Kerámiaiparban

Kerámiaiparban, commonly translated as the ceramics industry, refers to the sector that produces ceramic products from raw minerals through shaping, drying and firing. It encompasses a diverse range of products, including tableware and cookware, sanitaryware such as sinks and toilets, construction ceramics like bricks and tiles, as well as advanced technical ceramics used in electronics, automotive components, medical devices, and industrial equipment.

The main raw materials include clays (kaolin, ball clay, fireclays), silica and feldspars, with added pigments and fluxes to develop color and fusibility. Primary forming methods include hand shaping, slip casting, pressure or vacuum forming, and extrusion, followed by drying and firing in kilns. Firing temperatures vary from low-temperature biscuit firings to high-temperature glaze firings; glazes provide color, gloss, and functional sealing. Finishing may involve surface treatments, decorative finishing, and quality testing.

Technology and trends in the sector include efforts to reduce energy intensity, with natural gas, electric kilns, or hybrid systems, as well as automation, robotics, and computer-aided design and manufacturing for tile production. 3D printing of ceramics is expanding the range of possible shapes, and research into technical ceramics (such as alumina, silicon nitride and zirconia) aims at higher performance components. Environmental considerations include emissions control, recycling of ceramic waste, and improved energy efficiency.

Global context: the ceramics industry is worldwide, with major production centers in Asia, Europe and the Americas, and supply chains that connect construction, consumer goods, and high-tech manufacturing. In Hungarian usage, kerámiaiparban denotes this broad field, encompassing traditional crafts, large-scale industrial production, and research institutions focused on ceramic materials.