A brickworks, also known as a brick factory, is a factory for the manufacturing of bricks, from clay or shale. Usually a brickworks is located on a clay bedrock (the most common material from which bricks are made), often with a quarry for clay on site. In earlier times bricks were made at brickfields, which would be returned to agricultural use after the clay layer was exhausted.
Large bricks on a conveyor belt in a modern European factory setting
Bricks were originally made by hand, and that practice continues in developing countries and with a few specialty suppliers. Large industrial brickworks supply clay from a quarry, moving it by conveyor belt or truck/lorry to the main factory, although it may be stockpiled outside before entering the machinery. When the clay enters the preparation plant (Clay Prep) it is crushed, and mixed with water and other additives which may include breeze, a very fine anthracite that aids firing.[1] This process, also known as pugmilling, improves the consistency, firing qualities, texture, and colour of the brick. From here, the processed clay can either be extruded into a continuous strip and cut with wires, or be put into moulds or presses (also referred to as forming) to form the clay into its final shape. After the forming or cutting, the bricks must be dried - in the open air, in drying sheds, or in special drying kilns. The dried bricks must then be fired or "burnt" in a kiln, to give them their final hardness and appearance.
Men working in the yard of a brickworks in Germany, the tall chimney of the kiln visible, 1890Packed bricks stored in a brickworks in CroatiaBricks set out to dry in Songea, TanzaniaA brick-making machine in Tanzania
In the mid-nineteenth century the development of automated brickmaking machines such as the Bradley & Craven Ltd "Stiff-Plastic Brickmaking Machine" revolutionised the brick-manufacturing process.[2]
As of 2016[update], one of the largest single brickworks site in the world able to manufacture one million bricks per day stands on the banks of the Swan River in Perth in Western Australia.[3]
Environmental effectsedit
Zigzag brick kilns are recommended[by whom?] over traditional brick kilns because they consume less coal.[4]
^ Compare: "breeze". Oxford English Dictionary (Online ed.). Oxford University Press. (Subscription or participating institution membership required.) - "breeze, n.3 [...] Small cinders and cinder-dust, used in burning bricks, etc.; small coke and coke-dust."
^The First Hundred Years: the Early History of Bradley & Craven, Limited, Wakefield, England by Bradley & Craven Ltd (1963)
^ Celebrating 70 Years - "70 years on from our modest beginnings we have grown into one of the largest brickworks, employing the skills and talent of hundreds of West Australians in making the best bricks in the world."
^Bursledon Brickworks Industrial Museum. "The History". www.bursledonbrickworks.org.uk. Bursledon Brickworks Industrial Museum. Retrieved 14 October 2015.
^Visit Hampshire. "Bursledon Brickworks Museum". Retrieved 14 October 2015.
February 16, 2024
brickworks, this, article, about, brick, factories, construction, with, bricks, brickwork, confused, with, brickyard, other, uses, disambiguation, brickworks, also, known, brick, factory, factory, manufacturing, bricks, from, clay, shale, usually, brickworks, . This article is about brick factories For construction with bricks see brickwork Not to be confused with brickyard For other uses see Brickworks disambiguation A brickworks also known as a brick factory is a factory for the manufacturing of bricks from clay or shale Usually a brickworks is located on a clay bedrock the most common material from which bricks are made often with a quarry for clay on site In earlier times bricks were made at brickfields which would be returned to agricultural use after the clay layer was exhausted Large bricks on a conveyor belt in a modern European factory setting Contents 1 Equipment 2 Brick making 3 Environmental effects 4 Historical notes 5 Notable brickworks 6 See also 7 ReferencesEquipment edit nbsp An old Puolimatka s brick factory in Kissanmaa Tampere Finland in the 1960sMost brickworks have some or all of the following A kiln for firing or burning the bricks Drying yard or shed for drying bricks before firing A building or buildings for manufacturing the bricks A quarry for clay A pugmill or clay preparation plant see below Brick making editMain article Brick Bricks were originally made by hand and that practice continues in developing countries and with a few specialty suppliers Large industrial brickworks supply clay from a quarry moving it by conveyor belt or truck lorry to the main factory although it may be stockpiled outside before entering the machinery When the clay enters the preparation plant Clay Prep it is crushed and mixed with water and other additives which may include breeze a very fine anthracite that aids firing 1 This process also known as pugmilling improves the consistency firing qualities texture and colour of the brick From here the processed clay can either be extruded into a continuous strip and cut with wires or be put into moulds or presses also referred to as forming to form the clay into its final shape After the forming or cutting the bricks must be dried in the open air in drying sheds or in special drying kilns The dried bricks must then be fired or burnt in a kiln to give them their final hardness and appearance nbsp Men working in the yard of a brickworks in Germany the tall chimney of the kiln visible 1890 nbsp Packed bricks stored in a brickworks in Croatia nbsp Bricks set out to dry in Songea Tanzania nbsp A brick making machine in TanzaniaIn the mid nineteenth century the development of automated brickmaking machines such as the Bradley amp Craven Ltd Stiff Plastic Brickmaking Machine revolutionised the brick manufacturing process 2 As of 2016 update one of the largest single brickworks site in the world able to manufacture one million bricks per day stands on the banks of the Swan River in Perth in Western Australia 3 Environmental effects editZigzag brick kilns are recommended by whom over traditional brick kilns because they consume less coal 4 Historical notes editIn the past when clay was often transported from the quarry to the brickworks by narrow gauge railway or aerial ropeway Notable brickworks editThe London Brick Company Bursledon Brickworks 5 6 Brickworks Limited Australian brick manufacturer Evergreen BrickworksSee also edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Brickworks Brickfield Masonry Program on Energy Efficiency in Artisanal Brick Kilns in Latin America to Mitigate Climate ChangeReferences edit Compare breeze Oxford English Dictionary Online ed Oxford University Press Subscription or participating institution membership required breeze n 3 Small cinders and cinder dust used in burning bricks etc small coke and coke dust The First Hundred Years the Early History of Bradley amp Craven Limited Wakefield England by Bradley amp Craven Ltd 1963 Celebrating 70 Years 70 years on from our modest beginnings we have grown into one of the largest brickworks employing the skills and talent of hundreds of West Australians in making the best bricks in the world Understanding Zig Zag Kilns Bursledon Brickworks Industrial Museum The History www bursledonbrickworks org uk Bursledon Brickworks Industrial Museum Retrieved 14 October 2015 Visit Hampshire Bursledon Brickworks Museum Retrieved 14 October 2015 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Brickworks amp oldid 1172270495, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
