Ceramic tiles are one of the oldest forms of tiles in the world. Yet their popularity remains unchanged. From the medieval era to the modern skyscrapers — ceramic tiles can be seen in almost every era of tile making. These long-lasting tiles are also versatile enough to take on any shape and print. As a result, we can see ceramic tiles in varied avatars — from the decorative work at historical monuments to printed designer tiles in exhibitions.
Even today ceramic tiles remain the preferred means of working with tiles. Along with porcelain, it is among the most available material in tiles today. So, buying ceramic tiles is quite easy. However, you must check for certain factors, including certifications like compliance with ISO standards. If you are looking for an industrial-scale supplier, make the selection carefully. There are a plethora of choices, but not everyone has the right QC in place or consider testing by ISO 10545 ceramic testing instruments important.
The requirements from an industrial supplier are different from individual private projects. The scale, requirements and budget means that the selection also has to be made accordingly. For instance, going for luxury tiles for a commissioned private home is not uncommon. But when a builder designs flats for an entire complex, the budget and sustainability will come into play. Hence, the factors of determination will also differ significantly.
Decide what you need
Tiles appear almost everywhere today — from decorative wall art to floor tiles at our home. Before we start the process, we have to decide why we need the tiles. Is it for decorative purpose or for functional? Are you looking for wall tiles, floor tiles or both? In wall tiles, is our intention to create an eye-catching display or create a nondescript interior? Are you designing luxury pads or a budget homes? Tiles can be used in millions of ways in a building and even in landscaping. So, we have to decide what we are looking for before picking a supplier.
You also need to decide the amount of tiles you will need and the type. One project may need many different kind of tiles — wall tiles, floor tiles, designer tiles, printed tiles, rectangular tiles, octagonal tiles and so on. A detailed list of the requirement is essential when deciding on a supplier and during negotiations.
Quality control
This is one of the most important criteria. Making ceramic tiles is quite easy and does not involve high costs or difficult sourcing. So, you can find thousands of manufacturers. The difference lies in their quality and mechanism for quality control. You need to ensure that they meet the established standards of the industry in the manufacturing process. Their products must comply with UNI ISO standards. Not just that, they must also have processes and equipment for quality check, such as ISO 10545 ceramic testing instruments.
Capacity
As in any industrial supplier, the capacity is quite important. If your requirement is quite large, you must check the overall scale of production and see if the supplier can sustain it over a long period of time. A small-scale manufacturer may not be able to do this, while a large scale supplier may not be willing to go with small orders. Either way, you have to ascertain the capacity of the supplier. You should also look at future sustainability if you are planning to expand. Can they keep up with higher orders and supply them with the same timeline?
Range
As mentioned before, ceramic tiles are used for many purposes and one project may require many different kind of tiles. From shapes to the type — luxury, wall, floor and designer — a single project will very often require every version. You can get specialist tile supplier for each part. But it requires less effort to go with a single manufacturer. You can also negotiate for a better price with a bulk order. It also gives you a wider range and choices to select from.
Ultimately, a supplier’s capacity, financial capability and commitment to quality is what you are looking for. Check for references, supply network and quality control mechanisms like ISO 10545 ceramic testing instruments. You need to be sure that your supplier can offer you quality material at a reasonable price in the given time frame.