1870-1945 Mechanisation and industrialisation

Products and housing

Housing underwent significant improvements to set new standards of comfort.

The first interlocking tiles or structural tiles emerged at the same time as the first perforated bricks.

Industry

Industrialisation marked a major turning point for the construction material production industry in Europe

Keyria

In 1874, Rieter Werke invented the first preparation machines, tubing extruders and the first tile presses.

The first Morando machines were available on the market as early as 1880.

Keller broke new ground by marketing the first automatic brick handling machines and the first automatic cutters.

Emergence of large furnaces. First Morando machines

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1945-1970 : Large-scale production and profitability

Products and housing

This period saw continued improvements to housing, with a boom in residential construction resulting in a high demand for constuction materials. Strong sales in concrete created a boom in the market

Industry

Development of firing in tunnel furnaces

Keyria

Morando, Keller and CERIC invented equipment to facilitate stacking and unstacking operations, and developed solutions to reduce energy consumption

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1970-1990 : quality and performance

Products and housing

The quality of products, and their performance when in place, took a giant leap forward thanks to the emergence of large-format tiles fired at high temperatures

Industry

The share in the clay market is improving significantly. This leap forward in demand goes hand in hand with a high level of automation of production lines

Keyria

Development of new firing processes (in U-shaped channels, in H-shaped furnaces), of large-capacity machines (first large-size tunnel furnace), and a high level of handling automation

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1990 to the present: robotics, design, productivity and environment

Products and housing

Construction materials have become more and more effective in terms of productivity, aesthetic quality and environmental impact

Industry

Technological advances in production processes has led to the development of innovative products. Clay is a benchmark on the construction materials market

Keyria

Development of special machines used to shape and finish products.

Processes are optimised thanks to expert knowledge of raw materials and the use of modelling tools

Creation of Keyrialabs which bring together all the Division’s scientific and technical resources and laboratories. Keyrialabs provides customers with all the solutions they need in terms of choice of process as well as the capacity to develop the innovative products of tomorrow.

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