Mariwasa Manufacturing Inc., a partner of the SCG group, is spending P100 million to upgrade existing tile manufacturing machines in the Philippines.
Mariwasa president Jakkrit Suwansilp said the company would spend significantly to improve the quality and aesthetics of products as it competes with global brands that export to the Philippines.
“This is another P100 million on top of the first P100 million the company spent last year. We want to expand coverage to penetrate not only homes and institutions but big housing projects, even residential, and vertical developments, as well,” he said.
Included in the modernization program is the proposed creation of a new kiln, which will cost about P30 million.
The bigger chunk of the budget will be spent for digital imaging processors to greatly enhance the look and design of each ceramic tile.
Suwansilp said Mariwasa would provide for the modernization costs using internal funds, as it did in the previous year. “With the new investment, we’ll have our fourth digital printing machine that will enable us to produce high value-added products comparable to imports,” he said.