How does the stiff-mud process form bricks and structural clay tiles?

The stiff-mud process is a primary method for manufacturing brick and tile through a continuous production technique.12

In this process, clay is mixed with water to achieve a plastic consistency. This mixture is then fed into a screw-type extruder, where a screw auger forces the material through a die. This action extrudes a continuous column of clay, similar to toothpaste being squeezed from a tube.12

The shape of the die determines two dimensions of the final product, such as the width and height of a brick or the profile of a structural tile. As the column emerges, it is cut by wires into individual units to establish the third dimension. This method is highly efficient for mass production and is the standard process used for all structural clay tile and a significant percentage of bricks.123