Technological and productive innovations in the ceramic industry with particular reference to ceramic floor and wall tiles

Abstract

A review is made of the more important innovations relative both to fabrication technology (in particular as regards the phases of raw materials preparation, drying and firing) and to the quality and performance of products introduced recently by the ceramic floor and wall tile industry. The description of the innovative solutions regarding machinery and equipment is accompanied by a discussion and characterization of the advantages, which result from their introduction, for quality of the semiworked pieces and final products as well as for the optimization of energy consumption and management of the processes as compared with traditional technology. The picture that emerges provides a precise detailed outline of the evolutional trends in a sector, that of ceramic floor and wall tile, in which Italy holds an important and stable position of leadership, not only in production capacity but also in progress in fabrication technology and the attainment of higher levels of quality.