At Birmingham-based Solus Ceramics ‘nature meets fashion’, resulting in a broad portfolio of porcelain, ceramic, glass, metal and natural stone wall and floor tiles, bringing style, sophistication and functionality to projects throughout the world.
First opening its doors for business in 1997, Solus Ceramics was created to meet the growing demand for a material supplier that truly understood the needs of architects, interior designers and other professional specifiers. Working in partnership is the key to its approach and ensures a problem free specification process, from initial requirements through to the final installation. This enlightened business philosophy has allowed Solus Ceramics to win contracts with everyone from Holiday Inn and Hilton International through to leading automotive companies such as Audi, Jaguar and McLaren, as well as to markets as diverse as Russia, Ukraine, Turkey, Iraq, Azerbaijan and, of course, the UK.
Indeed, with ongoing success in its home market and a mushrooming export business, Solus Ceramics has experienced dramatic growth over the last 10 years, despite the infamous ‘global economic crash’. The last few years in particular have seen the company grow exponentially, with a turnover of £8.4million in 2010-2011 and a forecasted turnover of £11million in 2011-2012. This has been fuelled by a move into new premises three years ago, when the company expanded its capacity by almost 400% (from 11,000sq2 to 40,000sq2).
A number of other factors have helped achieve this impressive growth too, not least the company’s ongoing commitment to strong and lasting relationships with suppliers and customers. Diversification has also played an invaluable role in the business’s success, with Solus Ceramics supplying to a range of corporate blue-chip companies, in addition to SMEs, public sector bodies and charities. Moreover, it’s a customer base that is constantly expanding.
Solus Ceramics continues to respond to customers’ needs, closely monitoring and adapting to market trends and strengthening its brand image through a strong marketing strategy, as well regular nationwide CPD events and seminars.
Award-Winning Performance
The refurbishment of Devonshire House in Birmingham, which was finished with tiles supplied by Solus Ceramics, has won a regional British Council for Offices (BCO) award for innovation, and has been announced as a nominee in the scheme’s national awards.
The project, which has already won a Civic Trust Commendation award, was designed by Owen Doherty of Birmingham-based Weedon Partnership Architects. The grade II listed building is part of the original Bird’s Custard Factory and has undergone refurbishment in order to provide a unique minimalist studio space for artists, musicians, dancers and media professionals.
Two types of tiles from Solus Ceramics’ Bretona range were used for the building’s floors. The soft ivory-cream shades and natural finish of the Metis tiles provided an uplifting sense of space and light. These tiles measured 600x600mm and covered an area of 725m2 in total. In addition, part of the building’s floor was laid with Ananke tiles from the Bretona range. These deep charcoal tones provided a striking contrast to the paler Metis tiles. Also in a natural finish, the Ananke tiles measured 600x600mm and covered an area of 116m2.
A Second City First
Committed to staying at the forefront of a fiercely competitive industry, Solus Ceramics also invests regularly in the latest plant and machinery, most recently in the acquisition of a new tile cutting machine for the company’s warehouse. The pioneering Pragma SECO 701 machine, which is designed to cut tiles into a range of bespoke sizes, has revolutionised the tile cutting process. It dramatically increases accuracy and precision whilst offering architects, designers and contractors uniquely cut tiles at a cost-effective price.
The multi-blade machine can cut tiles of up to 700mm in width and 1200mm in length. By contrast, the previous tile cutting machine, which was more than 15 years old, could only cut tiles measuring 30x30mm. The machine can hold up to 25 blades at any one time and pumps cooling water onto the blades as they cut; ensuring breakages and chipping are prevented. All types of tiles can be cut, including porcelain, ceramic and composite stone, although the best results will be produced when cutting unglazed tiles. The machine is also ideal for the cutting of mosaic tiles. Glass can be cut, although requires post-cutting re-firing to remove damage caused by chipping.
The machine’s blades are changed according to tile type, whilst the speed at which the machine operates is also dictated by the tile’s material. For example, the machine is significantly slowed down for the cutting of glazed porcelain. In general, the slower the machine runs, the higher the quality of cutting. Despite this, however, it can produce approximately 18,000 50x50mm and 40,000 35x35mm chips of porcelain per day without compromising on quality or accuracy. Furthermore, it is capable of cutting tiles with a depth of up to 45mm.
The Italian-manufactured Pragma SECO 701 was purchased in 2011 and is used for both sample wallets and large orders. Solus Ceramics was the first UK tile company to procure a Pragma SECO 701, and its ability to accurately cut an extensive range of sizes means that architects and designers can be provided with a greater range of tile choices. It also makes it far more commercially viable to use non-standard sizes or sizes that may have previously been expensive to cut.
Uncompromising Quality
Offering professional service with a personalised touch, Solus Ceramics can assist you with a wide range of materials and designs – helping you to create the spaces you need at a cost you can afford.
That’s why Solus Ceramics is set to go from strength to strength, whilst continuing to defy the economic downturn without compromising on products, services and prices. To find out more, telephone 0121 753 0777 or visit www.solusceramics.com.
