Ceram developing next generation kiln following RGF win
WORK has started on a kiln that is to be the basis for technology that could cut energy costs for ceramics firms by up to 30%.
Materials technology business Ceram has started building the kiln at its Stoke-on-Trent headquarters after winning around £2.5m from the Government’s Regional Growth Fund last year.
The equipment could help UK manufacturers reduce carbon emissions at the same time as increasing profits and employment, the firm believes.
Previous research and laboratory trials have found ways of reducing the temperature at which ceramics need to be fired. Now Ceram’s Low Energy Firing Project team is building an 80-feet-long commercial-scale kiln to develop the technology further.
Dr David Pearmain, project manager at Ceram, said: “The potential of this work is really exciting. We think we can reduce firing times as well as temperatures, so there could be very, very significant advantages for the sector.
“If the commercial-scale project is successful, it will help UK firms compete in the international market place – which has to be good news for jobs in Staffordshire.”
The kiln is expected to be completed by the end of the month. Testing will start in May, and the first commercial-scale results should be available before the end of the year.
Dr Pearmain said: “We’ve invested a significant amount of our own money in the Low Energy Firing Project. The kiln we have designed is unique, and we believe there are potential spin-offs for other industries.
“Making ceramics is really energy intensive, and the sector is under a lot of pressure to cut consumption because of costs and environmental regulations.
“We’re very hopeful that the Low Energy Firing Project will help ceramics firms do exactly that.”
Tony Kinsella, chief executive at Ceram, said: “We’re all really excited by the project. We have internationally-renowned experts working on it and we’re optimistic that the outcomes will be significant.”
