VitrA boosts sanitaryware production with Sacmi technology

A new SACMI-Riedhammer HWS kiln was recently started up at VitrA’s “Third plant” in Bozüyük. The machine is specifically designed to handle large and complex pieces.

With more than 5 million sanitaryware pieces per year and continuous investments in technological innovation, VitrA has taken another step towards production expansion. In the latest months, a new SACMI-Riedhammer HWS 18/500/190-G PF shuttle kiln has been successfully started up at the company’s “third plant” in Bozüyük, Turkey.

The new kiln is specifically designed to allow firing of large and heavy sanitaryware pieces, top-of-the range articles made of Vitreous China or Fine Fire Clay. The entire movement system has been designed to facilitate kiln loading and unloading operations, with different stages carried out automatically and separating the loading station from the unloading one.  

In particular, the model supplied - a shuttle kiln with double vertical wall – is equipped with 30 loading decks (12+12+6) making it possible to operate under diverse production conditions. Thanks to the special car handling system, each set of 12 cars is automatically sent, at the end of firing, to the storage-sorting zone. In the meantime, a new set is loaded into the kiln with the possibility to choose whether to dedicate the machine to the firing or re-firing of the pieces.

The considerable dimensioning of the machine required to handle this type of production mix is highlighted by the loading data; 576 pieces per cycle for items with a high average weight (39,5 kg) and average loading equal to 3,2 pieces per sq.m.  

Firing efficiency is guaranteed by the latest generation SACMI-Riedhammer exclusive “pulse firing” burners. There are 50 of these positioned inside the kiln (37 at the bottom and 13 at the top).  The car useful height, equal to 1.9 m for each of the 2 loading decks, is specifically designed for the efficient handling of large complex pieces.

VitrA’s main objective, lying behind this latest investment, is to boost and diversify production, especially regarding its top-of-the-range product mix. Further ambitious new projects are planned,  such as the creation and start-up of the new fifth plant, once again relying on its traditional partnership with the various companies of the SACMI Group for sanitaryware to achieve these goals.