Edimax Astor extends its technological capacity and size range with Sacmi

The Italian ceramic tile manufacturer recently completed a production line upgrade that included the first-ever installation of Sacmi's new RD multi-channel dryer. The forming department was also given a boost with the addition of the PH8200 ‘Veloce’.

The Italian ceramic tile manufacturer Edimax Astor (Gruppo Beta) has joined forces with Sacmi to complete another technological leap forward, raising both productivity and extending its tile size range. A key player in the sector since the 1970s - and a standard-setter for quality, design and innovation - the company now has a fully renewed production line that includes the all-new Sacmi RD5 dryer. This is the first machine in the latest range of Sacmi RD multi-channel dryers to be installed in a working factory, since it was officially launched at Tecna 2024.

Having between 5 and 9 levels, the RD offers outstanding configurability and an optimized footprint, combining all the advantages of the existing range of Sacmi EM5/7 and ECP multi-channel dryers. Key design features include improved accessibility for easier maintenance and the option - as in the ECP range - of installing partitions between the roller decks to improve process management whatever the manufacturing requirements.

Edimax has gone for a 5-level machine with a 2,850 mm wide inlet and an overall length of 22.4 meters. This replaces the previous EVA vertical dryer. The result: no more inflexibility in terms of size, ensuring maximum versatility with all types of production.

“We’re proud to be the first to install this newly designed dryer,” explains Roberto Bernabei, President of the Beta S.p.A. Group. “This is in perfect keeping with our hallmark policy of focusing on technological innovation.”

For Edimax, the entire project is a step up in terms of technological quality and extends the range to include higher-added-value products. In addition to the dryer, it includes upgrades to the forming department with the installation of a PH8200 ‘Veloce’ press which joins the other operating Sacmi presses.

“This will provide us with optimal productivity on the highest-added-value formats yet still giving us the opportunity to cut sub-sizes,” adds Bernabei.

The close collaboration between the Edimax and SACMI technical teams ensured the project was completed on schedule without interrupting production.