Acknowledgements

GATE stands for German Appropriate Technology Exchange. GATE is a division of the Deutsche Gesellschaft fhnische Zusammenarbeit (GTZ) GmbH, a federal organization commissioned by the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany with the planning and implementation of Technical Cooperation activities with countries of the Third World.

GATE currently works in the fields of dissemination of appropriate technologies, environmental protection and conservation of natural resources. Within the GTZ, GATE is responsible for the activities on a cross-sectoral basis.

GATE is divided into two sections:

1) Dissemination of appropriate technologies Dissemination and application of appropriate technologies, especially in connection with self- help activities:

- cooperation agreements with NGO's in Africa, Asia, Oceania and Latin America

- information service: documentation, exchange of information, question and answer service, publication of technical brochures, articles and a technical journal.

2) Environmental protection and conservation of natural resources

- coordination of environmental protection activities at GTZ.

- further development of methods and instrumeets for environmental impact assessment

- technical backstopping and coordination of interdisciplinary and multisectoral projects in the field of environmental protection and conservation of natural resources.

- cooperation with the relevant national and international organisations, associations and offices concerned with this sector

German Appropriate Technology Exchange Daf-Hammarskjold-Weg 1
Postfach 5180
D-6236 Eschborn 1
Federal Republic of Germany
Tel. (06196)79-0
Tlx. 407501-0 gtz d

This Product Information Portfolio was conceived to inform users as objectively as possible about earth construction in general, and more specifically about the production of compressed soil blocks and the available soil block presses, as well as aspects of selecting and buying the most suitable one. The aim was not to deal with the technology in depth, as sufficient literature is available elsewhere, but to give practical information for the user to understand the advantages and limitations of the alternative technical systems and equipment available in different regions.

This enables the user to compare the machines with each other, and make a preliminary selection, before requesting more detailed information from the manufacturer.

Note: The technical details were provided by the producers. GATE is not in a position to verify these data and therefore cannot accept the responsibility for any inaccuracies. As the prices and exchange rates are subject to change, they are only meant to serve as guidelines.

Text, illustrations and layout by:
K. Mukerji and CRATerre (1988)