History of Tiles in India, Tiles Manufacturing Process, Tile Types
Here you can explore History of Tiles in India, Tiles Manufacturing Process, Tile Types
History of Tiles in India: From Traditional Clay Tiles to Modern Ceramic & Vitrified Tiles
India has a long history of using clay and ceramic products in architecture, from traditional roofing tiles and decorative pottery to today’s advanced ceramic tiles, vitrified tiles and large-format porcelain surfaces.
Over the years, India’s tile industry has developed from small traditional workshops into a highly automated manufacturing sector serving both domestic and international markets. Morbi in Gujarat has become the country’s most important tile manufacturing cluster, while manufacturing capacity has also expanded into other parts of India.
The Early History of Tiles in India
Traditional clay tiles were used in India for roofing and architectural applications for generations. Local clay resources and traditional kiln technology supported small-scale production.
The modern Indian ceramic tile industry began developing more rapidly with Industrialisation and improvements in manufacturing technology. Manufacturers gradually moved from traditional clay products toward glazed wall tiles, floor tiles and, later, vitrified and porcelain products.
One of the most important developments was the growth of the Morbi ceramic cluster in Gujarat. According to the Morbi Ceramic Manufacturers Association, the cluster emerged as a major ceramics production zone in the 1990s and expanded rapidly from a relatively small number of units to hundreds of manufacturing facilities.
Today, Morbi manufactures a broad range of products including wall tiles, floor tiles, vitrified tiles, polished glazed vitrified tiles and other ceramic products.
The Rise of Morbi as India’s Tile Manufacturing Hub
Morbi has become closely associated with India’s ceramic tile industry. The cluster benefits from an established manufacturing ecosystem involving raw materials, machinery, printing, glazing, packaging, transportation, engineering services and exports.
Industry and government-linked sources describe Morbi as India’s largest tile manufacturing cluster, with more than 900 manufacturing units reported in a 2025 SEBI-filed document. Other estimates vary depending on how manufacturing units are counted.
The cluster produces tiles in numerous formats and designs and has adopted increasingly sophisticated production equipment and digital decoration technologies.
Other tile manufacturing centres have also developed in Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and other regions, making India’s ceramic manufacturing industry geographically more diverse.
How Are Ceramic Tiles Manufactured?
Modern tile manufacturing is a combination of raw-material preparation, high-pressure forming, drying, glazing or digital decoration, high-temperature firing and quality control.
The exact process varies according to the type of tile and manufacturer’s technology, but the major stages are generally similar. The Bureau of Indian Standards describes the basic ceramic-tile process as raw-material preparation, mixing, forming, drying, glazing, firing, sorting and packaging.
1. Raw Material Preparation
Common ceramic-tile raw materials include:
Clay
Feldspar
Quartz
Silica
Minerals and additives
Pigments and Colouring materials
Glaze materials
The raw materials are selected according to the required body composition and tile characteristics.
2. Grinding and Mixing
The raw materials are crushed and finely ground. They are then mixed in controlled proportions.
In many modern factories, the materials are processed in ball mills with water to create a homogeneous slurry.
3. Spray Drying
The slurry is transferred to a spray dryer.
Hot air removes moisture and converts the slurry into fine ceramic powder with controlled moisture content. This powder is suitable for pressing into tile shapes.
4. Pressing
The spray-dried powder is fed into a hydraulic press.
Very high pressure compresses the powder inside a mould to create the basic shape and dimensions of the tile. At this stage, the product is often referred to as a green tile or unfired tile.
5. Drying
The pressed tiles contain moisture and must be dried before further processing.
Industrial dryers remove remaining moisture and improve the mechanical strength of the tiles before glazing and firing.
6. Glazing and Digital Printing
Depending on the product, glaze, Engobe and other surface coatings may be applied.
Modern digital printers can reproduce designs such as:
Marble
Stone
Wood
Cement
Fabric
Decorative patterns
Digital printing has significantly expanded the design possibilities available to tile manufacturers.
7. Firing
The tiles are transported through an industrial roller kiln.
High temperatures cause physical and chemical changes in the ceramic body, increasing strength and, for vitrified products, producing a highly dense and low-porosity structure. Manufacturing references describe kiln temperatures and firing profiles as varying according to the product and process.
8. Polishing, Cutting and Sizing
Some tiles undergo additional surface processing after firing.
Depending on the product, this can include:
Polishing
lappato finishing
Cutting
Squaring
Edge processing
Surface treatment
9. Quality Inspection
Finished tiles are inspected for characteristics such as:
Size
Flatness
Surface appearance
Shade
Color consistency
Surface defects
Strength and other applicable quality parameters
10. Sorting and Packaging
Tiles are sorted according to quality, shade, size and production batch.
They are then packed into cartons, Palletised where required and transported to distributors, construction projects or export markets.
Tile Manufacturing Process – At a Glance
Raw Materials → Grinding & Mixing → Slurry → Spray Drying → Powder → Hydraulic Pressing → Drying → Glazing & Digital Printing → Firing → Polishing/Sizing → Quality Inspection → Sorting → Packaging
This overall sequence is consistent with the basic manufacturing stages described by BIS and other industry documentation, although individual factories may use different equipment and process configurations.
Tile Types
Major Types of Tiles
The Indian market offers a wide variety of tiles for residential, commercial and industrial applications.
Ceramic wall tiles are commonly used in:
Kitchens
Bathrooms
Residential walls
Commercial interiors
They are available in numerous colours, patterns, sizes and surface finishes.
These are designed for floor applications and are available in different sizes, designs and surface finishes.
Vitrified tiles have a dense, low-porosity body produced through vitrification during firing.
Common categories include:
Glazed Vitrified Tiles (GVT)
Polished Glazed Vitrified Tiles (PGVT)
Double-charge vitrified tiles
Full-body vitrified tiles
4. Porcelain Tiles
Porcelain tiles are highly dense ceramic products commonly used for floors, walls, façades and premium architectural applications.
5. Digital Tiles
Digital printing technology allows manufacturers to reproduce detailed patterns and natural-material appearances on tile surfaces.
Popular designs include marble, wood, stone and concrete effects.
6. Full-Body Tiles
In full-body products, the body composition extends through the tile, making them suitable for applications where durability and wear resistance are important.
7. Double-Charge Tiles
Double-charge technology creates a thicker decorative layer on the tile surface and is used for certain heavy-duty and commercial applications.
8. Large-Format Tiles and Slabs
Modern factories increasingly produce large-format tiles and slabs for:
Walls
Floors
Kitchen surfaces
Bathrooms
Furniture
Commercial interiors
Tiles Manufacturing Process,
Watch: How Tiles Are Made in a Factory
Here is a useful factory video showing the tile manufacturing process, including raw-material preparation, spray drying, pressing, glazing, digital printing, firing, polishing, sizing, sorting and packaging.
The video documents production at a tile manufacturing facility in India and provides a practical visual explanation of the process.
The Future of India’s Tile Industry
India’s tile industry has moved from traditional clay products to highly automated manufacturing using hydraulic presses, roller kilns, digital printing, advanced glazing and automated sorting systems.
The growth of the Morbi cluster has been an important part of this transformation, while newer manufacturing Centres are developing in other regions of India.
Technology is also changing the appearance and performance of tiles. Digital decoration, large-format production, improved surface finishes and increasingly automated quality control are allowing Indian manufacturers to serve a wide range of domestic and international markets.
Conclusion
History of Tiles in India, Tiles Manufacturing Process, Tile Types
The history of tiles in India is a story of traditional craftsmanship evolving into modern industrial manufacturing.
From traditional clay roofing products to ceramic wall tiles, vitrified floors, porcelain surfaces and large-format slabs, Indian tile manufacturing has undergone significant technological development.
The growth of Morbi’s ceramic cluster, together with the expansion of manufacturing facilities in other parts of India, has helped establish India as an important Centre for ceramic and tile production.
For architects, builders, dealers, importers and tile buyers, understanding the history, tile types and manufacturing process makes it easier to understand how the final product is made and which tile is suitable for a particular application.
Ceramic India
Directory of Ceramic Tiles and Sanitary wares Manufacturers in India, Gujarat, Morbi
www.ceramicindia.com
