Laticrete RAK expands its range
01 October 2005
While Laticrete International gears up to celebrate its golden jubilee next year as a world leader in high-strength, shock and weather-resistant installation systems for ceramic tile, porcelain tile, pavers and stone, its recently-established affiliate in the UAE has already set the wheels in motion to boost its production capacity.
Laticrete RAK is currently expanding its Ras Al Khaimah-based production capacity to add new product lines that will help it to meet the overwhelming demand for its high-strength tile installation products throughout the Middle East, according to Dr Khater Massaad, CEO of RAK Ceramics and chairman of Laticrete RAK.
Laticrete RAK’s products are increasingly being used in most of the prestigious projects throughout the region. The new product range will comprise Laticrete’s premium range of competitively-priced products.
“Most customers in the region prefer a complete system which includes tiles as well as adhesive and grout systems,” says Dr Massaad. “Laticrete and RAK Ceramics are able to cater to this need by providing a complete solution to their clients. The single-source responsibility and one-stop service has resulted in more and more customers opting for Laticrete RAK system products.”
Laticrete RAK’s technical specification services are available to architects, contractors and clients, which helps them in selecting not only the correct tiles designed for a specific application but also a trouble-free permanent installation system, he points out.
Large commercial establishments such as supermarkets and food-processing industries as well as residential owners have shown their preference for Laticrete’s upgraded range of products, he says.
“Problems associated with constant repairs are costing valuable time and money. Laticrete’s user-friendly products help the floor and joints to look cleaner for an extended period of time and easier to maintain. Laticrete offers a 10-year warranty on its specialty range of products,” he adds.
Elaborating on the company’s extensive range, a spokesman for the company says: “Latapoxy 310 is a unique product that can be used to install large format tiles and stones in combination with mechanical anchors or exclusively as chemical anchors. Latapoxy products can be used to install tile over various kinds of surface including a steel surface.
“The company offers novelty products that can give flight to the imagination of designers and architects,” he stresses. These include grouts with gold, silver, copper and pearl dazzle, which can help create tilework masterpieces. In addition, Laticrete RAK’s “glow in dark” tiles and grout is product totally new to the world of tiles.
“Laticrete’s waterproofing system has been further diversified with the new cementitious Laticrete 302, a versatile product which can be applied as a rooftop reflective coating to save energy. Laticrete 9235 and Laticrete 9237 are the market leaders in swimming pool and wet areas waterproofing segment.”
“Laticrete has also developed easy-to-apply high-strength plaster products, which help prevent cracks and can be applied in thick layers. They also provide a strong levelling bed for tile installation - weak plaster does not support the weight of heavy tile and there so many failures experienced due to this,” he points out.
Laticrete RAK also has specialised products for floors that demand high hygiene and anti-bacterial properties. These include anti-bacterial tiles, adhesives, waterproofing and grouts that provide a total solution for hospitals, laboratories, toilets, kitchens, food processing plants and butcheries.
Laticrete RAK stain-resistant floors are in demand by car showrooms and repair outlets as well as hypermarkets, which are looking for easy-to-maintain floors, he adds.
Chemical-resistant floor systems – complete with tile, adhesive and grout – are also a Laticrete RAK speciality, while the Laticrete Industrial flooring system is popular throughout the world, the spokesman says.
“The Laticrete system has been job proven around the world in a wide range of extreme climate conditions. It adds value to the property by providing permanent, problem-free tile and stone installation systems.
“Laticrete’s regional office and technical support centre for the Middle East in Ras Al Khaimah provides technical support and training to the installers and contractors free of charge,” he concludes.
