General Shale Performs Corporate Restructuring, Promotes Members of Leadership Team

Posted on January 29, 2020January 31, 2020 by whitney

JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. — General Shale, one of North America’s largest brick, stone and concrete block manufacturers, has promoted several members of its leadership team as part of a recent corporate restructuring.

Andy Hall has been promoted to chief operating officer (COO). In his new role, he collaborates with senior management on business strategies, future planning, and financial and project analysis. Hall has also assumed executive responsibility for the company’s Jet Stream pipes division. During his 22 years with General Shale, he has served in multiple roles, including plant manager at Arriscraft’s Cambridge, Ontario, site; corporate development manager for General Shale; and vice president of sales for Pipelife Jet Stream.

Dan Green has been named chief technical officer (CTO), North America. His responsibilities include corporate planning and strategy related to North American expansion opportunities, capacity utilization, supply chain management and technical advancements. He also has oversight of the company’s Canadian operations, in addition to its Columbus Brick and Watsontown Brick divisions. A 36-year veteran of General Shale, Green’s career has progressed from production supervisor to his most recent role as vice president of manufacturing, and has also included stints as plant manager, production manager and director of manufacturing.

Corky Clifton has been promoted to vice president of sales, U.S. In his new role, he will lead U.S. sales operations, with continued direct responsibility for distributor sales, which includes more than 200 affiliated distributors. In his 23-year career with General Shale, he has risen from outside sales to district sales manager, regional sales manager and national director of distributor sales.

Scott Miracle has been promoted to vice president of manufacturing, with responsibility for the company’s 14 U.S. manufacturing operations. During his 17-year tenure with General Shale, Miracle has served as a supervisor, plant manager and regional operations manager. His career also includes 11 years as regional production manager for a company in the United Kingdom, where he had oversight of multiple plants before rejoining General Shale in 2017.

“Over the past few years, acquisitions have enabled us to strengthen and diversify our product platform, offer extra value-added opportunities to our customers and expand our geographical footprint,” says Charles Smith, president and CEO of General Shale. “This restructuring aligns with our strategic growth effort, which will allow us to continue to take advantage of new opportunities in the marketplace.”

Headquartered in Johnson City, Tennessee, General Shale is the North American subsidiary of Wienerberger AG and a leading manufacturer of brick, one of the world’s oldest green building materials.

ABOUT GENERAL SHALE
General Shale is one of North America’s largest brick, stone and concrete block manufacturers. Founded in 1928, the company offers an endless array of sizes, colors and textures in a wide variety of masonry materials to complete any residential, commercial or specialty architectural project. These materials include brick, thin masonry, stone, outdoor living products, concrete block and various building materials, which include Arriscraft Stone and Jet Stream pipes division products.

Throughout the U.S. and Canada, General Shale operates 14 manufacturing facilities in nine states and provinces, in addition to a network of 26 sales locations and more than 200 affiliated distributors across North America. The company grew even stronger in 1999 when it joined Wienerberger AG of Vienna, Austria, the world’s largest brick manufacturer. With a life cycle of more than 100 years, the sustainability of brick is General Shale’s commitment to responsible stewardship.

General Shale is headquartered in Johnson City, Tennessee. For more information, visit www.generalshale.com.

– ### –

General Shale Acquires Watsontown Brick Company, Extending Company’s Presence into Northeastern U.S.

Posted on December 13, 2018February 8, 2019 by whitney

JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. — General Shale, a leading U.S. manufacturer of brick, announces that it has signed an agreement to acquire 110-year-old Watsontown Brick Company, producer of some of the most traditionally crafted brick products in the U.S., at the end of this year.

The acquisition adds a unique, high-quality brick line to General Shale’s extensive masonry products, and expands the company’s presence in the Eastern United States and Canada.

Headquartered in Watsontown, Pennsylvania, Watsontown Brick Company is a third-generation manufacturer that produces a variety of face, thin and molded bricks, along with high-quality pavers, in a wide range of colors, sizes and shapes. The company initially produced street pavers, which were used on city streets throughout the Northeast, and grew its product line to include residential, commercial and architectural brick products. Today, Watsontown Brick employs approximately 50 individuals and operates three production plants that manufacture 92 million brick units annually.

“We are excited to bring this outstanding company into the General Shale group as this acquisition will only strengthen our position as a leader in the U.S. brick industry,” says Charles Smith, president and CEO of General Shale. “Watsontown Brick will expand General Shale’s presence throughout the Northeast and fortify our strong commercial and architectural platform, providing the opportunity for potential growth in new markets and for future consolidation. Both of our companies are dedicated to maintaining our solid customer and distributor relationships as this will only improve our ability to better serve our customers. We are pleased to welcome Watsontown Brick into the General Shale family.”

Going forward, Watsontown Brick Company will retain its name as a subsidiary of General Shale. Mike Fisher, former owner of Watsontown Brick, will serve the company in an advisory capacity.

ABOUT GENERAL SHALE

Celebrating its 90th anniversary in 2018, General Shale is one of North America’s largest brick, stone and concrete block manufacturers. The company offers an endless array of sizes, colors and textures in a wide variety of masonry materials to complete any residential, commercial or specialty architectural project. These materials include brick, thin masonry, stone, outdoor living products, concrete block and various building materials, which include Arriscraft® Stone and Pipelife Jet Stream products.

Throughout the U.S. and Canada, General Shale operates 37 sales and manufacturing facilities, in addition to a network of more than 300 affiliated distributors across North America. The company grew even stronger in 1999 when it joined Wienerberger AG of Vienna, Austria, the world’s largest brick manufacturer. With a life cycle of more than 100 years, the sustainability of brick is General Shale’s commitment to responsible stewardship.

General Shale is headquartered in Johnson City, Tennessee. For more information, visit www.generalshale.com.

– ### –

General Shale Introduces New Mobile App and Website to Help Architects, Builders and Homeowners Design Projects

Posted on July 23, 2018August 28, 2018 by whitney

The My Designs app offers a new and exclusive way to visualize exterior
design components for residential and commercial projects

JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. — General Shale announces the launch of its My Designs mobile app and website, delivering an exclusive, personalized platform for users to design residential and commercial projects using the company’s most popular brick and stone colors.

The My Designs app provides homeowners with the ability to instantly see how a home would look with different brick and stone selections from General Shale and Arriscraft Stone, along with various colors of roofing, siding accents, trim and mortar. Similarly, architects and building contractors can gain inspiration for their design concepts — including Craftsman, European or modern-style residences, multifamily housing, and commercial and educational facilities.

Users can download the app free from Apple’s App Store to create and visualize as many variations as they desire. Both the My Designs app and website make it easy to share designs with colleagues, friends, family or contractors via one-tap access to email and social media. When users are finished creating their designs, the app generates a summary of color selections for easy reference. By entering their zip codes, users are also provided with a complete list of nearby General Shale locations.

“The My Designs app is a unique way to bring a project vision to life,” says Charles Smith, president and CEO of General Shale. “My Designs equips architects, builders, contractors, designers and homeowners with easy-to-use tools for producing stunning designs that utilize some of our most popular products. These concepts enable homeowners and building professionals to pick and choose endless combinations of General Shale’s brick and stone selections, and quickly select and compare various masonry and mortar blends in real-time viewing, either from their office desktops or straight from the job site.”

Headquartered in Johnson City, Tennessee, General Shale is the North American subsidiary of Wienerberger AG and a leading manufacturer of brick, one of the world’s oldest green building materials.

ABOUT GENERAL SHALE

General Shale is one of North America’s largest brick, stone and concrete block manufacturers. Founded in 1928, the company offers an endless array of sizes, colors and textures in a wide variety of masonry materials to complete any residential, commercial or specialty architectural project. These materials include brick, thin masonry, stone, outdoor living products, concrete block and various building materials, which include Arriscraft Stone and Pipelife Jet Stream products.

Throughout the U.S. and Canada, General Shale operates manufacturing facilities in nine states and provinces, in addition to a network of 30 sales locations and over 300 affiliated distributors across North America. The company grew even stronger in 1999 when it joined Wienerberger AG of Vienna, Austria, the world’s largest brick manufacturer. With a life cycle of more than 100 years, the sustainability of brick is General Shale’s commitment to responsible stewardship.

General Shale is headquartered in Johnson City, Tennessee. For more information, visit www.generalshale.com.

– ### –

Poor Boy Lawncare & Landscaping, General Shale Recognized for King University Restoration Project

Posted on November 17, 2017November 17, 2017 by corp12imag

JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. — General Shale, one of North America’s largest brick, stone and concrete block manufacturers, and Poor Boy Lawncare & Landscaping received an honorable mention in the 2017 Hardscapes North America (HNA) Awards for a King University restoration project.

The awards are the North American Hardscape Industry’s top honors for outstanding, professionally designed residential and commercial outdoor projects. First-place and honorable mention awards are presented annually for projects featuring clay, concrete or porcelain pavers, segmental retaining walls, or a combination of hardscape products, including natural stone, masonry veneer and mortared walls.

Headquartered in Johnson City, Tennessee, General Shale is the North American subsidiary of Wienerberger AG and a leading manufacturer of brick, one of the world’s oldest green building materials.

More than 55,000 of the company’s wire-cut red clay brick pavers were used in the restoration of King University’s Oval, an iconic walkway and community space that occupies the heart of the school’s main campus in Bristol, Tennessee. The entrances to King’s Chapel, Parks Hall and the E.W. King Library were included as part of the project.

“We are delighted that our clay brick pavers have been incorporated into King University’s campus,” says Charles Smith, president and CEO for General Shale. “The Oval is a central feature of this 150-year-old institution, and it’s an honor that the timelessness and durability of our products were chosen to preserve and maintain the beauty of King’s historic grounds.”

BurWil Construction Company of Bristol, Tennessee, served as the general contractor for the project, and Poor Boy Lawncare & Landscaping of Johnson City served as the subcontractor. Representatives of Thompson & Litton in Bristol and the Brick Industry Association recommended the design for the restoration.

General Shale’s product played a key role in maintaining the 19th-century Georgian style of the Oval, which reflects the architectural theme of King’s campus. The walkway, which was first paved with bricks in 1962, had shifted and settled from decades of foot traffic and weathering, creating the need for repair and refurbishment.

“Over time, the Oval had deteriorated from long-term use and weather,” says Adam Dennison, owner of Poor Boy Lawncare & Landscaping. “King wanted the clay brick pavers to not only be durable, but also match the feel of the campus and its surrounding buildings, and General Shale had the perfect product.”

Restoration took place over a three-month period during the summer of 2015. The new surface does not incorporate the use of mortar, which makes the pathway more durable and easier to maintain.

ABOUT GENERAL SHALE

Throughout the U.S. and Canada, General Shale operates sales and manufacturing facilities in 15 states and provinces, in addition to a network of 31 retail showrooms and more than 300 affiliated distributors across North America. The company grew even stronger in 1999 when it joined Wienerberger AG of Vienna, Austria, the world’s largest brick manufacturer. With a life cycle of more than 100 years, the sustainability of brick is General Shale’s commitment to responsible stewardship.

General Shale is headquartered in Johnson City, Tennessee. For more information, visit www.generalshale.com.

– end –

General Shale Announces Acquisition of Columbus Brick Company

Posted on October 31, 2017October 31, 2017 by corp12imag

JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. — General Shale, a leading U.S. manufacturer of brick, today announced that it has acquired Columbus Brick Company, a family-owned manufacturer located in Columbus, Mississippi.

The acquisition adds a robust portfolio to General Shale’s extensive masonry lines, and expands the company’s presence into new geographic areas yielding high levels of brick wall share.

“Along with introducing a unique, premium brick line into General Shale’s product offerings, Columbus Brick Company brings a well-cultivated customer base that spans 18 states,” says Charles Smith, president and CEO of General Shale. “Columbus Brick delivers a long track record of high-quality products, as well as distribution channels that ideally complement our own delivery system. The acquisition provides General Shale with the opportunity to increase our U.S. footprint through additional locations in the Midwest and South, and we are excited to bring this outstanding company under our umbrella.”

Columbus Brick Company is a family-owned, fourth-generation company that manufactures a variety of face bricks and custom shapes in a broad range of colors, textures and styles for residential and commercial applications. Established in 1890, the company is the only U.S. brick manufacturer to offer genuine paper cut brick. Columbus Brick can manufacture a maximum of 140 million brick units annually and employs 75 individuals.

Going forward, Columbus Brick Company will retain its name as a subsidiary of General Shale and fall under the leadership of Charles Smith. Al Puckett, Columbus Brick’s former CEO, will serve the company in an advisory capacity, and Ed Thebaud, general manager, will continue to oversee day-to-day operations.

Headquartered in Johnson City, Tennessee, General Shale is the North American subsidiary of Wienerberger AG of Vienna, Austria, the world’s largest brick manufacturer. The company is one of the largest North American brick, stone and concrete block manufacturers. With a sizeable network of sales facilities, retail showrooms and affiliate distributors, General Shale is present in more than 15 states and provinces throughout North America. The company was founded in 1928 and currently employs 1,270 individuals.

“This acquisition demonstrates General Shale’s commitment to advancing our mission, which is to remain the preferred solutions provider of building materials in North America,” Smith says. “It also ensures Columbus Brick’s exceptional masonry products will remain in the marketplace for many more years to come. Both companies are committed to maintaining our solid customer and distributor relationships, and we will continue to support those relationships going forward.”

ABOUT GENERAL SHALE

General Shale is headquartered in Johnson City, Tennessee. For more information, visit www.generalshale.com.

— end —

General Shale Introduces Industry-Unique Impressionist Brick Series

Posted on October 18, 2017October 18, 2017 by corp12imag

JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. — General Shale, one of North America’s largest brick, stone and concrete block manufacturers, announces the launch of its new Impressionist Brick Series, which provides architects with longer, thinner brick units for unique and sophisticated design options in both commercial and residential projects.

Headquartered in Johnson City, Tennessee, General Shale is the North American subsidiary of Wienerberger AG and a leading manufacturer of brick, one of the world’s oldest green building materials.

Offered in brown, gray and red tones with two distinct textures, the Impressionist Brick Series is defined by exaggerated unit lengths and shallow face heights. With demand for elongated bricks continuing to grow, this new product line enables architects to bring a fresh dimension to their projects by emphasizing the linearity of a building’s façade, resulting in a dramatic visual presentation.

“The Impressionist Brick Series delivers additional choices for establishing creative impact, and lends itself well to the rectilinear design trend seen in many of today’s architectural projects,” says Charles Smith, president and CEO of General Shale. “Longer, thinner brick units are striking elements for contemporary designs, and allow architects to achieve that aesthetic, whether by using them in a singular bond pattern across the entire façade or by combining varying patterns for a stunning effect.”

Whether incorporating the brick with matching mortar for a monolithic effect, using contrasting mortar for visual interest, or mixing brick sizes to achieve a multi-layered pattern, Impressionist’s wider profiles offer more opportunities for architectural designers who seek to establish a distinctively modern look, while retaining all the benefits of masonry walls.

Along with bringing timeless appeal to new residential and commercial builds, the Impressionist Brick Series may also be coordinated with older, historic brickwork to impart a more contemporary aspect to a project, allowing a renovation to successfully bridge the gap between traditional and modern design.

The Impressionist Brick Series is available in Andover, Rothwell and Wexford Fog in a wire-cut texture, and Bedford Brown, Keswick and Manchester in a smooth finish.

ABOUT GENERAL SHALE

Throughout the U.S. and Canada, General Shale operates manufacturing facilities in nine states and provinces, in addition to a network of more than 40 retail showrooms and over 300 affiliated distributors across North America. The company grew even stronger in 1999 when it joined Wienerberger AG of Vienna, Austria, the world’s largest brick manufacturer. With a life cycle of more than 100 years, the sustainability of brick is General Shale’s commitment to responsible stewardship.

General Shale is headquartered in Johnson City, Tennessee. For more information, visit www.generalshale.com.

—end—

General Shale’s North Carolina Locations Receive Top Honors in State Safety Awards

Posted on October 5, 2017October 5, 2017 by corp12imag

JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. — Multiple locations of General Shale, one of North America’s largest brick, stone and concrete block manufacturers, recently received the North Carolina Department of Labor’s (NCDOL) top annual award for safety.

For the sixth consecutive year, the NCDOL presented the Gold Award, which recognizes outstanding health and safety efforts in 2016, to each of General Shale’s retail locations in Charlotte, Kernersville, Raleigh and Sanford. Additionally, General Shale’s retail location in Wilmington received the Gold Award for the seventh consecutive year. The company’s Brickhaven production facility, near Moncure, received a Silver Award.

Headquartered in Johnson City, Tennessee, General Shale is the North American subsidiary of Wienerberger AG and a leading manufacturer of brick, one of the world’s oldest green building materials.

“At General Shale, safety is one of our core values,” says Charles Smith, president and CEO of General Shale. “These awards are the direct result of teamwork and our company-wide commitment to workplace safety. I am proud of the dedication displayed by our North Carolina teams, and I commend them for their exceptional records of accident-free operations.”

The NCDOL Safety Awards Program recognizes private and public firms throughout the state that achieve and maintain good health and safety records. To qualify for a safety award, a company must have had no fatalities during the calendar year at the location for which the award was given, and must have maintained an incidence rate that is at least 50 percent below the average for its particular industry group.

“It is an honor to be recognized for excellence in safety,” says Brian Ogle, safety and risk manager for General Shale. “We have gone to great lengths to ensure our employees, who are our most valuable assets, are safe on the job, and our company remains committed to making safety a top priority.”

ABOUT GENERAL SHALE

General Shale is headquartered in Johnson City, Tennessee. For more information, visit www.generalshale.com.

— end —

General Shale to Honor Local Educators at Fourth Annual History & Hero Night

Posted on August 3, 2017September 14, 2017 by corp12imag

JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. — General Shale is teaming up with the Johnson City Cardinals to honor local teachers and educators during the Cardinals’ matchup with the Princeton Rays at 7 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 4.

The fourth annual General Shale History & Hero Night — to be held at Howard Johnson Field at the TVA Credit Union Ballpark — will recognize several of the area’s finest educators for their exceptional service to students in the community. The honorees will be presented with commemorative brick sculptures at each half-inning.

“By preparing the next generation for a successful future, teachers serve one of the most critical roles found in any town or city, and General Shale is proud to honor our own local heroes for their dedication to the students in our area,” says Charles Smith, president and CEO of General Shale. “We are delighted to pay tribute to these educators for their outstanding commitment to making a difference, not only in the lives of our students, but to this community our company is pleased to call home.”

ABOUT GENERAL SHALE

General Shale is headquartered in Johnson City, Tennessee. For more information, visit www.generalshale.com.

— end —

General Shale Wins Industry Awards for Brick in Architecture Projects

Posted on July 31, 2017August 1, 2017 by corp12imag

JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. — Two projects featuring General Shale products have been recognized by the Brick Industry Association (BIA) as winners in the 2017 Brick in Architecture awards competition.

General Shale received a Gold Award in the Municipal/Government category for the Beardsley Community Farm Education Center, a nonprofit urban farm located in Knoxville, Tennessee. Completed in 2016, the education center is a design/build project that involved more than 50 students from the University of Tennessee School of Architecture and Design, and provides a valuable tool for teaching sustainable farming practices to the surrounding community. More than 30,000 General Shale brick units were used to construct triple-width brick walls for the education center, providing superior energy efficiency and helping the project meet the requirements for LEED Gold certification.

The company also received a Gold Award in the Residential: Multi-Family category for The Jefferson condominium building, located in New York City’s East Village. Situated on the former site of the city’s first vaudeville theater, the 115,000-square-foot project was constructed in 2013 — 100 years after its namesake — and was awarded LEED Gold certification in 2016. Reminiscent of a theater’s proscenium stage, The Jefferson’s prominent center frames the building’s façade with dark brick piers — a charcoal brick blend provided by General Shale. This brick accent offers a compelling contrast to the façade’s predominantly light brick, which echoes the beauty of masonry used throughout the neighborhood.

The nation’s premier architectural award featuring clay brick, the Brick in Architecture Awards have been held annually since 1989. Judged by independent design professionals, the awards recognize outstanding designs that combine genuine clay brick with aesthetics and sustainability.

“General Shale is honored to be recognized by industry professionals for these two exceptional projects,” says Charles Smith, president and CEO of General Shale. “Both of these projects are excellent examples of innovative architecture featuring brick, with outstanding results. We are pleased to see our products continue to be featured in award-winning designs.”

Headquartered in Johnson City, Tennessee, General Shale is the North American subsidiary of Wienerberger AG and a leading manufacturer of brick, one of the world’s oldest green building materials.

ABOUT GENERAL SHALE

General Shale is headquartered in Johnson City, Tennessee. For more information, visit www.generalshale.com.

— end —

General Shale Introduces New Additions to Denver-Based Architectural Classics Brick Series

Posted on April 13, 2017April 26, 2017 by corp12imag

JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. — General Shale has added three new products to its Denver, Colorado-based Architectural Classics brick series — providing builders, architects and designers with soft tones and natural hues for meeting contemporary design trends.

Headquartered in Johnson City, Tennessee, General Shale is the North American subsidiary of Wienerberger AG and a leading manufacturer of brick, one of the world’s oldest green building materials.

The new brick selections — Honeycomb, Java and Parchment — harness the soft colors provided by rich clays sourced at the base of the Rocky Mountains.

“General Shale is proud to introduce three all-new masonry colors to one of our best-selling brick collections,” says General Shale President and CEO Charles Smith. “These newest products provide homeowners and industry professionals with unique-looking and durable products, and reflect our commitment to meeting the design and fashion needs of the brick industry.”

General Shale’s Architectural Classics Series features a broad range of 23 modern color options that complement other General Shale products. The collection is suitable for designers and architects to use as a primary cladding or accent layer for residential and commercial projects.

ABOUT GENERAL SHALE

General Shale is one of North America’s largest brick, stone and concrete block manufacturers, supplying a wide variety of masonry materials for residential, commercial and specialty architectural projects. These materials include brick, thin veneers, stone, outdoor living kits, concrete block and various building materials, which include Arriscraft Stone Products. The company offers an endless array of sizes, colors and textures to complete any building project. With a life cycle of more than 100 years, the sustainability of brick is the company’s commitment to responsible stewardship.

Throughout the U.S. and Canada, General Shale operates manufacturing facilities in nine states and provinces, in addition to a network of more than 40 retail showrooms and over 300 affiliated distributors across North America. In 1999, General Shale grew even stronger when it joined Wienerberger AG of Vienna, Austria, the world’s largest brick manufacturer.

General Shale was founded in 1928 and is headquartered in Johnson City, Tennessee. For more information, visit www.generalshale.com.

-end-