An alternative to ceramic

Cast marble has become popular in the last few years as an alternative to ceramics or acrylics in the manufacture of sanitary ware. It consists of 70 per cent dolomite powder and 30 per cent polyester resin, a composition that makes the material resistant to wear and aging, and protects its gloss. Product advantages highlighted by the manufacturers are that it accumulates heat as well as being easy to clean and repair.
"The properties of cast marble offer unlimited possibilities in terms of design, allowing us to create any conceivable shape and structure," says Filip Jankowski enthusiastically. He is the global sales director for DIY at Marmite, which claims to be the leading manufacturer of cast marble products. "The exceptional aspect of cast marble is that it has the best characteristics of natural stone at a fraction of the weight. This makes it easier to work with, ship and install, all the while keeping the appearance of natural marble."
Marmite was established by Roger Johansson in Sweden in 1978. He subsequently relocated production to Zakrzewo in the north-­west of Poland in 1989. The plant in Sweden was closed in 2007, and the company now has a sales subsidiary there. Three years later, the investment company Innova Capital stepped in at Marmite, although Roger Johansson con­tinues to hold shares.
In Zakrzewo, the manufacturer has a 35 000 m² production plant with seven fully automated production lines. Its workforce of around 700 employees can produce 1.4 mio pieces of cast marble products per annum. Sales amounted to more than € 44 mio in 2013 and nearly reached the € 50 mio mark in 2014.
Marmite offers washbasins (toilet, furniture, countertop, under countertop), baths (free-standing and inbuilt), and shower trays (with non-slip surfaces and mat) in over 2 000 different designs. "More importantly," says Filip Jankowski, "the company's capabilities also allow it to introduce new individual designs created exclusively for a client."

Marmite has its own design team for this, which can produce prototypes of items developed to meet particular customer requirements within two weeks. Twelve weeks are sufficient to take these products into series production. "That's a lot faster and cheaper than for ceramic products," says Jankowski. Both…