São Paulo – Porcelain tile company Villagres Cerâmica, based in Santa Gertrudes, São Paulo, is the first Brazilian company in the industry to get the quality certificate by Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization (SASO) to be able to export to the Arab country.
The company’s Export manager Décio Galuzzi Scartezini told ANBA that Villagres has exported to countries in South America, as well as the United States, some countries in Africa, and the United Arab Emirates, where it has a sales representative.
The process to obtain the SASO QMARK certificate took just over two years. “We started the whole process of understanding how it works, what it took to obtain the certificate, a little before the pandemic, in 2020. Since then, we have worked to adapt several aspects of the company, as the certification covers both the product and internal processes such as raw material receiving, manufacturing procedures, the company’s registration, security, storage, well, the whole operational flow until the finished product,” Scartezini said.
Multiple tests were required to obtain the certificate. “The audit itself is expensive, as you have to bring auditors from Saudi Arabia. But we are pleased to be the first Brazilian ceramic factory to get this certification,” the manager said. The SASO certificate is valid for three years.
Villagres has operated for 28 years, but the family business has turned 100 years old. Since 2009, the company has only manufactured porcelain tiles for floors and walls, from the simplest ones to some imitating wood, marble, natural stone, and some with HD-printed patterns. The factory’s machinery is from Italy, the enamel used in the production is Spanish, and the clay is Brazilian.
Scartezini said the company is adapting some information on the boxes to the Arabic to start exporting. At first, they will focus on architecture and construction distributors and retailers. The representative in Dubai will go to Saudi Arabia to promote sales in that market. Shipments are expected to start in December.
Contact info
Décio Galuzzi Scartezini
decio.scartezini@villagres.com.br
http://www.villagres.com.br/
Translated by Guilherme Miranda
