RAK Ceramics (Ras Al Khaimah Ceramics), which supplied and installed wall and floor tiles and sanitary ware for the new 271 villas at Al Warkaa, is currently setting up one of the world's most advanced ceramic plants in the UAE.

For the 271 villas project, RAK Ceramics supplied 54,391 sq m of 33 by 33 cm ceramic floor tiles; 47,023 sq m of 20 by 20 cm floor and wall tiles; 4,499 sq m of 25 by 33 cm wall tiles; and 41,035 sq m of 20 by 30 cm wall tiles.

It also supplied decoration tiles, skirting, swimming pool tiles and riser tiles.

The Ras Al Khaimah-based company's sanitary ware division supplied 1,370 bathroom suites of the Liwa model to the project.

Established in 1989, RAK Ceramics is one of the leading manufacturers of ceramic and gres porcellanato tiles and vitreous china in the world.

"The company is currently setting up its eighth ceramic plant," says Dr Khater Massaad, general manager. "Designed to be among the most modern and sophisticated plants in the world, the plant will have a capacity of 30,000 sq m per day and will produce ceramic wall and floor tiles in the 20 by 30, 25 by 33, 25 by 40, 33 by 33 cm sizes. The plant will incorporate the latest technology for body preparation and two kilns, which will be the biggest of their kind in the world."

The company recently commissioned its seventh plant to produce 10 by 10 cm glued tiles, and 15 by 15 and 20 by 20 cm hi-tech granite tiles with a capacity of 2,000 sq m per day, taking RAK Ceramics' total production capacity to 112,000 sq m per day.

According to Dr Massaad, this year RAK Ceramics will concentrate on high-quality products and those with more aesthetic and natural effects.

As part of this move, it plans to introduce new technology into its gres porcellanato plant by June. The technology, the first of its kind in the world, will give the company ability to produce tiles in virtually unlimited colours and effects.

Another technology upgrade will be the installation of a colour dry press, which is expected to give products a more natural and aesthetic finish, and enable the company to manufacture tiles resembling natural stone and marble and a rich variety of products.

The company is also in the process of completing its new 47,000 sq ft headquarters which will feature a 17,000 sq ft exclusive showroom 'RAK Gallery', displaying its wide range of products. The new building will be opened by March 2002.

The company's sales have increased rapidly since its inception in 1991. Its turnover has soared from $4.5 million in 1991 to $175 million in 2000. The figure is close to $200 million for last year (2001).

"Over the years, the company adopted an aggressive expansion strategy which resulted in setting up of seven tiles factory, including two factories exclusively for granite tiles. The company also has two sanitary ware factories. Its factories produce 112,000 sq m tiles a day and 1.8 million pieces of sanitary ware," says Dr Massaad.

In recent years, it has been boosting its exports by opening up many new markets. Its products now go to 128 countries spread over all the five continents.