BOLOGNA, ITALY -- Celebrating its 27th edition, Cersaie once again staked its place as the world's largest exhibition of ceramic tiles and bathroom furnishings by drawing an international crowd of over 83,000. Held from Sept. 29 to Oct. 3, 2009, in Bologna, Italy, the show provided attendees with the latest innovations and products to hit the market.

From the tile manufacturing method and its ingredients to thoughtful consideration in the shipping process, this year demonstrated the different avenues manufacturers are taking to ensure the best quality product for consumers as well as the environment.

Prevalent trends this year included tiles with a thinner thickness of 4 to 5 mm and implementing new types of recycled glass during the manufacturing process. Trends from previous years were also evident, including tiles mimicking other designs, such as wood and stone, as well as tile promoting sustainability.

Speaking on the benefits of slim tile, Del Conca's CEO Enzo Mularoni shared his knowledge to a packed audience inside his booth. "It's especially wonderful in terms of reconstruction and renovation because you can put it over an already existing material and still be under 1 inch," said Mularoni. "The other benefit is it's not as heavy, which means less weight for shipping and more room for storage."

Del Conca also introduced its Zero Collection, which is 5 mm in thickness as well as Therma, a mesh made with carbon fiber that can be placed under tile or other materials to heat a floor without the use of a heater, water or other fluids.

Building on the slim concept, Lea Ceramiche launched a 3 mm thickness tile called Mauk -- a design by Diego Grande as part of the Slimtech Basaltina Stone Project collection.

For wood look, Marco Corona introduced Easy Wood, a fine full body colored porcelain stoneware. Along with utilizing 40% pre-consumer recycled material, the company for the first time also used 20% post-consumer recycled glass derived from old cathode ray tubes.

A.I.R. for the first time is also mixing 20% post-consumer recycled glass, using the same methods, into its porcelain stoneware mix.

Promoting the green aspects of its tile, Gambarelli presented Oxygena floor tile, which contains titanium dioxide, an ingredient that can help eliminate polluting gases in the air, according to the company. The tile has a stone look finish. General director for the company, Giuseppe Pozzi, remarked, "It costs 20% more than regular tile, but it's all for a [sustainable] effort."

Cersaie 2010 scheduled for Sept. 28 to Oct. 2, 2010 in Bologna, Italy.