Crossville, Inc. celebrates 30th year in business
CROSSVILLE, TN -- Domestic porcelain tile manufacturer Crossville, Inc. celebrated its 30th anniversary on May 5, 2016. Founded in 1986, the company is U.S.-owned and operated, with headquarters and manufacturing facilities located in Crossville, TN. As a wholly-owned subsidiary of Curran Group, a privately held holding company renowned for its core values of family, respect, partnership, integrity and improvement, Crossville benefits from exceptional support and infrastructure that has made its 30 years of success possible.
In addition to being the first tile manufacturer in Tennessee, the company has been the forerunner in many innovations, achieving an impressive list of industry "firsts" in its three decades in business. It was the first to produce large-format tile onsite; first to manufacture tile with certified recycled content; first to develop the ability to recycle fired porcelain, resulting in creation of the Tile Take-Back® Program and recycling partnership with TOTO USA; first to achieve certification of its waste recycling programs; first to achieve TCNA's Green Squared certification for all of its U.S.-produced tile lines; first to distribute a complete line of large format, thin porcelain panels (Laminam by Crossville); and first to become a net consumer of waste.
Tim Curran, co-president of the Curran Group and a constant leader for the Crossville organization, reflects on what has brought the company to such a notable milestone."Simply put, our success is all attributable to the people who do the work at Crossville," he said. "Whether that is a visionary like Svend Hovmand who first envisioned Crossville and later became its president, a life-time tile maker like John Smith who brought stability to our manufacturing and also later served as the company's president, or any of the hundreds of wonderful employees who have made our company at home in Crossville, Tennessee, none of our success happens without the contributions of many hard working individuals of the highest character."
In looking back at the three decades, Curran reflects on key phases in Crossville's growth, noting the pivotal aspects of each: the company's "infancy," its "youth" and its "young adulthood." "Crossville successfully recruited an initial team that built the first of its kind tile manufacturing facility in the U.S., organized a very successful sales and marketing team, and introduced a new product category: porcelain tile. All of these were accomplished in a few short years while generating a profit," he said. "Crossville emerged from being a novelty in the middle of Tennessee to a recognized leader in the tile industry with a reputation and presence that spread around the world. Capacity and complexity both continued to grow as porcelain tile became a mainstream product category.
"Porcelain has become a major part of the tile industry," Curran went on to explain. "Products have become incredibly sophisticated with sizes and shapes virtually unlimited. The level of competition has increased both from burgeoning production in China and other parts of Asia, as well as an explosion of production facilities in the U.S., in particular Tennessee.Crossville has branched into distribution and has continued to develop its proprietary logistics programs. This is where we are today -- about to hit our stride as an 'adult.'"
Curran notes, "I think we have demonstrated to the industry that we are good at what we do -- making and selling tile -- and that we conduct ourselves with the highest morals and a good heart."
He shares that these standards are the foundation of the company's aspiration for the future. "There is still a long runway ahead for Crossville," he said.
To learn more about the company, its products, programs and sustainable practices, visit crossvilleinc.com.
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