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[July 2000]
Cerámicas Diago creates a new lighter and more resistant floor tile
Cerámicas Diago S.A., a ceramics company located in Castellón (Spain) has created a new floor tile, internationally registered under the name "Ligerámica", which is 33% lighter than traditional tiles and up to 6% stronger according to statements from company sources. This new concept of ceramic pieces reduces the costs of transport and the electrical power needed to produce them, as well as using less raw material.
Ligerámica is a new concept of ceramic floor tile that opens up a new field of technological research for international tile industries. As Ignacio Diago, the Commercial manager of Cerámicas Diago, explains "Our aim was to create a floor tile that would be lighter than that of traditional pieces by applying a model, now used in internal architecture and for paving large surfaces, to the structure of the floor tile, but would also maintain or improve the technical specifications".
On this basis, the Eduardo Torroja Institute of Construction Sciences, under the auspices of the High Council for Scientific Research in Spain, "began the preliminary studies and developed the entire process that almost two years later has been empirically tested in the kilns of Cermicas Diago in Onda and Castellón. The result has been registered under the name Ligerámica, a piece that is 33% lighter than traditional pieces and which is has up to 6% greater resistance to bending", added Ignacio Diago. "In appearance, the piece is the same as a traditional one and uses the same product and components, but its backing is in the form of a grid with ribbing, which is how its weight is reduced and strength increased. What we have applied is an intelligent hollowing of the backing".
A considerable saving in transport costs:
The most important saving is that of transport, as now 25% more product can be transported at the same cost. Ignacio Diago believes that this figure is of great interest to the ceramic sector, "and mainly for foreign customers, as their logistics organisation will be improved and there will be considerable savings to be made on imports". On the other hand, applying this concept of ceramic floor tile to the process of production does not require any kind of additional investment for tile companies, and is applicable to any sort of ceramic production.
Since receiving ISO 14001 environmental quality certification, Cerámicas Diago has always been concerned that its products respect the environment and "Ligerámica does so, as raw material needs are less and so the effect on clay extraction areas will be than less than previously".
Production of this new concept of ceramic floor tile in the various series that Cerámicas Diago offers will take place "progressively, as the end consumer and market demand increases", points out Ignacio Diago.
Ligerámica of Cerámicas Diago S.A. received the "Alfa de Oro" award for innovation at Cevisama 2000, an award given by the Spanish Society of Ceramics and Glass in recognition of investigative and innovatory work within the tile sector.
ENDS