This document describes systems and processes for forming stone slabs, which may be suitable for use in living or working spaces (e.g., along a countertop, table, floor, shower surrounds, tiles, or the like). In some embodiments, the stone slabs may be processed by partially filling a mold with a particulate mineral mix, and preparing a top surface of the particulate mineral mix to received one or more additional materials.

A method may produce a ceramic part with a mother-of-pearl effect, in particular for watchmaking. Such methods may include: forming a ceramic body; depositing a layer of an oxy-nitride component of the OxNy type on at least a portion of the ceramic body; and oxidizing at least a portion of the oxy-nitride layer, preferably by heating.

A system and method to dry plug cement in a ceramic honeycomb body during the manufacture of plugged ceramic honeycomb bodies. The system includes a heating element (520) configured to immediately heat without contact a face (502) of a ceramic honeycomb body (500) plugged with a wet plug cement (510) to rapidly dry and stiffen the plug cement (510) on the face (502) of the ceramic honeycomb body (500). The method includes immediately applying heat without contact to a face (502) of a ceramic honeycomb body (500) having wet plug cement (510) disposed in channels (508) of the ceramic honeycomb body at the face, and rapidly drying and stiffening the plug cement on the face of the ceramic honeycomb body.

A bottom face processing method of a pillar-shaped honeycomb structure including steps of: preparing a pillar-shaped honeycomb structure including a plurality of first cells which extend in parallel with each other from a first bottom face to a second bottom face, and each of which is opened in the first bottom face and has a protruding plugged portion in the second bottom face, and a plurality of second cells each of which is adjacent to at least one of the first cells with a partition wall interposed therebetween, which extend in parallel with each other from the first bottom face to the second bottom face, and each of which has a protruding plugged portion in the first bottom face, and is opened in the second bottom face; and removing the protruding portion from the plugged portion of each of the first cells and the second cells of the pillar-shaped honeycomb structure.

Disclosed herein are tiles, systems, and methods related to manufacturing bullnose or other non-straight edge tiles. In a method of manufacturing a bullnose tile, the method comprises the steps of providing a tile, wherein said tile is a fired ceramic tile comprising a base and a decoration; cutting or milling the tile to form a bullnose edge; transporting the tile to at least a first printing station; printing at least one print layer of print media on the bullnose edge; transporting the tile to a curing station and curing the print media to provide the bullnose tile.

A method for manufacturing an engineered stone, the method including: providing a mixture comprising at least a stone or stone like material and a binder; compacting the mixture; curing the binder; and printing on at least a top surface of the engineered stone.

A machine and method for the surface treatment of a base ceramic article having at least one surface to be treated; wherein a first printing assembly applies a first layer of adhesive material on at least part of the surface to be treated; a first depositing assembly deposits a second layer of powder material on at least part of the first layer so as to remain stuck to the first layer; and a second printing assembly applies a third layer, which comprises (in particular, consisting of) an adhesive and/or covering material, on at least part of the second layer.

An imprinting film for a building material, and a system and method for use of the same are disclosed. In one embodiment of the imprinting film, a transparent film has first and second imprinting states. In the first imprinting state, a first side of the transparent film includes a pigment photomask defining an image and a second side includes a mold receiving surface. In the second imprinting state, the second side includes a relief of the image on the mold receiving surface. The mold receiving surface is configured to receive a molding material and the molding material hardening into the building material. The transparent film transitions from the first imprinting state to the second imprinting state in response to the second side being coated with a light-sensitive, non-laminate adhesive layer and a light source irradiating the first side.

A honeycomb plugging apparatus that reduces slumping of the plugging patty. Honeycomb plugging apparatus includes a plugging head having an open-ended cavity formed from an end wall and a peripheral wall, and a support substructure provided in the open-ended cavity. Methods of plugging and manufacturing honeycomb bodies using the honeycomb plugging apparatus are provided, as are other aspects.

A method for manufacturing an engineered stone, the method including: providing a mixture comprising at least a stone or stone like material and a binder; compacting the mixture; curing the binder; and further comprising printing a printed pattern on at least a top surface of the engineered stone.