Ceramic Industry Half-Month Talk·Issue 3
Look at rock slabs from a different perspective · Trends
Regarding the new species of rock slabs, discussions have never stopped from its birth to the present.
Last year, I also wrote several articles about slates. However, since I had just entered the ceramic industry not long ago, I felt that slates were in the fog. Therefore, after writing "Will slates continue to be popular in 2021?" ? The 5 most authoritative predictions are here! "After the article, I haven't discussed rock slabs for a long time.
Because, I feel that the conditions are not mature enough whether I am expressing my views on rock slabs based on my personal understanding of rock slabs or the development trend of rock slabs.
After half a year, the industry has undergone tremendous changes.
So, I want to look at rock slabs from a different perspective.
Stone slabs have become a trend, and speaking of the trend of slabs, it seems a bit cliché.
However, a while ago, there was endless discussion in the industry about the issue of "two modernizations" (tile-to-slate and slate-to-tile). In my opinion, this is the “contention of a hundred schools of thought” when it comes to rock slab trends.
It is a good thing for a hundred schools of thought to contend, but we are afraid that those who participate in the debate will see the problem from their own perspective. For example, companies that produce slate production equipment, companies that produce slates, and companies that produce ceramic tiles have absolutely different views. They all view the "two informatizations" more or less from a perspective that is beneficial to them, because the trend is It is human nature to seek advantages and avoid disadvantages.
The remarks in this case are undoubtedly one-sided.
So, I would like to talk about the trend of rock slabs based on the "two modernizations".
First of all, I think that moving from ceramic tiles to slate is a technological improvement, and the two have the same root.
I believe everyone agrees with this, because slate is a product of the ceramic industry and is an improvement in the production raw materials, production technology and application functions of ceramic tiles. Therefore, I think it is inappropriate to talk about ceramic tiles and slates separately.
Source: Laminam Slate
Secondly, ceramic tile and slate will be a thing in the future.
Why do you say that? Because, since the transition from ceramic tiles to rock slabs is a technological improvement, then, from the perspective of "iteration", rock slabs will definitely replace ceramic tiles.
A while ago, there was a "death theory of ceramic tiles" in the industry. Some people also said that according to the market's high, middle and low-end stratification, ceramic tiles and slates may coexist.
There is actually a misunderstanding, that is, we have been confused by the term "slate". In fact, if there is no term for slate, it may just be an upgraded version of ceramic tiles, and it may be called "upgraded ceramic tiles". In essence, everyone is a brick and a board. If it must be divided, it will be divided into bricks and boards in terms of application scenarios.
To give a simple example, the development of the ceramic industry is very similar to that of the television industry. Televisions have gone through three development stages: CRT televisions, plasma televisions, and LCD televisions. Today, LCD TVs can be large or small in size and can be used in various scenarios. At the same time, curved LCD TVs, 4K high-definition LCD TVs and other categories have also been born. This is so similar to the development of our ceramic tiles and rock slabs! But no matter how television develops, we still call it "television."
So, this is iteration, and in the future, we will only apply better things. It seems unfounded and premature to discuss whether ceramic tiles will die out in the future.
Third, the application scenarios of rock slabs are much larger than ceramic tiles.
Although ceramic tiles and rock slabs have the same roots, as rock slabs break through the performance bottlenecks in size, thickness, hardness, toughness, etc., their application scenarios are much larger than ceramic tiles. If we continue to equate rock slabs with ceramic tiles, it will be unfair to the slabs and detrimental to the development of the slabs.
Fourthly, the "two modernizations" are just internal disputes between rock slabs in the ceramic industry.
Since most of the application scenarios of slate are in the home field, we should take a longer-term view. But the undeniable fact is that slate is a product of the ceramic industry, and the ceramic industry's main product was ceramic tiles before, and the main sales channel was dealers. Therefore, no matter from the perspective of product upgrading or channel utilization, we all want to make good use of ceramic tiles, so as not to leave most ceramic companies at a loss. Therefore, whether ceramic tiles are transformed into slates or slates are transformed into ceramic tiles, they are all reconstructions and upgrades of the original product system, quality system and channel system in the ceramic industry. This is a pain and a necessity.
Fifth, “two informatizations” require appropriate market entryopportunity.
Historical experience tells us that the emergence and development of a new thing must have corresponding timing. If it appears early, it may die prematurely, but if it enters late, it will be slow and the benefits will be limited.
“When the performance of ceramic tiles reaches the standard of rock slabs, and the cost of rock slabs drops to the level of ceramic tiles, rock slabs and ceramic tiles will truly become one, and our industry will take another step forward.” This is our ultimate goal, but in this process, there must be some manufacturers that pass off quality products as good products and pass off products as fake products.
So, if you enter the market at the wrong time, you may not only disrupt the ceramic tile market, but also tarnish the reputation of slate.
Therefore, we call on enterprises that are conscientious and practical in the "slate-based ceramic tiles" and "slate-based ceramic tiles" to strictly control production raw materials, firing processes and technological reforms. We have high respect for such enterprises, such as Zhuoyuan. They are pioneers, the vanguard of the tile and slate road.
However, we are also afraid of disruptors. We ceramic people still have a long way to go in exploring rock slabs. The future is promising, and we need colleagues in the industry to patiently expand rather than blindly follow the trend or even fish in troubled waters.
As a member of the industry, I think we should not only admire the courage of pioneers, but also help them clear obstacles.
Zhuoyuan Slate Tile Headquarters Exhibition Hall
Sixth, the development of rock slabs should look at the stars and the sea.
In response to the remarks about "tile-based slates" and "rock slates tile-based", some industry experts have suggested that slate should focus on large homes, and "slate tiles for home use" is our future.
I personally agree very much, but what I would like to add is that the application range of slate is so wide that it is beyond imagination. It is not necessarily the floors and walls where ceramic tiles were originally used, nor is it necessarily just large homes. It should be "home furnishings". + building materials" and "soft decoration + hard decoration" all application scenarios.
As a new thing, I think we should not limit it to a scope of application. A common problem in our ceramic industry is that we like to decide the consumption side from the production side, without considering the usehousehold needs. Regarding slate, we should give the industry and market more room for imagination and development, listen more to the voice of the market, and study more user needs.
The development of rock slabs should be like stars and a sea, and the future is promising.
(Author: Liu Shi)
