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[January 2001]
Bulgarian tile manufacturer gears up for growth
Khan Asparuh ISCo (Isperih, Bulgaria) has announced that during the first quarter of 2001 it will replace its existing single fired floor tiles kiln with a new and bigger one, the capacity of which will be 2.6 times that of the previous one. For this purpose also, the lengths of the glazing lines will be extended and an additional storage-movement system will be realised. These moves follow previous investment undertaken during 2000 - in the installation of a second dryer-glazing line - which saw single fired wall tile capacity increased by 70%.
KAI began producing ceramic tiles in May 1979, having the following capacities:
5 million sq.m. per annum Double Fired Wall Tiles
1.2 million sq.m. per annum Single Fired Wall Tiles
1.5 million sq.m. per annum Single Fired Floor Tiles
Double fired wall tiles have been produced by means of traditional tunnel kilns while the single fired tiles have been produced in fast firing roller kilns.
The main raw materials used are sourced from within Bulgaria. Meanwhile, borax and acid-boric are imported from Turkey and zircon sand and zircon flour are imported from Ukraine and the UK.
KAI produces frits for its double fired tiles and some floor tile production by itself. Frits for single fired wall and floor tiles are imported from Spain.
Atif Baseden, executive director since February 2000 (having joined as production manager in July 1999) reports that the company's products are now recognised for good quality. CERAM's test reports, he adds, have approved KAI's wall and floor tiles as complying with the ISO 13 006 Standard's requirements.
KAI's products have been exported to the UK, France, Germany, Holland, Finland, Italy, Greece, Monaco, Russia and Cyprus. The company exports over 55% of its production. The 15cm x 15cm double fired wall tiles take the biggest share of the export programme.
Web site: http://www.kai.bg/
ENDS