Over 100 people attended Team Day 2015, the international technical symposium organised by the Sacmi Division that has, since 2007, brought together the very best skills as regards the industrial design and development of machines and processes for technical ceramics and other industries. This third edition of the symposium was held on 19th October 2015 on the eve of the Ceramitec fair in Munich, a key European event for the heavy clay, special pressing and tableware industries.
Customers, existing and potential, plus specialists in the technical ceramics and advanced material fields, were able to get together and take a close look at the trends, applications and latest technological developments in the industry, doing so on the successful international platform organised by Sacmi Team, which has, recent years, taken the excellence of Alpha Ceramics, Riedhammer, Sama, Gaiotto and Sacmi Imola to new heights
Moderated by Jon Brinner from the University of Birmingham, the meeting opened with a presentation of the latest technological developments in the technical ceramic sector. It then continued with an analysis – by Chuck Compson of US company Almatis Inc. – of the challenges facing the metal powders sector, characterised by outstandingly high development potential and added value (especially as regards the use of special raw materials based on exclusive aluminium powders that allow optimal, impurity-free sintering).
The mineralogical components of the pigments – and, more specifically, their behaviour during firing – were then analysed by Stephan Blöß of Heubach, while Johannes Homa of Lithoz presented the latest technological developments in the manufacture (via the lithographic technique) of high density ceramic components. These unprecedented technological scenarios also offer new opportunities (for management of both semi-finished and completed ceramic products) from a design standpoint, as illustrated by Frank Sommer of FerroTec. There was then an assessment of the new firing prospects offered by rotary kilns – explained by Toralf Rensh of Ibu-Tec Advanced Materials AG – which can be designed and used as true “chemical reactors” to give the product new tribological, physical and chemical-physical properties.
The meeting closed with talks by Giuseppe Marletta of Rotfil and Arjen Steiner of Schaumglas Global who, respectively, illustrated the development of high precision electronic components (in accordance with the latest EU standards) and an innovative “cellular glass” production process: this type of glass is a natural thermal insulator that, thanks to this technology, can be produced using waste materials such as recycled glass, making the process environmentally friendly.
Organised by Sacmi with the aim of bringing together the top people in an industry that offers the group near-unrivalled added value and development potential, this year’s event once again aroused considerable interest among the participants, most of whom have already confirmed they will be attending the next edition in 2018. Hosted at the prestigious Paulaner am Nockemberg venue, Team Day 2015 ended with a convivial moment during which all the participants were able to discuss the results of the day and compare notes on new development and business opportunities.
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