0000000000117620
AUTHOR
Eliseo Monfort
Unwanted effects of European Union environmental policy to promote a post-carbon industry. The case of energy in the European ceramic tile sector
Global warming combined with low carbon transition plans is threatening the future of high energy consumption industry sectors in the European Union (EU). The need to respond to environmental challenges is demonstrated by support for international level energy policies and legal requirements, such as the Kyoto Protocol which the EU supports, and increased EU-level environmental legislation and energy policies. The effect of these initiatives is gradually transforming industrial activities in the EU. However, since not all countries have adopted these policies, evaluation of their net effect needs to take account also of side-effects such as delocalization of industry activity and the legal …
The green factor in European manufacturing: a case study of the Spanish ceramic tile industry
This paper analyses how environmental issues have affected and are continuing to affect the evolution of European manufacturing industries based on the example of the Spanish Ceramic Tile Industry (SCTI).1 The Ceramic Tile Industry (CTI)2 in Europe became very competitive and innovative in the early 1990s, with the Italian and the Spanish sectors, which are cluster-based, becoming world leaders. However, since 2008, this leadership position is being eroded. We provide an in depth analysis of the SCTI focusing on the influence of new European environmental regulations. The CTI has a major impact on the environment and has been the focus of environmental regulations. We also consider the inno…
La evolución energética del sector español de baldosas cerámicas
espanolEl presente texto analiza como ha ido evolucionando el consumo y la eficiencia energetica de la industria espanola de baldosas ceramicas durante el siglo XX, y explora las posibilidades que se le plantean en el siglo XXI. Durante el pasado siglo este sector industrial acometio tres transiciones radicales al pasar de los combustibles tradicionales de biomasa a los hidrocarburos liquidos (fueloleo y gasoleo), y posteriormente a los gaseosos, principalmente gas natural. Aunque la informacion que permite evaluar de manera fiable la eficiencia energetica real en las plantas de fabricacion no es facil de obtener, los datos disponibles indican que se ha llegado a una elevada eficiencia con …
How to reduce energy and water consumption in the preparation of raw materials for ceramic tile manufacturing: Dry versus wet route
Abstract Dry and wet routes in the ceramic tile manufacturing process refer to two different technologies for preparing the raw materials for the forming stage. Both result in a granulated solid ready for use in the pressing stage, but with different characteristics. The dry route was the first to be developed. As quality standards and tile sizes increased, the wet route was developed and introduced successfully into the manufacturing process. Since 1990, the wet route has been the most used around the world to prepare ceramic tile body raw materials. The powder produced by the wet route has finer particles and higher flowability, which has allowed the production of higher quality ceramic t…
VALORISATION OF FOREST AND AGRICULTURAL BIOMASS FOR THE SPANISH CERAMIC TILE INDUSTRY
Since ceramic tile industry is an energy intensive industry, European ceramic companies are challenged to reduce their CO2 emissions in the medium and long-term. According the Roadmap for moving to a low-carbon economy in 2050 (European Commission, 2011) the objective is to achieve a reduction in CO2 emissions of between 34 % and 40 % by 2030, and between 83 % and 87 % by 2050. In the present paper we present a study on the viability of the incorporation of biofuels in the energy mix of the Spanish ceramic industry with the objective of (1) identifying the potential use of biomass resources, with a special focus of forest and agricultural biomass, in the manufacturing process of ceramic til…