Method and plant for manufacturing ceramic products

A method for manufacturing ceramic articles comprising:

• a step of feeding, during which at least two different ceramic powders are fed so as to obtain a strip of ceramic powders extending along a longitudinal direction and a transverse direction and having at least a first zone and at least a second zone, which have different contents of said ceramic powders;
• the second zone having a given shape;
• a step of compacting, during which the strip of ceramic powders is compacted so as to obtain a compacted layer of ceramic powders, which is expanded in the longitudinal direction and/or in the transverse direction relative to the strip of ceramic powders;
• a step of determination, during which a first value of expansion of the compacted layer of ceramic powders in the longitudinal direction and/or a second value of expansion in the transverse direction are determined;
• a step of transformation, executed by a control unit, during which the given shape is transformed based on the first expansion value and/or the second expansion value so as to obtain a derived shape;
• and
• a step of printing, during which a decoration is applied by a printing device and by the application of an ink on the surface of the compacted layer of ceramic powders,
• wherein the step of printing is performed subsequent to the step of compacting,
• wherein during the step of printing, the printing device is controlled by the control unit so that the decoration is applied based on the derived shape,
• wherein the compacted layer expands relative to the strip both in the longitudinal direction and in the transverse direction, and
• wherein the compacted layer comprises at least one first expanded zone and at least one second expanded zone.