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VSBK Service Centre
- towards servicing the brick industry
Dr
Soumen Maity
smaity@devalt.org
A bold beginning
T he
search for an alternate cleaner and greener brick production technology
as an alternative to the existing clamps and fixed chimneys led to the
introduction of Vertical Shaft Brick Kiln technology in 1995 in India.
It was originally developed in China as an energy efficient, environment
friendly and economically viable means to produce quality bricks.
In the
context of providing a wide range of services to VSBK entrepreneurs and
the brick industry, Development Alternatives has established a VSBK
Service Centre. The Centre was inaugurated in April 2000 and since then
progressed to be fully operational. The VSBK Service Centre is situated
on the GwaliorJhansi National Highway at the 67th km milestone, near
Datia, Madhya Pradesh.
In terms of
infrastructure, the Centre has the following capabilities:
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Testing facilities for
soil, green brick and fired brick. |
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Demonstration of
improved methods for soil storage and handling, mix preparation,
firing and performance monitoring. |
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Balanced mechanization
to ensure easy handling of green bricks in each and every step of
production. |
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Production facilities
for demonstrating state of the art systems and resultant high
quality green and fired bricks and other specialty products like
potteries, designer bricks, tiles etc. |
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Skilled manpower in
terms of R&D, problem analysis, design of VSBK, consultancy
services, specialized construction, state of the art firing. |
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Training facilities for
masons, moulders, extruder operators and fire masters.
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Vision and objectives |
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The main objectives of VSBK Service Centre are: |
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To operate and maintain
Vertical Shaft Brick Kilns on commercial lines to support brick
entrepreneurs in India and the World |
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To continuously innovate
brick production technology through R&D and capacity building
initiatives |
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To provide professional
and technical support on a commercial basis for dissemination of
VSBK technology in the areas of clay testing, design, construction,
firing, training and monitoring at national and international levels |
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To assist in creation
and improvement of sustainable livelihoods in the brick industry,
with concern for dignity of labour and equality amongst the
workforce. |
VSBK Service
Centre
Model technology provider
The Service
Centre is established to enhance the image of brick technology by
operation of best practices of production and capability of transferring
the know-how to brick entrepreneurs.
Development and Sustenance of Brick Industry
To be able to
sustain the brick industry as a small scale industry and provide the
technological and capacity building resources that are required for its
development. It is modelled to provide information to existing and new
entrepreneurs about the availability of good soils for making quality
bricks; supply of good quality fuel; and the result of the end product.
It aims to develop the brick industry in a decentralised manner,
availing the local resources.
Regional Information Provider
It undertakes
a country wide study to have an in-depth knowledge of brick making
practices in the current scenario. It is able to function as a provider
of information on all aspects of brick making and its applications to
the interested parties in the region. There is ample evidence of this
need from established and aspiring entrepreneurs, district and national
authorities and regional financial institutions.
Promotion Work
The rich
heritage of bricks and their application is recorded in a museum at the
Service Centre, which displays samples of different regions,
photographs, slides, videos and other information and data on brick
usage in heritage and restoration work.
Research and Development Support
The Service
Centre undertakes investigation in the local problems encountered in
brick making and develops the brick industry in a scientific manner to
meet the modern day requirements of energy use, waste utilization and
environmental regulation. Such an effort also denotes to application of
results of research by experimentation and demonstration of improved
methods of brick making and its use in construction. The Service Centre
possesses the required instruments and equipments to undertake the
testing needs of all categories of entrepreneurs.
Entrepreneurship programmes and training
The
prospective persons are provided entrepreneurship programmes to imbibe
the proper methods of brick making and operating the brick kilns
successfully as a small scale industry. VSBK Service Centre provides
training on best operating practices to the workers and entrepreneurs.
Liaison with Government
The VSBK
Service Centre is well equipped with the necessary arrangements on a
long term basis to have consultations with the State and Central
Governments for speedy resolution of problems that are encountered in
the working of the brick industry and its development.
Services
provided by VSBK Service Centre
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Model technology
provider |
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Image builder for VSBK
technology |
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Demonstration of best
practices in brick making |
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Providing testing
services to commercial brick entrepreneurs |
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Providing full range of
services to VSBK entrepreneurs |
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Common facility centre
for clamp owners |
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Information provider in
the region |
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Source of trained
manpower for entrepreneurs |
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Consultancy services for
technology promoters and livelihood agencies |
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Providing R&D support to
the brick fraternity
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Recent developments and
technologies available |
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Technology for
utilization of stone dust (upto 40%) in brick making |
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Technology for fly ash
utilization (5% to 70%) in brick making with varied soils |
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Technology for coal ash
utilization in brick making. |
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Process for ensuing the
brick production unit as a "no waste producing" unit |
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Technology for producing
hollow bricks |
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Technology and process
for monsoon operation |
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Low cost soil mixing
techniques and equipments |
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Low cost extruders of
varying capacities
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VSBK Service Centre
clients |
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Large scale
entrepreneurs (BTK owners) |
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Medium scale
entrepreneurs (movable chimney and large clamp owners) |
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Small scale
entrepreneurs (clamp owners) |
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Micro enterprises
(community owned kilns, self help groups) |
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Project partners |
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Technology and
livelihood promotion agencies |
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Customers in open market |
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Punjab State Council for
Science and Technology, Government of Punjab |
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Int Nirmata Parishad,
Varanasi |
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Haryana Brick
Manufacturing Association, Chandigarh |
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Punjab Brick Field
Owners Association, Chandigarh |
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The Energy and Resources
Institute, New Delhi. |
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Punjab State Council for Service and Technology |
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As recognition
of VSBK Service Centres expertise on R&D in brick making,
recently Punjab State Council for Science and Technology,
Government of Punjab has entrusted the centre for finding
the suitability of fly ash utilization in soils of Punjab
and Haryana. Some of the highlights of these activities are: |
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Physical
characterization of soils and fly ash, chemical analysis,
X-ray diffraction analysis, differential thermal analysis,
plasticity index, liquid limit, sedimentation analysis. |
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Analysis of
green brick, shrinkage, flexural strength, volume density |
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Testing of fired
bricks, fired shrinkage, bulk density, porosity, water
absorption, compressive strength |
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Characterization
of 90 soil samples from all over Punjab and Haryana |
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Characterization
of fly ash from Badarpur, Ropar and Panipat thermal power
plants |
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Moulding and
characterization of more than 3000 brick samples |
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Utilization of
fly ash in different compositions up to 25% |
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