3. Concrete slabs and tiles

Concrete slabs and tiles can be manufactured using a wide variety of techniques and machines, depending in particular on the type of product, production capacity, and desired characteristics. They can be produced using either delayed demolding or immediate demolding.

• For the production of decorative tiles, particularly those with a relief appearance similar to reconstituted stone, production lines with delayed demolding, known as "wet-cast" lines, are used (Figure 14 ). These production lines are equipped with a large number of supports and interchangeable molds (usually made of thermoformed plastic or molded polyurethane) to reproduce relief patterns. As the slabs are cured in the molds for approximately 18 to 24 hours, production...