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[October 2009]
Dragon Gets Fired Up For Ceramitec
Dragon&TC Kilns will take the opportunity at Ceramitec 2009 to show international manufacturers the advanced combustion technologies that are associated with the company’s latest installations – projects which have helped customers in the vanguard of production to achieve better, cheaper, cleaner firing regimes across kiln types, leading to enhanced productivity and boosted profits.
Since exhibiting in Munich three years ago, newly constructed units out of the Shenzhen factory have assisted top level customers to modernise drying and firing systems – often with an attendant ramping up of both production and quality levels.
In addition to the global profile of the business, this year has seen Dragon establish a four-strong service and maintenance team based in China itself, a bespoke operation for the many Chinese installations for which they are well known. This is an important consolidating step for the company, which says it has been pleased to welcome back engineering and commissioning expert Jason Dainty, who is based in Suzhou.
Business across the ceramic manufacturing sectors has clearly been tough and highly competitive, as always, but Dragon says it can boast an impressive portfolio of installations since last presenting to the Ceramitec visitors.
Not least, in recent times, Dragon Kilns has been instrumental in helping major names such as Villeroy & Boch (in the Thai factory of subsidiary Nahm Sanitaryware) and General Ceramics (in the UAE) to achieve their new expansion phases. Both these projects have been completed to specification and to the full satisfaction of the respective customers and both feature 86 cubic metre, 8-car, multi-zone shuttle kilns at the heart of the factory.
Back in the UK – where the European arm is based – Dragon has recently gained the contract to supply Wade Ceramics with its latest kiln. Wade is renowned around the world for, amongst other things, its high quality ceramic whisky flagons for prestigious names in the drinks business. These will now be produced on Dragon’s new 32 metre-long special roller kiln installation at the Wade Ceramics plant.
The Dragon company directors are long-time participants in the Ceramitec series of exhibitions and this is represented in a continuity of success. Shortly after the last show, against extremely stiff competition, Dragon won the €2 million contract to supply a 105 metre-long tunnel kiln to Lobnya’s sanitaryware factory near Moscow and this is now enabling the Russian company to more than double its vitreous china production.
Other notable successes since the Lobnya contract was secured include a high temperature shuttle kiln and associated dryer for a refractories plant in China, a 60 metre-long roller kiln for tableware in Thailand, a specialised shuttle kiln and dryer for grinding wheel production in India, an 80 metre-long tunnel kiln for technical ceramics in China, as well as valued repeat business in both biscuit and glost tableware firing in Turkey.
www.dragonkilns.com
ENDS