RAK Ceramics has announced the opening of its ninth factory in the emirate of Ras Al Khaimah, built at a cost of Dh180 million ($49.01 million).

It also announced that construction work had commenced on the company’s 10th factory in the emirate, which will cost as much.
The just-completed plant comprises three gres porcellanato (porcelain) ceramic production lines. The daily production capacity exceeds 35,000 sq m of high-quality granite ceramics in a variety of designs, shapes and sizes.
The new facility is considered the most advanced in the world with respect to the technology and state-of-the-art equipment used.
It comes within the framework of “comprehensive expansion” witnessed by RAK Ceramics to meet increasing international demand for the company’s products, the company said.
It said the in-house technical team, guided by the advice of company chief executive officer Dr Khater Massaad, designed the new machinery.
The plant used specially designed technology, considered the most advanced in the ceramic industry, said Dr Massaad, who also highlighted what he described as the “utmost diligence” shown by the technical team in designing machinery.
With the opening of the ninth factory, total daily production capacity of all RAK factories has exceeded 200,000 sq m, a number expected to rise to 300,000 sq m after the completion of internal and overseas expansions underway before the end of the year.
The production of more than 3.3 million sanitaryware pieces every year complements this extensive collection of products.
Dr Massaad remarked that the company’s huge production was a source of pride to management and staff and to local and Arab industries witnessing an Emirates company dictating its “technological rules to the international production process.”
He stressed that RAK Ceramics was guided by the vision and directions of Shaikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qassimi, Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah, who, he said, was steering the emirate in general, and its industrial sector in particular, towards growth and prosperity, both regionally and internationally 
He confirmed that the total volume of RAK Ceramics investments in its nine factories within Ras Al Khaimah, and its factories in China, Bangladesh and Sudan, as well as its factories in India and Iran, currently under construction, had so far surpassed Dh1.5 billion.
Dr Massaad emphasised that in spite of the company’s major expansions, it was nevertheless in a race to meet the ever-increasing demand for its high-quality products in more than 130 markets across the world’s six continents.
He also welcomed at the inauguration Aginio Amliyani, general manger of the Italian company Sacmi, considered to be world’s biggest manufacturer of ceramic-producing machinery.
RAK Ceramics tops the list of Sacmi customers worldwide.