26 2018 | TECH CASE STUDY Gauging savings: USI porcelain panel project saves time and money By Ron Treister, Communicators International More than three decades ago, global tile manufacturers intro- duced through-body porcelain tile, and it quickly and seemingly became the industry’s cure-all. Being more molecularly compact than typical glazed ceramic tile, it offered the same durability and resistance to moisture as did solid granite, and at a lesser price point. Over the years, porcelain formats morphed into gargantuan tile sizes as large as 36” x 48.” And these tiles were no longer just “through-body” versions. Advanced inkjet printing processes were developed that actually gave tiles such authentic looks and tex- tures, it became almost impossible to discern whether or not they were true natural materials. This printing procedure was no flimsy topcoat. Airports around the globe, for example – which have tens of thousands of people racing across their terminal floors pulling wheeled luggage on a daily basis – have been successful with their specification of high density (HD) printed, porcelain flooring. So what was next in the world of porcellanato? In the last few years, a new phenomenon has appeared, now termed “gauged Crossville’s Laminam gauged porcelain panels were specified for this interior proj- ect at USI’s Health & Professions Building. Gauged porcelain panels have become an ideal alter- native to traditional porcelain due to their lighter weight.