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[July 2004]
Vitra Tiles Selected for New Munich Terminal
Vitra Arkitekt ceramic tiles, manufactured by the Eczacibasi (Turkey) subsidiary Vitra Tiles, have been chosen for areas of the new terminal at Munich Airport in Germany. Overall, some 18,000 square metres will be used, 10,000 sq.m. of which consist of Vitra's 5x5 Cobalt Blue tiles in the Arkitekt Color range. Vitra tiles have also been commissioned for the VW-Autostadt Wolfsburg building, the Steinberger Hotel and the SAP building - all in Germany.
Eczacibasi Ceramic Tiles has an annual production capacity of 16.5 million ceramic tiles. This includes the Vitra Tiles facility in Arklow in the Republic of Ireland, where (announced in April) the company is investing a further €8 million with the construction of a new plant. This new plant will add a further 30 new jobs to the already existing 80 people employed in Arklow.
Vitra Tiles Ireland has an annual tile production of 1.1 million square metres which will increase to 1.75 million sq.m. when the new plant starts operating at the end of the year.
With the support of the new plant, Vitra Tiles Ireland aims to raise its turnover of €16.6 million in 2004 to €20.8 million in 2005 and increase its market share in Ireland from 5% to 8%. In 2003, Vitra expanded its sales in European markets by 13% in square metre terms. By the end of 2005, it aims to raise its share of the UK tile market from 1.5% to 2.5%.
The other two modern production facilities are in Bozuyuk and Tuzla in Turkey, where over 1,000 people are employed.
ENDS