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Coverings 2016 alza el telón para el Tile of Spain

18.04.2016 10:03

Hoy comienza en Chicago, en el estado de Illinois, Coverings, una cita ineludible para los profesionales del sector de revestimientos y pavimentos cerámicos de Estados Unidos. La participación española se encontrará agrupada en el Pabellón Oficial que lleva organizando el ICEX España, Exportación, Inversiones ininterrumpidamente desde 1988 y que ha convertido a esta cita en una de las principales acciones que organiza la entidad en el marco del Plan Sectorial del Azulejo.

El Pabellón Oficial está compuesto en su conjunto por un total de 68 empresas que tendrán la oportunidad de exponer todas las novedades y tendencias al mercado americano. De estas empresas participantes, 47 corresponden a empresas azulejeras y de la industria auxiliar (enlace a expositores miembros Ascer).

Coverings es, sin duda, la cita más significativa del sector de recubrimientos en el mercado americano. En 2015, la convocatoria tuvo lugar en Orlando (Florida) y logró congregar a alrededor de 25.000 visitantes. Este mercado muestra claros síntomas de afianzamiento, escalando una posición y situándose ahora como cuarto mercado en orden de importancia para Tile of Spain.

ACTIVIDADES PROMOCIONALES // Durante la feria, el estand de Tile of Spain servirá de punto de información, distribuyendo diversas publicaciones entre las que destacan los directorios de los expositores en Coverings y el último número de Ceraspaña, así como proyectando videos durante todo el show con ejemplos de proyectos arquitectónicos y novedades de empresas. El estand acogerá una rueda de prensa mañana, seguida de un tour guiado por los stands para la prensa especializada.

Se ha diseñado un programa de conferencias, a cargo del experto asesor de Tile of Spain Ryan Fassan que bajo los títulos: From Skin to System: Rethinking Ceramic’s Place in Design y User Experience Focus: Trends in Ceramics 2016 acercarán al público visitante las principales claves del diseño actual de cerámica y las últimas tendencias en diseño.

EXPORTACIONES EN EEUU // EEUU es el cuarto destino por importancia de las exportaciones españolas. El mercado se consolida con un aumento de las ventas del 40% el pasado año 2015, con 147 millones de euros vendidos.

EEUU cuenta con un plan país específico que engloba actividades tales como: seminarios para la distribución y el prescriptor; campañas de publicidad en medios escritos y digitales; revista Ceraspaña en inglés; punto de información sectorial y canalización de demandas comerciales y actualización de bases de datos de clientes.

Además, el Plan de Promoción de Tile of Spain en EE.UU, cuenta con una página web específica en la que se publican noticias, eventos e información sobre los productos más orientados al mercado estadounidense, así como una intensa presencia en redes sociales como Facebook, twitter, Pinterest e Instagram.

TILE OF SPAIN AT COVERINGS 2016 // Tile of Spain is excited to be part of Coverings 2016, be held April 18 to 21, 2016 in Chicago, Illinois. Visitors to the Spain Pavilion will witness some of the most advanced ceramic tile technology and breathtaking design choices the world has to offer from near 70 Spanish ceramic and stone manufacturers.

The Tile of Spain booth (# 619), in the center of the pavilion, holds a variety of literature, including directories to the must-see Spanish tile exhibitors and the latest issues of Ceraspaña, Tile of Spain’s quarterly magazine.

Presentations and videos will run throughout the show, including award-winning architectural and design projects and an overview of Tile of Spain manufacturers’ achievements featuring beautiful design and products with unsurpassed quality, durability and versatility.

Presentations from tile expert Ryan Fasan to be presented in the Spanish Pavilion (Booth 619) include:

From Skin to System: Rethinking Ceramic’s Place in Design

Monday, April 18: 12pm and 1pm
Thursday, April 21: 12pm

Sometimes it can be difficult to rethink our approach to time honored processes, especially when we have been doing things the same way for centuries. Ceramics have been a mainstay cladding material in design since humankind has been making buildings. Ceramic tile, especially in today’s modern formats and value added solutions is so much more than just a skin and in order to fully harness its systemic potential, its time for a rethink.

Join us in the Tile of Spain Pavilion as we explore the evolution of innovation in tile over the past 20 years and explore new approaches to sales, specification and design to harness the full potential of ceramics by shifting the timeline of material selection dramatically. From slim to thick pavers, large formats to traditional subways, stone looks to wood planks – creating a detailed materials map for a project can be the biggest asset for your next project. Even as human skin has surface benefits but is a part of a larger system that makes the entire structure function better, so too can tile function systemically in building design with the right forethought.

User Experience Focus: Trends in Ceramics 2016

Tuesday, April 19: 12:15pm
Wednesday, April 20: 3pm

 In the tech world, operating systems are the long-term assets that live through the arcs of micro-trends in the fast-paced device innovation race. Tile has a similar relationship to building design as a whole given its durability and technical characteristics in relation to overall building systems. Join Tile of Spain as we explore the evolution of macro-trends in ceramics through the lens of evolving UX design principles.

Viewing tile trends on this macro scale sheds some interesting light on where the industry is today and what the focus is for long-term timeless usefulness in relation to all aspects of building design and planning. Taking keywords from UX design like “materials”, “scalability” & “streamlining” we will explore the emerging trends in Spanish ceramics, and ceramics in general, for 2016 and beyond.

Once again, Ascer, the Professional Association of Ceramic Tile Manufacturers from Spain, and ICEX Spain Trade and Investment organize the 2016 Spain Pavilion.

COVERINGS RETURNS TO CHICAGO WITH CREATIVITY, INSPIRATION, AND REINVIGORATED ATMOSPHERE // Coverings, the largest global tile & stone exhibition in North America, made its triumphant return to Chicago for the first time in seven years, as representatives from Ceramics of Italy, Tile of Spain, Tile Council of North America, Ceramic Tile Distributor Association and National Tile Contractor Association gathered Monday, April 18 for the official 2016 ribbon cutting ceremony. The show, which runs through Thursday, April 21, features the latest products from more than 1,100 global exhibitors across 443,00 square feet of show floor space and offers more than 70 educational sessions.

“The atmosphere at Coverings 2016 is extremely optimistic as the show makes its awaited return to the Chicago market,” said Alena Capra, Coverings Industry Ambassador. “Attendees from all segments of the tile and stone industry are finding great inspiration not only from the incredible array of innovative products and wide range of informative sessions, but also from the historically strong architectural roots of Chicago.”

Sean McCadden, of Remodel My Business, kicked off the 2016 conference programming with the opening day keynote, “Turning Industry Challenges Into Opportunities and Opportunities Into Profits.” The enthusiastic presentation explored the various challenges faced by builders & remodelers in today’s market – notably keeping young talent engaged and ensuring the longevity of one’s business. McCadden offered key tips and considerations, ranging from defining paths for employee advancement to offering mentorship, and establishing high levels of integrity and trust to ensure both employee and client retention. Throughout the session, McCadden emphasized the importance of forward thinking in practices relating to business, as well as installation and design – regardless of profession. New to the keynote sessions at Coverings 2016 is the presence of InkFactory, whose representatives produce visual representations, through text and illustrations, of each session’s core messages and key takeaways.

The 2016 show also brings a reinvigorated attitude to the tile & stone industry, as the Italian, Spanish, and North American pavilions have all incorporated refreshed design and branding elements. The Italian Pavilion introduced a dynamic new stand designed by e+i studio entitled Strada Dinamica, which serves multiple functions ranging from a central gathering destination to a central showcase of the many products offered by Ceramics of Italy manufacturers. Additionally, the 2016 show serves as the launch of Tile of Spain’s new marketing initiative - “Tile Style” – which consolidates the brand’s international market position and links it to values such as innovation, design, and modernity. And, the Tile Council of North America integrated creative communications of its core areas of focus, ranging from cross-association collaboration to sustainability and installation practices throughout its booth.

Innovative and thoughtful booth design further revealed itself across the show floor, as the 2016 Best Booth Awards recognized five exhibitors whose booths featured experiential designs that activated attendees senses in ways transcending architecture and design.  Sicis (#2044) followed up last year’s showstopper by showcasing truly inspirational design, with elaborate and detailed mosaics that highlighted the potential of this format. Torrecid (#7718) demonstrated a unique capacity for storytelling, showcasing the product within a lifestyle-driven layout, as Antolini Luigi (#4412) created an innovative interpretation utilizing beautiful marble mannequins within a retail concept. Inalco (#826) created a residential experience with an expansive, open user flow that welcomed attendees into their space. Ornamenta (#1654) showcased its products through a unique jewel case concept, in which the booth opened and closed to create a fun, urban experience.

The day concluded at the CID Awards & Opening Night Celebration, where the impressive projects of the 2016 Coverings CID Awards were announced and the second class of Coverings Rock Stars were celebrated by fellow industry colleagues.