LaminamRus, a Russian ceramics plant, has presented several innovative products at 2019 CERSAIE international exhibition of ceramic tile in Bologna, Italy. CEO Vasil Misharov spoke about the plant’s products, trends in ceramic tile production and manufacturing in Russia.
LaminamRus is the Russian branch of the Italian Laminam plant founded in 2001 by engineer Franco Stefani. This engineer invented an original technology for ceramic slab production, making the products large and at the same time as thin as possible. The very brand name, Lamina, is the Latin word for “thin sheet” or “perfectly flat surface.” The slabs are made of porcelain stoneware (a mixture of refined clay, feldspar and quartz sand) through compaction without mold, burning and dry cutting. The resulting product is similar to natural stone; decorative patterns can be applied if necessary. Laminam tiles are printed with a pattern using a System Rotocolor. The new Franco Stefani slabs are 1000 x 3000 mm, but only 3 mm thick, whereas previously, 10 mm was the standard thickness. With the new rotary printing system invented by the same engineer any pattern or any texture can be applied to decorate them. Laminam is now part of the System group of companies and uses its production lines and equipment in the manufacture of ceramic tiles. Their products are marketed in dozens of countries.
Laminam is headquartered in the Italian city of Fiorano Modenese. The company later opened two more plants in Borgotaro (Parma) and in the Vorsino industrial park in the Russian village of Dobrino, Kaluga Region.
LaminamRus began operation in 2017, seven years after the idea was initially proposed in 2010. The plant is larger than the Laminam facility in Fiorano Modenese; it takes up 14 sq. km and rolls out 1000×3000 mm ceramic slabs that are 3 to 5 mm thick. The equipment and materials used are the same as at the parent company. LaminamRus uses Laminam’s original patented manufacturing technology. Refined clay, sand and spar are mixed into a homogeneous mass, then compacted under the pressure of 8000 t/sq. m. That process is followed by decoration, and then the slabs are burned in energy-saving furnaces (fueled by gas and electricity) at a temperature above 1220 degrees. After that they are cut into tiles with the dry cutting method. This makes the structure of the tiles as homogeneous as possible. Since the ceramic mixture is pressed without mold, it spreads freely. As a result, the material has minimum internal stresses and can be used to make tiles of various sizes and shapes. If necessary, the slab can be further cut with a glass cutter into pieces of the desired size. The 3+ series products (3 mm) are additionally supported by a fiberglass mesh on the back side for greater flexibility.
LaminamRus products are used in construction (overcladding), interior design (floor and wall finishes) and furniture manufacturing. The company’s target audience is designers and architects. The plant also sells its ceramic slabs to construction firms and developers. LaminamRus is present on the global market, but the Russian market is the company’s priority. According to Vasil Misharov, 70% of the company’s production is sold on the Russian market, while the other 30% on the foreign markets.
Using Italian technology, the Kaluga plant also manufactures products solely for the Russian market. In 2018, LaminamRus presented wood and ceramic collections at the BATIMAT design and construction exhibition. Wood slabs were claimed to be made from Russia’s traditional materials and were represented in three colors. The slabs and tiles from the ceramic collection imitated stone in several designs. The unique format of Russian-made slabs was presented there for the first time.
This year, at the Cersaie 2019 International Exhibition of Ceramic Tile and Bathroom Furnishings, LaminamRus displayed several more innovative developments. The entire stand of the company was devoted to a new series made with the use of the new In-Side technology, which combines a mixture of natural raw materials with variable grain sizes, resulting in a textural, blended material that is typical of natural stone.
Next year, LaminamRus plans to manufacture a capsule slab series; the company keeps the development details a secret without revealing even a brief description of the product.
Vasil Misharov believes the main trend in the large-size ceramic slab production industry is manufacturing nice products and collaborating with projects that offer beautiful architecture and design solutions. LaminamRus’ new developments serve this purpose as well. In the future, the company intends to change the product format and surface.
“We will definitely introduce innovative methods, particularly regarding new equipment,” Vasil Misharov says.
LaminamRus is extensively using the digital printer ceramic decoration using the equipment manufactured by the System company. LaminamRus plans to eventually use the advanced System equipment that allows for a higher digital resolution to create a wider range of color combinations for new slabs.
LaminamRus is also expanding its cooperation with dealer companies and plans to launch training courses for wide-format ultra-thin slab installers in Moscow as well as other cities.
By Christina Firsova