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[February 2008]
Acme Brick Heads Into Upper Midwest
Acme Brick Company has announced the purchase of a Minnesota brick plant and sales office owned by Ochs Brick Company effective 2 February 2008. Additionally, in a related transaction, Acme also acquired the natural stone fabrication assets of McFarlane Stone.
Acme President and CEO, Dennis Knautz said: “This acquisition represents Acme’s first geographic expansion into the upper Midwest region of the country. Ochs is Minnesota’s only brick plant and primarily serves customers in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, and the Dakotas. We look forward to becoming part of Minnesota’s economy and to serving the brick and stone needs of this ‘heartland’ area. Like Acme Brick Company, Ochs Brick Company was founded in 1891”.
Commenting on the acquisition, Matt Van Hoomissen, Ochs & McFarlane owner and president said: “We are proud to become associated with a company with Acme’s 117-year reputation for producing quality masonry products combined with outstanding customer service. We know that our customers will be in good hands.” Van Hoomissen will join the company to lead Acme’s new sales efforts in Minnesota and the surrounding states.
The Ochs plant is located in Springfield, Minnesota. The plant underwent a US$9 million expansion during 2001, which doubled the plant’s capacity to 60 million bricks per year. The 51,000 square-foot addition included a new high-tech kiln and dryer and incorporated the newest techniques in controlling quality, colour, shape and size. This facility will become Acme’s 24th brick plant and will increase the company’s overall capacity to more than 1.3 billion bricks per year.
Production at the Ochs brick plant was suspended late last year due to the uncertainty about the future of the construction market. Acme’s initial plans include hiring a core group of employees to continue selling and shipping products from existing inventories while developing a plan to restart production at the plant.
The sales facility, located near Minneapolis, has been the site of the Twin Cities' largest distributor of brick, natural stone, cultured stone, pavers and other masonry product accessories. Sales efforts from that full-service location will be conducted under the name ‘Acme-Ochs’.
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ENDS