Basic principles of brick making machinery layout planning

Basic principles of brick making machinery layout planning

When planning the equipment layout of a small brick factory, the core goal is to lay the foundation for efficient, safe, and low-cost continuous production. A reasonable layout is not simply to place machines, but to carry out scientific planning based on the production process, just like designing a "production line".

1. Core principles: follow the production process and reduce material backflow

This is the first principle of layout planning, the "assembly line" principle.

Implementation method: Ensure that the entire path from the entry of raw materials to ingredients → mixing → aging (if any) → forming → stacking/curing → finished product stacking is one-way and smooth, and avoid backtracking or cross-transportation of raw materials or semi-finished products (bricks) as much as possible.

Benefits: This can greatly shorten the distance and time of material handling, reduce labor intensity and the cost of transportation equipment (such as forklifts), and reduce brick damage caused by multiple transfers.

2. Principle of functional partitioning: clear division, non-interference with each other

Divide the factory area into different independent areas according to functions to facilitate management and safe production.

Main partitions:

Raw material storage and pre-processing area: near the entrance, the floor needs to be hardened. It is used to stack sand, gravel, fly ash and other raw materials, and a simple canopy can be set up.

Production operation area: the core area, where mixers, aging warehouses, brick-making hosts, and billet coding equipment are concentrated. This is the focus of layout design.

Brick curing area: adjacent to the exit of the molding equipment, the ground is flat, and there should be sun and rain protection facilities. Enough space needs to be left in this area for the bricks to rest and cure to increase their strength.

Finished product stacking area: close to the exit, and the ground bearing capacity should be strong to facilitate the loading and transportation of finished bricks.

Auxiliary area: Independent equipment maintenance area, power distribution area, and office area should be designated to ensure a certain safe distance from the production area.

3. Safety and Space Reservation Principles

Safety passages must be ensured: Clear passages of sufficient width (usually not less than 1.5 meters) must be left between equipment and areas for personnel to walk, operate and emergency evacuation. In particular, there should be sufficient space for operation and maintenance around key equipment such as brick-making machines and mixers.

Reserve space for development: When planning, you should consider the possible future needs for adding equipment or expanding production capacity, and appropriately reserve open space at key locations (such as the end or one side of the production line) to avoid "no land available" during future renovations.

4. Principle of adapting measures to local conditions and flexibility

Adapt to the shape of the site: Make full use of the shape and size of the existing site for layout, not pursuing rigid straight lines, but pursuing the coherence of the process. For example, a "straight-line" assembly line can be used in a long and narrow site, and an "L-shaped" or "U-shaped" layout can be used in a square site.

Consider natural conditions: the conservation area should avoid being located in a wind outlet or a place exposed to the scorching sun for a long time. The main production area should consider the dominant wind direction to reduce the impact of dust on the office area and outside the factory area.

Summary suggestion: draw the flow chart first, then decide on the layout diagram

Before placing the equipment, please use pen and paper to draw a complete production process flow chart and material flow route map. Then, based on the actual size of the factory, simulate the placement of different equipment on the drawings, and repeatedly consider whether the transportation path is the shortest, whether the operation is convenient, and whether the maintenance space is sufficient.

A good layout can make your brick factory appear orderly in every day's operation, significantly reduce the hidden costs of daily operations, and is an important step in achieving long-term stable profitability.