Cersaie 2024: Key themes and product standouts emerge at the world’s largest ceramic tile show – November 2024

By Irene Williams

In late September, the global tile industry converged in Bologna, Italy for the 41st annual Cersaie exhibition. The event brought together 95,321 visitors, including over 47,000 international attendees. The professional audience of distributors, architects, designers and developers experienced the latest innovations in ceramic tile, installation, raw materials and related services, as well as bathroom furnishings, displayed by 606 companies across 15 exhibition halls. Attendee and exhibitor numbers were down from last year’s event, but those differences were imperceptible amidst the nonstop activity of the five-day trade fair.

Overall, the energy and sentiment of Cersaie exhibitors and attendees were positive, despite what Augusto Ciarrocchi, chairman of the trade show’s organizer, Confindustria Ceramica, described as the current “challenging international context,” referring to ongoing crises and economic conditions around the globe. He and other industry leaders utilized the trade fair to directly address key industry issues with representatives of European, national and regional institutions in attendance. The main concerns raised were the aggressive dumping practices of many countries, namely India, and a loss of competitiveness resulting from the allegedly ideologically driven application of industry regulations that place heavy burdens on companies.

The show’s programming offered many chances to learn and be inspired-Pritzker Prize laureate Riken Yamamoto’s keynote lecture drew 1,200 guests. And beyond the stats, industrywide discussions and programming, exhibitors seized the opportunity to introduce their latest and greatest ceramic tile collections, showcased in booths thoughtfully designed for experiential immersion.

TRENDS
A few key themes and trends emerged from the hundreds of vendors, whose offerings covered more than 1.5 million square feet of floor space.

3D Dials Up
It’s clear that 3D technology has shifted from anomalous to ubiquitous in tile design, considering the numerous products featuring dimensional veining, raised design elements and nuanced textures. Many manufacturers turned the spotlight on new collections crafted with this advanced tech, touting enhanced visual and tactile characteristics. When applied to digitally printed tiles of various technical finishes, 3D effects heighten the realistic replication of natural materials as well as engineered surfaces, such as concrete and plaster. They can even mimic grout lines, transforming the appearance of a large-format tile into a convincing mosaic pattern.

Fresh Takes on Wood Looks
Wood-look tiles enjoyed a subtle comeback at this year’s show, and the examples revealed a new incarnation of this natural style. The industry seems to revisit wood looks cyclically, often in keeping with technological advances that allow for more compelling interpretations. This go-around includes lighter-toned planks inspired by a range of tree species such as ash, oak and beech. There were also inventive wood-and-stone-look combinations and 3D details to achieve authentic graining.

Pastoral and Pastel Palettes
Color trends were simple to spot throughout the show floor. Red terra cottas, corals, denim blues, soft sage greens and mink browns were prominent, evoking an earthen sensibility that harmonizes with the biophilia movement of recent years. Even booth decor and furnishings supported this grounded menagerie of subdued hues. Though some makers interpreted these tones with glossy vibrance, the broader collective featured down-to-earth pastel palettes that evoke a sense of classic calm.

STANDOUTS
Beyond these anchor trends, the show was punctuated with many standout products sure to forge new horizons for the industry.

Marca Corona’s Arialuce is a collection of ‘lattice block’ tiles for constructing geometric structures such as space dividers. Developed in partnership with S. Anselmo brickworks, these inventive blocks can be used for interior and exterior applications, bringing form and function to design.

Laminam presented its patent-pending 2mm-thick porcelain panels, billed as the “thinnest surface at Cersaie 2024.” The Slate series offers this 2mm option for vertical installation and a 5mm thickness in five colors that provide an elegantly minimal style.

Swing by Settecento is an example of the ever-evolving yet timeless appeal of brick formats in tile design. The versatility of tried-and-true shapes and sizes holds its cachet when coupled with rich colors and luxe textures.

Ceramiche Refin’s Upside is a reimagining of Massimiliano Adami’s original project for the brand, in which the back of tile’s surface inspired the raised grid decoration on the front. This result is a fun blend of geometry and fashion-forward colors.

Copyright 2024 Floor Focus 

Related Topics: CERAMICS OF ITALY, CERSAIE