Air Power Group presents 'Surface Waterfall System' project

The Surface Waterfall System involves waterfall application of glaze onto glass plates, a technique that was invented in 1959. At that time the working of stainless steel was quite problematical and manual cold methods were used to obtain a balanced standard compensation plenum and linear blade profiles, characteristics that still today ensure a thin, uniform application of glaze over the entire surface.

The machine was introduced to the ceramic sector in 1985 when collaboration with leading ceramic companies resulted in technically balanced and cost-effective applications suitable for various types of tiles such as porous single-firing. Sales of the Surface Waterfall System really took off from 1995 onwards.

Today, more than 40 years since it was first developed, the Surface Waterfall System still uses a coating head made of cold drawn steel to maintain torsion properties and to prevent sedimentation on the walls, as well as the coating blades which make up the heart of the machine. Metal compositions are added to the stainless steel components to assure outstanding durability of the machine, which is covered by a two-year warranty. The 180° opening system allows the Surface Waterfall System to be cleaned regularly and all parts are guaranteed against wear.

The Surface Waterfall System, designed and built by the Air Power group, is the only machine that allows complete closure of the coating blades to ensure homogenous coating film delivery for low application quantities. The film thickness is regulated by means of a camshaft according to a graduated scale in tenths of a mm. The glazed surface is smooth and homogenous even in the case of low product applications.

The advantages of curtain coating compared to bell application have been widely noted in the ceramic sector. The Surface Waterfall System achieves more stable product delivery, which is controlled according to precise parameters such as coating film thickness, speed regulation and pressure.
The coating film is precisely vertical to avoid the accumulation of glaze at the edges and undesirable surface effects. The waterfall application process uses small quantities of product compared to the bell system, thereby avoiding product wastage. The Surface Waterfall System applies glaze and engobe with a wider range of viscosity and density.