Call it a dry spell amid opportunism, Architectural Cast Stone Inc. has quickly emerged as a multiple product operator specializing zero slump concrete.

The Wichita, Kan., company initially set up to capture business fueled by the advent of architectural concrete masonry. After five years of churning out dry-tamp cast stone for windows, walls, fireplaces and building trim, it is now looking at conventional and premium concrete masonry to create a one-stop shop.

“New finishes and colors in architectural concrete masonry have really boosted the cast stone market,” says Architectural Cast Stone President Bob Bales. “We started out in small trim and wall pieces for residential and commercial masonry jobs, then moved into bigger products like mantels and signs.” Through local architect and builder business, plus dealers across the country, the company's shipments have approximately doubled each year since 1998, he adds.

Cash flow from a labor-intensive concrete niche has positioned the company to look at a complimentary business, with significantly greater volume and plant automation potential. Late last year, Architectural Cast Stone commissioned a rebuilt, three-at-time block machine, along with a new automated batch plant geared especially for colored masonry units.

“Our goal is to offer a complete package for concrete masonry walls,” Bales explains. “We can make concrete masonry and cast stone even more attractive to architects, builders and contractors by streamlining project planning and design, production and delivery.”

Architectural Cast Stone is entering concrete masonry with standard gray or white unit offerings from its own line, while eyeing distribution for split face, burnish and other value-added product under such brands as Armcon, Anchor and Pentstar. The company has added sales, estimating and drafting staff so it can bid entire wall packages as specified or with more economical alternatives. In the latter case, pieces that a customer figures are limited to cast stone, for example, might be conducive to molding on the block machine. On certain jobs, savings gained from single-source bidding and production might be used to cover additional trim or accent product that had not been considered in early specs. Regardless of final drawings, Bales and his staff can assure customers of color matching and production consistency across hand made or machine made units.

Architectural Cast Stone has plant certification from the Cast Stone Institute, and is the Atlanta-based group's only member with a companion masonry line. The company enters the new year with plans to roll out its block offerings alongside its core business — acquiring (block) or building (cast stone) molds as a growing production log warrants.