15 2017 Inside Roca A hundred years of constant evolution and growth Roca is celebrating its centenary as one of the global leaders in the sale, production and design of products for the bathroom space. In this century of history, the brand has become well-rooted in the popular imagination, winning the trust of several generations of families in highly diverse societies. The company began its activity in 1917 with the production of cast iron radiators for domestic heating in its Gavà factory. Since then, it has evolved year after year, adapting to the transformations the world has gone through in this last century and offering new products that have helped to improve hygiene and families’ quality of life. In 1936, it began manufacturing vitreous china and in 1954, faucets. In the following decades, it continued to develop new products so that today it offers all categories of products to fully equip the bathroom space. At the same time, in order to meet the growing demand for products in the various societies in which it operates, the company has developed an industrial model for manufacturing with increasing quality, which today stretches across an industrial network made up of 78 factories in twenty countries around the world. Centenary banner in one of Roca’s facilities Entrepreneurial spirit and continuous improvement In this century of history, Roca has always remained faithful to the values of entrepreneurial spirit, effort and ethics, prudent management and constant reinvestment of profits. Under these principles it has developed a strategy for international expansion that has turned it into a global player in the bathroom space sector, with a commercial presence in more than 170 markets. As early as the 1950s, Roca was exporting to more than 40 countries, but the first phase of international expansion took place between 1970 and 1990, with the opening of subsidiaries in nearby European markets, such as France, Portugal, the United Kingdom, Germany and Italy. In the 1990s, it intensified this strategy, reaching markets in South America and North Africa. This new phase culminated in 1999 with the entry into the Asian market and the acquisition of the Swiss group Keramik Holding Laufen, which enabled the company to consolidate its presence in strategic markets such as Eastern Europe, Brazil and the USA. Since then, the Group has focused on extending its influence in the economies with the greatest potential for growth. Today, Roca, which employs more than 22,600 people, is a company engaged in the design, production and sale of products for the bathroom space, flooring and ceramic tiling for architecture, construction and interior design. Main entrance to Roca’s facilities in Gavà, Barcelona 3