CROSSVILLE, TENN. – On September 12, a group of customers, press, state and local dignitaries, and company management assembled at the StonePeak Ceramics plant here to celebrate the expansion of the first U.S.-based plant to pro- duce 5’ x 10’ gauged porcelain panels. The $70 million expansion adds 160 workers to the facility, which now measures 1 million square feet. Federica Minozzi, CEO of the Iris Ceramica Group, parent com- pany of StonePeak, SapienStone, FMG, Ariostea, Eiffelgres and Fiandre USA, spoke during the ribbon-cutting ceremony, stating that not only is this plant the first in the U.S. to produce gauged StonePeak Ceramics celebrates $70 million expansion to Crossville, Tenn. plant New Continua production line aims to produce 1,000 5´ x 10´ gauged porcelain panels a day Sponsored by TECH TALK –––––––––––––––––––––––––––– By Lesley Goddin StonePeak held a grand opening of its new gauged porcelain tile panel line on September 12 in Crossville, Tenn. It’s the first U.S. plant to produce gauged porce- lain tile panels. Iris Ceramics Group CEO Federica Minozzi with StonePeak leadership and state and local dignitaries, cut the ribbon on the Crossville Tennessee’s factory expansion. It is the first in the world that produces 60˝ x 120˝ gauged porcelain tile panels and also cut sizes down to 12˝ x 12˝. This $70 million expansion also adds 160 workers and at peak will produce 1,000 panels a day. 82 TileLetter | October 2018