Articles Tagged with ''energy efficiency''
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Industry 4.0: A Practical Application in Ceramic Kilns

The ceramic kiln industry offers many opportunities for innovation, where Industry 4.0 capabilities can be leveraged to unlock additional value.

Alberto Cantú Pérez

August 1, 2017

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Industry 4.0, also known as the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), is proving to be a revolutionary trend that will shape the industrial landscape in the coming years. Adding intelligence to physical objects has never been as easy and inexpensive as it is today.

Firing Foundations: What's Next?

Following the technological innovations of the past 45 years, what new firing technologies can the ceramic industry expect?

Greg Sullivan

August 1, 2017

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Across the board, the ceramic industry has benefitted from three significant pieces of technology introduced to us over the last 45 years: high-velocity combustion, low-mass kiln cars, and digital control technology. First came high-velocity combustion, which gave us high rates of convective heat transfer. It delivered improved temperature uniformity, faster cycles, fuel savings and increases in “A” grade recovery, as well as many other documented secondary benefits.

Inside CI

Managing Priorities

While buzzwords like IIoT and Industry 4.0 are everywhere these days, very little is actually being done by manufacturers to capitalize on the various available technologies.

Susan Sutton

August 1, 2017

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August always seems to be such a chaotic month in our household. Between home improvement projects, vacation schedules, and back-to-school plans, it can be difficult to limit our focus and prioritize what’s really needed vs. what would be nice or fun to do. Everything that needs to be taken care of is important to a certain extent (the lawn isn’t going to mow itself!), but what if the weather’s beautiful and the kids want to go to the pool? The sheer volume of options can become overwhelming.

Product Focus

Extra-Large Roller Kilns

Wider channels in extra-large kilns allow an increase in the number of incoming tile and therefore boost kiln output compared to other machines of the same length.

August 1, 2017

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The roller kilns in the XXL family, which feature extra-large channels from 3,500-3,850 mm wide, are the biggest in the Sacmi single-layer kiln range. Wider channels allow an increase in the number of incoming tile and therefore boost kiln output compared to other machines of the same length. For example, the XXL 385 kiln lets manufacturers position a row of four 800 x 800 mm porcelain tile (with subsequent squaring), three 1,000 x 1,000 mm tile or two 1,600 x 3,200 mm slabs.

Sacmi Supplies Combustion Systems for BMT

BMT commissioned Sacmi to modernize the two downstream kilns, which will be equipped with high-speed burners and combustion modulation systems.

July 21, 2017

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Sacmi Heavy Clay recently completed the sale of two combustion systems to Tunisia-based Briqueterie El Mostakbel (BMT).

AMETEK LAND: Global Services Brochure

The brochure details AMETEK Land’s range of after-sales services.

March 23, 2017

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AMETEK Land has published a new “Global Services” brochure as part of the company’s continued commitment to assist customers in achieving the best operating performance from AMETEK Land instruments and systems.

Adventures in Fast Firing

While fast firing can offer multiple benefits, several key factors need to be taken into consideration to help ensure success.

Larry Camm

March 1, 2017

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For the purposes of this discussion, a “fast firing” is defined as a firing duration from ambient to ambient within 180 min or less. The primary benefits of implementing a fast-firing protocol include: significantly reducing energy consumption per payload, reduced scrap and re-fire, lowered labor costs, shorter production lead times, and more reliable product consistency.

Product Profile

Tunnel Kiln Q&A;

J.J. Stevenson shares insights regarding Deltech, Inc.'s new small-scale electric tunnel kilns.

March 1, 2017

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Many, if not most, of our new products over the years have come about after we’ve been approached by a current or potential customer with an application requirement that required some R&D on our part. In this case, an existing customer needed to scale up, but in a way that ensured reproducibility of the outcomes they were getting from their Deltech benchtop furnaces. A small-scale tunnel kiln seemed to offer a good solution.

$Insulating Castable Refractories$

Specifying Insulating Castable Refractories

Education is key for enabling decision-makers to select a product that is best-suited to each individual application.

Lance Caspersen

August 1, 2016

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Industrial furnaces and kilns rely on high-temperature insulation materials to optimize production yield and minimize energy costs, which can rise rapidly if excessive heat escapes from the point of operation. Insulating castable refractory materials are key to this energy-saving process due to their inherent low heat conductivity, as well as advantages derived from ease of placement and structural strength.

Trick and Treat for Ceramic Manufacturers!

All tricks don't have to be bad, and we're spotlighting some cool tricks in this issue.

Susan Sutton

October 1, 2015

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As I write this column, I’ve already got candy on the brain. This is definitely the time of year for costumes, pumpkins and other decorations—and sugar shock. Be sure to stock up on plenty of candy, or you might wake up the day after trick-or-treat to find toilet paper streaming throughout your front yard!