INTERVIEW OF THE MONTH: NORTHERN GREECE CERAMICS (KEBE)

A strategic investment, surpassing €10 million, is fully aligned with KEBE’s business goal for strengthening further its leading position in the construction industry

Marko Janković, General Manager of KEBE doo

"The acquisition and upgrading of the production facilities in Mihajlovac, Serbia, is a strategic investment, surpassing €10 million, which is fully aligned with KEBE’s business goal for strengthening further its leading position in the construction industry. The modernization and upgrading of the new production facility in Serbia will enable us to meet the future demand for high quality structural solutions that respond to modern needs, increasing our production capacity. The production unit being in a strategically important location, just 70 kilometers from Belgrade and on the main road connecting Serbia with neighboring countries, will help gain a place among the key suppliers of integrated building systems in the Balkan market."

With its 90-year history, KEBE (Northern Greece Ceramics) is the biggest producer of ceramic products in Greece and exports to over 40 countries worldwide. Can you tell us more about your production facilities and the international commercial presence?

KEBE’s journey began in 1935, in Northern Greece, where Stelios Kothalis started handcrafting the first ceramic bricks. In the following years, this venture grew steadily under the vision and the leadership of Stavros Kothalis, the second generation of the family. A major transformation occurred in 2006, when KEBE SA (Northern Greece Ceramics) was formally established, introducing a high-capacity production line - one of the largest in Europe, and since then, the company has been constantly modernized. Today, KEBE is run by the third generation of Kothalis family, guided by the same commitment to quality as their predecessors.
With a track record of 90 years KEBE produces and supplies high quality, reliable and innovative structural ceramic products, and technical support services around the world. We have one of the largest production facilities in Europe, with a plant expanded at 235,000m², in Nea Santa, Kilkis, Greece. This plant has an annual production capacity of 700,000 tons of bricks and 75,000,000 roof tiles and accessories. Currently, KEBE exports 60% of the products produced at the plant in Nea Santa to more than 40 countries around the world, including the Balkans, Turkey, Egypt, India, China, America, Russia, United Arab Emirates, Sweden, Israel, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand etc.
As we keep growing, our mission remains to produce and supply building materials that meet the highest standards of quality, reliability, and innovation to the global market, maintaining our leading position in the construction industry and contributing to the creation of a structurally better world.

Several months ago, KEBE has acquired a production plant in Serbia’s central village of Mihajlovac. What are your current priorities for business development and what are the plans for the upcoming period?

The acquisition and upgrading of the production facilities in Mihajlovac, Serbia, is a strategic investment, surpassing €10 million, which is fully aligned with KEBE’s business goal for strengthening further its leading position in the construction industry. The modernization and upgrading of the new production facility in Serbia will enable us to meet the future demand for high quality structural solutions that respond to modern needs, increasing our production capacity. The production unit being in a strategically important location, just 70 kilometers from Belgrade and on the main road connecting Serbia with neighboring countries, will help gain a place among the key suppliers of integrated building systems in the Balkan market.
At this stage, KEBE implements a targeted plan to modernize and upgrade the existing production unit, including building facilities to 13,000m² and extend to 117,000m². At the core of this strategic plan lies – at the first stage – the doubling of the production capacity of the factory, from 300 to 600 tons of bricks per day, while by 2027 it is expected to reach 1,000 tons per day, addressing a key part of the needs of the Serbian market. Considering that the Serbia plant until now produced older type products, KEBE’s plans include adopting the latest techniques and standards followed in its production unit in Nea Santa, Kilkis. Furthermore, our primary business objective is to further increase our market share in Serbia from the current 6%, which reflects the market share of Serbian plant’s production.

What would you highlight as the main advantage of the KEBE brand?

With a legacy spanning over 90 years, KEBE has evolved from a small family business into a global leader in advanced ceramic building materials, recognized for both quality and innovation. All these years we remain fully and persistently aligned with our commitment to build a structurally better world with sustainable, high-tech ceramic products that meet the demands of modern construction. This philosophy is strongly evident in the way we work. At KEBE, we produce environmentally responsible, energy-efficient products that enhance both structural integrity and sustainability.
The ORTHOBLOCK and ORTHOBLOCK PLUS thermal insulating block series (vertically perforated bricks) hold a special place in KEBE’ product portfolio. These advanced bricks are ideal for constructing both load-bearing and non-load-bearing masonry, offering multiple benefits that include reducing energy consumption and costs, enhancing indoor thermal comfort, and improving overall insulation. They are designed to provide superior thermal performance, fire resistance, and natural transpiration, contributing to a healthier and more efficient indoor environment. Additionally, these bricks play a vital role in protecting the durability of reinforced concrete frames, adding resilience against seismic forces.
Moreover, the roof tiles are also considered as a key product of KEBE. Besides of serving high aesthetic standards, ΚΕΒΕ’s high quality roof tiles, are 100% ecological, have excellent flexural strength and are classified at the highest frost resistance level. KEBE’s tiles are distinguished by high quality due to the raw material, while they have reflective properties of heat loads as well as high water repellency. Indicatively, the tiled roof, which exists in the Greek architecture for many years, is able to achieve up to 50% energy savings in a building compared to the classic slab we are used to in the urban environment.
Furthermore, through ongoing investment in green technologies and production upgrades, KEBE not only meets global construction needs but also leads the way toward a more sustainable future by minimizing the environmental footprint. At KEBE, we are dedicated to provide high quality, innovative and sustainable materials, aiming to build today with tomorrow's materials.

In an era of increasing environmental consciousness and sustainable development, the role of ceramic materials in shaping a cleaner and greener future has significant impact. What is KEBE's contribution to sustainability?
In an era of increasing environmental consciousness, KEBE is committed to advancing sustainable construction through high-quality, reliable and innovative ceramic building materials. Specializing in clay-based products, KEBE leverages the natural benefits of clay—its exceptional fire resistance, thermal insulation, and soundproofing qualities—and provides environmentally friendly solutions for the construction industry. Clay has been a preferred material for over 4,000 years due to its low carbon footprint in terms of energy consumption during production, transportation, and construction. Its longevity and thermal mass contribute to significant energy savings, enhancing its ecological benefits.
As already mentioned above, KEBE is committed to sustainability through its innovative use of ceramic materials, particularly with its ORTHOBLOCK and ORTHOBLOCK PLUS thermal insulating block series. These advanced bricks enhance energy efficiency by reducing energy consumption and costs while improving indoor thermal comfort. Their superior thermal performance contributes to healthier and more efficient living environments. Additionally, KEBE’s roof tiles are made from 100% ecological materials and may achieve up to 50% energy savings compared to traditional roofing options. Moreover, their reflective properties help manage heat loads, further promoting energy efficiency.
KEBE’s ceramic products are fully harmonized with the specifications set by both domestic and international legislation, while contributing to the elimination of energy consumption and reducing the environmental footprint of the building sector. Within that context, KEBE has been certified with an Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) for bricks and ceramic roof tiles that complies with ISO 14025:2006 and EN 15804:2012+A2:2019, verified by the independent accredited company EUROCERT and published in the global EPD program. It is worth noting that KEBE is the first heavy clay building materials industry in Greece that has Environmental Product Declarations for all types of bricks and roof tiles produced in the factory in Nea Santa Kilkis. Moreover, KEBE has also been harmonized with the international design trends and building rating standards (LEED, BREEAM etc.), providing environmental advantages for projects, encouraging Green Building and Green Development.
Moreover, KEBE is dedicated to green development by using innovative technologies to produce necessary goods and materials with minimal energy consumption and zero environmental footprint. With the use of robotic technology and the most sophisticated production-process control systems in KEBE’s state-of-the-art factory in Nea Santa, energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions are kept to a minimum.

After more than 10 years of managing company in the recycling industry, you made a new start as a General Manager for KEBE Serbia. What is the biggest challenge in your new job, and which aspect of it do you enjoy the most?

As we all know, every industry has its own specifics. Even though I have a lot of experience in the recycling industry, as a person who has a bachelor’s degree in economics for me the biggest challenge in my new job is definitely to understand the production processes of the ceramic industry. Luckily, I have a lot of people in the KEBE team from whom I can learn a lot about it. Even though we strongly believe we will produce products with high quality, another challenge will definitely be to position ourselves the best we can developing a satisfying market share for us in Serbia.
The aspect I enjoy most about my new job is the experience I will gain with this brownfield project, a lot of new challenges I will face throughout the growth of KEBE in Serbia, and also the fact that I get the opportunity to create my own team from scratch. Finally, I must point out that I am very impressed with the chemistry the KEBE team possesses in Greece, whether we are talking about the people working in production all the way up to the top management of the company, and my goal is to create this kind of atmosphere in Serbia as well.