Tiles

Mohawk Group has launched the new Panoramic Porcelain Slabs, and started a new plant in Tennessee for the production of Quartz Slabs.

According to TCNA forecasts, in 2019 overall sales of US ceramic tiles will be flat or experience low, single-digit growth.

Tecno Diamant’s R&D laboratory technicians have developed an innovative diamond metal grinding wheel for the dry grinding and squaring process.

Ukrainian retailer Epicenter K is about to start up a new complete Sacmi plant for the production of 12 million sq.m/year of monoporosa and porcelain tiles.

Laminam’s revenues reached 110 million euros in 2018 (+30% on 2017). Sales of large size ceramic panels were strong both on the exports markets and in Italy (+20%). Russia and China are showing very good growth trends.

In spring this year, Revigres will be starting up its second Divario line for the production of full-body porcelain tiles in a 90x90 cm size.

Confindustria Ceramica Chairman Giovanni Savorani describes the various factors that have contributed to the slowdown of the sector as well as the measures that have been put in place to exploit new opportunities.

While carpet and hardwood are suffering a decrease of their market share, the US floor covering market experiences the strong advance of LVT.

Net sales grew to 10 billion dollars (+5%), total investments tot up 1.5 billion dollars. The Global Ceramic Division registered a 4% growth in sales to 3.55 billion dollars.

US tile consumption grew just 1.2% in 2018 to about 288 million sq.m. Domestic sales of US tile dropped to 84 million sq.m, while imports rose to 205 million sq.m (+5%), mainly from China, Spain and Brazil.

The company based in Castellarano (RE) specialising in the production of valves for slip, glaze and ceramic ink dosing, has been chosen by Ceramiche Mariner to supply equipment for its new factory in Roteglia.

Canadian imports and consumption of ceramic tiles decreased to 41 million sq.m in 2018.

Two new orders from leading groups confirm the LB group’s leadership position in the field of raw materials and body treatment.

The Spanish ceramic company will use the LB system for the production of large slabs.

The Formigine-based group has increased its stake to 100% of both companies. The total value of the transactions amounts to 6.3 million euros.

Revenues up by 10%, EBITDA of 90 million euros and investments of 70 million euros. Work is under way to build the largest roof-mounted photovoltaic plant for self-consumption in Europe.

The Spanish group registered 3.4% growth in 2018. Work on the new wall tile factory is continuing and will be completed in 2021.

Intercerama, Epicentr and Kharkov have adopted BMR’s dry squaring technology.

After the success achieved at Cersaie and Tecnargilla 2018 with the presentation of C-GLAZES Digital, Colorobbia is continuing to advance in the challenges set forth by the industrial implementation of the different high-laydown digital glazing technologies. The latest "Limitless" innovations were presented at Cevisama 2019.

Mauro Vandini (Marazzi Group) comments the evolution of the Italian ceramic tile industry in 2018, facing a general slowdown of the markets and the growing Spanish competition.