The brick factory

De Rijswaard brick factory operates seven days a week. The aim being to achieve the highest capacity on the one hand, whilst also making optimum use of the sustainable energy generated in the factory by the process. The factory operates a two-shift system, manufacturing some 120 million bricks annually. Given that the production process is largely automatic, only eight people per shift are required to turn the raw clay into fired, packed bricks. De Rijswaard has a total workforce of 32 (production, maintenance and office personnel).

The process

The entire process, from raw clay to fired, packed brick, can be subdivided into six stages: raw material, pre-processing, brickmaking, drying, firing and sorting. Click on the links on the left for a brief explanation of the individual stages.