21/05/2010

DOORS OPEN TO THE FUTURE

The key theme of environmental sustainability was the focus of the GranitiFiandre's two Open Days.
The company, a world leader in the manufacture of top of the range technical porcelain stoneware tiles for prestigious solutions, hosted the traditional GranitiFiandre Open Days Wednesday May 19 and Thursday May 20, opening its doors to employees, customers, architects and partners.

The event included an educational initiative held in the company's Megastore focusing on scientific knowledge about Active Clean Air & Antibacterial Ceramic™,, the revolutionary production method based on application of titanium dioxide to Fiandre porcelain stoneware tiles at high temperatures, a process which gives the tiles antibacterial and antipollutant qualities.
The second day was held in the prestigious Bologna offices of the newspaper Il Resto del Carlino, in the hall named after Marco Biagi: the first major installation site for flooring with Active Clean Air & Antibacterial Ceramic™ tiles, combining the excellence of one of Italy's oldest newspapers with the excellence of a leader such as Fiandre.

Opened by deputy editor Pieluigi Masini, who presented a forward-looking philosophy of architecture exploiting the potential of revolutionary new materials such as those presented on the occasion, in the halls of the newspaper that is celebrating its 125th anniversary this year, the educational session focused on the Active production process with the participation of professor Antonella Tucci, a scientific researcher from Centro Ceramico Bologna who described the quality and efficacy of "activated" materials, as well as presentations by professor Aldo Lapone of Management Consultant Studio AGL Milan and GranitiFiandre Key Account Manager Gianfranco Sassi.

In the words of Chairman and CEO Graziano Verdi, "Active is an extraordinary innovation which uses titanium dioxide applied at high temperatures in micrometric form to reduce key atmospheric pollutants and make a traditionally inert material eco-active and anti-bacterial, as certified by Centro Ceramico Bologna and the TCNA."

Professor Tucci noted that the innovation introduced by GranitiFiandre with the scientific assistance of Centro Ceramico Bologna lies in the method used for application of titanium dioxide, which makes it possible to obtain a reaction in the presence of light and produce a photocatalytic effect.
Professor Lapone then underlined the importance of this invention, comparable to the discovery of penicillin or the invention of draining asphalt.
Gianfranco Sassi linked the presentations and emphasised the company's commitment to ecology and true concrete action aimed at giving back to the planet what we have been taking away from it.

The important event demonstrated that the company is still at the top of its industry, and that it demonstrates its leadership on the world market every day with innovation, ongoing research and an emphasis on communications.