The economic dimension of green technologies in the ceramic industry
Making Europe climate neutral by 2050, boosting the economy thanks to green technologies, creating sustainable industries and transport, reducing pollution. This is the commitment that the European Union has drawn up within the Green Deal, a plan of initiatives aimed at promoting the efficient use of resources by moving to a clean and circular economy.
To achieve this objective, the action of all sectors of the economy will be necessary, starting from investment in green technologies to supporting industry for R&D projects, from decarbonisation of the energy sector to greater energy efficiency in buildings, up to collaboration with international partners to improve environmental standards around the world.
The allocation and management of the funds that will come from the European Green Deal constitutes the first task assigned to the new Ministry of Ecological Transition (MITE), of strategic importance in light of the historical period we are experiencing and the related problems due to development, management and good environmental practices that many Italian companies continue to demonstrate.
Sustainability, in environmental, social and ethical terms, is increasingly central to corporate management policies, especially in the face of the advantages it is proving to have in terms of productivity optimization, attention to the territory and reputation.
From this point of view, the ceramic industry is characterized by automation that is increasingly driven every day, aimed at maximizing green through reduced energy consumption, contained emissions, attention to the reclamation of raw materials.
In fact, the recycling of waste, together with the optimization in the use of raw materials, the energy autonomy of the plants, the reduced use of water and chemical components, are the points on which the Research and Development laboratories of the ceramic companies are still working towards in view of the next challenges. Improvements in the combination of production sustainability and practicality with respect to market demands.
Acimac (The National Association of Italian manufacturers of machinery and equipment for the ceramic industry), together with MICE and Confindustria Ambiente, is working to promote best practices in the supply chain and encourage actions and investments linked to sustainability.
In line with this goal, SITI B&T Group has always prioritized the development of technologies in compliance with sustainability: despite the international emergency situation, the Group resolutely continued its R&D programs in 2020, with an overall investment of over Euro 5 million (3.5% of turnover). SUPERA® and Titanium® are the highest demonstration of Siti B&T’s green technological development, with a careful eye on constant product innovation.
SUPERA® is the belt pressing line dedicated to large slabs, integrated with all stages of the production process, from preparation to the end of line. Products with exceptional aesthetics, without the use of a mould. Thanks to the new SUPERA® HP it is possible to obtain traditional sizes by green cut, thus ensuring high production volumes and maximum flexibility. This key SITI B&T technology allows the use of 0 km raw materials, adapting to different types of powders, including local ones. Furthermore, the Start&Stop® power on demand patent hydraulic unit guarantees maximum efficiency and low energy consumption per square metre while optimizes oil cooling systems. In addition, the Green Cut Technology allows any size to be produced and cut, without waste.
The Titanium® firing technology by SITI B&T, dedicated in particular to slabs and large sizes, boasts a line of latest generation burners, the result of a large investment in R&D, envisioning the maximum green expression.
Well consolidated on the market, Titanium® allows a reduction in fuel consumption, a reduction of up to 30% in the flow of fumes to the flue compared to a traditional kiln, as well as a reduction in emissions and electricity consumption.
The green focus is applied to all the technologies developed by the various Group companies, as a drive towards innovation, in terms of extreme product and size flexibility, real time response to market demands and valuable partnership for our customers competitiveness.
FULL DIGITAL LINE by Projecta Engeneering is a modular and flexible digital decoration line, capable of new graphic frontiers on any format. Maximum precision and least possible waste are the aims of all the technological upgrades, patents and latest generation components of this complete line.
Thanks to INNOVA GLAZE, the glaze consumption is reduced by 80% compared to analog decoration, while in terms of waste, INNOVAFIX guarantees a drastic reduction in ceramic slabs breakage thanks to grit dry application. Furthermore, the use of water-based glue and glaze allows for a -88% of pollutant and odorous emissions. Nonetheless, the qualitative properties of the products remain unchanged.
With FLEXY, the Ancora team – the Group company specialized in finishing technology – patented a breakthrough solution for slab finishing flatness thanks to a new tools arrangement in the polishing head. By variable geometry polishing head, less tool wear and less material waste are achieved, thus granting a progressive economic and energy saving.
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