| This category covers establishments engaged in | | | | machinery manufacturers, and related interests. Since |
| manufacturing concrete brick machine and brick from | | | | its founding, the NCMA has conducted research and |
| a combination of cement and aggregate. Contractors | | | | testing on concrete block products and structures. |
| engaged in concrete construction work are classified | | | | Establishments in this industry tend to be relatively |
| in the construction segment (see Vol. 2, Chapter 3: | | | | small, local operations, since it is generally not |
| Construction Industries) while establishments primarily | | | | economical to ship concrete block and brick more |
| engaged in mixing and delivering ready-mixed | | | | than 50 miles because of its weight. For this reason, |
| concrete are classified in SIC 3273: Ready-Mixed | | | | companies in the industry have grown by organizing |
| Concrete. | | | | or purchasing added concrete block and brick |
| NAICS Code(s) | | | | production operations in new areas. |
| 327331 (Concrete Block and Brick Manufacturing) | | | | Another factor in the structure of the industry is that |
| In 2000, the concrete block and brick industry had | | | | most of the companies that produce concrete block |
| approximately 22,365 employees, of which 14,023 | | | | and brick also produce other concrete-related |
| were in production. Total payroll expenditures that | | | | products, including ready-mixed concrete, concrete |
| year were $768 million, and the cost of materials was | | | | pipe, or various precast or prestressed products, |
| $1.9 billion. The more than 900 establishments | | | | such as building structural parts, which can be |
| operating within this industry shipped products with a | | | | fabricated centrally and shipped to locations where |
| total value of $3.2 billion in 2001. | | | | they will be installed. |
| Although the industry had slow and fluctuating | | | | Most concrete block and brick establishments have |
| growth in the 1980s and early 1990s, the strength of | | | | one or more competitors in their areas of operation |
| the public works segment boosted its performance in | | | | and compete in matters such as price, location, |
| the late 1990s. The value of concrete block and brick | | | | service, quality, and reliability. They also compete with |
| shipments climbed steadily between 1997 and 1999, | | | | other building products such as lumber, clay brick, and |
| from $2.39 billion to $3.28 billion. Weaker shipment | | | | steel. |
| values in 2000 and 2001 were the result of reduced | | | | None of the larger companies in the concrete |
| public works spending, an outcome of sluggish | | | | industries has concrete block and brick as the primary |
| economic conditions in the United States. Dominant | | | | product line. These larger companies produce |
| states in the industry include Pennsylvania, California, | | | | concrete block as one part of a group of products in |
| Texas, and Michigan. | | | | the concrete and other construction-related fields. |
| The first solid concrete block patent was granted in | | | | Leading corporations within this industry segment |
| 1832, and the first hollow concrete building block | | | | ranked by revenue as of 2003 included Glen-Gery |
| patent was in 1850, both in England. Harmon S. Palmer | | | | Corporation of Reading, Pennsylvania, with $150 million |
| patented a concrete block machine in 1900 in the | | | | in sales; Featherlite Building Products Corporation of |
| United States. Since then, the concrete block has | | | | Austin, Texas, with $50 million in sales; and Clayton |
| continued to increase in popularity because of the | | | | Block Company of Lakewood, New Jersey, with $25 |
| product's durability and economy. The industry also | | | | million in sales. |
| advanced in terms of product quality, production and | | | | Research continued into the early 2000s to improve |
| distribution methods, and installation procedures. | | | | the characteristics of concrete block machine as well |
| Concrete's fire safety compared to that of wood | | | | as to make possible different features to fit varying |
| has been a major factor in its appeal. In the early | | | | users' needs and desires. New exterior appearance |
| days, small concrete manufacturing facilities sprouted | | | | attributes have been developed such as ribbed, |
| up rapidly in most urban areas in the United States | | | | fluted, and split-faced surfaces, which have met the |
| because they needed to be located near their users' | | | | needs of innovative architects for the walls of |
| destinations. A brick machine could be bought for | | | | buildings. Blocks of lighter weight have been created |
| $100 in 1906, and the business opportunities appealed | | | | by mixing different raw material aggregates with the |
| to entrepreneurial instincts. | | | | cement and water. New uses have been found for |
| The National Concrete Masonry Association (NCMA) | | | | concrete blocks, such as in drainage systems. |
| was an affiliate of the Portland Cement Association in | | | | Research has also been conducted on ways in which |
| the 1930s. The NCMA became independent in 1942 | | | | concrete block might be constructed automatically |
| and has since supported concrete block producers, | | | | into building walls. |