From a technical point of view, compared with glazed tiles and antique tiles, it is not much of an innovation;
From the perspective of use, it not only has the potential to replace porcelain tiles, but also has an impact on glazed tiles.
Medium plate, a product that had no concept before 2017, has swept through major production areas such as Jiangxi, Fujian, Guangdong, Henan, and Sichuan in just a few years, and has become one of the mainstream products for interior walls. The porcelain tiles are "defeating steadily". Since its development, it has not been satisfied with the mid-board hanging of ceramic tiles, and there has been a trend to seize the market for floor tiles such as glazed tiles and antique tiles.
01
Over 150 medium plate lines nationwide
Ranked among the 5th largest ceramic tile category
Around 2017, a group of exterior wall tile companies in Jiangxi and Fujian, limited by the shrinking exterior wall tile market, tried to produce a thin new product similar to glazed tiles that could be used for interior and exterior wall paving. , this type of product will sweep the country in just 3 to 4 years and become one of the mainstream ceramic tile products.
Unlike the current hot debate over the definition of rock slabs, the concept of mid-slab slabs has gradually been clarified during the development process. It is generally believed that the thickness is generally between 7 and 8.5mm between conventional porcelain tiles (10~13mm) and thin plates (under 6mm), and the water absorption rate is between 0.5 and 3%.
According to the 2020 China Ceramic Tile Production Capacity Survey data jointly conducted by the China Building and Sanitary Ceramics Association, the China Ceramics Industry Development Foundation, and the "Ceramic Information" newspaper, as of December 2020, there were 131 medium plate production lines in the country. The production capacity is as high as 2.72 million square meters.
At the end of last year and at the beginning of this year, a large number of ceramic companies made technical reforms and built new medium-plate production lines. Conservative statistics show that there are now more than 150 domestic medium-plate production lines, with a daily production capacity of more than 3.1 million square meters. They have surpassed polished tiles and become glazed tiles and porcelain tiles. The fifth largest ceramic tile category after tiles, antique bricks and exterior wall tiles.
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High-end version of “porcelain tiles”
The new interior wall upstart
Porcelain tiles were once the absolute protagonist of interior wall paving. However, due to its low strength and easy glaze cracking, it has become increasingly unpopular in interior wall decoration. The gradual rise of floor tiles on walls and other wall decoration materials has replaced a considerable part of the share of porcelain tiles, so that the hot discussion on the demise of porcelain tiles has never ceased in the industry.
The emergence of mid-board, mainly for interior walls, has accelerated the decline of porcelain tiles to a great extent. Porcelain tiles, which once had the largest production capacity among China's ceramic tile products, have reduced their production lines from 786 in the past six years.to 385, directly cut in half; the daily production capacity dropped from 13.4096 million square meters to 9.6681 million square meters. Both production lines and production capacity have been far surpassed by glazed tiles.
Before the mid-board, 800×800mm marble tiles were divided into two and placed on the wall. It was one of the mainstream methods of interior wall decoration. The texture, high hardness, anti-fouling and other properties of marble tiles were superior to those of porcelain tiles. In addition, the paving technology and Advances in materials have eliminated technical barriers to installing floor tiles on walls.
However, this method also has shortcomings. Since it requires cutting and processing, and the construction is difficult due to water absorption, thickness, weight and other reasons of marble tiles, the cost is high and it can only be applied to high-end decoration.
As for the medium plate, when it first appeared, it not only had the advantages of marble tiles, but also focused on the 400×800mm specification, which not only saved processing costs, but also made the paving more convenient and safer due to its thinner thickness. Not only that, compared with glazed tiles of the same specifications, the price of mid-board is generally nearly half cheaper, so it is quickly accepted by the market.
“2020 is the year with the most new and renovated medium plate lines. After a year of promotion, merchants and consumers have accepted it. After the beginning of this year, there will not be enough medium plate lines to sell.”
Recently, "Ceramic Information" learned during an on-site visit to Jiajiang, Sichuan that after the beginning of this year, the sales situation of ceramic tiles in Sichuan was more popular than in previous years, and large trucks carrying goods were constantly flowing in various ceramic parks. According to local ceramic companies, new products such as medium plates and large plates that were launched in large numbers last year have played a greater driving role.
Liu Dajun, general manager of Jiajiang Company of Milano Group in Sichuan, told "Ceramic Information" that in 2020, the profits and sales of porcelain tiles in the Jiajiang production area of Sichuan fell to the bottom. Therefore, manufacturers have switched to producing medium plates to gain profit margins. There are very few film production lines left. After a year of development, merchants and consumers in the western market have a clear understanding of the advantages and paving methods of mid-board. Compared with porcelain tiles, the price is not very different, so it has been widely accepted by the market.
Before the launch of the western market, medium-sized plates have already performed strongly in production areas such as Fujian, Jiangxi, Guangdong, Hebei, and Shandong, and the central and eastern markets are more receptive to medium-sized plates. "Every production area is now doing it, both big brands and small businesses are doing it. In the future, mid-board may replace all porcelain tiles except low-end and finely decorated houses." Some insiders predict the trend of the mid-board market. .
The physical properties are more advantageous than those of ceramic tiles, and the price and laying cost are more advantageous than those of floor tiles on walls. Because they are mainly in the specifications of 400×800mm, 300×800mm, and 300×600mm, which are similar to those of ceramic tiles, Some insiders also call it a high-end version of "porcelain tiles."
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Low-end version of "glaze throwing"
Medium board to floor tiles
"Now there are five or six companies in Guangdong, even the leading companies, with mid-board specifications of 600×1200mm and the thickness increased to 9mm." Shi Rongbo, design director and marketing director of Xiejin Enterprises, said that currently, mid-boards have appeared The new trend of approaching conventional floor tile specifications and thicknesses is no longer limited to interior walls in application, but can also be used for floor tile paving.
“The medium board itself is produced using the techniques of glazed tiles and antique tiles, and the current products themselves have a problem of excess quality. There is no need to make double-zero low-absorption bricks to be called floor tiles. Floor tiles already have Highly absorbent. Now we can make high-absorbent and thin mid-boards, and the physical properties can still meet the requirements of floor tiles.”
Not only Guangdong, "Ceramic Information" learned that there are also companies in Sichuan, Jiangxi and other production areas that produce 600×1200mm, 9mm thick medium plates, which can be used for floor tile paving.
It is reported that many mid-board manufacturers currently do not renovate or build new mid-board production lines for ceramic tiles, but also produce mid-boards on glazed tile and antique tile production lines. They only need to adjust the body thickness and firing during production. The production time is unchanged and the specifications remain unchanged, which not only saves costs, but also helps occupy the low-end floor tile market. Its essence is equivalent to the "low-end version" of glazed tiles and antique tiles.
"600×1200mm glazed tiles have become popular. Now the medium plate can be 600×1200mm, and the price is about 1/3 cheaper than glazed tiles. Consumers are definitely more willing to accept it." Shi Rongbo believes that from the price On the market, medium boards have more advantages than glazed tiles as floor tiles in the mid-to-low-end market.
Although medium-sized slabs do not receive much attention compared to the popular large slabs/rock slabs/thin slabs. At major exhibitions, they are not even as frequent as special products such as floor paving stones/thick bricks, but they are starting to set fire to a prairie fire. The trend is quietly rising rapidly. It can replace porcelain tiles at the top and integrate with floor tiles at the bottom, becoming an all-round category.
(This article is reproduced from Ceramic Information)
