Rocell Bathware inaugurates one of South Asia's largest production facilities

Royal Ceramics Lanka Limited, announced the launch of its state-of-the-art production facility at Templeburg Industrial Estate in Panagoda, Homagama. This manufacturing facility is one of the largest and most sophisticated production facilities in South Asia, and is a result of a Rs. 1.8 billion investment which has been approved by the Board of Investment of Sri Lanka.

According to the Managing Director of the Rocell group Mr Nimal Perera, Sri Lanka is facing a decisive moment in its economic history and after a 30 year old war the country is at a threshold for accelerated growth. Opening a facility of this nature at a time like this is a reflection of a local brand gearing themselves to face the challenges that lay ahead and seizing the opportunity for new beginnings. Rocell Bathware aspires to contribute substantially to the nation's economy whilst offering employment to the people of Sri Lanka. With an annual rated production capacity of 250,000 pieces and employing a dedicated workforce of over 200 personnel who are committed to establishing a new standard in the sanitary ware market, Rocell Bathware is now equipped to manufacture high quality sanitary ware for both the Sri Lankan and international markets. In keeping with the Mahinda Chinthanaya, the Rocell brand plan envisions to position Sri Lanka on the global map as a manufacturer and marketer of value added products generating valuable foreign exchange.

"It's a historic day for us. We are pleased to announce the opening of one of the largest sanitary ware manufacturing plants in Asia. Rocell has always pitched to be a 'first' in many areas, from being the first and only sanitary ware manufacturer in Sri Lanka, to now being hailed as having one of the most modern and state-of-the-art production plants in Asia. By building this production facility, we are proud to be progressively contributing Sri Lanka's industrial and economic success, through enhanced wealth generation for the nation and its people," stated Tharana Thoradeniya, Chief Executive Officer of Rocell Bathware Ltd.

The new production facility features technology from leading European sanitary ware machinery and houses a ninety cubic meter kiln, automated driers, and robotic glazing lines - equipment which gives the company the ability to produce bath ware that meets international standards. The technical know-how and machinery for the plant is sourced from two of the world's premier suppliers of the sanitary ware industry, namely Unimak of Turkey and SACMI of Italy, and is manufactured to quality standards conforming to British standard specification BS EN 3402-1962, thereby ensuring that the products will be on par with that of any leading European manufacturer in terms of both design and quality.

Always creating ways to inspire elegant living by being at the forefront of fashion, world class design, and integrity coupled with unmatched quality, Rocell caters to an audience that appreciates originality, quality, and aesthetic beauty. Rocell Bathware understands that in today's modern lifestyle, the ambient space hitherto perceived as purely functional has now evolved to an extension of one's living space. It is now a place where an individual's life undergoes regeneration - a place to de-stress and to touch base with your inner self - a place to relax and enjoy a sense of well being. As such, Rocell Bathware strengthens the evolution of the bathroom from a functional space to a place of serenity, renewal, and relaxation. The Rocell Bathware design philosophy is focused on contemporary designs that complement the global trends of minimalism and simplicity. Created by Italian designers, these modern, yet timeless ranges highlight space and light as essential elements in a room that is designed for life. The collection encompasses all plumbed-in ceramic bathroom fixtures used for personal sanitation and washing requirements such as wash basins and toilet suits - water closets and water tanks, bidets, and other related accessories, which come in design sets under titles such as Elements Aqua, Intense, Dune, Living, Eternity, Summer Blue and Deep Blue, all reasonably priced. Through the launch of Rocell Bathware, Royal Ceramics Lanka Limited has now become the pioneer in the industry, establishing themselves as the first and only state-of-the-art sanitary ware manufacturer in Sri Lanka.

The modern sanitary ware production facility is a result of the strategic expansion and diversification strategy of Royal Ceramics Lanka PLC. RCL was established in 1990 and was the first producer of homogenous tiles in Sri Lanka. Since its inception, the Rocell brand has been focused on its goal to inspire elegant living by creating timeless products based on its founding principles: design, innovation, quality, and integrity. "It has taken us four years of conceptualizing, planning, implementing and carrying out research and development activities to bring this project to its present state. We have been able to develop a manufacturing plant with world-class facilities and production processes, and a product portfolio that is aesthetically pleasing and functionally superior. Now we are ready to launch our products to the local and international markets and we aim to be the market leader of bathware in Sri Lanka in a short span of time," concluded Thoradeniya. Rocell as a brand has already captured 55% of the Sri Lankan flooring market and enjoys the market leadership position whilst also exporting its products to numerous countries across the globe. The company's marketing operations are supported by a strong distribution network comprising 40 owned showrooms, an island wide dealer network, and warehouses located in all strategic areas in Sri Lanka.