Ceramic Processing Plant & Machinery Solutions

Clay, feldspar and quartz are received, lump material is broken down, and each raw material is weighed to the body recipe. Materials are held in separate bins so that recipes can be changed between batches.

The weighed batch is ground with water in a ball mill until the body becomes a pourable slip. The slip is held in stirred tanks so that the solids do not settle out.

Slip is screened to take out coarse residue and passed over magnets, because iron specks show as dark spots after firing. Rejected residue is taken out of the circuit.

The slip is sprayed into a hot air stream, which drives off the water and leaves free-flowing granules that press well. Fines carried out with the air are recovered in a cyclone.

Granulate is pressed in dies, or slip is cast in moulds for sanitaryware, to give the green shape. Green pieces are dried before any glaze is applied.

Glaze is applied to the dried body and the piece is fired, which vitrifies the body and fuses the glaze to it. Heat recovered from the kiln is taken back to the dryers.

Fired ware is inspected for cracks, warping and glaze faults, then sorted into grades. Accepted pieces are packed into cartons and palletised.