Manufacturer of glazed and unglazed ceramic quarry tiles and special-shape tiles for swimming pools, facades and industry
Gail Ceramics International GmbH
Giessen (Rathenaustraße 2) · PohlheimNew on Amplifa
About Gail Ceramics International
Gail Ceramics International GmbH is a long-established German manufacturer of architectural ceramics based in Giessen. The company produces glazed and unglazed ceramic quarry tiles in over 60 solid standard colors as well as a special-shape tile program (Collection Special-Form) with swimming pool special-shape tiles and accessories. The ceramics are used in swimming pools, leisure pools, spa and wellness facilities, sports and recreational facilities, facades and industrial buildings. The offering is complemented by an architect service and complete solutions for swimming pools. The Giessen plant traces back to a steam brickworks founded in 1890; in 1891 Wilhelm Gail took over the plant and renamed it “Gail'sche Dampfziegelei und Thonwaarenfabrik” (Gail Steam Brickworks and Clay Goods Factory). For decades, the Gail clay works numbered among the leading companies in the German ceramics industry and for a long time was the largest industrial company in Giessen; in 1980, 1,600 people worked there. Historical reference projects include, among others, the Ernst-Ludwig-Haus in Darmstadt, the Wedding Tower, and buildings in Frankfurt am Main and Bad Nauheim.
- Site
- Giessen
- Processes
- Production of glazed and unglazed ceramic quarry tiles, Collection Special-Form special-shape tile program (swimming pool special-shape tiles and, Architect service for swimming pool complete solutions, Architect service, Complete solutions for swimming pools including accessories and special-shape tiles
- Materials
- Ceramic (glazed and unglazed), Quarry tile ceramic, Clay, Ceramic, glazed, Ceramic, unglazed
- Founded
- 1891
- Industries
- Swimming pool construction, Facades/Architecture, Industrial construction, Spa/Wellness and Sports/Leisure facilities, public and private buildings
- 01
Clay extraction and preparation
- 02
Shaping of quarry tiles and special-shape tiles
- 03
Glazing and coloring
- 04
Firing
- 05
Architect service and project design
Materials and Processes
Ceramic, glazed
Glazed quarry tiles in over 60 solid standard colors for walls, pools and facades.
Ceramic, unglazed
Unglazed quarry tiles for architectural applications.
Quarry tile ceramic
Core product of the program for swimming pool, facade and industrial ceramics.
Clay
Raw material for ceramic production, historically from the clay deposits on the outskirts of Giessen.
Sites
Giessen
DEProduction site and administration (Rathenaustraße 2)
- Materials
- Ceramic, Clay
Components and Products
Inside the production
Industries
Processes & technical limits
| Processes | Tolerance | Max. part | Weight | Lot size | Materials |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Production of glazed and unglazed ceramic quarry tilesCasting | – | – | – | – | Ceramic, Clay |
| Collection Special-Form special-shape tile program (swimming pool special-shape tiles andCasting | – | – | – | – | Ceramic, Clay |
| Architect service for swimming pool complete solutionsEngineering | – | – | – | – | – |
Additional services
Reference customers
Company History
- 1890
Founding of a steam brickworks by master builder Wilhelm Steinbach with financial participation by Wilhelm Gail.
- 1891
Wilhelm Gail takes over the plant; company name “Gail'sche Dampfziegelei und Thonwaarenfabrik”.
- 1901
Collaboration with the Darmstadt Artists' Colony; deliveries among others for the Ernst-Ludwig-Haus.
- 1904
Production of thin facing tiles; exports to St. Petersburg, Moscow, Gothenburg, Deventer and Brussels.
- 1914
Plant closure due to the loss of Russian exports; 258 employees.
- 1920
Conversion into a joint-stock company “Wilh. Gail'sche Tonwerke AG”.
- 1929
Major fire destroys the ring kiln facility.
- 1930
Conversion of all facilities to electric operation.
- 1944
Destruction of the works by bombing raids on Giessen (December 2 and 6).
- 1947
Resumption of tile production; focus on swimming pool and sports facility ceramics.
- 1950
Walter Rumpf takes over the management of the company.
- 1980
1,600 employees at the Giessen plant.