CIMTEC th International Conference on Modern Materials and Technologies

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1 9 by Editorial Staff The name of quality control in Oman, is Qualitron Al Anwar is one of the leading ceramics brands in Oman, with a daily production of 30,000 square meters of tiles. Since 1997, the Group has chosen System for the supply of machinery and equipment for decoration, storage, sorting and palletizing; the plant in Nizwa, near Muscat, is today equipped with 4 sorting lines, 4 Falcon palletizers, 2 Nuova Era Robofloor units (1 for loading and 1 buffer) and 12 Rotocolor units. Satisfied with the quality System has offered, the company has decided to also invest in quality control equipment: the first Qualitron unit was purchased at the end of 2009, and a second unit has been added in recent months, installed on a high productivity line which handles about 10,000 sqm/day. The Qualitron vision system, installed on lines with very high criticality, ensures that products meet the highest standards of quality, thanks to its evolved inspection system. It automates the tile sorting process for recording real-time information on the quality, structure and shade of the selected products with a high level of defect definition and precise classification of shades. Within complex systems such as Al Anwar plants, the use of Qualitron is the best performing solution for quality control, allowing to always maintain consistent standards even at night shifts, during which the sorting work done by operators is physiologically slower and less attentive. For this reason, all the most important ceramic firms have chosen to make the switch from manual to automatic sorting, even aiming at employing less labor in the sorting department. Continued collaboration between SACMI and Keramin Two more casting machines recently supplied and started up Keramin is continuing its policy of expansion and diversification of its sanitaryware production plant which is already renowned for being one of the most modern and technologically advanced in the world. The new single-mould AVM casting machine supplied by Sacmi enables Keramin to produce large-sized WCs of flawless, refined, state-of-the art design. In addition, the new ALS machine in the sanitaryware production plant, also supplied by Sacmi, allows Keramin to cast and demould large-sized washbasins thanks to the use of latest generation equipment specially conceived for the purpose. The investments made and attention given by Keramin to the sanitaryware production sector over recent years are part of a policy to expand and modernize their sanitaryware production plants. This strategy firmly places the company among the main players on the market in consideration of the wide range of products offered, the high standard of quality and attractive designs. Next year marks the 60 th anniversary since Keramin was founded and the best way to celebrate the past is surely to look with a keen eye to the future. Sacmi congratulates Keramin for the progress made over recent years aimed at achieving excellent quality and organization both in terms of the products and the company itself. Keramin continues to consolidate its position as leading manufacturer in the sanitaryware business. Sacmi thanks Keramin for having chosen them, for many years now, as their preferred partner and for giving them the opportunity to share so much satisfaction in the successful completion of their projects. CIMTEC th International Conference on Modern Materials and Technologies Montecatini Terme, Tuscany, Italy June 6 to 18, 2010 CIMTEC th International Conference on Modern Materials and Technologies - will be held in Montecatini Terme, Tuscany, Italy, on June 6 to 18, CIMTEC 2010 will consist of the 12 th International Ceramics Congress (June 6-11) and of the 5 th Forum on New Materials (June 13-18), each of them including a number of Symposia, Focused Sessions, and Conferences. As a major long standing event for the international materials community, CIMTEC will again gather together a large and qualified audience of materials scientists, physicists, chemists and engineers as well as experts of a wide range of the most demanding application areas of modern materials, from information technology to biological systems. CIMTEC 2010 will devote special attention to most relevant directions for materials research based on new theory and refined modeling strategies and on the ever increasing opportunities offered by the continuous remarkable progress in nanoscience and nanotechnology. Outstanding areas of the subject will be covered, from the molecular and nanoscales to large complex integrated systems. Special focus of the Forum on New Materials will be to apply the new research findings to the development of a number of sustainable energy technologies from advanced fossil fuel energy cycles including CO 2 sequestration, to nuclear energy, to photovoltaic power generation.

2 10 Euromeccanica has recently concluded a major supply agreement in Poland, with the Cersanit group A tintometric system has been installed at the Walbrzych plant for preparing silk screen pastes and pigments using the same dosing head. Investing in a highly developed tintometric system, like that that will be operational by March 2010, is aimed at making the production process for the preparation of silk screen pastes and pigments ever more reliable, a fact that will help achieving the key business objectives of the company, such as cost control and production quality of the finished product. A fundamental role in the implementation of the agreement, was played by the presence on that territory, of a local "technical assistance centre" with laboratory facilities, Polish personnel, space for stocking spare parts. The heaviest commitment for Euromeccanica is the before and after-sale service, that consists not only in assisting the technicians in the preliminary stages or promptly answering customer calls, but especially in developing tailor-made projects for the needs of individual customer and the market. The company has a laboratory in Poland to support all those who deal with colour in ceramics, both for the control of raw materials, and compare prototypes and verify and check production. System Ceramics in Poland with their digital systems System Ceramics, world leader in the design and production of machinery for the ceramic industry, recently sealed important supply agreements on the Polish market, also thanks to the assiduous and constant presence in the territory of the technical staff of the affiliated System Poland. The Cersanit group has asked System Ceramics to assist them in the development of their new projects for digital decoration, with the supply of two ROTODIGIT units for their plants in Cersanit and Opoczno. These machines will be installed on two Rotocolor units, one existing and one newly supplied, in order to combine the advantages of both digital decoration and traditional roller decoration. In this way, the synchronized printing of both Rotocolor and Rotodigit will make it possible to obtain effects of a great aesthetic value, also significantly reducing production costs. A key role will be played by System Poland, the local branch office, for technical and graphics assistance. System Ceramics consolidates its presence in Poland System Ceramics continues its supply of end-of-line equipment and systems in Poland. Ceramika Paradyz, a major, world-renowned company, continues its close collaboration with System Ceramics, and has recently entrusted the latter with the design and production of two end-of-line systems for their Toamszow 1 plant producing squared, polished technical porcelain tiles in sizes 300x300, 300x600, 300x1200, 400x400, 450x450, 600x600, 600x1200. The new supply will also include installation of two Easy Line sorting lines mod. FV08 and two Falcon Millenium gantry palletizers in addition to the by now consolidated quality control equipment Dico Planar and Liner Installation and start-up shall be carried out by the technical staff of System Poland, a reference throughout the Polish market as far as technical assistance and spare parts are concerned. The Polish market does not seem to have been affected by the crisis that hit Europe, and System s commercial successes confirm a positive trend in the area. And this, not only in regard to the supply of sorting, packaging and palletising machines, but also in relation to the supply of Rotodigit digital decoration systems. The local affiliated company System Poland plays a vital role in customer support.

3 11 Here is the new Sacmi industrial manipolator Ideal for the kiln rollers replacement To make rollers replacement easy and safe during the routine and extraordinary maintenance of wide mouths kilns, Sacmi presents an innovative industrial manipulator. The mechanical arm with the roller pick-up device not only eliminates the weight of the roller (tipping torque compared to the pick-up point), but it also allows to keep the axis set-up under control (horizontality and height compared to the ground), thus drastically facilitating positioning and insertion/extraction operations. Euromeccanica continues to dominate in Turkey and the rest of the world, with their tintometric and colorimetric technologies Euromeccanica has now consolidated its position in TURKEY. The Kutaya Seamik firm, as part of the activities aimed at implementing the company s production capacity, has chosen to install an Iride colorimetric system and a tintometric system at one of its production facilities. Together with the automatic dosing system, Euromeccanica s colorimetric equipment (Iride technology) will be also installed, seen the clear intention of the company to continue along the path of innovation and production improvement. Investing in a highly developed tintometric system, like that that will be operational by April 2010, is aimed at making the production process ever more reliable, a fact that will help achieving the key business objectives of the company, such as cost control and production quality of the finished product. The device blocks the roller to prevent it from falling and also turns freely around its own axis if the roller extraction or insertion procedures are performed while the conveyor is running. The AKGUN SERAMIK group, as part of the activities aimed at implementing the group s production capacity, has chosen to install an Iride colorimetric system and a tintometric system. Together with the automatic dosing system, Euromeccanica s colorimetric equipment (Iride technology) will be also installed, seen the clear intention of the company to continue along the path of innovation and production improvement. Investing in a highly developed tintometric system, like that that will be operational by May 2010, is aimed at making the production process ever more reliable, a fact that will help achieving the key business objectives of the company, such as cost control and production quality of the finished product. A fundamental role in the implementation of the agreement, was played by the presence on that territory, of a local "technical assistance centre" with laboratory facilities, Turkish personnel, space for stocking spare parts. The heaviest commitment for Euromeccanica is the before and after-sale service, that consists not only in assisting the technicians in the preliminary stages or promptly answering customer calls, but especially in developing tailor-made projects for the needs of individual customer and the market. The company has a laboratory in Turkey to support all those who deal with colour in ceramics, both for the control of raw materials, and compare prototypes and verify and check production.

4 12 Keller and Sacmi Heavy Clay choose Tecnargilla The two leading companies in the field of machines and equipment for the heavy clay industry, confirm that Tecnargilla cannot be missed Keller and Sacmi Heavy Clay have recently confirmed their participation in Tecnargilla. The two companies, the major players in the production of machinery and equipment for the heavy clay industry, will be exhibiting their latest technology at Claytech, the section of Tecnargilla which will be hosting the best of what is offered in terms to new technology, to the sector. The participation of these two important companies confirms that companies supplying the heavy clay industry cannot miss Tecnargilla, i.e. the world leading trade fair in the sector, held in Rimini. Tecnargilla confirms once again that it is the only international trade fair in the ceramic industry, that can gather under one roof, the broadest and most qualified technology offer and the largest number of international buyers from the major ceramic producing countries all over the world. New tunnel kiln for Syrian manufacturer Zanobia Supplied by Sacmi-Riedhammer with automatic kiln car handling system This supply was made to one of the most important Syrian companies operating on the ceramics market with products ranging from floor and wall tiles to sanitaryware. Zanobia, based in Al-Kisweh near Damascus, is now equipped with a brand new sanitaryware tunnel kiln with a production output of 49 tonnes over 24 hours. Made by Riedhammer the Sacmi Group company and international market leader in kiln manufacture this new tunnel kiln is 102 m long, 3,6 m wide and has a useful height of 80 cm. Thanks to the high-performance burners located both at the top and bottom, the firing temperature is extremely uniform throughout the kiln while specially provided injectors let air into the firing chamber. New kiln for Mexican firm Vilbomex Shuttle kiln installed at the Saltillo plant Reliable, high-performance, flexible and specially designed to contain energy consumption and CO 2 emissions. These, then, are the key features of the shuttle kiln supplied by Sacmi and installed at the Mexican firm Vilbomex, based in Saltillo. The firm belongs to the Villeroy&Boch Group, a sanitaryware multinational with branches in 125 countries and three production plants in Mexico. The kiln is an HWS 4,5/500/210-G with Firelane burners with two lifting doors and ceramic fibre lining. Able to handle up to 400 pieces per firing cycle each lasting about 10 hours and 30 minutes the kiln has an effective width of five metres and a triple loading deck. Suitable for single fire and any subsequent refire applications, the kiln installed by Vilbomex belongs to the latest generation of Sacmi/Riedhammer-designed machines, which optimise performance while containing energy consumption and emissions while actually raising output rates and improving final product quality. Two job orders in Egypt for Assoprint Assoprint, a Division of SRS SpA, strengthens its presence in the Egyptian market with a major supply agreement signed with Varsina Ceramic and Art Ceramic, a new Egyptian company founded by one of the members of the well-known ceramics firm Alfa and located in the 6th of October industrial zone. Both companies will start operations in spring The new REVOLAB T24 tintometer, entirely designed and developed by Assoprint at their plant in Fiorano, will soon be operational at the Egyptian ceramics firm Varsina. This system has been developed in a laboratory but it is fast, accurate and reliable, and it is well adapted also to not too high ceramic production capacities (up to 15,000 m 2 per day), thanks to its flexibility and excellent expandability. The REVOLAB system can operate without pipings and pumps, thus eliminating any problem of sedimentation and precipitation, and while maintaining the characteristics typical of systems based on the recycling and/or agitation of dispersed colors and bases. At Art Ceramic another machine will be soon installed, a new-generation system developed by Assoprint: COLORDROP, a completely automatic tintometer. This system has been designed by our technicians to meet the needs and specifications of the customers; it s able to dose silk screen printing pastes to cover production needs of up to 50,000 m 2 per day. Its ability to produce in real time, on-catching colors in stock, eliminating any idle time and product wastes while optimizing the mix of colors and rapidly implementing new colour developments, has made this system the ideal choice for starting up a company guaranteeing almost immediate returns on investment. The commitment of the Fiorano-based company in providing an innovative instrument and a solid customer service, will once again be a guarantee of successful partnerships.

5 13 Marazzi Usa once again chooses Rotocolor System A new System supply for Marazzi USA, a reference for the North American ceramic market with its products ranging from porcelain to glass mosaic to natural stone, all products with which the company is able to meet the highest aesthetic standards as required by designers and architects. The U.S. subsidiary of the giant Marazzi has chosen to expand its production facilities in Alabama relying on System s technology and know-how. They have purchased 2 5-head Rotocolor Triplex units, complete with sequencer. This decision confirms the satisfaction given by this group of machines already present on different lines in both plants of Monarch Tile (Alabama) and Sunnyvale (Texas). An important achievement for System, given the undisputed leadership of the Marazzi group on the American market, thanks to its partnerships with artists, engineers, contractors for the supply of tiles and sanitaryware. Coloritalia and Wanxing: an agreement for the future A new company is born, called Coloritalia Srl, to continue the work done so far by Coloritalia SpA, based in Fiorano. With a business lease agreement, which foresees a future purchase, the international group Wanxing has become a member of the company. The new company combines the quality and reputation of Coloritalia products and brands with the international presence of the Taiwan Group, world leader in the supply of cadmium selenium pigments for the ceramics industry. In the intention of the parties, the scope of the creation of the new company, Coloritalia Srl, was the preservation of the existing jobs and of the manufacturing knowhow of the company, to guarantee customers that they will find themselves dealing with the same people and the same products, but with renewed ambitions to relaunch the trademarks in the international markets. Through Wanxing, Coloritalia will be able to offer its products also in Asia, where currently it is not present. For its part, Wanxing acquires greater importance in the major markets like the European one, with a strong brand, which is recognized and renowned for its Italian quality and undoubted technical expertise. The identity of views of Wanxing and Coloritalia is also due to the variety of areas and sectors in which both have always worked. Not only ceramic colors, but also colors for the glass industry, decoration and decal products, pigments of various kind. All these areas will be developed further in the coming months. Certainly the combination of different knowledge and skills may lead to an improvement of the service offered in a view to increasing competitiveness of ceramic companies in the world scenario. System s quality control for Biancogres After the excellent experience of Pisoforte in , the Brazilian ceramic firm Biancogres chooses the Qualitron NG technology for the quality control of its tiles: an evolved inspection system for controlling quality, structure and shade of products. The System s Qualitron NG is installed on the kiln line, and it ensures high performance thanks to fully automatic control of the format and product change that allows fast shifting from one batch to another responding to the needs of very fast, high productivity lines. Ease of use, flexibility, and quick installation have made this equipment the ideal choice for automatic monitoring and integrated control of parameters, guaranteed by a highly sensitive camera system capable of solving all problems of shades, even complex or on dark backgrounds. Aerial storage systems again in Brazil with System and New Era System s decoration, sorting and palletizing equipment reaffirm their leadership in the Brazilian market with new and existing customers. Some of the most important Brazilian ceramic firms have made agreements, at the end of the last year, with System Group for the supply of some equipment whose start up will be completed by the middle of this year. An important achievement for the company based in Fiorano in a country which continues to grow, such as Brazil, where a growing demand for housing is being met by investments in technology and equipment, used to maintain the highest levels in ceramic production capacity. In order to meet the needs of different plants with a very high productivity, a complete package has been offered by the companies New Era and System that includes decoration, storage, sorting and palletizing machines, manufactured. The ceramic firm Biancogres, has chosen the new-generation storage equipment developed by New Era and fitted with a maxi-compenser to store the green tiles at the kiln inlet, with clear advantages in terms of space savings seen also the small dimensions of the unit. The maxi-compenser developed by New Era, whose main features are a very high capacity and a high degree of flexibility for different functions, will be installed at the plant of Incesa. Besides the supply of storage equipment, System will be also supplying an Easy Line sorting line and a falcon Millennium palletizer, featuring as well high productivity characteristics. Aerial storage systems, Easy Line sorting equipment, Falcon Millennium palletizers have been purchased by Embramaço and Cerbras, already consolidated customers for the Fiorano-based group, who have now decided to expand their production lines by relying on System s know-how. With them also a new Brazilian company, named Karina, becomes a customer of System and purchases the same equipment: Maxi-compenser, the Roboairbox storage system, the Easy Line sorting equipment and Falcon Millennium palletizers, that can respond to high expectations in terms of productivity and speed for the production of tiles ranging from 30x30cm to 60x60cm.