Відео

With a plastic molding machine. The material was made with plastic compounding equipment. I will be licensing the technology once I get the first mfg line working perfectly in-case you might be interested.

We are working to setup the manufacturing plant. The website is still up I believe at lok-block.com

They aren't quite available yet. We are setting up the first manufacturing plant. There will be limited availability on the West Coast to start.

They aren't available quite yet. I am working on setting up the first manufacturing plant here in Oregon. I hope to be in production in September. Once I get going I plan on having modular production facilities located around the country using local ag waste, recycled plastic and labor.

I am working on setting up the first manufacturing facility and hope to be able to mass produce these with about months. Investors are skeptical until you have sales and a production facility. I have pretty good patent protection in the US, China, India, the EU and Japan and there are also important trade-secret manufacturing processes that make it possible to make these ecomically and achieve high strength and low thermal expansion.

So when are they likely to be available

Not yet.

These weigh less than 40% of a standard cinder block. If we use hemp fiber the weight is about 25% of a cinder block. And yes, they are less brittle than concrete and should handle earthquakes better and even if they fall they won't cause as much damage and be as dangerous. We will be doing earthquake testing once the factory is up and running (I think within 3 months).

I am working on setting up a production line so I can make them in quantity. The material and manufacturing processes are quite custom / proprietary.

I am in the process of setting up an automated production line available for sale or license in India. I do have a patent application in process in India. If you know someone that may be interested in the technology let me know. Thanks!

ok. thanks for the suggestion.

ok. thanks for the advice.

I think it would depend on how stable your soil is and the loading on the wall. We have a bottom base block not shown in the video also. One way would be to bury the first layer of blocks mostly in the soil make them most stable.

@@colinfelton5889 these blocks could replace the foundation blocks that supports the house (crawlspace border wall foundation. One corner of blocks are bad. ) I'm not sure if there is gonna be original concrete footings already there before house was built

You can fill the blocks from the top of a wall with insulation, soil, agricutural waste or anything with insulation value. You may need to fill some blocks with concrete and rebar depending upon the structural requirements. For a simple one-story house you shouldn't need concrete. For retaining walls and buildings with two or more stories the walls most likely will require concrete in some columns of blocks, perhaps every 10 feet and in the corners. It would be best to consult with an architect or structural engineer.

Yes, we are definitely open to setting up factories outside the USA with a parnership or licensing agtreement. That is what we have been thinking from the beginning; to setup factories in areas wtih housing shortages, lots of waste plastic and agricultural fiber and to use local labor. We do not plan on large manufacturing plants that supply large populations but instead small, robust, simple to operate production units that can supply smaller communities. We are working on setting up the first automated, robust manufacturing line here in Oregon that we can replicate around the world. It will probably be another 3 months before we will be ready however. To date, the blocks we have made have not been made with automation or a professional mold and take some time to make a significant number of blocks, so we have just made simple walls and blocks for testing purposes. I can keep you updated on our progress and maybe we can discuss the options. For a cost analysis I would need the cost of electricity, unskilled labor, as well as recycled plasticd and agricultural waste delivered to the prospective factory site.

Not yet but soon we will be licensing the technology to companies in the Philippines so check back later this year.

A two story should be possible but would need to be reinforced in places same as a concrete block building would. A wall would be open tip to bottom without the top plate so your choice of insulation could be easily blown or poured in.

We still have a lot of work to do exploring the possibilities once we get into full'scale production, but at a minimum these blocks should allow a non-mason to quickly construct a simple house, garage, shed, etc.

A mix of Recycled plastics and agriculture waste natural fibers like straw, husks, sawdust, etc.

And a small amount of pigment.

@@colinfelton5889 From where can I purchase them?

They will be about the price of a concrete block

Not quite for sale yet. We are in the process of setting up the manufacturing plant. They should be about the cost of the equivalent concrete block.

I think you might want to consider the overall cost of construction of a wall, including labor, not just the material purchase price.

this would be great as DIY garden walls that are easier for home owners to put together than a gabion wall. soil/dirt is cheaper than buying rocks, or can add gravel in it. i could see people using it for indoor renter-friendly insolation/sound proofing, exterior decks, ponds, pools, hot tubs, and as room dividers. how about an accessory for adding windows and doors? would be awesome to see this for sale in the near future. if you can get them into home depot, ace hardware, lowes, you will sell a lot. have you tried shark tank? make them stake-able or sell specialized blocks for that. i'd buy a few pallets worth in a heart beat. maybe as future product you can think about rounded hollow blocks for people to create dome buildings/sheds/earth cellars/observatory star gazers, green houses, etc

I am not sure about ICF pricing but these are stronger than concrete blocks and not meant to be forms. Though depending upon structural requirements selected areas can be reinforced with rebar and concrete. The design allows for an unlimited number of segments however 4 or 5 segments will likely be the limit due to molding limitation. We have been making these materials for many years and there will be a version that will handle fire, uv and weather for 50+ years and a lower cost version that is made to be covered by siding, paint or stucco. We have had roofing made out of similar formulations in use for over 23 years now.

Thanks for your comment. They are actually much stronger than concrete but like a CMU wall, reinforcement will be necessary at corners and periodically along the wall depending upon the structural requirements and loading. I will have to disagree with your presumption that the cost of production will kill our success. I am fully aware of the costs but we are vertically integrated and have 20+ years experience manufacturing composite materials.

@@colinfelton5889 If you have figured out the manufacturing cost and distribution, congratulations again. I do not like to be negative and wish you only the best. Experience in this field teacher me that nobody likes to have a plastic building, besides many positive features. Again, all the best to you.

I am not sure that you will need any backing on the lathe. The blocks are quite waterproof. I intend to do a stucco test soon. Thermal expansion is very low so I believe it should work. Yes, electrical outlets can fit flush inside the block. You can make electrical outlet holes easily with a drill and jigsaw. Yes, the idea is that you can blow in insulation or fill the cavities with dirt perhaps. I am hoping they will be available soon. I am in the process of setting up the first modular, automated production line which which can be copied and put most anywhere.

@@colinfelton5889 This is great! Please let me know how the stucco turns out when you have time. Thank you

working on it. just made a few with a prototype mold before it gave out. enough for basic testing at this point. working on setting up an automated production line right now.

We've easily passed ASTM C140 requirements for compressive strength. I know there are many more building code tests we can do depending on the application. The cost of the blocks themselves are about the same as the standard CMU but don't require skilled labor for installation. We are currently working on setting up our first automated manufacturing facility in Oregon.

Yes, corn stalks and cobs can be used but not quite as strong as rice husks. Also, sugar cane bagasse is good, coffee husks, banana and pineapple fiber also. Send me your contact via my website and I can send you more information.

also, paper and cardboard will work fine.

Hi Mr Collins, can I get more information about the materials composition please? Thank you

@@xyengineeringandtechnology8497 The blocks are a blend of recycled plastics (PP, PE, PS, etc.) with natural fiber agricultural waste and optional additives such as colorants, uv stabilizers and fire retardents. The exact formulation depends on the application and the most cost effective plastics and natural fibers at your location.

@@colinfelton5889 Thanks so much.

yes, similar. though lok-block costs less and you can't easily pass wire, tubing through gablok.

Anda memerlukan mesin press hidrolik besar dan beberapa pelat baja tebal. akan sulit dibuat di rumah.

The blocks we have made were produced on a pilot manufacturing line. We have shut down the pilot operation and are now setting up a full-scale manufacturing line. By the end of the summer we should have some demonstration houses setup which I will post on this channel.

Look a Colombian project bloqueplas and ecocell

Abraham - Thank you for your interest and question. To make the blocks you would need a hydraulic press, mixer and mold and have available low-cost recycled plastic and agricultural waste. Mixed polypropylene and polyethylene with some contamination is ok and rice hulls are a good low-cost agricultural waste. If you give me your labor, electricity, plastic and agricultural-waste costs I can give you an estimate of what it would cost to make these blocks. I am looking for projects all over the world to make low cost building materials using local recycled materials and labor. Thank you, Colin

Hello Colin, I don't quite understand your last statement. Is your company looking to solely carry out such projects or do you wish to also partner with interested entities?

@@nicaea325-el4gm we are looking for partners or companies interested in licensing the technology

@@colinfelton5889 Great, thank you very much for the quick reply

Moses - You would need a hydraulic press, mixer and mold and have available low-cost recycled plastic and agricultural waste. Mixed polypropylene and polyethylene with some contamination is ok and rice hulls are a good low-cost agricultural waste. If you give me your labor, electricity, plastic and agricultural-waste costs I can give you a cost of goods sold estimate for making these blocks. Thanks, Colin

Блоки виготовлені з переробленого пластику та відходів сільськогосподарського волокна. Можна було б виготовити купол за допомогою певної модифікації форми, але зараз він виготовляється лише для прямих стін.

recycled thermoplastics like bags, pipe, crates, bottles, etc.