A solution for the kiln

How a simple yet clever solution in Fianarantsoa saves time, energy and frustration.

For years, the same procedure was followed at the ADES workshop in Fianarantsoa. Week after week, the kiln was laboriously bricked up – and then dismantled again. A tedious, time-consuming and energy-intensive cycle that had become routine. But those who are content with routine miss out on the chance for improvement. This is where our Technical Manager, Azagen, came in – pragmatic, full of ideas and with a clear goal in mind: to make processes more efficient and sustainable.

Together with the local team led by Seth, he developed an innovative solution that conserves both resources and manpower – whilst simultaneously enhancing the impact of our work on the ground.

The result? A new, well-designed locking system that drastically reduces the previous workload. No more daily bricking up and breaking down, no unnecessary waste of materials, no wasted time.

This success story is more than just a technical improvement. It illustrates what becomes possible when Madagascan know-how and Swiss engineering come together, and when curiosity, experience and mutual respect merge.

Our thanks go to Azagen, Seth and the whole team – for their perseverance, their craftsmanship and their solution-oriented spirit. This collaboration is a model of what genuine partnership looks like on the ground: locally rooted, internationally inspired, sustainably effective.