Birmingham, Ala.-based Sherman Int'l. is streamlining ready mixed, block and landscape unit operations, along with masonry and construction materials distribution assets, under its Concrete Group. Lehigh Portland Cement's largest concrete franchise east of the Mississippi River, Sherman began the process last year by combining ready mixed and concrete masonry sales forces. That freed up staff to pursue opportunities across the board, but particularly in fast-growth and higher-margin architectural and landscape units.

“Our goal is to be a quality, low-cost producer that is prepared for quick response to marketplace changes,” notes Superock General Manager Grady Gunn. “We are in gray and value-added concrete masonry, and want to position the business so we can grow and change as the market changes.”

Sherman markets concrete masonry under the banner of Superock Block, a promotion-savvy, two-plant operator it acquired four years ago. The company stance is much more nimble in building and landscape units thanks to a new plant opening in February. Located on a 20-acre, north Birmingham site, the facility houses the first Tiger TG 6V machine Michigan-based Pathfinder Systems has installed in North America.

The six-at-a-time machine will concentrate on Keystone retaining wall product and Superock-branded units like StoneScape pavers and SuperBrick. A solid, 4-in.-high concrete unit, the latter enjoys a following Superock built among area architects and builders under previous ownership. In addition to enabling Superock to step up Super Brick production, the TG 6V can also mold cored concrete brick in conventional sizes.

Earthly blessings

Although Sherman's block business has been strong, the force behind the new plant is the increasing acceptance of Keystone and other segmental retaining wall (SRW) units in residential and commercial applications. Golf courses — a facility type for which Alabama has been among leading states in new development — have likewise emerged alongside engineered public works structures as higher volume SRW targets.

“The market for the unit was good at the time of the Superock deal, and got even better afterward,” Gunn affirms. “Demand for Keystone reached a point where our capacity was strained and we had to limit attention on other premium products.”

Replacing a shuttered facility — built on leased land and equipped with an old three-at-a-time machine — the new plant is gearing up for a two-shift schedule this summer. Output from a nearby site that had been Superock headquarters will be mostly gray block. The new property will also house an expanded showroom, borrowing from the small but sharp presentation Superock maintained for its concrete masonry unit and PC Glass Block line.

In addition to those offerings, the new showroom will be used to promote coatings and other architectural products. Concurrent with the Concrete Group realignment, Sherman is consolidating responsibilities for such products, in addition to private label masonry cement and related construction supply business picked up from Superock. A warehouse adjacent to the new concrete masonry operation brings distribution of packaged and bagged goods under one roof.

Sherman/North Central Division encompasses the two Superock Block facilities and 11 Birmingham area ready mixed plants. The Concrete Group has six other divisions, serving eight markets. The unit operates alongside Prestress (Pelham, Ala.) and Pipe (nine Alabama and Georgia plants) groups.