What'S New In Industry?

Modern Block-Making Machine

The past eight years has seen a revolution in the building field with the introduction of hollow vibrated concrete blocks as a substitute for solid concrete and brick walls. High in strength and fire resistance, the blocks are now an accepted part of most commerical building.

Catering for the demand in the Gisborne district is Aitken's Concrete Works, an old established firm now directed by Mr John Aitken.

Since January, at its new premises and yard in Awapuni Road, the firm's new fully-automatic block-making machine has been producing 20 different sizes and kinds of blocks at a rate of 1600 per day. It is manned by two men. Two others are engaged in feeding it a mix of four different grades of fine aggregate, suplied from Nuhaka and Motohora.

Imported from Vancouver, Washington, it is one of 15 in this country, and has a capacity of 3500 8 in × 8 in × l6 in blocks per day.

Emerging from the machine, the blocks are stacked in racks to harden overnight, are then placed outdoors to be sprinkled for a week, and finally are stored under cover for a minimum of three weeks to dry.

In addition to construction blocks, the machine has been producing decorative solar screen blocks, coloured split blocks for fireplace surrounds, paving blocks and house piles. The number of different moulds available is virtually unlimited.

Against a background of stockpiled blocks, John Aitken displays a Sample of his new-style product.

Looking down from the top of the machine as 30 cubic feet of concrete is hoisted into the hopper which feeds the machine. In background two men are seen at the weigh-batcher.