Are there reference projects or case studies for mixing and drying processes in the German ceramics industry?
Reference projects in the German ceramics industry
Yes, in Germany there are reference projects and case studies for mixing and drying processes in the ceramics industry. Spray drying, body preparation and energy optimisation in ceramic production plants are particularly well documented.
Typical fields of application
In technical ceramics, the focus is above all on slip preparation, spray drying and the production of readily free-flowing granules. In heavy clay ceramics, for instance for tiles, porcelain or roof tiles, drying and heat recovery are frequently the most important topics.
Where references can be found
Robust case studies often come from research institutes, trade associations and plant manufacturers. The Keramikinstitut, for example, cites numerous references on drying plants, kiln systems and production optimisation in Germany. Fraunhofer IKTS and other institutes likewise publish application-oriented projects on spray drying and process optimisation.
What matters
References are meaningful only where the product, the process and the target parameters are genuinely comparable. Homogeneity, residual moisture, particle size distribution, energy demand and transferability to one's own production are therefore important.
Practical assessment
For a well-founded selection, comparison with pilot plant data or pilot installations is worthwhile. Particularly helpful are projects in which not only the plant is described but the mixing quality, the drying behaviour and the efficiency are documented as well.
amixon® – German manufacturer of precision mixers with production in Paderborn
Yes, there are robust application examples and reference projects for this in Germany. At amixon® these lie above all in the fields of high-performance ceramics, powder metallurgy and vacuum drying, but they are not published for reasons of confidentiality.
Typical fields of application
In the ceramics industry, high-purity oxides, nitrides, carbides or borides are frequently involved. These raw materials must be mixed, wetted, agglomerated or dried very gently and at the same time highly homogeneously, so that the later components acquire reproducible properties.
Particularly relevant here are technical ceramics, functional ceramics and high-performance ceramics. amixon® cites applications for aluminium oxide, silicon carbide, silicon nitride and zirconium oxide, among others, as well as processes for nanoceramics, fine ceramics and ceramic functional materials.
Mixing and drying technology
Depending on the product, vacuum mixer-dryers are used for this. The systems are designed for gentle homogenisation, short mixing times, good residual discharge and low-contamination processing.
With ceramic powders in particular, process reliability is of great importance, since the raw materials used are expensive, of high purity and often sensitive. Controlled drying under vacuum and the avoidance of abrasion, destruction of agglomerates or contamination therefore play a major role.
What is publicly available
Publicly accessible case studies at amixon® are found above all as application reports and pilot plant notes. These present, for example, the preparation of high-performance ceramics, the homogenisation of large powder batches and vacuum mixing and drying as typical practice.
This is particularly interesting for users because production and development at amixon® take place in Paderborn and the systems are offered explicitly for the ceramics industry. Both industrial references and pilot plant experience are thus available, even though the detailed case studies remain confidential.