An innovation mind set for both creativity in design and in materials development is the key of success to continuously offer new and better solutions for the customers’ requirements. Two centers for R&D in Hungary and in Spain as well as 3 design offices in Hungary, Spain and France support these efforts to be always one step ahead.

In 2006 a design offensive in creating low weight cost efficient kiln furniture solutions was launched. Low weight sub-structures and super-structures were created giving strongly improved ratios of product- to kiln furniture weight and thus energy savings for the customers. New patented design solutions in the assembly of different materials for kiln furniture were created, which use in an optimum the individual materials properties. The kiln furniture cost efficient in their application and offer a maximum in flexibility for practically all applications in roof tiles, tableware and sanitaryware as well as in technical ceramics for automotive and electronic components.

In 2007 continuous efforts were undertaken to even further reduce the energy consumptions at our customers. These efforts resulted in a patented low weight Cordierite ceramic APTALITE®. This novel Cordierite material has a 20% reduced specific weight, however, it maintains all the essential physical properties such as thermal shock behavior, mechanical strength and high temperature stability, which are essential for long service life. It has in the meantime proven in ongoing long term test to be fully compatible with standard Cordierite products.
APTALITE® is a true contribution to energy saving.

In 2009, IKF has launched its new kiln cars concept for roofing tile, with significant weight decrease and much lower H breakage due to a much better interaction between the kiln cars and the H stacks.