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Advantage
This
newly developed technology package has the following
advantages:
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Locally available red-clay can be used.
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Quality of the products is better.
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Drudgery is reduced.
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Wider range of products can be made, including
tableware.
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Breakage and wastage is reduced.
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Fuel efficiency is enhanced.
Technology
Package
Improved
Clay Quality Traditionally, potters use red-clay
which cannot be fired beyond 8500C, thus preventing
the use of appropriate glazes. In the new technology
package, the properties of locally available clays
are enhanced by addition of suitable admixtures
like china-clay, quartz, feldspar, etc. The proportion
of admixtures depends on the properties of the local
clay, which have to be determined through physico-chemical
tests. With the help of CGCRI a typology for different
types of clays from different geo-climatic zones
is being prepared in order to standardize the admixture
proportions. Once the quality of the clay is upgraded,
it can be fired at temperatures upto 11000C.
Machines
for Clay Preparation In order to further
improve the quality of clay and reduce drudgery,
some suitably de-scaled machines are introduced.
These are: ball-mill and pug-mill which homogenize
the clay-body and render it suitable for forming.
These machines are suitable for small operations
and they can be run on single-phase power supply
or even 5 KW DG sets.
New
Forming Techniques In order that the potter
may produce a diversified range of items, new machinery
and techniques are also introduced for better forming
(shaping) of the clay. These include a mechanized
potter’s wheel and the jigger-jolly. Items
like tableware can be produced at much higher rates
through the use of these new adapted machines. For
making tiles a screw press is used, while slip-casting
techniques are introduced for fine products.
Matching
Glaze Preparation Available non-toxic glazes
are matched to the clay body and used for creating
opaque and transparent glazed finishes for the products.
These glazes are made by grinding the frit (crystals)
in the small ball-mill/pot-mill, applying it to
the biscuit-fired product and then firing it again
at higher temperatures.
Improved
Kiln A suitable, fuel-efficient, high performance
kiln is part of the package. This kiln can attain
temperatures up to 12000C, which are required for
the new product range.
Conditions
for Applicability
Several
conditions need to be kept in mind before undertaking
the introduction of this technology in any field
area. These are:
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Clay deposit should be present in substantial
quantity in the vicinity.
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There should be sufficient concentration of
potters in the area.
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A reasonable market-potential for diversified
pottery-ware should exist nearby.
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Electricity and running water should be available.
Land
and Infrastructure
A
minimum of 500-750 sq. yards of land should be available
with the VO. This will be used to build pits, store
clay and other materials, and accommodate the kiln.
A work-shed of about 1200 sq. ft. covered area will
be required where all operations will be housed.
Water and electricity should be available. The location
should be easily accessible to potters and preferably
connected by motorable road. It would be advisable
to locate the unit at a medium level cluster of
potters, which would naturally be near a clay deposit.
System
Design
The
nodal centre is set up at a location, which is easily
accessible for a cluster of 8-10 potter families.
The centre serves as a common facility and contains
most of the functions described above. Due to the
new technology package and economies of scale, productivity
is substantially increased. A centralized marketing
network is also coordinated through the Nodal Centre.
At a later stage, some of the functions can be decentralized.
For example, clay processing, forming and low-temperature
firing (upto the ‘biscuit’ stage) can
be done at satellite units’ while the final
firing can be undertaken at the nodal level.
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