Sacmi signs the fifth expansion project of Al Anwar Ceramic Tiles Co.

Al Anwar Ceramic Tiles Co., which is currently Oman's largest producer of ceramic floor and wall tiles, has completed the installation of the fifth production line, with a daily capacity of 14,000 sq.m of double-fired floor and wall tiles, taking the production capacity close to 20 million sq.m/year.

As all previous expansions in 2004, 2010 and 2012, this last production unit installed at the Nizwa-based factory was once again designed and realized by Sacmi.

The fifth Sacmi line, which is similar in terms of process and philosophy to the previous ones, has even higher productivity.

The line consists of two 2000-tonne PH2090 presses. Working together, they produce red bodies for high-end wall tiles. The presses are equipped with the latest control systems to check product and press consistency, and feed a horizontal five-layer dryer, which is compact and thrifty on energy consumption (16.8 m long with an entrance of 2,850 mm) to maximize production capacity. Efficient heat circulation between the layers ensures that the drying process is absolutely homogeneous.

The product is then transferred to an ultra-modern 2-channel kiln for biscuit/vitrified materials (FBN model, 144.9 m long and 2,850 mm wide). Fitted with the latest energy-saving systems, the kiln drastically reduces gas consumption while ensuring optimal product quality. The kiln incorporates all Sacmi's cutting-edge techniques, which are designed to guarantee an outstanding result: thermal flow control, perfect de-airing of the body, highly advanced glaze control during firing and product flatness control, resulting in first choice yields that are certainly towards the high end of the sector.