Blickle solution enables high-end printing for design tiles

… is based in Italy and specialises in the production and supply of technology for glazing and decorating ceramic tiles. The company was established in 2010 and is well respected in the fields of conventional glazing and digital decoration. It provides its customers with innovative solutions in every area related to the appearance of ceramic tiles.

The customer used wheels with a polyurethane tread from an Italian competitor to guide the motor unit of their digital printers on the tiles. These wheels wore down significantly during production. The printing unit which the wheels are attached to moves back and forth on steel rails at a high speed 24 hours a day. Each motor is fitted with eight load wheels and four guide rollers. The weight of the motor is supported by the eight load wheels. The four guide rollers keep the motor unit in the required position.

We recommended using the Blickle Besthane® Soft polyurethane tread (ALBS 82/15K) to support the weight of the motor. This elastic tread is particularly abrasion resistant and does not heat up much when exposed to high dynamic loads. It also absorbs vibrations. Our tread reduced the rolling resistance and completely eliminated the vibrations which were previously transferred from the belt motor to the machines. At a speed of approximately 8.6 mph and acceleration/deceleration of 9.8 feet/s2, the Blickle Besthane® Soft solution guaranteed a starting resistance of <30 N and a rolling resistance of <20 N. This solution also reduced the amount of electricity used by the system.

We recommended using FSTH 50X18/17-10K with a Blickle Extrathane® polyurethane tread with a shore hardness of 92 Shore A for the lower guide rollers. Following a successful trial, we received the go-ahead to kit out additional machines.