Three awards were handed out this year, as well as two honorable mentions.
Ceramicas Diago received the Alfa de Oro for Ligeramica, a base tile for lightweight floors reinforced by a structural architectural design. Consideration was given by the judges to Ligeramica’s contribution to weight reduction in ceramic floor tiles. The technique represents a considerable savings on raw materials, handling, energy, and freight costs. The 33% reduction in mass is achieved using a rib design gleaned from complex structural calculations, the company says.
Ferro Enamel received the Alfa de Oro for the development of a new ink jet decoration system, the New Ferro Decoration System for Ceramic Products. The software system is comprised of a program that allows four-color printing in specially developed silk-screen inks. The machine itself provides a substitute for traditional silk-screen printing systems, touting a higher production rate, versatility and the ability to print pieces with sharp relief, even out to the edge.
Rocersa’s development of a glazed, red-body porcelain stoneware led to its winning the third Alfa de Oro of 2000. Redstone, as it is known, is developed from raw materials of Spanish origin. Its creation subsequently led to a reassessment of the role of red paste in Spanish floor tile production.
The judges also presented two honorable mentions. The first went to Torrecid for Sekcid, a low surface energy tile manufacturing technology. Proying XXI was awarded the second honorable mention award for Wendel-Proying, an intermittent roller kiln for firing ceramic tiles.
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