What Does Dal-Tile Do?
Dal-Tile is the largest manufacturer and distributor of ceramic tile, natural stone, and related products in the United States. Founded in 1947 in Dallas, Texas, Dal-Tile has grown from a regional supplier to a national leader in the tile industry.
The company was established by Morris Fogel, who opened the first Dal-Tile showroom in downtown Dallas in 1947. Dal-Tile started as a small distributor of tile products but quickly expanded by acquiring other regional manufacturers and launching its own production operations. By 1958, Dal-Tile opened its first manufacturing plant in Dallas to produce ceramic mosaic tile (https://www.daltile.com/about-us/company-information/daltile-history).
Over the next several decades, Dal-Tile continued to grow through new plant openings and strategic acquisitions. Key milestones included becoming a nationwide supplier in the 1960s, going public in 1993, merging with the Marazzi Group in 2000, and being acquired by Mohawk Industries in 2018. Today, Dal-Tile remains headquartered in Dallas and operates multiple manufacturing facilities and distribution centers across the United States.
Products
Dal-Tile offers a wide variety of ceramic, porcelain, glass, metal, and stone tile products for both residential and commercial applications ([1]). Their product categories include floor tile, wall tile, countertops, mosaics, trim pieces, and more. Some of their most popular products include:
- Ceramic tile: Available in a huge range of styles, shapes, colors, and textures. Durable and affordable.
- Porcelain tile: Known for mimicking natural stone while offering superior performance. Stain, scratch and fade resistant.
- Glass tile: Offers a sleek, modern look. Translucent and available in multiple finishes.
- Metal tile: Brings contemporary style with nature-inspired textures. Extremely durable.
- Stone tile: Includes marble, travertine, slate and more for elegance. Available in variety of finishes.
- Mosaics: Mixed tile pieces that create beautiful patterns. Offered in all tile materials.
Dal-Tile continuously innovates and expands their tile offerings. They manufacture many of their collections in their U.S. factories in accordance with industry sustainability standards ([2]). Their products are distributed through a network of showrooms and dealers to provide superior service and selection to customers.
Manufacturing
Dal-Tile operates 12 ceramic tile manufacturing facilities across the United States and Mexico. These factories allow Dal-Tile to produce a wide variety of ceramic and porcelain tile products. According to the Dal-Tile website, the company has manufacturing locations in Alaska, Arizona, California, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Oregon, Tennessee, and Texas. Dal-Tile’s headquarters and main manufacturing campus are located in Dallas, Texas.
Dal-Tile uses advanced manufacturing processes and technology in its facilities. The factories utilize high-speed presses, robotics, and computerized equipment to create consistent, high-quality tile. Dal-Tile has invested significantly in sustainable manufacturing practices like water recycling, waste reduction, and energy efficiency. For example, the Monterrey, Mexico facility recycles 100% of its water used in manufacturing. Dal-Tile’s commitment to green manufacturing has earned recognition and awards from organizations like the EPA.
Having manufacturing locations across the United States allows Dal-Tile to efficiently distribute its products nationwide. The wide geographic distribution of plants also provides job opportunities in local communities. Dal-Tile employs over 5,000 people in its manufacturing facilities. With its domestic manufacturing, Dal-Tile is able to quickly meet customer demand and adapt to market trends.
Source: https://www.daltile.com/about-us
Sustainability
Dal-Tile is committed to sustainable manufacturing and designing environmentally-friendly tile products. According to their website, “Sustainability is at the core of what we do. Our promise is to create beautiful tile responsibly.”
Dal-Tile has several green initiatives in place at their manufacturing facilities, such as recycling over 90% of unfired scrap tile body. They also use energy-efficient kilns and processes to reduce their environmental impact. Many of Dal-Tile’s products meet sustainability certifications like Green Squared and contain recycled content.
In addition, Dal-Tile aims to source raw materials responsibly and has eco-friendly packaging made from recycled materials. They are a member of the U.S. Green Building Council and have obtained Cradle to Cradle certifications for some collections body. Overall, sustainability initiatives are an important focus for Dal-Tile across manufacturing, products, and operations.
Innovation
Dal-Tile leads the tile industry in developing innovations and new technologies, consistently creating cutting edge solutions in floor tile, wall tile, and countertops.[1] One of their recent innovations is RevoTile, offered in marble, stone, and concrete looks that can transform a space in just one day.[2] Dal-Tile is focused on enhancing design through technology, as seen in innovations like StepWiseTM, which replicates the texture and finish of natural stone.[3] Through pioneering tile innovations, Dal-Tile aims to push boundaries and achieve more beautiful and authentic-looking tiles.
By leveraging the latest technology and processes, Dal-Tile creates revolutionary products that can quickly and easily install, providing end users with design flexibility and versatility. Their commitment to innovation ensures Dal-Tile remains at the forefront of the tile industry.
Design
Dal-Tile is known for its innovative and stylish tile designs across a wide range of styles. According to their website, “As the leader in tile for over 75 years, Dal-Tile provides all the resources, inspiration, and exceptional products to make your creative designs a reality.”
They offer many design tools and resources for both consumers and design professionals:
- The Dal-Tile Stylizer allows you to visualize different tiles in a 3D room setting. It has over 100 design combinations to explore (Source: https://www.daltile.com/Design-Tools).
- The Mosaic Design Tool lets you create custom mosaic designs and visualize them installed. You can adjust colors, textures, and layouts (Source: https://www.daltile.com/Design-Tools).
- The Virtual House tool allows you to remodel and redecorate entire rooms with different tile products (Source: https://www.daltile.com/Design-Tools).
- Their Design Ideas Library provides inspiration from award-winning designers along with how-to’s and the latest tile trends (Source: https://www.daltile.com/trend-hub/design-ideas-library).
With these robust design offerings, Dal-Tile aims to help make customize tile designs easy and accessible for all.
Notable Projects
Dal-Tile products have been used in many notable commercial and residential projects over the years. Some examples include:
The Restoration Hardware in Chicago features over 30,000 square feet of Dal-Tile’s Marble Plank collection on the walls and floors, creating a luxurious and stylish environment.
The University of Oregon utilized Dal-Tile’s Reveal Imaging technology to design realistic wood-look tile floors for the Lillis Business Complex.
Developers of the ultra-modern Porsche Design Tower in Miami chose large-format Dal-Tile tile to outfit the bathrooms in each luxury unit.
Dal-Tile collaborated with hospitality design firm The Gettys Group on the restaurants, lobby and public spaces of the Chicago Athletic Association Hotel, providing custom tile solutions.
The company partnered with DLR Group architects to create unique mosaic murals for the Sacramento International Airport using its pixelated tessera collection.
Financials
According to a Corporate & Investor Relations Profile on Dal-Tile’s website, the company generates annual revenues of approximately $1.7 billion as of 2021. Dal-Tile has experienced steady revenue growth over the past several years, with revenues increasing from $1.36 billion in 2015 to the current $1.7 billion level. The company sells its products through a network of over 300 company-owned sales service centers in North America.
In addition to strong revenue growth, Dal-Tile has maintained consistent profitability. A Zippia analysis shows that Dal-Tile’s net income has ranged between $90-110 million annually over the past five years. The company has achieved these solid financial results through its leading market share in ceramic tile along with its investments in manufacturing capabilities and innovative product design.
Dal-Tile is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Mohawk Industries, which is the largest flooring manufacturer in the world. As part of the Mohawk family of brands, Dal-Tile has access to greater financial resources and economies of scale that enable the company to drive growth and remain highly competitive within the tile industry.
Leadership
Dal-Tile’s leadership team includes highly experienced professionals with decades of experience in the tile industry. The company’s CEO and President is John Turner, who previously served as Dal-Tile’s Chief Operating Officer before being appointed CEO in 2017 (https://craft.co/daltile/executives). Other key executives include David Broyles, Chief Financial Officer; Brian Cain, Vice President of the Mid-South Region; and Jim Lane, Regional Vice President of the West Region (https://www.comparably.com/companies/dal-tile/executive-team).
This experienced leadership team provides strategic direction and oversight for Dal-Tile’s operations, with a focus on product innovation, sustainability, and customer satisfaction. Under their leadership, Dal-Tile has solidified its position as the largest manufacturer and distributor of ceramic tile in North America.
Conclusion
Dal-Tile is a long-standing leader in the tile industry, providing high-quality and innovative tile solutions for residential and commercial spaces for over 70 years. Their extensive selection of ceramic, porcelain, glass, metal, and stone tiles in a wide variety of styles, colors, shapes, and textures allow designers to customize any space. With manufacturing facilities across the United States and Mexico, Dal-Tile has the capacity and infrastructure to meet the tile needs of major projects while maintaining excellent quality control. Their commitment to sustainability, design, and customer satisfaction makes Dal-Tile a trusted partner for tile installations of all sizes.
In summary, Dal-Tile’s industry expertise, manufacturing capabilities, focus on innovation, and breadth of tile products position them as an essential player in the tile industry. Their tiles can be found enhancing spaces across North America. With a legacy of quality and service since 1947, Dal-Tile continues to be a go-to source for beautiful, durable, and creative tile solutions.