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Caesarstone ICON: An Iconic Surface Material Revolution
Launching in 2025, Caesarstone ICON are advanced fusion surfaces made from a patent-pending, unique blend of ~80% recycled materials like high-quality, post-industrial recycled glass and innovative materials. Our commitment to developing crystalline silica-free* surfaces has led us to spearhead a genuine revolution in the world of engineered stone – and this is only the beginning.
A World of Transparency
At Caesarstone, we’ve come a long way since pioneering quartz surfaces. Since spearheading the use of veining technology and launching an alternative for natural stone, every new collection has exhibited significant progress in terms of cutting-edge design. However, with Caesarstone ICON, material composition is once again at the forefront of revolutionary change, while serving as a solid foundation for groundbreaking aesthetics.
“Replacing existing surfaces with crystalline silica-free options was a long journey, due to the challenge of recreating surfaces that possess the same great qualities as before”, says Ido Winer, Caesarstone’s Head of Materials & Research. “We began examining countless materials and material variations, including many new substances. We discovered the virtue of glass, which is abundant, readily available, highly sustainable, recyclable and very durable.”
Yet working with glass required our team to tame one defining characteristic: high transparency. While visually attractive, transparency necessitated several important formulaic adaptations.
“The super-transparent surfaces create some challenges in removing some of the background colors that were not visible before”, recalls Winer with a smile. “In order to reach the optimal solution, the R&D team had to dive deeper into the intricacies of material science. We were forced to innovate and find a solution that will give our designers the freedom to create without limitation of background colors, and I can happily report that we succeeded.”
A Bedrock of Advantages
Time and time again, the team’s dedication to perfecting Caesarstone ICON helped transform significant obstacles into innovative breakthroughs.
During the surface manufacturing process, slabs are subjected to high temperatures to achieve the necessary properties and apparel. The change in raw materials required the development of a new formulation and processes in a way that will ensure that the production process remains both efficient and high in quality.
New formulations developed by our R&D team not only solved existing issues, but also improved several qualities. Caesarstone ICON’s advanced fusion surfaces outperform other surfaces in terms of flexural strength and impact resistance, while passing stain, scratch and chemical resistance tests with flying colors.
Success Stems from Collaboration
Caesarstone ICON is poised to launch in two phases. Phase I focuses on transitioning our current portfolio into the new advanced fusion surfaces material base. Phase II will introduce brand new colors and designs that redefine luxury by elevating transparency and depth to create a collection unlike anything the industry has seen before.
Working on Caesarstone ICON’s material base generated a fruitful collaboration between our material and design teams – especially when working on new surface colors. The materials’ relative transparency inspired the design team to create designs based on layers and varying degrees of exposure and light play. The designers’ inspirations often motivated our material professionals to attempt different formula combinations, and to develop creative mineral blends that showcase the luxurious beauty of layers unveiled in stone.
Looking Ahead
With Caesarstone ICON, we are proud to launch an advanced fusion surface material that delivers resistance, durability, aesthetics and versatility – while adhering to our trademark quality standards. Yet while this launch is the culmination of years of hard work, it also signifies a new beginning and a springboard for things to come.
“There is absolutely no doubt that 2025 will unveil the first of many generations of Caesarstone ICON surfaces”, promises Winer. “As we move forward, our partners, clients and stakeholders can expect many additional developments and improvements, including the inclusion of new materials. Engineered stone surfaces present infinite possibilities in terms of beauty, durability and sustainability, and we plan to explore them all.”
*Caesarstone ICONTM surfaces may contain traces of less than 1% crystalline silica
