01 Origin: Why make functional ceramic tiles?
Guangdong Tedi Ceramics Co., Ltd. was established in 2002. At the beginning of Tedi's establishment, the ceramic industry faced fierce market competition. From quality to color, various brands were innovating. Te Te has been thinking: In addition to decorative functions, can ceramic tile products create more possibilities?
At that time, people's living standards were slowly improving, they had higher requirements for the quality of life, and their concerns and needs for health were also increasing. In addition, news about decoration pollution causing diseases and cancer are often reported in the newspapers. As a result, people talk about aldehyde discoloration and are eager to have a product that can solve the problem of indoor air pollution and protect their families from harm.
Therefore, the two founders of Tete, Mr. Feng Hongjian and Mr. Li Qiang, decided to change the status quo when Tete was founded, so that ceramic tiles are no longer just decorations, but products that can bring health. Based on the postdoctoral workstation, a functional tile R&D team has been established to conduct research on functional tiles.
02 Opportunity: an inevitable necessity
While the special research and development team was struggling, I heard by chance that Professor Zeng Hanmin, a famous materials expert and then president of Sun Yat-sen University, was thinking about how to apply negative ion materials. The two parties found common ground on this issue, so they decided to work together to tackle the problem and began to develop negative ion ceramic tiles in 2003. (Zeng Hanmin, a famous polymer chemistry and materials scientist and educator, a PhD student in Jiangsu Province, professor, doctoral supervisor, deputy director of the School Committee of Sun Yat-sen University, president of Sun Yat-sen University from April 1991 to June 1995, national high-tech ( 863) The first chief scientist in the field of new materials, winner of the Ho Leung Ho Lee Foundation Science and Technology Progress Award, and the recipient of the 2010 Meritorious Figures of the Republic)
After specially cooperating with Professor Zeng Hanmin, during a field inspection of raw ceramic mines, Professor Zeng accidentally discovered that the air in a certain mine was particularly fresh, but there was not a single green plant around the mine. This attracted everyone's attention, so the ore from the mine was taken back to the laboratory for testing. The analysis showed that the ore has the function of reacting with water in the air to produce negative ions.
After continuous exploration and experimentation by the scientific research teams of both parties, healthy ceramic tiles that can stably produce negative ions were finally developed in 2004, pioneering the functionalization of ceramic tiles. In the same year, we applied for an invention patent and obtained the negative ion ceramic tile invention patent authorization in 2007. This is the industry's first negative ion ceramic tile invention patent certificate [Patent No.: ZL200410079022.8].
03 Overcoming difficulties: It is difficult to pass the test
Change requires courage, but in the face of the market environment and the urgent needs of consumers at that time, we chose to take an extremely difficult and lonely independent research and development route. Even if there had never been functional ceramic tiles on the market at that time, no one could tell how long it would take to succeed, let alone how the market would react.
As you can imagine, the research and development process of functional ceramic tiles will be very bumpy. There are no references, no technology, no equipment, no trial materials and other problems. After continuous failures and continuous research by the scientific research teams of both parties, they have overcome each problem. , and finally developed negative ion ceramic tiles.
The first major problem:Selection of materials to induce negative ions
There are many kinds of materials in nature that can induce negative ions in the air. After repeated research and experimental screening, tourmaline (tourmaline) is specially selected as the negative ion material. It is treated with patented process technology so that it can still maintain its properties after being fired at high temperature. The material has stable performance and does not affect the appearance of the product. The most important thing is that it can produce negative ions for a long time.
The second biggest problem: the selection of negative ion ceramic tiles
At that time, after developing negative ion ceramic tiles, we were specifically considering which type of negative ion products could better open up the market. At that time, a large number of porcelain tiles were used in kitchens and bathrooms during home decoration. On the one hand, the humid environment in the bathroom would be more conducive to the generation of negative ions. On the other hand, because negative ions have the effect of absorbing odors, they are also used in kitchens and bathrooms to absorb odors. This was more in line with market demand at the time and could enhance users' intuitive experience of negative ion ceramic tiles.
Therefore, porcelain tiles were chosen as the first negative ion ceramic tile category. Once released, it caused a great sensation in the industry.
04 Market Resistance War: Waiting for the Right Time
In the past ten years or so, negative ion ceramic tiles have gone through a long market cultivation process, but have been in a tepid state. For the public, negative ion ceramic tiles are an unfamiliar product. Although advertising can make everyone familiar with a brand quickly, because negative ions are invisible and intangible, it cannot dispel consumers' doubts about negative ions and their effects.
As a technology research and development-oriented brand, TeDe must have its own R&D technology and scientific and technological achievements proven on a larger stage. Over the years, TeDe has never stopped working in this regard.
In 2016, Te Te carried out a brand upgrade from "Te Te Ceramics" to "Te Te Negative Ion Tiles".
“We want the whole industry to know that we have been focusing on the field of negative ion ceramic tiles for many years.We have almost thoroughly researched this technology. The purpose of brand upgrade is to build confidence in ourselves and dealers. " Li Qiang, the special helmsman, said categorically, his eyes revealing a firm gaze.
Li Qiang recalled that he was the first company in the industry to find negative ion ceramic tile testing tools, and made many attempts to do so. Domestic, German and Japanese equipment even tried Pass. "From product launch, to obtaining professional test reports, to brand upgrades." Every step of Te Te's growth is subject to the test of the market.
05 I can do more
In Te Te's view, the development of an enterprise cannot just purely pursue the maximization of the company's interests, but should "follow the principles of nature, follow the principles of humanity, and respect business principles" to shoulder a corporate social responsibility. For a long time, in addition to taking the development of the healthy ceramics industry as his own responsibility, he also wanted to do more for society.
Specially insist on being an environmentalist in China, responding to the country’s call for environmental protection and low carbon, reducing environmental pollution, investing in the establishment of a sewage treatment center to treat and recycle construction sewage, dust, and waste residues. Actively assume our responsibilities to society.
Since 2006, we have been going to Inner Mongolia to plant trees for more than ten years to create a "green reclamation base low-carbon forest" and build a green barrier for Inner Mongolia. After sixteen years of unremitting efforts, it has expanded to 10,000 acres. The specially designed "green reclamation base low-carbon forest" has become a green barrier in Inner Mongolia and even North China.
As an advocate of healthy homes, I am very aware of the dangers of decoration pollution to children's health. In 2019, Teidi Negative Ion Ceramics participated in the construction of "Weibo Small Home", providing free negative ion ceramic tiles for small home decoration to "children with leukemia", and contributing to the construction of healthy small homes.
On July 6, 2020, the leading group in Ganluo County, Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture, came to the Tedi Negative Ion Ceramics headquarters for investigation and received a batch of donations from Tedi—— Special negative ion ceramic tiles worth 300,000 yuan. Dedicated to long-term charity and alwaysWe care about the students in impoverished mountainous areas and hope to contribute our small amount to the education of children in impoverished areas.
06 New Journey
We have walked a long way alone, and now, Tete has transformed from an unknown but determined loner to a leader in the negative ion ceramic tile industry.
“Early consumers paid more attention to color and color when choosing products, and rarely cared about whether the product had health care functions. But today’s consumption has upgraded, consumers have changed, and today’s demands are beauty and health.” Li Qiang said.
With more than ten years of technology research and development, and in recent years, consumers' recognition of negative ion ceramic tiles has greatly increased, "functionality" will definitely become the standard feature of ceramic tiles, said Li Qiang, the head of the company. We are currently stocking up on new technologies, such as antibacterial, geothermal, etc., and are solidly empowering technology-based brands with technical products. We are making steady progress towards becoming the first brand of "functional ceramic tiles".
The dream that was difficult to realize at first but was quietly put into the heart has become an indispensable part of every special person.
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