Press conference - Cersaie 2007

Transcription

Press Release
The inaugural conference and the Ceramic Tiles of Italy
International Press Conference at Cersaie 2007
The inaugural conference of Cersaie 2007, to be held on Tuesday 2 October at 11.00 a.m.
in Sala Europa in Palazzo dei Congressi, Bologna, will explore an issue that needs to be
put back to the institutional agenda and which, ten years since it was first discussed, is still
a very long way from being resolved.
The conference entitled “Liberalisation: the state of progress” will be moderated by the
leader writer of La Repubblica Giuseppe Turani and will see the participation of the
Minister for International Trade and European Policy Emma Bonino, the Chairman of
Confindustria Luca Cordero di Montezemolo, the Chairman of Ferrovie dello Stato
Innocenzo Cipolletta, the Il Corriere della Sera columnist Francesco Giavazzi and
Chairman of Confindustria Ceramica Alfonso Panzani, who will discuss the current state of
progress in view of the measures that have already been adopted and those that are
planned for the future.
The meeting will be concluded by the presentation of the Confindustria Ceramica
Distributors Award, the award granted by the association to the four European distributors
who have stood out for their work in promoting an awareness of Italian ceramic tiles.
The Cersaie International Press Conference, the customary appointment with the world’s
journalists, is scheduled for the afternoon (6:30 p.m.) of Tuesday 2 October, the first day of
the show. The event is promoted by Confindustria Ceramica in cooperation with the Italian
Trade Commission ICE and organised by Edi.Cer. SpA with the contribution of Mapei. It will
be held in the Sala del Re Enzo di Palazzo Re Enzo e del Podestà (Piazza Maggiore) in the
heart of Bologna’s historical centre.
The press conference is an opportunity to meet journalists from the leading newspapers
and journals from Italy and the rest of the world and will host the following speakers:
Director General of ICE Massimo Mamberti, Chairman of Confindustria Ceramica Alfonso
Panzani, Chairman of Confindustria Ceramica’s Promotional Activities Commission Vittorio
Borelli and Chairman of Mapei Giorgio Squinzi. Moderated by the Director General of
Confindustria Ceramica Franco Vantaggi, the meeting will be followed by a gala evening
celebrating Cersaie’s 25th anniversary.
Sassuolo, October 2007
For further information: Andrea Serri
Press Office tel. +39 0536 818111
fax +39 0536 807935 - mobile +39 348 1504905
email: pressoffice@cersaie.it
Press Release
Interview with Confindustria Ceramica Chairman
Alfonso Panzani for the 25th Cersaie
When Cersaie, the International Exhibition of Ceramic Tiles and Bathroom Furniture, opens
in Bologna on Tuesday 2 October, it will be celebrating an uninterrupted presence of 25
years on the world stage in a crescendo of statistics, exhibitors, institutional figures and
visitors. It is an important platform that hosts many of the leading players in the world
building, distribution, design and interior design sectors. To find out more, we spoke to
Alfonso Panzani, Chairman of Confindustria Ceramica, the association that promotes the
event.
Mr Panzani, this year Cersaie is celebrating its 25th anniversary. What is the overall
appraisal of a quarter of century of the show’s activity?
The strength of Cersaie lies both in the figures and in the quality of the show. The 160,000
square metres of available space continues to be fully sold out due to the presence of 1,078
exhibitors, 223 of whom are foreign companies from 32 different countries. The more than
900 companies that exhibit ceramic tiles and bathroom furnishing represent a peak of
international excellence. We are expecting 90,000 visitors this year, about a third of whom
are foreigners. The international scope of the show, the quality of the exhibitors and the
level of the economic and cultural events are all key features of Cersaie, which year after
year has continued to grow, improve and gain in importance. This “dynamic” aspect is
another of the hallmarks of the show.
The theme of this year’s economic conference is liberalisation.
There are at least two aspects surrounding this debate, which will be conducted together
with Emma Bonino (Minister for International Trade and European Policy), Luca di
Montezemolo (Chairman of Confindustria), Innocenzo Cipolletta (Chairman of Ferrovie dello
Stato) and Francesco Gavazzi (leader writer for Corriere della Sera). The first is the now
general awareness that countries with less red tape and with simple, clear rules are also
those that have the lowest “system costs” and consequently the most competitive
companies and the citizens with highest purchasing power.
The second is the fact that an increase in the economic freedom of a country equates with
greater potential for economic growth, development and creation of jobs. Regaining its spirit
of enterprise and a sense of initiative is precisely what this country needs.
What is the present economic situation in the tile sector?
The Italian tile industry is continuing its process of repositioning in higher market segments
in spite of the difficulty situation in the international property market. Our average prices are
continuing to increase, both because we are marketing products with superior
characteristics and because we have to compensate for the increase in the costs of
production factors.
While accounting for more than two-thirds of our sales, exports in volume terms are falling.
The US subprime mortgage crisis has triggered a sharp downturn in sales in the American
market, which is only partially offset by the positive trend in Russia, Northern European
countries and Asia. In spite of the general difficulties in the building market and the
consequent fall in demand for tiles, Italy is not losing market share with respect to its main
competitors. This is a positive aspect that justifies the strategies adopted to consolidate our
position. What is certain is that this Cersaie demonstrates our intention to open up new
avenues of development.
The difficulties in the international property market are accentuating competition,
which sometimes becomes distorted.
The issue of Fair Trade is crucial to Confindustria Ceramica’s approach because the
sectors it represents generate more than 4.2 billion euro each year from exports. We
believe it is important that the community authorities make the “Made in” label obligatory on
products sold within the European Union at the earliest opportunity. This will give
consumers the information they require to be able to make informed purchases and will
ensure that fair competition is maintained between companies from the various continents.
Current practices are causing serious damage to economic development and employment
within Europe.
One of the novelties of 2007 is the exhibition Creativitiles in the Services Centre.
We believe this initiative is a win-win situation as succeeding in using modern Italian tiles to
recreate 16 of the world’s most famous and important paintings demonstrates many things.
One is the versatility of a material that – while clearly retaining its ceramic nature – is able
to switch from damask effects to mosaic, from naturals stone to optical effects. Another is
the material’s ability to become both the object and the instrument of creativity. This is very
significant if we consider the success enjoyed by Italian industrial design products, a
category to which Italian ceramic – both tiles and sanitaryware – fully belongs.
What is the significance of Mario Botta’s presence at Cersaie?
For several years now we have been organising conferences with leading figures from the
world of contemporary architecture, and this description certainly fits Mario Botta. The idea
behind these meetings is to allow participants, particularly young people, to come and listen
to the architects who created some of the projects that are universally recognised as
masterworks. Alongside this is the idea that the younger generations will be able to draw
from the many materials on display at the adjacent Cersaie to develop their design ideas. It
is this process of osmosis between the most innovative aspects of Cersaie and the
creativity of designers that gives rise to the beauty of spaces in their broadest sense.
One final question, what are your hopes and expectations for this 25th Cersaie?
That it will be always true to itself and at the same time different. I hope it will succeed in
maintaining its universally acknowledged levels of excellence and appeal and at the same
time will continue to be the stage on which innovations and future trends are explored every
year.
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Press Release
Cersaie 2007 celebrates 25 years of success
Cersaie, the most important international showcase of ceramic tiles and bathroom
furnishings, will be celebrating 25 years of success from Tuesday 2 to Saturday 6 October.
The International Exhibition of Ceramic Tiles and Bathroom Furnishings, promoted by
Confindustria Ceramica in cooperation with Bologna Fiere and organised by Edi.Cer. SpA in
cooperation with Promos, is opening its 25th edition with a more extensive programme of
initiatives and meetings than ever before to celebrate this important anniversary in the
traditional venue of the Bologna Exhibition Centre.
The prominent position enjoyed by the exhibition at an international level is demonstrated
by its exceptional figures: the 160,000 square metres of the Bologna exhibition centre are
hosting a total of 1,078 exhibitors (including 233 foreign companies from 32 different
countries) operating in 5 different product sectors; these include a total of 537 ceramic tile
manufacturers, made up of 368 Italian and 169 foreign companies. The bathroom furnishing
sector can boast equally significant figures: 393 exhibitors (373 Italian and 20 foreign firms)
showcasing the very best of world production. Italian products will once again confirm their
leading position in the market. As customary the show will be attended by a large number of
journalists, who last year passed the 600 mark for the first time ever.
The poster for this year’s show was created by internationally renowned architect and
designer Toyo Ito. “Grids ruled space throughout the 20th century. Cities all over the world
have been covered by homogeneous grids. I have a feeling that in this century, grids will
melt, become distorted and transform like natural topographies. In other words, architecture
is becoming closer to natural systems.” The Japanese master believes that by uniting
surface and structure it is possible to generate organic geometries, to create pleasant,
entertaining and lively spaces. These qualities are the distinctive features of Italian ceramic
tiles, whose tactile and chromatic values, surfaces, shapes and dimensions make them
ideal not only as furnishing accessories with a strongly functional role in the domestic
environment but also as aesthetic, communicative elements.
With its packed programme of high-profile initiatives, Cersaie 2007 will as always see the
participation of a large international audience of exhibitors, designers, architects, interior
designers and journalists. It is a unique opportunity to see the results of experimentation
and research projects focusing on aesthetics and quality, to take part in the widest range of
initiatives to evaluate new forms of interaction between ceramic, architecture and art, and to
find out how Italian ceramic tiles dictate new style and design trends.
The first institutional event will be held on Tuesday 2 October at 11.00 a.m. The Sala
Europa in the Palazzo dei Congressi in Bologna, adjacent to the exhibition centre, will be
hosting the inaugural economic conference promoted by Confindustria Ceramica and
organised by Edi.Cer. SpA, entitled Liberalisation: the state of progress. Moderated by
La Repubblica leader writer Giuseppe Turani and hosting guest speakers Emma Bonino
(Minister for International Trade and European Policy), Luca Cordero di Montezemolo
(Chairman of Confindustria), Innocenzo Cipolletta (Chairman of Ferrovie dello Stato),
Alfonso Panzani (Chairman of Confindustria Ceramica) and Francesco Gavazzi
(columnist for Corriere della Sera), the conference will address a difficult and very topical
issue within the Italian national debate.
The meeting will end with the presentation of the Confindustria Ceramica Distributors
Award, the award granted by the association to the four distributors who have stood out for
their work in promoting an awareness of Italian ceramic tiles. At this 25th edition of Cersaie
the winning distributors selected by the Confindustria Ceramica jury come from France,
Germany, Italy and Sweden.
Cersaie 2007 will be meeting Italian and international journalists on Tuesday 2 October at
6.30 p.m. at the Ceramic Tiles of Italy International Press Conference, this year held in
Sala Re Enzo in Palazzo Re Enzo e del Podestà in the heart of Bologna’s old city centre.
Moderated by the Director General of Confindustria Ceramica Franco Vantaggi, the
meeting will feature addresses by the Director General of ICE Massimo Mamberti, the
Chairman of Confindustria Ceramica Alfonso Panzani, the Chairman of Confindustria
Ceramica’s Promotional Activities Committee Vittorio Borelli and the Chairman of Mapei
Giorgio Squinzi. This meeting with the world’s media promoted by Confindustria Ceramica
in cooperation with the Italian Trade Commission ICE and organised by Edi.Cer. SpA with
the contribution of Mapei is the ideal opportunity to take stock of a leading Italian industry
that has long been supported by ICE and the Ministry for Production Activities to foster the
international development of a strongly export-oriented sector.
One of the leading events in the packed cultural programme of the 25th edition of Cersaie is
the architecture conference entitled Mario Botta: architecture and memory, to be held on
Thursday 4 October at 10.30 a.m. in Sala Italia, Palazzo dei Congressi. Conceived by
Confindustria Ceramica and organised by Edi.Cer. SpA, this meeting hosts the Swiss
architect Mario Botta, one of the great masters of world architecture who has carried
through projects all over the world.
The heart of the 25th edition of Cersaie is the Bologna Trade Fair’s Services Centre, which
this year is hosting the exhibition Ceramic Tiles of Italy – Creativitiles, open to visitors
during the five days of the show. This cultural event uses ceramic tiles in novel, almost
surreal settings to demonstrate their creativity, versatility and expressive power. Promoted
by Confindustria Ceramica and organised by Edi.Cer. Spa under the artistic direction of
Prof. Enrico Manelli (Director of the Ravenna Fine Arts Academy), the exhibition provides
an original and artistic interpretation of sixteen important paintings, transformed threedimensionally into settings where ceramic tiles are used as the “raw material for creativity”.
The wide-ranging and lively cultural offerings inside the Services Centre are complemented
by info desks organised by Ceramic Tiles of Italy/Confindustria Ceramica, Edi. Cer. SpA,
Centro Ceramico di Bologna, Cerform, Creativitiles and ArtBook Triennale, where visitors
can find the latest publications and pick up detailed information on the exhibition.
Cersaie’s programme is rounded off by the technical seminars organised by the Centro
Ceramico Bologna. At the five meetings, industry experts will attempt to answer
participants’ questions and will address highly topical issues for the Italian ceramic tile
industry such as obligatory CE marking and the EN European standards for ceramic
sanitaryware articles. They will also explore the new frontiers of research and innovations in
the field of floor and wall coverings.
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Press Release
Liberalisation: the state of progress
A country that is stagnating is a country that is unable to grow. And Italy, one of the most
industrialised countries in the world, is historically the one that is growing least of all. The
inaugural conference of Cersaie 2007, to be held on Tuesday 2 October at 11.00 a.m. in
Sala Europa in Palazzo dei Congressi, Bologna, will explore an issue that needs to be put
back to the institutional agenda and which, ten years since it was first discussed, is still a
very long way from being resolved.
The conference entitled “Liberalisation: the state of progress” will be moderated by the
leader writer of La Repubblica Giuseppe Turani and will see the participation of the
Minister for International Trade and European Policy Emma Bonino, the Chairman of
Confindustria Luca Cordero di Montezemolo, the Chairman of Ferrovie dello Stato
Innocenzo Cipolletta, the Il Corriere della Sera columnist Francesco Giavazzi and
Chairman of Confindustria Ceramica Alfonso Panzani, who will discuss the current state of
progress in view of the measures that have already been adopted and those that are
planned for the future.
In order for our country to develop, it is imperative to address the various structural
problems it is facing and to foster growth at a time of slowdown in the international
economy. The context within which companies find themselves operating has changed, the
relationship with the market has become more complex, and competition is now global in
scale. The corrective action introduced by the Financial law is essential provided it allows
Italy to relaunch successfully, while bureaucracy remains a severe hurdle to development.
The lower production costs enjoyed by foreign competitors jeopardise the competitiveness
of the Italian economy, which consists of strongly export-oriented small and medium-sized
companies. Special attention must be given to the manufacturing sector, where there
continues to be a need for measures to foster technological development and research and
to support internationalisation policies.
The meeting will be concluded by the presentation of the Confindustria Ceramica
Distributors Award, the award granted by the association to the four European distributors
who have stood out for their work in promoting an awareness of Italian ceramic tiles.
fax +39 0536 807935 - mobile +39 348 1504905

Economic conference: Liberalisation: the state of progress
2 October 2007 - 11.00 a.m.
Europa Room, Palazzo dei Congressi
Piazza Costituzione 4/A – Bologna
Promoted by Confindustria Ceramica
Organised by Edi.Cer.S.p.A.
Press Release
Ceramic Tiles of Italy International Press Conference
Tuesday 2 October, 6.30 p.m.
Sala Re Enzo – Palazzo Re Enzo e del Podestà
Piazza Maggiore – Bologna
The Cersaie International Press Conference, the customary appointment with the world’s
journalists, is scheduled for the afternoon of Tuesday 2 October, the first day of the show.
The press conference is part of the packed programme of events organised for the twentyfifth edition of Cersaie, the pre-eminent exhibition of ceramic tiles and bathroom furnishings.
Aimed at all Italian and foreign journalists accredited with Cersaie, the event is promoted by
Confindustria Ceramica in cooperation with the Italian Trade Commission ICE and
organised by Edi.Cer. SpA with the contribution of Mapei. It will be held in the Sala del Re
Enzo di Palazzo Re Enzo e del Podestà (Piazza Maggiore) in the heart of Bologna’s
historical centre.
The press conference is an opportunity to meet journalists from the leading newspapers
and journals from Italy and the rest of the world and will host the following speakers:
Director General of ICE Massimo Mamberti, Chairman of Confindustria Ceramica Alfonso
Panzani, Chairman of Confindustria Ceramica’s Promotional Activities Commission Vittorio
Borelli and Chairman of Mapei Giorgio Squinzi. Moderated by the Director General of
Confindustria Ceramica Franco Vantaggi, the aim of the meeting is to offer journalists from
all over the world a detailed and up-to-date picture of the state of the ceramic sector and of
the context within which the Italian ceramic industry operates today. Particular attention will
be focused on the many varied activities that Confindustria Ceramica has carried out over
the years in close cooperation with the Ministry for Production Activities and ICE in order to
promote an awareness of the excellence of the Italian ceramic industry worldwide and to
strengthen its leadership position. The event will also be attended by several dozen
architects and interior designers and will be the perfect setting for the presentation of the
12th Ceramic Tiles of Italy Journalism Award 2007, assigned to the best international article
on the Italian ceramic tile industry and on Cersaie 2006.
The meeting will be followed by a gala evening celebrating Cersaie’s 25th anniversary.
The meeting point is the square in front of the exhibition centre’s Piazza Costituzione
entrance at 4.45 p.m.
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
Ceramic Tiles of Italy International Press Conference
Tuesday 2 October 2007, 6.30 p.m.
Sala Re Enzo, Palazzo del Podestà - Piazza Maggiore, Bologna
Promoted by Italian Trade Commission ICE and Confindustria Ceramica
Organised by Edi.Cer. SpA
with the contribution of Mapei SpA
Simultaneous interpreting: Italian – English, French, German
CONFINDUSTRIA CERAMICA DISTRIBUTORS AWARD 2007
PRESENTED TO FOUR DISTRIBUTORS IN RECOGNITION OF THEIR ACTIVITIES OF PROMOTING ITALIAN CERAMIC TILES IN
ITALY AND WORLDWIDE
GERMANY
Company
Address
General
description
Award received
by
FRANCE
HARRY’S FLIESENMARKT
Osdorfer Landstr. 188
22549 Hamburg
 +49 040 8511213
 +49 040 856 614
The company was set up in 1962 and
currently employs 45 people.
It has a chain of showrooms with a
total display area of 7,000 square
metres.
Dieter Stammel
SWEDEN
Company
Address
Company
Address
General
description
Award received by
Award received
by
Lieu dit Beauversant R.D. 42
69230 Saint-Genis-Laval
 +33 0478 56 60 60
 +33 0478 56 68 14
The company currently employs 37
people and reported a turnover of
almost 10 million euro in 2006 (90%
of which was generated from sales of
ceramic tiles).
It has 4 showrooms with a total
display area of 1,200 square metres.
Filippo Fraccalvieri
ITALY
KONRADSSONS KAKEL
Fridhemsrondellen
553 02 Jönköping
 +46 3612 5115
Company
Address
 +46 3612 1555
General
description
FILGRES CARRELAGES
The company was founded in 1968
and in the last year has reported a
turnover of 17.7 million euro, 78% of
which was generated by sales of
ceramic tiles and 3% by sales of
ceramic sanitaryware.
It has 36 employees and three
showrooms located in Jönköping,
Stockholm and Gothenburg with a
total display area of 2,300 square
metres.
Hans Persson
General
description
Award received by
C.C.B. Barili
Via G. Petroni, 131/Q
70124 Bari
 080 202 73111
 080 202 73444
The company was founded in 1962
and has an annual turnover of 16.5
million euro, 38% of which is
generated by sales of ceramic tiles
and 10% by sales of ceramic
sanitaryware.
It currently has 84 employees and
two showrooms with a total display
area of 4,500 square metres.
Francesco Barili
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
CERAMIC TILES OF ITALY JOURNALISM AWARD 2007
FOR THE BEST ARTICLE ON
CERSAIE AND THE ITALIAN CERAMIC TILE
INDUSTRY
The Jury, headed by the Chairman of the Promotional Activities and Trade Fairs Committee
Vittorio Borelli and consisting of Emilio Bonicelli (il Sole 24 Ore), Livio Salvadori
(Casabella) and Andrea Serri (Cer, il giornale della ceramica), chose the following winner
from 103 submitted articles published in 63 magazines in 16 different countries:
UKRAINE
Article
High-fashion ceramics at Cersaie 2006
Author
Ol’ga Šišova
Motivation
For having described in considerable detail – backed by a wealth of photographs –
the myriad aesthetic innovations present at Cersaie 2006, defined as “the right
place for gaining new ideas and a stimulus for one’s own creativity”.
Magazine
Ceramics: style and fashion
Magazine
characteristics
Address
Frequency:
Bimonthly
Circulation:
10,000 copies (5 issues)
Target readership: building firms, estate agents, architect and designer
associations, trade fairs and specialist stores
Distribution:
60% retail sales, 10% subscriptions, 15% building firms, estate
agents, architect and designer associations, 15% trade fairs and
specialist stores
Ceramics: style and fashion
89 A, Prospekt Pobedy
03115 Kiev - Ukraine
/  +380 44 490-63-89
ceramic@ceramic.com.ua
www.ceramic.com.ua
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
CERAMIC TILES OF ITALY JOURNALISM AWARD 2008
COMPETITION RULES
Ceramic Tiles of Italy are pleased to announce the thirteenth competition for the Journalism Award.
This award will recognize the best published article/report on Italian Ceramic Tiles Industry and /
or Cersaie 2007, the International Exhibition of Ceramic Tile and Bathroom Furnishings (Bologna,
Italy: 2 – 6 October 2007).
1) The competition is open to all journalists outside of Italy. Journalists may submit up to four
articles. Only single author articles will be eligible.
2) To be eligible for the competition, articles must have been published by May 15, 2008 in
magazines outside of Italy. All applicants must submit at least three copies of the magazines
containing the article, a short description of the features of the magazine, as well as background
biographical information by May 31, 2008 to:
Ceramic Tiles of Italy - Press Office
Viale Monte Santo, 40
41049 Sassuolo (MO) - Italy
In case the article is not in English, an English or Italian translation should be enclosed.
3) The Jury will consist of professional Italian journalists. They will evaluate editorial and
photographic content of each submission. (Topics may be, but are not limited to: styles and design
trends, market analysis, descriptions of new and innovative products/applications, descriptions of
the technical features and quality of the products exhibited and Italian Ceramic Tiles Industry’s
events).
4) The Jury’s decision is final. All entrants will be promptly notified of the results of the competition.
5) The prize assigned to the winner is a commemorative plaque which will be officially awarded
during the International Press Conference at Cersaie 2008. Moreover, the winner will enjoy a stay
in Rome from September 24 to September 28, 2008 with departure for Cersaie on September 29
and a stay in Bologna until October 2, 2008. The trip, for two persons, includes round trip airfare,
board and lodging with double occupancy rooms.
For more information contact:
Ceramic Tiles of Italy - Press Office
Viale Monte Santo, 40
41049 Sassuolo (MO) - Italy
Phone 0536/ 818111 - Fax 0536/ 807935
E-mail: info@italiatiles.com
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Competitors grant the Cersaie press office the right to publish free of charge on the websites
www.italiatiles.com and www.cersaie.it the magazine covers and submitted articles deemed most
important.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Press Release
“Architecture and Memory”
Mario Botta guest of honour at Cersaie 2007
A conference entitled Mario Botta: Architecture and Memory, to be held on Thursday 4
October 2007 at 10.30 a.m. in Sala Italia in the Palazzo dei Congressi, Bologna exhibition
centre, is sure to be one of the highlights of the packed cultural programme of Cersaie
2007. Organised as part of Cersaie’s customary focus on architecture, the conference will
explore the relationship between architecture and the concept of memory, not in merely
historical terms but as an intrinsic aspect of knowledge, particularly of an architecture that is
capable of generating meaning. Moderated by Aldo Colonetti, Mario Botta: Architecture and
memory aims to restore aspects such as a “culture of territory”, “nature and artifice”,
“individuals and community” to their rightful position at the centre of this extraordinary
discipline, conceived in terms of a dialectic suspended between local and global, between
economy and culture, between present and future; creating an architecture that is in
harmony with its broader context and with users as part of a vision that takes account of
time as well as space.
While emphasising the increasingly close links between architecture and the ceramic tile
industry, the conference will provide a platform where leading figures from the world of
international architecture and design can discuss an industry that exports Italian qualities
worldwide. Set up by Confindustria Ceramica and organised by Edi.Cer. SpA, the event will
feature guest speaker Mario Botta, the internationally renowned Swiss architect whose
works are renowned for their strong design focus. Mario Botta began his career as an
architect in Lugano, Switzerland in 1970 and has also taught at schools of architecture in
Europe, Asia, the United States and Latin America. In 1976 he was named guest professor
at Lausanne Polytechnic and in 1987 at the Yale School of Architecture in New Haven,
USA. Since 1983 he has been full professor at the Swiss Polytechnics. From 1982 to 1987
he was a member of the Swiss Federal Commission for Fine Arts. His work has won
important international awards including the Merit Award for Excellence in Design by the
AIA for the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. In recent years he conceived and
founded the new Academy of Architecture at Mendrisio-Ticino and was director for the
academic year 2002-03.
With the conference Mario Botta: Architecture and memory, the 25th Cersaie once again
confirms the Italian ceramic tile industry’s special attention to the ever-changing needs of
the world of architecture and design.
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Press Release
Creativitiles, tiles between art and industry
The aim of the exhibition Ceramic Tiles of Italy – Creativitiles is to demonstrate that
Italian tiles, industry and art are not as far apart as they may seem. The event will be
officially opened on Wednesday 3 October at 11.00 a.m. and will run for the five days of
Cersaie in the Cersaie Services Centre, a venue that has always been used for events
devoted to information, communication and image.
Held during the ceramic sector’s most prestigious trade show, Creativitiles offers architects,
interior designers, journalists and end users the opportunity to discover the new role of
ceramic tiles as a raw material for stimulating creativity and achieving solutions with a wide
range of visual impacts. Promoted by Confindustria Ceramica and organised by Edi.Cer.
SpA in cooperation with Promos srl, the exhibition extends over an area of 600 square
metres. The original idea was by Laura Manfredini and the art director is Prof. Enrico
Manelli, Director of the Ravenna Fine Arts Academy.
It features sixteen famous paintings revisited using Italian ceramic tiles, including “The
Kiss” by Francesco Hayez (Leonardo 1502 Ceramica), “Il Pergolato” by Silvestro Lega
(Ceramica Del Conca), “Portrait of Fritza Riedler” by Gustav Klimt (Casalgrande Padana),
“Die Empfindung” by Ferdinando Hodler (Fap Ceramiche), “Venus of Urbino” (detail) by
Titian (Lea Ceramiche), “Jeanne Hebuterne” by Amedeo Modigliani (Saime San Prospero),
“Fumee” by Georges Barbier (Ceramica De Maio Francesco), “Still life with a melon and a
vase of flowers” by Pierre-Auguste Renoir (Gamma Due), a scenographic sketch for “Feu
d’artifice” by Giacomo Balla (Ceramiche Edilcuoghi), “La Vasque” by Georges Barbier
(Cercom), “Cactus” (1917) by Giorgio Morandi (Emilceramica), “Stellated dodecahedron”
by Paolo Uccello (Etruria Design), “Picture II, Gnomus” by Wassily Kandinsky (Floor Gres),
“Dancers practicing at the bar” by Edgar Degas (La Faenza), “The Kiss” by Gustav Klimt
(Ceramic Tiles of Italy), and “Dynamism of a dog on a leash” by Giacomo Balla (Ceramic
Tiles of Italy).
The exhibition highlights the creativity and art of Italian ceramic tiles and explores the
outstanding expressive potential that derives from their quality and scope of application. By
placing ceramic tiles in previously unexplored and almost surreal settings, the event aims
to bring together the worlds of industry and art through a revisitation of sixteen important
paintings, transformed three-dimensionally into settings where ceramic tiles are used as
the “raw material for creativity”. Art and industry come together in perfect synergy in an art
gallery type exhibition that alternates installations of different sizes using scenographic and
trompe l’oeil techniques for enhanced visual impact.
The breadth of cultural offerings available in the Services Centre includes numerous info
desks for Ceramic Tiles of Italy/Confindustria Ceramica, Edi.Cer. SpA, Centro Ceramico
Bologna, Cerform, CreativiTiles and ArtBook Triennale. In these spaces visitors can
discover the latest publications devoted to the Italian ceramic tile industry together with the
25th Cersaie’s calendar of events and the initiatives aimed at the ceramic sector. Visitors
can also pick the special guide brochure for the exhibition.
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Press Release
Ceramic scenes. Colour in the home
The eye never rests. Without a moment of respite, it is drawn almost magnetically to the
colourful, realistic and often familiar images that share our public or private spaces or adorn
open areas of courtyards of squares (from Hayez to Degas, from Modigliani to Klimt; we
even find Morandi, who would have frowned in puzzlement). These representations are the
startling achievements of a technique that, although further developed and refined in recent
years, is based on a centuries-old manual tradition that brings with it a sense of timeless
skill. They are all created using ceramic tiles, a highly unusual material for these
applications. In their everyday uses, ceramic tiles have long been associated with clean and
aseptic places such as bathrooms, kitchens, and even operating theatres and hospital
wards. They generally eschew bright colours, indeed almost always exhibit a mortifying
whiteness. In this age of efficiency and monochromatic modernity, we appear to have
forgotten that people used to apply colour to every room in their homes, to every moment of
their lives. We get an idea of this only when we thumb through art history books and are
astounded to see the mosaic-clad floors of Roman villas from the imperial age – wherever
they were located within the far-flung reaches of the empire – and imagine sandaled feet
stepping over the mythical stories of the gods of Olympus or the maritime adventures of
Ulysses. Likewise, the walls of thermal baths and senate halls glowed with the colours of
porphyry, lapis lazuli and green African marble. And when the Roman empire declined, the
tradition was passed on to the peoples that emerged from the inhospitable Arabian deserts,
who dismounting from their horses or camels were astounded by the colourful majesty of
Byzantine and Persian residences. These nomadic people immediately began to change
their lifestyles and customs, building splendid palaces, villas and thermal baths,
commissioning skilled ceramic workers from Persia and Mesopotamia. Baghdad became
the new Rome, and the provincial residences of Arab, Turkish, Persian and Mongol
administrators began to sparkle with the most exquisite and precious colours. Here and
now, in these sixteen scenic compositions, we feel a sense of surprise, of shock even. This
is because, as we have seen, we associate ceramic with images of spotlessness and
efficiency (suffice it to think that ceramic is used to clad the missiles that every so often we
send up to the sky). But here we find that the artists have taken control, creating individual
and communal living spaces with shimmering ceramic surfaces that reflect the history of our
passion for figuration. Walls become paintings – common, well-known scenes that will be
familiar even to those with a limited knowledge of art – that are reflected and projected all
around us, becoming congenial companions. They are fragments of our immense imaginary
museum that emerge from the museum to become part of our daily lives.
(Eugenio Riccòmini)
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Press Release
The Centro Ceramico seminars at Cersaie 2007
The 25th Cersaie, the leading international showcase of ceramic tiles and bathroom
furnishings, has a packed programme of technical and scientific meetings organised as
customary by the Centro Ceramico Bologna in cooperation with Confindustria Ceramica on
themes including technology, standards, research, installation and energy saving in the
ceramic industry. The five seminars to be held in the Services Centre will be given by
leading Italian experts in their fields.
The Italian and European ceramic building materials industry, especially the floor and wall
tile and sanitaryware sectors, is exposed to competition from both emerging countries and
alternative products. With this in mind, the seminar entitled Ceramic tiles and
sanitaryware: the frontiers of research to be held on Wednesday 3 October at 10.30
a.m, focuses on product research and innovation as the only means of addressing the
situation and bolstering the Italian industry’s competitiveness and continued technological
and manufacturing leadership role. The meeting will be an opportunity to discuss objectives
and strategies, necessary and available resources, research and development projects,
and the main areas in which the industry and research organisations are focusing their
efforts through national and international research support programmes such as the
European Union’s 7th Framework Programme.
On Thursday 4 October at 10.30 a.m. there will be a seminar entitled Ceramic
sanitaryware: international standards and CE marking. The meeting will provide an upto-date picture of European EN standards on ceramic sanitaryware and will analyse trends
and development prospects and their implications for the Italian industry. It will focus on
experience acquired in the field of CE marking together with the implications of the revision
of Directive 89/116 and the corresponding implementation decrees and will conclude with
an assessment of the commercial and technical implications of the mark in the ceramic
sanitaryware sector.
Ceramic tiles: CE marking two years on is the title of the seminar which will be held on
Friday 5 October at 10.30 a.m. Two years after the introduction of obligatory CE marking for
ceramic tiles, the meeting is the perfect opportunity to exchange opinions and experiences
and will provide a clear and up-to-date picture of the reference documents and analyse the
development trends in standardisation, from the changes that were introduced in standard
EN 14411 to the revision of Directive 89/106 and the specific enactment decrees published
in a number of European countries.
The fourth seminar entitled Ceramic tiles and energy efficiency in building: innovations
for the building structure to be held on Friday 5 October at 3 p.m. will be targeted in
particular at architects and designers. Examining the activities conducted by the laboratory
set up by the Centro Ceramico with co-funding from Regione Emilia-Romagna to develop
ceramic tiles with new functions compared to their traditional role as a floor and wall
covering, the meeting will explore potential for limiting the energy consumption of buildings
and presents innovative ceramic tiles for installation on ventilated facades that are capable
of reducing energy expenditure. The seminar will be an opportunity for industry
professionals to exchange opinions and discuss their needs in order to ensure that
research activities are more closely tailored to their requirements.
The intense programme of technical conferences organised by Centro Ceramico Bologna in
cooperation with Confindustria Ceramica will be concluded on Saturday 6 October at 10.30
a.m. with the fifth and last seminar entitled Ceramic tile standards seen from the tile
setter’s perspective: from tile technical specifications to the quality of tiling”. This
seminar is devoted to continuous training of ceramic tile setters and will provide the
necessary tools and knowledge to enable them to understand how the characteristics of
tiles described in the Technical Specifications (written in accordance with applicable
standards) relate to the quality and durability of tiling in various areas and conditions of use
according to the design solutions and methods of installation adopted. There will be a
special focus on dimensional characteristics, bulk mechanical characteristics (breaking load
and modulus of rupture) and surface mechanical and chemical characteristics.
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Press Release
Toyo Ito designs poster for Cersaie 2007
Grids have ruled space throughout the 20th century. Cities all over the world have been
covered by homogeneous grids. I have a feeling that in this century, grids will melt, become
distorted and transform like natural topographies. In other words, architecture is becoming
closer to natural systems
This is the idea that inspired Toyo Ito in his design for the poster for Cersaie 2007.
Toyo Ito was born in 1941. After graduating from the University of Tokyo in 1965, he worked
for the Metabolist architect Kiyonori Kikutake until 1969. In 1971 he opened his own office,
Urban Robot (URBOT), which was renamed Toyo Ito & Associates, Architects in 1979. An
influential though far from prolific architect, Ito believed that architecture had become
encumbered with irrelevant symbolism. In the ‘70s, he sought to erase conventional
meaning from his works through minimalist tactics, which is represented in White U (1976)
and Silver Hut (1984), inspired by early modernist movements such as Purism and the
straightforward use of easily available industrial materials. He developed an aesthetic of
lightweight, permeable membranes composed of fabrics, perforated aluminum panels and
expanded metal sheets, which he believed was most suited to an increasingly mobile and
informal urban lifestyle and designed the projects such as Tower of Winds (1986),
Restaurant Nomad (1986) and Yatsushiro Municipal Museum (1991). Toyo Ito’s main work
includes both public and private works. Currently, he is working at various projects in Japan
and overseas. Sendai Mediatheque built in 2001 in Sendai, Japan, Ito used a unique
structure to compose fluid spaces with hardly any walls. It was received as a sensational
project and gave great influence to young architects worldwide. Designing two temporary
pavilions in 2002, the Brugge Pavilion in Belgium and the Serpentine Gallery Pavilion 2002
in London, he met the challenge to unify surface and structure. In going beyond the purity of
modernism, Toyo Ito is trying to find ways for an architecture of the 21st century: an
architecture which reflects nature, emerging from autopoietic processes and organic
geometries, creating joyful and pleasant spaces filled with life. He is currently working on
many projects throughout the world, including the Hôpital Cognacq-Jay in Paris, Relaxation
Park in Torrevieja, Extension at the Fira de Barcelona, and Montjuic-2 in Barcelona.
In 2006, Ito was awarded the Royal Institute of British Architects Royal Gold Medal.
Toyo Ito is the eighth world-famous architect/designer to have created the poster for the
Bologna show, following in the footsteps of Antonio Citterio (Cersaie 2006), David Palterer
(2005), Hani Rashid (2004), Denis Santachiara (2003), Massimo Iosa Ghini (2002),
Alessandro Mendini (2001) and Ettore Sottsass (2000).
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Press Release
Italy, the world leader in the ceramic tile industry
The Italian ceramic tile industry is a hub of innovation and continues to display outstanding vitality
and maintain a world leadership position, setting itself apart from international competition.
Alongside finished product exportation, an area in which it holds a world leadership position in
terms of value, in the first few years of the twenty-first century the Italian ceramic tile industry has
also established a strong manufacturing presence at an international level. Further achievements
include excellent turnover results, the recovery in domestic sales, acceleration of the process of
internationalisation and a continued capacity for experimentation, development and promotion of
innovative trends in accordance with market requirements.
In 2006 Italian production made a significant improvement in terms of quality. While volumes
remained essentially stable (568.6 million sq.m, 0.25% down on 2005), the focus of production
shifted towards higher-quality materials. With a 3.84% increase to 383.1 million square metres,
porcelain tile confirmed its position as the leading Italian product type, accounting for 67.38% of
total output, followed by single firing (20.50% of the total), double firing (8.34%) and niche products
(3.78%). The manufacturing companies played a particularly important role. Production under
companies’ own brand names amounted to more than 85% of the total, while their marketing
activities accounted for 52.5 million square metres, an increase of 14.77%. Ties between Italian
and foreign manufacturers remain strong.
The Italian ceramic tile industry continues to have a very strong manufacturing presence. There
are 207 producer companies in the country with 303 factories employing more than 28,000 workers
and running 671 kilns. In 2006 investments totalled 256 million euro (4.46% of turnover). 30%
growth is forecast for 2007 to 331 million euro.
The boom in foreign production is particularly significant. The 32 factories located in 9 countries
in Europe and North America produced over 114 million square metres, 13.51% more than in 2005.
This significant increase vindicated the decision to focus on markets with high demand for ceramic
products, as evidenced by the 25.38% increase in turnover to 875.9 million euro, driven by the
refurbishing and expansion of already owned factories and acquisitions of additional ceramic
companies.
As regards the location of Italian production at a world level, 83.23% is produced in Italy,
12.50% in the remaining European countries and 4.27% in the United States. Alongside its
dominant position in terms of technical and aesthetic quality, another essential characteristic of the
Italian ceramic tile industry is its leadership in terms of shares of production in various important
producer countries.
Sales increased slightly (+1.07%) to a total of 566.3 million euro. This outstanding figure is a result
of positive performances in both the domestic market (up 0.29% to more than 170 million square
metres) and in exports (395.8 million square metres, up 1.41%). The Italian ceramic tile industry
has therefore confirmed its outstanding vitality, as evidenced by the slight recovery in domestic
sales and exports.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Exports have continued their positive trend, reaching 4,158 million euro in absolute value terms.
The Italian tile industry maintains its leadership position in various international markets and is the
foremost exporter country with almost 400 million square metres sold abroad.
Over the years the Italian ceramic tile industry has increasingly complemented its export activities
with a process of internationalisation at a commercial and service level, focusing in particular on
the foreign markets that offer the greatest potential. The new forms of integration with foreign
markets include the creation of joint ventures in the field of raw materials extraction, the ownership
of 35 warehouses designed to improve service to the local distribution network and 238
showrooms, as well as the setting up of companies to promote ceramic tiles amongst local
specifiers. As of 31 December 2006, there were a total of 18 ceramic tile manufacturing companies
outside Italy controlled entirely or with a majority shareholding by 9 Italian ceramic groups.
In 2006 the Italian ceramic tile industry reported a new record turnover of 5,741.6 million euro, an
increase of 6.87% over the previous year. Some 72.42% of this increase was attributable to
exports (4,158.33 million euro) and the remaining 27.58% to domestic sales which rose by 4.95%
to 1,583.24 million euro.
The 5.74% increase in total average price is the largest rise since 2003, a result matched by a only
very small number of countries. Along with an improvement in the mix of offerings, the average
selling prices of Italian tiles are also rising: +4.65% for domestic market sales and +6.12% for
exports. This is a clear demonstration of the Italian industry’s will to establish itself in higher market
segments as a way of setting itself apart from international competitors. The only sour note is the
fact that companies’ profitability has been eroded by escalating costs, particularly for energy.
The export figures for the first six months of 2007 suggest that this will be a difficult year. This is
principally due to the crisis in subprime mortgages in the United States and their repercussions at
an international level which are creating difficulties and tensions in the property markets and are
pushing down tile consumption. The falls in sales of Italian tiles in some of the main outlet markets
are offset by strong growth in several Eastern European countries. The one common feature in this
redrawn map of the global marketplace is the increase in average selling prices of Italian tiles due
to their higher internationally recognised level of excellence.
Press Office tel. 0536 818111
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e-mail: info@italiatiles.com
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
INDUSTRIA ITALIANA DELLE PIASTRELLE DI CERAMICA
THE ITALIAN CERAMIC TILE INDUSTRY
2005
2006
Var. %
ADDETTI (numero)
EMPLOYEES (number)
29.084
28.093
-3,4
PRODUZIONE (milioni di mq.)
PRODUCTION (million sq.mt)
570,0
568,6
-0,3
560,3
170,0
390,3
566,3
170,5
395,8
+1,1
+0,3
+1,4
5.372
1.509
+5,0
3.864
5.742
1.583
+6,9
VENDITE TOTALI (milioni di mq.)
TOTAL SALES (million sq.mt)
- Italia / Italy
- Estero /Abroad
FATTURATO TOTALE (milioni di €)
TOTAL TURNOVER ( million €)
- Italia / Italy
- Estero /Abroad
4.158
+7,6
PRINCIPALI PAESI DI ESPORTAZIONE (milioni di mq.)
MAIN EXPORT AREAS (million sq.mt.)
- Stati Uniti / United States
- Francia / France
- Germania / Germany
66,2
58,8
53,5
65,3
59,9
51,5
-1,4
+1,9
-3,6
279
256
-8,4
INVESTIMENTI FISSI LORDI (milioni di €)
GROSS FIXED INVESTMENTS (million €)
INTERNAZIONALIZZAZIONE / INTERNATIONALIZATION
(numero) / Companies (number)
ADDETTI (numero) / Employees (number)
PRODUZIONE (milioni di mq.) / Production (million sq.mt.)
VENDITE TOTALI (milioni di mq.) / Total sales (million sq.mt.)
FATTURATO TOTALE (milioni di €) / Total turnover (million €)
AZIENDE
Fonte / Source: Confindustria Ceramica
18
4.133
101,2
99,0
698,6
19
6.478
114,8
116,5
875,9
/
+56,7
+13,5
+17,6
+25,4
Esportazione di piastrelle di ceramica nel mondo / Italian Ceramic Tile Exports to the World
Anno 2006 / Year 2006
Valori assoluti
Absolute values
mq. / Sq.mt.
Austria / Austria
Belgio e Lussemburgo / Belgium and Luxembourg
Cipro / Cyprus
Danimarca / Denmark
Estonia / Estonia
Finlandia / Finland
Francia / France
Germania / Germany
Gran Bretagna / United Kingdom
Grecia / Greece
Irlanda / Ireland
Lettonia / Latvia
Lituania / Lithuania
Malta / Malta
Paesi Bassi / Netherlands
10.091.326
10.789.650
2.082.277
5.304.453
731.636
3.936.211
59.904.324
51.540.117
10.350.260
18.680.394
3.109.373
775.784
803.707
761.276
7.676.983
Valore in Euro / €
94.666.393
135.573.559
20.122.567
64.148.057
8.642.046
42.465.355
668.653.682
556.058.526
139.686.407
186.042.562
43.558.302
9.501.994
9.243.613
6.331.149
105.065.269
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Variazioni percentuali
% variations
Valore /
mq. / Sq.mt.
value
-6,45%
-2,12%
-3,38%
14,47%
11,30%
2,05%
1,86%
-3,63%
-7,60%
4,13%
-1,47%
26,84%
9,63%
-7,23%
4,21%
-2,16%
2,68%
3,99%
25,83%
27,63%
7,97%
7,05%
7,34%
-1,84%
9,57%
2,97%
43,64%
35,83%
-11,44%
14,34%
Prezzo medio
Average price
€/mq
9,38
12,57
9,66
12,09
11,81
10,79
11,16
10,79
13,50
9,96
14,01
12,25
11,50
8,32
13,69
Variazioni %
% variation
4,59%
4,90%
7,63%
9,92%
14,67%
5,80%
5,10%
11,38%
6,23%
5,22%
4,51%
13,25%
23,90%
-4,54%
9,72%
Polonia / Poland
4.188.005
Portogallo / Portugal
293.325
Repubblica Ceca / Czech Republic
3.005.157
Slovacchia / Slovakia
1.748.783
Slovenia / Slovenia
3.495.508
Spagna / Spain
5.351.369
Svezia / Sweden
5.662.310
Ungheria / Hungary
6.575.157
TOTALE PAESI UE / EU COUNTRIES
216.857.385
EUROPA - Altri paesi EXTRA UE / EUROPE - Other countries
53.170.949
... di cui Svizzera / Switzerland
8.775.183
... di cui Russia / Russia
5.629.987
TOTALE AMERICHE / AMERICAS
80.664.839
... di cui Stati Uniti / United States
65.263.799
TOTALE ASIA / ASIA
28.801.004
TOTALE AFRICA / AFRICA
10.661.359
TOTALE AUSTRALIA / OCEANIA
5.667.406
TOTALE EXTRA UE / NON - UE COUNTRIES
178.965.557
TOTALE PAESI MONDO / TOTAL WORLD
395.822.942
Fonte / Source: Indagine diretta Confindustria Ceramica / Confindustria Ceramica direct investigation
43.265.285
4.576.711
26.553.102
11.162.071
28.309.108
82.337.160
67.803.853
51.039.940
2.404.806.711
442.693.185
119.539.229
111.416.192
897.034.798
748.548.000
286.152.499
57.729.945
69.913.399
1.753.523.826
4.158.330.537
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
4,58%
-7,32%
1,86%
0,38%
9,46%
-0,49%
5,16%
-1,45%
-0,01%
5,18%
-3,22%
13,78%
2,24%
-1,35%
2,58%
10,24%
-9,07%
3,19%
1,41%
11,84%
8,60%
5,51%
3,66%
11,29%
14,00%
11,44%
2,16%
7,26%
15,71%
0,77%
25,56%
5,33%
3,48%
7,98%
11,38%
-1,30%
8,12%
7,62%
10,33
15,60
8,84
6,38
8,10
15,39
11,97
7,76
11,09
8,33
13,62
19,79
11,12
11,47
9,94
5,41
12,34
9,80
10,51
6,94%
17,18%
3,58%
3,27%
1,67%
14,56%
5,97%
3,66%
7,26%
10,01%
4,12%
10,35%
3,02%
4,90%
5,26%
1,03%
8,55%
4,77%
6,12%
Esportazione di piastrelle di ceramica nel mondo / Italian Ceramic Tile Exports to the world
primo semestre 2007 / 6 months 2007
Valori assoluti
Absolute values
Variazioni percentuali
% variations
Prezzo medio
Average price
Variazioni %
mq. / Sq.mt.
Valore in Euro / €
mq. / Sq.mt. Valore / value
€/mq
% variation
Austria / Austria
Belgio e Lussemburgo / Belgium and Luxembourg
Cipro / Cyprus
Danimarca / Denmark
Estonia / Estonia
Finlandia / Finland
Francia / France
Germania / Germany
Gran Bretagna / United Kingdom
Grecia / Greece
Irlanda / Ireland
Lettonia / Latvia
Lituania / Lithuania
Malta / Malta
Paesi Bassi / Netherlands
5.431.864
5.885.001
1.074.461
2.715.196
402.126
2.287.137
33.351.940
22.159.646
4.764.890
10.367.844
1.274.649
384.049
523.423
397.816
3.520.539
55.676.891
74.697.155
11.412.746
34.312.226
4.804.673
25.993.943
369.262.958
235.884.978
67.195.409
100.225.072
17.778.037
5.556.021
6.506.718
3.744.062
51.343.865
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
3,98%
0,32%
6,37%
-7,76%
17,49%
3,06%
-2,33%
-7,35%
1,54%
11,19%
-2,02%
6,35%
25,87%
4,04%
4,60%
8,43%
6,75%
15,52%
2,08%
29,43%
6,27%
3,91%
0,27%
8,33%
19,35%
2,76%
24,04%
32,09%
4,22%
8,30%
10,25
12,69
10,62
12,64
11,95
11,37
11,07
10,64
14,10
9,67
13,95
14,47
12,43
9,41
14,58
4,28%
6,41%
8,60%
10,67%
10,16%
3,11%
6,39%
8,22%
6,69%
7,34%
4,88%
16,63%
4,94%
0,17%
3,54%
Polonia / Poland
Portogallo / Portugal
Repubblica Ceca / Czech Republic
Slovacchia / Slovakia
Slovenia / Slovenia
Spagna / Spain
Svezia / Sweden
Ungheria / Hungary
TOTALE PAESI UE / EU COUNTRIES
EUROPA - Altri paesi EXTRA UE / EUROPE - Other countries
... di cui Svizzera / Switzerland
... di cui Russia / Russia
TOTALE AMERICHE / AMERICAS
... di cui Stati Uniti / United States
TOTALE ASIA / ASIA
TOTALE AFRICA / AFRICA
TOTALE AUSTRALIA / OCEANIA
TOTALE EXTRA UE / NON - UE COUNTRIES
TOTALE PAESI MONDO / TOTAL WORLD
2.044.697
146.014
1.677.077
1.125.604
1.934.857
2.965.118
2.916.874
3.991.527
111.342.349
26.017.709
4.204.326
3.136.808
37.240.696
28.228.178
17.857.875
5.785.801
2.815.571
89.717.652
201.060.001
25.991.067
2.333.460
14.940.106
7.251.620
17.844.544
45.743.501
37.342.112
30.700.780
1.246.541.944
276.396.560
59.234.260
62.083.071
418.165.932
315.281.643
184.005.063
35.134.435
34.623.980
948.325.970
2.194.867.914
Bulgaria e Romania compresi in altri paesi extra UE / Bulgaria and Romania included in other non-EU countries
Fonte / Source: Indagine diretta Confindustria Ceramica / Confindustria Ceramica direct investigation
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
-1,17%
-3,55%
8,64%
15,16%
7,32%
13,95%
9,28%
14,86%
0,49%
3,82%
-2,67%
9,05%
-18,06%
-17,71%
0,95%
-8,43%
-6,03%
-7,99%
-3,48%
26,52%
-3,97%
17,99%
27,85%
18,75%
13,88%
13,43%
14,07%
7,12%
12,82%
2,47%
21,41%
-16,80%
-18,28%
14,09%
2,49%
-0,65%
-3,03%
2,48%
12,71
15,98
8,91
6,44
9,22
15,43
12,80
7,69
11,20
10,62
14,09
19,79
11,23
11,17
10,30
6,07
12,30
10,57
10,92
28,02%
-0,44%
8,61%
11,02%
10,65%
-0,06%
3,80%
-0,69%
6,61%
8,67%
5,28%
11,33%
1,54%
-0,69%
13,02%
11,93%
5,73%
5,39%
6,18%
Press Release
The first Statistical Survey of Italian Ceramic Sanitaryware
The first statistical survey of the Italian Ceramic Sanitaryware Industry conducted by Confindustria
Ceramica was unveiled in May this year. It provides a detailed analysis of one of the key segments
of the Italian interior design sector.
The structure of the sector
As of 31 December 2006 there were 51 ceramic sanitaryware manufacturers operating in Italy,
including 39 in the Civita Castellana district (province of Viterbo). The total workforce amounted to
4,960 people. There were 59 factories, including 44 in the province of Viterbo.
Production
A total of 9,123,316 ceramic sanitaryware pieces were produced last year, including 3,903,510 in
the Civita Castellana district (42.8%).
Vitreous China and Fine Fire Clay products (40% produced in the Civita Castellana district)
accounted for 74.9% of the total, while Fire Clay products accounted for 25.1% (equally divided
between Civita Castellana and other areas of Italy).
Turnover and sales
A total of 8,849,617 pieces were sold in 2006. WCs and washbasins accounted for 50% of total
sales, a figure that rises to more than 80% if shower trays and bidets are also included.
In 2006 Italy consumed a total of 8,209,011 pieces of ceramic sanitaryware, of which 71.7%
consisted of Italian products sold on the domestic market and 28.3% imports.
Exports totalled 2,964,336 pieces (33.5%). The main outlet area for Italian ceramic sanitaryware
was the European Union, which accounted for two-thirds of all exports. The leading European
market was Spain (22.24%), followed by Great Britain (8.25%), Germany (6.90%) and France
(4.92%). Asia accounted for 6.96% of total exports, while only small quantities were exported to
the Americas (2.59%). Vitreous China and Fine Fire Clay accounted for 41.4% of total exports
(including almost 70% in the European market), while Fire Clay accounted for 58.6% of exports
(two-thirds in European Union countries, particularly Spain).
At the end of 2006 the Italian ceramic sanitaryware industry reported a turnover of 449 million
euro, including 308 million euro from sales in Italy and 141 million euro from exports.
fax +39 0536 807935 - mobile +39 348 1504905
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Assobagno
Associazione nazionale
delle imprese dell'arredamento
e articoli per il bagno
Italian industries association for
bathroom furnishings and fittings
Foro Buonaparte, 65 - 20121 Milano
Tel. +39 0280604.1
Fax +39 0280604392
assobagno@federlegno.it
www.federlegno.it/assobagno
Il Presidente
Press Release
The bathroom furnishing sector
holds strong and rides a wave of optimism
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In spite of the higher cost of living and the greater uncertainties faced by Italian families, the
bathroom furniture sector will remain buoyant at least for the current year. The trend
indicators and changes in behaviour reveal interesting figures and patterns. The survey
conducted by Eurisko on behalf of Assobagno di Federlegno-Arredo back in 2003 showed
that 57% of consumers would be prepared to pay a higher price for a “complete service”.
The latest “Italian bathroom furniture and accessories production” survey conducted by
CSIL exclusively for Assobagno confirmed this in terms of both turnovers of companies and
consumption, at least in certain segments. According to the 2007 edition of the survey,
relating to 2006 figures, the furniture, accessories, toilet seats and shower curtains
production sector was in the black with a turnover of 880 million euro, 3.6% up on the
previous year at current prices. This increase was mainly due to exports in spite of the cost
of the euro, while the expansion of the domestic market was more moderate and in any
case satisfied by imported goods. More than 80% of these exports were destined for
European markets, in particular 70% to the European Union and just over 12% to Eastern
European countries and Russia. About 11% was sold in Asia and the remaining shares in
American countries. The furniture segment experienced greater demand than that of
accessories. “2006 was a satisfactory year overall for our companies and 2007 likewise got
off to a positive start,” commented Nicoletta Fontana, chairwoman of Assobagno di
Federlegno-Arredo. “After a reasonable July and August, the orders situation on returning
from the summer break appears to be positive, although more for exports than the
domestic market.” The situation is fairly stable and companies are reporting a growth in
turnover. However, this growth is not entirely realistic as it is largely driven by rises in raw
materials prices which are currently having a significant impact (on average between 5%
and 10%), with prices for materials such as brass and glass subject to particularly large
increases. “It is really very difficult to pass these increases on to the market, so turnover
does not always translate into profits,” continues Ms Fontana. “In any case the sector is
enjoying a favourable period. The market is responding and – I shall never tire of repeating
this – farsighted businesses that have invested in research, materials and technologies as
well as in quality, machinery, design and communication will certainly succeed in
overcoming moments of difficulty.” The production sector is maintaining its commitment to
research and quality as each individual object is the result of hard work in terms of shape
and material. The percentage of average turnover ploughed into investments by companies
has virtually doubled in the last ten years. This mission has been pursued with
determination by the companies belonging to Assobagno, the national association of
bathroom furniture and articles manufacturers belonging to Federlegno-Arredo and part of
the Italian Employers’ Federation Confindustria. The association currently has 134 member
companies that offer a range of different products, including bathroom furniture and
accessories, whirlpool baths, taps, sanitaryware and designer radiators, and generate a
total turnover in the region of 950 million euro.
una associazione di
Distribution
More than 77.3% of bathroom furnishing products were absorbed by traditional distribution
channels in Italy, although in recent years the large-scale retail chains have afforded greater
space to the sector and are accounting for an increasing portion of sales. Specifically, sales
of furniture have mostly been made through the traditional distribution system (wholesalers
with showrooms, bathroom boutiques and furniture shops), an increase that is largely due to
the increase in retail sales over the years. Sales of accessories through the large-scale retail
channel have increased significantly, particularly the specialist channel.
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Consumption
The key factor influencing the trend in private consumption of consumer durables by Italian
families in the bathroom furnishing sector is the growth in disposable income, which in 2006
marked up the highest increase in the past five years. However, the fact that this was limited
to a single consumer segment demonstrates that only the more affluent segments of the
middle classes are immune to the widespread difficulties. This improvement laid the
foundations for a further increase in consumption in 2007. Total sales of furniture,
accessories, toilet seats and shower curtains in 2006, amounted to more than 1,207 million
euro at retail prices, consisting of 664 million euro furniture and 543 million euro accessories
in general. More than 50% (697.8 million euro retail prices) of total sales were in Northern
Italy, followed by Central Italy (270 million euro) and Southern Italy and islands (239.0 million
euro). In particular the top three regions in terms of consumption were Lombardy with 231
million euro, Triveneto with 206.4 million euro and Lazio with 120.3 million euro.
Forecasts
The prospects for the final 2007 figures are good, although less optimistic than last year.
According to the Csil estimates, the manufacturers of bathroom furniture and accessories will
see a further increase in the value of products. Exports will continue to increase, but at a
lower rate than in 2006, in spite of the continued upswing of the euro and a more buoyant
domestic demand.
As for consumption, the restrictive effects of the fiscal policy will certainly curb the growth in
income of lower-income families, obstructing the increase in purchases of all types of
products.
For further information:
Public Relations
Assobagno di Federlegno-Arredo
Daniela Tomaselli mobile +39 335 5856174
e-mail: dtc.tom@libero.it
Press Release
At Cersaie 2007 Ceramic Tiles of Italy promotes the value of
Italian tile
As the institutional mark of the Italian ceramic industry, the mission of Ceramic Tiles of Italy (CTI)
is to promote an international awareness of the qualities of Italian ceramic tiles, which combine
functionality, versatility, innovative design and cutting-edge manufacturing technologies with
exceptional aesthetic qualities, elegance and style. CTI is well known the world over for the
numerous initiatives conducted in cooperation with the Italian Trade Commission ICE and the
Ministry for International Trade.
For over thirty years, the Ceramic Tiles of Italy mark has been promoting the value of Italian
ceramic tiles in foreign markets and provides a perfectly synergic blend of tradition, quality,
innovation and creativity, new applications and advanced technology – the distinctive features of a
world-leading industry whose products are extremely popular with international users.
The diffusion of the Ceramic Tiles of Italy mark in international markets is promoted by a packed
programme of high-level events and initiatives including technical seminars, university lectures,
promotional shows and press conferences. CTI also takes part in numerous international trade
shows of relevance to the ceramic sector, including both specialist and general events.
The main targets of the promotional activities are architects, interior designers, interior decorators
and developers, as well as all other players involved in large commercial and residential projects.
The most important part of Ceramic Tiles of Italy’s activities is its participation in the most
important international exhibitions in the ceramic sector, most significantly Cersaie, the showcase
of the new trends and applications in the world ceramic tile and bathroom furnishing sectors. It
also takes part in important sector trade shows with an info point and a display of the finest recent
Italian ceramic production. These include Maison & Objet (Paris, France, 7-11 September 2007),
an international show devoted to home decoration; the WorldWide Moscow exhibitions (Moscow,
Russia, 10-13 October 2007), a strongly attended event and a meeting point for designers,
architects and trend-setters; the Big 5 Show (Dubai, Arab Emirates, 25-29 November 2007), the
largest building and construction exhibition in the Middle East. One of the most important
initiatives conducted in recent months was the presence at the Architecture Biennale in Venice
and the Milan Triennale during the Furniture Show with the exhibits “sit_down_please” and
“Guscio” by Mario Botta.
Ceramic Tiles of Italy will continue to accompany the Italian ceramic industry worldwide during
2008 through participation in the sector’s most prestigious events, most significantly in Moscow for
Mosbuild (1-4 April 2008), the pre-eminent Russian exhibition of ceramic tiles, and in Orlando for
Coverings (29 April - 2 May 2008), the North American show that also includes natural stone. At
both exhibitions the image of Italian tiles is promoted by a communication project designed to
publicise the operations, solidity, efficiency and professionalism of Italian ceramic tile producer
companies. CTI will also be present at the traditional appointments with architects at the Aia
Convention & Expo (Boston, 15-17 May 2008) and Neocon (Chicago, 9-11 June 2008), events
where Italian ceramic production is promoted through an info point, a stand displaying Italian tiles
and a packed programme of seminars.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
CTI also carried out important educational activities through meetings arranged at Universities
aimed at both students and professionals, and the series of seminars organised in cooperation
with ICE in Russia and in various German cities with the precise objective of promoting the
technical and aesthetic qualities of the latest Italian ceramic tile production.
The institutional advertising campaign conducted by CTI to promote an international awareness of
the unique excellence, taste, quality and elegance of Italian ceramic tiles was considerably
intensified in 2007 in terms of the number of target countries and international magazines present.
There has been much speculation about the concept that will be used for the new institutional
campaign in 2008. One thing is certain: CTI will maintain its strong focus on the new players in
world consumption, namely architects, interior designers, interior decorators and everyone
involved in large commercial and residential projects.
The intense activities of promoting Italian products abroad are complemented by the traditional
diffusion of knowledge of the culture of ceramic products through targeted mailing lists, CD-ROMs,
technical and non-specialist publications, market surveys and publications in foreign languages.
The national and international importance of the sector is also demonstrated by the newly
expanded official Ceramic Tiles of Italy internet site and the close links with ministries, with the
Italian Trade Commission ICE, with regional governments and with the Chamber of Commerce, as
well as numerous partnerships with the institutions.
fax +39 0536 807935 - mobile +39 348 1504905
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Press Release
Coverings 2008 returns to Orlando
Coverings, the international tile and stone exhibition known to the general public as one of the top
thirty shows in the United States, will be returning to Florida in 2008. “The City Beautiful”, as
Orlando is known, will once again be hosting this leading American exhibition from 29 April to 2
May 2008 in the Orange County Convention Center.
The event’s high profile is confirmed by the impressive figures from the last show, held in April
2007 in Illinois, Chicago, when it was attended by a total of 24,646 people, 4.2% up on the
previous edition held in April 2006. Amongst a total of 1,200 exhibitors, there were 143 Italian
companies including 80 from the ceramic sector.
Coverings 2008 is the Italian companies’ major appointment with the US market and as usual
they will be showcasing the very best of Italian ceramic tiles, products that are extremely popular
in the United States for their outstanding innovation and sophisticated aesthetic trends. The show
is likewise an excellent opportunity for attendees to explore the world of ceramic tiles and natural
stone. For its 19th edition it will feature an even wider programme of conferences, international
meetings and seminars to which leading professionals and industry experts will be invited as
keynote speakers.
The Italian ceramic tile manufacturers will enjoy pride of place at the show and will be presenting
their new projects and institutional stands in the Ceramic Tiles of Italy pavilion. The central
section of the hall will as usual accommodate the acclaimed Ceramic Tiles of Italy exhibit
designed by Bernard Tschumi and sporting a range of original colours for this innovation-oriented
exhibition.
During the four days of the show, visitors to the Italian Pavilion will be able to pick up the Ceramic
Tiles of Italy promotional brochure produced by Confindustria Ceramica, which provides useful
information together with a list of the member companies that are taking part, the locations of their
stands, their contact details in Italy and North America (where present) and their latest new
products. The Ceramic Tiles of Italy space serves as a meeting point for visitors where they will
find new promotional and informative literature and qualified staff can offer guided tours of the
stands of Confindustria Ceramica member companies. Visitors will also have the opportunity to
attend the customary institutional appointments organised under the CTI mark, most notably the
International Press Conference and the Cocktail Party reserved for architects, interior designers
and building professionals.
fax +39 0536 807935 - mobile +39 348 1504905
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Press Release
Italian ceramic tiles combine elegance, tradition and
technology
Technology and style: these two words sum up the present state of the world ceramic
industry, a present consisting of technology and art, high aesthetic values and applications.
Ceramic tile’s emancipation from purely residential applications is certainly not a recent
phenomenon, although it remains the undisputed leader in this field. Modern architectural
concepts are increasingly oriented towards commercial uses, external claddings of
buildings and urban building applications where both technical and aesthetic quality must
be guaranteed.
At the same time we find emotional interpretations of sophisticated, elegant ceramic with
romantic allusions to tapestries and to the natural appeal of the material; ceramic created
from revisitations of the past, vintage and glamour atmospheres; the expressive power of
offerings inspired by nature, by wood, cork, stone, papyrus, lava and clay; tradition united
with research to create streams of colour, glossy surfaces, skilful sand effects, hand shaped
glazes and highly technical products; cutting-edge through-bodied vitrified porcelain tiles,
immune to the onslaught of time and nature; handcrafted white body tiles, delicate majolica,
artisan formellas. In short, past and future, technology and style.
New sizes are pushing back the boldest horizons of our collective imagination but without
supplanting the classics: large 100x50 cm, 90x90 cm and 60x120 cm rectified and singlecalibre formats ideal for uses in avant-garde architecture alongside the timeless 20x20 cm
and 10x10 cm sizes, the evergreens of traditional installation. But stylistic solutions also
come in more unusual sizes, ranging from 11x33 cm to 7.6x15.2 cm for the most classic
majolica tiles, revisited and enhanced with stylistic features.
In terms of colour we find nothing that is not harmonious, even in the most innovative
proposals: natural colours and revisitations of classic black and white, metallic tones and
lunar effects on stone, as well as cheerful renditions of highly-coloured deep grits, the style
and vivacity of the eighties. We find sophisticated colour tones, including all shades of
brown, hazel and dove grey, soft oranges, natural greens, gold and silver.
And light – which accompanies bodies and surfaces in a play of glazes and decorations – is
becoming a key feature of ceramic tiles, underscoring the contribution made by modern
tiles to the characterisation of an environment. This contribution includes the sense of
touch, exploiting silky textures, relief geometries and unexpected contrasting surfaces,
novel artistic effects achieved through artisan interpretations of hi-tech processes such as
honing and satin finishing.
This increasing use of light is also reflected in decorations, which include modern floral
effects in unexpected forms and multiple colours, as well as subtle, poetic embroidery,
virtuoso brushstrokes, sentimental designs reminiscent of children’s drawings.
fax +39 0536 807935 - mobile +39 348 1504905
Assobagno
Associazione nazionale
delle imprese dell'arredamento
e articoli per il bagno
Italian industries association for
bathroom furnishings and fittings
Foro Buonaparte, 65 - 20121 Milano
Tel. +39 0280604.1
Fax +39 0280604392
assobagno@federlegno.it
www.federlegno.it/assobagno
Il Presidente
Press Release
A dazzling future with its roots in the past
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The various trends that arrive from the world of fashion, and before that simply from the
urge to move away from that which is commonplace, like all transformations that involve
human beings end up affecting the spaces in which we live – and of them all the
bathroom ultimately appears to be the most receptive. Now that the search for essentiality
has been superseded, we are seeing a growing craze for decorations, for bright colours,
for the metallic gleams of futuristic materials that emerge from aesthetic minimalism,
creating novel proposals or individual revisitations of classic items from the past. “This
trend was already in evidence at this spring’s Furniture Show,” explains Nicoletta
Fontana, chairwoman of Assobagno di Federlegno-Arredo. “It reveals a desire for
cheerfulness, light and optimism, which almost playfully ends up blending the nostalgia of
the past with the inventiveness of the present while experimenting with increasingly
extreme materials and technologies. Decorations, designs and ornaments, which above
all we find in bathroom accessories such as mirrors and lamps, as well as furniture, taps,
showers…” Yesterday’s baroque merges with the best of the future. Elaborate laser
engravings create effects like lace or macramé, with futuristic, opalescent textures and
finishes. A return to sumptuousness, where the use of special finishes in gold, silver and
platinum enhances even the most linear shapes. The bathroom features design concepts
with cutting-edge technologies, where the washbasin becomes increasingly important
with rigorously square or elliptical and round shapes. The flush is camouflaged,
increasingly assuming a role as a furnishing object. Enhanced by various types of
decoration, white ceramic continues to dominate over other materials such as crystal,
steel and marble as well as consolidated materials such as Corian® or innovative
materials like LGHI-Macs, Cristalplant and Exmar. The sanitary fixtures, where WCs and
bidets have the same geometries, almost resemble poufs, recalling the idea of the
‘bathroom-cum-living room’. The lines remain compact, soft and rounded or extremely
linear and square. In spite of their rigorous lines, taps likewise reveal a touch of glamour
with a revival of lacquered knobs with gold finishes and Swarovski crystal inserts. But
they remain environmentally friendly, with rigorously eco-compatible products and
advanced water-saving technologies. Through the transparent crystal doors of the shower
enclosures, ethereal and invisible with refined closures and details, we catch sight of
increasingly large, ultra-flat and thin shower heads that produce jets of water reminiscent
of enveloping arms. Cascades of regenerating water revive the body and the mind,
exploiting the beneficial effects of colour therapy. A myriad of energy-saving low-voltage
ultra-luminous LEDs produce beams of light that stimulate the body and the psyche and
help regain lost harmony.
Whirlpool baths and multifunctional shower enclosures are closely linked to digital
technologies. New technologies are spawning an enormous range of proposals featuring
unique lines and sophisticated alternative materials. Traditional or whirlpool baths with
clean, rounded shapes are seen as a source of relaxation and tend to occupy a larger
space in the room, as though to create a small wellness centre in our homes. They are
usually made of acrylic or glass, wood or stone, and in some cases precious stones such
as malachite or lapis lazuli. The accessories and technologies are increasingly
sophisticated and camouflaged by elegant design, allowing the them to penetrate areas
adjacent to the bathroom. The new multifunctional enclosures, extraordinarily effective in
una associazione di
their conception, are equipped with systems for lymph drainage massage, back massage,
cervical massage, steam sauna, colour therapy, aroma therapy, and for music lovers an
mp3 player, as well as mirrors and vanity shelves and even a bathrobe heating
compartment.
In order to make greater use of the bathroom, special attention must be focused on all the
objects present, including the designer radiators that are now oriented towards the homes
of the future. The transformations in technology, comfort and design have modified the use
of these elements, which are now increasingly resembling sculptures and paintings that no
longer serve merely for heating but occupy a position of prestige in the home. Today they
can even be personalised by inserting a favourite photograph. Designer radiators are made
of classic materials such as painted aluminium and stainless steel with a glossy or satin
finish or of innovative materials such as carbon steel, ceramic, titanium, Pierre Olycale
stone and even a unique leather-effect finish. In short, the details are setting trends and a
new bathroom concept is becoming established in today’s world, giving everyone the
opportunity to enjoy hours of relaxation in complete intimacy. (source: Assobagno di
Federlegno-Arredo)
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For further information:
Public Relations
Assobagno di Federlegno-Arredo
Daniela Tomaselli mobile +39 335 5856174
e-mail: dtc.tom@libero.it

Press conference - Cersaie 2007

Transcription

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