After Sun Lot and Nabel, a third Chinese producer – Guangdong Gold Medal Ceramics Co. of Foshan – will begin producing large ceramic panels using System technology.

A company specialising in the production of high-quality tiles, Gold Medal is planning to install the new plant during 2017. The line will be equipped with a LAMGEA mouldless press with a pressing force of up to 30,000 tons. It will be able to produce panels with a maximum size of 1.6 x 3.2 metres and a 1.2 x 2.4 metre variant with thicknesses from 3 to 20 mm to achieve the widest possible product range.

The characteristics of the automated system were established during the co-design phase, a development process that aimed to strengthen Gold Medal’s market strategies by exploiting the flexibility of System technologies. Plant operation will be managed using COPILOT touch screens developed by the System Electronics industrial division. Positioned on the machine and with an intuitive interface, the touch screens serve to control day-to-day operation of the line and to provide advance warning of any necessary maintenance work.

System technology has also been chosen for digital decoration of the porcelain panels, which will be done using the high-definition (400 DPI) Creadigit BS printing system.

The plant engineering project was developed thanks to the expertise of the System Lamina and System Ceramics industrial divisions with the contribution of area managers, project managers and site managers. The Foshan branch of System China (headquarters in Suzhou) will be responsible for maintaining direct, continuous links with Gold Medal personnel. Along with the plant design stage, System China will also provide support during installation, start-up and training of factory personnel to make them fully autonomous in managing the technological systems.