At that time Dankotuwa had to commission famous designers to develop unique new designs. The first such designer shape was the Vessel shape designed by Jonathan Smith, which has a swirl on the outside and which was sold in the white form because it was a non-decorateable shape. Subsequently several new shapes have been designed by Pamela Greeves, Professor Wolf Karnagel, and Robin Levien. International designers were commissioned to develop new surface designs as well. Today Dankotuwa has over 60 shape ranges.
Developing a new shape takes an year or more from the drawing board stage when designers make the drawings taking into account the shrinkage factor in glost firing when the mixture of materials is transformed into vitrified porcelain. The designers also have to take into account the areas which need to be strengthened to prevent warping during the firing stage. After that, the mould preparation and forming takes place and several trial and error stages where the designers go back to the drawing stage whenever a sample fails. In more complicated designs the company commissions expert German modellers to make the models.
The star shape was designed by a foreign buyer and developed in-house by Dankotuwa designers and will have only a limited number of pieces such as the saucers, dinner plates, salad plates, and BB plates. They will be combined with another matching shape to complete the range. Initially the star shape will be introduced to the market with tea sets in three surface decorations. Dinner sets will follow in January. "Already several sets of the design have been booked as yearend gifts by Corporates" says Giyanie Fernando, Manager (Corporate Affairs).
Dankotuwa which is now in the ERI (Environmental Resource Investments PLC) group is gradually gearing up to achieve full capacity by the middle of January 2011. "We have invested in a new kind of saggars (a refractory cover in which each item is placed when it goes into the kiln) and that will also increase capacity and reduce energy cost by end of January" says Sarath Mallawa Arachchi, the Chief Operating Officer, adding that this was the first investment with the funds from the private placement contributed by ERI.
With the downturn in European markets as a result of the economic woes in those countries and the reluctance of European buyers to place orders as a result of GSP PLUS withdrawal, Dankotuwa has been focusing on other markets and the local market as well. hotel and restaurant sector in Sri Lanka is refurbishing and we are getting a lot of inquiries. We are able to customise with the designs and logos which the customers want, and are able to deliver in a short time" says Mangala Dissanayaka, Senior Manager (Business Development – Domestic), adding that the wide range of shapes is the attraction for many customers.
source - www.island.lk
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