The new Kerafrit is ready for fresh expansion

After reporting 15% growth in revenues to 18 million euros in 2013, the Spanish company Kerafrit (Nules, Castellón), a producer of frits, glazes, colours, digital inks, screen printing media and products for third firing, has set itself a fresh target of 20 million euros in 2014.

Managing director Alfredo Gonzalez believes this is achievable thanks to the contribution of the new majority shareholder, a leading North African ceramic group that acquired the company from the Benavent family at the end of 2013. Kerafrit now has a stronger financial position and is investing in highly qualified technicians and machinery. It has a focus on higher value-added products and is developing potential new markets and making greater sales to ceramic companies owned by the new management. Exports already account for more than 70% of turnover and are growing in Europe, North Africa, South America, the Middle East and a number of Southeast Asian countries.

One of the major new investments made in 2014 involved the start-up of a new digital ink production plant in the Nules facility. The plant has a capacity of over 60 tons/month and uses the very best German milling technology. The product range has been extended with the introduction of the Living Colors series, which combines intensity with good workability, and new special digital glazes reproducing an array of ceramic effects (lustres, protective and penetrating glazes). The production capacity of frits and glazes has been increased by 30% with the installation of a new high-performance plant. Improvements have also been made to production lines for screen printing media, additives, fixatives and deflocculants and products for third firing.

During the second half of 2014 the company is planning to double its existing finished product storage facilities and to expand the areas devoted to R&D laboratories, technical support and design, offices and other services to create a more functional workplace and further improve customer support.