Squadra Vision: Fully digital automation for intelligent, precise and sustainable squaring

Squadra Vision is the latest technological milestone achieved by BMR on its journey towards a fully digital ceramic squaring line. Among the latest successful installations in Italy are those at Laminam and Energieker.

Squadra Vision is the latest technological milestone achieved by BMR on its journey towards a fully digital ceramic squaring line. Designed for intelligent end-of-line management, the machine combines productivity, precision and sustainability.

Utilising cameras, lasers, full digital automation and artificial vision systems, Squadra Vision sets a new benchmark in the process of squaring slabs in sizes up to 1600x3200 mm while significantly reducing energy and tool consumption.

With more than 120 units installed worldwide, Squadra Vision is now firmly established as a reference point for ceramic companies looking to evolve towards the “easy factory” concept in line with Industry 5.0 principles. The solution also offers remote access and smart assistance, ensuring high uptime and streamlined maintenance. In addition, it is now available in a retrofit version with the Squadra Vision Light kit.

Among the latest successful installations in Italy are those at Laminam and Energieker (Gold Art), which mark a major step forward in terms of both technology and operational performance, demonstrating the solution’s ability to deliver versatility, reduced consumption and high-precision machining.

The results achieved at Laminam

Laminam has installed Squadra Vision at its facility in Borgo Val di Taro (Parma).

As Operations Director Michele Perozzi explains, the investment fits in perfectly with the company’s focus on efficiency and sustainability across its production lines.

“The introduction of BMR’s Squadra Vision digital squaring machine marked a major step forward compared to our previous solution, both technologically and operationally,” he said.

What really sets Squadra Vision apart is its ability to operate almost totally unsupervised thanks to fully electronic control.

The machine is equipped with cameras and laser systems to measure both the long and short sides of each slab with maximum precision. This has led to further improvements in dimensional precision, consistency in quality standards and, importantly, ease of operation.

“Operators no longer need to make frequent adjustments, as they did with the previous squaring machine,” says Perozzi. “This has significantly reduced their workload and improved overall efficiency within the department.”

During the development of Squadra Vision, BMR also focused strongly on reducing tool wear, a key factor in terms of both quality and operating costs. These efforts have been validated by the results at the Laminam facility in Borgo Val di Taro, where

“grinding wheel consumption is more balanced, reducing wear and ensuring greater processing stability, an aspect that is especially important in the case of large-format slabs”.

Integration of the easy factory concept, a new ceramic production model centred on productivity, control, digitalisation and sustainability, has made a significant contribution to the strategy of Laminam, a leading player in the sector specialising in thin, large-format slabs of the highest quality for use in architecture, design and furnishings.

“Our aim was to create an efficient and ergonomic production environment that would enhance product quality and improve the human-machine interface,” explains Perozzi.

This is not just a technological upgrade but a significant step towards the new concept of collaborative automation within the new digital factory model.

The benefits of this Industry 5.0 technology are also tangible in terms of energy and, according to Perozzi, offer a real competitive advantage:

“With Squadra Vision, we’ve achieved energy savings of around 15% compared to our previous machine, which translates into both environmental benefits and lower production costs.”

Advanced refurbishing at Energieker with Vision Light

Known for its high-end products oriented towards innovation and aesthetic quality, Energieker (Pavullo, Modena) turned to BMR to modernise its squaring department by installing the Squadra Vision Light system as part of an advanced refurbishment project. The goal was to make the process more versatile, digital and sustainable.

“We introduced this system to make quality control more objective, and ultimately to improve the efficiency of the entire process,” explains Antonio Bellei, Technical Director at Energieker.

In particular, the Vision Light kit is a fully independent solution that can be installed easily without interfering with existing systems. It provides continuous visual monitoring of the grinding wheels, improving safety and reducing tool wear.

One of the first noticeable advantages is its ease of operation. With the new kit,

“operators can make adjustments without opening the spindle covers, which improves safety and reduces downtime”, Bellei explains.

Real-time monitoring and remote support maximise control precision, with all the machine’s key parameters and KPIs available instantly, wherever needed.

“The operator focuses solely on spindle movement and can immediately verify the result of the adjustment on screen.”

The benefits are also clear in terms of efficiency, including up to 15% reduction in tool wear, faster detection of defective edges and less waste.

“This is a major step forward that takes us beyond the concept of technological islands towards a plant engineering approach in which vision technology improves and simplifies the process,” concludes Bellei.