SIAI Laterizi upgrades its operations with Marcheluzzo technology

Growing market demand has prompted the brick manufacturer to engage Marcheluzzo in developing a multi-year investment plan aimed at modernising its production facilities and upgrading its plant equipment.

SIAI Laterizi, the only brick manufacturer in Italy’s Molise region, boasts a history spanning more than a century. Founded in 1908 by a group of entrepreneurs from San Vito Chietino, the company was later acquired by the Di Vaira family, who modernised the plant and expanded production. Since 1963, the current owners, descendants of the same family, have continued to steer the company along a growth path that combines traditional terracotta craftsmanship with the most advanced industry technologies.

Growing market demand prompted the company to launch a multi-year investment programme aimed at modernising its production facilities in order to reduce operating costs, improve product quality and enhance workplace safety. With the support of his technical team, owner Domenico Barba turned to Marcheluzzo for the first time to identify solutions for optimising the plant, specifically through the installation of a new intermediate transfer system on one of the kiln car lines.

The project enabled Marcheluzzo to demonstrate its technical expertise, reliability and service quality, laying the foundations for a long-term partnership.

A shared development project

The relationship of trust established between the two companies, built on shared ideas and modernisation goals, soon led to a broader development programme centred on the installation of a new fired product unloading system. The proposed solution was designed to meet new packaging requirements while increasing production efficiency through a substantial reduction in unloading times. Early 2025 saw the launch of a technological project involving the complete redesign of all kiln car unloading operations and the reconfiguration of layer patterns through to the packaging stage, which was upgraded through the introduction of shrink-wrap packaging.

The new fired product unloading system: advanced robotics in action

The use of state-of-the-art robotic technologies was a key factor in the project’s success. The system is equipped with four robots, each with a payload capacity of 700 kg: two dedicated to unloading products from the kiln cars and two for forming packs ready for shipment. Thanks to intelligent, fully integrated product handling throughout the entire operating cycle, the system delivers greater process flexibility while achieving the customer’s required throughput of 100 packs per hour.

The rapid pace of machine design and construction, combined with an efficient installation phase carried out in collaboration with the customer, enabled Marcheluzzo to complete commissioning of the new plant in January 2026. Fired material unloading operations began successfully in early February. Once again, Marcheluzzo’s longstanding approach based on close cooperation with the customer and the ability to translate their requirements into practical solutions proved to be a decisive factor.