Marazzi acquires Welor Kerama Group

Nov 18, 2004

With reference to the news item “Major agreement between Welko and Marazzi” published a few days ago, we would like to note the following:

18/11/04 - Following the arrival of the new shareholders, the Group is strengthening its position in international markets. As part of the Marazzi Group’s new industrial programme – presented to the public a few weeks ago and already undergoing implementation – it is above all the operations in Russia that are currently in the spotlight.

Marazzi recently signed an agreement with the Welko Group for the acquisition of 100% of the Welor Kerama Group, the leading Russian company in the production and sale of ceramic tiles with more than 100 points of sale located throughout the country. According to Marazzi, the Group expects to close fiscal 2004 with a turnover of 72 million dollars.

The acquisition, which will bring the number of factories owned by Marazzi worldwide to 20, aims to reinforce and consolidate its presence in Russia, joining the factory already owned by the Sassuolo-based multinational at Malino.

This factory, equipped with state-of-the-art technology supplied by Sacmi, involved an investment of 45 million dollars. Installation of the technological machinery for body preparation, pressing, drying and firing will begin in about 10 days’ time.

Under the terms of the agreement with the Welko Group of Spino d’Adda, Marazzi has also commissioned a further line for the production of porcelain tiles to be installed in this factory.
In addition to traditional machinery such as a continuous mill, spray dryers, dryers and a kiln, Welko will also supply two WK2 dual-piston presses together with the PCS 225 soft decoration system called Picasso.
This internationally patented system has been extensively workshop-tested by Tecnografica Sistemi Welko (Castellarano, province of Reggio Emilia), which will offer the Marazzi Group support with research and development of new models to be produced with the PCS 225.