Boral Bricks' Kempsey plant lightens the load in energy and water
Located on the same site in South Street since 1976, Boral Bricks'
Kempsey Plant has been manufacturing natural clay bricks under the Boral name for
more than 25 years.
Now, Boral can reveal that its Kempsey plant manufacturing process is leading the
way for an Australian brickworks in terms of water and energy consumption, with no
use of town drinking water supply and minimal use of non-renewable energy.
This means that the bricks made at the plant are amongst the lowest in non-renewable
embodied energy, or energy used in a product's manufacture, in the country.
Darryl Marshall, Boral Bricks' Kempsey Plant Manager, said that sawdust, the waste
by-product from Boral's nearby Herron's Creek Timber Mill, has replaced heavy fuel
oil as the energy source to fire the bricks.
"It's a unique situation, which helps put Kempsey on the map regarding the preservation
of non-renewable resources. We are drawing locally on a waste product from sustainably
managed plantation and regrowth timber - a renewable source - for the major part of
manufacturing," Darryl says.
"On the eco-sensitive North Coast, home owners are more aware that for a building
product to be "green" it's about where materials are sourced, the environmental impact
of their manufacture and local supply to minimise transport.
"Our total manufacturing needs are also met with recycled water that's collected from
storm-water run off and tannin collection from the sawdust stockpiles," he added.
Boral's Kempsey brickworks make many of the popular Woodstock range, with warm
handcrafted textures that are timeless. Each brick is formed from select local clays
and kiln-fired for strength and colour that never fades.
Four new soft colours have just been released from the plant: Dusk, Cascade,
Honeycombe and Country Rose. Blends of these colours are also available.
According to Darryl, all bricks made in Kempsey are also Exposure Grade, which makes
them ideal for coastal areas or harsh soils.
You can find them at Boral Brick outlets in Coffs Harbour, Kempsey, Port Macquarie,
Taree and Forster, where builders and home owners alike can be assured of local supply
from a hard-working team.
For more information, visit Boral's Kempsey Brick & Tile Display on South Street Kempsey
or phone 6562 6088. www.boral.com.au/bricks.
For further information contact:
Boral Bricks
phone: 13 30 35
fax: 1300 368 760
web: www.boral.com.au/bricks
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