B&W Documentary Photography – Rubber Factory in Cambodia

By Edge of Humanity Magazine, November 20, 2015

Worker at the Chup Rubber Factory, Kompong Cham Province, Cambodia

This documentary photography was submitted to Edge of Humanity Magazine by Photographer Philippe Hamiche.

Click on any image to see Philippe’s gallery of projects and photographs.

From project “Chup Rubber Factory, Kompong Cham Province, Cambodia“.

Chup Rubber Factory, Kompong Cham Province, Cambodia

After the arrival of the employees at the factory, the latex is delivered, and then poured in ponds, where it is mixed with a mixture of water and formic acid which allows the latex to coagulate.

Chup Rubber Factory, Kompong Cham Province, Cambodia

Having been mixed, the latex which has coagulated, is carried into the ponds for settling, where it stays for about ten hours so as to lose its density and gain in flexibility.

Next, it is pressed and forwarded to conveyor belts to be crushed and crumbled more and more finely. Then it goes through several stages of wash before being sent to ovens.

Conveyor belts moving latex<br/> Chup Rubber Factory, Kompong Cham Province, Cambodia

Conveyor belts moving latex
Chup Rubber Factory, Kompong Cham Province, Cambodia

Latex washing process<br/> Chup Rubber Factory, Kompong Cham Province, Cambodia

Latex washing process
Chup Rubber Factory, Kompong Cham Province, Cambodia

Trolleys filled with the washed and crumbled latex are carried to several ovens. The first oven heats the latex at a temperature of 120° so as to eliminate the water it contains. Other ovens have a temperature which falls gradually until it reaches room temperature.

Next, the bundles are forwarded and checked so as to be pressed in blocks of 33kg each. Then the blocks go through one last finishing cut and are packed and taken to transport cases which weigh approximately 1200kg.