A VSBK (Vertical Shaft Brick Kiln) is an energy efficient low-emission brick kiln for fired clay brick production. The technology was originally developed in China, based on the design of the traditional Vertical Shaft Lime Kiln.

A VSBK consists of one or more vertical shafts, which are loaded with fuel and green (unfired) bricks from the top and unloaded at the bottom, after the bricks have passed through the firing zone in the middle of the shaft. The vertical shaft allows ideal combustion of the fuel and use of the hot flue gas for pre-heating the unfired bricks above the firing zone. Furthermore, the VSBK is continuously operated thus avoids necessity of energy wasting multiple firing ignition and cooling. For these thermodynamic reasons, the VSBK is considered as the most energy efficient and least CO2 emitting brick kiln design. Due to its good combustion VSBK nearly eliminates the emission of particulate matter, without sophisticated flue gas filtering.

VSBK is a low tech kiln, built with simple building materials, with a screw jack as the only mechanical device. Electricity is required only for the light bulb for the night operation, (and optionally for thermocouples). Therefore it is an ideal solution for South Asian brick fields, which are rarely equipped with reliable electric infrastructure. However, the VSBK technology is also used for large scale industry like in South Africa, with mechanised material and workflow.

South Asian brick industries are known for harsh working conditions, often involving child labour and slavery (bonded labour). As compared to traditional brick kilns, VSBK reduces the workers exposure to toxic gas and dust and also offers year round work opportunity to the workers, whom otherwise are jobless for half of the year.

A VSBK brickyard can be operated on a small scale as a typical family size business and be extended shaft by shaft, if demand increases or additional investment funds become available. Other energy efficient brick kilns such as Hoffman Kilns or Tunnel Kilns, which are the most common brick kilns in industrialised countries require higher upfront investments and lose their energy and cost efficiency as soon as they aren’t operated on full production capacity. Because VSBK can adjust the production to the fluctuating brick demand, even large scale industries opt for VSBK.

Due to its relatively short firing cycle, VSBKs are more sensitive on operation errors. VSBK demands better clay quality and a more caring management than traditional kilns. Especially at the early stage of VSBK venture, intensive and enduring management and disciplined labour are required for fine tuning of the raw material supply and the kiln operation.