About

ABOUT JOHNSON TILES

Johnson Tiles is a division of Norcros SA Proprietary Limited, is a leading manufacturer of glazed ceramic wall and floor tiles. Johnson Tiles has a long history as an international market leader in tile manufacture. Throughout the decades, Johnson Tiles has continuously delivered distinctive and stylish new products for both the domestic and commercial markets on an international scale.

Rooted in a dedication to design and manufacture excellence, Johnson Tiles is a now one of the largest manufacturers of ceramic tiles. In South Africa, Johnson Tiles has been trusted by individuals, contractors, architects, designers and distributors for decades. Our production facilities in Olifantsfontein, Johannesburg, manufacture tiles of the highest quality, adhering to the strictest ISO and SANS standards of quality. Our on-site technical laboratory conducts stringent tests on a daily basis to ensure every product lives up to our values of safety, durability, versatility and dirt-resistance.

OUR HISTORY

1901

H&R Johnson Tiles is founded in Cobridge, Stoke-on-Trent, by the Johnson family.

1935

After a deal is signed for T.L. Elliot and Company to represent H&R Johnson in South Africa, the brand is launched on local shores, as an extension of the UK sales force.

1952

The company’s first South African manufacturing plant is established in Olifantsfontein, Johannesburg

1984

The company makes the move to employing more modern production techniques and a single-fire Monocottura kiln is commissioned to help manage diversification of the product range.

1987

A second Monocottura kiln is commissioned and tile output rises to 20 000m² per week. Previously limited to producing wall tiles, the plant commences with production of floor tiles to satisfy the rapidly rising demand.

1990

Modern technologies are adopted, allowing patterns to be pressed onto the tile surface, followed soon afterwards by an even greater range of printing possibilities with the adoption of the roto colour process in 1992.

1999

The Johnson Tiles wall tile plant is closed and the kilns dismantled, as the company makes the decision to focus on manufacturing only floor tiles.

2004

Seeing a gap in the market for increasingly popular large-format tiles, the company adds the production of 500 x 500mm tiles to its product range.

2006

To further diversify the range and offer contractors a superior tile with an improved water absorption rate, Johnson Tiles becomes the first South African manufacturer with the ability to produce porcelain tiles.

2011

Johnson Tiles updates its logo and product packaging to a fresher and more modern design. 2011 also saw the beginning of an ongoing upgrade of all manufacturing equipment in the factory, including of state-of-the-art inkjet printers.