Pilkington's Group Plc

Pilkington's Group Plc is a UK based manufacturer and supplier of wall and floor coverings and building product solutions. The group has a history and heritage in ceramic tile manufacturing with the head office located in Clifton Junction, Salford, Greater Manchester, England.

History

Established in 1891 Pilkington's Group has a history and heritage of innovation, design and manufacturing that can be traced back for well over 100 years. In the early 1900's, the world famous Pilkington's Lancastrian Pottery & Tiles was formed as a result of an amalgamation of the unique skills of William Burton and the company's team of leading artists and designers from Minton Hollins and Wedgwood. In 1913 the company was awarded the Royal Warrant, and Royal Lancastrian Pottery was created - now an international collectors' brand. By 1938 the company began to specialise in ceramic wall tiles. The Group was previously known as Pilkington's Tiles Group Plc.

Pilkington's Ceramic Tiles

Ceramic tiles were first produced by Pilkington’s in 1893. The biscuit fired tiles (tiles which have been fired once), were taken for glazing either with a plain glaze or for decorating by the paintresses and fired again. Twice fired tiles were renowned for being superior in quality and this, along with the reputation for employing world class artists to produce cutting edge designs and chemists that developed quality glazes created the ceramic tiles success that eventually overtook the pottery business to become the company’s main production. More recently, in 2004 the company was purchased by a private company that since acquiring the group has brought large investment and phased growth and brand development. Pilkington’s is still recognized worldwide for its ceramic tiles, however the portfolio now includes many other wall and flooring proudcts. Many of the Pilkington's ceramic tile ranges are manufactured at the group's manufacturing facility in Clifton Junction, Salford.

Brands & UK Manufacturing

The Quiligotti brand of marble, terrazzo and natural stone products became part of the group in the 1970s. Quiligotti Terrazzo flooring is installed in a large number of UK supermarkets, shopping centres, railway stations and the London Underground. [ [http://www.ajspecification.com/Buildings/B_Home_Page/?CI_Building_ID=11 Architects' Journal, Jubilee Line, Westminster Underground Station] ] Quiligotti is also manufactured at the group's manufacturing facility in Clifton Junction, Salford.

The 150 year old Dorset Woolliscroft brand was acquired by the group in 1999. The Dorset Woolliscroft branded products are manufactured in the group's manufacturing facilities in Poole, Dorset, England.

Pilkington's Group Today

Today, the company, through its heritage and expertise, has expanded and evolved to offer an extensive portfolio of products to worldwide markets.

References

External links

* [http://www.pilkingtons.com/ Official Pilkington's Group site]
* [http://www.pilkingtons-lancastrian.co.uk/ Pilkingtons Lancastrian Pottery Society Website]
* [http://www.lancs.ac.uk/users/peterscott/pilkingtons_history.htm Early history of the Pilkington's Tile and Pottery Company]
* [http://www.tta.org.uk/ Tile Association Website]