ceramitec 2015, which will focus on classic ceramics and raw materials through powder metallurgy up to technical ceramics, will be organized on the exhibition grounds of Messe München in Munich from October 20-23, 2015. In keeping with the green manufacturing theme at the last ceramitec event, many plant manufacturers presented new, more efficient machinery and equipment for heavy clay ceramics. Since then, these themes have been further developed for the entire manufacturing chain.

 

The energy efficiency aspect also finds reflection in products from the heavy clay ceramics segment. Initiated a few years ago in Germany and consisting in manufacturing vertically perforated brick filled with thermal insulation materials, this development has led to the reduction of thermal conductivities to 0.075 W/mK. Meanwhile, this value has been undercut: there are solutions for the energy-oriented refurbishment of buildings offering thermal conductivities of not more than 0.06 W/mK owing to the use of perlite insulating materials. 

 

In addition to energy efficiency, cost efficiency is a major issue in the building sector. The need to remain competitive has led to the development of solutions for prefabricated brick walls, for example, or large-format roof brick.

 

Regarding the procedural optimization of tools for the manufacturing of heavy clay ceramics products, Cerame-Unie, the umbrella organization of the European ceramics manufacturers, presented the Roadmap 2050 at the end of 2012. The intention of the Roadmap is to present ceramics as a traditional material with a real future, which allows for the achievement of the EU objectives. Among other things, the Roadmap outlines that owing to the durability of ceramic products, the energy savings made during their period of use more than compensates for the required manufacturing effort. 

 

In October 2014, the EU council resolved on the 2030 Energy and Climate Package as a framework for the climate and energy policy of the European Union. This package includes a binding reduction of greenhouse gases by 40% (1990 until 2030) and a binding objective for renewable energies of 27% related to energy consumption in 2030. Regarding energy efficiency, the package prescribes a non-binding target of 27%.

 

Manufacturers from the mechanical engineering and kiln construction sectors have already responded to these issues and will display solutions and new ideas on resource-friendly production and architecture at ceramitec 2015. New concepts for the construction of dryers and furnaces give rise to the expectation of energy savings of up to 30%. This proves that heavy clay ceramic products, which have continually met the building requirements of the respective epoch over millennia, still experience pioneering developments for their fabrication and product design.

 

Traditionally, ceramitec hosts many manufacturers representing the heavy clay ceramics sector. In 2015, 100 exhibitors will represent this segment, including Ar-san, Bongioanni, Ceric Technologies, Cleia, Equipceramic, Händle, Hans Lingl GmbH, Keller, Refratechnik Ceramics, SABO, SACMI, Talleres Felipe Verdes, S.A., and Tecton.

 

In addition to comprehensively presenting the industry as a whole, ceramitec 2015 will offer a wide-ranging supporting program. In cooperation with the specialist magazine Zi Ziegelindustrie International, the Heavy Clay Day will take place for the third time on October 23, 2015. On this day, industry experts will demonstrate their solutions and ideas relating to the theme of resource efficiency. The speakers will talk about savings in the consumption of both raw materials and energy.

 

For more information, visit www.ceramitec.de.