Gulf Construction Online - Unicera showcases the best of Turkish ceramics

Events

Unicera 2013 ... attracted 65,686 visitors.

Unicera showcases the best of Turkish ceramics

01 April 2013

THE 25th edition of Unicera – the International Ceramic, Bathroom and Kitchen Fair – showcased the best of Turkish ceramics including the latest trends, technologies, innovations and green products.

Billed as Europe’s second largest for ceramics, bathrooms and kitchens, Unicera 2013 was organised by Tüyap Fair and Exhibition Organisation in co-operation with Turkish Ceramic Federation and Timder (Sanitary ware and Construction Materials Producers Association), and held from February 27 to March 3 at the Tüyap Fair Convention and Congress Center in Istanbul, Turkey.

Unicera’s 25-year journey has been remarkable: while the first event had a mere 32 exhibitors spread over an area of 1,300 sq m, this year the show spread over 86,000 sq m space and attracted 309 exhibitors from 20 countries including Austria, Bulgaria, China, Egypt, France, Germany, India, Italy, Poland, Singapore, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Ukraine, UK, US, Vietnam and Turkey.

Kale’s Edilcoughi brand ... promoted.

Unicera is steadily growing from year to year, commented Bahadir Kayan, president of Turkish Ceramics Promotion Group (TCPG), adding that the 2013 edition witnessed a 15 per cent increase in exhibitor space, while attracting 65,686 visitors, 4,306 of whom were from abroad.

Ceramic tile, vitreous ware, pools, saunas, and taps and bathroom and kitchen furniture, sustainable sanitary ware and natural stone tiles, accessories and related products were exhibited. Also on display were digitally-printed ceramic tiles, manufactured using the latest technologies.

Around 26 members of TCPG showcased their latest innovations and fashionable products at specially designed stands. The companies included Altin, Bien Seramik, Creavit, Dogvit, Duratiles-Duravit, Ece, Ege Ceramic and Sanitary Ware, Esvit, Güralvit, Graniser, Hitit, Idevit, Kale (Çanakkale Ceramic – Kalebodur), Kütahya, Seramiksan, Seranit, Serapool, Serel, Sögütsen, Turan Seramik, Turkuaz Ceramic and Sanitary ware, Umpas, Usak, Vitra, Yurtbay and Yüksel.

Turkey’s largest ceramics manufacturer Kale Group, along with its Çanakkale Seramik, Kalebodur and Kale brands as well as its Italian brands Edilgres and Edilcoughi, showcased a wide range of innovative products at its 750-sq-m stand.

The products included two new and award-winning (iF Product Design Award 2013) ranges – the Nordic series in integrated bathroom solutions and the White House series in bathroom furniture. Kale also presented its natural stone collection Stone and More, which won an Elle Decoration International Design Award (Edida) in the wall coverings category.

İhsan Karagöz, chief marketing officer of building materials, Kale Group, said: “This year we had more bathroom products, while last year the focus was on tiles. We have created products that are in line with the expectations of consumers, one of which, the Ottoman Collection, has become a great success. Furthermore, our innovative approach has helped us focus on new series across all areas and not just ceramic tiles.”

Sales have been very strong and the market share of Kaleseramik, a sector leader with its Çanakkale Seramik and Kalebodur brands, has risen to 30 per cent, said Karagoz.

“Despite the global crisis, Kaleseramik managed to increase its sales by 20 per cent in its top export markets, especially Germany, France and the UK. Kale Group, ranking third in Europe and 12th in the world, has become Turkey’s new player in creating a global brand,” he added.