Casalgrande Padana

Who we are

“ we made history by building the future”

Casalgrande Padana has been producing advanced ceramic materials for over 50 years: innovative and environment-friendly solutions for the creation of coatings, floors and coatings capable of responding to any creative and technological requirement of the world of architecture and design.

100% MADE IN ITALY

Casalgrande Padana adopts an industrial policy that is powerfully focussed on technological innovation and environmental sustainability.

The Company is intensively engaged in research and experimentation for continuous product improvement in terms of appearance and performance.

All its manufacturing, research and innovation take place in 100% Italian-based plants and laboratories.

In pursuit of the best

Every stage in the process is constantly monitored: from the selection of the raw materials to storage; from the grinding of the blend to the mixing and cooking of the tiles; from the manufacturing process to quality control on the end products; from unfailing technical training to effective professional assistance, evidence of the Company’s efforts to improve its manufacturing processes and pursue the highest standards ever.

The figures

6 factories at the heart of the world’s most important ceramic district

700,000 square metres of industrial sites

1,000 employees

80% of production accounted for by unglazed stoneware tiles

24,000,000 square metres of stoneware tiles a year, all made in Italy

70 countries in 5 continents, served by its widespread sales network

Solutions, not products

Entirely made of natural raw materials, Casalgrande Padana’s stoneware is manufactured through a closed-circuit process that stands out for anextremely low environmental impact. The Company’s ceramic products go far beyond the usual products you can find on the market, as they are fit for any purpose or type of building.

However, Casalgrande Padana is not just a supplier, it gives pride of place to service and design consulting, with the highest executive and architectural standards in mind.

Approximately 80% of Casalgrande Padana's production is currently devoted to unglazed porcelain stoneware, a high-performing versatile material with excellent technical characteristics and superior aesthetic quality.

Casalgrande Padana was an internationally forerunner in developing this special kind of finish, playing an important role in the material proving suitable to a wide range of architectural uses.

THE COURAGE TO CROSS THE BORDER

“A real leader will not point to the road, he will travel it”

A focus on the needs of a project, a site or society; the opportunities provided by technological innovation and the requirements of growth inspired by sustainable development; the will and resolve to look for answers that go beyond the borders of habit: these are the principles that have always inspired Casalgrande Padana’s research.

By listening to such drivers, the Company has successfully defined new concepts and new applications, venturing into uncharted territory and developing innovative solutions for raw materials and processing cycles. Experiences that have now been raised to the status of best practices for the entire industry.


Bioactive ceramics

Casalgrande Padana is an industry leader and an undisputed trailblazer. This is an innovative range of eco-compatible products that independently interact with the environment to kick-start a number of virtuous processes.

Independent research programmes, in partnership with the Department of Biomedical Science, Microbiology Section, of the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, under a Master Agreement with the Japanese TOTO (a pioneer in photo-catalytic technology with the HYDROTECT® brand), have led to producing a new, exclusive generation of ceramics for architectural applications. So far, no one can provide such a wide and high-performance range. Casalgrande Padana’s range actually includes:

Bios

Bios Self-Cleaning Ceramics®, a range of ceramic slabs for outer facings that can reduce airborne pollutants and decompose the dirt that settles on the surface, so the tiles have self-cleaning properties.

Bios Antibacterial Ceramics®, a range of ceramic slabs for floors and facings, with absolute antibacterial properties, available in two forms:

Bios Antibacterial HYDROTECT®: slabs that combine antibacterial properties with titanium dioxide, so the tiles can remove bacteria and odours even without any light. The treatment is optionally available on any range in Casalgrande Padana’s catalogue.

Bios Antibacterial GRANITOGRES®, slabs that make the most of the properties of an innovative silver-based antibacterial treatment that removes the main bacterial strains even without any light. The treatment is worked into the tiles and is wear resistant, so it is ideal for very heavy-traffic areas. The treatment is optionally available in the Granitogres range.

The Company’s has won lots of international awards, such as: shortlisted by ADI Design Index 2010; AIT Innovation Award 2010 “Architecture and Building”; AIT Innovation Award 2010 “Architecture and Flooring”; Produkt des Jahres 2011 (3rd prize) Fliesen Platten Leserwahl; Iconic Awards 2013.

Tactile® system

To cater to the visually impaired and elderly people’s need for independence and safety, guiding them through their movements either outdoor or in confined public areas, Casalgrande Padana has developed the Tactile® system (patent no. 00237769), a special range of Grès Fine Porcellanato Granitogres tiles which are engraved with a special sign language. These modular floor units are engraved with easy to understand information code numbers, associated with specific three-dimensional and colour coded numbers, which inform users about stops, steps, junctions and detours.

The Company’s has won lots of international awards, such as: First Prize “Soliditas Social Award 2006” and “Good Design Award 2009”.

Our values

OLUTIONS FOR ARCHITECTURE

“Our skills to serve your ideas”

Casalgrande Padana has been chosen as the ideal partner by thousands of designers and clients all over the world for the uniqueness of its products, the experience gained in over 50 years working in architectural projects of any size, form or purpose, for the knowledgeable consulting service it offers through Padana Engineering, which provides assistance at any stage of any project, from the selection of the right materials to the development of the project, through to installation and final testing.

Culture of production and culture of design have always been the Company’s inspiration, and in this respect Casalgrande Padana’s career stands out for its unfailing support to prestigious initiatives: from the promotion of architectural, cultural or design events to publishing, from research into new forms of expression to supporting major restoration projects.


Grand Prix – International Architecture Award

Grand Prix is an international architecture award, first launched in 1990 and now in its 10th year, invented and promoted by Casalgrande Padana to shortlist and celebrate the most meaningful projects that use its stoneware products. Through this cultural initiative, the Company, which has always been keen on and sensitive to the developments and innovation of the international architectural scene, wanted to promote an event in which ceramics powerfully emphasise their versatility and eclecticism in a range of building projects. An event where tiles do not look dependent on a project, but where they are celebrated as the real stars.

Creative Book and Casabella

Casalgrande Padana has strengthened its special relationship with designers by promoting an intensive programme in support of the Grand Prix through a targeted communication campaign with meetings, conferences and publications. The most outstanding one is its partnership with the international architecture magazine Casabella, which supports the Company by proactively taking part in the development of the Grand Prix. Since 2001, Casabella and Casalgrande Padana have been working together at the Creative Book, a trade magazine that is enclosed with Casabella every time the winners of the Grand Prix are announced.


Partners in innovation

In its long life, Casalgrande Padana has partnered with lots of important artists from the architectural and design worlds to develop unique targeted research processes, which have led to the creation of important works and to the development of innovative ceramic slabs and products. The latest projects include one with Kengo Kuma, who designed the spectacular architectural installation Casalgrande Ceramic Cloud and the restoration of the Old House-museum; the facings for the Residenze City Life, the Pinnacle installation and a number of new ‘travelling’ ceramic tiles by Daniel Libeskind; the special polychrome pieces on the facings of the nursery of Bologna’s MAST (Manifattura di Arte, Sperimentazione e Tecnologia), designed by Studio Labics with Bios Antibacterial GRANITOGRES® on the kitchen walls; the new ranges of three-dimensional slabs and products developed with Architecture Studio 5+1 AA, Alfonso Femia, Gianluca Peluffo.


A centre for creativity

To effectively support its partnership with all those people who are called to translate creativity into built architectures, Casalgrande Padana has developed the Creative Centre, designed by Studio Cerri Associati Engineering. A sustainable place for industry professionals, for design and training, a place that is in close contact with the factory, where innovation meets creativity, a combination of different dimensions, a sort of exhibition, communication, technical knowledge and workshop for the world of architecture, design and manufacturing.

Casalgrande Padana is a dominant force on the European market, holding a high share of the production and sales markets. It is particularly proud of bringing its production and design approach to the entire world as its distinctive concept conveys reliability, flexibility, creativity and functionality everywhere.

The Casalgrande Padana name has travelled over the five continents and through 70 countries using a dense network of agents, importers and distributors.

Casalgrande Padana ever expanding international presence bespeaks its international leadership in porcelain stoneware.