Grupo STN has purchased three new complete finishing plants from Ancora

A new line for big slabs will be installed in the Venux plant, while the other two will be supplied to another factory of the group dedicated to traditional sizes.

The finishing department of Grupo STN Cerámica will be enhanced by the installation of three new plants by Ancora, the company of Gruppo B&T that specialises in the design and construction of complete finishing lines for ceramic products.

After successfully collaborating on traditional size tile production, Grupo STN and Ancora are continuing their partnership with a new project focused on producing large size tiles and slabs (up to 3200x1600 mm) at the Spanish group’s new Venux plant. The finishing department will be equipped entirely with machinery supplied by the Italian company.

The technologies chosen for this project include the Tornado dry squaring machine, the Matrix lapping line for big slabs, and the Powerlux super gloss treatment.

“Ancora is the longstanding supplier of all our finishing lines,” says Juan Carlos Barberá, General Manager of Grupo STN. “Our new ceramic slab project involves a major investment but is also an important opportunity for us to strengthen our market presence with new products. This is why we have chosen the very best partner in terms of reliability and results.”

The fully automatic Tornado squaring machine is made of high quality materials and can achieve exceptional daily productivity, reduced operating costs and lower energy consumption. It also stands out for its reliability and ease of operation, even when used by less experienced technicians.

The Matrix line, specially designed for lapping and polishing large slabs, is another very powerful and reliable solution capable of overcoming all problems relating to the production of large polished surfaces. It delivers excellent surface finish quality, high gloss levels and unparalleled productivity. The new dedicated MATRIX Smart Solution software manages and monitors production and corrects defects, while a smart diagnostics technology manages all alarms, making the machine user-friendly and boosting output and product quality.

Finally, Powerlux allows for dual operation – super gloss for highly polished products and matt lapped for trendy natural finishes – while maintaining maximum productivity and eliminating defects.

Besides the finishing plant for the Venux factory, Grupo STN has also purchased from Ancora two further complete lines to be installed in another production unit of the group, dedicated to more traditional tile sizes. Including the Imperial lapping machines and the Powerlux treatment, these lines will allow for very high productivity at the kiln exit, reaching the highest performance in the world in terms of quality and efficiency. The new lines will join the two existing finishing plants, also supplied by Ancora

In recent years, Ancora has updated its entire product range and all areas of its operations from production through to service, enabling it to further strengthen its partnerships with leading international players such as Grupo STN Cerámica.