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[May 2003]
Vista Alegre Orders Again from Keramischer Ofenbau
Vista Alegre has been modernising and extending the porcelain production at
its main factory in Ilhavo (Aveiro, Portugal) and as part of this project
awarded the contract for delivery of a roller kiln for biscuit firing to
Keramischer Ofenbau GmbH (Hildesheim, Germany).The kiln is 50 metres long and has a setting width of 2 metres. The
production capacity is 11 million plates per year, 95% of which are
isostatically pressed. At the isostatic presses, the plates are stacked
automatically and then set on transport plates made of cordierite. These
are said to provide the best possible conditions for automatic transport and
flexible storage of green ware and fired ware.The transport and storage system between forming machines and kiln has been
manufactured by Lippert GmbH (Pressath, Germany) and enables an intermediate
storage of one shift at the kiln entrance or kiln exit. If necessary, the
flexible storage system can be extended.By using the new firing system from Keramischer Ofenbau, the percentage of
kiln furniture necessary can be reduced considerably.On this project, a reliable roller drive system has been used. This drive
system equipped with helical gearing runs in an oil bath and is said to be
practically maintenance free. The SiSiC rollers which are used in this kiln
have already proven to have a long life in many other applications.Heating is effected above and below the setting by a modern heating system
which, combined with the control system, allows for fully automatic changes
in the firing curve and transit times. The set values are changed
accordingly via gradients.Keramischer Ofenbau says that the advantages of this plant design are the
high temperature uniformity over the setting cross-section in the different
kiln areas and new concepts enabling a significant reduction in specific
energy consumption and in cycle times.
ENDS