The Glaze Guru |Home| Robert Ferraraccio

The Glaze Guru | Robert Ferraraccio

CERAMIC ENGINEERING CONSULTING

Got a problem with your ceramic manufacturing process? Let The Glaze Guru help!

I will take a wholistic, scientific and cost effective approach to your ceramic production challenges by investigating your ENTIRE process. Most of the time, a glaze problem is a glaze that is not properly designed for your needs or a symptom of something else that has changed in your process. Kiln changes, body changes, raw material shifts, application issues, etc. can all lead to a bad glaze surface. I will help you diagnose, make suggestions and show you how to change your process with the minimum amount of cost and time. This will be a tailored solution to your particular challenges based on the best industry practices.

A little about me:

BS Ceramic Engineering, Art History minor

The Ohio State University, 1995

MBA

Clemson University, 2002

Over 19 years of ceramic manufacturing experience and over 11 years of consulting experience working with domestic and international ceramic manufacturers such as: Kohler, Lenox China, Ceramic Antique/Walker Zanger, Pratt & Larson, Red Rock Tileworks, Heath Ceramics, Encore Ceramics, Wizard Enterprise, Arto Brick & California Pavers, and others. I am knowledgeable in working with almost all of the raw materials available today and an expert in various forming (slip, RAM press, dry press, extruding), glaze application (bell, spray, dip, pour) and firing processes (fast, slow, gas, electric).

Some project ideas:

Reformulate body or glazes because a raw material is no longer usable, available or take advantage of cheaper alternatives? Want to eliminate lead from your glaze formula?

Streamline your work/product flow to save labor and money?

Optimize your forming operation and eliminate forming defects? Quicken your drying process?

Make your own glazes instead of buying glazes in a bag or bottle that you don’t know the formula to, reducing your costs and giving you more creative and cost control? You will own your formulas – don’t let them own you!

Got a custom color/glaze match that will lead to a big order that still is not good enough for your client?

Add effect glazes to expand product offerings? Crackles, multi-phase, color palette expansion?

Semi-automate or automate your glaze application process? Reduce/eliminate overspray and dust?

Reduce kiln cycle times? Increase kiln uniformity?

Reduce/eliminate rework to help you meet your order due dates? Fix transient glaze defects once and for all?