The best and the latest in Turkish ceramic and sanitary ware will be on display at the Unicera Ceramic and Bathroom Fair which is set to take place in Istanbul from April 1 to 6.
The annual event attracts a large number of visitors from the Middle East, the Balkans and the CIS countries, according to Ongun Sanli, general secretary of Serkap (Ceramic Tiles Manufacturers Association), one of the organisers of the show. The other organisers are Timder (Trade Association for Sanitary and Building Supplies) and Sersa (Ceramic Sanitary ware Manufacturers Association).
Commenting on the Turkish Ceramic Industry, she says: 'Turkey is the spiritual home of ceramics and fire and earth met in Anatolia, 8,000 years ago, 4,000 years before the Mayan and 1,000 years before the Egyptian civilisations.
'A modern Turkish tile reflects the wisdom of countless civilisations, a marriage between an 8,000 year-old art and state-of-the-art technology.
'The variety of historical patterns provides today's designers with a basis on which to create new ideas. The Turkish ceramic tile industry is today a world-leader - the country is the world's fifth largest ceramic tile producer and third largest exporter.
'This leading position has been possible thanks to the country's abundance of raw materials for ceramics manufacture, and the technological expertise to develop quality products.
'Production capacity has grown and, together with high quality standards (most manufacturers operate to ISO 9001 standards) and competitive pricing, it is little wonder that the industry is flourishing.'
With a blend of countless artistic traditions and modern industrial creativity, Turkish tile manufacturers produce impressive collections rich in design, colour and texture alternatives, including Ege Seramik's Heritage Line (which emulates the creativity and designs of Phrygian, Lydian, and Urartian artisans), Kale Seramik's Ottoman, Seljuk and Hittite Series or Toprak Seramik's Zeugma Collection, which inspires the customer to create an atmosphere of ageless beauty.
The Middle East is now becoming an important market for the Turkish ceramic tile industry, with exports having increased to 15 million sq m by 2002. Indeed, Turkey's ceramic tile industry has witnessed a rapid growth in exports in recent years. Tile exports were up eight per cent in 2001, and Turkey exported 38 per cent of its total production in that year. In the first six months of last year, exports increased by 25 per cent compared to the same period of 2001.
Turning to sanitary ware products, she says: 'Turkey has a capacity to produce 12 million pieces of sanitary ware every year, accounting for some six per cent of the world output. Turkey was also the first sanitary ware producer of Europe.
'The ceramic sanitary units produced in Turkey offer users numerous alternatives through which they can express their lifestyles and tastes, while taking into account contemporary trends. A plain but extraordinary bowl-basin or a toilet bowl which saves water with its dual reservoirs, mono-block or fragmented structures and sizes to fit every space provide solutions to today's needs.'
Visit www.turkishceramics.com for more information.
