PAVING THE WAY FOR LARGE-FORMAT TILING
The first large-format tiling seminar on African soil was a resounding success with the organiser, Mapei, receiving positive recognition for its innovation from the country’s leading building and design professionals.
The popularity of large-format tiling has boomed in European and US markets in recent years and the local market has followed closely. However, until now, skills and training have not kept up and the seminar has given a timeous injection of knowhow to the industry.
The seminar, held at Mapei’s state-of-the-art training facility in Germiston, was aimed at professionals, including architects, designers, quantity surveyors, as well as flooring experts, to shed light on the materials, tools and techniques required to manage successful large-format tiling projects.
Industry first
Mapei South Africa product manager for ceramic line, Zamaswazi Ntobela, says that as a leading supplier of adhesives and grouts for large format tiling, the company sees upskilling and promotion of best practices as essential to moving the industry forward.
“The seminar and workshops were open to everyone in the industry and provided an opportunity for delegates to interact with Mapei as well as with other suppliers of tiles, tools and other components and find out more about this specialised type of tiling.
CPD-accredited workshops were also held over the two days in parallel with the event and were specifically aimed at training installers and applicators,” Zamaswazi said.
Derk Borneman, Corporate Area Manager for Mapei from Italy, felt the seminar was of utmost importance to architects, quantity surveyors and the specifying community at large. “If the application is done the right way it will last for up to 20 or 30 years. We are showing them how to avoid failures on-site,” he asserted.
Feedback from exhibitors
He was also impressed by the feedback as the Mapei team has been approached to do one-on-one training and technical training as a result. “Mapei technical support will be available to assist in specifying the right product for the right job. Not only that, but we have the online tools and systems to ensure specifiers and installers make the right choice,” said Borneman.
Feedback from all involved in the event was positive. Exhibitors too were excited about the opportunity afforded to demonstrate their products and technologies that could assist large-format tile installers.
Masimo Vassaroti, director of Avanga, said the seminar was timeous for professionals to understand the many applications – from flooring and cladding to furniture design and more. Large-format tiles are an attractive choice for all manner of applications and they are hard-wearing and durable enough to last for decades – even in tough applications.
“Large-format tiles are greener than natural stone with thinner profiles and lighter weight that makes them easier to work with,” he said. “And with the right adhesives and techniques the finishes are long-lasting and well worth the investment.”
Role players
Participants were pleased with the focus on large-format tiling and agreed that the emphasis on correct usage of tools, adhesives and techniques that were discussed at the seminar was invaluable.
Networking opportunities during the seminar were well received and gave companies the chance to share ideas and strike-up new agreements with suppliers and service providers.
Exhibitors with tools specially developed for large-format tiling, drew an enthusiastic audience who were exposed to lifting, transporting, cutting, shaping and drilling tools and were given advice on how to use them.
Getting it right
“Tiling starts from the transport stages to unpacking on site, to placement and installation. It’s really about the whole process and having the right tools to do the job more quickly and efficiently while minimising the risk of breaking tiles that can cost tens-of-thousands of Rands each,” said McTool MD Anthony Mc Lea. “Seminars like these are invaluable as the cost of the tools are insignificant compared to the risk of breaking tiles or redoing tiling.”
Mapei’s modern range of ceramic and porcelain adhesives and grouts as well as waterproofing products were also on display. “It was an interactive, informal environment where delegates networked and communicated for the betterment of the industry,” Zamaswazi Ntobela concluded.
More information on MAPEI South Africa’s Solutions and Innovative products, please contact Mapei South Africa at 011 552 8476 / www.mapei.co.za
