Glen-Gery secures North American territory from Italy’s premier brickmaker

Wyomissing, Pa.-based Brickworks North America Corp., parent of Glen-Gery Corp., has purchased the licensing rights to sell San Selmo brick products across North America. The distinguished, high-style brick is produced in Italy by S. Anselmo Group, a fifth-generation boutique maker of luxury units, and joins Glen-Gery’s International Collection. S. Anselmo craftsmen have been conceiving, designing and creating unique brick designs since 1903, securing orders for many high profile restoration projects in Europe, plus high-end residential or architectural landmark jobs this side of the Atlantic.



San Selmo Corso units are more than double the length of conventional brick.

“Meeting the design needs of architects, interior designers and design professionals is a strong focus in the U.S. and North America,” says Brickworks NA President Mark Ellenor. “Brick is increasingly the material of choice for creating beauty, drama, elegance, contemporary flair or old-world charm on residential and commercial buildings. By bringing the respected San Selmo line to a broad North American market, we are proud to provide design-driven professionals with a product that can inspire visionary designs and enable unique architectural achievements.”

“For 10 years we have had a commercial presence in the United States and great success with our line of Corso long format bricks,” adds San Selmo Export Sales Manager Alberto De Checchi. “Our partnership with Glen-Gery and Brickworks will allow us to increase our market penetration here, backed by a leading building products company focused on design and innovation, a strong distributor network, and the highest quality standards in the industry.”

The Glen-Gery San Selmo product offering will be highlighted by Corso, whose sleek linear size is more than twice the standard brick length and creates a custom aesthetic that elevates residential and commercial structures. The line was previously distributed in the U.S. through Houston-based InnovaTile, which will continue to represent the brand in the Lone Star State and California. In other areas of the U.S. and North America, the full San Selmo line will be available through select Glen-Gery distributors. To enhance product availability, Glen-Gery will inventory select Corso products at its Mid-Atlantic manufacturing facility. A Glen-Gery Import Office has been established to facilitate orders and provide customers with related services.

SIOUX CITY ACQUISITION

Concurrent with San Selmo product distribution ramp up, Brickworks NA has closed on Iowa-based Sioux City Brick, a family-owned operator since 1913. The $32 million transaction brings three production lines across two plants, with capacity upward of 160 million brick, plus five retail distribution outlets and exclusive U.S. distribution rights to the Feldhaus thin brick system.

“The Sioux City product line is a perfect fit and the ideal ‘bolt-on’ opportunity to our 2018 acquisition of Glen-Gery—a company that offers the most diverse portfolio of brick colors, sizes and textures for commercial and residential applications in the U.S.,” says Mark Ellenor. A strong Midwest geographic presence, modern plants, and proud employee culture made Sioux City Brick an attractive candidate, he adds.

“Brick is not a commodity product,” Ellenor affirms. “It is a material that is increasingly the material of choice for creating beauty, drama, elegance, contemporary flair or old-world charm on both exterior and interior applications. The possibilities in material, color, texture, size and shape are broader than ever.”