Compressed Earthen Block Production
Step Three: The Block Machine Running
The Blocks are pressed at a rate of one every 8 seconds.
Five lengths of conveyor deliver the blocks directly to the site and placed straight into the wall.
(At Right) One set of equipment will make 7000 to 8000 blocks per 10 hour day -- enough blocks to build nearly three homes per day.
(At Right) We can make a variety of blocks from different kinds of soil.
Note the sharp edges in the close-ups of the blocks (above). Engineered to 1/16th inch variation in dimensions. Simpler building - a bond-beam or ring-beam around the top of the completed wall will even out any small discrepancies.
(At Right) The last block shows how another company's blocks vary because their equipment is not as strong and each block is not identical in size and shape.
This block is supposed to be 10 inches but is ONLY 9 inches. Imagine the problems if you are expecting a 10 inch block and you build a wall (or house) where each block is off 1 inch or more.
We compress only from the bottom which allow us to CONTROL all three dimensions. Our blocks are exactly 10 X 14 X 4 inches or 25.4 X 35.6 X 9 cm.
Next: Step Four: The Slurry
CEB Production Steps
- Step One: Equipment Arrives
- Step Two: Soil Preparation
- Step Three: Block Machine Running
- Step Four: The Slurry
- Step Five: The Foundation
- Step Six: The Wall
- Page Seven: Finished Buildings
- Page Eight: An industrial building in Durban
- Page Nine: Durban Demonstration House
In The Media:
- Presentation to Nigerian Architectural Conference in Abuja, Sep 2011 (pdf)
- Video: Block Production
- South African Newspaper Article, June 2010 (pdf)
- Cape Town & Durban Presentation, May 2010 (pdf)