As we approach the bicentennial of the ceramics industry—large-scale ceramics production originated in Europe around 1830—many countries beyond the industry’s traditional base in Europe and the United States are now involved with the manufacturing of these materials. Emerging markets in BRIC countries (Brazil, India, and China) came to lead the advancement of tile manufacturing in the past few decades, while Mexico and Turkey are setting the pace, along with China, in the production of sanitaryware.

The basic definition of ceramics—articles made from clay hardened by heat—no longer adequately expresses the slew of advances in ceramic manufacturing technology that helped transform the industry. Giant silos and ovens, printers that can emboss any type of image on a tile, and robots for the automated enameling of sanitaryware are some examples of this great transformation.