BRRI

PRODUCTION UNITS - BRICK AND TILE FACTORY

Background The Building and Road Research Institute, (BRRI), in 1974 set up a small scale research brick factory at Fumesua, near Kumasi to develop a brick production technology which is simple to operate; involves minimum cost; and easy to transfer. BRRI developed the hand moulding (manual) method of producing bricks using multiple wooden mould and a firewood fired brick clamp. Brick samplesBRRI has successfully transferred the developed technology to entrepreneurs who have set up small-scale brick factories, in Ashanti, Brong Ahafo and Volta Regions of Ghana. BRRI with technical assistance from the Government of Egypt built a continuous oil fired kiln(Hoffmann) in 1978. This used residual oil as fuel and could turnout about 100,000 bricks per month. BRRI later developed a method using a mixture of Palm Kernel Shell(industrial waste) and firewood. Objective The primary objective of BRRI for setting up the Brick and Tile Factory is: * to assist industrialists to set up medium scale brick factories * to assist District Assemblies to set up medium scale brick factories in their districts. * to provide avenue for the creation of jobs for the youth in the communities, and thus help check the urban-city migration. * to help reduce dependence on foreign building materials. * to provide training for workers of existing brick and tile factories. * to link the industry with users of clay brick products. * to port and encourage local industrialists to design and construct brick manufacturing plants and equipment. Facilities The factory has the following facilities: * A Mixer donated to BRRI by the Dutch government in 1979. * A locally manufactured Extruder capable of producing 3500 bricks per 8hr.working shift. * A locally made manual Screw Tile Press that produces 300 tiles a day. Products The BRRI Brick Factory produces the following Clay Products: * Solid Bricks. * Roofing Tiles. * Floor Tiles. * Wall (cladding) tiles, and * Other special clay products. Clients BRRI's clientele covers: * Private Estate Developers. * District Assemblies in Ashanti, Brong Ahafo and Eastern Regions of Ghana. * Ghana Government Poverty Reduction Programme/Social Investment Fund. (Construction of classroom blocks and workshops for schools)in the Kumasi Metropolis. Projects with BRRI Bricks The following projects were constructed using BRRI bricks: 1. Kumasi High School, Kumasi: Residential Accommodation for Teaching Staff. 2. St Louis Secondary School, Kumasi: School Library. 3. Silicon Hotel and Conference Center, Kumasi. 4. Jachie-Pramso Nurses Quarters. 5. Ejisu Secondary School. 6. Ejisu Model School. Training Programmes The Building and Road Research Institute Brick Factory offers training programmes for: * Brick Producers who want to update their production methods in the bricks industry. * Representatives from the District Assemblies who have no knowledge about brick production.