From its five founding members, TCNA – Mexico’s membership has grown to 36 companies supporting Tile Council projects in Mexico. This total includes 11 tile manufacturers (representing 99% of the tile manufactured in Mexico), 11 associate installation materials members, and 14 associate raw material supplier members.

The following are some of the recent developments with which TCNA – Mexico has been involved to benefit the North American tile industry:

Government Relations

TCNA – Mexico continues to participate in a government program to monitor tile imports by helping the Mexican government identify sub-valuation (when the price is less than 50% of the HS code average). In 2013 Mexican Customs agreed to TCNA – Mexico’s request to begin using reference prices to alert agents to tile shipments with a price lower than the reference price. TCNA – Mexico provided the data to assist customs officials in creating the reference price. The result of this program is more revenue to the government through preventing false import declarations and a fair marketplace for manufacturers and importers.

TCNA – Mexico is also reviewing with the Mexican government a proposal to modify HS codes based on a European proposal from the World Ceramic Tiles Forum. The new HS codes would classify tile based on absorption and size instead of the current method of whether or not a tile is glazed.

Additionally, TCNA – Mexico has requested that the Mexican government extend the duty reduction proposed in the Transpacific Partnership (TPP) Agreement from 5 years to 10 years.

Installer Training & Certification

TCNA – Mexico currently operates three installer training centers: one in Monterrey and the other two in the Mexico City area (Ciudad Nezahualcoyotl and Alvaro Obregon). Construction of a training center in Guadalajara is complete, and operations are set to begin this year.

The installer certification program launched in 2010 continues to grow with the added support of TCNA – Mexico associate installation materials members, including Bexel, Cemix/Texrite, Crest, and Interceramic.

TCNA – Mexico recently hired Oscar Urbina Almanza as training manager to promote the certification program and supervise training classes at each location. Mr. Almanza is also in charge of evaluating the installers taking certification exams and has overseen the certification of more than 100 installers.

TCNA Handbook for Mexico

This year, TCNA – Mexico will launch the updated TCNA Handbook in Spanish for Mexico. The Mexican version differs from the U.S. version in that Handbook methods specifying materials not in the Mexican market are removed, and it includes ads promoting installer certification through CECATI, Mexico’s technical training school.

Product Testing

TCNA – Mexico is working with the University of Nuevo Leon’s chemical sciences laboratory to install a TCNA product testing laboratory in Mexico. This new TCNA lab, opening this summer, will be used primarily for porcelain and ceramic tile water absorption testing.

Tile Installation Video

TCNA – Mexico recently completed a tile installation video developed to demonstrate all necessary steps for a successful tile installation in Mexico. The video will be posted on TCNA – Mexico’s website www.tcnatile.com/tcna-mexico.html the week of Coverings.

Promotional Efforts/Tradeshows

In 2010 TCNA – Mexico successfully launched a 25,000-sq. ft. TCNA Pavilion at Expo CIHAC, the largest construction show in Mexico. 2013 year marks the fourth year of TCNA participation, with TCNA Pavilion’s growing to more than 35,000 sq. ft.

Last year TCNA – Mexico successfully launched an installation stage within the TCNA Pavilion for installation materials manufacturers to demonstrate their products. This initiative was very well-received, and a stage is planned also for the 2013 show.

TCNA – Mexico’s efforts at Expo CIHAC are designed to promote TCNA members, the use of tile, and improving tile installation quality through installer training and certification.

Additionally, this year TCNA – Mexico will promote porcelain quality and certification, as well as Green Squared for the Mexican market.

Green Initiative

TCNA – Mexico is working this year with ONNCCE (Mexico’s national organization of standards and certification) to adopt ANSI A138.1, the standard upon which the Green Squared certification program is based, so Mexico will also have a standard that supports Green Squared.

TCNA – Mexico was created in 2005 to serve Tile Council of North America’s Mexican members, as well as U.S. and Canadian members doing business in Mexico. For more information, please visit: www.tcnatile.com/tcna-mexico.html.