| Miami, Fla.—Tile of Spain, the international brand representing 125 ceramic tile manufacturers belonging to the Spanish Ceramic Tile Manufacturers’ Association (ASCER), has won a 2013 KBCULTURE Award for Tile of Spain manufacturer Ceracasa’s stunning Absolute porcelain tile.
Simulating semiprecious stone, Ceracasa’s Absolute collection achieves a high gloss polished finish on porcelain tile with six high gloss floor and wall tile colors that bring luminosity to any space. KBCULTURE is a highly regarded and selective online review of international products, places and perspectives central to kitchen and bath design, produced by Leslie Clagett, a well-known industry editor and author. This is Tile of Spain’s third KBCULTURE win. To create the high gloss of the Ceracasa Absolute collection, porcelain is fired at temperatures over 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit. A special glaze is applied which, after firing, creates a top layer on the tile that is thicker than a normal tile glaze. This thick glaze is extremely hard and allows tiles to be polished to a brilliant high gloss by gradually removing very fine layers of material. “The near mirror-like finish of these tiles is remarkable, unlike any porcelain product I’ve seen,” states Clagett. “It gives them the appearance of polished gemstones.” The Absolute collection also has the ability to fuse precious metals to the surface. The process is similar to the way tiles are glazed for the space shuttle. Ionized metallic oxides are used in a vacuum with an oppositely charged adhesive on the surface of the tile. The pressure and attraction of negative ions fuses the metals onto the surface. The tile is then fired at low temperatures in an oxygen-starved kiln, which leaves the pure metal behind and burns off impurities and adhesives. The result is a shimmering precious metal tile finish. To download images of Ceracasa Absolute collection and view a wide selection of Spanish ceramic tile, visit www.tileofspainusa.com. |