Italian ceramic tiles manufacturer Impronta Italgraniti Industrie Ceramiche has made substantial investments and introduced state-of-the-art technology in order to meet a targeted production of 10 million sq m of finished products by the end of 2001.
Currently, the company has two plants located in the province of Reggio Emilia - one which launched production in 1994 and dedicated to the production of fine porcelain stoneware under the Italgraniti brand and the other in 1998 and specialising in the production of glazed ceramics under the Impronta brand.
The company is the product of a 1998 merger between Impronta and Italgraniti, ceramic tiles manufacturers which has been operational on the market since 1975 and 1994 respectively and which had already established a good reputation in the sector.
Commenting on the merger, Roberta Morini, a spokesperson for the company, says: "The aim was to benefit from the combined strengths that the merger of the three brands, Impronta, Italgraniti and Calvetro, would offer and to create a new organisation that would supply a complete range of products to satisfy a wider range of needs, while providing higher levels of quality and service," says Roberta Morini, a spokesperson for the company.
Since the merger, the combined staff strength has increased from 360 to 440 in 2000 and the turnover from Euro 66 million to Euro 104 million ($61 million to $97 million).
Exports account for some 75 per cent of its sales, the products going mainly to European countries including Italy, Germany and France while also being sold in the US and Canada. The company also has a significant presence in 60 other countries all over the world and its products have also been marketed in the Arabian Gulf states.
Impronta Italgraniti describes itself as a progressive company, which designs and manufactures advanced products subject to strict quality controls, thanks to its highly-qualified researchers and technicians.
It offers porcelain stoneware, glazed porcelain stoneware, white-body wall tiles and traditional terracotta, among other ceramic tiles. The products are aimed at the middle and top-end of the market and feature the latest manufacturing technology and innovative research into the choice of materials, combined with the latest aesthetic trends and inspiration from nature, says Morini.
Elaborating on the company's brands, she says: "Italgraniti fine porcelain stoneware comprises highly technological unglazed 'full-body' tiles.
"Italgraniti products reproduce the aesthetic effects of natural stones such as marble and granite, offering excellent performance and features such as total stain resistance, easy cleaning and maintenance and optimal resistance to impact and abrasion.
"Since its foundation in 1975, Impronta has designed and produced highly professional and avant-garde ceramic materials based on thorough and in-depth graphic and technical research and aimed at innovative aesthetics while replicating the process of stone formation.
"Le Porcellane Impronta products are single-fired, white-body wall tiles. They are based on a body made up of the purest raw materials to achieve high-quality glazed surfaces, both in terms of technical properties and aesthetics.
"Impronta floor tiles are glazed tiles with a fully vitrified porcelain body, especially designed to guarantee the superior technical features of porcelain technology."
Listing the advantages Impronta and Italgraniti products have over marble and granites, Morini says, they offer better value for money; higher resistance against chemicals and staining agents; easier, lower-cost maintenance; size and tone consistency over time; and brilliant surface shining. They also involve lower transportation and laying costs and easier laying. In addition, these production facilities have a lower environmental impact.
In August last year, the Italgraniti factory obtained the UNI EN ISO 14001 certification for its environment management system.
"Keeping abreast with market trends, attention to product quality and services, constant research into new products - these are the fundamental elements of the company's strategy," Morini says.
"The statistics only serve to confirm the success of such a strategy: the significant increase in turnover and the number of employees over recent years are testimony of the company's success," she adds.
In addition to these factors, the company also boasts numerous references that have gained it acclaim worldwide. The fact that its products are installed in various environments is a clear demonstration of the products' adaptability to all types of construction requirements while enhancing each specific design.
Impronta Italgraniti's list of references in the Gulf includes: Bahrain - the Bahrain Mall, Dana Mall and BMW Euro Motors showroom; Kuwait - Civil Airport terminal, the fish market and Sharq Shopping Centre; Saudi Arabia - Saudi German Hospital; Qatar -The Mall Shopping Centre, Doha, Porsche and Audi VW showrooms; UAE - Sheraton Plaza Hotel, Dubai, Royal Abjar Hotel, Lexus Toyota showroom, Citibank headquarters and Al Maria Complex; and Oman - Airport VIP lounge.
