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[August 2005]
Ceramitec to Feature Latest Trends in Sanitaryware
Messe Muenchen GmbH (Munich, Germany) - the organiser of the Ceramitec international ceramic machinery, equipment, plant, process and raw materials exhibition - says that the latest trends in ceramic sanitaryware will be featured at the next show, which takes place from 16-19 May 2006.
Leading manufacturers in the sanitaryware sector orient their product developments to needs that have been triggered by the effect that expressions like 'wellness' and 'spa' have on the end consumer. People are demanding quality in the modern bathroom and the objective is to promote reconstruction measures in regions where new construction activity is weak.
Each year, some 300 million sanitaryware pieces are manufactured world-wide. A good one-third of them are produced in Asia; approximately 60 million in China alone. Another one-third of production takes place in North, South and Central America. Europe accounts for slightly more than 50 million pieces and the balance is produced in the Middle East and North Africa. During the past few years, production within Europe and in America has shifted to locations where wages are lower because, in many cases, the processes used for shaping and glazing are less mechanised there.
However, asserts Messe Muenchen, the trend towards mass production at cheaper locations is beginning to turn around. Market leaders - just four large groups are responsible for 25% of global production - recognised a long time ago that it is important for newly developed products to be manufactured near their development centres to keep the time to market as short as possible.
Modern manufacturing technologies that allow even the most complicated parts to be produced in flexible, automated plants have made this paradigm change possible. The improved products of raw material and additive suppliers have made it easier to make efficient use of modern casting and robot glazing systems as well as energy saving, high speed kilns.
CADCAM technology, too, has become indispensable in model and mould making. It is the only way to meet the market's needs quickly. Aside from that, the data is stored in a central database and can be used by all production operations that belong to the company.
Modifying the glaze surface of sanitaryware products by giving them easy-to-clean and antibacterial properties is creating new sales attractions for the end consumer. Sophisticated design demands in overall bathroom concepts have also brought about some interesting new developments in the field of decorative surfaces.
The material combination of metal, ceramics and glass has inspired full-surface, superior quality precious metal decorations - such as platinum glazes - on sanitaryware products that, until recently, were considered technically impossible.
Messe Muenchen concluded by saying that the know-how of plant manufacturers and the raw materials suppliers can be used to continue promoting product innovations in the sanitaryware sector and produce them economically with minimum manpower, elements which visitors to Ceramitec can expect to be able to acquaint themselves.
www.ceramitec.de
ENDS