Tiles and sanitaryware manufacturer RAK Ceramics seeks to consolidate itself in world markets with plans for a new sanitaryware plant at its Ras Al Khaimah base, a soon-to-be-completed tiles plant in China and a sanitaryware plant under construction in Bangladesh.

The company reported sales in excess of $200 million from its local plants in 2002 against $175 million in the previous year. Exports accounted for more than 60 per cent of sales, with the European segment accounting for 40 per cent of overseas sales and the Middle East 35 per cent. Importing countries include the US, Canada and Australia.

"The special features in 2002 were several investments in high technology and new plants, the returns and results of which will be seen in the year 2003. We intend to do even better in 2003 despite the difficult political and economic situation in many countries where we sell," said chief executive officer Dr Khater Massaad. RAK Ceramics is a public shareholding company with Shaikh Saud Bin Saqr Al Qasimi as chairman. Production started in 1991 with one line from Sacmi (Italy) producing 5,000sq m of ceramic tiles daily.

It has now eight tile plants at Ras Al Khaimah with a daily production of more than 140,000 sq m of ceramic and porcelain tiles and two sanitaryware plants with a daily output of more than 5,000 pieces. The company also has a ceramic and porcelain tiles plant in Bangladesh producing 9,000sq m per day and a factory in Slovakia that produces various models in sanitaryware and whose output is sold locally and in the European markets.

The new Chinese plant will have a total production of 15,000sq m per day of ceramic and porcelain tiles.

The company operates from a 1 million sq m complex housing the 10 factories, raw materials warehouses, CNC workstations, showrooms, office buildings, silkscreen and photoprinting facilities and research and development laboratories.

One of its plants, MC5, houses what is believed to be the world's longest kiln and the biggest press - PH7200 (tonnes) - used in the manufacture of 'gres porcellanato' slabs of sizes up to 125 x 185cm.

"RAK Ceramics' products combine aesthetic qualities with excellent technical characteristics," says Dr Massaad. "This is due to the use of high-tech machinery coupled with the expertise of in-house staff and collaboration with several top-notch European designers. What's more, the company uses high-grade raw materials many of which are mostly imported."

RAK Ceramics supplies to several hundred of the top companies in the world. They include large distribution chains and retailers, construction companies and well-known real estate developers.

"RAK Ceramics figures as an official supplier of floor tiles for the construction and renovation of Mercedes-Benz showrooms worldwide. Our products have been used in showrooms of BMW as well," Dr Massaad points out proudly. "Some of the largest 'big box' retailers of building materials market our products. Some of the famous names amongst them are Home Depot & Lowes in the USA, Bau Haus in Germany, and Lapeyre, Bougues and Castorama in France."

In the UAE itself, several top projects have selected RAK Ceramic products. The list includes Burj Al Dubai and the Grand Hyatt, Fairmont, Garden Hills, Sheraton Plaza and Al Shoala Complex (all in Dubai), the American University in Sharjah and Dubai, the Marina Mall in Abu Dhabi and the Manar Mall in Ras Al Khaimah. A number of Emmaar projects in Dubai have also used the company's items.

"RAK Ceramics is now in the forefront of ceramic and porcelain tile and sanitaryware manufacturing," says Dr Massaad.