The Argeton terracotta plant is a state of the art facility designed for high volume production and maximum quality control. Argeton utilizes very advanced technology to manufacture some of the most precision tiles in the world. Argeton continues to invest in its manufacturing operations to increase its production capabilities, efficiencies and glazing operations.

The manufacturing process involves the extraction of clay and preparing it through grinding, mixing, wetting, and cleaning to remove foreign elements. The clay is shaped by pressing it through dies by extruders. Argeton will engineer and build dies to achieve custom designs and profiles to meet the needs of the designer. The drying process prepares the clay for firing by removing the moisture from the soft or green tiles. The firing of the tiles at a temperature of 900 to 1200°C in a tunnel kiln is the final part of the production process. After this step, the finished product is available for use. After firing, clay products are nonflammable and fire-safe forever. Kiln and firing technologies as well as air stream systems have reduced the required firing time by up to two-thirds. This has created enormous advantages: a 50% decrease in the use of primary energy over the past ten years, up to 90% less emissions through thermal post-combustion equipment, optimized product quality and a substantial increase in capacity.

The fired tiles are loaded onto palettes with automatic equipment, and normally enclosed with pallet foils. Argeton has a network of decentralized production facilities. The plants are located near to raw material supplies and as close as possible to local markets. This reduces transport distances, which makes fast delivery possible and also lowers the environmental impact.

LEAD TIMES and SHIPPING TIMES
Times for Argeton are a maximum 15 weeks. Tiles are scheduled for production by color and are given their schedule well in advance. Argeton and Telling have established relations with international import/export companies to handle freight from the plant to the port, shipping lines for sea freight. Specialty brokers who have a solid working knowledge of the Argeton material are employed to handle customs clearance and track shipments into the United States. These firms follow each order and keep all parties informed of progress, location and anticipated shipping and arrival dates.