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• Heavy clay industry rises to meet new challenges
• Opportunities for machinery and plant manufacturers
• Resource-efficient solutions – a major theme at CERAMITEC 2012

CERAMITEC 2009 was affected by the global financial and economic crisis, which also badly hit the heavy clay industry and its suppliers. Now the industry is eagerly looking forward to the next CERAMITEC, which is taking place from 22 to 25 May 2012. The new slogan 'Technologies – Innovations – Materials' captures the entire spectrum of the industry, from classic ceramics, raw materials and powder metallurgy through to technical ceramics. The plant manufacturers for heavy clay ceramics will be showcasing new, more efficient plant and machinery, while raw material suppliers will be displaying to visitors their products and innovative integrated solutions. Research institutes will also present their visions for the factories of the future.
 
Wide-ranging efforts to save energy will be an ever more important aspect of the heavy clay industry over the next decade. Machinery and plant manufacturers have developed solutions for increasingly energy-efficient production over the past few years and their machines have been optimised, sometimes down to the last detail.
Now the industry is facing the challenge of achieving a further significant reduction in its energy demand for production over the next few years, and this will require some fundamental changes in the production process. Plant manufacturers have implemented their initial ideas for this, such as low-energy drying and decoupling of dryer and furnace.
 
In addition to reducing energy consumption for manufacturing the product, the industry is focusing on developing higher-quality and more innovative products that can be used to build energy-efficient and sustainable buildings.
In the heavy clay sector, European brick and block manufacturers have been investing in production plants for core-insulated blocks over the past few years, starting with the German market. These innovative products can further improve heat insulation for buildings and, with regard to energy-efficient construction, such products are also of interest to Mediterranean countries with their high energy requirements for air conditioning. Many exhibitors are also presenting various solutions in order to establish and increase a market share for these products.
 
Suppliers of raw materials and additives are also contributing to making production safer, more effective and more cost-effective with new products and new developments. This might take the form of ingenious raw material compounds that enable a quicker drying or firing process, or additives that allow the use of more difficult raw materials. The use of ready-mixed compounds in just-in-time production can mean savings in material flow, storage and preparation capacities in the heavy clay factory.
 
Traditionally the heavy clay industry has done very well in Munich at CERAMITEC. This is seen also in the fact that once again, as at the past few events, well-known key players will be exhibiting in this segment of the fair. 
In addition to representing the entire industry, CERAMITEC 2012 also offers an extensive supporting programme. On 23 May 2012 the second ‘Heavy Clay Day’ will take place in conjunction with the trade journal ‘Zi Ziegelindustrie International’. Here experts from the industry will present their future-oriented solutions and new ideas on the theme ‘Resource-efficient production and construction’.
 
Further information on CERAMITEC 2012: www.ceramitec.de
 
Press contact:
Dr. Jutta Seitz, Trade Fair PR Manager
Tel.: (+49 89) 949 - 21480, Fax: (+49 89) 949 - 97 21480
e-mail: Jutta.Seitz@messe-muenchen.de
 
CERAMITEC
CERAMITEC Technologies – Innovations – Materials takes place at the New Munich Trade Fair Centre from 22 to 25 May 2012. Since its premiere in 1979 CERAMITEC has developed into the world’s leading trade fair for the ceramic industry. CERAMITEC 2009 attracted 656 exhibitors from 35 countries and approx. 15,000 visitors from 84 countries. Statistics for CERAMITEC are checked by the independent auditors Ernst & Young AG contracted by the Gesellschaft zur Freiwilligen Kontrolle von Messe- und Ausstellungszahlen (Society for Voluntary Control of Fair and Exhibition Statistics).
 
Messe München International
Messe München International is one of the world´s leading trade-fair companies. In Munich alone it organises around 40 trade fairs for capital and consumer goods, and key high-tech industries. Each year more than 30,000 exhibitors and over two million visitors take part in the events held in the New Munich Trade Fair Centre, the ICM – International Congress Centre Munich, and in the M,O,C, Events and Order Centre.
In addition, Messe München International organises trade fairs in Asia, Russia, the Middle East and South America. With six subsidiaries in Europe and Asia and more than 60 foreign representatives actively serving over 90 countries, Messe München International has a worldwide business network. The Group also takes a pioneering role as regards sustainability: It is the first trade-fair company to be awarded energy-efficiency certification from the technical inspection authorities TÜV SÜD.
 
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