Spanish plant manufacturer Equipceramic prepares for
future challenges
At the end of last year, it was reported that EQUIPCERAMIC, a Spanish plant engineering manufacturer for the brick industry, had entered into a partnership with Spanish grinding equipment manufacturer Maincer. The following spring, it was announced that EQUIPCERAMIC was acquiring Beralmar, a Spanish specialist in firing and drying equipment. This piqued our curiosity at ZI. In the following interview with Abel Alconchel, chief sales officer, read how EQUIPCERAMIC is managing to remain optimistic and find the resources for expansion despite the tense market situation, and what the company’s plans are with regard to markets and green brick technology.
Situation of EQUIPCERAMIC
What are the strategic aims of EQUIPCERAMIC?
Abel Alconchel: A company with more than 40 years of experience in the field, 25 of them as EQUIPCERAMIC, our goals remain unchanged: moving forward always along with innovation and providing the brick sector with everything necessary to improve and optimize production processes.
How has business developed in the last year or years and what are EQUIPCERAMIC‘s expectations for the future?
AA: EQUIPCERAMIC left the crisis of pandemia behind, stronger than ever. It consolidated as one of the most financially healthy engineering companies in the brick industry. The business has evolved in a very positive way; additionally to the revamping projects we are developing in different parts of the world, we are completing the third plant for one of our customers, and we are preparing the fourth one for this same customer. We have two more signed contracts for building complete plants where we are in the material purchasing process. By integrating Beralmar in the Group, we wish to strengthen our commitment to reducing emissions, consumptions as well as to promote the use of alternative fuels, since we consider they are the foundations of our business for the future. Furthermore, it will allow us to offer integrated services to our customers. In 2026, we will move to our new, larger and more modern facilities, which conform to the conditions required for the 17 sustainable development goals (SDGs), enabling our growth and reinforcing our commitment to excellence.
In which markets and countries is EQUIPCERAMIC active and what are the perspectives there? Is brick production expanding there, increasing demand for EQUIPCERAMIC‘s products and services?
AA: Equipceramic operates at global level and our business strategy has always been aimed at diversifying within the brick and construction sector. This diversification is not only reflected in the application of new technologies to our new equipment – without forgetting tradition in the manufacture of bricks, but also in our active presence in the main markets of three larger regions in the world: America, EMEA and Asia.
All over time, there have always been crisis, but Equipceramic has always been on his customers’ side, supporting them in difficult moments and celebrating successes together. Now, we face a new situation in different countries where the lack of labor is affecting production. This is the reason why our customers come to us to design semi-automated production lines or even totally automated ones adapted to the specific needs of every market . We are also very committed to developing new clay products to meet the new needs of the sector, such as slips or grinded blocks.
Why is EQUIPCERAMIC doing so well? Is it the markets, in which EQUIPCERAMIC is active, or competitive pricing or competitive quality?
AA: The key to our success can be summarized in three words; work, work and more work. However, it must always be accompanied by fundamental values as honesty, integrity and transparency to our customers. We do not have only customers, we have partners, and we are committed to offering them whatever they need and remaining by their side. This is not only a motto, but a principle that Equipceramic applies in his everyday work, and which is shared by all the members of this large family.
EQUIPCERAMIC’s expansion
Why did EQUIPCERAMIC enter the strategic alliance with Maincer?
AA: Since the beginning, EQUIPCERAMIC has provided his customers with solutions ranging from the revamping of existing plants to turnkey projects. The strategic alliance with Maincer is aimed at integrating its large experience in fine ceramics into the brick industry. At EQUIPCERAMIC we look forward to associating with the best, and this is why we want them to join EQUIPGroup as a strategic partner. Whatever are the specific needs of the customer, EQUIPCERAMIC offers a complete solution for grinding and cutting special pieces.
Why did EQUIPCERAMIC buy Beralmar? Your website states as a reason: “to reinforce EQUIPCERAMIC’s know-how“. In what areas specifically does Beralmar complement EQUIPCERAMIC‘s know-how? Why did Beralmar agree to the purchase?
Beralmar is a company with 60 years of experience in combustion technologies and it has been an active actor in the development and innovation of the different combustion systems and energy sources developed in the last six decades. The goal of incorporating it in EQUIPGroup was not eliminating a competitor but additing its valuable know-how in a field where the sector is definetely moving to the reduction of emissions and to the use of clean energies. For Beralmar, this operation represented a great opportunity for growing and fully focusing on the development of new enviromentaly friendly technologies. We are confident and sure that he will be a leading actor in the present and in the future of the heavy clay sector where there is still much to do in the field of the application of thermodynamics in plants.
What other partnerships are you working on?
AA: We are actively working so new partners join the Group in order to add experience and quality to our products and processes. Our purpose is, as always, providing new comprehensive solutions to the challenges our customers face at present or will face in the future. We are holding advanced conversations, and we have been greatly surprised by the excellent response to this initiative, to the point that some companies have proactively approached us led by their interest in joining the group as partners.
Climate neutrality
What are EQUIPCERAMIC‘s technological plans concerning CO2-reduction and CO2-neutrality in brick production. F. ex., are you going to offer electric or hydrogen kilns? Is there any demand for that in EQUIPCERAMIC‘s target markets and countries? And is EQUIPCERAMIC researching energy efficiency measures?
AA: At present, the main challenge in the brick industry is focused on reducing emissions and developing more sustainable products, called “green bricks”. At EQUIPGroup, with Beralmar as active part, we are permanently working in researching and innovating solutions aimed to this purpose. We always keep talking with manufacturers to deeply understand their needs and offering customized answers. This approach starts with optimizing production processes and improving kiln and dryer performances through EQUIPSERVICE.
Our service division for the industry sector has consolidated as a reference in comprehensive solutions aimed at energy optimization and sustainability. One of the main foundations of this division is the development of energy audits, to identify opportunities to improve processes, make savings in operational costs and progressing in obtaining a better efficiency in the use of resources.
These audits are not only a diagnostic: they are completed with a proactive approach to incorporate new energy sources, adapted to the specific characteristics of every market and production process. In this regard, biomass has been proved to be a viable, sustainable alternative in certain environments where its availability as well as the logistic conditions turn it into a competitive option compared to traditional fuels.
Moreover, we are betting on hydrogen as an alternative fuel, actively participating in pilot projects and viability studies, positioning this technology as a key solution to the decarbonisation of industrial thermal processes. Our development and research was structured in two phases: initially, we tested our burners with hydrogen in cooperation with a specialized hydrogen supplier. Afterwards, we installed one or two groups of burners in a kiln for an industrial trial, where hydrogen is applied only in different and specific firing zones of the kiln, allowing us to evaluate its effect on energy consumption and on the final quality of the bricks.
On the other side, we are in-depth searching for the use of electricity as a power source for kilns and dryers, a study line that will allow both reducing emissions and increasing accuracy in the control of the processes, especially in sectors with high technical requirements. We are engaged in several European research projects in collaboration with universities, focusing on hybrid gas-electric systems for dryers as well as fully electric kilns for specific products. The objective is to assess the balance between productivity and energy consumption, ensuring a consistently profitable ratio for brick manufacturers.
Finally, our division is working on new developments within the field of combustion, our own technological developments in an advanced stage that will certainly mark a turning point in terms of efficiency, flexibility and energy sustainability. These innovations promise to generate a significant impact in the sector and they present themselves as one of our main bets for the future.
