The eco-friendly trend continues to gain popularity. Most people in the society value nature, including house decoration or projects. There are methods that vary according to personal preferences, whether adding green space to the home such as planting trees or choosing natural colors in the desired area and choosing stone-like tiles is another popular decoration option.
Due to the popularity of natural stone-look tiles, several companies manufacture and import the tiles for sale, of which Kenzai Chiramics Industry Co., Ltd. is another leading company in the production of natural stone-look tiles with over 40 years of experience.
Background before becoming Kenzai
Figures that indicate Kenzai’s longstanding experience in the tile industry is a testament that Kenzai is a tile manufacturer that meets standards and gains trust from its customer base.
Khun Chanat Tantiwatpanich, one of the company’s executive directors recounts the story that, “the company is a manufacturer and distributor of exterior decorative ceramic tiles. Our customers define the tiles as having high quality, durable and a unique design. The company used to be called Piman Ceramics Co., Ltd. before, however, by importing and producing tiles with a Japanese look, the name was changed to Kenzai. In Japanese, the term means construction material. It is a name change to reflect the products.”
The trend of natural stone-look tiles
Trends change with time. The popularity of natural stone-look tiles changes with each year. Khun Chanat gave his perspective on the popularity of tiles in the future, that “during this period, including last year, the popular model is the style of terra cotta, panna cotta, red-toned terra cotta, which has grown by almost 50%. In the future, I see that the style will still be popular, but more functions may be added. In the future, not only the appearance will be taken into account but additional functions. For instance, hygiene-related tiles or self-insulating tiles. We also consider the ways in which our products could be equipped with more functions, aside from just beauty and durability.”
Target groups and growth trend based on sustainability
Even though Kenzai has secured its place in the tile industry years ago, in terms of product development and study of the tile market, as well as expanding the target group is another aspect that the company pays attention to and never cease to develop for business growth.
“Ideally, our customers are architects, which in the Architect Expo will be a gathering of our customer group. We mostly focus on projects. For next year, the company will develop more products about sustainability. We are now doing research with the National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA), which focuses on exterior decoration innovations, by trying to create more options for customer groups. We try to look at the bigger picture, down to the point of contractors, project owners and try to cover more customer groups.”
Competition and the idea of surpassing your opponent in the Kenzai style
Business and competition go hand in hand, but the mental perspective that will ensure the continuance of business is even more important. “If asked whether the current growth of tile companies, both in Thailand and abroad, has any effect on Kenzai, the answer is that there is. But if the perspective is reversed, it is also considered an advantage. Consumers will have a wide range of options. As for manufacturers, we must always be alert. Looking at it from this angle can motivate us as well, to see how other companies have progressed, how we can keep up, or how to move ahead of competitors. We must keep improving in this area.”
Connections and things to receive upon visiting Architect Expo
It is believed that several companies in the design-construction industry with years of business experience which have had the opportunity to participate in the Architect Expo often feel a connection and familiar with this annual event. Kenzai is another company that has revealed its connected feeling to architects.
“If you think about the amount of time that Kenzai has joined in the Architect Expo, Kenzai has participated for over 20 years now. We have been joining and receiving great feedback from customers every year. I think that by participating, we have seen trends in the architectural industry that are constantly evolving. With new products, we can directly ask for customers’ opinion through chatting. We can receive feedback to improve in areas that still do not meet the needs of customers. Therefore, I view the Architect Expo as an annual event for people in this industry and see it as another stage for manufacturers to present their products to become more well known.”
Be a part of Architect’24
Kenzai Ceramics Industry Co., Ltd. is ready to show off innovative tiles to meet every design need at booth No. S203/4 at Architect’24, the 36th ASEAN’s Largest Building Technology Exposition during 30 April – 5 May, 2024 from 10:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. at IMPACT Muang Thong Thani.
