Buell dryer

The industry's first attempt to mechanize its drying process, an oil-fired rotary dryer installed at Rockhill near Stenalees in 1939, had been halted before it could be commissioned by the outbreak of war, with the Board of Trade exercising its wartime powers to place restrictions on the industry, rationing in particular the use of oil and steel.

The 1948 report led to Parliament ordering an end to Board Of Trade restrictions on the china clay industry, leading to a period of rapid mechanization.

In the 25 years that followed, additional Buell dryers were constructed at Kernick, Drinnick, Rocks, Blackpool near Burngullow, Marsh Mills, Parkandillack, Par Harbour, and Goonvean & Rostowrack Ltd's Trelavour site.

The dryer itself is composed of a large upright cylindrical chamber, inside of which are 25 to 30 layers of trays or "hearths".

Indirectly-heated air from an oil-fired (latterly natural gas-fired) furnace or steam heater is distributed throughout the dryer by a series of fans and ducts.