New Matter Inva ceramic collection

Matter Inva is a high-performance technical ceramic collection: a through-body porcelain stoneware. It is Kron Tech, by Living Ceramics, which Matter presents under its own name. The ceramic body that forms the tile is uniform and carries no surface decoration, so the whole piece looks the same, including the edges and the interior.

Its look is that of concrete and polished cement, in solid, weighty tones. In this article we explain what it means for a tile to be through-body, who makes Inva, the formats, finishes and performance with which it was launched, and what to bear in mind when specifying and laying it.

Through-body porcelain: the same material throughout the tile

In glazed porcelain stoneware, the colour and pattern sit in the top layer, applied over a body of a different tone. Inva has no such difference: the ceramic body is homogeneous throughout its thickness, and the tile looks the same on its face, its edges and its interior.

That homogeneity makes it a uniform material, equally resistant throughout its structure. It is therefore designed for spaces with heavy foot traffic, subject to considerable wear, that need flooring with the highest surface guarantees.

Having the same material through the full thickness also shows at junctions. The edges of a cut tile look the same as the surface, which matters on exposed arrises, steps and trims.

Matter Inva is Kron Tech by Living Ceramics

The manufacturer is Living Ceramics, and the collection is its Kron Tech.

Living Ceramics presented Kron Tech in its 2020 general catalogue, together with Wega Tech, as its new high-performance ceramic: the two collections in the Tech range of through-body technical porcelain. In that catalogue, Kron Tech is listed as ‘cement in technical porcelain’. Matter Inva is that same collection, so the formats, finishes, colours and performance are those published by Living Ceramics for Kron Tech.

Living Ceramics is the brand of LVG Ceramic Surfaces, with offices, showroom and warehouse in Vila-real and a production centre in Onda, both in Castellón. According to the manufacturer, it is ISO 9001 certified, a member of the Green Building Council, and has received the Innovative SME label from Spain’s Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities for its R&D investment in large formats.

The look of polished cement

Inva brings the image of concrete to porcelain.

It is a collection true to the material it represents: timeless, with a strong material quality and the force of an industrial finish. According to the manufacturer, it achieves the look of concrete without the sediments and residues concrete shows in its natural state, and offers unlimited designs per format, with V2 shade variation between tiles.

The collection was launched in three tones: Sand, Grey and Anthracite. All three share the same through-body composition and the same technical performance, so the tone can be chosen on aesthetic grounds without changing the technical specification.

Formats, finishes and performance

Seven rectified formats, two finishes and special pieces for steps and skirting.

Inva was launched in six formats 9 mm thick, from 30 × 60 to 120 × 120 cm, and in a large 120 × 270 cm slab 6 mm thick. All are rectified.

There are two finishes: Natural and Raw. According to the 2020 catalogue, Natural is R10 and class B, and the more slip-resistant Raw is R11 and class C; the 120 × 270 cm slab was offered only in Natural. To carry the floor onto stairs and skirtings, the collection included skirting pieces of 5 × 60, 5 × 90 and 5 × 120 cm (in the Natural finish) and steps of 33.3 × 60, 33.3 × 90 and 33.3 × 120 cm, also in a corner version, in both finishes.

Note from 2026: Living Ceramics’ website now presents Kron Tech only in Grey, with a Soft Textured finish and in 60 × 120 and 120 × 120 cm formats, with an updated technical data sheet. The data in this article refer to the collection as launched in 2020.

Key points for specifying and laying Matter Inva

These are the points worth resolving at design stage:

• Finish by area: the Código Técnico de la Edificación (CTE, Spain’s building code, DB SUA 1) requires class 1 in dry interiors without a slope, class 2 in wet interior areas such as entrances from outside, bathrooms or kitchens, and class 3 outdoors, in showers and around pools. The Natural finish is class 2 and Raw is class 3, according to the manufacturer’s tests.
• Format and setting-out: the 9 mm formats come in both finishes; the 120 × 270 cm slab is 6 mm and was offered only in Natural. Steps and skirtings should be planned from the start so that stairs and skirting follow the same tile.
• Adhesive and double spreading: the manufacturer recommends highly flexible C2 cementitious adhesives (two-component S2 type) and, for large formats, always double spreading (on substrate and tile back), tapping each tile with a rubber mallet to avoid air pockets.
• Joint, levelling and offset: a minimum joint of 2 mm and the use of levelling systems are recommended; rectangular tiles should not be laid with an offset greater than 1/4 of their length.
• Standards and tiler: the manufacturer refers to the UNE 138002 and UNE-EN 12004 standards, and points out that large formats require specific tools and training on the part of the tiler.

At Matter we help you choose the format, tone and finish of Matter Inva and resolve how it is laid in your project. Come to our material library to compare materials, colours and finishes with your technical team.