A machine for compacting a powder material (CP) comprising ceramic powder; the machine comprises a compacting device , which is arranged at a working station and is designed to compact the powder material (CP) so as to obtain a layer of compacted powder material (KP) having a structured surface; the compacting device comprises a pressure belt , which has a structured contact surface , which is designed to come into contact with the powder material (CP) so as to obtain the structured surface of the layer of compacted powder material (KP); the machine being characterised in that the pressure belt also has an identification code , which is designed to identify the pressure belt ; the machine comprising, furthermore, a conveyor assembly to substantially continuously transport the ceramic powder (CP) along a first portion (PA) of a given path to the working station and the layer of compacted powder material (KP) from the working station along a second portion (PB) of the given path; a detector to detect the identification code and a control unit , which is connected to the detector and is designed to determine, as a function of what is detected by the detector , a use parameter chosen in the group consisting of: how much the pressure belt was used, how many times the pressure belt was fitted into and/or removed from the machine , how long the pressure belt remained removed from the machine , and a combination thereof; the control unit is designed to estimate how much the pressure belt was used as a function of a length chosen in the group consisting of: the length of the layer of compacted powder material (KP) transported by the conveyor assembly , the length covered by the pressure belt , and a combination and/or derivation thereof. the compacting device comprises a pressure belt , which has a structured contact surface , which is designed to come into contact with the powder material (CP) so as to obtain the structured surface of the layer of compacted powder material (KP); the machine being characterised in that the pressure belt also has an identification code , which is designed to identify the pressure belt ; the machine comprising, furthermore, a conveyor assembly to substantially continuously transport the ceramic powder (CP) along a first portion (PA) of a given path to the working station and the layer of compacted powder material (KP) from the working station along a second portion (PB) of the given path; a detector to detect the identification code and a control unit , which is connected to the detector and is designed to determine, as a function of what is detected by the detector , a use parameter chosen in the group consisting of: how much the pressure belt was used, how many times the pressure belt was fitted into and/or removed from the machine , how long the pressure belt remained removed from the machine , and a combination thereof; the control unit is designed to estimate how much the pressure belt was used as a function of a length chosen in the group consisting of: the length of the layer of compacted powder material (KP) transported by the conveyor assembly , the length covered by the pressure belt , and a combination and/or derivation thereof. <EOS>