Cevisama 2006: Tile makers eager to stand out in a crowded field

Pictured: The Pizarra Collection of glazed porcelain tiles by Ceramica Gomez comes in a range of colors and sizes from 12" x 12", 12" x 24" and 17" x 17".

The twin engines that drive the tile market-creativity and technology-will be the force behind many of the 1,100 manufacturers presenting their latest creations at Cevisama 2006, Feb. 7-11 in Valencia, Spain. This year, more than 90,000 visitors from 145 countries are expected to converge in the newly renovated and expanded Feria Valencia.

The advances in ceramic tile technology are expected to be a chief drawing card as retailers, designers and others at the show look for insight into the trends shaping the industry. Among the new hot buttons are metallic finishes that can easily be mistaken for the real thing, modular formats that mix a wide variety of sizes, and wood and stone textures that are also incredible lifelike. In terms of color, while traditional neutral and pastel shades still predominate, there has been an ongoing move toward bright, bold colors such as pink and purple, and warm colors such as red, orange and gold. Black and white designs also remain very popular, and are often combined with brightly colored accent pieces to achieve a variety of visual effects. Textures have gained importance, as new pressing techniques allow for deeper and more detailed relief patterns.

Those who regularly attend the show agree that for Spanish tile makers in particular, Cevisama is the cornerstone of their yearly business.

"Cevisama is a very important fair for us, due to the massive affluence of the domestic and European customers," said Paco Cid of Tau Ceramica. "These markets, with the U.S.A., are the core business of the firm."

In addition to the manufacturer's exhibits, the meeting will showcase the latest developments in ceramic tile with Cevisama INDI programs, which include competitions, exhibitions and an extensive lecture program, including, TRANS/HITOS, the Tile of Spain Award for Architecture and Interior Design, Tile Fixer's Meeting and Competition, the Alfa de Oro Awards, EXCO Lectures, H2SHOW, INDISTILE and Baneo.

New for this year, the H2SHOW will feature the best new products from exhibitors of bathroom and kitchen furnishings.

The theme for this year's TRANS/HITOS exhibition is "Symbiosis," which will be represented with a display using three elements, architecture, innovation and the relationship with other materials, to tie the exhibition together.

For more information about Cevisama, visit the official Web site, www.cevisama.feriavalencia.com.