Villeroy & Boch: HYBRID SYSTEM Proven After 8 Months

Villeroy & Boch, a leading manufacturer of ceramic products, has implemented the HYBRID SYSTEM in its production facility in Mettlach, Germany — the system’s first real-world deployment beyond prototype testing.

After 8 months of continuous operation, inspection showed:

• No wear or deformation on the hot or cold side compared to the condition after the first firing.
• No reaction of the PCW mullite front panels to temperature or chemical attack from glaze vapours.
• A completely solid, dust-free surface.
• No shrinkage or open joints — the test section required no refilling, unlike conventional fibre module linings which typically need topping up after the first firing cycles.
• An anchoring system with full mechanical stability on both the inner and outer side.

In contrast, conventional RCF-based fibre modules (1430°C fibres) typically show surface hardening and significant shrinkage under the same conditions.