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[March 2007]
Kazakh Porcelain Tile Company Gears Up for Production
A yearly porcelain tile output of two million square metres to conquer the emerging markets of Kazakhstan is the goal of the new Granito Plus ceramic company, subsidiary of a major Kazakh industrial group. Granito Plus has placed its trust in the experience and skill of Sacmi (Imola, BO, Italy) with the aim of becoming the leading supplier of ceramic tile in this central Asian country.Granito Plus aims to achieve that goal by setting up a complete, all-Sacmi production plant that covers every stage of production from grinding to final sorting. Currently being assembled, the new line will become operative at the Taldi Kurgan plant, a few hundred kilometres from the nations' financial hub and former political capital, Almaty. The Sacmi-supplied machines include a 2.85 metre-wide kiln, over 100 metres in length, and presses from the Power series (model PH4600) that are especially suitable for the manufacture of very large tiles.
One of the key products, in fact, will be the 600mm x 600mm tile, while a part of output will be dedicated to outdoor tiling, including products for application on new building façades. The construction market is certainly not one that should be underestimated, as Kazakhstan is currently experiencing a fast-paced building boom: growth rates in 2006 are reported to have touched 30%. Much of the expansion within this Asian country stems from the influx of hard currency generated by gas and oil exports.
In addition to all this is the boost provided by synergy with other companies in the Kazakh industrial group, which controls Granito Plus and is also highly active in the construction industry. A part of the output from the new line, designed to produce both technical and porcelain tiles, will be set aside for its sister companies.
www.sacmi.com
ENDS