Since 2015, Nova Bricks has been working with Colin Myburgh on the automation and production reporting of our facility. Colin offers a highly professional reliable product and service. Embarking on the automization process in early 2015 enabled us to move from a labour intensive, manual brick setting process, to an automized robotic system leading to an 85% reduction of our labour compliment at manufacturing. 

The robotic handling meant that setting changes could be made to place wet brick in such a sequence that we were able to use forklifts in constructing our clamp kilns which reduced the labour compliment at the kiln department by 50%. The total reduction of labour in these areas mentioned totalled 42 employees.

Additional positives achieved were improved drying time as well as less time in the dry yard reducing exposure to weather vagaries, reduced handling resulted in less damage/waste improved quality better yields and subsequently more saleable brick.

The “automated production monitoring system” ties into our existing control system relaying fast, accurate and secure current production information. This is displayed on a dashboard platform which is tailor made to our management needs. Daily emails are received recapping the previous day’s production and downtime figures, this is in an easy to understand format and send to all relevant personnel. Managers use this information to evaluate all production aspects from robots, plant and personnel. 

The system notifies relevant persons by SMS or email when exception to normal conditions occurs in the plant. The information generated by this reporting system forms part of your daily production figures and maintenance planning.