Cersaie 2005 offers preview of tile's 'hi-tech' future
Discussions and presentations included such subjects as climate-controlled tile, moving tiles that create flexible structures, shadow tiles that modify light dynamics, and even tiles that store light in photovoltaic cells during the day and disperse it at night. Although these applications are still mostly on the drawing board, the meeting showcased several technological leaps now in production. Included are large-format porcelain sheets as thin as 3 mm, which offer considerable weight reduction over thicker designs. Also now production: anti-slip finishes that are invisible to the touch but become chemically activated by contact with water.
Other important trends seen at Carsaie this year included: an expansion of modular formats, which now include sizes ranging from micro mosaics to large-format rectified tile; an ever-expanding color palette, including more warm tones such as orange and red; and an increase in glass and mosaic designs.