Ceramic body tiles are not as strong as vitrified body tiles. So, it is prone to quality issues. The most common issues are as under:
Bending issue

After production, the ceramic body tends to absorb moisture and bend. It is difficult to fix a bent tile.
Reasons:
i) Due to improper temperature, a tile during the firing process.
ii) Due to improper pressure is given to raw biscuits (body).
Solutions:
i) Most wall factories keep little plus bend. Which settles to be flat in a few days after cooling down.
ii) Some European equipment companies make DICO Planar. This helps to check flatness (bending). The factory just needs to enter the range of parameters. The planar machine will mark every single tile which goes beyond that limit.
Watermark issue

Reason:
Glaze surface is waterproof but what about the body? The ceramic body is more porous. Once you fix a tile, water can accumulate beneath the glaze layer. It gets locked-in. This leaves random watermarks on the surface & gives an ugly look to your walls.
Solution:
Most quality tiles factories, these days, use waterproof engobe beneath the glaze layer. So the tile body will absorb the water but the watermark will NOT visible. Remember you need to ask for a waterproof tile to get one!
Scratch issue

Scratches are more common on a glossy surface.
Reasons:
i) At the end of the kiln (out-table) tiles are sliding onto each other. Tiles are hot at this stage and prone to get deep scratches.
ii) During packing inside the boxes tiles can get scratches.
Solutions:
i) Apply backwash (a solution of calcium carbonate) during production on the backside of the tile. Small partials of this white powder give a smooth interface to avoid scratches.
ii) Connect the kiln out-table to the sizing area. This way tiles will not get deep scratches. Some factories like Coreal, Lavish, Colortile follow this practice to make good quality tiles.
Above quality issues, we can avoid in vitrified body tiles. But in the case of the vitrified body, we have seen dull edge polishing issue if a factory is not watchful to the polishing area.
Dull edge polishing

Reason: Polished vitrified tiles pass through the polishing area. During this abrasive head moves on a tile surface from end-to-end. Some factories used to do sizing (rectification) BEFORE polishing. This caused some part of the edge left unpolished.
Solutions: i) If they do sizing AFTER polishing this problem can be avoided to some extend. ii) the polishing head movement area should be little more than then tile’s surface. This makes sure polishing heads give equal pressure at the edges. This minimizes the issue.
pooja says
Kindly contact via mail for business opportunity.
Bonnita says
HI Pooja,
We are looking at importing Porclean, Porcelain and Ceramic Vitrified,3d Digital Porcelain and Ceramic Tiles and Ceramic Parking/Outdoor Tiles.
We request you to kindly provide us with the Contact details of QUALITY MANUFACTURERS OF THESE TILES by return email, details below.
PORCELAIN: (What is the Thickness?)
600mm x 600mm
800mm x 800mm
200mm x 1200mm for Timber Look Tiles
600mm x 1200mm
3D PORCELAIN & CERAMIC: (8 mm thick):
400 X 400mm
CERAMIC: (What is the Thickness?)
300mm x 600mm
400mm x 400mm
PARKING/OUTDOOR TILES – CERAMIC (12mm thick)
400 X 400mm
Thank you and look forward to your response in a day or two.
Best regards
Bonnita
COASTAL CONNEXIONS AUSTRALIA
+61-425-739-779
Banti Patel says
HELLO, BONNITA91HAVE A NICE DAY.
I AM BANTI PATEL FROM MORBI INDIA. I CAN SUPPLIER YOU DIRECT FROM THE FACTORY.IF YOU STILL REQUIRE..
I FEEL LUCK TO DO WORK FOR YOU..
HOPPING YOU POSITIVE REPLY AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
BEST REGARDS,
BANTI PATEL
+91-9173-83-9967.
Banti Patel says
i am banti patel . I want to start export of tiles so which information is must to know about tiles?
what question is being from the buyer at the time of import from me?
almost all factory doing there own export so for exporter they give a high rate, what is a solution of it?
Morbi says
Dear Mr Banti,
Thanks for stoping by. This is interesting point. I think my below input may answer your each questions.
Q: I want to start export of tiles so which information is must to know about tiles?
A: I really suggest you spend some days in any tile factory there in Morbi. Get to understand the process and ask questions. This will be useful forever.
Q: what question is being from the buyer at the time of import from me?
A: TRUST! It is most difficult to gain trust of the international buyer. The importer is not in India (i.e. outside Indian jurisdiction) and to make him convinced to send payment is most difficult for any independent exporter. There are several ways to gain trust and you will learn it from time to time. Don’t worry about other questions from buyer, as if you will earn their trust they will teach you exactly what they need etc.
Q: almost all factory doing there own export so for exporter they give a high rate, what is a solution of it?
A: Certainly YES. You have many advantages over a factory who do direct export. E.g. you can consolidate ceramic wall tiles + PGVT tiles in a single container (at only extra transport cost of ~ Rs 1500 for 2nd place loading). This service is not provided by factories. Buyers don’t mind to pay little extra for your tiles, if you provide the small quantity shipments to begin with. They will surely grow over time and you will benefit from their future orders.
Hope this helps. If so please share this website in your networks.
Regards