[ Ceraimc Tiles ] What Every Retail Floor Covering Store Should Know About Ceramic Tile, But Was Afraid to Ask
Are you in the retail floor covering sales business? Have you thought about selling ceramic tile but were hesitant? Customers visit your store to select finishing materials for their home. Why let them escape to another venue to select their ceramic products?
Perhaps the tile industry looks different to you if you've been used to selling carpeting and sheet goods. There are some reasons. The products you've been selling have been likely made in the US by a handful of producers. With ceramic tile there are thousands of producers all over the world vying for your business. That's one reason that you are attending Coverings.
There are many products on the market. All of them are not suitable for all applications and a simple rating system like the PAR rating for carpets is not practical. Let me provide some guidance for you to consider about this marketplace....More...[ Ceraimc Tiles ] State of the U.S. Ceramic Tile Industry
The ceramic tile industry has experienced a period of extraordinary growth in the past ten years. Sales in the United States have increased from less than one billion square feet in 1990 to about 2.3 billion in 2000-an increase of over 130%. However this year began with a decline in sales in the first half of about 2% and the tragic event of September 11th has increased the uncertainty of future sales.
There are over 40 countries that produce ceramic tile and report their output with some degree of reliability. Tile output in the year 2000 exceeded 50 billion square feet. We estimate the worldwide capacity to exceed 60 billion square feet per year. That's 10 square feet for every man, woman, and child on this planet. And high volume plant capacity is still being added with older, low output plants being idled. This portends an increase in capacity in the near future with continued price pressure.
Meanwhile virtually every tile consuming country is experiencing an economic slowdown, greater than the United States. That makes our market a juicy target for tile exporters. The U.S.A. has few barriers to trade therefore imports have gobbled up nearly 75% of our market. Exporting countries are aggressively pricing their product to penetrate our market. This price pressure has led to the recent closing of three ceramic tile factories in the United States and the reduction of the output of many more....More... [ Ceraimc Tiles ] CERAMIC TILE FOR GENIUSES AND DUMMIES
Presented by Robert E. Daniels, Executive Director Emeritus of TCNA
(Updated September 2005)
Originally we thought of titling this session "CERAMIC TILE FOR DUMMIES" to pick up on the latest book title craze. However I felt that no one would admit to being a ceramic tile dummy and there would be no attendees. We hear it all the time: "My father (uncle or cousin) has been in the business for 50 years and he always did it this way, and taught it to me. It must be right." Or: "I know what I'm doing and don't need any more information."
...More... [ Look of Firms ] How to Find Exhibitors
Exhibition
Coverings offers you an opportunity to shop the largest collection of tile and stone products, tools and machinery in the Americas. You'll find more styles, textures, designs and sources for tile and stone at Coverings, than all other tile and stone shows in the US.
How to Find Exhibitors:
A comprehensive exhibitor list is now available at http://www.coverings.com/exhibitors.html. Click on this link to view the most up-to-date list of all exhibitors, by specific product categories or by the type of buyers to whom exhibitors sell direct. Check back often to view the latest exhibitor updates, as well as new exhibitors at Coverings 2007. ...More... [ Look of Firms ] Coverings
Coverings is the leading global trade event for ceramic tile, natural stone, flooring and related products. Year after year, visitors from every facet of these industries find Coverings to be the most important event for finding out what is new, forging new business relationships and growing their business.
Coverings attracts more than 32,000 people from over 100 countries. Visitors to Coverings see more than 1,200 exhibitors across 505,000 net square feet of exhibit space. Coverings also features the industry's largest FREE educational conference.
Coverings is entering its eighteenth year and is now managed by National Trade Productions. Coverings is sponsored by the Tile Council of America, ASCER, Assopiastrelle, the National Tile Contractors Association and the Ceramic Tile Dealers Association.
...More... [ Technology ] What is the QUARRY TILE?
Quarry tile production has its ¡°roots¡± in the brick making industry and uses raw material very similar to that used in the manufacture of brick products. ¡°Natural¡± and ¡°durable¡± are the words best used to describe hard-fired - high quality - quarry tiles.
These low absorption tiles are manufactured then hard fired in kilns at temperatures sometimes exceeding 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit. Not all quarry tile is manufactured to such high quality standards as to be considered ¡°vitreous¡± or low absorption.
Metropolitan quarry tile meets this standard. They are suitable for the most demanding installations and are often the tile of choice for areas such as commercial kitchens....More... [ Look of Firms ] Meredith Collection
The Industrial Revolution pushed mass production to its limits and answered the need for "more" at a time when growth meant everything. Missing from
this period was the style and craftsmanship of the past. By the turn-of-the-century, the demand for cheap, mass-produced goods began to wane. This backlash sparked the Arts & Crafts movement and has served as the inspiration for The Meredith Collection.
Made of local stoneware clays, our tiles are hand-molded utilizing hand-carved molds and antique presses, just as they were 100 years ago. Our tiles are made-to-order utilizing any of our more than 40 glazes. When hand painting is requested, our artists hand-paint layers of glaze directly into the bisque using the antique method.
Meredith Art Tiles by Meredith Collection are made to the highest standards. They are one-half inch thick, which gives them superior breaking strength, as well as optimum depth for our mold work. Most of our glazes are fully rugged enough for use on floors and counters. Our hand-carved molded tiles are full of intricate detail and are...More... [ Look of Firms ] Characteristics
****Tiles are handmade and subject to variation of size, shape and color. We recommend that all tiles be laid out prior to installation in order to balance the range over the entire area. Very fine hairline cracks in the glaze (known as crazing) should be expected and may appear before, during or after installation. We believe each of these characteristics are desirable attributes and are inherent to our turn-of-the-century handcrafted production methods. Please inspect all tiles carefully prior to installation. Installation constitutes acceptance and we want to make sure you are happy with your tile.
(NOTE: Crazing is a distinct feature of Iron Gate Crackle Glazes.)
Sealing ...More... [ Ceraimc Tiles ] the Tile Council of America (TCA)
Established in 1945 as the Tile Council of America (TCA), the Tile Council was created with the sole purpose of expanding the ceramic tile market in the United States. TCA's research laboratory has developed and patented many innovative installation materials which have improved ceramic tile installation.
In 2003, the TCA became the Tile Council of North America (TCNA) to reflect its membership expansion to all of North America - Canada, Mexico and the United States.
...More... [ Flooring ] Tile One On
Glass tile brings excitement to kitchens and baths ¡ª along with exacting installation and a higher price tag.
Source: REMODELING Magazine
The range of color and styles of glass tile are catching the eye of designers and their clients. More manufacturers are offering extensive lines of large tiles and mosaics, which are finding their way into kitchens, baths, and even the living room or bedroom, where they are featured around fireplaces.
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