Coverings, an international tile and stone exhibition, is almost upon us. From July 7-9, Ceramics of Italy manufacturers will return to the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, FL to showcase a multitude of brand new tile collections and installation products in the center’s North Hall. Organized by Confindustria Ceramica, the pavilion’s refreshed central booth will provide a hub for hospitality and information from Italy.

This year, visitors will find a new version of the Ceramics of Italy booth “Strada Dinamica” (Booth 1441). Designed by e+i Studio, the booth was modeled after an Italian streetscape, and features tiled furnishings including standing communal tables, landscaped benches, and more. The booth will feature an info kiosk and a meeting point to enjoy authentic Italian coffee and gelato with Italian ceramic industry representatives.

At the show, attendees will discover a variety of brand new tile products and innovative installation systems from Italian manufacturers that reflect current trends in the architecture, building and design industries. As a result of the pandemic, the need for healthy and sanitary surfaces has never been stronger, and due to the inherent hygienic qualities of ceramic tile, it has become a highly coveted surfacing material. In response to the growing demand for large-format tiles, Italian manufacturers have developed new collections with hyper-realistic, expressive designs ranging from elegant marble-effects to colorful styles inspired by Persian onyx. These tiles can be used to create seamless floor and wall installations, or custom furnishings including countertops, tabletops, islands, bathroom vanities, and more. Visitors should also expect to find many  decorative, colorful patterns and natural material effects like concrete, wood, and terrazzo, which rival the look of the real material due to high-definition printing and innovative 3D glazes. In the outdoor space, Italian manufacturers are also expanding their offerings of porcelain pavers and innovative pedestal systems for raised flooring.

Ceramics Of Italy will participate in the annual "Global Tile Trends'' session, where industry experts will discuss new and emerging tile trends, innovations in materials and technology, creative design ideas, and more. This talk will take place in-person on Wednesday, July 7 at 11am in Room N320A and will also be live streamed through Coverings’ hybrid platform.

The Ceramics of Italy International Press Conference will take place on Wednesday, July 7 from 3-4pm in Room N220F and will include remarks from senior representatives of the industry, an overview of the latest tile trends, an update on Cersaie 2021, and a short presentation of the winners of the prestigious 2021 Tile Competition. Following the conference, members of the press will be given a guided walking tour of Ceramics of Italy exhibitors.

Ceramics of Italy members exhibiting at Coverings 2021 include: Blustyle, Ceramiche Campogalliano, Cooperativa Ceramica d’Imola, Del Conca, Elios, EnergieKer, Eterno Ivica, Gruppo Romani, Happy House, Impertek, Infinity, La Fabbrica, La Faenza, Lea Ceramiche, Leonardo, Litokol, Mapei, Marazzi, Nuovocorso, Panaria, Pastorelli, Polcart, Ragno, Ceramiche Refin, Ceramica Rondine, Sichenia, Supergres, and Tagina.