ALL ABOUT PORCELAIN ENAMEL
Porcelain enamel has been a valuable material for kitchenware since the end of the nineteenth century, thanks to its rust-free surface coating, high level of cleanliness and easiness to clean. This was when the technological breakthrough was made that allowed the elements of glass and iron to be firmly bound together.
Porcelain enamel is an ancient material – the first pieces of porcelain enamel found buried in Mycenae are 3,500 years old.
Porcelain enamel has been popular in many cultures for jewellery and in arts and crafts. Carl Peter Fabergé used porcelain enamel to decorate his famous eggs, which he made out of precious materials for the Russian tsars between 1885 and 1917.
THE MATERIAL
Porcelain enamel is nothing other than iron that has been fused with siliceous glass at a temperature of 850°C. Exclusively natural minerals, such as iron, quartz, clay, feldspar,soda and potash as well as very small amounts of metal oxides are used in its manufacture. There are no artificial elements, meaning that porcelain enamel is 100% recyclable as scrap metal.
The firing process gives the porcelain enamel its wonderful, bright colours as well as its hard, non-porous and scratch and cut-resistant surface.
You can find further information on the subject at: www.emailverband.at
THE ADVANTAGES
Enamel consists of natural materials and has many wonderful characteristics.
Ten good reasons in favour of RIESS Premium enamel:
1. natural materials and CO²-neutral produced in Austria
2. suitable for induction and all types of cookers
3. cut- and scratch-resistant
4. easy to clean and anti-bacterial
5. healthier and energy-saving cooking
6. flavour-preserving
7. enamel surface heat-resistant till 450°
– recommended operating temperature maximum 220°C
8. long-lasting if treated properly
9. big variety in colours and designs
10. recyclable in scrap metal
PRODUCTION
The manufacture of RIESS premium porcelain enamel is a carbon neutral process, thanks to the use of green energy from our three own hydroelectric power plants. The natural materials of iron, quartz, clay, feldspar, borax, soda and potash are blended together and smelted in a furnace at temperatures between 1000°C and 1200°C. Flakes (granules) or frits can develop from the liquid mass when it solidifies. These are finely ground in our factory and mixed together with colour pigments and water, which is the only dispersion medium. Almost all colours can be created through the individual composition of this porcelain enamel slip. The iron moulds we manufacture are immersed in the porcelain enamel colour by hand and then dried. Then, they are fired in the furnace at 850°. We reuse the waste heat from the oven to dry the products and to heat our production hall. We observe the strictest quality criteria of the European Enamel Authority. You can find further information on this in the RIESS Sustainability Report.
Do you want to see how kitchenware is made by hand from RIESS premium porcelain enamel in our factory? Visit our factory in Ybbsitz.