Chaptrr 342
Chapter 342: Glass Industry
In South Salzburg province, specifically in Mbeya City, the first kiln of the Mbeya Ceramics Factory was opened with great anticipation. Workers entered the kiln and carefully removed the freshly fired porcelain. However, the initial results were disappointing. The yield was only 15%, and the quality of the finished products was poor, with rough workmanship and aesthetic shortcomings.
Despite this outcome, everyone remained hopeful and determined to improve their porcelain-making technology. The mayor of Mbeya City offered words of encouragement, emphasizing that the Mbeya Ceramics Factory would lead the kingdom's ceramic manufacturing industry in the future.
Mbeya City was chosen as the location for the ceramics factory due to the abundant kaolin resources found nearby, totaling around 3 million tons. The East African government had identified this resource, making it an ideal location for porcelain production.
In East Africa, civilian utensils were primarily made from wood or pottery, and porcelain was a rare commodity. While there were some porcelain products imported from the Far East, they were limited in distribution. The ceramics produced by the Mbeya Ceramics Factory were among the first African-made porcelain products.
The technology for porcelain production in East Africa was mainly derived from Yanzhou Yi County in the Far East, where porcelain-making had a long history. Skilled workers from Yi County had been brought to East Africa to contribute their expertise.
East Africa mainly focused on producing coarse porcelain for civilian use, as it did not need to compete with high-end porcelain imports from Europe or the Far East. Moreover, there was limited demand for porcelain among East African residents.
Instead, East Africa decided to prioritize the development of the glass manufacturing industry. Many Venetian immigrants had arrived in East Africa, making it a favorable environment for glass production.
The Venetian glass manufacturing industry was renowned worldwide, and this expertise was valuable for the development of the glass industry in East Africa. Glass was in high demand for making windows in East African buildings, and it was also needed for scientific research equipment in the future.
To establish the glass industry, Hexingen Commodity Company, a subsidiary of the Heixingen Consortium, set up a technical group to study large-scale glass production. Cooperation agreements were signed with German universities to conquer the production process of flat glass.
Flat glass was essential for various applications, including the potential use in automobiles. Although car glass was not an immediate priority, the Heixingen Consortium planned to introduce it when market demand arose.
The development of flat glass was part of the Heixingen Consortium's long-term strategy, and it was committed to perfecting its technology before launching it to the market. Meanwhile, other aspects of automobile development were also underway, with a focus on engine miniaturization and increased power.
Ernst recognized that it would take several years before the consortium could launch a practical car. However, this timeline allowed for the development of a more complex, cost-effective design that would deter copycats and secure the East African Kingdom's first-mover advantage in the automotive industry when the time was right.
(end of this chapter)