American Brick Manufacturer
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 as the Acme Pressed Brick Company on April 17, 1891, in Alton, Illinois,[1] although the company's physical location has always been in Texas. 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 on August 1, 2000.[1]
Etymology
Acme (ακμή; English transliteration: akmē) is Ancient Greek for "(highest) point, edge; peak of anything", being used in English with the meaning of "prime" or "the best", initially when referring to a period in someone's life[2] and then extending to anything or anyone who reaches perfection in a certain regard.[3]
Manufacturing plants
Acme Brick manufactures brick (primarily for U.S. customers) at plants located in four states:
- Birmingham, Alabama
- Montgomery, Alabama
- Clarksville, Arkansas (known as Acme's Eureka Brick Plant) (permanently closed)
- Fort Smith, Arkansas (permanently closed)
- Jonesboro, Arkansas (formerly known as Acme's Wheeler Plant)
- Malvern, Arkansas (Acme has 3 plants in Perla; Perla Westgate, Perla Eastgate, and Acme's Ouachita Plant)
- Castle Rock, Colorado (known as Acme's Denver Brick Plant) (permanently closed)
- Kanopolis, Kansas (permanently closed)
- Holly Springs, Mississippi (permanently closed)
- Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
- Tulsa, Oklahoma (Acme also operates a brick engraving facility at this location)
- Bridgeport, Texas (permanently closed)
- Denton, Texas (Denton Plant, Denton Showroom, Acme Brick Technical Center all at same location)
- Elgin, Texas (Acme has 2 plants in Elgin; Elgin Plant and Elgin New Plant)
- Garrison, Texas (permanently closed)
- Malakoff, Texas (Acme has 2 plants in Malakoff; Texas Clay A Plant, Texas Clay B Plant)
- McQueeney, Texas (permanently closed)
- Millsap, Texas (Acme's first plant - also known as the 'Bennett Plant')
- Sealy, Texas (known as the San Felipe Plant)
- Springfield, Minnesota (known as the 'Acme Ochs Plant' or "Great Lakes Plant") (permanently closed)
Sales offices
Acme Brick sells manufactured and purchased products from sales offices located in ten states:
- Alabama (Albertville, Birmingham, Dothan, Florence, Gadsen, Huntsville, Mobile, Montgomery, Tuscaloosa)
- Arkansas (Fort Smith, Hot Springs, Jonesboro, North Little Rock, and Springdale)
- Florida (Pensacola, Tallahassee)
- Georgia_(U.S._state) (Columbus, Savannah)
- Kansas (Olathe and Wichita)
- Louisiana (Baton Rouge, Monroe, and Shreveport)
- Mississippi (Gulfport, Holly Springs)
- Missouri (Joplin, and Springfield)
- New Mexico (Las Cruces)
- Oklahoma (Oklahoma City, Tulsa, Wichita)
- South Carolina (Ridgeland)
- Tennessee (Chattanooga, Knoxville, Jackson and Memphis)
- Texas (Abilene, Amarillo, Austin (Round Rock), Bryan, Beaumont, Denton, El Paso, Euless, Houston, Lubbock, Longview, Midland, San Antonio, San Angelo, Temple, Texarkana, Tyler, and Waco)
Acme Brick Technical Center
Acme Brick's Exploration Department, Quality Management, and Laboratory are based in Denton, Texas at the Acme Brick Technical Center.
Acme Brick Technical Center Webpage