Upcoming Trade Shows in Spain for Ceramics

Among professionals in the ceramics industry in Spain, sustainability has become a cause for big conversations as to how the sector will move forward and retain competitiveness within Europe’s wider market. The company, Endesa, has entered into collaboration with the Spanish association of ceramic tile manufacturers (ASCER), to introduce a groundbreaking heat recovery system. This innovative technology not only fosters significant reductions in energy consumption but also mitigates CO2 emissions. Endesa’s pioneering system targets the heat lost during the firing process, a crucial aspect of ceramic production. By redirecting this thermal energy to power dryers, the system effectively curtails gas consumption, leading to substantial energy savings. Unlike conventional methods, which rely on air as a heat conductor, Endesa uses thermal oil, which enables the recovery of over 80% of otherwise wasted heat without necessitating alterations to existing drying processes. The impact of this innovative system will have far more reaching effects than sustainability, although its implementation promises to reduce CO2 emissions abatement by 20%. Companies embracing Endesa's solution can anticipate remarkable cost savings with annual reductions of up to 20% in energy expenditure translating to around €400,000 in savings. The success stories attributed to Endesa’s are numerous. One such company managed to repurpose waste heat from two ceramic ovens, channeling it to fuel five dryers, which resulted in an annual energy savings of well above 7,500 MWh, alongside a marked reduction in fuel gas consumption. It’s good news for the Spanish ceramics manufacturing sector, which has been eager to extend its reach and influence beyond the Iberian manufacturing landscape. Employing nearly 50,000 individuals directly and indirectly, it’s a serious contributor to the nation’s economy. However, given its energy-intensive nature with natural gas accounting for a significant portion of production costs, the sector has long struggled to enhance efficiency and reduce energy consumption.