INCREASED OUTPUT FROM NEW K.P. PLANT

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31341, 11 April 1967, Page 19

INCREASED OUTPUT FROM NEW K.P. PLANT

The Hornby Chemical Works is one of three fertiliser works operated by Kempthorne Prosser and Co’s. N.Z. Drug Co., Ltd, and stands on a site of some 22 acres about five miles . from the centre of Christchurch.

The works, soundly constructed In brick and concrete, commenced production in 1922 and has been extended and modernised over the years until it now has, with the advent of the contact sulphuric acid plant, a capacity of more than 280,000 tons of fertiliser a year.

In its first full year of production about 24,600 tons of fertiliser were dispatched from the works. An indication of the growth of fertiliser usage can be seen by comparison with the 1966 financial year’s tonnage of just over 178,500 tons. Wide Distribution The works supplies a large part of the South Island fertiliser requirements, including Westland, Nelson and Marlborough as well as Canterbury. The handling of corrosive substances such as sulphuric acid and abrasive materials, such as rock phosphate, causes heavy wear and tear on process plant A diversified maintenance staff is needed to attend to repairs and replacements. Amongst maintenance employees are fitters, turners, carpenters, plumbers, painters, and electricians.

With despatch, manufacture and maintenance employees and the necessary management, supervisory and office staff, about 125 persons are employed at the works.

In the course of manufacturing operations very large quantities of materials are handled. The works has its own private siding and a diesel locomotive handles in excess of 175,000 tons of materials a year. The great-

est proportion of raw materials, such as imported phosphate and sulphur, and serpentine rock from Nelson, enter the works by rail and are unloaded by a mechanical truck tippler at rates of up to 1900 tons daily. Daily Output

Despatched fertiliser amounts to upwards of 1250 tons daily in peak periods. This is divided between bagged and bulk fertiliser and between road and rail transport. An increasing proportion of the output is destined for aerial application. More than 2,000,000 bags were filled in the company’s last financial year, most of these being four-ply multiwall paper bags manufactured in New Zealand. Last year some 87,250 tons were despatched in bulk and the bulk proportion Is rapidly Increasing. The despatch plant consists of four bagging and two bulk machines. Further despatch facilities are planned In the near future. The Hornby works is per-

haps fortunate in that serving a large cropping area it is not so subjected to peak demand periods as are some other works, particularly in

the North Island. It enjoys a steady demand throughout most of the year. However, despite this factor, storage is available for 25,000 tons of manufactured fertiliser such as superphosphate, aerial super, serpentine super and reverted super. Scientific Farming An indication of the more scientific approach to farming methods today can be gauged from the fact that about forty different types of fertiliser and fertiliser mixtures (excluding special mixtures to farmers’ own requirements) are available now, compared with 10 in the first year of operation.

Resident technical field officers stationed at Nelson and Ashburton give helpful advice to farmers on fertiliser and farming problems generally. This field service will be extended and investigations commenced shortly into the use of liquid fertiliser. Equipment for the application of liquid fertiliser has been purchased in Australia where considerable quantities have been used in the last year or two.