Clay taken from a quarry or river is mixed with other raw materials such as sand, lava, lime, iron and chromium oxides. The clay is put through various processes to remove any unwanted aggregates or metals. It is then kneaded with steam and water before being thrown by machine into a “Deboer” press. The moulds are lined with a fine sand which gives these bricks their sanded texture. The shaped bricks are then dried before being fired in a tunnel kiln at tem-peratures ranging from 1070 -1250°c. The result is a crisp, square arris, through coloured, stock brick.