Company History

2011

Dvarčionių keramika AB introduced five collections of tiles to the market. Implementing the long-term strategy of the company and aspiring the key goals of maintaining the leader's position in Lithuania, consolidating its position in growing foreign markets ensuring maximum satisfaction of changing demands of customers, Dvarčionių keramika AB is expanding and renewing its range of products on a continuous basis.  In order to offer collections of tiles which would be of top quality in terms of technology and beauty, would reflect the latest interior design trends, Dvarčionių keramika UAB is looking for exclusive interior design solutions in close cooperation with Italian design studios and this year is introducing as many as five new tile collections of different themes and moods: 

CITY (25x40 cm wall tile collection)

Minimal style CITY tile collection inspired by today's urbanisation processes, which reflects fragments of a growing and rushing city, embodies contemporary architecture, terracotta palette and strict geometrical order.

NORDIC (25x40 cm wall tile collection)

The idea of NORDIC ceramic tile collection was inspired by ever-growing popularity of Nordic style interior design.  Soft grey palette, natural stone motifs and beautiful fragments of antique architecture merge into one harmonious whole and form an integral part of Scandinavian style interior design.  Functionality, naturalness and elegance are the main features of the NORDIC collection.

ONIX (45x45 cm stoneware floor tile collection)

ONIX stoneware tile collection is designed for both modern and conventional interior design lovers.  Smooth surface texture imitating natural stone will fill home with warm cosy colours, while top-class durability guarantees long-life of the tiles even in public spaces.

KIRA  (45x45 cm stoneware floor tile collection)

KIRA stoneware tile collection is perfect choice for classic interior design lovers.  Soft yellowish shades, glossy tile surface and decor of artistic flowers will turn into the central and inseparable part when creating warm atmosphere of cosy home. 

LERA (45x45 cm stoneware floor tile collection)

Distinctive incisions of cracked stone, glossy tile surface and classic flower pattern are the key features of the LERA stoneware tile collection.  Soft lightness of yellowish tile stands in contrast with rich chestnut, flamy shades, flower pattern with stone incisions creates exclusive classic elegance interior design.

VULCANO (29.7x29.7 cm stoneware floor tile collection)

VULCANO tile surface dictated by hardened volcanic rocks and fragments of antique patterns are hiding forgotten secrets of the Ancient Rome, covered with thick layer of ashes.

2010

Linea tile collection produced by the Company was awarded the gold medal in the Lithuanian Product of the Year 2010 competition.

At the Lithuanian Product of the Year 2010 competition, which is enjoying the greatest recognition by the country's business community and is considered as the highest evaluation of company's products, tiles manufactured by Dvarčionių keramika AB were awarded for the eighth time.  Judging panel consisting of two levels of experts and representing different industries assessed products of 76 manufacturers representing 15 business branches in total and having summarised experts' conclusions decided to award the gold medal to LINEA ceramic and stoneware tile collection introduced this spring by the company in its showrooms, and stores in Lithuania and abroad. 

LINEA brownish, green and purple glossy tiles adorned with stylish strips created in collaboration with Italian design experts bring individuality to bathroom, while bright shining colours warm up grey and gloomy reality.  Glossy leadless, i.e. environmentally-friendly glazing was used for the first time in production of LINEA wall and floor tiles.  Smooth tile surface is ensured by using the latest Airpower 50 engobing and decorating equipment and application of these innovations in production gives glossy effect and volume impression in particular to 25x40 cm sized tile. 

Though the collection was not introduced to the market till this summer, but during this short period of time the Company has already received positive feedback from both retailers and customers and interior designers.  "Full of live", "fascinating", "contemporary", "artistic", "fresh" - these are the answers given by the customers when asked what impression and mood the new collection of Dvarčionių keramika AB creates.

The main purpose of the Lithuanian Product of the Year competition organised by the Lithuanian Industry Confederation is to encourage Lithuanian manufacturers to create high quality products capable of competing on Lithuanian and foreign markets, to inform consumers about a possibility to buy reliable, high quality, environmentally-friendly and in all respects safe Lithuanian product, thus promoting the selection of quality Lithuanian products and at the same time inducing Lithuanian business development.

2009

92.25% of ordinary registered shares of Dvarčionių keramika AB, the largest ceramic and stoneware tile manufacturer in the Baltic States, were acquired by Misota UAB from their previous owner Polish company Cersanit S.A.  Misota UAB, the new owner of Dvarčionių keramika, belongs to Raico Group UAB, the main shareholder of which is Juozas Raišelis, former president of Dvarčionių keramika of many years.

2007

AB Dvarčionių Keramika was nominated for and awarded the title  "Exporter of the Year 2006" by the Lithuanian Confederation of Industrialists.

The Lithuanian Confederation of Industrialists awarded Juozas Raišelis, the President and Board Chairman of AB Dvarčionių Keramika, in the nomination dedicated to Vytautas Andrius Graičiūnas. The nomination was awarded for concentrated efforts in preserving and strengthening the technical, manufacturing potential of the industry, for active participation in solving the issues of business conditions optimization, and for sharing the professional experience in preparation of management specialists.

2006

On November 30, 2006 AB Dvarčionių Keramika was awarded in the nomination "Most Successful Operating Company 2006" in the group of large companies by the Lithuanian Confederation of Industrialists. This award was bestowed on the Company for its achievements in improving its operational efficiency.

In 2006 the tile collection Matera developed by Dvarčionių Keramika was acknowledged by the Lithuanian Confederation of Industrialists as the Product of the Year, and awarded the gold medal. This award signifies the modern design, a new tile dimension: 250mm x 400mm, and a high product quality.

2005

It was officially announced on March 9, 2005 that the Polish company Opoczno S.A. has acquired a majority share holding of AB Dvarčionių Keramika, the largest and most modern ceramic tile producer in the Baltic States. The transaction was signed on March 4. Opoczno S.A. acquired 5,968,317 shares in the company, i.e. 60.25 percent of all its shares. The company now carries the right of 60.25 percent of vote in the general meetings of shareholders.

Opoczno S.A. is the biggest producer of ceramic tiles in Poland, and also one of the major producers in Europe.  The company offers a diverse range of ceramic tiles: wall and floor tiles, glazed and unglazed porcelain stoneware tiles, polished and opaque (satin) porcelain stoneware tiles, and a wide range of decorated styles.

In the summer of 2004 the Company began to export ceramic and stoneware tiles to the USA.

In the beginning of October in Cersaie 2004, the prestigious international exhibition of ceramic and bathroom furnishings, Bologna, Italy, the Company presented three of its newest collections: Roberta, Alisa and Aveniu. The feature of this year's exhibition was an intense attention from the EU traders.

In December, in the competition "Lithuanian Product of the Year 2004" organized by the Lithuanian Confederation of Industrialists for the eighth time, products introduced by AB Dvarčionių Keramika was nominated for and awarded this prestigious accolade for  the Alisa collection of glazed ceramic and porcelain stoneware tiles.

2004

Together with partners - the Gallia Textiles company, the retail shop was opened in London (United Kingdom). It is yet another step forward in the strengthening of the Company's position in the United Kingdom market.

2003

On January 2 the Lithuanian National Accreditation Bureau issued the accreditation certificate recognising the conformity of the AB Dvarčionių Keramika laboratory to the requirements of LST EN ISO/IEC 17025:2000 standard, and its accreditation for sampling and tests of ceramic tiles.

In August, 2003, having evaluated the performance of AB Dvarčionių Keramika in accordance with an Excellence Model promoted by the European Foundation for Quality Management, this largest Baltic producer of ceramic tiles was awarded an entry level certificate of the European Foundation for Quality Management (EFQM). The outcome of assessment indicates that AB Dvarčionių Keramika is indeed a modern, leading edge company not only with products exceeding the European standards but also committed to the development trade relations and cherishing of best management practices.

In October the Italian production line SACMI of latest technologies was launched. The investment project worth over LTL 21.5 million expanded the Company's output by over 30 percent, and supplemented the product range with new sizes and designs of glazed porcelain stoneware tiles.

On 20 November, 2003 AB Dvarčionių Keramika celebrated its 115th anniversary and officially launched the new Italian Sacmi production line featuring latest technologies.

In December AB Dvarčionių Keramika was recognised as the "Most Successful Operating Company" in the competition organised by the Lithuanian Confederation of Industrialists, and the new glazed porcelain stoneware tiles produced in the Company were nominated for and awarded "Lithuanian Product of the Year".

2002

In September, the re-certification audit of the Company verified that AB Dvarčionių Keramika complies with the requirements of LST EN ISO 9001:2001 and operates in accordance with the quality management system in designing, production and sales of ceramic tiles for walls and floors.

In November AB Dvarčionių Keramika was awarded the ISO 14001 certificate verifying that environment protection management system had been implemented in the Company. This certificate on compliance of environment protection management system ensures that the environment protection management system at AB Dvarčionių Keramika is functioning, is being continuously improved and complies with the requirements of international ISO 14001 standard.

The glazed floor ceramic tiles COTTO 300x300 mm by AB Dvarčionių Keramika were awarded as the Lithuanian Product of the Year.

2001

Environment management system was implemented according to LST EN ISO 14001.

The glazed floor ceramic tiles MARSAS and URANAS, 300x300 mm, by AB Dvarčionių Keramika, were awarded as the Lithuanian Product of the Year.

2000

The implementation of environment management system according to LST EN ISO 14001: 1999 began in the Company.

The glazed floor tiles GOTIKA, 300x300 mm, by AB Dvarčionių Keramika were awarded as the Lithuanian Product of the Year.

1999

Lithuanian National Accreditation Bureau has accredited the AB Dvarčionių Keramika testing laboratory. It means that the laboratory complies with LST EN 45001 requirements, and is accredited for testing of glazed and unglazed ceramic tiles.

The quality management system according to LST EN ISO 9001 was implemented in the Company.

The glazed wall and floor tiles RUSTIKAS, 148x148 mm, by AB Dvarčionių Keramika, were awarded as the Lithuanian Product of the Year.

1998

The Company celebrated its honourable 110-th anniversary.

For the first time AB Dvarčionių Keramika took part in CERSAIE-98, the famous international exhibition of ceramic tiles held in the Italian city of Bologna. The Company's stand was noted for its originality.

The ceramic floor tiles RUSTIKAS, 300x300 mm, by AB Dvarčionių Keramika, were nominated the "Lithuanian Product of the Year".

1997

The Company's modernisation is nearing completion. The new generation of ceramic tiles meeting all international quality standards will now be produced.

Lithuanian Confederation of Industrialists acclaimed AB Dvarčionių Keramika as one of the Top 20 companies that made the most significant economic progress in 1997.

1994

The second major reconstruction stage in the Company's history began. The Dvarčionių Keramika was established as a joint venture between the Italian company Nassetti S.p.A. and AB Dvarčionių Keramika, and the construction of a new modern production line of wall and floor ceramic tiles was commenced.

1974

It is the year of the first major reconstruction resulting in output of a new product - the ceramic wall tiles.

1888

A brickyard was established in Dvarčionys. Prior to the beginning of WWII about 100 people were employed in the brickyard. The annual yield was about 2-3 million bricks.