TABLEWARE LAB

TABLEWARE LAB | SACMI-SAMA

SACMI is the leading research partner in the Tableware technologies sector.

Thanks to the on-going Research and Development program and the structures and services available at the SAMA laboratories in Weissenstadt, SACMI is able to offer a world-leading service, accompanying its customers through every phase of the product development process, from defining the initial product concept and selecting the raw materials, through specifying the recipes for the slurry and glaze, to developing the technologies and processes necessary to realise them. The fact that it is possible to test and validate solutions in advance assists the customer when developing new products, from initial production tests through to industrialisation in the factory, guaranteeing results that meet expectations and justify the initial investment.

The Company published the first “technological handbook” for the tableware sector in 2022. Unique in its sector, this publication is designed to promote “know-how” culture and in-house training.

OUR SERVICES

ANALYSIS LABORATORY

The first step towards realising a good product is to ensure that the slurry and glaze recipes are formulated correctly.
The SACMI Laboratories in Imola, conduct a complete chemical analysis on the customer’s raw materials, using the most advanced available instruments. The customer can request analyses, testing and characterisation of their raw materials, as well as definition of recipes and sampling.
SACMI also provides product consultancy services, in fact, thanks to our state-of-the-art instrumentation and the experience and know-how of our experts, we are able to perform defect analyses of the finished products.

SACMI PILOT PLANT

After completing chemical-physical characterisation of the raw materials used to produce the slurry and glaze, the SACMI laboratory defines and prepares the slip for the die casting compaction processes. The slip is processed in the atomiser so as to produce the granulate used during the isostatic compaction. It is possible to define new recipes, or optimise existing ones.
The resulting raw materials, slip and granulate, are sent to the SAMA Laboratories in Weissenstadt, where the production tests are carried out.

PROCESS DEVELOPMENT AND PRODUCTION TESTING

Once the SACMI research centre has completed its work, the process continues at the SAMA laboratories, which carries out feasibility tests, product development or trial production runs, in support of the SAMA high pressure moulding, isostatic compaction, finishing and glazing process technologies.
SAMA offers customers the possibility of testing products or new processes and products in advance on production machinery.
In this way it is possible to identify, and correct, any critical issues which may arise during the production process, reducing the potential product defect rate and smoothing the path to full industrialisation.

PRODUCT SAMPLING

By using the machinery installed at the SAMA laboratories, it is possible production and pre-industrialisation tests at every stage of the process, from compaction, through glazing to firing.

Resin and isostatic dies

The high pressure resin dies and isostatic compression dies, which are designed and produced entirely in-house at SAMA, are tested directly on the machines that will be used by the customers for their production processes.

Training and know how...

At the tableware laboratories SAMA in Weissenstadt, the Company places its know how and experience at its customers’ disposal.

Starting from the end product, the customer is guided step-by-step through the design and production processes of the resin dies, right through to the production trials. This know how also includes the information necessary to prepare SAMAPOR resin and set-up a die production department.

...AT THE CUSTOMER’S DISPOSAL

Customers may also participate in dedicated training courses, during which they will learn how to prepare polyurethane membranes, so that they are able to replace worn parts on the isostatic dies for themselves.

The Company also organises training courses on operating and servicing compaction, glazing and finishing machines.