Several hundred attendees are expected to gather at the Flamingo Hilton in Las Vegas, Nev., March 26-28 for the Society of Glass and Ceramic Decorators' (SGCD) DECO '06 seminar and exhibition. With the theme "Designing for Changing Markets," the event will cover new decorating trends and technologies, as well as challenges such as Proposition 65 and Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) reporting.
In addition to an informative seminar, nearly 30 exhibitors will showcase new developments in decorating equipment and materials, such as kilns and lehrs; colors, coatings and glazes; screen printing equipment and supplies; ultraviolet (UV) inks and equipment; blankware and other substrates; and specialty products.

Many used kilns are on the market today, due to the number of plant closings that have occurred in the past few years, and their selling prices often seem very low. Whether it is a wise choice to purchase a used kiln depends, like all things, on the specific details pertaining to how the new-to-you kiln will fit and perform in your facility.
The used option can be a great buy, but sometimes it's a poor investment. Here's how to evaluate the value of this possibility for periodic kilns.

Ask any manufacturer what their biggest challenges are, and the cost of energy is likely to be at or very near the top of the list. Companies in the ceramic and related industries that fire with natural gas have seen their gas prices double, triple and even quadruple over the last few years, as supplies have tightened due to increasing demand and damage from several major hurricanes. Manufacturers who want to stay competitive must either reduce their energy consumption, or find an alternative (cheaper) energy source.
While new options such as landfill gas and biomass fuels are under development, switching to an alternative energy source isn't feasible for most existing plants. However, just about every facility has room for improvement when it comes to reducing energy consumption.

Over the past decade, as U.S. and European manufacturers have struggled to find a competitive edge in the throes of enormous pricing pressures, it has become all too easy to relegate the idea of quality to a lesser status. Sure, it would be nice if products could meet the highest possible standard all the time...but if you can save a little here and a little there by using lower-cost raw materials and scrimping on operations and personnel, certainly the savings is well worth a small compromise. After all, doesn't everyone expect some defects and recalls now and then?

Upgrading your furnace insulation can mean the difference between saving energy and pouring profits down the drain.

Natural gas future prices have doubled since May 2005 to reach $12 per million BTU by December, with no relief from the increasing prices in sight. Now is the time for owners and operators of high-temperature furnaces to reexamine their options with regard to energy efficiency.

Following some basic guidelines can help manufacturers optimize cutting quality and productivity in green ceramic machining operations.

Machining unfired aluminum oxide, tungsten carbide, silicon carbide and other green ceramics can be challenging. The abrasive nature of these ceramic materials severely limits the life of carbide tools.

The refractories industry continues to evolve in response to the many changes caused by globalization-especially the associated major increase in competition.

Technically, I know January 1 is just another day. But the symbolism of a "new beginning" is just too powerful to resist. It's nice to believe that you can turn the page and start over. For companies that begin their fiscal year in January, it's a fresh start at an improved profit margin.

As a new parent, I've recently begun to worry a lot more than I used to.

Tremendous changes have occurred in the U.S. ceramic industry over the past 10 years as manufacturers have modernized, rationalized, consolidated and become more global.