Brazilian ceramic firm Cecrisa reportedly has taken a step forward in its machine pool modernization plan. The company’s new spray-dried body preparation department with MMC modular mills is now undergoing final assembly.

Vinci Partners, the Brazilian investment company with a majority share in Cecrisa, continues to modernize its machine pool with the goal of attaining advantages in terms of both the productivity and energy efficiency of its plants. The core of this initial stage of the project is the spray-dried body preparation department. The department has been equipped with two MMC180 continuous modular mills and two ATM180 spray dryersfrom Sacmi. In keeping with the company’s manufacturing policy, this order will boost glazed porcelain and monoporosa tile body output by approximately 80 tons/hour. Located at Portinari, the new body preparation department will supply two factories, one in Portinari itself and another in Eldorado.

Cecrisa reportedly aims to make the most of all the technological development and energy efficiency opportunities on the raw material processing front, with electricity savings of up to 50% and gas savings of 10-15%. High levels of process automation are expected to reduce labor requirements by 67%. The machines also reportedly guarantee process repeatability, resulting in improved finished product quality. This project is designed to lay the foundations for a program that will strengthen operations in Brazil and allow the company to expand its position in high-end foreign markets.

The installation of a new, complete high-productivity line for both glazed porcelain tile and monoporosa aims to achieve similar goals, including the installation of a combination of Sacmi PH5000L presses, a five-tier ECP307/28.2-m dryer and a firing solution consisting of a JMC315/14.7-m pre-kiln and FMC 325/161.7-m kiln. The machines reportedly feature hot air recovery systems and other technical innovations that give precise firing curve control, ensure production flexibility, and optimize energy consumption.

Lines for handling and storing semi-finished items before and after firing were also installed, as well as sorting and packaging lines designed by NuovaSima, a Sacmi Group company that specializes in the design of large-scale output handling management and end-of-line quality control solutions.

For more information, visit www.sacmi.com.