With sustainability at the core of its corporate strategy, Italian tile manufacturer Coem combines its inspiration from nature with its innovative Matter on Top technology to create surfaces that reflect the variability and beauty of natural stone.
Michael Del Rossi, Export Area Manager of COEM S.p.A, reveals his insights into the brand.
Can you tell us a brief history of Coem?
Coem has been a family-run enterprise since the early 1970s. We marked a significant milestone last year by celebrating our 50th anniversary.
Our CEO, Daniela Selmi, is the second generation of the Selmi family into the business, preserving the family traits and values that have transcended two generations. These values have played a pivotal role in shaping the company’s core principles and guiding the small family enterprise into a global corporation with over 300 employees, operating across more than 80 countries worldwide.
In these 50 years, we have been pioneers in the sector for various technological processes and product innovations. In addition to this, our dedication to design research has always characterised our surfaces.
What are the company’s main inspirations when designing a product?
Our main design inspirations come from nature, with the focus of our products in the Coem catalogue being natural stone inspired. Each design is directly captured from the natural slabs and quarries found worldwide. Whether it be a travertine from Italy, a quartzite from Brazil, a limestone from England, or a sandstone from India, the natural essence of the textures and patterning is the inspiration for our Product Managers to develop the range.
The details make the difference. A careful study of the shades, say, the veins of the natural stone or the density of the speckles, helps build the product’s character before it’s ready to be launched on the market.
Our expertise and rich product offering – especially in stone-effect porcelain – have positioned Coem as a market leader in the industry, among Italian and international manufacturers alike.
Can you describe your partnership with SANIPEX GROUP?
The partnership between Coem and SANIPEX GROUP is a full 360 degrees, from sharing sustainable business practices to bridging connections among people and sharing similar company values.
From a business perspective, this partnership operates across retail, projects, and events. It’s a two-way street that allows Coem to be present in the market, and to help SANIPEX GROUP service its clientele with quality products and trendsetting designs.
We partner in factory visits, where we love to include key accounts and professionals in these visits, sharing knowledge and know-how directly from the source.
Please describe the innovative technologies you use in your products.
Continuous investments in technologies are a primary focus at Coem. Its Research & Development department constitutes a well-trained environment, representing a path of continuous evolution guided by research and Made in Italy technological innovation.
Recently, Coem launched a two-year in the making new technology called Matter on Top, which allows its products to closely resemble natural materials than previously. This technology involves the surface application of glazes and raw materials pre-kiln, allowing the finished products to seamlessly enhance their physical characteristics. Intricate design, a smooth silky finish, and graphics with depth can be easily perceived.
We believe this technology will continue to improve and pave the way for both retail and project supplies. The initial market response has been extremely positive.
Could you explain the variety of Coem products available through SANIPEX GROUP’s distribution?
Coem‘s product offering across all SANIPEX GALLERY showrooms is very well assorted. With a comprehensive selection of products varying in designs, sizes, and finishes, one can find small decorative 20×20 tiles, or 7,3×30 rectangular brick tiles, to a large slab in 1.2×2.8 m in 6 mm thickness.
Thickness sizes range from 6 mm slabs, traditional 9 or 10 mm tiles, and 20 mm pavers designed for outdoors, landscaping, or raised flooring systems.
This variety allows SANIPEX GROUP to provide a complete package of products for its clientele. It caters to all possible applications, from heavy passage commercial environments and hotel projects to outdoor pool and spa destinations, and even residential homes.
Coem‘s collections boast a rich diversity of sizes, finishes, and colours. This characteristic is a hallmark of the company, and SANIPEX GALLERY showrooms are the best environment to appreciate the multiple displays that beautifully showcase this variety.
What steps does Coem take to make sustainability a priority?
Sustainability is a very important subject in tile production. This will increasingly become a prominent topic in the coming years, as the European Union has implemented guidelines and parameters for companies to follow.
While producing beautiful, on-trend tiles, Coem fully recognises the importance of doing so in an environmentally friendly way. The actions we take include greater use of recycled materials, reduced scraps, waste and water discharge management, energy and emissions oversight, responsible water resource use, and sustainable investments in the production cycle.
To learn more about our extensive sustainability practices, we have an in-depth sustainability report on our website.