During the manufacture of slabs with a veined effect a liquid or powder colouring agent is deposited on the surface of a thin layer of starting mixture by means of at least one dispensing device and the resultant mixture is supplied, falling freely, from one end of an extractor belt forming the bottom of a mixture metering/distributor unit, following which the mixture is transferred, falling freely, onto a temporary moulding support. This results in the production of slabs provided with veining extending through the entire thickness of the slabs and also visible along the whole edge of the slab, even after it has been machined.

A method of slip forming a concrete structure can include using a first slip form mold that travels along a path to form a portion of a concrete structure by delivering a first flow of concrete into the first mold through a first hopper. The first hopper can be configured to receive the first flow of concrete. The portion of the concrete structure can be modified using a second slip form mold different from the first mold by advancing the second mold along the concrete structure and, while advancing the second mold, delivering a second flow of concrete into the second mold through a second hopper that is configured to receive the second flow of concrete.

The present invention relates to an artificial marble and a manufacturing method of an artificial marble. In addition, the present invention relates to a screening mask and a pattern mold for manufacturing the artificial marble.

The present invention relates to an artificial marble and a manufacturing method of an artificial marble. In addition, the present invention relates to a screening mask and a pattern mold for manufacturing the artificial marble.

Prefabricated floor element (1) having an elongated shape wherein a longitudinal direction (X), a transversal direction (Y), a height direction (Z), two end faces (11) which delimitate the element (1) in the longitudinal direction (X), two lateral faces (12) which delimitate the element (1) in the transversal direction (Y), a lower face (13) and an upper planar face (14) that delimitate the element (1) in the height direction (Z) are defined, which comprises transversal continuous upper grooves (15) on the upper planar face (14) or lateral grooves (26) on the lateral faces (24), the lateral grooves (26) extending from the lower tab (TS) to the upper planar face (24). The invention also relates to a structure comprising such prefabricated floor element (1) and further comprising a linear supporting element (LS) which supports one end of the prefabricated floor element (1) such that in the linear supporting element (LS) a supporting surface (51) is defined and a moment resisting system (MS) arranged on the linear supporting element (LS) and facing an end face (11) of the prefabricated floor element (1) and an upper concrete layer (LC) poured on top of the element (1) or in the shear key (SK) defined between two adjacent floor elements. The invention also relates to an installation for manufacturing the floor elements (1, 2).

In a method for manufacturing articles in the form of a slab or block, obtained by means of a procedure during which an initial mix comprising aggregates and a binder undergo vacuum vibro-compression followed by a step involving hardening of the binder, the aggregates comprise synthetic aggregates and fillers with a hardness greater than or equal to 5 Mohs, which contain silicon dioxide substantially only in amorphous form.

An apparatus for vacuum vibro-compression of mixes arranged on a support comprises a press (12) provided with a press ram (18) having vibratory devices (22), and a pressing surface (16). The press (12) comprises a vacuum bell (24). The apparatus is characterized in that it comprises an entry chamber (44) in the region of the inlet opening (36) of the bell (24) having a first opening (48) which can be controllably closed and opened with a first gate (50) adapted to prevent fluid communication between the outside and inside of the entry chamber (44) and a second gate (52) able to be controllably opened and closed, in the region of the inlet opening (36) of the bell (24), and adapted to prevent fluid communication between entry chamber (36) and the inside of the bell (24) or to allow the passage of the support with the mix from the entry chamber (36) to the inside of the bell (24). The apparatus also comprises an exit chamber (46) in the region of the outlet opening (38), having a third gate (54) provided in the region of the outlet opening (38), able to be controllably closed and opened and adapted to prevent fluid communication between the inside of the bell (24) and the inside of the exit chamber (46) or to allow the passage of the support with the compacted slab from inside the bell (24) to the exit chamber (46), and a second opening (56) which can be controllably closed and opened with a fourth gate (58) which is adapted to prevent fluid communication between the inside of the exit chamber and the outside. A method for vacuum vibro-compression of mixes contained inside a mould, comprising the steps of: inserting a support with the mix inside the entry chamber (44) and closing the first gate (50); generating a given vacuum value inside the entry chamber (44) with the first gate (50) and the second gate (52) closed; opening the second gate (52) and inserting the support inside the bell (24) where a given vacuum value is already present; closing the second gate (52) and performing vacuum vibro-compression of the mix with the second and third gates (52, 54) closed; once vibro-compression has been completed, opening the third gate (52) and transferring the support into the exit chamber (46) where a given vacuum value is already present; closing the third gate (54), restoring the atmospheric pressure inside the exit chamber (46); opening the fourth gate (58) and di

Method and apparatus for casting prefabricated concrete products with a substantially horizontal slipform casting process, where the concrete mass is fed in at least one feeding stage to a slipform casting mold compacting and defining the product to be cast, wherein at least one part is embedded in the concrete mass after the at least one concrete mass feeding stage and before the final compaction of the upper surface of the product to be cast.

A method for manufacturing a prefabricated concrete product is disclosed, in which method, a concrete slab with a recess at its upper surface is cast with slipform casting on a casting bed, and after the slipform casting of the slab the recess of the fresh cast slab is equipped with ducts, piping and/or wiring components, after which the recess is covered with concrete mass, and the concrete product is left to cure. The invention also relates to such a prefabricated concrete product.

Gypsum panels, sheathing systems, and methods of making and using the same are provided. A gypsum panel includes a gypsum core associated with a first fiberglass mat having a continuous barrier coating, the coating penetrating a portion of the first fiberglass mat opposite the gypsum core, wherein gypsum penetrates a remaining fibrous portion of the first fiberglass mat such that voids in the first fiberglass mat are substantially eliminated. A building sheathing system includes at least two gypsum panels and a seaming component to provide a seam at an interface between the gypsum panels.