The Kerakoll Group is a multinational company working in the construction industry, offering an integrated range of products and services for building better places to live.
The Kerakoll Group
Kerakoll was established in 1968, in the heart of the Sassuolo ceramic district, and began by producing ceramic tile adhesives. Today, the Group is divided into four Business Units focusing on the needs of Laying, Construction, Surfaces and Services.
The Group achieved a turnover of 713 million euros in 2024 – 54% of which came from Italy and 46% from exports – and currently provides work for over 2,450 people including employees and freelancers. It has a direct presence in 12 countries and operates 25 production plants.
Sustainability has been at the core of Kerakoll’s philosophy since 1984 when Romano Sghedoni declared that “there is no value in industrial success if it is not linked to sustainable development.” And this approach has widened and deepened over the years to include a comprehensive commitment to ESG issues, with the Italian company becoming a Benefit Company in 2021, and the Group, including the UK, gaining B Corp certification in 2023.
For the product offering, this is shown by a commitment to developing the best possible products for the construction industry to enable the construction of safe, healthy and beautiful buildings. This means researching materials and processes to reduce the impact on the environment, with a built-in respect for natural resources and the circular economy. Kerakoll collaborates with academic and scientific institutions on major research projects to ensure material safety and meet end-user sustainability needs.
At the heart of its research and development is the GreenLab, Centre of Excellence. The lab houses over 1,500 advanced instruments, including the IAQ Lab for indoor air quality research and KlimaRoom, Europe’s first climate chamber to measure real energy performance of walls.
Kerakoll in the UK
The Kerakoll Group has had a subsidiary in the UK since 2006, and in 2017 they acquired Tilemaster Adhesives Ltd, one of the top ten UK companies producing products for the flooring and tiling industry, and merged the two firms.
The Group has been investing heavily in the UK company since they entered the market, initially with improvements to the existing Leyland based factory and logistics facilities, and an increase in the number of staff working for the company.
In 2025, construction started on a new site in the Preston area. In Phase 1 of this project, a warehouse, high bay storage area, SHS office area, and three-storey office building will all be built, with completion due in Q4 2026. This investment, in the region of £20 million, will allow the company to consolidate and expand its UK operations and better serve the market.
“Our new site will set the baseline for the next step in improved levels of service for our customers, and the second phase in two-to-three years will incorporate a production tower to allow more volume for new initiatives,” says Carl Gardner.
In line with its B Corp status and the Group’s focus on ESG issues, the buildings have been constructed to BREEAM Very Good standards. 2360 m² of photovoltaic panels have already been installed on the roof. These should generate an estimated 340 MWh per year, and save 65 tonnes per year in CO2 emissions.
Rainwater harvesting with a capacity of 30,000 m³ will serve the toilets in the main offices, giving an estimated water saving of 3000 l/day. The carpark will feature EV charging, dedicated bicycle parking and car share parking spaces.
A pre-build eco-system evaluation has allowed planning for noise, existing plant retention and replanting, a wildlife migration strategy, the creation of an attenuation pond, and compensation for nesting and roosting habitats. An external living wall is being installed on the main office façade.
Some of Kerakoll’s own range of products are being used for the surface finishes in the offices which have been designed with the health and well-being of staff in mind. Natural light and air quality have been made priorities. Moss walls will feature on each floor of the reception areas, with plants and greenery throughout the offices. There will be an internal canteen, and relaxation areas on all floors.
The new site will also feature a fully equipped R&D lab of 230 m² separate from the Quality Control laboratory for the development of sustainable, innovative products for the UK market.
The Kerakoll UK product range
The company’s approach to product development fits with the overall approach to sustainability, that is, to make products that perform excellently and do the least possible harm to the environment, so as to enable the construction of safe, healthy and beautiful buildings. This means researching materials and processes to reduce the impact on the environment, with a built-in respect for natural resources and the circular economy.
The focus on natural resources has led to the development of some very innovative new technologies, including Gel-Technology. This is used in several ranges, including H40 Gel-Adhesives, an award-winning range of tiling adhesives, and Levelflex Gel, a next generation levelling compound. These use a geo-binder containing natural polymers with a low environmental impact combined with a mineral that is extracted without the use of chemicals, solvents or synthetic post treatment agents.
The technology’s variable rheology and thixotropicity allow you to adapt the product to the project’s requirements. In the case of Levelflex Gel, this gives you exceptional control whether you need a free-flowing self-smoothing layer, or a more robust self-levelling application that can be trowelled to greater depths.
With the Gel-Adhesives, it gives you a mix that is both easy to apply and able to hold its shape at the same time, with excellent wettability.
Another example is Fugabella Color, the company’s resin-cement hybrid grout range. This uses similar technology and is produced without the addition of chemical and synthetic additives and biocides which are present in many of its competitors’ products.
The company’s flooring offering includes the Proflow range of five different smoothing compounds, covering all possible site, substrate and covering requirements. They include Proflow MVS, a revolutionary new product which has a built-in moisture-vapour-suppressant barrier that is effective up to 95% RH, removing the need for a DPM, and thus condensing a potential 3 product applications into one single application. The double-component product is free flowing, with excellent self-smoothing properties giving a flawless surface finish.
Technical help
Our dedicated Technical team is available to help with any product queries, and is happy to get involved in putting together specifications.
For more information on Kerakoll, its products and services please visit the website or contact us on the details below.
UK Sales Office:
01772 456 831
info@kerakoll.co.uk
www.kerakoll.com
