With an eye toward grabbing a piece of the ever-growing U.S. tile market, Italian tile manufacturer Graniti Fiandre is using the Coverings Expo in May to launch a new American porcelain ceramic tile company. The company, StonePeak Ceramics, will be independently-operated in the U.S., focusing on bringing porcelain ceramic tile solutions to both high-end residential and commercial users. The company is nearing completion of a $50 million, high-tech production and distribution facility in Crossville, Tenn. Its administration offices/showroom will be in Chicago. The company said it will employ about 150 people.

By manufacturing in the U.S., company president Cristina Minozzi said, StonePeak Ceramics can stay on top of the latest American design trends and can better ensure orders are shipped as quickly and cost-effectively as possible. Day-to-day sales and operations of the company will be managed by tile industry veterans Barrie Dekker and Roberto Franceschin. Dekker will serve as vice-president of strategic sales with Franceschin responsible for developing and overseeing all programs designed for the company's independent distribution network as vice-president of sales - distribution.

"We are looking forward to building cooperative, mutually beneficial relationships with distributors," Franceschin explained. "StonePeak Ceramics branded products will be sold exclusively through an independent distribution channel."

StonePeak describes its tile lines as incorporating Italian style with a design geared toward American tastes. Initially, the company plans to produce eight series of glazed and unglazed porcelain tile, four of which will be unveiled at Coverings. They include the Limestone series, available in four sizes and six colors, meant to evoke the look of natural limestone; and the Marble series, available in two sizes and two finishes, meant to emulate the look of marble.

Other introductions include the Terrazzo series and the New Basics line. The Terrazzo series of through-bodied porcelain tile is available in both polished and matte finishes, incorporating color balance between the shade of the grains. It is designed for residential and high-traffic commercial use, and features perfectly rectified edges to allow modulation between even the tightest joints, according to the company. As with the Terrazzo series, the New Basics line also comes in polished and matte finishes. The line is designed primarily for use in industrial settings such as automotive showrooms, commercial kitchens and locker rooms.

Said Dekker, "We're very excited to debut the Limestone, Marble, New Basics and Terrazzo lines at Coverings. We expect to bring four additional series of glazed porcelain tile to the market this summer."

Production at the company's manufacturing facility in Tennessee began in March. All StonePeak Ceramics branded products will be designed in the United States.