NEWS
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Centro Ceramico at XVI ECerS Conference
Centro Ceramico will attend XVI ECerS Conference, which will be held in Turin from June 16th to 20th, 2019. More in detail, the following presentations will be exposed:
- “Sustainability of ceramic process: environmental impact and SILIFE Project” – G. Bonvicini – invited lecture
- “Development of a ceramic coloured glaze containing zircon and study of the effects on Solar Reflectance Index (SRI)” – E. Rambaldi, M.C. Bignozzi, B. Mazzanti, K. Harlow – oral presentation, in cooperation with ZIA – Zircon Industy Association
- “Residual stresses in ceramic slabs: indirect evaluation and prevention” – E. Rambaldi – oral presentation.
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Centro Ceramico at Interclay Conference
Centro Ceramico attended Interclay Conference, the meeting dedicated to manufacturers in Russia and Eastern Europe of ceramic tiles, sanitaryware, tableware, as well as plant manufacturers. The 2019 edition will be held in Sochi on May 24th and 25th 2019.
Representing Centro Ceramico, Dr. E. Rambaldi with the oral presentation “Surface characterization, cleanability and slip resistance of tiles, methods of testing”.
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Project EU Life CERSUDS awarded for innovation
The Project EU Life CERSUDS has won an Innovation Award at the CONSTRUMAT 2019 Exhibition, held in Barcelona from May 13th to 17th, a recognition that is added to several others already achieved by this initiative that uses in-stock ceramic tiles to build a Sustainable Urban Drainage System whose aim is to try to mitigate the negative effects of climate change in cities, and that, specifically, through the demonstrator installed in the municipality of Benicàssim (Castellón, Spain) has shown that it can successfully cope with such mitigation after torrential rains that often cause major flooding in this area.
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Conference “Sustainable Drainage and Refurbishment of Urban Areas”
The Conference, held on May 10th 2019 in Faenza (Town Hall Building), was organised by the Order of Engineers in Ravenna in cooperation with Centro Ceramico. The main purpose was the presentation of the results achieved by the EU Project Life CERSUDS “Ceramic Sustainable Urban Drainage System”, of which Centro Ceramico is partner. The project has enabled the development and installation of a sustainable drainage system with a permeable surface consisting of ceramic tiles in stock with low commercial value.
The contribution that ceramic tiles can provide is confirmed, both in the context of a circular economy and in order to improve the adaptability of cities to climate change.
For this purpose presentations were scheduled also by Representatives of local administrations (Municipalities of Faenza and Ferrara).
Programme and registration form
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The Project EU Life CERSUDS demonstrator is visited by Representatives of the European Commission
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On February 13 and 14, 2019, the Representatives of the European Commission responsible for the supervision and monitoring of the Project EU Life CERSUDS (Ceramic Sustainable Urban Drainage System) met in situ the demonstrator of the sustainable urban drainage system located in in Calle Torre Sant Vicent, Benicàssim (Castellón).
In addition to the Project Coordinator – ITC – representatives of all Companies and Laboratories partner of the project attended the event.
Dr. Giuliana Bonvicini (Project Manager) participated on behalf of Centro Ceramico. Eng. Laura Pitocchi from the Municipality of Fiorano Modenese was also present at the meeting.
Fiorano Modenese is the municipality included in the Ceramic District of the Emilia-Romagna Region, who has expressed its willingness to host a reproduction of the SUDS demonstrator using in-stock ceramic tiles.
In the picture, from left to right, the repreentatives of: Municipality of Fiorano Modenese (I), Centro Ceramico (I) and Trencadis de Sempre (E).
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Centro Ceramico attended the 2nd Meeting of CLAY – Interreg Europe project
Dr. Elisa Rambaldi by Centro Ceramico attended the second partnership meeting of the CLAY project (Cross Sector support for Innovative and Competitive Artistic Ceramic SMEs), held on February 6th and 7th, 2019 in Limoges (F).
The partners, coming from Italy, Finland, France, Portugal, Romania and Spain gathered in Limoges for the second Interregional Learning Event (ILE) of the project, with the main purpose of discussing the sector analysis carried out by the partners themselves in Semester 1 (June – November 2018), consisting in an in-depth territorial study to understand the key features of the artistic ceramic sector.
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Centro Ceramico at SECV Congress
Centro Ceramico attended V Congreso Hispano-Luso de Cerámica y Vidrio and LVI Congreso Nacional de la SECV (Barcellona, Oct. 8th-10th 2018), with the oral presentation “Quality of raw materials in the frame of circular economy”, by E. Rambaldi.
The Congress included five plenary talks, together with 18 symposia on different topics relevant to the ceramic community.
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EU Project Life CERSUDS at CERSAIE and TECNARGILLA: photo album |
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Centro Ceramico and TCNA signed the agreement allowing the joint issue of Test Reports
On Wednesday September 12th 2018, Maria Chiara Bignozzi – Director of Centro Ceramico and Claudio Bizzaglia – Director of the Tile Council of North America TCNA Laboratory have signed the agreement thanks to which Centro Ceramico has become the only laboratory in Italy able to issue Test Reports jointly with TCNA, guaranteeing recognition of the test results also on the American market.
At present, the cooperation includes the following tests:
- Determination of water absorption of ceramic tiles (vacuum method) – ASTM C373 and ISO 10545-3 Standards
– Evaluation of ceramic floor tile installation systems using the Robinson-type floor tester – ASTM C627 Standard
– Determination of Dynamic Coefficient Of Friction (DCOF) of ceramic surfaces – ANSI A326.3 and ANSI A137.1 Standards.
The agreement has been signed after experimental tests conducted in parallel between the two laboratories, with the aim to validate the procedural accuracy in carrying out the tests and the matching of the results obtained. The next step is to increase the range of available tests (the two laboratories are already at work) with the aim of providing ceramic tiles manufacturers with a qualified and simplified service for the characterization of their products.
In the picture above, Maria Chiara Bignozzi and Claudio Bizzaglia during the signing of the agreement.
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Centro Ceramico at CERSAIE 2018
Centro Ceramico took part in CERSAIE Exhibition (International Exhibition of Ceramic Tile and Bathroom Furnishings) in Bologna from September 24th to 28th. As usual, Centro Ceramico was at the Confindustria Ceramica Stand (Service Centre Hall).
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Gabbrielli technology and Centro Ceramico together again at Tecnargilla
Gabbrielli technology and Centro Ceramico were together again at Tecnargilla (Rimini Expo Centre, Sept. 24th-28th, 2018), in the framework of the collaboration project involving these two historic companies to offer to ceramic manufacturers innovative solutions supported by a skilled technical/information service.
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EU Project REMEB is finished
The EU Project REMEB “Eco-Friendly Ceramic Membrane Bioreactor (MBR) Based on Recycled Agricultural and Industrial Wastes for Waste Water Reuse”, in which Centro Ceramico participates, concludes with the successful validation of its sustainable wastewater treatment system.
The initiative has achieved to develop and validate, in three years, a low-cost ceramic membrane bioreactor for the wastewater treatment, manufactured with agro-industrial wastes. The use of these wastes in the membrane composition favours circular economy and reduces the cost of this technology.
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Centro Ceramico shows how they are manufacturing at a pilot scale the ceramic membranes
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See the video on YouTube |
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Centro Ceramico in Benicàssim (E) for the introduction of the first SUDS
The Municipality of Benicàssim (E), in the framework of the EU Project LIFE CERSUDS has installed the first street test consisting of a permeable surface made of ceramic tiles of low commercial value cut and piled up to form this innovative system that will help to collect the excess water coming from torrential waters, and that later can be reused for the irrigation of landscaped areas. This is a project that can be replicated in other municipalities.
On June 15th 2018 the pilot project was presented, in order to increase the awareness of the population towards the management, collection and possible reuse of excess rain water, which can be engaged thanks to Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SUDS) such as the one installed in Benicàssim (E).
Dr. G. Bonvicini attended the event on behalf of Centro Ceramico, which is a partner of the Project.
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Meeting in Norway for the International Partners managing the EU Project REMEB
The eleven international partners of the EU Project REMEB, an initiative co-financed by the European Horizon 2020 programme, have travelled to Tonsberg (N) to evaluate the latest results of their work at their last biannual meeting.
This reunion has served to share the progress made in the implementation, development and validation of a ceramic membrane bioreactor for wastewater reuse in the urban and industrial fields.
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Centro Ceramico at 14th Ceramics Congress (CIMTEC 2018)
Centro Ceramico attended 14th Ceramics Congress – in the framework of CIMTEC 2018 – which was held in Perugia on June 4th to 8th. During the Symposium “Science and Technology of Silicate Ceramics”, Dr. E. Rambaldi presented the Invited Lecture “Porcelain stoneware tiles above and beyond innovation: a break with tradition”.
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Centro Ceramico at Interclay Conference
Centro Ceramico was one of the Conference partner of Interclay Conference, which was held in St. Petersburg on June 5th and 6th 2018. Moreover Prof. M.C. Bignozzi attended the Conference with the oral presentation “Large format tiles: new challenges in the ceramic process and test methods standardization”.
Interclay Conference is an effective business platform of international level for the participants of the market of ceramic tiles and sanitary ware from Russia and Eastern Europe.
The conference focused mainly on trends and prospects for the development of the Russian tile and sanitary ceramics market, trends in design and consumer preferences, as well as technological innovations, optimization of production processes and improvement of technologies.
In the picture, Prof. Maria Chiara Bignozzi, Director of Centro Ceramico, during her speech.
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EU Project REMEB sponsor of the International Congress Euromembrane
EU Project REMEB attended the international triennial forum Euromembrane held in Valencia (E) from July 9th to 13th 2018. REMEB supported the organization and promoted the event as a SILVER-E sponsor.
FACSA and the partner ITC-UJI contributed with two oral presentations illustrating the obtained results so far regarding the manufacturing and validation of the ceramic membranes.
The Euromembrane congress, focused on the field of membrane science and technology, aims to gather academics and professionals of this area to stimulate the networking and to exchange new ideas on their research work.
EU Project REMEB, of which Centro Ceramico is partner, aims to develop and validate a ceramic membrane bioreactor (MBR) for wastewater reuse in urban and industrial areas.
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EU Project WINCER: published the Layman Report
One of the most important challenges of the last few years concerned the production of porcelain stoneware minimising the use of natural resources.
Thanks to the WINCER project, it was possible to go beyond the already ambitious goals set. The initial idea of making tiles with 70% of waste materials has realized with the industrial production of tiles containing 85% of second raw materials. These tiles obtained the CEN Keymark and LEED certification.
It is an important milestone for environmental sustainability that once again confirms the world leadership of Italian and European ceramic industry.
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New device for the determination of modulus of rupture and breaking strength of thick ceramic tiles and slabs
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Centro Ceramico has further increased the tests available to ceramic Companies by equipping its Sassuolo Branch Unit with a new machine capable of carrying out breaking strength test on thick ceramic tiles and slabs, according to ISO 10545-4 and EN 1339-Annex F standards.
This instrument determines the modulus of rupture and breaking strength of slabs with dimensions up to 1200 x 1200 mm, with maximum load application up to 3000 kg. It will shortly be completed with a specific device for determining the deflection (curvature radius).
The new instrument is manufactured by Gabbrielli technology, a Company with which Centro Ceramico keeps a historical partnership.
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Centro Ceramico at Qualicer 2018
Qualicer – XV World Congress on Ceramic Tile Quality – was held in Castellón (E) on 12 and 13 February 2018. As usual, the presentations – oral or poster – was divided in three groups of subjects: Block A – Ceramic enterprise and markets; Block B – Ceramic tile and construction; Block C – Ceramic tile manufacture.
Centro Ceramico attended the Congress with two oral presentations:
- High-recycling content porcelain stoneware tiles: from industrial production to product certification
E. Rambaldi, L. Valeriani, L. Grandi, C. Beneventi, M.C. Bignozzi - New instruments for determining dimensional characteristics of large format tiles
S. Fazio, L. Sanseverino, P. Carrino, G. Carboni, M.C. Bignozzi
In addition, in the framework of the Poster Session, Centro Ceramico exposed the work:
- End of waste materials and by-products suitable for ceramic tile industry
E. Rambaldi, C. Zanelli, R. Soldati, M. Dondi, M.C. Bignozzi.
On Wednesday Dec. 13th, 2017, at the Confindustria Ceramica headquarter in Sassuolo (MO) the Final Conference of the Project WINCER – Waste synergy in the production of INnovative CERamic tiles was held.
The Project, funded in the framework of the EU Call CIP-EIP-Eco-Innovation-2013, has allowed to obtain, on an industrial scale, ceramic tiles containing 85% of wastes. These tiles, produced in different formats (up to 30 x 60 cm), glazed and unglazed, belong to the same class of porcelain stoneware (BIa class according to the standard EN 14411), despite the maximum firing temperature of 1000 °C. This has led to a significant decrease of industrial fixed costs, as well as a reduction in CO2 emissions.
The tiles produced by the WINCER Project obtained the Certiquality-UNI Mark.
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EU Project Life CERSUDS: now the first street test
The last annual meeting of the EU Life CERSUDS Project (Ceramic Sustainable Urban Drainage System) at ITC in Castellón, E, at the end of October also offered the opportunity for a visit to the ongoing work for the implementation of the demonstrator in Benicàssim (Castellón, E). More in detail, in an area close to the demonstrator, the first street test of the system is being installed, consisting of a permeable surface made of ceramic tiles of low commercial value that, practically in a handmade way, have been cut and piled up forming this innovative system that will help to collect the excess water coming from torrential waters, and that later can be reused for the irrigation of landscaped areas. … Keep reading …
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Centro Ceramico at CERSAIE 2017
Centro Ceramico attended CERSAIE – International Exhibition of Ceramic Tile and Bathroom Furnishings, held in Bologna from September 25 to 29, 2017, hosted at the Confindustria Ceramica Stand. Centro Ceramico illustrated a series of offers - especially conceived for the Fair, but in force until the end of 2017 - concerning some types of tests on ceramic tiles.
This year’s news is that we attended the event with the Project IPERCER - Process innovation for the sustainable ceramic tile chain as well.
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EU Project SILIFE at International Conference EEMS 2017
The SILIFE project has announced its progress at the International Conference: Energy, Environment and Material Systems- EEMS 2017, held in Polanica-Zdrój (Poland) from 13 to 15 September 2017. On this occasion, an oral presentation entitled: “Additives for reducing the toxicity of crystalline silica. SILIFE project”, by the Authors: E. Monfort, A. López-Lilao, A. Escrig, M. J. Ibáñez, G. Bonvicini, O. Creutzenberg, C. Ziemann has been presented. … Keep reading …
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EU Project Life CERSUDS: video on YouTube
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Watch the Project video on YouTube |
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Centro Ceramico at CeramTech – International Ceramic Exhibition
Centro Ceramico was invited both to “CeramTech – International Ceramic Exhibition” in Isfahan (IR) from Sept. 6th to 9th 2017, and the IV “Tile and Ceramic Congress + Digital Printing Technology”, which took place on the same dates.
In the framework of the Conference Session, Prof. M.C. Bignozzi presented an oral presentation concerning “Large format tile production: new opportunities in technology and testing methods”. Among the invited research centres invited, was included also the Instituto de Tecnología Cerámica-ITC (E), of which Centro Ceramico is a partner in several EU Projects.
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Centro Ceramico at 15th Conference & Exhibition of the European Ceramic Society
Centro Ceramico attended the ECerS Conference, held in Budapest from July 9th to 13th, 2017.
During the Conference Topic “T7.Challenges and Opportunities in Industrial Ceramics” – chaired by Prof. M.C. Bignozzi, the Invited Lecture “Pathway towards high recycled content traditional ceramics” was presented by Dr. E. Rambaldi.
Moreover, Dr. G. Bonvicini attended the Conference Topic “T11.Refractories”, with the oral presentation “Development of aluminium titanate/porcelain ceramic matrix composites having high thermal shock resistance”.
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EU Project SILIFE – Third monitoring meeting
Centro Ceramico attended the “3rd monitoring meeting” of the EU Project SILIFE – “Production of Quartz Powders with Reduced Crystalline Silica Toxicity”, at the ITC headquarters in Castellón (E), on June 8, 2017. The main purpose of SILIFE is to reduce the impact on the health of workers deriving from exposure to crystalline silica.
The prospect is to replace the standard quartz powder with processed quartz powder, in order to obtain a material with decreased toxicity, but with the same technical performance.
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The REMEB international partners promote the project in Brussels by the hand of PARTENALIA
The partner of REMEB Project have travelled to Brussels to boost their visibility and make themselves known among the main European working groups related to waste valorisation, water management, and the ceramic production sector. The initiative is endorsed by the European association for territorial cooperation “PARTENALIA”… Follow to read.
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At Centro Ceramico more tests on tableware
Centro Ceramico has bought a new device, specific for tests on tableware.
It is the pendulum to determine the impact resistance of non-metallic articles in contact with food, used for catering and industrial use, where such items are subject to remarkable impact, according to EN 12980:2000.
The equipment (mod. SFT S1-2122 – EN 12980) allows the Ceramic Centre to increase the range of tests available for tableware manufacturers.
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Centro Ceramico accepted and recognised by Intertek as a CAP-Approved Laboratory
Centro Ceramico has been formally accepted and recognised by Intertek as a CAP (Conformity Assesement Programmes)-Approved Laboratory, to carry out the relevant tests and analysis necessary for exporting products in the following countries:
- Africa: Algeria, Botswana, Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Egypt, Gabon, Ghana, Kenya, Kuwait, Libya, Niger, Nigeria, Uganda.
- Asia: Bangladesh, Kuwait, Qatar.
All services of the Centro Ceramico for export
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EU Project REMEB: the implementation of sustainable membrane bioreactor is starting!
On March 30-31, 2017 Centro Ceramico has attended the periodic meeting of the Project Partners at the headquarters of Imeca Process (F), specialized in water filtration systems.
The main subject of the meeting was represented by the fact that Imeca has completed the manufacturing of the membrane bioreactor and assembled all the components of the system for its implementation at the wastewater treatment plant in Aledo, Murcia (E). The hydraulic and electrical tests for its set-up are already being performed as well. Data on water quality and running costs will be shortly available. Moreover, the Project has been presented to key stakeholders for dissemination, as the European Institute of Membranes – international reference laboratory in the field of membranes and materials processes – and SWELIA, Association of water sector professionals of the Occitan French region, both bodies based in Montpellier.
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Natucer collaborates with REMEB, backing diversification in the ceramic sector
On Feb. 17, 2017, FACSA, ITC-UJI, and the Valencia region Council of Chambers of Commerce presented the EU Project REMEB project in a press conference together with the ceramic manufacturing company Natucer, which is manufacturing the REMEB ceramic membranes to be used for water treatment. In the event, covered by multiple media from the province of Castellón and Valencia region, the several representatives talked about the project background, its objectives, the advantages of using this technology and the difficulties faced during its development.
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Centro Ceramico guest of the Municipality of Fiorano for the EU Project Life CERSUDS
On Feb. 1, 2017, Centro Ceramico attended a meeting at the Municipality of Fiorano Modenese, during which both Mayor and town Council offered their helpfulness to carry out a feasibility study concerning a draining tiling by using ceramic tiles with low added value, in agreement with the model that the EU Project Life CERSUDS is developing in the town of Benicàssim (Castellón, E). Through this commitment, the City of Fiorano takes action perfectly aligned to the integrated approach that aims at mitigating and adapting to climate change required by the “Covenant of Mayors”. The “Covenant of Mayors” includes thousands of local authorities involved on a voluntary basis to achieve, on the territory of competence, the EU goals for energy and the climate.
Go to the website “Covenant of Mayors”
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EU Project Life-CERSUDS : more than 20 experts meet for sustainable drainage systems
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Tuesday, January 17, ITC-AICE (E) hosted, within the Project EU Life-CERSUDS, the meeting of a Working Group consisting of over 20 experts representing various organisations, institutions, companies, in addition to the members of the Project Consortium, including Centro Ceramico.
The purpose was to investigate the characteristics of the Project EU Life-CERSUDS, analyze the transition model towards sustainable urban drainage systems, and to promote its implementation on regional and national scale, in order to avoid the harmful effects of climate changes and reduce CO2 emissions.
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Centro Ceramico partner of the EU Project Life-Cersuds
The European Commission has funded the Project LIFE-CERSUDS in the framework of the Programme LIFE 2014-2020.
Centro Ceramico is partner of the Project, coordinated by ITC (E). The prime objective is the development and implementation of a sustainable urban drainage system (SUDS) whose “skin” consists of an innovative system, with a low environmental impact, made using in-stock ceramic tile of little commercial value. In comparison to traditional systems, such SUDS can reduce surface run-off water by almost 90%, enabling reuse in irrigation, decreasing diffuse pollution and improving water quality.
The project involves also the Municipality of Fiorano Modenese (I), one of the municipalities included in the Ceramic District of the Emilia-Romagna Region, who has expressed its willingness to host a reproduction of the SUDS demonstrator using in-stock ceramic tiles.
The activities started on Oct. 13, 2016, on the occasion of the kick-off meeting at headquarters of ITC in Castellón (E). Moreover, on Nov. 22 a meeting has been held, with the participation of an EU Commissioner.
Project website
Read the press release
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See the video about the Project results |
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Another EU Project funded for Centro Ceramico
The EU Project “SILIFE – PRODUCTION OF QUARTZ POWDERS WITH REDUCED CRYSTALLINE SILICA TOXICITY” has been funded, after being submitted to EU Call for proposals LIFE 2014 – subprogramme: ENVIRONMENT, priority area: ENVIRONMENT AND RESOURCE EFFICIENCY.
The Project will last 4 years and involves 10 European Partners.
The main purpose of SILIFE is to reduce the impact on the health of workers deriving from exposure to crystalline silica.
The prospect is to replace the standard quartz powder with processed quartz powder, in order to obtain a material with decreased toxicity, but with the same technical performance.
The Kick-off Meeting has been held on Oct. 14, at Univ. Jaume I, Castellón (E).
Link to SILIFE Official Website
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European Project REMEB: activities started
Activities started within the European Project “REMEB - Eco-Friendly Ceramic Membrane Bioreactor (MBR) Based on Recycled Agricultural and Industrial Wastes for Waste Water Reuse”, funded in February 2015.
The aim of the Project is the implementation and validation of low-cost ceramic membrane bioreactors (MBR), to be used in wastewater treatment plants.
On Sept. 14 and 15 the kick-off meeting hase been held, see the press release.
Link to REMEB Official Website
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Project WINCER
WINCER (Waste Synergy in the production of Innovative CERamics) Project has been funded, after being submitted to EU Call for proposals CIP-EIP-ECO-INNOVATION-2013. The project, in which Centro Ceramico is partner with Marazzi Group (Sassuolo, MO, Italy) and Minerali Industriali S.r.l. (Novara, Italy) has officially started the activities on January 27, 2015 and will last three years.
The details of WINCER are available in the Project Database of CIP EcoInnovation Projects.
Link to WINCER Official Website
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