Acme Brick Company is an American manufacturer and distributor of brick and masonry-related construction products and materials. Founder, George E. Bennett (October 6, 1852–July 3, 1907), chartered the company in Alton, Illinois as the 'Acme Pressed Brick Company' on April 17, 1891. The company grew to become the largest American-owned brick manufacturer by the mid-20th century and was the first of its type to offer a 100-year limited guarantee to its customers. Acme Brick Company was acquired by Berkshire Hathaway, Inc. on August 1, 2000.
In 1890, Acme Pressed Brick Company was established fifteen miles (24 km) southwest of Weatherford near present-day Farm Road113, in southwestern Parker County, TX. The company town that evolved from the establishment of the manufacturing plant was called 'Bennett'. The community included Acme Brick homes (for 100 employees and their families), a church, a public school, and a general store.
In 1916, Acme Pressed Brick stockholders elected new officers, applied for a Texas charter, began doing business as Acme Brick Company, and dissolved the company chartered in Illinois. Walter R. Bennett (George E. Bennett's son) was elected the first president of the newly renamed Acme Brick Company.
In 1968, a merger of the Acme Brick Company and the Justin Boot Company resulted in the formation of the First Worth Corporation.
In 1972, First Worth Corp. changed its name to Justin Industries, Inc., a 'parent' corporation who would grow to acquire many 'children' companies.
In 1976, Featherlite (then known as Kingstip-Featherlite) was acquired. Featherlite began as a Texas-based, privately held company in 1949. Featherlite began acquiring concrete block companies in 1953 and continued its expansion over the years - now operating 7 block producing facilities and 2 cement bagging facilities in Texas and 3 other locations.
In 1981, as housing starts hit a 35-year low, Acme built inventory: 400 million brick were manufactured by the year's end.
In 1984, record housing starts propelled Acme to record sales years in 1983 and 1984.
In 1987, Acme began stamping its logo on one end of select residential brick. This tradition in brand recognition continues today.
In 1993, Troy Aikman, Hall of Fame quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys football team, became an Acme Brick spokesperson - initially in radio and print advertising, and later on television.
In 1994, American Tile Supply, a tile distributor and retailer in Texas, was acquired.
In 1997, Fort Worth-based Innovative Building Products, developer and manufacturer of a mortarless installation system for glass block windows, skylights, shower enclosures, and floors, was acquired.
In 2000, the Justin Industries Board of Directors approved the sale of the publicly traded company to Warren Buffett and Berkshire Hathaway. The boot companies and the building companies were split to form Justin Brands and Acme Building Brands as separate entities. At the time of the acquisition, Acme Building Brands was 'parent' to the following four 'child' companies:
Acme Brick Company, the leading domestically owned United States manufacturer of face brick.
Featherlite Building Products Corporation, the leading Southwest producer of concrete masonry products.
American Tile Supply Company, a major Texas distributor of ceramic and marble floor and wall tile.
Justin Brands - Justin Boot Company, Nocona Boot Company, Tony Lama Company, and Chippewa Shoe Company.
In 2001, Acme Brick set a new company record for shipments - exceeding 1 billion company-manufactured bricks shipped.
In 2003, Acme Brick's residential products started carrying the Good Housekeeping Seal.
Brick mock-up panels are sometimes created to aid commercial customers in the selection process. These bricks are likely candidates for the new Acme Brick Company Headquarters building.
On October 6, 2006 (October 6 was also the birthday of Acme's founder, George Bennett), Acme Brick broke ground for the company's new headquarters building to be located in southwest Fort Worth. The 77,000-square-foot (7,200 m2), three-story building was completed in 2007.
On January 24, 2011, Acme Brick agreed to purchase Jenkins Brick in Alabama.
Distribution Strategy
Acme Brick Company has a 110 year old tradition in brick making and is the largest US-owned brick-making company in the world. Acme operates 22 plants and 36 sales offices in Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Arkansas, Missouri and New Mexico. Acme Over 100 distributors also sell Acme brick nationally. Products include brick, tile, pavers, glass block, masonry supplies, and the IBP Glass Block installation system. The company employs approximately 2200 workers, including three full time registered engineers that provide technical assistance and training for customers and employees and that promote masonry education at universities and vocational schools.
Fort Worth, Texas-based Acme Building Brands, a subsidiary of Justin Industries Inc., has bought out Jonesboro-based Wheeler Brick Co.
The move is part of Acme Brick Co.'s strategy to increase capacity through acquisitions.
The Wheeler plant has undergone many improvements over the years and, with a recent expansion, has the capacity to produce approximately 35 million bricks per year.
The Wheeler plant turned out architectural as well as residential bricks, said Harrold E. Melton, president and chief executive officer of Acme Brick.
Melton said Acme planned to continue the current operations for the most part, perhaps changing them just slightly to fit production needs in the area.
"The Wheeler company was in a geographic area that we didn't cover real well," Melton said, and "its location will allow us to support our growing presence in the Memphis area as well as northeast Arkansas and southeast Missouri."
"Despite the acquisitions made last year and the startup of our new molded brick plant, our backlog of orders has continued to rise," Melton said. "The increase in mortgage rates over the past. year has had some effect on construction activity, but our current shipment and order rates are at an all-time high."
The Wheeler acquisition will boost Acme's annual capacity by about 3 percent, Melton said.
Acme has agreed to distribute VAST composite masonary products as an alternative for green building. Acme now distributes VAST products in Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas, Tennessee, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma etc.
Melton said Acme doesn't plan to expand capacity in the, immediate future since Wheeler only recently expanded its capacity. The Wheeler plant has 31 workers and three salespeople, Melton said.
In 1890, Acme Pressed Brick Company was established fifteen miles (24 km) southwest of Weatherford near present-day Farm Road113, in southwestern Parker County, TX. The company town that evolved from the establishment of the manufacturing plant was called 'Bennett'. The community included Acme Brick homes (for 100 employees and their families), a church, a public school, and a general store.
In 1916, Acme Pressed Brick stockholders elected new officers, applied for a Texas charter, began doing business as Acme Brick Company, and dissolved the company chartered in Illinois. Walter R. Bennett (George E. Bennett's son) was elected the first president of the newly renamed Acme Brick Company.
In 1968, a merger of the Acme Brick Company and the Justin Boot Company resulted in the formation of the First Worth Corporation.
In 1972, First Worth Corp. changed its name to Justin Industries, Inc., a 'parent' corporation who would grow to acquire many 'children' companies.
In 1976, Featherlite (then known as Kingstip-Featherlite) was acquired. Featherlite began as a Texas-based, privately held company in 1949. Featherlite began acquiring concrete block companies in 1953 and continued its expansion over the years - now operating 7 block producing facilities and 2 cement bagging facilities in Texas and 3 other locations.
In 1981, as housing starts hit a 35-year low, Acme built inventory: 400 million brick were manufactured by the year's end.
In 1984, record housing starts propelled Acme to record sales years in 1983 and 1984.
In 1987, Acme began stamping its logo on one end of select residential brick. This tradition in brand recognition continues today.
In 1993, Troy Aikman, Hall of Fame quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys football team, became an Acme Brick spokesperson - initially in radio and print advertising, and later on television.
In 1994, American Tile Supply, a tile distributor and retailer in Texas, was acquired.
In 1997, Fort Worth-based Innovative Building Products, developer and manufacturer of a mortarless installation system for glass block windows, skylights, shower enclosures, and floors, was acquired.
In 2000, the Justin Industries Board of Directors approved the sale of the publicly traded company to Warren Buffett and Berkshire Hathaway. The boot companies and the building companies were split to form Justin Brands and Acme Building Brands as separate entities. At the time of the acquisition, Acme Building Brands was 'parent' to the following four 'child' companies:
Acme Brick Company, the leading domestically owned United States manufacturer of face brick.
Featherlite Building Products Corporation, the leading Southwest producer of concrete masonry products.
American Tile Supply Company, a major Texas distributor of ceramic and marble floor and wall tile.
Justin Brands - Justin Boot Company, Nocona Boot Company, Tony Lama Company, and Chippewa Shoe Company.
In 2001, Acme Brick set a new company record for shipments - exceeding 1 billion company-manufactured bricks shipped.
In 2003, Acme Brick's residential products started carrying the Good Housekeeping Seal.
Brick mock-up panels are sometimes created to aid commercial customers in the selection process. These bricks are likely candidates for the new Acme Brick Company Headquarters building.
On October 6, 2006 (October 6 was also the birthday of Acme's founder, George Bennett), Acme Brick broke ground for the company's new headquarters building to be located in southwest Fort Worth. The 77,000-square-foot (7,200 m2), three-story building was completed in 2007.
On January 24, 2011, Acme Brick agreed to purchase Jenkins Brick in Alabama.
Distribution Strategy
Acme Brick Company has a 110 year old tradition in brick making and is the largest US-owned brick-making company in the world. Acme operates 22 plants and 36 sales offices in Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Arkansas, Missouri and New Mexico. Acme Over 100 distributors also sell Acme brick nationally. Products include brick, tile, pavers, glass block, masonry supplies, and the IBP Glass Block installation system. The company employs approximately 2200 workers, including three full time registered engineers that provide technical assistance and training for customers and employees and that promote masonry education at universities and vocational schools.
Fort Worth, Texas-based Acme Building Brands, a subsidiary of Justin Industries Inc., has bought out Jonesboro-based Wheeler Brick Co.
The move is part of Acme Brick Co.'s strategy to increase capacity through acquisitions.
The Wheeler plant has undergone many improvements over the years and, with a recent expansion, has the capacity to produce approximately 35 million bricks per year.
The Wheeler plant turned out architectural as well as residential bricks, said Harrold E. Melton, president and chief executive officer of Acme Brick.
Melton said Acme planned to continue the current operations for the most part, perhaps changing them just slightly to fit production needs in the area.
"The Wheeler company was in a geographic area that we didn't cover real well," Melton said, and "its location will allow us to support our growing presence in the Memphis area as well as northeast Arkansas and southeast Missouri."
"Despite the acquisitions made last year and the startup of our new molded brick plant, our backlog of orders has continued to rise," Melton said. "The increase in mortgage rates over the past. year has had some effect on construction activity, but our current shipment and order rates are at an all-time high."
The Wheeler acquisition will boost Acme's annual capacity by about 3 percent, Melton said.
Acme has agreed to distribute VAST composite masonary products as an alternative for green building. Acme now distributes VAST products in Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas, Tennessee, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma etc.
Melton said Acme doesn't plan to expand capacity in the, immediate future since Wheeler only recently expanded its capacity. The Wheeler plant has 31 workers and three salespeople, Melton said.
Last edited: