The VIVES experience
In the nineteen fifties, VIVES launched a piece which at that time had a unique structure. In the size of 10x20cm, it presented a relief with circular decorations available in several colours. The item was patented and its innovation once again encouraged its clients to vouch for Vives. Examples of this product are located in Valencia, Castellón or Galicia. Nowadays the quality of this wall tile remains unchanged. More than fifty years ago, one of our first products reached a great diffusion, reflecting the work of a great company and showing many in the sector the way forward.
homage to CERAMICS
During the latest international exhibition Cevisama 2013, Vives Azulejos y Gres paid homage to ceramics by choosing a small and plain 15x15cm glossy white glazed tile among the thousand of products included in their catalogue. This is a timeless product that has been produced by this company since 1957.
19059 numbered pieces were used to tile the exterior walls of the four areas that were built to show the new collections of the wall, floor and porcelain tiles launched by Vives Azulejos y Gres, S.A.
The signs giving the name of each collection which were made of LEGO and the grout joints that were of the same colour as the catalogues of the said collections, were the only decoration used to separate each of the four spaces.
Vives proudly showed that ceramics:
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Are simple but versatile.
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They provide a wide range of possibilities no matter the size.
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With a long history but still young.
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Their creativity is limitless and suitable to each trend and style.
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They are always an aesthetic, clean, bright and practical option with infinite amount of advantages.
With any tile in your hands, it becomes a unique piece that may transmit all your style and personality.
VIVES, FEELING CERAMICS SINCE 1957
30km of string and 15000 nails
Did you know that Vives used over 30km of string of different colours to close and partition its stand in the Cersaie fair and more than 15000 nails. This was a huge task and one involving a traditional artisan skill. String, nails, wool, screws, scaffolding, blinds, flower pots were all used to originally decorate and show off some of the most vanguard ceramic and porcelain pieces in the fair. It was Vives’ intention to demonstrate that no material however modest is a barrier to displaying its tiles if it is used both with creativity and sense.
Reflection of ideas
When industrial tile production began, sellers tried their best to show the vast possibilities that fixing tiles can give. It is for this reason that thirty years ago Vives incorporated a system that consisted of a tile within a box that was surrounded by four mirrors in order to see and imagine the continuity of the tile as if they were looking at the floor in a room. In the era of digital communication, Internet, tablets, smartphones… we have once again recreated this system with the launching of the 1900 collection.
Our Christmas cards
Vives wants to be as close as possible to you especially during such a special period as Christmas. Through our Christmas cards, we therefore transmit our best wishes to you. We have brought all previous cards together to remind you how Vives has always been and always will be as close to you as possible. We hope you enjoy them.
VIVES’ Year Book
VIVES Azulejos y Gres has been editing its year book since 1991. This is the 21st edition of this tool which has always been at our clients and collaborator’s disposal. During these years, the year book has evolved with regards to its format as it was first, a broadsheet but now it is squarer in order to be more useful. Additionally it has evolved, VIVES shows its personality through the graphic design and design of the settings where the whole range of products is displayed such as the porcelain, white body, and red body ranges. The Year Book is a useful tool for project planning and shows the events that Vives takes part in within the tiles sector.
VIVES Logos
Since the very beginning, companies and organisations have tried to associate themselves with an image which helps them to be recognised. The importance of these logos and corporate images has increased as the company tries to transmit its values and experience and build a reputation for itself. Vives Azulejos y Gres is no different with its own logo that has been evolving since 1957. It is now more compact, simpler and strongly associated to the colour red using it as its corporate identity. We can see the evolution of the Vives’ logo in the slideshow and how little by little it changes to form today’s simple geometric, almost minimalist yet powerful shape. Vives have always associated the brand with its products since it was established in 1957 with Azulejos Vives S.L. Each change has come about with a different strategic direction being born such as with VIVESGRES launching a new line of pioneering products to the ceramic market.
Vives reduces the CO2 emissions
A new system for the packing process using plastic materials has been incorporated in the premises of Ferraes Cerámica, s.a. by VIVES. This system doesn’t need natural gas, so it reduces the CO2 emissions. This packing system is really new in the sector, and it uses a tube shaped bobbin of elastic film that is adjusted directly over the goods, achieving a perfect packing that gets the material properly packaged and protected front possible damages. The main novelty of this system, is that (in opposition to conventional packaging systems that use termic polyethylene covers) , it doesn’t need a heating process of covers using natural gas. It gets a great energy saving and therefore a reduction of CO2 emissions, making a little contribution to avoid the global warming. VIVES expects to reduce with this new system aroud 2.400 Nm3 / year of natural gas, quantity equivalent to a reduction of 5.2 tones of CO2 / year.
Vives packs carefully its XXL
Vives Azulejos y Gres big size products have a packing process pioneer in the sector. Vives takes special care of its bigger sizes in 60x120 and has created an special packing process for these materials. Once the pieces have left the kiln and have passed all the required inspections, they are prepared for being packed in the boxes one by one, achieving a better protection of the product.
The VIVES experience
In the nineteen fifties, VIVES launched a piece which at that time had a unique structure. In the size of 10x20cm, it presented a relief with circular decorations available in several colours. The item was patented and its innovation once again encouraged its clients to vouch for Vives. Examples of this product are located in Valencia, Castellón or Galicia. Nowadays the quality of this wall tile remains unchanged. More than fifty years ago, one of our first products reached a great diffusion, reflecting the work of a great company and showing many in the sector the way forward.
special boxes to pack the decorative pieces
The VIVES packaging is not only used to hold, but it has also been developed to protect and add value to the products as well as giving instructions and advice. VIVES has been packing its decorative tiles in special boxes with each one containing 4 pieces that have been carefully developed to ensure that the customer receives the product in perfect conditions.
the last Tunnel kiln
... just three years ago VIVES was operating with the last Tunnel kiln in the area. In this kind of kiln, the tiles were placed over the refractory sheets and were pulled along by an hydraulic system. A homogeneous temperature with impressive production results were achieved by this process. During a long time these channel kilns were pioneers in the ceramic sector, but everything evolves and this kind of kiln developed to become the modern mono-strato kiln.
Cogeneration station
... Vives was one of the first manufacturers in the ceramic sector to integrate cogeneration in its manufacturing processes. Saving energy is a key factor in any industrial process and this is especially the case with the ceramic sector due to the necessity to use considerable amounts of heat. An example of when great amounts of heat is needed would be to dry the clay in the “Atomodizer” or “Blow Dryer” to produce the granules prior to manufacturing. In 1991 Vives launched its first cogeneration station in its Azulejos Vives II plant with a capacity of 3.7 MW which was enough to satisfy the manufacturing section of the Atomodizer and supply electricity to the whole plant. Due to the success of this, in 1992 a second cogeneration station with same capacity was introduced to the Cerámica Vives I plant. On the one hand electricity is produced via an alternator and on the other, the energy is used to dry the clay.
