Abstract: In a process for making large-size building elements called "plate bricks" of ceramic material, which comprises preparing the ceramic material, forming it to large-size plate-shaped bricks, drying and burning the same, the improvement which consists of drying the element evenly over the cross section after forming. The invention also relates to the brick made by the process.

Abstract: A drying installation for the drying of molded blanks, such as plank bricks, large surface structural members of ceramic material and the like, having a substantially closed drying chamber separated into a plurality of adjacently arranged parallel drying channels, an air supply coupled to each of the parallel drying channels for supplying dry air having a different temperature, humidity and flow rate, and a conveyor for moving the molded blanks through the drying chamber, the conveyor being guided perpendicularly with respect to the flow of the dry air through the adjacently arranged drying channels.