12   Novembre   2014

Italian tiles in the spotlight at the World Ceramic Tiles Forum in Shanghai

The 21st World Ceramic Tiles Forum (WCTF), the annual event for ceramic tile manufacturers first launched in 1994, is being held this year in Shanghai from Wednesday 12 to Saturday 15 November

Organised by CBCSA (China Building Ceramics and Sanitaryware Association), this year’s event is attended by representatives from Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Spain, Turkey, Ukraine and North America, countries that account for around 90% of world ceramic tile production. The Italian delegation is led by Confindustria Ceramica Chairman Vittorio Borelli and the Chairman of the European Ceramic Industry Federation Alfonso Panzani.

Held in the Westin Bund Center in Shanghai, the meetings will explore four key themes: the economic situation, the state of product standardisation, sustainability and promotional initiatives.

The first session will discuss the state of the economy and the performance of the ceramic tile industry in various countries worldwide and will feature presentations given by the participating countries of their respective sectors.

The session on international standardisation will focus on the state of progress of work arising from the last ISO TC 189 plenary meeting held last July in Clamson (USA). The main activities under way include setting up working groups and test methods divided into adhesives and installation materials, large sizes and thin panels, sustainability, tiles with antibacterial properties, elastic adhesives and slip resistance.

The session on standardisation will begin with an update on changes made to ceramic tile tariff classification based on a review of the world system of harmonised codes. The water absorption method underpinning the new tariff classification will also be discussed.

The session on sustainability will discuss developments in environmental product declaration (EPD) to establish shared rules (PRC, Product Category Rules) at a world level.

Last but not least, the session on promotion will explore the initiatives held in the various countries to promote their ceramic tiles at a world level.