Midland Brick's new high-tech kiln an environmental milestone

11/12/97

A $21 million high-tech kiln being constructed by Midland Brick has been praised by Commerce and Trade Minister Hendy Cowan as an environmental and economic milestone for the company.

Mr Cowan said the new kiln would use 25 per cent less gas than older kilns, making it substantially more environmentally friendly, and would allow the company to produce a greater range of higher quality bricks.

"The decision to invest such a substantial sum in a new kiln shows a strong faith in the future of Midland Brick, which is a very important local business employing some 600 people," Mr Cowan said.

"It also indicates continued faith in the Western Australian housing construction market, which is always good to see."

While there are no immediate plans to increase brick production - instead, the company will retire two older, less efficient kilns when the new kiln is completed - Mr Cowan said the increased capability and potential capacity would assist the company's export drive.

He said Midland Brick was already the world's largest exporter of clay bricks and pavers to Japan and South Korea and one of the world's biggest brick and paver exporters overall.

It was also one of the Port of Fremantle's biggest customers, using more than 2700 containers each year.

Mr Cowan today officiated at a ceremony to mark the commencement of an eight-month construction phase for the kiln, which is due to be completed in August next year.

Midland Brick Managing Director George Cugley said the kiln was the company's most significant upgrading project for a decade. The waterbath technology associated with the kiln would enable more efficient production, higher quality bricks, significant fuel savings and a reduction in greenhouse gases.

Mr Cugley said Midland Brick was the State's leading clay brick maker and when it was acquired by Boral Limited in 1990, Boral became the world's biggest clay brick manufacturer.

The new kiln would produce 50 million bricks a year.

Media contact: Peter Jackson 9222 9595