Unit and method for thermal treatment of slabs made of stone or stone-like agglomerate material and plant for manufacturing slabs made of stone or stone-like agglomerate material

A plant for manufacturing slabs made of stone or stone-like agglomerate material from at least one mix comprising an organic binder and stone or stone-like granulated and/or pulverized materials, the plant comprising at least the following stations:

• a station comprising means for distributing the at least one mix on a temporary support, such as a tray of a sheath, the tray containing the mix being then closed at the top by a cover;
• a station comprising means for compacting the at least one mix;
• a station comprising means for the catalysis of the binder and for hardening the at least one mix at a predefined catalysis temperature so as to obtain hardened slabs;
• a station comprising means for final cooling of the hardened slabs;
• characterized in that the plant comprises a unit for thermal treatment of the slabs located downstream of said catalysis and hardening station and upstream of said station for the final cooling of the slabs, said thermal treatment unit comprising a first heating station located at the front and comprising heating means designed to heat the slabs up to a predefined heating temperature higher than the predefined catalysis temperature and a second cooling station located downstream of said first heating station and comprising cooling means designed to the cool the slabs down to a predefined cooling temperature lower than the predefined heating temperature.