[Stoves] Making Rocket Stoves in China

[Dean Still]

Dear Tom,

Making an inexpensive durable, lightweight, insulative, refractory ceramic
combustion chamber is not all that easy. It takes special clays and
knowledge and equipment. The factory in China has specialized in doing this
for decades and is set up to produce economically at high quality. The clay
mine is close to the kiln. The sheet metal stove bodies are made 200 meters
from the kiln. The cat iron grates and stove tops are made close by. The
steel is delivered at low prices in ten ton rolls. The factory is so
beautifully set up for inexpensive manufacturing because they have been
making refractory ceramic/sheet metal stoves for a long time.

Stoves are being very successfully manufactured in India. In country
production has many advantages!

Last year the Chinese factory made and sold .5 million coal burning stoves
and 2.5 million combustion chambers sold in China.  We have a production
capacity now of .5 million wood burning stoves per year to try to make
available Rocket stoves at affordable prices on a large scale to anyone
interested. Partnering with the Chinese factory was one way for Aprovecho to
explore mass manufacturing along with continuing full steam to assist local
production in many countries. Larry just set up a small factory in El
Salvador, for example. We are helping to set up a medium sized facility in
Bolivia. We very much believe that all approaches have merit depending on
the circumstances. And we want to help get the Tom Reed Billion Stoves Club
going...

Best,

Dean



-----Original Message-----
From: stoves-bounces at listserv.repp.org
[mailto:stoves-bounces at listserv.repp.org] On Behalf Of Tom Miles
Sent: Tuesday, April 01, 2008 7:50 AM
To: 'Discussion of biomass cooking stoves'
Subject: Re: [Stoves] Making Rocket Stoves in China

Dean,

Why China? 

I don't see anything in your photos that would favor production in China.
Especially if the market is India. 

Why did production fail in India? Price? Quality?

I would think that $20 million ($20/stove at 1 million) would be interesting
to Indian producers.

Tom



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