PRODUCTS AND PROCESSES
Because ceramic products are durable, recyclable and a good substitute for natural and non-renewable materials, they represent a sustainable solution for construction needs, contributing to the creation of sustainable cities and communities.
Ceramics have been widely used for centuries around the world, being natural materials with attractive properties for making lasting, stylish products.
They are environmentally-friendly and have a range of useful technical characteristics, being resistant to chemicals and fire, hypoallergenic, durable both indoors and outdoors, easy to sterilize and ideal for withstanding heavy traffic.
High operational performance based on technological leadership and a sustainable vision
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Full Definition Technology to enable the replication of wood, textures and natural stones
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New developments in ceramics: facades, anti-bacterial ceramic products and the incorporation of solar panels into ceramics, among others
GRINDING
Reuse
of
water
ATOMIZING
Cogeneration of energy, reduced gas consumption
PRESSING
Recovery of surplus raw materials
DRYING
Recovery of heat generated in firing
ENAMELING
Compliance with regulations for the proper use of materials
FIRING
Redistribution of excess heat generated
SELECTING
Product recovery for grinding
PACKAGING
Use of recycled and recyclable cardboard
Products with the market’s highest quality and performance characteristics and standards
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Technological leadership through research and development of specialized products for the construction industry
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Environmentally-friendly product lines
RECEPTION OF RAW
MATERIAL AND SUPPLIES
Recovery of materials
MATERIAL DISPENSING
MIXING
BAGGING
Waste
recovery
STORAGE
AND DELIVERY
Recovery of materials
Initiatives and contributions to product innovation
One of Grupo Lamosa’s main market differentiators and drivers is innovation. During 2020, the company launched approximately 300 new products. This represents approximately 20% of the total product range, meaning that the entire portfolio is renewed every five years, a rate higher than the industry average.
Although most new products have characteristics similar to previous designs, Grupo Lamosa’s vocation to innovate results in a periodic development of significant improvements, not only from the design standpoint, but also in terms of properties and characteristics. These novel solutions translate into benefits for the company, the market and also the environment.
A recent example is the development of new technologies that have made it possible to reduce the thickness of ceramic products, while continuing to comply with standards and regulations, maintaining stability and durability properties, enhancing energy efficiency and providing additional value to ceramics as sustainable products.
Certifications, collaborations and strategic associations with institutions or other companies on innovation and/or product development issues
Grupo Lamosa belongs to the Tile Council of North America (TCNA), a non-profit organization that develops and publishes standards for the ceramics industry, one of which is “Green Squared,” which provides a set of criteria to evaluate the sustainability of ceramics and ceramic products for their installation.
Grupo Lamosa products have Green Squared certification, meaning that they are manufactured in accordance with rigorous sustainability criteria, from the extraction of raw materials to reuse at the end of a product’s life. The company also boasts other third-party certifications, such as “Leed” (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design), an evaluation system for green buildings.
Moreover, Grupo Lamosa participates in the Green Matters Initiative, with the aim of transforming its manufacturing processes into a low-carbon operating system, and has Porcelain Tile Certification Agency (PTCA) Certification, ensuring that its porcelain products meet the required water absorption level of less than 0.5%.
SUPPLIERS
Evaluation and selection of suppliers
Candidates to supply the company’s different businesses are evaluated in a transparent way, based on their capabilities and experience, among other variables. Local, regional and global tenders are analyzed and evaluated through standardized processes.
Similarly, programs to search for new suppliers are ongoing, with innovative aspects that may represent improvements to products, processes or to the general operation of the company being taken into consideration. Potential suppliers are invited to make proposals to be incorporated into the company’s supply chain, an exercise that can represent significant growth opportunities for them, given the size of Grupo Lamosa’s operations.
LOCAL SUPPLIER DEVELOPMENT
Since its inception, Grupo Lamosa has supported local suppliers, thereby assuring inputs (clays, pallets, etc.) close to its plants, giving a significant boost to suppliers in the communities neighboring production centers and driving the development of local economies.
In 2020, a new collaboration program was put into practice in conjunction with certain specific suppliers, in particular those with raw materials mines and spare parts suppliers, to analyze their operations, identify best practices and pinpoint areas of opportunity. This initiative serves to optimize and streamline processes for the benefit of both parties in a spirit of continuous improvement.
Integration into the Grupo Lamosa culture, values and commitment to sustainability (Code of Ethics and other tools)
Grupo Lamosa promotes the integration of suppliers to its culture and values, both at a contractual level, with clauses related to sustainable practices and corporate values included in contracts, and through supplier-related policies. The company also has a Code of Ethics and a Transparency Line, tools that ensure a permanent commitment to the best sustainable practices.
TRAINING AND PROFESSIONALIZATION PROGRAMS
The company participates in initiatives to develop SME suppliers, promoting their participation in professionalization programs, such as those offered by the Mexico Competitiveness Center (CCMX) and the Competitiveness Center (CC) of the Monterrey Chamber of Industry. These schemes offer training meetings, visits to plants and various support actions in order to prepare participants to join large companies’ production chains.
CUSTOMER APPROACH
Actions and initiatives to improve the customer experience
Grupo Lamosa sees the consumer as the main objective of its actions, continuously seeking to improve customers’ experience with the company’s products and carrying out periodic market studies in order to identify their needs and evaluate their level of satisfaction.
During 2020, Grupo Lamosa developed an app that uses augmented reality to replicate a customer’s real spaces in order to visualize how they would look with the company’s different products installed. In fact, the consumer can select more than 70 products from a catalog and view them in any given space. The app, already available for the company’s three brands, represents an important step forward to improve the consumer experience.
Programs in conjunction with the distribution network, initiatives for the development of the digital commercial platform, online store
Throughout 2020, in conjunction with its distribution network, the company offered a series of virtual training programs to compensate for the lockdown resulting from the pandemic. This initiative was very successful, placing Grupo Lamosa at the forefront in the use of digital communication media.
The Firenze Entremuros Award as a vehicle for recognizing and promoting innovation in architecture and construction
It is important to highlight the growing value of the Firenze Entremuros Award. The competition has become an important benchmark in the industry and a means to encourage and recognize creativity and innovation in Mexican architecture and construction.
Unlike other prizes, competing projects do not have to use the company’s products as a condition to participate. This has given the award great credibility and motivated the participation of the most notable architects, who have an increasing knowledge of the qualities and advantages of ceramics in terms of quality and sustainability.
