ECTS members visit Verdés‘ headquarters

The meeting began on the 19 October with a visit to the Talleres Felipe Verdés S.A. facilities in Vilanova del Camí (Barcelona). A total of 29 representatives of the 18 participating companies had the opportunity to observe and follow in detail each of the necessary steps for the manufacture of Verdés machines. The visit began at the materials testing laboratory and continued through the different areas in the technical and commercial departments, and of course, the manufacturing and assembly sections, where the process areas were toured following the flow of materials from their receipt onwards. First came the oxy-acetylene cutting and metal sheet handling sections, where visitors could experience the laser cutter in action. After that, the tour followed its path to the boilermaking area where the company’s latest modifications and investments in productive resources were on display, including the redesign of the lathe section. The tour ended in the assembly section, where the visitors were shown the different models of extruders, roller mills and reclaimers, which will be soon delivered to customers in different countries all around the world.

The visitors were very impressed by the tour and thanked Verdés for the excellent and professional organization of the excursion. Particularly interesting was the fact that Verdés designs and manufactures global solutions for the heavy clay industry, for both wet and dry processes, with a broad range of machines and technical solutions.

The second part of the meeting took place the next day at the Hotel Gallery in Barcelona, where the members reviewed the economic situation of the ceramics markets, as well as their predicted development in the near future. Other aspects discussed were environmental protection and the sector’s situation worldwide. It is notable that every company represented in ECTS is established or at least has a representative worldwide.

The next ECTS meeting is scheduled to take place during the ceramitec 2018 trade fair in Munich (Germany).