The construction industry is experiencing constant advancements, from new types of concrete to 3D-printed houses and innovative solutions for materials like bamboo. Now, ceramic companies are leading the way in innovation, not only in creating stronger materials but also in revolutionary methods for laying tiles and slabs.
At the Cersaie 2023 international trade fair in Bologna, Italy, Iris Ceramica Group presented an innovative proposal that could transform the way ceramics are installed. Their patented system, called Attract, uses magnetic ceramics, allowing for quick assembly and disassembly of tiles and slabs, as well as offering the possibility of indefinite reuse.
This approach not only significantly reduces installation time but also lowers labor costs, as it requires no specialized skills. By eliminating the need for bonding mortar, it reduces mess and material usage. This dry solution complements the initiative of Peronda Group, a Spanish company that markets tiles known as the Nomad System (NMD), which uses a similar fixing system.
Ceramics for construction
Magnetic ceramic tiles are based on a simple principle: replacing traditional ceramic tile installation methods with a cleaner, simpler, and more efficient one. Each tile has a ferromagnetic coating on its back, allowing it to be attached using suction cups and conventional installation and cutting tools. It's like using refrigerator magnets, but adapted for tiling walls or paving floors.
In the case of Granitech's Attract system, the magnetic base is applied to the surface using double-sided adhesive tape or metal staples, depending on the material. This base, similar to a flexible mat, also acts as an anti-fracture membrane, providing a firm grip for each tile. According to the patent, the base has an anti-breakage edge that is automatically removed upon completion of the installation.
Development of this ceramic
This concept was developed by Rubén Bayarri, the system's creator, who presented this dry-installation solution to Peronda. Installation requires near-perfect flatness to avoid deviations. For walls, materials such as plasterboard or MDF boards are used, onto which an industrially printed magnetic coil is applied. For ceramic tiles, a ferromagnetic glaze is applied, and the installation is completed using spacers to ensure uniform thickness at all joints.
In pavements, the floor is treated with a self-leveling cement before placing a foam sheet, the magnetic coil and, finally, the ceramic with ferromagnetic glaze.
Although installers may initially be skeptical, once they experience the ease of installation and its benefits, such as indefinite reuse, the reception has been positive. Sectors such as industrialized construction and companies with recurring rebranding have shown great interest in this innovative solution.
Construction methods are changing, and new materials promise greater efficiency and sustainability, which seem necessary in the new landscape of materials innovation.
Source: Vibesok.
