Ancora Group and the Spanish market

Ancora Group has secured major orders in the Spanish market through its local branch Ancora Iberia, further strengthening its presence in the region.

Villarreal-based ceramic manufacturer Porcelanosa took delivery of a 36-spindle squaring machine in late 2012 and put it into operation in January this year. The order follows on from previous supply contracts and confirms the Spanish company's trust in Ancora Group. Additionally, Castellón-based firm Grespania Ceramica recently ordered a new 20-head oscillating lapping machine for widths of up to 1200 mm, which joins the lapping machine previously purchased together with 4 dryers, also produced by Ancora Group.

"These sales offer the first encouraging signs that the Spanish market is picking up again after the recent difficult period," commented Alejandro Herrador, general manager of Ancora Iberia. "Ancora Group has responded rapidly to the new trends in production towards large sizes and energy saving by designing and building equipment tailored specifically to these requirements."

The producer companies' interest in large sizes, already demonstrated by the sale of a complete line with lapping machine and squaring machine to Levitile Iberica, prompted a rapid response from Ancora, a pioneer in the production of machinery for sizes up to 1200 mm.

Strong attention has been focused on cutting costs and levels of consumption, as exemplified by the considerable energy savings offered by the new Ancora Vulcan B5 burner.

In recent months Ancora Group's Spanish branch has fitted energy-saving burners onto 6 kilns: 3 for Peronda Ceramicas, 2 for Todagres of Villarreal and 1 for Pamesa of Valencia.