Del Conca USA Doubles Capacity
In just two years since it opened its US production facilities, Del Conca USA, a subsidiary of Del Conca Group based in Italy, has put in motion plans to double its capacity of porcelain tile production from 32 to 65 million square feet per annum. Even with excellent early indicators, this increase is happening even faster than had been forecasted.
This important industry news was announced today by Mr. Enzo Donald Mularoni, CEO of the Del Conca Group, at Coverings, the most important trade show for the tile and stone industry in North America. According to Mularoni, âWe are proud to announce that our positive estimates when we opened our US facilities were not wrong. To the contrary, there has been enough demand to double our production lines in just two years. This will equate to an increase in our capacity from 32 to 65 million square feet per year and new jobs for the community.â Mularoni continues, âWe have already signed contracts with our suppliers and once again the technology will be entirely Italian â making it a perfect combination of Italian and American talent.â
The expansion, with work expected to begin during the second half of 2016, and production to start in early 2017, involves a further investment of 30 million USD both for construction and the purchase of new Italian technology.
To date, the US plant, located in Loudon County (Tennessee), covers 320’000 square feet, but during the course of 2016 it will be expanded to cover 430’000 square feet. This increase of production will also  involve the hiring of additional local personnel. About 40 new employees, all American nationals, will be hired for the new production lines, in addition to the 85 currently employed.
The installation of two new production lines will be advantageous to the market, not only by increasing production – with the expansion of the range of sizes and styles manufactured – but also in the improvement of services to the American clients, with faster deliveries, etc. The new facilities will be dedicated to the production of large formats and tiles of increased thickness, especially due2, the collection for outdoor installations which is produced in 20 mm thickness and has been very successful in the USA, where porcelain stoneware is being discovered as a superior alternative to concrete and natural stone.
In 2015, import of tiles from Italy to the United States increased by 9.3% in value and 12.8% in quantity with respect to the previous year. In monetary terms, tile imports from Italy are worth 572.8 million dollars. The American market is showing clear signs of recovery and is becoming increasingly sophisticated with a greater demand for products of Italian design.
 âThis additional investment in the United States, a truly strategic country for us, will allow us to increase our market share, making the entire group stronger,â concludes Mularoni.
With four production plants, located across Italy, the United States and the Republic of San Marino, the Del Conca Group produces about 160 million square feet of ceramic and porcelain stoneware floor and wall tiles. The international market absorbs 80% of this production, with the USA and Northern Europe at the top. A trading company, Produco, and the Cino Mularoni Foundation, which primarily focuses on social and cultural initiatives, complete the corporate makeup of the Del Conca Group, that has an annual turnover of more than 170 million USD. Thanks to continuous product research, the Del Conca Group has achieved constant growth over the years and the General Catalog has been consistently expanded with new sizes, styles and thicknesses. In 2012 Del Conca patented Del Conca Fast, a tile flooring system installed without adhesives or grout. Recent years have seen the addition of signature collections realized in collaboration with important artists such as Milo Manara, Monkey Punch and Giugiaro Architettura. The aesthetic and technological qualities of the Groupâs products have also been recognized by the F1 Teams McLaren and Toro Rosso, which chose Del Conca and Pastorelli ceramic tile collections for their headquarters. The Del Conca Group companies operate responsibly through the best environmental protection technologies available globally, recycling 100% of process waters and production waste.  Del Conca has always accompanied and supported young talent in the various sports disciplines. From motorcycle racing, accompanying rider Manuel Poggiali to the conquest of two World Championship titles, to soccer, becoming an Official Partner of the Italian National Football Team from 2007 to 2010. Del Conca is currently  the Main Sponsor of the Moto3 Gresini Racing Team whose rider is Enea Bastianini and is Official sponsor of the Federal Oil Gresini Racing Team, racing in Moto2 category with the British rider Sam Lowes.
