Nine High-Intensity Electromagnetic Filters for European Ceramics Producer

A major European producer of luxury ceramic sanitaryware has ordered nine (9) high-intensity Electromagnetic Wet Filters from Bunting Magnetics.  The Electromagnetic Wet Filters are destined for plants across Europe including Poland, Portugal, and the Ukraine.

Electromagnetic Wet Filters have ultra-high-intensity, background magnetic fields (from 3,500 up to 10,000 Gauss) to separate fine iron and paramagnetic minerals from ceramic slips, glazes and bodies.

An Electromagnetic Wet Filters consists of an electromagnetic coil positioned around a central hollow core containing a magnetic (400 series) stainless-steel matrix of various designs.  The highly efficient computer designed coil generates a high intensity magnetic field that intensifies on the points of the matrix creating the magnetic force needed to separate paramagnetic particles from the ceramic slurry.

The magnetic coil enclosure is either a circular or rectangular steel casing designed to intensify the magnetic field into the hollow centre of the coil.  The design of the oil-cooled electromagnetic coils maintains thermal stability whilst generating high Gauss values.  The coil designs are energy efficient and maintain low operating temperatures.

In operation, a pump regulates the flow of ceramic slip, glaze, or body up through the centrally located canister and through the magnetic stainless-steel matrix.  Magnetically susceptible particles and minerals, such as iron-bearing micas, hematite, are attracted to the points of the matrix and securely held by the intense magnetic field.  Periodically, in a timeframe dictated by the level of magnetic present, the feed stops (with the flow diverted), the magnetic field turns off, and a mix of water and air flushes the magnetics out of the matrix.  The process then restarts.

Reducing Magnetics Related Ceramic Defects

For this project, the European ceramics producer identified an opportunity to reduce the number of ceramic rejects caused by magnetics.  Magnetic contamination causes spotting and discolouration on the surface and cracks in the body, and is especially problematic in the production of white and pale coloured ceramics such as in sanitaryware.  Managing such defective ceramics is costly, with the rejected item being reworked or recycled.

In this project, the nine (9) Electromagnetic Wet Filters will process both ceramic glaze and body or slip.  Seven (7) Electromagnetic Wet Filters with a background magnetic field of 2,500 Gauss will handle slip, with the other two (2) 5,000 Gauss models processing glaze.

“The client identified that investment in this high-intensity magnetic separation technology will generate productivity improvements and reduce recycling and waste,” explained Bradley Greenwood, the Head of International and European Sales for Bunting Magnetics.  “Our Electromagnetic Wet Filters generate exceptionally high magnetic fields, which enables the capture of small, almost oil-like magnetic particles.”