It was need of the hour to provide after sales sevice for their machinery imported by ceramic manufacturers in Morbi. Thus many ceramic machinery makers (both from China & Italy) has started up office in Morbi.

SACMI – Italy ( the world’s leading machinery manufacturer ) started their office here one year before. Moreover, they also intend to provide training to locals for operating their robust systems.

According to industry sources some 20 company has already started their offices here.

Roller kiln, dryer, press and polishing line  are the main machinery which are imported by every new company. Every year companies from Morbi imports about INR 300-400 crore worth parts and machineries from China and Italy.

Since manufacturing could not be stopped for minor technical reasons, it is necessary to get prompt service as fast as possible from machinery manufacturers. Having an office in Morbi serves this purpose for both tiles manufacturers here and technology provider abroad.

It should be noted that this industry manufactures more then 80 percent of total ceramic production in India. And in the coming months this figure is going to increase as many budding entrepreneurs are busy erecting their new factories.

HD and 3-D

Robust digital printing technology gives enhanced high-definition reproduction, so now the manufacturers can mimic the surface of stones or wood, down to a realistic tangible grain. A dead ringer for quartzite replicates its rough-hewn texture and sparkle. (See the image) Some manufacturers like Varmora Tiles and Asian Tiles has already condensed wall tiles manufacturing wall tiles with digital printing machinery they implemented last fiscal year.

The major new opportunity which Digital Printing Technology makes possible is the creation of unique, permanent ceramic images with the most desirable surface finish.

Thus we can say that, digital ceramic tiles (ie. ceramic tiles produced using the digital print process) extend the advantages offered by ceramic tiles over competing cladding materials, such as marble, stone, glass or metal

Ultra thin tiles is “In Thing”

Many multinational companies have already started production of ultra-slim (3 mm – 4mm) tiles, which allows cost-effective installation over existing floor or wall materials, and less weight results in more savings in transport. The easy-to-handle porcelain tiles is a plus for end users because scoring and cutting with glass cutters is simpler.

Larger formats

Manufacturers are also attempting to extend the current limits for larger formats. Some are almost slab size up to 4-by-6-foot rectangles are already manufacturered by Varmora Tiles. The look is clean, modern and sophisticated – ideal, for example, for a very large floor.

Almost any shape

Besides conventional geometrics shapes such as pentagons or octagons, water jet technology has opened the door to more complex shapes such as circular patterns, fish patterns, waves, or any pattern you can see in a prism! Asian tiles is already manufacturering a series of water jet patterns called “AQUART”

In between the lines

Besides developing more eco friendly grouting products, manufacturers are also looking to an extended color palette and more “special effects”. One grout option looks as if a tube of glitter has been sprinkled into bold hues such as Tourmaline (a semi-precious gem)! See a variety of new generation grout products here.

You may also like to refer our post on Nano technology for vitrified tiles

Please share your thoughts on new developments in ceramic production technology in the comment form below…

Now after expanding its wall tile manufacturing capacity, Asian Granito India Limited is now eyeing the Quartz segment.

The company now plans to enter into manufacturing of much promising “Quartz segment” by mid financial year 2010-11. Aiming to commence manufacturing of Quartz for a capacity of 5,000 sq ft per day, the company has poured about Rs 15 crore for the same.

“We have recently expanded our wall tile manufacturing capacity; our next plan is to set up a plant to produce Quartz which will make Asian Granito the first organised player (in India) to do so. We intend to commence manufacturing of Quartz by middle of the financial year 2010-11. We are eyeing big projects (e.g. airports, shopping hubs) for our Quartz tiles,” said Hasmukh Patel, M.D. of Asian Granito India Limited.

“Earlier we had a wall tile manufacturing capacity of 9,300 sq metres per day. While we intended to double it, we ended up exceed our expansion target and added 12,700 sq metres per day. Currently, our total tiles manufacturing capacity is 45,000 sq metres per day, of which 22,000 sq metres per day comes from wall tiles, 16,000 sq metres per day from vitrified tiles, and 7,000 sq metres per day from ceramic tiles,” said Kamlesh Patel, chairman of Asian Granito India Limited.

As against a turnover of about Rs 360 crore in 2008-09, during 2009-10 Asian tiles is expecting to post a turnover of Rs 420 crore. “Since the expanded capacity is commencing commercial production from this March, the revenue contribution from it will be realized fully in financial year 2010-11. Nevertheless, for 2009-10 we are expecting a turnover of Rs 420 crore and another 20 % growth to register a turnover of Rs 500 crore for the financial year 2010-11,” Kamlesh Patel added.

The management is also much buoyant for their overseas marketing endeavors and expects its export sales to be about 10 % of the total sales in the next two years. Currently, the company manufactures vitrified tiles, wall tiles, and ceramic tiles. During 2009-10 Asian tiles has also set up a marble stone plant with an investment of Rs 55 crore.

As part of the Delegation the participating companies would be entitled to Free Hotel Stay & Local Transport during the fair period. Also B2B meetings would be organized during the fair period. Apart from the airfare all the costs would be covered by the hosting organization ACIMAC.

Over the years, Tecnargilla has become the biggest, most important international showcase of technological and stylistic innovation for the ceramics industry, offering a sneak preview of the innovative products of the future.

Tecnargilla also features the widest product range of any fair in its sector, with over 80,000 m² of gross exhibition space housing the key producers of technology for tiles, bricks, refractory materials, and technical ceramics. The 2008 fair drew over 700 exhibitors and 31,400 visitors, 39.2% of them from abroad: over 120 countries around the world.

Tecnargilla is the only occasion to meet the leaders in the ceramics market. It´s no coincidence that Tecnargilla is held in Italy, a country that can boast the finest range of ceramics and technology in the world.

The Exhibition caters to the following sectors of the Ceramic industry :-

We would be grateful if you could convey your interest to participate in the Delegation of Buyers by a return mail to p.hate@indiaitaly.com or call Mr. Pushkar Hate on Tel: +91-22-2436-8186 Extn: 129.

Yours Truly,

—————————————————————–
The Indo-Italian Chamber of Commerce & Industry
502, Bengal Chemical Compound
Veer Savarkar Marg, Prabhadevi
Mumbai 400025, India

Tel: +91-22-2436-8186 Extn: 129
Fax: +91-22-2436-8191/ 2438-2716
E-mail: p.hate@indiaitaly.com
URL: www.indiaitaly.com