INNOVATION
CERAMIC PROCESS
Presentation of the ceramic manufacturing process and the characterization of ceramics compared to other materials.
Explanation of the manufacturing phases and characteristics guaranteed by sanitary ceramics.
CERAMICS
In 2002, a market opportunity was opened for the production of large-scale sanitary articles with angular and flat shapes, characteristics that could hardly be achieved with the use of the Glazed Porcelain used in the Sanitary sector, given the level of mechanical deformation and contraction of the ceramic material. Production in Stoneware (Fine Fire Clay), an option already used by many manufacturers due to reduced deformation, was also considered a bad option, as the weak mechanical resistance, high weight and high water absorption prevented the quality reliance equivalent to that of Porcelain.
In this context, the alternative was to move towards the creation of a completely new material capable of overcoming the limitations of existing materials until then.
Thus in 2004 Gresanit was born as a result of a long-standing R&D plan by the company’s Technical Department, which in 2 years responded to the challenge of creating a new ceramic material.
Since 2005, more than 50 articles have been developed in Gresanit, with an emphasis on the range of extra-flat shower trays and large washbasins, thus allowing to significantly expand the offer and increase the export of this family of products to markets from where articles in common stoneware were imported.
But Gresanit is not reduced to material to manufacture sanitary articles as an alternative to ordinary stoneware. Its introduction as a ceramic material has opened up space for multiple applications, from ultra-thin shower trays to technical parts for refractory applications or in the design of articles for coating hoods in Chemical and Biological laboratories or drain sinks for highly corrosive products.
The Gresanit has in its genesis a strong component related to Environmental Sustainability, as it was formulated to reintegrate all the waste resulting from its own processing as well as part of the waste from the processing of vitreous-china, making it environmentally friendly as a result of recycling of ceramic waste and reduced consumption of raw materials for its manufacture.
Ceramic Faucets
Ceramics offer great potential for developing solutions for non-sanitary applications.
ARCH’s project contemplates, from the beginning, taking advantage of this potential to develop a range of items and business areas that can be complementary to the supply of toilets, the main component of ARCH’s activity.
The ceramic history and the flexibility of its innovative structure are key factors in achieving this objective.
In 2019, we started a project aimed at the production of ceramic components for faucets, using ceramic as a partial replacement for the commonly used metallic components.
The ceramic function at this stage would be essentially aesthetic, taking advantage of the huge range of finishes and also the ability to cast shapes only possible within the realm of ceramics.
Thus the Luna collection at ARCH was born, with the important design inspiration of the prestigious architect Luís Rebelo de Andrade, a partnership that created the first series of taps with the integration of ceramics into its composition in Portugal.
DESIGN
Arch Valadares strives to constantly innovate, in order to continue to be the reference brand in the ceramic and sanitary products market.
PERFORMANCE
Presentation of projects to improve the performance of sanitary articles and equipment.
Arch Valadares 2021 ® All rights reserved.