Subway-white may still be their basic black, but after 50 years of an institutional lull, tile makers are rediscovering tile's fabled power to please and inspire.

Premark International Inc., a multinational consumer products company, agreed to acquire the Sikes Corporation, a ceramic tile maker, for about $201 million.

Roofing, after all, is as much an art as a science and centuries of artistic creativity have left their mark on the tile makers of the continent.

Interceramic, one of Mexico's largest tile makers, has meanwhile made plans to open a factory in the Dallas suburbs this fall.

A German tile maker replaced the tiles.

Production started with 6 tile makers, 2 kilns, and 1 horse and wagon, at approximately 200.000 roof tiles a year (mainly pantiles).

Fox also became a tile maker.

Tool makers, manufacturers of precision instruments, tile makers and food companies supported the current standard.

Her husband, Leonard, a retired ceramic tile maker, grabbed her arm.

One tile maker, who insisted on anonymity, explained that with domestic business loan rates so high, he would have to put off his expansion plans for a while.