The UAE-based RAK Ceramics supplied 90,000 sq m of premium gres porcellanato wall and floor tiles for the construction of the Grand Hyatt Dubai.

It also supplied 25,000 linear metres of specially-made accessories to complement the tiles. All the products supplied were custom-designed.

RAK Ceramics, a leading manufacturer of ceramic, gres porcellanto wall and floor tiles and sanitary ware, has launched a number of expansion programmes.

In line with the expansion under way at its tiles division, RAK Ceramics is set to expand its sanitary ware division in Ras Al Khaimah - work on which has just commenced.

Announcing this, Dr Khater Massaad, general manager of RAK Ceramics, says: "The new facility will manufacture an additional 1,000 pieces of sanitary ware per day, helping the company to boost its production to 2.2 million pieces per year locally. This new expansion will cover the induction of an advanced shuttle kiln, two pressure casting machines and a host of new technologies".

Currently, RAK Ceramics' two sanitary ware plants produce 5,000 pieces per day. The factory is also equipped with computerised robot spraying machine to give its products a perfect finish.

RAK Ceramics also has a sanitary ware plant in Slovakia since 1995. Last year, the company opened an ultramodern showroom at its headquarters in Ras Al Khaimah.

"This 17,000 sq ft expo of the company's products is a visual experience of a different kind," a company spokesman says. "The showroom is creatively designed with mock-ups of bathroom suites and kitchens that truly reflect the current fashion trends of the entire world. Traditional and modern designs are portrayed in these presentations that reflect European tastes as well as US trends, while there are still others in the twenty-odd mock-ups of bathrooms alone that take into consideration Asian and Arab tastes, among others."

Designed to meet all the architectural challenges, this showroom serves as a reference to all "dedicated to the professionals such as architects and consulting engineers and customers worldwide," says M P Nair, deputy general manager, marketing and sales.

Commenting on the design layout of the showroom, Nair says: "It was quite a challenge, considering the profile of visitors we have to cater to from all parts of the world - engineers, architects, dealers, distributors and customers from as far afield as Australia, the Far East, South Africa, Canada and Russia, besides the local clientele. The challenge was how to incorporate all the local needs and tastes through an exposition of a global character.

"Today, we are encouraged by the feedback we have received from discerning customers across all profiles. With new models being introduced at regular intervals, this showroom will serve to launch and present them on an even higher aesthetic platform."

The company, which made history in 2000 when it introduced the world's largest gres porcellanato tile, is set to achieve yet another milestone with the introduction of big tiles, measuring 185 by 125 by 2 cm, with rollfeed designs on them - making RAK Ceramics the first company in the world to develop this type of tile. It marks a major breakthrough in the ceramic world in enhancing large format tiles to resemble natural stone.

"RAK Ceramics' premium gres porcellanato tiles combine the ageless beauty of marble and stones with the timeless durability of granite. The aesthetic performance coupled with the superior quality of these products obtained through sophisticated ceramic technologies illustrate the superior craftsmanship of RAK Ceramics.

"The company, which has a plethora of gres porcellanato natural look-alikes, recently launched a new range of innovative gres porcellanato tiles. Named as Marfil, Aurisina, Tibet and Florencia, some of these reminisce famous natural marble and stones.

"A real business wonder in the desert, RAK Ceramics is a public shareholding company with a clear-cut global focus," he adds. "With a worldwide distribution network already in place in over 125 countries, including distribution depots in Europe, RAK Ceramics is all set to be the leader in the ceramic world. It will continue to invest in innovative breakthrough ceramic technologies in this era of global competitiveness, as it realises that only productive organisations delivering quality goods and services can prevail and prosper. It is fast becoming a dynamic "techno-quality centre" in the ceramic world, where creativity meets perfection and technology meets innovation."