The Body Plant is fully integrated into the company-wide quality systems and is equipped with up-to-date testing facilities. These are manned round the clock by fully qualified technical staff. As all the incoming materials are from quality assured sources, the Laboratory at the Body Plant can focus its resources on the needs for in-process control and assurance that the final products meet agreed specifications.

The full range of ceramic tests that can be performed includes:

• Chemical composition
• Particle size distribution
• Fluid properties
• Modulus of rupture
• Moisture content
• Fires contraction/absorption
• Fires brightness
• Thermal expansion

The procedures used in these test are those that have been developed over many years for the specific purpose of controlling ceramic clays. Full details of these, together with descriptions of the specialised equipment used are available on request.

The in-process aspects of the testing regime are designed to achieve the highest possible levels of quality and consistency in the finished products. Essential parts of this are the accurate measurements of raw material moisture contents so that batch weighing can achieve the precise formulation for any particular mix. Monitoring of the screening and magneting stages with regular checks on slip densities and fluidities are all carried out as a matter of routine. Before despatch, all products are quality checked. A full range of chemical and physical tests are performed on each batch and a certificate detailing the results is issued to the customer.