Marazzi celebrates 80th anniversary

Founded in the Italian ceramic cluster of Sassuolo in 1935, the renowned Marazzi celebrates  80 years of leadership in 2015.

History has it that the founder, Filippo Marazzi, built the company's first production plant using two parallel rows of poplar trees, thus establishing what became known as the "cardboard factory", because of the temporary nature of its structure. In reality, this marked the infancy of a company that has become one of the industry's most important players over the years, because of its long-standing commitment to using the best available technology. It was Filippo's son Pietro who really boosted the company's ongoing expansion, which got under way in the 1950s, when relations were first established with the world of architecture, particularly through architects such as Ponti and Rosselli.

The 1970s then marked a key phase in Marazzi's growth, as the company recognised the need to raise the status of ceramic tiles, by associating them with the big names of international fashion (Biki- Forquet- Paco Rabanne).

The biggest leap forward on the technological front came in 1974, when Marazzi patented the "rapid single-firing process", which revolutionised the ceramic industry and became the most widely used production method worldwide.

Under the leadership of Filippo Marazzi, the founder's grandson, the Group embarked on a process of internationalisation that gradually made it the world's most significant ceramic manufacturer.

The early 1980s saw the incorporation of two major foreign production centres: Marazzi Iberia in Spain's Castellón de la Plana ceramic cluster, and American Marazzi Tile in Dallas, Texas. This set the scene for a series of major acquisitions in Spain, France, the United States and Italy, starting with Ragno SpA and culminating in the acquisition of Welor Kerama Group in 2005. This long-sighted decision eventually made Marazzi the leading player on the Russian market.

In 2010, Marazzi patented SistemA crystallised porcelain tile, thus revolutionising the industry again and confirming the company's unceasing commitment to R&D. Following Filippo's premature death, Marazzi Group was taken over in April 2013 by Mohawk Industries Inc., a world leader in the flooring sector, headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia (USA) and listed on the New York stock exchange.