EUF Technical Commission Spring Meeting 2026

In keeping with tradition, the current Chair of the EUF Technical Commission selects one of the two meeting venues. Paolo Colombo took the opportunity, alongside the intensive technical exchange within the Commission, to strengthen ties with the new EUF supporting members from the Verona region. The aim of the meeting was to pro-vide the technical delegates of the national tile trade associations, in addition to the regular agenda items, with an insight into the world of the natural stone industry in particular. The programme was complemented by several company visits in the Vero-na region and around Lake Garda.

The focus of the EUF Technical Commission meeting at the engineering firm Donatoni was on the technical contributions from the individual member associations as well as discussions regarding regulatory work.

The range of presentations covered topics such as water capillarity in tile adhesives and the prevention of potential consequential damage, damage analyses of tile cover-ings, and colour changes resulting from contamination of the surface structure of ce-ramic tiles. In addition, approaches to circular construction were discussed, with a focus on the recycling of tile coverings and substrate materials.

Further presentations dealt with the installation of large-format tiles and slabs, as well as new processing techniques and design possibilities for ceramic surfaces. In this context, precise processing techniques and the integration of functional elements are becoming increasingly important. Design aspects such as continuous material struc-tures in ceramic surfaces were also addressed. It became clear that both technical requirements and craftsmanship are becoming increasingly important in this field.

In light of recent developments, the Technical Commission examined a research pro-ject by the European Commission aimed at harmonising the slip resistance of floor coverings across Europe in future using a single measurement method. Since the end of 2021, the EN 16165 standard has summarised in Annexes A–D all three measure-ment methods, which can be used on an equal footing to determine slip resistance. This allows users to select the appropriate standardised method for a wide variety of flooring materials.

• Annexes A & B: Inclined plane (barefoot and footwear testing).
• Annex C: Pendulum test.
• Annex D: Tribometer measurement (sliding friction).

In summary, it can be said that the EU’s ‘preference’ is for the mutual recognition of the procedures described in EN 16165, in order to ensure the free movement of goods within the single market without forcing a country to abandon its tried-and-tested safety standards
Beyond the purely technical exchange, the training system in the tiling trade was pre-sented using Belgium as an example. Differences between full-time school-based, dual and work-based training pathways were highlighted. Securing skilled workers and ensuring the attractiveness of training remain key challenges in all member states.

In addition to the specialist presentations, participants gained insights into various companies in the sector during site visits to EUF support partners. At IONIA, the fo-cus was on the manufacture of bespoke furniture such as washbasins and kitchen worktops made from ceramic or natural stone. DONATONI presented state-of-the-art machinery for stone and ceramic processing, particularly in the field of CNC-controlled systems and waterjet technology, whilst DAKOTA showcased innovative plastic sys-tems such as levelling aids or pedestal support components for tile laying, as well as sustainable production approaches.

In addition, FILA-Solutions provided an overview of care, protection and cleaning sys-tems for ceramic tiles and natural stone. In particular, practical application concepts were presented throughout the entire installation process.

A big thank you goes to Gianni Guidoccio, an independent business developer at the Chamber of Commerce in Trentino, Italy, who accompanied and guided us throughout the three days and now acts as a liaison between the new EUF supporting members from the natural stone sector and the EUF.

Through regular exchanges within the Technical Commission, the EUF contributes to the further development of technical standards and to the networking of member as-sociations. The next meeting of the Technical Commission will take place from 18–20 November 2026 in Prague and Pilsen, at the invitation of the next President of the EUF Technical Commission, Petr Obraz from the Czech Republic.









Report EUF TC in Verona DE
Report EUF TC in Verona IT
Report EUF TC in Verona FR