, which already has 26 hotels, is set to invest 400 million dollars in the construction of two new luxury hotels in Puerto Vallarta and a third in Cancun, on the Mayan Riviera. The Mexican entrepreneur also announced the opening of two hotels in Costa Rica and the Dominican Republic. In 2011, negative perceptions of safety levels in Mexico adversely affected the influx of tourists from the United States, especially on the Pacific coast. (ICE MEXICO CITY)

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revealed that Riyadh in Saudi Arabia, with 2687; Cairo, in Egypt, with 1977; and Amman, in Jordan, with 1507, are the other main markets, with over 1500 rooms under construction in the Middle East and Africa region. Total construction growth in the region included 496 hotels with a total of 133,438 rooms, according to last month’s bulletin from STR Global. Dubai’s hotels managed to keep their earnings up in 2011, despite a sharp increase in the number of rooms available, reported Ernst & Young. According to a report on the hotel industry in the Middle East and North Africa, the Emirate has proved that it has a “magnetic attraction as a tourist destination”. (ICE Dubai)

Zur richtigen Zeit am richtigen Ort: Fliesen mit Stil und technischem Know-how!

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NEW INVESTMENTS FOR AM RESORTS Tuesday 7 February 2012

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Gazzotti To renovate the flooring of the Grand Hotel Villa Medici in Florence (Italy), Tori Stefano e Bernardo & Associati, a firm of architects, decided to use the Chimera line by Idee & Parquet, with the Castello di Valenzano design, in natural oak. Idee & Parquet is an internationally renowned brand of premium wood flooring owned by the Gazzotti Group, which offers a complete custom design service. As well as a string of luxury hotels, Idee & Parquet’s customers include the headquarters of Gucci, Pitti and Prada.

Tile International 3/2012

For the renovation of the flooring of the Grand Hotel Villa Medici, Idee & Parquet’s specialists decided to subject the wood to targeted sanding, and then use a wax finish, which is significantly easier to maintain, so is ideal for areas subject to high levels of pedestrian traffic such as the lobby and reception rooms of the Grand Hotel. The flooring was finished and treated before laying: this minimised the installation time (taking just four days to lay 250 sq.m), while the decision to opt for floating installation on a

closed-cell membrane ensured that the existing flooring in green marble remains undamaged. The Grand Hotel Villa Medici, located in the heart of Florence a stone’s throw from the historic centre, the River Arno and the smartest shops, occupies a magnificent 18th Century villa that blends seamlessly into the urban fabric of the Santa Maria Novella district, near the ancient Prato gate. Converted into a luxury fivestar hotel, it retains the elegance and tradition of its era, combined with modern technology and efficiency.

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Project name: Copperhill Mountain Lodge Year and place of construction: 2008, Åre, Sweden Architectural design: Peter Bohlin, Bohlin Cywinski Jackson Construction: Markus Ochs - Silgmann Floor and wall coverings: 30x30, 30x60 Absolute Stone, green; Absolute Stone Palladiana (fragments available in 12.5 kg bags), green

GARDENIA ORCHIDEA GROUP

designed Bill Gates’s private villa and the Apple Stores in London, Paris, San Francisco, New York and Tokyo, has created a lodge in a modern alpine style. Copperhill Mountain Lodge is a five-star hotel consisting of 112 rooms, two restaurants, two bars, a conference hall for 450 people and a spa centre that draws inspiration from the traditional treatments used by the Sámi For a relaxing holiday in the snow, you can go up people. The contemporary design of the hotel to the top of Mount Förberget, 730 metres above blends into the natural setting, thanks to the use sea level and a short hop from Åre, Sweden’s of materials such as natural stone and wood, best-known ski resort. Here, Peter Bohlin, an and extensive glazed areas that offer a 360° American architect of Swedish extraction, who view of the Jämtland mountains.

The structure also owes its relaxing, sophisticated atmosphere to the materials produced by Gardenia Orchidea Group, with particular reference to the Absolute Stone collection, in sizes 30x30 and 30x60, and the Absolute Stone Palladiana collection, in shades of green, which adorn the swimming pools, relaxation area, wellness area, bathrooms, showers, massage area, sauna and changing rooms. The materials and colours used generate a sense of continuity between the interior and the exterior, in true Bohlin style.

Tile International 3/2012

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RONDINE GROUP Beneath the streets of Singapore, thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a new underground railway network, which was designed in such a way as to meet two contrasting needs, namely to blend the access points to the network discreetly into the greenery of the surrounding landscape, while at the same time

making them clearly visible to users of the underground railway service. For the construction of the Bras Basah Stadium Station, which originated as a pilot project for a model station of the future at the request of the Singapore government, WOHA Architects availed themselves of the services of Rondine

Project name: Singapore Underground Railway Year and place of construction: 2008, Singapore Designer: WOHA Architects Floor and wall coverings: Dualtech series (16,297 sq.m)

Tile International 3/2012

Group, and chose Dual1, a technical product from the Dualtech collection, in black, in size 30.5x60.5. The collection belongs to Rondineâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s range of unglazed tiles (UGL), which are uniform throughout their thickness, with no differences or divisions between surface and body.

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LISTONE GIORDANO CONTRACT The Listone Giordano CONTRACT Division was formed in 2008 to provide its partners in the retail, commercial and hospitality sectors with an efficient, turnkey service encompassing technical consulting, design, support, supply and installation of wood coverings. Listone Giordano’s international CONTRACT division focuses on a wide range of business areas, including residential construction, the hotel and catering sector, boutiques and showrooms, museums and public premises, and marine applications. Within these fields, the division is called upon to combine its capacity for innovation and production flexibility with the search for aesthetic perfection and the constant monitoring of quality levels for which the Listone Giordano brand stands out. On the strength of its credentials as a qualified supplier for the luxury construction sector, Listone Giordano offers its specific know-how 1

Benz Museum in Stuttgart, Listone Giordano to the most prestigious firms of architects, and created an impressive “stage” effect on has already achieved major results in Germany. which to exhibit the German manufacturer’s In the powerhouse of the European economy, most prestigious models. Listone Giordano After long negotiations with the Mercedes highlights the success of its promoters with design team, the designers opted to some of the best designers and specifiers, who create the flooring with a Listone Giordano use Germany as a base for their worldwide classic, known as Plank, which combines design and construction work. high technology with the beauty of wood, The three projects outlined below represent key enhanced by a series of refined finishing references for the Listone Giordano CONTRACT systems. Division in Germany: - Marc Cain (photo 3): from Germany to - Nespresso (photo 1): for the exclusive, worldAsia, Listone Giordano CONTRACT recently famous brand of coffee, Listone Giordano produced the flooring for the imposing produced the flooring for the company’s shops headquarters of the Marc Cain brand in in Berlin, Düsseldorf, Hamburg, Frankfurt, Düsseldorf and for its fashion boutique in Munich, Hanover, Cologne, Stuttgart and Hong Kong. For this trend-setting temple of Nuremberg. fashion, the designers opted for the famous To develop the interior concept, the designers Medoc1 flooring product designed by of Cronauer + Romani Innenarchitekten chose Michele de Lucchi, which has won a string Plank Cabreuva Km 31 Natif, made with a of awards, including an ADI Compasso South American species of wood characterised d’Oro Mention of Honour and the “Award of by its soft, warm colouration and velvety feel. Awards”. - Mercedes Benz (photo 2): for the Mercedes

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Project name: Grand Hotel Liberty Year and place of construction: 2011, Riva del Garda (Trento) Designer: Luigi Zanoni Floor and wall coverings: Pavè Evolution by Sichenia Nestling on the shore of one of Europe’s most beautiful lakes, in the heart of Riva del Garda (Italy), the Grand Hotel Liberty is a complex of three buildings, first built in the early 1900s by the Zontini family, and converted into a hotel in the late 1960s. The latest round of remodelling work has

Tile International 3/2012

SICHENIA CERAMIC GROUP initiatives by identifying “naturally inviting access” to the various environments as the further upgraded the Grand Hotel by adding leitmotif of the project, and interconnecting new doubles, singles, suites, rooms equipped the various parts of the relaxation area. specifically for guests with disabilities, and The sense of “naturally inviting access” is a wellness and relaxation area, which is the enhanced by the harmony and fluidity of icing on the cake of the recent building work. the colours of the coverings, which include Luigi Zanoni, of Riva del Garda, has adhered tiles from the Pavè Evolution collection by to the spirit of previous architectural Sichenia. Pavè Evolution is a collection of porcelain tiles, which puts an innovative slant on the traditional concept of ceramic and its characteristic strength, by optimising the aesthetic and chromatic appeal of the surfaces.

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IDEAL WORK

Project name: House Bar and Restaurant Year and place of construction: 2011, Limassol, Cyprus Designer: Sidetoside Floor and wall coverings: Microtopping by Ideal Work, colour Grey

To a design by Sidetoside, the owners of the House Bar and Restaurant decided to create the flooring using Ideal Workâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Microtopping System, The House Bar and Restaurant is a brand-new made of strong, durable, low-maintenance venue in Limassol (Cyprus), located close to concrete, which can be laid in minimal the heart of Cypriot night-life, and characterised thicknesses. by an architectural essence that appeals Microtopping Ideal Work is a two-component particularly to people who love juxtapositions cement- and polymer-based covering, which of ancient and modern. Occupying part of a offers a thin, totally continuous surface without judiciously restored historic building that adheres necessarily requiring demolition of the existing to the typical architectural dictates of the island covering. The absence of joints and the low of Cyprus, the House Bar and Restaurant stands thickness (2 to 4 mm) make it possible to reout for its painstakingly designed interiors and design volumes, lines and spaces with the highly distinctive furnishings, which make it utmost creativity, and create an appealingly unlike any other venue in Limassol. velvety effect. Since Microtopping can also be

used on walls, the designer of the House Bar and Restaurant decided to eliminate the boundaries between horizontal and vertical surfaces, give a sense of continuity to the interior and bring the different areas into communication with each other. The floor and wall coverings of the House Bar and Restaurant were created using Microtopping in grey, for a total area of 195 sq.m, divided between 100 sq.m of flooring and 95 sq.m of wall coverings. The work was completed in just four days, thus speeding up the venueâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s overall remodelling time by a considerable amount. The project was completed in December 2011.

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FRIUL MOSAIC For over 30 years, Friul Mosaic has been conceiving, designing and producing mosaics, thereby projecting an ancient, indestructible art into the modern age. With the Classic collection, Friul Mosaic revives the discerning culture of classic mosaic. Ideal for interiors and exteriors alike, this collection adds value to any environment: Friul Mosaic products are an ideal solution for decorating and embellishing relaxation and transit areas,

Tile International 3/2012

which would otherwise remain undervalued. The classic connotations and elegant juxtaposition of small mosaic pieces give the environments they adorn a refined, distinctive and extremely attractive appearance. The magical atmosphere that only mosaic can generate, finds its ideal expression in hotels, spa complexes and private houses, because each room is enhanced with precious mosaic, made with love and care

by expert hands. Friul Mosaic has used its magnificent Classic mosaics in major contract projects such as: - Grand Hotel Des Iles Borromees, Stresa (Italy) - Grand Hotel Majestic, Verbania (Italy) - Grand Hotel Duchi dâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Aosta, Trieste (Italy) The Classic collection is divided into Ornaments, Borders and Surfaces.

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TAGINA

Project name: Spa, Hotel Incontro Year and place of construction: 2011 Ariano Irpino (Avellino) Designer: Simone Micheli Laboratory Engineering and Construction: Mioblu Special Wellness Floor and wall coverings: Wire System by Tagina, Sunlight version.

which were developed by Tagina in partnership with Micheli himself, with a view to creating environments with a high degree of multisensory input. Specifically, the designer opted for the Sunlight The Hotel Incontro in Avellino (Italy) has decided version of the Wire System collection, which stands out for its ability to bring new functional to offer its customers a new opportunity for rest and recuperation by building a modern wellness and symbolic features to architecture, while providing an increasingly discerning worldwide centre characterised by surreal shapes and brilliant colours. The task of designing the interior market with effective solutions in terms of both aesthetics and performance. The Hammered was given to the architect Simone Micheli, who opted for coverings by Tagina Ceramiche d’Arte, format was chosen because it gently massages

the bare foot as it comes into contact with the floor, while also offering high visual impact when used as a wall covering. The wellness centre has two entrances, which lead the visitor into a reception area characterised by soft, innovative lines. The centre also includes a relaxation room, a VIP Room, five treatment rooms, a nail-café for manicures, and a “Pediwellness-spa”. Throughout the centre, touch and vision come together in the form of Tagina Ceramiche d’Arte coverings.

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INCONTROARDITO

Project name: Le Camp Spa&Resort Year and place of construction: 2011, Padua Architectural design: Domenico De Palo The historic centre of Padua, Italy, plays host to an outstandingly elegant structure designed by Domenico De Palo and built with premium materials manufactured by Ceramica Incontro. Le Camp Spa&Resort extends over two

Tile International 3/2012

levels: the spa is characterised by plays of light, shade, warmth and curious chromatic effects on the “bubble” wall. The Resort, meanwhile, is a paragon of elegance and refinement. For the construction of the spa, the designer chose to incorporate “Bolla” (meaning bubble), a project developed in 2007 by Domenico De

Palo for Incontroardito – a brand owned by the historic Ceramica Incontro.“Bolla” is a wall that looks as though it has come out of a dream, in which matter fuses with light. The effect generated by the fusion of stone and glass explores fresh, new synergies between different materials.

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The access route to the building, which consists of shops on the ground floor and Villa Nesi, an old residential building recently homes and office suites on the upper floors, starts with a strip of bright red paving that extended and remodelled by Archisbang, runs between the lawns of the garden, an emerging Turin-based collective, stands before suddenly rising vertically into a within the complex architectural context of three-dimensional ribbon of colour, which the historic city of Ivrea, in the province of accommodates the staircase and expands to Turin, where the relationship between past envelop the top floor of the building. and present remains an open debate. The ironic, provocative solutions adopted by The work is completed by a large eyelike feature serving as a viewing point and the group of designers, using materials by emphasising the contrast between the Marazzi Tecnica, run strictly counter to the typically Piedmontese restraint of the existing current conformism of local building.

Project name: Villa Nesi Year and place of construction: 2011, Ivrea (Turin, Italy) Architectural design: ARCHISBANG LAB and Ing. Roberto Floor and wall coverings: SistemA series by Marazzi Tecnica

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marazzi

building and the imaginative language of the new addition. While ostensibly intrusive, in reality the project is discreetly moderated in its proportions, in the pattern of its cladding and in the cut of its apertures. The buildingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s high-tech ventilated outer skin, made with SistemA crystallised porcelain tile by Marazzi Tecnica, in red elements measuring 60x120 cm, also makes the project stand out from a textural point of view, thanks to the Lux finish, which makes its surface especially bright and attractive.

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COOPERATIVA CERAMICHE D’IMOLA Andel’s Hotel, in Germany, is situated just outside Berlin, 15 km from the central railway station. The area now marked by the new designer hotel, was previously occupied by a colossal, decommissioned commercial complex. Designed with elegance and wellbeing in mind, the hotel encompasses 3800 sq.m of floor space for public events: the 1500 sq.m “Ballsaal” is complemented by a further 15 halls, all characterised by a simple structure that lends itself to personalisation by exhibitors. For the

coverings of the spacious white hall, the designers opted for the Time collection by Imola Ceramica, in the form of 60x120 cm sheets of through-body porcelain tile. The ground-floor lobby is designed in such a way as to offer guests a sequence of surprises as they pass through it. Intriguingly contoured and perforated walls delimit more compact micro-areas; the bright colours of the seating and social areas contrast with the predominant white, and as you reach the reception area, your gaze is drawn by the exterior view revealed through the high glazed area. The scene is sealed by a

Project name: Andel’s Hotel Year and place of construction: 2009, Berlin, Germany Architectural design: Seeger Muller Architekten, Berlin Designer: Jestico Whiles, London Floor and wall coverings: Time by ImolaCeramica, for 2000 sq.m; lobby and first-floor staircase

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strong sense of volume generated by the scaly effect of the coverings, which replicate organic shapes that break up the rationality of the structure. Overall, the environment is reminiscent of the surface of a high-tech pool of water. Located in the Europa Park, adjacent to the velodrome, the swimming pool and the indoor sports stadium, Andel’s Hotel is an interesting structure, whose accommodation space lends itself perfectly to the major corporate events held in the area by the pharmaceutical, automotive, fashion and design industries.

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GRANITIFIANDRE The Manhattan-Nord fitness centre in the Heiligenstadt district of Vienna, Austria, has been offering wellness services to suit all tastes for over 20 years. In 2010, the centre added a new department built with extensive use of tiles produced by GranitiFiandre using the Active Clean Air & Antibacterial Ceramic™ method. This exclusive production technique involves the high-temperature application of micrometric particles of titanium dioxide (TiO2), and uses photocatalysts activated by natural or artificial light to produce “eco-active” ceramic floor and wall tiles with genuine anti-pollution and antibacterial properties. The effectiveness of Active has been certified

by the Tile Council of North America (TCNA) and the Bologna Ceramic Centre, which proved that 1000 square metres of Active material reduces the quantity of airborne nitrous oxides (NOx) as much as 20 mature trees. Furthermore, the Centre Scientifique et Technique du Bâtiment (CSTB) awarded Active Clean Air & Antibacterial Ceramic™ its Pass’Innovation, which represents authoritative testimony of its innovative value. With her design for the Manhattan-Nord fitness centre, the Viennese interior designer Alice Koller set out to create a wellness “wonderland”, using products which are both intelligent and environmentally sound: Active Clean Air & Antibacterial Ceramic™

Project name: Manhattan-Nord Fitness Centre Year and place of construction: 2010 Vienna, Austria Architectural design: Alice Koller – Wonderland Design Construction: Markus Ochs - Silgmann Floor and wall coverings: Marfil Select Extreme Active; Mosaico gold; Dorata Exte; Listel MWoods; Listel Crema Marfil Select by GranitiFiandre

Tile International 3/2012

by Graniti Fiandre, in fact, can be sanitised without the use of chemical detergents. The Manhattan-Nord fitness centre is a private enterprise, which has been operating in Austria’s fitness market for 20 years, and is particularly sensitive to the health-related side of its work. The entire project for the wellness centre revolves around the idea of the transition from dawn to dusk, and as such, even the lighting design is intended to deliver health benefits. The wellness centre offers various types of sauna and showers, and various other solutions for the health of its guests, such as infrared cabins, which provide effective therapy for joint problems, and crash-ice for controlling the circulation.

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Contract Suppliers Project name: Uptown Palace Hotel Year and place of construction: 2011, Milan Designers: Studio THDP of Turin, Nicholas Hickson and Manuela Mannino Floor and wall coverings: floor tiles: Katmandù and Kubica 3d by Venis; wall tiles: Moon by L’Antic Colonial; curtain wall: Stonker Java and Ironker Cobre by Porcelanosa; construction system: Butech by Porcelanosa. Porcelanosa Group supplied the products for the construction of one of the most significant hotels recently built in Milan, Italy. A stone’s throw from the cathedral, the Uptown Palace Hotel is an exclusive establishment, whose design choices have inspired an “all day” design concept. From Porcelanosa Group’s extensive product range, Nicholas Hickson and Manuela Mannino of the firm THDP in Turin, identified products offering extremely high aesthetic

Tile International 3/2012

PORCELANOSA impact, 3D effects and large formats. The designers eventually plumped for the Katmandù collection, in sizes 60x60 and 33x100 cm, and the Kubica 3d collection in size 33x100 produced by Venis by Porcelanosa. The wall tiles are from the Moon series by Antic Colonial, and are made of glass in four different colours. The supplies of floor tiles, wall tiles and bathroom furnishings for the entire hotel amounted to a total of over 9000 sq.m of ceramic and 180 bathrooms, complete with taps and furniture. From a technical point of view, however, the design of the facades was the most significant aspect, and Porcelanosa provided the customer and specifiers with

an engineering study including verifications for the installation of the façade and the executive plans for the site. The exterior curtain wall, which reflects the interior tiling in terms of colours, also constitutes a high-tech envelope thanks to an impressive system of insulation and soundproofing. The attention of the owners and designers to the comfort of guests has made the hotel’s rooms climatically pleasant and completely soundproofed. As well as the Butech construction system by Porcelanosa, use was made of 60x120 porcelain tiles from the Stonker Java series at the top of the building, and the Ironker Cobre series on the cladding of the first three storeys.

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Project by Christian Brunsmann

Bringing new comforts to an old house before & after

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Thanks to a complete renovation with the ceramic thermal-comfort floor, an old manor house turned into comfortable, energy-efficient senior housing TV shows often document how ruined buildings are given a new

Tile International 3/2012

life, but Dirk Meißner has successfully accomplished the creation of a fully renovated, comfortable and energy-efficient building without any media attention. As the developer and master tile installer, Meißner took a manor house built in the years

1820 to 1840 and turned it into a model of energy efficiency with nine apartments for seniors and two common rooms - not an easy undertaking, as it turned out, since the house has three floor levels, a basement, and a large yard and garden. “The building substance was in poor condition when I purchased the house in 2008, which also had to do with some unprofessional renovation work done in the years 1985 to 1991," Meißner recounts. Nevertheless, the original idea of turning the house into a seniorliving facility in a quiet yet central location between the German towns of Halle (Saale) and Bitterfeld became a reality in February 2012 with the official opening of the apartment complex. The ceramic thermal-comfort floor Schlüter®-BEKOTEC-THERM

played a key role in this process for a number of reasons, as Meißner, a Schlüter-Systems contractor, explains. “First of all, assembly height was an important matter. We only had an available assembly height of 120 mm, of which 47 mm were taken up by fire protection and sound insulation panels that were necessary because of the existing wooden beam ceilings.” In addition, the floor assembly of course had to meet the technical and static requirements of a timber-framed house with wooden beam ceilings and contractors faced the challenge of installing the floor assembly over mineral-fiber insulation panels, namely sound insulation panels of type TPE 20-2. “A substrate that takes some getting used to,” as Meißner notes.

Project

Pictures on left: Prior to the start of the renovation work, the former manor house was in a state of decay. The renovated manor house was turned into nine apartments for senior living. The ceramic thermal-comfort floor ensures a pleasant room climate and also saves energy, an important component of l ow-energy homes. Pictures on bottom: Bekotec: The renovation of the floor relied on the ceramic thermal-comfort floor BEKOTEC-THERM, which

has a low assembly height thanks to its minimal screed volume. The assembly also included fire safety and sound insulation panels.

Demanding requirements and low assembly height As it turned out, the ceramic thermal-comfort floor Schl端ter速-BEKOTEC-THERM was up to the challenge. The BEKOTEC panels of type EN 2520 P are easy to install on even the most difficult substrates. They are simply installed over the existing substrate and then connected, for which purpose the panels have a special tongue-and-groove connection mechanism. The only condition is that the substrate must be level and even. In a next step, the heating pipes are tightly secured between the specially designed studs, while the

low volume of screed with a coverage of just about 8 mm over the pipes keeps the assembly height of the system to a minimum. As an added advantage, the installation of the bonded uncoupling membrane DITRA 25, which is part of the system, can begin as soon as the screed is ready to bear weight. This accelerates the construction process considerably in comparison with other floor heating systems, since there is no need to wait for the screed to cure. Furthermore, the shrinkage that occurs while the screed cures is absorbed by the studded pattern of the screed panel. As a consequence, the installed screed can no long-

Tile International 3/2012

Project

er buckle and no tensions arise from shrinkage so that no dummy joints or movement joints are required in the screed. The ceramic tiles are then installed directly on the uncoupling membrane with the thinset method. Thanks to the interconnected air channels, heat is well distributed and the floor assembly makes optimal use of the good thermal conductivity and storage capacities of ceramic tiles. “Good heat release and thermal distribution is a great plus, particularly when it comes to building senior housing,” notes Meißner. “In addition, the floor heating system is easy to regulate. Since we wanted to build a low-energy house, the low supply temperatures of the system were an ideal match.” Supply temperatures for the system are just around 30° C, which saves considerable energy compared to conventional heating systems.

Thanks to the low assembly height of the BEKOTEC system - in this case, 55 mm - the entire floor space is easy to heat up evenly. The tile covering over DITRA added another 18 mm of height and consisted of different tile designs by Villeroy & Boch, Interbau and natural stone pavers made of Jurassic marble in the dimensions 70 x 35 cm, 70 x 40 cm and 60 x 30 cm. “This combination represented an assembly that was technically feasible, met all building code requirements in terms of static design and fire safety, and also was a great fit for an old structure with timber framing and wooden ceilings. The weight of the heating system and the tiles also had to be considered in the engineering phase, and the system stood out in that regard as well. Compared to conventional floor heating systems, it has only half the area weight. While a standard floor

The stairwell design features JOLLY and RONDEC profiles by Schlüter-Systems.

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structure weighs approx. 136 kg/ m2, the Bekotec assembly comes in at just around 57 kg/ m2. The crack-free screed and reliable uncoupling also ensure the durability of the floor covering, which was another important concern,” summarizes Meißner with satisfaction.

Healthy and comfortable living Creating a healthy and comfortable living environment is a high priority for remodeling apartments for seniors. Again, the ceramic thermal-comfort floor is ideal for this purpose. Since the floor heating system distributes heat with great evenness, there are no cold spots on floors or walls. These typically occur with conventional heating systems in places the heat cannot reach, which favors the formation of mold colonies if such cold building components are exposed to moisture. Evenly distributed heat in floors and walls minimizes this risk, and the surface structure of ceramic tiles offers few places where mold spores can settle permanently and grow. In addition, tiles can be cleaned quickly and easily and the fact that they are made of inorganic materials prevents

microbial growth that may occur in floor coverings such as carpet or PVC. Accordingly, the ceramic thermal-comfort floor is perfectly suited for creating energy-efficient and attractive floor assemblies even in difficult circumstances, such as the aging structure with timber framing described here. The system easily overcomes challenges such as low assembly height or unusual substrates, while the low energy consumption of the floor system makes it an attractive choice for low-energy houses or the use of renewable energy sources. In addition to the ceramic thermal-comfort floor, the apartment complex in Brehna also features a number of Schlüter profiles. Meißner chose aluminum Schlüter®-JOLLY profiles for finishing the wall coverings in the stairwell, while the edges of the same covering are protected by stainless steel RONDEC profiles. The use of the ceramic thermalcomfort floor and the profiles of Schlüter-System made a significant contribution to modernizing the old manor house and helped turn it into a comfortable living space for seniors in spite of difficult building requirements, safely and efficiently. 5

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Project by Paolo Palmas

Porto Mirabello and the Gulf of La Spezia

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The Gulf of La Spezia, also known as the Gulf of Poets, is a beautiful cove cut deep into the Tyrrhenian coast of Italy, between Lerici and Portovenere. The gulf is a natural arena for sail-sports because the hills that surround it create the perfect climatic conditions for the constant breezes that make sailing a pleasure. Its geographical location also makes the gulf an ideal base for motor cruising, because it’s within reach of some of the Tyrrhenian’s most attractive destinations, such as the Tuscan Archipelago, Corsica, Sardinia, the Cinque Terre, Portofino and the Ligurian Riviera. Nestling in this wonderful setting is Porto Mirabello, which has been transformed into a new benchmark for Italian yachting, thanks to major investments (about 120 million euros) by Industrie Turistiche Nautiche S.p.A.. Built to a design by Studio Zacutti of La Spezia, the port has 700 berths for small pleasure boats and 470 berths for craft exceeding 14 metres, of which 100 are reserved for super-yachts measuring 25 to 100 metres in length. Despite its imposing size, the new facility blends harmoniously into its surroundings, and includes a series of 34-metre quays and a central square bordered by bars, restaurants, a shopping centre, outdoor swim-

Tile International 3/2012

Project

ming pool, suites, a wellness spa, heliport and office tower.

The square The central square opens up towards the quays as though welcoming incoming sailors with open arms, and the majority of the materials used in its con-

struction were produced by Ceramiche Piemme. The design team opted for the Ecowood series, a line of fine porcelain tiles in an edgeground, board-type format measuring 11x90 cm, with a wood-effect appearance and outstandingly high technical specifications, including absorp-

tion of less than 0.004%. Ecowood thus shows itself to be the ideal material for contexts in which top-level design requires the backing of outstanding performance in all weather conditions, all the year round, with minimal maintenance and high resistance to humidity, saltwater and UV radiation.

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Project

The fitness area and swimming pool For the ultimate in relaxation and wellbeing, Porto Mirabello is equipped with a wellness spa, fitness area and 25-metre swimming pool. All the floors in the wet area were tiled with Piemmegres materials from the Natural series, a state-ofthe-art, through-body porcelain tile in a 30x60 cm format. The special surface finish of the Natural series gives it the appearance of dressed stone, while providing a slip-resistance rating of R11-R12, top-level comfort for bare feet, and the high quality of design that characterises the area as a whole. This was made possible by the wide range of different colours and surface finishes, which helped fulfil the designersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; desire to mark a change in design language between the swimming pool area and the adjacent open-lounge area.

The shopping centre The two-storey shopping centre features a magnificent vaulted roof in glass and steel, and accommodates 60 shops distributed around internal access balconies. All of the walkways in this area were tiled with Piemmegres tiles from the Ardesia Multicolor series, a through-body porcelain tile whose special surface finish makes it ideal for the intense stresses associated with a highly frequented commercial environment. For the shop interiors, meanwhile, the designers opted for the warm

Tile International 3/2012

Oregon

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TIMELESSLY ELEGANT

tones and satin-finish surfaces of Piemmegres’s Absolute and Mediterraneo collections, in various colours and formats.

The boat storage and maintenance area Progetto Mirabello Shipyard SRL manages the site dedicated to boat repairs, maintenance, slipway haulage and launching (with travel lifts of 160 tonnes and up to 500 tonnes in the immediate vicinity), two fuel stations (one with highcapacity pumps for super-yachts), 300 garages and 1000 outdoor parking spaces, providing parking for a total of 1300 cars.

Large formats and metallic glitter effects for representational floors

The new “Oregon” series for use in public areas (format 598 x 298 x 11 mm) combines outstanding technical properties with a special timeless look. A harmonious colour range, stair tiles with modern, grooved edges and matching skirting tiles round off the range.

The strong points of the Oregon range include its high slip resistance (R10), good wear resistance (4 to 5) and barefoot slip - resistance (class A/B) in wet areas.

CMY

*** Porto Mirabello is a highly prestigious project. By supplying over 11,000 sq.m of material for its realisation, Piemme has demonstrated the full flexibility of its architectural ranges and the immense versatility of its surfaces and finishes for indoor and outdoor applications. Specifically developed to meet the most wide-ranging design requirements, they ensure that the quality and appearance of the final layout are second to none. 5

Tile International 3/2012 Korzilius GmbH Krugbäckerstraße 3 D-56424 Mogendorf www.korzilius.com

Project by Ron Treister

LATICRETE soars to new heights with the Al Hamra Tower

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The soon-to-be-completed Al Hamra Tower will not only be Kuwait’s tallest building at 412.5 meters (1,353.346 feet); it will be the world’s tallest sculpted building when slated to be completed in late 2011. Offering a massive construction area consisting of 180,000 square meters (1,937,504 square feet), the integrated, mixed-use development is being built at a cost of $950 million US in the center of Kuwait City. The building will have 75 state-of-the-art stories dedicated for offices, in addition to a mammoth mixed-use complex featuring a mall with three basements, three shopping floors and a cinema floor containing nine IMAX theaters.

Tile International 3/2012

Having an exterior facade covered with 258,000 square meters (2,777,089 square feet) of limestone, (covered with 258,000 square meters of limestone, enough to tile NYC's Central Park's paved areas) Al Hamra will become the tallest direct-adhered stone-clad structure on this planet. During the lengthy planning of the building's construction, there was an understandable concern over the structural integrity of the spiral cantilevered concrete shear walls if clad with thick, mechanically attached stone panels. Rather than changing the design aesthetic, engineers and architects developed a creative solution. Their solution: to install limestone tiles on the exterior

Project

walls of the lower floors and a mesh-mounted trencadis-style limestone tile system on the exterior walls of the higher floors, achieving the same “look” at a fraction of the weight. The LATICRETE® System was ultimately selected to make this design solution come to fruition. Richard Goldberg, AIA, CSI, a consulting architect with Professional Consultants International,

and one of the world’s foremost experts regarding direct-adhered exterior tile and stone wall cladding, was contracted to provide technical consulting services to both Ahmadiah Contracting & Trading Company, Kuwait and SOM Architects, New York City. “Our engineers conducted cutting-edge computer modeling of the tile cladding assembly using finite element analysis.

We utilized Abaqus FEA® commercial computer software, commonly used in the aerospace industry, now economically feasible in architectural building design,” Goldberg stated, “This software provided accurate, robust simulations of the behavior of the proposed directadhered composite stone cladding assembly under extreme thermal expansion, concrete

shrinkage, and wind loading typical of the unique geographic location. Most important, this technique allowed us to confidently specify the adhesive mortar and grout products with the necessary physical properties. “We were also asked to analyze and review a number of directadhered stone façade installation systems,” Goldberg continued. “After a highly detailed

Tile International 3/2012

Project

evaluation process, we selected the LATICRETE System. There were many reasons for this which included the quality of the products to be used, the strong warranty program which LATICRETE offers, and most important, the fact that the LATICRETE materials offered certified product test data of key physical characteristics which enabled us to conduct computer modeling simulations. According to Sujit Singh, General Manager of LATICRETE RAK CO LLC, “This was a very challenging project for us due to the fact that it was going to be the tallest structure on the globe with direct-adhered stone exterior cladding. We had many meetings with the architects, contractors and façade specialists. The finite element analysis was conducted before a final decision on the LATICRETE products was an-

Tile International 3/2012

nounced… there were many other competitive product manufacturers vying to get this unique project. One key to LATICRETE being awarded the contract was our commitment in assuring the quality by training and inspection during installation. There were many challenges on this project including the building’s extraordinary height and also, having installation occur during hot weather where the mercury reached as high as 50⁰ C (122⁰ F)!” The Trencadis Gaudi limestone was bonded to the exterior concrete walls of Al Hamra Tower with LATICRETE® 254 Platinum (white), a one-step, polymer fortified, thin-set mortar.“We selected this product for many reasons, one being its high shear-bond strength and balanced shear modulus properties,” added Goldberg. Once the thin-set cured, the sub-

sequent grouting process on the Al Hamra Tower’s exterior was implemented with LATICRETE 1500 Sanded Grout, a premium, factory-prepared product designed to be mixed with water. Formulated from a blend of high-strength Portland cement, graded aggregates, polymers and color-fast pigments, LATICRETE 1500 Sanded Grout provided The Tower’s outside walls with grout joints that were dense, hard and highly durable… made from a product that could withstand the incredibly high heat index existing in Kuwait City. Singh commented that LATICRETE 1776 Grout Enhancer was used in this project, as well. “LATICRETE 1776 Grout Enhancer is used in place of water to provide a dense, colorfast grout joint that inhibits stain causing bacteria, mold and mildew growth with Microban®. This was necessary for the Al Hamra Tow-

er’s limestone cladding, as it works perfectly with LATICRETE 1500 Sanded Grout.” The Al Hamra Tower is without question, a world-class, signature architectural project. When it is completed and can be seen from miles outside of Kuwait City either inland or from the Arabian Gulf, people will comment on how its initial appearance seemingly curves to its highest point like a “curled newspaper." Visitors and tenants will be welcomed by a soaring, 20-plus meter high lobby, which frankly, will have to be seen firsthand for one to experience its awesome, futuristic designs. Very soon, The Tower’s facilities will be open, which will include six levels of retail; a rooftop garden positioned atop the retail sector; the largest business center in Kuwait; the very posh, Sky Lounge restaurant; 40 rapid elevators to reach those very high floors; two “refuge floors” designed to be used in case of an emergency… and, a multi-story parking facility, as well. All of this, housed within a building that has an exterior professionally covered via the largest and quite possibly the most spectacular direct-adhered limestone-cladding project found to date on this earth. “We at LATICRETE are proud to be able to contribute to a project as ambitious as the Al Hamra Tower,” stated Erno de Bruijn, President, LATICRETE International. “Some of the world’s premier architects, engineers, consultants and contractors were called upon to make this construction dream a reality. We know it will stand tall as a major architectural statement for decades to come. Because of that, we are very confident that the LATICRETE products which were specified for The Al Hamra Tower will perform at optimal levels as long as the building is in use.” 5

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Project by Chiara Bruzzichelli

Gold LEED rating for GEL in Shanghai

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A ceremony was held on 19 May to mark the inauguration of the Green Energy Laboratory (GEL) at the Jiao Tong University in Shanghai. The new building was constructed on the Chinese university’s campus according to an Italian design, using Italian technology, and is dedicated to study and

Tile International 3/2012

research relating to the energyefficiency of buildings. Inaugurated in the presence of Corrado Clini, Italy’s Minister for the Environment, the Green Energy Laboratory meets extremely high standards of energy-efficiency and is the first university building in China to obtain LEED Gold certification. Designed by the Archea firm of

architects, under the guidance of by Marco Casamonti and with the support of the engineering firm Favero&Milan for the structural part, the building has a total volume of 27,000 cu.m. The GEL is equipped with photovoltaic and thermal solar panels of various types, which take care of both winter heating and summer cooling; cogeneration

plants (by Energifera of Imola) with geothermal heat exchange (Clima Veneta); innovative climate control systems in the walls (Merloni Termo Sanitaria) and floors (Pavimenti Italiani); and a lighting system (iGuzzini) equipped with a smart grid capable of managing the entire system supplied from renewable sources, including a “wind fan” in

Project

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Patrizia Garavini welcomes us into a splendid workshop set up in an outbuilding that was originally used as a tool shed, right next to the farmhouse in which she lives. The origins of the house itself date back to the 17th century. You can see at once that the studio nestling in the Padana countryside is a primary source of inspiration for the artist, as too are the house itself and the sur-

Tile International 3/2012

Art & Culture

www.patriziagaravini.it

rounding landscape, which is dotted with dykes, crop plantations, copses, reed-beds and herons. But there’s more to it than that,

Tile International 3/2012

because Patrizia’s work appears to be profoundly inspired by a primordial femininity, the concept of Mother Earth as the giver of life, and the search for an-

cient memories expressed through ethnic symbols and ancient cultures. Ceramic plays the leading role in her work, but it’s also backed

up by other materials such as copper and iron, which serve to “lift the ceramic and bring it closer to the sky… My works are like me: they keep their feet firm-

Art & Culture

ly on the ground, but they look up to the sky and play with the wind.” The technique she uses most frequently is that of Raku ceramic, but on a simpler level, she also uses clays and oxides for coating and decoration.

Patrizia is originally from Forlì, and she has the typical strength and determination that such a background offers: “I work like a man: deep snow never stops me, nor do the demands that a country garden makes on you from the beginning of spring to

Tile International 3/2012

Art & Culture

WHAT IS RAKU? the end of autumn. Even my own work requires a certain toughness: you need to be part ceramic artist, part blacksmith, part bricklayer… and a host of other things besides… but I’m delighted to have realised that my hands can tell stories and give shape to thoughts and dreams. Having the freedom to manage your own time is an enormous plus, even when you end up working late into the night, sometimes in the cold, to finish a piece that can’t wait until the next day, because you can’t put ceramic on pause, and your own thoughts can change from

Tile International 3/2012

one moment to the next anyway.” Patrizia is also a fine exponent of Emilian cuisine: “I produce works of ceramic art, but no two pieces are ever the same. It’s the same when I cook: I open the fridge, see what’s in there and base my recipes on what I’ve got, what mood I’m in, and whatever I feel like at the time. I like to change and experiment, even though the experience of eating traditional home-made tagliatelle is unforgettable. It’s total pleasure: for the hands, the eyes, the nose and the taste buds. And like art, it’s a pleasure best shared with others.” 5

100

History - Raku has its roots in the ancient culture of the Far East and is permeated by Buddhism and Zen philosophy. In 16th century Japan, the master potter Chojiro began to produce a series of Raku works - probably cups for the tea ceremony - which found their way to Europe. We know for a fact that knowledge of the technique of Raku dates back even further, but evidence of its origins has been lost. We do know, however, that Raku is the surname of one of the most authoritative families of master potters - probably descendants of Chojiro - who were granted a feudal seal by the Emperor to produce teapots and other utensils for the homes of Japanese princes and nobles. The tea ceremony - which is still a key feature of Japanese culture today - has always been an important ritual, first among the monks, as a break between Taoist and Buddhist meditations, and then among the leading families of Japan’s noble and warrior classes. This prompted the masters of tea ceremonies to select ceramic artists who were capable of producing the best and most attractive teapots and cups, imbued with the right degree of mysticism. It was only in the last 50 years that Raku was imported into the West, where it first spread through the United States and thence to Great Britain and Australia. In the 1960s, especially in the United States, groups of young artists, including Paul Soldner, started to diffuse this ceramic technique through the art departments of American universities, while also innovating - with interesting creative results - on the classic traditional Japanese procedure, particularly certain phases of it. Method - The creation of a Raku object is divided into four phases: shaping of the clay; drying; firing; and reduction. The first two phases are self-explanatory: during shaping, either by hand or on the wheel, the artist’s creative idea comes to life, and drying then completes the first firing of the object. The second, and decisive, process for firing pieces decorated with glazes and pigments takes place in various types of kiln. The firing process is spectacular, to the extent that it is a major event for ceramic enthusiasts. The firing temperature oscillates between 800 and 950°, depending on the results that the artist is trying to achieve. After firing, the pieces are removed from the kiln immediately, because it is vital to retain their incandescence so that the thermal shock to which they are then subject generates the cracked effect on the glaze, which is blackened by smoke. The fired pieces then rapidly undergo reduction, in other words, cooling in an oxygen-free atmosphere, which is another spectacular and important phase from a technical and artistic point of view. If the ceramic artist is sufficiently experienced and knowledgeable, the reaction of the glazes can now be directed towards achieving high-gloss metallic and iridescent effects of extraordinary intensity, which cannot be achieved with other ceramic treatments. For effective reduction, use is made of various types of oxygen-absorbing fuels, which also emit intense smoke, inside closed containers. These differ according to the materials used, for example, sawdust, wood chips, paper, grass (preferably damp) etc.. The piece is immediately immersed in cold water, to break the chemical reaction of the glazes, and then washed. As you can see, the Raku process is influenced by a wide range of variables. A judicious blend of these, combined with knowledge and experience, and sometimes by a spirit of experimentation, yields relatively consistent results, not least because surprise and novelty are key requirements of this ceramic technique.

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2012

ARMANDO TESTA Grazia Piccininno for Cersaie 2012 University of Genova, Architecture Faculty

Cersaie 25-29 SePTeMBeR 2012 www.cersaie.it

Organized by EDI.CER. spa

Promoted by ConfInDustRIa CERamICa

In collaboration with

show management: PROMOS srl - P.O. Box 37 - 40050 CENTERGROSS BOLOGNA (Italy) - Tel. +39.051.6646000 - Fax +39.051.862514 Press office: EDI.CER. spa - Viale Monte Santo 40 - 41049 SASSUOLO MO (Italy) - Tel. +39.0536.804585 - Fax +39.0536.806510

Cersaie-A4-GB 2012.indd 1

31/01/12 10.01

Cersaie 2012

ARMANDO TESTA

Cersaie celebrates 30 years of blazing its own trail

Grazia Piccininno for Cersaie 2012 University of Genova, Architecture Faculty

25-29 SePTeMBeR 2012 www.cersaie.it

Organized by EDI.CER. spa

Promoted by ConfInDustRIa CERamICa

In collaboration with

Cersaie-A4-GB 2012.indd 1

31/01/12 10.01



“Building, dwelling, thinking” came about from sniffing the air, which in 2009 reeked of the odour of recession. A powerful gust of wind blew up. Where has this wind come from? What’s going to happen? It made us realise that it was time to reflect on the present and study the past, in order to imagine the future. Italian entrepreneurs are good at producing things, and whenever ceramic manufacturers have felt changes in the air, they have always been ready to explore new avenues. And at Cer-

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saie, they have been measuring themselves against customers and visitors from all around the world, for 30 years. “Building, Dwelling, Thinking” was conceived as a forum, within the industry’s world-leading trade fair, for extending the debate beyond the realms of commerce, getting right to the heart of the building world, and addressing the topical themes being debated among architects, which ultimately extend to emerging lifestyles and the new requirements of dwelling. The title “Building, dwelling, thinking”, borrowed from the German

philosopher Heidegger, emphasises the need to start from humans and their requirements if we are to interpret the major changes that have been impacting on all areas of life in recent years, and consequently the meaning of building and dwelling too. Past editions of “Building, dwelling, thinking” have involved speakers of worldwide renown, such as Renzo Piano, Mario Botta, Enzo Mari, Cino Zucchi, Alessandro Mendini and Kazuyo Sejima, from the world of design and architecture; and Francesco Dal Co, David Childs of

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SOM, Fulvio Irace, Karim Rashid, Michele De Lucchi, Aldo Schiavone, Luigi Zoja and Giuseppe Culicchia, from the world of human sciences. And once again, a cycle of seminars and conferences will be held, in an attempt to assemble a choir of many voices. So to mark the 30th anniversary of Cersaie, “Building, dwelling, thinking” will be offering a top-level programme of events for 2012 that cannot fail to arouse the interest of anyone wishing to reflect upon our changing approach to dwelling. 5

Cersaie 2012

Building, Dwelling, Thinking. Cersaie events / CALENDAR 2012 » TUESDAY 25 SEPTEMBER: - 1.00 pm: Official opening of the exhibition “Young Architects Scrape the Sky” - 2.00 pm: “Design goes Sci-Fi” – Speakers: Cini Boeri, Bruce Sterling; chaired by Stefano Mirti, project coordinator of Interaction Design Lab in Turin and lecturer in design at the Bocconi University in Milan - 5.00 pm: Materials design: between performance and appearance – Designing function and perception of coverings - In conjunction with ADI Emilia Romagna; chaired by Claudio Branzaglia, Chairman of ADI Emilia Romagna - 6.30 pm: Ceramic Tiles of Italy International Press ConferenceOpen to Italian and foreign journalists only; after the conference, prize-giving for the Ceramics of Italy Journalism Award

» WEDNESDAY 26 SEPTEMBER:

- 10.00 am: Conference with Shigeru Ban - In conjunction with the Aldo Rossi Faculty of Architecture, University of Bologna - 12.00 noon: Historic and artistic heritage in Emilia Romagna after the earthquake - Speakers: Giovanni Chiaramonte, photographer - Carla Di Francesco, superintendent of art assets for the Emilia Romagna region. Chaired by Fulvio Irace, Professor of History of Architecture at Milan Polytechnic - 2.00 pm: Ceramic Architecture. The genesis of an idea. Presentation of the projects realised in the course of the workshop held in conjunction with the DNA Cultural Association and the Faculty of Architecture of the University of Florence; followed by the projection of a film about the workshop, entitled “Ciak Ceramica”- Speaker: Paolo Di Nardo of DNA - 3.00 pm: Design conference: ‘Poetic engineering’ In conjunction with Bologna Water Design - Speaker: Alberto Meda, Industrial Designer

- 4.30 pm: Aperitif with the architect Andrea Maffei - Speaker: Andrea Maffei

» THURSDAY 27 SEPTEMBER:

- 12.00 am: “Ceramic and design” Conference and awards ceremony - Speakers: Cino Zucchi - Sebastiano Brandolini Michele Capuani - 2.00 pm: New Bauhaus Museum in Weimar. A position between Historism and Modernism – Speaker: Heike Hanada - 4.00 pm: Technical conference in conjunction with ASTER (Emilia Romagna high technology network)

» FRIDAY 28 SEPTEMBER

- 10.00 am: Press conference with Eduardo Souto De Moura – open to journalists only – Speakers: Eduardo Souto de Moura Francesco Dal Co - 1.00 pm: Awards ceremony, Beautiful Ideas – Third edition - 3.00 pm: The architecture of João Luís Carrilho da Graça – Speakers: João Luís Carrilho da Graça - Francesco Dal Co

» SATURDAY 29 SEPTEMBER

- 10.00 am: The right economy – In conjunction with Comitato Amici di Edmondo Berselli - 11.00 am: A choice of format – Confindustria Ceramica and the Order of Architects of the Province of Modena present a model of Advanced Industrial and Creative Training – Speaker: Claudio Gibertoni, Chairman of the Order of Architects of the Province of Modena - 12.00 am: Awards ceremony for the competition “Piazza Martiri Partigiani”, Sassuolo, in conjunction with the Municipal Council of Sassuolo – Speakers: Luca Caselli - Claudia Severi Franco Manfredini

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Cersaie 2012

Building, Dwelling, Thinking. L Cersaie events / CALENDAR 2012 A R U M A R T EX ENTS EV Inaugural Economic Conference Palazzo dei Congressi – Europauditorium

Mirti, Architect and Professor of History of Architecture at Milan Polytechnic. ***

TUESDAY 25 SEPTEMBER, 11.00 AM

Keynote Lecture by Edoardo Souto De Moura Palazzo dei Congressi

The subject of the conference is “Starting again from Made in Italy”, which will be discussed in the presence of Giorgio Squinzi, Chairman of Confindustria, and Franco Manfredini, Chairman of Confindustria Ceramica. The conference will be chaired by Duccio Campagnoli, Chairman of BolognaFiere. ***

Cersaie 30th Anniversary Evening Teatro Comunale Bologna

WEDNESDAY 26 SEPTEMBER, 8.00 PM Invitation-only dinner and show for exhibitors and their customers. The event will include the prize-giving for the Confindustria Ceramica Distributor Awards and the Cersaie Awards for the show's best stands. ***

Lesson in reverse with Elio Caccavale Palazzo dei Congressi

THURSDAY 27 SEPTEMBER, 10.00 AM Elio Caccavale studied Product Design at the Glasgow School of Art before going on to the Royal College of Art to complete a masters degree in Design Products. He is the founder of the Elio Caccavale Design Studio, which is engaged in a wide variety of projects. The studio has worked with an extensive portfolio of clients, including: Mattel, Dmagic Mobile China, Orange, France Telecom, PBJ Japan and LG Electronics. - Chaired by Stefano

Tile International 3/2012

FRIDAY 28 SEPTEMBER, 11.00 AM Portuguese architect Eduardo Souto de Moura studied architecture at the Oporto School of Fine Arts, from which he graduated in 1980. In 1974 he joined the architectural practice of Noé Dinis. From 1975 to 1979 he worked with the Álvaro Siza firm of architects. From 1981 to 1991, he was an assistant professor at his alma mater, and later became a professor in the Faculty of Architecture at the University of Oporto. In 1980 he established his own firm, which has remained active ever since. He has been a visiting professor at the schools of architecture of Paris Belleville, Harvard, Dublin, ETH Zurich and Lausanne. He has participated in numerous seminars and given many lectures both in Portugal and abroad. His work has appeared in various publications and exhibitions. In 2011 he received the Pritzker Prize. The lecture will be introduced by Francesco Dal Co, Architect and Lecturer in History of Architecture at the IUAV ***

Aperitif in Piazza della Cineteca, Bologna Via Riva di Reno, 72

FRIDAY 28 SEPTEMBER, 8.00 PM In conjunction with Bologna Water Design (see box)

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Cersaie 2012 sponsors Bologna Water Design

For the first time, Cersaie, the international ceramic and bathroom furnishing trade fair, is sponsoring an event to be held in the heart of Bologna, aimed at raising the profile of design dedicated to water and outdoor applications, and acknowledging the importance of this complementary line of business. Scheduled for the evenings, so as not to overlap with the trade fair itself, this initiative undoubtedly makes a major contribution to Cersaie’s depth. Water, which has played a leading role in the history of Bologna, is thus interpreted by some of the best-known international designers, who are taking part in the initiative alongside manufacturers, with a series of events and exhibitions to be held in places of artistic and cultural interest. Broad, transverse and contemporary, the theme of the event spans coverings, innovative materials, bathrooms, wellness solutions, outdoor furniture, tableware, food

and designs aimed at promoting sustainable water consumption. The installations are dotted along a route around the city, which takes in some of its most prestigious locations. The designers involved in Bologna Water Design include: Michele De Lucchi, Kengo Kuma, Mario Cucinella, Lorenzo Palmeri, Philippe Daverio, Roberto Palomba Ludovica Serafini, and Diego Grandi, who will be creating their installations in partnership with major interior design companies from Italy and abroad. The prestigious Bologna locations that will play host to the various installations include: the Giardino del Cavaticcio, the Mambo (Museo d’Arte Moderna di Bologna), the Cineteca, the Museo della Musica, the Ospedale dei Bastardini and the L.UN.A. (Libera Università delle Arti di Bologna).

Forming part of Building, dwelling, thinking, Bologna Water Design is promoted through the respective websites (www. cersaie.it and www. bolognawaterdesign.it), catalogues and other communication channels. A guide to Bologna Water Design will be distributed in all the locations involved in the event, in order to keep visitors constantly informed of the activities taking place. The agreement between Cersaie and Bologna Water Design is an important sign of cooperation between complementary initiatives, aimed at creating a system – a rarely achievable goal in Italy. As such, it is a major step towards effectively promoting the activity of the trade fair and the involvement of the local area.

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Cersaie 2012

“Città della Posa” (Tile Fitting City) Thomas Gugger, who won the gold medal in the “Wall and Floor Tiling” category at WorldSkills 2011 in London, where he represented the Swiss Tile Association, will be in Hall 34, in the “Città della Posa”, to give demonstrations of his skill and creativity in the installation of ceramic tiles. The Scuola Edile ESPE di Lecco (a building trades training school), also in the “Città della Posa”, will be holding an advanced training course lasting 40 hours (from Wednesday to Saturday), which will be attended by a number of young tilers who have already successfully completed the basic tiling course run by the same school. This advanced course forms part of the Tile Fitting Project

promoted by Confindustria Ceramica and Formedil, which has already delivered training sessions in six cities in Italy, and will do so in several more in the weeks to come, including Reggio Emilia, Lecce, Savona, Verona, Modena, Ragusa and Rimini. Five work yards have been set up to accommodate the advanced course, as well as a theatre-type seating structure to facilitate comparing, discussing and examining aspects of tile fitting and vocational training with attendees. During Cersaie, also in Hall 34, a group of professional tilers selected and co-ordinated by master tiler Graziano Benazzi will be producing an array of pieces dedicated to the most advanced applications of ceramic tiles.

1st edition of “Ceramic and Design” The first Italian ceramic architecture competition, entitled “Ceramic and Design” will be announcing its winners during Cersaie 2012. The projects taking part in the competition were completed in Italy between January 2010 and January 2012, using ceramic tiles made by Italian manufacturers subscribing to the Ceramics of Italy mark. The competition consists of three architectural categories: residential architecture; commercial and hospitality; institutional and urban furnishing. New constructions, remodelling projects and architectural restorations are all eligible for entry. The entries will be judged by a high-profile jury made up of the architects and designers Sebastiano Brandolini, Michele Capuani and Cino Zucchi. Sebastiano Brandolini, who graduated in 1982 from the Architectural Association of London, built the first passive house in Italy in 2001. He now lectures at the Polytechnic of Zurich and has an architecture practice with Alba Gallizia in Milan. Michele Capuani has produced projects for the automotive and household goods industries, residential architecture and theme parks. Capuani was director of the IED Research Centre and of the Masters in Transportation Design at Domus Academy, as well as one of the founders of Cumulus. He is currently academic director of the IED Group. Cino Zucchi, who gained a B.S.A.D. from M.I.T. in 1978, is currently

Tile International 3/2012

a lecturer in Architectural and Urban Design at the Polytechnic of Milan. He has taken part in the organisation of four editions of the Milan Triennial, and his works have been displayed at three editions of the Venice Biennial.

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Franco Manfredini, who is now serving his second term as Chairman of Confindustria Ceramica, is also Chairman of Federazione Confindustria Ceramica e Laterizi, which was formed as a result of the merger of Confindustria Ceramica and ANDIL, the Italian heavy clay industry association, with a view to achieving major synergies in the many areas of shared interest (energy, environment, communication, studies centre, R&D, etc.), and in national and international promotional campaigns. We asked Franco Manfredini, who also runs Casalgrande Padana, to talk us through the latest figures reported by the ceramic industry, and give us his views on possible developments in the sector.

Franco Manfredini, Confindustria Ceramica: recession is a reality, despite the strength of the cluster of 2012 reflect GDP figures and the performance of the construction industry in our various target markets. Exports are therefore enjoying robust growth in markets outside Europe, which have seen average growth rates of 13% by value. North America is performing particularly well (+18%), thanks in part to the return to a more favourable exchange rate; and Australia and Asia are also in vigorous health (+11%). These are large increases, albeit from a relatively modest starting point, generated in areas with growing economies, unlike Europea, which is currently stagnant.” Tile International: Are you disappointed by the industry’s results in Europe? F. Manfredini: “Europe is static

pretty much everywhere. Even France and Germany, where our exports increased in 2011 by both volume and value, are now at a standstill: France, in particular, is struggling to keep the pace, and saw a 3% fall in value and a 7% fall in volume in the first half of this year. Over the same six months, Germany reported a 9% increase in value, but only a 1.7% increase in volume. Exports to Scandinavia remain strong. The construction industry there has remained more buoyant, and GDP has shown stronger growth. Outside the EU, Russia is enjoying double-digit growth: +15% by volume and +14% by value, which is an entirely physiological discrepancy, when you consider that Russia is still the mar-

Tile International: How are Italian tile manufacturers performing on export markets? What were the results for the first half of 2012? Franco Manfredini: “Exports of Italian ceramic over the first half

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ket with the highest average price per square metre. Poland is growing too, as is the Gulf, the Far East and North Africa. Overall, the first half of 2012 closed broadly in line with the previous year, despite a slight fall in quantity.” Tile International: What are your expectations for the coming months? F. Manfredini: “I am sometimes accused of undue optimism, but I still believe our capacity to gain market share in all the major world markets is substantial. Our widespread and densely distributed presence enables Italian businesses to take the opportunities that arise, regardless of geographical location. In fact, we are taking advantage of growth in demand wherever it occurs, including in the emerg-

Cersaie 2012

ing markets of China and India. It is also significant that exports already exceed 75% of our total sales, and are fast approaching 80%. Italy is a great manufacturing country and the only one, apart from China and Spain, that exports its products all over the world. The difference is that we have a worldwide presence because the quality and innovation of our products is universally recognised, whereas the others are only recognised for competitive pricing. If we are witnessing falls in sales, it is a result of shrinkage in the construction industry in individual areas, rather than because we have lost market share to our competitors: that is our strength. And if the state helps us, in terms of energy prices, bureaucracy, payroll costs and infrastructures, we can reasonably expect to recover market share in those are-

as where demand is growing, thereby keeping productivity high within our cluster.” Tile International: Is the concept of the cluster still important? F. Manfredini: “Whenever people talk to me about crisis in the clusters, I say the same thing: the clusters are not in crisis, but the crisis exists despite the clusters. Italy’s ceramic cluster is not just a manufacturing hub and invaluable research centre, it is also an important logistics platform: the ceramic cluster in Emilia Romagna exports its products all over the world, and owes its logistical efficiency to the fact that it is a cluster. It played a key role in making us market leaders, and we now need to strengthen its fabric: now that work has started on the Campogalliano-Sassuolo road link, we need to start thinking about the rail links that will enable us to

transport materials by train – I am referring to the completion of the rail link between Dinazzano and Marzaglia. The Association plays a vital role in influencing decision-making on infrastructure projects, and in negotiations aimed at containing energy costs. In this regard, and especially since the nuclear energy plan has been dropped, I cannot stress enough the fact that Italy needs to build regasification plants so as to increase the sources of supply of natural gas and to enable manufacturers to purchase it at more competitive prices.” Tile International: In what shape do you think the ceramic industry will emerge from the restructuring process that is currently taking place? F. Manfredini: “In a market economy, it is the market and market forces that decide who survives and who leaves the field, and

that is what determines the shape of the industry as a whole. We need to understand the change that is taking place and reposition ourselves by restructuring our companies on the basis of that change. It is also imperative that our cluster continues to invest in innovation, both in terms of products and technological processes, if it is to retain its leadership. We need to support and defend this leadership in partnership with the plant engineering companies that are currently exhibiting at Tecnargilla. Together, we need to continue to believe in a green approach to manufacturing, in the potential for innovation that ceramic for construction purposes still has, in the opportunities for new product applications and in unique the qualitative and aesthetic characteristics of our product.” 5

2012

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»» Name: moodboard_05 San Paolo, Sandstone (floor) and Shard (wall) collections »» Material: Sandstone: technical porcelain stoneware; Shard: monoporous white paste »» Colours: Sandstone: GY303, GY305, GY317; Shard: BG102, GY305, BL601 »» Sizes (cm): Sandstone: 60x60 (10 mm thickness), 30x60 (10 mm thickness), 100x300 (3,5 mm low-thickness), 100x100 (3,5 mm low-thickness), 50x100(3,5 mm low-thickness); Shard: 26x75 (10 mm thickness)

Litokol »» Name: Starlike Decor »» Description: the sealant becomes a decorative levelling layer for wall surfaces. Decorative walls similar to the grouting thanks to the DECOR additive, combined with the Starlike sealant, that allows achieving a mortar easily applicable as a levelling layer. It is therefore possible to line walls with the same material and the same colour of the grouting, creating colour combinations between grouted coating with Starlike and the surrounding wall surfaces

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Cersaie 2012

Azulev »» Name: Scabos »» Material: ink-jet-decorated porcelain tile »» Colours: silver, beige, walnut »» Sizes (cm): 45x45, 30x60, 60x60, 22.5x22.5, 22.5x45

Montolit »» Name: Monster 300 »» Description: manual tile cutter consisting of a linear rail in aluminium alloy, which acts as a track for the sliding carriage, complete with scoring system and lever-operated, progressive, double splitting system; a base frame and four support tables. All quick to assemble and disassemble

Bien Seramik »» Name: Eramosa, winner of an A Design Bronze Award »» Material: ceramic tile »» Colours: brown, mink, ivory »» Sizes (cm): 21x63 (wall), 40x40 (floor)

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Cersaie 2012

Progress Profiles »» Progress Profiles »» Name: Proleveling System »» Description: an innovative, patented levelling system for the installation of medium and large ceramic floor tiles and slim tiles, consisting of a leveller and cap only. »» The unique removal system prevents any tile movement or widening of joints. Levels cross intersections and T-intersections with a single piece

Korzilius »» Name: koraTER, Selva Antigua e Selva Naturale series, for indoor and outdoor »» Material: porcelain tile »» Colours: nine colours »» Sizes (cm): 40x60, 35 or 22 mm thickness (Selva Antigua)

Cotto »» Name: Curva »» Material: the plain one: double firing ceramic wall tile; the decorative one: third firing »» Colours: white, grey »» Sizes (cm): 30x90

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NovaBell »» Name: Avant (indoor and outdoor) »» Material: color-body porcelain tile »» Colours: silver, basalt, desert, bone »» Sizes (cm): 60x60, 30x60,15x60, 30x30, 15x15

Ceramika Paradyz »» Name: Silvia/Silvio »» Material: ceramic tile »» Colours: bianco, brown, grafit »» Sizes (cm): wall: 20x60; floor: 40x40

çanakkale Seramik »» Name: Victoria »» Material: ceramic tile »» Colours: milk, anthracite, rose, lilac, sky blue »» Sizes (cm): 20x60, 33x33

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Cersaie 2012

Tagina »» Name: Woodays »» Material: porcelain tile »» Colours: sicomoro grigio, rovere decapato, anice stellato, noce, faggio rosato, castagno medio, larice biondo »» Sizes (cm): 61x92, 20x92, 15x92, 10x92, 20x90, 15x90, 10x90, 30x30, 61x61- indoor thickness: 12 mm; outdoor thickness: Compact 20 format

Laticrete »» Name: SpectraLOCK® PRO Premium Grout »» Description: patented, high-performance epoxy grout, which offers excellent colour uniformity, durability, stain protection and beautiful full-grout joints in an easy-touse, non-sag formula. Available in 40 Lifestyle colours and 220 Dazzle options. It is certified low VOC and can contribute points towards LEED and LEED for Homes certification

Rako »» Name: Manufactura »» Material: majolika tiles »» Colours: white, cream, brick-red, light grey, grey-blue and turquoisegreen »» Sizes (cm): 20x40

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Cersaie 2012

Edilgres »» Name: StoneLab_Pietra del Belgio »» Material: porcelain tile, indoor and outdoor »» Colours: 2 colours »» Sizes (cm): 30x60, 60x60, 45x90

Ragno »» Name: Smart »» Material: white-body single-fired porcelain »» Colours: white, beige, orange, brown, blue, green »» Sizes (cm): 25x76

Rondine »» Name: Monolith »» Material: colored-body porcelain tile »» Colours: 4 multigraphic colours »» Sizes (cm): 34x68

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Cersaie 2012

Kalebodur »» Name: Natural Stone »» Material: porcelain tile »» Colours: beige (brera creme, travertino classico, crema marfil, leccese light sand), black (pietra blue, mocha perla), brown (bronze amani, pulpis, eramosa, travertino noce), grey (leccese dark sand, leccese grey, pietra grey), white (brera white, limestone, calacatta, carrara) »» Sizes (cm): 45x90, 60x60, 30x60

TopCer »» Name: Victorian Designs & Borders »» Material: unglazed porcelain tile »» Colours: brussels (new, in the picture), amsterdam, vienna & hong-kong »» Size (cm): 30x30 (with components 10x10 and triangles 9,3x9,3)

Lunada Bay Tile »» Name: Tozen »» Material: glass tile »» Colours: 17 tones »» Sizes (cm): 30.48x30.48 (12”x12”) paperfaced repeating sheets; sizes of tile: 2.54x2.54 (1”x1”), 1.27x2.54 (1/2”x1”), 2.54x10.16 (1”x4”)

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Raimondi »» Name: Free-Cut »» Description: professional cutting-guide for porcelain slabs up to 3 meters length (10’). Dismountable in two bars of 1.5 meters each (5”) for the ease of transport and when cutting slabs up to 1.5 meters (5”)

Negev »» Name: Ecostone, Novo Collection »» Material: digital porcelain tile »» Colours: midnight, dust, lace, almond, camel, siena »» Sizes (cm): 60x60, 35.5x33.5

ImolaCeramica »» Name: Vein »» Material: porcelain tile »» Colours: almond, beige, bianco, tortora, marrone scuro, grigio scuro »» Sizes (cm): 45x90, 45x45, 60x60, 30x60, 15x90

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Cersaie 2012

G-Tiles »» Name: i Legni »» Material: porcelain tile, monocaliber squared and rectified »» Colours: walnut snow, walnut sun, walnut autumn, walnut ground »» Sizes (cm): 20x120, 15x90, 15x60, thickness 10 mm

Marocchi »» Name: technical area for architets and interior designer (C. Bergmann showroom in Vienna) »» Description: technical area consisting of a drawer unit surrounded by modular walls complete with removable, interchangeable accessories. The walls can be freely combined and are equipped with a vast range of accessories designed to meet the needs of every customer

Val-Tile »» Name: Venis »» Material: Chio slate with strips of wood, laser engraved »» Colours: slate: black, glano, white – wood laths: teak, wengè »» Sizes (cm): slate: trapezius – wood laths: 2.5x60

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TLS Europa »» Name: ceramic levelling system »» Description: the levelling system for ceramic tile now has a hole in the base to allow adhesive to pass through it, thus ensuring perfect adhesion of tile to substrate; a key consideration when using ultra-slim and hence more fragile materials (3-4 mm thick).

Campani »» Name: I Legni »» Material: porcelain tile »» Colours: vintage dark, vintage dove, vintage grey, shabby bianco, shabby beige, quercia naturale, quercia tinta, »» Sizes (cm): 15x60

Rex »» Name: Taiga »» Material: fine porcelain tile »» Colours: host, sommer, var, vinter »» Sizes (cm): 15x90, 15x60 (grip), 15x45

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Cersaie 2012

Gardenia Orchidea »» Name: Vanitas (Versace Home) »» Material: double-fired whitebody tile (wall); glazed porcelain tile (floor) »» Colours: beige, gold, walnut »» Sizes (cm): 39.4x39.4 (wall), 60x60 (floor)

Fiandre Architectural Surfaces »» Name: DataUni Maximum »» Material: porcelain tile »» Colours: ice, champagne, lime, choco, pepper, cloud »» Sizes (cm): 300x150, 150x150, 150x75, 75x75, 75x37.5 thickness 6 mm

Ergon »» Name: Wood Talk »» Material: porcelain tile »» Colours: white smoke, beige digue, grey pepper, brown flax »» Sizes (cm): 22.5x90, 15x90

Tile International 3/2012

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CMY

Exhibition Calendar More exhibitions on www.CeramicWorldWeb.it TECNARGILLA (Ceramic production machinery and technologies) Rimini (Italy) - 24/28 September 2012 CERSAIE (Ceramic tiles and bathroom furnishing) Bologna (Italy) - 25/29 September 2012 MARMOMACC (Natural stone and processing machinery) Verona (Italy) - 26/29 September 2012 MADE EXPO (Building) Milan (Italy) - 17/20 October 2012 SAIE (Building) Bologna (Italy) - 18/21 October 2012 ABITARE IL TEMPO Verona (Italy) - 21/23 October 2012 HONG KONG INTERNATIONAL BUILDING AND DECORATION Hong Kong - 27/29 October 2012 THE BIG 5 SHOW (Building) Dubai (UAE) - 5/8 November 2012 DOMOTEX MIDDLE EAST (Floor and wall coverings, finishings) Istanbul (Turkey) - 8/11 November 2012 BAU (Building) Munich (Germany) - 14/19 January 2013 SURFACES (Floor and wall coverings) Las Vegas, Nevada (USA) - 29/31 January 2013 BUDMA (Building) Poznan (Poland) - 29 January / 1 February 2013 CEVISAMA (Ceramic floor and wall coverings, bathroom furnishing) Valencia (Spain) - 5/8 February 2013 BAUTEC (Building) Berlin (Germany) - 21/25 February 2013 REVESTIR (Ceramic floor and wall coverings) Sao Paulo (Brazil) - 6/9 March 2013 ISH (Building and refrigeration, energy technology, bathrooms) Frankfurt (Germany) - 12-16 March 2013 MOSBUILD (Building) Moscow (Russia) - 2/5 April 2012 I SALONI Milan - 9/14 April 2013

Tile International 3/2012

134

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Discover the new collection of scraped wood floors. One size: 15x180 One wood species: Oak One finish: Bona Traffic Uv Six new colors www.stile.com

STILE PAVIMENTI LEGNO S.P.A. via dei laghi 18 Bivio Lugnano 06018 CITTAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; DI CASTELLO (PG) tel. +39.075.86.47.61 e-mail: stile@stile.com Numero Verde 800.217.630

www.stile.com

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graphic design & photo: www.gruppobento.com

LEGEND

technology is nothing without design

we are waiting for you at

25-29/09/2012

design and digital technologies for a new concept of ceramic decoration.

Palazzo dei Congressi Piazza Costituzione 4/A

24-28/09/2012

Rimini Fiera - Hall B1 (as Sacmi partner)

Since 20 years Tecnografica has been thinking, running and working hard for ceramic tile industry. Thanks to its dreams, passion and great teamwork, Tecnografica is constantly creating and developing the design and the new techniques for the most modern ceramic technologies.

Italia Tecnografica S.p.A. Brasil Tecnografica Brasil

Espa単a Tecnografica Iberica Design S.L. India Tecnografica India Pvt. Ltd.

w w w.tecnogr af ica .net