18 August 2006
- Kiln supplier experiences exponential growth
Following fruitful showings in May at Ceramitec in Munich and Ceramics China in Guangzhou, Dragon and TC Kilns will be using this autumn's Tecnargilla exhibition in Rimini, Italy as a springboard for further consolidation into 2007. The company's stand this year (Hall C3) extends to 60m2 and all the Chinese and European principals will be present to meet visitors in person, an increasingly useful part of the exercise in an otherwise highly digital age. Additionally, the company's technology partners are also exhibiting at the show.
On this occasion, right alongside Dragon and TC Kilns and with nearly 130m2 is Unimak, the company with which it works closely on complete turnkey projects.
This all broadens the potential for valuable on-the-spot technical and commercial exchange.
The importance that Dragon and TC Kilns attaches to promotion, travel, rapid communication and technical development has led to exponential growth in international sales in the past couple of years.
The latest tranche of orders - amounting to several million Euro - has meant that despite substantial investment in added manufacturing floorspace and personnel, the Shenzhen factory is extremely busy with current work.
This involves kilns for both the domestic Chinese market, where TCK remains a leading player, and for the overseas contracts secured by Dragon Kilns, based in England.
'In many areas I believe we are now regarded as one of the serious contenders each time new kiln installations are at planning stage,' said Adam Slater of Dragon Kilns.
'The presence of the company in Rimini will, I am sure, further cement this position for us.' He added: 'Also, although Tecnargilla is being staged not long after the other two exhibitions in which we participate, with the speed at which we work we now have some more newly commissioned projects that we can talk about.
I'm optimistic that when manufacturers from both key sectors and emerging markets see in detail what we have to offer, they will be making us part of their plans for next year.' Dragon and TC Kilns has recently been working on more prestigious tableware kiln contracts as well as adding to its references in the industrial refractories sector.
Now and in the next few months, commissioning will take place in Europe and near and south-east Asia - as well as, of course, throughout China.
The company has recently announced that it is in close negotiations with a couple of the industry's blue-chip groups, testimony to both its increasingly strong reputation as a technically sound and cost efficient kiln builder and the way Dragon Kilns has gone about establishing international confidence in the brand.
'We are glad to see that the order book is in very good shape,' concluded Slater, 'and our best endeavours at Tecnargilla will make sure it stays that way next year.' In addition to being able to meet the team and discuss new kiln projects in detail, visitors will be able to see a kiln module exhibited on the stand.
A warm welcome awaits everyone and, via Dragon Kilns the company will be delighted to accommodate pre-arranged meetings.
Aricle Source
26 June 2006 - Ceramics show brings kilns orders
Following the company's participation in Ceramitec 2006, Dragon and TCKilns said it was delighted to announce that towards the end of an extremely busy week in Munich, Germany, it signed a new kiln order agreement on the stand and as a result of its participation has also been successful in securing other important new business. The first order was placed by Foseco, a world leader in products and solutions for improving foundry and steelmill performance and one of the best known names in the international steel refractories business. This particular contract was gained following on from the successful completion of a total kiln plant installation carried out by Dragon and TCKilns for Foseco in China.
The unit ordered was a 48m3 specialist oven and in a fast turnround project is scheduled to be installed in August 2006.
It will be commissioned at Foseco Steel UK's Bonnybridge site in Stirlingshire, Scotland.
The Bonnybridge site manufactures the Deltek range of Carbon Bonded Ceramics (CBCs), developed by Foseco Steel to satisfy the critical demands of the continuous casting process.
Manufactured in a series of formulations - based on carbon bonded graphite with alumina, zirconia or magnesia - these products feature performance characteristics that are tailored to suit specific demands.
The complex formulations are held together by a unique bonding system specifically developed by Foseco Steel to improve the consistency and performance of the products.
The Deltek range of CBC products includes critical components such as ladle shrouds, submerged entry shrouds and nozzles, stoppers, tundish inner nozzles and a wide range of special shapes.
Products are formed using a specialised isostatic pressing process that provides the best combination of dimensional accuracy and consistent properties to even the most complex product shapes.
After signing the contract on the exhibition stand with the Foseco team, Adam Slater, director of Dragon and TCKilns said: 'This is our first time as an exhibitor at Ceramitec and we are delighted to have secured such a prestigious order after only two days.
It already justifies our faith in the event and is obviously a ringing endorsement of our existing references in this field.' Also confirmed as a result of negotiations undertaken at the exhibition has been an order valued at just under US$300,000 from Kutahya Porselen in Turkey for a fast fire decorating kiln for on-glaze and in-glaze porcelain.
Kutahya employs over 1,300 people these days and is recognised as one of the leading mainstream producers of quality porcelain tableware.
It operates on a 160,000m2 site and produces over 60 million pieces per annum under the 'Porselen' and 'Naturaceram' brands.
Exports form a strong part of the business and currently go out to over 40 countries, with the European Union and the USA accounting for the majority of overseas orders.
The company has continually sought to improve and expand its production facilities and works with the most advanced porcelain technology available in the world today.
Dragon and TCKilns reports that this particular contract was the subject of fierce competition from European suppliers, but one thing that Kutahya knew it could rely on was a good partner relationship and strong kiln performance - based on its previous experience over the past two years during which time DragonandTCKilns has installed four kilns at the company.
'These two repeat orders from existing customers tell their own story,' said Slater.
'Exhibitions such as Ceramitec always result in a swirl of really tough bidding, but in the end the long-term relationships we are forging and the reliability and cost effectiveness of our systems pay dividends.
The inevitable comparisons are made and Dragon and TCKilns and its technical support are viewed favourably - this has proven to be the case once again in Munich.'
Article Source
12 June 2006 - Repeat kiln orders for fast ceramic turnaroun
Following the company's participation in Ceramitec 2006, DragonandTCKilns said it signed a new kiln order agreement on the stand. The first order was placed by Foseco, a world leader in products and solutions for improving foundry and steelmill performance and one of the best known names in the international steel refractories business. This particular contract was gained following on from the successful completion of a total kiln plant installation carried out by DragonandTCKilns for Foseco in China.
The unit ordered was a 48 cubic metre specialist oven and in a fast turnround project is scheduled to be installed in August 2006.
It will be commissioned at Foseco Steel UK's Bonnybridge site in Stirlingshire, Scotland.
The Bonnybridge site manufactures the Deltek range of Carbon Bonded Ceramics (CBCs), developed by Foseco Steel to satisfy the critical demands of the continuous casting process.
Manufactured in a series of formulations - based on carbon bonded graphite with alumina, zirconia or magnesia - these products feature performance characteristics that are tailored to suit specific demands.
The complex formulations are held together by a unique bonding system specifically developed by Foseco Steel to improve the consistency and performance of the products.
The Deltek range of CBC products includes critical components such as ladle shrouds, submerged entry shrouds and nozzles, stoppers, tundish inner nozzles and a wide range of special shapes.
Products are formed using a specialised isostatic pressing process that provides the best combination of dimensional accuracy and consistent properties to even the most complex product shapes.
After signing the contract on the exhibition stand with the Foseco team, Adam Slater, Director of DragonandTCKilns said: 'This is our first time as an exhibitor at Ceramitec and we are delighted to have secured such a prestigious order after only two days.
It already justifies our faith in the event and is obviously a ringing endorsement of our existing references in this field'.
Also confirmed as a result of negotiations undertaken at the exhibition has been an order valued at just under US$300,000 from Kutahya Porselen in Turkey for a fast fire decorating kiln for on-glaze and in-glaze porcelain.
Kutahya employs over 1,300 people these days and is recognised as one of the leading mainstream producers of quality porcelain tableware.
It operates on a 160,000 sq.m.
site and produces over 60 million pieces per annum under the 'Porselen' and 'Naturaceram' brands.
Exports form a strong part of the business and currently go out to over 40 countries, with the European Union and the USA accounting for the majority of overseas orders.
The company has continually sought to improve and expand its production facilities and works with the most advanced porcelain technology available in the world today.
DragonandTCKilns reports that this particular contract was the subject of fierce competition from European suppliers, but one thing that Kutahya knew it could rely on was a good partner relationship and strong kiln performance - based on its previous experience over the past two years during which time DragonandTCKilns has installed four kilns at the company.
'These two repeat orders from existing customers tell their own story,' said Adam Slater.
'Exhibitions such as Ceramitec always result in a swirl of really tough bidding, but in the end the long-term relationships we are forging and the reliability and cost effectiveness of our systems pay dividends.
The inevitable comparisons are made and DragonandTCKilns and its technical support are viewed favourably - this has proven to be the case once again in Munich.'
Article Source
20 April 2006 - Ceramics kilns feature automatic handling
For its very first appearance at Ceramitec, Munich, Germany, Dragon Kilns will have an impressive 60m2 stand in Hall A5, the first place that visitors head for when looking for the very latest in kilns, furnaces, refractory systems and combustion ancillaries. The Dragon Kilns stand is also particularly well sited, just across the aisle from the Ceramitec Forum location. Directors from the Chinese operation - TC Kiln in Shenzhen - as well as those from the Europe based export branch Dragon Kilns, will be present to meet the world's leading ceramic manufacturers and show them the major advances that have been made in recent years.
TC Kiln will firstly be showcasing its new 30,000m2 facility in China which has just been inaugurated.
This addition, thought to be the largest single-site kiln manufacturing facility in the world, has brought the company's total workforce close to 700 and effectively relaunches it as a major player on the global ceramic firing scene.
The company offers the full range of ceramic kilns across world markets, including gas, oil and LPG tunnel and shuttle kilns, modern gas and electric roller kilns, electric belt conveyor kilns, and both gas and electric test kilns.
PLC based systems, quality refractories and fully automatic handling are typical of most types of installation.
Durable build and fit-for-purpose components are naturally a prerequisite for supplying the top quality manufacturers that TC Kiln is happy to number amongst its many customers and, on the stand this year at Ceramitec, the company will show a complete kiln module, in this case from a porcelain glost reduction roller kiln.
Additionally, there will be graphics, printed material and multi-media elements organised to demonstrate the depth of expertise on which the company can draw.
Visitors will be able to see examples of kilns for a wide range of ceramic products, throughputs and firing regimes.
Munich is also the right place and the right time to unveil the many recent successes registered by Dragon Kilns, established only 18 months ago yet already responsible for contracts valued in excess of EUR 6 million for installations outside mainland China.
This achievement has been based on a solid engineering and technically platformed partnership - one that has quickly reaped the benefits of a UK-based hub of kiln technology, rapid and efficient manufacture to meet tight time constraints, design and combustion know-how, the choice of incorporating proven European burners, PLCs and other components into a Chinese manufactured kiln and a close, partnership style approach with international customers.
Major investments in the ceramic industry have taken place in the last two years in places such as Thailand, India, China, Turkey and Bangladesh and the TC Kiln/Dragon name has been at the forefront of much of the technological innovation and significant increases in output and production efficiencies in those countries.
Visitors to Ceramitec will be able to see examples of a variety of these projects - covering not only prestige tableware but also technical ceramics/refractories, general pottery and heavy clay products.
For any manufacturer whose key priorities include competitive kiln pricing, close overall plant, thermal and atmospheric control, a flexible approach, quick build and expert commissioning - a visit to Stand 226 in Hall A5 should be the first item on the exhibition itinerary.
Article Source
20 April 2005
- Kilns from China well received in Europe
Chinese
Kiln Manufacturer Gears Up for World SalesThe
Tung Chung range of kilns from China has achieved
exports of over US$3million in contracts in its
first six months of trading, receiving a particularly
positive reception in Europe
Dragon and TCKilns ('Dragon'), the European based
division responsible for exporting the Tung Chung
Kiln range from China, will achieve US$3 million
of contracts in just its first six months of trading
- outstripping its original target for the first
full year.
Since its launch onto the market, interest has
been generated on all continents and there has
been a particularly positive reception to the
collaboration between European technologies and
Chinese manufacturing.
In support of these efforts, Tung Chung has committed
itself to a major presence at the Ceramics
China 2005 Exhibition which takes place
at the Guangzhou International Convention
and Exhibition Center in Guangdong Province, China
from 15-18 May 2005.
This important event will cover an area of over
30,000sqm and feature some 600 exhibitors.
It takes place in the province with the largest
market for ceramic equipment in China.
The organisers expect 50,000 visitors
from all around the world - a major draw
for Tung Chung in its drive for increased export
business - and the company has this year decided
to upgrade to an impressive, specially designed
stand covering some 260sqm (Hall A, Stand
D23-E59).
Here, the marketing and management team will
welcome both potential and existing customers
and will be showing them both the company's latest
technologies and details of its recent successes.
Of the US$3 million worth of orders just
announced by Dragon Kilns, the latest to go into
production at Shenzhen is for Monno Ceramic Industries
of Bangladesh.
This order - valued at just under US$1 million
and placed in March - is for a glost porcelain
tableware kiln with a capacity of 10 tons of ware
per day.
It has advanced control and firing features and
includes a fully automatic reduction control system.
The new kiln will be delivered to Monno during
June this year, will be commissioned in July and
is set to be operational from August.
'This is a prestigious order for
us,' said Adam Slater, Director
of Dragon and TCKilns, 'and
not only one that consolidates our reputation
in the growing Bangladesh market but also one
that sets us challenges, which we welcome.
When the joint venture was formed
last year, I said I was convinced of the opportunity
to offer customers much quicker build, delivery
and commissioning.
This contract, requiring no more
than 18 weeks from start of build to producing
ware, demonstrates perfectly that speedier response
for which we are always striving.'
Tung Chung already has a number of major installations
under its belt in this region and Adam Slater
said that he was very hopeful of more good news
from the subcontinent soon.
The various customers currently studying proposals
will soon be able to see the fruits of the latest
round of investment at the Shenzhen plant.
The company is just about to unveil its new
35,000 sqm kiln manufacturing facility
- one that will add around 400 more people to
the workforce there.
'This will leave Tung Chung Kiln
Mechanical Co with over 40,000sqm and a workforce
of 800 in Shenzhen,' commented Adam
Slater, 'making it in all probability
the largest single-site kiln manufacturing facility
in the world.
Once again there is clear evidence
of major investment for success and the prospects
for Dragon are extremely good.'
Adam Slater himself is even more closely allied
to the fortunes of the Shenzhen headquarters as,
it has just been announced this week following
meetings in China, he has now invested to become
a shareholder in the main company, Tung-Chung
Kiln Mechanical Co.
This can only be good news for the collaboration's
future.
For full details on the company and its kiln
range, developments in Shenzhen and how to visit
the stand at Ceramics China 2005, please contact
Dragon and TCKilns.
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