Looking at the changes in ceramic tile products in the ceramic industry, it is closely related to the development of colored glaze ink technology. According to the 2019 forecast of "Ceramic Information", "digitization and functionalization" will become the development norm of glazes and inks in the ceramic industry.
The market for large slabs/rock slabs/thin slabs exploded rapidly in 2020. Digital glazes and large slab dry granules have lived up to expectations and have become the most competitive color glaze ink products at the moment.
Many ceramic companies said in interviews that large slabs/rock slabs/thin slabs have great advantages in decoration and application. However, in fact, nowadays, large slabs/rock slabs/thin slabs have great advantages in decoration, application and application. In terms of market share and other aspects, they are still on the rise, and there is still huge space waiting to be developed.
Tracing back to its roots, the popularity of large slabs/rock slabs/thin slabs is closely related to the development, innovation and price system of glazes, inks and process technologies.
Enhance the decorative properties of large slabs/rock slabs/thin slabs
Restore luxury stone surfaces and upgrade product integrity
There have always been controversies over whether digital glaze ink is ink and whether it should be renamed. Even if these problems cannot be solved, with the explosion of large slabs/rock slabs/thin slabs, digital glaze ink has fully deserved its status as an "Internet celebrity" among color glaze inks in the current ceramic industry. According to various sources, digital glaze ink and large slab dry particle polishing have become key raw materials necessary for the production of large slabs/rock slabs/thin slabs.
Shi Jiaoyi, deputy general manager of Dow Technical Ceramics Division, said that strictly speaking, digital glaze ink is an upgraded version of glaze that has the function of enhancing color, presenting various glaze effects and textures, and can be digitally printed. . Digital glaze ink is used in combination with large plate dry particle polishing. It can replace the top glaze and protective glaze, and can also be used in combination with pigment ink. It has better expressiveness than traditional glazing processes and enriches the texture, texture and layering of the ceramic tile surface.
In addition, the combination of digital glaze ink and large-scale dry-grain polishing, combined with a digital inkjet printer, can accurately print design images and truly restore the texture of luxury stones and jade; pay attention to the pattern details and layers on the same brick The superposition, the contrast between bright and dark surfaces, the performance of matte and translucent, the perfect fit between the whole body and the body and the glaze... The exquisiteness, reduction and overall performance that traditional craftsmanship cannot match, with the blessing of modern digital technology Below, basically all can be realized one by one.
Wang Yongjian, Dow Technology Project R&D Manager, believes that in terms of equipment, the gap between domestic and foreign glaze ink companies is actually not big, because these depend on capital investment.Enter the size. However, there is a big gap in glaze technology research and development, ratio and design.
After the texture of a product is designed by a ceramic tile designer, it is handed over to the factory for R&D and production. There are still many technical difficulties to overcome, especially in terms of glaze ink.
For example, how to control the fineness of glaze grinding to determine the fineness of pattern display; how to adjust the formula and process of digital glaze to show various textures and textures on the ceramic tile surface; how to adjust glaze ink and pigment ink How to combine the pattern to show the three-dimensionality, layering and transparency of the pattern, making it closer to natural stone; how to combine glaze ink with inkjet printing technology to present a special abrasive effect. This is why high-quality large slabs/rock slabs/thin slabs use the latest digital glaze technology.
Dow Technology has been researching and developing this aspect for more than three years, and has been able to solve the above problems and truly realize technologies such as "local glazing, precise glazing, uniform glazing, superimposed glazing and anhydrous production", gradually replacing imported inks.
Improve the cost performance of large slabs/rock slabs/thin slabs
Saving 30% of comprehensive costs compared to foreign inks
It is understood that the price of ordinary domestic glaze remains around 3,000 yuan per ton, and the price of imported digital glaze ink from abroad is around 100,000-120,000 yuan, which makes the price of high-quality large slabs/rock slabs/thin slabs remain high.
Currently, many processing plants are looking for slate manufacturers that can produce luxury stone surfaces and superimposed craft surfaces. However, due to limitations in process technology and cost performance, there are only a few ceramic companies that can meet downstream needs. Zhao Taosheng, general manager of Dow's Technical Ceramics Division, revealed that through the cooperative services of Dow's technical team, ceramic companies can save 30% of the overall cost.
If technology is the first threshold for the quality of large slabs/rock slabs/thin slabs, then cost-effectiveness is the first factor in product market popularity. Only when the cost-effectiveness of technical services is improved can the cost-effectiveness of the product itself be "increased."
Now that we leave the technical team and only talk about the development of color glaze technology, it is no longer meaningful in the application period, because there is a certain gap in the level and progress of various companies in the research and development of color glazes, but this gap will continue to grow over time. With the continuous development of inkjet printing equipment and technology, it will gradually decrease. At a certain period, glaze ink companies will regain a certain balance.
ThatWhat are the key gaps? It lies in the continuous research and development and complete service system of the talented and technical team of the color glaze ink company. No matter how high-quality the equipment is, it requires professional technical personnel for debugging. Each unique product design requires careful creation of a unique formula. It is these decisive factors that achieve the differentiation of each product.
Dow Technology has been engaged in R&D and application in the glaze ink industry for more than 10 years. It has advantages in ink dispersion technology, micro-nano material preparation technology, inkjet printing application technology and standardized and specialized glaze making. , which other companies do not have. In addition, Dow Technology also provides professional and customized glaze ink products for ceramic companies, covering various dry particles, functional inks and digital integrated fabrics. This determines their advantages in specialization, particularity, high proficiency, high efficiency and systematicness in technical services.
We have a professional, systematic and skilled slate glaze ink application technical team. With the dual support of digital inkjet equipment and high-quality glaze ink, we ensure the production stability of ceramic companies, improve product excellence rates, and meet the product personality of ceramic companies. While meeting the needs of globalization, it can also save production costs for customers.
Currently, with its high-quality products, Dow Technology has cooperated with many domestic ceramic companies, including Dongpeng, Xinmingzhu and other ceramic companies, and has successfully invested and produced related large slab/rock slab/thin plate products. Zhao Taosheng said that Dow Technology has been doing research and development in a down-to-earth manner, and there are unlimited possibilities in the future. They look forward to cooperating with more ceramic companies.
Large slabs/rock slabs/thin slabs are inherently more cost-effective products that can replace natural stone, wood and other high-cost raw materials. If you want to popularize them in the market, you need to improve product quality and continue to optimize them. cost. Dow Technology is committed to improving product quality for ceramic companies and at the same time, through technical services as much as possible, improving the comprehensive cost performance of large slabs/rock slabs/thin slabs for ceramic companies.
Remarks: The slate product pictures in the article come from Dow Technology and Samit Ceramics
(Article reprinted from Ceramic Information)
