Mar 14 2008 12:27PM | Permalink | Email this | Comments (1) |
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Terre Haute, Indiana is now home to the largest brick manufacturing facility in the U.S. The $58-million facility, owned and operated by Boral Bricks, measures 295,000 square feet and can produce 120 million bricks per year—equivalent to about 8,300 all-brick homes.

According to the company, the plant is a “technological marvel,” boasting advanced robotics and an advanced firing process. The kiln measures a gigantic 530 feet long by 33 feet wide. It blasts bricks at 2,000°F. Each batch can be stacked, fired and cooled in under 30 hours.

Boral Bricks has partnered with Republic Services, owners of the nearby “Victory” landfill to utilize methane gas from the landfill as a substitute for natural gas. The facility is billed as a zero waste plant where nearly all materials used in the process are recycled in new batches.

Boral, an Australian-based company with U.S. headquarters in Atlanta had officials on hand for the grand opening ceremonies from both headquarters. “This technologically advanced plant will help us service the building needs in the Midwest and also help protect the environment as we’ve put into place several energy saving and recycling measures,” said Bob Kepford, president of Boral Bricks, in a press release. “We're excited to expand our reach in the Midwest and this facility will help us meet the needs of builders in Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Missouri Wisconsin and Ohio.