Abstract: Method for the production of building elements preferably brick facings by granulation of a mixture of 40-60% by weight of cement, 60-40% by weight of aggregate, 0.5-2% by weight of thickening agent such as carboxymethylcellulose and preferably coloring agent or one or more additives and water in an amount of 8-17% by weight based on the dry matter of the mixture, hot pressing the granules under a pressure of 50-100 kg/cm.sup.2 and at a temperature above 100.degree. C. to form single elements or a string, and cutting the string into single elements, and storing the elements in a humid atmosphere until a considerable setting of the cement has taken place. The method is considerably simpler and quicker than the known methods for the production of brick facings.

Abstract: In the method of reducing twine tension in a bale (1) of straw in a baler in which the straw material is pressed under a high pressure, a plurality of windings of twine (6) is looped around and ties the straw material (1) while the material is subjected to the pressure.To avoid twine bursts in the use of sisal twine instead of synthetic twine, the twine tension is reduced by moving the twine windings (6) away from the top face of the bale (1) prior to the knotting operation, and the twine windings (6) are then released after the knotting operation.