Azuliber: 1st Ceramic Tile Factory to Use EFI Cretaprint Hybrid Technology

Electronics For Imaging’s Cretaprint Hybrid, the Alfa de Oro-awarded technology for inkjet ceramic decoration with both solvent and aqueous inks, has been validated for its productivity and quality by ceramics company, Azuliber.

The L’Alcora, Spain-based tile manufacturer installed the first EFI Cretaprint printer operating with water-based inks as a beta unit more than a year ago. Today, that printer is successfully operating in Azuliber’s regular manufacturing line.

“It is key for EFI to propose technologies that work with total reliability in the highly demanding ceramic manufacturing environment. In fact, the Cretaprint Hybrid approach aims to help our customers adopt the future technology in tile inkjet printing,” said Fernando Javier Tomas Badenes, EFI deputy GM for building materials.

Added Azuliber Sales Manager Fernando Palomo: “We have manufactured our existing products with new water-based inks without any issue, and obtained a perfect finished product.”

The EFI Cretaprint Hybrid solution includes digital glazing and aqueous inkjet printing. One of the drivers behind this new technology is the positive environmental impact on the ceramic tile manufacturing process, both in reducing consumed resources (glazes, water and energy) and in reducing emissions and other waste.

Azuliber has implemented different environmental initiatives, such as the ceramic industry’s first closed water circuit, cogeneration of electric power and solid waste recycling. Azuliber produces 25,600 kb/h by cogeneration, using hot air in turbine atomizers. It also has a complete recycling program, providing a sludge and ceramic suspension collection and reuse service to more than 30 companies in the industry. The service handles 187 million kg every year.