Corobrik Installs Robotics
Technology at Lawley Factory
Improved productivity, environmental efficiency, flexibility and enhanced manufacture quality are some of
the massive benefits associated with Corobrik’s new robotic technology at its Lawley Factory.
F
ollowing the introduction of this
unique robotics’ system at its
Rietvlei factory, Corobrik installed
the uniquely manufactured setting system
at its Lawley Factory in October last year.
“This robotics’ system had to be
specially designed for the Lawley factory
because of its distinctive manufacturing
specifics, making this one- of-a-kind
setting technology in the industry,”
explained David Matlou, Corobrik
Manufacturing Director. “By installing
this innovative technology, Corobrik
will achieve incremental reductions in
energy consumption, thereby lowering
greenhouse gases, while also giving our
customers even better products.”
He said that the improvements made
by the robotics serve to build on the
clay bricks’ already energy efficient
nature. Burnt clay bricks have a very low
embodied energy and the new system
further decreases energy demand in
the production of each brick. Clay brick
walls, which are particularly effective in
South Africa’s extreme climate, absorb
heat during the day and slowly release
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it during the night thereby delaying heat
transfer and reducing the need for artificial
climate control.
The robotics will allow flexibility in
production as it can run out of Eskom peak
tariff hours, lowering the demand on the
energy grid.
Further to this the consistent gaps in the
setting pattern achieved by the robotics
allow for easy access of heat during
the drying and firing processes which
optimises the amount of energy required
for the brick production.
Matlou explained that the product
quality is significantly improved owing to
the precision handling of ‘green’ products
by the robots which eliminates handling
damage resulting from manual setting.
“T his sophistic ated technolog y
minimises defects which means fewer
rejects and a better quality, uniform, end
product for our customers,” he said.
T he engineering team, led by
Daniele Torricelli, as well as the factory
management team led by Andreas Ntseki,
delivered the project on time and within the
R22 million budget.
The robotics’ highly technical system
demands an extremely high level of skill
to ensure a smooth operation. To this
end, Corobrik selected six existing staff
members who then underwent extensive
training, allowing them to run the machine.
“Because this is essentially a one-ofa-kind model, we had to ensure the staff
operating the system knew it from endto-end,” said Matlou. “Their training has
certainly paid off and the system has been
operating successfully from the start.”
He added that, because Corobrik
is dedicated to promoting its staff and
creating an environment of sustainability,
the robotics’ system had meant no job
losses as all staff have been redeployed to
other positions within the Lawley factory.
www.corobrik.co.za
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