Dankotuwa launches new star shape

Continuing its policy of having the widest range of shapes, Dankotuwa has introduced a new star shape as pictured here. Having started with just two shape ranges twenty seven years ago, Dankotuwa introduced several shape ranges about ten years ago when the European market went crazy about new irregular shapes. At that time Dankotuwa had to commission famous designers to develop unique 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. Mould preparation and forming them takes place with 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 designed by a foreign buyer and developed in-house by Dankotuwa designers will have a limited number of pieces such as saucers, dinner plates, salad plates, and BB plates. They will be combined with another matching shape to complete the range.

The star shape will be introduced to the market with tea sets in three surface decorations. Dinner sets will follow in January. "Several sets of the design have been booked as year end gifts by corporates" said Manager (Corporate Affairs) Giyanie Fernando.

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" said Chief Operating Officer Sarath Mallawa Arachchi, 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 economic woes 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.

"The 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" said Senior Manager (Business Development, Domestic) Mangala Dissanayaka, adding that the wide range of shapes is the attraction for many customers.