From 22 to 26 September, Bologna once again becomes the world’s capital of ceramics with CERSAIE, the leading global event that brings together professionals, companies and innovators from across the industry. For those working along the production chain, the exhibition is much more than a showcase: it is a place for dialogue, exchange and reflection on what drives the sector today—new technologies, evolving market demands, sustainability, and future directions.

Against this backdrop, Zschimmer & Schwarz Ceramco will present a completely redesigned stand, continuing the communication and marketing journey first launched in 2020. After four years with the same booth structure—constantly updated in content but unchanged in form—the 2025 edition marks a further step forward in how the company approaches the market. It reflects an evolution in language, refining details while keeping sight of the bigger picture, and striking a balance between aesthetics and contents.
This vision shapes the stand into more than an exhibition space: it becomes a meeting point, designed to encourage dialogue with customers, partners and professionals throughout the ceramic supply chain, with a focus on real needs, daily challenges and solutions to share.

A minimal space, a sensory experience

The new booth, once again divided into a reception area and an exhibition area, has been conceived as a stripped-back, essential installation. Products themselves are not displayed directly—an intentional choice, made to give space to other forms of expression: images, sounds and words that narrate perspectives and themes extending well beyond the pages of a catalogue. In this way, the exhibition space becomes a place of storytelling, a starting point for conversations about shared challenges and opportunities.

The concept chosen for 2025 is a clear statement: ON WATER, STRENGTH & RELIEFS. Three words that sum up the projects being presented. They serve not only as titles, but also as key ideas that encapsulate years of research and innovation, providing the connecting thread for the entire stand.

The topics
 

1. 01 – ON WATER

Water is the first theme in this journey. A symbol of fluidity, movement and lightness, it also embodies a renewed focus on sustainability—an essential issue for the future of ceramics.

From this idea comes the AQUABOND line: a family of water-based digital glues that combine high technical performance with a responsible approach to the environment. This is not a passing choice, but the outcome of a path begun in 2017, rooted in the belief that water-based solutions are not optional extras but a necessary direction for reducing environmental impact without compromising production efficiency. Beyond rhetoric or self-celebration, this is the way forward that the industry has been watching closely.
The AQUABOND series is defined by its versatility: products that can operate at different firing temperatures, with variable water content, with or without fluxes to promote fusion of the ceramic suspension’s solid parts. This flexibility makes the line suitable for a wide range of applications—from full lappato to decoration, and from surface finishing to structural effects—delivering practical solutions to the needs of those working daily on production lines.

1. 02 – ON STRENGTH

The second theme focuses on strength—not the kind that is immediately visible, but the silent resilience that ensures production processes run smoothly.

The TENACER range was developed precisely for this purpose: a series of temporary binders designed to safeguard unfired ceramic bodies as they travel along conveyor belts through the factory. Without protection, even minor shocks or stresses can compromise the integrity of the material.

TENACER products enhance mechanical resistance while also improving elasticity, a crucial factor in today’s market where formats are growing larger and heavier. Variations in thickness—ranging from as little as 3 mm to as much as 30 mm—demand solutions that guarantee continuity and reliability at every stage of production. The range is broad and adaptable, able to meet different requirements, with the added option of designing customized formulations according to specific production needs.

1. 03 – ON RELIEFS

The third project turns to three-dimensional surfaces. Today, ceramics are no longer just floors or wall coverings: they are tactile experiences, a language of textures, reliefs and plays of light.

In this direction, Zschimmer & Schwarz Ceramco explores the potential of non-planar surfaces through two categories of water-based products: the AQUABOND digital glues, used in combination with glassy grits, and the AQUASINK reserving agents, which create carefully defined reliefs and recesses through selective action.

The result is a surface that seems to vibrate, engaging both eye and touch, delivering three-dimensional effects increasingly sought after in contemporary design. Research in this field is ongoing and constantly evolving, in line with the rapid developments brought by digital technologies. In this sense, the Aquasink range can be seen as a work in progress—an open project continually shaped by new possibilities.

An invitation

Cersaie is not only an exhibition showcase but also a space for discussion, for exchanging ideas and exploring new perspectives. It is a place where professional relationships naturally intertwine with personal ones, where a technical conversation might continue over a glass of wine or a shared lunch.

In this spirit, Zschimmer & Schwarz Ceramco will be in Bologna, Hall 33 – Stand B10/C11, every day from 9:00 to 19:00 (Friday until 18:00).

CERSAIE 2025

Bologna, Italy

Monday 22 – Friday 26 September

Hall 33
Stand B10 / C11