Fábrica de Cerâmica Valadares, S.A. is located in the small town of Valadares, Vila Nova de Gaia.  Our plant occupies a total area of 176,000m2 (82,000m2 of facilities).  Established on April 25, 1921, we now employ 560 people.  Throughout the years, "Valadares" has engaged in the production of ceramics, having begun with brick and tile manufacture.  Later on, we started manufacturing ceramic sandstone items, ornamental ware, glazed tiles, and sanitary-ware, along with ceramic bathroom fittings and mosaic work.

Eventually, in 1949, "Valadares" was acquired by three committed and dynamic entrepreneurs, who raised the company to the still-enviable position it occupies on the Portuguese industrial scene today. The company did, however, suffer some financial setbacks in the 70s - owing to the uncertainties prevailing in Portugal at that time. Nevertheless, such difficulties were overcome when it was bought in 1989 by an international group. The group, through its Portuguese subsidiary, "Caima Cerâmica e Serviços, SGPS, S.A.", then took shareholder control until the beginning of 1999. In March of that year, two of the company’s directors acquired almost all the Caima Cerâmica e Serviços, SGPS, S.A. stock, through E.P.M. Sociedade Gestora GESTORA de Participações Sociais, S.A., the company currently holding all the F.C.V stock.

During the 80s, owing to changes on national and foreign markets, and with the worldwide trend veered toward specialized producers, it was decided that all our efforts, investments, and knowledge thus far acquired in relation to various ceramic products, should be focused on the exclusive manufacture of sanitary-ware and ceramic fittings for bathrooms. "Valadares", always known as a leading company when it came to industrial innovation, was the first plant in Portugal to install a non-stop manufacturing oven for vitreous china, a still-modern technique.

In 1993, Fábrica de Cerâmica Valadares (FCV or "Valadares"), in the wake of its comprehensive development, was the first one in Portugal to manufacture an ecologically-minded "water-saving toilet", only needing 6 liters of water to operate efficiently. Usually toilets need a minimum of 9 liters of water. According to estimated figures, a family of four consumes 182,000 liters of water a year, one third of which is used in flushing toilets. At "Valadares", we are well aware of today's ecological problems. That is why we are engaged in helping prevent water wastage by producing these toilets.

Still harking back to that same family of four, this is tantamount to a saving of 20,000 liters of water a year. Also, in 1993, with the aid of the Portuguese Industry Development Program (PEDIP) - 5th program, "Valadares" installed a computerized system for various production processes. Integrating our production-logistical-commercial areas even further, we now know exactly what happens to each item, right on down from the beginning of its production to its sale to the final consumer. This system, besides affording greater internal quality control, also means we can provide our clients with better support. It also makes in-store handling easier, as each item bears an identifying barcode.

Thanks to the ongoing innovation and modernization of both our manufacturing system and range of products, the majority of "Valadares" items are certified by national and international laboratories, such as the Dutch "KIWA", German "LGA", British "WRC", and Portuguese "IPQ" (Portuguese Institute of Quality).

In July 1999, the company was certified according to NP ISO 9002: 1995 (Quality Systems. A guaranteed model of production quality, installation and after-sales assistance) by APCER, (Portuguese Certification Association). That is why FCV is one of the nation’s market leaders, exporting more than 60% of its products to many countries.

In our sanitary-ware line, apart from the 13 regular sets available, we can provide 11 different types of built-in wash-basins and various types of special equipment, such as urinals, hospital sinks, sanitary-ware for the handicapped, Turkish basins, shower-trays, etc. Our ceramic-fittings range includes 4 sets of exclusive ceramic items, which apart from being extremely durable, combine with sanitary-ware and can be provided in the same colors as regular sanitary sets.