A significant recent partnership for Gruppo B&T was forged with the recent sale to Diresco of a Q-Art Line, the world’s first fully automated digital decoration line produced by B&T Quartz, the group’s division dedicated to machines for the quartz agglomerate industry.
For the Formigine-based group, the deal provides further confirmation of the uniqueness of the line, which offers various advantages for the digital decoration of quartz agglomerate. For Diresco, the investment symbolises a proactive response to a market under pressure. The company has therefore chosen to adopt Gruppo B&T technology to distinguish itself and introduce a unique, innovative product to the market, setting itself apart from the others. The choice went to the Formigine firm because of the new feature introduced by B&T Quartz, the only manufacturer that not only produces decoration machines internally with Projecta, but also offers customer the opportunity to develop graphic design projects with Digital Design, guiding them through each step of the process. “It is exactly this total package of services, in-house production and testing of machinery in Europe complemented by the possibility to provide the unique graphics fitted for the Q-Art Line, that made us choose B&T Quartz as a partner for the digital decoration technology”, states Dirk Van Houwe, who started the new role as CEO for Diresco from the end of august 2023. “Being able to unburden a client from A to Z is a key asset and we believe B&T Quartz can provide this for Diresco. The eagerness and passion from the B&T-team finally convinced us to partner up together”.
With support from the Group member companies, B&T Quartz offers customers this unique, fully integrated service and accompanies them through the continuous development of new collections that prioritise technical excellence and aesthetic distinctiveness. An added advantage that enables Customers to develop sophisticated products with unrivalled aesthetic impact, which ensure they stand out in the market.
This new technology prints designs directly onto slabs, a unique feature unlike any other application available on the market. With this line, it is the machine that -using graphic designs that may also be created just-in-time- works directly on the slab and allows the operator to change, alter, or customise the designs as needed.
Another important advantage provided by this new technology is the opportunity to enhance second quality production batches by creating graphics to correct flaws and improve their appearance. Results that mean higher profitability, less waste, and greater overall efficiency. The line can also be perfectly installed within an automated warehouse management system and integrated into the company’s logistics model.
“The partnership with Diresco -states Roberto Manzini, B&T Quartz Director- is extremely important for us. Peopled by great innovators and industry experts, they own an extensive internal expertise and through this partnership we have established a highly collaborative construction process. The Diresco team recognised that our technology represented a new solution that would bring significant competitive advantages. With this project, not only do we supply a complete decoration line, but also the know-how that enables the customer to make full use of it and support to develop the technology to its full potential.»
Gruppo B&T is a manufacturer of turnkey systems for the ceramics and agglomerated quartz industry worldwide. With a widespread presence in all markets, it delivers exceptional technological solutions and innovative services with particular focus on energy efficiency and environmental awareness.
With over 800 employees and 24 companies (17 located abroad, in 12 countries over 4 continents), the group has earned a position for itself on the international market by offering customers a guarantee of excellence. The group is further divided up based on product and service specialisations, to achieve targeted levels of excellence in specific segments, such as:
B&T Tile (complete ceramic plants for traditional sizes and big slabs)
B&T Quartz (complete lines for agglomerated quartz slabs)
B&T Service (customer service and intercompany and interdivisional technical support)
The group is involved in all stages of manufacturing through the activities of its branches and subsidiaries, each one of which specialises in a specific stage in the production process:
Siti (high quality thermal machines and presses)
Ancora (complete finishing lines)
Projecta (digital printing solutions)
Digital Design (design and graphic design projects)
Diatex and MEC Abrasives (cutting discs, tools, and abrasives).
Every year, Gruppo B&T invests 5% of its turnover in R&D, most of which is carried out in the modern bt-LAB in Formigine, which houses the technology laboratories and the four pilot lines for the different technologies.
Diresco is a Belgian family company founded in 2003 by Chris and his son Dirk Schelfhout. Thanks to continuous investments and a focus on innovation, the company has grown over the past two decades into a major player in the international quartz composite market, exporting to over 20 countries worldwide.
Diresco is the only manufacturer of quartz composite in North-West Europe and has a production volume of about 60,000 slabs per year. Diresco quartz composite worktops can be used flawlessly in any interior environment and offer both functional and aesthetic added value for various applications -including (outdoor) kitchens, bathrooms, walls, stairs, floors, fireplaces- for indoor and outdoor use.
Diresco D-Quartz is distinguished by three USPs: it is the only quartz composite worktop manufacturer in the world to use biological resins composed of natural components in its complete range of colors. This ensures a reduction of 65 kg of CO2 emissions per slab produced, compared to a conventional quartz composite slab with non-organic resins. D-Quartz is produced with a unique in-house developed bio-UV-technology, which offers optimal color stability specifically for outdoor applications. And finally, Diresco «Made in Belgium» operates from its production plant in Oudsbergen (Belgium), with a strong focus on the development and sale of high-quality, innovative, and sustainable products.
