DIRESCO – Innovating Mineral Surfaces
Diresco – a Belgian family-owned company founded in 2003 – is one of the leading European manufacturers of mineral surfaces for kitchen worktops. Thanks to continuous investments and a permanent focus on innovation, the company has grown over the past two decades into a major player in the international market of engineered stone.
Diresco exports to over 20 countries worldwide, with United States as the no. 3 market behind the home markets of Belgium and The Netherlands. Other key markets are Germany, Italy, Poland, Portugal and Greece. Diresco is the sole manufacturer of engineered stone in northwestern Europe, taking a strong market position in that region.
New CEO Dirk Van Houwe
In 2024 considerable investments will be implemented under the leadership of a new CEO who started in September 2023. Dirk Van Houwe has a gained lot of experience in the wood business in Western Europe, particularly focusing on technical innovations and transformation processes. Dirk has joined a strong and stable company, in which the combination of family shareholders and a private equity partner creates a special dynamic.
Family values, entrepreneurship, professional drive and a solid financial base are the key ingredients of the recipe for success in Diresco’s future. Many interesting opportunities lay ahead in concluding new partnerships with customers, particularly in emerging markets such as UAE and Saudi Arabia.
Strong local partnerships and a focus on sustainability
At the same time Diresco aims to grow in its local markets by serving the European market with the strong partnerships, if possible in collaboration with local suppliers. Diresco sources its raw materials as much as possible from local European suppliers. From a sustainability point of view this strategy is the only way forward in reducing the company’s CO2 footprint considerably.
And on the customer side too, Diresco wants to be as close as possible to its customers. Target groups are distributors, stonemasons, kitchen stores and architects. From a commercial perspective there is a very important focus on the showroom visitors of the kitchen stores. This customer-centric approach (bottom-up) allows Diresco to keep the finger on the pulse to meet the specific needs of end customers.
More than ever, Diresco is leading the way in innovation. Two innovative ranges will be launched in the first part of 2024.
SUBLIME: a revolutionary process
THE AESTHETICS OF NATURAL STONE COMBINED WITH THE PROPERTIES OF ENGINEERED STONE
This spring, Diresco will be the first European manufacturer of mineral surfaces to take the lead with a revolutionary production process. With the introduction of this innovative sublimation technology, Diresco will produce worktops by implementing a state-of-the-art sublimation process. The term ‘sublimation’ stands for a chemical reaction in which molecules go into a direct transition from a solid phase into gaseous phase, by skipping the liquid phase.
This revolutionary production process allows Diresco to combine the aesthetics of natural stone with the high-quality properties of engineered stone. This technology will be a major game-changer in the world of engineered stone and puts Diresco in the lead of innovation. This brand-new product range will be launched under the name “Sublime“ (launch in Q2).
The Sublime range will allow Diresco to significantly expand its portfolio with a variety of new colors, unique designs and striking patterns, in line with the current market demand within the kitchen industry.
In the second part of 2024, Diresco will further expand its innovative product range by combining the Sublime-technology with eye-catching full-body designs and a trendy marble look, including Travertin and Taj Mahal vein patterns.
NATURE: a low-silica range in natural earthy tones
A NEW RANGE OF EARTHY, NATURAL COLORS IN LIGHT GREY AND BEIGE
The Nature range consists of four designs: Nature Silver, Nature Silver Cloud, Nature Beige, Nature Beige Cloud. The two Cloud-variants stand out with their stylish gold-colored cloudy vein pattern. The inspiring Nature range represents timeless design and pure class. With warm earth and nature colors, Diresco flawlessly anticipates the latest interior design trends in kitchens and bathrooms.
In light of worldwide growing concerns about workplace safety, the new Nature range is produced with an alternative raw material containing a reduced silica level. This is an additional and important USP in the promotion of this new range.
The Nature range will be an important addition to the already extensive Diresco range and offer stylish added value in a variety of applications (launch in Q1).
Diresco products stand out due to three important USPs:
- Diresco is the sole manufacturer of engineered-stone countertops using biological resins and natural components in its production process. This results in a reduction of 65 kg of CO2 emissions per slab produced (compared to a conventional slab in engineered stone made with non-organic resins),
- Diresco worktops are manufactured with a unique in-house developed BIO-UV technology, offering optimal color stability specifically for outdoor applications.
- And finally, Diresco “Made in Belgium” operates from its production plant in Oudsbergen (Flanders), with a strong focus on the development and sale of high-quality, innovative and sustainable products.
Diresco worktops can be used flawlessly in any interior environment and offer added value in both function and aesthetics for various indoor and outdoor applications – mainly kitchens, but also bathrooms, walls, stairs, floors and even fireplaces.
Also this year, Diresco will be present at the KBIS exhibition in Las Vegas (Feb. 27- Feb.29). Visit the Diresco booth (North-Hall, N2175) and admire our latest innovations with Nature and Sublime.
We are looking forward to welcoming you on the Diresco booth to update you on our latest innovations and developments! Hope to see you there to raise the glass together!
