From raw clay to fired tiles: the machines a ceramics plant needs
A step-by-step guide to grinding, pressing, glazing and firing, the machine that does each job, and how to ask for a quotation.
What machine are you looking for?
Type a machine name or a step of the work.
- Ball mill
- Slip tank with agitator
- Spray dryer
- Hydraulic tile press
- Pressure casting machine
- Ceramic dryer
- Glazing line
- Digital inkjet printer for tiles
- Roller kiln
- Tunnel kiln
- Sorting line
- Tile packing machine
No match yet. Tell us what you need and we will help. Get a quote
Ceramics machines
Step 1: Body preparation
Ball mill
A turning drum filled with grinding media that grinds clay and minerals with water into a fine slip.
Availability subject to feasibility check
Request this machineStep 1: Body preparation
Slip tank with agitator
A tank with a slow agitator that keeps the ground slip evenly mixed, so it does not settle before use.
Availability subject to feasibility check
Request this machineStep 2: Spray drying
Spray dryer
Sprays slip into a tall chamber of hot air, which dries it into a free-flowing powder ready for pressing.
Availability subject to feasibility check
Request this machineStep 3: Pressing and casting
Hydraulic tile press
Presses the powder in a mould under high hydraulic force into firm, flat tiles.
Availability subject to feasibility check
Request this machineStep 3: Pressing and casting
Pressure casting machine
Forces slip into porous resin moulds under pressure to form basins, toilets and other sanitary ware quickly.
Availability subject to feasibility check
Request this machineStep 4: Drying
Ceramic dryer
Dries freshly pressed or cast pieces with warm, moving air, so they do not crack in the kiln.
Availability subject to feasibility check
Request this machineStep 5: Glazing and decorating
Glazing line
A conveyor that carries tiles under bells, sprays and discs that coat them with an even layer of glaze.
Availability subject to feasibility check
Request this machineStep 5: Glazing and decorating
Digital inkjet printer for tiles
Prints the tile design with ceramic inks from inkjet heads, like a large desktop printer for tiles.
Availability subject to feasibility check
Request this machineStep 6: Firing
Roller kiln
A long kiln where tiles ride on turning ceramic rollers through zones of rising and falling heat.
Availability subject to feasibility check
Request this machineStep 6: Firing
Tunnel kiln
A long tunnel through which loaded kiln cars move slowly, firing sanitary ware, tableware or bricks.
Availability subject to feasibility check
Request this machineStep 7: Sorting and packing
Sorting line
Checks fired tiles for size, flatness and surface faults, and sorts them into grades.
Availability subject to feasibility check
Request this machineStep 7: Sorting and packing
Tile packing machine
Stacks sorted tiles, wraps them in cartons and stacks the boxes for dispatch.
Availability subject to feasibility check
Request this machine
How a ceramics plant works
The main steps in a tile or sanitaryware plant and the type of machine that usually does each one. Tiles are pressed from powder; sanitaryware is cast from liquid clay.
Body preparation
Clay and minerals are weighed and ground with water into a smooth liquid called slip.
Machines at this step: Ball mill, Slip tank with agitator
Spray drying
For tiles, the slip is sprayed into hot air and dries into a fine, even powder that presses well.
Machines at this step: Spray dryer
Pressing and casting
Tile powder is pressed into shape, and sanitaryware is cast by pouring slip into moulds.
Machines at this step: Hydraulic tile press, Pressure casting machine
Drying
Pressed or cast pieces are dried slowly so they do not crack before firing.
Machines at this step: Ceramic dryer
Glazing and decorating
Glaze is applied for colour and shine, and the design is printed onto the tile surface.
Machines at this step: Glazing line, Digital inkjet printer for tiles
Firing
The pieces pass slowly through a long kiln, where heat turns clay and glaze hard and glassy.
Machines at this step: Roller kiln, Tunnel kiln
Sorting and packing
Tiles are checked for size, flatness and faults, sorted into grades and packed into boxes.
Machines at this step: Sorting line, Tile packing machine
Keeping kilns and presses running?
See the machines behind a factory’s power, steam, compressed air and cooling.