Portobello America’s vision of having a full-service, state-of-the-art production facility in the United States is getting closer and closer to becoming a major reality. According to James “Jed” Durbin, the company’s Vice President of Manufacturing & Outsourcing, “Everything is on schedule, and we anticipate a March or April (2023) startup.”
Durbin added that “From Day One of production, the new factory will be able to double originally planned capacity of smaller pieces, such as 8 x 8”, 3 x 6”, 3 x 12” and everything in between. There is a strong demand from our North American customer base for these to augment some of our best-selling porcelain collections. The pieces will be produced using the same body materials as included in our field tile ranges, such as Terralma and Gouach. And they will be just as high-end in appearance.”
The new Baxter, Tennessee facility will not only be a major sustainable manufacturing venue; it will also be the new home of Portobello America’s North American offices. Baxter is located in Putnam County, considered a national hub regarding the manufacture of porcelain tile due to the local obtainability of natural clay and feldspar supplies. The new factory’s updated personnel plan is now expected to generate at least 230 local jobs.
“Our new plant will be fully automated with absolutely the most modern technology. This will include laser-guided systems, automated packaging and palleting, robots that move materials from one area of the plant to another… and much, much more. Obviously, we’ve got much to accomplish before our startup,” concluded Jed Durbin. “And, we will get it done!”
About Portobello America
Portobello America, a Portobello Group company, designs, produces, and provides complete and competitively priced hard surface solutions focused on the U.S. market. Our belief is that design can transform the way people feel by shaping the environments in which we live. This idea is the essence of Portobello America. Our business model is an integrated one. With expertise in retail and logistics, as well as being founded on design and innovation, our company is uniquely positioned to provide comprehensive support to our partners. To learn more, visit www.portobelloamerica.com.
About Portobello Group
Portobello Group or PBG S.A. is a publicly traded company, part of the Novo Mercado Bovespa since 2008, and was incorporated on December 22,1977. It started its production activities in 1979 and has since been a company that has always been oriented towards “new ideas.” This concept was born with the goal of transforming the life of the city and region of Tijucas and bringing creative design to the greatest number of people.
Today, Portobello is one of the largest ceramic tile manufactures in the world, and the company believes that their vision of an agile, integrated and market-driven business model is the right strategy to follow to continue its success. The company possesses unparalleled design competence, and their innovative products transform people’s lives by creating unique environments in the home, commercial and industrial settings. The Company operates globally but is always aware that the design must reflect the context of the location where its units are purchased. Their culture, strategy, and management focus on enabling the creation and distribution of that design. They generate value for all buyers, through an integrated business model while maintaining operational efficiencies that drive substantial profit margins.
