Over the generations, our scientific understanding of our white Larnage clay has gotten better and better. Our customers’ demands have changed, too, so to meet the changing needs and demands of the market, we’ve modernised our methods and manufacturing technology. Even so, most of the techniques used in our Tain l’Hermitage factory have remained unchanged for almost two hundred years. You’ll see just what we mean when you watch these videos.
Using a specific sequence of steps, our ovens are still manufactured using traditional techniques and processes:
Delicately extracted from our quarry, the white clay is mixed with water and is then shaped. We still do some of the cuts by hand.
The raw clay parts are then slowly dried by the wind for a few weeks before being fired at extremely high temperatures in our historic tunnel kiln for 36 hours. The fired clay parts are then stacked on pallets to be shipped all over France and around the world.
Over time, we’ve applied our expertise and constant Research and Development work to the development of a simpler and faster assembly system for our ovens. The basic principle is simple: a number of fired refractory clay parts are shaped as “voussoirs” (orange segment shapes”) or mortise and tenon joints, and are held together mechanically by a keystone.
We maintain a careful balance of mass, volume and form in order to provide the same performance as a traditional oven and give our clients - both professional and amateur - a tool that helps them cook beautifully.
We are aware of just how important it is to protect nature, and that’s why we’ve put in place an environmentally-friendly production process and are working our way towards “zero waste” manufacture..
