What Cooperativa Ceramica d'Imola does

Cooperativa Ceramica d'Imola is a private cooperative ceramic manufacturer founded in 1874 in Imola, Italy, and recognized as the oldest Production and Work Cooperative in Italy. The company designs, manufactures, and sells ceramic floor and wall tiles and porcelain stoneware under three commercial sub-brands (Imola, LaFaenza, and Leonardo), plus an artistic majolica line (Imolarte). Production is conducted across three facilities (Imola, Borgo Tossignano, and Faenza) operating 19 production lines on over 1 million square meters of floor space, with two parallel manufacturing technologies: traditional hydraulic pressing and the proprietary Continua Plus continuous compaction system, which enables large-format full-body porcelain stoneware slabs at 6.5mm thickness and reduces energy consumption by up to 50%. Products exceed key technical thresholds — water absorption below 0.1%, modulus of rupture above 45 N/mm2, deep abrasion below 140 mm3 — and carry international certifications (ISO 9001/14001/45001, EMAS, EPD, HPD, FDES, QB UPEC, CE, CCC, UKCA) supporting cross-border project specification.

The company operates as a B2B manufacturer and exporter, distributing globally through a network of distributors; export accounts for 70% of total turnover. The go-to-market is anchored on enterprise field sales with architects, design studios, construction companies, and major project developers, supplemented by trade show presence at Cersaie, a 3,000+ sqm flagship showroom in Imola, dedicated brand websites, and LEED-contributing sustainability positioning. Customer segments include residential and commercial architects, construction and real estate developers, high-traffic and specialized environment operators (hospitals, chemical/pharmaceutical, food industry), and distributor networks. Revenue is generated primarily through one-time product sales — pricing is quote-based and project-specific rather than publicly listed. Headcount is reported in the 501-1,000 range across the three production sites and headquarters.

Ownership rests with worker-members under the cooperative model established by founder Giuseppe Bucci in 1874; no external parent, private equity, or institutional investor ownership is disclosed. The company is actively operating, participated in Cersaie 2025, celebrated its 150th anniversary in 2024, and recently completed renovation of its headquarters complex (the Hub project) in 2023.

Name

Cooperativa Ceramica d'Imola

Legal name

Cooperativa Ceramica d'Imola S.C.

Website

https://ccimola.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1874

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Cooperativa Ceramica d'Imola is Italy's oldest Production and Work Cooperative (founded 1874), manufacturing ceramic floor and wall tiles and porcelain stoneware across three Italian facilities under the Imola, LaFaenza, and Leonardo brands, with 70% of turnover from global export.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Ceramic Tiles & Porcelain Stoneware

NAICS

Clay Building Material and Refractories Manufacturing (327120), Pottery, Ceramics, and Plumbing Fixture Manufacturing (327110)

SIC

Structural Clay Products (3250), Pottery & Related Products (3260)

akta.pro primary industry

Ceramic, Porcelain & Natural Stone Tile Flooring (IMADAJAE)

Keywords

• Ceramic floor tiles
• Porcelain stoneware
• Wall cladding tiles
• Large format slabs
• Ceramic tile manufacturing

Headquarters

HQ city

Imola

HQ country

Italy

HQ region

Europe

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Ceramic tile and porcelain stoneware sales: Cooperativa Ceramica d'Imola generates revenue primarily through the manufacture and sale of ceramic floor and wall tiles, porcelain stoneware, and related surface solutions under its three commercial brands: Imola, LaFaenza, and Leonardo. The company operates as a B2B manufacturer and exporter, with export accounting for 70% of total turnover. Revenue is derived from product sales to distributors, architects, designers, construction companies, and project developers globally.
2. Brand portfolio licensing and diversification: The three brands (Imola, LaFaenza, Leonardo) target different market segments and design aesthetics, enabling cross-selling and a diversified customer base. Each brand operates its own dedicated website and distribution, contributing to overall group revenue through differentiated product lines ranging from solid, hardwearing contemporary tiles (Imola) to refined interior design solutions (LaFaenza) and high-performance advanced ceramic solutions (Leonardo).

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Cooperativa Ceramica d'Imola manufactures and sells ceramic floor and wall tiles, porcelain stoneware, and large-format thin slabs (6.5mm) through three commercial brands—Imola (contemporary solid tiles), LaFaenza (interior design for residential and retail), and Leonardo (advanced high-performance technical ceramics)—plus Imolarte artistic majolica. Production uses dual technology (traditional hydraulic pressing and the Continua Plus continuous compaction system) across three Italian plants, with 100% Made in Italy output and 70% of turnover from exports.

Product overview

Cooperativa Ceramica d'Imola operates as a ceramic tile manufacturing cooperative with three distinct commercial sub-brands (Imola, LaFaenza, Leonardo) and an artistic section (Imolarte). The company produces porcelain stoneware tiles and large slab ceramics using traditional press technology and Continua Plus production lines. Imola serves the general style market with solid, contemporary floor and wall tiles; LaFaenza focuses on interior design for residential and retail settings; Leonardo develops advanced high-performance technical ceramic solutions; and Imolarte produces handcrafted artistic majolica. All production is 100% Made in Italy across three manufacturing facilities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Imola: Vital, warm and contemporary brand that satisfies any need for style with solid, hardwearing products and contemporary appeal. Designs and manufactures wide range of floor and wall tiles reflecting market needs. Made in Imola means made with passion for 150 years.
• LaFaenza
• Leonardo
• ImolArte

Products and services

• Imola brand ceramic tiles Solid, hardwearing, contemporary floor and wall ceramic tiles designed for general residential and commercial settings under the Imola brand. Targets the style market with a wide range of floor and wall tiles reflecting current market needs and contemporary aesthetic.
• LaFaenza brand ceramic tiles Refined, sophisticated ceramic tiles dedicated to interior design for residential settings and small-to-medium retail environments. Combines modern aesthetic with traditional ceramic know-how for distinctive, design-led applications.
• Leonardo brand advanced ceramic solutions Advanced high-performance ceramic solutions pushing technical frontiers. Designed for demanding professional clients needing a balance between style and performance in challenging environments (high-traffic, chemical exposure, sterile facilities).
• Porcelain stoneware floor and wall tiles

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• RAK Ceramics: UAE-based global ceramic tile and sanitaryware manufacturer with operations across Middle East, India, and Europe. Comparable in large-scale porcelain tile manufacturing and global distribution; broader product portfolio including sanitaryware.
• Kajaria Ceramics: India's largest ceramic tile manufacturer producing floor and wall tiles for domestic and export markets. Comparable in porcelain stoneware manufacturing and global distribution, though primarily serves Indian market and competes on price-volume rather than premium Italian positioning.
• Mohawk Industries: US-listed global flooring manufacturer (owner of Marazzi Group). Indirect parent-company peer through Marazzi ownership, with comparable ceramic tile exposure at scale and global distribution reach across all flooring categories.

Direct peers

• Pamesa Cerámica: Spanish ceramic tile manufacturer with vertically integrated production and global distribution. Comparable in scale, product range (floor and wall porcelain tiles), and significant international export presence.
• Marazzi Group: Italian ceramic tile manufacturer owned by Mohawk Industries, producing floor and wall porcelain stoneware for residential and commercial markets globally. Directly comparable product portfolio, customer segments (architects, developers), and export-oriented business model.
• Emilceramica: Italian ceramic tile manufacturer specializing in porcelain stoneware for floors and walls, acquired by Iris Ceramica Group. Comparable in product category, premium Italian positioning, and large-format slab offerings.
• Panariagroup: Italian listed ceramic tile group with multiple brands (Panaria, Cotto d'Este, Margres, Love Tiles). Comparable multi-brand portfolio targeting premium and mainline segments globally; similar distribution model with significant export share.
• Florim: Italian ceramic tile manufacturer headquartered in Fiorano Modenese, producing porcelain stoneware for floors, walls, and large-format slabs. Comparable in technology investment (large-format production), brand segmentation, and premium positioning.
• Cifre Cerámica: Spanish ceramic tile manufacturer producing porcelain tiles and large-format slabs for global distribution. Comparable in product mix (porcelain stoneware, large formats) and export-driven business model, though based in a different Mediterranean market.
• Iris Ceramica Group: Italian ceramic surface manufacturer with brands including Iris Ceramica, FMG, and SapienStone. Comparable premium Italian positioning, technical performance leadership, and large-format slab production (e.g., SapienStone countertops).

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/watch?v=hcYy32ntako

Compliance11 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Cooperativa Ceramica d'Imola