[Stoves] Making Rocket Stoves in China

[Tom Miles]

Dean,

There's always more to the story. 

Thanks

Tom


> -----Original Message-----
> From: stoves-bounces at listserv.repp.org [mailto:stoves-
> bounces at listserv.repp.org] On Behalf Of Dean Still
> Sent: Tuesday, April 01, 2008 8:35 AM
> To: 'Discussion of biomass cooking stoves'
> Subject: Re: [Stoves] Making Rocket Stoves in China
> 
> 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