News/Events
KERALAB
20.03.2012
The first laboratory dedicated to the “colour management†for the digital printing support on ceramic tiles.
Two years after its birth, Keralab, is getting more and more affirmed as ideal partner for the firms producing ceramic tiles and accessories with Inkjet technology decoration.Officine Smac S.p.A., through KeraLab, at its Fiorano Modenese's seat, aims at being the reference point for the firms undertaking the digital printing path. The heart of the KeraLab system is represented by KeraCromiaâ„¢ technologies and systems:- ISI, hyperspectral scanner to capture charts and images up to 850x1600 mm., with high resolution;
- XAM, a dedicated colours separation software, created for ceramic industries.
The entire analysis process and the preparation of the file for the production printing lasts some minutes and doing so you'll avoid waste of time (tests) and materials (glazes, tiles and so on). Up today, many of the major italian producers of ceramic tiles, special pieces and accessories have addressed to KeraLab which can takes care of the entire process, starting with the hyperspectral acquisition of the original tiles or stones and ends with the telematic delivery of the printing files, ready for the production.
During the last year KeraLab delivered more then 1000 products, with more than the 97% of success which means these products have been approved for production.
SMAC PRESENTS ''MULTIGLAZE''
20.03.2012
A wide range of products can be obtained from glazing and decoration techniques for clay roof tile and faces bricks surfaces. The decoration methods listed here below, produced and development by Smac, are utilised world wide from many years in the decoration of clay roof tiles and bricks surfaces:
- uniform coating with rotary atomisation;
- spraying;
- application of powders and other granulates.
In the last year in this decoration sector, the trend is directed to the growing use of brilliant glazes due to the improvements in North Africa and Middle East markets. It's also increasing the attention towards the most possible automation of plants, with designs of plants managed automatically on all their parts avoiding material and personnel waste.
Today, we will present you the last innovation for the uniform coating with rotary atomisation of roof tiles and accessories, called "MULTIGLAZE SYSTEM".
The market know that the most used method for the uniform coating of roof tiles surfaces is the rotary atomisation with discs booths. Rotary diffusion of the glaze/engobe occurs via high speed rotation of disc packs of different diameters and design, equipped with waved or grooved discs. The rotary units are direct loaded. The rotation can be clockwise or anticlockwise , to get more control on glaze stream, and it is selected by the suitable selector place on command board. The discs units are fed via perforated glaze/engobe pipes, connected to a rotary pump.
This method is spreading quickly and is recognised as the best method for its uniform glaze/engobe coating, both for standard pieces and the ever increasing trend for special shape/size pieces.
SMAC produces for this type of application a compact machines, where the discs remains within the machinery and operation is external. The machine uses hollow rotor motors of last generation, completely designed by SMAC, which guarantee high quality and high duration standards. In order to prevent non-glazed areas, these booths have numerous possible adjustments both for inclination both of the disc and the entire metal internal structure (superior and lateral towers), over and above the already cited possibility of disc rotation in both directions.
With the aim of meeting the ever-increasing number of clay special pieces/accessories and to facilitate the uniform application of brilliant glaze SMAC in the last year developed the new system named MULTIGLAZE.
This system is now the best offer of the market for the uniform glazing with liquid in the field of clay roof tiles and accessories.
MULTIGLAZE is a glazing station composed by a support frame, independent conveyor, automatic glaze/engobe feeding with automatic recycle, automatic washing device with separate waste waters recovery. The glaze/engobe nebulisation is done through 3 upper rotary units and up to a maximum of 6 lateral rotary units in order to obtain the best application on piece' surfaces
All the rotary units are adjustable in height, inclination and spray angle. The large number of discs packs and the large number of possible settings, allows a better application of the glaze on the pieces since each discs pack will apply smaller quantities but with more nebulisation. Furthermore thanks to the application units placing the perfect coating of the entire production range of special pieces and accessories will be guaranteed.
The system is completely automatic and needs minimal maintenances and controls during its functioning . The independent transport system allows to avoid any loss of glaze/engobe and facilitates the installation into the production line, Colour feeding is done by pneumatic pump complete of pulsations compensation system which allows the glaze constant flow and consequently an optimal application on the pieces.
Besides the new automatic cleaning device allows to obtain in a few minutes a very good washing of all the internal parts of the machine with the automatic recovery of glaze and the deviation of dirty water. This allows rapid change of production and colours with very minimal worker intervention.
With this application method the error possibility is very low and moreover this system is not subjected to stops for adjustments or maintenances. With constant glaze/engobe quality parameters and constant line speed, the applied weight results always uniform. The whole system is controlled by an electric command board with PLC and inverter which allows the programming and the rescue of production parameters into memorized receipt and it can be also integrated into Multiline software for the management of the entire engobing/decorating/production line.
SMAC ASSOCIATED ACIMAC
17.04.2012
ACIMAC is the association of Italian suppliers of plant, machinery, equipment, semi-finished products, raw materials and services for the ceramic, heavy clay and refractories industries.
As a member of the Italian Employers' Federation Confindustria, ACIMAC is an integral part of the Italian industry's representation system.
Smac is associated ACIMAC