The current hot weather is beginning to have an impact on business operations and one of the companies currently facing a challenge due to the heatwave is a roofing tile manufacturing business in Kampung Pengkalan Baru, here.
Noraini Jusoh, who runs the family business said these days the moulded clay tile pieces tend to crack when they are sun-dried.
“The tiles start to crack when they are laid on the ground to dry gradually. This is required before the baking process.
“It is extremely hot this year, we never had this problem in previous years,” she said when met by Bernama recently.
Today, Noraini, 57, or Kak Ani as she is affectionately known, is the sole singhora or clay tile producer in Kampung Pengkalan Baru, unlike 60 years ago when there were about 40 workshops working to preserve the singhora tile heritage.
After going through several processes including kneading, moulding, drying and baking, the singhora tiles, each measuring 10 inches long and five inches wide, are sold at RM1 a piece.
Noraini added that though the soaring temperatures have created quite a problem in her business operations, her decades of experience in playing with clay has given her the advantage in overcoming the problem.
“Some of the tiles were damaged in the drying process but the percentage is still quite low. To solve the problem the clay tiles are dried in the workshop and sheds instead.
“After they are moulded the tiles must be dried gradually, so by placing them in the workshop or sheds the clay will not crack due to the sudden heat exposure, “ she said.
Commenting on the demand for singhora tiles, the 2021 Adiguru Kraftangan award winner said response has been very encouraging that it had been difficult for her to fulfill all her customers’ orders.
“Currently, eight people who are my relatives and some workers are assisting me in the business,” she said adding that labour shortage has always been a problem.
“Previously, in three months we could produce 60,000 pieces of tiles but lately we could only manage 40,000 pieces depending on the workers’ productivity and the weather conditions, she said.
Source: BERNAMA News Agency