37 / 44
Building Machines
Foundation
of an industry
The fundamental building blocks of Hydraform’s building system
are the machines that produce the soil-cement blocks and tiles.
Over the past quarter-century, the reliability and
robust construction of the various models of
Hydraform blockmaking equipment has become
legendary – to the extent that numerous anecdotal
stories have grown around this over the years.
Perhaps the most representative tale is the one
involving a Hydraform blockmaking machine originally
sold in 1992 and discovered rusting on a farm in Zambia;
after Hydraform staff flew in to service it and provide
training, it was back in action producing soil-cement
blocks in a matter of weeks. Hydraform is well aware
that, in the field, its machines can often be subjected to
the harshest of climatic conditions imaginable. The
machines it builds and sends into the wide blue yonder
must be capable of withstanding tough conditions and
operating with only basic servicing for long periods
of time.
A matter of pride
Such reliability doesn’t happen by accident. It begins with
a robust and forgiving design and ends with the choice of
solid materials with which to manufacture the machines.
Effective and efficient manufacturing processes must also
be followed to continue to produce the machines that are
now found in over 50 countries around the world.
And apart from the renowned blockmaking machines,
the Hydraform factory manufactures a range of
conventional construction machinery, including pan mixers
and conventional egg-layer and static block, brick and
paving machines. In all cases, the same design principles
coupled with the highest-quality materials and top-quality
workmanship are standard.
Precision engineering ensures each machine is made to
last and all the individual parts are given a dual-coat spray
finish before assembly. Quality management ensures
every machine is checked during actual block production,
thoroughly tested and finally given the green light before
dispatch.
Furthermore, the factory itself has specifically been
designed to be flexible enough to scale production up or
down at a moment’s notice. But perhaps most important
of all is the immense pride that Hydraform’s manufacturing
staff take in their work. They revel in the rapidly growing
body of anecdotal tales of Hydraform machines still
operating after 20 or 25 years, or being brought back into
full production in a matter of weeks after being neglected
for years or even decades.
Perhaps most important of all is the immense pride that
Hydraform’s manufacturing staff take in their work.
35