Supplier Spotlight - Catalano.
At Vision we are proud to work with a collection of the very best manufacturers in the world. We take great care in selecting premium products to offer our customers and have built strong, lasting relationships with our suppliers over the years. These companies are on a journey, striving to develop products that are at the forefront of design. Elegant, beautiful forms that enrich and improve our everyday lives.
Like us, they take their responsibility to the environment and future generations seriously. With careful resource management, technological innovations, and improved techniques we can drastically improve the impact that manufacturing and construction has on our planet.
History.
Catalano, based in Fabrica di Roma was founded in 1967 and has become a respected leader in the sanitary-ware industry. Catalano is proud of its “Made in Italy” philosophy which allows them to maintain their high standards and reliability. They have been awarded over 57 international design awards due to their commitment to excellence. A name that is synonymous with quality and innovation, the company balances the heritage of its specialist knowledge with modern manufacturing techniques.
Product Range.
Catalano’s catalogue is capable of working seamlessly with a wide variety of themes on account of its generous offering. The designers here at Vision are always happy to offer Catalano products to our customers. No matter what their tastes, understated and minimalist through to bold and opulent, there are a number of eye-catching designs.
Did you know that Catalano also offers furniture ranges? They include cabinets, countertops, and vanity units. The Horizon range has countertop options with the basin formed in a one-piece seamless design, a particularly pleasing effect.
Also worth noting is that Catalano have developed a scratch resistant skin of precious metal of 18K gold or pure silver. These precious finishes are the result of a special vitrification process which allows a much higher resistance to abrasions, detergents and to thermal shock than standard glazes.
Working with both ceramics and glass they offer a number of colour options. As a matter of fact, if you have a particular colour in mind then they will specially manufacture using any RAL code with some ranges. Inspired by nature, previous decades of design, minimalism, and more there is sure to be something that piques your interest.
Technology.
The beauty of their products lies not just in the aesthetics though. Catalano has constantly sought to improve its products through technological developments. Improvements in hygiene have been achieved through the development of superior glazes, of which Cataglaze+® is the latest. It is more resistant to limescale and therefore easier to clean, it also has a powerful antimicrobial action able to kill bacteria. The effectiveness of the new formula is guaranteed by the presence in the mix of silver and titanium ions. Cataglaze+® Silver Titanium glazing has been tested for resistance to the most common chemical agents and in addition, the antibacterial action is ISO 22196 certified.
Catalano have also developed a superior flush that optimises the performance of the system. Newflush® uses a combination of advanced glazing, a new shape to the inner bowl and a vortex action. These features combine especially effectively to achieve a flush that is quieter and uses fewer resources. Catalano have always invested in technological innovation as well as experimenting in materials science, aiming to obtain products which guarantee the highest levels of hygiene.
Environmental, social, and corporate governance
Catalano has the accolade of being the first company in the sanitary-ware sector to obtain the ESG (Environment, Social, Corporate Governance) certificate. Another example of their commitment to achieving a better standard of manufacturing, together with improving quality of life for all. Governance refers to a company’s internal affairs, how it chooses to conduct itself and the standards to which it holds itself accountable.
The environmental impact of their products has been assessed across their full lifecycle, considering many criteria. Highlights include effects on global warming, the amount of resources used and also the effects on the local region of manufacture.
Social governance covers all corporate decisions and initiatives that have a social impact. Criteria include (but aren’t limited to) respect for human rights, attention to work conditions, gender equality and additionally, rejection of all forms of discrimination.
Corporate governance covers a wide range of criteria but important issues to highlight are a commitment to combat all forms of corruption, and a continuous improvement philosophy that is guided by an ethical awareness.
Environmental Product Declaration
Catalano also achieved EPD certification in 2019, further recognition of the sincere aims of the company. This certification encompasses the full lifecycle of the manufacturing process and is neatly summed up in their mission statement:
“Achieving EPD certification is recognition of the company’s attentive and continuous commitment to research and verification of all the environmental aspects of its manufacturing process. The LCA analysis has shown how much the production impact is in terms of CO2 during all the production processes and phases. Each single step has been evaluated, from the extraction of raw materials to the production process, up to the sale of products, considering the means of transport, the chemical composition of the products, the packaging, the electric consumption, gas, water, atmospheric emissions, and the waste produced by the industrial process. Catalano does not import, nor market sanitary fittings made in countries with low labour costs, or which do not comply with sustainability standards or environmental regulations. Also in this regard, all Catalano products are permanently marked to guarantee their origin and authenticity.”
Sustainability Highlights
The efforts Catalano have gone to over the years are impressive, and therefore it is worth mentioning some of their achievements.
Exclusive heat recovery system
The company has set the goal of limiting gas consumption during firing and drying phases, with results that are impressive. This has led to an improvement in protecting the environment together with a considerable decrease in energy consumption of around 700,000 cubic meters of methane gas.
Water purification plant
Water treatment plants have been made more efficient through continuous research and process engineering, therefore achieving a significant reduction in the use of purification products.
Photovoltaic systems
Currently, Catalano produces 24% of the electricity their facility requires through the solar panels installed on in the production facility. Additionally, they are aiming for 50% in the near future.
Total recycling of ceramic waste
Catalano also has an innovative ceramic waste recycling plant, which represents a real revolution in the production industry. The plant, which is highly energy-efficient, is able to recycle 100% of the processing waste of industrial procedures derived from the processing of natural raw materials, while maintaining a sustainable impact on the environment.
Sole global production site
Having complete control of all processes in one facility is most important. Data is measured, verified and managed in an effort to continuously improve on eco-friendly production. As a result, they benefit from reduced costs of logistics, raw materials and finished products whilst significantly reducing their environmental impact.
Conclusion
If you’ve made it this far, well done! We certainly believe it’s worth the effort. Stylish and innovative world class products, manufactured by a company that simultaneously takes their responsibilities to their workforce and the planet seriously is something to be celebrated. Finally, if you would like to see examples of our work using Catalano products, then you will find them in our case studies. If you would like to contact us regarding a project you are undertaking then please use this link.
Images courtesy of Catalano
Sources:
Company (catalano.it)
The first company in the sanitary-ware sector to obtain the ESG (Environment, Social, Corporate Governance) certificate (catalano.it)