Like most global brands, VitrA’s success story began at a local Ievel. In the 1940s Turkey faced huge shortages. To satisfy the demand for earthenware products, a ceramic manufacturing workshop was established in Kartal, Istanbul with an eight-man workforce. Post-war, the company grew and began to focus on ceramic sanitaryware – a novelty in the marbledominated Turkish market. Ceramic’s versatility and affordability made it a complete success domestically. The first production plant came on line to answer demand in 1958. Launching the “VitrA” brand in 1966, the Eczacibasi Group gradually extended its capacity to include the full range of sanitary products. VitrA’s first exports were made to Germany in the early 1980s. Soon after, VitrA began to establish itself as a global brand.

To better serve its expanding foreign market, Vitra launched a manufacturing plant in Ireland in 1999. The recent acquisitions in Germany is further testament to VitrA’s global outlook. Engers, a major player in the German wall tile market, was taken over in early 2006. The following year, in March, the Division acquired 51% share and full management control of the highly prestigious Villeroy&Boch’s tile operation. And in 2008, VitrA in its fiftieth year in bathroom design acquired the German burgbad Company, the European leader of the luxury bathroom furniture market.

Vitra