Tile International 1/2018 by Kairos Media Group (div. ceramics)

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ISSN2039-8301

Coverings

2018

Interviews, news, projects & much more...

www.progressprofiles.com

A World of warmth and comfort in the respect of the nature.

PATE N

TED

GREEN POWER Consumo giornaliero xxx

PATENTED U.S. 9,518,746 U.S. 9,416,979 U.S. 9,188,348 U.S. 8,176,694 and Patents Pending

GREEN POWER

Consumo giornaliero xxx

PRODESO® HEAT SYSTEM A floor and wall electric heating system designed with ecological sustainability and efficiency in mind. UNCOUPLING / CRACK ISOLATION

Made in Italy alternative PRODESO® HEAT is an innovative electrical floor and wall heating system that allows you to have in a short time and with lower cost a warm and welcoming floor surface. A smart and and responsible choice that brings ecological sustainability, energy efficiency and the latest trend in design architecture and home automation.

Prodeso Heat system can be installed on any tipe of substrate thanks to its uncoupling properties. The latest generation of thermostats allow for a complete control of the temperature and schedule to optimize its cost of operation.

GREEN WATERPROOFING POWER

VAPOR AND MOISTURE MANAGEMENT

Consumo giornaliero

PROF ILES & SYSTEMS

Progress Profiles SpA

Certificated company UNI EN ISO 9001:2008

GET IT ON

GREEN POWER

LOAD DISTRIBUTION

Erhältlich bei

www.progressprofiles.com

A World of warmth and comfort in the respect of the nature.

PATE N

TED

GREEN POWER Consumo giornaliero xxx

PATENTED U.S. 9,518,746 U.S. 9,416,979 U.S. 9,188,348 U.S. 8,176,694 and Patents Pending

GREEN POWER

Consumo giornaliero xxx

PRODESO® HEAT SYSTEM A floor and wall electric heating system designed with ecological sustainability and efficiency in mind. UNCOUPLING / CRACK ISOLATION

GREEN WATERPROOFING POWER

VAPOR AND MOISTURE MANAGEMENT

Consumo giornaliero

PROF ILES & SYSTEMS

Progress Profiles SpA

Certificated company UNI EN ISO 9001:2008

GET IT ON

GREEN POWER

LOAD DISTRIBUTION

Erhältlich bei

DIGITALMIND GROUP

Schlüter®-FINEC-TS Die feine Kunst des Abschlusses Fine attention to detail

Getreu dem Motto „Weniger ist mehr“ bildet Schlüter®-FINEC eine elegante, schmale Eckausprägung. Für die formschöne und vielfältige Wandgestaltung steht das Profil jetzt auch in den attraktiven Schlüter®-TRENDLINE Oberflächen zur Verfügung. True to the motto that less is more, Schlüter®-FINEC is an elegant, slim corner detail. The profil is now also available with the attractive Schlüter®-TRENDLINE structured surfaces for a perfect versatile wall design.

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

raimondispa.com

THE MOST cOMPLETE rANGE OF TOOLS FOr LArGE FOrMAT TILES

bOOTH 8260

LEVELLING

INSTALLING

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HANDLING

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INSTALLING

ADVERTISING

N. 1/2018

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

Advertising:

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

• Secretariat: info@tiledizioni.it

• TILE EDIZIONI ms. Paola Giacomini ms. Elisa Verzelloni

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

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Shackerley enables specifiers across Europe, the Americas and beyond to create stunning façades using the world’s finest architectural porcelain. At our ISO 9001 accredited, quality controlled factory in Lancashire, UK we transform porcelain slabs procured from internationally renowned ceramic manufacturers into fully prefabricated façade panels, ready for installation as part of our innovative SureClad® ventilated cladding systems.

WORLD CLASS CLADDING SOLUTIONS FROM A BRITISH MANUFACTURER

Every SureClad® façade is supplied as a complete installation-ready system.

Why Shackerley? • UK market leader • 20 year track record in façade market • Extensive in-house manufacturing facilities • Precision cutting, calibrating, shaping, profiling, undercut drilling and anchoring (‘invisible’ fix) • Full system warranty • ISO 9001 accredited quality controlled manufacturing • Fully tested and certified systems

Why SureClad®? • Queen’s Award winning, patented innovation • Used to install even the largest porcelain tiles and panels • Panels can be removed and refitted in isolation, without disturbing others • Rapid installation - single horizontal rail per course of panels • No need to install panels sequentially • Withstands movement - tested and approved for seismic zones • Supplied ready-to-install. No on-site fabrication or cutting required and every panel bar-coded for precise positioning

If you’re a specifier looking for an unrivalled ceramic façade system, or a manufacturer interested in working with Shackerley, please contact us:

Tel: +44 1257 273114 Email: info@shackerley.com www.shackerley.com

SureClad® agglomerated stone, crystallised glass, terracotta and quarried stone façades are also available.

Contents

9 - Editorial

Coverings: an important event for an important market

by Chiara Bruzzichelli

PhotoNews 10 - Shackerley upgrades 1950s London office block with SureClad 12 - Compasso d’Oro: honourable mention for Aero Gravity in Milan ®

14 – Tilenews In the spotlight 26 – Raimondi opens museum of its history, while surging towards the future 30 – Coop Imola expands in the large-size tile segments by Paola Giacomini 34 – Buzon Pedestal celebrates 30th anniversary 38 – Progress Profiles: +15% in 2017 Economy & markets 44 – Signs of recovery in the Russian construction market 50 – Confindustria Ceramica’s data for 2017 Statistics 52 - Another year of substantial growth for Italian tiles COVERINGS 2018 56 - See you at Coverings 2018 in Atlanta 58 - 2017 U.S. Ceramic Tile Market Update 62 - The Gallery

by Acimac Stat. Dept. MECS

by Andrew Whitmire

Projects 96 – Cittadella Bridge, Alessandria (Italy) 100 – Piuarch designs new Yamamay concept store 104 – Andalusian white for Cataleya Phase2 108 – Residential swimming pool in a class of its own

10 38 56 104

Cover picture: Marazzi Ceramica (Italy) - www.marazzitile.it Picture by Giancarlo Pradelli @ Cersaie 2017 Subscription order form: www.tiledizioni.it/eng/EcommerceRiviste.aspx Translations: Geoff Day / John Freeman Advertiser's list: page 99

BOOTH 2631

WHITE

LIGHT GREY

AZUL

NATURAL

DARK

THICKNESS 10 mm

THICKNESS 9,5 mm

SEMI-POLISHED SEMI-POLISHED

Full Body Coloured Porcelain Stoneware

AZUL

24”x48” 60x120 rect.

12”x48” 30x120 rect.

24”x48” 60x120 rect.

WHITE

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

12”x48” 30x120 rect.

12”x24” 30x60 rect.

12”x24” 30,5x60,5

NATURAL

Editorial by Chiara Bruzzichelli

Coverings: an important event for an important market Coverings is continental America's leading trade show for ceramic and natural stone tiles. Taking place at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta this year, the event is promoted by Confindustria Ceramica, ASCER (the Spanish ceramic tile manufacturers' association) and three American organisations: the CTDA (Ceramic Tile Distributors Association), NTCA (National Tile Contractors Association) and TCNA (Tile Council of North America). With over 1,100 exhibitors from all over the world, the event offers 45 sessions of free conferences and countless opportunities for networking, with over 26,000

trade professionals expected to attend. A substantial slice of this issue is dedicated to Coverings, and we bring you a gallery of the products on display in Atlanta and an indepth look at how the construction industry and ceramic tile market are performing in the USA and Canada.

housing stock. Sales of ceramic tiles are therefore also forecast to rise, after year-on-year growth of 5.1% in 2017, which took total tile consumption to 283 million sq.m, the highest level since 2006. Domestic production is still on the increase, and reached its highest ever level (90.6 million sq.m) in 2017, almost all of which was sold on the US market, accounting for 31.0% of total ceramic tile sales there, with exports to neighbouring countries amounting to just 2.6%. Imports accounted for 68.9% of national consumption by volume in 2017 (as against 68,6% in 2016). China tops the rankings of the biggest

Having closed 2017 with GDP growth of 2.3% and the economy expanding for the eighth year running, the United States is forecasting more good results for the construction market in 2018, on the back of pent-up demand, in the wake of the recession, and low levels of

exporters of tiles to the United States, followed by Mexico in second place, Italy in third and Spain in fourth. These positions change if we analyse exports by value instead of volume, with Italy moving up to first place, followed by China in second and Spain in third In Canada, meanwhile, after several years of weak growth, 2017 saw a 14.9% rise in demand for ceramic tiles, to 43 million sq.m, the highest level since 2010. This demand is met almost entirely by exports. The biggest exporters to Canada are China, followed by Italy, Turkey, Spain and the United States. 5

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Tile International 1/2018

PHOTOnews

SHACKERLEY UPGRADES 1950S LONDON OFFICE BLOCK WITH SURECLAD® 20 Eastbourne Terrace, a 17-storey London office building, provides a striking example of how Shackerley’s award winning SureClad® porcelain ventilated façade systems can transform the appearance, performance and future profitability of mid 20th century properties requiring renovation and upgrading. Shackerley procured almost 1,800 sq.m of large format (1,196 x 596 mm) porcelain for Land Securities Group’s

Tile International 1/2018

£75 million refurbishment of this 1958 building adjacent to London Paddington Station, and transformed the slabs into fully prefabricated façade panels, with fixings securely anchored to the rear, ready for installation with its patented SureClad® Access cladding system. All prefabrication was carried out at Shackerley’s ISO 9001 accredited factory in Lancashire. Fletcher Priest Architects

specified SureClad®, selecting a charcoal coloured porcelain panel with a dense and structured, slate-like finish, to provide a strong contrast with the shimmering transparency of the glazing that now envelopes the frontage of the building. Use of the versatile SureClad® Access System, which does not require facade panels to be installed in sequence, helped to reduce installation costs and potential

PHOTOnews

disruption at Eastbourne Terrace. The system also allows for quick and straightforward removal and replacement of panels without disturbing others, thereby providing easy access to services installed behind the facade for long term maintenance and inspection purposes.

Tile International 1/2018

PHOTOnews

COMPASSO D'ORO: HONOURABLE MENTION FOR AERO GRAVITY IN MILAN Luca Apostoli and Alessio Rigamonti, of Apostoli&Rigamonti based in Lurate Caccivio in the Italian province of Como, have earned an honourable mention in the ADI Compasso d’Oro International Award on the theme of “Sport – Performance and Innovation”. The winning project was the Vertical Wind

Tile International 1/2018

Tunnel, better known as Aero Gravity, a bright red free-fall simulator standing 21 metres high against the skyline of Milan's Expo district. The huge transparent simulator measures 21 metres in height (including 8 metres made of glass), 5.2 metres in diameter and 455 cubic metres in volume, and simulates

the experience of free-falling from an altitude of 4,000 metres at a speed of 200 km/h. The building's floor covering is made with Elm-effect, floorboard-format tiles from the Cottage collection by Ceramiche Piemme, which is the perfect solution both for its warm, natural aesthetic and its ability to

PHOTOnews

withstand high levels of footfall. The 11 winners of the second edition of the ADI Compasso d’Oro International Award, on the theme of “Sport – Performance and Innovation”, were selected by a jury of professional sportspeople, chaired by the designer Makio Hasuike.

Tile International 1/2018

Tilenews

Companies, News & Markets ITALGRANITI GROUP OPENS FIRST FLAGSHIP STORE IN MILAN During the course of the Salone del Mobile 2018, Italgraniti Group will be inaugurating its first flagship store, in Milan Via Statuto 21, marking a milestone in the evolution of a company that is still investing in latest-generation manufacturing technologies. Designed by Style Center Milan, the design firm with which Italgraniti has been working for several years, the store occupies 165 square meters spread over two levels, and showcases the company's collections aimed at architects and interior designers. It also serves as a meeting point for exchanging views and experimenting with the new design languages that ceramic is adopting and Italgraniti is interpreting. As visitors enter the Italgraniti showroom in Via Statuto, their attention is caught by an array of 160x320 large-format panels, with a thickness of 6mm, belonging to the Mega project, which evoke the most exclusive marble, the most sought-after stone and the authentic energy of metals, thanks to the new Metaline collection, which is setting new aesthetic standards. An area is also dedicated to the latest collections that

Tile International 1/2018

convey the natural essence of wood, to create cosy, welcoming environments with a contemporary atmosphere, where vintage spirit brings a warm, natural feel. An internal staircase connects the showroom to the areas set aside for meetings with designers, which includes a specific work area equipped with all the necessary resources.

a floor covering in public places. Finally, in the machinery sector, Kerajet was honoured for having developed the first printhead for digital tile decoration capable of using inks with micrometric dimensions.

TORRECID, FERRO SPAIN, PERONDA AND KERAJET WIN ALFA DE ORO 2018 AWARDS The presentation ceremony for the Alfa de Oro 2018 awards, an initiative organised by the Spanish Ceramic and Glass Society (SECV) to honour the most innovative technologies developed in the Castellón ceramic cluster, was held during the recent Cevisama. The awards went to Torrecid, Ferro, Peronda and Kerajet, whose projects were selected by the jury for their outstanding technical and scientific characteristics coupled with technological innovation and environmental sustainability. Torrecid received the award for its Ecoink-Cid technology, a new range of water-based digital glazes and inks for the full digital decoration process. These non-polluting materials bring significant improvements for production processes as well as environmental benefits due to their significant reduction in emissions. Ferro Spain won the recognition for a new line of inkjet inks with a catalytic function capable of separating oxygen from the air through the use and application of ceramic membranes in oxycombustion processes. Peronda received the Alfa de Oro award for a line of tiles with a glossy finish produced using glazes and grits that generate a non-slip surface ideal for use as

INALCO STARTS UP SECOND PLANT FOR LARGE-SIZE PORCELAIN TILE PRODUCTION Inalco, a leading Spanish ceramic tile manufacturer with over 40 years’ experience in the business, announced in January the start-up of a second plant for the production of extra-large porcelain panels at its facility in Alcora (Castellón). The new line uses cutting-edge H2O IPLUS Full Digital technology and allows for greater flexibility in terms of thicknesses and sizes. Along with latest-generation systems, the company has chosen to use sustainable materials such as water-based glazes for tile decoration. These glazes mark a major step forward for the tile industry in terms of sustainability and care for the environment. This latest investment is aimed at boosting production of surfaces that are already successfully established in international markets. One of these is the Itopker Countertops range of porcelain slabs in a 1500x3200 mm size and thickness 12 mm. Designed for the kitchen,

Tilenews

furnishing and interior design segments, they attracted much interest at the recent KBIS show in Orlando, Florida. In the thin tile and panel segment (6 mm), Inalco offers its Slimmker range available in sizes 150x300 cm, 150x150 cm and 100x250 cm for floors and walls. Thanks to the company’s global sales network and internationalisation policy, Inalco products are sold in 120 countries worldwide.

ic materials, Grau gained extensive experience in the ceramic industry in Germany, initially as managing director of Creaton and then as CEO of Erlus. In 2014 he joined the Steuler Fliesen Group as managing director of Kerateam. Rüdiger Grau takes over from Karl-Heinz Fabel, who is retiring after 13 years and leaving the Board of Directors of Norddeutsche Steingut. During these years Fabel has played a major role in driving the German company’s development, especially in terms of innovation and investments. His achievements include introduction of the first inkjet printer for tile decoration in Germany as well as the first Continua+ line for large size ceramic tile production, which was installed at Nordceram. Grau has taken over the helm of Norddeutsche Steingut alongside Stefan Zeidler (shown together in the photo) since the beginning of 2018, the company’s 150th anniversary year.

CHANGE OF LEADERSHIP AT NORDDEUTSCHE STEINGUT

NEW HQ FOR PROFILITEC

Norddeutsche Steingut (Bremen, Germany), a company belonging to German ceramic giant Steuler Fliesen Group, appointed Rüdiger Grau as a member of its board of directors on 18 December last year. After graduating in geology with a specialisation in ceram-

continuously increasing sales volumes and a constantly expanding product range, Profilitec SpA moved into a new "home" in January. Having acquired a new logistics and production hub, we now have twice as much space as we had before, enabling us to continue the process of growth and development we embarked on in the far-off days of 1966, which has made us a major player on the biggest international markets. We have always seen it as a valuable asset to have our company based in Italy, and as we expand our headquarters, we are only moving a few kilometres from our previous base and staying in the province of Vicenza, at 3 Via Scotte, Isola Vicentina, thus safeguarding the know-how we have built up in more than 50 years in business." Company Chairman Roderick Egli continued: "After opening our American subsidiary, Profilitec Corp., in Plattsburgh, New York state, in July 2016, this is the second building block underpinning Profilitec's growth and reinforcement. We are a highly export-driven company, but this investment demonstrates our bond with Italy and its production system, which has always been a crucible of world-class technological innovation and design." (for more information, visit www.profilitec.com)

Back in the 1980s, Vicenza-based Profilitec, a manufacturer of profiles, joints and flooring installation systems, was the first company to promote specific profiles for the ceramic industry. Its Chairman recently made the following announcement: "On the strength of double-digit growth in 2017,

Tile International 1/2018

Tilenews

PAMESA GROUP POSTS 26% TURNOVER GROWTH IN 2017 2017 was an exceptional year for Pamesa Group. Consolidated turnover soared by 26% to 584 million euros compared to 464 million euros in 2016, a result that surpassed the group’s own forecasts of 520 million euros. Pre-tax profits totalled 51.1 million euros (13% up on the 45.2 million euros of 2016), an increase achieved through higher sales volumes along with economies of scale and improvements in productivity and energy efficiency. Total ceramic tile sales reached 72 million square metres (compared to 68 million sq.m in 2016), with an export share of 73% (52.5 million sq.m). In 2017 the group led by Fernando Roig also made record investments of 63 million euros (bringing total investments since 2014 to 183 million euros). These largely served to increase the production and logistic capacity of the facilities of Tau Ceramica, purchased in May 2016, where a fourth kiln was recently installed and a fifth is due to be started up in the spring. The group has also seen a significant increase in total number of employees – 1,738 at the end of 2017 compared to 1,369 in December 2016. Pamesa Empresarial Group also operates in the spray-dried raw materials, chemical products and energy sectors and in 2018 aims to post a consolidated turnover of more than 630 million euros.

DR TECNICA PUBLISHES NEW CATALOGUE Having recently launched its new web-

Tile International 1/2018

site, containing the full specifications of all its systems, DR Tecnica, a manufacturer of display systems for ceramics, based in Fiorano Modenese, recently completed the restyling of its image with the publication of a new general catalogue. Featuring smart, easy-to-use, easy-to-consult graphics, the catalogue presents the company's full product range. In particular, DR Tecnica has extended its traditional Panels and Packaging segments with a new range of metal display units. The new catalogue showcases the following collections: -M- Line: dedicated entirely to the metalbuilt line, which includes models for large formats as well as more traditional display systems. Practical and functional, it features simple, elegant design. - Space Wall: a line of multi-function display walls that can be equipped with a wide range of accessories, designed to display products to best effect by optimising the use of space. - Hi Tech and Tile Shop: two specific lines for complete showroom outfitting, including modular technical counters and tile libraries, all with countless finishes and unlimited scope for customisation, to meet the most disparate customer requirements. - The new catalogue includes a full description of the W-line range of wooden display units, designed mainly for more traditional wood products, tailored to the individual needs of customers.

PORCELANOSA: 25TH INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION OF ARCHITECTURE AND INTERIOR DESIGN The 25th edition of the International Exhibition of Architecture and Interior Design, held by Porcelanosa at its headquarters in Vila-real, Spain, to present the latest products of its eight brands, was a huge success. The new products included Par-Ker Forest, a ceramic interpretation of wood flooring; Carnival, a latest-generation range of kitchens; Mertens, a series of bathroom furnishing collections by Gamadecor; Sydney, a metallic wall covering by Venis; and the wood or stone effects of L'Antic Colonial. Systempool, meanwhile, showcased a range of new colours and collections made with KRION® Solid Surface acrylic stone, plus a number of designer pieces such as the Tona shower column by Foster+Partners and the new mirror from the Pure collection by Valencia-based Yonoh. Lastly, Urbatek and Noken Porcelanosa Bathrooms displayed a number of futuristic pieces, while Butech, the brand specialising in construction systems, showed off its developments in wall coverings, decorative profiles and the installation of façades.

GET “ON-BOARD” WITH EGE SERAMIK! Your total source for ceramic & porcelain tile.

Turkey is the world’s 4th largest tile producer. Ege Seramik is Turkey’s top tile exporter. There are many reasons for this. Find out firsthand at Coverings 2018. Get “On-Board” with us!

Tilenews

MATICAD PRESENTS DOMUS3D® 2018

KALDEWEI OPENS KALDEWEI ICONIC WORLD

DomuS3D® is the 3D interior design software developed by Maticad for the tile and bathroom furnishing market. With the release of the 2018 version, DomuS3D® has become even more effective and user-friendly. Thanks to a series of major updates, users can produce designs quickly and easily, by drawing upon a vast library of coverings and interior design complements. DomuS3D® 2018 has improved the quality of its renderings and the ease with which they can be generated, by integrating with the latest version of the rendering engine V-RAY 3.6 and incorporating new parameters that capture the feel of more highly textured coverings. Using the new Photo3D function, users of DomuS3D® 2018 can produce designs directly on the basis of a photo of the room to be furnished. This makes the design process both quicker and smarter. Thanks to the launch of Knowledge Base, furthermore, users benefit from round-the-clock customer support. All this is designed to enhance the DomuS3D® 2018 user experience.

Kaldewei Iconic World is the name of a new exhibition centre designed by Schmidhuber architects and built in Ahlen (Germany) to display the multi-sensory world of Kaldewei to architects, designers and distributors. Spread over four floors, the experience revolves around the Iconic Center, which is designed to transmit the vision of the company's founder Franz Kaldewei to visitors, thanks in part to the Designers' Gallery, which provides an interactive tour of the company's collaborations with major international designers, such as Studio Sottsass Associati, Phoenix Design, Arik Levy, Studio Aisslinger and Anke Salomon. There is also an extensive Material Excellence area, which focuses on Kaldewei enamelled steel, the brand's flagship. Visitors discover the material’s distinctive qualities and potential by means of various experiments, ranging from dropping a 7kg weight onto an enamelled shower surface, to heating a steel enamel plate to a temperature of over 1000°C with a Bunsen burner.

"SCACCO BAGNO": THE POSTER FOR THE 36TH CERSAIE In keeping with a now established tradition, the poster for Cersaie 2018 has been chosen on the basis of the Beautiful Ideas competition. The winning image was designed by a team called White Stuff, made up of Naima Annoni, Enrica Caiello, Riccardo Piovesan and Maria Cristina Ziviani, all of whom are students at the Accademia di Brera, on the Artistic Design for Business course "Scacco Bagno" was selected because it expresses "the search for an unexpected solution, based at the same time on a subtly ironic spirit" and was awarded the highest score of the 43 sketches submitted by students of the IUAV Venezia, Accademia Brera and the University of Bolzano. "Scacco Bagno is a representation of how to play with the bathroom environment: the poster is an eccentric composition of the classic items used in bathroom furnishing (sanitaryware and tiles) combined in such a way as to captivate the viewer at first glance. The sanitaryware takes the form of pawns, skilfully moved by the designers, in a game played out on a chessboard floor." This is how the 24-28 SETTEMBRE 2018 team of young creatives see their work. White stuff: Naima Annoni, Enrica Caiello, Riccardo Piovesan, Maria Cristina Ziviani Brera - Accademia Belle Arti

promosso da

CONFINDUSTRIA CERAMICA

in collaborazione con

CERAMICA CONFINDUSTRIA organizzato da

www.cersaie.it

Tile International 1/2018

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Tilenews

NEW CERTIFICATION FOR LISTONE GIORDANO Listone Giordano, a leading Italian manufacturer of wood flooring, has recently been awarded conformity certification for meeting the requirements for classification in formaldehyde emission class F4-star. Issued by the MLIT - the Japanese Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism - the certification indicates fulfilment of the world's most stringent requirements governing formaldehyde emissions, as laid down in JIS standard A 1460 and part of the broader Japanese Industrial Standard (JIS). This means that the company, based in the Umbria region of Italy, can now supply wood flooring for projects that require such certification, in Japan and worldwide. Listone Giordano, which is part of the Margaritelli Group, conducts rigorous checks both on the raw materials and the finished product, in order to ensure that emissions levels are significantly lower than those laid down in the most stringent European standards.

Tile International 1/2018

In the knowledge that wood flooring is not just for walking on, but also furnishes home environments in which small children live, Listone Giordano certifies all its surface finishes to UNI EN 71-3:2014, which is the same standard used to certify the complete non-toxicity of paints for children's toys.

Taraflex® courts, built to the same standards as the ones used in international competitions, at exceptional conditions".

GERFLOR ITALIA STRIKES DEAL WITH FIGH In the wake of its agreements with the European Handball Federation (EHF) and the International Handball Federation (IHF), Gerflor Italia has now become an official partner of the Federazione Italiana Giuoco Handball (FIGH. Gerflor, the French multinational PVC flooring specialist, has been manufacturing Taraflex®, the world's most widely used sports hall floor covering, for over 70 years. The product owes its success to a perfect compromise between thickness and shock-absorption capacity, which has earned Taraflex® a starring role in major world sports events ever since the 1976 Montreal Olympics. More recently, it has also been used for the handball and volleyball courts at the Olympic Games and World Championships. "We are very pleased with this partnership with FIGH", explained Paolo Guanzani, Managing Director of Gerflor Italia. "We are confident that it will enhance the already spectacular levels of dynamism of handball, and we are delighted to find that FIGH is a discerning partner with a strong commitment to encouraging the spread of this compelling sport. This," concludes Guanzani, "has led to the signing of an agreement that will enable teams to make use of top-level

MARAZZI OPENS SHOWROOM IN WARSAW Marazzi is stepping up its efforts to strengthen its brand identity in the retail arena in the major European capitals, and having opened new stores in London and Paris, the company has just inaugurated its first showroom in Poland, in Warsaw. The new showroom is located in the Eurocentrum in the Ochota district, one of

Tilenews

the liveliest areas of the Polish capital, and was designed to provide a dynamic showcase in which professional and other visitors can view the many collections offered by the company, which was established in Sassuolo in 1935 and now operates in over 140 countries. "We are confident," explains company CEO Mauro Vandini, "that Marazzi's products represent a combination of values, experience, research and innovation that now enjoys wide acclaim in the world of international architecture and interior design.The tile market in Poland is growing and demand is increasingly shifting towards top-end products. We have a long-standing presence in this country and we have been working with all the major retailers for many years. The aim of this new showroom is to consolidate Marazzi's positioning as the top brand for our customers and the architecture community".

ish multinational to showcase the work of design professionals who, in the opinion of a specially selected jury, have made outstandingly innovative use of materials produced by the Group. The deadline for submission of projects is 23 March. The competition covers two categories: Future Projects, with a section for students and professionals, and Completed Projects. The theme of the first category is a study of an architectural solution for the Porcelanosa showroom in Vila-real (Castellรณn). The second category encompasses the best projects of the most disparate types, completed between January 2016 and February 2018. To find out more: http://www.porcelanosa-interiorismo.com/certamen/en/index.html

LA FABBRICA CERTIFIED FOR QUALITY AND TECHNOLOGY La Fabbrica, a specialist manufacturer of top-end ceramic based in Castel Bolognese, Italy, which since 2017 has been part of the Italcer Group headed by Graziano Verdi, has been awarded ISO 9001:2015 "Management and Quality System" certification, testifying to the quality of its products and services, reflecting the expectations of end-users and ensuring that they are met in full. With this certification, which the company obtained in just three months, La Fabbrica provides further confirmation of its overall qualitative standing, by adhering to procedures and methodologies that ensure the highest standards of efficiency of its business and management processes. For CEO Graziano Verdi, the new certification "is a major milestone because it testifies to the quality of our materials and processes, and forms part of the farreaching programme of continuous improvement that represents one of the Group's main objectives."

11TH ARCHITECTURE & INTERIOR DESIGN AWARDS BY PORCELANOSA Entries are now open for the next Porcelanosa Architecture&Interior Design Awards, a competition held by the Span-

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ASCER APPOINTS VICENTE NOMDEDEU LLUESMA AS ITS NEW CHAIRMAN

rums and in relation to the fight against unfair competition.

Vicente Nomdedeu Lluesma has been appointed as the new Chairman of ASCER (the Spanish ceramic manufacturers' association). He was appointed on 11 January by the Association's Board of Directors, which met a few days after the sudden death of Isidro Zarzoso on 3 January at the age of 76. Colleagues paid tribute to Zarzoso, who had headed ASCER since 2013, for his profound sense of responsibility, the efficiency with which he led the association through a complex phase for the ceramic sector, and his contribution to the achievement of major panEuropean successes, such as the renewal of anti-dumping tariffs on ceramic tile imports from China. Nomdedeu, who was born in 1959, heads the family ceramic business Azteca (Castellรณn), and was already ViceChairman of the Board of Directors of ASCER. According to his first announcements, Nomdedeu intends to stick to the same path embarked upon by his predecessor and remains committed to providing stronger representation within all national and European political fo-

SYSTEM GROUP TURNOVER SHOOTS UP TO 530 MILLION EUROS

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System Group, based in Fiorano Modenese and headed by Franco Stefani, closed 2017 with turnover still growing in double figures.The Group recorded consolidated turnover of 530 million euros (net of the sale of a 60% stake in System Logistics in 2016), equating to a year-onyear rise of 23%. Results of this type have been achieved by all the Group's divisions, from Logistics to Modula and, of course, Laminam, Italy's leading manufacturer of large-format ceramic panels, which expects to report earnings of more than 80 million euros (approximately 20 million more than in 2016). Laminam's latest outstanding results were aided by the fact that its plant in Russia has now come on-stream, and by the introduction of its large-format panels measuring 1620x3240 mm with thicknesses of 12 and 20 mm produced in the Borgotaro plant. This has enabled the company to enter the market for worktops for interior design applications, with the backing of a national television campaign. The System Group operates in 25 countries through 40 subsidiaries. Its exports account for 85% of total revenues, and it employs 2,040 people worldwide, representing a rise of 70 units in 2017, mainly at the company's Italian sites.

VICTORIA PLC ACQUIRES CERAMICHE SERRA Victoria PLC, a British multinational specialising in the manufacture and distribution of flooring materials (carpet, rugs, LVT and parquet), recently announced its acquisition of Ceramiche Serra, a company headed by Pietro Fogliani and headquartered in Torre Maina (Modena). The transaction is valued at 56.5 million euros, of which 36.5 million are payable on completion and the remaining 20 payable over four years, subject to the attainment of certain targets. Ceramiche Serra, which closed 2016 with turnover of 28.2 million euros and profit of 10.5 million, will continue to operate autonomously under its current management team. Geoff Wilding, Chairman of Victoria PLC, a London stock market listed company, emphasised the importance of its first acquisition of a ceramic manufacturer, which will strengthen the Group's growth strategy by diversifying its business interests and coverage of international markets, enabling the British company to become an increasingly international player in the flooring segment. On completion of the acquisition, the Group will have 1,800 employees, 20 production sites spread across the United Kingdom, Australia, Holland, Belgium and Italy, and about 40% of its profit generated outside the UK. In the financial year to 1 April 2017, Victoria recorded consolidated revenues of 330.4 million GBP, up 29.5% on the previous year.

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TECNARGILLA STEPS UP OVERSEAS PROMOTIONAL CAMPAIGN The promotional activities launched in support of Tecnargilla Rimini (24-28 September 2018), the world's most important trade fair for suppliers of the ceramic and heavy clay industry, are continuing at a brisk pace around the world, with a view to giving the upcoming edition an even more international character, with an impressive line-up of top players in the sector. With a view to raising the event's worldwide profile, the promotional activities being carried out overseas this year have the backing of an experienced network of agents in all the target countries and are complemented by attending major world trade fairs and making direct contact with key ceramic industry trade associations, leading buyers and chambers of commerce.

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GPE Fairs in Spain, Bee2Bee in Turkey, Arta Group in Iran, Unifair Exhibition Service in China and Rare Tech Projects Pvtin India are the partners that Tecnargilla has chosen to work with to extend its promotional activity abroad. Numerous delegations and targeted buyers are expected to attend this year's edition and will add to the buzz in the business meeting area (over 1,000 meetings were held there in 2016), which exhibitor companies love because of the excellent business opportunities it generates. Thanks to the intensive organisational efforts invested in this edition, Tecnargilla is forecasting an increase in attendance, even compared with the 2016 edition (the event is held every two years), when foreign visitor numbers reached 16,764 (+6.3% compared with 2014).

SANMARCO-TERREAL ACQUIRES PICA SanMarco-Terreal Italia, which belongs to Terreal, a leading multinational manufacturer and seller of heavy clay products, has signed a deal for the acquisition of Pica, a historic company based in Pesaro. The acquisition of Pica, which was completed after a period of business leasing, forms part of SanMarco's growth strategy aimed at enhancing its competitiveness by extending its range of extruded floor and wall products. The alliance between the two companies will generate estimated turnover of around 10 million euros in 2018, employing a total of about 60 full-time staff. Commenting on the acquisition, Fernando Cuogo, General Director of SanMarco-Terreal Italia, said: "Italy's heavy clay market will never climb back to the levels it reached 10 years ago, so we need to concentrate and streamline our offering. The acquisition of Pica meets this need by enabling us to increase and balance our coverage of the Italian market."

In the spotlight

Raimondi opens museum of its history, while surging towards the future

From left: Ivan and Carla Raimondi with Giorgio Sighinolfi

From left : Riccardo Sighinolfi and Marco Raimondi

Raimondi was established in 1974 by Mirko Raimondi, who became Chairman of the Consorzio Artigiano Pavimentatori di Modena (a local tilers' association) in the 1950s, having learned the art of tile-setting from his master-tiler father. His experience convinced him of the need to equip his fellow tilers with machinery and equipment that would improve their working lives and the quality of their floor and wall tiling, by reducing the physical strain of the profession and reducing the incidence of occupational illness.

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In the spotlight

We paid a visit to the Raimondi Museum, recently opened at the company's site in Via dei Tipografi in Modena (Italy), to retrace the steps that make up the history of this "Modenese dynasty of tile installation specialists". The company's first product was a tile vibrator, launched in the 1960s, whose success paved the way to the formation of Raimondi Mirko in 1974, with headquarters at 30 Via Dall'Arca, Modena. One of the most vivid memories from these early years in business is that of Mirko Raimondi going to Saie, which

later became Cersaie, where he tirelessly explained to attentive crowds of tilers, how certain tasks could be done more effectively and with less effort. The company's founder was immediately joined in this new venture by his wife, Graziella, and soon afterwards by their son, Ivan, Ivan's wife, Carla, and his nephew Giorgio Sighinolfi. The three joined forces in a "pact of steel": Ivan, who already had considerable sales experience from working with MAPEI, focused on business develop-

ment, Giorgio put all his ability as a mechanical inventor at the disposal of the company's engineering department, while Carla took care of all the administration and accounting. Together, Ivan and Giorgio extended the company's product range and distribution network, thus securing the company's growth first in Italy and later on export markets too, until it changed its name to Raimondi Srl in 1984, and opened a second facility at 11 Via dei Tipografi, also in Modena.

In 2003, the company changed its name again to Raimondi SpA, having now established itself as a worldwide leader, exporting over 50% of its output. 2013 saw the opening of the company's third site in Modena, at 300/A Via Raimondo Dalla Costa. By now the third generation of the family had joined the company, in the shape of Marco Raimondi and his cousin Riccardo Sighinolfi. Raimondi SpA now boasts one of the most comprehensive ranges of professional products in the industry, and

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In the spotlight

operates at a worldwide level, without compromising on its specific commitment to producing high-quality products, made in Italy. The Raimondi Museum, recently opened in Via dei Tipografi, retraces more than 40 years of the the company's history, through exhibits such as its first invoice, issued on 1 June 1974 to Ferrucci Graziano of Figline Valdarno, its first alphabetical index of customers, and its first price list, dated 1-9-1975. The museum also features an impressive array of original drawings and prototypes of the machines and tools that helped write the history of tile-setting: from the Lupetto tile vibrator to the historic Bang tile saw, the famous Titina single rotating brush, the first spacers for joints between tiles and the latest levelling spacers.

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Ivan Raimondi took us on a tour of the Museum and emphasised how "teamwork involving the help of everyone will enable us to continue to occupy "historic" spaces while also expanding into new ones. Our contribution to pushing back the frontiers of ceramic always revolves around facilitating the work of tilers and improving the results they achieve." This is also the reason that prompted Ivan to become a promoter of ASSOPOSA. â&#x20AC;˘ Meanwhile, we asked Marco Raimondi for the latest news on domestic and international market performance, and first and foremost, he confirmed that 2017 ended on a distinctly positive note for Raimondi SpA: "We achieved very satisfactory year-on-year growth in 2017. In line with the trend established in recent years, export sales made the biggest

contribution to our performance, although the Italian market also reported growth." â&#x20AC;˘ And what are your feelings about the near future? "We expect this growth phase for the Italian ceramic industry to continue and, in fact, to pick up pace. Obviously, this is the feeling we get from the point of view of a company that deals in related products (tile-setting equipment). What's certain, however, is that more and more ceramic manufacturers are deciding to move into the market for large-format panels. These materials require new techniques and installation tools, which are not yet fully known to the whole market. That's why, thanks in part to our role as technical partner of ASSOPOSA and to our partnerships with major players in the industry (whom we take this opportunity to thank), in 2017 alone, we took part in over 100 events in Italy

aimed at training tilers in the correct methods for handling, cutting, drilling and installing large-format panels. In addition to these, of course, we held many more abroad." â&#x20AC;˘ Is this a very demanding task? "It's very demanding, but we're delighted to do it. On the one hand, it enables us to provide people who need it with the specific know-how on large-format tiles that we have developed since 2012 (the year we launched our first product for large formats), while on the other, it gives us access to the vital information we need to develop higher-performing products in line with market requirements. Two perfect examples are the new RAIZOR* cutting guide, which incorporates all the experience we have acquired in recent years, to offer the highest quality and performance, and the new RLS VITE** levelling system." 5

In the spotlight

DAL 1974 INNOVAZIONI PER I PROFESSIONISTI DELLA POSA

*RAIZOR is a "cutting guide" designed for optimum use

on large-format tiles of all sizes. RAIZOR can also be equipped with POWER-RAIZOR, an innovative cutting unit with angle grinder that's capable of performing 45°, 90° and 180° cuts, either dry or with water cooling. Thanks to POWER-RAIZOR, a single tool makes it possible to carry out all types of cut with a diamond disc.

** Another recently released product is the new RLS

VITE levelling system, which is available alongside the well known RLS base and wedge system. RLS VITE can be used on tiles with a thickness of up to 26 mm. Furthermore, the cap is designed in such a way as to leave a perfect view of the joint.The cap is also extremely easy to remove, whenever necessary, by simply unscrewing it. The "spinning-top effect" makes the system very fast to use, because it means that the cap "self-tightens" on to the base and therefore takes only a moment to reach the surface of the tiles. At this point, all you need to do is tighten it a bit more to apply the necessary pressure to level the tiles.

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In the spotlight Paola Giacomini - p.giacomini@tiledizioni.it

Coop Imola expands in the large-size tile segment

Stefano Bolognesi When Cooperativa Ceramica d’Imola started up its new Continua+ line on 21 August this year, this marked the completion of the first step in a 40 million euro investment project approved by the Imola-based group for the three-year period 2017-2019. The new plant joins the two Continua lines (the first version of the Sacmi technology) in operation since 2011 and 2014. These lines are used for the production of unglazed tiles in a maximum size of 120x120 cm for the Imola and Leonardo brands but had reached saturation and were insufficient to meet a market demand that has really taken off in recent years. “We are not entering the largesize porcelain tile segment as a follower,” explained Chairman Stefano Bolognesi. “This latest investment fulfils our need to raise

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production capacity in the large size segment and to adopt innovative pressing technology alongside traditional technology in order to further increase product size. The new line will produce tiles of 60x120 cm size upwards for the Imola and Faenza brands as well as large-size panels and slabs such as the 120x260 cm presented at Cersaie.” We spoke to Stefano Bolognesi during a visit to the historic headquarters in Imola, a tour that included the company museum housing ceramic masterpieces from the entire twentieth century and the imposing new showroom. Another example of post-industrial architecture, the showroom welcomed more than 2,000 guests during the week of Cersaie and strikes a perfect balance between history, art and tradition on the one hand and

In the spotlight

innovation and modernity on the other. Tile International: Mr Bolognesi, is the growth in extra-large ceramic tile sizes simply a natural trend amongst consumers or are we seeing a more structural change in the market? Stefano Bolognesi: Market demand is certainly shifting towards sizes of 120 cm and larger. Whereas 60x60 cm would

have been considered a large size just ten years ago, now it is seen as a minimum standard size. However, demand is fairly segmented and ranges from 60x120 cm (in my opinion the central size) to 120x120 cm and higher, including large panels and slabs more than two or three metres in length. The increasing demand for customisation is also forcing the ceramic industry to abandon its

standardised approach and to develop proposals tailored to both the design world and the residential segment. At the same time, the specialist distribution market â&#x20AC;&#x201C; at least in Europe â&#x20AC;&#x201C; is no longer prepared to pay warehousing costs but at the same time demands an immediate response. So yes, our reference market is changing, but the Italian ceramic tile industry is also demonstrating

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In the spotlight

an ability to keep pace with the changes while exploiting both existing and latent demand. This is not a point of arrival but a work in progress. Tile International: Fragmentation of demand and a justin-time response means redesigning factories. S. Bolognesi: That’s right. The demand for ever smaller batches results in a need for plants with greater productivity, flexibility and performance compared with the past. We need to establish harmonious process flows, which can be done by digitising factories in accordance with the concept of Industry 4.0. But there’s also another factor concerning the production of ceramic slabs and panels that makes it essential to reprogram factories, and that’s the importance of post-firing operations. In the past, the

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press and kiln were the machines at the heart of a production line. Today, major investments are being made in plants for finishing (cutting, honing and squaring) and surface treatments, processes that add value to finished products and now tend to be performed in-house after being outsourced for many years. The greater number of operations performed post-firing means that the batches produced by the press and kiln no longer correspond to the those arriving at the sorting line, but at the same time it is not feasible to create enormous intermediate storage units. This too is a challenging step forward for companies, and one that must be approached judiciously and with full knowledge of the situation. Tile International: Could you

explain that a little? S. Bolognesi: Today ceramic companies require greater capitalisation than in the past. There are two reasons for this. Firstly, production lines are becoming longer due to the increased number of processing operations, making it necessary to optimise efficiency and plant management while taking advantage of the opportunities offered by digitisation. Secondly, there is a greater quantity of capital being invested in the market. And given that the future trend will be towards an on-demand approach to production, it will increasingly be necessary to invest more capital in factories and less in warehouses. Tile International: Could warehouses of semi-finished slabs and panels be a solution?

S. Bolognesi: It’s possible, provided economic sustainability is guaranteed. Tile International: In Italy and abroad we are seeing a proliferation of new factories producing large-size ceramic tiles and panels. What in your opinion is the market’s absorption capacity? S. Bolognesi: There’s plenty of room for growth. I see that the Italian manufacturers are keeping ahead of their own market and have shown an ability to open up new areas rather than limiting themselves to saturating the existing market. We will certainly see a sharp division in our sector between companies that choose to go down this road and those that do not. Tile International: What challenges are still to be overcome in the production of very large sizes?

In the spotlight

S. Bolognesi: These highly innovative technologies have overcome many of the technological limitations of the early versions such as the possibility of creating textures. We must continue research into ceramic bodies and raw materials, and obviously continue to focus on products, design and aesthetic finishes. Tile International: Which are the most dynamic markets today? S. Bolognesi: In general all major markets are showing a positive trend, particularly Europe and the United States, although our expectations for the US market were perhaps not entirely fulfilled. The situation in Russia is also not so negative and we expect to see slight growth in 2017 with respect to 2016. The Far East is seeing double-figure growth driven by higher demand in China and Hong Kong, a trend that I think will continue and strengthen in the long term. Cooperativa Ceramica dâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Imola was one of the first Italian ceramic tile manufacturers to begin selling its products in China 18 years ago in cooperation with a local partner. Our methodical, pragmatic approach has enabled us to grow year af-

ter year and we are now the most widely sold Italian brand in the Chinese ceramic tile market. Another emerging market for Coop. Imola is India, a country where we are already exporting our products and in many cases replacing import shares previously held by China. Tile International: What about Italy? S. Bolognesi: Demand in Italy is fluctuating. After getting off to a very good start to the year in the first quarter, the following months saw a slowdown. The overall results are positive though in terms of both turnover and sales mix. Tile International: So 2017 has been a positive year. Are you satisfied? S. Bolognesi: We have worked hard in recent years and are now reaping the rewards. Not just in terms of recognition and market results: turnover is an important component but well-balanced finances are even more crucial in my view. In this respect we are pleased with our results. The rigorous financial management we have followed over the three-year period 20142016 has enabled us to close the first half of 2017 with good core profitability and an EBITDA of 20%. 5

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In the spotlight

Buzon Pedestal celebrates 30th anniversary A self-taught genius In those days, the pedestals were made in standard heights of 10 to 15 centimetres.To adapt them to the requirements of his customers, who often needed shorter pedestals, Claude Buzon converted his garage into a workshop, became an inventor and began tailoring and cutting the pedestals to customer specifications. In the early days, the task of precision-cutting was done manually, and the whole family lent a hand by cleaning and preparing the cut-to-measure pedestals for delivery. By 1987, business was booming and Claude decided to dispense with his external supplier and founded Buzon Pedestal.

Claude Buzon in the middle of Laurent and Laure

Buzon Pedestal International, a Belgian-based family-run company specialising in the manufacture and distribution of adjustable pedestals for all types of outdoor raised flooring, has just celebrated its first 30 years in business. Buzon started life in the early 1980s when Claude Buzon, who was working for a data processing company at the time, fell victim to a large-scale corporate redundancy plan, and found himself out of his job as a computer technician after over 20 years of service. The 40-year-old didn't let this get his spirits down, and soon became a sales representative for a French manufacturer of foam for roofing and window applications. Times were tough at the start, and Claude decided to supplement his earnings by working as a waiter in a restaurant near Liege. In the

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meantime, the French company for which he was acting as an agent also offered him the chance to sell "pedestals for terraces" in the Benelux countries, where the product was still completely unknown at the time. Claude was given 18 months to launch it. By dint of hard work, he soon achieved encouraging results, and within six months, he was awarded the sole agency. He travelled the length and breadth of Belgium, Holland and Luxembourg, promoting the system and delivering the ordered pedestals in person.

In the spotlight

Keeping a close eye on market requirements, he developed the first product ranges capable of creating various combinations: a small pedestal with a height of 3 to 5 centimetres, known as the "B34", with a large support surface, and the "P" series, with an adjustable height of 32 to 600 millimetres, making it the highest pedestal on the market. New ideas started flowing thick and fast, and the busi-

ness was soon thriving. Claude Buzon did not settle for selling his pedestals only on the Benelux market, however, and soon struck out for new horizons. He raised awareness of his products by means of trade fairs in France, Britain, Italy and Germany, before crossing the Atlantic and gaining a foothold in the American market. 1997 was a milestone year for the company: the invention of a gradient corrector, which

was immediately patented, aroused considerable interest at the Batimat trade show in Paris and won a silver medal in the competition for innovation.

A family affair In the late 1990s, Laurent Buzon, Claude's son, joined the company and embarked on a far-reaching world tour aimed at opening up new markets, from China to Japan,

Mexico, the United States, Turkey, Hong Kong, Dubai, Singapore and Eastern Europe. The tour bore fruit and by the year 2000, Buzon Pedestal had more than 25 subsidiaries spanning the four corners of the world, managed by sole distributors. The product range continued to expand too, with the addition of new generations of pedestals, while the list of prestigious international projects in which Buzon materials

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In the spotlight

France - Metz - Restaurant Centre Pompidou

were used grew ever longer. These included the great mosque of Abu Dhabi, with its 115,000 pedestals, the terraces of the Marina Bay Sands complex in Singapore, the Cameroonian embassy in France and the Olympic village in London. Buzon currently manufactures its products at two sites, one in Belgium and one in Portugal. The company is headquartered in Herstal, near Liege, where it has a large storage depot. Claude's daughter, Laure, joined the company in 2013. Using her degree in Business Engineering, she took charge of finance and human resources, which she prefers to call "human development". A year after her arrival, Buzon

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obtained ISO 9000 quality certification for its business process management systems. In the same year, Buzon Pedestal invested in the French market by hiring Marc Collings as Sales Director for France, Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands. Marc swiftly created a sales network of seven agents, who are fully fledged brand ambassadors for Buzon within their respective territories.

Time to pass the baton In November 2017, Buzon celebrated 30 years in business by assembling all its employees, its 35 sole distributors from across five continents, plus the French sales network, at the Buzon stand at Batimat in Paris.

The Buzon family and the management team at the Batimat in Paris

In the spotlight

Marina Bay Sands complex , Singapore

The convivial long weekend in the French capital culminated in a memorable evening on the Seine, on-board a boat specifically chartered for the purpose. In the presence of all his staff and partners, Claude Buzon took the opportunity to announce his decision to pass the management of the company onto his children. Laure and Laurent, who are now codirectors, are committed to ensuring that Buzon Pedestal remains the worldwide benchmark brand in the pedestal sector. "Our mission is to run the company responsibly and caringly, preserve the jobs of our employees, cultivate their interests, and go about our business with passion," explained Laurent Buzon. "At

the same time, we want to remain the leading name in our field, and be the focal point for both the private residential market and the most beautiful architectural creations all over the world." To meet these new challenges, the company knows it has to keep innovating, so recently launched the aluminium Buzon Rail System (BRS), which facilitates and speeds up the installation of raised flooring. Claude Buzon can deservedly retire with complete peace of mind, but we don't think we've seen the last of his creative flairâ&#x20AC;Ś.. because he's preparing an animated comic strip to tell the incredible story and his life and his company. 5

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In the spotlight

Progress Profiles: +15% in 2017

Progress Profiles headquarter

Dennis Bordin

Progress Profiles, a major Italian manufacturer of technical and decorative finishing profiles and installation systems, with a proven track-record of creativity and professionalism, has closed 2017 with a 15% increase in group revenues, and exports accounting for 38% of total turnover. Since the opening of its Australian base in 2016, the company now has three subsidiaries operating as global business hubs, namely Progress Profiles America Inc. in Randolph, New Jersey USA; Progress Profiles Middle East LLC in Dubai, United Arab Emirates; and Progress Profiles Oceania PTY Ltd. in Melbourne, Australia. Dennis Bordin, President of Progress Profiles, is not only firmly committed to expanding his company's business on the world market, but also to retaining its position as Italy's top manufacturer in the sector, by focusing on innovation and quality. "Our compa-

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ny's route to innovation," explains Mr. Bordin, "is continuously evolving thanks to massive investment in specialist personnel and latestgeneration machinery. Research, experimentation and innovation are the cornerstones of the company, which combines high-quali-

ty materials and all-Italian design and production, with state-of-the-art technology." Tile International: How did Progress Profiles perform in 2017? Dennis Bordin: "As a group, Progress Profiles recorded growth of more than 15% in 2017. Our exports are now reaching over 60 countries and account for a substantial 38% of turnover. At the same time, our home market, with 62%, is still strong and stable. This is a major achievement and it derives from our constant commitment to invest in technology and specialised training, backed up by highly

qualified, well managed staff and a first-class sales network." Tile International: With three overseas subsidiaries, which market areas are of most interest to you at the moment? D. Bordin: Progress Profiles currently exports its products to over 60 countries, thanks to a long-standing successful strategy and our ongoing commitment to technological research, creativity and the quality of the material we use. The Group is continuously expanding worldwide, transcending all geographical boundaries and relishing the prospect of driving growth forward throughout the Far

In the spotlight

Progress Profiles team East and Oceania. Our goal is still to become a focal point for anyone looking for innovative systems and finishings incorporating genuine Italian design. We are reaping excellent results from the American market, as well as from Russia, France and Middle East." Tile International: How much demand is there for technical and decorative finishing profiles on the American market? D. Bordin: â&#x20AC;&#x153;The North American market is highly complex, with very different laws, dynamics, and habits compared with the rest of the world. Decorative interior finishings are highly regarded by architects and final customers, but the distribution and retail system is not yet accustomed to promoting them, except on a limited basis. We

are successfully stepping up our training programmes and marketing campaigns at all levels, to raise awareness of our innovative systems. The American market still offers plenty of potential for our sector, and good opportunities for growth and development." Tile International: And how has your subsidiary in Randolph performed? D. Bordin: "Progress Profiles America Inc. was formed in 2012 and started trading in 2013. Its business has developed significantly and continuously since then, with growth still in double digit in 2017. We are considering making substantial investments in the near future to support our growth." Tile International: Did your

Prosupport System

Proled System Tile International 1/2018

In the spotlight

Profoil Panel System participation in Coverings prove effective in raising awareness of what you do? D. Bordin: "We first took part in Coverings in 2010. It is still one of the most important trade shows in America for the ceramic sector and beyond. It's a prime opportunity for us to raise awareness of our systems and the culture of technical and decorative profiles among trade operators, and make personal contact with distributors. It's a big investment that takes up resourc-

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Proshower System es and personnel, but it certainly channels our products and solutions effectively to the right target." Tile International: How about the Italian market? D. Bordin: "Our home market is increasingly competitive and attentive to detail, as installers become more and more aware of the use of new technologies and installation systems. That's why Progress Profiles has developed a long list of innovations and patents,

which are highly regarded by installers, backed up by first-class technical and sales support. I now hope that 2018 really will be the year in which Italy's economy gets back on track, after a decade-long recession, and I firmly believe that the process of recovery depends on further incentives for the building industry, which drives the whole economy." Tile International: What are the latest additions to your product range?

D. Bordin: "Every year we launch new products on the Italian and international market, and we have recently started manufacturing highdensity extruded polystyrene panels to serve the increasingly important renovation sector. The new Profoil Panel System, which we unveiled at Cersaie 2017, is lightweight, waterproof and versatile, making it ideal for covering all types of substrates, walls and ceilings, while significantly reducing work times, be-

In the spotlight

Prodeso System cause tiles can be installed on it immediately. This is a useful product for easy construction of bearing structures, partitions, suspended walls, benches and showers, and is the ideal replacement for heavy plasterboard. Our Proshower Panel is another innovative product, because it is factory-produced with the right gradient for shower trays, thus facilitating the construction of any type of shower cabin. Our Proshower Profile line is also ideal for the easy construction of shower cabins, because it is designed to support the perimeter glass

of the cabin and connect the tiles laid flat with those laid on a gradient. All these items make up the Proshower System, a Progress Profiles solution for making the bathroom a totally relaxing and supremely comfortable place to be." Tile International: Has Progress Profiles made many investments in training and communication? D. Bordin: "Our company pays close attention to keeping the technical skills of trade professionals up to date, and we are firm believers in people and their training. That's why we have invested

so much in training, and even equipped our headquarters in Asolo with a Training Centre, consisting of a 200 sq.m showroom, plus a 300 sq.m training area (equipped to receive architects, engineers, surveyors, designers, contractors and installers) and a new technical area measuring a further 200 sq.m. We offer practical demonstrations, installation videos, seminars and workshops run by professionals, which are certified by the National Council of Architects and entitle participants to training credits. The professional development courses run by the Pro-

gress Training Academy provide the necessary skills and know-how to meet the challenges of today's market. On our travels round the world over the past few years, we have met over 5,000 professionals and visited over 60 cities, in Italy and abroad. These courses include practical demonstrations, in which participants gain hands-on experience under the guidance of our technical personnel, and theory sessions covering certifications and regulations. As far as communication is concerned, we have been working with all the main trade publications for many years, and we are also on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, where we interact with our followers from all over the world and answer questions from trade operators." Tile International: What are your plans for 2018? D. Bordin: "We are planning to step up our investments in the American, European and Middle Eastern markets. The latter, in particular, is showing continuous growth, and thanks to our new subsidiary in Melbourne, we are also expecting to strengthen our relations with the Asian world. We expect 2018 to be another year full of challenges and success stories, and we will carry on investing in research and new technologies, with a constant eye to the future." 5

Tile International 1/2018

Media planning and advertising.

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Signs of recovery in the Russian construction market Despite a slowdown with respect to the period AprilJune (+2.5%), the positive performance of the third quarter of 2017 (GDP +1.8%) allowed the Russian economy to achieve the fourth consecutive quarter of growth following a prolonged recession caused by low oil prices and international sanctions. The economy has regained momentum with a surge in private consumption, which hit the highest growth rate since 2012 (+5.2% in Q3 compared to +4.4% in Q2). Robust household spending was fuelled by an im-

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

Tile International 1/2018

proving labour market and the lowest levels of inflation since the fall of the Soviet Union (2.5% in 2017 compared to 5.4% in 2016). Government consumption and fixed investments also grew, aided by lower interest rates. Higher commodities prices and favourable dynamics in the global economy boosted export growth from 3.3% in Q2 to 4.5% in Q3. The positive trends have reduced unemployment rates to a historical low, although unemployment across regions remains uneven. The lowest level of unemployment was registered in Moscow (1.3% in the third quarter of 2017) and Saint Petersburg (1.7%), while the highest levels were recorded in Ingushetia in the North Caucasus region (27%) and Tuva Republic (18.7%). Declining inflation and growing real wages led to a decline in Russia’s poverty rate, which dropped from 13.5% in 2016 to 12.9% in 2017 and is expected to continue to fall in 2018 (12.6%) and 2019 (12.2%). The economists’ forecasts are optimistic with GDP expected to grow by 1.9% in 2018 and 1.8% in 2019. Moody’s raised the outlook on Russia’s sovereign ratings to ‘positive’, affirming the ratings at the non-investment grade Ba1. The agency took account of the Russian authorities’ efforts to strengthen macroeconomic stability through more adequate fis-

Economy & markets

cal policy responses and observed that the Central Bank of Russia has continued its gradual approach to monetary easing and reduced its main interest rate from 10% in annual terms at the beginning of 2017 to 8.25% at the end of October.

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

The construction industry The negative trend that began in 2013 and continued over the following years was to a smaller extent also evident in 2017. According to the preliminary Rosstat (Federal Service for State Statis-

Fig. 3 - Construction output in Russia (%, y-o-y) - Jan 2015/Dec2017

Tile International 1/2018

Economy & markets

tics) figures reported by the agency PMR, in 2017 Russiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s construction output fell by 1.4% year on year compared to -2.2% in 2016 (fig. 1). This contrasted with a significant growth in value from 7,204.2 billion roubles (102.77 billion euros) in 2016 to 7,545.9 billion roubles (107.65 billion euros) in 2017 (fig. 2). Analysing the monthly trends (fig. 3), the figures show that the sector suffered the biggest fall in April (-5.4% year on year) followed by an alternating trend through to the upturn in December (+1.3% with respect

to December 2016). According to the latest report published by EECFA (Eastern European Construction Forecasting Association), a small recovery is expected in 2018 and 2019 (+0.1% and +1.8% respectively), largely due to large-scale projects in the civil engineering sector.

1,167,000 in 2016 to 1,111,400 in 2017 with a contraction estimated by the agency PMR at -3.9%. At the same time the housing construction volume dropped to 78.6 million sq.m compared to the 80.2 million sq.m of 2016 (-2.1%). The sectorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s performance remained negative through most months of the year with the exception of August (+13.1%), September (+13.4%) and December (+5.1%). According to figures published by the Russian Agency for Housing Mortgage Lending, the sector is expected to recover in 2018

Residential building The new housing construction sector saw a further year-on-year contraction in 2017 (Table 1). The number of new houses dropped from

with a housing construction volume of 88 million sq.m. By 2023 the volume of housing stock in Russia will reach 4.1 billion sq.m, 18% more than in 2017. The forecasts are also good for 2019, with continued growth in demand for housing fuelled by the higher purchasing power of households and the availability of subsidised mortgage loans. According to EECFA figures, the percentage of households capable of purchasing homes is set to increase from 35.6% in 2016 to 55.2% in 2019, pushing up the number of housing sales

Table 1. - Housing completions in Russia, number of units and floor space 2013 929.4 10.9% 70.5 7.2%

Number of homes completed ('000) Number of homes completed (y-o-y) Total floor space of homes completed (million m2) Total floor space of homes completed (y-o-y)

2014 1,124.4 21.0% 84.2 19.4%

2015 1,195.0 6.3% 85.3 1.4%

2016 1,167.1 -2.3% 80.2 -6.0%

Jan-Dec 2017 1,111.4 -3.9%e 78.6 -2.1%

e - estimate Source: Rosstat, 2017

www.pmrpublications.com

Table 2. - Production of selected building materials in Russia

Cement (million tonnes) Bricks (billion standardised bricks) Ceramic floor tiles (million m2) Ferroconcrete production (million m3)

2015 62.1

2015 (%, y-o-y) -10.2%

2016 55.1

2016 (%, y-o-y) -11.3%

Jan-Dec 2017 54.0

Jan-Dec 2017 (%, y-o-y) -2.0%

6.7

-8.4%

5.5

-18.0%

5.28

-4.0%

92.1

-0.2%

88.6

-3.8%

80.4

-0.6%

21.4

-20.1%

18.6

-13.1%

n.d.

n.d. - no data (or data not yet published) Source: Rosstat, 2017

Tile International 1/2018

www.pmrpublications.com

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Economy & markets

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

to 980,000 (compared 620,000 in 2016).

Residential building in Moscow The building market in the Moscow region will be dominated over the next few years by plans to renovate tens of thousands of Khrushchev-era housing blocks along with the New Moscow development project which will expand the city by around 1,500 square km. Around 12 million sq.m of housing has been built in New Moscow in the last five years for a total investment of around 780 billion roubles (11.2 billion euros). A further

Tile International 1/2018

7 million sq.m of housing volume is expected to be built between 2018 and 2020 for a further investment of 500 billion roubles (more than 7 billion euros). The Moscow authoritiesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; development plans for the area around the capital include infrastructure investments aimed at building 5 new subway stations and 130 km of roads over the next three years. By 2035, a total of 60 million sq.m of residential property is planned for the area.

traction in the building sector has impacted the production of construction materials, resulting in falls in all the main segments (Table 2). Cement production dropped by 0.3% to 54 million tonnes (from 55.1 million tonnes in 2016). Clay bricks experienced an even larger contraction (-6.4%) from 5.5 billion units in 2016 to 5.28 billion in 2017.

Russian construction materials production

In 2017 the Russian tile industry saw its output recover slightly from the previous yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s fall to reach 164 million

The Russian ceramic tile industry

At a national level the con-

sq.m (Table 3). Wall tile production rose by 8% to return to 2015 levels of 75 million sq.m, whereas the contraction in the floor tile segment continued (89 million sq.m, -3%). Exports, estimated at around 26 million sq.m in 2017 (+8%), were mainly shipped to the markets of Central Asia and the Caucasus region, with additional growth in Europe and the United States (Estima has a sales branch in California). Domestic consumption also picked up, estimated at around 180 million sq.m (+3%), while imports showed the first signs of recovery fol-

Economy & markets

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

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017 est

100

115

135

147

117

126

136

154

166

170.4

161.2

163.8

1.6

75.1

69.3

74.7

7.8

Production - Wall tiles - Floor tiles

% var. 17/16

95.3

91.8

89.1

-2.9

Exports

8.3

Imports

46.2

38.2

42.5

11.3

Domestic consumption

131

153

176

191

139

158

181

213

230

220

194.6

175.4

180.3

2.8

Local production on consumption (%)

70.2

69.9

68.8

67.0

72.7

67.7

65.2

66.2

65.2

66.8

76.3

78.2

76.4

-2.3

Imports on consumption (%)

29.8

30.1

31.3

33.0

27.3

32.3

34.8

33.8

34.8

33.2

23.7

21.8

23.6

8.2

Source “World Production & Consumption of Ceramic Tiles”, Acimac November 2017 and estimates for 2017

lowing 3 consecutive years of contraction and climbed to around 42 million sq.m (+11%). The main exporter countries, Belarus, Ukraine, Italy and Spain, saw growth of between 9% and 13%.

Kerama Marazzi (Mohawk Group) confirmed its position as Russia’s largest producer, closing 2017 with an output of 34.8 million sq.m and double-digit revenue growth. Its results were also boosted

by the expansion of its operations in the bathroom furnishing sector. In addition to the Continua+ line for porcelain panel production that was started up in January 2017, the first of the two porcelain

tile lines in the new Orel factory began operating in December 2017. Further investments in both porcelain and double fired tile production are planned for 2018. 5

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

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2017

2016

est.

% var. 17/16

% share

Belarus

8.2

7.7

9.2

10.9

14.1

14.4

15.8

12.9

8.5

32.9

Ukraine

1.3

1.9

2.8

5.7

6.2

10.1

13.8

20.5

15.2

11.2

11.1

23.5

Spain

7.9

10.1

11.2

13.9

7.1

9.3

10.4

13.1

7.5

6.2

12.9

16.5

China

6.8

11.7

12.5

13.9

4.8

7.4

10.6

10.8

14.9

12.8

4.5

2.6

3.9

50.0

9.2

Italy

4.9

5.6

6.1

6.3

3.5

4.7

5.8

5.6

5.1

2.8

2.5

2.7

10.0

6.4

Poland

4.4

4.6

7.4

5.5

2.7

3.4

3.9

4.6

4.9

4.5

3.1

2.7

2.6

-3.7

6.1

Germany

0.4

0.5

0.6

0.9

0.5

0.6

1.2

1.5

1.7

1.1

1.3

0.0

3.1

Turkey

1.7

1.3

0.8

0.4

0.7

1.3

1.8

1.5

0.6

0.3

0.0

0.7

Other countries

3.3

2.8

4.8

4.6

1.9

2.9

5.5

3.6

1.4

0.7

0.0

1.6

38.9

46.2

55.4

62.8

38.1

51.4

62.9

72.2

80.5

73.0

46.2

38.2

42.5

11.3

100.0

TOTAL

Source “World Production & Consumption of Ceramic Tiles”, Acimac November 2017 and estimates for 2017 49

Tile International 1/2018

Economy & markets

Confindustria Ceramica’s data for 2017

Vittorio Borelli

According to statistics unveiled by Confindustria Ceramica at its traditional end of year conference, the Italian ceramic tile industry closed 2017 with growth in investments, stable national production and strong export dynamics. The preliminary figures published by the association’s Research Department in collaboration with Prometeia show that the recovery has further strengthened in terms of production and total sales volumes, which both stood at around 425 million sq.m (up 2.3% on 2016). This strong performance continues to be driven

Tile International 1/2018

more by exports, which have risen to 340 million sq.m (+2.6%), than domestic sales (84 million sq.m, +1.5%), which while remaining in positive territory saw a slowdown during the year. The volume of tiles imported into Italy rose by 11% to 23 million sq.m, bringing total national consumption to 106 million sq.m (+2.3%). The total turnover of the industry should have risen to about 5.5 billion euros (+2% on 2016). The growth trend extended to all areas of destination for Italian tile exports. Sales in Western Europe, a region that accounts for half of total exports (172 million sq.m), rose by 2.6%. But the biggest

increase (+5.8%) was in Central and Eastern Europe (33 million sq.m), which partly made up for the substantial falls experienced in previous years. Strong performances were also seen in the Balkans (18 million sq.m, +3.2%) and in the Far East (20 million sq.m, +3.5%). By contrast, exports to North America (NAFTA region) grew by a mere 0.7% to 49 million sq.m in a sharp slowdown compared to the trends of the two-year period 2015-2016. The Prometeia forecasts for 2018 point to further export growth of around +3.4%, with the biggest increases in demand expected in the Gulf states and Eastern Europe (+5%). This will lead to a projected further increase in production and total sales of around +3%, while the domestic market is expected to remain stable at current levels. Commenting on the results and the 2018 forecasts for the sector, Confindustria Ceramica’s chairman Vittorio Borelli observed that it is now essential to focus more strongly on new – or at least less traditional – markets, which offer promising growth margins (Gulf states, India, North Africa, Far East) at a time of slowdown in the historically strongest markets (USA and Germany). The weak dollar, higher oil prices and protectionist policies have resulted in a slight worsening of the global scenario, admitted Borelli, “but not to the point of undermining our competitiveness and world leadership in terms of export value”.

In terms of market segments, Borelli believes that global non-residential building offers good prospects for further growth, especially given Italy’s steadily growing output of large size tiles and ceramic panels and slabs. This product category has been the focus of much of the huge technology investments made by the sector’s companies, largely spurred by the government’s Industry 4.0 incentives. Investments should have exceeded half a billion euros in 2017 following the boom in 2016 (400 million euros, equivalent to 7.5% of total turnover). The Italian market on the other hand is languishing and currently stands at just half of the pre-crisis volumes.“The Italian market needs a kick start and the injection of adequate resources, which could be achieved for example by making the energy and seismic incentives permanent,” argued Borelli. “New investments are needed to redevelop our cities and to revive our country’s construction industry.” He expressed his approval of the recent renewal of antidumping duties on Chinese imports until 2022. “This is a vital measure to ensure fair trade and to give certainty and stability to the industry at a European level,” argued Borelli, who noted that the trade protection measures approved by the European Commission display both positive and negative aspects. “There continue to be significant doubts regarding certain technical aspects of the antidumping duties,” he said. 5

Economy & markets

Tab. 1 - The Italian ceramic tile industry 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 Production

512

368

387

400

367

363

382

395

416

426

+2.3

Total sales

506

408

413

382

389

395

397

415

424

+2.3

Domestic market

151

127

124

115

+1.5

Exports

355

281

289

298

289

303

314

317

331

340

+2.6

ELECTRICITY CHARGES SLASHED FROM 85% TO 55% One very promising measure that has long been awaited by the Italian ceramic industry is the new article 39 of the so-called “Development Decree” announced in January 2018. This measure reduces electricity charges for ceramic industry companies who for years have been severely penalised in terms of competitiveness compared to foreign companies that benefit from lower energy costs. For example, the Italian ceramic industry has until now paid electrical energy surcharges of around €60 million per year, while the corresponding costs faced by German companies are less than one fifth of that. “This situation has affected the competitiveness of sectors like ours that have to compete on a daily basis in markets all over the world,” commented Franco Manfredini, Chairman of the Energy Commission of Confindustria Ceramica (pictured). The decision derives from a close and constructive dialogue that has been underway for some time with the Ministry for Economic Development. The efforts of the government and the Parliamentary Commissions have

% var 17/16

The Italian ceramic tile industry: forecasts 2017-2019 2017

2015

2016

Value mln. sq.m

2017

2018

2019

Variation %

Sales in Italy

-0.6

3.2

1.5

1.1

1.5

Total exports

340

0.8

4.8

2.6

3.4

3.3

Western Europe

172

2.0

5.0

2.6

3.5

3.3

Eastern Europe

-17.2

1.6

5.8

5.2

5.1

Balkans

4.5

6.2

3.2

3.3

3.2

NAFTA

5.6

8.7

0.7

2.6

2.7

Latin America

-5.4

-22.6

2.6

3.2

3.4

Gulf States

4.3

4.2

2.5

4.9

4.7

North Africa - Middle East

-9.2

1.9

1.6

2.1

2.9

Far East

12.8

4.9

3.5

3.4

2.7

Rest of the world

8.1

8.0

0.5

1.4

1.8

Total sales

424

0.5

4.5

2.3

2.9

3.0

Production

426

3.4

5.4

2.3

2.9

National consumption

106

1.6

5.7

2.5

2.0

2.2

12.9

17.7

11.2

5.5

5.2

Imports

Source: Prometeia, Forecasting Report for the ceramic tile industry - December 2017

led to the completion of a complex process that recognises the excellence of the Italian ceramic industry, a sector with a trade surplus of 4.2 billion euros which invested more than 400 million euros in technological innovation in 2016 alone. “We welcome the government’s long-awaited and much-requested decision,” concluded Fran-

co Manfredini. “This government measure finally reflects the considerable technological investments that are in progress and the continued leadership in innovation of our manufacturing industry, which needs a more competitive national context in order to respond to the increasingly tough challenges of the globalised market.” 51

Tile International 1/2018

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

Another year of substantial growth for Italian tiles The definitive 2016 financial statement data from the sample of major Italian ceramic tile manufacturers studied by the ACIMAC Research Centre makes it clear once again that the industry is in good health. Despite slackening the pace slightly compared with the previous year, the industry nonetheless posted year-onyear growth of 5.5%, in line with Spain, our main European competitor. The Italian ceramic industry is also enjoying stronger growth than the world's other main ceramic-manufacturing countries, both in Europe and Asia. In fact, the worldwide sample of ceramic tile manufacturers

(over 330 companies) available for sectoral analysis by the Acimac Research Centre covers not only the whole of Italy but also a significant slice of other European players. Although smaller, the sample of Asian companies is still big enough to ensure that trends are reported with a high degree of accuracy. The growth trend in the industry is also accompanied by a virtuous new phenomenon, in the shape of rising employment (+3.1% across the sample studied by the Acimac Research Centre), which had been falling until the previous year. Growth in employment is also over two percentage points

higher than in Spain (+1%). This increase in employment means companies are not reacting passively to changes in world demand but are forecasting permanent growth and thus stepping up their investments in human capital as well as production technologies. The process of reorganising the industry's employment structure, which consisted in introducing labour-saving technologies up until the previous two-year period, is thus now behind us. Investment dynamics are also positive and more favourable to intangible assets than to plant and machinery, other capital goods and production equipment. Investments in tangible

fixed assets have also seen significant growth, however, which has been boosted, as always, by the proximity of ceramic manufacturers to ceramic-producing plant and machinery manufacturers within a single cluster. As we have pointed out several times in this magazine, the geographical proximity between tile manufacturers and manufacturers of capital goods for the ceramic industry helps generate a durable network of mutually beneficial relationships. This creates and feeds a fertile sub-soil of widespread industrial know-how, which promotes technological progress and turns it into competitive advantage.

GRAPH 1 - % INDICATORS OF COST COMPETITIVENESS AND PRODUCTIVITY BY GEOGRAPHICAL AREA

Source: Acimac Research Dept., Financial Statement Analysis of World Ceramic Tiles Manufacturers (4th edition) - www.mec-studies.com

Tile International 1/2018

Statistics

The further progress of profitability indicators confirms the economic and financial health of ceramic tile manufacturers, with ROI growing by one percentage point (from 4.2 to 5.3%). Added value in relation to

turnover remains stable at 32.3%, which is the same level as in Spain and the rest of Europe, but still higher than the Asian average. Added value per employee, meanwhile, which is a key indicator of gross industrial pro-

ductivity, is outstandingly high in Italy, where it is approaching 100,000 euros per employee, compared with Spain, where it is 25% lower. In ceramic - manufacturing countries that make more intensive use of labour, added

value per employee is much lower (on average 36,000 euros in the rest of Europe and 23,000 in Asia). Italy's gross industrial productivity is therefore higher overall than that of its main glob-

Tile International 1/2018

Statistics

MORE INFO? www.mec-studies.com!

MECS

Machinery Economic Studies

TABLE 1 - SELECTED FINANCIAL STATEMENT INDICATORS BY GEOGRAPHICAL AREA Italy 2016

Spain

Average 14/16

2016

Other Europe

Average 14/16

2016

Asia

Average 14/16

2016

Average 14/16

ROI

5.27

3.86

5.20

4.11

7.37

7.00

6.89

6.95

ROS

6.76

5.06

7.05

5.50

8.14

6.96

7.78

7.97

ROT

0.84

0.79

0.78

0.80

0.82

0.88

0.91

Leverage

3.40

3.30

2.31

2.41

2.38

2.39

2.28

2.33

Added Value/Sales margin %

32.34

31.01

32.91

31.59

33.04

30.77

28.71

28.24

Added Value per employee

97.36

88.12

73.53

68.50

35.55

32.09

23.27

22.11

EBITDA margin %

11.43

9.90

11.47

10.02

13.23

11.81

13.97

13.83

EBIT margin %

6.58

4.94

6.98

5.43

9.19

8.58

7.81

7.92

Profit/Loss margin %

5.52

3.80

6.78

4.69

5.75

5.45

5.32

5.48

105.57

111.99

77.21

75.94

82.39

75.92

78.48

79.87

18.60

19.49

20.43

20.34

17.49

16.98

12.91

11.68

Gearing % Costs of employees / Turnover % Average cost of employee

55.74

53.83

42.51

42.14

19.18

18.04

10.40

9.78

Total assets per employee

415.37

409.78

315.39

310.56

134.12

128.40

167.87

150.16

Source: Acimac Research Dept., Financial Statement Analysis of World Ceramic Tiles Manufacturers (4th edition) - www.mec-studies.com

al competitors, especially in terms of the efficient use of the growing pool of human resources. Thanks to this high level of productivity per employee, which has been achieved as a result of exceptionally high levels of investment per employee (415,000 euros), Italian companies benefit simultaneously from extremely advanced production equipment and a low ratio of labour costs to revenues: in Italy, this indicator (known as ULC or unit labour cost) has fallen to 18.6% since the previous year, compared with 20.4% in Spain, despite the fact that average labour costs per employee in Italy are over 13,000 euros higher than in Spain (55,000 euros in Italy against 42,000 in

Tile International 1/2018

Spain).

than offset the effect of salary adjustments and the high tax burden borne by Italian firms. Italy's increasing competitiveness is also affecting the new supply segment represented by Eastern Europe. This competitive edge, however, manifests itself in Italy's main market, i.e. the high quality-high price segment, where competition from Asian producers, who still enjoy marked advantages in terms of labour costs, is not strong: the average annual labour costs per employee of Asian companies is little more than 10,000 euros. Italian ceramic tile manufacturers made significant improvements in EBITDA and EBIT in 2016, broadly in line with Spain (these indicators are

Italian companies' ratio of labour costs to revenues has fallen to almost the same levels as other European companies (mainly from Eastern Europe), despite the fact that the latter's average labour cost per employee does not even reach 20,000 euros. As has often been noted, Unit Labour Cost is the true indicator of the competitiveness of Italian tile manufacturers in terms of labour costs: despite the fact that Italy's unit labour costs are distinctly higher than those of their competitors, and growing, the country's more capital-intensive structure and the higher productivity of its workforce more

higher in the rest of Europe and Asia), but the average net profit achieved by Italian firms is slightly lower than that of their Spanish counterparts (5.5% against 6.8% in Spain), although in line with the rest of Europe and with Asian manufacturers. This is partly attributable to the higher tax impact (net of tax relief deriving from the national Industry 4.0 plan), and partly attributable to the higher levels of interest payable by Italian companies: this is due to higher levels of borrowing from third parties, as indicated by the still high levels of leverage and gearing (both of which indicate the degree of capitalisation of companies). 5

Where innovation meets design 30 April to 2 May

Looking to export ceramic or porcelain tiles to the UK? For information on exhibiting e-mail hardsurfaces@qmj.co.uk or telephone +44 (0) 115 945 3897

www.hardsurfaces.co.uk

Coverings 2018

See you @ COVERINGS 2018 in Atlanta Coverings is continental America's leading trade show for ceramic and natural stone tiles. Taking place at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta this year, the event is promoted by Confindustria Ceramica, ASCER (the Spanish ceramic tile manufacturers' association) and three

Tile International 1/2018

American organisations: the CTDA (Ceramic Tile Distributors Association), NTCA (National Tile Contractors Association) and TCNA (Tile Council of North America). With over 1,100 exhibitors from more than 40 countries and attracts thousands of architects, designers, builders, remodelers, fabricators, in-

stallers, retailers, and distributors. The show serves is a resource for dynamic continuing education all over the world, the event offers 45 sessions of free conferences and countless opportunities for networking, with over 26,000 trade professionals expected to attend.

A substantial slice of this issue is dedicated to Coverings, and we bring you a gallery of the products on display in Atlanta and an in-depth look at how the construction industry and ceramic tile market are performing in the USA and Canada. 5

Coverings 2018

Del Conca "Fast" 57

Tile International 1/2018

Coverings 2018 by Andrew Whitmire, Tile Council of North America ew Whitmire

2017 U.S. Ceramic Tile Market Update Another year of positive news from the U.S. economy, gains in the construction and housing markets, as well as historically low interest rates and falling unemployment (4.4% in 2017, the lowest level

since 2000), helped the U.S. ceramic tile market increase for the eighth year in a row. The 2017 gross domestic product (GDP) increased a healthy 2.3% from 2016, both marking the eighth consec-

utive year of growth in the economy and indicating future growth to come. In the housing market new home starts also increased for the eighth year in a row,

Source: U.S. Census Bureau

Graph. 1 New housing starts (thousands of units)

Source: U.S. Census Bureau

Graph. 2 New single family home sales

Tile International 1/2018

achieving their highest yearly level in a decade. There were 1.20 million total housing units started in 2017, up 2.4% from the previous year. Despite the steady yearover-year growth since 2010, new home starts remain down by one third from 2006, the last full year prior to the start of the Great Recession (fig. 1). The growth in housing was driven by singlefamily new home starts (up 8.5% vs. 2016), which comprised 70.6% (848,300 units) of total home starts last year. Multi-family starts (353,800 units), however, fell 9.8% from 2016. Looking ahead low housing inventory, coupled with rising home prices and pent up demand, should provide a boost to housing starts in the coming year. New single family home sales were at a 10-year high of 608,000 units, up 8.3% compared to 2016. Despite this positive news and six consecutive years of growth, new home sales have been slow to recover from the damage wrought by the recession. For perspective new home sales are less than half of what they were in 2005, when a record 1.28 million new units were sold (fig. 2). Existing home sales rose for the third year in a row and were at 4.89 million units for the year, up 1.1% vs. 2016; this was their highest level since 2006 (source National Association of Realtors). Foreclosure filings, one of the main inverse indicators of the

Coverings 2018

U.S. housing marketâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s health, have fallen dramatically from an all-time high of 2.87 million units in 2010 to 677,000 in 2017. This is very good news for the U.S. economy,

30-year fixed mortgage rate for 2017 was 3.99%, and while up from 3.65% last year (which was the lowest annual rate on record), this was still a very

as foreclosures reduce home values and make it more difficult for homebuyers to obtain loans, creating a drag on home starts and existing and new home sales. The

Source: U.S. Census Bureau

Graph. 3 - Total U.S. Construction Spending (in billions of $ U.S.)

low rate historically. The value of U.S. construction spending (includes both private and public residential and non-residential construction) in 2017 was at a record high of $1.23 trillion, up 3.8% from the previous year and the sixth consecutive annual increase (fig. 3).

U.S ceramic tile consumption According to figures from U.S. Dept. of Commerce & Tile Council of North America, in 2017 U.S. ceramic tile market surpassed the three billion sq. ft. level for the first time since 2006. Total consumption was 3.05 billion sq. ft. (283 million sq.m), up 5.1% from 2016 and the fourth highest total of all time (table 1). Del Conca "Fast"

Tile International 1/2018

Coverings 2018

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

US Shipments (incl. Exports)

Imports

U.S. Consumption*

Exports

% change in consumption y-o-y

2017

90.6

195.0

2.6

283.0

5.1%

2016

87.8

184.7

3.4

269.1

5.8%

2015

83.4

174.8

3.8

254.4

9.9%

2014

75.8

159.1

3.4

231.5

0.5%

2013

73.8

160.2

3.7

230.2

12.9%

2012

69.5

138.6

4.2

203.9

5.4%

2011

66.7

131.1

4.2

193.6

4.0%

2010

60.3

129.6

3.9

186.0

7.7%

2009

53.1

123.9

4.2

172.8

-18.1%

2008

58.9

156.6

4.7

210.9

-15.2%

2007

50.6

202.4

4.4

248.7

-19.3%

2006

58.5

253.8

4.2

308.1

1.8%

2005

61.1

245.1

3.4

302.8

3.5%

Shipments include exports. Consumption = Shipments - Exports + Imports. Source: U.S. Dept. of Commerce & Tile Council of North America U.S. ceramic tile production, exports and domestic shipments Domestic production, which has increased each of the

last eight years, has been boosted recently by the expansion and opening of additional manufacturing facilities in Tennessee. It rose 3.2% from 2016 to 2017 to a record high of

975 million sq. ft. (90.6 million sq.m), of which 946.5 million sq. ft. (87.9 million sq.m) sold on the US market (up 4.1% from 2016). Exports, mostly to Canada (75.3%) and Mexico

(8.4%), fell 21.3% to 28.5 million sq. ft. (2.6 million sq.m), with revenues down 20.7% to $34.8 million. Domestically-produced tile was by far the tile of choice of consumers, as 31.1% of all tile (by sq. ft. or by sq.m) consumed domestically in 2017 was made in the U.S. The next highest countries of origin were China (21.6% of all tile consumed in the U.S.), Mexico (13.1%), and Italy (12.4%). The per unit value of domestic shipments increased from $1.49 sq. ft. in 2016 to $1.51 sq. ft. (16.25 $/sq.m, +1.3%) in 2017. In dollar value U.S. FOB factory sales of domestic shipments in 2017 were also at a record high of $1.43 billion, up 6.1% vs. 2016. Domestically-produced tile comprised 39.3% of total U.S. tile consumption by dollar value, almost double that of Italian tile

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

2016 imports (sq.m)

China

54,213,250

Mexico Italy

2016/2015 % Change

% on 2016 total imports

2017 imports (sq.m)

2017/2016 % Change

% on 2017 total imports

6.8%

29.4%

61,089,603

12.7%

31.3%

43,127,201

-8.7%

23.3%

36,930,319

-14.4%

18.9%

35,832,281

10.6%

19.4%

35,206,329

-1.7%

18.1%

Spain

17,135,612

35.3%

9.3%

22,748,075

32.8%

11.7%

Turkey

9,418,070

17.4%

5.1%

12,087,282

28.3%

6.2%

Brazil

9,221,094

16.7%

5.0%

10,328,633

12.0%

5.3%

Peru

5,600,116

12.4%

3.0%

6,170,439

10.2%

3.2%

Colombia

2,239,566

-12.6%

1.2%

1,887,837

-15.7%

1.0%

Bulgaria

808,254

966.5%

0.4%

1,393,817

72.4%

0.7%

Portugal

1,006,980

20.3%

0.5%

1,116,259

10.9%

0.6%

Source: U.S. Dept. of Commerce Tile International 1/2018

Coverings 2018

imports, which made up 20.5% of the U.S. market.

Imports In 2017 the U.S. imported 2.10 billion sq. ft. (195.0 million sq.m) of ceramic tile, up 5.6% from 2016 (1.99 billion sq. ft. or 184.7 million sq.m). Imports comprised 68.9% of 2017 U.S. tile consumption in sq. ft. (or per sq.m), up slightly from 68.6% in 2016. Once again China was the largest exporter to the U.S. in sq. ft. (or per sq.m), a position it has held since taking over the top spot from Mexico in 2015 (table 2). Chinese imports rose by 12,7% from 54 million sq.m in 2016 to 61 million sq.m in 2017 and comprised 31.3% of U.S. imports, up from 29.4% the previous

year, and the highest percentage China has ever held of the U.S. import market. While the peso has fallen significantly vs. the U.S. dollar over the last five years, losing approximately 50% of its value, ceramic tile imports from Mexico have declined sharply. Mexican imports (36.9 million sq.m, -14.4% on 2016) comprised 18.9% of 2017 U.S. imports, down from 23.4% in 2016 and from 27.0% of U.S. imports in 2015. Italy was the third largest exporter of tile to the U.S. (35.2 million sq.m, -1.7% on 2016), making up 18.1% of U.S. imports, down from 19.4% in 2016. The next largest exporters to the U.S. in 2017 were Spain (22.7 million sq.m, +32.8%) and Turkey (12 million sq.m, +28.3%), with an

import share respectively of 11.7% and 6.2%. In 2017, the value of total imports was $ 2,218 million, up 5.7% on 2016. On a dollar basis Italy remained the largest exporter to the U.S. ($ 747.8 million, -0.4%), comprising 33.7% of U.S. imports. China (+13.8% on 2016) was second with a 26.6% share, and Spain (+25.2% on 2016) was third with a 13.9% share (table 3). The average values of imported tile (including duty, freight, and insurance) remained stable in 2017 at 1.06 $/Sq.ft (11.4 $/sq.m). Table 3 also shows the average values of tile (including duty, freight, and insurance) imported from the ten largest exporters. Italian tiles once again confirmed their highest value, 21.2 $/sq.m.

Canadian Market Update After several years of contraction and weak growth, the Canadian tile market experienced a 14.9% jump in sq. ft. (or per sq.m) from the previous year. In 2017 Canadian ceramic tile consumption was 463.6 million sq. ft. (43.1 million sq.m), its highest point since 2010. As there is no significant ceramic tile production in Canada, imports approximately equal consumption. The five countries from which the most tiles were imported in 2017 were China (16.7 million sq.m, +24%), Italy (10.7 million sq.m, +14.5%), Turkey (8.1 million sq.m, +8.6%), Spain (3.1 million sq.m, +16%) and the United States (1.7 million sq.m, -14.5%). 5

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

Imports 2016 (USD)

2016/2015 % Change

% on total 2016 imports in value

Imports 2017 (USD)

2017/2016 % Change

% on total 2017 imports in value

Average Price 2017 ($/sq.m)

Italy

751,114,262

8.1%

35.8%

747,819,530

-0.4%

33.7%

21.2

China

518,147,970

-0.5%

24.7%

589,660,075

13.8%

26.6%

9.7

Spain

245,640,675

26.6%

11.7%

307,444,773

25.2%

13.9%

13.5

Mexico

265,221,959

-7.9%

12.6%

220,463,848

-16.9%

9.9%

5.9

Turkey

107,800,576

13.1%

5.1%

117,440,187

8.9%

5.3%

9.7

Brazil

63,468,951

4.8%

3.0%

77,565,221

22.2%

3.5%

7.5

Peru

28,866,160

7.0%

1.4%

33,614,029

16.4%

1.5%

5.5

Germany

10,496,638

-13.9%

0.5%

18,360,656

74.9%

0.8%

n.a.

Portugal

13,687,001

10.0%

0.7%

16,324,894

19.3%

0.7%

14.6

14,565,572

-0.4%

0.7%

12,980,799

-10.9%

0.6%

n.a.

2,099,383,040

4.6%

100.0%

2,218,153,090

5.7%

100.0%

Japan All Countries

Source: U.S. Dept. of Commerce / Imports value includes duty freight and insurance 61

Tile International 1/2018

Coverings 2018

ABK GROUP At the 2018 edition of Coverings, North America's most important trade show for the ceramic industry, ABK Group will be presenting the latest collections from its various brands: • 1. ABK explores the many forms of expression of concrete, through its LAB325 project, a collection encompassing three different surfaces - Base, Form and Metal - within the framework of a contemporary moodboard dominated by painstakingly developed colours and industrially inspired concepts. • 2. FLAVIKER presents Hyper: a 3D graphic replication of the signs of natural ageing of industrial concrete. The collection was developed with the input of Tiziano Colella, a tattoo & visual artist, who designed a special series of decorative panels drawing upon stylistic cross-fertilisation from the world of street art. • 3. ARIANA uses the Worn collection, inspired by the worn leather upholstery of Chesterfield sofas, to highlight the boldest notes of leather, and develop them in a palette of four colours. The heritage-based look of the product is framed in six sizes, from 10x60 cm to the new 120x270 cm large-format panel. 3

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Tile International 1/2018

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Coverings 2018

FINCIBEC GROUP

1 2

Fincibec Group will be unveiling the latest collections from its various brands at Coverings 2018: • 1. MONOCIBEC presents Charm, a practical and versatile collection that draws inspiration from coloured wood flooring, with a colour palette that is ideally suited to sober, minimalist habitats, while also working well in environments dedicated to comfort and hospitality. • 2. CENTURY presents the Titan series, inspired by the metals and concrete that play such an iconic role in contemporary design. Produced in a vast range of formats, it meets the most widely varying needs of residential, commercial and public premises. • 3. In the Flair collection, NAXOS draws inspiration from the appeal of reclaimed materials, especially wood, which takes on a richly characterful look once varnished, time-worn and imbued with soul by fading, flaking and scratching. 3

MLT SYSTEM™ The most significant developments for MLTS relate to America, where the tile-setting method known as Mechanical Lippage Tuning System has been found to meet all the new requirements for the installation of thin tiles established in ANSI 108.19 issued by the Tile Council of North America (TCNA). Various lines have won acclaim in recent years. • The Ready Strap T2 (1) line developed and launched in 2015 meets the requirements of the market for large commercial installation projects, where coverings have to be installed very quickly. The new nylon strap is already connected to the plate and requires no pre-assembly, thus further reducing installation times. The strap creates a natural joint of 2 mm with standard ceramic tiles, or a minimum possible joint of 1.2 mm if used with edgeground tiles. • The growing appetite for thin tiles (3-5 mm), such as Laminam and Kerlite, has given rise to the need for special technical solutions capable of creating joints of minimal width, in keeping with the preferences of designers and architects. The ideal product in this respect is the Slim line, because the reusable T1 strap (2) is the only system on the market capable of creating a minimum joint of 0.5 mm. • To enable users to road-test the quality of these products at minimum outlay, two Starter KITS have been put together (Ready series and Slim series), which combine everything you need for installation in a handy container (3). Tile International 1/2018

1 2

Coverings 2018

EMILGROUP

The Tele di Marmo collection is a tribute to one of the most beautiful, noble and durable materials, suitable for embellishing spaces with elegance and architectural strength. The Emilceramica design project came from the idea of reinterpreting in contemporary key a material of timeless charm: marble, through an unconventional choice of sizes, finishes and decorative elements. Four different natural and semi-polished marbles find their highest expression in the sizes of the large slabs, where the vein patterning becomes the absolute star. The fluid trends, colour shades and nuances in step with the different veins make the Tele di Marmo fully-fledged works of art. The surfaces are innovative, offering alternative installations of the marble slab portions. For example, the “seminato di tessere” or the “battuto di listelli”, created by carefully laying tiny dots or rectangular marble strips in mortar. The effect obtained consists of the most modern, unusual and dynamic surfaces. One particular detail is the surface of the marble slats combined between them. This solution is able to minimise the more classical aspect of marble, thus creating environments with great aesthetical impact. A versatile collection that offers to the designer an infinite series of solutions by way of surfaces, sizes, colours and decorative possibilities, giving life and form to tailor-made architectural projects. Frappuccino Pollock (1) is characterised by a decisive and contemporary motif. The vein patterns move on the surfaces with those movements and warm colour tones that take us back to the artistic canvases of abstract movements. Breccia grey Braque (2) has an elegant surface, enhanced by the veining which extends, creating broad and three-dimensional movements and offering a modern and dynamic look.A decorative selection of mosaics and six staggered rectangular tiles further enhances the series, creating the maximum versatility of installation.

Tile International 1/2018

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Coverings 2018

DR TECNICA

DR Tecnica, a manufacturer of ceramic tile display systems, presents several new lines of display unit, some of which are now made of metal, to complement its traditional wooden systems. • 1. M-LINE is dedicated entirely to the company's new metal products, and in addition to its more traditional display systems, also includes several models for large-format tiles, which are practical and functional, and feature simple, elegant design. • 2. SPACE WALL is a line for the creation of modular, multi-functional walls, with a wide range of accessories, to ensure that products are displayed to best effect by appropriately organising the available space. • 3/4. HI TECH and TILE SHOP are specific showroom lines that include modular technical counters and tile libraries with unlimited scope for customisation and finishing, for a comprehensive display programme designed to meet the most widely varying requirements.

IMOLA GROUP Cooperativa Ceramica D’Imola will be unveiling the latest collections from its various brands at Coverings 2018: • 1. LEONARDO presents C_Mine, a collection generated by the brand's creative research embracing industrial design and reclaimed materials. Available in seven sizes and four colours. The exterior bush-hammered finish and various mosaics enable the series to provide continuity between indoor and outdoor environments. • 2. IMOLA: Koala Wood Mood replicates the appearance of eucalyptus wood and is ideal for both residential and commercial environments. Koala is also available in a new plus-size panel format, in sizes 120x240 and 24x240 cm, with a thickness of just 6.5 mm; • 3. LA FAENZA: the Concreta&Mukka collection is based on two apparently disparate materials, clay and leather, to create two complementary spirits that find an indissoluble bond in the stylistic research and colour palette they share.

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Tile International 1/2018

BIGSLABS

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Coverings 2018

EDILGRES Edilgres presents I'm Italian Marble, an entirely Italian-made project inspired by the most sought-after types of marble, which takes on a distinctively polyhedral form thanks to the wide range of colours, finishes and formats. As well as the classic 60x120, 60x60, 30x60 and 10x30 formats with a thickness of 10 mm, there's also a Folio 6.0 version, with a thickness of just 6 mm available in sizes 120x240 and 120x120. The collection combines the dramatic aesthetic impact of marble with the high performance of porcelain tile, in terms of light weight, versatility and ease of installation and maintenance. I'm Italian Marble realistically replicates the colours, vein patterns and inclusions of the most sought-after types of natural marble and is ideal for luxury commercial and residential developments.

PIEMME Ceramiche Piemme's latest collections are set to make their dĂŠbut under the star-spangled banner. The Fleur de Bois collection reinterprets walnut in an unprecedented mix of American and Italian walnut, whose natural look has been enhanced by advanced digital technology. This technology enables Fleur de Bois tiles to reproduce the longitudinal vein patterns of wood, and even replicate the "special effects" traditionally caused by shallow planing by hand and wear from years of footfall. Fleur de Bois tiles are suitable for use on both floors and walls, indoors and outdoors and in residential and commercial environments alike. The formats make it possible to reproduce classic patterns such as herring-bone (with a special 60x120cm size) and long floorboards (the formats include one measuring 170 cm in length). The colour palette ranges from the lightest, most modern shades (Gris, Blanc) to the darkly dramatic Brun, via more natural effects (Naturel, Beige).

Tile International 1/2018

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VEP87 VEP 87 is based in Sassuolo in the province of Modena (Italy), the focal point of the worldwide ceramic industry, and has been designing and manufacturing display systems of unmistakable Italian design and quality for over thirty years. "Simplicity is the shape of true greatness." These are the words used to describe the new display systems designed by VEP 87 to meet the changing needs of the ceramic market, which is offering ceramic panels in ever larger sizes. A knowledgeable and dynamic team of designers, leading-edge technologies and ongoing research into latest-generation materials make VEP 87 one of the leading companies in the sector and fully capable of meeting an unlimited range of customer requirements. www.vep87.com

IMPERTEK After the success of Balance, the self-levelling head that automatically corrects up to 5% of slope, this year Impertek introduces to the market a new product for the external raised floorings: the AS Head with antishock rubber, suitable with the whole Martinetto range and designed for the laying of tiles and stone. AS Head’s tabs, 10 mm high and 2 or 4 mm thick, are positioned more externally compared to the traditional heads, to guarantee more efficiency during the laying and to use them together with Impertek’s CL Clips. Moreover, thanks to the pre-cut tabs, you do not need cutter or additional tools to remove them. The most important news is the antishock rubber of AS Head: thanks to the orange rubber, Impertek has create a head that guarantees noises and vibrations absorption in order to obtain a higher soundproofing. Since many years, Impertek is leader in production of high quality adjustable supports and keep on updating its pedestal’s range for the laying of tiles, stone and decking external raised floorings. Linea Pedestal is a complete range of adjustable supports with an excursion from 10 to 1020 mm. High performances products, with continuous millimetrical adjustment and up to 1000 kg of load capacity, with a wide choice of tools essential for an easy and quick laying, like the slope correctors CP o the multifunction EasyKey. Thanks to a complete Made in Italy production and the continuous development of R&D sector, in order to find the best solutions for the designers and the layer, Impertek fully carries out the company’s claim: Impertek, the right support for the building industry. www.impertek.com Tile International 1/2018

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Coverings 2018

RONDINE GROUP Coverings is back, and Rondine Group will be in Atlanta, in the "Ceramics of Italy" pavilion, with a stand of measuring approximately 140 sq.m, exhibiting an array of new products, including the Palissandro collection (photo 1), which draws inspiration from the marble of the same name; Ardesie (photo 2), which combines the textural beauty of slate with the technical performance of porcelain tile; Tuscany (photo 3), a new porcelain tile with the appearance of terracotta, which remains faithful to traditional Italian craftsmanship with its 20.3 x 40.6 format; and the new 15x61 cm 3D wall tiles, in the Palissandro 3D (photo 4), Gioia and Inwood 3D series. Other stars of the Rondine show at Coverings include: • Velvet, a series in 10 colours belonging to the Brick Gres Generation collection, the 6x25 brick-shaped tile made of gres porcelain; • Aspen, from the La Foresta di Gres collection, in size 20x100 cm, which complements the already established 15x100 cm format. • The cement-based tiles known as "cementine" from the Swing series, in 5 colours, and the larger coloured cement-based tiles from the Industrial Color Chic series in sizes 60x120 - 60x60 30x60 in six on-trend colours. 3

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Tile International 1/2018

Coverings 2018

MONTOLIT Straight and perfect cuts, nothing more simple using TutorCut by Montolit, an easy but effective and revolutionary tool. It can be put on every sngle grinder, you only need to put it on its axle and is blocked ,safe and ready to go. This tool is able to maintain accurate linearity and keep the blade on the same line of the tile, the result is an assisted cut straight and free from chipping. This handy and easy tool it’s a big help for the worker that now don’t even have to think about how deep going in to the mateial or about keeping the hand stable, he only has to go from point A to B. TutorCut also save the life of the blade eliminating any kind of tension, uneven consumption, or rim-breaking due to waving or uncorrect technique The support of TutorCut, completely detached form the grinder rotation, is made of an heavy duty technical polyammide that doesn’t mark or tinge the surface of even the most fragile tile and it spins on a sealed and dust-proof ball bearing. A simple but innovative idea in full Montolit tradition that, with extreme ease able everyone to execute a professional and accurate cut. TutorCut is available for 115 mm and 125 mm diamond blades, with a maximum thickness cut of 20 mm.

EGE SERAMIK Ege Seramik, Turkey's leading exporter of ceramic tile products, has introduced two new porcelain collections to the global marketplace. Antwerp (1) is a sophisticated, glazed porcelain collection characterized by its matte finish. Available in four earthtones (beige, brown, grey and anthracite) and two sizes (12” x 24” and 24” x 24”), the product has been designed to appear as a mixture of concrete and natural stone. Cherokee (2) is a beautiful, matte-finished porcelain with rectified edges, that offers an incredibly accurate "look" of mix wood parquet flooring. It is offered in three colors (beige, grey and mix) and one large format size, 18”x 36” size. Both product lines are suitable for residential and medium traffic commercial applications. "The demand for glazed porcelain tile products in larger formats that emulate the look and texture of wood, concrete and stone flooring continues to be in demand worldwide. And, Ege Seramik continues to produce high-quality tile material to meet that demand."

2 Tile International 1/2018

Ceramic surfaces for residential use

top-class brands encounter architecture

www.serenissima.re.it

The versatile strength of stoneware for residential and commercial spaces Costa Smeralda ceramics with their unmistakeable style

www.cerasarda.it

Materials and technical solutions aimed at the world of design

www.cercomceramiche.it

COVERINGS 2018

The expressive force of ceramics, colours and a wide range of sizes, offering new and unexpected design possibilities

GEORGIA WORLD CONGRESS CENTER BUILDING B/EXHIBIT LEVEL/HALLS B1-B5 ATLANTA, GEORGIA BOOTH NUMBER 1417 www.cir.it

www.grupporomanispa.com

Coverings 2018

PROFILITEC A place of wellness, relaxation and comfort. The contemporary bathroom reflects these characteristics and also looks to fast, practical solutions without compromising quality and good taste. With this in mind, Profilitec has created an innovative product that encompasses all the necessary elements to build or renovate an entirely waterproof, maintenance-free shower, quick and easy to install while surpassing the requirements for steam showers. Showertec System is composed of: a Shower Tray, a Square Drain Kit and a Shower Curb. Showertec Shower Tray is pre-sloped incorporating the Foiltec Waterproof and Vapour Tight Membrane, which is preattached, assuring simple and quick installation while surpassing the requirements for steam showers. Showertec Square Drain Kit is composed of a bonding Flange with a vertical drain and an integrated anchoring membrane, a Foiltec Circular Waterproof Membrane Ring, Foiltec Internal and External Corners and a Square Drain which is composed of: a ring for the vertical alignment of the drain, a grid support, a construction plug, a grid and fasteners. Showertec Shower Curb is made of high density EPS foam and is pre-wrapped in Foiltec Waterproof Membrane on all sides. An opening along the curb allows height adjustment if needed.

MATICAD DomuS3D®: Smarter Design. Better Living. DomuS3D® is the leading 3D interior design software in the ceramic tile and sanitary ware markets and is widely used by major manufacturers and retailers all over the world. It offers an integrated system that allows the sales consultant to design customized interior design solutions and promote materials such as ceramic tiles, hardwood, stone, sanitary ware and furnishing. The integration of augmented reality into DomuS3D® marks another step forward in the simplification of virtual simulation applied directly to real environments, enabling sales consultants to offer alternative installation solutions more quickly. DomuS3D® 2018 is the first design software to integrate an augmented reality feature that allows to design starting to a simple picture of the space to renovated or redecorated. Using the App RealityRemod just take a picture of the space in which to apply new coverings and import the project in DomuS3D® 2018, where the designer will be able to choose among many laying patterns to simulate the new materials directly on the picture taken. The aim of DomuS3D® is to enable users to offer not only an objective furnishing solution, but a dream scenario that’s detailed exciting, ready to go. Tile International 1/2018

ISO 9001 & ISO 14001 CERTIFIED

www.topcer.com

Coverings 2018

ECO DESIGN Some representative pictures showing the business of ECO DESIGN srl  who has been working for 27 years designing and producing exhibition stands, show-room furnitures and display systems. Here we see a booth made at Cersaie 2017 and some show-room concepts  focused on big-size products for which the company is conceiving new ideas. Study and development of every single project are done searching for the perfect union  between the respect of customers' needs and the use of the most innovative architectural trends so that the place of sale is functional for the employees and appealing to the public.

FERRARI&CIGARINI The Compactline has received great success and interest among ceramica and marble dealers. These machines are designed for multi-blades cutting, edge-profiling and rectifying of flooring and surfacing material. They are more compact for the dimensions and easy to use for the operators, to realize some qualitative productions with a minimum space and operators, also not skilled, for its simple use. Compact line is the right solution for laboratories, resellers and showrooms in ceramic, marble, stone and brick field. Using this machine, they can give more service to their customers, as, the machine can realize, in a short time, listels (slabs), bullnose, jolly’s, polished edges, half torus and torus, antislip incisions, pre-cut and special cut such as: mosaic, triangle, rombhus. Visit the Booth 6239 at Coverings to see Compactline in operation.

Tile International 1/2018

More Standard Tests. Comprehensive Custom Services. The Customer Care and Responsiveness

YOU DESERVE.

At TCNA Lab Services, we're ready to put North America's most experienced independent tile-and-stone-specific product performance testing laboratory to work for you in assessing the characteristics of your ceramic tiles, glass tiles, dimension stone, and installation materials. You'll have access to an incomparable catalog of services: no other lab offers the experience and the comprehensive testing menu we provide. We offer more than 70 ASTM, ANSI and ISO standard testsâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;including 45 test methods accredited under ISO17025â&#x20AC;&#x201D;as well as an extensive range of custom services: targeted research, product development, testing developed for future standards, and testing to explore or show specific attributes. We're always ready to supply the analytics you need along the journey to innovation.

International.TCNALab.com

Coverings 2018

PROFILPAS Rainwater is an element that should not be underestimated in the construction or the refurbishment of a terrace or balcony. Indeed, rain, moisture, seepages and stagnations can become real problems over time, not only for an aesthetic factor but also for the same structure. To face these problems, Profilpas has created CerfixÂŽ Protec CPGV, a draining profile in powder-coated aluminium, composed of a vertical part that covers the outside edge and allows the discharge of rainwater from the tiled surface, and a cantilevered part with holes to guarantee a further drainage of the water that seeps in under the tiles. Suitable for tiles with a thickness up to 12,5 mm, this profile reduces the problems connected to frost and thaw and allows to avoid the unsightly efflorescence that appear on the tile joints. Besides solving these technical problems, CPGV functions as decoration and finish of the outside edges of terraces and balconies, thus giving a touch of modern design to the space. There is the possibility to choose among 4 finishes of colourcoated aluminium: ash grey RAL 7038, wrinkle ash grey RAL 7038, metal grey RAL 9006 and ancient grey. In addition to CPGV, Profilpas offers a wide range of profiles for balconies and terraces in metal: available in extruded powder-coated aluminium or in stainless steel and provided with junctions and outside corners, Profilpas profiles for balconies and terraces allow the outflow of water and avoid the contact with the outside edge of balconies and terraces. Moreover, they assures a good aesthetic result thanks to their design and the wide selection of available finishes.

Tile International 1/2018

Coverings 2018

DURAL Building protection and reliable drainage. From angle profiles for thin or thick bed installation and height-adjustable boundary profiles, through drainage, decoupling and entry mats and gutter systems for drainage, to installation accessories, the components of the Dural product range are tailored to the diverse requirements of outdoor projects. They are equally used to renovate balconies and terraces or to redesign entry and terrace areas. An example of this includes our high-performance drainage mats for especially permeable surface structures with floor supports, where water is drained at the level of the building waterproofing. In combination with tile, natural or cast stone slabs, they guarantee safe drainage of even large surfaces. Compared to the classic use of drainage floor fill, or a gravel or chip bed, you can achieve significantly lower construction height when using the Dural mat systems. In addition, structural requirements for parts of the building which may be underneath are considerably reduced. A variety of specialized balcony angle profiles provide a visually attractive finish on edge areas. They elegantly decorate the structure and permanently protect it: so for example, any moisture which would accumulate within the structure could consequently increase the risk of water damage. This risk is eliminated when using the Dural products. Uncomplicated installation is yet another advantage. It is reflected in a sophisticated design with an appropriate choice of materials. The profile manufacturer has now compiled the entire product range for terraces, balconies and entry areas in its current brochure. If you are interested, you can download it directly at www.dural.de, or request one by addressing an e-mail to info@dural.de.

RAIMONDI Raizor, Power-Raizor & Accessories: • Raizor cutting rail for large format tiles offers compact design and superior performances. Length of cut is 332 cm (10.9’) but thanks to its modularity, it reaches 447 cm (14.6’) going through intermediate lengths. • The cutting unit with angle grinder Power-Raizor offers wet and dry cut at 45°, 90° and 180° so to perform 45° angle cuts (“jolly”), 90° (straight cut), ½ bullnose shape and “kerf”. • For wet cutting (which suppresses cut-residual dust), Power-Raizor needs to be equipped with a brand new dedicated accessory.

Tile International 1/2018

Coverings 2018

VERDE 1999 Centuries & Panareaâ&#x20AC;Śa step into the past becomes Contemporary and beyond. The warm, aged surface and design of these two tile series are the perfect backdrop for present-day interior fashion. Here you can mix antiqued Carrara and Statuario from the Centuries series with a Sicilian antiqued stone called Panarea. Alone or combined, the final touch is stunning. Centuries - two kinds of Italian marble, Carrara and Statuario in six sizes, Panarea - a Sicilian stone in three colors and six sizes, which all coordinate with an amazing collection of intertwining mosaics and accessories.

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Coverings 2018

IRIS US - FMG Iris US is bringing its Cube (1), Quayside (2) and Wheat (3) collections to Coverings, while also offering an exclusive look at its Diesel Living with Iris Ceramica 2018 collections and the Urban 2.0 collection. FMG Fabbrica Marmi e Graniti is set to exhibit several lines from its Maxfine collection of large-format panels (4 - in Black Marquinia, Veined White and Onice Grigio). 1

2 3

NUOVOCORSO The contemporary need to combine aesthetics with functionality finds its ideal solution in Nuovocorsoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Extreme large-format panels. The Big Slabs range, measuring 160x320 cm, is produced in two different thicknesses: 12 mm, which is widely used in the interior design segment and for external faĂ§ades, and 6.5 mm. Made using Continua+, a supreme example of Italian ceramic manufacturing technology, which enables manufacturers to vary their aesthetic effects and produce countless decorative solutions, Extreme large-format panels feature antibacterial surfaces and offer high levels of heat-resistance and footfall wear-resistance, combined with outstanding cleanability. The range interprets life in the present tense, with its ability to cater to both indoor and outdoor applications, as well as providing the ideal covering for worktops and shower cabins. Tile International 1/2018

WEâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;LL EXHIBIT AT

COVERINGS 2018 ATLANTA (USA) 8-11 MAY 2018

BOOTH #2603 ITALIAN PAVILLION

mood showliving

display systems & showroom solutions via Ghiarola Nuova, 18/20 - 41042 Fiorano Modenese (MO) - Italy - Tel. +39 0536 995511 - info@polcart.it

Coverings 2018

GRUPPO ROMANI

2 3

Tile International 1/2018

• 1. CERCOM: under the project name TO BE Marble Light & Dark, the Gruppo Romani brand offers a new vision of ceramic and explores the aesthetics of marble via a chromatic pathway that spans the lightest and darkest shades of the material, in the form of Renoir and Statuario, at the Light end of the spectrum, with a predominance of white, and Alpi and Portoro, at the Dark end, dominated by black. Cercom offers these products in three finishes: the ever versatile Naturale, the mirror-polished Lux, and the delicate velvet-effect Satin. Lux and Satin are also used for Pannello 5, a series comprising five largeformat panels measuring 80x180 cm, shot through with the uninterrupted vein patterns of marble, which give rise to a truly exceptional, visually continuous surface measuring 400x180 cm. • 2. CIR is taking the opportunity of Coverings 2018 to present Revolution, a fresh interpretation of cement, developed in three design-oriented lines, Cemento, Marmette and Maioliche. A wide range of sizes, colours and accents gives designers the freedom to create uniquely original compositions for all types of architectural space, whether public or residential. The photo shows Cemento, available both in traditional sizes and a 60x120 lapped variant, in the typical colours Gesso, Greige, Cemento and Antracite. • 3. SERENISSIMA is offering visitors to Atlanta an exclusive preview of its Magistra collection of porcelain tile. Available in five colours (Marquinia, Fior di Bosco, Cappuccino, Paonazzetto and Corinthian), in sizes 20x20, 20x40, 40x40 and 40x60.8 cm, it maximises the appeal of the worn, time-aged effects it reproduces in each piece. The LUX version offered for each variant of marble, including the 80x180 large format, is the ideal product for juxtapositions of ancient and modern.

Coverings 2018

ITALGRANITI Marble Experience (1) is a collection that replicates the aesthetics of the most sought-after types of marble, enhancing the impact of their purity, chromatic harmony and vein patterns. Available in a wide range of surface finishes: Natural, Rolled, Lapped, Brushed and Satin Brushed, not to mention the innovative “wave pattern” carved into the surface. A series of Mix listels complete this premium collection. Available in four colours (Calacatta Gold, Sahara Noir, Statuario Lux, Orobico Grey), numerous sizes with a thickness of 9.5mm, plus the innovative Mega series of large-format panels measuring 160x320 cm with a thickness of 6mm.

Coverings will also provide the showcase for Italgraniti’s new Loft collection (2): a wood-effect product that evokes the feel of coloured industrial flooring, punctuated with soulful signs of ageing. The new collection is available in five colours (Chalk - Cotton - Plaster - Leather - Lava) in the following sizes: 20x160 - 20x120 cm with a thickness of 9.5 mm and 30x120 cm with a thickness of 20 mm (Outfloor).

GHELFI The name of the myFACTORY brand launched by Ghelfi in "myFACTORY," explains company-owner Stefano Ghelfi, "repre2016 encapsulates the idea of a personal production facility sents our ability to do for others what we do for ourselves dedicated to the customisation of machines, tools and acces- in other words, create new and diverse professional tools sories, even for minimal batch sizes and at standard costs. - with the same degree of efficiency and even at the same This service is offered to customers on the basis of a produccost. tion process designed to reduce manufacturing times without This makes everything very simple for our partners: they increasing costs, even when working with short production look through our catalogue and choose the item that most runs. closely resembles their ideal product, they tell us how they For example, by using Ghelfi's myFACTORY system, you can would like to optimise it, and we make their own special verhave a single machine built to order with the kind of turnaround sion. In the quantity they want." time that an exclusively commercial outfit could only dream of. The ability to produce "limited editions" is the benefit summed That's because a wealth of modular components makes it posup in myFACTORY's tagline: "The OEM programme for small busible to produce a large number of articles, starting from a ransinesses". The results speak for themselves: in the wake of furge of always(GET availableYOUR base items.WET The economy of scale involyear-on-year growth, custom products accounted for over by Ghelfi SAWS IN LOWther VOLUME) ved minimises both the time and cost of production. 35% of the company's total output in 2017.

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Tile International 1/2018

100

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Coverings 2018

FIANDRE • 1. Eminent Wood Maximum draws inspiration from that magical process by which trees fossilize into stone over the course of millions of years. This premium collection is available in two colours against a white background: Eminent Brown, which replicates wood in its original shades, and Eminent Grey, which adds diaphanous grey streaks for a more uniquely elegant feel. The high gloss of the polished finish enhances the precision of the detailing. This is a collection that’s perfectly at home in both private and public environments, even those subject to high levels of traffic. • 2. MUSA+ is Fiandre’s collection dedicated to the placid appeal of neutral tones. The variety of forms available, including large sizes, listels, floorboard formats, hexagons, squares, lozenges and rhombuses, opens up unlimited possibilities for personalisation, and the composition of countless patterns with the base modules. The smaller sizes are ideal for residential architecture, while the larger ones are designed primarily for contract and retail applications. MUSA+ comes in five shades and three surface finishes: Natural, Glossy and Relief.

Tile International 1/2018

Brevetto 102015000050917

DISPLAYS & SHOWROOMS - CONCEPT, DESIGN & MANUFACTURING Marocchi s.r.l. Via G. Di Vittorio, 3 40020 Casalfiumanese (Bologna) Italy

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http://www. .com M AT E R I A L S INTERIOR DESIGN

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White stuff: Naima Annoni, Enrica Caiello, Riccardo Piovesan, Maria Cristina Ziviani Brera - Accademia Belle Arti

24-28 SEPTEMBER 2018 promoted by CONFINDUSTRIA CERAMICA

in collaboration with

CERAMICA CONFINDUSTRIA organized by

www.cersaie.it

show management

Promos srl

Project

Cittadella Bridge, Alessandria (Italy)

Thanks to the widely renowned, multi-award-winning architect Richard Meier, the Cittadella Bridge in Alessandria, which has always connected the two sides of the city split by the River Tanaro, has become more than just a handy transit route from one side of the river to the other,

Tile International 1/2018

and is now a full-blown work of architecture that's worthy of all the acclaim it receives. The design for the new bridge (which was inaugurated in October 2016) originated from the need to stop the River Tanaro bursting its banks and causing recurrent flood-

ing. In 1994, the water severely damaged the existing bridge, built in the Napoleonic era, covered the roadway and and caused widespread damage to the city, because the piers of the bridge trapped large amounts of debris, effectively damming the flow.

Richard Meier, the world-famous American architect, oversaw every step of the design process in minute detail, in conjunction with Dante O. Benini & Partners Architects of Milan. The result is a magnificent, single-span bridge measuring 176.4 metres in length, consisting of a road-

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Tile International 1/2018

Project

Richard Meier in collaboration with Studio Dante O. Benini & Partners Architects (Milan) Material: symmetrically finished Ipe hardwood decking Location: Alessandria (Italy) Material supplier: Itinera spa

way and a pedestrian/cycle way separated by an almond-shaped void, and interconnected by long steel tierods. The

Tile International 1/2018

pedestrian/cycle

way,

with its fantastic view over the river, follows the route of the old bridge and is covered with Ipe hardwood decking by Ravaioli Legnami. The symmetrically finished decking has a non-slip sur-

face, a section of 38x90 mm and a width ranging from 7 to 13 metres, according to the degree of curvature of the central void. Richard Meier opted for Ipe

Project

ADVERTISER'S LIST

hardwood, one of the best-known and most widely used exotic woods in the decking sector, because of its specific physical and mechanical properties, which make it the ideal material for the strength, stability and styling required by the project.

Ravaioli Legnami, a leading manufacturer of outdoor timber products, was delighted to take on the assignment, and deployed the full force of its professional know-how to provide the absolute best product for the job. 5

ABK 43-73 Cerambath 91 Cer. Campogalliano-Verde 1999

Cersaie 95 Coop. Imola

Back Cover

DR Tecnica

Dural 5 Eco Design

Ege 17 Emilgroup 4 Ferrari&Cigarini 83 Ghelfi 85 Gruppo Romani

Hard Surfaces

Impertek 67 Intono 42 Iris Ceramica

Inside Front Cover

Italgraniti 25 Marocchi 93 MaterialiCasa.com 94 Maticad 19 Mlts Europe

Montolit 23 NuovoCorso 69 Piemme 3 Polcart Progress Profiles

87 Cover

Profilitec 71 Profilpas

Inside Back Cover

Raimondi 2 Rondine Group

SchlĂźter-Systems 1 Shackerley 6 Tcna 81 Tecnargilla 112 Top Cer

Vep 87

Project

Piuarch designs new Yamamay concept store The name derives from the cocoon of the silk-moth "Bombyx Yamamay", found primarily in oak woods in the highlands of the Japanese hinterland. The Yamamay's cocoon has silvery, crystalline highlights and has been known since the 16th Century for the quality of the silk spun from it. The

Tile International 1/2018

silk-moth's wings stand out for their magnificent purple highlights, which graduate into shades of red and copper. The client is Yamamay, one of Italy's leading lingerie brands; the concept is by Piuarch, one of the best-known architecture firms operating in the world of fashion; and the

flooring materials were supplied by FMG - Fabbrica Marmi e Graniti, a member of the Iris Ceramica Group, a leading manufacturer of technical ceramic and porcelain tile. The collaboration between Yamamay and Piuarch derived from a desire to create a

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new, glamour-oriented showcase for the collections designed by the famous Italian lingerie brand. The aim was to reflect the brand's philosophy - based on the concepts of lightness, softness, brightness, geometry and symmetry - within the company's retail network, made up of over 1,300 stores in Italy and

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abroad. So Piuarch focused closely on the sensually feminine identity of the business founded by the Cimmino family in 2001, to create a showcase made up of multiple elements, all with a common signature and all designed for maximum adaptability, for an innovative interpretation of a concept store aimed at conveying the character of the Italian brand.

Piuarch is a firm of architects established in Milan in 1996 by Francesco Fresa, Germรกn Fuenmayor, Gino Garbellini and Monica Tricario. It has a staff of over 40 architects and engineers from all over the world, who work under the guidance of the four partners and six associates. Piuarch undertakes architectural projects ranging from fashion retail to office buildings, residential complexes, town planning and cultural restoration. A winner of the "Italian Architect of the Year Award 2013" and two gold medals for honourable mentions at the Milan Triennial, the firm has made multiple appearances as an exhibitor at the Venice Architecture Biennial and is especially well-known for its projects for prestigious fashion brands such as Dolce&Gabbana, Gucci and Givenchy. 101

Tile International 1/2018

Project

The design concept originates from the "Yamamay" silk-moth from which the brand takes its name: by stylising its shape in a double triangle, Piuarch has created a signature pattern that forms

Tile International 1/2018

a starting point for the interior design of the brand's new stores worldwide. This signature pattern is then reprised in the wallpaper, mirrors and laser-perforated metal screens, to define the background for

the products on display and accentuate the axioms of lightness, geometry and symmetry. In the new Yamamay stores, everything harmonises in

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a fluid spatial sequence and chromatic juxtaposition based exclusively on shades of white, ivory, light grey and gold: the areas of wall not covered by display units are plastered in white, as are the

Project

*FMG Fabbrica Marmi e

ceilings, featuring angle-adjustable, white lighting fixtures. The floor coverings* are the same colour and consist of large-format square tiles that blend a seed-scattered effect with delicate, geometric, ton-

sur-ton inserts made of reconstituted marble. The soft, light, bright environment makes every visit feel special and helps forge a lasting bond with customers, thanks in part to the creation

of an experiential platform that combines interior design, product and unexpected features, such as corners for the sale of plants and flowers, books and home accessories. 5

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Graniti, belonging to the holding company Iris Ceramica Group, is a leading manufacturer of technical ceramic and porcelain tile. For Yamamay's new stores, the company has developed a customised product, tailored to the specific requirements of the client. The floor coverings, consisting of 60x60 tiles, blend a seedscattered effect with geometric, ton-sur-ton inserts made of reconstituted marble.

Tile International 1/2018

Project

Andalusian white for Cataleya Phase 2

Modern, elegant, exclusive. This is Cataleya Phase 2, a residential district between Marbella and Estepona, surrounded by magnificent gardens and incredible terraces, with floor-to-ceiling windows. Cataleya stands on the new

Tile International 1/2018

Golden Mile of the Costa del Sol â&#x20AC;&#x201C; otherwise known as the Atalaya Alta, between Marbella and Estepona â&#x20AC;&#x201C; and represents the second phase of a luxury residential district with broad spaces accommodating gardens and modern buildings, which form the

heart of the ambitious project. The residential complex comprises 93 apartments and penthouses, designed by Grupo Erasur (erasur.com) with a view to maintaining the natural charm of Andalusia without compromising on the

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modern life-style aspired to by future owners. In addition to its 20,000 sq.m of gardens, one of Cataleya's star attractions is undoubtedly its 450 sq.m outdoor infinity pool located in the centre of the complex. This large swimming pool has

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two beach-type access ways and is equipped with an internal lighting system and a salt water chlorination system. The developers have also built an indoor, climate-controlled swimming pool, enclosed between enormous glass panels, so that every-

body can carry on enjoying both their daily swim and the magnificent views, even on the 40 days per year when, according to the statistics, the sun doesn't shine on the coast of Malaga. The ten buildings that make

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Tile International 1/2018

Project

up the complex, feature large cantilever terraces, ranging from 50 to 135 sq.m on the middle storeys and 79 sq.m on the attic storeys, which also include extensive sunbathing areas. The ground floor apartments have private gardens of up to 333 sq.m in addition to their 77 sq.m terraces, and blend perfectly with the interior residential space by virtue of their vast floor-to-ceiling windows.

The terraces are tiled with Ocean Caliza tiles in size 59.6x59.6cm by Venis. Inside the apartments, everything is bathed in sunlight, intensified by the widespread use of white. The spaces are delineated by straight lines, which give the interiors a modern feel and a trendsetting sense of simplicity. The rooms revolve around an elegant Emotions kitchen by

Gamadecor, which opens onto the living/dining-room, which in turn opens onto the outdoor space, courtesy of the large windows. The sense of continuity between the interior and exterior environments is enhanced by the Soul Frost Pulido 59.4x59.4cm floor tiles by Urbatek, laid on all the interior floor space. The matt white-lacquered kitchen includes a sink inte4

grated into the KrionÂŽ worktop, and a range of other storage and work surfaces also made of KrionÂŽ, an innovative construction material. The main bedroom is designed in such a way that it feels integrated with its bathroom because one of

Tile International 1/2018

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Project

the walls has been replaced with a large glass panel. The bathroom area also features a Leaf Blanco Snow vanity unit by Gamadecor, with KrionÂŽ shelf, Forma wall-hung toilet and Crystal Blanco pushbutton, both by Noken. 5

1. Exterior detail of one of the five buildings that make up the residential complex. 2. Soul Frost Pulido 59.4x59.4 cm floor tile by Urbatek, and Emotions matt white lacquered kitchen by Gamadecor, with sink integrated into the KrionÂŽ worktop. 3. Outdoor infinity swimming pool with salt water chlorination system.

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4. Thanks to the enormous floor-to-ceiling windows, the cantilever terraces (with Ocean Caliza 59.6x59.6 cm floor tiles by Venis) feel like an integral part of the apartments' living/dining-rooms. 5. Living/dining-room of one of the penthouses, with indoor and outdoor floor tiling in Soul Frost Pulido 59.4x59.4 cm by Urbatek.

Tile International 1/2018

Project

Residential swimming pool in a class of its own The renovation of swimming pools places high demands on waterproofing since even the smallest flaw can cause substantial damage. Such problems can be avoided from the outset with a complete waterproofing system from a single source – while creating a gorgeous swimming pool. Although the swimming pool and spa area in a private home in Hamburg featured superior equipment, the installation had become quite outdated. The client therefore was interested in a complete over-

Previous tile covering in the pool Tile International 1/2018

haul. “In order to determine the exact current status and then come up with a matching modernization concept, we initially carried out the necessary component explorations,” explains civil engineer Dirk Brede, who oversaw the building project as a technical expert throughout the construction. “During the course of this examination, we realized that the necessary waterproofing, along with thermal insulation and sloping, had not been done properly when the swimming pool and its surroundings were originally installed.”

Accordingly, the construction work also had to address these faulty areas as part of the renovation – naturally in accordance with the existing building contours, window arrangements, and spatial distribution. For example, due to the fixed height between the reinforced concrete slab and the floor-to-ceiling windows, only a custom-made overflow chute made of reinforced concrete could be installed. The client also wanted to install massage jets, air bubble plates, and underwater lighting, which required mounting some 35

Demolition / raw concrete 108

additional components in the swimming pool and the hot tub – all completely waterproof. Because of these requirements, the entire structure was covered with the Schlüter®-KERDI membrane to create a bonded waterproofing assembly. “In my opinion, this membrane has many advantages over liquid waterproofing, especially with regard to the wall surface made of glass mosaics,” explains Brede. “Furthermore, the waterproofing assembly had to be integrated into the overflow chute. The matching prefabricat-

KERDI / tile installation

Project

ed system components were easy to use and guaranteed a permanent seal in this area as well.” Overall, some 360 m² of KERDI were installed in the Hamburg swimming pool; expertly bonded with the two-component sealing adhesive KERDICOLL-L. Some 270 meters of KERDI-KEBA seaming tape were used as well. The corresponding prefabricated parts, which also are made from the bonded waterproofing material, offered perfect solutions for corners, existing building components, and connections.

KERDI / tile installation

Project: Residential swimming pool, Hamburg Construction management/technical expert: Dipl.Ing. Dirk Brede, Cuxhaven Tile installation: Fliesen Weber GmbH, Zeven Swimming pool construction: Krause Schwimmbadtechnik GmbH, Stade Bonded waterproofing, ceramic thermal comfort floor, shower drain: Schlüter-Systems KG

KERDI / tile installation 109

Tile International 1/2018

Project

SCHLÜTER®-KERDI Schlüter®-KERDI is a crack-bridging polyethylene waterproofing membrane featuring a fleece fabric on both sides to ensure effective bonding with the tile adhesive. It is adhered to level surfaces with a suitable tile adhesive. Tiles are then installed directly onto the membrane, using the thin-set method. As a bonded waterproofing

Swimming pool renovation as a “crowning achievement” Due to the permanently warm air temperature and relative humidity values around 5563%, swimming pools place high demands on the waterproofing and vapour-proof-

Ready-to-use swimming pool

Tile International 1/2018

assembly with tiles and paving, Schlüter®-KERDI features national technical approval (abP) as well as European Technical Assessment (ETA). Furthermore, Schlüter®-KERDI complies with the newly published German standard 18534 for waterproofing indoor applications. The matching drain systems also have the corresponding technical approval.

ing properties of pools and their surroundings, which in this case also included a hot tub and shower. “Any flaw in the waterproofing will definitely lead to damage, since there is no drying process of the kind that would occur in a residential home in the summer months,” explains Brede. “Thus, an existing fault would continue to expand." That makes it all the more important to seek out the necessary expertise, in addition to

reliable system components, to rule out potential problems from the start. The tile installing company Weber from Zeven and Krause swimming pool installations from Stade brought decades of experience in swimming pool construction and a high level of technical knowledge to the construction project.

Comfortable throughout For a true spa feeling throughout the swimming pool structure, the pool surroundings, changing rooms and shower as well as the porch and toilet were equipped with the

BEKOTEC

water-based ceramic thermal comfort floor Schlüter®BEKOTEC-THERM. “The thin-layer structure of the system enables a particularly fast response of the floor heating system,” says Schlüter product consultant Mario Mazanek about the functional principle of BEKOTEC-THERM. “Thanks to the low screed coverage, the heat reaches the surface more quickly than in conventional systems. In renovation projects such as in this case, where we had to adhere to a specified assembly height, the thin layers of course are a crucial advantage.” In ad-

Completed shower

110

Project

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dition, the system saves significant time during installation because no lengthy drying and functional curing is required. As soon as the screed is ready to bear weight, the bonded uncoupling assembly can be installed, followed by the installation of tiles. The system also offers advantages in terms of design since the screed doesn’t require joints, and no wall radiators are needed. The building also includes a sauna and steam room, where the electric floor and wall heating system Schlüter®DITRA-HEAT-E was installed for additional comfort. It reaches the desired surface tem-

perature in a very short time – with a temperature increase by 4°C after just 15 minutes of operation. “Due to its low assembly height – the heating cables are installed in the uncoupling membrane – the system is an option for projects where other surface heating systems are not suitable. That makes DITRA-HEAT-E an ideal solution for wall areas as well,” says Mazanek. The system features a certificate of national technical approval (abP) as a bonded waterproofing assembly, which is an important consideration for sensitive environments such as swimming

pools. The project in Hamburg resulted in a swimming pool with attached spa that meets the highest demands and offers maximum comfort with its numerous attractions. This also includes a shower with various rain simulations, in which the shower drain was carried out with the Schlüter®-KERDI-LINE system. Additional project installations included a steam room and sauna as well as a hot tub with massage jets and air bubble plates in the actual swimming pool. The pool also features underwater lighting with different light scenarios, which can be controlled by smart phone

Completed hot tub

and tablet along with the water attractions. A large-format television set with an excellent acoustic system is so well integrated into the overall structure that a deep bass beat causes the water surface to vibrate. The successful completion of this project is impressive proof of the membranes’ suitability to create a bonded waterproofing assembly in a swimming pool. The use of the Schlüter®-KERDI waterproofing membrane and its system components ensured that the owner will enjoy this swimming pool in a class of its own for many years to come. 5

Details of the pool image source: Technical Expert Office Dirk Brede 111

Tile International 1/2018

TERRACES AND BALCONIES PROTECTED WITH STYLE Protecting and finishing the outside concrete borders of terraces and balconies have never been so easy, effective and reliable. Thanks to Protec CPGV, practical edge profiles in colourcoated aluminium with sloping section and drainage holes, rainwater drains away completely and there are less risks of seepages, efflorescence and detachments related to frost and thaw.

Profilpas Spa Via Einstein 38, 35010 Cadoneghe (PD) Italy - Tel. +39 049 8878412 - Fax. +39 049 706692 - info@profilpas.com - www.profilpas.com

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