GUANGZHOU: Italy-based Industrie Bitossi SPA (IB), one of the leading producers of micronized ziron alumina grinding media, had opened a production plant in Guangzhou, capital city of South China's Guangdong Province.

"South China is the largest area in terms of consumption of ceramic raw materials. It is, therefore, a must for us to open a production plant to meet the region's rapidly increasing volume and quality requirements," said Loriano Bocini, company's President.

With an initial investment of up to $12.7 million, IB's plant in Guangzhou is the first Italian corporation in the Guangzhou Development District, well-known for international investment projects.

IB, which was set up early in 1967 in Vinci near Florence, in the heart of Tuscany in Italy, known for renowned Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo and Giotto, who led the Renaissance in Europe, said Bocini.

"So, we are going to provide the best solutions, in search of beauty, taste and style, to Chinese consumers." Bocini said.

The company has been exporting micronized zircon to China for up to more than twenty years, supplying considerable quantities, said Bocini.

The Guangzhou plant is IB's second venture in China after the Kunshan plant a few years ago.

"The two factories are aimed at following and assisting the development of the Chinese ceramic industry," Bocini said.

According to Bocini, the Guangzhou venture will locally produce both zircon flour and micronium silicate. It will be able to produce 20,000 tons annually of zircobit MO opacifier, also called "Red B," and 10,000 tons annually of zircon flour.

The plant currently has one mill consisting of three lines. "Our final goal in this plant is to open three mills, which will have 12 production lines within the next five years," Bocini told China Daily.

"The establishment of our plant in Guangzhou will also meet the needs in Asian market. It means that we will export products from China to other countries such as Vietnam, Philippines and Indonesia," Bocini said.

Bocini added that the investment in Guangzhou was also aimed at the realization of a highly innovative technological system - with no environmental impact.

The company will set up a dry grinding system for flour micronized zircon production.

"In the production cycle at the plant, water will be eliminated. In this way, any industrial waste will be discharged in the sewer, avoiding pollution possibilities," Bocini said.

IB has other production plants in Italy, Brazil and Turkey.

(HK Edition 06/01/2007 page6)