Craftmanship
The grandeur of ceramics manufacturing
In Gaeta (IT), the team manufactures ceramic sanitary appliances for the various Geberit brands. The some 300 employees specialise in manufacturing sophisticated ceramic sanitary appliances that require a large amount of work by hand. Examples include Rimfree toilets – where the so-called flush guides have to be manually attached – and the new Geberit ONE washbasin.
What’s more, the Geberit plant in Gaeta is one of the few facilities within the Geberit Group that are not just able to process the most commonly used ceramic material – namely vitreous china – but also the material fine fire clay, which is needed for the Geberit ONE washbasin. A lot of experience is needed in order to deal with this. And with an average of 20 years, the employees in Gaeta have this in spades.
One of the key challenges with the new ONE washbasin is the large washbasin surface of up to 120 cm in width. The ceramic sanitary appliance does not require any stabilising “ribs” or braces and still has a very thin design. The unfired ceramic sanitary appliance is therefore highly susceptible to deformations.
Balancing act successfully managed
The experience pays off. The entire manufacturing process was redeveloped for the ONE washbasin. “Some areas require a great deal of finesse, and others even require work with a paintbrush. We spent a long time considering the best approach to adopt in order to manage the balancing act between cost-effectiveness and the required design,” explains Marco Armenio. “Because even small glaze bubbles on the drain impair the appearance, we have to deploy our entire expertise to achieve the perfect result. And if we make a perfect washbasin, then properly – and with all our heart and soul.”
Design Meets Function
The toilet, shower and washbasin area – the main areas in the bathroom – have a new common denominator: Geberit ONE. The 2019 innovation is a comprehensive solution that combines know-how in sanitary technology behind the wall with design expertise in front of the wall.
