Sacmi and the future of sanitaryware: markets, technology, design

The annual conference on the world sanitaryware sector was held on 27 September in Imola.
Now in its eighth year, the conference saw contributions from key players in the sector who took stock of developments in production scenarios at a global level and the parallel advances in processes, including raw materials processing, the need to save water and energy, new drying technologies and design improvements.
Speakers included Andy Skillen, editor of Asian Ceramics, who provided an overview of the market situation, and Mathieu Parfait, marketing development manager of French company Imerys, who discussed the challenges facing body preparation. Khater Massaad of Rak Ceramics then spoke about the tough challenge of “remaining an independent group in a world of multinationals”.
To end the day, three contributors spoke about issues of vital importance for the recovery and development of the sector: reducing consumption of water in the production process (Peter Hancock, project leader of UK company Ceram Research); developments in the drying process (George W. Scherer, professor of civil and environmental engineering at Princeton University, US); and lastly design, a mainstay of the future of the sector and a key factor for harnessing the full potential of Italian ceramics. This theme was addressed by Carlo Martino, a researcher at the ITACA (art, design and new technology) department of La Sapienza University, Rome.

The broad spectrum of distinguished visitors attending this eighth conference once again demonstrated the importance of this annual event for international players in the sanitaryware sector. A total of 29 countries were represented, including European nations (in particular Spain and France) and emerging countries such as India, Brazil, Egypt, the UAE, Thailand and Indonesia, which are becoming increasingly important markets for European goods. Operators from Russia and Turkey were also particularly well-represented. There was also a large delegation from the United States, a major importer of European goods and technology, which judging by the positive export data in the first half of 2010 will be the main driver of the sector’s recovery.

For the occasion, Sacmi provided demonstrations of high-pressure casting, a technology that is steadily gaining ground in this market and in which Sacmi is the world leader.