THE STRATEGY OF EXPANSION

During the 1990s, Panaria implemented a strategy of expansion and extension of its brands and products through the acquisition, in 1992, of Ceramiche Artistiche Lea, a company specialised in the production of white body single-fired floor tiles, and by founding, that same year, Cotto d’Este, a brand creating and producing high-end lines aimed for the luxury bracket of the market.

THE PRODUCTION SITE IN TOANO

Panariagroup acquired a second company in Portugal: Novagrés, now Love Tiles, a leading brand in the production of large format monoporosa coverings and floors in glazed porcelain stoneware. The process of internationalisation continued in 2006 with the acquisition of the brand and main assets of Florida Tile Industries, a historical brand in the United States in the production and distribution of ceramic material. In December 2006, the two Portuguese companies Novagrés and Margrès merged into Gres Panaria Portugal, maintaining the identity of the two brands. Furthermore, a new company named Panariagroup USA Inc. was established to control the Florida Tile and Lea North America companies.

Margres acquisition

The process of expansion into international markets became a reality with the acquisition, in 2002, of Maronâgres (today Margres), an important company in the field of porcelain stoneware in Portugal.

Panariagroup founded

2004 was the year of Panariagroup’s foundation, following the merger by incorporation of all Italian companies in Panaria. In the same year, Panariagroup decided to become a public company and on 19 November 2004 the Group was listed in the STAR segment of the Italian Stock Exchange. The internationalization process continued with the foundation, in 2004, of Lea North America LLC, a company created to oversee the distribution of Lea products in the increasingly strategic US market.
In the same year, Cotto d’Este launched Kerlite, the revolutionary line of ultra-thin slabs: Panariagroup was the first ceramic group to introduce an innovation on the market that changed the concept of tiles.

The acquisition of Novagrés

In 2005 Panariagroup acquired another company in Portugal, Novagrés, called Love Tiles today, a leading manufacturer of large size monoporosa wall tiles and glazed porcelain stoneware floor tiles. The process of internationalisation continued in 2006 with the acquisition of the trademark and main assets of Florida Tile Industries, a historical brand in the United States for the production and distribution of
ceramic tiles. In December 2006, the two Portuguese companies Novagrés and Margres merged into Gres Panaria Portugal whilst retaining the two different brands separate. Furthermore, Panariagroup USA Inc. was established to run Florida Tile and Lea North America.

Blustyle Ceramica founded

Blustyle Ceramica was created in 2008 to offer the market an agile and innovative model in terms of both its products and distribution approach. The company gradually flourished and today it is an official Brand in the Cotto d’Este family, from which it draws all its high-quality characteristics featured in products with a traditional thickness.

The production of porcelain stoneware

After years of successful commercialization of laminated porcelain stoneware, a revolutionary, high-performance material, the result of state-of-the-art technology, in 2009 Panariagroup installed the first production line for this product at the Fiorano Modenese plant.

Panariagroup Trade

Panariagroup’s expansion continued and in 2010 a new sales organisation, Panariagroup Trade, was established, with the aim of gaining market shares in the Middle East, the Far East and Oceania. In particular, Panariagroup Trade responds to the need to distribute the Group’s brands in these areas through more targeted commercial policies that respect the precise identity and peculiar features of each brand.
In the same year Panariagroup signed its first agreement with Microban, a world leader in antibacterial technologies, for the creation of products for healthy, safe and protected spaces.

The joint venture with Asian Granito

The internationalisation process continued thanks to a joint venture with Asian Granito, a leading company in the Indian market. The “Bellissimo” brand was launched with the purpose of producing and selling luxury ceramic products with high value in terms of style and technology on the Asian market. The Group became even more committed to the Indian Business Unit in 2019 with the acquisition of 100% of the company’s shares.

A PROCESS OF CONSTANT EVOLUTION

The certified sustainability reporting process officially began with the publication of the first Report and with the development in subsequent years of initiatives aimed at certain stakeholder categories (starting with employees).
Strengthening of the commitment to laminated porcelain stoneware: the third production line was built in Fiorano and the product range was expanded with the introduction of new sizes and thicknesses.

the Contract & Key-Account Division

Significant advances were made in terms of industrial development with major investments in all Business Units.
New commercial channels were developed: the Contract & Key-Account Division was set up.

PANARIAGROUP for VATICAN CHAPELS

The Group further increased its commitment to laminated porcelain stoneware with the introduction of new formats and thicknesses. Panariagroup’s thin slabs were selected for the Vatican Chapels project, the first pavilion ever built by the Holy See at the Venice Biennale International Architecture Exhibition. Important investments were also made in industrial upgrading of the Portuguese Business Unit.

New certifications

The company’s quality assurance was progressively strengthened, in particular with the introduction of new product sustainability certifications (e.g. EPD and Green Guard).

Maxa

Maxa Ceramic Slabs was established, the new Panariagroup brand that focuses on providing large-format, high-thickness ceramic maxi-slabs for the furnishing accessories and interior design segment.

The ultra-thin slabs become Carbon Neutral

THINk ZERO is the innovation strategy that confirms Panariagroup among the leading companies in sustainability. As evidence of this are the actions involving the production processes for limiting the consumption of raw materials and CO₂ emissions that are 100% compensated, thus creating a Carbon Neutral product, the most sustainable ceramic surface in the world.

In April, Panariagroup announces the total acquisition, by the Portuguese Business Unit Gres Panaria Portugal, of the company Gresart, located in the industrial district of Aveiro, where the Group is already present with two production sites in Aveiro and Ilhavo. In September of the same year, the Group signs the agreement for the purchase of the most important assets of Steuler Fliesengruppe, taking over the Leisnig plant and the historic brands Steuler design, Grohn, Nordceram, and Kerateam.