Basic research promotes ongoing development Today, porcelain insulator production for high voltage application can be made by two possible methods: The conventional (plastic) production process The isostatic (developed within PPC group) production process While the conventional (plastic) production process requires an operating time (for insulators without fittings) of 7 - 8 weeks, the isostatic production process requires only 1,5 - 2 weeks for the same insulator. The considerable time necessary for extrusion and drying before and after profile turning - as necessary in conventional production - is reduced to almost zero by using isostatic production process. Beside the avoidance of the most time consuming production steps, isostatic production process also enables secure production of insulators with very difficult geometries and design. In the manufacturing process itself, the isostatic "part" is limited to the manufacture of the "blank" only. The slip (porcelain body with app. 80% water content) is dried to a very fine porcelain powder (granulate) by using huge spray dryer. In the isostatic press, the granulate is pressed into cylindrical blanks at very high pressure.