Presented and described is a method for manufacturing concrete elements having at least one concrete layer, wherein concrete for at least one element is introduced into a mould, the concrete is compacted by vibration and/or by tamping and subsequently cures, wherein to the concrete layer, prior to compaction, at least one portion of a granular material is applied by means of an application device, where the concrete introduced into the mould has a water/binder (w/b) ratio of 0.30 to 0.50 prior to curing and where as granular material a material is used comprising (a) a scatter component having an average particle diameter of 0.1 to 5 mm in an amount of 65 to 95 wt % and (b) binder in an amount of 5 to 35 wt %, based in each case on the overall composition of the granular material.

Station for the realization of coloring effects in a mix for the production of slabs, includes: a working surface intended to accommodate a temporary support with a basic mix layer for the formation of a slab; at least one dye dispensing device for emitting dyes towards the working surface so as to deposit them on the basic mix layer on the temporary support accommodated on the working surface; movement means for the relative movement of the dispensing device above the working surface; a control system connected to the movement means for controlling the displacement of the dispensing device so as to follow trajectories along which dyes are emitted towards the mix layer; at least one tool movable with the movement means (18, 118) and intended to interact mechanically with areas of the mix layer for receipt of the dyes emitted by the dispensing device to achieve coloring effects in the mix.

A multi-zone cementitious product, which includes a base zone made of a first cementitious material composition and forming a portion of the product. At least one facing zone is adjacent to and bonded to the base zone, the facing zone made of a second cementitious material composition and forming at least one exterior face of said product which is visible when the product is installed. A disrupted boundary layer is between the facing zone and the base zone, and includes material from both the facing zone and the base zone. The disrupted boundary layer bonds the facing zone to the base zone. The facing zone has a thickness sufficient to prevent the base zone from being visible when the product is installed.

A method for decorating in thickness a ceramic slab, comprising the following steps: preparing, on a decoration surface (10), a first soft decorated layer (L1) of ceramic material endowed with a decoration (V); progressively transferring, by deposition, the soft decorated layer (L1) from the decoration surface (10) to a first deposition surface (50), situated at a lower height than the decoration surface (10), thus progressively forming on the first deposition surface (50) a second soft decorated layer (L2) which has a head (H) and a tail (T); progressively transferring, by deposition, the second soft decorated layer (L2) from the first deposition surface (50) to a second deposition surface (83), situated at a lower height than the first deposition surface (50), starting from the tail (T) of the second soft decorated layer (L2), thus progressively forming on the second deposition surface (83) a third soft decorated layer (L3).

An apparatus for supplying a material to be formed to a plant for producing slabs. The apparatus comprises supplying means for supplying the material, a first means for collecting and moving, a conveyor cassette and second means for collecting and moving. The supplying means take the material from reservoirs and deposit it on the first means to form a semi-finished mat. The first means provide a stable base for the material and move the semi-finished mat towards the conveyor cassette, which receives the semi-finished mat and deposits a uniform pad on the second moving means. The second means provide a stable base for the uniform pad and move it towards successive stations in the plant. The walls of the conveyor cassette, in use, at least partly support the materials weight and comprise active surfaces The conveyor cassette has, an angled shape, comprising a first rectilinear portion and a curved one.

A device (1) for producing a slab (9) from artificial stone material by means of a double-belt press having a lower belt (2) and an upper belt (3), the double-belt press comprising a charging device (4) for loading a starting material for producing the slab (9) onto the lower belt (2), and the charging device (4) comprising at least one drum (5, 6) that is rotatable about its longitudinal axis (a1, a2).

A machine for dry decoration of ceramic slabs or tiles, comprising: a support element (10), provided with a plurality of cavities (11) with a pre-established shape; a dispensing device (20), configured to deposit a pre-fixed amount of powder material inside one or more pre-established cavities (11); an unloading device (30), configured to move the cavities (11) from a loading position, in which they can receive the powder material from the dispensing device (20), to an unloading position, in which they can unload the powder material.

Presented and described is a method for manufacturing concrete elements having at least one concrete layer, wherein concrete for at least one element is introduced into a mould, the concrete is compacted by vibration and/or by tamping and subsequently cures, wherein to the concrete layer, prior to compaction, at least one portion of a granular material is applied by means of an application device, where the concrete introduced into the mould has a water/binder (w/b) ratio of 0.30 to 0.50 prior to curing and where as granular material a material is used comprising (a) a scatter component having an average particle diameter of 0.1 to 5 mm in an amount of 65 to 95 wt % and (b) binder in an amount of 5 to 35 wt %, based in each case on the overall composition of the granular material.

The present invention relates to an apparatus, preferably a press, comprising a cavity which is to be filled and at least a first material feed, for a first material, and a second material feed, for a second material, wherein the first and the second material feeds are arranged separately from one another, having a feeding apparatus for feeding the first and the second materials into the cavity which is to be filled, wherein the feeding apparatus has a mouth-opening cross section with at least a first region of the mouth-opening cross section for the first material, and with a second, separate region of the mouth-opening cross section for the second material, for filling the cavity preferably in parallel, and at separate locations. A method and also a blank are proposed in addition.