Raw materials used for manufacturing floor tiles are mainly different types of clays, quartz, sand, feldspar, talc, calcite, zinc oxide, barium carbonate, zirconium silicate  and blinders, deflocculates, dyes etc.  These are   tested  in  the  laboratory  after  receiving for physical and chemical parameters and compared  with  standards

The production cycle begins with the batching and mixing of days, quartz sands, feldspars and colouring oxides, reduced to fine and homogeneous powders by means of a wet-grinding process. The careful control of the parameters of the suspensions thus obtained guarantees the dimensional stability of the title in the subsequent firing phase.

The aqueous suspension thus formed is dried in spray-dryers, producing a granular powder suitable for the pressing process. The coloured powders, loaded on the press by means of computerized batching systems, are compacted at high pressure into isostatic moulds that ensure the perfect homogeneity of the ceramic body.

The drying process in the horizontal dryer can be divided into following zones:

A ceramic tile is covered by a thin vitreous coating called glaze. In the manufacturing
process of floor tile it is achieved by applying layers of special mixtures on green tiles. To eliminate possible defects of the surface, the green tile is first coated with a material called ENGOBE.

Next step of application is called base glaze. It is prepared by grinding specific
Composition of various raw material, frit & binders. After milling the materials to
get required particle size distribution, glaze materials are sieved and de ironed with Strong magnets. After adjusting its density as per pick up weight, engobe and base glaze are applied on a hot green tile coming out of vertical drier on a glaze line. Theology of glaze slip prepared, is checked and glaze line application is commenced after matching trial tile with master tile.

After base glaze application, a number of decorations are applied as per requirement. At the end of glaze line, backwash is applied on the lower face of tile. The function of backwash is to prevent sticking of tile material to the rollers of the kiln. After the glaze application, the green glaze tiles are transferred to the Kiln with the help of a transfer car.

Thanks to a process that takes place at a temperature of more than 1210°C, a product is obtained with excellent mechanical resistance, free of porosity and thus resistant to abrasion, strains and chemical attack.

The final shape, strength and other characteristics of the tile are obtained by firing.
 Here the glazed green tiles are fired at 1100 C - 1200 C in gas-fired kilns. In the firing kiln, tile undergoes various phase such as  (a)  Transformations and reactions like loosing the water  of crystallization, (b)  formation of crystalline body phase and(c) Vitreous glaze surface.  The resultant fired tile with glossy surface and hard body is obtained in this process.  The firing process is adjusted   in such a way that eliminates water & carbonic material from tile without affecting the output.    The shrinkage of body also takes place without giving any cracks in the tile..

Round the clock work is to ensure the wide range of tiles, available in different application based product types, numerous sizes, colours, decorations, surfaces and special trims in order to meet all the contemporary building and architectural requirements. From residential floorings to large public building surfaces from bathroom and kitchen wall tiling to urban furnishing, Italica has the right product for every use.

One of the reasons for Italica’s success is the fact it is always on the customer’s side. Investments and care for the sales points are continual. Those who choose Italica can always rely on elegant and functional display systems and on a customized study into a made to measure product presentation for the showroom surroundings.

Moreover, Italica organizes periodic rendezvous, such as trips, meetings and conventions. Exhibitions are one of these moments. Italica takes part in all the most important Italian and worldwide ceramic sector trade fairs with stands of a high architectural design and advertising standard.

Italica communicates constantly with the outside world, especially with its distributors, retailers and end customers. Its advertising investments in major home and building magazines are an important item on the company’s budget, such as merchandising and catalogues, which are more and more beautiful and full of information on the products and their use, and the internet site.

A company’s success stems from its passion for research. It is in the laboratory that man and technology merge into the original synthesis of a new product. Italica’s laboratories, where research is endless and experimentation is incessant are the heart of the company. It is there that the most avant-garde technical and aesthetic solutions are approved and it is there that tests are carried out, ensuring the products comply with the main international standards.